New-York tribune., 1911-12-07
The Crown IN Commission.

As there has been discussion and con-
lecture on both sides Of the Atlantic as to
why King George should have appoint
cd a commission to fulfil in England
certain duties Of sovereignty during his
absence in India instead Of appointing a
regent, il may be as well TO explain that
the creation OF a regency would have
recessitated legislative approval, which
might have led TO troublesome delay and
sunoving discussion in Parliament. More
over II would have entailed a surrender
rr King George Of his sovereign power
throughout the period for which the
regency was created.
Now. tho King has never had any inten-
ZION of relinquishing his sovereignty while
absent in India He is visiting that de-
noudency as Cuu fedged Emperor Of
India and as sovereign of all the rest OF
the British Empire, including the United
Kinldom and Ireland.
40 Parliamentary sanction was neces-
-ary 10 enable him 70 appoint in conjunc-
fiou with his Privy Council a commission
POO give certain signatures in his name dur
.ug his absence. and 70 afiiX his sign
manual 70 documents, where Il was indis-
rensab,e, after having received mis- sane
tan by cable. Queen Victoria. during the
.arv portion Of her reign. also made q
point Of nominating a commission of this
.ird when She went abroad, following the
yamples Of her Hanoverian predecessors
900 tie throne whenever they happened to
make a stay OF any duration in the HanO-
y.flau portion of their dominions
The commissioners appointed by King
George are his cousin, Prince Arthur. who
las not yet received any peerage emitting
iu to ST in the House Of Lords; the
Archbishop O; Canterbury, the Lord High
Chancellor. who is Lord Lorebun and LORD
Morley Of Blackburn. who is the Lord
President of fho Privv Council Notice
eHou'd bc taken Of tho fact that Lord Lore
burn and Lord Morley figure as commits
-.or.rs br virtue of their respective high
.oFi.o- puG not a. members Of the Cabinet
Th.re has been uo intention Of giving any
special representation oc the latter body
ON tho royal commission Otherwise Pre-
u,r hsquith vOIld have been included
Honor for Earl Grey.
Tai Grey s., about 10 be- presented with
rho freedom Of tho city of London in rec
ignition Of his services as Governor Cen
sral ~ Canada just in the same way that
~ was bestowed on Lord Cromer on his
final reform from Egypt and on Lord Cur
7or on thc termination Of his Niceroyaity
of India The four other survivors Of The
5lne Governors General who have held Off
a. ottawa since the confederation of Can
ada into a dominion, ir 1854 Will be pres
ot namely the Duke Of Argyll, who as
1873. tho Marquis Of Lansdowne. who waa
Governor General in 1893; the Earl Of Aber-
deeu iu 1898. and the Earl Of Mimic, in lS9S
Lord and Lady Grey are now established
a- Howick Hall. their country seat in
northumberland; a grand old place, which
las been in the possession Of the Northum-
hcrlaud Groys since Sir Edward Of that ilH
who nourished in the reign OF James l. II
NAV be added that he was even in those
cays regarded by his contemporaries a.
cAief ~ one Of the most ancient houses Oi
Ineland's uorthernmOst shire. HoWlch
Han stands iu a beautiful garden and ar
extensive park stretching TO the sea. It is
about forty miles from Newcastle.
The earl has found one family treasure
missing from IIowick Hall since lie returned
from Canada. namely. the portrait Of Ben
lamin Franklin. which the Inflated MAYOR
Andre while serving Oh the stan OF th'
hrst Lord Grey. one Of the principal com
manders Of the British troops in the Amer
can War for Independence took iron
Frankl.ns house. in Philadelphia DURING
that conflict and gave TO his chei. lil'
painting. which hung in Howick Han TOR
hundred years. Lord Grey. during ms tern
0e Office as Governor General Of Canada
presented 10 the United states goFerhIheh'
a. the occasion Of one Of his visits to Wash
mgton. announcing the gift at . banquet
given in his honor by the Society OF III
grtns al New York. and at when senator
Root then Secretary Of state IN the Rouse
welt administration. was present