sixth day. Upon the day fixed, called the nomination day, a covered platform called the hustings, is erected in the principal town in counties, and in some convenient locality in other places, upon which the candidates for election and their friends assemble. The returning-officer takes the oath against bribery, and for the proper discharge of his duties. The candidates are proposed by one supporter, and seconded by another. They then address the electors, stating their political opinions and their claims to represent them. If the number of persons proposed does not exceed that which the electors are entitled to send to Parliament, they are elected then and there; if more be put in nomination, and a contest arises, the returning officer calls for "a show of hands," and declares which candidate has the greatest number held up for him, but as there is no way of discovering whether all who thus give their vote are entitled to one, any candidate unwilling to abide by this decision, may demand a poll. When this is taken, each elector appears before persons appointed by the returning officer as his deputies, and decides for which candidate he intends to vote. This vote is entered by the clerks in the poll-books, which, at the expiration of the time allowed by law for polling, are taken to the returning-officer. The votes are added up, and the candidates who are found to have gained the highest number are declared by him to be duly elected. In counties the poll remains open for two days, in cities and boroughs for one only. The Member of Parliament thus elected may be deprived of his seat, if it can be proved before a committee of the House of Commons that he, or his agents, with his knowledge, have been guilty of bribery, corruption, or undue influence in obtaining votes; or if it be found that persons had voted for him who had no right to do so, and that when their votes were deducted, his opponent had a majority of duly-qualified electors. Should a vacancy occur during the sitting of Parliament, the Speaker, by order of the House, issues his warrant to the clerk of the Crown, and the writ is sent down, as I have narrated. If it happens during the recess, if the Speaker is informed of it in writing, signed by two members of Parliament, the writ is issued without an order of the House. A member properly returned may be expelled the House for misconduct, and his seat will become vacated if he be made bankrupt, and does not satisfy his creditors within a year, or if he accepts an office under the Crown; he may, however, be PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. 45 re-elected, and afterwards fill it. A member may not resign the trust confided to him; but by his acceptance of the stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds, or of the Manor of Northstead (sinecure offices under the Crown preserved for the purpose), his seat will be vacated and he can thus retire from Parliament. He cannot be made liable for anything that he may say in debate. The Lower House has the right to originate all bills relating to, or affecting the revenue and the taxation of the kingdom, and to vote the supplies; nor can any bills dealing with the taxation of the country be altered or amended by the House of Lords. That House can only reject them, or pass them in the form in which they come up from the Commons. LETTER VI. THE ADVISERS OF THE CROWN. The Privy Council-The Judicial Committee-The Cabinet CouncilThe Attorney and Solicitor-General-The Ministry, its Composition and Policy-The Opposition-Pensions of Ministers. I HAVE told you that the advisers of the sovereign are responsible for his political acts; I must now tell you who these are. The principal council of the crown is the Privy Council. Its members (whose number is now unlimited) are appointed by the sovereign, and can be removed at her pleasure. The oath taken by a privy councillor upon entering office is as follows: 1. To advise the queen according to the best of his cunning and discretion. 2. To advise for the queen's honour and good of the public without partiality through affection, love, meed, doubt, or dread. 3. To keep the queen'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, 7. To observe, keep, and do all that a good and true counsellor ought to do to his sovereign lord. The power of this Council as a body has of late years been very much diminished. Its judicial business (which mainly consists of hearing appeals from the courts in our plantations or colonies, and from the Admiralty and Ecclesiastical Courts) is transacted by a committee of judges and other eminent lawyers made members for the purpose; and its duties of advising the Crown and conducting the government of the country are almost exclusively performed by the principal ministers of State, who are members of the Cabinet Council. THE CABINET COUNCIL. 47 This is so termed on account of its being originally composed of such members of the Privy Council as the king placed most trust in, and conferred with apart from the others in his cabinet or private room. Curiously enough, although it is a body of the highest importance-being in fact the government of the country-it is not recognised in any way by the constitution. It is not, even in any strict or formal sense, a Committee of the Privy Council, to which, however, its members always belong. On this subject Macaulay writes, "Few things in our history are more curious than the origin and growth of the power now possessed by the Cabinet. From an early period the Kings of England had been assisted by a Privy Council to which the law assigned many important functions and duties. During several centuries this body deliberated on the gravest and most delicate affairs. But by degrees its character changed. It became too large for despatch and secrecy. The rank of Privy Councillor was often bestowed as an honorary distinction on persons to whom nothing was confided, and whose opinion was never asked. The sovereign, on the most important occasions, resorted for advice to a small knot of leading ministers. The advantages and disadvantages of this course were early pointed out by Bacon, with his usual judgment and sagacity: but it was not till after the Restoration that the interior council began to attract general notice. During many years old fashioned politicians continued to regard the Cabinet as an unconstitutional and dangerous board. Nevertheless, it constantly became more and more important. It at length drew to itself the chief executive power, and has now been regarded, during several generations, as an essential part of our polity. Yet, strange to say, it still continues to be altogether unknown to the law. The names of the noblemen and gentlemen who compose it are never officially announced to the public. No record is kept of its meetings and resolutions; nor has its existence ever been recognised by any Act of Parliament." The criminal jurisdiction of the Privy Council, that in the days of the Star Chamber (which was composed of its members), was stretched to so dangerous a length, is now no greater than that exercised by justices of the peace. Her Majesty is frequently empowered by act of parliament. to make proclamations and orders upon given subjects, " by and with the advice of her Privy Council," but only such members as are specially summoned attend upon each occasion. Privy councillors are distinguished by having the words "right honourable" prefixed to their christian names or initials. The sovereign may appoint her own ministry, or may order any person to form one; but as a majority in parliament is indispensable for the carrying on of government, it follows that, in practice, the ministry is composed of the leader of the political party in power, assisted by his friends and supporters. The Cabinet Council, shortly termed the Cabinet, forms only part of the ministry or administration. It usually consists of the following great officers of state : The First Lord of the Treasury. This office is now generally held by the Premier, or first minister, but he may hold any other. The Lord High Chancellor-the law adviser of the ministry; and keeper of the great seal. The Lord President of the Council. The Postmaster-General. The Lord Privy Seal. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs-who conducts our intercourse with foreign nations. The Secretary of State for the Colonies. The Secretary of State for the Home Department—who manages the internal affairs of the kingdom. The Secretary of State for the War Department. The Chancellor of the Exchequer-who arranges and accounts to Parliament for the public revenue and expenditure. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The First Lord of the Admiralty—who presides over the affairs of the Royal Navy. The President of the Board of Trade-who attends to matters relating to trade and commerce. Distinguished statesmen who hold no office under government are sometimes made members of the Cabinet. Members of the Ministry must have seats either in the House of Lords or Commons. Many other political offices subordinate to those I have mentioned, and a number of places in her Majesty's Household are filled by members of the party in power, who resign them when their friends go out of office. The chief legal adviser of the Crown is the Lord Chancellor; its law officers are the Attorney- and Solicitor-General and Queen's Advocate. The two former are selected from amongst the most distinguished Queen's Counsel (a grade in |