The pretensions put forward by James I. greatly embarrassed the judges charged with the examination of the rights of the Trinity House; and the inquiry might have lasted for years had it not been abruptly concluded, after our English fashion, by a compromise. It was decided that the fraternity of the Trinity House should be authorized to erect lighthouses, but that the crown should enjoy the same privilege in virtue of the common law. From this decision it naturally came to pass that, instead of remaining, as Elizabeth had designed, the exclusive property of the Trinity House, the lease and monopoly of the fires lighted on the coasts were granted or sold by the sovereign to certain private individuals. As a result of this decision, says M. Esquiros, in his lively manner, there was not a bare and desolate angle of rock in the kingdom which was not coveted by speculators as a site for a tower and a beacon-fire. Lord Grenville, an able statesman and shrewd man of the world, wrote in his diary in the form of a note or memorandum: “_Mem._ To watch the moment when the King is in a good temper, to ask of him a lighthouse.” It would be difficult to estimate the amount realized by those persons whom the king favoured with such marks of his goodwill; but from the luxurious state they maintained it is evident their profits must have been immense. * * * * * We may readily conjecture the evil results of such a system. Many of the lights were deficient in power; others were never kindled; yet in every case heavy tolls were exacted from passing vessels. At length the scandal grew intolerable, and in the reign of William IV. Parliament interfered to establish a certain uniformity in the administration of lighthouses, and to provide for a considerable reduction of the dues. All the interests of the Crown were made over to the Trinity House, which, moreover, was empowered to buy up the lighthouses belonging to private individuals; and the Corporation having always acted with singular zeal, efficiency, and public spirit, the system of our coast-defences has gradually attained to a remarkable degree of completeness. * * * * * A word or two may now be said on the interior organization of the Trinity House. It includes two bodies of associates: the _Elder_, and the _Younger Brothers_. At first no such distinction existed; but the pretext put forward to justify the exclusion of the Younger Brethren from sharing in the conduct of the Society was, that they showed too much fervour at its meetings. The Younger Brethren, now-a-days, are chosen by the Council on the motion of one of the Elder Brethren. Their number was formerly unlimited. It cannot be too large, say the ancient charters, because our seamen represent the strength of the nation. At the present time there are 360.