New-York tribune., 1900-11-25
BRITISH STATE OFFICES.
TITLES AND DUTIES OF MEMBERS OF
THE QUEENS CABINET

So many odd titles and designations have fig
ured in the dispatches and letters published in
the last two three weeks in American news
papers concerning the reconstruction of the
Salisbury administration in Great Britain (the
Premier himself having been promoted by his
sovereign from a $4,000 year Secretaryship Of
State for Foreign Affairs to the more exalted
$4,000 year post of Lord Privy SeaD that
few notes concerning the nature of -hese ap-
pointments may possibly help to an understand
ing of the changes that have taken place.
Here in America there is only Secretary
of State. who is the ranking officer of the Cab
met. and who is intrusted by the President with
the control of the foreign relations of the United
States. In Great Britain, however, there are at
present five Secretaries of State for the
Home Office, another for Foreign Affairs, third
for the Colonies, a fourth for the Indian En-
pire, and fifth for the War Department In
spite of their number they constitute in reality
only one office. the division of their duties be-
ing merely an arrangement for the more con-
venient dispatch of business Originally there
was only Secretary OF State. who in
reality principal secretary to the sovereign. 1t
was his duty to conduct his royal masters cor
respondence and to communicate his commands
In writing to the high officers of State when
these functionaries did not receive them from
Queen Elizabeth the dignitary in question was
known as the Kings Clerk" and as the Kings
Secretary" The salary which he received in
the reign of King Edward III was ''fOrty-six
shillings and eightpence year" half much
as the pay OF the Royal Physician and of the
Royal Clerk OF the Kitchen 1t was Queen Eliz-
abeth who first gave her secretary the title of
Secretary OF State Sir Robert Cecil. the an
cestOr and namesake of the present Marquis OF
Salisbury, being thus styled Gradually the work
became too onerous for one secretary, and others
were appointed coordinate in rank, one being
assigned to the duty OF looking after foreign
affairs. another to the management of the col
onies. and In this way they became with
out enactment of any special law the constitu-
tional heads of the respective departments Of
the administration
To-day the sovereign's secretary. from being
little more than mere clerical instrument has
developed into not but FIVE Ministers OF
State, who, without any act OF Legislature but
solely by Viltue of those unwritten usagts that
go to ke up the British constitution. have
acquired such Importance that the signature Of
one or another of them is requisite 20 legalize
nearly every act of the Crown. who are an
swerable with liberty and life to Parliament for
the constitutional! and judciOus exercise of the
prerogatives of the Crown. and who required
to be present at every royal birth in order to
guarantee to Parliament and to the people that
no fraud shall be perpetrated. They are appoint
ed. as in former times. by the sovereign's deliv-
cry to them of the seals of office and also by the
grants OF patents under the Great Seal But
the place they occupy in the Table of Precedence
Is low one. since they rank, not only below all
the chief officers OF the royal household. but
likewise after the younger sons Of dukes and
marquises and have to yield the pas" to even
= fhn trCSc 1Fb
dioceses. In fact, they occupy the same rank
as the Kings Secretary or Clerk in ancient days.
BY becoming Lord Privy Seal in succession to
old Lord Cross Lord Salisbury obtains a big