RANK & TITLE
The laws acknowledge only two distinctions of rank or civil status, the nobility and the commonalty. The distinction
is by no means like that between the patricians and plebeians in ancient Rome, nor that between the nobles and
citizens of France in the 18th century, and the peculiar privileges of the nobility are few sad insignificant Intermarriage
with commoners are usual, and the sons of peers mingle with commoners in the House of Commons, where wealth, talent,
and industry are at least as well represented as birth.
Moreover, the House of Lords is continually recruited from the House of Commons by the conferring of peerages on its more distinguished members. The peers are exempted from the performance of a few little public services, such as sitting on juries, &c. They have also a right to be tried by the House of Lords on indictments for treason, or felony, or misprision thereof; but the administration of justice before this tribunal is as strict as in the ordinary courts. Their persons cannot he arrested in civil cases. The titles borne by those who form the peerage are, in a descending scale, duke, marquis, earl, viscount, baron.
Of these earl is the oldest, this title dating from the Anglo-Saxon period, when it was equivalent to that of ealdorman or governor of a shire. The other
ranks at this early period were those of the athelings, or princes of royal blood; thanes, who were royal officers or considerable landowners; and the ceorls, or husbandmen, below whom were the serfs or slaves.
After the Conquest the title of baron came into use. The barons formed an inferior class of nobles to the earls,
though the term might also be used to include all the peers.
The title of duke arose under Edward III., who created his eldest son Duke of Cornwall (1337). The title of marquis was introduced in the time of Richard II.; that of viscount during the reign of Henry VI. It is only the actual holders of these title. who are, strictly speaking, the nobility; their families are only noble by courtesy. The chief privilege that the titles confer is a seat in the House of Peers or - since the term lord is often used as equivalent to peer - the House of Lords.
The Scottish and Irish peers sit in the house only by deputation; but many Scottish and Irish peers have also titles belonging to the peerage of Great Britain or the United Kingdom in virtue of which they sit; thus the Earl of Moray sits as Baron Stuart. The titles of nobility above mentioned are inherited by the eldest son, who, during the life of the father, bears by courtesy his next highest title if he is a duke, marquis, or earl ; if the father be a viscount or baron the son is only an honourable.
Any of the sons of a duke or marquis are called lord but only the eldest son of an earl is so called. Next below the rank of the nobility are the baronets. This dignity was created by James I. in 1611, and descends to the eldest son. There are no privileges annexed to the baronetcy, but the title is considered as an honour, and is often bestowed on men who have distinguished themselves in a civil military capacity.
Below the baronets an knights (who also have Sir before their names) and esquires, and all others that may be classed among the gentry.This last term is sufficiently vague, but may be said to include the richer landed proprietor., and all to whom we office, or talents have secured a certain respect and standing in society. All these may be said to have a claim to be considered as of the rank of esquires, which, however, by law is somewhat restricted in its application.
