' ^^^^!A-\^-'\ 8;' ' '-7.2, J.w> ¦^" -t ^- \ -7 3. -i-r.^ •• -> - 'Vr^ ;^''J1^! 1^ Is!'; is^i .-^^at 'y,ll ilWil*"' Jt* "-"r'JSKbfiW'^ fe^div-,"- ?Ji?£37-^i fffiitiASiisiiys'' 0/ 6.IQS JJ-. 1^7-1 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK CHURCH AND STATE; CONTAINING AN HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OP THE DUTIES AND POWERS OF THE CROWN AND THE LEGISLATURE — AND OF THE CIVIL, MILITARY, JUDICIAL, AND ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITIES OP THE UNITED KINGDOM AND COLONIES. A NEW AND THOROUGHLY REVISED EDITION. Saxfww.e.1 "R^^agv-a-v^ LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. 1855. ^.V8 CONTENTS OF THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. Page Introduction iii Alphabetical Table of Contents ix Section I.— The Queen, Royal Family,. Great Officers op State, and Eoyal Households 1 II. — Peerage and Baronetage of the United Kingdom, Orders of Knighthood, and other Honorary Distinctions 25 III. — Legislature, and Officers of the Houses of Par liament ....... 36 IV. — ^Ecclesiastical Authorities, Dignitaries, Courts, AND Establishments 50 V Judges, Courts of Law, Law Officers, and Legal Establishments 69 VI. — Executive Government, comprising all the Civil Departments and Offices 100 VII. — Army, Ordnance, and Military Departments . . . 238 VIII. — Admiralty and Naval Departments 261 IX. — The Irish Government, Scotland, the Isle op Man, AND Channel Islands 273 By G, 5€* !?r THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. INTRODUCTION. The object of this work is to describe concisely the autho rities and duties of the chief officers of the state and government; to give a just knowledge of the responsibilities and labours which high office entails in the present day, with its emolu ments and patronage ; and to bring together in an accessible form all useful information connected with the routine of office duties and the machinery of the govemment. The work is put forth at a time when many changes are taking place in the public departments, and the remuneration and duties of office are closely canvassed. It will show how few, if any, offices now remain to which the name of sinecure can justly be applied, and by describing the duties, responsibi lities, and emolument attaching to all the more important offices, may be the means of removing some misrepresenta tions upon such questions. The political offices necessitate an attendance in the department during the day, and in parliament till late in the night, and entail much unavoidable expense. When the salaries now paid for such labours are compared with the larger incomes obtained by the successful pursuit of the professions or of commerce, fears may, on the other hand, be entertained lest the public service should suffer from an overstrained economy. ¦ The salaries o( professional public servants have been reduced a 2 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. to the minimum at which they may be tempted to quit their professions for the service of the Crown : for instance, the Judges' salaries are fixed at the lowest amount which it is supposed will induce a successfiil advocate to leave the bar for the bench. The Church enjoys its own revenues. They have, however, within these few years, been equalized and reduced. With these exceptions, the salaries of the highest offices in the home government do not exceed 5000Z. a year. They were as high, in many cases higher, at the Restoration, and at that time the salary was only a small part of the gains of office. From the highest to the lowest, all practised what would now be termed gross corruption, and places, titles, and even pardons, were sold. Patronage was also, up to recent times, a great inducement to office and addition to its emoluments. Sinecure appointments were the means of rewarding those who rendered services to the Crown or the minister, and were in many instances appro priated by him for his own aggrandizement, or granted in reversion to the members of his family. The yearly amount of the sinecure offices existing in 1810 was estimated by a Committee of the House of Commons, which sat in that year, at 297,095Z. In 1834 another Committee reported that the yearly amount of the sinecure offices then existing had been reduced to 97,803?., and that the offices constituting this sum had been already prospectively reduced by parliamentary enactments to less than 17,000?. a year; and the Treasury in the same year, in pursuance of the recommendation of this Committee, made provision for the immediate aboHtion of many sinecures, and the prospective abolition of all others on the termination of existing interests. It will be said that those filling high offices have still the distribution of the patronage of the Crown and the govemment. This is true, and it is both expedient and proper that it should be so. But offices are no longer sold, sinecures no longer exist, and the means of using patronage for the promotion of political ends, or the gratification of private friendsliips, have introduction. been diminished in proportion as useless or irresponsible offices have been abolished. The saying attributed to Mr. Pitt, that he had given but one place to the man he wished, will be found more applicable to a minister at the present day, whose appointments are the syibject of parliamentary question and public scrutiny. Further, all pensions and all compensations, retired allowances and superannuations to public servants, have now been placed beyond the reach of political influence, and strictly regulated by parliament. Great progress has, at the same time, been made in the reform and consolidation of departments. This subject, first earnestly taken up by Mr. Burke in 1780, has been forced upon every succeeding minister ; and, since the peace, great savings have been effected. Some instances of the large sums formerly received by public servants for very inadequate services may readily be given ; but the salary continued to constitute the least portion of the emolument. The corruptions practised a century earlier had given place to great irregularities of another sort. Large balances were suffered to accumulate and remain in the hands of pubhc officers, which were the source of great profits. In 1781 the net pay of the Paymaster-General, whose duties were then liraited to military payments only, was S0611. a year. For the twelve preceding years the balances of this officer averaged 558,898?. Upon retiring from office the Paymaster-General took with him his balance, and there were at this time no less than four Paymasters-General, with very considerable balances on their hands, great part of which had been held pending the settlement of their accounts for many years after their resignation. The Chief Cashier in the department received a salary of 460Z. a year, which his fees and gratuities increased to 7159?. The Accountant received 1501?., and the First Clerk 1448?. a year. In the pay de partment of the Navy the profits of office were not less. The Treasurer of the Navy was originally paid by a poundage on his disbursements (as was also the case with the Army THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. payments) ; and Sir Harry Vane, who held that office in the latter part of Charles l.'s reign, is said to have declared that the profits belonging to it were too great for a subject. A salary of 2000?. was substituted for a poundage in 1695, which was increased by the use of large balances till 1781, when the outstanding balances of four Treasurers were called in, and the system was altered, the salary being increased to 4000?., and his deputy received 1500?. The Exchequer fiir- nished at this period similar examples. The salary, allow ances, fees, and gratuities of the Auditor of the .Exchequer in 1780 amounted to 14,016?. ; the share of fees to each of the four Tellers, in addition to a small salary, was 7038?., and their four deputies and four clerks received from 1100?. to 1720?. each; the Clerk of the Pells received 7597?.; the two Auditors of the Imprests, in 1783, 16,000?. each, but this in cluded some arrears of fees ; and several other officers received very large allowances. These are prominent instances certainly, but they are a type of the times to which they refer ; and by a comparison of the present state of the same offices, they will forcibly confirm the truth of the preceding observations. The duties of the Pay master-General now include all military, naval, and civil payments, and the office is, at the present time, held conjointly with tbe Vice-Presidentship of the Board of Trade. The salary of the joint office is 2000?. a year, while the Deputy Paymaster-General, who also fills the office of Cashier, receives 1100?. a year. The head officer of the Admiralty having control of the payments, which are all made by the Paymaster- General, is the Accovmtant-General of the Navy, who receives 1000?. a year. The Exchequer has been entirely remodelled ; the payments have been transferred to the Paymaster-General, and the system of control and check which belongs to the department is now exercised by the Comptroller-General, who receives 2000?. a year. The salaries, too, form the whole emolument ; all public balances are paid to the public account at the Bank of England, and are so far beyond the control of INTRODUCTION. the officers in whose names they stand, that they cannot be used for any private or Individual advantage. The information contained in this work, now for the first time collected, has been sought from many sources ; and, though no pains have been spared, it cannot be assumed that inaccu racies have not arisen. The creation of new administrative functions, and the constant changes in departments and officers, necessarily render the design of the work periodical. The compiler will therefore thankfully acknowledge any corrections addressed to him at the pubhsher's ; and he trusts that he may be able, with such assistance, to render the work one of recog nised authority and permanent utility. It remains to tbe compiler to express his very sincere thanks for the kind and valuable assistance which he has received. SAMUEL REDGRAVE. KensiTigton, December 1851. VIII THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND EDITION. The present Edition has been carefully revised, much enlarged by additional matter, and the information brought down to the present date. The plan has also been so far altered, that the Lists of the Royal Households, of the Members of the Houses of Legislature, of the Peers, and the principal Ecclesiastical, Judicial, and Civil and Military Authorities, which are constantly liable to change, have been printed separately — while the Historic portion of the work, containing information of a more permanent character, is presented by itself in the present volume, — an arrangement which will afford greater facilities for revision and correction in that portion of the work which is necessarily subject to change. Chiswick, 1st December 1854. ( ix ) ALPHABETICAL LIST OF CONTENTS. Accountant-General's Office Accountant-general of Navy Addiscombe Military School Addresses to the Queen . . Adjutant-General's Office . Admiralty .... Patronage . Court . . Admiralty, First Lord Advocates' College . Advocate, the Lord THE Queen's . . Almoner, Hereditary Grand . THE Lord High . . Ambassadors ¦ Salaries . - Pensions . Page 82 269234 5 248 261 265 272265 63 282 9322 22 177 179 181 ,172 78 39 625364 67 59 Anatomy, Inspectors of . . , Appeal in Chancery, Judges of Appropriation Act .... Arches Court Archbishops and Bishops . . Ecclesiastical Commissioners . Church Building Commissioners Archdeacon Akmy and Ordnance .... 238 Appointments and Promotions 245 Control by Parliament ... 239 Estimates, Annual .... 240 Good Service Pensions . . . 245 Mutiny Act 240 Prices of Commissions . . . 246 Pay and Staff allowances . . 242 Eegimental pay 243 Half-pay 244 Abmy Medical Department . 253 Aktillery Corps . Attorney-General Audit Office . . Bank of England .... Bankruptcy, Court of . . Baronetage, United Kingdom Bath, Order of the . . , Bedchamber, Ladies of . . Women . . . Lords of . . Grooms of . . Births, etc.. Registrar op . Bishops, The Lords in Parliament Form of Appointment . Episcopal Authority . . . Regulation of their Incomes In Foreign Countries . . In the Colonies .... Bishops, Irish Black Rod, Gentleman Usher Board of Control .... Green Cloth . . Health .... Ordnance . . . Trade and Planta. TIONS .... British Guiana, Immigration Commission Buckhounds, Master of Cabinet Council .... Formation .of Ministiy , . Change of Ministry . . . Cambridge University Comm. the OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. Page Canons . 59 Cathedral Commission . . . 220 Chairman of Committees : — House of Lords 45 House of Commons .... 48 Chamberlain, the Lord . . 15 , THE Lord Great 21 , THE Vice ... 17 Chancellor, the Lord ... 79 Legal Functions 79 Patronage 71 Political Authority and Powers 70 Speaker, House of Lords . . 45 Chancellor of the Exchequer 122 Chancellor of Duchy of Lan caster 210 Chancery, High Court of . . 77 Accountant-General's Office . 81 Crown Office 86 Enrolment Office 84 Examiners' Office .... 85 Great Seal Patent Office . . 85 Lords Justices of Appeal . . 78 Master of the Rolls .... 80 Masters in Chancery ... 81 Masters in Lunacy .... 86 Petty-hag Office 84 Presentation Office .... 84 Records and Writs Office . . 86 Registrars' Office 83 Report and Entries Office . . 85 Taxing Masters 85 Vice-Chancellors 80 Visitors of Lunatics .... 86 Chancery Court of Ireland . 276 Chancery Commission . . . 220 Change of Ministry ... 101 Channel Islands 283 Charity Commissioners ... 89 Chelsea Hospital 253 Chief Justice of Queen's Bench 73 Chiltern Hundreds .... 41 Chivalry, Court of ... . 21 Page Church, the Established : — TeiTitorial Divisions . . Benefices and Revenues . . Disabihties and Privileges . The Queen, as Head of . . Form of appointing Bishops Archbishops and Bishops . Income and Patronage . . Bishops in Foreign Countries Colonial Bishops .... Deans and Chapters . . . Archdeacons and Rural Deans Collegiate Chapters . . . Synod or Convocation . . Church Estates Commissioners Churches Building Comm. . Civil List Clerk of House op Commons Clerks of the Council . . Clerk of the Parliaments Clerk Marshal and Chief Equerry Clerks Assistant, Ho. Lords CoAL-MiNES, Inspectors of Coal-Whippers' Office Coin, amount Coined . , College op Advocates . , THE Heralds' Collegiate Churches . Colonial Bishops . . . Department . Laws .... Colonies and Settlements Commander-in-Chief's Office Commissariat Office . . Estimates . Commissions of Inquiry . Commissions, Purchase of Commissioners — For Affairs of India . . Of Bankruptcy . . . Of Customs .... Of Police ALPHABETICAL CONTENTS. -Xl Of Inland Revenue . Of Insolvency , . In Lunacy .... The Charity . . . Copyhold, Enclosure Of Sewers .... Common Pleas Court , Dublin Mastei'.s" Office Commons, House of .... Acceptance ofOffice under Crown Chairman of Committees Chiltern Hundreds . . Constitution of House . Grant of Supplies . . Legislative Capacity . . Officers of the House Speaker Comptroller — Of the Household . . Of Household Accounts Of the Exchequer . . Consistory Court . . . Consolidated Fond . . Constable, the Lord High Constabulary Force Commis sion Consuls, their Ddties . Control, Board op . . Convocation op Clergy . Copyhold Commissioners Corn Returns Office Cornwall, Duchy of . . Council Office .... Board of Trade . Education Committee . Judicial Committee . . Privy Council . . . County Courts .... . . Commission Court op Arches . . Bankruptcy Chancery . Page 152 92 86 89 174 206 74 277 7538 41 4841 39 3931 47 47 1411 135 63 39 22 218 179221 60 174 118 210 108112111 109 103 77 220 6291 77 Court of Chivalry . . Claims ... Common Pleas Criminal Appeal — Exchequer. . Exchequer Chamber Faculties . Insolvent Debtors Lord High Steward — ¦ Peculiars . . — '¦ Queen's Bench The Lord Lyon Session, Scotland Courts of Equity . . Law . . . Commission Courts, Ecclesiastical County . . Police . . Martial . . Courts op Law Commission Criminal Appeal Court Custom-house .... Deans and Chapters . , Rural . . . Art Dean of the Arches Court Defence of the Realm . . Department of Science and Deputy Speaker, House Lords Diplomatic Agents . Salaries Pensions .... Drainage Commissioners Duchy of Lancaster . Cornwall . Duke of York's School Earl Marshal . . . East India Company , Home Governeent Territorial Go- vernment . . Page 21237476 75 76 6392 23 6272 279280 7072 219 60 77 167 260219 76 150 58 59 62 213119 45 177 179 181 175209 210253 21 225 22 231 the OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. East India College .... Military School . Ecclesiastical Authorities . Commissioners . CotJRTS . . . Education Committee of Privy Council Emigration Commissioners Enclosure Commissioners Engineers, Corps of . . Enrolled Pensioners Enrolment Office . . Equerries, Her Majesty's Equity Courts .... Established Church, England Scotland Ireland. Estimates — Army Commissariat Navy Ordnance Examiners' Office .... Exchequer Bills Chamber, Court of Court Court, Dublin . . Offices .... Pleas Office . . Exchequer, Chancellor of Executive Government . . . Exhibition of 1851 Commission Expenditure of United King dom EXONS. Yeomen of Guard Factory Inspectors .... Faculties, Court of ... . Fine Arts Commission . . . First Fruits & Tenths Office Foreign Department . . . French & Danish Claims Comm. Garter, Order of the . , . Page 234 234 50 64 60 215 183174 256 252 8420 70 67 279276 240 241 262241 83 136 7675 277 135 75 127 100 219131 18 170 63 218 66 176 218 33 Page Gazette Office 162 Genbeal Assembly, Chitrch op Scotland .... 279 Gentleman Usher — Black Rod 46 Privy Chamber 17 Gentlemen- at-Arms .... 17 Governors of Colonies : Their duties 186 Salaries 187 Grand Almoner 22 Gray's Inn 96 Great Officers of State . . 21 Great Seal Patent Office . 85 Green Cloth, Board of . . . 13 Greenwich Hospital . . . . 271 Schools . 271 Grooms of the Bedchamber . 19 Grooms in Waiting .... 17 Geoom of the Stole .... 18 Half-pay, Army 244 Navy 264 Harbours & Hydrographio De partment 270 Hayleybuey College . . . 234 Health, Board op . . . . 203 Heralds 24 College 24 HEREDItARY OFFICERS OF StATE 21 Home Department . . . . 163 Honorary Canonries . . . ¦ 59 Horse, Master of the ... 20 House op Lords. — See Lords. Commons. — See Commons. Household, The Royal ... 13 LordChamberlain'sDepartment 15 Master of Horse's Department 20 Ladies of H.M.'s Household . 19 Lord Steward's Department . 13 Impressment op Seamen . . . 261 Income of United Kingdom . 181 alphabetical contents. XUI Page Incumbered Estates Comm. . 220 India Board 221 Indian Judicial Commission . 220 Inland Revenue Office . . 152 Inns of Court 96 Inquiry, Commissions of . . . 217 Insolvent Debtors' Court . . 92 Inspectors of Anatomy ... 172 Impeachment, Power of . . . 38 Inspectors of Factories . . 170 Mines .... 171 Coal Mines . .172 Prisons ... 169 Irish Government 273 Church Establishment . 276 Law Courts 276 Office 276 School Endowment Com sion 220 Judge Advocate General . . 259 Judges of Superior Courts . 69 Their Salaries 69 Assize Circuits . ... 70 Retired Pensions .... 72 Judges of Appeal in Chancery 78 Judges, Ireland 277 Scotland 280 Judicial Committee of Privy Council 109 Joint-Stock Companies' Regis tration Office 119 Keeper, the Lord .... 79 OF the Privy Purse . 19 Kings at Arms 97 Knighthood, Orders of . . . 32 The Bath 34 The Garter 33 St. Patrick 33 St. Michael and St. George . 35 The Thistle 38 Ladies op the Bedchamber . 19 Hage Ladies op the Queen's House hold 19 Lancaster, Duchy op . . . 209 Land Revenues Account . . 148 Law Officers, England ... 93 Scotland . . 282 Legal Establishments . . 69 Legislature, the 36 Lieutenancy, England & Wa les 211 Lincoln's Inn 96 Lord Advocate of Scotland . 282 Chamberlain .... 15 . Great Chamberlain . . 21 High Almoner .... 22 High Commissioner, Church of Scotland 280 Lord High Constable ... 22 High Steward .... 22 Lieutenant of Ireland . 273 - — • Steward of the House hold 14 Lord Privy Seal 155 Lord Chief Baron, Exchequer 69 Lord Chief Justice — Queen's Bench 73 Common Pleas 69 Lord Lyon's Court, Scotland . 279 Lords Justices 6 Lieutenant 211 IN Waiting 17 OF THE Admiralty . . 265 Treasury . . . 128 Bedchamber . . 18 , House of 37 How constituted 37 Authority and Powers ... 37 Principal Officers .... 45 Lunacy Commissioners ... 86 . , Masters in ... . 86 Lunatics, Visitors of . . 86 Maids of Honour . ... 19 Man, Isle of 283 THE official handbook. Page Marines, Pay and Half Pay . 264 Marriages, Royal Family . . 12 Master of the Buckhounds . 20 Horse ... 20 Household . 15 Mint ... 1 39 Master General op Ordnance 254 Master of the Rolls .... 80 Masters of Queen's Bench . 74 Common Pleas . . 75 Court OF Chancery 81 in Chancery . . 81 IN Lunacy ... 86 Maynooth College Commission 220 Medical Department — Army . 253 Navy . 270 Merchant Seamen's Act . . 116 — Office . 123 Metropolitan Buildings Of fice 208 Metropolitan Commission of Sewers 206 Metropolitan Improvements Commission 218 Metropolitan Police Force . ] 68 Military Academy, Woolwich 258 ' Asylum, Chelsea College, Sandhurst School, Addiscombe Militia of Great Britain Mines, Inspectors op . Ministry, Change of Mint, H.M.'s .... Mistress of the Robes Mutiny Act .... National Debt Office Naval Departments . Naval Coast Volunteers Navy Estimates . . . Pay and Half-pay New Churches, Commissioners for Building 253249 234 212171101139 19 240 137269 262 262263 67 Page New Palace Commjs.sion . 219 Newcastle Cholera Commission 220 Officers of State .... 14 Orders op Knighthood ... 32 Ordnance Office 254 Estimates .... 241 Oxford University Commission 219 Pages of Honour . . . Parliament Constitution of . . . Queen's authority in. . House of Lords . . . House of Commons . . Qualifications of Members Avoidance of Seat . . Election Inquiries . . Powers of Parliament . Duration of Parliaments Summons, prorogation, dissolu tion Parliaments since Union Privileges of Members . . Distribution of papers . Parliaments, Clerk of . . Passports — Foreign Office Patent Office, Great Seal Law Officers Patriotic Fund Commission Paymaster-General . . . Pay of the Army .... Artillery . . Marines . . . Militia . . . ¦ Navy .... Ordnance Corps Peculiars, Court of . . . Peerage op the United Kingdom Creation and Descent . . Forms of Creation . . . Fees on Creation . . . , Scotch and Irish Peers . . 2036 36 36 3738 40 4141 4142 42 44 444445 177 8595 220 133242 259 264 214 263 2.57 622525 26 2828 Origin of Ranks 29 ALPHABETICAL CONTENTS, XV Page Mode of Addi-ess 30 Privileges 30 Increase of Peerage .... 31 Peeresses . 31 Pensions, Civil 129 Army 245 Diplomatic . . . 181 Petitions to the Queen . . 5 Petty Bag Office 84 Police Commissioners . . . 169 Courts 167 Gazette 168 Magistrates .... 167 Poor Law Board 201 Post Office 144 Postmaster-General . . . 146 Prerogative Court .... 62 Presentations, Secretary op 84 President of the Council . . 108 Board op Control . 222 Board op Trade . 113 Prince Consort 10 op Wales 11 Prisons — Government Office 170. Inspectors .... 169 Privy Council 103 Constitution 104 Functions 105 Officers 108 Education Committee . . . Ill Judicial Committee .... 109 Board of Trade 112 Privy Council, Ireland . . . 275 Seal Office .... 155 Purse, Keeper op . . 19 Public Records Ireland Comm. 219 Office ... 96 Public Works and Building, Office of . . 140 . ._ Loan Office . 139 Pyx Trial of the 136 Page Quartermaster-General . . 249 Queen, H.M., the 1 Right and Descent .... 1 Coronation 1 Choice of Ministers .... 3 Private Estate 5 Legislative Authority ... 36 Head of the Church. ... 52 Prerogatives and Powers . . 2 Civil List 3 Royal Household 13 Children of Her Majesty . . 10 Mode of Address 8 Queen Consort 5 Queen Dowager . . . . 6 Queen Anne's Bounty ... 66 Queen's Advocate .... 93 Bench Court ... 72 Crown Office . 73 Masters' Office 74 Remembrancer's Office 75 Railway Board. — See Board of Trade. Record Office Records and Writs Office . Regent Registrar-General's Office Registrars' Office . . . Registration of Title Comm. Registry of Designs Office Report and Entries Office Revenue of United Kingdom River Tyne Commission . . Robes, Mistress of the . . Rolls, Master of the . . Royal Family Annuities to Household . Marriage Act Rural Deans Sandhurst Military College St. Patrick, Order of . . 96 84 6 173 83 220 118 83 131 220 19 80 1112 13 1259 249 33 XVl THE official HANDBOOK. Page St. Michael and St. George, Order op 35 Schools of Design. See De partment of Science and Art. Schools of Mines. See ditto. Scotland, Government of . . 277 Officers of State 278 Established Church .... 279 Judges 280 Law Officers 282 Secretariat of State . . . 156 Secretary op State — Colonial Department . . . 181 Foreign Department . . . . 176 Home Department .... 3 63 War Department .... 200 For Ireland 275 Secretary at War .... 250 Sees of the Bishops .... 56 Sergeant at Arms — House of Lords 46 House of Commons .... 49 Sewers' Commission .... 206 Sheriffs,mEngland and Wales 216 Shipping Dues Commission . . 220 Signet Office. — See Privy Seal Office 155 Sinking Fund 137 Solicitor of the Treasury 133 — General .... 93 Speaker House ComIions . . 47 Spiritual Peers 37 Stamps and Taxes.— See In land Revenue. State, Great Officers op . . 21 State Paper Office . . . . 161 Stationery Office . . . . 155 Statistical Department. — See Board OP Trade .... 117 Statute Laws Commission . . 220 Steward, the Lord .... 14 High . . 22 Page Storekeeper General of Navy 269 Subdivision of Parishes Com mission 219 Superannuation Allowances . 129 Supply, (/Ommittee of . . . 39 Surveyor op the Navy . . . 269 General of Prisons 170 Synod or Convocation ... 60 Taxing Masters 83 Temple, The 96 Thistle, Order op 33 Tithe Commissioners .... 174 Treasurer of the Household 14 Treasury, First Lord of . . 126 THE 125 Lords of ... . 125 Solicitor of . . . 133 Trinity House 123 Trade, Board OF 112 Usher to the Black Rod 46 Vicar-General's Office . . 63 Vice-Chamberlain .... 17 Vice-Chancellors 80 Victualling & Transport Dep. 270 Visitors of Lunatics .... 86 Volunteers 215 Naval .... 262 Wales, Prince op 11 War Minister 200 — — Office 05Q Ways and Means Committee . 39 Women of the Bedchamber . 19 Woolwich Military Academy 258 Woods and Forests Office . . 141 Works and Public Buildings Office 14Q Yeomanry and Volunteers . 215 Yeomen of the Guard ... is SECTION I. THE QUEEN, EOYAL FAMILY, GREAT OFFICERS OF STATE, AND ROYAL HOUSEHOLDS. Quem Regnant :— 1. Her Majesty's right and descent.— 2. Coronation. — 3. Powers and prerogatives. — 4. Choice of Ministers.— 5. The Civil List.— 6. Her present Majesty's Civil List.— 7. Private Es tate. — 8. Mode of Address. Queen Regnant. — 1. The Queen reigns in her own right, and by a declaratory Act of the 1st Mary, sess. 3 cap. 2, exercises the full power and authority of the Crown, which she holds by inheritance, as the descendant of King George I., the son and heir of the Princess Sophia, Electress Dowager of Hanover, and granddaughter of King James I., pursuant to the Act of Settlemerit, 12 and 13 William III. cap. 3, this statute limiting the succession to such heirs of that Princess as are Protestant members of the Church of England and shall not marry a Papist. The heir immediately succeeds on the demise of a Sovereign. The descent is to the sons and their issue according to seniority, and on a failure of male issue, a female succeeds, the rule in that case differing from a private inheri tance, in that the eldest daughter takes the whole inheritance, which is perforce indivisible, to the exclusion of her younger sisters. With the Crown of England the inheritance comprises the Crown of Scotland and of Ireland, and all the possessions of the British Empire. 2. The Coronation of a Sovereign is made imperative hy the statute 1 William and Mary, which — after reciting that by law and ancient usage of this Realm, the King and Queen thereof have taken a solemn oath upon the Evangelists, at their coronations, to maintain the statutes, laws, and customs of the nation, and all the people and inhabitants thereof in their spiritual and civil rights and properties — enacted that one uniform oath shall be administered to every King and Queen who shall succeed to the 2 THE official HANDBOOK, SECT. I. Crown, at their respective coronations, hy one of the Archbishops or Bishops, ini prescribed the following form -.—The Archbishop or Bishop shall say, " Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the people of this kingdom of England, and the dominions thereto belonging, according to the statutes in Par liament agreed on, and the laws and customs of the same? The King or Qiieeri shall say, I solemnly promise so to do. Archbishop or Bishop : Will you, to your power, cause law and justice, in mercy, to be executed in all your judgments ? King or Queen : I will. Archbishop or Bishop : Will you, to the utmost of your power, maintain the laws of God, the true pro fession of the gospel, and the Protestant reformed religion established by the law ; and will you preserve unto the bisho]ps and clergy of this realm, and to the churches committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges as by law do or shall appertain unto them, or any of them ? King or Queen : All this I promise to do. After this, the King or Queen, laying his or her hand upon the holy Gospels, shall say : The things which I have here before promised, I will perform and keep ; so help me God : and then shall Jciss the booh." The statute appoints no fixed period for the ceremonial ; but the coronation usually takes place within a few months after the accession. 3. The Queen is thehead of the State, and the supreme executive magistrate, all others acting under her Commission, and in sub ordination to her. She has no separate legislative power. Her duty is defined to be, — to govern her people according to law, to cause judgment to be executed with mercy, to maintain the Pro testant religion, and to preserve to the Church its rights and liberties. Her Majesty's chief personal prerogatives are, — that no suit or action oan be maintained against her, and that her person is sacred, her Ministers being responsible for all her puhlic acts. As the first branch of the Legislature, the Queen has power to call together, prorogue, and dissolve Parliament ; to approve of their Bills, which then become Laws, or, by their rejection when presented to her, to prevent their becoming Laws. As the Representative of her people with Foreign States, she has the sole power of sending ambassadors to them, and of receiving ambassadors at home, and to her belongs the prerogative of declaring war and generally of making or dissolving treaties eagues, and alliances. As the supreme executive authority she has the power of raising and regulating the fleets and armjes'and SECT. I. THE QUEEN. the militia ; and she has also the appointment of officers to the charge of all forts and places of strength. She may coin money, which becomes a legal tender. She is the fountain of justice and general conservator of ,the peace, all proceedings being in her name ; and from her commission the judges' authority is derived. She has the power to issue proclamations in enforcement of the laws of the realm. She can erect municipal corporations. As the supreme head of the Church she has authority to convene, prorogue, regulate, and dissolve all ecclesiastical synods and convocations, and to nominate to vacant archbishoprics and bishoprics. In addition to these large powers and prerogatives, the Queen may create what Peers, and bestow what dignities, honours, precedence, and offices she pleases. 4. The Queen is the origin of all executive authority. She has full power to select whom she pleases to carry on her govern ment ; the scheme of the administration being usually prepared and submitted to Her Majesty by the prominent leader of the political party to whom she intrusts the formation of a ministry. But the exercise of this power forms the constitutional check upon the Crown ; for, as the ministers are themselves responsible for their Sovereign's public acts, all those acts must he subject to their advice, and such as they are prepared to justify in Parliament, otherwise one of two courses immediately ensues, — the administration resigns, provided other ministers are prepared to accept office and become responsible for carrying out measures which their predecessors could not advise, or the measures in question are abandoned. 5. The GivU List is the Sovereign's revenue in her own dis tinct capacity as distinguished from the public revenue ; and is substituted for the hereditary revenues of the Crown. Formerly every description of public charge, including the Army and Navy, was defrayed from the Civil List, — that is, the hereditary revenues, with such sums in aid as were from time to time granted hy Parliament. Early in James l.'s reign a negotiation, which was not completed, was entered into between the Parliament and the King to commute the hereditary revenues. Upon the Restoration this negotiation was renewed, and the stat. 12 Charles II. was passed, which abolished the Court of Wards and Liveries and Purveyance, and granted the King an hereditary Excise, besides other grants, for the maintenance of his household and family, and the charges of the govemment. This was the first step b2 4 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. I. towards a Civil List. In James II.'s reign a similar arrangement was entered into. After the Revolution the House of Commons took into its own hands the support of the Army and Navy, which from that time have been provided for by an annual vote ; and in the reigns of William and Anne the more regular plan obtained, which has since been followed, of voting for the Civil List charges a fixed sum, which was to continue during the reign : but up to late years, all expenses which in any way re lated to civil govemment continued to be defrayed from the Civil List, as the salaries of the judges till 1758, of the officers of state, the ambassadors, and the King's servants, also the secret-service money, pensions, and the royal bounty ; but now the charges on the Civil List have been confined to those alone whioh peculiarly appertain to the dignity and honour of the Crown, separate from all others, which remain subject to the review of Parliament. The settlement of the Civil List has therefore become a consti tutional practice sanctioned by long usage, and, being in the nature of a compact between the Crown and the Parliament at the commencement of each reign, is deemed beyond the control of Parliament during the life of the Sovereign. 6. The Queen's Civil List was settled, as in preceding reigns, upon Her Majesty's accession. She surrendered for her life the hereditary revenues of the Crown, which are carried to the Consolidated Fund ; and hy stat. 1 and 2 Vict. c. 2, Parliament granted to the Queen for her life a yearly sum of 385,000Z. for the support of Her Majesty's household and the honour and dig nity of the Crown. By the same statute the application of this sum is limited ; and the Lords of the Treasury are directed to set apart yearly 60,000Z. for the Queen's Privy Purse, 131,260?. for the salaries of Her Majesty's household with the retired allow ances, 172,500?. for the expenses of Her Majesty's household, and 13,200?. for royal bounty, alms, and special services, leaving an unappropriated surplus of 8,040/. ; and at the end of each year the Lords of the Treasury are authorized to direct that the savings in any one of these classes may be applied in aid of the charges under any of the others. But it is provided that, whenever the Civil List charges in any year exceed the total sum of 400,000/., an account of the -particulars of the excess shall be laid before Parliament within thirty days. In addition to the above sum, 1200/. is granted to Her Majesty for each and every succeeding SECT. I. XHE QUEEN. year of her reign, cumulatively, for the payment of pensions on the Civil List awarded " to persons who have just claims on the royal beneficence, or who, by their personal services to the Crown, by the performance of duties to the public, or by their useful discoveries in science and attainments in literature and the arts, have merited the gracious consideration of their Sovereign and the gratitude of their country.'' 7. The Sovereign is a corporation, and purchases made hy him vested in him in his politic capacity prior to the Act of 39 and 40 Geo. III. c. 88. By this statute Mr. Pitt first gave the King a separate and private estate, which he might give and devise and bequeath, in all chattels and lands purchased with his savings, or with moneys coming from any source other than that whence the Crown shall descend, and in all property of whatever sort not coming with the Crown : and this principle was extended by an Act of 4 Geo. IV. c. 18, to manors and hereditaments in the possession of the Sovereign at the time of accession to the Crown. 8. The Queen should be addressed on all public matters through her ministers. Memorials and petitions to the Queen in Council should be forwarded to the Lord President at the Council OfSce. All other memorials and petitions and addresses may be in trusted to the Home Secretary of State. Presents, though not usually received by the sovereign, are sometimes sent addressed to the charge of the Lord or Lady in Waiting, at the palace where the Court is then residing. The Queen may at all times be approached by her Peers, who are privileged to request an audience on public matters ; and persons not deemed inadmis sible by the Lord Chamberlain may attend any of the drawing- rooms and levees appointed during the season. At levees, addresses, memorials, or petitions may be presented personally to the Queen, and an author may present his work, hut his purpose must be stated on his card previously sent to the Lord Chamberlain. Qiieen Consort. — A Queen Consort is the wife of the reigning King, but in all legal proceedings she is looked upon as a single, not a married woman. She is competent to purchase and convey lands, to grant leases, and to do other acts of owner ship, without the intervention of the King. She may have a separate property in goods, and dispose of them by will. She has some exemptions and minute prerogatives. She pays no 6 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. I. toll, and is not liable to amerciment by any court ; but she is to all intents the King's suhject, and generally upon the same footing as other subjects. Her Majesty has separate courts and officers distinct from the King's, not only in matters of ceremony but by ancient usage even of law, and her Attorney and Solicitor General are entitled to a place within the Bar in the King's Courts. The income of a Queen Consort anciently consisted of certain rents or revenues appropriated to her use, distinct from the King, and some trifling payments in the nature of perquisites, No separate revenues appear to have ever been settled upon her by Parliament. Her personal expenses are defrayed from the King's privy purse. Queen Dovjager. — As the widow of the King, a Queen Dowager enjoys most of the privileges which belonged to her as Queen Consort. She cannot marry without special license from the Crown, but when married- to a subject does not lose her royal ¦dignity. On the marriage of a King or the accession of a married prince. Parliament makes provision for the Queen's maintenance in case she should be the survivor. Upon the Queen of Geo. III. 100,000?. a year, with two residences, was settled ; and the same provision was made for the Queen of King William IV"., the late Dowager Queen Adelaide. Begent, or Lords Justices. — In an hereditary monarchy the appointment of a Regent becomes necessary on the Crown de scending to a minor too young to be intrusted with the kingly office, or in case of mental incapacity, or incapacity hy illness which will probably be of long duration, or on absence from the realm. There have been several instances of the appointment of a Regent, usually called Protector, during the minority of the Sove reign : the last occurred during the minority of Edward VI. Regents and Councils of Regency have been sometimes named by the Sovereign to provide for the probable nonage of his heir. The modes of making the appointment have been so various, and the duration and nature of the powers delegated so uncertain, that it has been collected that the ofBce must have been un known to the Common Law. Coke remarks that the surest way is by authority of the Great Council in Parliament, and in re cent times the appointment has usually been made by statute. In a note to Blackstone the following summary is made of the SECT. I. EEGENT, OR LORDS JUSTICES. 7 appointment of Regents during the minority of the heir : — " The Earl of Pembroke, by his own authority, assumed, in very troublous times, the regency of Henry III., who was then only nine years old ; but was declared of full age, by the Pope, at seventeen, confirmed the great charter at eighteen, and took upon him the administration of the government at twenty. A Guardian and Council of Regency were named for Edward III. by the Parliament, which deposed his father ; the young king being then fifteen, and not assuming the government till three years after. When Richard II. succeeded, at the age of eleven, the Duke of Lancaster took upon him the management of the kingdom till the Parliament met, which appointed a nominal Council to as sist him. Henry V., on his deathbed, named a Regent and a guardian for his infant son, Henry VI., then nine months old ; but the Parliament altered his disposition, and appointed a Pro tector and Council, vrith a special, limited authority. Both these princes remained in a state of pupilage till the age of twenty- three . Edward V., at the age of thirteen, was recommended by his father to the care of the Duke of Gloucester, who was declared Protector by the Privy Council. The statutes 25 Hen. VIII. c. 12, and 28 Hen. VIH. c. 7, provided that the successor, if a male, and under eighteen, or if a female, and under sixteen, should be, till such age, in the government of his or her natural mother (if approved by the King) and such other counsellors as His Ma jesty should by will, or otherwise, appoint : and he accordingly appointed his sixteen executors to have the govemment of his son, Edward VL, and the kingdom, which executors elected the Earl of Hertford Protector. The statute 24 Geo. II. c. 24, in case the Crown should descend to any of the children of Frederic, late Prince of Wales, under the age of eighteen, appointed the Princess Dowager ; and that of 5 Geo. III. c. 27, in case of a like descent to any of His Majesty's children, empowers the King to name either the Queen, the Princess Dowager, or any descendant of King George IL, residing in this kingdom, to he guardian and regent, till the successor attains such age, assisted by a Council of Regency ; the powers of them all being expressly defined and set down in the several acts." (Book I., cap. 7.) In cases of illness, however, there existed no recognised con stitutional rale, and on the illness of George HI. it became a question whether the heir apparent, then of full age, and the King's eldest son, did not, of right, become Begent ; or whether 8 THE official HANDBOOK. SECt. 1. the choice and nomination of the Regent did not belong to the Parliament. The King's recovery deferred the solution of the question, which was entangled with party ; but on a relapse, the Prmce of Wales was, by the consent of all parties, appointed Regent, and with the name of Regent exercised the full powers of the Sovereign, the Parliament imposing some restrictions during the first year only. In cases of temporary absence from the kingdom, it has been the practice of the Sovereign, from the time of the Conquest, to appoint persons to act as his substitute, and exercise supreme authority. There is a commission of this nature of the reign of John printed by Rymer, and instances are of frequent occur rence down to the present time. Since the Revolution the ap pointment of Lords Justices has usually been by letters-patent under the Great Seal. In some cases, the authority of Parlia ment has been asked in confirmation of their powers. King William III., when called over to Ireland in 1689, placed the Govemment in the hands of the Queen, not, it is supposed, by letters-patent, but simply by a declaration at the council table ; and the words of the Act of Settlement having placed the go vemment solely in His Majesty, the Parliament was asked to ratify the powers temporarily vested in the Queen ; but after Her Majesty's death, Lords Justices were repeatedly appointed under the Great Seal. By the well-known statute 4 and 5 Anne, c. 8, and 6 Anne, c. 7, a provisional appointment of Lords Justices was made to administer government in case of the absence from the kingdom, at the time of the Queen's demise, of the successor appointed by the Act of Settlement ; and the Justices, on the Queen's death, executed the high powers in trusted to them until the arrival of George I. The two first Sovereigns of the House of Hanover paid re peated visits to their German dominions. George I., in his absence, unwillingly appointed his son sole Regent, with the title of Guardian and Lieutenant, without limitation of the powers delegated. His ministers overruled his intention to associate others with the Prince, and to limit his authority, on the ground that after a careful search they could, in no instance, find a precedent for such a course. On five subsequent occasions, when the King went beyond seas, he appointed Lords Justices. George II. intrusted the kingly authority to his Queen on five occasions, by the title of Guardian and Lieutenant adopted in SECT. I. REGENT, OR LORDS JUSTICES. the preceding reign ; and after the Queen's death, on eight occa sions, appointed Lords Justices. George III. was never absent from the country. George IV., on his visit to his Hanoverian kingdom in 1821, intrusted his authority to nineteen guardians, of whom the Duke of York, the heir presumptive, was the first. Her present Majesty has been twice absent from her kingdom, -first, on a short visit to the French coast in 1843, and second, on a visit to Germany in 1845. It has been argued that the royal authority cannot be exercised in a foreign country, and that a patent, sealed with the Great Seal, in a foreign country would be void ; and no delegation of the royal authority having been made on the occasion of these visits, the omission of this customary provision was, on the latter occasion, questioned in the House of Lords, and Lord Chancellor Lyndhurst stated that the Law OfiBcers were decidedly of opinion, that it was not at all necessary, in point of law, to appoint Lords Justices, in which opinion he entirely concurred. In cases of temporary absence, a Regent or Lords Justices have been indifferently appointed. The Queen, or the heir pre sumptive, as will appear from the foregoing, when such existed, being either intrusted with the sole power as Regent, or named as chief of the body to whom it was intrusted. But in cases of minority, or where the kingly ofBce was likely to be long in abeyance, the appointment of a Regent has usually been resorted to. In the latter case, the power conferred on the Regent has necessarily been without Hmitation. The powers of Lords Justices have usually been limited ; such limitation relating to the power of creating peers and conferring honours ; the autho rity, as supreme head of the church, the disposal of public moneys in the Treasury, and the summons or prorogation of Parliament. Further, by the command to observe the King's will on matters signified from time to time, under his own hand. In the Commons' Joumals, December 1788, vol. 44, will be found an interesting report of a Committee of the House, in which are inserted, m extenso, the precedents in cases where the exercise of the royal authority has been interrupted by " In fancy, sickness, infirmity, or otherwise, with a view to provide a remedy for the same ;" and also such " precedents as could be found of the appointment of custodes regni and locum tenentes, and of commissions to Lords Justices in cases of the King's absence." 10 . THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. I. THE PRINCE CONSORT. His Royal Highness Prince Albert, as husband of the Queen Regnant, is her subject. He is not as such endowed by the Constitution with any political rights or privileges ; his honours and precedence even are derived from the Queen. H.R.H. was naturalized by caps. 1 and 2 of 3 and 4 Vict., words being used which enable him to be a Privy Councillor or to sit in ParKa- ment, and Her Majesty was empowered to grant him an annuity of 30,000/. by c. 3 of the same year ; but it was provided that H.R.H. was not by virtue of his marriage to acquire any interest in the property of Her Majesty. By a decree of the Queen, H.R.H. enjoys place, preeminence, and precedence next to Her Majesty. In the event of the demise of Her Majesty, and of there being issue of Her Majesty under the age of eighteen years who shall become to be King or Queen, Prince Albert is appointed, by stat. 3 and 4 Vict. c. 52, the guardian, and to have the care, tuition, and education of such issue until that age, and the disposition, ordering, and management of all matters and things relating thereto ; and until such issue shall attain that age, H.R.H. has full power and authority, in the name and in the stead of such issue, under the title of Regent of the United Kingdom, to exercise and administer, according to the laws and constitution thereof, the Royal power and government of this realm, and all the dominions, countries, and territories belonging to the Crown, and to use, exercise, and perform all prerogatives, authorities, and acts of Government, and adminis tration of Government, which belong to the Sovereign. But it is provided that the Regent shall have no power to give the royal assent to any Act altering the succession, and that, if H.R.H. should thereafter profess the Popish religion, or marry a Roman Catholic, or cease to reside in the United Kingdom, he shall be no longer Guardian or Regent. THE QUEEN'S CHILDREN. The Sovereign's children take precedence before all other sub jects, and have the style of Royal Highness. The Prince of Wales, as the heir apparent, is particularly protected by the laws — to conspire his death is treason. His Consort and the Princess Royal are similarly protected — to violate the chastity of either is also treason. The Sovereign's sons, except the eldest. SECT. I. THE ROYAL FAMILY. 1 1 hold no political place in the realm, unless it is the pleasure of the Crown to confer a peerage upon them ; until then they have no other title than that of Prince, to which all the members of the Royal Family are entitled by birth. The Prince of "Wales, as the Sovereign's eldest son, is by inheritance Duke of Cornwall, and enjoys the revenues of that Duchy. He also appoints the Sheriff. The Queen is em powered by stat. 13 and 14 of her reign, c. 78, to grant Marlborough House as a residence for H.R.H., on his attaining the age of eighteen years, for the joint lives of Her Majesty and His Royal Highness. By an Act of the 35 Geo. III. c. 125, provision is made to prevent the accumulation of debt by any future heir apparent to the Crown, and it is enacted that so soon as he shall have a separate establishment — the treasurer or principal offioer of his establishment shall make a plan of such establishment in distinct departments and classes, with the salaries and payments of each class, and of each individual officer ; and the treasurer is made responsible for the punctuality of all payments, and is required to submit his accounts to the Lords of the Treasury. The marriage of a King or Queen, the issue of her present Majesty, under the age of eighteen years, is, by Act 3 and 4 Vict. c. 52, declared illegal, unless with the consent of the Regent and the previous assent of both Houses of Parliament. To abet such a marriage is high treason. THE KOTAL FAMILY. This designation is strictly construed to include only the children and grandchildren of the Sovereign, towards whom the laws have peculiar regard. In its more common acceptation it is understood to include all the British descendants of the Royal House. But Blackstone says, that in the larger sense in which the term is used, it includes all those who are by any possibility inheritable to the Crown. The only legal definition with regard to the Royal Family appears to be that in the statute 31 Henry VIH. c. 10, which, after enacting that no person except the King's children shall presume to sit or have place at the side of the Cloth of Estate, in the Parliament Chamber, gives place to certain high officers of State, " above all dukes, except only such as shall happen to be the King's 12 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. I. son, the King's brother, the King's uncle, or the King's brother's or sister's sons," which exceptions may be assumed as intended to constitute the Royal Family. The grandsons are held to he included under the designation of the King's children — and the judges have decided that the care and education, as minors, of all the grandchildren, as also of the heir presumptive, belongs to the King, and likewise the approval of their marriages. The grandsons have their seat with the King's children, on the left hand of the Cloth of Estate — but when, by a demise of the Crown, they cease to take place as children, and rank as brother or uncle, they quit their seats at the side of the Cloth of Estate, and take place at the upper end of the bench on which the Dukes usually sit. This was the course followed by the sons of Geo. IL, on the accession of Geo. III. By the Royal Marriage Act (12 Geo. III. c. 11), no descend ant of the body of King George II. , other than the issue of prin cesses married into foreign families, oan legally marry without the previous consent of the Sovereign signified under the Great Seal. But such descendants, when above the age of twenty- five, may legally marry after twelve months' notice given to the Privy Council, unless both Houses of Parliament shall within that time disapprove of the marriage. The following annuities are payable to members of the Boyal Family : — To H.R.H. the Duchess of Kent, mother to the Queen, an annuity of 30,000^. for life was granted by stat. 1 and 2 Vict., c. 8. To H.R.H. Princess Mary, widow of the late Duke of Gloucester —an annuity of 17,000Z., granted for life by stats. 52 Geo. III., c. 57 ; 56 Geo. in., c. 46; 1 Geo. IV., c. 108. To H.R.H. Princess Augusta, Duchess Dowager of Cambridge— an annuity of 6000/., granted, on her surviving the Duke, by stat. 48 Geo. III., c. 44. To H.R.H. Prince George, Duke of Cambridge— an annuity of 12,000/., granted by stat. 13 and 14 Vict., c. 77, with a proviso that it shall cease on his becoming Sovereign or Ruler of any foreign State. To H.R.H. Princess Augusta of Cambridge— an annuity of 3000/., settled upon her on her marriage to the Grand Duke of Meoklenburg- Strelitz, by stat. 6 and 7 Vict., c. 25. To H.R.H. Princess Maky of Cambridge— an annuity of 3000/., granted by stat. 13 and 14 Vict., o. 77. To H.R.H. Leopold, King of the Belgians— an armuity of 50,000/., and the estate and mansion of Claremont, by stats. 24 and 115 of 56 Geo. in. SECT. I. HER majesty's HOUSEHOLD. " 13 THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD. THE LORD STEWARD'S DEPARTMENT. The Lord Steward of the Household, the Treasurer of the Household, the Comptroller of the Household, the Master of the Household, and the Secretary of the Board of Green Cloth, the five chief officers of this branch of the Household, constitute a Board haymg the oversight and government of the Queen's court styled " The Board of Green Cloth." They have also duties which will be described separately, distinct from their powers as a Board. The Board of Cheen Cloth. — The Palace anciently formed an exempt jurisdiction, which was subject to the court of the Lord Steward of the Household, held in his absence by the Treasurer, the Comptroller, or the Steward of the Marshalsea. The statute 3 Hen. VH. c. 14, empowered the Lord Steward, Treasurer, and Comptroller, or any two of them, to inquire by any twelve of the cheque-roll of the Household, if any servant of the cheque-roll under a Lord make any confederacies, com- passings, &c., with any to destroy the King or any Lord of the realm, or any other sworn of the King's Council, or the Steward, Treasurer, or Comptroller of the Household, and to hear and determine the offence, which is declared felony, by twelve other of the Household, and to give judgment by the Common Law. This referred only to the King's servants ; but hy stat. 33 Henry VIIL, c. 12., the same officers were empowered to try and to punish all treasons, misprisions, murders, manslaughters, bloodsheds, &c., in any palaces or houses of the King, or other house where he resides. The proceedings were as at Common Law by a grand and petit jury, selected as described — and the forms of the execution of sentence are minutely defined in the last-named statute. But this extensive jurisdiction, which was in part repealed by the 9 Geo. IV. c. 31, had long previously fallen into disuse, and the civil jurisdiction, which the court continued to exercise till 1849, was abolished in that year by stat. 12 and 13 Vict. c. 101. The Common Law jurisdiction ot this ancient court alone remains, and consists of the supervision of the Household expenses and accounts, the purveyance of the provisions and 14 the OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. I. their payment, and the good govemment of the servants of the Household. The authority of the Court extends to offences committed in the palace and within the verge — defined to include within two hundred feet of the outer gate of any palaces or houses of the King, or any other house where the royal person shall abide. The Lord Ste'ward of the Household fills an ancient office of great f;rust and dignity.. He was formerly styled the " Lord Great Master or Lord Steward of the Household," and is the chief officer of the Queen's Household, all the officers and servants of which are under his control, except those belonging to the Chapel, the Chamber, and the Stable. His authority extends over the offices of Treasurer, Comptroller, and Master of the Household. The two former act as his deputies in his absence. The Lord Steward is at the head of the court of the Queen's Household — the Board of Green Cloth. He is always sworn a Member of the Privy Council. He has precedence hefore all Peers of his own degree. He has no formal grant of his office, but receives his charge immediately from the Queen by the delivery of his white staff of office. He holds his appointment during pleasure, and his tenure depends upon the political party of which he is a member. His salary is 2000/. per annum. The Lord Steward has the selection and appointment of all the subordinate officers and servants of the Household, and also of the Queen's tradesmen, except those connected with the Royal Stables. The Treasurer of the Household is next in rank to the Lord Steward in his department. He bears a white staff, and acts for the Lord Steward in his absence. He is a member of the Privy Council, and a political adherent of the Govemment in power. His salary is 904/. per annum. His office appears by stat. 33 Henry VIII. c. 12, to have then been united with that of CoinptroUer of the Household, and to have been hereditary. The Comptroller of the Household is subordinate to the two preceding officers, for whom he acts in their absence. He is usually a member of the Privy Council. His particular duty con sists in the examination and check of the Household expenses. His office is also dependent upon the Government of the day. His salary is 904/. per anuum. SECT. I. HER majesty's HOUSEHOLD. 15 The Master of the Household stands next in rank in this de partment. He is an officer under the Treasurer, and examines a portion of the accounts ; but his duties consist more especially in superintending the selection, qualification, and conduct of the Household servants. His salary is 1158/. per annum. His appointment is during pleasure, and is not dependent upon party. THE LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S DEPARTMENT. The chief officers of the department are the Lord Chamberlain, the Vice-Chamberlain, the Lords-in-Waiting, the Captain of the Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, the Captain of the Yeomen of the Queen's Body Guard, the Comptroller of Accounts, and the Master of the Ceremonies. The Lord Chamberlain, or the King's Chamberlain as he was originally styled, has been one of the principal officers of State from the earliest times, and was for some centuries an influential member of the Govemment, his duties not being, as at present, confined to the affairs of the Household alone. He had the responsible office of endorsing upon all petitions presented to the King, His Majesty's answers, a function shown to have heen then deemed of great importance. He was often the organ through which the King's pleasure was communicated to Parliament and to the Council. In the 15 Edward III. he was, with other officers of State, ordered to be sworn, on his appointment, to keep and maintain the laws of the land and the articles of the first Charter, as well as the other statutes. In the various ordinances for the regulation of the Council the King's Chamberlain is always described as a member ex officio. In his preface to " The Proceedings and Ordinances of the Privy Council of England," Sir Harris Nicholas quotes from the regu lations for the govemment of King Edward IV. 's household, those relating to the Chamberlain : — " He presenteth, chargeth and dischargeth all suche personnes as he of the Kinge's Chambre, except all suche officers of household as ministre for any vytayle for the Kinge's mouthe or for his chambre ; for all those take theire charge at the Grene Clothe in the countyng-house. This is the chief hed of rulers in the Kinge's Chambre. Item, as often as he chargeth or dischargeth any new person in the chambre, to present those persons and names into the countyng- 16 the OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. I. house. Item, he hath the punition of all them that are longing to the chambre for any offence or outrage : savynge the right of the countynge-house in chekking them for their vacations, or for lak of recordes, or mysse recording, or for loss of torches, naperye, pottes, cuppes, woode, or suche other stuffe comyng fro the Thesaurer's charge, and by them so miscarried. The Chamberlayn taketh his othe and staffe of the Kinge, or of his Oounsayle. He shall at no tyme within this court be covered in his service." Then follow minute regulations as to his own and his servants' allowances : — " This Chamberlayn besyde to serche and oversee the Kinge's Chambres ; and the astate made therein to be according : first, for all the array longing to his proper royall person, for his proper heddes, for his proper boarde at meale tymes, for the diligent doying in servyng thereof to his honour and pleasure ; to assigne Kervers, Cupbearers, Assewers, Phisitians, Almoners, Knyghts, or other worshipful astate for the towell, and for the basyn, squires of the body to be attendant." The Lord Chamberlain, though he has long ceased to have any share in the responsibilities of the Govemment, is an officer of the Household of great honour and trust. He has supreme control over all the officers and servants of the Royal Chambers (except those of the Bedchamber) ; also over the establishment of the Chapel Royal, and the Physicians, Surgeons, and Apo thecaries of the Household. He has the oversight of the Queen's Band, and over all comedians, trumpeters, and mes sengers. All artificers retained in Her Majesty's service are under his directions. The ancient office of Keeper of the Great Wardrobe was abolished in 1782 ; and the duties, which con sisted in providing the state robes of the Royal Family, the Household, and the Officers of State, were transferred to the Lord Chamberlain. The public performance of stage plays in the metropohs, and at Windsor, and wherever there is a Royal palace, is not legal, unless in a house or place licensed by the Lord Chamberlain, who may suspend or revoke his licence. Nor is the performance of any new play, or part of a play, anywhere in Great Britain, legal until his licence has been obtained. Persons to be pre sented at Levees and Drawing-rooms are required to send their cards to the Lord Chamberlain, and it is his duty to see that such persons are entitled by station and character to be pre sented to the Sovereign. He issues the invitations to Her SECT. I. HER majesty's HOUSEHOLD. 17 Majesty's balls, parties, &c. The Lord Chamberlain, from an adherence to ancient usage, is always a member of the Privy Council. His salary is 2000/. per annum. He holds his office by the political tenure of party. Tlie Vice- Chamberlain is the deputy and assistant of the Lord Chamberlain, and in his absence acts vrfth full authority over all the officers subject to his control. This officer is shown to have existed in the 13 Rich. II. (1389), and to have been considered of high rank in the reign of Henry IV. He is usually a member of the Privy Council. His salary is 924/. per annum. He also quits his office on a change of administration. The Lords in Waiting and the Grooms in Waiting attend by rotation upon the Queen. They form part of Her Majesty's ordi nary Court, and are present upon all state occasions. The salaries of the Lords are 702/. per annum each ; of the Grooms 335/. 10s. The Gentlemen Ushers of the Privy Chamber are in regular attendance upon the Queen, and have the honour of con ducting Her Majesty in the absence of the higher officers. They are the sole attendants in the Closet and the Chapel. The appointments of the Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber have become purely honorary. No salary or fee is attached to these offices, and of late years no services have been required of the holders of them ; but they form the grounds of exemption from the duties of Sheriff and some other local offices. The Hon. Corps of Gentlemen at Arms was instituted by Henry VHI. in 1509. It was until 1834 styled the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners ; but in that year, by command of His Majesty William IV., the corps resumed its present ancient title. In the following year His Majesty ordered that the appointments should he made exclusively by the Sovereign from lists to be kept by the Commander in Chief, and on his recommendation ; and that officers of the British Army or Marines should be alone eligible, and should be allowed to enjoy their half-pay with their salaries. The appointments are placed on the same footing with respect to purchase, or to fill death vacancies, as commissions in the army. The Corps consists of the Captain, Lieutenant and Standard- Bearer and forty gentlemen, who are entitled Esquires, and who form a guard to the Queen's person ; but whose duty is now chiefly confined to an attendance on the occasion of Drawing- 18 the OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. I. rooms and Levees, and when addresses are received on the Throne ; as also at Coronations, Funerals of the Royal Family, and other state ceremonies. Their salaries are — Captain, 1000/. per annum ; Lieutenant, 500/. per annum ; Standard-Bearer, 310/. per annum ; and Clerk of the Cheque, 120/. per annum. Gentlemen, 70/. per annum each. The Corps of Yeomen of the G^ard was established by Henry VII. in 1486, as his body-guard. The Corps still forms the defence of the Sovereign's palace ; and a detachment is mus tered daily in the Guard Chamber. The Corps now consists of a Captain, who is usually a Peer and a member of the Privy Council, salary 1000/. per annum; a Lieutenant, salary 500/. per annum ; an Ensign, salary 300/. per annum ; four Bxons, who receive ahout 150/. per annum each ; and one hundred men. They are appointed in the same manner as the Gentle men Pensioners. The Yeomen are now selected from meritorious men who have served in the army, on the recommendation of the Commander-ia-Chief. Their emolument is about 60/. a- year each. The Lords in Waiting, the Captain of the Gentlemen at Arms and the Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard, hold their offices dependent upon the political administration of the day. The following offices are in abeyance during the reign of a female Sovereign : — The Groom of the Stole, who is also styled the first Lord of the Bedchamber, has the control over all duties pertaining to the Bedchamber (the only portion of the royal chambers wherein the Lord Chamberlain has no authority). He does not take any fixed turn of duty, but attends only upon state occasions. The salary of the office in the late reign was 2,000/. a-year. The Lords of ihe Bedchamber, of whom in the late reign there were twelve, are under the authority of the Groom of the Stole. They had salaries of 1,000/. a-year each. Ohamberlayne says they were called the Gentlemen of the Bedchamber until the accession of the House of Hanover, when their present title first appears, and that they consist usually of the prime nobility of England. He adds, " their office in general is each, in his tum to wait a week in every quarter in the King's Bedchamber, there to lie by the King on a pallet-bed all night, and in the ECT. I. HER majesty's HOUSEHOLD. 19 absence of the Groom of the Stole, to supply his place ;" and " they wait upon the King when he eats in private, for then the cup-bearers, carvers, and servers do not wait." — (Present State, 1669.) Grooms of the Bedchamber. — There were also in the late reign 13 officers so styled, who took their periodical turn of duty in the Household. Their salaries were 500/. per annum each. THE LADIES OF THE QUEEN'S HOUSEHOLD. This department of the Household comprises the Mistress of the Robes, the Ladies of the Bedchamber, the Bedchamber Women, and the Maids of Honour. The Mistress of the Bobes fills an ancient office of high dignity, and has the charge and superintendence of all duties connected with the Bedchamber, within which the Lord Chamberlain has uo authority. All the ladies of the Household are subordinate to her, and it is her duty to regulate their rotation and times of attendance. She has the custody of the robes, and on all state occasions sees that the ceremony of robing the Queen is properly performed, fulfilling the duties also proper to the office of Groom of the Stole. In all ceremonials she rides in the same carriage with the Queen, or walks immediately before Her Majesty. Her salary is 500/. per annum. The Ladies of the Bedchamber, now eight and two extra, minister to the state and are the per.sonal attendants of the Queen. Their salaries are 500/. per annum each. The Bed chamber Women, eight and one extra, are subordinate to them. Their salaries are 300/. per annum each. The Maids of Honour, eight, are immediate attendants upon the royal person, and in rotation accompany the Queen upon all occasions. Their salaries have been raised by Her present Mai esty to 400/. per annum each. When not entitled by birth, they take hy courtesy the title of Honourable, and are then styled the Honourable Miss , instead of using the Christian name. The Keeper of the Privy Purse is charged with the payment of the Queen's private expenses and charities. He has no control over any official or household charges, and is quite independent of the great household officers. His office is of modem, date. o 2 20 the OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. I. THE MASTER OF THE HORSE'S DEPARTMENT. The chief officers of the department are the Master of the Horse, the Master of the Buckhounds, the Clerk Marshal, and Chief Equerry, the Equerries in ordinary, the Pages of Honour. Tlie Master of the Horse is the third great officer of the Court. His offlce is one of great antiquity and honour. He is ap pointed during pleasure by Letters Patent. He has the govern ment and direction of the Boyal stables, and of all horses and breeds of horses belonging to the Queen. He has authority over all the equerries and pages, grooms, coachmen, saddlers, and farriers ; and he has the appointment and control of all artificers working for the Queen's stables. He is responsible for the dis bursement of all revenues appropriated to defray the expenses of his department ; but his accounts are subjected to the exami nation and audit of the Board of Green Cloth. He has the sole privilege of using the Queen's horses, pages, and servants ; on all state occasions he rides next to Her Majesty. His salary is 2500/. per annum. Tlie Clerk Marshal and Chief Equerry has power to act in all matters relating to the department in the absence of the Master of the Horse. He attends the Queen on her rides and in all state processions. His salary is 1000/. per annum. The Equerries and Pages of Honour are the personal attend ants of the Queen, and form part of the state of her Court. The salaries of the four Equerries are 750/. per annum each ; the four Pages of Honour receive 200/. per annum each, and on attaining a suitable age a commission in the Foot Guards without purchase is given to them by Her Majesty. The Mastership of the Buckhounds is an ancient appoint ment connected with this department of the Household. Its importance has survived its more active duties, which do not appear of a more onerous nature than those connected with the control and attendance at the royal hunts. The salary is 1700/. per annum. The offices of the Master of the Horse, the Chief Equerry, and the Master of the Buckhounds,- depend upon the existence of the political party in power. SECT. I. GREAT OFFICERS OF STATE. 21 THE HEREDITARY AND OTHER GREAT OFFICERS OF STATE. These great officers must not be confounded with the fore going officers of the Household, from whom they are as distinct in their duties and functions as' in the tenure of their offices. The first three are hereditary. The Lord Great Chamberlain is an officer of very great anti quity, and was formerly of great importance. He has the govemment of the Palace at Westminster, and upon all solemn state occasions the keys of Westminster Hall and the Court of Bequests are delivered to him ; at which times the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, the Yeoman Usher, and the Doorkeepers are under his orders. On Coronations, State Trials, Banquets, or such celebrations, the appropriate fitting of the Hall helongs to his care. When the Queen goes to the Houses of Parliament, he delivers the Sword of State at his own discretion to a member of the Administration, by whom it is home before Her Majesty ; and walks himself on the right hand of the Sovereign, next Her Majesty's person. During the sitting of Parliament he is charged with the providing of all things necessary in the House of Lords ; and has the issue of tickets for admission to the House on the opening or prorogation of Parliament. Some fees, and, on Coro nations or State ceremonies, certain perquisites, belong to him. The Lord Willoughby d'Eresby and the Marquess of Chol- mondeley are now the joint holders of this office, in the right of their mothers respectively, and the representatives of the two families fill the office alternately in each succeeding reign. Tlie Earl Marshal of England is one of those very ancient officers whose once important duties have now become nearly obsolete. He is the head of the Heralds' College, and has the nomination to its vacant offices. It is his duty to arrange and publish the ceremonial of royal christenings, marriages, and funerals, coronations, and other great occasions. This high office is inherited by the Duke of Norfolk. The Earl Marshal, jointly with the Lord High Constable, formerly held the Court of Chivalry, a Military Court established by Edward III. When held before the Earl Marshal only, this Court was a Court of Honour, when before these two great officers, it was also a Criminal Court. But having encroached upon the Common 22 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. I. Law, its jurisdiction was defined by 13 Rich. H., stat. 1, as having " cognisance of contracts touching deeds of arms, and of war, out of the realm, and also of all things that touch war within the realm, which cannot be determined nor discussed by the Common Law, with other usages and customs to the same matters pertaining, which other constables, heretofore, have duly and reasonably used." The Court claimed under these words, the power : — 1st, " To give relief to such of the nobility and gentry, as think them- selyes aggrieved in matters of honour ;" and 2nd, " To keep up the distinctions of degrees and quality." The proceedings of the Court were in a summary way, on complaint, made by petition. But it appears that in criminal cases, a jury was sworn. The last proceedings are supposed to have been taken in 1631, though there is a case reported in the reign of Anne, of an attempt to revive the functions of the Court. Prom the extinction of the office of Lord High Con stable in the reign of Henry VIIL, the Court had been held before the Earl Marshal alone, and the proceedings limited to civil matters. The Lord High Constable of England was anciently an officer of the highest importance. The dignity was hereditary until it became- extinct by the attainder of the family in which it vested. For above two centuries the sole duty has been to officiate at coronations, and for this purpose a Lord High Constable has been always appointed. On the three last coronations this office was filled by the late Duke of WeUington. The Hereditary Grand Almoner's duties are now confined to the distribution of the coronation medals, which on such occasions he throws among the assembled spectators. The Lord High Almoner distributes the Queen's bounty twice in each year, consisting of as many silver pennies as the Queen is years of age, to a similar number of poor persons. The office is not hereditary. It is usually held by a bishop. Tlie Lord High Steward was an officer at the time of the Conquest, and was formerly the first great officer of the Crown. The dignity was hereditary in the family of the Earls of Leicester. It was abohshed on the attainder of that family, SECT. I. GREAT OFFICERS OF STATE. 