New-York tribune., 1907-09-15

the keepership of the Kings conscience, in
spite of his being a protesting Jew, and it was
a matter of policy rather than anything else
that prevented Lord Russell from being in
trusted with the great seal. The title of keeper
of the Kings conscience" which is one of the
official designations of the Chancellor, of course
dates back to the days prior to the Reformation.
when the post as mentioned, was ordinarily
occupied by some prelate, who was usually the
sovereign's spiritual adviser.
The woOlsack, Of which mention is fire.
ouently made, is the seat occupied by the Lord
High Chancellor as prolocutor of the House of
Lords 1t is a sort of broad. square, fiat, blue
cloth divan, supposed to consist of tightly
hacked wool. Contrary to the general opinion,
there are several of these woolsacks placed IN
the centre of the House, midway between the
throne and the cross benches 1t is the one near
est the throne that is occupied by the Lord High
Chancellor The others are reserved for the
use of the judges of the High Court, who sit
for the purpose of giving legal advice but 90
not vote In the House of Lords The wool
sacks date from the reign Of Queen Elizabeth
when stringent laws were enacted to prevent
the expectation of wool, which was then re-
garded as the chief source Of the wealth of
the nation and that the Importance of this
staple product to the realm might be kept con-
stantly in mind by the legislators woosacks
were placed in the House of Peers whereon the
Judges sat. It must thoroughly be UNDERSTOOD
that the Lord Chancellor is not the president OF
even the Sneaker of the House of Lords he
cannot b,e said to preside over its deliberations
and has no such authority to guide It's discus
eions as that enjoyed by the Speaker III tne
tJouse Of Commons He has no authority to
prevent any peer who is addressing the Rouse
from wandering far away from the subject
under discussion nor to call him to order nor
vet TO reduce him to silence. He takes part IN
all the votes and is at liberty to speak upon
anv question that comes up, not in his capacity
as Chancellor. but one of the peers OF MS
rank in the nobility. on such occasions ne
delivers his remarks not from the woolsack. but
from, the bench of barons of viscOunts, or OF
earls according to the grade of his peerage
The Lord High Chancellor is created neither
bv writ nor by patent. but by the mere delivery
CT the Great Seal into his custody on the part OF
the King. who may likewise remove him from
office bv commanding his surrender of this in
struuent of sovereignty. 1t is used on all Occa-
sions when the will of the monarch is TO be
officially expressed. Its impress in wax is at
tachcd to every royal charter. warrant or otfl-
ctaI document bearing the sign manual OF the
sovereign. 1t is used for all acts OF state Tor
v.rits TO summon Parliament, for the ratification
Of foreign treaties and all these documents have
no legal value unless sealed with the Great
Seal That is why King James H. on MS nlgh'
from England. deliberately dropped the Great
Seal into the Thames, knowing that there was
nothing that ne could possibly do that would
cause so much inconvenience to the government
which had deposed him as the absence OF the
Great Seal and the impossibiIity. therefore 10
summon Parliament or TO undertake any SOW
ereicn act until a new one was engraved II he
dropped it into the river rather than carry II
away with him to France. IL is because he oe-
uevcd that he was being closely pursued and
that he was almost certain OF being captured
before he reached the mouth OF the river The
seal It may he remembered. was recovered III
IRE nets OF a fisherman.