PRIVATE SECRETARY.

THE situation of Private Secretary to the Sovereign, which is one of a peculiar nature, resembling very much the original office of King's Secretary, has been made the subject of discussion in the House of Commons.

It appears that the first Sovereign (at least, since the Revolution) who employed a Private Secretary was King George III, to whom a confidential person in that capacity was rendered absolutely necessary, upon his Majesty becoming afflicted with the loss of sight.

When the late George IV. became Regent, and Colonel MacMahon, a Privy Councillor, was appointed his Private Secretary, with a salary of 20007. per annum, the subject was brought before the House of Commons on the 14th April 1812, and caused an animated and important debate. It was contended that such an office was dangerous and unconstitutional, as it must inevitably render the person holding it a secret adviser of the King, with a degree of influence over the royal mind inconsistent with the forms of government in this country, and destructive of a fundamental principle of the Constitution, namely, that no one can use the name of the Sovereign, offer him advice, or convey his commands, except he be one of the responsible Ministers of the Crown, answerable to Parliament for his conduct. But it was said, on the other hand, that the office was not one of responsibility, but was precisely like that of any other Private Secretary in any other office of the State, differing only in the rank of the person under whom it was held; that it was only an instrument for carrying on the business of the country; that if the appointment was not divested of all responsibility, there would be nothing to justify it in the view of Parliament; and it was particularly stated by Lord Castlereagh, then

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, that the individual holding it was "incompetent to communicate the pleasure of the King in any way that could authorise any subject in the land to attend to it, or to act upon it, with official responsibility."*

The attempts to prevent Colonel MacMahon's appointment having been defeated, upon a division, by a Ministerial majority of 176 to 100, there has ever since been a Private Secretary to the Sovereign; and as many of the statesmen who in 1812 considered the appointment improper, have subsequently held office, and have not made any efforts for its abolition, it may, perhaps, be inferred that they have not found its existence inconvenient in practice, however unconstitutional it may appear in theory. †

This office, we believe, does not at present exist; it was filled by Sir Herbert Taylor during the reign of his late Majesty William IV, and also during the greater part of the reign of George IV.

THE KEEPER OF THE PRIVY PURSE.

The Keeper of the Privy Purse is, comparatively speaking, a newly-created officer. Before the reign of George III. no such thing as a Privy Purse was known, the first mention made of it being in Mr. Burke's Bill in 1782. It is again mentioned in the act of 39 George III; but it was not until the time of the Regency, when vested in the hands of Commissioners, that it was recognized as a fixed annual sum, the private property of the Sovereign. It then amounted to 60,000l. per annum, out of which the sum of 16,000l. was then placed at the disposal of the Queen, being 12,000l. for the payment of an established list of charities settled by his Majesty, and the remaining 4,000l. to continue the kingly bene

* Vide Parliamentary Debates.

+ NICOLAS" Proceedings of the Privy Council," Preface, p. cxxxiv.

factions to those persons who were not on the list, but were known to the Queen to have received charity from his Majesty to that

amount.

The Privy Purse is limited entirely to the personal expenses of the Sovereign; no part of it being applied to defray any of the charges of the Household or other official expenses. For instance, as we have seen, the munificent contributions made by the Sovereign to the various national charities, and to all the objects of the royal benevolence generally, are drawn from this fund; the only one, indeed, over which the Sovereign exercises any direct control.

Some illustration of the nature of this portion of the Civil List will be found in the following authority granted by his late Majesty George IV. to Sir William Knighton, the then Keeper of the Privy Purse :

"I hereby authorize and direct Sir William Knighton, Bart., Keeper of my Privy Purse, to give notice to our several tradesmen that they are not to receive orders or to furnish any articles of furniture, &c. &c. &c. or to incur any expense whatsoever from their different trades, where such expense is to be provided for by my said Privy Purse, without receiving a specific order in writing for that purpose from the said Sir William Knighton, Bart.; and I do also give my authority to the said Sir William Knighton, Bart., and order and direct him, during our will and pleasure, to undertake the entire management of my private affairs, with a view to the observance of the most strict and rigid economy, that We may have the opportunity of relieving ourselves from certain embarrassments which it is not necessary to mention further in detail. We do, therefore, rely with confidence on the said Sir William Knighton for the strict performance and fulfilment of all our wishes on this head.