23 and is now only revived pro hac vice on the occasion of a coronation or the trial of a peer. In the latter case a peer, usually one of the judges in the Upper House, is specially ap pointed by the Crown, on an address from that House, Lord High Steward, to preside at the trial in the House oi Lords, either upon an impeachment, or an indictment found by a grand jury ; but he was formerly elected by the Peers, though he received his commission from the Crown. His appointment is under the Great Seal, and in the case of an indictment recites the indictment found which it empowers him to receive and try. When the indictment has been removed by certiorari, command ing the inferior court to certify it up to him, the Lord High Steward directs a precept to the Serjeant-at-Arms to summon the Lords to assemble and try the indicted peer. When Parhament is sitting the trial of a peer is not properly in the Court of the Lord High Steward, but before the Court of our Lady the Queen in Parliament ; and in such case the Lord High Steward's duty is to regulate and add weight to the pro ceedings, more in the nature of a speaker pro tempore, or chair man of the Court, than the judge, for the collective body of the peers are the judges both of law and fact, and the Lord High Steward has a vote with the rest in right of his peerage. But in the recess of Parliament the Court is styled the Court of the Lord Steward, and he presides as the sole judge of matters of Law, as the peers then are of matters of fact, and he has no vote on the trial. The decision of the Court is by the majority but a majority cannot convict unless it consists of twelve or more. The Lord High Steward does not take any oath, hut he must proceed according to the laws and customs of the land. After the trial he dissolves his commission by breaking his white rod. Formerly, on trials during the recess, from eighteen to twenty- three peers only were summoned by the Lord High Steward — but this threw great weight into the hands of the Crown, and by stat. 7 Will. III. c. 3, all peers are summoned twenty days before the trial. Usually upon every coronation a Lord High Steward had been commissioned to hold a court in the Queen's palace, to receive the petitions of those who by tenure orotherwise claim to do service at the coronation ; but on the coronations of Geo. III. and Geo. IV., when a Cimrt of Claims was last appointed, a 24 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. I. commission, composed of the most distinguished persons, was appointed for this purpose under the great seal. THE HERALDS' COLLEGE. ' The Heralds' College is an ancient incorporation, dating from the reign of Richard III., of which the Barl Marshal is the head. It is composed of the three Kings at Arms, styled Garter, Clarenceux, and Norroy ; six Heralds at Arms, styled Somerset, Chester, Lcuncaster, Tork, Bichrmmd, and Windsor; and four Poursuivants at Arms, styled Boitge Croix, Portcullis, Rouge Dragon, and Blue Mantle ; and is empowered to grant armorial bearings to persons of wealth and merit, and to devise and register such armorial additions as are conferred by the sovereign, and descents and pedigrees, and to regulate the irregularities of such as assume the arms helonguig to others. The programme of all royal solemnities and celebrations is issued from the Heralds' College under the sanction of the Earl Marshal. The Heralds marshal and order all royal cavalcades, coronation ceremonies, royal marriages, installations, creations of peers, embassies, and funeral processions. They make proclamation of the accession of the Sovereign, the declaration of war, and the conclusion of a treaty of peace. Garter attends the solemnities of the Knights of the Garter, causes their arms to be hung up in their stalls after instalment, and carries the Garter to kings or princes beyond the sea who are elected to the order. Clarenceux and Norroy are called pro vincial Heralds— the district of the former being south of the Trent, of the latter north. All the officers of the college receive by ancient custom a small salary as part of the Household, with certain fees and allowances pertaining to their respective degrees. They enter the college as poursuivants, a knowledge of Heraldry being a qualification ; they are required to make it their care and study, and are preferred to the higher offices in the corporation. The ancient records of the college are valid testimony in courts of justice in support of pedigree. The members of the college are consulted and render professional assistance in tracing the descent of titles and property. The Proctors of Doctors' Com mons also practise in the college. The appointments to the college are made by the Crown on the nomination of the Earl Marshal. SECT. II. THE PEERAGE. 25 SECTION IL PEERAGE AND BARONETAG-E OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, ORDERS OF KNIGHT HOOD, AND OTHER HONORARY DISTINC TIONS. THE PEERAGE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. 1. Creation and Descent.— 2. Forms of Creation.— 3. Letters Patent.— 4. Writ.— 5. Fees on Creation.— 6. Rank of Scotch and Irish Peers in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. — 7. Limitation of Scotch and Irish Creations.- 8. Origin of the diflerent Ranks.— 9. Mode cf Address. — 10. Privileges. — 11. Increase of Peerage. — 12. Peeresses. 1. The Peers are the hereditary defenders and advisers of the Crown, and the protectors of the Royal prerogatives. The Peerage is the creation of the Sovereign, by whose sole will it is indefinitely increased both in numbers and rank. It is hereditary ; the instmment, when the grant is in the ordinary form by letters patent, defining the hne of inheritance, which is usually limited to the heirs male of the body of the person ennobled. But when the title originates by writ of summons, the grant is without limitation to the descendants of the first Baron ; and, on failure of males, the right of females is admitted, but the title falls into abeyance if there are more daughters, coheiresses, than one, and continues so until the representation becomes again vested in one person, or is terminated by the Crown, in the exercise of the prerogative, confirming it to one of the coheirs. Thus if a Peer die seized of a Barony on fee, leaving a daughter, an only child, and a brother, the title inheres in the daughter in preference to the brother, and descends on her death to her eldest son. If instead of one, several daughters succeed, and no son, the title does not still go to the brother, but among the daughters ; and since it is indivisible, it is in a manner lost, and is said to be in abeyance, so long as those daughters, or issue from more than one of them, exist. But should those daughters die, only one of them having left issue, and that issue a son, he inherits on the death of his aunts. 2. The creation by writ is in the form of a summons to 26 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. II. attend the House of Peers by such title as the Queen is pleased to confer ; the creation by patent is a Royal grant to a subject of any dignity and degree of peerage ; but, in the former case, the person is not ennobled unless he actually takes his seat in the House of Lords. The most usual, and the surest, way is therefore to grant the dignity by patent ; yet a writ of summons is frequent to call up the eldest son of a Peer to the House of Lords in the name of his father's barony, because in case he never takes his seat there is no danger of his children losing the nobility. Creation by writ has also this advantage, that, with out special words to that purport, it secures the dignity to the heirs in tail. These are the forms of the two Instruments — 1st. Creation by Letters Patent'. 3. Victoria, by the Grace of God, &c. To all Archbishops, Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts, Bishops, Barons, Knights, Provosts, Freemen, and all others, our officers, ministers, and subjects whatever, to whom these presents shall come greeting : know ye that we of our especial grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, have advanced, preferred, and created our trusty and well-beloved to the state, degree, dignity, and honour of Baron of in our County of . , and herein the said , Baron of aforesaid, do by these presents create, advance, and prefer : aud we have appointed, given, and granted, and by these presents for us our heirs and successors do appoint, give, and grant unto him the said the name, state, degree, style, dignity, title, and honour of Baron of aforesaid, unto him the said _, and the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten, and to be begotten ; willing, and by these presents granting for us, our heirs and successors, that the said and his heirs male aforesaid, and every of them successively, may bear and have the name, state, degree, style, dignity, title, and honour of Baron of , and that he the said and his heirs male aforesaid, and every of them successively, may in all things he held and deemed Barons of aforesaid, and be treated and reputed as Barons ; and that they and every of them successively and respectively may have, hold, and possess a seat, place, and voice in the parliaments and public assemblies and councils of us, our heirs and successors, within our United Kingdom of Great Britain SECT. II. THE PEERAGE. 27 and Ireland, amongst other Barons, as Barons of Parliament and public assemblies and councils ; and also that he the said and his heirs male aforesaid may enjoy, use, and every of them may enjoy and use by the name of Baron of aforesaid all and singular the rights, privileges, pre-eminences, immunities, and advantages, to the degree of a Baron, ui all things duly, and of right belonging, which other Barons of this our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire land have, heretofore, honourably and quietly used and enjoyed, or as they do at present use and enjoy. Lastly, we will and by these presents for us our heirs and successors do grant to the said that these our letters patent, or the enrolment thereof, shall be sufficient and effectual in the Law for the dignifying, investing, and really ennobling him the said and his heirs male aforesaid, with the title, state, dignity, and honour of Baron of aforesaid, and this without any investure, rites, ornaments, or ceremonies whatever, in this behalf due or accustomed, which for some certain reasons best known to us we could not in due manner do and perform ; any ordinance, use, custom, rite, ceremony, prescription or provision due or used to be had done or performed, in conferring honour of this kind, or other matter or thing, to the contrary thereof notwithstanding. We will also, &c., without fine in the Hanaper, &c. In witness whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent. Witness ourself at Westminster, this day of By Writ of Privy Seal. (Signed by the Clerk qf the Letters Patent.) (Great Seal appended.) 2nd. Creation by Writ of Summons. The formal recital is altered when Parliament is not sitting. 4. Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith. To . greeting. Whereas our Parliament for arduous and urgent affairs concerning us, the state and defence of our said United Kingdom and the Church, is now met at our city of Westminster : We strictly enjoining command you, under the faith and allegiance by which you are bound to us, that, con sidering the difficulty of the said affairs and designs impending, all excuses being laid aside, you be personally present at our 28 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. U. aforesaid Parliament, with us, and with the prelates, nobles, and peers of our said Kingdom, to treat of the aforesaid affairs and to give your advice, and this you may in no wise omit, as you tender us and our honour, and the safety and defence of the said Kingdom and Church, and the despatch of the said affairs. Witness ourself at Westminster, the day of in the year of our reign. Signed (by the Clerk of the Crown). To , a Writ of Summons to Parliament. 5. The ancient fees paid at the Home Office, the Signet Office, and the Privy Seal Office, on the creation of a Peer have been recently abolished. The following are those receivable on the creation of a Baron ; they increase on patents for the higher ranks of peerage : — Crown Office Charges. £. s. d. Stamp Office 150 2 0 Lord Chancellor, Great Seal Fee . . . .268 Clerk of the Hanaper 24 13 4 Deputy Clerk of the Hanaper . . . .110 Lord Chancellor's Purse Bearer . . . .550 Six of the Lord Chancellor's subordinate Officers . 10 7 0 Royal Household 104 6 10 Principal Usher of Scotland 6 13 6 Scotch Heralds 16 0 0 English Heralds 36 0 (f Earl Marshal . . . . . . .500 Garter King-at-Armg 20 0 0 Gold emblazoned Skin, patent Box and Seal . 9 0 0 390 15 4 Patent Office Charges. The Attorney-General 20 0 0 Clerk of the Patents to the Attorney-General . 7 7 6 Stamp Duty on Warrant 1 10 0 Engrossing and Parchment 110 29 18 6 These charges are payable according to ancient usage, except the revenue charge for stamps, which is payable under the Stamp Act, 15 Geo. III. c. 78. This is, on the patent of a Duke, 350/., Marquess, 300/., Earl 250/., Viscount 200/., Baron 150/. 6. In the Peerage of the United Kingdom, the Peers of England, Scotland, and Ireland are now included. The Peers of England, created prior to the Union with Scotland in 1707, rank before all SECT. II. THE PEERAGE. 29 the Scottish Peers of the same degree existing at the time of the Union, since which all the Peers of England, and all the then Peers of Scotland, are considered conjointly as the Peers of Great Britain ; the Scottish Peers taking rank next to the English Peers then existing, and before those subsequently created, according to their several degrees, and enjoying all the privileges of the Peer age except that of sitting and voting in the House of Peers. In 1801, on the Union with Ireland, the same reservation was made of the rights and privileges of the Peers of Ireland, who, in like manner, according to their degree, have precedence next to the British Peers existing at the time of the Union, and before those subsequently created. 7. In consequence of expressions used in the Act of Union (5 Anne, c. 8), limiting the right of election of the Scotch repre sentative Peers to the then existing Peers of Scotland, it is under stood that the Sovereign cannot create a new Scotch peerage ; and such peerages are in fact never created except in the case of the younger branches of theRoyal.Family, though extinct peerages may be revived or forfeited peerages restored. By the Irish Act of Union (39 and 40 Geo. III. c. 67) the Sovereign is restricted to the creation of one new Irish peerage on the extinction of three of the existing peerages ; but when the Irish Peers are reduced to 100, then on the extinction of one peerage another may be created. 8. The Nobihty of the United Kingdom are equal in their privi leges, notwithstanding the distinction of their titles and dignities ; they are divided into Dukes, Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts, and Barons. The first duke was created by Edward IH., in the person of the Black Prince, his son, and many, of the royal family especially, were afterwards raised to the same honour. In the reign of Queen Elizabeth (1572) the whole order became extinct ; but it was afterwards revived by her successor in the person of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham. The first Marquess was Robert Vere, Earl of Oxford, created Marquess of Dublin by Richard II. An Earl is a title of nobility so ancient that its origin cannot be clearly traced out. The Earl had the custody of the county anciently, and before the 2nd Edw. III. was the sujireme name of dignity. The creation has always been by letters patent, and the Earl should, though it is not essential, be Earl of some place. The first Viscount was created by Henry VL, who raised John Beaumont to that rank by the title 30 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. IJ. of Viscount Beaumont. The title of Baron, and the antiquity of Baronies, have been the suhject of much research. Blackstone assumes that originally all lords of manors, or Barons that held of the King in capite, had seats in the Great Council or Parlia ment, till about the reign of John, when the King was obliged to divide them, and summon only the greater Barons in person, to whom by degrees the title came to be confined as Lords of Parliament ; and there were no other Barons among the Peerage hut such as were summoned by writ, in respect of the tenure of their Lands or Baronies, till Richard II. made it a mere title of honour by conferring it on several persons hy letters patent. Originally all the nobles were Barons, for a superior title of nobility does not extinguish the inferior ; but it has happened that when an ancient Baron has heen raised to a higher rank in the Peerage, in the course of a few generations the two titles have descended differently, one, perhaps, to the male descendants the other to the heirs general, and hence the Earldom or other superior title has existed without a Barony : and there are modem instances where Earls and Viscounts have been created without annexing a. Barony to their other honours, so that the rule does not now hold universally that all peers are Barons. 9. The Duke is the first in rank : he is officially addressed hy the Sovereign as " Our right trasty and right entirely-beloved Cousin and Councillor ;" personally and by letter as "Your Grace," " My Lord Duke," and on the superscription as " His Grace, or the Most Noble the Duke of ." The Marquess is second in rank : he is styled by the Sovereign ' ' Our right trusty and entirely-beloved Cousin," and formally as "My Lord," or " My Lord Marquess," and on the super scription as " The Most Hon. the Marquess of ." The Earl is the third m rank, and is styled by the Sovereign as " Our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin." The Viscount is the fourth in rank : he is styled by the Sovereign " Our right trusty and well-beloved Cousin." The Baron is the last in degree : he is styled by the Sovereign as " Right trasty and well-beloved." The last three Peers are respectively addressed as " My Lord," with the superscription ot " The Right Hon. the Eari of ," or " The Right Hon. Lord Viscount ," or " The Right Hon. Lord " in the case of a Baron. The title of " Cousin " dates from the reign of Hen IV., who, being by his wife, his mother, or his SECT. II. THE BARONETAGE. 31 sisters, actually related to every Earl in the kingdom, from policy acknowledged that connection in all his pubhc acts, whence the usage descended to his successors. 10. The personal privileges of a Peer are few, the chief being trial by his Peers, in cases of treason or felony, instead of by the ordinary tribunals ; and freedom from arrest. Peers also claim the right to demand an audience with the Sovereign, to submit matters of public importance. Their privileges as members of the Legislature will be treated of under that head. 11. It has been computed, that on the death of Queen Elizabeth the number of peers was only 56. James I. increased them to 105 ; and Charles I. to 135. Charles II. created 15 dukes (six of whom were his natural children), 1 marqtiess, 35 earls, 3 countesses, 2 viscounts, and 29 barons. At the Revolution of 1688, William III. raised 8 earls to dukedoms, and created 18 earls, 3 viscounts, and 9 barons. Anne increased the peers to 170. George 1. created or raised in rank 49 peers. On the death of George II. the number of peers was 184 ; and during the long reign of George III. this number was nearly doubled. George IV. added 64 members to the Upper House. The peerege at present eonsists of 3 royal dukes, 26 dukes, 38 marquesses, 202 earls, 61 viscounts, 205 barons. Total 535 ; and 14 peeresses in their own right. 12. Peeresses may obtain their nobility by marriage, descent, or creation. If a Peeress, in her own right, marries a commoner, she retains her nobility and her right to be tried by her Peers ; if only Noble by marriage, on a second marriage with a commoner she loses her dignity, though, hy courtesy, she retains her title. THE BARONETAGE OP THE UNITED KINGDOM. A Baronetcy is a dignity of Inheritance created by letters patent, and descends to male issue. It is next in degree to the Peerage. It has no relation to any previous dignity in England, and was conceived to confer rank, title, and precedence without privilege. It gives no title to sit in the Upper House, and does not disqualify for a seat in the Lower. The order originated with James I., who, when in want of money for the settlement of the province of Ulster, created this new dignity in 1611, as a means of raising it, and required of every one upon whom it was conferred' 1095/., a sum estimated to 32 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. II. keep thirty infantry soldiers for three years. In 1620, for the same purpose, James extended the order to Ireland, and on the Irish creations the money received was paid into the Irish Exchequer. James proposed also to establish an order of Baronets to encourage the planting of Nova Scotia. His suc cessor adopted the scheme, and in 1625 granted tracts of land in that colony, and with them the rank, style, and title of Baronets of that province ; and there were frequent creations of Nova Scotia Baronetcy till the union with Scotland, in 1707, when such creations ceased. The present number of Baronets, so far as can be correctly ascertained, is — United 'Kingdom - - - 690 Scotland - - - 112 Ireland 73 On the respective Unions between England and Scotland, Great Britain and Ireland, precedence was reserved to the Scotch and Irish Baronets according to the dates of their several creations, and the whole order thus became consolidated. Baro nets are addressed with the prefix of Sir, and the word Baronet after the name : their wives are styled Lady. ORDERS OP KNIGHTHOOD OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. Knighthood was a part of the Norman military system : all who held lands of certain amount direct from the Crown were compelled to receive knighthood, and to do knights' service, which entailed forty days' military duty in every year during war. The nature of this duty, and the exemptions from it, were defined by stat. 1 of 1st Bdw. II. It became subject to much abuse and extortion, and was so oppressively used in the reigns of Edw. VI. and Ehz., that its abuse led to its total abolition by 16 and 17 Chas. I. c. 20. There are now four orders of Knighthood in the United Kingdom, independent of the Knights Bachelors, who are not enrolled in any order, and the foreign order of St. Michael and St. George. In the four great orders the Knights upon election are admitted jand invested at a Chapter of the Order. The Knights Bachelors, of whom there are at this time 340, receive and enjoy all the privileges of Knighthood from the mere im- SECT. II. ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD. 33 position of the sword on the shoulder, by the Sovereign, or by delegation, by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, who has power to confer the honour of Knighthood in that kingdom. To persons prevented by residence abroad from being presented to the Monarch, Knighthood is sometimes granted under letters patent. Knights are addressed " Sir," and the word " Knight" is sometimes affixed to the names of those who are enrolled in either of the four orders. The four orders of Knighthood are : — 1. The most noble Order of the Garter was instituted by Edward III. in, according to Ashmole, the year 1350. By a statute made in 1786 it was made to consist of the Sovereign and 25 Knights, exclusive of the sons of Her Majesty or her successors who have heen or may be elected. But this restric tion has on several occasions been dispensed vrith to admit of the election of foreign Sovereigns, and recently even of British subjects, as extra Knights. This order holds the highest rank among British orders in Knighthood, and is second to none in the world in dignity. The officers of the order are a prelate, who is always the Bishop of Winchester ; a Chancellor, who is now the Bishop of Oxford ; a Registrar, who is the Dean of Windsor ; the primcipal King-at-Arms, called Garter, who ma nages and marshals the solemnities ; and the Usher of the Garter, who is likewise the Usher of the Black Rod. The Chapter meet every year on St. George's day (23rd April) in St. George's Chapel, Windsor, where the installations of the order are held, and the Knights' banners suspended. The fees and accustomed charges paid by a Knight on his installation amount to about 440/. 2. The most ancient amd noble Order of the Thistle — a Scottish order of Knighthood, for which great antiquity is claimed — was founded in 1540, by James V. It was re-established in 1703, and enlarged by George IV., to consist of the Sovereign and 17 Knights. Its officers are a Dean, Lord Lyon King-of-Arms, Secretary, and Gentleman Usher of the Green Rod. 3. The most illustrious Order of St. Patrick is of recent origin, and established a national order of Knighthood for Ireland. It was instituted in 1783, and enlarged in 1833. It consists of the Sovereign," a Grand-Master, and 22 Knights. The Lord- D 34 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. II. Lieutenant for the time being is the Grand-Master: the officers are— Prelate of the order, the Archbishop of Armagh ; Chancellor, the Archbishop of Dublin ; Registrar, the Dean of St. Patrick ; with a Secretary, Genealogist, Usher of the Black Bod, and Ulster King-of-Arms. 4. The most hmmrable Order of the Bath. — This order is sup posed to have heen instituted at the coronation of Hen. IV., in 1399 ; and it became the custom to create knights on the coro nation of a sovereign, or other great event in the royal family ; but the order was discontinued from the time of Richard H. It was revived by George I. in 1725, and was till 1847 strictly a military order — no officer being qualified for admission unless he had received .some badge of honour, or had been mentioned in despatches as having distinguished himself in action. By letters patent, gazetted 25th May 1847, certain statutes, chiefly made in January 1815, by H. R. H. the Prince Regent, and all things done under the same, of the formality of which some doubts had existed, were confirmed ; all the existing statutes were then annulled and repealed, and the constitution of the Order of the Bath, which was therefore exclusively miUtary, was, by new statutes of the same date, opened to civilians. The Order now consists of the Sovereign, as Sovereign of the Order ; a Great Master, or principal Knight Grand Cross, who is to be a Prince of the Blood Eoyal, or such other exalted per.son- age ; and 952 Companions or Members, to be divided into three classes, containing each two subdivisions, civil and military, each of which is to be composed partly of ordinary and partly of honorary members. The first class consists of 50 Members in the Military Division, and 25 in the Civil Division, styled " Knights Grand Cross." The first must actually hold the rank of Major-General in the Army or the East India Company's Ser vice, or of Rear- Admiral in the Navy ; and civilians must be distinguished " by their personal services to the Crown, or by the performance of puhlic duties have merited the Royal favour." This definition in the case of civilians extends also to the 2nd and Srd classes. The seoond class consists of 102 Members ia the Military Division, and 50 in the Civil Division, styled " Knights Commanders." Officers are not eUgible unless they actually SECT. II. ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD. 35 hold at the time a commission of or above the rank of Colonel in the Army or Marines or the East India Company's Service, or of Captain in the Nav^. In the civil division the same qualification is required as in the first class. The third class consists of 525 Members in the Military Division, and 200 in the Civil Division, designated " Compa nions," to which all Officers who have attained the rank of Major in the Army or Marines or East India Company's Service, or Commander in the Navy, are eUgible, if their services have been marked by special mention in despatches published in the Gazette as having distinguished themselves in action, or as the head of a Military Department, or by some active service, under their ovra immediate conduct, have contributed to the success of such action. In the civil division the same qualifica tion is required as in the first class. The Honorary Members consist of foreign persons, unlimited in number, upon whom the Sovereign may think fit to confer the honour of being received into the Mihtary or Civil Divisions of either of the three classes. By a special statute, gazetted 16th August 1850, Officers of the Commissariat and Medical Departments of the Ai-my and Navy, and of the East India Company's Armies and Navy, are made eligible for admission into the MiUtary Divisions of the seoond and third classes. The two first classes are entitled to the distinction and style of " Knight." The Officers of the Order are the Dean, who is the Dean of Westminster, a Registrar, King-of-Arms, Geneo- logist. Secretary, Usher, and Messenger. The three Secretaries of State are empowered to name persons for these distinctions to the Queen, and take the Royal pleasure for preparing the necessary warrants for the Sign Manual; but previous to 1847, the Colonial Secretary, as War Minister, had exclusively recommended for the honour of the Bath, and in practice the recommendation appears still restricted to hun. The most distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George was instituted in 1818, as an appropriate medium for con ferring distinctions upon the natives of the Ionian Isles and ¦ Malta. It consists of the Sovereign, a Grand Master, 15 Knights Grand Cross, 42 Knights Commanders, and 25 Companions, exclusive of British Officers holding high appomtments in those D 2 36 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. III. islands. The Officers of the Order are, a Prelate for the Ionian Islands, a Prelate for Malta, a King-at-Arms, Registrar, and a Secretary. SECTION IIL THE LEGISLATURE AND OFFICERS OF THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. THE LEGISLATURE. 1. Constitution of Parliament.— 2. The Queen's share of Legislative Authority and Relations to Parliament.— 3. The House of Lords, its peculiar Jurisdiction.— 4. How constituted.— 5. The House of Com mons. — 6. Its exclusive privileges.— 7. How constituted. — 8. Quali fications and disqualifications of Members.— 9. Avoidance of seat by acceptance of Office. — 10. Inquiry into corrupt Elections. — 11. Powers of Parliament.— 12. Duration.— 13. Forms of Summons, Pro rogation, Dissolution.— 14. Duration of Parliaments of the United Kingdom.— 15. Privileges of Members.—16. Distribution of Papers. 1. The main constitution of Parliament, as it now stands, was marked out so long ago as 1215, in the Great Charter granted by King John, wherein he promises to summon all Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, Earls, and greater Barons per sonally, and all other tenants-in-chief under the Crown, by the Sheriff and Bailiffs, to meet at a certain place with forty days' notice, to assess aids and scutages when necessary. Such writs of summons, from the year 1266, 49 Hen. III., are still extant ; and this constitution of Parliament is recognised as a long- established usage in a declaratory stat. of 15 Edw. II. (1322). The constituent parts of the Parliament are — 1st, the Sove reign ; 2nd, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal ; 3rd, the Com mons : these three Estates form the body politic of the kingdom. 2. Tlie Queen's share in the legislative authority is purely exe cutive. She does not propound laws — her power is rather negative and defensive of the Royal prerogative. By her sole authority Parliament is summoned, prorogued, and dissolved, and when assembled cannot commence without her presence, either in per son or by her representative. One of her highest prerogatives is that by her assent bills passed by the Parliament become laws SECT. III. THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. 37 — without it, they are uulUfied. The Queen, by several settled constitutional forms, commimicates with and receives communi cations from Her ParUament, as — personally in Her Royal Speech to both Houses on the opening of ParUament, and in giving assent to Bills ; by written message under the Sign Manual, brought by a Minister or Member of the Household, to the two Houses separately or to either House singly, making known an important pubUc event or matter affecting the Royal Prero gative, or the due provision for the Eoyal Family ; or by verbal message through a Minister when the privileges of Parliament are concerned, as by the arrest or proceedings against a Member at the suit of the Crown, or when the recommendation or consent of the Crown is signified to Bills or proceedings con cerning the Royal prerogatives, revenues, or property. 3. The Houseof Lords is the second constituent branch of Parlia^ ment. It seems politically constituted to support the rights of the Crown. In its legislative capacity it forms one of the estates of the realm, with full power to originate bills for making, amending, or repealing the laws, with the exception of money biUs. Acts of Grace — such as billsof amnesty, bills relating to restitution in blood and to honours — emanate from the Crown, and are introduced in this House, as are also all bills that affect the rights of the Peerage. In its judicial capacity the House of Lords constitutes the highest tribunal, and forms a distinct Court for the trial of Appeals from the Court of Chancery, of Criminal Cases on im peachment by the House of Commons, and of Members of its own body on indictment found by a grand jury ; hut it has no original jurisdiction. The House of Lords represents its own body, and its functions are inherent and exercised without respon sibiUty. Its members have the right of voting hy proxy. Their place of assembly and deliberation is distinct from the Commons. 4. The Members of the House of Lords are the Lords Spiritual, consisting of two Archbishops and 24 Bishops for England, with one Archbishop and three Bishops for Ireland, who sit by rotation of Session ; and the Lords Temporal, who are unlimited in num ber, and may be increased at the pleasure of the Sovereign, consisting of all the Peers of the Realm, with 16 Peers chosen by the body of the Scotch Nobihty as their Representatives for one Parliament, pursuant to the Scotch Act of Union, amended by stats. 10 and 11 Vict. c. 52, and 14 and 15 Vict. o. 87, and 28 Peers 38 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. 111. elected for Ufe hy the Irish nobility as their Representatives, under the 4th article of the Irish Act of Union. The House of Lords' Roll for the Session of 1854 comprises 448 Peers of the United Kingdom, under the following ranks, inclusive of Minors, viz. : — 26 English Bishops. 4 Irish Eepresentative Bishops. 23 Dukes (including three of the Blood Royal). 21 Marquesses. 110 Earls. 23 Viscounts. 197 Barons. 16 Representative Scotch Peers. 28 Representative Irish Peers. The Judges, the Master of the Rolls, the Attorney and SoU citor General, and the Queen's Serjeants are summoned by writ every Parliament as the assistants and advisers of the House of Lords. The Judges now alone attend, but only when sum moned to advise upon particular questions. The Masters in Chancery are also attendants upon the House, and are usually employed in carrying hills and messages to the House of Commons, one attending in rotation daily. 5. The House of Commons forms the third estate. Its province is to maintain the liberties of the people. It has equal powers for making, altering, or repealing laws with the House of Peers, and maintains the sole power to originate bills levying taxes or affecting the public income and expenditure, and to examine the right of elections to its own body. It has the undoubted right to expel or commit to prison its own Members, or to commit other persons, who offend by breach of its privileges, contempt of its authority, disobedience of its orders, or invasion of its rights ; but the power of commitment is limited to the duration of the Session. It has the power of impeaching great and powerful offenders, but not of trial, which rests with the Lords. 6. The Commons exercise the exclusive right of imposing taxes and voting suppUes, the power of assent or dissent simply re maining to the Upper House in money bills. To bring the gross income and expenditure of the country more directly under the immediate view and control of the Commons, the expenses of the numerous Establishments heretofore charged on the Consoli dated Fund (except only those of a judicial nature, and some SECT. III. THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. 39 compensation allowances) are directed to be paid from the sums annually voted (stat. 17 and 18 Vict. c. 94). It is an estabUshed constitutional principle that the responsible Ministers of the Crown recommend to the Commons in the Queen's name the grant of the supplies necessary to carry on the Government. The Queen in her speech on the opening of Parliament, address ing the Commons, requires that provision should be made for the public service, and states that the estimates will be laid before them. The House, after referring to Her Majesty's speech, resolves that a supply be granted ; and on a subsequent day resolves itself into a Committee of Supply to consider the estimates for the different services, and, sitting thenceforth from time to time, votes specific grants for all such services as are not permanently provided for by statute. So soon as a supply has been voted, the House resolve sitself into a Committee of Ways and Means, to consider the means of raising the suppUes granted, and providing for the permanent charges on the public revenue. T'his Committee vote general grants for this purpose from the Consolidated Fund (or aggregate of the produce of the various taxes founded for greater convenience by stat. 27 Geo. III. s. 47) and the issue of Exchequer Bills in aid, and at the end of the Session the annual Appropriation Act is passed, authorizing in the first place the amount to be appUed from the Consolidated Fund, the amount to be raised by Exchequer Bills, and the surplus, if any, to be contributed from the Exchequer, and then the appropriation of these moneys to the payment of the specific sums voted. The Treasury do not however await the passing of this Act to render the sums voted available : an Act is passed early in each Session which authorizes the Treasury to issue a limited amount of Exchequer Bills, and to apply the proceeds advanced by the Bank of England in payment of the services voted, and these Exchequer Bills are repaid out of the suppUes granted in the following Session. 7. The House of Commons consists of the chosen Representatives of the counties, cities, boroughs, and of the three universities of the EstabUshed Church, in the United Kingdom. The Representatives of coimties are elected by the proprietors and occupiers of land ; the Representatives of the cities and boroughs are chosen by the mercantile and trading part of the community ; and the Representatives of the Universities by the Doctors and Masters of Arts. The qualifications of the electors are defined by the Reform Acts of 2 and 3 WiU. IV. There are many grounds Universities. Total. 4 471 - 29 - 53 2 105 40 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. III. of disqualification. The chief are, being under 21 years of age — being of unsound mind — ^in the receipt of parish relief — or having heen convicted of a criminal offence. Officers employed in the collection of the revenue, and members of the paid constabulary, are also in many cases disqualified. The number of members of the House of Commons continued unchanged from the reign of Chas. II. till the union with Scotland, 4th Anne, when forty members were added for that country. On the union with Ireland in 1801, one hundred more members were added, and from that time the number has been 658 ; this number being retained on the passing of the Reform Acts. They are elected by the following constituen cies : — Counties. Buroughs. England ... 144 323 Wales .... 15 14 Scotland ... 30 23 Ireland ... 64 39 253 399 6 658 But the English members have been two less since 1844, when Sudbury was disfranchised by stat. 7 and 8 Vict. c. 53, and four less since 1852, when St. Albans was disfranchised by 15 and 16 Vict. c. 9, reducing the numbers at this time to 654. 8. The qualifications of members representing English or Irish constituencies are defined by the stat. 1 and 2 Vict. c. 48. A county representative must possess, for his own benefit, real or personal property to the value of 600/. a year ; a borough repre sentative the same qualification to the value of 300/. a-year. No property qualification is required of the representatives of Scotch constituencies or of the three universities. The disqua lifications are — ^being minors, persons mentally imbecile, aliens not natural-horn subjects, government contractors, convicted felons. . To these must be added — Peers of the United Kingdom, who are ineligible from their seat in the Upper House, and the Scotch Peers ; hut Irish Peers, not Representative Peers, may sit for any place in Great Britain. Judges of the Superior Courts of Common Law are disqualified ; as are also Sheriffs and retuming officers within their counties or boroughs; and numerous other officers are disquaUfied by statute, as well as all persons in priests' or deacons' orders and members of the kirk of Scotland. A Member becoming bankrupt is disquaUfied from sitting or voting. SECT. III. , THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. 41 9. To preserve the independence of Members of the House of Commons it was enacted, by statute 6 Anne, that if any Member shall accept any office of profit from the Crown, his election shall be void, and a new writ issue, but he is eligible for re-election ; and so strictly is the rule construed, that in the Session of 1853 a Committee of the House of Commons decided that the Secretary to the Order of St. Patrick, who is invested pursuant to a Royal Warrant, and receives a fee at the election of a Knight, held an office of profit, within the meaning of the statute, and declared his election void. This statute has been made the means of relieving a Member from his trast, which he cannot resign, by his acceptance of the Stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds, or some other nominal office in the gift df the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The practice began only about the year 1750, and has since been generally acquiesced in from its convenience to all parties, though it is open to ques tion how far the office can now be strictly deemed within the disqualifying words of the statute of Anne. In the constraction of this Act the resignation of office has not been held to be complete until the appointment of a successor, and the resump tion of office, no appointment intervening, not to vacate a seat. Further, that a first commission in the army or navy vacates a seat — subsequent commissions do not. 10. To check the prevalence of corrapt practices at elections, the stat. 15 and 16 Vict. c. 57, was passed, which provides that upon a joint address of both Houses of Parliament, repre senting to Her Majesty that a Committee of the House of Commons have reported that corrapt practices have extensively prevailed at any election of a Member of ParUament, Her Ma jesty may appoint Commissioners to make inquiry into the existence of such practices. The form of proceeding under this statute has been for the Commons to send a message to the Lords, desiring a conference, and the Lords agreeing, the Com mons' Committee aijpointed to manage the conference, deliver to the Lords the copy of the Commons' address, naming the Commissioners of Inquiry to he appointed. 11 . The powers of Parliament are politically omnipotent within the United Kingdom and its colonies and dependencies. It can make new laws, and enlarge, alter, or repeal those existing. Its authority extends to alL ecclesiastical, temporal, civil, or military 42 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. III. matters, and its powers to altering or changing its own constitu tion. It is the highest Court, over which no other has jurisdiction. It confers power, by private Acts, upon companies and indivi duals to undertake works of public utility, for their own interest, but at their own pecuniary risk. It passes Acts for naturaliza tion, divorce,- to enable persons to perfect titles to property, and for other like objects. Both Houses have the power to delegate inquiries to Committees, and to empower them to enforce the attendance of witnesses, and the production of records and papers. The power to examine on oath is alone -with the Lords. Hence Bills of Pains and Penalties, and proceedings founded on verbal inquiries, usually originate in that House. The Commons deter mine judicially, by Committees chosen by ballot, aU questions as to the election of their Members. 12. Parliament, which by the common law was dissolved by the demise of the Crown, was continued for six months after the demise by stat. 6 Anne, unless sooner dissolved hy the successor. By the same statute Parliament is required to as semble immediately on demise of the Crown, notwithstanding adjournment or prorogation ; and in case no ParUament is in being at the time, it is provided, by stat. 37 Geo. III. c. 127, that the last precedhig ParUament shall meet and he a Par liament. Originally there was uo limit, but the -will of the King, to the duration of ParUament. But by the 6th of William and Mary, the continuance of a ParUament was limited to three years, which was afterwards, by stat. 1 Geo. I., extended to seven years, unless sooner dissolved by the Royal prerogative. By stat. 6 Will, and Mary it is enacted that Par Uament shall be holden once in three years at the least, but the practice of voting supplies for one year only renders it neces sary to assemble Parliament annually. 13. To assemble anew Parliament, the Queen in Council makes an order to the Lord Chancellor to summon the new Parlia ment, who thereupon directs the Clerk of the Crown to prepare and issue, under the Great Seal, Writs to the Sheriffs of Counties and Counties Corporate, who, on the receipt of the Writs, issue their precepts to the Returning Officers of the different municipalities, requiring the return to them, within a limited time, of the persons chosen — and the Sheriffs make these returns, together with their own returns of the persons chosen in the Counties, to the Clerk of the Crown— who forth- SECT. III. THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. 43 with publishes in the London Gazette the names of the persons elected. The Queen appoints by proclamation the time and place of meeting at the commencement of every Session, and either in person or by commission opens every Session with a speech from the Throne. The prorogation of Parliament is in the absolute will of the Queen, and at once suspends all business. This is done by command, signified by the Lord Chancellor in Her Majesty's presence, to both Houses ; or by Writ under the Great Seal, or by Commission. But by stat. 37 Geo. III. c. 127, Her Majesty may shorten the day to which Parliament stands prorogued, and by her proclamation summon Parliament to be holden on any earlier day, not less than fourteen days distant. Adjournment is an ordinary form, in the power of each House separately. But the Queen, with the advice of her Privy Council, is empowered by stat. 39 and 40 Geo. HI. c. 14, to issue a proclamatian declaring the meeting of Parliament within not less than fourteen days, notwithstanding an adjournment beyond that period. A dissolution at once deprives ParUament of all power. ParUament is usually prorogued, and then immediately dissolved by proclamation by the Queen in Council, under the Great Seal, and by the same instrument it is declared that the Chancellor of Great Britain and the Chancellor of Ireland have been respectively ordered and required to issue out Writs in due form and according to law, for calling a new Parliament. These Writs issue forthwith, and by stat. 15 Vict. c. 23, the period to be fixed by the Crown for the assembling a new Parlia ment, which had been forty days by 7 and 8 William III. c. 25, was reduced to thirty-five days. Further, it is provided that in certain contingencies the ParUament shall be immediately assembled. By stat. 43 Geo. III. c. 90, Her Majesty is requked to call ParUament together ¦within fourteen days, whenever the militia shall be drawn out and embodied, in cases of apprehended invasion or of rebellion ; and a Uke proviso is inserted in the Act of 15 and 16 Vict. c. 50, in case Her Majesty should, under any similar emergency, raise the present miUtia force to 120,000 men and embody them. The following are the dates of assembly and dissolution of the Parliaments since the union with Ireland, and the periods of their duration. 44 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. III. Reign. Parliament. Assembled. Dissolved. Duration. Trs.M. D. Geo. III. . 1st Parliam. 27 Sept. 1796 29 June 1802 . 6 9 3 2nd „ 31 Aug. 1802 . 24 Oct. 1806 . 4 1 25 3rd „ 25 Nov. 1806 . 27 May 1807 . 0 6 2 4th „ 27 Nov. 1807 . 29 Sept. 1812. 4 10 2 5th 24 Nov. 1812 . 10 June 1818 . 5 6 16 6th ;; 4 Aug. 1818 . 29 Feb. 1820 . 1 6 25 Geo. IV. . 7th Parliam. 23 April 1820 2 June 1826 . 6 1 9 Sth „ 14 Nov. 1826 . 24 July 1830 . 3 8 10 Willm. IV. 9th Parliam. 24 Oct. 1830 . 22 April 1831 0 5 6 lOth „ 14 June 1831 . 3 Dec. 1832 . 1 5 19 ^ llth „ 29 Jan. 1833 . 30 Dec. 1834 . 1 11 1 • 12th „ 19 Feb. 1835 . 17 July 1837 . 2 5 10 Victoria . 13th Pariiam. 15 Nov. 1837 . 23 June 1841 . 3 7 9 Wth „ 19 Aug. 1841 . 23 July 1847 . 5 11 4 15th „ 18 Nov. 1847 . 1 July 1852 . 4 7 12 16th „ 4 Nov. 1852 . 15. The members of both Houses have pri-vilege of speech for full freedom of debate in Parliament. They are free from legal arrests and seizures under process of Courts of Law and Equity ; but the privilege does not extend to indictable offences, nor to actual contempt of Courts of Justice, or proceedings in Bank ruptcy. They are also exempt from serving the office of Sheriff, and from attendance on juries. The privileges of the Commons are only in force during the sitting of ParUament. The Peers' privileges extend to all times. 16. All papers printed by order of the House of Lords are by courtesy distributed, on application, to Members of the House of Commons. Every Member of the House of Commons receives one copy of each paper printed by order of that House— and the Commons have recently adopted the principle of sale as the best means of giving the public access to their publica tions, the price of a paper being such as -vrill cover only the expense of paper and pressman's labour. This is but a revival of an old principle, for in 1641, when the Parliamentary Papers were first printed, they were sent to the Sheriffs of Counties to be distributed among the people ; but objection to the practice was made by the Secretary of State, in the reign of Charles IL, and though the House did not approve of the objection, the practice fell into disuse, and has never been revived. SECT. III. OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS. 45 SPEAKER AND OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS. Tlie Lord Chancellor is by prescription the Speaker of the House of Lords. He is not, as such, disqualified from taking a part in the debate. He has the right to vote on divisions, but on an equaUty of votes he has not the casting voice, the non- contents prevail. He is not charged with the preservation of order, nor does he decide who shall be heard ; but the decision is with the House, as is also the maintenance of order. He is not necessarily a Member, and the House, in many instances, has had for its President a Lord Keeper, or the Lord Chief Justice acting temporarily, who was not a Peer, and therefore had no right to debate or vote — his duty being limited to the formal proceedings of the House. This was the case on the charge of bribery against Lord Chancellor Bacon : Chief Justice Ley, Kt., held the office till the end of the Session, and as the organ of the will of the House, took a prominent part in its proceedings ; and the Chief Justice of one of the superior courts, or the Master of the Rolls, has usually been appointed to act when the Great Seal is in Commission. But there are now Deputy Speakers, who officiate as Speaker. The Chairman of Committees is a member of the House, nomi nated by the House at the commencement of every session, and is usuaUy from time to time re-elected. The appointment was first made in July 1800 : it is not deemed political ; fitness for the fulfilment of the laborious and important duties of the office alone guiding the selection. His duties are to take the Chair in all committees of the whole House, and in committees upon private biUs, unless when the House shall determine otherwise, and he has especially the supervision of all private bills. He has a salary of 2500/. per annum, and the counsel appointed to assist him has a salary of 1500/. per annum. The Deputy Speakers are Peers appointed during pleasure, by the Queen, under the Great Seal, to use and supply the place of the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper in his necessary absence and in the absence of the Chairman of Committees. There is no salary attached to the office. The office of Clerk of the Parliaments is regulated by stat. 5 Geo. TV. c. 82. The appointment is in the Queen, removable upon an address of the House of Lords. The Lord Chancellor 46 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. III. has the appointment of the clerk-assistant and the other clerks officiating at the table of the House, removable in like manner ; and the Clerk of the Parliaments appoints to all the other clerkships in the office ; but, on any vacancy in the office of clerk-assistant during the existence of the letters patent of the present Clerk of the Parliaments, then the right of appointing to such vacancy is reserved to the Crown. The Clerk of the ParUaments and his assistant are paid by fees ; but in 1824 a Committee of the House recommended that, as their interests expire, the whole of the fees paid to them and to the clerks under them should be paid into a fee fund, and that fixed sala ries chargeable on the fund should be substituted for their fees. The salaries then recommended were — Clerk of the Parliaments 4000/. per annum, -with a residence, and a retiring pension of 2000/. per annum ; Clerk-assistant 2500/. per annum, -with a residence, and a retiring pension of 1500/. per annum. This latter arrangement took effect on the appointment of the present Clerk-assistant. The Clerk of the Parliaments and his assistants make minutes of the proceedings of the House, record its votes^ resolutions, orders, and divisions, issue directions consequent upon its orders, prepare the joumals, and superintend and verify the preparation and distribution of the printed documents issued by the House. The Gentleman Usher to the Black Rod is appointed by letters patent from the Crown. He is the chief gentleman usher to the Sovereign, and helongs to the Garter. He is an attendant upon the House of Peers during the sitting of Parliament, and peers charged with any crime are in the first instance committed to his custody. His chief duties are connected -with the ceremonial forms of the House. He carries the messages of the House to the Commons. His emoluments are derived from fees regulated by the House. He has the appointment of the doorkeepers, mes sengers, and servants of the House— in cludmg some offices which were formerly of considerable emolument and were usually pur chased, but are now paid by salary and placed under new regu lations. Serjeants-at-Arms. — These officers formed the Sovereign's most ancient body-guard, and were charged with the an-est of traitors and offenders about the court. They have long ceased to he a corps-de-garde, but they retain their civil character. They are SECT. HI. OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. 47 part of the Lord Chamberlain's department. The Serjeant-at- Arms appointed by the Queen to attend the House of Lords has the execution of the warrants of the House, and the maintenance of order in its approaches and entrances. He attends the Lord Chancellor with the mace, and is more particularly his officer than the servant of the House. He is assisted in these duties by a deputy. Eis salary is 1500/. per annum. SPEAKER AND OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. Tlie Speaker is elected by the House from among its own members at the commencement of every new Parliament, the House being informed that it is the Queen's pleasure they should choose some proper person to be their Speaker, and present him for Her Majesty's royal approbation. On this being signified, the Speaker claims of Her Majesty for the Commons aU their ancient rights and privileges : particularly that their persons, their estates, and servants may be free from arrests and aU moles tations ; that they may enjoy liberty of speech in aU their de bates ; may have access to Her Majesty's royal person whenever occasion shaU require ; and that aU their proceedings may receive Her Majesty's most favourable construction. The Speaker re presents the poUtical majority of the House at the time of his election, and is usually, but not invariably, re-elected by a new Parliament so long as he continues comijetent to the duties. He enjoys a salary of 6000Z. per annum, pursuant to stat. 2 and 3 Will. IV. c. 105, and has an official residence suitable to the dignity of his office ; a pension of 4000/. for two lives, with a peerage, have been granted on the retirement from office. He is disqualified by the above statute from holding any office or place of profit under the Crown during pleasure. On the election of a successor to the present Speaker, whose interests are reserved, the salary is fixed at 5000/. per annum by stat. 4 and 5 WiU. IV. 0. 70. The Speaker is the organ and mouthpiece of the House, maintaioing order and presiding over its discussions. He takes no part in the debates, except in committees of the whole House. He votes only in committee when he vacates the chair, or when the numbers are equal, giving then a castmg vote. He gives his opinion upon aU questions which arise relating to order, putting the matter in a substantive form for the decision of the House, 48 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. III. if his own decision, founded usually on precedent, is not assented to. He explains any doubts whioh may arise on bills. He determines the precedence of members rising to address the House. It is his duty to make known to persons called to its bar the decisions of the House, whether upon resolutions express ing the thanks of the House and laudatory of their acts, or conveying its censure. He examines witnesses at the Bar. He addresses the Sovereign on presenting, for the royal assent, at the termination of the session, money bills passed by the House, and recapitulates the chief measures passed in the session. On a division he nominates the " tellers," and makes knovra the votes to the House. He has power to commit members to gaol, or to other custody, during the pleasure of the House, but their confinement cannot be continued after the conclusion of the session. He exercises some vigilance with respect to private bills for the protection of the property and rights of individuals. He signs warrants to the Clerk of the Crown, pursuant to stat. 24 Geo. IIL, to make out writs for the election of members to fill death vacancies. He directs the print ing of the votes and proceedings of the House, and has the appointment of the printer. He has the audit of the accounts of the receiver of the fees and sums payable in the several offices and departments of the House of Commons, pursuant to 12 and 13 Vict. c. 72. There is no precedent for supplying the place of the Speaker by deputy, and in case of his absence the House must adjourn. But in the Session of 1853, on the Report of a Committee, the House resolved, " That whenever the House shall be informed of the unavoidable absence of Mr. Speaker, the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means do take the Chair for that day only : and, in the event of Mr. Speaker's absence continuing for more than one day, do, if the same shall think fit, take the Chair on any subsequent day during such absence." The Chairman of Committees of the whole House is a member elected by the House on the commencement of every new ParUa ment. His election may be deemed political. A salary of 1500/. is annually voted to him by the House. His office, by recent practice and the course of legislation, has become one of much importance and extensive duties. He is the Chairman of all committees of ways and means, and of all committees of supply. SECT. III. OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. 49 He is also Chairman of all public committees on Government business, and, since 1841, has been Chairman of all other com mittees of the House. He is especially charged -with the exami nation of all private bills, and is required to call the attention of the House to all points relating thereto which may appear to require it. He examines also all pubhc bills, watching over the pubUc interests and taking care that the authorities of the differ ent departments of the Govemment are not interfered with. He is assisted by the counsel to the Speaker in the supervision of private bills, and is a check that the powers sought by their promoters do not interfere with the rights of individuals, or that compensation is secured to them ; and he communicates on these matters -with the chairmen of select committees and the Govern ment, as weU as with the House, relating to any objectionable provisions. The Clerk of the House cf Commons holds a patent office : he is appointed by the Queen for Ufe. He has the appointment .of the two Clerks-Assistant and aU the other clerks in the service of the House, and is responsible for the proper performance of their duties. He is required to make true entries, remembrances, and joumals of the things done and passed in the House ; to take notes of all orders and proceedings (not reports of speeches), and to record the votes, and he has the custody of all Records and other documents, and the general charge of the official business of the House. He has a staff of 36 clerks. He assists and advises the Speaker in matters relating to the rules and practice of the House ; he signs all orders of the House, all addresses to the Crown, and all bUls which pass the Commons ; he officiates only wMle the Speaker is in the chair, and he presides, hut does not take the chair, on the choice of the Speaker ; he sits ordina rily in the House at the upper end of the table. The Assistant- Clerk officiates m Committees of the whole House. The Clerk receives a net sum of 2000/. a-year, the Clerk- Assistant 1500/. a-year, and the Second Clerk- Assistant 1000/. a-year. The Serjeant-at-Arms is appointed by the Queen, under a warrant from the Lord Chamberlain, to attend the Speaker of the House of Commons. He receives a salary of 1200/. per annum, and has the appointment of the doorkeepers, porters, and ser vants of the House. He acts in all cases under the orders of the Speaker, and attends him -svith the mace ; he is charged with the B 50 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. IV. arrest and custody of persons under warrants of commitment by the House, and acts as the ceremonial officer of the House ; he preserves good order in the approaches and entrances of the House. The Deputy-Serjeant has a salary of 800/. per annum, and the Assistant of 500/., and, with their principal, they receive allowances for house-rent. The salaries of the foregoing officers, and of the Speaker's cesretary, are regulated by stat. 4 and 5 Will. IV. c. 70 ; but these salaries cease on the persons now holding such offices respectively ceasing to hold them, 12 and 13 Vict. c. 72. SECTION IV, ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITIES, DIGNITA RIES, COURTS, AND ESTABLISHMENTS. 1. Ecclesiastical Divisions. — 2. Number of Benefices, and Officers, and Revenues of the Church. — 3. Disabilities and Privileges of the Clergy. — 4. The Queen as Head of the Church. — 5. Form of appoint ing Bishops.— 6. The Archbishops and Bishops. — 7. Their Incomes. —8. And Patronage. — 9. Bishops in Foreign Countries. — 10. Colo nial Bishops. — 11. Deans and Chapters. — 12. Archdeacons. — 13. Rural Deans. — 14. Collegiate Chapters. — 15. Synod or Convocation. 1. The ecclesiastical territory of England is primarily divided into two provinces, Canterbury and York, each of which is the circuit of an Archbishop's jurisdiction. These provinces are again divided into 28 dioceses, which form the Sees of the Archbishops and of the Suffragan Bishops. Each diocese is subdivided into Archdeaconries, of which there are now 71 ; each Archdeaconry into Rural Deaneries, amounting to 463, which are respectively the circuits of the Archdeacons' and the Rural Deans' jurisdiction; and every Deanery is divided into parishes. 2. There are at this time 11,728 Benefices in England and Wales ; of these there are, in the gift of the Crown, 1144 ; of the Bishops, 1853 ; of Cathedral Chapters and dignitaries, 938 ; of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and the Colleges of Eton, Winchester, &c., 770 ; of the ministers of mother churches, 931 ; and the residue, 6092, are in the gift of private persons. SECT. IV. ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITIES. 51 These corporate bodies or private persons are called the patrons, and they present subject to the approval of the Bishop. The Incumbents, or persons presented, are either Rectors, who receive all the parochial tithes, or vicars and perpetual curates, who are the delegates of the tithe-impropriators, and receive a part only. Their appointments are for life. — (Census, 1851.) The income of the Church of England is derived from Lands, Tithes, Church-rates, pew-rents, Easter offerings, and surplice fees for burials, baptisms, &c. These revenues were estimated in 1831, by the Commissioners for Inquiry into Ecclesiastical Revenues, to be thus apportioned : to the Bishops, 181,631/. ; Deans and Chapters, 360,095/. ; Parochial Clergy, 3,251,159/. ; Church-rates, 500,000/., making together 4,292,885/., whioh, in the Census of 1851, is assumed to have increased to considerably more than 5,000,000/. per annum. ' 3. The Clergy, that is all such as have been admitted to holy orders, are a body set apart from the temporal affairs of the State. They are disabled from sitting as members of the House of Commons by stat. 41 Geo. III. c. 63 ; and from being coun cillors or aldermen in boroughs by the 5 and 6 Will. IV. c. 76. They are restrained from engaging in any trade or merchan dize, or from taking to farm above 80 acres of land, imless with the formal consent of the Bishop. They cannot be compelled to serve on a jury ; nor can they be chosen to any municipal office, nor appointed bailiff, constable, or the like. The Bishops are nevertheless Lords in Parliament ; and those of them who possess the ancient sees in existence before the four (noticed below) erected by Henry VIIL, sit in the Upper House by virtue of their baronies, which they hold jure ecclesice, or, as some -writers of great weight assert, by immemorial custom, but their families are not ennobled in blood. Recent legislation has, however, placed a limitation upon this right, for, on the crea tion of the Bishopric of Manchester, by the stat. 10 and 11 Vict. c. 108, it was enacted that the number of Lords Spiritual sitting in Parliament should not be increased thereby ; but that the additional Bishop should sit only by rotation on the avoidance of any other See, the writ of summons being, on a vacancy, addressed to that Bishop who has not been previously entitled to a seat, except that, on vacancies of the Sees of Canter bury, York, London, Durham, or Winchester, the writ of sum- B 2 52 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. IV. mons shall be issued at once to the Bishop elected or translated to either of these Sees. The Bishopric of Sodor and Man does not confer a right to a seat in Parliament. The Bishops, as a right of Peerage, assert their privilege to be tried on a criminal charge by the House of Peers : and in the reign of James the seven Bishops refused to give bail to appear before the Court of King's Bench, on a charge of libel against the King, insisting that there was no precedent that any mem ber of the House of Peers should be bound in recognizances for a misdemeanor. They were committed to the Tower on this refusal, and the issue of their remarkable trial is well known. 4. The Queen is the supreme governor of the Church. Her Majesty has the right, regulated by the 4th sect, of the stat. 25 Hen. VIII. c. 20, to nominate to the vacant Archbishop rics and Bishoprics, the form being to send to the Dean and Chapter of the vacant See the Royal Licence, or Conge d'elire, to proceed to the election, aocoinpanied by the Queen's letter naming the person to be elected ; and afterwards the Royal assent and confirmation of the appointment is signified under the Great Seal : but this form appUes only to the Sees of old foundation ; the Bishoprics of Gloucester and Bristol, Chester, Peterborough, and Oxford, created by Henry VIH., have always been conferred by letters patent from the Cro-wn ; and the re cently-created Bishoprics of Ripon and Manchester were conferred in the same manner. The Queen also appoints to such Deaneries, Prebendaries, and Canonries as are in her gift, under the Great Seal, and presents to Crovra livings by a Sign Manual letter. 5. The manner of proceeding in the appointment of a Bishop is this. The avoidance of the See ha'ving been notified by the Dean and Chapter to the Secretary of State for the Home De partment, the Queen's pleasure as to the successor is taken by the Prime Minister, and the Queen's Warrant for the Conge d'elire is then prepared in the Home Office, upon which the Writ of Privy Seal, or Conge d'elire, accompanied by the Queen's Letter recommendatory naming the person to be elected, is issued to the Dean and Chapter in the following form, -viz. : — " Victoria, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender of the Faith. To our trusty and well-beloved the Dean and Chapter of our Cathe- SECT. IV. ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITIES. 53 dral Church of greeting. Supplication having been humbly made to us on your part, that whereas the aforesaid church is now void and destitute of the solace of a pastor by the death of the Right Reverend Father in God, Dr. , late Bishop thereof, we would be graciously pleased to grant you our fundatorial leave and license to elect you another Bishop and Pastor of the said See. We, being powerfully inclined to your prayers in this behalf, have thought fit, by virtue of these presents, to grant you such leave and license, requiring and commanding you, by the faith and allegiance by whioh you stand bound to us, that you elect such a person for your Bishop and Pastor as may be devoted to God, and useful and faithful to us and our Kingdom.'' In witness whereof, &c. The election being made by the Dean and Chapter, they forward their certificate of the person elected addressed to the Queen, to the Home Secretary, who prepares the Warrant for the letters patent under the Great Seal by which the royal assent to the election is signified. The Bishop elect then performs his fealty and homage to the Queen, and thereupon the Home Secretary prepares the Warrant for the issue of the Writ for the restitution to the Bishop elect of the Temporalities of the See, completing the appointment. 6. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the Primate of all England. He has -within his province the Bishoprics of Canterburv Bochester, London, Winchester, Norwich, Lincoln, Ely, Chi chester, SaUsbury, Exeter, Bath and Wells, Worcester, Lich field, Hereford, Llandaff, St. David's, Bangor, St. Asaph, Glou cester and Bristol (now united), Peterborough, and Oxford. He takes precedence of all the clergy, and also of all the nobiUty coming after the blood royal, and of all the Ministers of State. He has the privilege of cro-wning the Kings of England. He is the usual channel of communication -with the Cro-wn or the Ministers on constitutional questions affecting the interests of the Church. The Archbishop of York's province consists of the six northern counties, with Cheshire and Nottinghamshire; and includes the Bishoprics of York, Chester, Durham, CarUsle, Ripon, Man chester, and the Isle of Man. The Archbishop of York has precedence in the Church next to the Archbishop of Canter- buiy, and over aU dukes, not being of the blood royal, and all 64 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. IV. officers of state, except the Lord Chancellor. He has the privilege to crown the Queen Consort, and to be her perpetual Chaplain. The Archbishops are the chiefs of the clergy in their provinces, and have -within them the inspection of the Bishops, as well as of the inferior clergy, for which purpose they make their visita tions, which are now, however, practically episcopal, not archie piscopal, and made only as Bishops -within their own dioceses. They have, assisted by at least two other Bishops, the confirmation and consecration of the Bishops. They have also each his own particular diocese, wherein they exercise episcopal, as in their provinces they exercise archiepiscopal, jurisdiction. As superior ecclesiastical judges, all appeals from inferior jurisdictions within their provinces lie to them. They have also each a court of original jurisdiction. They have power, by stat. 25 Hen. VIII. c. 21, but now only exercise it upon accustomed occasions, of granting dispensations. This power is the founda tion for the grant of special licences to marry, to sanction the holding of two livings, now restricted to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the like. The Archbishops have the style and title of " Grace,'' and, in formal documents, of " Most Reverend Father in God." Tlie Bishop is the chief of the clergy in his diocese. His dignity is styled a See ; his church a Cathedral. He has the power of ordaining Priests and Deacons, of consecrating churches, of confirming the baptized, of granting licences to marry, and of visiting and inspecting the manners of his clergy and people. The Bishop is also an ecclesiastical judge ; but he appoints a Chancellor to hold his court for him, and assist him in matters of ecclesiastical law. In case of complaint against a clerk in holy orders, he is empowered by the Church Discipline Act (3 and 4 Vict. c. 86) to hold a court in his own person assisted by three assessors. After the Archbishops, the Bishops of Lon don, Durham, and Winchester have respectively precedence ; and then the Bishops of both provinces according to their se niority of consecration, or translation to an EngUsh See from that of Sodor and Man, which ranks lowest. The Bishops have the title of " Lord," and are formally styled the " Right Reverend Father in God." 7. The incomes of the Archbishops and Bishops were prospec- SECT. IV. ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITIES. 55 tively fixed on the then next avoidance by stat. 6 and 7 WiU. IV. C- 77 — the annual average income of Canterbury at 15,000/. ; York and London 10,000/. each ; Durham 8000/. ; Winchester 7000?. ; Ely 5500/. : and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners are empowered to make from time to time, on avoidance of the other sees, such re-vision by the increase of their incomes as will fix the annual average revenues of each at not less than 4000/. nor more than 5000/. The Commissioners are also empowered to require every seven years, commencing from the 1st January 1837, returns of the revenues of all the Bishops, and to revise their incomes, so as to preserve as nearly as may be to each the amount of income fixed in the first instance as suitable to his bishopric, such revised scale to take effect on the next avoidance of the respective sees. By stat. 13 and 14 Vict. c. 94, the Commis sioners were further empowered in making arrangements to secure to the Archbishops and Bishops fixed instead of fluctu ating annual incomes, and in pursuance of this additional power a scheme prepared by them was submitted to and approved by Her Majesty in Council on the 25th August 1851, and it was ordered that any Archbishop or Bishop who shall have succeeded to his see upon any avoidance thereof after the 1st January J 848, shall make to the Commissioners every six months certi fied statements of the half-year's revenue of his see ; and in any case in which it shall appear that, after allowing all reasonable customary payments and deductions, the net receipts have ex ceeded one-half the amount of the annual income fixed by statute or by order in Council (see these amounts under the respective sees), the surplus shall be paid over to the Ecclesiastical Com missioners ; if, on the other hand, the net receipt is less than the annual income so named, then the Commissioners shall make up the deficiency. It was also ordered that, on every proposal for the 'renewal of a lease of any property belonging to any see, when the fine proposed exceeds 100/. it shall require the approval of the Commissioners, and when it exceeds one-half the annual income of the see the Commissioners may direct the fine to be paid to them. The see of Manchester, not being endowed with lands or hereditaments, is excepted from these regulations. The following are the present and future incomes appointed to the different Provinces and Sees under the provisions of the above statutes, viz. : — 66 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. IV. Province of Canterbury , , Tork See of London . Durham . WinchesterBangor . Bath and Wells Carlisle . Chester , Chichester Ely ExeterGloucester and Bristol HerefordLichfield . Lincoln . Llandaff . ManchesterNorwich . Oxford Peterborough RiponRochesterSalisbury St. Asaph St. David's WorcesterSodor and Man Present Income. £15,000 ¦ 10,000 - 15,500 - 10,000 - 10,000 - 4,000 - 5,000 - 3,000 - 4,500 ¦ 4,200 ¦ 5,500 ¦ 2,600 ¦ 5,700 ¦ 4,200 ¦ 4,500 ¦ 4,000 ¦ 4,200 ¦ 4,200 . 