A ROMANCE OF THE PEERAGE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 663, 29 March 1879, Page 2

A ROMANCE OF THE PEERAGE.

Not far from Midlothian there is a Scotch constituency in an excited condition — the Haddington burghs. It is going through a processs of electing a new member without being quite sure that a 'vacancy has occurred. Its present or ex-member, whichever ho may be, Lord William Hay, is a next elder brother of the late Marquis of Tweeddale, a distinguished naturalist. The latter succeeded his bettor known father, the Duke of Wellington's dashing aide-de-camp in thePeninsula, and afterwards the foremost agriculturist of his day, about two years ago. He led a very retired life at Gliiselhurst, near London, pnd died there rather suddenly about a fortnight ago. His next brother, Lord William Hay, who was elected for the Haddington burghs last summer, gave intimation to his Liberal friends of the change in his situation, and before the late Marquis was buried a new Liberal candidate for the Haddington burghs was in the iield. But there was a Marchioness left at Chiselhurst, and her friends hint that her childless condition is in course of remedy — too late, of course, to give the pleasure it would naturally have done to her deceased lord, but in time to cut out the younger brother should the expected heir prove a male. Lord William Hay is in a dilemma, and cannot say whether he is a Scotch peer or still member for the Haddington burghs. Parliament is in recess, and till the middle of February he cannot have recourse to the Committee of Privileges, which might solve his perplexity for him. When he is able to go before the Committee and claim the peerage .a month hence a counter-claim for suspension may be put in on behalf of the Dowager Marchioness. This would leave the world for several months without a Marquis of Tweeddale, and Lord William Hay would remain L°i'd William Haj\ Under such circumstances it is not likely he would be eager to surrender a seat lie had won so recently. The new candidate (Sir David Wedderburn) may consequently have thrown away the vigorous electioneering he is now engaged upon.