Page:The Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage of the British Empire Part 1.djvu/16

iv concise answer to such questions, supplying in some cases evidences of antiquity which have not previously found their way into works of this kind, at the same tune carefully abstaining from the repetition of stories which have been handed down-from one genealogist to another, without having ever had any foundation the fact or record. In endeavouring to carry out this object Mr. Francis M. Nichols, F.S.A. has kindly devoted much time and research to the revision of those pt of the work which have an historical or antiquarian character.

To the various members of the College of Arms (enumerated at length on age xii. of this work) I have, as on former occasions, to express my gratification for the continued interest which they have taken in this Peerage, an internet aroused mainly by a recognition of the success of my endeavours faithfully to out the lineages and correct armorial bearings of the families here recorded; but I am more especially under the deepest obligation to Sir Albert William Woods, F.S.A. Garter principal King of Arms, not only for the continuance of his Counsel, but also for his valuable genealogical and heraldic contributions to my work whenever the necessity arose.

Although this the Third Annual Edition of the Peerage, Baronetage, and Knightage does not contain so many accessions to hereditary hionours as were included in the Second Edition, yet the creations of the year 1881 are for the most part peculiarly interesting.

First on the roll is His Royal Highness Prince Leopold, who had the historic Dukedom of Albany conferred upon him in the earlier part of the year, a title which, although latterly associated with that of York, dates from the fourteenth century, when it was first created (1398) in the person of Robert (afterwards regent), third son of Robert II. King of Scotland. The Duke is now the tenth Prince of the Blood to whom this title has been assigned, the last Prince so created being Frederick, second son of George III. who died Duke of York and Albany in 1827 (see ). The subordinate titles of Prince Leopold, viz. Earl of Clarence and Baron Arklow, are of modern date, the Earldom being the first of its designation, and the Barony having been only once created, viz, in 1803, when it was conferred upon Augustus, Duke of Sussex, sixth son of George III.; lie died in 1843, also without issue. (See .)

Earlier in the year a Barony was conferred upon our Ambassador at Berlin Lord Odo Russell, who, after more than thirty years' diplomatic service, was created Baron Ampthill, and thus the house of Russell can now boast of four seats in the hereditary legislature of the country.

Following upon this, another diplomatist, Lord Lyons, our Ambassador at Paris, whose services have been nearly as long as those of Lord Ampthill, was, in November, advanced to the degree of a Viscount; while the Marquis of Tweeddale and Lord Reay, in time Peerage of Scotland, together with the Earl of Howth in the Peerage of Ireland, obtained seats in the House of Lords by their creation as Peers of the United Kingdom; and lastly, on the very eve of publication, it is announced that Lord Justice Bramwell has accepted a Peerage on his retirement from the Judicial Bench, which he has adorned for so many