ENGLAND. 1?9 



sible for their "advice and conduct. They are made by the king's 

 nomination, without either patent or grant; and, on taking the requi- 

 site oaths, they become immediately privy-councillors during the 

 life of the king that chooses them, but subject to removal at his 

 pleasure. 



The duty of a privy-councillor appears from the oath of office, 

 which consists of seven articles. 1, To advise the king according to 

 the best of his cunning and discretion. 2, To advise for the king's 

 honour, and good of the public, without partiality through affection, 

 love, need, doubt, or dread. 3, To keep the king's counsel secret. 

 4, To avoid corruption. 5, To help and strengthen the execution of 

 what shall be there resolved. 6, To withstand all persons who would 

 attempt the contrary. And, lastly, in general, 7, To observe, keep, 

 and do all that a good and true councillor ought to do to his sovereign 

 lord. 



As no government can be so complete as to be provided with laws 

 that may answer every unforeseen emergency, the privy-council, in 

 such cases, can supply the deficiency. Upon great and urgent occa- 

 sions, such as that of a famine, or the dread of one, they can super- 

 sede the operation of the laws, if the parliament is not sitting ; but 

 this is considered as illegal, and an act of parliament must pass for 

 the pardon and indemnification of those concerned. 



There is one secretary of state for foreign affairs, and another for 

 the home department. During the American war, there was a third 

 secretary of state, whose office was revived in 1794, by the title of 

 secretary for the war department. 



The cabinet-council is a committee of the privy-council, consisting 

 of a select number of ministers and noblemen, according to the king's 

 opinion of their integrity and abilities, or attachment to the views of 

 the court ; but though its operations are powerful and extensive, a 

 cabinet-council is not essential to the constitution of England. 



This observation naturally leads us to mention the person who is 

 so well known by the name of the first minister ; a term unknown to 

 the English constitution, though the office, in effect, is perhaps neces- 

 sary. The constitution points out the lord high chancellor as minis- 

 ter ; but the affairs of his own court give him sufficient employment. 

 When the office of the first lord of the treasury is united with that 

 of chancellor of the exchequer (offices which we shall explain here- 

 after) in the same person, he is considered as first minister. The 

 truth is, his majesty may make any of his servants lus first minister. 

 But though it is no office, yet tbere is a responsibility annexed to the 

 name and common repute, that renders it a post of difficulty and 

 danger. We shall now take a short review of the nine great officers 

 of the crown, who, by their posts, take place next to the princes of the 

 royal family and the two primates. 



The first is the lord high steward of England. This is an office 

 very ancient, and formerly was hereditary, or at least for life : but 

 now, and for centuries past, it is exercised only occasionally ; that is, 

 at a coronation, or to sit as a judge on a peer or peeress, when tried 

 for a capital crime. In coronations, it is held, for that day only, by 

 some nobleman of the first rank. In cases of trials, it is exercised 

 generally by the lord chancellor, or lord keeper, whose commission 

 as high steward ends with the trial, by breaking his white rod, the 

 badge of his office. 

 The lord high chancellor presides in the court of chancery, to 