4,500 ¦ 5,000 ¦ 4,500 - 4,500 ¦ 4,500 ¦ 6,850 . 4,200 ¦ 4,500 ¦ 5,000 • 2,000 • On next Avoidance. £15,000 10,00010,000 8,0007,000 4,200 5,000 4,500 4,5004,200 5,500 5,000 5,000 4,2004,500 4,000 4,2004,200 4,500 5,000 4,500 4,500 5,000 5,0004,200 4,500 5,000 2,000 8. And the patronage whioh attaches to these Provinces and Sees on vacancies is — Canterbury. — In the Cathedral, every fourth canonry, and the six preacherships, and two archdeaconries, and 277 benefices. York. — All the dignitaries in the Cathedral, except the Dean, and 78 benefices with 12 alternate presentations. London. — The Precentor, Chancellor, Treasurer, and all the pre bends of St. Paul's Cathedral, two archdeaconries, and 102 benefices, ¦with 12 alternate presentations, also several other clerical offices. DcRHAM. — Certain canonries in the Cathedral, three archdeaconries, and 62 livings, with alternate presentation to eight others. Winchester. — All the canonries in the Cathedral, two archdeaconries, 81 benefices, and alternate presentation to seven others. Bjvngor. — The Dean, Chancellor, Treasurer, Precentor, two pre bends and three canons, one archdeacon, and 82 Welsh benefices. Bath and Wells. — The Precentor, Chancellors, Treasurer, Sub- dean, and all the prebendaries of the Cathedral ; three archdeacons, 46 benefices, and two alternate presentations. Carlisle. — Four canonries, one archdeaconry, and 36 benefices. Chester. — All the Cathedral canonries, two archdeaconries, and 45 benefices, with 13 alternate presentations. Chichester. — The Precentor, Chancellor, Treasurer, and the pre bends (except two), two archdeaconries, and 46 benefices, with two alternate presentations. Ely. — Four archdeaconries, certain of the Cathedral canonries, and 83 benefices, with two alternate presentations. SECT. IV. ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITIES. 67 Exeter. — The Precentor, Chancellor, Sub-dean, and 24 prebendaries of the Cathedral, four archdeaconries, and 46 benefices, with 19 alternate presentations. Gloucester and Bristol. — The Archdeaconries of Gloucester and Bristol, 57 benefices, and five alternate presentations. Hereford. — The Precentor, Chancellor, Treasurer, and all the Cathedral prebends, two archdeaconries, and 31 benefices, with one alternate presentation. Lichfield. — Three archdeacons, four resident canons and the pre bends of the Cathedral, and 41 benefices, with 28 alternate presenta tions. Lincoln. — The Precentor, Chancellor, Sub-dean, the Cathedral prebendaries (except three), and 81 benefices, vrith seven alternate presentations. LLAxDAFF.^The Dean, Chancellor, and Precentor of the Cathedral, and all the prebends, two archdeaconries, 13 benefices, and 13 alternate presentations. Manchester. — Two archdeaconries, and alternate presentation to 33 small livings. Norwich. — Three archdeaconries and 45 benefices, with several alternate presentations. OxTORD. — Three archdeaconries and 25 benefices, with two alternate presentations. Peterborough. — Two archdeaconries, the Cathedral canonries, and 16 benefices — one of them alternate. RiP3N. — Two archdeaconries, the Cathedral canonries, 26 benefices, and 21 alternate presentations. Rochester. — Three archdeaconries — 27 beneficps, two of them alternate presentations. Salisbury. — The canonries, the precentorship, chancellorship, treasurership, sub-deanery, sub-chantryship, and all the prebends of the Cathedral — also to three archdeaconries and 62 benefices. St. Asaph. — The deanery and all the prebends and canonries in the Cathedral — also 117 benefices, including one alternate presen tation. St. David's. — The precentorships and chanceUorships of St. David's and of Brecon, and the treasurerships and prebends (vrith one exception) of the former Cathedral ; also to four archdeaconries and to 115 benefices, including three alternate presentations. Worcester. — Two archdeaconries and 36 benefices, to which, in eight cases, the presentation is alternate. Sodor and Man. — Twelve benefices. 9. Under the powers of the stats. 26 Geo. IH. c. 84, and 5 Vict. c. 6, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York may consecrate per sons, either British subjects or foreigners, to be Bishops in Foreign Countries, to provide for the service and rites of the Protestant Church according to the forms of the Church of England ; but such Bishops, and any persons consecrated hy them, are restricted from acting in England or Ireland. 10. Colonial Bishops of the Established Church have heen ap pointed by the Crown, by letters patent, in 22 of the principal British Colonies, pursuant to stat. 59 Geo. III. c. 60, whioh 58 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. IV. empowers the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and the Bishop of London to ordain persons specially to reside and officiate in the British Colonies. Three Bishops have also been appointed, pursuant to stat. 53 Geo. III. c. 155, and stat. 3 and 4 Will. IV. c. 85, in the Bast India Company's territories. They have the title " The Bight Rev. the Lord Bishop." The fol lowing are the Colomal Bishoprics which have been created up to this time, and the salaries appointed to each. In some cases these salaries are voted by the Imperial Parliament from the ConsoUdated Fund — in others they are paid from the Colonial Funds, or are secured by bequests or contributions from the Colonial Bishoprics' Fund or other charitable funds, or they are made up by contributions from two or more of these sources, viz. : — Diocese of— Quebec . Toronto. Montreal . Nova Scotia Fredricton . N ewfoundland Rupert's Land Jamaica BarbadoesAntiguaGuiana . Sydney . Melbourne £. 1,9901,250 800 550 1,000 '1,200 700 3,000 2,500 2,0002,000 1,500 833 Diocese of — Newcastle .... Adelaide .... Tasmania (including allowancefor House Rent) New Zealand . Cape Town Colombo .... Graham's Town NatalVictoria .... Gibraltar .... Sierra Leone . £. 833 800 1,0001,200 800 2,000 1,000 1,200 11. Tlie Dean and Chapter are the ancient Council of the Bishop, to assist him with their advice in affairs of religion, and in the temporal concerns of his See. Their consent is necessary to the validity of some acts of the Bishop — as the grant of leases or appointments to offices. It is their duty to provide for the celebration of divine service in his cathedral church. They have the formal election of their Bishop in Sees of the old foundation. The Dean is the chief of the Chapter, , and is next in degi'ee to the Bishop. He is by law a sole cor poration, having power to take an estate, and to convey it to his successors. Deans and Chapters all exercise some, several con siderable. Church patronage. The Deans in England are now appointed by letters patent, pursuant to the stat. 3 and 4 Vict. c. 113, and must continue in residence eight months in every year. The Chapter consists of SECT. IV. ECCLESIASTICAL AUTHORITIES. 59 Canons, who are in some cases appointed by the Crown, in others by the Bishop, and sometimes are self-elective. Their number and the power of appointment is regulated by stat. 3 and 4 Vict. c. 113. By the same statute " Honorary Canonries" were founded, to which the Bishops are empowered to appoint deserv ing clergymen, but the distinction does not confer any emolu ment. The Chapter has the right of appointing a regulated number of minor Canons. By stats. 3 and 4 Vict. c. 113, and 4 and 5 Vict. c. 39, the annual average income of the Dean of Durham was prospectively fixed at 3000/. ; the Deans of St. Paul's, Westminster, and Manchester at 2000/. each ; and of the Canons of these four churches at 1000/. a-year each ; and the income of the Dean of every other cathedral church in England was fixed at 1000/. a-year, and of the Canons at 500/. : the incomes of the Deans of St. David's and Llandaff were fixed at 700/., and the Canons at 350/. 12. Tlie Archdeacon has ecclesiastical jurisdiction in his arch deaconry immediately subordinate to the Bishop. He is usually appointed by the Bishop, and exercises a species of authority derived from him, visiting the Clergy, and holding a separate court for the punishment of offences by spiritual censures and for the hearing of causes of ecclesiastical cognizance. 13. Rural Deans are of a separate order. Their office is of ancient date, and had almost gro-wn out of use. Their chief duty is to visit a certain number of parishes, and to report their con dition to the Bishop ; exercising in more minute matters some inferior degree of judicial and coercive authority. Many of the Bishops are now reviving this dignity, for which facilities are given by the 32nd sect, of the above statute of 3 aud 4 Vict. 14. Collegiate Churclies are incorporations, consisting of a Dean and Canons independent of any Cathedral. The chief now existing are Westminster, Windsor, Southwell, Wolverhampton, Heytesbury, Brecon, Middleham, and St. Katherine's. These are the principal atithorities and dignitaries of the Church, and -with the parochial Clergy, consisting of the Bectors, Vicars, and Perpetual Curates of the different parishes, and the temporary Curates whom they employ to assist them, they form the Church EstabUshment. 60 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. IV. 15. The clergy are in theory supposed to assemble in provincial Synod or Convocation to consult on ecclesiastical matters during the sitting of Parliament. By the Act of Submission, 25 Hen. VIII. c. 19, it is declared that the Convocation cannot, as always hath been, assemble without the King's assent ; and it is the practice to assemble the Convocation by writ from the Crown directed to each Archbishop. When assembled, the Con vocation cannot confer together to constitute any canons without licence from the Crown ; when any canons are constituted they have no force -without the royal assent, and no canon has any force which is opposed to the prerogative, the common or statute law, or the customs of the realm. There are two convocations, one for the province of Canterbury, and another for the province of York. In York, convocation consists of only one House, but in Canterbury there are two Houses — the upper, where the Arch bishop and Bishops sit by themselves ; the lower, where all Deans and Archdeacons, -with one Proctor as the representative of every Chapter, and two Proctors for every diocese, sit for the rest of the clergy. Convocation is summoned at the commencement of every Session of Parliament, but the assembly is a mere form, no business is transacted. The Archbishop of Canterbury, at tended by the Queen's Advocate, the Vicar-General, and some other officers of his province, merely opens, and then (ha-ving no ¦s^rrant to proceed -with any business) prorogues the assembly, and thus the Session terminates. But on the last meeting (1854) the assembly sat during the day and entered upon some formal proceedings. ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS. These Courts exercise a jurisdiction in spiritual matters ; and are distinguished from the Common Law Courts by their pro ceedings and practice, which are founded upon the rules of the Civil and Canon Law. The Ecclesiastical Courts were separated from the Secular Courts soon after the Norman Conquest, by a restriction which prevented any spiritual cause from being tried by a secular judge, and commanded the suitors to appear before the Bishop. Their jurisdiction has been extended by gradual encroachments. They are not Courts of Record. The Ecclesiastical Courts have no inherent power to proceed against deUnquents otherwise than "pro sa/a/eamma," and their power of imprisonment is derived from statute. They have SECT. IV. ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS. 61 now cognizance, 1st, of matrimonial causes ; that is, suits for nullity, in which the question is whether a legal marriage has been contracted, and the Court has power to declare the mar riage void ; also suits for jactitation of marriage where a party falsely asserts that he or she is married to another; and suits for the enforcement of the obligations of marriage, in which the Court may adjudge the offending party to fulfil all the duties imposed by the marriage relation ; also suits alleging adultery or cruelty, and applying for separation, which the Court has power to grant k. mensJt et thoro, but not in annulment of the marriage contract. 2ndly, -with respect to wills. In matters of personal property only the Court has the power of deciding upon the validity of wills, and of granting probate, or decreeing the administration of assets of those who die intestate. 3rdly, in matters relating to church-rates, tithes, and pews ; in cases of defamation, imputing a spiritual offence, of incest, brawUng, quarrelling in the churchyard, &c. The jurisdiction and proceedings of the Ecclesiastical Courts remain almost -without change or amelioration ; the chief altera tions having been the abolition of the power of Excommunica tion for contempt, which however still exists ia. definitive sentences and decrees, and the transfer of Appeals from the ancient Court of Delegates to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. The administration is confined to an exclusive body of practitioners, called Advocates, separate from those practising in the otherCourts, and the evidence of witnesses is taken upon written interrogat07 ries out of Court. The Judges are appomted by the Archbishops and Bishops, and the Parliament exercises no control over them ; nor any power of removal on addresses from both Houses, as in the case of the Judges of other Courts. They are paid by fees, no salaries attaching to offices in the Ecclesiastical Courts. The unsatisfactory state of the Ecclesiastical Courts has been long admitted. The confusion arising from numerous petty jurisdictions, and the artificial distinctions of the law itself; the number of minor courts from whose decisions appeals lie, and the policy of continuing the cognizance of testamentary matters apart from the ordinary tribunals, have led to many attempts to provide some remedy. In 1830 a Commission of Inquiry issued, composed of men of the highest rank and emi nence, and at the same time the subject fell within the range of inquiry intrusted to the Real Property Commission, and upon the 62 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. IV. report of this Commission Sir Robert Peel introduced, in 1834, a bill, to abolish the existing testamentary jurisdiction ; but this bill dropped on the expiration of his short Govemment. In 1836 the Lord ChanceUor Cottenham brought in a measure upon the subject, which passed through only some of its first stages. In 1843 a reform of the Ecclesiastical Courts was announced in the speech from the throne, and upon an elaborate report of a Committee of the House of Lords, a bill was brought into the Lower House by the Queen's Advocate, but the measure was again dropped. This was followed in 1844 by a bill brought in by Lord Lyndhurst and lost ; in 1845 by Lord Cottenham's bill of 1836 reintroduced, with the support of Lord Lyndhurst, and passed, but thrown out in the House of Ciommons. Since then another Commission of Inquiry has reported upon these Courts, and further attempts at remedial legislation are again proposed. ARCHES COURT. Doctors' Commons. The Court of Arches is a court of appeal from the inferior jurisdic tions belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Dean of Arches is the Judge, and holds an office of high rank, which being now united with that of the Archbishop's Principal, his jurisdic tion extends over the whole province of Canterbury. He also exer cises, under a particular form of proceeding, an original jurisdiction in suits which belong to inferior jurisdictions vrithin the province. An appeal lies from his court to the Pri-vy Council. He is appointed by the Archbishop. The salary of the Dean of Arches is but 20/. per annum, but the appointment is always combined with the judgeship of the Prerogative Court. He cannot practise. COURT OF PECULIARS. This court is a branch of the Court of Arches. Its jurisdiction extends to those parishes which are exempt from the ordinary's juris diction and subject to the metropolitan only. All ecclesiastical causes arising within these peculiar or exempt jurisdictions are originally cognizable by this court, from which an appeal lies to the Court of Arches. PREROGATIVE COURT OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. CoUege Street, Doctors' Commons. This court adjudicates in all suits and regulates all proceedings relating to the grant of probates of wills or letters of administration. SECT. IV. ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS. 63 where the party dying within the province had goods of the value of 5Z. (but in the diocese of London of the value of lOl.) in some other diocese than that wherein he died. The court determines all ques tions which arise in such matters. An appeal Ues to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. The judge is appointed by the Archbishop, and his emoluments are derived from fees, and have been estimated to amount to about 4300/. per annum. COURT OF FACULTIES OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. Great Knightrider Street. This court is held for the purpose of granting special dispensations, as to marry without banns first asked, to ordain a deacon under age, to hold plurality of livings, and for other purposes. Appeal lies from this court to the Lord Chancellor under the stat. 25 Hen. VHI. c. 21. CONSISTORY COURT OF THE BISHOP OF LONDON. Doctors* Commons. Tliis court is the court of the Bishop for the trial of all ecclesiastical causes arising within his diocese, and also for granting probates and administrations. The Bishop's Chancellor acts as Judge of the Court, and from his decisions an appeal lies to the Archbishop of the province, and thence by a recent statute to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. The judge of this court, who is appointed by the Bishop and is his personal ad-viser, receives only a nominal salary. He has by custom also held the judgeship of the Admiralty Court. He is not usually debarred from practice. VICAR-GENERAL'S OFFICE OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. Doctors' Cominons. The Vicar-General has the general supervision of all such matters as relate to the discipline and good govemment of the Church, and the transaction of business connected with tbe consecration of bishops, the appointment of ministers to churches, and the grant of ordinary marriage licences. He is appointed by the Archbishop of Canter bury. THE COLLEGE OF ADVOCATES. Doctors' Commons. This incorporation, which received a Royal Charter in 1768, is the College of the Doctors of Civil Law practising in the Ecclesiastical and Admiralty Courts. No one can be admitted a member who has not taken the degree of Doctor of Civil Law in the University of Oxford or Cambridge, and none but members are eligible for admission to practise in those courts. 64 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. IV. THE ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSIONERS FOR ENGLAND. 6, Whitehall Place. This Establishment emanated from a Royal Commission, issued during the administration of Sir Robert Peel, in the year 1835, directing the Commissioners therein named to consider the state of the several Dioceses in England and Wales -with reference to the amount of their revenues, and the more equal distribution of the episcopal duties ; and also the state of the Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, with a view to the suggestion of such improvements as might render them most conducive to the efficiency of the Established Church ; and further to devise the best mode of providing for the cure of souls, with special reference to the residence of the clergy in their benefices. The Commission comprises the English Archbishops and Bishops, the chief members of the Government, and the Judges, ex-officio, with whom are associated some Laymen of eminence. The Commissioners made four Eeports, one in 1835 and three in 1836, containing a number of recommendations for the im provement of our ecclesiastical system ; which were followed by the passing of the 6 and 7 Will. IV. c. 77, appointing and incorporating a body of prelates and laymen of distinction " the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England," and empowering them to mature and submit to the Queen in Council such plans as might be best adapted to give effect to the recommendations of the Commissioners — the Legislature at the same time enacting that their plans when ratified by order in Council should have the force of law. Under these authorities numerous orders in Council have issued, making many alterations in the arrangement of Dioceses, including the erection of the new Bishoprics of Ripon and Man chester, and the augmentation of the incomes of the smaller Bishoprics ; also providing for the union of the lesser parishes, and the separation of united parishes in which the ijopulation had greatly increased. By two Acts subsequently passed, the 3 and 4 Vict. c. 113, aud 4 and 5 Vict. c. 39, provision has been made for the suspension of a large number of canonries ; for the suppression of all sinecure rectories (except those in the patronage of private persons) and of certain deaneries ; and for vesting the estates and profits of all such preferments, with some other endowments, in the Com- SECT. IV. ECCLESIASTICAL COMMISSIONERS. 65 missioners, to form, with the interest accruing, a common fund, to be applied in making provision for the cure of souls in parishes where such aid is most required. Further powers were granted to the Commissioners by the Act of the 6 and 7 Vict. c. 37, amended by the 7 and 8 Vict. c. 94. These statutes, which extend to the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, empower the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to borrow 600,000/., and further sums if required, upon the security of the fund vested in them ; and to constitute separate districts in populous parishes and places, and to apply this fund for the sup port of the ministers to be appointed to them. In 1850 a considerable change was made, by stat. 13 and 14 Vict. c. 94, in the management of the business of the Commis sion. The larger committee then constituted was not super seded, but was retained for the consideration of great or im portant questions connected -with the interests of the Church. Three Commissioners, who are declared members of the body corporate, were appointed, styled the " Church Estates Com missioners." The first and second of these Commissioners are lay members of the Church, appointed by Her Majesty by letters patent during pleasure ; and the other Commissioner is appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury during his pleasure. A salary of 1200/. is fixed by the above Act for the first Estates Commis sioner, who is capable of sitting in Parliament, and of 1000/. for the Commissioner appointed by the Archbishop ; and these tl^•o salaried Commissioners are created the joint-treasurers, and the estates and property of the Commission are vested in them. The three Estates Commissioners are the responsible officers of the Ecclesiastical Commission. The Commissioners are em powered to associate -with them, by annual election, two of their members, who are laymen not holding their office ex-officio, and these five members form a Committee of the corporation, fully empowered to decide and act, using the common seal, in all mat ters relating to the sale, purchase, exchange, letting, or manage ment of any lands, tithes, or hereditaments ; they in point of fact having the management of the property of the Commission. To render complete the control of these new Commissioners, the Commission is restrained from doing any act at their meet ings, imless at least two of the Church Estate Commissioners are present ; and the Commission is empowered to refer for their report and to empower them to act iu any other matters not 66 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. IV. relating to property. The Commissioners are, however, autho rized to make general rules for the direction of the Committee in the transaction of business, and may declare the general princi ples by which their decisions shall be guided. The Act further requires an annual Report of all the proceed ings of the Commission to he made to one of the principal Secre taries of State, and to be laid before Parliament. Since their incorporation the Commissioners made two Reports, one in 1845, one in 1847 ; and a third, under the above statute, was made in March 1851, continuing the proceedings of the Commission from 1847 to the present time. These Reports have since been continued annually, and will show the complete action of the Commission. The Commissioners have the appointment of their Secretary, Clerks, and other officers. QUEEN ANNE'S BOUNTY, FIRST FRUITS, AND TENTHS OFFICES. The first-fruits and tenths formed originally part of the papal exactions from the clergy of this kingdom. The former consist of the first whole year's profit of all spiritual preferments, and the latter of one-tenth of their annual profits ; both chargeable according to the declared ancient value of the preferment ; but the poorer livings are now exempted from this tax. Upon the abolition of the papal authority the income thus derived was annexed to the revenues of the Cro-wn by the statute 26 Hen. VIH., and so continued till by the piety of Queen Anne it was granted and confirmed, by statute 2 and 3 Anne, c. 11, to form a perpetual fund for the augmentation of poor livings. The Governors are a corporate body, consisting of the Archbishops and Bishops, some of the principal officers of the Government, and the chief legal authorities. They have the distribution of the fund, which is vested in them in perpetuity, and they hold four Courts in each year for this purpose. There are nearly 4,700 livings charged with the pay ment of first-fruits, and about 5,000 charged with the payraent of yearly tenths. The income from these two sources Is about 14,000/. yearly, which is appropriated, from year to year, in capital sums, either to increase by the accruing interest the moneys of the Incumbents of small livings, or by its outlay to purchase land for their benefit, or to erect houses for their residences. The present mode of appropriating augmentations to livings is by the grant of 200/., to meet each ap- j)roved benefaction off'ered by individuals to obtain such grants. To the end of the year 1852 the capital appropriated to small livings, SECT. IV. CHURCHES-BUILDING COMMISSIONERS. 67 including the 1,000,000/. from Parliamentary grants, and 1,530,400/. received from benefactions, was 5,027,200/. Advances of money are also made to the great benefit of the Church, on mortgage of the revenues of benefices, repayable by moderate instalments with inte rest — and at the above date a sum of 850,000/. was invested in such mortgages. The present trust capital of tho Corporation is 2,400,000/. The Governors have also had the distribution of eleven sums of 100,000/. each voted by Parliament between 1809 and 1820, for aug menting the incomes of the clergy. They present an annual account of their receipt and expenditure to Parliament. The offices connected with the first-fruits and tenths were, by the 1 and 2 Vict. c. 20, consolidated in the Treasurer of the Queen Anne's Bounty, and all the books and records were transferred to his keeping. He has the appointment of the clerks' and subordinate officers. The establishment is governed pursuant to regulations made under the sign manual on the recommendation of the Governors. The Treasurer and Secretary are appointed by the Queen during her pleasure, by patent, under the Great Seal. These two offices are now held jointly, with a salary of 1000/. a-year. HER JIAJESTY'S COMinSSIONERS FOR BUILDING NEW CHURCHES. ^ 13, George Street, Westminster. In the year 1818 the Legislature passed an Act, the 58 Geo. IH. c. 45, to provide for the systematic extension of accommodation in the Na tional Church. To effect this object, which had become of some urgency, the Act empowered the Crown to appoint Commissioners, comprising the two Archbishops, several Bishops, the Lord Chancellor, Speaker of the House of Commons, the chief members of the Govem ment, the Judges of the Ecclesiastical Courts, and other eminent persons, who were constituted a body corporate, under the above designation, for building additional Churches ; Exchequer Bills, to the extent of one million, upon which the Bank of England was authorized to advance money, were issued to them, and the Commissioners were empowered to ascertain in what parishes and extra-parochial places in England and Wales additional churches or chapels were required, and out of the funds thus placed at their disposal by Parliament to cause such churches aud chapels as they deem requisite to be built, or to assist -with grants or loans the parochial authorities or other persons who subscribe funds for this purpose. The Commissioners are em powered to accept lands for the site of churches and churchyards ; and with the consent of the Bishop and patron to recommend the division of parishes, which must be effected by an order in Council. Also to consolidate in union parts of parishes and extraparochial places, or to assign districts to churches or cliapels already existing, or I' i! 68 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. IV. to direct that any new church or chapel shall be used as the parish church in lieu of the old church. The Act contains numerous other enactments, complex in their pro visions, regulating the manner and degree in which parishes may be compelled to contribute towards the increased accommodation provided; the patronage of the new churches and chapels ; the pews, free sittings, and their repair and maintenance ; the constitution and boundaries of new districts ; and the establishment of ministers, churchwardens, and special vestries ; also provisions relating to the repair or rebuilding of existing churches, and the endowment of new edifices, the abolition of pew-rents, compensation for fees, right of patronage in the churches erected : all which matters are vrithin the control and supervision of the Commissioners. The following is a Statement (from the Census of 1851) of the Num. ber and Cost of the new Churches built by the Commissioners. Number of Churches built Sum advanced by the Commissioners . . Sum contributed by the Public, and by Local Rates, etc. . 1818-31. 134 £1,152,044 292,407 1831-51. 386 £511,384 1,063,911 Totah 520 £1,663,428 1,356,318 Total Sum raised . £1,444,451 £1,575,295 £3,019,746 The Act establishing the Commission was originally passed for ten years, but haa been amended, extended, and continued by several suc cessive Acts, of whioh the 11 and 12 Vict. c. 71, continues the incor porate Commission until the 20th of July 1853, and thence to the end cf the next Session of Parliament, unless Her Majesty shall sooner revoke the Commission, and this period was further continued, with the same reservation, to the 20th July 1856, by stat. 17 Vict. c. 14. The Commissioners appoint their secretary and clerks. SECT. V. THE COMMON LAW JUDGES. 69 SECTION V. JUDGES, COURTS OF LAW, LAW OFFICERS, AND LEGAL ESTABLISHMENTS. The Sovereign is intrasted by the constitution with the whole executive power of the law. She has alone the right of erecting Courts of Judicature, except where they are created by Act of Parliament, and their proceedings run usually in her name ; but those which she establishes must proceed according to the Com mon Law. She has the power of appointing the Judges — such appointments being originally during the pleasure of the Crown ; but by the 13 Will. III. c. 2, it was enacted that their com missions shall be during good conduct, with a proviso that it may be lawful to remove them on the address of both Houses of Parliament. And further, by the stat. 1 Geo. III. c. 23, the Judges were continued in office, not-vrithstanding any demise of the Crown. The independence of the Judges and the impar tial administration of justice are secured by these enactments. The Judges hold their responsible offices by the most indepen dent title : nominated by the Crown, they are not removable at its pleasure, but are separated from all political influence, either of the Cro-wn, the Legislature, or the executive Government. Formerly there were considerable variations in the number of the Judges of the superior Courts of Common Law. In modem times, one chief Judge and three puisne Judges had become the fixed estabUshment of each Court ; but by the 1 Will. rV. c. 70, an additional puisne Judge was appointed to each of the three Courts. The Judges of the superior Courts of Common Law are now, therefore, the Lords Chief Justices of the Courts of Queen's Bench and Common Pleas, the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, four puisne Judges of the two former courts, and four puisne Barons of the latter. The salary of the Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench is, by stat. 14 and 15 Vict. c. 41, 8000/. per ann. ; of the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and the Chief Baron of the Exchequer 7000/. per ann. ; and of the 12 Puisnes 5000/. per ann. each. The Chief Judges appoint the officers of their respective courts. 70 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK, SECT. V. including the Masters and associates, and have some lucrative offices in their gift, but the valuable sinecures attached to the Courts have been abolished. The puisne Judges have no appointments in their gift which may be called patronage, but each appoints his marshal during the Circuit, and his two clerks, one of whom acts as Crier. The senior Judge on each Circuit appoints, on a vacancy, the clerk of assize, and also the Revising Barristers under the Reform Act. The duties and salaries of the clerks and superior officers of the Courts of Common Law are regulated by stat. 15 and 16 Vict. c. 73. The Judges make, periodically, a Circuit through England and Wales, for the administration in every county of civil and criminal justice. For this purpose England and Wales (-with the exception of Middlesex) are divided into eight Circuits. The Judges, according to seniority, choose their Circuits, on each separate occasion, and are then formally appointed by Commis sions under the Sign Manual. The Circuits are held in the spring and autumn, and of late years a third assize or gaol delivery has been held in December for the counties of Lancaster and York. The Judges are always inserted in the commission of the peace for every county. The Courts of Equity form another important but distinct part of the administration of justice. Their jurisdiction is of a very exten.sive nature, especially in all matters relating to trusts, of which they have exclusive cognizance. The Equity Judges are the Lord Chancellor, the Master of the Rolls, the two Lords Justices of the Court of Appeal in Chancery, and the three Vice-Chancellors. The Lord Chancellor is a political officer of the highest importance and influence. The other Equity Judges are separated from political power, and independent of its influence, —the Master of the Rolls holding his appointment for Ufe, and the Vice-Chancellors and Lords Justices of Appeal during good behaviour. The Lord Chancellor's duration of office depends upon the exist ence of the administration of which he is a member. He is a Pri-vy Councillor, and has always a seat in the Cabinet, advising his colleagues ¦with great weight and authority in all mixed ques tions of law and poUtics, and in all matters relating to police, law, and justice. He is also the adviser of the Members of the Royal Family in cases of doubt or difficulty in which their interests are involved. He is at the head of the Judges and the SECT. V. THE EQUITY JUDGES. 71 head of the law. As the chief minister of Justice he is per sonally responsible to advise the Crown in the appointment of the puisne Judges. He advises also on other important appoint ments. He appoints, and has power to remove, all Justices of the Peace, acting usually in the case of county magistrates on the recommendation of the Lords Lieutenant, but, in extraordinary cases, dispensing with such recommendation and acting upon his own judgment. His patronage is extensive. He appoints to all Crown livings (in number 700) under the value of 20/. in the Queen's books. He has the large patronage connected with his own Court, and the chief appointments in the offices which are subordinate to it. He appoints to the Judgeships of the newly- erected County Courts. A peerage is always conferred with his office, except where he may hold the Great Seal with the title of Lord Keeper, and he presides by prescription as Speaker in the House of Lords, and also as their Lordships' Chief Judge in their Court of Appellate Jurisdiction, hefore which appeal cases come from every court of law and equity in England, Scotland, and Ireland. Persons professing the Roman CathoUc religion are dis qualified for the office of Chancellor by an exemption in the 12th section of the Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829. Provision was made for the payment of the Chancellor by salary, in Ueu of the fees belonging to his office, by stat. 2 and 3 Will. IV. c. 122, and his salary was then fixed at 10,000/. per aun., which sum was, by stat. 14 and 15 Vict. c. 83, made to include the allowance of 4000/. a year theretofore paid in addition to the Lord Chancellor as Speaker of the House of Lords. The salary of the Master of the Rolls was by the same statute reduced to 6000/. ; the Lords Justices of Appeal receive each the same amount of salary ; and the Vice-Chancellors now receive each, -without distinction, 5000/. per annum. The salary of the Vice-Chancellor appointed under the stat. 43 Geo. III. is paid from the consolidated fund, the salary of the Master of the Rolls is payable from the same fund under the 7 WUlm. IV. and 1 Vict. ; and the salaries of the Lord Chancellor, the Lords Justices of the Court of Appeal, and the other Vice-Chancellors are now made payable from the same source by the 15 and 16 Vict. c. 87, whioh abolished all fees to the judges and officers of the Court. The Queen is empowered to grant, by letters patent, annui ties to the Common Law and Equity Judges on their retirement from office after 15 years' service, or in case of being disabled 72 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. V. by permanent infirmity ; but these limitations do not apply to the Lord Chancellor. The retired allowances fixed by the first under-mentioned statute have been increased by the sums named in the two subsequent statutes, viz. : — 39 G. III.,53 G. III., 6 G. IV., 2 &3 W.IV., 5 Vic. 14 & 15 V. c. 110. c. 153. c. 84. c. 3. c. S. c. 83. Lord Chancellor - — — — 5000 — — Masterof the Rolls 2500 800 450 -— — — Judges of Court of Appeal- ____ — — 3750 Vice-Chancellor of England - — — 3750 _ _ _ Two Vice-Chancel lors _ _ _ _ — — 3500 — Chief Justice of Queen's Bench 3000 800 — — — — Chief Justice of CommonPleas 2500 800 — — — — Chief Baron of the Exchequer - 2500 800 450 — — —I Puisne Judges and Barons - - 2000 600 900 — — — THE COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH. Westminster Hall. The Court of Queen's Bench has always exercised a supreme original jurisdiction in all criminal matters. Its authority is transcendent : it is the highest Court of Common Law. It keeps all inferior jurisdictions within the bounds of their proper authority, and may remove their proceedings for its own deter mination, or prohibit their progress in the inferior court. It superintends all civil corporations in the kingdom ; granting -writs of mandamus to restore to corporations, colleges, &c., officers who have heen unjustly expelled ; and writs of quo warranto against corporations or persons usurping franchises or liberties. It commands magistrates f>nd others to do what their duty requires in every case where there is no other specific remedy ; and is empowered to punish, by due course of law, all officers of justice and inferior magistrates for -wilful and corrupt abuse of their authority. It protects the liberty of the subject by speedy and summary interposition, and in common. with the other superior Courts, including the Court of Chancery, it relieves SECT. V. COMMON LAW COURTS. 73 by -wiit of Habeas Corpus persons wrongfully imprisoned, and may bail any person whatever. It takes cognizance both of crimiual and civil cases, the former on what is called the Crown side, or Crown office, and the latter on the Plea side of the court. On the Crown side the court has jurisdiction over all criminal cases from high treason down to the most trivial misdemeanor or breach of the peace, and over all indictments in inferior courts removed by certiorari. It has the power of allowing a prosecutor to proceed by information, hut in misdemeanors only, as no one can be put upon his trial for treason or felony without the accusation against him being found sufficient by a jury of 12 of his countrymen. On the civil, or Plea side, the court had originally jurisdiction chiefiy in actions of trespass or other injury alleged to have been committed vi et armis, of actions for forgery of deeds, maintenance, conspiracy, deceit, and of all actions which alleged fraud, or which savoured of a criminal nature, although the action were brought for a civil remedy. In practice, however, originating by usurpation of power, all kinds of civil actions between subject and subject are now brought in this court, but it does not meddle -with matters of revenue. An appeal from the judgments of the Court lies by ¦writ of error to the Court of Exchequer Chamber. The Judges of the court, consisting of the Lord Chief Justice and four puisne Justices, are, by virtue of their office, the sove reign conservators of the peace and supreme Coroners of the land. They are created by the Queen's letters patent. A peer age is usually conferred upon the Chief Justice. A seat in the Cabinet is now deemed incompatible with the office, for as a member of the Cabinet, the Chief Justice might have to advise prosecutions for treason or sedition, which he would afterwards have to try. Blackstone says, nothing is more to be avoided in a Free Constitution, than uniting the provinces of a Judge and a Mmister of State (Comm. Bk. 1, c. 7). Nevertheless, Lord Mansfield for many years held the Chief Justiceship -with a seat in the Cabinet, and Lord EUenborough was introduced into the Cabinet in 1806 while Chief Justice. THE QUEEN'S BENCH CROWN OFFICE. 2, King's Bench Walli, Temple. In this office are filed on record all informations at the suit of the Crown, except such as relate to the revenue, cither thoae whioh are 74 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. V. personally the Sovereign's own suits and are filed by the Attorney- General, or those only nominally so, which are filed by the Master of the Crown Office by the direction of the Court of Queen's Bench, of which he is the coroner and attorney. The Lord Chief Justice has the appointment of the Queen's coroner and attorney, and the master and assistant-master of the Cro-wn Offlce. The clerks and subordinate officers are appointed by the Queen's coroner and attorney and the master. The office was regulated by the stat. 6 and 7 Vict. c. 20, and the number of officers was reduced, their salaries were fixed, and their accounts were directed to be rendered to the Treasury. THE QUEEN'S BENCH MASTERS' OFFICE. Temple. The civil business of the Court has been consolidated, and its transac tion vested entirely in the five Masters, who, by the Act of the 1 Vict. c. 30, are empowered to perform all the duties and exercise all the powers of the ancient officers of the Court, whose offices were abolished by that Act. They are at the head of the Rule office of the Court, where all rules made by the Court in actions and matters on the Plea side are drawn up and issued. They have the custody of all the records and books, and they make and authenticate all searches, copies, or extracts. They tax all costs which may have arisen in this court. The Masters are appointed by the Chief Justice, and they have the appointment of their own clerks and officers. THE COURT OP COMMON PLEAS. Westminster Hall. The Court of Common Pleas is one of the Queen's ancient courts of record. It dates its existence as a separate Court from the provision in the Great Charter, that common pleas should no longer follow the King's Court, but be held in a place certain. • This court was formerly the great tribunal for determining disputes of property. It has been styled by Sir Edward Coke " the lock and key of the common law." It had original juris diction to hear and determine all pleas of land and injuries merely civil between subject and subject — the party -wronged suing in his o-wn name. Hence the term common pleas, as distinguished from crown pleas, in which the sovereign stands in the place of plaintiff on the part of the public. The few real actions which still exist can be brought in this court alone. Ejectment however, which is called a mixed action, may be brought in any of the Superior Common Law Courts. It sits as SECT. V. COMMON LA^W COURTS. 75 a Court of Appeal from the decisions of the Revising barristers. An appeal from the judgments of this Court also Ues by writ of error into the Exchequer Chamber. The Court is now com prised of a Lord Chief Justice and four puisne Justices. THE COMMON PLEAS MASTERS' OFFICE. Chancery Lane. The business of the Court of Common Pleas was consolidated and vested in the Masters by the 1 Vict. c. 30, and the powers and authori ties of the officers abolished by that Act were transferred to the Mas ters, who fulfil the same duties in respect to this Court as the Masters of the Queen's Bench do in their Court. The Masters are appointed by the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and have the appointment of their own clerks and officers. THE COURT OF EXCHEQUER. Westminster Hall. The Exchequer is an ancient court of record for the trial and determination of all causes affecting the revenue and rights of the Crown. Formerly the Crown revenues now paid to the Trea sury were received in this court, and a Court of Equity was held in the Exchequer Chamber, but this husiness has been transferred to the Court of Chancery. As a Court of Revenue, the Exchequer ascertains and enforces the rights of the Cro-wn, where the revenue is concerned, against the subject. As a Court of Common Law — for by a jurisdiction originally usurped all personal suits may be prosecuted here — it determines all actions whatever between subject and subject, except in a few species of real actions. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the Treasurer, and holds the seal of the Court. EXCHEQUER OFFICE OF PLEAS. 7, Stone Buildings, Lincoln's Inn. This office was subjected to regulation by the Act of the 1 Vict. u. 30, in the same manner as the offices of the other two superior courts, and similar arrangements were made for the abolition of offices, and the consolidation of the business and authority in the masters. The same regulations also extend to the appointments. THE QUEEN'S REMEMBRANCER'S OFFICE. 22, Duke Street, Westminster. The Queen's Remembrancer is now the only revenue officer left of the ancient Exchequer. In his office has been consolidated that 76 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. V. portion of the ancient duties of the Court of Exchequer which relates to the collection of the Queen's revenues, such as the issue of process to recover bonds for debts due to the Crown, extents against sheriff's and other public officers not rendering account. Also all estreats, fines, &c., certified from courts at Westminster, or the Courts of Assize or Quarter Sessions. Since the abolition of the Seal Office, the Great Seal of the Exchequer is kept at this office. The office was regulated by the 57 Geo. IH. c. 60, several ancient offlces were prospectively abolished, and all future appointments vested in the Lords of the Treasury ; and further changes were made by the 3 and 4 Will. IV. c. 99, and 5 and 6 Vict. c. 86. COURT OP CRIMINAL APPEAL. By a statute passed in 1848 (11 and 12 Vict. c. 78) Courts of Oyer and Terminer, or Gaol Delivery, and Courts of Quarter Session were empowered to reserve any question of law arising on trials before them, and to certify the same for the considera tion of the Judges sitting as a Court of Appeal in criminal cases, and five of the Judges of the superior courts, of whom one of the Chief Judges or the Chief Baron shall be one, sitting in the Exchequer Chamber, are fully authorized to hear and determine such question, and to revise, affirm, or amend the judgment, delivering their judgment in open court, and issuing their order for its execution. THE COURT OP EXCHEQUER CHAMBER. This Appeal Court was flrst erected by the statute of 31 Edw. III. c. 12, to determine causes upon writs of error from the common-law side of the Court of Exchequer ; and by the 27 EUz. c. 8, a second Court was erected to determine writs of error in suits commenced in the Court of Queen's Bench. The con stitution of these Courts was altered, and a new arrangement made, by the stat. 11 Geo. IV. and 1 WiU. IV. c. 70, acoordmg to which the judgments of each of the three superior Courts, in all suits whatever, are suhject to revision by the Judges of the other two Courts sitting collectively as a Court of Error in the Exchequer Chamber. From all branches of this Court an appeal lies to the House of Lords. The office of Clerk of the Court was abolished by the 7 WiU. IV. and 1 Vio. c. 30. The duties in each case are performed by the Masters of the Court from which the case in error is brought. SECT. V. COURT OF CHANCERY. 77 THE COUNTY COURTS. These Courts were established under the authority of the 9 and 10 Vict. c. 95, and their jurisdiction has been enlarged and forms of pro ceeding amended by subsequent Acts. The Courts have jurisdiction in actions of debt, and for legacies, and shares of intestates' estates, not exceeding 50/., and for damages (not exceeding 50/.) in tort, and for assault, trespass, and breach of contract or agreement, expressed or implied ; and in actions of replevin and ejectment for recovering possession of houses and lands, where the yearly rent does not exceed 50/. ; and, by consent of the parties, in ac tions for the recovery of debts, damages, and demands, exceeding 50/. ; and, by the Uke consent, in actions wherein the title to any land, tithe, toll, market, fair, or other franchise shall be in question. They have also jurisdiction in insolvency cases where the petitioner or debtor has re sided for six months previously above 20 miles from the General Post- office, and the Crown may sue in these Courts under the Customs' Act for penalties not exceeding in any case 100/. They may state cases for the opinion of two Judges of the Superior Courts, on points of law. Actions in these courts may be tried by a jury of five if either party desire it, but otherwise the Judge has power to determine all questions of fact and law. England and Wales have been divided by order in Council into 60 Circuits, to each of which a Judge is appointed. His salary may be fixed at 1500/., or not in any case less than 1200/. per annum, with an allowance for his travelling expenses. He is appointed by the Lord Chancellor, and has the appointment of his clerks and bailiffs, who are paid by fees, or by salaries if the Lords of the Treasury so order. There are also 23 treasurers, having each a district of two or more Circuits. They are appointed by the Treasury, and paid by salaries fixed according to their several districts. They have the examination of the clerks' accounts, and render an aimual statement for the audit of the Audit Board. THE HIGH COURT OF CHANCERY. This Court is of great antiquity. Madox conjectures that it was separated from the Exchequer ahout the end of the reign of Bichard I., or the beginning of the reign of John, from the fact that about that time the Chancery Rolls began to be formed distinct from the Exchequer Rolls. The Court of Chancery is, next to the House of Lords, the highest court of judicature in the kingdom. Its jurisdiction is of two kinds — ^the ordinary jurisdiction, in which the order and method of the common law must be observed by the court in its 78 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. V. proceedings and judgments, as in all original -writs, commissions of charitable uses, lunacy, &c., and the extraordinary or equity jurisdiction, which the Court exercises where the common law is insufficient or does not provide a remedy ; interfering to prevent a wrong on principles of universal justice, when the positive enactments of the law are silent ; resisting the assertion of doubtful rights in a manner productive of irreparable damage ; removing impediments to the fair judgment of questions in the inferior Courts ; and in other ways. But this important fact must be borne in mind, that this Court does not exercise an arbi trary discretion. It is as much bound by precedent, aud acts according to fixed principles as completely, as the Courts of Common Law. The Court of Chancery, the peculiar and principal business of which consists of the administration of equity, is composed ol separate tribunals, respectively presided over by the Lord Chancellor, with the newly-created Appeal Judges, the Master of the Bolls, and the Vice-Chancellors, before any of whom causes and matters may be brought indifferently, except appeals and such matters as relate to lunatics, which must be heard hy the Lord Chancellor. An appeal lies from the Master of the Bolls and the Vice-Chancellors to the Lord Chancellor and the Lords Justices, and from them to the House of Lords. To facilitate the business of the Court and relieve the Lord Chancellor, two new equity judges were appointed in 1851, under the Act of 14 and 15 Vict. c. 83, styled " The Lords Jus tices of the Court of Appeal in Chancery,'' and this Court was empowered to exercise and perform all the jurisdiction, statutory or prescriptive, and all authorities and duties, both ministerial and judicial, of the Lord Chancellor in the Court of Chancery in Eng land. The jurisdiction of the Vice-Chancellors in bankruptcy was also transferred to this new Court. It is constituted by one of the Justices sitting with the Lord ChanceUor, or by both Jus tices sitting apart from him, and on the request of the Lord Chancellor one of the Common Law Judges may sit -with the Court. The authority of the Lord Chancellor is preserved by a proviso giving him co-ordinate jurisdiction with the Court of Appeal, and reserving to him all the other ministerial duties and functions which belong to his high office. The Chancellor was originally the Sovereign's Chief Secretary, and, from the nature of this office, his adviser. Petitions and SECT. V. COURT OF CHANCERY. 79 claims were referred to him, and he formally prepared and ap proved the Royal grants and charters, affixing to them the King's seal. Thus he became the Keeper of the Great Seal, and, being anciently an ecclesiastic, was called the keeper of the King's conscience, and was the officer by whom prerogative writs were prepared. As the particular interference of the Sovereign was frequently prayed against the decisions of courts of law, where such decisions operated unjustly, and also in matters not within the cognizance of the ordinary courts, or through whioh redress could not be obtained, the Chancellor, as the adviser of his Sove reign, became also invested with the discretionary power which the Sovereign in early times possessed in such cases. The Lord Chancellor, or Lord Keeper, the two oflices being de clared the same by an Act of 5 Eliz. c. 18, is appointed by the Sovereign by the mere act of delivering the Great Seal into his custody, and is thus constituted without writ or patent an officer of the greatest weight and power, having precedence of every temporal Lord. But he receives the Queen's Sign Manual Warrant, reciting the royal prerogative to have the custody of idiots and their estates, and to take the profits thereof, finding them necessaries, and to provide for the custody of lunatics and their estates without taking the profits thereof, and intrusting him with the care and commitment of the custody of the said idiots and lunatics and their estates. His office is determined by the Sovereign's resumption of the Seal. The Lord Chancellor issues writs for summoning ParUament, and transacts all business connected with the custody of the Great Seal. He is visitor in right of the Queen of all hospitals and colleges of Eoyal foundation. The care of infants and their property belongs to him, and he has jurisdiction over idiots and lunatics. He also exercises a special jurisdiction conferred upon him by various statutes, as original or appellate judge in questions relating to charities and friendly societies ; infant, lunatic, and idiot trustees ; matters in bankruptcy ; and in many other cases. He is a conservator of the peace, and has concur rent jurisdiction with the judges of the other superior courts with respect to writs of habeas corpus, and he has the peculiar power of preventing a person, who would withdraw himself from his jurisdiction, leaving the kingdom, by writ of Ne exeat Regno, He issues writs under the Great Seal to the sheriffs for the 80 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. V. election of coroners, and has the power of determining questions as to the validity of their election, and also of dismissal in case of incapacity. The Lord Chancellor's Court sits at Westmin ster Hall during Easter and Trinity terms, and at Lincoha's- Inn Hall during the remainder of the year. By stat. 15 and 16 Vic, c. 87, the following salaries were granted to the Lord Chancellor's chief officers in lieU of fees heretofore received, viz. : Principal Secretary of Lord Chan cellor, 1200/. ; Gentleman of the Chamber, 500/. ; Pursebearer, 500/. ; Trainbearer, 200/. !Z%e Master of the Rolls has judicial power, and is an assistant to the Lord Chancellor when present, and his deputy when absent. His office is perhaps as ancient as the Court of Chancery itself. Under the title of Clerk Keeper of the Rolls of Chancery there exists the record of an appointment so early as the 14 Edward I. He is appointed by the Cro-wn by letters patent, and has precedence next to the Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench. He is a Privy Councillor. A seat in the House of Commons is not deemed incompatible -with his office. He administers equity in the Bolls Court, having certain causes assigned to him to hear and decree ; but his judgments must be affirmed by the signature of the Chancellor before they are enrolled. He is, by virtue of his office, chief of the Masters in Chancery and of the Petty Bag Office. His powers and duties are declared and defined by the 3 Geo. II. c. 30, and 3 and 4 WiU. IV. c. 94. The Master of the Rolls had originally the custody of the Rolls or Records. This charge had, however, in course of time, become merely nominal, the custody having vested in officers not in his appointment or control ; but this anomaly was reme died, and the custody restored to him with extensive powers, by the Act of 1 and 2 Vict. c. 94. He sits in the Rolls Court, Westminster Hall, during Easter and Trinity terms, and in the Rolls Court, Chancery-lane, during the remainder of the year, except in vacation time. A 'Vice- ChanceUor of England was originally appointed, and the office created, pursuant to the Act of 53 Geo. HI. c. 24, to assist the Lord Chancellor in his then greatly-increased judi cial duties. The appointment is made by the Cro-wn by letters SECT. V. COURT OF CHANCERY. 81 patent to hold during good behaviour. The Vice-Chancellor is empowered to hear and determine all causes pending in the Court of Chancery either as a Court of Law or Equity, or incident to any ministerial office of the Court ; and his decrees are vaUd as acts of the Court, but subject to be reversed or altered by the Lord Chancellor, whose signature is necessary to their enrolment. In 1841 two additional Vice-Chancellors were appointed by the Cro-wn by letters patent during good behaviour, pursuant to the Act of the 5 Vict. c. 5, but -with a proviso that on a second vacancy arising it should not be filled up. By this statute the equity jurisdiction of the Court of Exchequer was transferred to the Court of Chancery ; and to pro-vide for this transferred business, *id the continued increase of the equity jurisdiction, these additional Judges were appointed and invested with the same powers and authorities as the Vice-Chancellor of England. The Vice-Chancellors, if sworn of the Privy Coimcil, are by virtue of their office members of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council ; and, with the Vice-Chancellor of England, they now take rank and precedence next after the Chief Baron of the Exchequer, according to their seniority of appointment. The second vacancy occurring in 1851, Her Majesty was authorized to appoint another Vice-Chancellor by stat. 14 Vict. c. 4 ; and on a third vacancy in 1852, the authority was renewed without limitation by stat. 15 and 16 Vict. c. 80. The same statute also prospectively abolishes the office o Master in Chancery, and empowers the four Equity Judges to sit in chambers for the despatch of business, giving them juris diction in all matters heretofore in the authority of the masters, and empowering them also each to appoint two chief clerks to assist in the business of his own Court, and to hear and investi gate such matters as he shall direct. The following are the principal departments and officers con nected -with the busmess of the Court of Chancery. They have been subjected recently to regulation, and several of the ancient offices were consoUdated and abolished by the Acts of the 2 & 3 Will. IV. c. Ill, 3 & 4 Will. IV. c. 94, and 5 & 6 Vict. c. 103, and other subsequent Acts. MASTERS' OFFICE. Southampton Buildings. The Masters in Chancery are always members of the bar. They attend in rotation the Lord Chancellor and the Master of the Rolls at 0 82 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. V. the sitting of their Courts. Interlocutory orders for taking accounts, computing damages, and the like, are referred to them ; they also take acknowledgments for deeds and recognizances, and examine upon reference the propriety of bills in Chancery. They appoint receivers for estates in litigation, sell estates, appoint guardians and fix allowances for the maintenance of Infants, and committees for the persons and estates of lunatics, and decide upon the sufficiency of titles. Under the Joint-stock Companies Winding-up Acts of 1848 and 1849, an enlarged jurisdiction is conferred on the Masters in matters coming before them under those Acts. Their reports upon matters referred to them, when confirmed by the Court, constitute decrees, and the Court sometimes refers the report back for re-con sideration. Two Masters attend the sittings of the House of Peers, and carry the messages of the House to the Commons, except such as relate to, the Royal Family. All the Masters attend the House on the trial of a peer, or on an impeachment. The Masters in Chancery are appointed by the Crown by letters patent on the nomination of the Prime Minister. Their office is regu lated by stat. 3 and 4 Will. IV. c. 94. Their salaries are 2500/. per an nura each ; and the Masters' clerks have salaries of 1000/. per annum each. Extraordinary Masters, now styled Commissioners, are ap pointed by the Lord Chancellor, to act in the country beyond 20 miles from Loiidon, to take affidavits, recognizances, acknowledgments of deeds, &c., for the relief of the suitors. By stat. 15 and 16 Vict., c. 80, the offlce of Master in'Chancery is prospectively abolished. Certain duties are for the present reserved to Masters in office, two of whom were at once superseded bythe Act ; and the Lord Chancellor is empowered to make further reductions as he shall see fit from time to tirae. The Masters are required to win^ up the proceedings pending before them, and provision is made for transferring their duties to the Eqtuty Judges. ACCOUNTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE. Chancery Lane. The Accountant-General is one of the Masters in Chancery, and acts as the banker of the court, and the superintendent of the large property under its control. He has the general custody of all money and effects subject to the orders of the Court. His offlce is created and regvdated by the 12 Geo. I. c. 32, which statute transferred to him the accounts kept by the Masters, directed the whole of the suitors' money to be paid to his account in the Bank of England, and limited his authority and responsibiUty to that of an accountant. H,e keeps an exact ac count with the Bank of the funds (amounting to above 45 milUons in stock) belonging to the suitors of the Court. His salary and emoln- ments have averaged about 4800/. per annum; but by stat. 15 and 16 Vjct. c. 87, a salary of 2700/. was granted to him in Ueu of the profits hsretofore arising from brokerage, and in addition to his sahiry and SECT. V. COURT OF CHANCERY. 83 allowance of 2500/. for books and stationery. The salary of future accountants was fixed by the sarae statute at 3000/. He is appointed by the Lord Chancellor, but he holds his offlce as Master by letters patent. He has 26 clerks in his office, whom he appoints. The chief clerk's salary is 800/. per annum without emoluments, and the salaries of several others vrith emoluments are nearly equal to that sum. CHANCERY REGISTRARS' OFFICE. Chancery Lane. This office is regulated by the 3 and 4 WiU. IV. c. 94, and the 5 Vict. c. 5. The Registrars attend the Courts of the Lord ChanceUor, Master of the Rolls, and Vice-ChanceUors, when those Courts are sitting. They take notes of all orders and decrees pronounced by the courts, draw them up, and formally record them in the office registers. Their salaries are graduated from 2000/. to 1250/. per annum. The Registrars are 12 in number, and the clerks to the Registrars, who are appointed by the Lord Chancellor, succeed by seniority to the vacant Registrarships. REPORT AND ENTRIES OFFICE. Chancery Lane. ¦ The office of Master of the Reports and Entries was created by 3 and 4 WiU. IV. c. 94, and is regulated by 5 Vict. c. 5, and the duties of the aboUshed offices of Master of the Report Office, Entering Registers, and Clerk of the Exceptions, were transferred to this new officer. Petitions and also the reports of the Masters are filed in his office, and are open to search and examination : aU orders made by the Equity Judges are also recorded in his Entries Books. He also keeps dupUcate accounts as a check to the Accountant-General. He is appointed by the Lord ChanceUor, in case the Registrars and Clerks to the Registrars decline the office, and the Lord Chancellor has also the appointment of the clerks who form the office esta bUshment. His salary is 1000/. per annum. EXAMINERS' OFFICE. Rolls Yard. This office is regulated by 3 and 4 Will. IV. c. 94. It is the duty of the two Examiners to examine and take the depositions of vritnesses, and to make copies of depositions. They are appointed by the Master of the Rolls. Salaries 1000/. per annum. TAXING-MASTERS' OFFICE. Staples Inn. The six Taxing-Mastera are empowered to tax all costs of the Court. Their appointment is in the Lord ChanceUor under the 5 and 6 Vict G 2 84 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. V. c. 103, and they have each the power to appoint one clerk. Salaries 2000/. per annura each. RECORDS AND WRITS OFFICE. Chancery Lane. The manageraent of all records, writs, decrees and injunctions and rules of the Court of Chancery belongs to the four Clerks of the Records and Writs. They now issue all writs and subpoenas heretofore Issued by the abolished Subpoena Office, file all affidavits sworn in the Affidavit Office, produce the originals in Court, grant certificates of the filing affidavits, and make searches for affidavits ; administer all oaths, declarations, and attestations on honour, which are directed by statute to be made before a Master in Chancery, performing these and all other duties which belonged to the abolished office of Clerk of the Affidavits. They are appointed by the Master of the Rolls, pursuant to the 5 and 6 Vict. jc. 103, and have each of them the power to appoint their three clerks, Their salaries are 1200/. each per annura. CLERK OF ENROLMENTS' OFFICE. Chancery Lane. The Clerk qf the Enrolments was created by the Act of 5 and 6 Vict. c. 103, and all enrolraents which were theretofore under the control of the abolished offices of Clerks of the Enrolments, and were exercised by the six clerks as Comptrollers of the Hanaper and Riding Clerks, were placed under his manageraent. He is appointed by the Master of the Rolls, salary 1200/., and is empowered to appoint his three clerks. ;The Act of 12 and 13 Viot. c. 109 makes sorae provisions for the regulation of the office. PETTY BAG OFFICE. Rolls Yard. Writs of summons to Parliament, conges d'elire for bishops, writ of scire facias, and all original writs, are made out by the Clerk of the Petty Bag,^who has a great variety of business, which the Lord Chancellor and the Master of the Rolls are empowered to regulate and transfer from time to time. He is appointed by the Master of the Rolls, and has the power of appointing his subordinates. The office is regulated by the 1 1 and 12 Vict. c. 94, and 12 and 13 Vict. c. 109. Salary 600/. PRESENTATION OFFICE. Quality Court. The Secretary of Presentations has the management of all matters connected with the disposal of the Lord Chancellor's Church patronage. He receives all letters on this subject, inquires into the quaUficatious SECT. V. COURT OF CHANCERY. , 85 of persons proper to be preferred, submits their claims to the Lord Chancellor, and obtains his decision and instructions thereon. He attends the Lord ChanceUor to Westminster, to ParUament, and to Court, in turn with his other Secretaries. He is paid by a salary of 800/. a-year, in Ueu of fees. PATENT OFFICE OF GREAT SEAL, AND OF COMMIS SIONERS OF PATENTS FOR INVENTIONS. Quality Court. The ancient duties of thia office consist in the preparation, pursuant to the warrant of the Privy Seal, of aU documents to which the Great Seal ia appended, as writs to summon Parliaraent, treaties with foreign states, all pubUc acts of state which concern the United Kingdom, and all patents and matters relating to England. In 1852 the Patent Law was amended by stat. 15 and 16 Viot. c. 83, the Lord ChanceUor, the Master of the Rolls, the Attorney and Solicitor General, the Lord Advocate and the SoUcitor-General for Scotland, and the Attorney and the SoUcitor General for Ireland, were named ex-officio Commissioners of Patents and Inventions, to whom Her Majesty was empowered to add such other persons as she may think proper ; and the proceedings in obtaining a patent are simplified, and a new scale of fees fixed by the same Act. The Commissioners are empowered to make regulations in all matters imder their control, and to appoint such other officers as are necessary. Under the above statute, applications for Letters Patent of Inven tions, in the form of a provisional specification, may be made to the Commissioners, who on reference and the report of one of the Law officers may register his certificate of allowance, which gives pro- -visional protection for the publication of the invention for six months without prejudice ; or the applicant may deposit a complete specifica tion, upon which aU the rights and privileges of a patent may be given for six months. The Commissioners are then required to advertise the grant of such provisional protection, and alao all applicationa for Letters Patent, and all oppositions to the sarae ; and upon the expiration of the aix months' proviaional license, granted in either case, the Specification, and any objectiona, are referred to the Law officera, who may cauae a Warrant for sealing of Letters Patent to be prepared, with such reaervation aa they may think fit, and the Lord Chancellor may then exercise the same powers in affixing the Great Seal as theretofore, but saving is made in aU cases of the pre rogative of the Crown. Such Great Seal Patents are vaUd for the whole of the United ;Kingdom, the Channel lalands, and the Isle of Man, and may be extended to the Coloniea. All specifications are to be filed, and copies, with all disclairaera and memoranda, to be open for inspection at the Commisaionera' office, and copies are to be printed and pubUshed by the Commiasioners, and 86 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. V. presented to pubUc libraries and museuraa. All former enrolments of specificationa, &c., may be transferred to the Commissioners, and with all future sirailar applications are to be indexed, and a register to be kept, and also a register of all proprietors of patents. CHANCERY CROWN OFFICE. RoUs Yard. The Clerk of the Crown is in constant attendance upon the Lord ChanceUor. His duties were to prepare for the Great Seal all special matters of state, and to sit iu the. House of Lords during the holding of Parliament, but the office has been prospectively abolished by atat. 2 and 3 WiU. IV. t. HI, and will cease ou the death of the present occupant. By the stat. 7 & 8 Vict. o. 77, his salary was raised to 1000/. a-year. OFFICE OF THE MASTERS IN LUNACY. 45, Lincoln's Inn Fields. The two Masters in Lunacy are appointed by the Lord ChanceUor under the authority of stat. 5 and 6 Vict. u. 84, to make upon his refer ence inquiry into all matters touching the peraons and estates of lunatics, suspending the former practice (but reserving the power) of inquiry under writ de lunatico inquirendo ; and by the same statute it is enacted that the Masters shall be ex-officio visitors of lunatics under 3 and 4 Will. IV. c. 36. Their salaries are 2000/. per annum each, and their chief clerk's salary, 800/. per annum. OFFICE OF THE VISITORS OF LUNATICS. 45, Lincoln's Inn Fields. The atat. 3 and 4 WiU. TV. c. 36, empowers the Lord Chancellor to appoint three persons, two of whom must be physicians and the third a barrister of five years' atanding, to superintend and report upon the care, treatment, and state of all persons found on inquisition to be of unsound mind. The visitors are required to see every such person once in the course of the year, and to make a report of every visita tion. These reports are filed and kept secret in the office of the visit ors, and the law requires that on the death of each patient, or on the supersedeas of the coraraission of any patient, the particular reports in the case shall be deatroyed. The Lord Chancellor is also empowered to appoint a secretary to the commission. The two Masters in Limaoy are the ex-officio visitors appointed under 5 and 6 Vict. c. 84. OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS IN LUNACY. 19, New Street, Spring Gardens. Lunatics and idiots have from the earUest times been committed to the charge of the Lord Chancellor; but as their property, rather than. SECT. V. COMMISSIONERS IN LUNACY. 87 their peraons, was the ohief object of legal care, those not possessed of property were uncared for. Prior to 1774 no atalutory provision was made for the care or cuatody of the insane ; but in that year the Act of 14 Geo. HI. 0. 49, pasaed to regulate madhouaes, after reciting the great aud dangerous abuses whicii then existed, made it penal for any vnlicensed person to confine more than one lunatic in any house for the reception of lunatics, and authorized the College of Surgeons to elect five Fellows who were empowered to grant Ucenccs in the county of Middlesex and within seven miles of the metropoUs, and to visit and inspect the houaes so licensed. Beyond thia district the power to Ucense was vested in the Courts of Quarter Sesaions, and the power to visit and inspect was delegated to two justices and one physician elected by the Court. This statute was amended and continued by subsequent Acts until 1828, when it was repealed and new provisiona made to regulate the care and treatment of insane peraons by 9 Geo. IV. c. 41. The Home Secretary waa authorized to appoint a commission consisting of 10 unpaid members and five physicians. Within the metropolitan dis trict these commisaioners were empowered to grant and revoke Ucences, their powers of viaiting were enlarged and defined, and beyond their diatrict similar powers were conferred upon the Court of Quarter Ses sions. The penalties of the previous statute were re-enacted ; the Commisaioners were empowed to set at Uberty persona after due in vestigation considered of sound miud ; medical certificates, to be given only upon personal examination, were required to justify the admis sion of insane patients ; and every asylum containing more than 100 patients was required to have a resident medical officer, or, when con taining less than that number, to be visited twice a week by a medical officer. In 1832 the above statute was repealed and its principal enactments re-enacted by 2 and 3 WiU. IV. c. 107, and the appointment of the Com misaioners was transferred to the Lord Chancellor. By 5 and 6 Vict. c. 87, the law was further amended : the number of physicians or surgeons on the Commission was required to be six or seven, and the number of barristers, of whom two were required to be on the Commis sion by the previous statute, was increased to four, and the Commis sioners were required to viait twice in each year every lioenaed lunatic asylum in England and Wales, and to report upon the observance of the law. In 1845, by the Act of 8 and 9 Vict. c. 100, the preceding Acts were repealed, and more extended provision was made to Insure the proper care and treatraent of lunatics. This Act appointed 11 Coramisaionere, Six of them (three phyaicians and three barriaters) with salaries of 1500/. each per annum, exclusive of travelUng expenses, and a secretary at 800/., and empowered the Lord Chancellor to appoint to future vacancies, and the Commissioners to appoint two clerks, and two additional clerks if required. 