Two great Whig Earls were at the same time created Dukes, Bedford and Devonshire.

It ought to be mentioned that Bedford had repeatedly refused the dignity which he now somewhat reluctantly accepted.

He declared that he preferred his Earldom to a Dukedom, and gave a very sensible reason for the preference.

An Earl who had a numerous family might send one son to the Temple and another to a counting house in the city.

But the sons of a Duke were all lords; and a lord could not make his bread either at the bar or on Change.