27 
shall consider of i to the state. The Statisties. 
qi 
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& 
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nots. 
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7 
This is done by the ki 
expressed by the Lord Chancellor in his Majesty’s pre- 
. - 
dissolution, which is the ci- 
e parliament, is effected by the king's will. 
With respect to the executive er, and the rights 
of succession to the throne of E the fundamental 
maxim is, that the crown is, “ by common law and con- 
stitutional custom, heredi‘ary ; but that the rights of in- 
heritance — time to time be changsd or limited 
by act of parliament, the crown still continuing here- 
ditary these limitations.” The right of primo- 
’ the males, and of the males in prefe- 
rence to the females, is a constitutional rule in the de- 
scent of the crown. Upon fuilure of the male line, the 
crown descends to the eldest of the female issue, and 
the heirs of her body lawfully begotten, and not jointly 
chap. 2. the descent is limited to such heirs only of the 
Princess Sophia, grand-daughter of King James I. as 
are Protestant members of the church pf England, and 
are married to none but Protestants. 
consort has many prerogatives different 
from wives. She is a public person distinct from 
the king, and is able to purchase 
well as er an ee aman ents 
late her person, and in likewise if she be consenting. 
1 and in a similar manner, the 
Prince of Wales, his consort, and the Princess Royal. 
fer sean fy brothers, uncles, grandsons, and nephews, 
of all the other nobility. They, as well 
IIT. ¢ no descendants of George II. (except the 
issue of princesses married into foreign families,) can 
Say unkiony balupatamene urea “te 
> 25 i twel 
sauliinsuatiotSE. Gaaiibnitetion oe-thertey cove, 
indies also, are the king’s counsellors in matters of law. ar 
the principal council of the sovereign ie 
~ council, the members of which are chosen by 
_ on changes of administration, are seldom erased, though 
those in opposition seldom attend. They are styled 
ight honourable, and are sworn to observe secrecy. 
lowest at the board pronounces his opinion first, 
and the king, if present, concludes with declaring his 
pr ere 
: he cabinet council, as it is called, consists of those Cabinet 
ministers of state, who hold the highest rank and digni- council 
~ The members are generally 9 or 11 ; consisting of © 
res lord chancellor, the lord ru te seal, the lord presi- 
dent of the council, the three principal secretaries of 
state, the first lord of the treasury, the chancellor of 
the exchequer, and the first lord of the admiralty. The 
first lord of the treasury is considered the premier, or 
prime minister of the country. It sometimes S$; 
that the offices of’ first lord of the treasury, and the 
chancellor of the exchequer, are held by the same per- 
son. No part of the executive authority of the rhe 
vested in his privy council, the constant style of the law 
being the king in council, and not the king and coun- 
cil. The constitution does not ise the cabinet 
council. The king can remove his confidential servants, 
or “ the administration,” as it is usually termed, at his 
pleasure. 
The principal officers, who have the m 
the political, military, naval, and financial 
sioners of the treasury ; the principal secretaries of 
state ; the secretary at war ; the commander in chief ; 
the lord high admiral, or lords commissioners of the 
admiralty. ' 
The business of the treasury, is to determine on all Treasury. 
matters relative to the civil list, or the other revenues of 
the nation; to give directions ae conduct of all 
boards, and ms entrusted wi e receipt, m 
pin oi i tctadarenenetaen 70 ign all 
warrants for payments out of them, and generally to 
superintend every branch of the revenue belonging to 
his Majesty, me public. Formerly, there was alia 
high treasurer ; but for upwards of one hunglred years, 
the management of the has been put in com- 
mission ; the commissioners being the first lord of the 
treasury, the chancellor of the exchequer, (to whom is 
entrusted, in an ial manner, the revenue and ex- 
—_ of the nation, and who pene takes the 
ead on the ministerial side of the House of Commons, 
and three other commissioners. Since the union wi 
Ireland, the chancellor of the exchequer of that part of 
the united kingdom, is, ex officio, nominated one of the 
lords commissioners of the treasury. 
There are three principal secretaries of state: the secretaries 
ent, who has of state. 
secretary of state for the home “7 aoe 
management of, and controul over, the internal affairs 
of the kin , and from whom all directions and 
commands to the lord lieutenants, angen — other 
magistrates, issue ; the secretary of state for foreign af- 
faite, who, as the name implies, has the management 
of all nay ores and transactions with foreign na- 
tions ; and the secretary’ of state for war and colonies, ~ 
who has the ent of the affairs of the colonies, 
and’ to whom also is entrusted the supreme direction of 
all warlike expeditions. 
The commander in chief is at the head of the army 
The at war, when there is no commander 
chief, agg is, when the king retains actually, as well as 
ent of Principat 
irs of the officers of 
kingdom, are the lord high treasurer, or lords commis- **** 
2° Seerctary 
MM at war. 