88 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. V. In the metropolitan district the Commissioners are empowered to grant and revoke Ucences and to visit ; and beyond the limits of this district the Court of Quarter Sessions grants and revokes Ucences and appoints visitors, as in the former Acts. Records are required to be kept on prescribed forms of all persona received into lunatic asylums, and of the forms of their disorders ; and notices to be given to the Com missioners and the visitors of every person admitted, and also of every case of escape, death, discharge, or removal. Houses licensed for 100 patients are required to have a resident medical officer, for between 50 and 100 patients to be viaited daily, and for less than 50 patients twice a week, by a medical offlcer, by whom books are to be kept show ing the state of the house, and the condition of the patients, both men tal and bodily, with the remedies prescribed. In the metropoUtan district every licensed house is to be visited four times in the year at the least by two Commisaionera, one of whom is to be a barrister, and the other a phyaician or surgeon. Beyond this district every licensed house is to be visited by such two Commissioners twice in each year, and four times by the viaitora appointed by the Court of Quarter Ses sions. On these visits a formula of inspection and record ia pre scribed ; all hooka and documenta, and every part of the houae and pre- miaea, and every lunatic inmate, are to be shown to the visitors, who may on a aecond visit, after notice, order the discharge of any inmate whom they shall think fit. The Secretary of the Commissioners may also, vrith their aanetion, upon the appUcation of any peraon, aearch the records of the offlce, and give information whether any particular individual ia or has been confined in any licensed house within 12 months, and any Commis sioner or visitor may give an order to a relative or friend to be admit ted without restriction to any lunatic confined in any Ucensed house or hospital. In case the Commissioners have reason to suppose that the property of any lunatic is not duly protected or applied, they are required to report to the Lord ChanceUor, whn is thereupon autho rized to direct an inquiry, and to make such order and appoint such guardians as may be neceaaary. By this last statute lunatics confined singly in private houses are for the first time brought within the care of the Commissioners. Autho rity is given to the Lord ChanceUor to appoint the permanent chair man of the Coraraission, and two other Commiasioners, being a bar rister and a physician or surgeon, to be a " Private Committee," and to this Committee ia devolved the care of lunatics confined in private dwellings. It is provided that any peraon taking charge of a aingle lunatic, who derives a profit therefrom, shall not receive such lunatic, unless with the same order and medical certificates as are required on admission to a Ucensed houae, and that vrithin aeven days a copy of such order and medical certificates shall be sent to the Secretary of the Commission, and in the case of death, escape, or reraoval, that the same notice shall also be given. The visits of a medical officer once SECT. V. CHARITY COMMISSIONERS. 89 in each fortnight at the least are also required, and a record is to be made, in a book to be kept for the purpose, of the state and condition of the patient and of the house in which he is confined. Of this class of lunatics the secretary of the commission is required to keep a private register ; the members of the private committee are empowered to visit the unlicensed houses in which such lunatics are kept ; and the Lord Chancellor on the representation of the private committee may order the removal of any such patient from the house or persons in whose custody he ia placed. The Act further givea a general power to the Commisaioners to viait all asylums, gaols, and workhouses, where lunatics are confined, except Bethlem Hospital, which is, however, included by the Act of 1853 ; and provides that the Lord Chancellor may direct an inquiry and report upon the treatraent of any lunatic under the care of a com mittee of his Lordahip'a own appointing; and that the Lord Chan cellor, or the Home Secretary of State, may order a like inquiry vrith respect to any lunatic kept in a private dweUing where no profit is derived, or in the case of any other lunatic, or person represented to be a lunatic, who is detained or kept under restraint; and also authorizes the Lord ChanceUor or the Secretary of State to order a special visitation of any place where a lunatic is represented to be confined. In 1853 these provisions were further extended, and some more minute regulations made by atat. 16 and 17 Viot. c. 96, in enforce ment of the foregoing enactments. By these enactments all classes of insane persons, by whatever authority or in whatever cuatody they are detained, are brought within the reach of the law. Corapetent aalaried officers, under the authority of the Lord Chancellor or the Home Secretary, are appointed to viait them periodically, and empowered to protect them and to liberate them if improperly detained ; and the provisiona of the atatute to prevent improper detention and insure proper care and treatraent may be enforced by severe penalties, or the infraction of them punished on indictment aa a misdemeanor. THE CHARITY COMMISSIONERS FOR ENGLAND AND WALES. (Office, New Street, Spring Gardens.) This new Commission was created in 1853 by stat. 16 and 17 Vict. c. 137, to secure the due administration of Charitable Trusts, and the more beneficial appUcation of Charitable Funds ; and Her Majeaty was empowered to appoint, under the sign manual, for the pur poses of thia Act, four Commiasioners— three during good behaviour, and the fourth during pleaaure ; one Secretary, who is to be also Trea surer, and as suck a Corporation, sole ; and two Inspectors. The three Commiasioners appointed during pleaaure are to be paid Commis sioners ; two of them are to be barristers of twelve years' standing, one of whom shall be the Chief Commissioner. The salaries of the 90 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. V. paid Commissioners and officers, exclusive of their travelling ex penses, are — £. Chief Commissioner (not exceeding) . . 1,500 The other two paid Commissioners, each . 1,200 The Secretary 600 The two Inspectors, each 800 But after the 31st March 1857, there is to be only one paid Com missioner besides the Chief Coramisaioner. The paid Commissioners, Secretary, and Inspectors, are incapacitated from sitting in the House of Commons. The Commissioners are empowered to sit aa a Board, and from time to time, at their discretion, " to examine into all or any Charities in England and Wales, and the nature and objects, administration, management, and results thereof; and the value, condition, manage ment, and application of the estates, funds, property, and income be longing thereto." For this purpose they are authorized to require statements and accounts in -writing, and written answers to their interrogatories, and to examine -witnesses on oath ; and they are re quired to consider aU appUcations made for their advice or opinion by persons concerned in the management of any Charity, and persona acting in pursuance of such advice or opinion are indemnified. Notices of legal proceedings in regard to any Charity, except by the Attorney-General, must be given to the Commiasioners, who may sanc tion such proceedings, directing the manner and form in which they shall be taken, or may direct them to be deferred ; or the Commis sioners may, on the reports of their Inspectors, take proceedings in any case they may think proper— or may certify the case to the Attorney-General, that he may, if he sees fit, take proceedings ; but hia own power of acting ex-officio is not in any way interfered with. The Commisaionera may aanetion building-leases of Charity property, mines being worked, or improvements made, and the appUcation of funds so raised ; alao, they may authorize the removal of Officers of Charities, the compromise of claims, the sale or exchange, under special cdrcumstances, of Charity-lauds, and the redemption of rent-charges. The Commiasioners are required to make annual reports of their proceedings, to be laid before ParUament. THE COURT OF BANKRUPTCY. Basinghall Street. The Bankrupt Laws are of ancient origin, dating with the commencement of trade. The first statute relating to them is the 34 and 35 Hen. VIII. c. 4, which was followed by the 13 EUz. c. 7, and two statutes of James I. These laws, framed for the SECT. V. COURT OF BANKRUPTCY. 91 benefit of the creditor, were harsh in their operation, and treated bankruptcy as a criminal act, and it was not tUl the 4 Anne c. 17, that the principle was recognised of discharging the bankrupt from his liabilities on the surrender of his effects. Prom this period the principles of the present law have pre vailed, involving a summary and immediate seizure of all the debtor's property, its distribution among his creditors in general, and his release from future liability. But this peculiar system of law is confined to those who are bona fide traders. By the 6 Geo. IV. c. 16, the Bankrupt Laws were consolidated and considerable alterations made. These changes were followed by a material innovation in the mode of their administration. By the 1 and 2 Will. IV. c. 56, the several Commissioners of Bankruptcy, by whom the Bankrupt Laws had up to that time been administered, were abolished and a new Court was created. The authority of the Lord Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor in matters of bankruptcy was in effect superseded and vested in a new Court, styled " The Court of Bankruptcy," composed of one Chief Judge and three puisne .Judges, having precedence next after the Judges of the superior courts at Westminster. The Judges formed a Court of Beview, and had superintendence and control in all matters of bankruptcy, and jurisdiction to hear and determine all such matters as had been usually brought hefore the Lord Chancellor. They were also authorized to make rules for the regulation of the practice in their Court. At the same time the duties and functions of the superseded commissioners were transferred to six new officers appointed commissioners of the Court of Bankruptcy ; and 30 persons, being merchants, bro kers, or accountants, were chosen by the Chancellor to act as official assignees in all bankruptcies prosecuted in the Court, one of which assignees was appointed assignee to each bankrupt estate, to act with the assignee appointed by the creditors. A right of appeal was given from the Commissioners to the Court of Review, and from that court to the Court of Chancery. The provisions and regulations of the above Act were ex tended by and Act of the 5 and 6 Vict. c. 122, which made better provision for the prosecution of fiats not directed to the Court in London : for the prosecution of such fiats in the District Courts, the appointment of 12 additional commissioners and 30 additional official assignees was sanctioned, and provision was made for the reduction of the number of Judges by an enactment. 92 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. V. to which effect was afterwards given, that the Court of Review might be formed of one Judge only. In 1847, by stat. 10 and 11 Vict. c. 102, the Court of Review, the office of Chief Judge and the other Judges, were abolished, and all the jurisdiction and powers of the Court were transferred back to one of the Vice-Chancellors to be appointed from time to time by the Lord Chancellor. In 1849 a consolidation and amendment of the laws again took place under the stat. 12 andT3 Vict. u. 106 : the authority of the Vice-Chancellor was continued, as was also the constitution of the Court of Bankruptcy, "with the important enactment that the Court should have a primary jurisdiction, the formality of obtaining the Chancellor's fiat being abolished. This statute also provides for prospective reduction of the London Commissioners from six to four, and the Registrars to the same number, and for annual returns to be laid before Par Uament, showing the operation of the Bankrupt Laws, and for the regulation of the duties of the different officers of the Court. The commissioners, registrars, and provisional assignees, are appointed by the Lord Chancellor. Under the Act of the 5 and 6 Vict., Dis trict Courts are held at Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne ; a power being subsequently taken, by 17 and 18 Vict., c. 119, to reduce the number of Commissioners and the Registrars attached to these Courts. In 1851 the jurisdiction of the Vice-Chancellors in Bank ruptcy was superseded and transferred, by stat. 14 and 15 Vict. e. 83, to the Court of Appeal in Chancery created bjr that Act. The salaries of the Commissioners in London are 2000/. each ; of the country Commissioners 1800/. each. The Chief Begis- trar receives 1200/. a year ; the Senior Registrar and the other Registrars in London 1000/. a year each ; the Registrars in the country 800/. each ; the Accountant in Bankruptcy 1200/. a year. THE COURT FOR THE RELIEF OF INSOLVENT DEBTORS. Portugal Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields. The laws for the relief of insolvent debtors are of modem intro duction, and owe their origin to the changed opinions of the pre sent century. The first Act for the BeUef of Insolvent Debtors, which laid the foundation of the present system, was the 38 Geo. II. c. 28, commonly called the Lords' Act, passed m 1758. SECT. V. INSOLVENT DEBTORS' COURT. 93 The principle then introduced has been confirmed, enlarged, and continued by various statutes, the provisions df which were con solidated and amendedby the53 Geo. III. c. 102, and afterwards by the 7 Geo. IV. c. 57, continued by two subsequent Acts, and their operation further extended by the 1 and 2 Viot. c. 110, and 5 and 6 Vict. c. 116. By these laws relief is afforded to debtors of all classes not being traders, and to a trader whose debts do not exceed 300/. ; the creditor is deprived of the power of continuing his debtor in prison, the debtor being enabled immediately upon his imprison ment to petition for his discharge on the transfer of his estate for the benefit of his creditors, and to obtain such discharge, un less fraud or misconduct is proved, so soon as the necessary forms can be gone through ; or in any case at the end of three years. This proceeding does not, however, release the insolvent absolutely from his debts ; the law providing effectual security to enforce payment should he ever afterwards possess the means. To carry these laws into effect the Court for the Belief of In solvent Debtors was established. The court is a Court of Re cord, and consequently invested with the power of inflicting fine or imprisonment. It is composed of four Commissioners or Judges, who must be quaUfied by a standing of 10 years at the bar. The principal officers of the court are the chief clerk and the provisional assignee. ' The jurisdiction of the court is limited by the, 10 and 11 Vict. c. 102, to cases in which the insolvent resides in any parish -within 20 miles of the General Post-office ; and all other cases are by the same statute transferred to the County Courts. The same statute provided that the next vacancy for a Commissioner (which arose in 1851) should not be filled up until after the termination of the Session of Parliament following such vacancy. The Commissioners are appointed by the Crown, on the nomination of the Home Secretary, under the Act of the 1 and 2 Vict. c. 110, and they have the power of appointing their subordinate officers. The salary of the Chief Commissioner is 2000/. per annum, of the other three Commissioners 1500/. each. THE LAW OFFICERS OF THE CROWN. The Queen's Advocate, the Attorney-General, and the SoU citor-General, are the advisers of the Crown upon aU cases of legal difficulty in which the Government is interested, particularly 94 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. V. those arising in the Privy Coimcil Office, and in the depart ments of the Foreign and Colonial Secretary, where the questions are of a mixed nature, involving points of civil and interna tional law, as in maritime or ecclesiastical matters. They also approve of proclamations whether for observance at home or in the Colonies, and of orders in council for carrying out the laws regulating ecclesiastical affairs, such as the building of churches and chapels in connexion vsdth the Established Church, the for mation of districts in populous parishes, and the creation and mode of appointing to colonial bishoprics ; the Queen's Advocate advising more especially in such matters as are governed by the civil and international law, and the Attorney and Solicitor General in matters of common and municipal law. The Queen's Advocate prosecutes or defends on the part of the Crown in all cases tried in the High Court of Admiralty. The Attorney and Solicitor General (sometimes in conjunction with other barristers) advise the heads of the other departments of the state, and prosecute or defend in all cases where proceedings are instituted or defended by any of the departments or officers of the Crovpn. They also jointly approve of all charters granted by the Crown to municipal or other bodies. They exercise a sepa rate discretion in advising the Cro-wn upon all applications for the grant of letters patent for inventions. The Crown is intrusted by the Constitution to prosecute all offences which disturb the peace or affect the welfare of the community, and it is the duty of the Attorney-General to prose cute in all such cases in the Queen's name, and to file all ex-officio informations. He hears all appUcations upon petitions referred to him by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, from persons claiming dignities or peerages, and reports thereon to Her Majesty ; and upon " petitions in right " on a similar reference. He also advises the Treasury upon all matters of escheat, and the Admiralty, the Mint, and the Revenue Departments, upon all prosecutions to be instituted by them ; files all informations in the Exchequer to obtain satisfaction for any personal wrong committed on the possessions of the Cro-wn ; and conducts suits for the protection of charitable endowments in whicii the Queen is entitled to interfere. He stands, in fact, in the personal relation of attorney to his Sovereign, and appears in her behalf in all courts where the interests of the Crown are in question. The Solicitor-General, in the absence of the Attorney-General, or during a vacancy of his office, may do every act and execute SECT. V. THE LAW OFFICERS. 95 every authority of the Attorney-General — his powers being co ordinate. The law officers are paid by fees. They receive an uniform fee — three guineas only — in ordinary cases in which they formally advise the Crown ; but the Attorney-General is consulted in numerous matters for which no fees are paid. He has been considered, by long usage, entitled to succeed to the vacant office of Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench, or of the Common Pleas ; but his claim is less conclusive -with respect to the Exchequer. When Sir William Garrow was Attomey-General, he claimed the office on the death of Chief Baron Thompson ; but Lord Eldon, then Chancellor, asserted his right to the patronage, and showed that no Attorney-General has been made Chief Baron for several centuries. It cannot, however, be said that any right exists ; and the claim would of course extend generaUy to the judicial patronage of the Government. Sir Vicary Gibbs is said to have been the first Attorney-General who accepted a puisne Judgeship. The law officers are appointed by letters patent. The Attorney and Solicitor General are political adherents of the Government. They have seats in Parliament, and their tenure of office depends upon that of the administration of whioh they are members. Geo. III. laid down a rule that, if not honourable by birth, they should be knighted. The office of Chief Justice of Chester was not deemed incom patible with that of Attorney-General, and the two were held together do-wn almost to the time of the abolition of the former. The Queen's Advocate, though holding his office during jjleasure, is not a poUtical officer, and has not of late years been changed -with the Govemment. The Patent Office is subordinate to the Attorney and Solicitor General, who are, ex-officio, two of the Commissioners of Patents ; and the appointments in that office are made by the Attorney- General. He also nominates the counsel to be retained in all criminal cases which he is instructed by the Government to prosecute on the part of the Crown. PATENT OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY AND SOLICITOR GENERAL. 13, Searle Street, Lincoln's Inn. On the approval of a petition for a patent (except patents of in vention), the Queen's warrant to prepare a bill to be signed by Her 96 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. V. Majesty, in order to its passing the Great Seal, is drawn up in thia office. It recitea precisely the patent to be passed under the Great Seal, and is signed by the Attorney-General. THE INNS OF COURT. The Inns of Court, comprising the Inner Temple and Middle Temple, Lincoln's Inn and Gray's Inn, have the ancient and exclusive privilege of conferring the rank or degree of Barrister at Law, which con stitutes an indispensable qualification for practising as an advocate in the Superior Courts. The Inns are not incorporated, and have no charter from the Crown ; they are voluntary associations governed by ancient custom. The origin of their power of admitting to the bar ia involved in much obscurity, but it is assumed to be the exercise of an authority originally delegated by the Judges, to whose control as visitors the Inns are subject. The only modem instances, however, in which the Judges have interfered have been on appeals to them from acta of the governing body. The Inna are governed by the Benchers, who are elected amongst themselvea. The only quaUfication for a call to the Bar ia to have kept a certain period of commona. The Benchers exercise the power of admitting or excluding members either as students or barristers. In some instances appeals have been made to the visitors on the exercise of the latter power. THE PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE., Head OflBce^ RoUs House, Chancery Lane. The ancient Records of the kingdom consist chiefly of authentic documents connected with the proceedings of the legislature, and the decisions of the law courts in the administration of justice. A series of these records is extant from the beginning of the reign of Richard I. But in later times the records in clude all the public acts of the Sovereign, and the correspon dence of the Secretaries of State and other high officers, which has properly formed part of the public records and muniments. The nature of a record has been a question of much discussion. In 1837 the Record Commissioners described the public records as comprised under these four classes : — 1. Independent Records, relating to many subjects, persons, and places, but altogether comprising only one whole, as the Domesday Book, the Taxation of Pope Nicholas, and the Valor Ecclesiasticus of Henry VIIL 2. Series of Enrolments — comprising upon one Boll great varieties of separate and distinct entries, classed together either according to their formal character, as the Close, the Patent,, SECT. V. PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE. 97 or the Charter Rolls, or according to their subject matter, as the Liberate, the Oblata, the Norman, or the Gascon Rolls. 3. Records containing entries of Judicial proceedings, in which each subject matter has a distinct Roll, and the several Rolls of a particular term or other period, are all bound together at the top, the ends hanging loose. 4. Separate documents, such as Letters, Inquisitions, Commissions, Privy Seals, and all other various descriptions of formal instruments. But the question as to what may legally be deemed a record was set at rest by the Becords Act (1 and 2 Vict. c. 94), which provided " that the word records shall be taken to mean all roUs, records, -writs, books, proceedings, decrees, bills, warrants, accounts, papers, and documents whatsoever belonging to Her Majesty, or then deposited, or which ought to be deposited in any of the following offices or places of custody (i. e.) — The Tower of London, Chapter House of ^yestminster, Rolls Chapel, Petty Bag Office, Offices in the Custody of the Queen's Remem brancer of the Exchequer, or of any other Officer of the Ex chequer ; Augmentation Office, First Fruits and Tenths Office, and the Office of the Land Revenue and Enrolments, or of the late Auditor of the Land Revenues of England and Wales, and the Records lately deposited in the Office of the Pells of the Exchequer, and now in the custody of Her Majesty's Comp troller of the Exchequer, and the Records belonging to the Court of Chancery, Exchequer, aaid Admiralty, Queen's Bench, Com mon Pleas, and Marshalsea, in whatsoever place they may be deposited at the time of passing the above Act, and also all the Records of the lately-abolished Courts of the Principality of Wales, and the Palatinates of Chester and Durham, and of the Isle of Ely." In the earliest times the King's Palace was the receptacle for the records of his Courts ; and as these followed the person of the Sovereign from place to place, important records became scattered in castles and palaces which formed his occasional residences. When the superior Courts were permanently held at Westminster, places of custody for the records of the different Courts were appointed there — and these records were eventually collected in the Chapter House at Poets' Corner : other records accumulated in the Temple, the Tower of London, and the Rolls' Chapel, others again in the private dwellings of officers with whose duties they were connected. H 98 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. V. From the reign of Edward I., to whom is attributed the, estabUshment of a record depository, the safe custody and arrangement of the records has been an object of solicitude. In that and the three following reigns there are warrants relating to their coUection and preservation, and in the subsequent reigns there are numerous orders which show the value in which they were held. In 1703 a Committee of the House of Lords was appointed to consider the best mode of deposit and arrange ment of the records, and a Report was made in 1719. From the commencement of the present century the question of the better custody and preservation of the records of the realm has been a constant subject of discussion in ParUament. Ex tensive inquiries and reports have heen made both by com mittees of the House of Commons and commissions issued by the Crown, upon which latter about 400,000/. have been ex pended. In 1837, by stat. 1 and 2 Vict. c. 94, provision was made for the establishment of an office for the safe keeping of the public records, and their charge and superintendence was vested in the Master of the Bolls, to whose custody the accumu lating records above 20 years old are from time to time to be delivered. He is empowered to make orders for the preservation and general arrangement of all the records under his superin tendence, and for the preparation of calendars, catalogues, and indexes. The Master of the Rolls appoints the Deputy Keeper of the Records, and the Treasury appoint the Assistant Keepers and the other officers. The Master of the Rolls makes rules for the management of the office, for the regulation of persons admitted to use the records, and he fixes the amount of the fees to be demanded. He allows copies to be made at the cost of persons requiring them, which, when certified by the Deputy and Assistant Keepers and stamped with the seal of the office, become valid evidence before all legal tribunals. The Home Secretary directs from time to time such of the catalogues, calendars, and indexes, and such of the records as he thinks fit, to be printed, and, when printed they are published and sold at such reasonable prices as are fixed by him. One great object of the stat. 1 and 2 Vict. c. 94, the consoli dation of all the records in one depository, is about to he at tained by the erection of a building which is now in progress on the Rolls Estate in Chancery Lane, and until this is effected SECT. V. PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE. 99 these important documents remain scattered in unsuitable and insecure places. The Chapter House, Westminster, the Tower of London, and Carlton Ride, contain some of the most inter esting and ancient materials, and are the depositories of the most important records. The early records of the Court of Chancery are deposited in the Tower — the later in the Rolls Chapel. The Queen's Bench Records, the Common Pleas Records, and the Exchequer Records, and others which have been conso lidated -with them, are kept in Carlton Ride. By an order in Council of March 1852, all records belonging to Her Majesty, deposited in any other custody than that named in the above stat. of 1 and 2 Vict., are to be under the charge and super intendence of the Master of the Rolls, and subject to the pro visions of that statute. As in fact all the records are now under the charge of the Master of the Rolls, information should be sought at his office. The Records contain the evidence of numerous different private rights, and have at all times been open to search. So early as the 46 Ed. IIL they are declared by statute to be the perpetual evidences of the people, and to be accessible to all the King's subjects. By the present regulations, searches may on application be made at any of the departments of the Eecord Office. A fee of Is. entitles to a search of the indexes, or ' calendars, from Monday to Saturday inclusive, and an additional fee of Is. is payable for each record examined, or of 5s. for a general examination. Extracts may be made in pencil, or a certified copy maybe obtained at a charge of Is. 3d. per folio, an uncertified at 6c/. per folio. By a recent regulation of the Master of the Bolls the Deputy Keeper is authorized to grant to any literary inquirer permission to search for, examine, and inspect, and to make notes, extracts, or copies in pencil, -without payment of fees, of all such calendars or indexes of records, and of aU recent papers or documents or classes thereof, as in his judgment may be properly opened gratis to the literary inquirer, on his (the inquirer) explaining to tho satisfaction of the Deputy Keeper that his appUcation is for a bona fide Uterary purpose. Upon the appUoant doing this an explanation will be given to him of the extent and nature of the assistance which the officers- of the establishment can render, •and the Deputy Keeper will give the necessary direction in the matter to the Assistant Keepers. H 2 100 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. SECTION VL THE EXECUTIVE (GOVERNMENT: COMPRIS- ISQ ALL THE CIVIL DEPARTMENTS AND HEADS OF OFFICES. THE CABINET COUNCIL. The manner in which a small knot of Privy Councillors became originally established as the head of the Executive Govemment, under the denomination of the Cabinet, or Committee of Privy Council constituting the Cabinet, -will be found under the suc ceeding head. The Privy Council, consisting of the great officers of state and such other persons as Her Majesty may summon as her advisers, is the recognised Executive Council of the Crown : the actual plans and business of the Govemment are however exclusively discussed and determined by the Cabinet -Council, which, though formed of part of that larger body, is said to he unknown to the law in its separate and special cha» racter, a position which is disputed by Lord Chief Justice Campbell, who says that " by our constitution it is in practice a defined and acknowledged body for carrying on the executi-ve government of the country." (' Lives of Chancellors.') All im portant measures and questions which occupy from time to time the attention of the Government, whether domestic, foreign, or colonial, and all plans of action, whether to be carried out in Parliament or purely administrative, are first proposed, consi dered and adopted by the Cabinet, which, though the origin of all government action, is nevertheless a deliberative body only, and, whatever powers may belong to its members indi vidually, has no authority collectively to issue proclamations or warrants, or to do any of those acts binding the subject which belong to the Privy Council. The Cabinet Council is formed, with the concurrence of the loading members of his party, by the statesman to whom, on a change of Government, the Sovereign intrusts the formation of the new ministry. He usually places himself at the head of the Government as the First Lord of the Treasury, and is popularly styled the Prime Minister or Premier, and has sometimes, when a SECT. VI. CABINET COUNCIL. 101 commoner, joined with that office the Chancellorship of the Ex chequer ; but though the formation of a Gu'vemment is left almost exclusively with the Prime Minister,, it is sometimes rather the result of a combination of parties than his own individual act, and in all cases he must be greatly infiuenced by those whom he ¦wishes to fill the chief offices in his government ; his power in the selection of his -coUeagues, both in the Cabinet and in the other higher offices, depending in a great measure upon his per sonal character and influence. The resignation of the Premier involves that of his colleagues, and the dissolution of the Cabinet. The formal act of dissolution consists in the retum of the seals of office into the hands of the Sovereign. This takes place in ^Council, and the Ministers forming the new Cabinet, being then introduced, receive the seals from the Sovereign in Council, having first taken the oaths of Privy Councillors if they were not before members of that body. The First Lord of the Treasury, the Lord Chancellor, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the President of the Council, and the Secretaries of State, now four in number, have always seats in the Cabinet, and -with them are usually associated about an equal number of their colleagues in the Ministry, presiding over other important departments of the Govemment, whose talents and poUtical influence fully represent the party having a majority in the House of Commons, and render them most fit auxiliaries for carrying on the govemment of the country and sharing in its responsibilities. Sometimes a seat is held in the Cabinet by a Privy Councillor of great political weight -without any other office. The meetings of the Cabinet are held on the summons of any one of its members, usually at the Foreign OfBoe ; its business and deliberations are of course confidential and subjects of secrecy ; it is unattended by any secretary or other officer ; its resolves, of which no formal record is kept, are carried into effect by those of its members to whose departments they ap pertain. Change of Ministry. A Government exists only so long as it can command the con fidence of Parliament, particularly the House of Commons ; and as its acts are liable to be questioned in Parliament and to require prompt explanation, it is essential that the heads of the chief departments of the State should have seats in either the upper or the lower House, where they become identified with the general policy and acts of the Government. Hence the 102 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. resignation of a ministry has been held to include all their adherents filling political offices, and also the great officers of the Court, and those officers of the Boyal Household who have seats in either House of Parliament. In some instances officers hold ing lucrative appointments which do not necessitate their resig nation have retired with their political friends as a manifestation of adherence to their party. The following are the names of those adherents of a ministry whose political fortunes are imme diately connected with its existence, and whose offices are placed at the disposal of a statesman intrusted with the formation of a new administration : — The First Lord of the Treasury. The ChanceUor of the Exchequer. The three Junior Lords of the Treasury. The two Secretaries of the Trea^ sury. The Lord President of the Council. The President of the Board of Trade. The Vice-President of the Board of Trade. The four principal Secretaries of State. The three Parliamentary Under- Secretaries of State (Home, Foreign, and Colonial). The Lord Privy Seal. The President of the Board of ControL The Parliamentary Secretary of the Board of Control. The First Coraraissioner of H.M.'s Works and PubUc Buildings. The Postmaster-General. The Secretary at War. The Paymaster-General. The Maater-General of the Ord nance. The Surveyor-General of the Ord nance. The Clerk of the Ordnance. The Storekeeper of the Ordnance. The Secretary to the Master-Gen. of the Ordnance. The Firat Lord of the Admiralty. The five Junior Lords. The First Secretary of the Admi ralty. The Chief Comraiasioner of Green wich Hospital. The Preaident and Parliamentary Secretary of the Poor Law Board. The Preaident of the Board of Health. The Lord ChamberlaitL The Vice-Charaberlain. The Captain of the Gentlemen at Arma. The Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard. The Lords in Waiting. The Mistreas of the Robes. The Lord Steward. The Comptroller of the Household. The Treaaurer of the Household. The Master of the Horse. The Chief Equerry or Clerk Marshal. The Master of the Buckhounds. The Lord Chancellor. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaater. The Attorney-General. The SoUcitor-General. The Judge Advocate General. The Lord Advocate. The SoUcitor-General for Scotland. The Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. The Lord Chancellor for Ireland. The Chief Secretary for Ireland. The Attorney-General for Ireland. The Solicitor-General for Ireland. SECT. VI. CHANGE OF MINISTRY. 103 Some changes are made in the Ambassadors Extraordinary on a change of Government, but no invariable rule prevails with respect to them. The offlce of Private Secretary to a Minister being purely a personal appointment, it necessarily terminates on the Minister quitting office. On the resignation of Viscount Melbourne's administration in May 1839, Sir Robert Peel, who was intrusted by Her Majesty ¦with the formation of a ministry, looking at the poUtical con nections of the ladies filling the chief offices in the Royal House hold, proposed, as a public proof of Her Majesty's entire confi dence, that these ladies should relinquish their appointments. The proposal was not consented to by the Queen ; it was op posed as contrary to established usage, and to the latest prece dents furnished in the reign of Queen Anne. This was the opinion of the members of Lord Melbourne's Govemment, and led to their resuming the offices they were on the point of quit ting. They resolved at a Council held on this occasion : " That for the purpose of gi'ving to the administration that character of efficiency and stability, and those marks of the constitutional support of the Crown, which are required to enable it to act usefully to the public ser-vice, it is reasonable that the great officers of the Court, and situations in the Household held by Members of Parliament should be included in the political arrangements made in a change of the administration. But they are not of opinion that a similar principle should be applied or extended to the offices held by ladies in Her Majesty's House hold." Explanations were given in both Houses of Parliament. See Hansard, vol. 113, 1839. THE PRIVY COUNCIL. Council Chamber, Downing Street. It would afford little insight into the present functions of the Privy Council to attempt to trace its origin and early history under the designation " The King's Council." It is, indeed, in volved in much perplexity, and is shown to have been at one time intended as a restraint upon the Royal authority. It first assumed a constitutional character when the Sovereign swore to govem according to law, advising him, in the exercise of his sovereignty, upon the laws and customs of England. It was then called " the Ordinary Council," or " the Legal Council," and was composed of the Chancellor, the Treasurer, the Justices 104 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. of either Bench, the Escheators, the Serjeants, some of the princi pal clerks of the Chancery and such others — usually, but not exclusively, bishops, earls, and barons — as the King thought fit to name. It exercised a remedial authority in various wrongs, upon petitions relative to the payment of the King's debts, in cases of oppression and where rights were -Withheld by servants of the Crown, on trespasses, grievances, nuisances, and other matters of which cognizance is now taken by the ordinary tribunals. Peti tions for reward of services performed, for grace and favour, were also presented to the Council. The Privy Council, as now constituted, is an assembly of state advisers, imlimited in number, appointed by the -wiU of the Sovereign, on whose nomination alone, after taking the prescribed oath, the appointment is completed. The sole quaUfication re quired is, that the party to be appointed should be a natural- bom subject of Great Britain. The dissolution of the Privy Council, or the dismissal of any individual member of it, depends upon the Queen's pleasure. The erasure of the name of a Privy Councillor from the Council Book by the Sovereign's o-wn hand is one of the strongest instances of the Royal displeasure. George IIL, offended at the Duke of Devonshire's resignation of the office of Chamberlain, strack his name ont of the list of Privy Councillors, 4 Nov. 1762. In the preceding reign there were two precedents for this course, that of Lord Bath for open and virulent opposition to the Court, and that of Lord George Sackville, for his conduct at the battle of Minden. The last instance was in 1805. The duration of the Council is for the life of the Sovereign, and it is now continued for six months further, by stat. 6 Anne, c. 7, unless dissolved by the suc cessor ; but the present usage is for every Privy Councillor in one reign to be resworn at the commencement of the next. This Council originally consisted of about 12 members, and for two or three centuries deliberated on the most delicate state affairs ; it was afterward inconveniently increased, its character by degrees became changed, it was found too large for despatch or secrecy, and the Sovereign sought the advice of a small number of its most influential members. In the reign of Charles II. an attempt was made to restore to the Council its original functions. It was limited to 30 members, 15 of whom comprised the chief officers of state and the ex-officio members, and the remaining 15 were composed of 10 peers and five commoners, chosen by the SECT. VI. PRIVY COUNCIL. 105 King ; and it was intended that this Umited Council should, superseding any interior league or cabinet, have the control of every part of the executive administration. But this body was found too divided and too extensive for an effective State Coun cil, and was soon abandoned. The servants of the Crown, having frequent access to the Royal closet, became the responsible ad visers, and the exclusion of the Privy Council from the delibera tions on the general affairs of government and state policy has been long established. The list of the Privy Council now usually includes the members of the Royal Family, the Arch bishop of Canterbury (whose predecessors claimed a seat in the Council as a matter of right hefore the time of Henry VL), the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of London, the great Officers of State, the Lord Chancellor and the Judges of the Courts of Equity, the Chief Justices of the Courts of Common Law, the Ecclesiastical and Admiralty Judges, and the Judge Advocate ; aud, since 1843, some of the puisne Judges to assist in the business of the Judicial Committee ; also, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Ambassadors, with many of the Ministers Plenipotentiary and some of the Go vernors of the principal Colonies, the Commander-in-Chief, the Master-General of the Ordnance, the First Lord, with usually a Junior Lord, of the Admiralty, and of course the members of the Cabinet. There are likewise several offices with which a seat in the Pri-vy Council is conferred — as the Vice-Pre sident of the Board of Trade, the Paymaster of the Forces, and the newly-created offices of President of the Poor Law Board and President of the Board of Health. The office is sometimes con ferred as an honorary distinction on persons retiring from office, who have filled responsible offices under the Crown. There is in no case either salary or emolument attached to the office. The duty of a Brivy Councillor, as defined by the oath he is called upon to take, is, to advise according to his best discretion for the Queen's honour and the public good ; to keep the Queen's counsel secret ; to avoid corruption ; to help and strengthen that which shall be resolved ; to -withstand attempts to the contrary ; and to do all that a true counsellor should for his Sovereign. Members of the royal family are not sworn, they are simply introduced. But this usage has in recent practice been confined to the sons, and not extended to the brothers of the Sovereign. The Prince Consort is exempted also from taking the oath, this 106 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. exemption having also been extended, in the case of Prince Leopold, to the husband of the heiress presumptive. Under various Acts of Parliament the Queen in Council, or sometimes a Committee of the Lords of the Council, are em powered to make orders and regulations which have the force of laws ; Parliament in fact delegating to the Queen in Council authority to regulate such matters as may be more conveniently, or are to be prospectively, done hy order in Council. In some rare cases of public emergency, when Parliament has not been sitting, orders in Council in contravention of existing laws have issued, and the Governments by which they were advised have afterwards sought the indemnification of ParUament for such acts. This was done in 1766, when an embargo was laid on the exportation of corn, and again in 1827 ; and many precedents justify the act as a constitutional proceeding. With the advice of the Privy Council the Queen is empowered to issue pro clamations binding on the subject, but they must be consonant to and in enforcement of the laws of the realm. The Queen in Council appoints Sheriffs for England and Wales, issues orders for laying and removing quarantine, for granting reprisals, and for embargoes, &c. In colonial matters the authority of the Queen in Council is more extensive, and in the Channel Islands it is absolute. Under it laws and ordinances are made and enforced in colonies and settlements not possessing representative assemblies, and legislative acts of all the other dependencies of the Crown are approved or disallowed. These are the ordinary functions of the Privy Council, but nearly every important act done hy the Sovereign in person, from the first assumption of the regal dignity, is performed in Council — as, for instance, all declarations of, or puhlic engagements by, the Sovereign, or consents to marriages by the members of the royal family. On the demise of the Crown the Privy Council immediately assembles and issues a proclamation, signed by all the peers, gentlemen, and others present, to which they order the Lord Chancellor to affix the Great Seal, proclaiming, the successor to the throne, and upon the members of the Privy Council being resworn as his Council, they then, with the peers and others assembled, take the oath of allegiance, after which a Privy Council is held, and the Sovereign makes a gracious declaration of his designs for the good govemment of the coun try, which is published, and then subscribes the oaths required. SECT. VI. PRIVY COUNCIL. 107 A considerable proportion of the ordinary business of the Privy Council is transacted by Committees of Council, to which petitions and other matters are referred by the Queen in Council. A Committee, or Board of Quarantine, is always sitting, which acts as a general Board of Health. A Committee of Council sits as a Court of Claims previous to a Coronation, to receive and determine all privileges claimed in connection with the ceremonies. A permanent Committee of the Council is consti tuted the Board of Trade ; but as this branch is presided over by a Minister, and is in its functions, though not in its con stitution, actually severed from the Privy Council, it -will be treated as a separate department. The more recent establish ments of the Judicial Committee of Council, and of the Committee of Council on Education, retain their connection with the Privy Council, and are classed therefore with it as integral parts of the department. The acts of these Committees are described as those of the Lords of the Council, as distinguished from orders in Council, which are made by the Sovereign (who is present at the Council) by and with the advice of Her Privy Council. It is competent to the Cro-wn to refer to a Committee of the Council, constituted as the Sovereign may think fit, any petition or claim of right, or any grievance for which the ordinary tribunals or departments of the administration afford no specific mode of investigation and remedy. The Pri-vy Council, or the Lords of Council, sitting without the presence of the Sovereign, also constitute a High Court of Record for the investigation of all offences against the Govemment, and of such matters, chiefly of an extraordinary nature, as may be brought before it. They have the power to administer oaths, and to commit to any of the Queen's prisons, on their ovsm warrant, for trial before the ordinary tribunals — their power of inquiry in treasonable cases being the only secret criminal procedure now known in England. Of investigations by the Council, not criminal, may be instanced the inquiry respecting the birth of the male heir of James II. , into the insanity of George IIL, into the claim of Queen Caroline to be crowned as Queen Consort of George IV., and in several instances into alleged clandestine or illegal Royal marriages. Meetings of the Council are periodically held at intervals of three or four weeks at the residence of the Queen, when Her 108 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. Majesty is attended by her Ministers and the Officers of State. At these " CouncUs," as they are termed, the whole of the business transacted by Committees of the Privy Council, or by other departments of the Government, which requires the sanction of the Queen in Council, is submitted to the Queen ; orders in Council are made thereon, and are issued to the different branches of the Govemment at home or in the colonies to be carried into execution. The attendance of six Privy Councillors at the least, -with one of the Clerks of the Council, by whose agnature alone its acts are attested, is by custom necessary to constitute a Council. No Privy Councillor attends unless sum moned in Her Majesty's name by the Lord President, the Ministers determining in extraordinary cases to whom the summons shall he addressed. On ordinary occasions summonses are only sent to the Ministers, the great Officers of the House hold, and the Archbishop of Canterbury. The whole Council is rarely summoned ; the last occasion on which it was called together was to receive Her Majesty's communication of her intended marriage. The Council coUectively is styled " Her Majesty's most Honourable Pri-vy Council," and the members indi^vidually are entitled to the prefix of " Right Honourable." They rank next after the Knights of the Garter, and above the Judges and Baronets. On taking out his dedimus a Privy Councillor has the right of acting as a magistrate of any county. PRIVY COUNCTL OFFICE. Downing Street. The Records of the Pri^vy Council commenced in the year 1540 when it was ordered that a Register, which is an authentic record of all the acts of the Sovereign in Council and of the Lords in Council, should be kept, for which two clerks were appointed. Before that time, though all the affairs of the realm •were debated and resolved in the Privy Council, no ¦written Eecord had been preserved. But the Becords are imperfect, as several of the Council Registers and all the " bundled papers " were destroyed by fire in 1619. Except the Council Registers, no papers now remain in the office dating prior to the reign of Queen Anne. The Lord President is at the head of the office, and has the SECT. VI. THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE. 109 appointment of the officers and of the estabUshment connected with the Education Committee. He attends the Queen at the Council-table to propose the business to be transacted, and reports the transactions to Her Majesty. He has the superin tendence aud control of the Education department, entaiUng upon him many questions of responsibiUty, and adding greatly to the labour of his office. His salary is 2000/. per annum. His duration of office is dependent upon that of the Govemment in power. The Clerks of the CouncU are the Secretaries virtute officii, of all Committees of Council, even when the duties are ex clusively performed by Assistant-Secretaries. They are ap pointed under the Great Seal, and hold their offices during pleasure. The general duties of the department are to attend the meetings and committees of the Council, to frame the minutes, orders, and proceedings of the Council, and to conduct the correspondence of the office. The office may be addressed by communications to the Lord President, or through the " Clerk of the Council in Waiting." THE JUDICTAL COMMITTEE OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL. Council Chamber, Whitehall. The Privy Council exercise an ancient appellate jurisdiction in cases of lunacy or idiotcy, in colonial causes which arise out of the jurisdiction of this kingdom, and in prize causes ; the appeal in these matters being by special prerogative to the Queen's Majesty herself in Council ; also an original jurisdiction in questions of right or privilege between any two of the colonies or settlements. By stat. 2 and 3 Will. IV. c. 92, appeals in ecclesiastical or maritime causes were transferred to the Privy Council, and the powers of the High Court of Delegates, before which they were theretofore held, were abolished. In the follow ing year " the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council " was specially estabUshed, to provide for the more effectual hearing of appeals to the Privy Council, by the statute of 3 and 4 Will. IV. c. 41 ; and the Lord President of the Council, the Lord Chancellor, and such members of the Privy Council as shall from time to time hold any of the following offices, were consti tuted the Judicial Committee, viz.. Lord Keeper or First Lord 110 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. Commissioner of the Great Seal, Lord Chief Justice or Judge of the Queen's Bench, Master of the RoUs, Vice-ChanceUor of Eng land, Lord Chief Justice or Judge of the Common Pleas, Lord Chief Baron or Baron of the Exchequer, Judge of the Preroga tive Court, Judge of the Admiralty Court, and Chief Judge of the Bankruptcy Court, with ¦ all members of the Privy Council who have been Presidents or Chancellors, or have held any of the above offices, and any two other persons, being Privy Coun cillors, whom the Queen may think fit to appoint, and two retired East Indian or Colomal Judges, being also members of the Privy Council. By the 16th section of 3 and 4 Vict. c. 83, every archbishop and bishop who is a member of the Privy Council was declared a member of the Judicial Committee, for the purposes of every appeal against any judgment pronounced by a bishop, in the case of a clerk in holy orders, for an offence against the Ecclesiastical laws ; on the appointment of two additional Vice-Chancellors under the Act of 5 Vict. c. 5, they were, by sect. 24, added to the Judicial Committee, with every person who shall have hereafter filled this new office and is a member of the Privy Council ; and by 14 and 15 Vict. 83, the two Judges of the Court of Appeal in Chancery, appointed under that Act, if sworn of the Privy Council, were made members of the Judicial Committee. The powers of the Judicial Committee were, by the creating statute, 3 and 4 Will. IV. c. 41, defined to be — ^to hear and deter mine all appeals or applications in prize suits, and in all other suits or proceedings in the Courts of Admiralty or Vice- Admi ralty, or in any other Court in the plantations in America or other Her Majesty's dominions abroad ; and all appeals, or complaints in the nature of appeals, which may be brought before the Queen in Council against the sentence or order of any Judge or judicial officer ; and all other matters which Her Majesty may refer for their decision. The Committee were at the same time empowered to examine on oath, and to direct issue to be tried by a jury. Three members of the Committee, exclusive of the Lord President of the Council, constitute a Court. The operation of the new Court thus formed has been deemed satisfactory, and its powers and jurisdiction have from time to time been enlarged by the following statutes : viz. by 5 and 6 Will. IV. c. 83, the Committee were empowered to hear appU cations for the confirmation of patents granted to persons proved SECT. VI. THE COMMITTEE FOR EDUCATION. Ill not to be the real inventors, but believed to be so ; by 2 and 3 Vict. c. 67, to hear appUcations for the extension of the term of patents ; by 5 and 6 Vict. c. 45, to license the repubUcation of a book after the death of its author, which the proprietor of the copyright has refused to publish. By 6 and 7 Vict. c. 38, further regulations were made for facilitating the hearing of appeals, for the appointment of Surrogates in ecclesiastical and marine causes, and for making orders and decrees, punishing contempts, and enforcing judgments ; and by 7 and 8 Vict. c. 69, extended provision was made for hearing appeals for the reversal of judgments given in the colonies, and for enlarging the terms of patents. COMMITTEE OF THE PRl^VY COUNCIL FOR EDUCATION. Council Office, Downing Street. This Committee is composed of the Lord President, the Home Secretary of State, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with usually three or four other eminent members of the Government, and now forms an important branch of the establishment of the Council Office. In the year 1834 a sum of 20,000/., was voted by Parliament for the promotion of general education in Great Britain ; this sum, which was the first vote for the purpose, was applied by the Lords of the Treasury chiefly in aid of subscriptions for the erection of schoolhouses by the two great educational Societies. The vote was continued and increased, and in 1839 the Govemment, taking more firm ground on the subject of education, though strongly opposed in Parliament, appointed this Committee, consisting of the Lord President and four other Privy Councillors, to distribute the sums annually voted, and charged the Committee more especially with the form ation and encouragement of Normal Schools. At the same time a Secretary and Inspectors of Schools were appointed, and from that date to the present, struggUng through many difficulties, the importance of the change has been recognised by the in creased sums annually voted, and the extended sphere of the Committee's supervision and duties. The annual vote applied by the Committee reached, in 1853, 260,000/. : of this sum a large proportion is granted in aid of the erection of schoolhouses and teachers' residences, being at the rate of about one-third the sums subscribed locally, and the remainder in grants to training 112 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. schools, pupil-teachers, in augmentation of the salaries of certi ficated schoolmasters and mistresses, and for the purchase of books. To this must be added the charge for the Secretary and the Inspectors. The Committee, through their Secretary, furnish full informa tion, advice, and assistance to appUcants for any portion of the grant ; with forms, on which the appUcations may be made, and plans for the erection of schoolhouses and teachers' residences. The Committee publish annually a full report of their progress and proceedings, and of their officers' inspections. The appointments connected with this branch are made on the nomination of the Lord President. They consist of the Secretary, salary 1200/. per annum, and 35 inspectors at salaries of 450/. each, ¦with travelling expenses. THE BOARD OF TRADE AND PLANTATIONS. ¦WhitehaU. The origin of this department may be dated from 1660, when Charles II. erected two separate Councils — a Council for Trade and a Council for Foreign Plantations. These two Councils were superseded in 1672, and a united Council for Trade and Plantations was then constituted, to take care for the welfare of the colonies and plantations, and of the trade and navigation of the kingdom. This Council consisted of a President, Vice-Pre sident, and nine others, all salaried officers, and not exclusively members of the Privy Council. It was abolished in 1675, and its duties reverted to the Pri^vy Council. In 1695 the Board of Trade and Plantations was again appointed, and, after many changes, was finally abolished in 1782, by stat. 22 Geo. III. c. 82. The duties were transferred to the Secretary of State so far as related to the management of the colonies, and a Committee of the Privy Council was appointed to take charge of the other business of the Board. In 1786 the present department was established by Order in Council, the Board being in fact a per manent Committee of Privy Council constituted for the consi deration of all matters specially relating to trade and the colonies. This Board or Committee consists of a President and Vice-President appointed by the Queen in Council, with other members of the Privy Council filling the chief offices in the SECT.'VL BOARD' OF TRADE. 113 Executive Govemment similarly appointed : on special occasions members of the Privy Council, not members of the Board, have been summoned to assist in deliberations involving questions of law. The President and Vice-President are the Executive of the Government, forming nominally the Board, and transacting, on their own responsibility, all such general duties as relate to the trading and commercial business of the kingdom, with such sta tutory duties as have from time to time been assigned to them by the Legislature. Those larger deliberative functions, which originally appertained to the Board as a council for trade and plantations, had, from the appointment of a Secretary of State for the Colonies, fallen into desuetude. They have, however, been recently revived, and special cases involving constitutional questions of great colonial importance are now again referred for the report of the Board, and are considered by the whole body, not simply the President and the Vice-President — the great officers of the Cro^wn, who are members of the Board, attending speci aUy for the determination of such questions. On some occasions the Secretary of State for the Colonies sits as a member of the Board ¦with the President and Vice-Presideiit only. This course is followed on references made by him for the opinion of the Board in matters affecting the trading interests of the colonies ; and on the other hand, references are made from the Board to the Secretary of State for the Colonies — a course which is usuaUy pursued upon Acts of the Colonial Legisla tures which require the sanction of the Queen in Council. In these cases, the reference being to the Secretary of State as a member of the Board, his decision is deemed the act of the Board. The duties of the Board which are executed by the President and Vice-President, are — to take cognizance of all matters re lating to trade and commerce, involving an extensive correspond ence with the mercantile interests of the country ; to advise other departments upon such subjects — the Foreign Office in commercial matters arising out of treaties or negotiations with foreign states — the Home Office with respect to the grant and pro visions of charters or letters patent by the Cro^wn — and the Trea sury in matters connected with the Customs aud Excise Laws ; also to superintend the conduct of all Bills and questions before 114 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. Parliament which relate to commerce ; and to exercise some con trol over all private Bills so far as the protection of the public interests is concerned. The Railways of the United Kingdom now again constitute a part of the duty of this Board. The great pubUc importance of railways, the monopoly of conveyance which the estabUshment of a line necessarily creates, and the consequent necessity of protecting the public interests, induced ParUament to place the railway companies under the control of the Govemment, and the Act of the 3 and 4 Vict. c. 97 was passed for their better regulation. This Act empowered the Board of Trade to appoint inspectors of railways, to approve or disallow by-laws, to require detailed returns of traffic and of the rates charged, and to decide matters in dispute between connecting lines of railways. By the 5 and 6 Vict. c. 55, further powers were conferred. No railway may be opened for traffic until after due notice to the Board, who may postpone the opening on the report of their inspectors that it is incomplete, or the works dangerous. Notices of accidents are required to be given ; and the Board is empowered to regulate the laying down of branch-lines, the alteration of dangerous levels, and to interfere where compulsory powers may be exer cised to take land. The increasing and urgent nature of these duties led, in 1846, to their transfer to a Board created exclusively for the manage ment of railway business. By stat. 9 and 10 Vict. c. 105, Her Majesty was authorized to appoint not more than five persons to be Commissioners, and a Board was formed, to which all the duties and powers exercised under the preceding statutes, or under Bailway Acts, were transferred. The President of the Board was appointed a member of the Privy Council, and it was in tended that he should have a seat in ParUament, and, as a Minister, be held responsible for all public matters connected ¦vrith railway control and management. It was also proposed, hy a Bill introduced in the following Session, to invest the Com missioners ¦with additional ministerial and judicial duties ; to em power them to inquire into proposed competing Unes of railways ; to give them a veto upon the introduction of bills into ParUa ment for the construction of new lines of railway tmtil their sanction had been obtained, and other important functions. But this measure was rejected, and that circumstance, and the SECT. ¦VI. BOARD OF TRADE. 115 altered prospect at the time of railway enterprise, led to the retirement of the President of the Board, whose office was not filled up. In 1850, by stat. 13 and 14 Vict. c. 83, this Board was em powered to give facilities for the abandonment of railway under takings sanctioned by Parliament, and the dissolution of railway companies. Any company, on taking the sense of its share holders, may apply to the Board, who are authorized to make inquiries by their officers as to the expediency of relieving the company, and, after giving due notice of such application, and considering objections, if any, to the proposed abandonment, the Board, under the hands and seals of any two of its members, may authorize the abandonment of such railway, or part of rail way, and in the latter case may require a proportional reduction to be made in the amount of the authorized capital. The re maining members of the Bailway Board continued to exercise the foregoing duties : they were empowered to compel com panies to keep strictly ¦within the powers given to them ; to see that the carriages, fares, and rate of travelling of the par liamentary trains were in conformity ¦with the law ; to inquire into accidents, and to exercise such control as they were em powered to use by the law, or bythe influence of their autho rity, for the advantage and security of the public. The Board also ad^vised the Govemment upon, railway bills, and upon the construction of colonial railways, and made annually valuable reports of their proceedings, including the statistics connected ¦with railways, which were laid before Parliament. The Presi dent and Vice-President of the Board of Trade were members of this Board, and took charge of its business in ParUament, and it was quite a separate department; but in October 1851, by stat. 14 and 15 Vict. c. 64, the powers of this Commis sion were superseded by the repeal of the 9 and 10 Vict. c. 105, and its duties and authorities ¦were transferred back to the Board of Trade, and now foi-m part of the business of the department. Becent legislation has also added other matters of executive control to the duties of the department. The Board has the charge of Ucensing agents for procuring seamen for merchant- ships under the stat. 8 and 9 Vict. c. 116. It has also the duty of appointing persons to report every six months upon the sufficiency and good condition of steam-vessels, and of their I 2 116 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. machinery, under the 14 and 15 Vict. c. 79 ; and of grant ing to the owners certificates of such registration, ¦without which it is rendered penal to clear out and proceed to sea. Masters of steam-vessels are required by the same statute to report whenever their vessels shall have received any serious accident or damage, and owners to report the apprehended loss of their vessels ; and the Board is empowered to inquire into all cases of accident or damage, or to appoint inspectors to inquire and report. Further, by stat. 13 and 14 Vict. c. 93, amended by 14 and 15 Vict. c. 96, the Board of Trade was required to under take the general superintendence of matters relating to the British mercantile marine ; and that all similar duties might be consolidated under one control, the Act provided for the transfer to this Board of any functions or powers relating to seamen or apprentices not employed in Her Majesty's service which were exercised by the Admiralty, and of the Admiralty powers in relation to the control of the Merchant Seamen's Begister-office, the Board of Trade being empowered to combine the Registrar's duties with any other similar duties, or to abolish his office. For carrying into execution the numerous provisions of this last statute, the Board were empowered to appoint two officers with salaries of 600/. each, with a Secretary and such clerks as are required. In 1854 the two preceding statutes were repealed — the ap pointments remaining in force — and their provisions were re- enacted, enlarged, and extended by 17 and 18 Vict. c. 10, and all matters relating to merchant ships and merchant seamen were subjected to the general superintendence of the Board. This Act regulates the o^wnership, measurement, and registration of ships — the relation between masters and seamen — provides for the safety of vessels and the prevention of accidents — defines the powers of pilotage authorities, the management of Ughthouses, and the maintenance and appUcation of the mercantile marine fund. It also contains regulations with regard to wrecks, casual ties and salvage, and the liabiUties of shipowners. The Act also continued and extended the powers of the repealed statute relating to local Marine Boards. These Boards — formed in the chief ports of the United Kingdom engaged in foreign trade by the appointment of four members by the Board of Trade, and the SECT. VI. BOARD OF TRADE. 117 election of six others by the shipo^wners of the port — are em powered to appoint " Shipping Offices " to afford facilities for the employment of seamen and the entry of apprentices, to examine and certify to the competency of masters and mates, &c. The Board of Trade are charged with a general superintend ence in the chief of the numerous minute provisions of the statute, and are empowered from time to time, when expedient, to appoint inspectors to report whether they have been complied with, and into the causes of accidents to ships and the condition of the hull and machihery of steam ships. In 1853, pursuant to stat. 16 and 17 Vict. c. 131, the Cor poration of the Trinity House was placed under the control of the Board of Trade, and through it made responsible to. Bar- Uament for the revenue which it is empowered by law to levy. The Board is authorized to super'vise the receipt and expenditure of the Corporation — to control the outlay upon works to be un dertaken — and the tolls and dues to be levied. A department for the collection of statistics forms also an im portant part of the office. It was established in 1832, for the collection and publication of detailed tables, containing every authentic information which can be obtained and classified re lating to the revenues, population, commerce, wealth, and moral and economial condition of the United Kingdom and its depen dencies. This department also prepares a selection from the statistics of foreign countries, and compiles and publishes the monthly accounts of trade and navigation. The labours of the department are annually laid before Barliament. The estabUshment consists of the President, salary 2000/. ; the Vice-President, who is now also Paymaster-General — salary for the joint offices 2000/. ; two joint Secretaries, salaries 1500/. each, an Assistant-Secretary for Railway business, and an Assistant-Secretary in the Marine Department, ¦with 24 other officers and clerks. The President has usually a seat in the Cabinet, and, with the Vice-President, is a political officer, changing ¦with the Govemment of the day. The officers of the estabUshment and of the subordinate departments are appointed by the President. The subordinate offices connected with the Board of Trade and immediately subject to its control are — The Comptroller of Com Beturns' office. The Registry of Designs office. 118 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. The Joint-Stock Companies' Begistration office. The Department of Science and Art. The Coalwhippers' office. The General Eegister office for Merchant Seamen. The Corporation of the Trinity-House. COMPTROLLER OF CORN RETURNS' OFFICE. 4, Palace Yard, "Westminster. The Department of the ComptroUer of the Corn Returns was esta blished when it waa enacted that the duties on corn should be levied on a scale varying according to the prices of grain, to procure from the chief market-towns in the United Kingdom the average prices at which Corn is sold, to pubUsh thera weekly in the ' London Gazette,' and to certify the average, by which the amount of duty was regulated^ to the local officers of Customs. Since the abolition of the duty on grain, these averages no longer regulate the corn-trade of the country, but they are maintained as of value for statistical purposes, and are required under the Tithe Commutation Act. OFFICE FOR THE REGISTRY OF DESIGNS. 35, Lincoln's Inn Fields. The growing importance of design in connection with our manufac tures led to the consolidation of the lawa of Copyright for ornamented articles of manufacture, aud the establishment in 1842 of this office to carry into eff'ect the provisions of 5 and 6 Vict. c. 100, which was then paaaed. By this statute the Acts relating to the copyright of designs and ornamental manufactures ¦were consolidated and extended ; the President of the Board of Trade was authorized to appoint a Registrar of such designs, with the necessary assistants and officers ; and the Registrar was required to register original designs, to grant certifi cates of registration, and to permit persons to inspect the registered designs. For these duties small fees, regulated by the Lords of the Treasury, are charged. On registration the copyright of the design was aecured to the inventor for periods of nine months, twelve months, or three years, according to the nature of the raanufacture or fabric to which it is appUed ; but in 1843, by 6 and 7 Vict. c. 65, the provisions of the preceding Act were further extended, and an exclusive right for three years was given to any new or original design having refer ence to some purpose of utility. In 1850 the principle of registration was again extended by stat. 13 and 14 Vict. c. 104; a right of pro visional registration, duly protected, was conferred for one year, with power to exhibit or to sell such registered design ; and the Board of Trade are empowered to extend the period of provisional registration not exceeding the additional term of six months, and of any design registered under the Act of 1842 for an additional term of three yeara. The Board may alao make regulations for the registration of designs. SECT. VI. DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART. 119 JOINT-STOCK COMPANIES REGISTRATION OFFICE. 