New-York tribune., 1900-11-25

King Edward III Henry ~ on becoming King
by the deposition OF Richard II. conscious that
he was more rightfully Duke of Lancaster than
King OF England. determined To preserve his
right in the duchy. whatever might befall his
kingship and accordingly. with the authority
Of Parliament, severed the possessions OF the
duchy and everything pertaining thereto from
the English Crown. and settled them upon him
self and his heirs. Queen Victoria derives
Ia=Ee revenue over and above her civil list from
the Duchy OF Lancaster She was wont TO use
the style of Duchess of Lancaster an in
cognita when travelling abroad. until the
widowed Countess Cardigan by marrying a
Portuguese nobleman of the name Of Comte De
Lancashire, forced the Queen, in order to avoid
confusion, to adopt instead the ncognita Of
Countess OF Ralmoral"
1t is not necessary 80 say much about the du
ties Of the Attorney General. who is the soy
creign's representative in the Courts of Law,
ana the principal legal adviser If the various
departments OF the Government. and whose duty
il is t. conduct all prosecutions and other law
proceedings instituted ty the Crown or Gov
ernmcnt. Since ISL a royal warrant has phNcei
the Attorney General and his colleague. the So
Icitor- General, At the head Of the English bar.
The Solicitor-Gvnrral shares the duties Of the
Attorncy I General in conducting state prosecu-
tions and advising the Government in questions
Of law and ranks immediately after him. 1t -
usual to select the Attorney General from thu
equity bar and tn Solicitor-tieneraI from the
common law har Each receives 4 salary Of
about S4OOOo a year the same tn" Lord
Chief Justice They are required To have seats
in the House Of Commons. their official duties
comprising the defence i'll that chamber "f al
Legislative measures If thr Government relating
to the administrator IF law.
Tht. Lord Chief Justice is the representative
of the sovereign in the ancient Royal Court. IN
which the monarch dispensed justice in person
Indeed. the court over which the Lord Chief
Justice presdrs Is this day officially described
as the Court OF our Lady the Queen. before
the Queen herself" He wears a golden chain
around his neck the emblem of his dignity
and needless to say. receives his appointm m"nt
from the Crown.
The Lord President of the Council. an office
held by the Duke of Devonshire. is as his
name implies. the presiding officer of the PrirY
Council in the absaur, of the sovereign, its
| senior member when she is present, ana an eX
| otticio member of all those committees of the
Privy Council which have developed into per
manent bodies intrusted with the nIanaGement
| of great departments of the Governments The
| educational affairs Of England managed by
committee of the Privy Council, the executive
head of which is the so-caIled vice president
| of the Committee of Council on Education, while
its theoretical chief is the Duke of Devonshire.
| In reality. the Duke of DeVOnShlre as Lord
President of the Council, rather than Lord
| Salisbury as Premier. should be the presiding
officer of the Cabinet For the latter has no
legal existence save a committee of the Privy
Council EX- -ATTACHE