The Washington herald., 1907-09-15
LORD HIGH CHANCELLOR
First Occupant of the WoOlsack to Visit
America.

House Of Peers. WheTeOn the Judges sat.
II must thoroughly be understood that
the iord high chancellor is not the
president or even speaker OF the House
OF Lords. He cannot be said 10 preside
over its deliberations. and has no such
authority to guide its discussions as that
enjoyed by the speaker in the House Of
Commons. He has no authority 10 pre-
vent any peer who is addressing the
House from wandering far away from the
subject under discussion. nor 10 call him
20 order, nor yet 10 reduce him to silence.
He takes part in ali the votes. and is at
liberty TO speak upon any question that
comes up, not in his capacity as chancel-
lor. but as one of the peers Of his rank
In the nobility. On such occasions he de-
liyers his remarks not from the wool
sack. but from the bench Of barous, Of
viscOunts. or Of earls. according to the
grade Of his peerage.
The lord high chancellor is created
neither by writ nor by patent, but
by the mere delivery Of the great
seal into his custody on the part
Of the King. who may likewise remove
him from office by commanding his sur
render OF the instrument Of sovereignty.
The great seal is used OF all oc-
CasiOns when the viii Of the mon
arch is to be officially expressed.
It's impress In wax is attached
70 every royal charter. warrant or off,
cial document bearing the sign manual u
the sovereign. Il Is used ior all acts Of
state for writs 70 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 Kiog James II. on his fight from
England deliberately dropped the great
seal into the Thames, knowing that there
was nothing that he could possibly DO
that would cause 50 much inconvenience
TO the government which had dep0sed
him, as the absence Of the great seal. and
the imp0ssibl!ty therefore 10 summon
Parliament or to undertake any sovereign
act until a new one was engraved. II hs
dropped il into The river rather than
carry il away with him 20 France. It IS
because hs believed 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,
il may be remembered. was recovered IN
the nets Of a fisherman. There have only
been one or two occasions when the great
seal was lost Thus, Lord Chancellor
TharlOw was robbed Of the great seal
through the burglary of his London resi-
dence in Great Ormond= street. and It
was never heard Of again. the party spirit
being so strong iu those DAYS that Lord
Loughb0r0ugh. who formed part OF the
administration actually described the
/ burglary and theft Of the great seal 70
the opposition. as q maueIyer destined 10
embarrass the government Lord Claucal-
lor EldOl was in the habit Of sleeping with
the great seal under his pillow. and.
when on one occasion his house was de-
str0yed by FIRE. be hurried into the gar
den and buried ID for safety in a flower
bed. But says Lord Campbell. IN de-
scribing the incident what between his
alarm on Lady Eldon's account. and his
admiration Of the b0Usemai5s in their
ycstal attire. he could not remember the
spot where he had hidden the great seal,
and you never saw anything so ridiculous
as the whole family engaged .n probing
and digging about the garden until the
seal was found"
The great seal is kept in 4 very eIabo-
rate purple velvet and gold embroidered
bag, adorned with the royal arms of
Great Britain. The state furnishes a new
bag OF this kind every year, AT n cost OF
about 500 and the old bag becomes. the
Perquis'te Of the wife Of the lord high
chancellor. Lady Hardwicke whose hus-
band held the clancellorship for various
terms covering period of twenty years.
caused these purses 10 be used as hang
ings for one Of the state apartments at
her country seat. declaring that twenty
purses just sUfficed for the purpose. and
would. moreover. constitute q proud heir
loom 20 commemorate the founder OF the
family. On all state occasions the great
seal IS carried in its gorgeous bag by the
lord high chancellor himself. who is ar
Tayed in sweeping black silk robes. all
covered with sold lace and embroidery.
his hair, or the remnants thereof. being
concealed by one Of those full-bottomed
wigs such as were worn by King Charles
II Of England and Louis XIV Of France.
On minor occasions. the great seal Is
very stout and p0rtly clerk. arrayed in
black knee breecaes. black silk stock
ings. and pumps. lace cuffs and cravat
and a coat Of seventeenth century arcbi-
lecture.
Lord Loreburn is certain 70 make many
friends while in this country. being noted
for keen sense OF humor. a complete
q hsaDra Of saTF- q, .s-.r+{--, ,-.- r-
tisement, with a kindly. genial manner
wholly devoid Of anectation-his temper
being nevertheless extremely hot II
times He comes from an DID Scottish
family, the Reids, Of Mouswald. is n
bachelor, and while at Oxford dJstIn-
guished himself not only as a scholar
but also as an athlete, figuring for three
years in the varsity cricket eleven. and
thrice representing oxford in rackets
as the champion OF his alma mater. At
a later period In his life-it was after he
became attorney geneTaI-he PLAYED for
the amateur championship al tennis. and
was only beaten in the last game by Sir
Edward Grey. now his colleague IN the
Liberal Cabinet as secretary Of state for
foreign affairs. At one time-it was in
'i-o e~44S cNS > VI tile AcLlle rule cOhtr0-
versy-he was subjected to a good deal
of batting by the Tories IN the House OF
Commons. He conquered them. however.
by a touch Of human nature which ap-
pealed 10 them. one day. in the course
OF a most important speech, when pulling
a bundle Of notes and memoranda from
his pocket while addressing the House.
there rolled on the ground. and right into
the middle OF the floor very much
smoked bTiar-root pipe, which he inmedi-
ately picked up, with such an appearance
OF anxiety and concern lest IL should