21 FEBRUARY 1914, Page 18

THE SALE OF HONOURS.

[To no Zones or no .Svrornon."1

Sut,—It may interest many readers at the moment to be aseured that the attainment of honours by corrupt means is no modern invention, witness the following cogent postscript from a letter of the celebrated " Steenie" (Duke of Bucking- ham) to his Majesty King James L, printed in Dalrymple's Memorials

Here le a gentleman called Sir Francis Leeks who bath like- wise a Philosopher's stone; tie worth but Eight Thousand; he will give it me if you will snake him a baron ; I will, if you command not the contrary, have his patent ready to sign when I come down. He is of good religion, well born, and bath a good estate. I pray you burn this letter."