The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-27
MEANING or THE TERM ESQ.
Few who Use 1t Have the Faintest
Idea About II.

Marquise de Fontenoy in the Washing
ton Post.
Lord Londonderry's edict just issued in
his capacity as postmaster general to the
effect that the form of address known as
"esq." should be used in addressing all
male CORE spondents, unless they are
evidently labo:ers. domestic servants, or
tradesmeu.' and adding that "depositors
in postal savings banks are not entitled
to the designa ton esq is likely to lead
to a vast amount of discussion.
Not che in ten thousand of the people
who daily make use CT the lettt re- ESQ
in aadrts ing letters has even the IA Mt
est idea of the real meaning and import
ance of the L rm: the majority Of them.
indeed. have Pc baby never given the
matter a thought, no more than they
have to the title of Mr." or Mrs" Still
less is it understood by fore gners to
whom it is a never failing source of per
plexity, and who in their courteous an
xiety to do the right thing often add the
word esq" in fun at the end of name
already adorned with a prefix of Mr..
Strictly 81 eakinR, the word esq is
nobility tide, a fact which will doubtless
astcnish many Of these in this country
who, while protesting truly republican
contempt for such gewgaws as honor
use of the term. 1t is the English equiv
alent of the German "edler." with the
article Won" of the French ''gentil-
homme," with a particle de of the
Spanish "hidalgo," or dom" of the Port
uguese "hidelgo,' or den" and of the
Dutch "jonkheer," with tn particle
van" Being a nobiliary title, only
limited number of people have legal
right 10 he addressed as esquire" They
h. a1 NJ " ella namely
those who are esquiies by virtue OF in
heritance, and those who are esquires ex-
officio The latter comprise duly ordain-
ed clergymen of the Church of England,
judges, magistrates, deputy lieutenants
OF counties, commissioned officers IL the
army, navy and civil service, and mem
bers of the bar. The nobility of these be-
ing ex-officio. is of a purely personal ma
ture aud cannot lie Transmitted TO their
children. who have therefore no legal
right to their fathers title of ESQUIRE.
The other "esquites' are either persons
who have received from the crown
grant of armorial bearings. or who are the
liueal male descendants legally begotten
of the original grantee OF the coat of
arms, such. for instance as Mr.. Scrope,
of Dandy. whose ancestor in 1899 was
able to prove in a court of law that his
nobility was far superior to that of the
Grosvenors, although he himself remained
G. Scrope esq, while the present chief Of
the Grosvcnors bears the tide Of Duke
of Westminster"
Sir Bernard Burke, perhaps the greatest
heraldc authority Of the present century,
declares that peers. baronets and es
quires entitled by inheritance 70 armorial
bearings constitute the nobility of Great
Britain and ireland Strictly speaking.
bankers. physicians manufacturers, mer-
chants. actors professors. and journalists,
etc, are none OF them entitled eX-ofiicio
TO the addition OF the word esq" 10
their names, ana cannot put forward any
claim or pretention thereto II is accorde1
20 them merely by courtesy. by a wish to
please them by addressing them with
title which does not be.oug to them, but
for which they long. just on this partic-
ular ground II IS used more frequently by
wel-bred persons In addressing peop.e OF
this class than those who are "esquired'
by right The latter. sure about their
duly defined rank. ave not so tenacious
about tho matter whereas the former are
terribly sensitive on the subject, and are
apt to resent any neglect to affix the
magic esq" TO their patr0nymic as an
ungraceful reminder Of the inferiority Of
their social status. The result Is that
while FOR motives Of deiicacy and courtesy
consllerate people make a point Of dub
bling esq" those Of their acquaintances
ana correspondents who have no right to
the title especially IN their communlca-
lions with tradesmen 10 whom they may
happen 20 owe money they seldom make
Use of the word among themselves. save
ln The most formal and ceremonlous COM
municntons Thus you may address the
Duke ~ Norfok's cousin ~ M" How
ara without danger ~ mourning his wrath.
Bt woe brt.dc you if you dafc 'o use
the prenK "Mr" in directing even the
most Informal communication 10 Harry
Jones COR Thomas smith
LORD LoDd0nderry's ediet is a very fool