13, Serjeants' Inn, Fleet Street. This office was created in 1844 to place some check upon the innu merable railway schemes and speculations which then prevaUed. It was esta.bUshed purauant to the Act of 7 and 8 Vict. c. 110, which requires that the promoters of every company conaiating of raore than 25 raerabers shaU make a provisional registration of the objects of the proposed company, with the names of its members and other particulars, before the pubUcation of their scheme ; and, upon the completion of the company, of the full particulars of ita constitu tion and shareholders. The President of the Board of Trade ia autho rized to appoint a Registrar, Asaiatant Registrar, and other officers, whose duty it is to carry into eff'ect the multifarious details of the Act, and to make an annual report to ParUament. Fees are payable to the Registrar on registration, and persons may inspect the Returns, Deeda, Regiatera, and Indexes, and obtain certi fied copies or extracts, on payment of regulated fees. DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART. Marlborough House, Pall Mall. In the year 1837, after a lengthened inquiry by a Comraittee of the House of Coraraons, appointed for this purpose. Government founded in London the first central school for the study of Ornamental Art and Design applied to manufactures. From this school several branch schools emanated, and were established in various localities of Great Britain. These provincial schools received aid from Governraent funds during three years, on condition that each locality subscribed an equal amount towards the expenses, and that the achools were aubject to the control of the Board of Trade. They were carried on with varied succeaa, and their progress waa the subject of two inquiries, one by a Committee of the Board of Trade, the other by the House of Com mons. It appeared first that the management was cumbersome, and obstructed the thorough efficiency of the schools ; and secondly, that as no definite principle for their extension had been laid down, the increased wanta of the country could not be met unleas aome means were devised of making the Government aasistance available for the country generally, rather than allowing it to be confined to a few favoured localities ; vrith this view a department of the Board of Trade was organized in 1852, called the Department of Practical Art, con- sisting of two superintendents, one for general business, the other for determining all matters connected with Art. These officera were, moreover, made directly responsible to the President of the Board of Trade, and were to be assisted by a secretary. The objects propoaed by the new department were— 1st. General Elementary Instruction in Art, aa a branch of National Education 120 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. for all classes of the community, with a view of assisting both the consumer and the producer of manufactures to form a correct judgment. 2nd. Advanced Instruction in Art, with a view to its special cultivation ; and lastly, the application of the principles of Technical Art to the improvement of manufaoturea, together with the establishraent of Museums, by which all classes might be induced to investigate those common principles of taste which raay be traced in the works of excellence of all ages. It was also proposed to raake the new departraent as far as practicable self-supporting in all its branches, and that its ultiraate success as a permanent institution should rest chiefly on the voluntary support which the public might give it. One of the first labours of the new department consisted in the pre paration of suitable examples to initiate general elementary education, and the institution of a class for instructing teachers quaUfied to give such elementary instruction. The Committee of Council for Trade sanctioned a course of proceeding, by which all public and national schools might be provided with samples of these examples at half the prime cost of production ; and agreed, if certain conditions were com plied ¦with by coraraitteea forraed in any locality, to provide a trained master, and to guarantee that a defined portion of the fees arising from instruction in drawing, required to be set apart as the remunera tion of his labours, should not be leas than 70/. for the first year of hia appointment, the Local Comraittee undertaking, with the remaining portion of theae fees, to provide accommodation for the claaa, and to obtain of the Department the requiaite casts and examples for the use of the atudents ; theae raasters are required to give instruction to all the children in at least three public or parochial achools in the town to which they are appointed, and to attend an evening claas, at small fees, for the artisan classes of the comraunity, in the room provided by the Committee ; the higher classes being able to attend classes in the daytime at higher and more remunerating fees. Besides the Normal central school for training such teachers, instruction in the central school is provided in the higher branches of Decorative Art, at feeS much increased in acale to those formerly charged in Schools of Design ; and classes are formed under highly-qualified teachers, who give tech nical instruction in Ornament applied to surface decoration, in plastic, or relief ornament, in porcelain painting, wood-engraving, and chromo- lithography. In respect to the third object of the Department, the establishment of a Museum of Industrial Art, a commencement had already been made by a Government grant of 5000/. for the purchase of objects of choice manufacture and artistic workraanship or excellence from the Great Exhibition of 1851, and this, aided by further grants, has grown into an important and increasing public museum. The Ubrary also, formerly posseaaed aa a reference Ubrary by the old School of Design at Somerset House, haa been extended by new purchases, and now forma a valuable special library, rich In many rare and costly SECT. VI. DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND ART. 121 works on Art and Ornament, open to the public generally, at a low rate of feea for the uae of the works. In the year 1853, the Department of Practical Art, the Govemment School of Mines, and Museum of Practical Geology, were incor porated with the Departraent of Science and Art. These establish ments had arisen out of the Government survey of the kingdom, and were provided to afiford facilities for acquiring mining educar tion, such as is given by the mining schools and colleges esta bUshed in the principal raining districts of the Continent, and instruction was provided in this branch in Cheraistry, applied to the Arts and Agriculture ; Natural History, appUed to Geology and the Arts ; Mechanical Science, with its appUcation to mining ; Metal lurgy, with its special applications ; Geology, and ita practical appU cations ; Mining, and Mineralogy : the education contemplated dif fering essentially from that given in colleges where general education is the primary object ; the chief object of the Institution being to give a practical direction to the course of study, so as to enable the student to enter with advantage upon the actual practice of mining and the arts. This waa the state of the Museum of Practical Geology and the Govemment Schools of Mines and Science applied to the Arts, when by a Treasury Minute of March 1853 it was joined to the Department of Art, as the Department of Science and Art, having the object in view " of extending a system of encouragement to local institutions for Practical Science, similar to that already commenced in the Depart ment of Practical Art," and furnishing, through the instrumentality of one Department in connection with the Executive Government, the means of rautual co-operation and correspondence to every district of the Kingdom where schools of Industrial Science and Art raay be founded by the locality. The principle of making the instruction self-supporting was affirmed, one of the firat objecta being to make the aarae provisions for Science that had already been commenced succes- fuUy for Art, to form a metropolitan estabUahment, where the most perfect models should be acceaaible to students sent up from pro vincial schoola, to pupils reaident in the metropolis and its neighbour hood, to training-masters, and to the public at large ; and to connect with it a school of the highest class in which pupils might obtain the best instruction in completion of their course of training, and in which all the improveraents suggested by experience might be adopted and made known. This now united Department was placed under the charge of two Joint Secretaries, one for Science and one for Art, while questions purely scientific were confided to a Director for Science, and an Art Superintendent waa intrusted with those connected with Art. Under this new Department were included — the Government School of Mines and of Science applied to the Arts and the Mining Records ; the Mu seum of Practical Geology ; the Geological Survey ; the Museum of 122 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VL Irish Industry ; Royal Dublin Society ; the Department of Practical Art, including provincial schools of Design, to which were afterwards added the Registry of Designs, the Meteorological Survey, and the Naval Industrial Schools. Shortly after the reconstruction of the Department, the Comraittee of Privy Council for Education, co-operating with it, made arrange ments for the extension of drawing aa a part of the education of pupil-teachers in schoola under the inapection of the Council, and of maaters in training in the various training-schools under inspection. Encouraging the latter, by an increase of the annual allowance to auch as obtain a, full second year's certificate of drawing; and the former by a gift on each of the required five annual examinations to those whose works are found sufficiently excellent; the works of both classes being forwarded by Her Majesty's Inspectors, through the Comraittee of Council for Education, to the Department of Art for examination and award. In respect of Art Schools, a half-yearly inspection and exhibition of the works of the students takes place in London, when medals are awarded to the moat aucceasful competitors. In the central establishment, classes for schoolmasters and mistresses have been eatabliahed for instruction in practical geometry, Unear perspective, free-hand drawing, and dravring and shading from solid models and objects, with a view to their conducting instruction in these branches in their several schoola. The schoolmastera and schoolraistresaes, as well aa the pupils, male and female, in training for drawing-teachers, will receive from the Departraent certificates of competency to teach, which, in the case of the drawing-teachers, male and female, will carry a specific value in the way of an annual al lowance, according to the grade of certificate granted, of from 10/. to 50/ a year, when they are actually employed in public teaching. It is intended to extend this plan to science also. Meanwhile the exertions of the Department have been directed to the preparation of good and excellent modela, diagraraa, manuals, examples, instruments, and ma terials ; and these, independently of being supplied at half-coat price under certain conditioua, are sold, through trade channels, at a charge very far below what they could have been obtained independent of the exertions of the Department. The appointments connected with the Department are in the patronage of the President of the Board of Trade. COALWHIPPERS' OFFICE. 71, Wapping WaU, A highly aucceasful attempt was made under the provisions of the stat. 6 and 7 Vict. c. 101 (local), to regulate the labour and iraprove the condition of the labourers employed to discharge the cargoea of coal-laden veaaels in the port of London. This Act was continued and amended by 9 and 10 Viot. c. 36, and 14 and 15 Vict. c. 78. Under this latter Act the Board of Trade appoint three Commissioners, and the SECT. VI. THE TRINITY HOUSE. 123 Corporation of London and the Comraittee of the Coal Factors' Society each appoint one Commissioner. The Commisaioners, who each receive one guinea for every attendance, appoint a registrar and officera, make by-lawa subject to the approval of the Board of Trade, and are charged with carrying out the provisions of the Act, which require the registration of aU persons employed in unloading coals in the port of London, the employment only of registered persons under a penalty, the establishment of an office at which authorized arrange ments are made between the coalwhippers and the masters of vessels to discharge the cargoes, the supply to the men of proper tackle the projjerty of the Commissioners, the receipt of the stipulated wages by an officer authorized by the Commissioners, and its payment to the men, subject to a deduction to provide a fund for defraying the expenses of the office and the tackle. THE GENERAL REGISTER OFFICE FOR MERCHANT- SEAMEN. Custom House, London. The Act of 5 and 6 Will. IV. c. 19, for amending and consoU- dating the lawa relating to the Merchant Service of the United Kingdora, contained provisions for instituting and maintaining a register of all the men eraployed in that service. The Lords of the Admiralty were authorized to appoint a registrar, assistant, and clerks, and to regulate and control the duties of the new office ; and the master of every ship belonging to a British subject was required, under a penalty, to transmit to the registrar a list containing the names, ages, place of birth, quality, and other particulars of his crew. In 1844 the Merchant Seamen's laws were again amended and con solidated by the Act of 7 and 8 Vict. c. 112, and the provisions which relate to the registration of seamen were extended. It waa enacted that every seaman should not only be registered, but that he should obtain a certificate of registration, called a " Register Ticket," by personal application at the London office, or at the branch offices at the custom-houses at the several out-porta, and a penalty was in flicted upon any master shipping a seaman without such tikcet ; and masters were also required to produce their apprentices with their indentures, and to register them iu the same manner. The duties of this office have been transferred from the control of the Admiralty to the Board of Trade, purauant to stat. 13 and 14 Vict. t. 93. CORPORATION OF THE TRINITY-HOUSE. Tower Hill, London. The corporation is an ancient guild of seamen, coeval ¦with our earliest naval estabUshments. It was incorporated, and its privileges, confirmed by Henry VIIL in 1515, and the charter was renewed by letters patent of 1 James II. in 1685. 124 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. Prom time to time the superintendence of matters of great national import, which, as branches of our maritime police, would strictly appertain to the naval administration of the country, ' has been delegated to the Trinity House. The corporation have in fact the charge of the poUce of our rivers and coast, the foUo^wing forming their chief functions : — 1. The superintendence of the lighthouses on the British coasts. 2. The charge' of the pilotage and ballastage of all the English harbours and c6asts, except those which, like the Cinque Ports, have local charters. 3. The enforcement of the laws regulating the navigation of British vessels ; and 4. The examination and Ucensing of pilots for the royal navy. The gross revenues of the corporation, arising from lighthouse dues, buoyage, and beaconage, and ballastage, and from the interest of funded and freehold property, amount to about 298,000/. a year, but the net revenue, after defraying the charges of these establishments, is rather less than one-fourth of that sum, and the greater portion of it is expended in the maintenance of poor disabled seamen and their widows and orphans. The corporation is self-elected, and consists of 31 elder brethren, and an unUmited number of younger brethren, who are selected by ballot from the masters of vessels in the British service : of the elder brethren 11 are honorary, and elected from among the most distinguished persons in the state : the remaining 20 are chosen from among the younger brethren, and have virtually the government of the affairs of the corporation. The business is delegated to six committees : one committee has the control of the accounts ; a second has the charge of collecting the dues ; a third has the important duty of examining and admitting pilots and masters in the navy ; a fourth superintends the ballastage of the river Thames, and a fifth all the lighthouses ; while to the sixth committee is intrusted the examination of the claims made to the corporation charities. In 1853 an important change was made in the affairs of the corporation. The compulsory re venues raised by the corporation as tolls and dues for lights, buoys, beacons, and ballastage, were, by stat. 16 and 17 Viot. c, 131, placed under the control of the Board of Trade, and brought vrithin the review of Parliament. All revenues from these and any other sources were required to be paid to " The MercantUe Marine Fund " (an aggregate, including the sunilar receipts of the Northern Lighthouses Commissioners, and the SECT. VI. THE TREASURY. 125 Port of Dublin Commissioners). This fund is suhject to the direct control of the Board of Trade, and all receipts and ex penditure to its supervision — estimates of all works to be under taken, and all expenses incurred, must receive its sanction ; and accounts of all revenue and expenditure must be made to the Board and laid before Parliament, and no dues, tolls, or rates are to be subjected to any charge, or sold or mortgaged, with out the consent of the Board. Her Majesty in Council is empowered to fix the estabUshment to be maintained by the Trinity House, and the rates of toU for new lighthouses, and may reduce any rates or tolls receivable by the corporation. The corporation may be addressed on all matters ¦within their control, through their secretary, and he ¦will, on application, fur nish printed forms which show the restrictions under which the charity is dispensed to seamen and their families, and the mode in which the application should he made. The clerks and officers of the estabUshment are appointed by the Master and the Deputy-Master. THE TREASURY. WhitehaU. The Treasury is the chief and one of the most important de partments of the Executive Government. In it is centred the general control of every branch of the revenue and expenditure of the country. All the revenue departments are immediately subject to the Treasury, and all other departments so far as relates to matters of expense. The Lord High Treasurer was anciently the sole head of the Treasury. On the Union ¦with Scotland in 1707 he became the Lord High Treasurer of Great Britain ; and in 1816, by the stat. 56 Geo. III. c. 98, on the consoUdation of the same offices in England and Ireland, he was constituted the Lord High Treasurer of the United Kingdom. The office was first put in commission in 1612 by James I., and, from the accession of George I. to the present time, has always been executed by Commissioners, who have thus become the permanent representatives of the ancient office of Lord High Treasurer. The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury now form the Board of Treasury, which is composed of the Prime Minister (who is styled the First Lord of the Treasury), the Chancellor 126 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. Yl, of the Exchequer, and three junior Lords. They are appointed during pleasure by letters patent under the Great Seal. The First Lord is usually the head of the Administration. He advises the Queen in the grant of all honorary rewards and distinctions, in the creation of peers and baronets, and in the grant of all extraordinary pensions and pecuniary rewards ; the only exceptions being that in civil knighthood the Home Secre tary usually advises Her Majesty, and for military knighthood and honours the recommendation has heen heretofore made hy the Colonial Secretary as the War Minister, but it is assumed will be henceforth made by the Secretary of State for War. The First Lord exercises the chief patronage of the Govem ment, as the ad^viser of the Cro^wn in the appointment to the most important offices in the Church and the State. On the formation of a Ministry he selects those of his party who are to fill the principal offices which the change of Govemment has placed at his disposal. He nominates the Archbishops and Bishops, and has the presentation to deaneries and Uvrngs which are in the patronage of the Crown ; but he does not, Uke the Chancellor, appoint to Crown Uvings -without taking the Queen's pleasure. He nominates also the Chief Justices of the Queen's Bench and the Common Pleas, the Chief Baron of the Exchequer, and the Masters in Chancery. He exercises a general control over all such appointments, falling within the patronage of the heads of the other departments, as may be supposed to exercise any material influence on the conduct of public affairs. All the appointments in the Treasury and in the subordinate revenue departments are in his gift ; but except in a few of the chief appointments the patronage is exercised by the Treasury Board, through one of the Secretaries, who is especially charged with the distribution of the patronage of the department. It is, however, generally determined by fixed principles of promotion, which leave the selection very much iri the heads of the Revenue Boards. The duties of the First Lord are not limited to the business of the Treasuiy, which is chiefiy conducted by the Board. As the head of the Government, exercising the chief influence in the Cabinet, he must be cognizant of all matters of real importance, and prepared to advise with the heads of the other departments upon despatches from foreign Courts, from India, the colonies, upon finance, the measures of the Irish Government and the Home Goyernment. He conducts the SECT. VI. THE TREASURY. 127 communications of ;the Govemment with his Sovereign, and the correspondence connected with the exercise of the patronage of the Crovm and the chief measm-es of his govemment. A Roman Catholic is disquaUfied for the office of First Lord by stat. 10 Geo. IV. c. 7. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, tlie second member of the Board, is one of the ancient officers of the Crown. Madox supposes the first appointment was made in the 18th Hen. HI. He was formerly one of the Judges of the Court of Exchequer, but he now exercises no judicial functions, and only takes his seat at the Exchequer on the annual nomination of the Sheriffs. His duties are confined to matters relating to the finance of the country, and the receipt and payment of revenue. The Crown- rents, penalties, fines, and escheats, wluch had from time to time been paid in to the Court of Exchequer, are now paid to the Treasury. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is, in point of fact, the effective head of the Treasury, and exercises the chief and most responsible control over the expenditure of the different branches of the public service, the details of which are annu ally submitted for his revision, as well as over all works which reqmre any extraordinary outlay in the naval, miUtary, or civil departments both at home and in the colonies. He prepares the annual statement of the estiaiated expenses of the country, and the ways and means by which they are to he defrayed, including the imposition or remission of taxes, and, unless in special cases, submits this statement, called " the Budget," to the House of Commons. He has the appointments connected ¦with the National Debt Office ; and, as a member of the Treasury Board, has some voice, and necessarily much influence, in the disposal of the patronage. He also appoints to the nominal office of Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, and to other Uke offices, vacating a seat in the House of Commons. Formerly the office was frequently held with that of First Lord of the Treasury. Since the two offices were held jointly by Mr. Perceval from 1809 to 1812, they have only been united on two occasions — by Mr. Canning, from AprU to July 1827, and hy Sir Robert Peel from December 1844, to March 1845. On this last occasion the salary was 7,500/. a-year for the joint office ; but from the increase of ministerial and parliamentary business, it is not pro bable that these offices will often again be held by the same individual. 128 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. The Junior Lords are nominally superior in rank to the Parliamentary Secretaries, hut of inferior importance. They undertake, individually, the super^vision of distinct branches of the multifarious business of the Treasury, as do also the two Secretaries and the Assistant Secretary. But all such duties are in the nature of preUminary investigations, and, ¦with the more important questions specially considered by the First Lord and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, are in every case submitted for the necessary formal sanction of the Board. On the reduction of the number of the Junior Lords to three, instruments signed by two of the Commissioners were made valid by stat. 12 and 13 Vict. c. 89. The Treasury Board may be appealed to on the decisions of its subordinate departments in all cases connected with the receipt of revenue, and for the remission or return of all fines, estreats, and property forfeited to the Cro^wn. The Board sits on Tuesday and Friday, weekly. It is now never attended by the First Lord, and only on very rare occasions by the Chancellor of the Exche quer. The Board is styled " The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury,'' and may be so addressed, or through the Secretaries. The great branches of income flowing into the Treasury are paid in to the puhlic account at the Bank of England, with the authority of the Comptroller-General of the Exchequer, by the departments at which they are collected ; and all payments on the public account are made pursuant to the warrant or order of the Board of Treasury ; those relating to the large items of expenditure specially voted or sanctioned by Parliament by the Comptroller-General ; and all the civil salaries, allowances, and incidental charges, which were formerly paid at the Exchequer, are now paid by the Paymaster-General, upon special authorities from the Treasury, by drafts on the Bank of England. No moneys voted by Parliament can be dra-wn from the Exchequer without the warrant of the Treasury Board, nor can any pay ment be made from the Civil List ¦vidthout the same authority. The abolition and regulation of offices having deprived the Crown of the means of rewarding the services of persons filUng high civil offices, an Act was passed in 1817 (57 Geo. III. c. 65) which empowered the grant of pensions therein defined to the persons filUng the chief civil offices. The principle was extended by stat. 4 and 5 Will. IV. c. 24, and all clerks and civil officers SECT. VI. THE TREASURY. 129 were brought ¦within its provisions. The Lords of the Treasury are intrusted ¦with the grant of all such pensions, compensations, and allowances. The statute defines the maximum amount which may be granted, and the conditions of-the grant, with a proviso that no absolute right shall be conferred. 1st Class. — Pension 2000/. a year; service not less than two years ; not more than four pensions to exist at onetime. This class includes the First Lord of the Treasury, the Secretaries of State, the Chan cellor of the Exchequer, the First Lord of the Admiralty, the President of the Board of Control, the President of the Board of Trade. 2nd Class.— Pension 1400/. a year ; aervice not less than five years ; not more than two pensions to exist at one time. This class includes the Chief Secretary for Ireland and the Secretary at War. Srd Class. — Pension 1200/. a year ; service not less than five years ; not more than four pensions to exist at one time. This Hat includes the Secretaries of the Treasury, the First Secretary of the Admiralty, the Vice-President of the Board of Trade. 4th Class. — Pension 1000/. a year ; service not leas than 10 years ; not more than six pensions to exist at one time. This class includes the Under Secretaries of State, the Clerk of the Ordnance, the Second Secretary of the Admiralty, the Secretaries of the India Board. The foregoing pensions can however only be granted on a de claration from the individual of the inadequacy of his private fortune to maintain his station in Ufe. To officers and clerks who entered the civil service before the Sth August 1829, the Lords of the Treasury may gi-ant allow ances not exceeding the foUo^wing proportions of their salaries and emoluments, viz. — 10 years and under 15 — four-twelfths. 15 years and under 20 — five-twelfths. 20 years and under 25 — six-twelfths. 25 years and under 30 — seven-twelfths. 30 years and under 35 — eight-twelfths. 35 yeara and under 40 — nine-twelfths. 40 years and under 45 — ten-twelfths. 45 years and under 50 — eleven-twelfths. 50 years and upwards — the whole. To those who entered the pubUc service after the Sth August 1829, the follo^wing diminished proportions may be granted, and they are subjected to deductions from their salaries, if not ex- 130 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. ceeding 100/. a year at the rate of 2i per cent., if above that sum at the rate of 5 per cent. 10 years and under 17 — three-twelfths. 17 years and under 24 — four- twelfths. 24 years and nnder 31 — five-twelfths. 31 years and under 38 — six-twelfths. 38 years and under 45 — seven-twelfths. 45 years and upwards — eight-twelfths. But no officer or clerk shaU be granted an aUowance under either of these scales who shall be under 65 years of age, unless upon the certificates of two medical practitioners that he is un able to discharge the duties of his situation, nor unless he has discharged his duties with diligence and fideUty. The Commissariat and the Solicitor's Offices are parts of the Treasury EstabUshment : the offices deemed to he more or less immediately subordinate to the Treasury are — The Paymaster-General's Office, The Exchequer, The National Debt Office, The Public Works and Loan Office, The Boyal Mint, The Office of Her Majesty's Works and Public BuUdings, The Office of Her Majesty's Commissioners of Woods, Forests, and Land Bevenues, The General Post Office, The Customs, The Inland Bevenue Office (embracing Excise, and Stamps and Taxes), The Audit Office, and The Stationery Office. The office of Her Majesty's Paymaster-General, originally a branch of the military estabUshment, has become by. recent changes the general pay department of the Govemment, and must now be deemed under the immediate control of the Trea sury. An important part of the duties of the Comptroller of the Exchequer is to act as a check upon the Treasury, though in other duties he is subject to its immediate directions. The Post Office, as a branch of the revenue, is subject to the Trea sury ; but the Postmaster-General, usually a Cabinet Minister^ has large powers independent of that board. In the same man ner the first Commissioner of Works and PubUc Buildings, also SECT. VI. THE TREASURY. 131 frequently a Member of the Cabinet, while exercising an inde pendent control over his department, is immediately subject to the Treasury in all questions of expenditure. The salary of the First Lord and the Chancellor of the Exche quer is 5000/. per annum each, with an official residence ; the three Junior Lords have been reduced to 1000/. per annum each, and the joint Secretaries to 2000/. per annum each : all these officers have seats in Parliament, and quit office on a change of Govemment. The salary of the Assistant Secretary, who is a permanent officer, is 2500/. per annum. The foUo^wing «is the Treasury Account of the net PubUc Income and Expenditure for each of the four last years ending on the Sth of January : — Incoste of the Uhtied Kingdom. Ordinary net Revenue and Receipta, viz. — Customs Excise . . . Stamps Taxes — Land and Assessed . . Property-tax Post-office Crown Lands One shilling and sixpence and four shillings in the pound on pensions and salaries SmaU branches of the hereditary revenues of the Crown . . . Surplus fees of regulated public offices Other Receipts : comprising produce of old stores, imprest and other moneys, and payment from East India Company 20,442,I>014,316,084 6,S53,332 4,360,1796,383,037 820,000 160,000 4,762 16,331 116,246 f. 20,616,338 14,442,081 6,386,0833,563,9626,304,923 1,069,000 150,000 4,424 26,826 108,916 £. 20,651,542 14,835,073 6,761,6343,377,843 6,509,637 1,022,000 260,000 4,423 14,851 110,097 762,971 £, 20,902,734 15,337,724 6,975,4173,153,867 6,588,172 1,104,000 402,888 4,634 16,670 105,071 839,167 Total income or revenue , ExPENnmniE of thb Uhtteij Kingdom. Interest on funded and unfunded debt, cost of management, and terminable annuities Civil List Anniiities and pensions for civil, naval, military, and judicial ser vices . . . Salaries and allowances Diplomatic salaries and pensions . . Courts of justice •. Carried forward . 62,810,680 52,233,006 63,210,071 28,091,690 28,017,128 396,481 397,730 54,430,344 27,934,633 398,589 27,P()4.i'44 399,672 363,709 352,435 279,409 268,710 161,665 149,778 1,089,878 1,107,095 30,406 607 30,309,761,30,207,773 30,082,434 I K ^ I 132 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. Expenditure — continued. Brought forward . Miscellaneous charges on the Con solidated Fund Army ; Na-vy . ¦ ........ Ordnance Civil Services, chargeable on the annual grants of Parliament . . KafBr War £. 30,406,607 549,443 6,401,8836,437,8832,553,178 Unclaimed dividends .... Total charge . , . Excess of income over expenditure Total 3,856,836 50,205,880 25,994 60,231,874 £. 30,309, 295, 6,485,6,849,2,238,4,004, 300, £. 1,207,773 281,014 ',018,1641,626,9441,491,7981,797,819 370,000 49,483 23, 496 50,792,512 114 49,506,610 2,726,396 2, 52,233,006 63, 417.669 210,071 f. 30,082,434 233,226 6,763,486 6,640,596 2,661,5914,463,690 260,000 51,106,025 69,814 3,265,605 54,430,344 THE COMMISSARIAT BRANCH. Treasury. This office is immediately connected with the Treasury, and may be considered aa its executive abroad in all that concerns the payment of the troops and civil servants in the colonies, and the foreign pecuniary transactions of the Government. All the appointments are in the Treasury. The Commiaaariat Officera, acting under the immediate orders cf the Treasury, provide provisions, fuel, forage, Ught, and means of transport for the troops on their respective stations, and both pay and supply every neceaaary in time of war to our arraies abroad. They report their contracts and purchases to the Treasury, and, when ap proved, payment is provided by remittances in specie, or by biUs upon the Treasury, drawn by the Commissary in charge. The pecuniary transactions abroad of the Ordnance, Naval, and MiUtary Departraents, and the payment of pensions, are carried on through the Commiaaariat Officera, who act as bankera for these establishments, both receiving and paying from the C^oraraissariat cheat on account of the Government. In time of peace the duties of the Commiaaariat are confined to our colonies ; in war they extend to . our armies abroad, and become highly onerous. With an army in the field, the Commissary-General is responsible for the supply of all its wanta. He haa to provide the raoney, to pay the troopa, to victual them, and to find every kind of transport for con veyance of heavy guns, siege raaterials, araraunition, field equipments forage and stores of all kinds. He is the sole source of all expendi ture, and vrith the exception of the General-in-Chief, he is the only officer who is authorized to correspond rlirectly vrith the authorities at home, or the authorities of the country occupied. He is an officer of the Civil Staffi His subordinates are styled SECT. VI. PAYMASTER GENERAL S OFFICE. 133 Deputy Commissaries-General, Assistant Commissaries-General, Deputy - Assistant Commissaries - General, and Treasury Clerks. These officers he selects according to their rank and ability to be attached to each separate body of troops, and to accompany them in their movements. The following are the ratea of commiasariat pay and half-pay per day, viz.: — Full Pay. Additional War-pay Total. Halt-pay. £. s. d. &. s. d. J6. s. d. £. 5. d. £. s. d. Commissary-General 4 14 11 1 18 0 6 12 11 From 2 10 0 to 19 3 Deputy Commissary- General . 13 6 0 9 6 I IS 0 „ 0 19 0 „ 0 14 8 Assistant Commis sary-General . 0 14 0 0 6 0 0 19 0 „ 0 9 6,, 0 7 4 Deputy - Assistant Commissary-Gene ral ... . 0 9 6 0 5 0 0 14 6 „ 0 6 4,, 0 4 11 Commissary Clerks . 0 7 6 0 7 6 TREASURY SOLICTTOR'S OFFICE. Treasury Chambers. This office forms another integral branch of the Treasury. The SoUcitor acts as the Attorney for the Government in all law business and proceedings, and has the preparation of the case in aU State prose cutions, and in actions arising out of the proceedings of either Houae of ParUament. He also acta as SoUcitor for the three Secretaries of State, the Privy Council Office, the Board of Trade, the Mint, the War Office, the Paymaster-General's Office, the Stationery Office, the Church-Building Commission, the Commissioners of PoUce, the Registrar-General, the Copyhold and Enclosure Commiaaion, and in fact for the principal pubUc departments to which a solicitor is not specially appointed. The Solicitor of the Treasury and his Assistant SoUcitor are both barristers. Their salaries are respectively, 2,000/. and 1,500/. PAYMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE. WhitehaU. This department was formerly styled " The Army Pay Office," and was a branch of the MiUtary establishment, limited in its duties to the payment, on the warrant of the Secretary at War, of all military pay and charges, including the half-pay and pensions, and the extraordinaries of the army under the autho rity of the Treasury. The Paymaster-General had deputies in 134 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. the colonies, and, during the war, Deputy Paymasters-General attended the army in the field. In 1836, pursuant to the Act of 5 and 6 WiU. IV. c. 35, the whole of the Army and Navy pay departments were consolidated in this office, which was thenceforward styled " The Paymaster- General's Office." By this consolidation the Navy Pay Office, Ordnance Pay Office, and Chelsea Pay Office, were aboUshed. By the statute 11 and 12 Vict. c. 55, the Treasury was em powered to abolish the office of Paymasters of Exchequer Bills, and of Paymaster of Ci^vil Services, and to transfer their duties to the Paymaster-General, and this transfer has since been car ried into effect. The duties of the Paymaster-General now consist in the pay ment of all the voted services for the Army, Na^vy, and Ordnance, and the payment of all bills drawn for the Commissariat chests abroad, and of all other charges connected ¦with the Naval and Military expenditure. In the Army the detailed payments are made through the agents and paymasters of regiments ; but in the Navy every individual is paid separately, and clerks are sta tioned at the ports of Chatham, Sheemess, Portsmouth, and Plymouth, through whom these payments are made; it being their chief duty to pay off ships. The Paymaster-General likewise makes all pa3rments for .civil services in England, and for some in Scotland, from the votes in the miscellaneous estimates ; and all the ci^vil payments from the ConsoUdated Fund ; credits being given to him from time to time upon the Exchequer account of the Bank of England by the Comptroller-General of the Exchequer under the directions of the Treasury. The Paymaster-General has frequently held a seat in the Cabinet, and, his particular duties being of an executive and merely technical nature, he has had time to devote to the legislative measures of his Govemment. The office has been held by some of our most eminent statesmen, who have, while filUng it, had charge of the most important bills which occupied the attention of Parliament. The present Paymaster-General is not a member of the Cabinet. He holds, conjointly, the office of Vice-President of the Board of Trade. His salary for the joint offices is 2000/. per annum. The Paymaster-General is appointed by wai-rant under the Koyal Sign Manual, countersigned by the Lords of the Trea- SECT. VI. THE EXCHEQUER. 135 sury, who also regulate and appoint the establishment of his office. He is a Commissioner of Chelsea Hospital for the grant and control of the In and Out Pensions of Chelsea, and he has the patronage of the civil offices in that establishment ; he is also ex-officio a member of the Greenwich Hospital Board, and of the Chelsea Boyal MiUtary Asylum. THE EXCHEQUER OFFICES. WhitehaU Yaid. The ancient mode of receipt and payment of public money at the Exchequer continued ¦with Uttle alteration until 1834, when a coinplete change in the system was made by 4 and 5 Will. IV. c. 15. Pursuant to this statute the constitution of the Exche quer was remodelled and improved, the ancient offices of Auditor, Tellers, and Clerk of the Pells abolished, and a new establish ment was created, consisting of a "Comptroller-General of the Receipt and Issue of Her Majesty's Exchequer," an Assistant- Comptroller, a chief and other clerks. The Comptroller-General was appointed by letters patent, and holds his office during good behaviour, being irremovable except upon a joint address to the Crown from both Houses of ParUament. He is incapa citated from holding any other office under the Crown. In him are vested all the powers and authorities of the Auditor and Clerk of the Pells, and the custody of the books and records relating to the Receipt of the Exchequer. All moneys in the hands of the Tellers were, on a day named by the statute, paid into the Bank of England, and an account thenceforth opened called " The Account of Her Majesty's Exchequer," and the future mode of receipt and payment regulated. The duties attached to the office of Comptroller-General are, the control and record of the receipts and payments of the public revenue both of Great Britain and of Ireland, the preparation and issue of Exchequer BiUs, the custody of the ancient books and records of the Beceipt of Exchequer and of the standard weights and measures, and the verification of copies of the latter for public use, and the custody, jointly with the Treasury, of the standard pieces of gold and silver used for the assay of the coin of the realm, commonly called the trial of the pyx. Eeceivers of revenue or others having payments to make to the credit of the Exchequer, must first obtain the signature of 136 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. the Comptroller-General to a duplicate form of specification order for their receipt. These specifications are delivered 'vrith the sum to be paid to the Cashier of the Bank of England, who ¦writes a receipt upon each, and, delivering one to the person making the payment, forwards the other on the same day to the Comptroller-General. The specification bearing the cashier's receipt, retumed to the Receiver of Revenue, is afterwards pre sented at the Comptroller-General's office, and is exchanged for his formal receipt, which becomes a legal Acquittance. These receipts and payments are now all made through the Exchequer account, and in almost all cases by means of transfers from or to the accounts of Receivers or PubUc Accountants. Sums of money voted by ParUament for any particular branch of the public service are transferred, under the authority of an order under the Sign Manual, countersigned by the Lords of the Treasury, and of a treasury warrant, requiring the Comptroller- General to place to the credit, at the Bank of England, of the Accountant of that branch, from time to time, by such instal ments as are directed, the amount voted. Sums specially appro priated by Act of ParUament are transferred in the same maimer under the warrant of the Lords of the Treasury alone, and do not require the Royal order. It is the duty of the Comptroller- General to satisfy himself that such warrants are in conformity ¦with the Royal order, or are duly authorized by law. Salaries, allowances, and other charges formerly paid in detail at the Ex chequer, and more recently at the Treasury, are now paid at the Paymaster-General's office. The duties and authorities connected -with the preparation and issue of Exchequer bills, imder the stat. of 57 Geo. HI. c. 48, devolve also on the Comptroller-General hy 4 Will. IV. c. 15. When the receipts of the Exchequer are not equal to the imme diate exigencies of the public service. Exchequer bills are issued under Treasury warrant by the authority of ParUament. These bills are for various sums, and bear interest according to the usual rate at the time, generally from lid. to 24c/. per 100/. per day. The whole amount of outstanding Exchequer Bills is re issued at two periods in every year, ¦viz. in March and June, to the Paymaster-General, who exchanges the new bills for the old, which are called in for that purpose, and pays the year's interest due upon them, by means of credits from the Comptroller- General. The temporary advances of the Bank of England to SECT. VI. NATIONAL DEBT OFFICE. 137 the Government are made on Exchequer bills, termed Defi ciency Bills, and are paid off as the revenue accrues. The imperial standard weights and measures are kept under the custody of the Comptroller-General, and it is his duty to compare and verify such copies as are sent to him. These copies are kept in every county, city, and town, under the custody of inspectors appointed for the purpose, for the comparison and verification of all weights and measures in public use. The pre sent system was estabUshed under the acts 5 Geo. IV. c. 74, and 5 and 6 Will. IV. c. 63. The standard pieces of gold and silver are deposited in the ancient Pyx Chapel at Westminster Abbey, under the joint custody of the T^-easury and the Comptroller- General, and are used when required for a trial of the pyx. This is held at the Exchequer Office, and specimens of the standards are furnished to the jury of goldsmiths to verify by their assay the coins deposited in the pyx-box by the Master of the Mint. The ComptroUer-General fills an office of great importance, which is independent of politics. He is vested ¦with the fullest authority to prevent any unauthorized issue of public money and (responsible only to both Houses of Parliament jointly in case of an abuse of that authority) to control any direction which issues from the Treasury. His salary is 2000/. per annum. The several officers of the establishment are appointed by the Treasury. REDUCTION OF THE NATIONAL DEBT OFFICE. 19, Old Jewry. The Speaker of the House of Commons ; the Chancellor of the Exchequer ; the Master of the Bolls ; the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer ; the Accountant-General of the Court of Chancery ; the Govemor and the Deputy-Governor of the Bank of England, are the Commissioners appointed, under the statute of 26 Geo. HI. c. 31, for the reduction of the National Debt. In that year a more active scheme was proposed for the dimi nution of the National Debt, by the appropriation of one mil Uon per annum to the Sinking Fund, and the moneys devoted to this end were vested in the Commissioners, and placed under their management. But in 1829, the impoUcy and loss arising from this plan beiug apparent, the further maintenance by bon'owed capital of a large nominal Sinking Fund was virtually abolished by an enactment (10 Geo. IV. c. 27) that 138 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. the sum thenceforth applicable should consist of actual sur plus revenue only, and that one-fourth of such actual surplus shall be annually appUed in reduction of the debt. Under the statute 48 Geo. III. c. 142 the Commissioners are empowered, in reduction of the National Debt, to convert Consols into Life Annuities. The Commissioners, or the Comptroller or Assistant ComptroUer in their behalf, are invested, by the 9 Geo. IV. c. 92, ¦with the approval of sa^vings banks, and the management of sums above 50/. bearing interest, which are paid into the Bank of England in their names ; and by stat. 2 and 3 Will. PV. c. 59, the manage ment of all Exchequer annuities was transferred to the Commis sioners from the auditor of the Beceipt of the Exchequer. Three of the Commissioners are now empowered to act, by 58 Geo. III. c. 66, and the Commissioners as a body do not take any active share in the business. The details are managed by the Comptroller and the Assistant Comptroller ; and the more import ant transactions are determined by the Chancellor of the Exche quer, assisted by the Govemor and the Deputy Govemor of the Bank of England. The Commissioners present aimual accounts to Parliament, both ¦with respect to their transactions in reduction of the national debt and to the savings banks. The Commissioners are invested ¦with the appoiatment of their officers and clerks, and also of the barrister who certifies the rules of the sa^vings banks and friendly societies, but the patronage is usually exercised by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. PUBLIC WORKS LOAN OFFICE. South Sea House, I'hreadneedle Street. This Commission was created in 1817, by stat. 57 Geo. III. c. 34, which sanctioned the principle of making loans by means of Exchequer bills, for the promotion of works of a pubUc cha racter, with a view both to afford employment to the labouring classes and to stimulate useful undertakings in fisheries, mines, collieries, &c., for which the sanction of Parliament has been ob tained. Under the above, and by several subsequent Acts, large sums have been issued for carrying on or establishing fisheries, mining operations, roads, drainage, &c. The Commissioners receive written appUcations from corporate bodies, companies, parishes. SECT. VI. THE MINT. 139 or persons engaged in such works in the United Kingdom, and having considered the security offered, the benefits to be derived from the outlay, and the amount of employment whioh will result from it, they determine without delay whether any and what sums it ¦will be advisable to advance ; and upon their cer tificate the issue is made by the Treasury, by means of Exche quer bills. The Commissioners were first named in the Act of 1817. They are unpaid officers. They have power to fill up vacancies in their o^wn body ; to appoint a secretary, clerks, and officers ; and to employ and pay a soUcitor, and such engineers, sur veyors, or other officers as may be necessary. HER MAJESTY'S MINT. Tower Hill. The Mint has existed to the present day under its ancient con stitution, and been subjected to Uttle change or modification. Its duties consist in the fabrication of coin of standard weight and fineness, and of certain prescribed forms and denominations. The Mint receives gold in ingots from individuals, and returns an equal weight in sovereigns. The gold coin is now exclusively coined for the Bank of England ; but the silver coinage, on which there is a profit or seignorage which is carried to the pubUc credit, is produced from silver purchased by the Govemment. The general government, subject to the instructions of the Treasury, is vested in the Master and his Deputy. The operative branch of the Mint consists of the assayer, the melter and refiner. The moneyers, who claimed to he possessed of exclusive corporate rights, and stood on the footing of contractors to perform certain specified duties, have been aboUshed, and the Master of the Mint, it is understood, ¦will in future enter into indentures ¦with the Cro^wn for the execution of the coinage, and make subordinate contracts for its actual manufacture. The constitution and management of the Mint have been the recent subject of inquiry by a Boyal Commission, and a complete change in the whole system was effected during the year 1851. The office of Master, which is one of considerable re sponsibiUty, had until the appointment of the present Master been a political office, held by an adherent of the Govemment. The House of Commons' Committee on official salaries in 1850 Gold. Silver. Copper. £1,792 Total. £2,177,955 £119,592 £2,299,339 1,491,836 129,096 448 1,621,380 4,400,411 87,868 3,584 4,491,863 8,74-2,271 189,596 3,797 8,935,664 11,952,391 701,545 9,073 12,663,009 (Ho. Gomm. Ret., 1854.) I'lO THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. recommended its abolition ; and the Master, who receives a salary of 1500/. a year, has now been appointed on a per manent footing, and is the ostensible executive head of the es tablishment. The following is the value of the coinage coined at the Mint in each of the five last years : — 184918501851 1852 1853 OFFICE OF HER MAJESTY'S WORKS AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 12, Whitehall Place. The management and control of the pubUc works and buildings, which in 1832 were consolidated in the office of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, were, in 1851, by stat. 14 and 15 Viot. c. 42, separated from the direction of the land revenues, and again assigned to a separate department. The Commission con sists of a first Commissioner, appointed by the Crown, and of the three principal Secretaries of State, with the President and Vice-President of the Board of Trade, who are Commissioners virtute offi-cii. The first Commissioner has power to act alone, or ¦with one of the other Commissioners. He is a political officer, and has a seat in the present Cabinet. He may sit in the House of Commons. His salary is 2000/. a-year. He superintends the maintenance and repair of the royal palaces, and the erection, repair, maintenance, and furnishing of all public buildings and offices, except those belonging to the Ordnance and the Admi ralty. He has the charge of the parks in the Metropolis (but not as to any parts leased, which are suhject to the Commis sioners of Woods and Forests), includmg the public parks formed under recent Acts, and the parks at Greenwich, Richmond, Bushey, and Phoenix and Holyrood Parks ; also the public gar dens at Kensington, Kew, and Hampton Court. The first Commissioner is charged -with the maintenance and repair of the Holyhead Beads, and with the multifarious ar rangements and responsibilities connected ¦with the great Metro poUtan Improvements, commencing in 1813 mth the formation SECT. VI. OFFICE OF WOODS AND FORESTS. 141 of the Regent's Park and Regent-street. In 1854, by stat. 17 and 18 Vict. c. 33, the charge, repair, and maintenance of the Public Statues erected in the thoroughfares of the metropoUs were vested in him ; and his assent was required for the future erection of any such statue. He fills the following offices, ex- Officio : Enclosure Commissioner for England and Wales, Com missioner of Greenwich Hospital, Commissioner under the Acts relating to highland roads and bridges, one of the Commissioners for building new churches, and President of the General Board of Health. The department is under the control of the Treasury, and the Commissioners are bound to observe all orders, instructions, and directions in the execution of their duties and powers ; all esti mates for large public works are submitted for the special sanc tion of the Treasury. The Treasury appoint the secretary, clerks, and other officers of the establishment ; and, ¦with the sanction of the Treasury, the Commissioners appoint or employ such architects, surveyors, &c., as they deem necessary. The salaries and expenses of the department, and the charges for all Her Majesty's pubUc works, are annually voted by ParUament. OFFICE OF WOODS, FORESTS, AND LAND REVENUES. I & 2, vyhitehaU Place. ¦ The land revenues formed anciently the monarch's chief income, and were subject to his sole control ; large portions have from time to time been alienated and again resumed under numerous Acts of ParUament ; they have also been increased by frequent escheats, forfeitures, and attainders. It has been stated that the Crown Lands were applied to the private personal expen diture of the Sovereign, and for the reward of his servants and favourites. But if this is correct at an early period, in later times the stat. 1 Anne c. 7, restricting the power of the Cro-wn with respect to the land revenues, recites " that the necessary expenses of supporting the Crown, or the greater part of them, were formerly defrayed by a land revenue," and that " Her Majesty's land revenues at present can afford very little for the support of her Govemment." Henry VIIL, on the confiscation of the monasteries by stat. 27 of his reign, created a special court for the management of the Cro^wn revenues, which were then so greatly increased, called the Court of Augmentations. This Court was superseded 142 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. by a new Court, the Court of Surveyors-General of the King's Lands, which was again superseded by a second Court of Aug mentations. In the second year of Queen Mary's reign the Court was finally dissolved, and its authorities annexed by letters patent to the Court of Exchequer. These revenues were subsequently subjected to many changes of management, until, upon the settlement of the Civil List on the accession of George IIL, the land revenues of the Crown were first appropriated to the Consolidated Fund. In 1786 Commissioners of Inquiry were appointed, and empowered by stat. 26 Geo. III. c. 87, to inquire into the state and condition of these revenues, and to sell fee-farm and other unimprovable rents, and upon the report of these Commissioners the Land Bevenue Act of 1794 (34 Geo. III. c. 75) was passed for the better management of this branch of revenue. In 1810 the offices of Surveyor-General of the Land Revenues of the Crown, and of Surveyor-General of His Majesty's Woods, Forests, Parks, and Chases, were united by stat. 50 Geo. IH. c 65, and a new Commission was then estabUshed, the Cro^wn being authorized to appoint not less than two nor more than three Commissioners, in whom all the powers and duties of the two former officers then vested. In 1816 the ancient Eeceivers of Crown Bents were superseded by 56 Geo. IIL c. 16, and the appointment of qualified receivers was given to the Commis sioners. Prior to 1821 all leases of the Crown lands were pre pared by the Clerk of the Pipe, under the authority of the Lords of the Treasury ; but as the grant of such leases under the Great Seal or the Exchequer Seal was attended with considerable delay and expense, the Commissioners were, by stat. 1 and 2 Geo. IV. c. 52, empowered in future to grant leases of the Cro^wn lands ¦with the approval of the Treasury. In 1827 the land revenues of the Crown in Ireland were placed under the Com missioners by stat. . 7 and 8 Geo. IV. c. 68, and in 1832 the Treasury was empowered, by stat. 2 and 3 Will. IV. c. 112, to transfer to the Commissioners the management of the Scotch Crown revenues. A further consolidation of duties took place in the same year ; by stat. 2 Will. IV. c. 1, the office of Sur veyor-General of Her Majesty's Works and Puhlic Buildings was abolished, and his duties and authority transferred to the Com missioners ; but in 1851 these latter duties were removed from this branch and placed under a separate Commission. SECT. VI. OFFICE OF WOODS AND FORESTS. 143 The duties of the office are now executed by two Commissioners, "and include the management of the royal forests and woodlands, and the estates of the Cro^wn in manors aud lands in Great Britain and Ireland. The Commissioners act under the general authority of the Treasury, and the Treasury may assign to each separate duties. No sales, purchases, or exchanges of Crown or public property are made ¦without the express sanction of that department, and, in like manner, surveys and estimates are sub mitted to the Treasury preparatory to the execution of all large public works. The salaries of the Commissioners, whose offices are permanent, are 1200/. They are incapable of holding a seat in the House of Commons. By stat. 14 and 15 Vict. c. 42, Her Majesty is empowered, with the advice of the Pri^vy Council, to order that Her Majesty's Woods, Forests, and Land Bevenues shall be under the management of a Surveyor-General, who is to receive a salary not exceeding 1500/. per annum, and to be invested with all the duties, powers, rights, privileges, and properties of the present Commissioners. Upon this appointment the Trea sury are authorized to appoint a person by education and pro fession a Land Surveyor, to be an itinerant Surveyor of the pos sessions and Land Bevenues of the Crown. The Commissioners make an annual report to Parliament, which contains detailed statements of the purchase and sale of property tmder their control, and of the works which have been tmdertaken under their superintendence during the year, as well as a Dr. and Cr. account of their income and expenditure. The account of receipt and expenditure for the two years since the departments have been disunited is as follows : — Receipt. 1851-2. 18.')2-3. Crown Rents ..... Profits of Manors and Mines, and Receipts from Sales of Produce Windsor Forest, and Parka. Other Forests and Wood lands Other Receipts .... £. s. d. 267,857 16 10 19,370 8 6 5,978 13 7 61,437 0 5 10,177 14 2 £. s. d. 265,192 14 7 20,145 17 7 5,573 1 0 79,062 4 0 12,423 0 1 Total .... £364,821 13 6 £382, 3a6 17 3 144 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. EXPENDITOKE. 1851-2. 1852-3. Salaries, Law Charges, and Expenses of Collection and Record .... Surveys, Repairs, and im provements of Crown Ea- tatea Rates, Taxes, and allowances to Crown Tenants . Windsor Foreat and Parks Other Royal Forests and Woodlands .... Other Expenditure . . Payment to the ConsoUdated Fund Total s. d. 42,564 6 6 11,490 5 2 9,766 18 10 15,730 11 4 38,926 14 7 23,894 5 4 190,000 0 0 s, d. 12,. 543 19 4 7,450 6 11 8,072 12 11 15,485 0 2 43,519 6 0 14,847 6 2 252,000 0 0 £3-32,373 1 9 £353,918 11 6 The appointments to the Eangerships of the royal parks and forests are made by the Queen's letters patent, and the Bangers appoint their Deputy Bangers, Under-Keepers, Bailiffs, and Gatekeepers. The Treasury have the appointment of the Ee ceivers of Crown Bents, and of the Surveyor, clerks, and mes sengers of the office establishment. THE POST-OFFICE. St. Martin's-le-Grand, City. The Post-office, which now forms one of the great public departments, was not established until the 17th century. In 1649 a weekly deUvery of letters to all parts of the kingdom was instituted, and in 1657 the office was placed upon nearly the present plan. In 1784 mail-coaches were first run, and the sluggish pace of the post was greatly accelerated. Gradual im provements and changes continued to be made till 1840, when the new system of an uniform rate of postage and the prmciple of prepayment was brought into operation under the authority of the statute of 3 and 4 Vict. c. 96. Previously to this arrange ment postage had been rather a tax on the conveyance of letters than a payment apportioned to the cost and labour, and had yielded a large annual revenue. In the year ending the Sth January 1851, the gross revenue was 2,264,684/. ; and the net SECT. VI. POST OFFICE. 145 revenue, after deducting the costs of management and other charges, including Parliamentary grants, 803,898/. The gross revenue very nearly approaches the amount raised iinder the old system ; but the costs of management upon the immensely-extended operations of the new plan were in creased from 686,768/. per annuiia m 1839, to 1,460,785/. in 1851 ; and the revenue, as compared with the revenue under the former system suffered in that year a loss of aho^t 800,000/., of which the public were the gainers by the greatly- increased facilities and decreased charges. In the year ended Jan. 5, 1853, the gross revenue was 2,434,327/., the costs of management 1,343,907/., and the net revenue 1,090,420/. ; but this- includes 124,977/. for the postage of the letters of the Government departments. The estimated number of chargeable letters delivered in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years, and the annual increase, has been : — 1849 Number 337,500,000 Increase 8,500,000 1850 ,, 347,000,000 ,, 9,500,000 1851 ,, 360,500,000 ,, 13,-500,000 1852 ,, 379,500,000 ,, 19,000,000 1853 ,, 411,000,000 ,, 31, TOO, 000 (Ho. Com. Ret., 1854.) The Post-office is an important branch of the public service. Individuals or companies have been restrained hy penal laws from undertaking the conveyance of letters, which has heen created a national monopoly ; and the whole management of the establish ment has heen placed under the control of a Minister of the Cro^wn usually, but is not at the present time, holding a seat in the Cabinet. Such appears to be necessary to protect both the public and the State, who are alike interested in the prompt and safe deUvery of their letters ; and the trust seems properly to belong to the Government, who, while they can afford the great est security to the public, have the greatest power for enforcing regularity. The correspondence intrusted to the Post-office is inviolate, and the Post-office Act renders it a misdemeanor for any person employed wilfully to open or detain a letter, making an excep tion of the Secretaries of State and the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, who on pubUc grounds, by warrant under their hands and seals, can exercise this power. That it is not abused, is L 146 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. proved hy a House of Commons' retum in 1853, which shows that in the preceding ten years six letters only were detained and opened, four in cases of felony, and two that they might be properly retumed to those who claimed them. This con trasts strangely with the state of things in the middle of the last century : Lord Hardwicke, writing to the Marquess of Bockingham, in 1762, in reference to the Duke of Devonshire's resignation of his office of Lord Lieutenant, says " that his Grace's reasons were more fully shown in his spirited letter to the Duke of Newcastle, which his Grace judged very rightly in sending by the common Post and trusting to their curiosity ;" that is, that his reason for resigning would be fully known to the G ovemment. Again, the Marquess of Bockingham, in a letter to the Earl of Albemarle, in 1768, remarks, " I had not intended to put a word of politics in this letter, as I send it by the Post- office. I shall take a safer conveyance for writing on more private matters ; but what this letter contains, both in the be ginning and the end, may be read at Charing-cross." (Memoirs of the M. of Rockingham.) A few years later, incredible as it may now seem, the correspondence of Lord Temple, in 1782, while he was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, was subjected to a system of Post-office espionnage. It was practised under the Shelboume Cabinet, and under the coalition which succeeded it — and was continued after it was no longer a secret to Lord Temple himself. Writing to Col. Dundas, Lord Temple says, " Obvious circumstances wUl prevent my going into details in a Post letter ;" and to a friend in Ireland he speaks more expUcitly : " as almost every letter 'written or received by me is opened, it is possible that this may undergo that operation in London ; and if so, they will leam the real regard I hear to you." Mr. Cuff, writing to Lord Temple from DubUn, says, " I should not trouble your Lordship -with a letter, but I find to a certainty that letters to and from your Lordship are not only opened and read, but many of them are stopped." — (Grenville Letters.) The Post-office, as a branch of the revenue, is subordinate to the Treasury; but the Postmaster-General has the full control and administration of the department. He frames all postal treaties to be negotiated with foreign countries, and deter mines all questions connected ¦with the establishment of posts to India and our numerous colonial dependencies (subject, of course to the approval of the Treasury with regard to the expense). He SECT. VI. POST OFFICE. 147 directs and superintends the collection and delivery of all letters within the United Kingdom, and the despatch of those to the colonies and foreign countries. The entire management of all the Post-office business of the United Kingdom is centralized in his department. He is assisted by two Secretaries, an Assistant- Secretary, Receiver and Accountant General, with a large estab lishment of subordinate officers. All complaints of overcharge, neglect, or delay, may be addressed to the Postmaster-General, or to the Secretary, to the General Post-office, London. The salary of the Postmaster General is 2500/., of the Secre tary 2000/., of the Secretary to the Postmaster-General 1200/., and of the Assistant-Secretary 800/. The only officer connected with the establishment who leaves office on a change of Govem ment is the Postmaster-General. In the central establishment there are above 400 principal officers, consisting of Presidents, Clerks, Surveyors, and Inspect ors, at salaries commencing at from 65/. to 90/., and increasing to 200/., and m the chief offices to 400/., 500/., and 600/. per annum. In the subordinate grades there are nearly 700 officers, called inspectors, sub-sorters, stampers, mail-guards, letter- carriers, and messengers ; and the total number of persons in the London estabUshment alone is about 2900. The employments connected with the Post-office in the United Kingdom and the colonies have been calculated at between 14,000 and 15,000. The salaries and allowances to this numerous staff of officers amounted for the year ended Jan. 5, 1853, to 557,155/. The Treasury appoints the Receiver-General, and nominates for ap pointment the postmasters at the various towns and places, with the exception of the chief officer at Dublin, Edinburgh, and some few other places. The colonial postmasterships follow the rule relating to colonial appointments. All the other patronage connected ¦with the estabUshment is exercised directly by the Postmaster-General. The plan of prepayment, the use of postage-stamps or stamped envelopes, and the general regulations for the posting and delivery of letters in the United Kingdom, are too generally kno^wn to require particular description. It may be sufficient to state that letters sent from London by the 8 o'clock p.m. mails are deUvered at aU the chief towns on the great Unes of railroad within 250 miles of the metropoUs by 10 on the following moroin''. The deUvery to about 300 of the principal post-towns l2 148 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. ^VI. and to all Ireland and Scotland has been greatly accelerated by the despatch of morning mails ; thus securing to them a deUvery of letters twice in every 24 hours. The mail to Guernsey and Jersey is made up on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Foreign mails are made up and due from France twice a-day, and from and to Belgium daily ; from Holland, Wednesday and Saturday mornings ; and from Hamburgh, Sweden, and Norway, Tuesday and Friday. The West Indian letters are despatched on the 2nd and 17th of each month. By registration and the payment of &d., in addition to the ordinary rate of postage, the safe and punctual deUvery of a letter may be assured to any part of the United Kingdom, the colonies, and foreign countries ; but in some' cases the fee to the latter is 9d. The same advantage may be secured throughout France, and on letters passing through France, by the payment of the registration fee of Gd., the English rate of postage to France, and double the amount of French postage. But in the case of all foreign, colonial, or ship letters, the registration can not extend beyond the port of despatch in the United Kingdom. Money-orders are issued and may he made payable in London at the General Bost-office and the several branch offices, and at offices appointed in all the principal suburbs. In the country they are issued and paid by the postmaster at all the post- towns in the United Kingdom and at many subordinate offices. They are charged with a commission of 3d. on sums not exceed ing 21., and of 6d. on sums above 21. and not exceeding 5/., to which amount the issue of money-orders is limited. In the last four years, for which an account has been rendered, the amount of money orders issued has been 1849 No. of Orders 4,248,891 Amount of £8,152,643 1850 ,, 4,439,713 ,, 8,494,498 1851 ,, 4,661,025 ,, 8,840,420 1852 ,, 4,947,825 ,, 9,438,277 (Ho. Com. Ret., 1853.) The fates of postage on prepaid letters ¦within the United Kingdom, including the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, are, — not exceeding J oz. ia weight Id. ; 1 oz. 2d. ; 2 oz. 4 3,600/. J) 500/. Denioark )» 3,600/. 3» 500/. Sweden )» 3,000/. »7 500/. Hanover » 3,000/. JJ 500/. Frankfort )» 2,600/. JJ 400/. Greece )> 2,500/. JJ 400/. Wurtemberg ¦ )) 2,000/. JJ 400/. Saxony J) 2,000/. JJ 400/. Tuscany )> 2,000/. JJ 400/. Switzerland )j 2,000/. JJ 400/. Mexico )) 3,600/. JJ 600/. Buenos Ayres !I 3,000/. JJ 500/. Fourth class. — Chargfe d'Affaires. Officers of this class who are Consuls-General receive, in addition to their salary as such, an allowance of 365/. per annum for their diplomatic services. They are accredited to the governments of Venezuela, New Granada, Peru, Chili, Monte Video, Boli-via, and Central Ame rica. The practice has been that persons enter the diplomatic service ¦without salary. They are first unpaid Attaches, they then become paid Attaches, then Secretaries of Legation and Secretaries of Embassies. But it is by no means the rule that diplomatic offices should be filled by the promotion of those next in rank. There are many recent instances in which men conversant with the affairs, of foreign Governments have been appointed to missions, who have not gone through the various services of diplomacy. The diplomatic pensions are regulated by stat. 2 and 3 WiU. IV. c. 116. No pension can be gi-anted to any person until after 15 years from the date of his first commission, nor unless he shaU have actually served 10 years. The total charge for diplomatic salaries and -pensions is restricted to 180,000/. per annum by the same statute. The scale on which these pensions may be granted must not exceed — 1st Class, on 3 years' residence as Ambassador, 1,700/. per annum. 2nd Claaa, on 5 yeara' reaidenoe as Envoy . 1,300/. Srd Class, on 5 years' residence as Minister . 900/. 4th Class, on 5 years' residence as Minister . 700/. SECT. VI. COLONIAL DEPARTMENT. 181 The Consuls-General who do not combine with their office that of Chargd d'Affaires, do not hold a diplomatic rank. Their salaries range from 1600/. a-year to 600/., the higher salaries being paid to those on the eastern coasts of the Mediterranean, where the duties are of a mixed and difficult nature, the allow ance being fixed -with a regard both to the duties and the costs of Uving. There are 420 British Consuls, Vice-Consuls, and Consular Agents stationed throughout the world. SBCEETAEY OF STATE'S OFFICE— COLONIAL DEPARTMENT. Downing Street. The business of the Colonies of this country was, in 1660, when their gro-wing interests first demanded especial care, intrufited to a Committee of the Privy CouncU, called the " CouncU of Foreign Plantations," which was afterwards united -with the " Council of Trade," and this consolidated commission was continued, sub ject to several changes, tiU 1782. A Secretary of State for the Colonies was first established in 1768, but this office was abo lished in 1782, and the department then became a subordinate branch of the Home Office, into which the duties eventually merged on its suppression a few years after. The war depart ment was formed in 1794, and the business of the colonies being consolidated with it in 1801, it was constituted a distinct department, and the Minister presiding over it was then perma nently established as the third Principal Secretary of State. This arrangement continued till the commencement of the war in 1854, when the duties relating to the affairs of the war were transferred to a fourth Secretary of State who was then ap pointed. The duties of the Colonial Secretary have therefore been re stricted to the govemment of our numerous and extensive colo nial possessions. In some, obtained by conquest, there is a large foreign population, and the laws of the original parent state form the basis of those which remain in force ; in others, a thriving offset of the home population are striving to be their o-wn masters, and to legislate for themselves ; in another class a large recently- manumitted slave population require at the same time protection 182 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. and control ; in another, a transport and convict population create difficulties and dangers ; and in many the aborigines have claims upon our compassionate protection. The administration of the different laws and strange customs under which these colonies, scattered over the face of the globe, are governed, and the varied interests by which they are affected, are subject to the/Cspecial super-vision and control of the Secre tary of State for the Colonies. He watches over their interests, and directs their govemment. He apportions the troops neces sary for their defence or police. He instructs the Master-Gene ral of the Ordnance what fortifications it is necessary to erect for their protection; and what buildings or barracks are required to accommodate the civil officers and the troops, but the modes of executing the works are determined by the Master-General and the Board of Ordnance. His authority is chiefly exercised in the appointment of Governors, and in the sanction or disallow ance of the measures of the Colonial governments. It is also, but rarely, exercised in prescribing measures for their adoption. The Committee of the Privy Council for Trade, in which the business of the Colonies was originally transacted, has always retained some share in the colonial business. The Secretary of State for the Colonies refers to the Committee, which in its form of proceedings affords greater faciUties for the discussion of re presentations and the production of evidence, questions relating to constitutional changes, or to the rights of different branches of the existing constitutions, or arising out of personal controversies between officers of the Crown and others in the Colonies ; and questions respecting internal improvements, or matters of poUcy affecting great local interests ; and on such references the Colo nial Secretary attends the Committee. The Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners now form the only subordinate branch of this department. The Colonial Secretary has the patronage of all colonial appointments except those connected with the Commissariat and Ordnance, the former of which are in the gift of the Trea sury, and the latter of the Board of Ordnance. The rule has been, that to the offices in the Colonies, the emoluments of which do not exceed 100/. per annum, the patronage was delegated to the Governors of Colonies ; and to offices whose emoluments are between 100/. and 200/. per annum, an appoint ment is seldom made by the Colonial Secretary, except on a SECT. VI. COLONIAL DEPARTMENT. 