66 LORD. THE title of "Lord," is as common as the title of " Lady." Even a Duke is not always called "My Lord Duke;" a Marquess, seldom, if ever, My Lord Marquess;" "My Lord Earl," has never I think been used, nor are Viscounts and Barons at all distinguished in company. So that "my Lord," and " your Lordship," may fairly be said to be in use, from the first Marquess in the king's dominions, to the Lord Mayor of York, Lord Provost of Edinburgh and Glasgow, Lord Rectors, Lord Register, Lord Advocate of Scotland, &c. &c. &c. of whose honours and distinctions I do certainly not mean to speak with the slightest disrespect, but only in the way of illustration. By persons much conversant with the world; much in the way of great company; the confusion would scarcely be understood or acknowledged in courtly companies the difference of rank is generally too well known, to require any further discrimination, but it is surprising how very little of these matters is known a step below the rank of nobility. Nay, I can venture to assert, that few even of the nobility are heralds. I have been in the way of seeing persons of the highest rank, puzzled by some of the simplest questions concerning their own titles, families, privileges, and armorial bearings; I seldom meet with any persons, not conversant with the great, who know even the coronets of the Peers, one from another; and yet heraldry is very easy to learn, and I can venture to say, would be found to be a continual source of amusement. Perhaps many of our greatest LORDS, are not aware, that to be proper Lords, they are bound to be liberal and charitable, to deal out their bread to the hungry, and satisfy the empty soul: we are told by certain Lexicographers, (for Mr. Horne Tooke seems to have decided otherwise) that just so much is implied in the very term LORD; the Saxon definition of which, runs thus Dlafond or loford of Dlaf a loaf and ford or afford, because lords and noblemen gave loaves to a certain number of poor. Heralds however seem to consider the etymology of this title as extremely doubtful to this moment. Some will tell you we have it from Burgundy, some from Den Our mark; that they are the German Free-heren; the Saxon Thaynes; the Italian Signori; the French Seigneurs, Sieurs; Latin Seniores; Persian Seic, Sheick, Xec or Cheque; Scottish Laird, &c. It matters not, whence it is derived, or to what other titles it bears an affinity, it is evidently too general and indiscriminate as a British title. Judges are Lords upon the bench, and especially upon their circuits, where, as the immediate representatives of the King, they take place of all other Lords. The Lords of Session in Scotland, are not only called Lords, in their judicial capacity, but are allowed to add a title of their own; generally, I believe, taken from their country seats or paternal property. Every body has heard of Lord Monboddo, few know that he was Mr. Burnet; Lord Kames (Mr. Home.) Lord Woodhouselee scarcely any body in these southern parts might think he knew; but if you were to mention Professor Tytler, all would know him directly, who were attached to the study of history. Here then this high title would seem to operate rather as a title of confusion or obscurity, than of distinction in the case of persons otherwise eminent. If the title prevail, the family name is lost, if the name prevail, the title is thrown away, not being a title of inheritance, but merely the distinction of an individual. As an official title, it appears to be quite thrown away on our Lords of the Treasury, Admiralty, &c.; who seem to be Lords only when they are spoken of, not when they are spoken to. I have not attempted to compare our English title of "Lord," with the Hebrew Adon, or Adonai, Greek Kugios, or Latin Dominus, though the translators of the Bible seem to have regarded it as an equivalent, and in one instance adopted the feminine "Lady," as the rendering of Kugia, 2 John i. But though the term be synonymous, I cannot see how it is derived either from the Greek or Latin; and it seems to be almost an etymological quibble to connect it, as some do, with the Hebrew, for they would have us think that there is a close connection between the Hebrew Adon, which comes from Eden, and the Saxon Hlaford; BECAUSE, Eden signifies a base or a pillar, whieh sustaineth any thing; and Hlaford signifies giving a loaf of bread, which may help to sustain the life of man! To shew the tricks that may be played by too common a title, however sanctified by particular cases, I shall venture to cite a political squib, written in the year 1745, by Sir Charles Hanbury Williams, which has certainly a good deal of humour in it, and (though coming from a pen often sadly licentious, as must now be too well known,) could scarcely be intended as profane. I. "Some think Lord Cart'ret bears the sway, The Lord of Bath do others say, And others swear 'tis no such thing! II. That 'tis Lord Wilmington no doubt, But in their guesses they're all out, III. A moment's patience, and I'll prove Who is there, but the L-d above, That knoweth what this nation's doing? IV. Whether the war goes on with Spain, (In which so many Britons fell,) And what our fleets do on the main, The L-d, and he alone, can tell. V. The L-d, and he alone, doth know, Which the L-d knows when we shall clear. |