The House of Lords still exercises several useful functions; but the ruling influence--the deciding faculty--has passed to what, using the language of old times, we still call the lower house--to an assembly which, though inferior as a dignified institution, is superior as an efficient institution.
Bagehot discusses the shift of power from the House of Lords to the House of Commons in modern governance.
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The whole history of civilisation, is strewn with creeds and institutions which were invaluable at first, and deadly afterwards.
The power of free interchange of ideas being wanting, the ideas themselves were barren.
The work would be done so well that we should not want any one to look over or revise it.
Now it is not conceivable that a race of beings with valuable instincts supporting their existence and supplying their wants would need these simple tools.
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