183 Governor's recommendation. Appointments to offices the emo luments of which exceed 200/. per annum can only be made by the Governors provisionally, subject to the pleasure of the Colonial Secretary. But now practically, in those Colonies where society is such as to afford proper means of selection, the Governor recommends for many other offices ; and for the judicial appointments : in CJolonies where there are persons at the colonial bar who have a good claim, they are frequently ap pointed to the bench (except in small societies, where such a course would be unadvisable). In ecclesiastical offices, the appointments are chiefiy filled up on the recommendation of the Governor or the Bishop, and the Bishops themselves are nominated to the Queen by the Secretary of State. The appointment of the clerks and officers of his own office, and the subordinate department, is in the patronage of the' Colonial Secretary, who has also the appointment of the Queen's messengers alternately Avith the other Secretaries of State. COLONIAL LAND AND EMIGRATION COMMISSION. 9, Park Street, Westminster. It is the duty of the Coraraissioners to carry into execution the pro visions of the Passengers Act (15 and 16 Vict. c. 44), which they do through their officers at the outports, who examine into the sea worthiness and fitment of emigration ships, the amount of provisions and water placed on board, the number of passengers, their healthy condition, and various other raatters required by the Act. These officers are also required to assist and advise emigrants on the point of shipment, and aid them to procure redress if imposed upon or illused. "The Commissioners conduct a large amount of emigration carried on from England at the Government expense, being in this case re sponsible for all the details connected with the selection of emigrants, the chartering of ships, and the conduct of the voyage. To these duties may be added the occasional superintendence of the conveyance of large bodies of Coolies and liberated Africans to the Weat Indies. The Coraraissioners are also required to report to the Colonial Office on all questions relating to emigration or the raanageraent of colomal lands, and to prepare such instruraents os becorae ne cessary in the course of dealing with these subjects. And it is the further duty of the two legal raembers of the Board to report in the first instance on all Acts and Ordinances pasaed by any Colonial Legislature. The Commissioners with their eatabUahment— compriaing nine clerks and twenty-four naval officera stationed at the ports of embarkation, to give gratuitous aaaiatanee and advice to emigrants, and carry out the instructions of the Commissioners— are appointed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies. 184 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VL BRITISH COLONIES AND SETTLEMENTS. The British Colonies have been annexed to the Cro^wn of Great Britain by settlement, treaty, or conquest. In colonies acquired by settlement, so much of the law of England as is applicable to an infant colony, such as the general rules of inheritance, per sonal rights, and protection from injuries, immediately and ipso facto comes into force, and in these colonies the Cro^wn has no power to legislate. In colonies acquired by conquest, or ceded by treaty, the former laws and customs remain in force, and the power of altering their political constitution or form of govem ment rests with the Queen in Council. But when a represen tative assembly has been granted to the inhabitants of such colonies, as has usually been the case, and the power of making their o^wn laws, the Cro^wn cannot resume its former power to legislate. In every colony there is a local legislature, having the power to make laws for its good government, peace, and order, provided they are not repugnant to the laws of Great Britain. In all colonies, however, the Queen has the power to disallow laws passed by the local legislature even after they have been passed by the Governor, and this power, where the Imperial sanction is imperative, is sometimes beneficially exercised by delaying the confirmation until the local legisla ture has had an opportunity to reconsider and amend the enact ments submitted. As parts of the British dominions, the colonies are, in all matters except the power to levy taxes, which has been renounced by a declaratory Act, subject to the legislative authority of the British Parliament. In colonies where the legislative power has been granted to a Eepresentative Assembly, the consent of a Legislative Council is also necessary in enacting laws for the colony. In colonies not possessing a Representative Assembly, the Governor and Legis lative Council pass ordinances, which have the force of laws ¦within the colony ; but the initiation of such ordinances helongs to the Governor. In a few colonies, which are more properly military stations, the Governors have more enlarged powers, and in Gibraltar the Proclamation of the Governor alone has the force of law. The Legislative CouncU, forming an upper branch of the Colo nial Legislature, is appointed by the Queen, usually on the nomination of the Govemor. It forms a Council of State, at SECT. VI. COLONIES AND SETTLEMENTS. 185 which the Governor presides, and the members stand in the same relation to him as the Privy Councillors to their Sovereign. They sit with the Govemor as judges in the court of error, on appeals in civil cases from the courts of common law. They are named in every commission as justices of the peace for the colony. In most of the colonies there is another distinct body, called the Executive Council, composed of the chief official function aries, to advise the Governor in the more important questions affecting the colony. In some colonies the Executive Council acts as a court of appeal, and in a few instances has the audit of the colonial accounts. In Bermuda and Newfoundland, and in all the West India Islands (except St. Lucia and Trinidad), this Council acts in the double capacity of Executive and Legislative Council. The form of govemment, and the amount of political power, granted to the several colonies, depend upon their advance in civiUzation, population, and wealth, and vary greatly in many particulars, affecting both the general principles of govemment and the administrative details. The principal obstacle to the grant of representative institutions has been the existence of a large native population (incapable of exercising with advantage the privileges of self-government), amongst which are a few Europeans temporarily settled as traders, whose class interests might not be compatible -with those of the whole community, and to whom an ascendancy could not be justly given ; of such, Ceylon, Mauritus, Trinidad, and Natal may be not invidiously cited. The surrender of the powers now exercised in the name of the Crown, and the establishment of representative legisla tures, would not, under such conditions, be just to the com munity, or conducive to their welfare. Every inhabitant of the colonies is entitled freely to address to the Secretary of State his complaints or remarks upon the local authorities ; but his letters must be sent through the Governor (who is bound to forward them), in order that at the same time he may offer such explanations as he thinks proper. In general the fixed establishment of the Colonial govern ments is provided for by permanent laws, and that part of the expenditure which is of a more fluctuating character by ordinances passed annually, every change in the Colonial revenue being required to have, in one form or the other, the sanction of the Legislature. The chief source of expense at 186 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. present on account of the Colonies is their military protection, as the charges of their ci^vil govemment are now generally paid by, themselves ; and the naval expenditure, which is frequently charged against the Colonies, is equally necessary for the protec tion of our commerce. — (See Earl Grey on Colonial Govemment.) The Governor of a colony is the chief executive officer, and the representative of his Sovereign. He is appointed by letters patent under the Great Seal, and usually holds his appointment for a term of six years. He acts under the immediate directions and instructions of the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The Govemor is in all cases an indispensable branch of the Colonial Legislature. In colonies possessing Eepresentative Assemblies, and govemed by the laws of England, he is empowered to issue writs in the Queen's name for electing members ; to call together, prorogue, and dismiss the Legislative Council and Assembly, and, under certain restrictions imposed by his in stmctions, to grant or withhold his assent to any bills passed. He has the power to respite or pardon criminals, to suspend, and, within certain limits, to remit, fines to the Cro^wn. Under his warrant, moneys are issued for the public service of the Colony, either ¦with or ¦without the consent of the Executive Council, as the particular laws of the colony may require. If the Governor holds the miUtary rank of Colonel, the command of the forces ¦within his colony and its dependencies is in some cases confided to him. If not invested ¦with the miUtary com mand, he is empowered to order the formation, distribution, and movements of the troops ; but the officer in command has the superintendence of all the military details, the regimental discipline, duty, and inspection. The nature and extent of the powers intrusted to Governors differ essentially in the different Colonies. In the settlements on the west coast of Africa the Governors substantially exercise both executive and legislative authority, limited only by an appeal to the Home Govemment. In Canada the representa tive Assembly has not only the chief power of legislation, but also virtually a large share of executive authority, since the members of the Executive Council are required to possess its confidence. Between these two extremes there are many inter mediate degrees of more or less power exercised by the Governors of the different colonies. The following are the salaries of the Governors or Lieutenant- Governors of the various Colonies. Those paid from the SECT. VI. COLONIES AND SETTLEMENTS. 187 revenues of the United Kingdom, and annually voted by nt, are distinguished by a star : — £. Gibraltar . . . . 5000 Blalta . . . . . 4500 The Ionian lalanda 4500 *HeUgoland . . . . 500 *Sierra Leone . . . . 2000 *Gambia . . . . . 1000 The Gold Coast 800 The Cape of Good Hope 5000 Mauritius . . . . 7000 St.. Helena . . . . 2000 Ceylon . . . . . 7000 *Hong-Kong 6000 *Labuan .... 1500 The Bahamas . 2000 Canada .... 7000 Kew Brunswick 3000 Nova Scotia . ^ 3000 Prince Edward's Island 1000 Newfoundland . 3000 The Bermudas . 2746 Vancouver's Island (paid by Hudson' Bay Company) 5000 British Guiana . 5000 ?Falkland lalands 800 Jamaica 6000 Honduraa 1800 Trinadad 3500 *Leeward Islands (Govemor in Chief) 3000 *Doininica 1300 *St. Christopher 1300 *Windward lalands (Govemor in Chief) 4000 Barbadoes 2000 *St. Vincent 1300 ?Grenada 1300 *Tobago 1300 ?Bahamas 1200 ?Tortola and Virgin lalands 800 ?Montserrat 500 ?Nevis .... 500 New South Wales 5000 A'ictoria 2000 South Australia. 1500 ?Westem Australia 1300 Van Diemen's Land 4000 ?New Zealand 2500 188 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. Under the succeeding heads a brief description is given of the British Colonies and Settlements, with their forms of Government. They are clasaed : — Isi. — European Dependencies, comprising |jribraltar, Malta, the Ionian Islands, HeUgolaud. 2nd. — African Dependencies, compriaing Sierra Leone, Gambia, the Gold Coast, the Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius, St. Helena, Ascension. Srd. — Asiatic Dependencies, comprising Ceylon, Hong-Kong, Labuan. 4iA. — North Ameriean Dependencies, comprising the Baharaas, Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Cape Breton, Prince Edward's Island, Newfoundland, the Bermudas, Vancouver's Island. 5th. — South American Dependencies, comprising British Guiana, the Falkland Islands. Gth. — West Indian Dependencies, comprising Jaraaica and Honduras, Trinidad, Antigua, Montserrat, St. Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla, the Virgin Islands, Dominica, Barbadoes, Grenada, St. Vincent, Tobago, St. Lucia. 7th. — Australian Dependencies, comprisiug New South Walea, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Van Diemen's Land ; and Sth. — New Zealand. GIBRALTAR. Gibraltar is an impregnable miUtary station and fortress, situate at the south-west extremity of Spain, and commanding the narrow strait which connects the Mediterranean ¦with the Atlantic. It capitulated to the EngUsh in 1704. The territory does not exceed 1| square miles. Gibraltar, in its civil govemment, is nearly assimilated to that of a garrison tovra. The Governor is the sole legislative and executive authority ; but justice is administered as nearly as may be according top the laws of England; MALTA. Malta is a fortified island in the Mediterranean. Its area is about 95 square miles, and that of the dependent island of Gozo, from which it ia separated by a narrow strait, about 27 square miles. It came finally into the possession of this country by capitulation in 1800. Malta is valuable as a military station, and forms the rendezvous of the British naval force in the Mediterranean. The law is administered under a code of ordinances which prevailed before the acquisition of the island. The power of the local legislation is in the Govemor and Council of Government ; but by a recent charter the legislature was made partly elective, and the principle of representation intro duced, but in a modified form, not interfering with such extensive powers aa rauat be retained by the Crown in so important a garrison. THE UNITED STATES OF THE IONIAN ISLANDS. The United States consist of the islands of Corfu, which ia the seat of Government, Cephalonia, Zante, Santa Maura, Ithaca, Paxo, and SECT. VI. COLONIES AND SETTLEMENTS. 189 Cerigo, situate in the Mediterranean at the entrance of the Gulf of Venice. Prior to the French Revolution these islands were subject to Venice, but were ceded to France in 1797. After repeatedly changing masters they were placed under the protection of Great Britain in 1815, to which they now de facto belong ; and a constitution was drawn up and ratified by Great Britain in 1817. The government is republican. The legislative power is vested in an Assembly of 40 raembers, and the executive in the Senate, con sisting of a president, appointed by the Queen of Great Britain, and five members. The Lord High Coraraissioner exercises all the authority of a Viceroy or Governor. He annually convokes and prorogues the Legislative Asserably, which is elected for five yeara, and sanctions or disallows their biUa. HELIGOLAND. HeUgoland is a sraall island in the North Sea off the coast of Den mark, about one mile long, and not more than the third of a mile broad. Its population is about 2200. It came into the posaeasion of England in 1807, and waa forraaUy ceded to us at the peace of 1814. During the war it formed » depot for British goods, and from its position it StiU affords sorae commercial faciUties. A Lieut.-Govemor is appointed by the Crown to administer the govemment of HeUgoland, but the garrison has been vrithdrawn since the peace. SIERRA LEONE. Sierra Leone is situate on a peninsula about 35 mUes long and 25 miles broad, on the west coast of Africa, in 8^ 30' north latitude, and W 15' west longitude. It has been an EngUsh possession since the 16th century, and is now the most considerable on the west coast ; but the cUmate, which is now improved, was so fatal to Europeans that it was not colonized tiU 1787. In this and the other settlements on the coast the Governors substantially exercise both executive and legislative authority, Umited only by an appeal to the Home Governraent. GAMBIA. The settleraents on the Gambia (formerly a dependency on Sierra Leone) consist of an island at the mouth of the river, a belt of land on the bank, by which it is commanded, and an island 175 miles up the river, to which point it ia navigable for vessels of burthen. They are maintained for the encourageraent of the trade and industry of the country through which the river flows ; to open out new sources of production, and to extend the knowledge of civiUzation. THE GOLD COAST. The settlements ou the Gold Coast forra the remaining British poaaes- sion on the continent of Africa. They are maintained as a check upon the traffic in slavea, aa centres of legitimate trade and for the promotion of civiUzation. The possession is confined to the forts and 190 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. the diatance of cannon-ahot round them, beyond which no dominion is claimed for the Crown. But Britiah influence, from these centres, extends over the territories of various native chiefs, to an area of not less than 8000 square miles, and a population eatimated at 400,000 souls. Justice is administered to thia large population by British magistrates, under the sanction of an Act of ParUament, who decide the disputes voluntarUy submitted to them, enforcing the rade laws and customs of thia unciviUzed people upon the plain principlea of uni- veraal justice. By these means the security of life and property may be said to have been almost completely established within a few .years. The settleraents consist of four ports, or trading-atationa. They were annexed to Sierra Leone ; but, by a recent order in Council, they are declared no longer dependencies of that colony. The aettlements formerly belonging to Denmark have been recently ceded to the British Crown, and a Governor appointed. The power to make laws in this colony and its dependencies has been recently vested in the Govemor and CouncU ; but the law of England, generaUy, has hitherto prevaUed there. THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. This colony is situated at the southern point of Africa, and comprises an area of about 120,000 square miles. Cape Town, the capital, was originaUy settled by the Dutch. It was taken by the EngUsh in 1795, restored to the Dutch in 1803, retaken in 1806, and has since reraained an EngUsh posseaaion. The colony is subject to the legislation of the Crown. The Govemor and Council make laws. The ancient Roman-Dutch law is stiU retamed. In May 1851, Commissioners were appointed for the setiUng and adjustment of the affairs of the territories in Southern Africa adjacent or contiguous to the eastern and north-eastern frontier of the colony. ', The settlement of Natal is a dependency of the Cape Govemment, and is estimated to contain a native population of 100,000 souls araenable to British control. THE MAURITIUS. The Mauritius, or Isle of France, is a sraaU island in the Indian Ocean, containing about 700 square railes. It was taken by an EngUsh force in 1810, and its possession was ratified at the peace of 1814. The power of making laws is in the Governor and CouncU. In 1850 the commencement of a raunicipal organization was made by the establishment of a corporation for the town of Port Louis. The old French law, modified by some recent ordinances, continues in force. ST. HELENA. This small island in the South Atlantic is about 10 miles long by seven broad, its area being about 30,000 acres. It ia situated in 15° 15' south latitude, and 5° 50' west longitude. It was originally colonized by the Dutch, but abandoned by them in 1651, and taken possession of in the same year by the East India Com- SECT. VI. COLONIES AND SETTLEMENTS. 191 pony's homeward-bound fleet. It became vested in the Crown in 1833, by stat. 3 and 4 Will. IV. o. 85. The governraent is in «. Governor and Legislative Coimcil, ASCENSION. Ascension is a barren island in the South Atlantic, about aeven miles long and six miles broad. It was taken posseaaion of by England in 1815 as a military station. It suppUes fresh water and fresh provisions to ships, and is not deemed a oolony, but a mere station under the charge of the Admiralty. CEYLON. Ceylon ia an island in the East Indies, situated at the entrance of the Bay of Bengal. It is about 900 railes in circumference. The island finaUy carae into posseaaion of the English by capitulation in 1795. Ceylon is subject to the legislation of the Crown, the Governor and CotmcU having the power of raaking the laws. It has no representative institutions — its large native population, and the few Europeans settled as traders, forraing a bar to the grant, with advantage, of such privileges. The Roman-Dutch law appears to form the basis of the laws StiU in force. HONG-KONG. Hong Kong is one of the largest islands near the raouth of the Canton river. It is about eight railes frora east to west, and of very irregular width, varying from three to six miles. It is very mountainous and barren. It was ceded to the EngUsh in 1843, on the termination of the Chinese war, and is subject to a mUitary governraent. The Govemor, in addition to his colonial appointment, holds a commission as plenipo tentiary frora the Foreign Office. LABUAN. Labuan is an island in the eastern seas on the north-west coast of Borneo, opposite the raouth of the river Borneo. It was ceded by the Sultan of Borneo to Great Britain, and was taken possession of in 1844 as an outport for British trade, and for the protection of British interests. THE BAHAMAS. The Bahamas, or Lucayan Islands, which form this colony, are a chain of islands of great extent in the North Atlantic, containing about 12,000 acres. They carae into the possession of Great Britain by settlement in 1629. But their possession has been strongly contested by Spain, and they have been thrice taken by that power. They have remained in the hands of the English since 1783. The legislative power is in the Governor, CouncU, and an Elective Assembly. The laws of England, so far as applicable, are in force. CANADA. This extensive country Ues between th-e 45th and 52nd degrees of north lat., and the 63rd and 90th of west long. It comprisea an area of 192 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. about 300,000 square miles. It came finally into possession of the EngUsh by capitulation in 1759, on the capture of Quebec, ratified by the Treaty of Paris in 1763. Canada waa divided into two provinces, each having its separate legislative and administrative body ; but they were united in 1840, by stat. 3 and 4 Vict. c. 35, and are now govemed by one legislative body composed of Governor, Council, and House of Assembly ; and to this body the power to change its own constitution was given by stat. 17 and 18 Vict c. 118. Inatead of giving or withholding hia assent to any act of the Colonial Legislature, the Govemor may re serve any law tendered to him for the signification of Her Majeaty's pleaaure. The representative assembly has not only the chief power of the Legislature, but virtuaUy a large share of executive authority, since the members of the Executive Council are required to possess its con fidence, and the whole of the expenditure of the colony is now under its exclusive control. Except to advise the Colonial authorities, the Home Government rarely interferes, unless on questions affecting Imperial interests. New Brunsvrick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward's Island have been consolidated under the general government of the Govemor of Canada, to whom their Lieut.-Govemors are subordinate, and from whom they seek instruction and assistance. NEW BRUNSWICK. This province is bounded on the north by the river St. Lawrence and the river Riatijonebe, on the south by the bay of Fundy and Chignecto Bay, on the east by Northumberland Strait and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and on the west by the State of Maine. It came into the possession of the British, soon after its discovery, by settlement, in 1497, and was erected into a separate province in 1784, when a constitution was granted to it. It is now imder the same system of govemment as Canada. NOVA SCOTIA AND CAPE BRETON. The province of Nova Scotia ia a peninaula about 280 miles in length and 60 miles average breadth, united to NewBrunavrick by an isthmus 11 miles wide. Cape Breton ia an island separated by a narrow strait from Nova Scotia, of the government of which it forms a part, sending two merabers to the General Asserably. Nova Scotia was claimed by the EngUsh by right of discovery. In 1604 the French attempted to form a settlement, but were eventually expeUed. It has continued in the possession of the British since 1710. The constitution is, by Royal Commission, a representative provincial government. The same system of government now prevails as in Canada. PRINCE EDWARD'S ISLAND. This colony, formerly known as the Island of St. John, is situated in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is 22 leagues long and about one league broad. It was included among the other discoveries made by the SECT. VI. COLONIES AND SETTLEMENTS. 193 EngUsh in this part of the world in 1497, but, not being aettled, waa occupied by the French as a fishing station. They were afterwards driven out, and again obtained possession, which they held till 1758, when it was taken by the English, and has since continued a Britiah poaaession. The island is governed by a Lieut.-Governor, Council, and Legislative Assembly. The lawa of England are in force. NEWFOUNDLAND. Newfoundland ia a large ialand at the entrance of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, about 150 leaguea in circumference. It was discovered at the end of the 15th century. Towards the close of the succeeding ceii- tury several atterapts were raade to form a settlement, but no perma nent colony was establiahed till 1633. Early in the 18th century the island was taken by the French, but reverted to the EngUsh on the Treaty of Utrecht. The island is govemed by a Govemor, Council, and Legislative Assembly. The laws of England prevail ao far aa applicable. THE BERMUDAS. The Bermudas are situated in the North Atlantic, between the 31st and 32nd degrees of north latitude, and the 64th and 65th of west longitude. They consist of a cluster of lalands, aaid to be 400 in num ber, the larger proportion of which are uninhabitable rocks. The chief island is 16 miles in length, and three milea in its greatest breadth. The Bermudas came into EngUsh possession, by settieraent, on their discovery in 1609. They are govemed by the Governor, Council, and Legislative Aaaembly. Large numbers of convicts are employed on the fortifications and public works; but the colony is not a penal settlement, and the convicts are not discharged there on the termina tion of tlieir sentences. VANCOUVER'S LAND. This island lies under the 50th paraUel of north latitude. It is se parated frora the North Araerican Coast by Queen Charlotte's Sound. It has an area of about 13,000 square railes. The Govemor and his Council of aeven membera are appointed by the Crown. The Assembly is elected by freeholders possessing 20 acres of land. The Asserably have the ordinary powers of a Colonial Legislature in making laws, subject to the usual control of the Crown. The Governor has the power of proroguing and dissolving the As sembly. BRITISH GUIANA. This extensive colony formerly coraprised three separate colonies ; Berbice, which till lately reraained separate, and Easequebo and Derae- rara, which had been long united. They were consolidated into one colony, under the name of B.ritish Guiana, in 1831. They are situated in Guiana, a large country of South America. They formed part of the Dutch settlements, and successively capitulated to the EngUsh in 1803. The laws in force are based upon the old Dutch law. The constitution is peculiar, the power of making laws being vested in the Governor 194 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. and Court of Policy, whose functions appear to be those of an execu tive and administrative board only, assisting the Govemor. But though the Crown exercises the right of legislating by orders in Council, this power, especiaUy with regard to the imposition of taxes and the appropriation of revenue, is much raore limited than is the case in Crown Colonies generally, and the colonial 'expenditure (except the salaries of the principal officers determined by public ordinance) requires the annual sanction of the Court of Policy sitting with certain elected representatives chosen for this purpose. THE FALKLAND ISLANDS. This settieraent is composed of two large islands surrounded by a number of smaller ones. It ia aituated in the South Atlantic to the eaat of the Straits of Magellan, and ia nearly uninhabitable from the boggy nature of the aoil. These islands are supposed to have been discovered by Davis in 1572. They were ceded to Spain in 1774, and came again into the poaaession of the EngUsh by settlement in 1841. A amall settlement has recently been created where passing ships may refit and obtain suppUes. The islands lie directly in the track of vessels returning horae from Australia or the Pacific by Cape Horn. They axe subject to the Governor and Legislative Council. JAMAICA. This valuable colony is situated in the Atlantic Ocean, in about 18° north latitude, and in longitude 77° west. It is 150 miles in length, and has a medium breadth of about 40 miles. It was dis covered by the Spaniards in 1494, and taken by an English force in 1655, and has since remained in their possession. The Legislature is composed of the Governor, a Council of 12, nominated by the Crown, and a Houae of Assembly, consisting of 43 members, elected by the free holders. But in certain emergencies the Governor raay proclaim mar tial law, and all persons are then subject to the articles of war. The asserably haa not only the exclusive power of deciding upon the amount of grants to be made for the service of the colony, and the taxes by which they are to be provided, but it refusea to admit any interference by the Governor, even advice, as to the exercise of its control over the public purse. The government is not responsible to prepare and propose estimates for the public service. The assembly have also the anomalous power of auditing the accounts of the expenses which as Legislators they vote. HONDURAS. The settlement of Honduras is situated in the province of Yucatan North America. It carae into British possession by treaty in 1670. The settlement is governed by the Superintendent, who is appointed by the Crown. A constitution was framed in 1765 by a Council elected by the inhabitants, which received tlie tacit recognition of the Crown and is still in force. It is dependent on the island of Jamaica. SECT. VI. COLONIES AND SETTLEMENTS. 195 TRINIDAD. The island of Trinidad is situated at the entrance of the Gulf of Paria, between the 10th and llth degrees of north lat. and the 61st and 63rd degrees of weat longitude. Its extrerae length ia between 60 and 70 miles, and its width about 50 miles. It was discovered by the Spaniai-ds in 1408, and taken from them by the EngUsh in 1595, aoon afterwards retaken, and again captured by the English in 1797, since which it has remained a British posseaaion. The legialative power is in the Governor and Council. The ancient Spanish law prevails. It ia joined with British Guiana and St. Lucia in the adrainiatration of jua tice, one court being created for the three colonies. LEEWARD ISLANDS. The colonies of Dominica, Montserrat, Antigua (the seat of govern ment), Nevia, St. Christopher, AnguiUa, and Tortola, have been consoli dated into one general government, under the denomination of the Government of the Leeward Islands ; and Lieutenant-Governors, or Presidents, have been appointed to administer the government of the several islands comprising the general govemment. The Horae Governraent receives all reports and inforraation relating to the subordinate islands from the Governor. All instructions to the Lieut.-Govemors are conveyed through hira, and the Lieut.-Governors in all cases apply to hira for instruction and assistance. BiUs passed by the Council and Assembly of any of the subordinate islands are to be sent by the Lieut.-Govemora, before their own assent is given, to the Govemor-in-Chief, and any amendment which he raay insist upon must be made part of the BiU before the aasent of the Lieut.-Govemors is expressed. The legislative authority in each of the islands is in the Governor, Council, and House of Asserably. ANTIGUA. Antigua is one of the Caribbee Islands, and is about 20 milea in length and breadth. It carae originaUy into the possession of the English by settieraent in 1632 ; was taken by the French in 1782, but reatored to the English in 1783. The island ia governed by a Governor, Council, and Aaaembly. The law of England, generaUy, is in force. MONTSERRAT. Montserrat ia one of the Caribbee lalanda. It Uea north of Guada loupe, and ia about nine railes in length and breadth. It was obtained by settieraent in 1632. The legislative power ia in the Governor, Council, and Assembly. ST. CHRISTOPHER AND ANGUILLA. St. Christopher is one of the Caribbee Islands. It is about 14 leagues in circuit. It was originaUy settled by both French and EngUsh, but wa.s ceded to the latter in 1713. In 1782 it was taken 0 2 196 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. by the French, who restored it in 1783. Anguilla is a smaU island 60 miles north-west of St. Christopher, to which it is a dependency. It was aettled by the Engliah in 1650. The power of raaking lawa is in the Govemor, Council, and Assembly. The laws of England are deemed to be in force. NEVIS. Nevis is one of the islands of the Caribbean range, and is forraed of one raountain, the base of which does not exceed eight leagues in circum ference. It was eatablished by settlement in 1628, surrendered to France in 1782, but was restored to England by the peace in 1783. The government is administered, in the absence of the Govemor, by the Preaident. TORTOLA AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. Tortola, the principal of the Virgin lalanda, is about 18 miles long and aeven broad. It was first occupied by a party of Dutch Buccaneers, who were expelled, and the island taken possession of by the British, iu 1666, since which time it has remained in their hands. A Legisla tive Assembly was granted in 1773. DOMINICA. Dominica Ues between the French dependencies Martinique and Guadaloupe, and is 29 railes in length and about 16 railes in breadth. The island was aettled by the French at the beginning of the 17th century, and after changing maaters several tiraes was ceded to the EngUsh in 1763. The English law is generaUy followed. The legis lative power is in the Governor, Council, and House of Aisserably. WINDWARD ISLANDS. The colonies of Barbadoes, Tobago, Grenada, St. Vincent, and St. Lucia, which form the southern portion of the Caribbean chain, have been consoUdated under one general government, called the Govem ment of the Windward Islands ; and Lieut.-Governors or Presidents are appointed to the subordinate governments, subject in all respects to the same regulations as those which relate to the Leeward lalands. BARBADOES. Barbadoes is the raost easterly of the Caribbee Islands. It is about 25 milea long by 15 broad, and containa about 107,000 acrea of land. It carae into the possession of the EngUsh by settlement in 1605. The power of raaking laws is in the Governor, Council, and Assembly. The English law is the foundation of the law in force. GRENADA. Grenada, one of the Caribbee lalanda, is about 24 railes long and 12 miles in its extreme width. Part of the group of tlie surrounding islands, caUed the Grenadines, are comprised in the govemment. The island waa discovered by the Spaniarda in 1498, fell afterwards into the hands of a French chartered company, and capitulated to the SF.CT. VI. COLONIES AND SETTLEMENTS. 197 English in 1769. It was retaken by the French in 1779, and restored to England on the peace iu 1783. The colony ia a dependency of Barbadoea. The Governor, Council, and Assembly make lawa. The general law of the colony ia assimilated to that of England. ST. VINCENT. St. Vincent ia one bf the Caribbee lalanda. It is about 24 miles long and 18 wide, and contains about 84,000 acres. The ialaud was discovered by the Spaniards, but was not settled by them. It long continued the object of disputed possession and the theatre of savage hostiUties, but was ceded by the French to the English by the treaty of Paris in 1763. St. Vincent is one of the islands comprised in the govemment of the Windward Islands. The power of making laws ia in the Govemor, Council, and a Representative Assembly. .So much of the laws of England aa are appUcable to the colony are in force. TOBAGO. This colony is one of the Caribbee Islands. It is frora 23 to 25 leagues in circuraference. It was among the early discoveries of the Spaniards, and reraained long unsettled, but feU into possession of the Dutch, who colonised it. In 1677 they were driven out by the French ; in 17-18 the island was declared neutral; in 1763 it was ceded to Eng land. It was taken by the French and retaken by the English several timea between that year and 1814, when it was finally ceded to Great Britain by the treaty of Paris. The colony forms part of the general governraent of the Windward lalands. The legislative power is in the Govemor, Council, and Assembly. The law of England is in force. ST. LUCIA. Thia colony ia one of the islands of the Caribbean chain. It is situated between 13 and 14 degrees of north latitude, and between 59J and 60.J west longitude. The first atterapt to forra a settlement on the island was made by the Britiah in 1639, but the Governor and moat of the settlers were raurdered by the Caribs, and the survivors driven out. It was seized upon by the French in 1650, recovered by the English in 1664, and afterwards evacuated. After long disputes between the EngUsh and French settlers, it was ceded to France in 1763, again taken by the EngUsh in 1794, restored to the French at the peace of Araiens, and retaken by the English in 1803, since when it has re mained an English possession. It ia a Crown colony, governed by orders in Council. With some important amendments, the old French law generally prevails. Trial by jury has been introduced in criminal CASGS THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES. These colonies, comprising New South Wales, Van Die-men's Land, Victoria, South Australia and Westem Australia, are under the govem ment of a Captain-General and Govemor-in-Chief, whose seat of government is at Sydney— a Lieut.-Governor being appointed to each 198 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. of the other settlements, except that at Westem Australia, from its great distance from Sydney, the style of Govemor and Commander- in-Chief is given. These colonies are each governed by a single legislative chamber — two-thirds of the merabers elected by the inhabitants, and one-third nominated by the Govemor. These Legislatures have power to alter their own constitutions, and also the appropriation of the sums made applicable by the schedules of an Act of the Imperial Parliament (13 and 14 "Vict. c. 59) to particular purposes— but only, in theae cases, with the aasent of the Crown. The Governor possesses the peculiar power, when acts are presented for his assent, of retuming them with any amendments he may suggest for the consideration of the Legislative Asserably, instead of being compelled at once to give or withhold his assent. But in addition to the two foregoing cases reserved for the consent of the Crown, no Act regulating any religious grant may be sanctioned by the Governor, but must be reserved for the special sanction of the Crown. The laws of England are generally recognised so far as they are applicable, and the English forms are observed in the administration of justice. NEW SOUTH WALES. This colony ia situated on the eastern coast of New Holland, and extends coastwiae about 500 mUea between the 22nd and 36th degreea of south latitude. It ia said to have been discovered by the Spaniards in 1609. It was successively visited by several of the early navigators, but was little known until Cook explored the eastern coast in 1770. His description led the British Governraent to establish a penal colony here, and the first settlement was forraed in 1787 ; and it has continued till within these few years to be the great receptacle for the convicted criminals of the United Kingdom. Norfolk Island is a dependency of Van Diemen's Land, from which it is distant 700 miles. It was colonised in 1791, but the settlement was abandoned. It was again occupied iu 1825 as a place of punishment. New South Wales is aubject to the legislation of the Govemor and Council. The courta have exercised large powers, but justice is administered in the spirit of the EngUsh law. VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. Thia ialand is divided from the south-east coast of New HoUand by Basa'a Strait. Its area ia about 23,500 square railes. It waa dia- covered by the Dutch in 1642, was -risited by Cook in 1773, and its geographical separation from New Holland was determined by Mr. Bass, R.N., in 1798. In 1803 a settlement was first formed by the removal here of a party of transports convicted of crimes in New South Wales, and its acquisition by Great Britain dates from this time. Iu addition to the continual transport of offenders from the United Kingdom, a large amount of emigration took place, and in 1825 the iraportance of the colony led to its establishraent aa a separate SECT. VI. COLONIES AND SETTLEMENTS. 199 governraent. It continues to this day a penal colony, but transporta tion to it has ceased. SOUTH AUSTRALIA. This province was formed by another settlement on this island Continent, founded in 1836. Its limits extend from the 132nd to the 140th degree of east longitude. Ita seat of govemment and capital is Adelaide. The province was created a separate colony by stat. 4 and 5 WiU. IV. It contains an area of nearly 300,000 square miles. WESTERN AUSTRALIA. This settlement is on the western coast of New Holland, and is sometiraes called the Swan River Settlement. It was commenced in 1829. Its length is about 1300 miles, and its mean breadth about 800 milea. It includea all that portion of New Holland which is situated to the westward of the 129th degree of longitude. VICTORIA. This colony, hitherto known under the designation of the District of Port Phillip, has been formed into a separate govemment in pursuance of the AustraUan Colonies Government Act. It is situate in the south eastern part of Auatralia, between the 36th and 39th parallela of S. latitude, and 141st and 150th meridians of E. longitude. Its capital is Melbourne, at the head of Port Phillip Bay. NEW ZEALAND. Thia colony consists of three islands in the Pacific Ocean, between 48 and 34 degrees south latitude, and 166 and 179 degreea east longi tude. They were discovered by Tasman in 1642. In 1814 several miaaionary stationa were eatabUshed ; » large tract of land was after wards purchased from the natives, and, numerous emigrants having eatabUahed themselves and the settlement having progressed to import ance, it was declared subject to the British Crown in 1840, and an organized govemment estabUshed, the power of raaking laws being vested in the Governor and Council. But in 1852 an Act was passed (15 and 16 Viot. c. 72) granting a constitution nearly similar to that already deacribed for the AustraUan colonies. The colony was divided into aix provinces, each having an elective provincial Super intendent and Council, choaen for four yeara ; and a General -issembly , consisting of the Governor, a Legislative Council of ten peraons selected by the Crown, and a Houae of Representatives popularly elected, having power to legialate for the whole colony. At preaent there are nine principal European settleraents beaides smaller dependencies. The largest settlement contains about 7,000 European inhabitants, and the total European population is about 20,000. The settleraents are scattered over an extent of about 800 miles of latitude, and are separated from each other by wide intervals. The natives are estimated at 120,000. 200 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. SECEETABY OF STATE'S OFFICE— WAE DEPAETMENT. Pembroke House, -Whitehall Gardens. On the declaration of war in 1854, the opinions which had fer some time been entertained, that the authorities intrusted •with the political control of affairs connected 'with the military ad ministration should be centred in the hands of one" responsible Minister, led to the separation of the duties of War Minister from those of the Colonies, and the appointment of a Secretary of State for War. The patent of the Duke of Newcastle, who then, as Colonial Minister, had the charge of the war, was revoked, and he was reappointed in general terms one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, and placed at the head of this new department ; and a new appointment was at the same time made to fill the vacancy thus created at the Colonial Office. The inconvenience was foreseen which would arise from making extensive changes by the consoUdation of duties imme diately relating to the conduct of the war, at a time when the greatest promptitude was required ; and the immediate duties with which the newly-created Minister was invested were, in the first instance, those only concerning the charge and control of the war, which had belonged to the Colonial Secretary. He has, therefore, succeeded to the direction of the war, and plans the operations of the British armies abroad, conveying to the officers in command the instructions of his Government, and receiving their despatches. He also cares for all matters con nected with the wants of the British armies engaged in a cam paign. He recommends to the Sovereign for the order of the Bath. He has, further, a general authority in all matters relating to the army, and is responsible for the amount of the military establishments, it being his province, after consulting the Commander-in-Chief upon the total amount of the force which the Govemment propose to he maintained for the year, to submit it for the Queen's pleasure. He also conveys to the Commander-in-Chief the approval of those higher miUtary ap pointments which require the sanction of the Government. He prepares for the royal signature, and countersigns (a duty hereto fore belonging to the Home Secretary) all military commissions, except those prepared by the Colonial Secretary for officers. serving in India, Ceylon, or the Colonial corps, upon a noti fication from the Secretary at War of Her Majesty's pleasure SECT. VI. POOR-LAW BOARD. 201 taken thereon by the Commander-in-Chief. In the same manner he receives and conveys to the Master-General of the Ordnance Her Majesty's commands for the supply and issue of arms. Arrangements are in progress to transfer to the Secretary of State for War the extensive Commissariat duties now under the charge of the Treasury ; and it will remain for future determina tion what portions of those civil functions belonging to the Ordnance, the War Office,- or other departments which are con nected both with the miUtary and political duties of the State may be advantageously transferred to his care. The establishment of the office has not yet been formed. An under-secretary (not a poUtical officer) has been temporarily appointed ; salary, 1500/. a year. THE BOOE-LAW BOARD. Gwydyi House, "Whitehall. In 1834 the stat. 4 and 5 Will. IV. c. 76, was passed, to con trol and render uniform the administration of relief to the Boor in England and Wales, and Commissioners were appointed to carry into execution the new and onerous duties then for the first time confided to a central authority. In 1838, by the 1 and 2 Vict. c. 56, their powers were extended to Ireland. The Comnlissioners sat as a Board, which might he held in England and Wales, or in Ireland, and had power to summon and examine 'witnesses on oath, and to call for the production of papers on oath. They were required from time to time to report their proceedings to the Secretary of State for the Home Department. They also made a general report to him, annually, which was laid before Parliament. The administration of all the reUef to the poor was placed under their control. They were empowered to make rules and regulations for the management of the poor, the apprenticing of pauper children, the direction of vestries, parish officers, &c. ; and to regulate the mode of contracts, and the audit and allowance of accounts. All the statutory powers of any Acts relating to workhouses and to borrowing money were subjected to their control. With the consent of the majority of the guardians of unions and parishes, they could direct workhouses to be built, enlarged, altered, or hired ; and, without such consent, might order worldiouses to he altered or enlarged, provided the outlay did not exceed one-tenth 202 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. of the year's rates. They had fhe power to form unions of parishes (each remaining chargeable for its own poor), to dissolve with consent existing unions, and thereupon to ascertain the rights and interests of the several parishes, and to provide for their adjustment. They were emnowered to make regulations for the guidance and control of guardians, and rules for the government of the workhouses. They might direct Boards of Guardians to appoint such paid officers as they deemed necessary, and regulate their duties and salaries ; and they had power of dismissal over all paid officers engaged in the relief of the poor. They had further power to regulate relief to able-bodied paupers out of the workhouse, to order rehef in certain cases to be given as a loan, to attach wages in the hands of an employer, to call for and publish accounts of parochial estates ; and the expendi ture of all rates raised for the purpose of emigration required their sanction and was subject to their regulations. These were the chief powers intrusted to the Commissioners, and they were enforced by penalties and imprisonment. The Commissioners exercising these powers had been appointed for a limited period, which was continued from time to time, and would have expired in 1847. The magnitude of the interests, the numerous details connected with their control, and the dif ficulty which was frequently imposed on the Home Secretary in explaining and defending their proceedings in ParUament, led, on a renewal of the Commission, to its erection into a separate and independent Board, under a responsible minister having a seat in ParUament. This change was effected by stat. 10 and 11 Vict. c. 109, which empowered Her Majesty to appoint such person or persons as she may think fit to he Commissioners for administering the laws for the relief of the poor in England, and enacted that the Lord President of the Council, the Lord Privy Seal, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, should be, ex officio, joint Commissioners ; transfeiTing all the powers and duties of the former Commissioners to the new Commis sioners, since termed " The Poor Law Board," on their entering into office, and limiting their authority under the Act to five years, which has subsequently been extended by 15 and 16 Vict. c. 59 to July 1854, and further by 17 and 18 Vict. c. 41, to the 23rd July 1859, and the end of the then next Session of ParUament. By 10 and 11 Vict, c. 90, the administration of SECT. VI. BOARD OF HEALTH. 203 the Irish Poor Law was separated from the English, and a similar Commission was estabUshed in Dublin. The Commissioner appointed by the Queen is styled the President. He has authority to act alone in the execution of any powers vested in the Commissioners, and is in fact the minister responsible for the Poor Law administration. The President may sit in Parliament, as may also one of the two secretaries. He has the appointment of inspectors to visit and inspect every workhouse and place where any poor person receiving rehef is lodged, and of clerks, messengers, and servants ; but the Prime Minister makes the selection of the secretaries, though they are in point of form appointed by the President. The establishment and the rates of pay of the secre taries, assistant secretaries, and clerks, are fixed by the Trea sury. The President and Parliamentary Secretary quit office on a change of the Govemment of which they are members. The appointment of the former renders a new election neces sary, but not of the latter. The present estabUshment consists of the President, salary 2000/. per annum ; two secretaries, one at 1500/., to be reduced on the next vacancy to 1000/. — the Parliamentary Secretary, at 1000/. ; two assistant-secretaries, one 1100/. increasing to 1200/., and one 700/. ; eight inspectors 700/. each, and four, 500/. each ; 40 clerks, commencing at 80/., and increasing by classes to 400/. ; -with messengers, office-keeper, &c. GENERAL BOARD OF HEALTH. Parliament Street. The creation of this Board in 1848, by stat. 11 and 12 Vict. c. 63, was the first eamest step taken by the Legislature in Sanitary Police. By this Act, which was limited in its duration to five years, provision was made for improving the supply of water, and the sewage, drainage, cleansing, and paving of to-wns and populous places in England and Wales ; but the City of London, the district of the London Commission of Sewers, and of the Eegent's Park Commissioners, were exempted from the operation of the Act. The First Commissioner of Works and PubUc Buildings, -with two other persons appointed by Her Majesty during pleasure, constituted the Board. ¦Upon the application of one-tenth of the rated inhabitants of 204 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. any town, parish, or place having a defined boundary, or if the yearly average of deaths for the last seven years have exceeded 23 in 1000, the Board may direct a superintending inspector, whom they are empowered to appoint, to make public inquiry on the spot, as to the sewage, drainage, water-supply, state of the bu rial-grounds, number and sanitary condition of the inhabitants, and as to any local Acts regulating such matters, and also whether it appears desirable to alter or extend the boundaries of the district for the purposes of this Act. The inspector's report upon these subjects is published and transmitted by the Board to the authorities of the district. If, on consideration of this report, the Board deem it expedient that the Act, or any part of the Act, should be put in force 'without any alteration of the existing boundaries, upon the Eeport of the Board to Her Majesty, the Privy Council may order that such of the provisions of the Act as the Board recommend shall be ap pUed and have full force within the district. But if the Board deem it expedient that new boundaries should be created, then they are empowered to make a provisional order, with such re strictions and regulations as they shall think proper, 'with respect to the provisions of this Act, or of any local Act which may he in force ; and if Parliament shall afterwards confirm the whole or any part of this order, so much of it shall become law ; but such orders are not to affect waterworks companies, imless by their consent. These are the centralized general powers of the Board ; but the more important of the following acts to be done by the local boards are subject to their supervision ; and they have, on appeal to them by memorial, the power of equitably adjusting claims for expenses made on individuals by local boards. The local execution of the Act is intrusted, on its appUcation, where one corporate borough forms the entire district, to the town council ; where parts of two or more boroughs are included, to the mayors of each of the boroughs and to such numbers of per sons fixed by the provisional order as shall be elected by each of the town councils from their own bodies ; and for an unincor- porate district, or part of an unincorporate district, to such num ber of persons as is named in the provisional order, elected by the owners of property and the ratepayers. These elected bodies are styled " Looal Boards of Health." They have the appoint ment of a surveyor, inspector of nuisances, clerk, and treasurer ; SECT. VI. BOARD OF HEALTH. 205 and may employ such collectors, officers, and servants as are necessary for the efficient execution of the Act. They may also appoint from time to time a qualified medical practitioner, to perform such special duties as they may direct. The local Boards of Health have large powers for the improve ment of the sewage, drainage, removal of dust and soil, and the prevention of nuisances ; also for the supply of water, lighting, the repair of the streets and highways, and the formation and maintenance of public walks or parks. They have, further, the regulation of common lodging-houses and the underground dwellings of the poor, and of the interments and burial-grounds. For these purposes the local boards are empowered to le^'y rates, and to raise money upon them by mortgage. In the year 1850 the Act 13 and 14 Vict. c. 52 was passed, to make better provision for the interment of the dead in and near the metropolis and the suburbs. The execution of this important Act was given to the General Board of Health, which for this purpose was incorporated, and Her Majesty was em powered to appoint an additional member to the Board. But this statute was repealed in 1852 (except as to the appointment and payment of the additional member of the Board) some of its provisions being intrasted to " Burial Boards," constituted by the repealing statute, 15 and 16 Vict. c. 85, and to be appointed by vestries. The controlling authority was at the same time transferred to the Secretary of State. In the original constitution of the Board, the ex-officio Presi dent was a political officer, representing the Commission in ParUament. The other Commissioners did not hold their of flces by a political tenure. To one of the Commissioners of the Board of Health, not being the President, the Treasury were authorized to appoint a salary, which had been fixed at 1500/. ; and to the Commissioner appointed under the Interments Act a salary of 1200/. per annum was fixed by that Act. But the Board so constituted was viewed with some jealousy by Parliament ; its sanction was withheld to the continuance of the Board's powers ; and in 1854, by stat. 17 and 18 Vict. c. 95, the Board was reconstituted on the model of the Poor Law Board, limited, however, in its duration, to one year from the date of the continuing Act, and to the end of the then next session of Parliament. This Act empowered Her Majesty to appoint a President of 206 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI- the Board of Health, who, with the principal Secretaries of State^ and the President and Vice-President of the Board of Trade, constitute the Board. The President, or any two members of the Board, are empowered to execute all the powers conferred by the preceding statutes. The President is capable of a seat in the House of Commons, and has heen sworn a member of the Privy Council. He receives a salary of 2000/., and his Secretary a salary of 1000/. The appointments connected ¦with the office are in the gift of the President. THE METROPOLITAN COMMISSION OF SEWERS. Chief Office— 1, Greek Street, Soho. Commissions of Sewers are temporary commissions issued under the Great Seal at the discretion of the Lord Chancellor, pursuant to the stat. 23 Hen. VIII. Their jurisdiction is to overlook and maintain the banks of the sea-coasts and navigable rivers, to see to the removal of any annoyances and to the con servation of the sewers. For these purposes they may assess such rates as they deem necessary. The Commissioners' Court, for which a jury may be summoned, is a Court of Eecord. The laws relating to sewers generally have been amended by stats. 3 and 4 WiU. IV. c. 22, 4 and 5 Vict. c. 45, and 12 and 13 Vict. c. 50. The metropolis was formerly under the jurisdiction of seven separate commissions, and the City of London formed an eighth district, under Commissioners appointed by the Corporation, pur suant to the stat. 11 Geo. HI. c. 29. By the authority of the 11 and 12 Viot. c. 122, amended by the 12 and 13 Vict. c. 93, Her Majesty appointed one commission for the above seven dis tricts, styled " The Metropolitan Commission of Sewers," super seding the former commissions, and virtually consolidating the same districts. The limits of the jurisdiction were at the same time extended to a radius of 12 miles from St. Paul's Cathedral. The commission was Umited to two years from the date of its issue, but by statutes 14 and 15 Vict. c. 75, 15 and 16 Vict. c. 64, 16 and 17 Vict. c. 125, and 17 and 1 8 Vict. c. Ill, has been continued till 7th August 1855. By the same stats. Her Majesty is empowered to appoint during pleasure one of the Commissioners to he the chairman and another to be the deputy chairman, and the Treasury are authorized to direct a salary of 1000/. to be paid SECT. VI. COMMISSIONERS OF SEWERS. 207 to the chairman. The other Commissioners act gratuitously. Two of the Commissioners, one being the chairman or the deputy chairman, form a quorum ; but no rate may be levied, nor money borrowed, nor mortgage made, nor annuity gi'anted, unless six Commissioners, the chairman being one, are present. The Lord Mayor is, ex officio, a member of any commission issued under the Act ; and the Common Council are empowered to appoint four members of the Court of Aldermen, or of their own body, to be Commissioners; but the powers of the City members are limited to questions affecting the City of London, which can only be entertained by courts specially summoned. The Commission is made liable to all the responsibilities of the superseded Commissions. The Commissioners are required to cause a map of their district to be prepared, showing the sew age and drains. They may separate existing sewage-districts, and alter their boundaries. All sewers, drains, &c., in their dis trict are within their control. They may require the Sewers Commissioners of the City of London to execute such works as are necessary for carrying off the drainage fiowing through the City, and may pay for such works equitably, either wholly or in part. Every description of sewer, drain, cesspool, or reservoir for the reception of waste water or filth, is subject to the control of the Commissioners. All sewers, drains, utensils, and property be longing to the superseded Commissioners are vested in them, and they are required to cleanse and maintain such drains and sewers, and to construct new sewers where necessary. They may also cause offensive ditches to be cleansed or covered in ; and, where required for the preservation of health, may direct streets to he cleansed and districts to be paved. The Act also invests them -with the supervision of house drainage, -with power to enforce the completion of proper drains and water-closets, and to see that they are properly maintained. "To effect these objects, and to discharge the expenses of the Commissioners and their officers, the Commissioners are em powered to levy district-rates, limited by 14 and 15 Vict, to 3d. in the pound, on the poor-law valuation. To defray improvements purely local they may raise an additional special sewers rate, Umited as above, on the property specially benefited; and for the improvement of sewers, watercourses, or for other works which the Commissioners deem it necessary to alter or improve, 208 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. they may divide the expense between the persons liable to maintain such works and the districts on which they would other'- -wise fall ; and may levy a limited improvement rate, which may be spread over 30 years, on the persons liable for one moiety. They may raise money, to the amount of 600,000/., on the mort gage of any of the rates they are empowered to levy. The Commissioners are required to keep accounts of the receipts and appropriation of all moneys, whioh accounts shall be open to inspection ; and to prepare an annual statement, under distinct heads, of receipt and expenditure, to be deposited in their office for inspection. The Commissioners may appoint and employ such secretary, clerks, treasurer, engineers, surveyors, collectors of rates, workmen, and other servants as are required. This Commission, on its consolidation in 1847, from its too great numbers and 'other causes, was found impracticable, and was superseded in October 1849, and another Commission appointed. The new Commission was divided in its opinions, encumbered by the machinery of the Act of 1848, and its diffi cult technicalties, and impeded by the conflicting authorities of its o^wn officers and a disorganized staff. But the Commis sioners perfected a plan for a complete arterial drainage of the metropolis, and then found themselves unable to borrow money, on the security they had to offer, to commence the works. They were an irresponsible body, levying rates and spending them without control, and the Government shrunk from the responsibiUty of increasing their powers to raise money, and in this dilemma they resigned. New Commissioners were again appointed, with, under the Act of 1850, a paid chairman and a deputy chairman ; but these Commissioners, unable to proceed with one great plan of main drainage, and unsupported hy the Govemment tendered the resignation of their offices in March 1854. THE METROPOLITAN BUILDINGS OFFICE. 6, Adelphi Terrace, Strand. Three officers; called Official Referees, and a fourth called the Registrar, are appointed under the stat. 7 and 8 Vict. c. 84, amended hy 9 Vict. c. 5, passed on sanitary grounds, for prevent ing mischiefs from fire, and for the improvement of the streets and dwellings of the metropolis. This statute enacts, by many SECT. VI. DUCHY OF LANCASTER. 209 minute provisions, rules for the constmction of dwellings, and the alteration or repair of existing buildings, and regulates the widths of streets. The metropoUs and its suburbs are ¦within the dis trict of the Act, which may be extended by order in Council to a radius of 12 miles from Charing Cross. The Lord Mayor and Aldermen and the Courts of Quarter Sessions are authorized to divide the metropoUs into districts ; and to appoint surveyors whose duty it is to see that the require ments of the Act are strictly observed. For these services the surveyors are entitled to demand, of the persons to whom the buildings they inspect belong, the fees prescribed by the Act. The official referees superintend the execution of the Act hy the district surveyors. They decide any doubts or differences which may arise. They report to the Board of Works cases in which it appears to them desirable to relax the strict rules of the Act, and the Board of Works may upon such report, or upon an original appUcation to them, make such relaxation as they think right. The registrar has the custody and arrangement of the records of the office, including all awards, certificates, and other docu ments, and fumishes authenticated copies. The official referees are appointed by the Home Secretary. They divide 2000/. annually between the three ; the senior official referee receivmg 1000/., and the other two, 500/. each. The official referees are at Uberty to practise. The registrar is ap pointed by the first Commissioner of Works and Buildings. His salary is 1000/. per annum. These salaries are paid from the consoUdated fund, which is reimbursed one moiety by a propor tional payment from the counties ¦within the limits of the Act and the City of London. THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER. Lancaster Place, Strand. Lancashire was created a county palatine by Edward IIL, and the head of the Duchy formerly exercised an independent regal jurisdiction, but the privUeges have been abridged hy successive statutes, and the administration of justice has recently been assimilated to the rest of England. The Duchy is now vested in the Crown, and invests the Queen with some trifling immuni ties and privileges. The revenues of the Duchy are Her Ma- p 210 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. jesty's private property. They form no part of those hereditary revenues in Ueu of which the civil Ust was granted. The net proceeds are paid over to the privy purse, and are wholly ¦with drawn from the control of ParUament, except that an annual account of the receipt and expenditure is presented. The revenues are managed by the Council of the Duchy. They produce a gross revenue of about 28,000/. per annum, and a net payment of ahout 12,000/. per annum to Her Majesty's use. The patronage of the Duchy includes the presentation to 50 li^vings. The two separate offices of Chancellor of the Duchy, that is of the territory of the palatine lying out of the county, and of Chancellor of the County Palatine, are usually combined. The Duchy Court is held at Westminster, and exercises a special jurisdiction concerning all manner of equity relating to lands holden of the Crown in right of the Duchy. It is not much resorted to, and is usually held by the Chancellor's deputy. By stat. 17 and 18 Vict. c. 12, the Chancellor of the Duchy, ¦with the two Lords Justices of the Court of Appeal, were constituted the Palatinate Court of Appeal. The duties attaching to the chancellorship are few and unim portant, but the office has usually been a poUtical appointment filled by a statesman of high rank, frequently holding a seat in the Cabinet, not necessarily a lawyer, whose time is devoted to such larger questions, occupying the attention of the Govem ment, as do not fall immediately ¦within the province of other departments ; in framing measures of legislation, and in advo cating them in their passage through Parliament. The emolu ments of the office average about 2000/. per annum. The appointment is made nnder the seal of the Duchy. The ancient mineral laws and customs of the High Peak are administered in the Barmote Courts, which are regulated by the 14 and 15 Vict. c. 94, and Her Majesty is authorized to appoint a steward under the seal of the Duchy. THE DUCHY OF COENWALL. Somerset House, Strand. The Duchy of Cornwall was erected in 1337 in favour of Edward the Black Prince, and was settled by ParUament on the eldest son of the King of England, but only for the Ufe of the SECT. VI. LIEUTENANCY AND MILITIA. 211 Sovereign. The Prince of Wales, as Duke of CornwaU, enjoys large revenues, which are his private property, arising from the lordships, manors, and boroughs granted to him ; the profits of the mines, and from other sources. The immediate govemment of the county was vested in the Duke, who has still his council, his chancellor, and his legal adviser. He has also the appointment of the lord-lieutenant and sheriff of the county. The income of the Duchy is managed by the council as trus tees for the Prince of Wales during his minority, pursuant to stat. 7 and 8 Vict. c. 65, and by the same stat. the Queen exercises all the rights and pri^vUeges of the Duchy until the Prince is of age. The mining trade is under the separate jurisdiction of the stannary courts, of which the Lord Warden and the Vice- warden are the heads, and decide on principles of equity in all matters coimected with the working in tin, lead, copper, and other metals. But there is a final appeal from their decisions to the Duke in council. The stannary courts are regulated by stat. 7 WiU. IV. c. 106. Pursuant to stat. 1 and 2 Vict. c. 101, an aimual account of the revenues and charges of the Duchy is laid before ParUament. The revenues arising from rents, royalties, and the compensation ia Ueu of tin coinage duties, amount to about 44,000/. per annum,- and the net revenue paid for the use of the Prince, after deducting salaries, expenses, and allowances, amounts to about 38,000/. per annum. THE LIEUTENANCY, MILITIA, AND VOLUNTEEES. The office of Lord Lieutenant arose from the practice of issu ing from time to time commissions of array, to set in military order the inhabitants of counties as a national miUtia, and the Lords Lieutenant began to form the permanent local representa tives of the Crown during the reigns of Henry VIII. and of his children. The Lords Lieutenant are permanent pro-vincial governors. They are appointed by the Queen by patent under the great seal, and hold their offices during pleasure. Their appointments seem specially framed under the Jililitia Act of 42 Geo. IIL, on the passing of which new appointments were made out for the Lords Lieutenant in reference to its provisions. The Lords Lieutenant take the oath of office (a short oath of allegiance) p2 212 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. before Her Majesty in CouncU. They are at the head of the magistracy, the miUtia, and the yeomanry, and are the chief looal executive authorities. They form the settled channel of communication between the Govemment and the magistracy, and are considered in all cases of emergency as responsible for the efficient protection of the pubUc tranquillity -within their coun ties. They have the nomination of the entire staff of deputy- lieutenants, and of the officers of the militia and volunteer corps. They also nominate, to the Lord Chancellor for the commission of the peace. Their chief authority is military, and is exerted for the preservation of the peace. It does not interfere with the duties of the sheriff, which are now practically confined to maj;- ters connected with the administration of justice. The Lord Lieutenant is also, by appointment under the royal sign manual, custos rotuloru/m, an officer of the Lord Chancellor having the charge of the records of the county, and in that cha racter he appoints the clerk of the peace. The only exception to the joint tenure of the two offices is in the county of Durham, where the Bishop of Durham is invariably the custos. The Lords Lieutenant are unpaid officers. Their appointment is made from motives of party, but when appointed they ai-e in dependent of politics, and hold their offices for Ufe — though in 1780 two Lords Lieutenant were removed from office for placing themselves in opposition to the Govemment of the day ; and the Lord Lieutenant of the West Biding of Yorkshire was superseded in 1819, and the Lord Lieutenant of the county of Nottingham in the year 1832. THE MILITIA OF GREAT BRITAIN. The institution of our national miUtia is ascribed to Alfred. On the Nomian Conquest this system, which doubtless partook of the popular character of all his laws, was superseded by the feudal system. But, in addition to those whose military tenures bound them to perform service in the field, the militia was revived by the statute of Winchester (27 Hen. IL), and the foundation was then laid of the miUtia force, which has con tinued to our day. This statute required every man to provide arms according to his condition jt and appointed officers to muster aud put in array the inhabitants of each district and to inspect heir weapons. The control of this national force five centuries ater became the immediate cause of the Parliamentary war ; and SECT. VI. LIEUTENANCY AND MILITIA. 218 on the Eestoration the right of the Crown to command the militia was recognised by the 13 Chas. II. ; and the general scheme to discipline a certain number of the inhabitants of each county, chosen by lot for three years, and officered by the principal landowners appointed by the lord lieutenant, -with the sanction of the Crown, as at present, was estabUshed by statutes of that and the two following sessions. But this force was found expensive ; it fell into disuse, and the training of the militia was for a long time discontinued. In 1715 the miUtia was again embodied under an Act of the 30 Geo. II. It was then continued, and its utility was sub sequently extended by several statutes of Geo. IH., particularly by those of the 42nd, 51st, and 52nd years of his reign. When caUed out the miUtia is placed under the command of general officers, and subjected to the pro-visions of the Mutiny Act ; and the Queen may employ it in any part of the United Kingdom, but not out of it. In 1793 an additional body was first raised, called the Supplemental Militia, and in 1809 a second auxiliary corps was raised caUed the Local MUitia, to replace the corps of volunteers in certain districts. The militia baUots were sus pended from 1817 to 1852, but the staff was maintained and the charges annually voted by ParUament. These were, for the year ending March 31, 1851, for Great Britain 86,650/. ; for Ireland 23,200/. In 1852 the miUtia of England was again called out under stat. 15 and 16 Vict. c. 50. By this statute Her Majesty is empowered to raise a force not exceeding 80,000 private men, who are to be enrolled for the term of five years, 50,000 in 1852, and 30,000 in 1853 ; and in case of invasion or imminent danger thereof, this force may be increased to 120,000 men. This amount of force is in lieu of that directed to he raised under stats. 