66

Royal Lodge, October 26th, 1822." *

"GEORGE R."

"Memoirs of Sir William Knighton," by Lady Knighton, vol. i.

p. 199.

296

THE LORD STEWARD OF THE HOUSEHOLD.

The Office of Lord Steward of the Household is one of great trust, dignity, and antiquity. His authority is very great, and extends over many other officers.

The following extract from the " Black Book of the Household," of Edward IV. will serve to illustrate the early history of this important charge.

"Steward of Household receiveth his charge of the King's high and proper person, and the staff of household, by these words following: Seneschall tenez le bâton de notre hostiell;' by which he is also forthwith Steward of the whole Court of Marshalsea, that is, the Court of Household, in which he is Judge of life and limb; and except those causes, the Treasurer, Controller, Cofferer, two Clerks of the Green Cloth, and the Chief Clerk of the Controlment, for any matters else done within the Household, or appertaining thereto; they sit with him at the Board of Doom within the Household, that is, at the Green Cloth in the Countinghouse, as recorders and witnesses to the truth. The secondary estate and rule under the King, of all his excellent Household, is wholly committed to be ruled and guided by his reason, and his commandments principally to be obeyed and observed for the King. Also within this Household, except in the King's chamber, always in his services to be served and covered out of the King's presence only, what great estate else that be present; as for his cup, cup-board, and dishes, with double service, but

no assay.

"Item, he hath the office to call the names of Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, at the Parliament door, the first day of commencement, and to amerce such as fail by the certificate; also he may licence such as would depart, as him thinketh pleasing to the King. Item, he, with the Treasurer and Controller, shall, upon All-hallowen day, whether the King keep hall or chamber, shew the King three names of the able homes, whereof the King shall

name one, to purpose to abide at his Christmas, hereof the officers to have knowledge. Also, while he is present in Court, there ought no new commandments, nor changes of officers, or any other person be made, without the commandment first of his mouth. Also in all the Household rules and judgments, he representeth the King's estate; his staff is taken as for commission. Also he may, in this Court of Household, admit any custom, not meddled with worship and profit, but change it, and edify anew such as shall seem to his wisdom, by the advice and council taken at the counting-board, for the better, and to the King and his Household of more honour and profit.

"And for that he is head Officer, he giveth example to all others to be of good governance, with an ordinate rule to be contented with moderate costages within this Court, in liveries, services, taking dinners, meats, and suppers, in the hall, most especially, or in his chamber, or in any other office, as often as it pleaseth him to search and see the good sad rules, and the directions of officers in them. He hath daily in the hall eating, one chaplain, two esquires, four yeomen; and to his chamber daily, for his breakfast, and his chamberlain, his meat and supper, and livery for all night; VIII loaves; III messes of great meat; II rewards of roast; II pitchers of wine; vi gallons of ale, in pots of silver for his livery; and from All-hallowentide till Easter, one torch to attend upon himself, one tortayes to set his livery, bason, ewer, and towel by; 111 perchers, wax; Vi candles, wax; VIII peris; VIII tallow; III faggots, litter, and rushes, all the year, of the serjeant usher of the hall; and after winter season, III shides; II faggots; and when him liketh to have more largely in any thing, then his Keeper of his Chamber doth set it, and make thereof a record by the tale, or bill, into the counting-house.

"Also, the Steward taketh of the counting-house for his fee at Easter and Michaelmas, xx marks; and for his robes for winter and summer, at the feasts of Christmas and Whitsuntide, XVI marks; and for his napery at the 1111 principal feasts of the