THE COST OF TITLES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2551, 5 September 1893, Page 3

THE COST OF TITLES.

In ' Life in London and Thereabout' a series of papers written by Mr Henry Lucy for the Sydney Herald, appears the following : The enjoyment of a title conferred by the birthday honour list is not all beer and skittles. Sir George Lewis, the friend of man (and women), who still hails from the famous address, Ely place, Holborn, tells me he received within the course of 24 hours over 400 letters and telegrams congratulating him on his knighthood. Touched by this outburst of personal friendliness, he resolved to acknowledge every one with his own hand. He spent part of Saturday and the whole of Sunday in the task, to find he had made scarcely an appreciable inroad on the bulk, and was compelled to call in assistance. A curious accident was shared between him and Sir John Tenniel. They each received a letter from a well-known Court tailor, respectfully yet warmly congratulating them upon the high but deserved honour bestowed upon them by her Majesty. The letter being marked ' private,' the tailor felt at liberty to state that he had, long been an admirer of the talents—he'might say the genius—of his correspondent, and would be pleased to give practical effect to his sentiments by furnishing him with a Court dress at exceptionally low prices. This was touching testimony coming from an outsider. Unfortunately its full effect was marred by the discovery made by Sir John Tenniel that his letter was addressed to Sir George Lewis, the Ely place Sachem having received the letter intended for the private and exclusive gratification of Sir John. The unhappy tailor, in the excitement of the moment had put the letters in the wrong envelope. A Court dress, sword included, costs, I am told, 40 guineas. The fee paid on letters patent for a knighthood involves the expenditure of another £3O. A baronet cannot be done under £3OQ; a baron's see is £150; a viscount's, £200; an earl's £250; a marquis's, £3OO ; whilst a dukedom begins with a fine of £260.