42 Geo. III. c. 90, and 52 Geo. III. c. 38. To the militia raised under the Act of 1852 a further addition of 200,000 men may, in the same emergency, be made in England, pursuant to the powers of the National Defences Act of 1806. The militia, under the statute of 1852, is to be raised by voluntary enUstment in the proportion fixed for each county by order in councU, and in case the required number of men are not pro-vided, then a ballot is to be enforced in such places as have not furnished the quotas demanded, upon aU men under 35 years of age. The force may be called out for not exceeding 21 days' training and exercise in each year ; and this period may 214 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. be extended after the corps is called out to 56 days. But in 1854 Her Majesty was further enabled, by stat. 17 and 18 Viot. c. 13, to draw out and embody all or part of the MiUtias of the United Kingdom whenever a state of war exists. The expenses voted for the miUtia were — 1852-3 . . 56,746 officers and men . . £386,715 1853-4 . . 91,812 „ . . £478,740 This large force when called out is entirely under the control of the ci^vil authorities ; the Commander-in-Chief has no autho rity whatever over it. It is subject to the authority of the lords- lieutenant of counties, who receive the commands and sanction of Her Majesty through the Secretary of State. They appoint the deputy lieutenants and officers, draw out and embody the County quotas, call out the force periodically for training and exercise, and have authority over all those details necessary for the maintenance of disciphne. The following are the rates of dally pay of the militia in England and Wales, viz. : — 1. When disembodied : Infantry. ArtiUery. s. d. s. d. Adjutant 80 90 Seijeant-major 1 10 3 0 Quartermaster-Serjeant and Paymaster-seijeant, each 18 2 6 Serjeants 16 22 Drummers. — If above 16 years of age 10 10 If under 16 „ 0 10 0 10 2. When training or embodied (The rates of those on the staff, in italics, are in addition to their disembodied pay) : Infantry. ArtiUery. Colonel £12 6 £12 6 Lieutenant-colonel 0 15 11 0 15 11 Major 0 14 1 0 14 1 Captain (including non-effective allowance) . 0 10 6 0 10 6 Lieutenant 066 066 Ensign 053 053 Adjutant 006 010 Quartermaster (if not holding a. subaltern's coraraission) 066 066 Ditto (if holding a subaltern's commission) .050 050 Surgeon 0 11 4 0 11 4 Surgeon's mate (if holding also another ap pointment in the regiment) .... i 0 3 6 036 Ditto (if not holding another appointment in the regiment) ...050 050 Serjeant-major 00 2| 006 SECT. VL YEOMANRY AND VOLUNTEERS. 215 Infantry. Artillery. Quartermaster-Serjeant £0 0 4J £0 0 4 Paymaster-Serjeant 00 4| 004 Seqeant OOOf 004 Corporal . . . ¦ 0 1 2^ 0 1 2i Drummer 001 001 Privates 010 010 ¦ Colonels appointed to militia regiments subsequently to the loth March 1853, are not entitled to miUtary pay, the appoint ment being thenceforth honorary only, nor any colonels unless they attend the training occasionally. By two Acts of the Session of 1854 power is given to raise by Voluntary Enlistment a MiUtia Force of 10,000 men in Scotland and of 30,000 men in Ireland. THE YEOMANRY AND VOLUNTEERS. These corps are local forces raised by indi'viduals, 'with the approbation of the Queen, who accepts the offer of their volun tary service. They are, Uke the MiUtia, under the control of the lords-lieutenant, who receive Her Majesty's commands relative to training and discipline through the Secretary of State, and appoint the officers subject to Her Majesty's approval. They are annually, with the Queen's sanction, dra'wn out for training and exercise, and are available in their respective counties to assist the magistracy in the preservation of peace, and for any other service which may be required of them. They have oc casionally been called out only once in two years. There are now 48 yeomanry corps in Great Britain, composed of 14,293 men, exclusive of commissioned officers. They receive a daily pay when called out for training and exercise, or for duty, and an allowance of 31. each per man towards their cloth ing and accoutrements. When on service the corps are subject to the command of any superior miUtary officer with whose corps they may chance to serve, and they become a part of the regular force, and subject to miUtary law. They are always ready for immediate service. The charge voted for the yeomanry service in each of the last ten years has been — 1845-6 . . £86,000 1850-1 . . £81,000 1846-7 . . 82,000 1851-2 . . 65,000 1847-8 . . 86,000 1852-3 . . 84,000 1848-9 . . 80,000 1853-4 . . 84,000 1849-50 . . 66,000 1854-5 . . 88,000 216 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. THE SHERIFFS OF COUNTIES IN ENGLAND AND WALES. The Sheriffs were anciently chosen by the freeholders of the county. Since the stat. 9 Edw. II. , which terminated this mode of election, they have been appointed by the Crown. The Judges of assize in the first instance select the names of persons quaUfied to fill the office, and report them on the morrow of St. Martin (the 12th Nov.) to the Court of Exchequer. These names are then reviewed, and any objections or claims of exeinption considered by the Lord Chancellor, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Judges, and three persons are selected for each county, who are reported to the Queen in council on the morrow of the Purification (the Srd Feb.), when Her Majesty selects one person, always the first named of the three, by prick ing the parchment list with a punch opposite to his name. The office is unpaid, and entaiUng onerous duties and liabilities, has never been desired. In the time of Henry VI. great difficulty was found to induce persons appointed Sheriffs to execute the office : guarantees were given by the Privy Council against losses ; petitions to be relieved from the office were peremptorily refused, and hea'vy fines threatened. It is well known that anciently ladies filled the office of Sheriff in English counties. There are many well-authenticated cases on record. The Sheriff, during his year of office, takes precedence of all persons in the county. In his county court he had an ancient jurisdiction over all ci'vil cases to the value of 40s. ; but by the stat. 9 and 10 Vict. c. 95, the county court was remodelled, and, ¦without abolishing its ancient authorities, the jurisdiction was extended and its constitution altered. The Sheriff presides over the election of Knights of the Shire and Coroners ; he has the power to apprehend offenders against the peace ; he is hound to pursue all offenders, and to defend the county against the King's enemies ; and he may for this purpose command the assistance of every person ¦within his jurisdiction, above the age of 15 years, and below the degree of a peer. The Lord Lieutenant is now, however, deemed immediately responsible for the maintenance of the peace, while the Sheriff's duties are more exclusively confined to matters connected ¦with the administration of justice. He is bound to execute all process issuing from the King's courts of justice. In the com mencement of civil causes he is to serve the writ, to arrest, and to take bail. When the cause comes to trial he must summon SECT. VL COMMISSIONS OF INQUIRY. 217 and return the jury ; when it is determined, he must see the judgment carried into execution. In criminal matters he has the custody of the delinquent in gaol, and he executes, or is re sponsible for the execution of, the sentence, even though the penalty be death. The Sheriff appoints a deputy, or under sheriff, by whom the chief duty is performed, and also a bailiff, and the keeper of the county gaol. The Sheriffs of Middlesex are appointed annually by the citizens of London pursuant to their charter, and are also the Sheriffs of the City : their year of office commences on the 29th September. The Sheriff of Cornwall is appointed by the Cro-wn during the minority of the Prince of Wales, who has the appoint ment as Duke of Cornwall. The office of Sheriff of Westmoreland was hereditary in the family of the Earl of Thanet ; but the last Eai-1 dying in 1849 without lawful issue, the Act of the 13 and 14 Vict. c. 30, was passed to enable the Queen to resume the appointment of Sheriff. The office of Sheriff, so far as relates to the form of appoint ment, the mode of auditing his accounts, and the return and recovery of fines, forfeited recognizances, penalties, and deodands, was regulated by the stat. 3 and 4 Will. IV. c. 99. COMMISSIONS OP INQUIEY. The practice of issuing Commissions of Inquiry is said to be as old as the reign of Henry VII. They are of a temporary character and are issued by the Crown, either under the sign manual or by patent under the great seal. They are addressed to the persons named as the Commissioners, and require them to inquire and report upon certain matters which are specifically defined in their commission. For this purpose they are usually authorized to examine competent persons, and to call for any records, papers, or documents which may assist their researches and enable them to come to a sound conclusion. Such inquiries have frequently preceded important legislative measures attended ¦with many details, and affecting large social interests. The constitutional power of the crown to issue Commissions of In quiry has been questioned ; and legal opinions have been given that the powers of obtaining evidence are in fact compulsory, and that it is au assumption of authority to compel persons to give evidence, or to administer an oath, even to wiUing ¦wit 218 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VL nesses, except in the regular course of administering justice. But such objections have not impeded full and fair inquiry, and Commissioners, justified by the public nature and object of the inquiries intrusted to them, have rarely been thwarted by the refusal of information or the opposition of contending interests. The province of these Commissions is preUminary inquiry, and their labours terminate on the completion and presentation of their report. But occasionally commissions have been au thorized to step beyond this usual Umit, and to superintend the carrying their recommendations into effect. The Commissioners are sometimes paid, but they more frequently give their services gratuitously. A secretary is either named in the Commission, or the Commissioners are authorized to appoint and employ such an officer. The expenses of the Commissions are defrayed by order of the Treasury. The following are the principal Commissions now in force, viz. — French and Danish Claims Commission. — Issued 1833, for adjudicating on the unsettled claims of British subjects for losses by decrees of sequestration and confiscation of the French Government in 1793 ; for investigating the claims of British subjects for losses under the decrees of the Danish Government in 1807 ; and for inquiring into and reporting upon the claims of British subjects trading ¦with Spain, whose property had been sequestered by the Spanish Govemment subsequent to 1804. ¦Constabulary Force Commission. — Issued 1839, for inquiring as to the best means of estabUshing an efficient Constabulary Force in the counties of England and Wales, for the prevention of offences, the detection of offenders, and the enforcement of a more regular observance of the laws. The Fine Arts Commission. — Issued 1841, to inquire whether advantage may not be taken of the rebuilding of the Houses of Parliament for the purpose of promoting and encouraging the fine arts. Metropolitan Improvement Commission. — Issued 1842, to inquire into and consider the most effectual means of improving the MetropoUs, and of pro^viding increased faciUties for com munication ¦within the same. Public Records, Ireland, Commission. — Issued 1848, to inquire into the state of the PubUc Eecords of Ireland. SECT. VI. COMMISSIONS OF INQUIRY. 219 New Palace Commission. — Issued 1848, to superintend the completion of the New Palace at Westminster. Subdivision of Parishes Commission. — Issued 1849, to inquire into the practicability and mode of subdividing, for all ecclesias tical purposes, the densely-peopled parishes of England and Wales. Courts of Law Commission. — Issued 1850, for inquiring into the process, practice, and system of pleading in the Superior (Courts of Law at Westminster and on Circuit. British Guiana Immigration Commission. — Appointed 1850, for borrowing, raising, managing, and expending the funds to be borrowed and raised by them in pursuance of an Ordinance of the Govemor and Court of PoUcy of the Colony of British Guiana, entitled ' An Ordinance to authorize the raising, on Loan, of the Sum of 500,000/. for Immigration Purposes.' Commission for the Exhibitimt 0^1851. — Issued January 1850, for the promotion of the Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations, to be held in the year 1851. Incorporated by Eoyal Charter, August 1850, for the purpose of more effectually carry ing out and conducting and completing the said Exhibition, and all matters and things relating to and concerning the same. Ee- incorporated by a Supplemental Eoyal Charter, December 1851, ¦with full power to dispose of the surplus funds arising from the Exhibition, to purchase and hold lands and hereditaments, and to maintain and direct any estabUshments or institutions to be founded in pursuance of any plans devised by them for the dis posal of the surplus. Oxfcrrd University Commission. — Issued August 1850, for inquiring into the state, disciphne, studies, and revenues of the University and Colleges of Oxford. Cambridge University Commission. — Issued August 1850, for inquiring into the state, disciphne, studies, and revenues of the University and CoUeges of Cambridge. Cathedral Commission.— Issnei 10th November 1852, for in quiring into the state of the Cathedral and Collegiate Churches in England and Wales, and matters connected therewith. Chancery Commission. — Issued 20th November 1852, for con tinuing the Chancery Inquiry, and for inquiring into the law and jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical and other Courts ia relation to matters testamentary. 220 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. Shipping Dues' Commission. — Issued 19th March 1853, for inquiring into local charges upon shipping. County Courts' Commission. — Issued 20th August 1853, for inquiring into the state and practice of the County Courts. Maynooth College Commission. — Issued 19th September 1853, for inquiring into the management and government of the College of Maynooth. Indian Judicial Commission. — Issued 28th November 1853, to examine and consider the reform of the Judicial EstabUshments, Judicial Procedure, and Laws of India. Newcastle Cholera Commission. — Issued 27th December 1853, for inquiring into the causes which have led to and have aggra vated the late outbreak of cholera at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Gateshead, and Tynemouth. Registration of Title Coromissjom.— Issued 18th January 1854, for considering the subject of the registration of title ¦with refer ence to the sale and transfer of land. Army Promotion Commission. — Issued 25th Pebraary 1854, to inquire into the several modes of promotion and retirement in Her Majesty's forces. Statute Laws Consolidation Commission. — Issued 16th August 1854, for the purpose of consolidating the statute laws of the realm. Patriotic Fund Commission. — Issued 13th October 1854, to collect subscriptions for the widows and orphans of the soldiers, sailors, and marines who fall in battle or by other casualties during the war, and to apply the funds so raised for their imme diate relief. River Tyne Commission. — Issued 4th November 1854, for in quiring into the present state of the Eiver Tyne. Irish School Endowment Commission. — Issued 10th Novem ber 1854, for inquiring into the endowments, funds, and actual condition of all schools endowed for the purposes of education in Ireland, and the nature and extent of the education given in such schools. Incumbered Estates Court Commission. — ^Issued 15th Novem ber 1854, for inquiring into the state of the business of the Court of Commissioners for the sale of Incumbered Estates in Ireland. RECT. VI. INDIA BOARD. 221 COMMISSIONEES POE THE AFFAIRS OF INDIA. Cannon Row, Westminster. With the exception of an approval reserved to the Cro^wn on the removal or appointment of certain of the chief authorities in India, and the power to disallow rules made by the Govemor and Council, the first poUtical control which the Government were empowered to exercise in the affairs of that country was under the stat. 21 Geo. III. c. 65, which required the Court of Direct ors to transmit to the Ministers of the Crown copies of all their despatches relating to the management of their revenues in India, to their transactions with the native powers, and to the levying war and making peace ; and in the two latter cases the Directors were bound to obey the instructions which they might receive in the name of the Sovereign. Three years later, in 1784, Parliament granted further powers to the Ministers of the Crown. The Board of Control, or the India Board as this commission is sometimes called, was then created, after an unparalleled political struggle, during which the large majority, led in the House of Commons by Mr. Fox, was eventually broken and defeated, and the Ministry forced from office. A Bill hrought in by Mr. Pitt, who succeeded as Prime Minister, was afterwards negatived, and led to a dissolu tion of the ParUament ; but another Bill, framed on the same model, passed into a law in the new ParUament. This statute, 24 Geo. IIL c. 25, intituled " An Act for the better Regulation and Management of the Affairs of the East India Company," empowered His Majesty to appoint six Privy Councillors to be Commissioners for the Affairs of India, who were fully author ized to superintend, direct, and control all acts, operations, and concerns which in any wise relate to the civil or military govem ment or revenues of the British territorial possessions in the East Indies. The provisions of this Act have been continued and extended by several statutes, the chief of which are the 33 Geo. IH. c. 52 ; the 51 Geo. III. c. 75 ; and the 3 and 4 WiU. IV. c. 85. This last Act, passed tn 1833, authorized the King to appoint, under the great seal, during pleasure, such persons as he shaU think fit to be the Commissioners in conjunction ¦with the Lord President of the CouncU, the Lord Privy Seal, the First Lord of 222 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. the Treasury, the Principal Secretaries of State, and the Chan cellor of the Exchequer, for the time being. Any two of the Commissioners form a Board, of which the Commissioner first named in His Majesty's commission is the President. To these Commissioners were continued all the unrepealed powers of the former Acts, ¦with considerably enlarged powers. They have right of access to all the Company's papers and documents, and may require copies of them. The Company are bound to furnish the Board ¦with copies of all minutes, orders, resolutions, and other proceedings of all special and general Courts of Proprietors and of the Court of Directors, so far as relate to the civil or miU tary government or revenues of their Indian territories ; and also ¦with copies of all despatches from their servants in India. The Directors are further required to submit to the Board of Commis sioners copies of all letters, orders, and instructions which they propose to send to their servants in India ; and are bound to insert therein, and to adopt, all such alterations or amendments as are directed by the Commissioners. In case of the neglect of the Directors to prepare despatches on any subject, when so directed by the Commissioners, the Commissioners are them selves empowered to frame and send to the Directors their orders or instructions on such subject ; and the Directors are required to forward to India despatches in the usual form, pur suant to the tenor of these orders or instructions. But the Directors may within 14 days submit a ¦written representation on all orders received from the Commissioners, which they are bound to consider, their further directions thereon being final. The Commissioners, however, possess still more stringent powers. The Court of Directors are required to appoint three members of their own body a Secret Committee ; and in all mat ters relating to levying war or making peace, and in all negotia tions with the native princes or states, the Commissioners may send their orders and instructions through the Secret Committee direct to the Governors of the Presidencies in India, and receive their despatches in reply, without the intervention or knowledge of the Court of Directors. The Queen's Government have the further power to recall by a sign-manual order, countersigned by the President of this Board, the Governor-General, or any person whatever holding office, civil or miUtary, under the Company in India, and to vacate their offices. And provided that within two months the Directors do not, on any vacancy of the office of Go- SECT. VI. INDIA BOARD. 223 vemor-General or of President, or of any member of the Council in either of the presidencies, appoint a successor. Her Majesty may, under her sign manual, appoint to the vacant office. Further, the stat. 3 and4 Will. IV. vested in the Company in trast for the Crown all the real and personal property of the Company, and transferred to the Commissioners the direct control of the Company's home treasury, giving them " full power and authority to superintend, direct, and control all acts, operations, and concerns of the said Company, which in anywise relate to or concern the govemment or revenues of their territories, or the property vested in them in trust as aforesaid, and all grants of salaries, gratuities, and allow ances, and all other payments and charges whatever out of or upon the said revenues and property," except that the power of the Commissioners to reduce the expenses of the home establish ment is Umited to the gross annual sum, not to its particular application. The Commissioners frame rules to guide the Govemor-General in making out the annual estimate of the number of civil offices in India which will be vacated, and have the control over all seminaries established by the Company in India, and the approval of the regulations under which the Company's college for the civil service and then- military seminary in this counti'y are govemed. By stat. 16 and 17 Vict. c. 95, whioh threw open the service of India to candidates who prove their quaUfi- cations, the Board of Control were empowered to make regula tions for the admission of such candidates for examination, and to determine the branches of knowledge in which they shall be examined, their ages and other necessary quaUfications, and to regulate the conduct of all such examinations. The only protection which the Company have against the mis use of these great powers is an appeal to the Queen in Coun- al, if the Board of Commissioners send any orders which in the opinion of the Directors do not relate to the civil or military gor vemment or to the revenues of their territories in India ; or if the Directors think that the Commissioners' orders are contrary to law, they may submit a special case thereon (signed by the Pre sident of the Board and the Chairman of the Company) to the Judges of the Court of Queen's Bench, whose opinion is final. Such is the position of the Queen's Government and the Court of Directors with respect to the govemment of India. The Directors originate all despatches, except those sent through the Secret Committee by the Commissioners ; but no despatch ia 224 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. sent to India without the approval of the Board, who have power to alter or annul it ; and if a conffict of opinion arises, the authority of the Board is absolute. In questions of moment, the Board, passing by the Court, may send their orders, which are imperative, direct to the authorities in India through the Secret Committee. The Queen's Govemment is represented by the President, by whom the husiness of the Board is transacted ; and the Chairman and Deputy Chairman are in frequent personal com munication ¦with him, for the purpose of ascertaining his opinions before proposing measures for the adoption of the Court of Di rectors. The President presents to Her Majesty Princes and Eulers of India visiting this country. He also, under stat. 17 and 18 Vict. c. 77, countersigns all warrants under the Eoyal Sign Manual appointing to offices, or relating to any other matters whatsoever, in India. With regard to appointments to offices in India, three and prospectively six of the members of the Court of Directors, and the Judges of the Supreme Courts in India, are appointed hy the Crown ; the Governor-General, the Govemor of the subordi nate Presidencies, and one of the four members of the Council of India; are appointed by the Directors, subject to the approval of the Commissioners, and these appointments are therefore in a great measure in the hands of the Government. The same may be said of the Commander-in-Chief, who receives his commission from the Crown for the Queen's troops in India, and a second Commission from the Company to enable him to exercise autho rity over their forces. The power of appointing to other offices in India is exercised by the Local Governments. Though these first-mentioned appointments require the joint sanction of the India Board and the Court of Directors, either body possesses the power of recalling any individual whatever holding office in India, not excepting the Govemor-General himself ; and either may, and occasionally does, exercise it independently of the consent, and even in opposition to the wishes, of the other. Thus the Directors are in a great measure deprived of inde pendent action, and, unless in matters of administrative detail, they cannot move "without the President's approval. Their opposition to his instmctions (except in the questions on which an appeal is reserved) could, if persevered in, only lead to a col.' lision and a poUtical rupture with the Govemment, which must be decided in Parliament. The expenses of the estabUshment are charged on the revenues SECT. VI. EAST INDIA COMPANY. 225 of the Company. They consist of the President's salary, raised pursuant to 16 and 17 Vict. c. 95, from 3500/. to 5000/. per annum (not .less than that of one of Her Majesty's Secretaries of State); two Secretaries, 1500/. per annum each; one Assistant- Secretary (who is also chief clerk), and 25 clerks. The patronage is in the President, to whose approval also the appointment of all teachers or professors employed at the Company's College is subject. The President and one of the Secretaries hold poUtical appointments, and have usually seats in ParUament, but the latter does not vacate his seat by the acceptance of his office. The President has, since 1811, always held a seat in the Cabinet. Up to 1854 the two Secretaries sat in Parliament. THE EAST INDIA COMPANY. The affairs of this great Company are so intimately connected ¦with the national interests and poUtics, that it claims a place in this work. The Company originated in an association to trade with India, which was formed ia 1599, ¦with a capital of 30,000/., and shortly afterwards incorporated by Eoyal Charter. The object of the Company was the monopoly of the trade ¦with India. In the maintenance of this they were opposed by other interests, with which, on each renewal of their charter, they had to con tend, for this object as well as to obtain such enlargements of their powers as became necessary from time to time for the control of their rapidly-increasing possessions. After a few years from its formation the Company assumed the character of a joint-stock company. In 1624 it was first authorized to exercise the functions of govemment, and em powered to punish its servants abroad by municipal as well as by martial law. In 1636, and again in 1655, other bodies obtained the chartered right to fit out ships and to trade with India ; but on both occasions a coaUtion was soon formed with the original Company. In 1661 these united bodies ob tained a new charter, confirming their previous privileges, and empowering them to make war or peace vrith any prince or people, not being Christians, and to seize and send to England any unlicensed persons found ¦within the trading Umits of the Company. By a charter granted to the Company in 1693 they were required to augment their capital stock to IJ milUon, and to export, annually, British produce to the value of 100,000/. Q 226 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. The monopoly granted hy the Cro^wn in this last charter was questioned by the House of Commons, and gave rise to another Company, which by a bribe to the Govemment, in the shape of a loan of two millions, obtained permission to trade with India. But the inconveniences that soon arose from the rivalship between the old and the new Company led to another coalition, which took place in 1701. In the foUo'wing year Queen Anne, by an instrument' under the Great Seal, gave full effect to the new arrangement, and in 1707 the Company's exclusive pri^vilege of trading was confirmed by ParUament, and the foundations laid of its future poUtical im portance. But for these advantages a forced loan of 1,200,000/., without interest, was required by the Govemment, making a debt of 3,200,000/. ; and the Company was authorized to raise IJ million additional capital. In 1773, the revenues of the Company proving inadequate to defray its expenses, the Di rectors petitioned Parliament for relief, and a loan of 1,400,000/. was granted to the Company for four years ; but the occasion was taken by Parliament to regulate the Company's affairs, and to effect a complete change in its constitution. Pursuant to the stat. 13 Geo. III. c. 63, then passed, a Govemor-General was appointed to reside in Bengal, and to this station the other presidencies were made subordinate. A supreme Court of Judi cature was established in Calcutta, and the Judges appointed by the Crown : at the same time the Directors were compelled to exhibit to the Government all their correspondence with their officers relating to territorial affairs ; and to render, half-yearly, statements of their profit and loss, and of their debts in Eng land. The annual dividend on their stock was restricted to six per cent. ; and the mode of electing Directors was qualified and determined. These privileges and powers were confirrhed to the Company, and the charter renewed, by successive Acts of Par liament, continuing to them a complete monopoly of the trade with India, until, on a renewal in 1813, an inroad was made and the trade opened, but under such limitations and restrictions' that little advantage could be taken of it, while the China trade, and the tea trade generally, were still reserved to the Company. In 1833 the charter, having again expired, was not renewed. A great change was made in the con stitution of the Company, and its affairs are now administered under the 3 and 4 Will. I"V. cap. 85. By this statute all the territories, possessions, revenues. SECT. VI. EAST INDIA COMPANY 227 and merchandise of the Company (except the island of St. Helena and the property therein, which was then vested in the Crown) were continued to the Company in trust for the Crown of Great Britain and Ireland until the year 1854 : and all their powers and privileges were confirmed and continued till that year. By the same statute the Company were deprived of their exclusive right of trading with China and of .trading in tea, and compelled to close and abstain from all commercial business, and to reduce the mercantile branch of their establishments. In con sideration of the privileges of which the Company were deprived by this Act, their stock was relieved from all the Company's debts and Uahilities, which were made chargeable on their terri torial revenues only ; and those revenues were charged with the payment of a dividend of IOJ per cent, per annum on the existing capital stock. Provision was also made for the future redemp- ¦tion of this stock by the Govemment, and for the formation of a guarantee fund by the Company for the redemption of the dividend. In 1853 the Company again came under the revision of Parliament, and was regulated by stat. 16 and 17 Vict. c. 95, which continued the territories in the possession of the Company under the Company's govemment, in trust for the Crown, imtil Parliament shall otherwise provide. But this unlimited term was accompanied by important changes in the constitu tion of the Company, described hereafter. The successive additions made to the powers and capital of the Company did not more than keep pace "with the rapid increase of their territorial possessions. The Company's first factory was formed at Surat in 1612, and this and similar estabUshments soon became fortified places, of which the servants of the Com pany formed the garrison. In 1645 the establishment of factories was commenced in Bengal. In 1658 Madras was raised to the station of a presidency. In 1688 Bombay was made over to the Company by the Crovm ;. and in 1698 Calcutta was obtained by treaty, with leave to erect fortiflcations. In 1757 the territorial acquisitions of the Company were again commenced by the con quests of Lord CUve, and the foundations then laid of their immense miUtary power in India. From that time, by conquest, cession, or treaty, province after province has been added to their territory, untU nearly the whole peninsula of Hindostan now belongs to the Company, or is subject to their direction and control ; and recently their conquests have been pushed beyond q2 228 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. the Indus in the west, and ¦within the limits of the immense Birman empire in the east. The net revenues and charges of India for the last three years, of which the accounts were accessible, were — Net Revenues. Charges. 1849-50 . . £20,279,831 . . £19,921,644 1850-51 . 20,249,932 . 19,834,664 1851-52 . 19,927,039 . 20,396,740 The charges include the home expenses and the interest of the debt ; and it should be mentioned that in four out of the last six years the extensive military operations caused an excess of expenditure over income. THE COMPANY'S HOME GOVERNMENT. East India House, Leadenhall Street. The Government of India must be separated under two heads, — the Home Government and the Indian Govemment. The Home Govemment is ostensibly in the Court of Directors, who, down to the year 1773, exercised an uncontrolled sovereign power over their Indian possessions. But in that year they were, in several ways, brought under the surveillance of the State ; and in 1784 Mr. Pitt's celebrated India Bill was passed, which established the Board of Control, and placed the govern ment of India more immediately ¦within the power of the Ministers of the Crown. The Home Govemment consists of the Court of Proprietors, the Court of Directors, and the Commis sioners of the Affairs of India, whose powers are described under the foregoing head. The Court of Proprietors is composed of every shareholder in the Company whose stock amounts to 1000/. That sum qualifies for a single vote, 3000/. for two votes, 6000/. for three votes, and 10,000/. for four votes, which is the maximum. The number of proprietors amounts to nearly 2000. This Court has the power to elect the Directors, to make by-laws, and must previously sanction any appUcation to be made to Parlia ment by the Company in any matter affecting its interests, and approve of all gratuities to civil or military servants which exceed 6000/. The Court of Proprietors has no general control ling power over the Court of Directors, whose orders it cannot SECT. VI. THE company's HOME GOVERNMENT. 229 revoke or rescind after they have been approved by the Board of Control. The constitution of the governing body 'was materially changed by the Act of 1853. The number of Directors was reduced from 30, including the six out by rotation, to 18, from the second Wednesday in April 1854. The Crown was empowered to appoint under the sign manual three Directors, quaUfied by a service either under the Crown or the Company, of at least ten years in India, and the present Court of Directors, with the six out by rotation, were empowered to appoint from their own body 15 Directors, to serve in equal proportions for two, four, and six years, the future elections being biennial ; and as vacancies arise, the number of Directors to be appointed by the Crown to be increased to .six ; and those appointed by the Company, who 'will continue to be elected at a General Court, to he reduced to 12, six of whom to be persons who have resided ten years in India. The ordinary term of office for the Directors, whether those appointed by the Crown or by the Company, is six years, and they are eligible forthwith for reappointment by the Crown, or re-election by the Company. Ten Directors form a Court, and the signatures of the Chairman, Deputy Chairman, and Senior Member of the Court, countersigned by the Secretary and Deputy Secretary, is sufficient authority, instead of the signa tures, theretofore required, of the majority of the Directors. The quaUfication of a Director, whether appointed by the Crown or by the Company, is 1000/. of the Company's stock in his own right. The Directors appointed by the Crown may sit in Parlia ment, and may not be removed from office by the General Court of the Company, but by the Queen only. The Court of Directors annually elect a Chairman and a Deputy-Chaii'man. The Chairman may dissolve any General Court, after the transaction of such business as is required to be transacted by any Act of Parliament or by-law of the Company, if the number of Proprietors, exclusive of Directors, assembled and qualified to vote' shall not amount to twenty. The Court, subject to the Board of Control, are the Eulers of their Indian Empire, of its large civil and military estabUshments, and the disposers of its immense revenues. The Govemor-General in Council may, under their instractions or subject to their disallowance,' make laws which are binding on its large 230 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. n. native and European population. An estimate of the num ber of appointments required to supply expected vacancies in the several Indian estabUshments, civil, military, medical, clerical, and marine, is annually framed, and submitted for the approval of the Board. The right of nominating to these appointments individuals qualified under the regulations of the service was by law vested exclusively in the Court of Directors ; in practice, however, the nominations were distributed among the Members of the Court, the Chairman and Deputy-Chairman having a double share, and a similar share being assigned to the President of the Board of Control. After their first appointment, however, the Court do not interfere, except in the case of the high offices before mentioned, with their future promotion, the power of selection for civil offices being exercised by the local governments on the principle of giving due regard to the seniority and to the merits of the indi^viduals selected ; and in the military service promotion being strictly regulated by seniority. But in 1853 an important change was made in the administra tion of the patronage of the Company hy stat. 16 and 17 Vict. c. 95. Pursuant to section 36 all the existing rights of patron age in the appointment of persons to the civil service of the Company, the admission to Hayleybury College, and the admis sion of candidates for assistant-surgeoncies in India, were annulled, and, hy section 37, all these appointments were thro-wn open to natural-bom subjects of Her Majesty, who may claim to prove their fitness by examination, under regulations framed by the Board of Control, and defining the branches of knowledge in which they shall be examined, their ages, and their qualifica tions. The power of presentation to the Military Seminary at Addiscombe is also, by section 39, limited to persons possessing the qualifications and within the age fixed by the Board of Control. The salary of the Chairman and Deputy-Chairman is 1000/. a-year each ; every other Director 500/. a-year each. Por the transaction of their extensive affairs, the Court of Directors has been hitherto divided into three Committees, designated respectively the Finance and Home Committee; the Political and Military Committee ; and the Revenue, Judicial, and Legislative Committee ; and all matters ex amined and considered by these Committees, before being submitted to the Court. The Finance and Home Committee takes cognizance of all SECT. VI. THE COMPANY S TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT. 231 . , • matters relating to the finances of India, and the means of effect ing the remittances required for the expenditure in this country; the superintendence generally of the establishment at the India House, of Hayleybury College, and of the naval estabUshments of the Company. The Political and Military Committee has charge of all matters connected -with the military and medical services at home and abroad, including the supervision of the seminary at Addiscombe. It also superintends the correspondence regarding the relations between the Indian Government and the native powers of India, whether independent or in subsidiary and dependent alliance -with the Company, as well as all matters arising out of the affsdrs of foreign European settlements in India. The Revenue, Judicial, and Legislative Committee controls the judicial and revenue administration of affairs in India, the pro ceedings of the Governor-General in Council in his legislative capacity, aU matters connected vrith pubUc education, the ma nagement of the Post Office, &c. "When the proceedings of these Committees are matured, they are laid before the whole Court in the form of reports, or letters, or of despatches proposed to be addressed to the several govern ments in India. On receiving the confirmation of the Courts, either in their original or a modified form, they are submitted for the final sanction of the Board of CJontrol, which, when re ceived, renders them vaUd and operative For the conduct of their business considerable estabUshments are necessarily requured. The principal officers in the India House are those of the Secretary, to whom is attached a deputy, tive assistants, and about SO clerks ; the Examiner of India Correspondence, with his assistants and 30 clerks ; and the MiUtary Secretary, with one assistant and 20 clerks. The total number of persons employed on the Company's Home Establish ment, including those at the CivU College and the Military Seminary, and the Becruiting Staff, exceeds 500. THE COMPANY'S TERRITORLAL GOVERNMENT. The control, direction, and superintendence of the civil and miUtary govemment of the territories and revenues of India are vested in the Govemor-General and his CouncU, consisting of four persons, three of whom are chosen by the Court of Directors 232 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. S£CT. VI. from their servants of ten years' standing, and the fourth from persons not servants of the Company. If the office of Com mander-in-Chief of the Company's Forces in India is held by the Govemor-General, the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in Bengal has a seat at the Council as an extraordinary member. The Govemor-General in Council has power to make, repeal, or alter the laws or regulations in force in the territories of India, except such as affect the prerogative of the Cro^wn, the authority of Parliament, or the constitution or rights of the Company. But if any measure proposed by the Govemor-General, which affects the safety of interests of the British possessions, should be rejected by the Council, after a mutual ¦written communication between the Council and the Govemor-General of their opinions, he may act as he then thinks fit. The Court of Directors have the power of disallo^wing the laws made by the Governor-General in CouncU, and the authority of the Imperial Barliament is para mount to repeal or alter all laws made by the Indian Govern ment. The Executive Govemment of India is administered at two Presidencies, Madras and Bombay, by a Council comprised of a President and three Councillors at each respectively. The Governor-General of India in Council has the govemment of the Presidency of Bengal, and may in Council appoint a deputy, who is not assisted by a Council ; and in the north-west provinces, which were to constitute the separate presidency of Agra by the last Charter Act, the administration is now conducted by a Lieut.- Governor, appointed by and under the control of the Govemor- General in Council. These local Governments are subject to the control of the Governor-General in Council ; they are bound to obey his orders and instructions, and to transmit to him all such orders and acts of their govemmeiits and information coming to their knowledge as they deem material, or as he may require. By the Act of the 16 and 17 Vict. c. 95, the Court of Direc tors may erect Bengal into a separate Presidency, and the powers of the Governor-General, as Governor of that Presidency, then cease, and he is required to appoint a separate Govemor for the new Presidency : in the mean time he may appoint a Lieutenant- Governor. The powers of the Court to create a Presidency of Agra are to remain suspended until the Court, tmder the direc tion of the Board of Control, shall direct other-wise. Further, the SECT. VI. THE company's TERRITORIAL GOVERNMENT. 233 Court are empowered by the same statute to erect and constitute a new Presidency within their territories, or to authorize the Govemor-General to appoint a Lieutenant-Governor for any part of such territories ; also to make from time to time such altera tions as they may see fit in the territories of any of the Presi dencies or Lieutenant-Governorships. The above statute also regulated the Councils of the Presiden cies. It subjected all appointments of members of Council to the approval of Her Majesty under the sign manual ; and under the designation of Legislative Officers, it added the following Mem bers to the Council of the Governor-General of India, empowered to make laws and regulations, but entitled them only to sit and vote at meetings of the Council for making laws and regulations, viz., one Member for each Presidency and Lieut.-Govemorship to he appointed by the Govemor of such Presidency or the Lieut.- Governor of such Lieut.-Govemorship, from persons who have served ten years within the same in the service of the Company ; the Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court in Bengal, and one of the other Judges of the Supreme Court ; and, if the Court of Directors think expedient, two other persons to he selected and appointed by the Governor-General from servants of the Com pany of ten years' standing. The Govemor-General may appoint a Vice-President of the Council, to preside in his absence at meetings of the Council for making laws and regulations. No law or regulation may be promulgated or have force until assented to by the Govemor-General. The salaries of the Company's officers in India are — To the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces, 100,000 Company's rupees per annum, in lieu of all other pay and allowances ; to each Lieut.-Govemor, 100,000 Company's rupees ; to each ordinary Member of the Council of India, 80,000 Company's rapees ; and to each Legislative Councillor of the Council of India, not holding any other office, 50,000 Company's rapees. The administration of justice is regulated hy numerous enact ments of the Imperial Parliament. There exist two separate systems of judicature — the Company's Provincial Courts, presided over by three grades of European and two of Native Judges, and the Queen's or Supreme Courts of Citdl, Criminal, and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, at Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay. There are also magistrates, who exercise oivU jurisdiction, and coroners, who have similar powers to those in England. 234 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. A Church Establishment has been formed in India, of which the Bishop of Calcutta is the head. He has the power of admit ting to deacons' and priests' orders. The Bishops of Madras and Bombay are his suffragans. There is also an archdeacon in each of the three Presidencies. THE EAST INDIA COMPANY'S COLLEGE. Hayleybury, near Hertford. This College has been established by the Company for the education of those intended for their Ci-vil Service. By stat. 16 and 17 Vict. 0. 95, any natural born subject of Her Majesty, desirous of being ad mitted to the College, shall be admitted as a candidate for such admis sion, subject to regulations framed by the Board of Control, which define the age and qualifications in all respects of such candidates, the branches of knowledge in which they shall be examined, and regulate the raode of conducting their examinations. Persons adraitted to the College rauat have resided four terms, and obtain the certificate of the Principal, before they can receive an appointment in the ser vice of the Company. The terms of admission are 100/. per annum. The students who obtain certificates of good conduct in the College are subjected to an examination in their studies, and are classed according to merit by their exarainers, and frora this Ust they are nominated according to their seniority to fill vacancies in the Civil Establishmenta of India. THE EAST INDIA COMPANY'S MILITARY SEMINARY. Addiscombe, near Croydon. /In this School special provision is made for the efficient instruction of those intended for the Company's MiUtary Service. AU persons admitted as atudents raust posseaa such qualifications with respect to age and attainments as are prescribed by the Board of Control, and undergo such form of exaraination as the Board may direct. For ad- miasion to the corps of artillery and engineers, cadets who have paased through thia achool are alone eligible. The nominations are made by the Directors, of persons between the age of 14 and 18 years, who must produce preacribed certificates of good conduct, and be able to pass an examination. The required payraents are 50/. per term, of which there are two in each year, and for dress and books. The cadets pass through the seminary as rapidly aa by their attainmenta and qualifications they prove themselves fitted for appointments in the Indian army. Their stay in the institution is Umited to four terms. SECT. VI. BANK OF ENGLAND. 235 THE BANK OF ENGLAND. Tiireadneedle Street. This great moneyed corporation has become an important part of the State machinery, and must be admitted here from the share which it takes in the conduct of the national business. It has on several occasions of difficulty rendered important assist ance both to the Govemment, and to sustain the commercial credit of the country. The Bank of England was first incorporated in 1694 by the stat. 5 and 6 Will, and Mary, with a capital of 1,200,000/., the whole of which was lent to the Government. Its charter has been renewed from time to time by eight subsequent statutes, by the last of which, 3 and 4 Will. IV. c. 98, it was continued till one year's notice after the 1st of August 1855, but a power was reserved to determine the charter in 1844, and an Act was then passed, 7 and 8 Vict. c. 32, by which important changes were made in the management of the Bank and in its monetary arrangements with the Government, though the duration of its charter was not interfered ¦with. The Bank of England is the principal bank of deposit and issue, and the most extensive in Europe both in its capital and its money transactions. It enjoys exclusive privileges of banking, which, so far as they may be considered monopolies, may be justified by the advantages and safeguards which the corporation affords to the public. The promissory notes issued by the Bank are declared a legal tender, but by an Act passed in 1819 the Bank and its branch establishments are compelled to change its notes for gold on demand. The corporation is restricted from engaging in any commercial undertaking other than dealing in bills of exchange and in gold and silver, and in advancing money at interest upon valuable securities. As connected ¦with the State, the corporation transacts the whole of the hanking business of the Govemment : it has the management of the public debt, receiving and paying the chief part of the annuities due to the public creditors ; it gives circu lation to the Exchequer bills, and makes advances upon them for the public service, and also upon the prospective produce of certain branches of the revenue. It is the banker of the Treasury, 236 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VI. the public balances being in its hands. For individuals the corporation also acts as an ordinary bank of deposit, and makes advances to its depositors, but chiefly in times of difficulty, when extraordinary discounts are required to sustain mercantile credit. ' The profits of the corporation arise principally from its trans actions as bankers, its discounts and money dealings, from the large balances of the public moneys in its hands, from the in terest of three per cent, on the 11,015,000/. invested as a perma nent loan to the Govemment, redeemable on the termination of the charter, and from the remuneration made by the Govern ment for the trouble and expense of managing the payment of dividends and the transfer of stock ; for this latter duty the corporation is paid by a percentage, upon which a reduction was made in 1834, and a further reduction in 1844, in consideration of a release from stamp-duties (which amounted to about 70,000/. per annum), and the amount now actually paid by the public is about 100,000/. yearly : on an average of 10 years the losses from forgery cost the Bank 40,000/. of this .sum. The corporation have recently estabUshed Branch Banks of deposit and issue at the following large provincial towns. These banks open accounts "with indi^viduals on the approval of the corporation, and, by offering a place of secure deposit and in creased facilities of discount, promote the interests of the mer chants and traders in their locality. They also receive dividends and effect purchases or sales in the Funds : — MANCHESTrK. Birmingham. Leeds.Liverpool. Swansea.Leicester. Bristol. Newcastle on-Tthe. Norwich. Portsmouth.Plymouth. The Act of 1844 directed that the department for the issue of notes should he separated from the banking husiness of the corporation, and regulated the amount of securities and of coin and bulUon to be appropriated and transferred to that depart ment. It also directed that a weekly account should be pub lished of the amount of notes issued, and of the coin, bullion, and securities in the issue department, and also of the capital stock and deposits, and of the money and securities belonging to the corporation in the banking department. The following, SECT. VI. BANK OF ENGLAND. 237 taken from the latest of these accounts, is for the week ending the 4th November 1854. Issue Department. Notes issued Government Debt. Other Securities . Gold Coin and BulUon Silver BulUon . £26,999,380 £11,015,100 2,984,900 12,999,380 26,999,380 Banking Department. Proprietors' Capital Rest .... Public Deposits . Other Depoaita Seven-day and other BUls Govemment Securities . Other Securities . Notes . . . , Gold and Silver Coin ¦ £14,553,000 3,166,072 3,525,577 10,243,333 1,114,875 -32,602,857 £11,413,016 13,899,081 6,710,345 580,415 £32,602,857 The affairs aud important transactions of the corporation are in the hands of a Governor, a Deputy-Governor, and 24 Directors, elected between the 25th of March and the 25th of April in each year, from among the members of the Company, being natural- born subjects or naturalized, and possessing not less than 2000/. stock each, the Deputy-Govemor 3000/., and the Govemor 4000/. 13 of the Directors (of whom the Governor or Deputy-Govemor must be one) constitute a Court, which has the management and regulation of the husiness of the Company and the appointment and payment of all its agents and servants. The Court half- yearly declares to the stockholders the dividend due on the capital and profits. The by-laws and ordinances for the govern ment of the corporation are made at four general Courts, which must be held in each year, by the majority present of the holders of Bank stock to the value of 500/. each, and the Directors are elected by the same body. These were the main features of the original constitution, which has undergone little change. The Secretary is the official organ bf the corporation, and all 238 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VII. correspondence should be addressed to him. The estabUshment consists of about 800 clerks and 80 porters. The patronage is in the Directors and is exercised in rotation. The clerks commence at a salary of 60/. per annum, which is increased by service to 260/. per annum ; but to those who are selected from their merit to fill the more responsible and important offices largely increased salaries are paid. SECTION VIL THE ARMY, ORDNANCE, AND MILITARY DEPARTMENTS. The constitution of this country has heen, from the earliest period, opposed to the maiutenance of soldiery. Their embodi ment, when required by the exigencies of war or domestic discord, was only temporary, their permanent maintenance unre cognised hy the laws. This great constitutional principle was first infringed in England by the estabUshment of the Yeomen of the Guard by Henry VIL, as an immediate defence for his person. Traces of a military force are, however, to be found ante cedent to this in Ireland. In the reign of Henry VIIL, a.d. 1535, the Irish force consisted of 380 horse and 160 foot. In Queen Mary's time it was increased to 1200 men. Internal commotions and frequent rebellions necessitated its maintenance, and in Queen Elizabeth's reign the peace establishment for Ire land was from 1500 to 2000 men, and was continued at about the same amount till the reign of Charles I., when Lord Strafford raised a considerable army there. Before this reign no attempt had been made to maintain in England what might really be deemed an army. The oldest regiment of infantry in the British service was raised in 1633. After the Restoration, Charles II. by his own authority kept a large body of regular troops for guards and garrisons. In 1674 his forces amounted to 1000 horse and 3920 foot, comprised of three troops of horse-guards, one regiment of horse, and four regiments of infantry. In 1684 SECT. ¦VII. ARMY AND ORDNANCE 239 they amounted to above 8000 men, the Irish estabUshment being at the same time increased to 7000 men. James II. increased the English troops by degrees to 30,000 men, their whole charge being defrayed from his civil list ; and William IIL, being con stantly engaged in foreign or domestic wars, augmented his army to nearly three times this number. All miUtary command and authority ¦within the kingdom are centred in the Sovereign — a prerogative whioh was confirmed by a declaratory Act of the 13 Charles IL c. 6. By the Bill of Rights it was declared that the maintenance of a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with the consent of ParUament, is against law, and from that time the number of troops which the security of the king dom and its possessions, the maintenance of good order, and the miUtary establishments of the other great European states, render it necessary to maintain, as well as the cost of the different branches of the service in detail, has been sanctioned by an annual vote of the House of Commons. The amount of the miUtary force to be maintained for the year is always a matter for the decision of the Cabinet. The question is annu ally brought under their consideration by a letter from the Commander-in-Chief addressed to the Colonial Secretary as the War Minister, who makes known their decision to him in an official communication. The amount being thus determined, it is the duty of the Commander-in-Chief to submit to the Queen a statement of the description of force ¦within the numbers sanc tioned, upon which Her Majesty's written approval is signified. He then transmits this statement to the Secretary at War, who upon it frames the annual estimates of expense, upon which he afterwards takes a vote of the House of Commons, but this vote does not include the number of troops employed in India and paid for by the East India Company. Parliament exercises another important means of control over the army. In time of war or rebellion troops are subject to martial law, and might be punished for mutiny or desertion ; but so soon as armies began to be maintained in time of peace, ques tions of discipline arose. The common law, which then alone prevailed, knew of no distinction betwen a citizen and a soldier ; so that, if the soldier deserted, he could only be punished for breach of contract ; if he strack his officer, he was only Uahle to an indictment for the assault. Such questions soon came before 240 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VII. the tribunals, and Chief Justice Holt, when Recorder of London, decided that, although the King may, by his prerogative, enlist soldiers, even in time of peace, still, if there was no statute passed to punish mutiny and to subject them to a particular discipline, they could not be punished for any miUtary offence, and they were only amenable to the same laws as the rest of the King's subjects. Hence the authority of Parliament became necessary to the maintenance of miUtary discipline, and Parliament gives this, ¦with other powers, in an Act, limited- in its duration to one year, which is passed at the commencement of every session under the name of tlie Mutiny Act, investing the Crown 'with large powers to make regulations for the good govemment of the army, and to frame the Articles of War, which form the military code. , Subject, therefore, to such restrictions, the army has become a recognised and necessary part of the constitution ; and one which the advanced state of military science and training now demands should not be of a temporary character. ParUament nevertheless retain the power to make any reduction in its numbers which they see fit, or evfen to terminate its legal existence by a single vote. The following are the charges for the army voted for the three y$ars ending 31st of March 1855, including the charges voted in supplementary estimates. Heads of Charge. 1862-3 1853-4 1854-6 Pay, clothing, and allowances ot ofBcers and men (exclusive of Cavalry and Infantry regiments employed by the East India Coinpany) Staff Officers, Volunteer Corps, Military College, Military Schools, aud CivU Depart ments Non-effective, including Pay of General Officers and retired Officers, Half-pay, AUowances, Pensions, and Civil Super annuations f. 3.602,06V 384,241 2,024,064 3,625,583 384,269 2,014,964 JE. 4,723,288 452,632 1,981,566 Amount of Army Estimates . 6,010,3V2 6,025,016 J, 157,486 Number of Officers aud Men . 101,93? 102,283 142,776 The following charges were voted for the Ordnance Depart ment for the same period, including also the supplementary votes : — SECT. VIL ARMY AND ORDNANCE. 241 Heads op Chabge. 1852-3 1853-4 1854-5 Pay, clothing, and allowances of officers and men of the Ordnance MiUtary Corps . . Commissariat and Barrack-supplies for Her Majesty's Forces Ordnance Offlce Establishment, and the Branches in the United Kingdom and Colonies Wages of artificers and labourers in the United Kingdom and Colonies. Ordnance stores for land and sea service . 'Worlis, buildings, and repairs at home and abroad Scientific Branch, including Surveys and the Military Academy at Woolwich . Non-effective, including retired Pull and Half- Pay, Pensions, Allowances, and CivU Super annuations 890,974306,822363,893127,046204,463449,028107,907172,366 e 807,507373,217365,626 141,437371,697696,656127,213 171,215 f. 902,817567,176 356,364 162,334639,552 902,821 164,368 171,446 Amount of Ordnance Estimates . 2,622,479 3,053,667 3,846,878 Number of Officers and Men . 15,582 17,698 19,266 To complete the view of Military Expenditure it is necessary to add the Commissariat Estimates, which are in the charge of the Treasury. In the Navy Estimates also a sum of from 120,000/. to 150,000/. is annually voted for the conveyance of troops. Charges voted for the Commissariat Department for the three years ending 31st March 1855 : — Heads of Charge. 1854-5 Pay of officers, clerks, storekeepers, and others, at home and abroad .... Transport and freight, including: freight of specie Provisions to tbe Army, Ordnance, and Com missariat abroad and in Ireland . Forage and aUo^ances in lieu thereof . Fuel and light Commissariat expenses of Troops encamped in tbe United Kingdom Non-effective services, consisting of half-pay, pensions, and allowances .... £. 97,010 109,100 102,578 60,796 43,659 £. 99,426 140,893119,674 62,358 45,239 Amount of Commissariat Estimates . 481,201 557,126 £, 92,60064,663 306,576 76,070 66,362 6,000 44,302 644,573 The supply for the army is granted by the Parliament to the Queen. No part of it can therefore be issued unless under the authority of her warrant. This authority is given to the Lords of the Treasury under the royal sign manual, and thereupon E 242 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VII. from time to time their Lordships authorize the Comptroller- General of the Exchequer to place to the credit of the Paymaster- General at the Bank of England the sums required for immediate use. The authority of the Paymaster-General for the specific payments he has to make is received through the Secretary at War, who furnishes him 'with the Military Establishments voted for the year, and the several regulations by which they are governed, including the appropriation of the whole of the sums voted. But before the Paymaster-General can pay any charges for the effective services, it is necessary that he should receive the Queen's warrant, countersigned by the Lords of the Treasury, authorizing him to comply with such directions, within the sums voted. To carry out the system of payment it may be stated that the army agents acting as the bankers of the colonels of regiments (who are responsible for the regimental finance arrangements) receive tAvice a month from the Paymaster-General, on the autho rity of the Secretary at War, sums sufficient for the pay of each regiment during the following 15 days. The agents immediately carry to the accounts of the officers the pay, which is in advance, for the month, and accept the bills of the regimental paymasters, or transmit to them at different periods such sums as they may require to make their payments in detail. The following are the regulated pay and allowances of the different ranks of the army : — Pay and Allowances of Staff Officers. Per Diem. £. ». d. General Commanding-in-Chief, or Commander-in-Chief of the Forces ; — If a Field-Marahal 16 8 9 If below that rank . . . . . .996 General 5 13 9 Lieut.-General . .315 10 Major-General .11711 Brigadier-General .18 6 Colonel 129 Adjutant-General and Quartermaater-General : — At Head Quarters . . . . . . 3 15 10 Serving elsewhere . . . . . , 1 17 11 Deputy Adjutant - General or Deputy Quartermaater- General :— At Head Quarters , , . . . . 1 17 11 Serving elsewhere 0 19 0 SECT. VII. ARMY AND ORDNANCE. 243 Additional allowance to each, 150/. per annum. MiUtary Secretary at Head Quarters, 2000?. per annum. Per Diem. ,, at Dublin, 553?. 17s. per annum. £. s. d. , , elsewhere 0 19 0 Aide-de-Camp to the Queen . . . . . . 0 10 5 , , to a General Offlcer 0 9 6 Major of Brigade .096 Superintendent of Array Medical Department, 1200/. a year. Inspector-General of Hoapitals 116 0 Deputy-Inspector-General of Hoapitals . . . .14 0 Staff Surgeon : — First Class 0 19 0 Second Class . . . . . . . 0 13 0 General Ofaoers not on the Staff nor in command of Regiraents receive 25s. each per day, which ia called Unattached Pay. Regimental Pay and Allowances. Cavalry. Household. Line. Colonels 1800/. a yr. 900/. a yr. Grenadier Guards . . Coldstream and Fusi- Uer Guards ... . . . . Lieut. -Colonels . Majors Captains Lieutenants .... Cornets or Ensigns . . Paymaaters .... Adjutants .... If Lieutenants . . If Comets or Ensigna Quartermaaters Surgeons Assistant-Surgeons . Veterinary Surgeons Regimental Corporal Majors 0 Troop Corporal Majora Sergeant Majora . . Troop Sergeant-Majora Quartermaater-SergeantaColour-Sergeants . . Sergeants Per Diem. £. !. d, 19 2 14 5 0 15 1 0 10 4 0 8 0 0 13 0 0 9 6 0 13 0 Per Diem. £. s. d, 1 3 0 19 0 14 0 9 00 12 Infantry. Household. Line. . . 500?. a yr. 1200/. a year. 1000/. a year. Per Diem. Per Diem. 0 11 6 0 10 6 0 8 6 0 13 0 0 8 6 0 8 0 0 2 2 £. s, d, 16 9 13 0 0 15 6 0 7 4 0 5 6 0 10 0 0 6 6 0 13 0 0 7 6 0 3 2 2 8 2 6 2 0 e2 ?. d. 17 0 1611 65 12 10 0 8 9 6 6 13 0 7 6 3 0 2 6 2 4 1 10 244 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VIL Per Diem. Per Diem. Per Diem. Per Diem. £. s, d. £. s. d, £,, s, d. Corporala . . Life Guards Horse Guards Privates . . ". Life Guards Horse Guards 0 2 6i 0 2 3i 0 1 Hi 0 1 8i 0 1 0 13 0 1 5 0 1 1 s. d. 1 4 1 0 The colonels of the line dating prior to 1834 receive, cavalry, 1000/., and infantry 600/. a-year : all colonels of the line derive emolument from the regiraental clothing. The foUowing officera receive an in creased pay for length of service :— Infantry Ueutenants of the Une, after seven years' service in that rank, 7s. Gd, per diem. Paymaaters increase to 15s. after seven years' service, 17s. Gd, after 15 years' service, 20s. after 20 years' service, and 22s. Gd, after 25 years' service, per day. Quartermaatera after 10 years' service in that rank receive —cavalry 10s. Gd, ; infantry 8s. Gd. per diem. : after 15 years' service —cavalry 12s. ; infantry 10s. per diem. Surgeons, after 10 years' service, 15s. ; after 20 years', 19s. ; after 25 years', 22s. Asaistant- Surgeons receive 2s. Gd. per day increaae after 10 yeara' service. ¦Well-conducted privatea receive a good-conduct allowance of Id. per diem additional after each period of five years' service. Officers are permitted to retire upon half-pay after 18 years' service, or when wounded or otherwise disabled by Ul-health, or upon any reduction of the army. The following are the rates of half-pay : — Colonel Lieut.-Colonel (20 to receive 100/. per annum in addition to lialf-pay, but they must be Brevet Colonels, and have served 30 years on full pay) .... Major Captain ..... Lieutenant ..... Do above 7 years' standing Do. of 5 years' atanding, and if at the Battle of "Waterloo Cornet, 2nd Lieutenant, or Ensign Payraaster above 5 and under 10 years' actual service as Payraaster above 10 and under 15 15 20 20 -. 30 'Cavalry. s. d. 15 6 Infantry. s. d. 14 6 Adjutant 30 yeara . 12 6 11 0 . 10 0 9 6 7 6 7 0 4 8 4 0 .. , 4 6 e 5 2 3 6 al 3 0 li 6 0 6 0 8 0 8 0 . 10 0 10 0 . 13 0 13 0 . , 15 0 15 0 4 0 4 0 SECT. VII. ARJ/tY AND ORDNANCE. 245 Since the abolition in 1834 of the sinecure military garrisons which had been the means of rewarding meritorious officers, the sum of 14,606/. has been annually voted as rewards for dis tinguished services, and has been granted under the name of Good-Service Pensions in sums usually of 200/., ISO/., but chiefly 100/. each, to military officers of high rank, who are selected hy the Commander-in-Chief, and receive the grant by a waixant under the sign manual, which is submitted to the Queen by the Secretary at War and countersigned by him. On the appoint ment of a general officer, holding a good service-pension, to a regiment, he surrenders this pension. 2000/. is also annually ' voted, which is gi-anted in annuities varying from 10/. to 20/. to deserving Serjeants, either during, their service or after their discharge. Out-pensions are also granted to non-commissioned officers and privates of from 6d. per diem to 2si and 2s. Qd., regulated by their length of service, amounting in the aggregate to 1,250,000/. per annum. The ordinary appointments and promotions in the army are made by the Commander-in-Chief, with the approval of the Queen ; but on the appointment of officers to superior commands he invariably communicates "with the Secretary of State for the Colonies if the appointment is to be made abroad, or with the Home Secretary if it is in the United Kingdom. When the com mand of troops is united ¦with a civil govemment, as at Gibraltar, the Secretary of State selects the officer. Death-vacancies are almost invariably filled by promotion in the regiment without purchase, according to seniority. On vacancies arising from dismissal the Commander-in-Chief has the power to select for the promotion an officer not in the regiment. Candidates who distinguish themselves at Sandhurst Military College, and some distinguished non-commissioned officers, receive commissions without purchase. The great bulk of the military appointments and promotions are however by purchase. Officers for commis sions are selected from candidates among all classes of the com munity. Their appUcations for purchase, always numerous, are made to the Commander-in-Chief, who when opportunities arise selects those whom he thinks fit for commissions. The purchase and sale of commissions, which had become liable to many abuses, was reformed and regulated by a royal warrant in the year 1763, upon a report made by a Board of General Officers to whom the subject was referred, and it was 246 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. m. ordered that the following prices should not he exceeded on pain of His Majesty's highest displeasure. Full Price of Commissions. Life Horse Foot RANK. Guards. Guards. Guards. £. £. £. Lieut.-Colonel .... 7250 7250 9000 Major 5350 5350 8340 Captain 3500 3500 4800 Lieutenant 1785 1600 2050 Comet or Ensign 1260 1200 1200 Full Price of Difference between Commissions. FuU and Half Pay. Dragoon Guards and Dragoons. £ £. s. d. Lieut.-Colonel . 6175 1533 0 0 Major 4575 1352 0 0 Captain 3225 1034 3 4 Lieutenant . 1190 632 13 4 Cornet 840 300 0 0 Lieut.-Colonel 4500 1314 0 0 Major 3200 949 0 0 Captain 1800 511 0 0 Lieutenant . 700 365 0 0 Ensign 450 150 0 0 Fusilier Regiments and Rifle Corps. First Lieutenant 700 365 0 0 Second Lieutenan t . 500 200 0 0 In promotion from one rank to another, the sum payable is the difference between the lower and the higher rank. THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF'S OFFICE. Horse Guards, Whitehall. The Commander-in-Chief is the Queen's executive officer, and has the privilege of carrying on his duty by personal com munication with Her Majesty. He is Her Majesty's organ of communication with the army, maintaining the royal preroga tive in all matters relating to its discipline, efficiency, and promotion, and issuing his orders in Her Majesty's name. He is at the head of the army, and is the supreme executive miUtary authority, having, with the exception of the artilleiy, and of the - SECT. VIL COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. 247 miUtia and yeomanry, the entire control and personal superin tendence of the military force of the coimtry, and of all matters relating to its interior economy and discipline : but ^ he has no control whatever over the fiaance of the army, and, as every movement of troops is attended with expense, the constitution gives him no authority to move or direct the distribution of troops, until the Secretary at War's signature to the route pro vides for the expense, ftie necessity of obtaining which forms a check upon any combination of troops not sanctioned by the ad- 'visers of the Crown. The Commander-in-Chief receives through the Secretaries of State the instructions of the Govemment with respect to the distribution and employment of the troops ; the Home Secretary being usually the channel of communication upon all points connected with the internal defence and military poUce of the country, and the Colonial Secretary in matters relating to the defences of our colonies and foreign possessions. He also pro- 'vides for cariying into execution the military operations of a campaign planned by the Secretary of State for War. The Quartermaster-General and the Adjutant-General are his sub- ordinat.e oflScers, and are appointed by the Queen upon his recommendation. Through the former he directs the disposition and movements of the army, and the plans and surveys necessary to a campaign ; through the latter he makes known all general orders and instractions. His patronage and influence extend over the whole military force of the country, except the artillery, militia, and volunteers. He recommends for all military appointments and promotions, and takes the Queen's pleasure upon them, and has the patronage of the estabUshment of his own office. The Commander-in-Chief has not in recent administrations held a seat in the Cabinet ; as the executive head of the army, and the representative of his Sovereign's authority, it has been considered unconstitutional that he should exercise any poUtical functions which might lead to encroachment of the Royal prero gative, and for the same reason it has also been deemed wrong in principle that his subordinate officers, the Quartermaster- General and Adjutant-General, or his Military Secretary, should accept seats in the House of Commons, and enter into any discussions on miUtary matters. By being thus disconnected with the political administration of affairs, greater stability is 248 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VH. given to his office ; he can exercise a more indej^endent control over the army, and officers are discouraged from the hope of professional advancement through political partialities. The Commander-in-Chief, if a Field Marshal, receives a military pay of 16/. 8s. 9c/. a day ; if below that rank, of 9/. 