THE LIBRARY. 125 



testamentary deeds, and proceedings relative to prizes, 

 damages, and other similar matters. In general, the 

 Consuls represent officially the personal rights of Spaniards ; 

 but they do not possess any footing in the representation 

 of affairs of Government, which pertains to the diplomatic 

 corps, or only do so in special specified cases, if these have 

 been entrusted to their charge. 



f ln the interior of the kingdom there depends on the 

 Ministry of State the supreme ecclesiastical court De la 

 Rota ; the office of interpreters ; the general commissary 

 of the holy places at Jerusalem ; the negotiations with 

 Rome relative to public worship ; the permanent Deputa- 

 tion of the grandees ; the disposal of the crosses of the 

 Golden Fleece, of Charles III., of Isabella the Catholic, 

 and of the noble dames of Maria Louisa and St. John of 

 Jerusalem ; the four Societies of the knighthood of the 

 kingdom, namely those of Seville, Granada, Valencia, 

 and Ronda. There pertains, moreover, to this Ministry 

 certain functions in the internal government of the palace ; 

 these, however, are not at present in use. By This 

 Ministry also are dispensed the rewards of the Grandees 

 of Spain, and are ordered the ceremonies to which these 

 concessions give occasion. 



' 2. THE MINISTER OF GRACE AND JUSTICE. This Minister, 

 as the name indicates, has charge of business relating to the 

 ordinary administration of justice in the kingdom ; the 

 dispensing of grants and rewards ; the affairs of the Royal 

 ecclesiastical patronage ; and the Seal of the State ; with 

 the higher notarial powers of the kingdom exercised by 

 the Minister. 



' The principal functions of this Ministry in the depart- 

 ment relating to justice are: 1. To see that this is 

 administered exactly and completely by the tribunals of 

 ordinary jurisdiction, suspending from their functions and 

 prosecuting any judges who fail in their duties. 2. To 

 nominate, in accordance with the laws, the ministers of the 

 supreme tribunal of justice, the magistrates and fiscals of 



