LAND AND W A T E R . 
January 13, 1916. 
The Prince of Wales came home on a few days' leave last 
week, Prince Albert having come up to Buckingham 
Palace to meet him in London. The appointment of 
H.R.H. to the Chairmanship of the Committee of War 
Pensions is in every way an excellent one. The Prince 
while in France has gained the confidence of all ranks, 
and the fact that he will be at the head of this difficult 
and onerous work will be taken as a guarantee of straight- 
forward and generous dealing. Pensions Committees 
in the past have not altogether enjoyed a good reputation, 
the tendency having been to allow the duties to fall into 
the hands of one or two individuals, who have often 
been of the cast-iron red-tape type. 
Lady Dorothy Bhgli, whose marriage with Mr. D. S. Peploe, 
loth Hussars, will' shortly be celebrated, is the only 
daughter of the Earl and Countess of Darnley. Cobham 
Hall, the family seat near Gravesend, is one of the most 
beautiful places within easy reach of London. In a 
favourable summer the rhododendrons, when in full 
blossom, are a sight once seen never to be forgotten. 
Lady Dorothy's first cousin is Baroness Clifton of 
Leighton Bromswold, in her own right, while her elder 
brother is Lord Clifton of Rathmore, for the Blighs 
enjoyed two baronies of CUfton, one inherited by marriage 
in 1713 and the other conferred in 1721. 
The rescue of Lord Montagu of Beaulieu was miraculous, and 
it is to be hoped that he will be able to shake off the effects 
of the severe fatigue and shock through which he has 
passed. Like Clivc, he must feel himself reserved for 
great things, and he will be encouraged thereto by the 
tributes of affection which were written in several papers 
and by more than one friend. In some of these it struck 
one that unnecessary emphasis was laid on his receiving 
the Kaiser at Beaulieu as an English gentleman should 
do. After all it was only what one might e.xpect from 
a descendant of the " bold Buccleuch," who, according 
to tradition, put Queen Bess in her place — a much more 
ditticult job one would think. 
It was the father of the "bold Buccleuch, " also Walter 
Scott, who won the reputation of being " a man of rare 
qualities, wise/true, stout and modest "— qualities and 
attributes which are evidently in the blood. 
Sir Alexander Henderson, by assuming the title of Lord 
Faringdon, is laying up trouble for his correspondents, 
many of whom will invariably spell it with two " r's " 
Farringdon Street being so much more familiar Not 
far from Farringdon Street is the home of that famous 
great daily, the Standard, the full control of which Sir 
Alexander took over only a few months ago, after it 
had passed through troublous times. Already it has 
responded to the new and healthier influences, for on 
all sides one hears good spoken of it, so it should only 
be a matter of time for its old cjlories to be restored. 
Six new peerages were created on the first of this month 
During the last fifteen years, since the death of Queen 
Victoria, 117 peerages have been made. Had this rate 
of creation been maintained say since James I. came to 
the Throne, the Roll of the Lords Temporal would have 
included about 2,500 names instead of 700 as at present. 
The bumper crop of new coronets occurred in 1906, when 
the total reached 17, in 1905 and again in 1910 there 
were 14, and in 191 1 13. As against these figures 
it is interesting to notice that in the Diamond Jubilee 
year there were only six new peers. , 
In that year of Jubilee twenty-one baronetcies and 218 knight- 
hoods were conferred, but in 1911 the accolade was 
bestowed on 351 worthy men, whereas the record year 
for baronetcies was 1905, when eight and twenty gentlemen 
were granted hereditary honours. During the fifteen 
years since 1901 the number of new baronets has been 
273 and of new .knights 2,723. For these remarkable 
figures I am indebted to Debrett's peerage. 
The baronetcy of Wake, which has just passed from father 
to son, stands eighteenth on the Official Roll, having 
been bestowed on December 5th, 1621 ; the premier 
baronetcy, that of Sir Hickman Bacon, was founded 
just ten years previously -in i6ti. It is accepted that 
the Wakes of Courteenhall derive descent from the 
Last of the Saxons, though it was only in comparatively 
recent times that the famous baptismal name of Herewald 
was revived, Charles and William having for 
generations been the favourite first name. In the 
seventeenth century there was an Isaac Wake, which 
sounds incongruous,, and the sixth baronet was Sir 
Charles Wake- Jones, a Miss Jones having brought 
to the family as her dowry the manor of Courteenhall, 
among other possessions. 
It really seems as if London has at last reached the limit of 
war restrictions ; the streets can hardly be darker at 
night and unless all alcohol is to be stopped because, 
broadly speaking, one per 10,000 of its inhahitants is un- 
able to keep sober, notwithstanding the present obstacles 
between drinker and drink, it looks as if there can be no 
further interference in this direction. The restaurants 
continue to be better patronised than ever ; Prince's 
which is in Piccadilly, and therefore right in the very 
heart of things, seems always full. There is no pleasanter 
place for a quiet luncheon than its grill room. 
Sarah Bernhardt is receiving her usual great welcome in 
London, Oueen Alexandra and Queen Amehe being 
present on her opening day. Besides the huge audience 
inside the Coliseum, a crowd of equally devoted admirers 
waited patiently for the great actress outside to see her 
arrive. Mme. ISernhardt presented I.es Cathedrales, by 
M. Eugene Moraud, with music by Gabriel Pierno, ht'r 
own part being the masterpiece. The singing of the 
Marseillaise at the end rose into a regular ovation. 
I am told by one who was present that New Year's Eve at 
the Piccadilly Hotel was a wonderful sight. Casali 
had some delightful table decorations in the shape of 
china British bull dogs guarding Union Jacks which 
fetched everybody. These were delightful. 
The National Portrait Society will hold an exhibition at the 
Grosvenor Gallery about the middle of February, and 
arrangements are already in progress to secure it its 
full meed of success. Even in war time it is an event 
which an increasing number of people would be sorry 
to lose, and the opening day is always an interesting 
and amusing occasion. 
Sidmouth is among the first favourites of South Coast watering 
places this winter. There is a charm about the place 
which draws back people year after year. Tucked 
away in the beautiful Vale of" the Sid it is sheltered and 
warm, and now that it has excellent hotels, the number 
of its annual visitors has increased greatly. Among the 
hotels the Fortfield occupies the front rank for it is so 
comfortable and delightfully situat(>d. It overlooks 
the sea from which it is only separated by the famous 
cricket ground, one of the most picturesque in England. 
The hotel is as it were the Society hub of the town, for 
its guests find that every place 'they visit is in close 
proximity to it. Sidmouth this winter has done better 
than ever, though, it always regards the early spring as 
its peculiar season. "Hermes. 
NEW LIGHTING REGULATIONS.— Motorist.s, whose cars are 
fitted with C.A.V. Side lamps, models, " E.S.," " G.S.," " E.S.," 
or " B.S.," should write for a pair of perforated discs to'c. A. Van- 
dervell and Co. (Ltd.), Electrical Engineers, Acton, London W 
THE CAR LIGHTING SPECI.\LISTS.— (Advt.) 
684 
