Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-03-31
THE GAZETTE.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MARCH 81, 1858
LAW AND LAWYERS-THE CHAN
.-.. - CELLORSHIP.

.hoNESiANo'
LAW AND LAwYERS-THE CHAN
.a.-a..s.. CELLoRSHIP.
The litsrar editor OF the Philadelphia
Press, who, by the way, shows decided tact
in producing articles of varied and general
interest, gives us the following:
"If,be Lord Chancellor OF England could
only obtain permanency of ONCE, be might
esteem himself fortunate man. His station
places him next but one in rank to the Royal
Family-the Archbishop Of Canterbury alone
taking precedence Of him-and also makes
him preside over the political discussions and
legal proceedings of the House of Lords
In addition to this, he is at the head OF the
law and of the judges of England. 10 com,
pepsste him, q fixed salary Of $50, 900 is paid
him while in Office, and he has life-penslon
of $25, 900 on bis retirement. The other
Judges receive pensions after fifteen years
service, or on retiring from ill health.
Nor is this all. The Lord Chancellor Is
made peer on taking office. Thus Dir
Frederick Thesger sits in the House OF
Lords, not merely as Chancellor, but also
as Baron Chelmsford. Were be onlya Com
moner. as Chancellors frequently were in
former times, he could only preside in the
Lords. and il the Court of Chancery, without
the power of speaking or voting in the former
assembly. As Lord Chelmsford be is al
hereditary legislator, the limitation of his
patent Of nobility expressly giving success
sion in his title to his ''male heirs lawfully
begotten." Thus, Lords Lyndhurst, Broug-
ham, St. Leopards. and Cranworth, continue
a., of IorHc thnOuh thpv
have severally ceased to occupy the Wool
sack.
By the way, the expression "the noble
Lord on the Woolsaek," often applied to the
Chancellor, in parliamentary parlance, may
require explanation in this country. AT
remote period, when wool was considered the
staple produce of England-long before Me
rino, Saxon, Hungarian and Australian flee
oes we're in the market, commanding higher
prices-the etiquette of Parliament, anxious
to compliment trade, placed woolsack in
the House of Lords, as the seat OF the Chan
cellor who presides over that assembly,
Hundreds Of years have passed since that
seat was first placed, but the custom contin-
ues The woolsack, at present, and for
long time past, has been somewhat OF an
ideality. 1t looks like a square cotton BALE
covered with red damask, and It's OCCUPANT
need not feel the want of farms" and reg
ular back to bis seat, seeing that he can and
does very we'll support himself by means OF
substantial cushions. 10 fact, independent
of the peerage and 5000 year. the
"W oolsack' is O comfortable seat.
Besides pay, the Chancellor has liberal
PATRONAGE. He has voice potential in ad-
yising the Crown ss to the appointment of
every other judicial and legal official. He
appoints, and can remove, all justices OF the
peace, usually acting as county magistrates
upon the Lord-LieutensDts' recommendation.
He appoints to the seven hundred Crown llv-
ings, each of which is valued at 500 year
ip the Queens books-wbict actually in
cludes many valuable hSngs, SEINE OF them
valued formerly at SO, but now, from the
increase Of population aud trade, $4,000
year. He has the patronage OF all Offices III
his own court.
His duties, presumed and actual, are
heavy. As a Privy Counsel and Cabinet
Minister, be participates in the responsible
task of governing tho British Empire-advi-
sing bis colleagues on all mixed subjects Of
law and politics, and all matters relating to
police, law, and justice. He is officially
looked upon as "keeper Of the Sovereign's
conscience" and is supposed to be the adVs-
or of the members of the Royal Family, In
case of doubt or difficulty, in which their in
terests are involved lie is the er oGicio
guardian, and absolutely so if the property
be Gin Chaucery."
His executive duties make him preside by
prescription as Speaker of the House of
Lords, and also as their lordships' chief
Judge in their court of appellate jurisdiction,
before which appeals come from every court
of law and equity in England, Ireland and
Scotland. The Chancellor, with singular
want of delicacy, often hears and decides up
on appeals against lis own decisiom So
between the Cabinet, the Privy Council, the
House of Lords, and the Chancery Court, the
LAWYER who is Lord Chancellor has his hands
always full.
By the Catholic Relief act of 1929, RO-
man Catholic cannot be Lord Chancellor
1t was feared that be might dispense church
patronage not quite to the benefit of the
church. Bot the original holders Of the Of
fee were not only Catholics, but generally
ecclesiastics. The Chancellor was sort of
confidential chaplain to the King, or, before
the reformation, his oonfessor and conscience
keeper. He then was tie Kings chief Sec
rotary, auVl6lnS tuo eoVoioiso w '"iAo"e
poral matters: preparing and transcrlblng
royal mandates, grants, and charters, and
giving them validity by afhxing the Kings
seal His appointment actually took place
by the great seal being formally delivered to
him. Cardinal WolSey was Chancellor to
Henry VIII The last churchman who filled
the Office was Williams, Protestant Arch
bishop of York, in the last five years (l62l
to 1921 of the reign OF James |. In the
same century the Earl of SALISBURY, who
was neither an ecclesisstic nor lawyer, was
appointed Lord Chancellor.
Much of the Chsncellor's judicial business
has been greatly lightened during the last
forty years, by given him assistant or auxil.
iary Judges. The Master Of the Rolls, an
nual salary $4,000 with retiring pension
of $lS,OOO,) is an Equity Judge of great
antiquity. with a separate court and the
power of hearing and determining original.
" the same matters as the Lord Chancel-
Ior, whose signature must be attached,
however, to his orders or DEGREES before
they can be enrolled. There are, also, with
equal powers, two Lord Justices Of Appeal
each with annual salaries of 5000 and
three Vice Chancellors, each with S25, ZOO
mar annum