9s. 6d. a day. The Military Secretary is ajipointed by the Commander-in- Chief, and now holds levees occasionally, at which officers and others ha'ving business to transact find *access to him and make known their claims and wishes. He receives a salary of 2000/.' a-year. THE ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE. Horse Goards, WhitehalL The Adjutant-General, acting in all matters under the imme diate orders of the Commander-in-Chief, has the charge of very important military duties. He prepares all orders and regulations, and, when the Queen's approval has been obtained by the Com mander-in-Chief, makes them known to the army. He is respon- sible for the recruitment, instruction, and formation of the army, for the maintenance of its effective state and discipline, and the promulgation of the orders of the day or general orders. He has the selection of meritorious officers for the responsible duties of the staff. He is empowered to grant leave of absence to the officers, and furloughs to the men. Under his supervision an in.spection is periodically made of the mUitary accoutrements, clothing, and necessaries. He prepares monthly returns of the distribution and amount of the several regiments for the informa tion of the Commander-in-Chief and the Govemment, and all extraordinary returns and reports which are required. The Adjutant and Deputy Adjutant Generals are considered as Her Majesty's personal staff, and are appointed by Her Majesty on the recommendation of the Commander-in-Chief. The Assistant and Deputy Assistant Adjutant-Generals are appointed by the Commander-in-Chief. The Adjutant-General appoints the establishment of his own office. He receives an office-pay, in time of peace, of 3/. 15s. lOd. a day. An extra allowance of 500/. a year, which belonged to this office, has recently been aboUshed. The Becraiting Department forms a separate branch of the Adjutant-General's office, and is chiefly under the direction of the two Assistant Adjutant-Generals. SECT. VII. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. 249 THE QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE. Horse Guards, Whitehall. The Quartermaster-General, also acting under the immediate and particular directions of the Commander-in-Chief, has the control of the movements of the army. He prescribes the routes of the troops from place to place, and their modes of conveyance, and provides them with quarters. He cares for the proper supply of ordnance, camp stores, and necessaries for an ai-my on foreign service, and has the military control over the commissariat in the field. His Deputies when attached to an army on foreign service regulate the embarkation and disembarkation of the troops, select fit ground for their encampment, and have the general aiTange-. ment of the dispositions necessary to defend a territory. Attached to the Quartermaster-General's Office is a dep6t of Military Knowledge, to which belongs an extensive collection of the most authentic military works in all languages, with maps, plans of fortified towns, &c. The Quartermaster-General. is deemed upon H. M.'s Staff, and his Assistant and Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-Generals are on the Staff. They are appointed by the Queen on the recom mendation of the Commander-in-Chief. The Quartermaster- General nominates to the estabUshment of his office. He re ceives the same office pay as the Adjutant-General. ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE. Sandhurst, near Bagshot. Thia coUege was founded by Royal ¦Warrant in 1799, but its present constitution dates frora 1808. It is under the control and management of a Board, consisting of the heads of the great mUitary departments, joined with other miUtary officers of high rank appointed by Her Majesty. This Board, vrith the approval of the Queen, frames rules for the govemment of the college, which ia under the immediate command of a govemor and Ueutenant-govemor, and is divided into a senior and junior department. The aenior department consists of 15 students, being commissioned officers in the regtUar army, who have completed the 21st year of their age, and have actually served as commissioned officers with their regimenta three years abroad, or four years at horae ; on the pro duction of testimonials from the officer in command of their regi ment, they are, after aatisfactory examination as to their quaUfica tions, admitted by the Commander-in-Chief on the approval of the 250 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VII. Queen. Their course of studies corapriaea mathematics, fortificatioUi gunnery, military drawing and surveying, languages, &c., and ia in tended to fit them for the better discharge of their dutiea when in the command of regiments, and to qualify them for employment ih the Quartermaster-General's and Adjutant-General's departments. The junior department conaiats of 180 gentleraen cadeta, who receive a miUtary pay of 2s. Gd, a day each, which ia applied to their instruction, clothing, and raaintenance. This departraent ia intended for the instruction of thoae who from early life are devoted to the raiUtary profesaion, and to afford a provision for the sons of meritorioua officers who have been killed or diaabled in the ser-vice. The cadeta are ad mitted between the ages of 13 and 15 years, upon application made through the govemor of the college to the Commander-in-Chief. They consist of aona of officera in the army or navy who have died in the aervice leaving their familiea in distreas ; aons of officers actuaUy in the service, who pay a sum regulated by the Board according to the rank of their fathers ; and sons of noblemen or gentleraen, who pay a eura adequate to the expenses of their education and raainte nance. The establishment conaiats of a govemor, a lieutenant-governor, and a major, who superintend the military duties and discipline, assisted by two captains and other subordinate officera. In the civU branch there are profeasors of raatheraatica, arithmetic, fortification, raiUtary surveying and drawing, and teachers of the raodem languages and the classics. The total charges of the establishraent araount to about 17,000?. per annum, and are covered by the subscriptions received from the gentlemen cadets. THE WAE OFFICE. Horse Guards, Whitehall. The Department of the Secretary at War was estabUshed in 1666. Up to that time the business had formed part of the duty of the Secretary of State, but the consoUdation of the finance of the army in his department had become so incon venient, that this separate office was then created. The Secretary at War is the finance minister of the army, aud its political representative, forming the constitutional Unk with the House of Commons. He is responsible for the economy and finance of the army as separated from its discipline and control. He has in many administrations, as in the present, held a seat in the Cabinet. A seat in the House of Commons is necessary to the performance of his duties, and he is the member SECT. VII. WAR OFFICE. 251 of Government called upon to answer, in the House, all questions connected with the administration of the army. The Secretary at War receives his orders direct from the Crown, but as to somo points those orders are conveyed through the Commander-in-Chief His duties chiefly consist in preparing and submitting to Parliament the annual ai-my estimates, includ ing the number of men fixed .for the service of the year, and the Mutiny Bill, upon the provisions of which he frames the Articles of War ; in checking the details of military expenditure, and in superintending the due enforcement of the military law. He is also, under the authority of various Acts of Parliament, charged ¦with the protection of the civil subjects of the realm against oppression and misconduct on the part of the military, and for this purpose communicates ¦with the magistrates in respect to com plaints against officers and soldiers, over whom he exercises an independent authority in enforcing the laws. His authority also extends to officers on half-pay charged with any offence which, not being cognizable under the Mutiny Act, may affect the character of the officer, but it does not extend to breaches of miUtary discipline, which can be dealt with by the Commander- in-Chief alone. He has control over military prisons, and the disposal of all miUtary prisoners. The Secretary at War is the channel through which appUcation is made to the Secretary of State for War to obtain the Queen's warrant for the issue of arms from the Ordnance stores ; also for the preparation of Her Majesty's commissions for military officers appointed or promoted, and upon his authority all such commis sions are gazetted. He is responsible for the proper adminis tration of the ordinary expenditure for the pay and allowances of the Army, in conformity with the appropriation of ParUa ment and the Queen's regulations. In concert ¦with the Com mander-in-Chief, and with the sanction of the Treasury, he makes all regulations relating to the rates of pay, half-pay, and allowances to the army, and, in the cases where the royal sign manual is necessary, the warrants are prepared in his office, and submitted by him to the Queen. He decides all doubtful claims made by officers for half-pay, and allowances on the ground of wounds, for compensation for the loss of horses or baggage, for passage-money, for command-money, or in lieu of servants or other allowances ; and also upon claims for widows' pensions. The Army Medical Department, upon which the efficiency of the 262 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VH. troops so much depends, is under his control, jointly with the Commander-in-Chief. The sums voted by ParUament for the service of the Army are paid on the warrant of the Secretary at War by the Pay master-General. The paymasters of the several regiments are selected by the Colonels of regiments, and on the Secretary at War's approval are appointed by the Queen. They are subject to his control. He examines and allows their accounts and pay- lists. He issues routes for the movement of troops as the autho rity necessary to provide them with quarters and diet on the march. The Secretary at War issues the moneys for the payment of the out-pensioners of Chelsea Hospital, of the Militia, and of allowances to the Yeomanry, and to the Clerks of Meetings of Lieutenancy for their trouble in matters relating to Yeo manry. He has also the general management and control of all matters, claims, and complaints relating to the out- pensioners, a body of about 76,000 men, and he regulates the bounty, pay, and qualifications of the men to be raised for the Militia. In 1843 the Act of 6 and 7 Vict. c. 95, was passed to render effective the services of this body for the preservation of the public peace. Her IJajesty was empowered to order 10,000 of the pensioners to be enrolled, provided ¦with arms, accoutrements, and clothing, formed into corps in different localities, and placed under the command of the district officers appointed to pay the out-pensioners. This force, or any part of it, may be called out upon an emergency by the Secretary of State's warrant to aid the civil power ; and when so called out, or when mustered for inspection, the corps is suhject to the provisions of the Mutiny Act and the Articles of War. The Secretary at War appoints the officers, makes regulations for the government, pay, and allowances of the corps when called out, and for the arms, accoutrements, and clothing. The Superintendent of Pensioners selects the most fitting men to he enrolled and formed into local companies. He superintends the driU of the four metropolitan battalions, and inspects and insures the efficiency of the different coi-ps throughout the country. The patronage of the Secretary at War is Umited. He appoints his deputy Secretary and the estabUshment of his o^wn office, consisting of about 50 clerks, and has the direct appoint- SECT. VII. WAR OFFICE. 253 ment of the Paymasters of the three Colonial Corps, and the Staff Officers of the Enrolled Pensioners ; also of the Eegimental Chaplains. His salary is 2480/. a year. The Deputy Secre tary receives, under a recent regulation, a reduced salary of 1500/. a year. THE ARMT MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. 13, St. James's Place, St. James's Street. The duties of thia department bring it more under the superviaion of the War Office than of any other of the military departraents. The Superintendent has the selection of the Army Surgeons, and the con trol of all arrangements connected with the Medical Staff and the Military Hospitala. Some important changea are in progress, and it has been proposed to consolidate in thia department the Medical Department of the Ordnance. The Superintendent's salary is 1200/. per annum. THE ROTAL HOSPITAL AT CHELSEA. The Coraraissioners appointed ex-officio for the governraent of this establishraent are the Preaident of the Council, the Firat Lord of the Treasury, the Secretariea of State, the Secretary at War, the Pay- maater-General, the Chairraan of the Board of Audit, the Governor, the Lieutenant-Governor, the Adjutant-General of the Forcea, the Quartermaster-General, and the Deputy Secretary at War. The establishment waa founded by Charlea II. (but was not corapleted tiU the reign of WilUara and Mary) for the reception of aick, wounded, and auperannuated soldiers who have served in the regular array. These are caUed the indoor pensioners, and with their officers constitute the miUtary branch ; they are admitted to the benefits of the inatitution by the Commissionera sitting as a Board, and to this Board the internal management of the hospital is intrusted. The Board are also empowered to decide upon claims to the out- pension, to admit out-pensionera, and to regulate (pursuant to atat. 5 and 6 Vict. c. 70) the payment of their pensions; the officers charged vrith these duties form the civil branch. The establishment is chiefly under the control of the Paymaster- General, who appoints the civil officers, but the Secretary at War exercises aome control over the expenditure. The Commander-in- Chief nominatea to the Queen for the appointraent of Governor and Lieutenant-Governor. ROYAL MILITARY ASYLUM. Chelsea. This Aaylum, frequently caUed "The Duke of York's School," frora ita having been founded under the Duke's auspices, waa inatitutedin 254 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VII. 1801, for the education and maintenance of the children of aoldiers in the regular army. Latterly, an Educational Branch haa been added, forming a normal school for training regiraental monitors and school mastera. The EatabUahment is under the control of a Board of Commiaaioners "appointed by the Crown, comprising among others the Comraander-in- Chief, the Secretary at War, and the Bishops of London and Win- cheater. The school now consists of 700 male children (females being no longer admitted). They are admitted by the Commisaioners, and are orphans of men who aerved in the army, or aoldiers' children who . have lost their mothers and whose fathers are on foreign service. THE OEDNA.NCE OFFICE. PaU MaU. The Ordnance completes the list of the great military estab lishments. This important department, which combines both civil and military duties, is under the control of the Master- General and the Board. The Master-General directs personally, and without reference to the Board, all matters relating to the corps of Artillery and Engineers, comprising appointments, discipline, and employment, which in the case of the rest of the army belong to the Commander-in-Chief Excepting the necessary control of the Govemment for political objects, the authority of the Master-General in all matters coimected with his department, both civil and miUtary, is supreme. He is responsible for the general management of the whole of the business, and can revise or set aside the decisions of the Board. He has access to the Queen, and receives Her Majesty's com mands personally, according to the nature of the question, or through the Secretary of State. The Master-General is usually a distinguished miUtary officer. He is appointed under the Great Seal during pleasure. He has in several recent administrations held a seat in the Cabinet, and, unlike. the Commander-in-Chief, he is not sepa rated from the political responsibiUties of the Government, ¦with which his subordinate officers, who have seats in Parliament, are also connected. The acceptance of the office by an officer in the army does not vacate a seat in the House of Commons. The Master-General is the Colonel of the Artillery, both horse and foot, and of the corps of Eoyal Engineers. In all SECT. VII. OPJJNANCE OFFICE. 255 questions connected with tho discipline, regulation, and distri bution of these corps, and of the Boyal Waggon Train, he has, without reference to the Board, exclusive control, as likewise over the Eoyal Military School at Woolwich, of which he is the Govemor. The civil duties of the Ordnance are those which more par ticularly belong to the Board. The Master-General only attends when important business is to be transacted ; but he is cognizant of all its proceedings, and the Board minutes are always submitted to his approval. It may be stated generally that he takes charge of all the military details, while all measures of finance fall more particularly to the provipce of the Board. The Board is composed of the Surveyor-General, the Clerk of the Ordnance, and the principal Storekeeper, who each hold separate appointments under the Great Seal during pleasure. These officers have usually seats in Parliament, and it is the duty of the Clerk of the Ordnance to prepare the Ordnance estimates, and to submit and explain them to the House. All questions are considered by the Board, and all acts are done under its authority, but each of the three Board Officers is responsible for the details of a separate branch. The duties of the Board consist in the first place of the greater part of that business in regard to the Ordnance Corps which the Secretary at War transacts with respect to the rest of the army, including the examination of pay-lists and accounts, the decision upon officers' claims to pay, allowances, pensions, compensation for loss of horses, baggage, &c. The construction and repair of fortifications, ban'acks, and military buildings in the United Kingdom and its colonies, and of all the colonial govemment buildings, are under the superintendence of the Board, as also the supply of arms, ammunition, and military stores for the army and navy, and the contract and issue of fuel, lights, and the various military sujiplies, both at home and abroad, except bread, meat, and forage, which, by a recent regulation, are provided by the Commissariat. The clothing for the constabulary police of Ireland, and the supply of stores for the Convict Establishments in the penal colonies, have also been placed under the direction of the Board. The Board have also the charge of the surveys, both ci'vil and military, required at home and abroad, and the direction of the scientific works which appertain to the Corps of Engineers. , The patronage of the Ordnance is in the Master-General and 256 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VII. the Board, and is very considerable. It consists of 184 clerks in the London establishments, commencing at 90/. and rising in classes to 600/. per annum, with five chief clerks at higher salaries ; 65 clerks at the out-stations, commencing at from 80/. to 120/. per annum, and increasing to from 160/. to 400/. ; and about 80 clerks at foreign stations, commencing at 90/. and increasing to from 170/. to 250/. ; also the messengers and porters. Each of the three Board officers appoints the clerks and others immediately in his branch ; all the other appointments are with the Master- General. There are also in the United Kingdom 18 storekeepers, 'wtose salaries range from 250/. to 750/., and 20 deputy storekeepers, at from 190/. to 400/. ; besides 24 storekeepers and 30 deputy storekeepers on foreign stations, the salaries of the former vary ing from 260/. to 635/., and of the latter from 190/. to 300/. In addition to this patronage there are many important scientific and military appointments, chiefly made by the Master-General, connected -with the arsenal, laboratories, and schools at Wool wich, and with the Corps of Eoyal Artillery and Eoyal Engi neers. The salaries of the chief officers of the department are — Mas ter-General, 3000/. ; Surveyor-General, Clerk of the Ordnance, and principal Storekeeper, 1200/. each ; Secretary to the Master- General, 1000/. ; Secretary to the Board (including 200/. for house-rent), 1200/. The establishments at Woolwich arsenal, which are imme diately under the control of the Ordnance, are, — the Eoyal Laboratory, the Eoyal Brass Foundry, the Eoyal Carriage De partment, and the Eoyal MiUtary Eepository. The Eoyal Gun Manufactory at Waltham Abbey, and the Manufactory at Enfield for finishing small arms ; also the Storekeepers' Depart ment at the Tower and at Woolwich, and the Branch Depart ments of the Storekeepers and Deputy Storekeepers throughout the United Kingdom and the colonies, are also parts of the Establishment. THE CORPS OF ROYAL ENGINEERS. This corps consists of a body of 330 Engineer Officers, and the Corps of Sappers and Miners. The latter are a miUtary force cm- ployed aa a body of workmen in artificers' duties, for which they are trained and instructed, under the command of the Engineer Officers. SECT. VII. ENGINEERS AND ARTILLERY. 257 They are employed on works and repairs in the colonies and occasion ally at home ; a considerable number of the corps are now engaged in the aurvey of the United Kingdom. The pay of the corps is as follows : — Royat Engineers, Pay. Extra Pay. £. s. d. s. d. Colonels Commandant 1000 0 0 a year. Colonels . . 1 6 3 a day. 13 0 a day. Lieut.-Colonels . 0 18 .1 »> 9 0^ „ Lieut.-Colonels . 0 16 1 n 8 04 „ Captains . 0 11 11 7J 5 6i ,, 2nd Captains . 0 11 11 J) 4 0 „ 1st Lieutenants , 0 6 10 »j 3 5 „ 2nd Lieutenants 0 5 7 j> 2 9i „ The above rates of extra pay are for employments at home ; they are doubled on employraent abroad, and also with regard to the 1st Lieutenants when eraployed in the London district. In addition to the pay of their respective railitary ranks, the Inspec tor-General of Fortifications receives 40s. a day, his 1st aaaistant 30s. a day, and his 2nd assistant 20s. a day. Sappers and Miners. Brigade-Major AdjutantQuartermasterSergeant-Majors . Quartermaster Sergeants Colour Sergeants . Sergeants CorporalsThe Privates, who are artificers THE ROTAL ARTILLERY. Woolwich. The Royal Regiment of Artillery (Infantry) consists of 12 battalions, comprising 96 companies. The number of officers and men voted (including the staff) was, for 1854-5, 15,013, and the charge 494,796/. The Brigade qf Royal Horse Artillery consists of seven troopa. The number of officera and men voted for 1854-5 waa 1,124, the charge 42,884?. The following is the rate of pay of theae two corps :— s. d. 9 6 a day 10 0 )> 8 0 » 4 6i )» 4 OJ n 3 n » 2 8i 91 2 n )) 1 2J « Field Officers and Regimental Staff. Horse. £. s. d. Foot. £. s. d. Colonels Commandant . Colonels Lieut.-ColonelsLieut.-Colonels . . 3 0 0 a day. . 1 12 4 „ .17 1 „ 1 2 11 „ 1000 0 0 a year 16 3a day. 0 18 0 16 11 „ s 268 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT . VII Field Officers and Regimental Horse. Foot. Stciff, £. s. d. £. s. d. Adjutants . 0 17 9 a day. 0 12 9a day. Quartermaatera . 0 10 10 11 0 7 10 It Veterinary Surgeons . 0 8 0 5) Sergeant-Majors . . 0 4 3i J) 0 4 U )» Quarterraaster Sergeant 8 0 3 9i » 0 3 7i JJ Troops and Companies, Captains . 0 16 1 ?» 0 12 2 JJ 2nd Captains . 0 16 1 11 0 11 1 JJ 1st Lieutenants . 0 9 10 11 0 6 10 „ 2nd Lieutenants . . • 0 5 7 )» Troop Staff Sergeants .039^ 11 Company Sergeants . 0 3 2 ,, Sergeants . . 0 2 10 n 0 2 8 JJ Corporals .024 » 0 2 2 JJ Bombadiers . .022 )> 0 2 0 JJ Gunners . 0 1 5i 17 Drivers . 0 1 3^ 11 G unnera and Drivers . 0 1 H J) THE ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY. Woolwich. This school was eatabliahed in 1719, and is under the control and direction of the Master-General of the Ordnance. It is the only road to commisaiona in the ArtiUery and Engineera— pupils who pass their required examinationa receiving their commiasions from the Maater-General of the Ordnance at the end of about three years. There are generally from 120 to 150 cadets under instruction in what ever is necessary to fit them for Artillery officera and Engineers. In these services neither the first commission nor aubaequent proraotiona can be purchased. Candldatea for admiaaion are nominated by the Master-General. Their names are not noted by him before the age of 10 years, nor can they be called up for examination before the age of 14, nor be ad mitted after 16. Candidatea under 14 muat be prepared to undergo an examination which shall prove their abiUty to write EngUsh in u good hand freely and correctly fi-om dictation, to be well versed iu simple arithmetic, in the four fundamental operations in algebra, and in the definitions, postulates, and axioms of EucUd; alao that they possess such classical attainmenta aa compirehend the power to con strue and parae Cseaar's Commentariea, a knowledge of French and of the elements of German Grammar, and some competence in EngUsh History, Geography, and Outline-drawing. After the age of 14 the examinations require an increased amount of attainment ; no aecond SECT. VII. JUDGE ADVOCATE-GENERAL. 259 examination ia permitted. The candidate haa alao to pass examina tion by a surgeon as to any bodily defects. Candidates are admitted on probation for two sessions, at the end of which their progress is strictly inquired into, and unleas they prove themselves quaUfied for a commiaaion at the end of four years they are removed from the academy. The scale of paymenta variea according to the rank of the cadet's relatives — from a maximura of 125?. a year for the aon of a noble man or a private gentleman, to 20/. a year for the son of an officer of the army or na"vy who has died in the service, leaving a family in pecuniary difficulties. But in addition to this charge an expense of from 40/. to 50/. a year is incurred by each cadet. THE JUDGE ADVOCATE-GENERAL'S OFFICE. 25, Great George-street, Westminster. The Judge Advocate- General is appointed by the Queen under the .sign manual, and holds his office during pleasure. He is iu this patent appointed " Advocate-General or Judge-Marshal of all our Forces, both horse and foot, within the United King dom of Great Britain and Ireland, and in all other dominions and countries whatsoever (except where particular Advocates- General or Judges-Martial are appointed)." He is the sole representative of the Govemment in all miUtary proceedings before General Courts Martial, maintaining the interests of the Crown, and prosecuting, either in person or by deputy, in the Sovereign's name. It is his duty freely to advise the military Court, as the ordi nary judges direct the jury, upon such questions as may arise, either on points of law or in the form of proceeding — whether such questions be govemed by the miUtary law, or, where that law is silent, by the common law of the land. His statutory powers ¦will be found in the annual Mutiny Act. He appoints the time and place for holding the Court, and summonses the witnesses. On the trial he is bound so far to assist the accused as to see that his case is brought fully and fairly before the Court. He has no absolute judicial power, nor any vote in the sentence of the Court ; but it is his duty to receive the sentence, and to report it, for the confirmation and approval of the Queen. He takes notes of aU the proceedings of the Court, and the original records of all Courts Martial are deposited in his office. The Judge Advocate-General, though his office partakes to s2 260 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VII. a certain extent of a judicial character, has usually a seat in the House of Commons, and is a political adherent of the Government of the day, quitting office ¦with his party on a change of adminis tration. He is also sworn of the Privy Council. Courts Martial in their present form were instituted in the reign of James II. General Courts Martial are assembled under the authority of the Queen or of an officer having ehief command in any part of H. M.'s dominion, to whom sueh authority is delegated. Eegimental Courts Martial are held by the appoint ment of the commanding offioer of the regiment. The chief crimes of which a General Court Martial takes cognizance are mutiny, abandonment of a fortress, post, or guard committed to the charge of an officer or soldier, disobedience of orders, and desertion. There are many other offences which, as subversive of discipline, and affecting the character of the Army, are within the cognizance of the Court, as immorality, behaving in a manner unbecoming an officer and a gentleman, &c. Eegimental or Gar rison Courts Martial are appointed hy the commanding officer fo! the purpose of inquiring into offences of the inferior degrees. No commissioned officer is amenable to this tribunal ; and a non-commissioned officer or private may, if sufficient grounds are alleged, remove his case from a Regimental to a General Court Martial. In trials before Courts Martial the accusation must be dis tinctly set forth, ¦with particulars of time and place ; and at a General Court Martial a copy of the charge must be furnished to the accused, who has the power of challenging any of the mem bers of the Court. The evidence is taken do^wn in writing, and the opinions of the several members of the Court are taken in succession, beginning with the junior officer, the verdict bemg decided by the majority. There is a right of appeal from a Eegi mental to a General Court Martial, and from this to the Supreme Courts of Common Law. The sentence is submitted to the Queen, who may retum it to the Court for revision, or confirm it, or remit the punishment adjudged. SECT. VIII. THE ADMIRALTY. 261 SECTION VIIL THE ADMIRALTY AND NAVAL DEPARTMENTS. The British Na'vy forms the natural bulwark and defence of the Island Monarchy of Great Britain and Ireland, and is the means of protecting and maintaining the extensive colonial depen dencies of the Empire. The Navy has been fostered from the earliest times 'without exciting those constitutional jealousies which have attended the growth of our miUtary establishments, for from it no danger to liberty has ever been apprehended. The naval force is a perpetual estabUshment, and the statutes and orders by which it is govemed, and its disciphne maintained (unUke the miUtary laws, which the Sovereign has absolute power to frame under the authority of an Act of Parliament), have been permanently estabUshed and defined 'with great precision by the Legislature. The distinction also prevails in the mode of voting the charge for these two forces. Por the Army — the first vote sanctions the number of men to be maintained ; the second, the charge for their pay and maintenance. For the Navy, no vote is taken for the number of men ; the first vote is for the wages of the stated number of men and boys to be main tained ; and though the result may he the same, this distinction exists both in practice and principle. The pecuUar power to impress seamen for the fleet is of such ancient date, that it is said to be part of the common law; It has no direct statutory sanction, though the preamble of the stat. 2 Eich. II. c. 4, by its recital of the arrest and reten tion of mariners for the King's service, shows that it was at that time a well-known practice, and its existence has also been in cidentally recognised by several later statutes. The continuance of the practice has been warranted by the necessities of the service, to enable the Admiralty to man a fleet with speed on an emergency. The authority of Parliament in the control of the Navy was 262 THK OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. .SK.CT. VIII. first exercised in 1661, by an enactment of 13 Charles IL, passed to regulate the govemment of the fleet. This Act was repealed by the 22 Geo. II. c. 23, which was explained and amended by the 19 Geo. III. c. 17. These two latter statutes contain the articles of war and the rules for holding Naval Courts Martial, and form the permanent code under which the Navy is governed. The laws relating to the pay of the Navy were conso lidated and amended by stat. 11 Geo. IV. c. 20. In 1853 a new force, called " The Eoyal Naval Coast Volun teers," was created pursuant to stat. 16 and 17 Vict. c. 73. By this statute the Admiralty were empowered to raise, by voluntary entry, and maintain a force not exceeding 10,000 men. This force is to be entered for five years' service, and to he trained and exercised on ship-board for 28 days in each year, under such officers as the Admiralty think fit to appoint, and may form during such training part of the crew of any of H. M.'s ships, and shall be subject to the same command. In case of " imminent national danger or of great emergency," this volun teer force, or any portion of it, may be called into active service for one year, subject to an extension for one year further, but shall not be liable to be sent beyond 100 leagues from the shore of the United Kingdom. The Admiralty are empowered to offer a bounty of 6/. to each volunteer, to be paid by periodical instal ments ; and to regulate their clothing, arms, accoutrements, times of training, &c. By the same statute, in case of emergency, the Admiralty may require men serving in the Coast Guard, Eevenue Cruisers, and the Seamen Biggers, to join such of Her Majesty's ships-of- war as they may be ordered, and form part of their crews. The charges for the Na'vy and the Naval Departments are annually voted by the House of Commons. They were, for each of the last three years, including the supplementary votes — Heads of Chakge. 1852-3. 1853-4. 1864-5. Wages of seamen and marines .... Victualling stores and provisions for seamen and marines CivU Departments of Admiralty . . . . Royal Naval Coast Volunteers . . . . Soientiflo Branch, including the Hydrographioal Department, Observatories, Naval CoUege, School, Nautical Almanac, &c 1,543,025 544,507 134,633 50,353 f. 1,736,236 615,426 137,245 50,000 34,939 £. 2,654,371 1,070,324 143,467 60,00061,722 Carried forward . 2,272,618 2,573,846 S,969,8S4 SECT. VIII. THE ADMIRALTY. 26,« Heads of Chaboe. Brought forward . Naval yards and estabU^ments at home and abroad, with the pay of the ofBcers and artificers .... . . Naval stores for buUding and repairing ships, &c. New works, repairs, &c., on naval yards . Medical stores Miscellaneous services ..... Total Efective Service . Half-pay to officers of na'vy and marines . Military pensions and allowances, including good-service pensions, Green'wicli out-peu- sions, compas^onate allowances, and widows' pensions Civil superannuations and allowances Total Naval Service Conveyance of troops for army and ordnance Total amount voted . . i Number of men provided for in the votfis — Seamen afloat Boys afloat Marines afloat Marines on shore £. 2,272,518 858,170 882,495265,140 24,20050,860 £. 2,573,846 876,208 1,023,011 256,948 26,00057,427 £. 3,969,884 1,124,655 1,840,063 379,642 62,00060,653 4,363,373 707,620 490,633 156,662 4,813,440 687,676 483,134148,394 7,436,897 657,676 476,659 148,798 6,707,988 127,600 6,132,643 162,960 8,719,929 3,321,750 5,835,588 6,285,493 26,000 2,0005,700 6,800 31,000 2,000 6,500 6,000 46,000 2,0008,0007,600 The following are the rates of pay of some of the principal officers in the Navy : — Pay per Day. £. s. d. Admiral of the Fleet 6 0 0 Admiral ... 500 Vice-Admiral . . 4 0 0 Rear-Admiral ..300 Commodore of the 1st Class 3 0 0 Commodore of the 2nd Class : — If commanding in chief 10 0 If not commanding in chief . . . . 0 10 0 . Captains of the Fleet 3 0 0 Captain — 1st Class— of ships of Une (except flag ships) . . . . 1 18 4 „ 2nd Class — of Une of battle, guard-ships, ships of the ordinary. . . 1 12 10 „ 3rd Class — of regular flag-ships and fourth-rates . . .17 4 „ 4th Class — of aU other ships . . . 1 1 11 Commander 0 16 5 Lieutenant in comraand of any ship or tender (not packet or survey), or of seven years' standing . 0 11 0 Lieutenant of other class 0 10 0 Paymaster and Purser 0 5 0 Mate .... .... 0 3 7 Midshipman .,018 Naval Cadet 0 0 9 264 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. Vlll. Admirals and the Commodore of the 1st Class receive an allow ance of 3/. per day table-money, when commanding in chief and their flags are flying within the limits of their respective stations. "When on half-pay the Adrairal of the Fleet receives 63s. per day ; the Adrairal, 42s. ; the Vice-Admiral, 32s. Gd. ; the Rear-Admiral, 25s. Of the Captains, the first in order of seniority receive 14s. Gd, each per day ; the next 100, each 12s. 6c?. ; and the reraainder, 10s. Gd, Of the Commanders, the first 100 receive 10s. Gd, each per day ; the remainder, 8s. Gd, Of the Lieutenants, the first 300 receive 7s. per day each ; the next 700, each 6s. ; and the remainder, 5s. Lieutenants promoted after 1st July 1840, receive 4s. per day, to be increased to 5s. after threeyears' service in seagoing ships, and to advance by seniority to the above rates. By an order in Council of the 25th June 1851, Her Majesty was pleased to sanction a plan of naval retirement, for the bene fit of the service, and the prospective reduction of the effective Naval Establishment to — Flag Officers (exclusive of Admirals of the Fleet) 99, viz. 21 Admirals, 27 Vice- Admirals, and 51 Bear- Admirals ; Captains, 350 ; Commanders, 450 ; Lieutenants, 1200. The foUo'wing are the rates of pay and half-pay per day to the Marines : — Pay. Half-pay. £. s. d. £. s. d. Colonels Commandant . . . 1 18 6 „ 2nd Commandant . . .10 0 0 14 6 Lieut.-Colonels 0 17 0 0 11 O Captains (vrith higher brevet rank) . . 0 13 7 0 9 6 Captain . . . . . .OllToTO First Lieutenant (after seven years' service) 0 7 6 0 4 6 First Lieutenant 0 6 6 0 4 0 Second Lieutenant 0 5 3 0 3 0 Cadets 0' 5 0 THE ADMIRALTY. WhitehaU. The Admiralty Office may be said to date its origin from the year 1512, when Henry VIIL, on making a considerable addition to his Navy, created an office for the transaction of naval affairs, and appointed Commissioners to inspect the state of the ships of war and naval stores, and to report to the Lord High Admiral, to whom the govemment of the Eoyal Navy was then SECT. VIH. THB ADMIRALTY. 265 confided. Since the reign of Queen Anne this ancient office has been executed by Commissioners, with the exception of the short period from April 1827 to September 1828, when it was filled by the Duke of Clarence, -afterwards King WUUam IV. The Commissioners consist of the First Lord and five junior Lords. They form a Board, and are commonly called " The Lords of the Admiralty." They are appointed under the Great Seal, during pleasure, " Commissioners for executing the Office of High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire land, and the dominions, islands, and territories thereto belonging, and the territories or parts beyond the seas possessed by any subjects of the Queen." They have the supreme control and direction of all those momentous national interests which apper tain to the Eoyal Navy of Great Britain. The Board is usually composed of eminent civilians and dis tinguished naval officers. Their appointments are poUtical. The First Lord has a seat in the Cabinet, and shares in its respon sibiUties, and usuaUy two, sometimes three members of the Board and the first Secretary have seats in the House of Commons. Their tenure of office is suhject, therefore, to that of the Govern ment ; and the maintenance of the particular views of naval ad ministration entertained by the Board, and of those great works coimected ¦with the navy and naval estabUshments which are constantly progressing, depend upon the poUtical changes of the day. This may have its inconveniences. But the large political powers which devolve upon the Admiralty Board render it doubtful whether any practical advantage would arise from continuing a portion of the Board (necessarily a minority) on a change of parties ; and the second Secretary, with the Surveyor and principal officers of the Naval departments, must be looked upon as responsible for the maintenance of such general views as are independent of party considerations. The First Lord, subject to the Queen's approval, is the source of all naval honours, promotions, and appointments. He exer cises the patronage of the department, which is very extensive. He has the appointment of Admirals, Captains, Commanders, and Lieutenants to separate commands, and the promotion below the rank of Admiral, the step to which is by seniority. But the first Naval Lord has usually, ¦with the First Lord's approval, the selection of Lieutenants and Midshipmen, Masters, Pursers, and Warrant Officers, and the Board make some few promotions 266 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VIII. for special services, and on customary occasions. The First Lord appoints the retired Captains, Commanders, and Lieutenants of Greenwich Hospital, also Chaplains and Marine Cadets ; and, on the recommendation of the Superintendents, to all the superior offices in the Dockyards. He exercises also all the civil patron age of the Admiralty, appointing the heads of the subordinate departments, and clerks, amounting to 225 persons, ¦with messen gers, porters, &c. The Vice-Admiral and Eear-Admiral of England are the only exceptions to his patronage. They are appointed by the Cro^wn on the selection of the Prime Minister. Nevertheless, the First Lord has not, Uke the head of the Army or the Ordnance, any exclusive authority ; he can only act in conjunction with the Board. All naval officers' commissions are from the Lords of the Admiralty, not the Queen ; and, Uke all their other acts, are not vaUd in the name of the First Lord alone, but require the formal signature of a second Lord, and are countersigned by the Secretary. The commissions of Marine Officers are under the sign manual. Of the five Junior Lords, four are always Naval Lords, two of whom are generally Admirals. The Board is usually formed by the Junior Lords, two constituting a Board. The Secretaries sit with the Board, and make minutes of their proceedings. All orders and instmctions to officers emanate from the Board ; and all charges of neglect, breach of disciphne, and disobedience of orders, are subject to their decision. The Board order ships to be built, repaired, sold, or broken up ; and have the control of the Dockyards, regulating the purchase of material and its manu facture, and the amount of each description of stores proper to be maintained. The Board also direct what ships shaU- be placed or continued in commission, and have complete control over the management and employment of the fleets and ships in every part of the globe. The Board grant pensions, good- service pensions, compassionate allowances, and are responsible for all contracts and all payments ; their authority extending over the whole naval receipt and expenditure, and the due appro priation of the money voted for the naval service. The sums for the payment of each separate branch of the Navy and of the naval expenditure, and the wages of the seamen and marines, are annually voted by the House of Commons. The details of these votes it is chiefly the duty of the Secretary of the Admiralty (who is the parliamentary organ of the Navy) SECT. VIII. THE ADMIRALTY. 267 to move, explain, and defend. But when the First Lord has a seat in tbe House of Commons, he is, of course, the representa tive of the department, and takes charge of the more important matters. The business of the civil departments of the Admiralty was regulated m 1832, by 2 Will. IV. c. 40 ; the offices of the Commissioners of the Navy and of the Commissioners for Vic- tualUng the Navy were abolished, and their duties and autho rities transferred to the Lords of the Admiralty. By the same statute the office of Treasurer of the Navy was regulated ; his duties, which were afterwards transferred to the Paymaster- General, were confined solely to the receipt and payment of money : and the management of the Greenwich Out-pensions, and all the duties he had theretofore performed, coimected ¦vrith naval accotmts, prize lists, reports, petitions, seamen's wills, powers of attorney, &c., were placed under the immediate direc tion of the Lords of the Admiralty. Since this transfer of the civil business to the Admiralty, each of the five branches into which it has been divided is placed under the immediate super vision of one of the Junior Lords ; who, while individually responsible for the details of his particular branch, consults the Board, by whose delegation he acts, on aU the larger questions which arise. The official instructions from the Board are com municated to the subordinate departments through the Secre taries. The First Lord is cognizant of the business of each department, and, while exercising that general control which belongs to the chief responsibility, he specially charges himself "with those duties connected with the poUtical affairs and finance of the Navy, "with the annual estimates, dockyard works, and all matters relating to the suppression of the slave-trade. It is the province of the first Sea-Lord to make himself acquainted with the state of foreign navies, to attend to the composition and distribution of our fleet, the preparation of orders to ships in commission, the steam navy, the advance ships, and to the selection and destination of lieutenants, mates, midshipmen, naval cadets, clerks, boatswains, gunners, &c. One Sea-Lord superintends the department of the Surveyor of the Na^vy, and the building and repairs of sailing and steam vessels, arma ments, machinery, and naval inventions. Another Sea-Lord looks to the discipline of the fleet, the marines, marine 268 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VIH. artillery, coasl>-guard, dockyard battalions, hydrographioal de partment, and to all matters connected with the maiming the fleet. Another Sea-Lord superintends the department of the Storekeeper-General, the VictualUng and Medical departments, stores, contracts, troop-ships, transports, convict service, hos pitals, Greenwich pensioners, civil pensions, pay ; and has charge of the foreign yards. The Civil Lord superintends the depart ment of the Accountant-General of the Navy, and he directs the works and the packet-service, the civil affairs of Green^wich Hospital, the dockyard schools, education, seamen's hbraries, chaplains, and naval instructors ; and he takes a greater or less share in naval flnance, dependent from time to time upon the constitution of the Board. But this arrangement of duties is liable to change according to circumstances. The First Lord has a salary of 4500/. per annum. The five Junior Lords have 1000/. per annum each, to which amount the salary was reduced on the recommendation of a Committee of the House of Commons in 1850. The Chief Secretary has 2000/. per annum, the Seoond Secretary 1500/. The First Lord, three of the Junior Lords, and the Chief Secretary, have also each an official residence. The Eoyal Marines form part of the Naval EstabUshment, and are in all respects under the control of the Lords of the Admiralty. That portion of the force employed on shore doing military duty in the naval yards and arsenals is regulated hy an annual Act, similar in its provisions to the Mutiny Act. The Marine Cadetships are in the gift of the First Lord. The following are the five subordinate branches of the Admi ralty (each superintended by one of the Lords) immediately charged ¦with the conduct of the details of the naval adminis tration. There are also subordinate establishments connected ¦with the great naval yards estabUshed at Chatham, Dept ford, Woolvrich, Sheerness, Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Pem broke ; and the Harbours and Bailway Department, the Eoyal Hospital at Green^wioh, and the Eoyal Hospital Schools at Green^wich, are under the control of the Admiralty. SECT. VIII. NAVAL DEPARTMENTS. 269 DEPARTMENT OF THE SURVEYOR OF THE NAVY. Somerset Place, Strand. The Surveyor of the Navy has the general superintendence of the materiel of the Navy and of the iraportant details connected with the building and fitting of ships and steam-vessels. He prepares the programme of the works to be undertaken in the year, and recommends the yards at whioh they may be best executed. He visits the dock yards, and has the general superintendence of their duties and of the employment of the shipwright officers and artificers. He reports upon the state of the vessels in ordinary, and progress and forward ness of those constructing, and upon the selection of ships for com mission. He reports also upon the advantage of the numerous sug gestions made to the Admiralty upon such matters. His salary is 1000?. per annum., with an allowance of 300?. per annum for house- rent. The Steam Department forms a portion of this branch, and is under the direction of the Surveyor. The Surveyor has two assistants, who prepare the plans and lines of vessels to be built ; and he has the advice of a " Council of Science," who report upon the construction of vessels, on references made to them. DEPARTMENT OF THE ACCOUNTANT-GENERAL OF THE NAVT. Somerset Place, Strand. The Accountant-General has the charge of the whole naval expen diture. His department is the most extensive of the subordinate offices. Every payraent is subject to his examination and check ; all the separate captains' and pursers' accounts, including every inci dental expense, are examined in detail in his departraent ; and all the accounts are prepared and subraitted by hira for the exaraination and discharge of the pubUc auditors. He has a salary of 1000?. per annum, with 300?. in Ueu of a house. DEPARTMENT OF THE STOREKEEPER-GENERAL OF THE NAVY. Somerset Place, Strand. This officer is charged with providing all stores, and the examina tion of the store accounts. He sees that the stores and their expen diture are duly accounted for ; he receives weekly returns from the several dockyards, so that the amount of stores may at all times be ascertained; and he has the control and management of all the na-vy contracts (except the Victualling Contra,cts). He has a salary of 1000/. per annum, with a house. 270 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VIH. DEPARTMENT OF THE COMPTROLLER FOR VICTUALLING AND TRANSPORT SERVICES. Somerset Place, Strand. The ComptroUer examines and certifies all pursers' accounts of provisions and stores, and provides and keeps a general account of the ¦victualling stores ; he provides for the hire of transports, and freights ships for the conveyance of soldiers, and of convicts to the penal settleraents, and he provides and assigns passages for officers of the array proceeding to their stations abroad. He also superintends the Navy Contracts for provisions and the Victualling Yards. His salary is 1,200/. ¦without a residence. DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THte MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVT. Somerset Place, Strand. The Director-General has the charge of all naval raedical stores, and of their due distribution to the different hospitals and ships ; he also reports upon the quaUfications of the medical officers, after an exami nation as to their fitness. He superintends the Naval Hospitals and Marine Infirmaries. HTDROGRAPHIC AND HARBOUR DEPARTMENT. 15, Duke Street, Westminster. The permanent appointment of this department arose out of the duty imposed upon the Admiralty by the stat. 9 and 10 Vict., c. 106, amended by 11 and 12 Vict. c. 129, to investigate and report upon every scheme seeking the sanction of Parliament which proposes to interfere vrith tidal water. The Admiralty are erapowered to appoint competent persons to make such investigations. The Commissioners had previously been employed to report, under the Act of 8 Vict. c. 20, upon the execution of works by railway companies below high-water mark on the sea-shore or the banks of any river or creek communi cating therevrith, and their duties under these two statutes are now consolidated. The Act of 11 and 12 Vict, was repealed hy 14 and 15 Vict. <;. 49. Parties applying for private Acts, where works on tidal lands are proposed, are required to deposit their plans at the Admiralty, and the Lords are empowered to investigate the scheme. This investigation forms the duty of the officers of the department, which has merged into the Hydrographio Department, with which it has been consoUdated. The officers' attention is directed to the compilation of a history, so far as raay be practicable, of every harbour in the United Kingdom, showing its present state and the improvements or deteriorations which it has undergone from the earliest periods ; and it is their duty to prevent encroachments on the jurisdiction of the Admiralty. Each has a salary of 800?. a year. SECT. VIII. GREENWICH HOSPITAL. 271 ROYAL HOSPITAL, GREENWICH. This royal hospital for disabled seamen, originally founded by William and Mary, received its first inmates on the present plan in 1737. Its funds have been increased by many private donations, and the grant by ParUament in 1716 of the forfeited Derwentwater estates. It has also been occasionally assisted by sums of money voted by ParUament. The Admiralty Board has the general control and direction of the whole estabUshment. The afl'airs of the hospital were regulated by 10 Geo. rV. c. 25 and 26, and the payment of the out-pensions was transferred to the Paymaster-General by 5 and 6 WiU. TV. c. 35. The Coraraissioners are the Paymaster-General and the First Coraraissioner of Woods and Forests, ex-qfflcio, with three other persons appointed by Her Majesty. The hospital estates are vested in them, and they make all contracts for the supply of the estabUshment, execute all agreements, mortgages, and bonds relating to the corporate property, grant leases, and purchase, seU, and convey land. The in-pensioners, araounting to nearly 3000, who are lodged, clothed, and victuaUed, are searaen and marines who have served in Her Majesty's navy, and are, from old age, wounds, or infirraities, inca pable of further service. They are selected by the Admiralty. The out-pensioners are also seamen aud marines incapable of service, who are chosen in the same manner. Their number is unlimited. The Govemor and Lieut.-Govemor and the Commissioners are appointed by Her Majesty on the nomination of the Prime Minister. The appointment of the Commissioners does not vacate, or disqualify for, a seat in the House of Coraraons. The Govemor, styled " the Master," has a salary of 1,500?. a-year, paid out of the revenues of the hospital. Both the Governor and the Lieut.-Govemor hold their appointraents under the Great Seal during pleasure. AU the other appointraents, civil and miUtary, are in the gift of the First Lord and the Board of Admiralty, including the presentation to any Uvings belonging to the hospital property. THE ROYAL HOSPITAL SCHOOLS, GREENWICH. These Schools were placed under the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital, and the funds vrith which they are endowed vested in the Commissioners, by the 6 Geo. IV. c. 26. The Upper School maintains and educates 400 boys, the sons of sea men in the Royal Navy and the Merchant Service. The Lower School a like number, the sons of warrant and petty officers and searaen, and of non-commissioned officers and privates of marines. The Schools are under the control of the Board of Admiralty. The boys are nominated by the Board, their Secretary, and the Governor and Lieut.-Govemor of Greenwich Hospital. 272 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. VIH. THB HIGH COURT OF ADMIRALTY OF ENGLAND. 1^ Doctors' Commons. This Court is of ancient institution. Its proceedings are according to the method of the ci-vil law. It is not a Court of Eecord. It lias cognizance of all cases of collision, bottomry, salvage, and seamen's wages. The Judge is, in time of war, empowered by special commission to adjudicate on prizes taken, and on questions of booty. The ordinary practice of the Court is vrith respect to suits for seamen's wages, pilotage, bottomry, damages by collision of ships, breach of the regulations of Her Majesty's naval service, and all maritime injuries arising on the seas or iu parts out of the reach of the common law. All appeals in Admiralty cases are to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, except on awards by justices for the distribution of salvage, which are to this Court. The practice and jurisdiction of the Court are regulated by the 3 and 4 Vict. c. 65 ; the Dean of Arches is by this statute em powered to sit as the Assistant Judge, and the advocates, surrogates, and proctors are admitted to practise and act in the Court. Provision is made for the Judge, Eegistrar, and officers by the 3 and 4 Vict. c. 66. The Judge is appointed by the Queen ; his salary is 4000/. per annum, with a retiring pension of 2000/. after 15 years' service. He is disquaUfied from sitting in the House of Commons. The Eegistrar, with a salary of 1400/. per annum ; the Marshal, with a salary of 500/. per annum ; and the clerks and officers of the Court are appointed hy the Judge. He has also the appointment of coroners in sea port towns. The Judgeship of this Court is usually held with the Judge ship of the Consistory Court, to which latter so small a salary is attached as to render this arrangement necessary to secure the due fulfilment of the office. SECT. IX. THE IRISH GOVERNMENT. 273 SECTION IX. THE IRISH GOVERNMENT, SCOTLAND, ISLE OF MAN, AND THE CHANNEL ISLANDS. THE lEISH GOVEENMENT. The kingdom of Ireland, which, hefore the Act of Union, was pohtically linked with England by the Eoyal prerogative alone, has, since that statute (39 and 40 Geo. III. c. 67), become united in its legislature, in its church, its peerage, and its revenues. The same constitution is enjoyed by both countries ; the same muni cipal rights and institutions ; and the EngUsh common law may be said to prevail, as do all statutes passed in England before 10 Hen. VII. Prom that year tiU the Union in 1801, Acts of ParUament made in England, in which Ireland was not ex pressly mentioned, did not relate to that country. At the Union all laws in force in Ireland continued in force, and thence forth the statutes of the United Kingdom extend to Ireland, though not specifically mentioned, unless expressly excepted. The government of Ireland is intrusted to the Queen's Deputy or Viceroy, styled usuaUy the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. But the appointment has been made under several designations. His ancient powers were almost regal. He performed nearly every act of govemment without previous reference to England. From the Bevolution till the beginning of the reign of Geo. III. he resided very little in Ireland. In several instances the person appointed never went over to Ireland. In other cases he went over only once in two years to hold the Session of Par liament, and the govemment was very often left in the hands of Lords Justices ¦without the appointment of a viceroy. The Lord-Lieutenant is appointed imder the Great Seal of the United Kingdom, and bears the sword of state as the symbol of his viceregal authority. He is assisted by a Privy Council and officers of State. He is commissioned to represent Her 274 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. IX. Majesty in Ireland, to keep the peace, the laws, and the customs of that part of the United Kingdom, to govem all the people there, to chasten and correct offenders, and to countenance and encourage such as do well. The Lord-Lieutenant is placed in supreihe authority to see to the impartial administration of justice ; he has power to pardon criminals or to commute their sentences. The poUce is suhject to his entire control. He may issue such orders to the general commanding the troops as are necessary for the support of the civil authority, the protection of the subject, the defence of the kingdom, and the suppression of insurrection. The Queen reserves for her o^wn signet the grant of money, lands, or pensions (the Lord-Lieutenant recommending in such matters for the consideration of the Treasury) ; also the grant of titles of honour, but not ¦without communication ¦with the Lord- Lieutenant, who may himself confer the distinction of civil Knighthood. The collection of the revenue has been transferred to the English Treasury ; and the Customs, Excise, and Post- office estabUshments in DubUn are subordinate branches of the boards in London. The Queen appoints the privy councUlors, the judges and law officers, the govemors of forts, and to miU tary commissions ; also to bishoprics and deaneries. The Lord- Lieutenant is intrusted ¦with the disposal of aU other church preferment, and ¦with all the other patronage of the country. The terms of the Lord-Lieutenant's commission attest the con fidence of the Queen and the extent of his powers. He has the free gift of all the places left to his disposal. No new office is to be created without his opinion thereon ; no appointment, which is reserved to the Queen, is to be made without his advice and recommendation ; and he is required to inform Her Majesty of every man's merits, that she may bestow marks of favour on such as do well. Her Majesty will not admit of any particular com plaint of injustice or oppression in Ireland, unless it has been first made to her Lord-Lieutenant ; nor will she require him to execute her orders in any business of which he may disapprove, until he can commtmicate with Her Majesty and receive further instructions. Such are the authorities of the Lord-Lieutenant : they give him the semblance, but not the immunity, of Eoyal dignity the responsibility, but not the freedom of action, of a minister of the Crown ; for, practically, the govemment of Ireland, and SECT. IX. THE IRISH GOVERNMENT. 275 every step of importance connected ¦with it, are under the imme diate control of the EngUsh Cabinet. On matters of revenue, the Lord-Lieutenant is instructed to correspond with the Treasury ; but, on all other subjects, with the Home Secretary of State, who is deemed personally responsible for the Government of Ireland, and is in close correspondence ¦with the Lord-Lieutenant, ad vising him and keeping him informed of the views and opinions of the Cabinet upon all the more important questions coimected with his Government. For the issue of Instruments under the Great Seal of Ireland, he receives Her Majesty's authority by warrants under her sign manual. By the 10 Geo. IV. o. 7, no person professing the Eoman CathoUc religion can hold the office. The Lord-Lieutenant's duration of office depends upon that of the Ministry of which he is a member. His salary is 20,000/. per annum, with a residence in Dublin Castle and another in Phoenix Park. On his occasional absences from Ireland, Lords Justices are appointed who have usually been the Lord Primate, the Lord Chancellor, and the Commander of the Forces. The question of abolishing the Viceregal Government of Ireland, and transferring its duties to a Secretary of State in London, was, in 1850, formally submitted by the Govemment for the consideration of ParUament, on the ground that there ought to be but one administration for the two countries now united, which would render the govemment more regular, steady, and its details better comprehended by the EngUsh Cabinet. A Privy Council is appointed for Ireland, and at present consists of 58 members, who are sworn pursuant to a sign- manual warrant to the Lord-Lieutenant, and take the title of Eight Honourable ; also a Secretary of State, and an under secretary, with an Attomey and SoUcitor General. The salary of the Chief Secretary, or Secretary of State, has beeli recently reduced from 5500/. to 3000/. He is a political officer, and is, with the Attomey and SoUcitor General, re moved on a change of Govemment. The salary of the under secretary, who is a permanent officer, is 2000/. 276 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. IX. THE lEISH OFFICE. 18, Great Queen Street, Westminster. This office is a branch of the office of the Secretary of State for Ireland, established in London for the despatch of public business ; and during the ParUamentary Session the Secretary of State for Ireland and the Attorney-General transact their official business here. THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH IN IRELAND. The Church in Ireland was regulated by stat. 8 and 4 Will. IV. c. 37, which empowered Commissioners, appointed as in Eng land, to cai-ry its provisions into effect. Ten bishoprics were prospectively abolished, which have now by the operation of the Act become united to other sees. The Bishops are appointed under the Great Seal of Ireland, pursuant to a sign-manual warrant to the Lord Lieutenant. There is no form of conge d'^ire. The following is the present EstabUshment, with the name and income of each bishopric, as fixed pursuant to the above statute : — Armagh with Clogher, Primate .... Meath, with Clonraacnoise ..... Derry and Raphoe ...... Down, Connor, and Dromore .... Kilmore, Ardagh, and Elphin .... Tuam, Killala, and Achonry .... Dublin, with Glandelagh and Kildare —Archbishopric Ossory, Leighlin, and Ferns .... Cashel, Eraly, Waterford, and Lismore Cork, Cloyne, and Ross ..... Killaloe, Kilfenora, Clonfert, and Kilmacduagh . Limerick, Ardfert, and Aghadoe .... 12,087 4,068 8,0004,2046,253 4,600 7,786 4,2005,000 2,498 3,8704,973 THE COURT OF CHANCERY AND COURTS OF LAW. The law in Ireland has been greatly assimilated to the EngUsh law, and, except in some few matters pecuUar to Ireland, may be considered for all general purposes the same. The whole of the original jurisdiction of the Court faUs upon the Chancellor. There are no ¦yice- chancellors, as in England, and the Master of the Bolls hears no original causes. SECT. IX, THE SCOTCH GOVEENMENT. 277 The Lord Chancellor is a poUtical officer, removable on a change of Govemment. He has considerable duties to perform in connection with the Executive Government. His salary is 8000/. per annum. His patronage is very Umited. His chief appointments are his own Secretary, his Secretary of Bankrupts, Secretary in Lunacy, and Pursebearer. He has no Church patronage. The salary of the Master of the EoUs is 4300/. per annum. He appoints the officers of his Court. The emoluments of the Masters in Chancery are 3000/. each per annum, but those appointed subsequent to stat, 13 and 14 Vict. c. 51, receive 2500/. per annum. The twelve Judges of the Superior Courts hold theu- office by the same independent title as the EngUsh Judges. Their salaries are fixed by stat. 2 and 3 WiU. IV. c. 136. In the Court of Queen's Bench the Chief Justice receives 5074/., the second Judge 3725Z., and the two other Puisne Judges 3688/. per annum each. In the Common Pleas the Chief Justice receives a salary of 4612/., and the Chief Baron of the Exchequer the same. The Puisne Judges in these two Courts receive 3688/. per annum each. The retiring pensions of the Irish Bench, after 15 years' service, are — to the Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench 3507^. per annum ; the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and Lord Chief Baron 3047/. per annum ; and the Buisne Judges 2400/. per annum. The only appointment in the hands of the Judges is their Eegistrar or Marshal. The Lord-Lieutenant appoints, under stat. 7 and 8 Vict. c. 107, to all the other offices con nected ¦with the courts — a practice which has been opposed as contrary to the common-law right of the Judges and a well- recognised principle, as well as to the custom in England. THE GOVEENMENT OF SCOTLAND. The kingdom of Scotland was united to England in 1707, pursuant to stat. 5 Anne, c. 8, and the united kingdoms were styled the Kingdom of Great Britain, the succession to the Crown being declared to be as settled by stat. 12 Will. III. c. 2. The union was not confined to the legislative body alone, but included the executive. The Scotch Privy CouncU was aboUshed by stat. 6 Anne, o. 6, and with the Treasury and the Chancery 278 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. IX. became parts of the general administration of Great Britain. In the same manner an union took place in the govemment of the army and the navy, and of those duties pertaining to the Secre taries of State. The business of Govemment was thereafter under the control of officers who acted for the whole of the newly-united kingdom, except that, to meet some difficulties which were experienced in the collection of the revenue, sepa rate Commissions of Customs and Excise were for some time con tinued, and a Court of Exchequer was established for Scotland. The coin was to be the same and of the same standard value. The laws which concern pubUc right, policy, and civil govem ment were assimilated, but laws concerning private rights were not to be altered, unless for the evident utility of subjects of Scotland. Freedom of intercourse in trade, and a general equaU- zation of taxation, were effected between the two countries. The Act of Union provided, however, that a separate seal should he kept in Scotland, to be used in all things relating to private rights or grants, which had usually passed the Great Seal of Scotland ; and that the Courts of Law in Scotland should con tinue with the same constitution, authority, and privileges as before, and not be subject to the Courts of Law in Westminster. On the Union a third Secretary of State was appointed in London, who had charge of the Scottish affairs. He was dis continued in 1746, and his duties (which prior to the Union were discharged by two Scotch Secretaries of State) were divided between the two remaining Secretaries of State, and so con tinued till the Home Department was constituted in 1782. Then the business relating to Scotland, which was necessarily of a domestic character, fell to the Home Secretary, by whom it has been since transacted, having become, in fact, entirely amalgamated ¦with his general duties. The Lord Advocate is his adviser in all matters particularly relating to Scotland, and may be said to stand in the relation of his Under Secretary for that part of the kingdom. Thus the executive govemment of the two countries has become essentially and closely united, which has doubtless led to greater uniformity and harmony as well in the details of adnunistrative duties as in the enactments of the Legislature. OFFICERS OP STATE. The Keeper of the Great Seal, the Lord Privy Seal, the Lord Clerk Eegistrar, the Lord Justice Clerk, and the Lord Advocate, SECT. IX. THE SCOTCH GOVERNMENT. 279 are- deemed the Chief Officers of State in Scotland, and are the Commissioners for the custody of the Eegalia. The offices of Keeper of the Great Seal and of Lord Privy Seal are maintained in pursuance of the 24th article of the Act of Union. The . former, since the appointment of the present Keeper, has been purely honorary, the emoluments have ceased, and the duties are performed by deputy. The chief Hereditary and other officers of State are — the Hereditary Master of the Household, the Hereditary Grand Constable, the Knight Marshal, the Hereditary Standard Bearer, and the Hereditary Eoyal Standard Bearer. The Lord Lyon and the Lyon Deputies are the head officers of the Court of Arms. COURT OF THE LORD LYON. This is the court of arms for Scotland. The Lord Lyon is the head of the court, and has under him heralds, poursuivants, and messengers, whom he has the power to appoint. He is the supreme judge in all questions concerning ensigns armorial, and has the sole grant of arms. He assists at State ceremonials, proclamations, &c., in Scotland. THE ESTABLISHED CHURCH OF SCOTLAND. Presbytery was finally estabUshed as the form of Church government in 1689, and was confirmed by the Act of Union ; it being then enacted that the trae Protestant reUgion, and the worship, discipline, and govemment of the Church of Scotland, shall be continued without alteration for ever ; and especially the settled form of Presbyterian Church Government, by Kirk Sessions, Presbyteries, Provincial Synods, and General Assem- bUes. The minister and elders, who are the elect representatives of the presbyteries— the elders representing the royal burghs, and the ministers or elders (five) representing the universities— com pose the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is the highest ecclesiastical court, and exercises a jurisdiction in certain Church matters both civU and ecclesiastical. The General Assembly holds an annual meetmg in the month of May, and sits during ten days. It chooses its o^wn Moderator, who pre sides over its deliberations for the session, and is attended by a representative of the sovereign, styled the Lord High Commis sioner. 280 THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. SECT. IX. Lord Cockburn, one of the Judges of the Court of Session, thus describes the General Assembly : — " It is a sort of Presby terian Convocation, which meets along with a Commissioner representing the Crown, for about 12 days yearly. It consists of about 200 clergymen and about 150 lay elders, presided over by a Beverend President, called a Moderator, who is elected by the Assembly annually, and very seldom more than once. Its jurisdiction is both Judicial and Legislative ; as an Ecclesiastical Parliament it exercises, subject to very ill-defined limitations, a censorian and corrective authority over all the evils and all the affairs of the Church. As a Court it deals out what appears to it to he justice upon all ecclesiastical delinquencies and disputes. * * * Connecting every jurisdiction and every member of the Church into one body, it was calculated to secure the benefits without the dangers of an official superintendence of morals and religion ; and to do, in a more open and responsible way, for the Church of Scotland, what is done or not done by the Bishops for the Church of England." — (Life of Lord Jeffrey,) The Queen's Commissioner to the Church of Scotland is the representative of Her Majesty at the meetiags of the General Assembly, and forms the political connection between the sovereign and the'Scotch Church. He has the right to be present at all the meetings of the Assembly ; on its opening he addresses a speech from the throne, and is charged with a communication, usually in the form of a letter from the Crown to the Assembly, on various matters, not altogether formal, but sometimes subjects of con fidential import. He dissolves the Assembly on the conclusion of the proceedings, and appoints the time for its next meeting. The Assembly likewise claim this right, and, by their Moderator, also announce their dissolution. The Lord High Commissioner receives a fresh commission every year, whioh is usually continued to the same individual during the continuance of the administration, the office being deemed to a certain extent poUtical. The salary is 2000/. per annum. JUDGES OF THE COURT OF SESSION. The judicial business of Scotland has been consoUdated in the Court of Session. There is no division of common law, equity, civil law, or admiralty. The whole of the business, ci'vil and SECT. IX. THE SCOTCH GOVERNMENT. 281 criminal, is discharged by this supreme court, which exercises an universal and supreme jurisdiction in all civil questions what ever, either in virtue of an original jurisdiction, or of a jurisdic tion of review. The Court of Session in early times represented a committee of the Barliament, which was the grand jury of the nation. Jury trial did not, therefore, form part of its constitu tion ; it was not introduced till 1815, and was then intrusted to a separate court, which has since been combined ¦vrith this court. The business of the ancient court of the Commission of Teinds was transferred on the Union to this court ; the judges, when sitting in the Commission Court on processes of modification, looaUty, sale or valuation of tithes, being considered not as Judges of the Session, but as a Commission of Parliament, and they have their distinct clerks and officers. The business of the Court of Exchequer, erected on the Union, was, in 1837, trans ferred to one of the judges of this court, who, sitting in the old Exchequer Court, exercises its jurisdiction. The Court of Session has undergone several changes. It now consists of thirteen judges. For the transaction of civil business • it is divided into two divisions, each of co-ordinate jurisdiction and discharging precisely the same functions. One division con sists of the Lord Justice General and three Puisne Judges, the other of the Lord Justice Clerk and three Puisne Judges. The other five judges sit separately, as what is called Permanent Lords Ordinary. They prepare the causes and pronounce judg ment in the first instance, and this judgment, if the parties are dissatisfied, is carried for review before either of the inner divisions. The criminal business is discharged by the Lord Justice General, the Chief Justice Clerk, and five other judges who are appointed Judges of Justiciary under a separate com mission ; and, ¦with the exception of the less important business done by the sheriffs of counties, these seven judges try all the criminal cases. They sit constantly in Edinburgh, in the High Court of Justiciary, and six of their number go circuits twice a year, two on each of the three circuits into which Scotland is divided. Their jurisdiction extends to all criminal cases, except cases of high treason, which are tried by a special commission of oyer and terminer, acting in the English form, ou the finding of a grand jury. The Lord Justice General was anciently the supreme law officer in Scotland in all civil and criminal cases. The office was LONDON : PRINTHD BI W. CLOWES AND SONS, SICAMFOED STREET AND CHARING CROSS. ALBfiiiAULE Street, London. January, 1855, MR. MUERAT'S GENERAL LIST OF WORKS. ABBOTT'S (Rev. 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