New-York tribune., 1900-11-25

advancement in precedence, this particular dig
nifty being the fifth of the great offices of State
The position of Premier is not recognized on the
official Table Of Precedence, nor does it carry
with it any actual rank, and although virtually
the head of the administration, the Marquis
finds himself as Lord Privy Seal. still subor
dinate in status to two of his Ministerial sub
ordinates; that is to say to the Lord Chancellor
and to the Lord President, each of whom walks
before him, do also the Archbishops of Can
terbury and OF York. He takes the pas" how
ever, of all dukes, and has the custody of the
sovereign's privy seal, which is used by the
monarch for all charters, grants and pardOns
signed by the monarch before they can receive
the Great Seal, which latter is in the charge of
the Lord High Chancellor. The office is of
great antiquity, dating back to the reign of
King Edward Ill
There is no Secretary of State for the Navy.
The Cabinet Minister who fuils the duties OF
that Office bears the title of First Lord of the
Admiralty and although receiving a smaller
salary than the Secretaries Of State ranks next
above them Theoretically he fulfils. with four
naval assistants and one civilian official. bear
ing the titles Of Lords Of the Admiralty the
functions and duties Of the Lord High Admiral
of The Realm, which position has thus been in
commission ever since il was resigned in ISIS by
the Duke OF Clarence, who became King Will
lam IN IN 1SoO. Inc Junior LORDS OF the AC-
rniralty merely act in advisory capacity
ecutiYe power being in the hands OF the First
Lord, who is the Earl of Selbourne. SON
in-law OF the PremiJ- The powers of the First
Lord are almost Identical with those of the
Secretary of the Navy at Washington
For the last two hundred years the office of
Lord High Treasurer has been administered by
a commission consisting of five persons. styled
Lords of the Treasury" Two of them-the
chief who bears the title of First Lord" and
the second, who is known as the Chancellor of
the Exchequer''-occupy seats in the Cabinet.
TIE Chancellor of the Exchequer is the actual
Finance Minister of the Government and as all
questions of supply are dealt with in the House
of Commons. no peer can conveniently be ap-
pointed to the office. At times the Chancellor
shin Of the Exchequer and the position of First
Lord of the Treasury have been held by the
same person But at present the Chancellorship
e in the hands of Sir Michael Hicks Beach, who
devises the budgets and Arthur Balfour, Lord
caIishury's nephew is First Lord Of the Treas
urv The Lords of the Treasury the first lord first
ard foremost have the custody of the national
treasure ana the appointment of all commits
s5onars and other officers employed in collecting
,ba revenue of the Crown, well as the con-
trolling voice in expenditure, subject OF course
a. p.rlianeat. The First Lord and the Chan
celor OF the Exchequer each nave seals OF once.
Tr,,nediately after the Chancellor Of the Ex-
obAcuer on the Table of Precedence that is to
go, below the younger sons of earls. comes the
.-Chancellor Of the Duchy OF Lancaster no"
told INV Lord James of Hereford. who as such
occupies a seat in the Cabinet Ine duties OF
this Chancellor are light being virtually re-