This page is part of the Victorian Dictionary ... explore the site!

If you enjoy www.victorianlondon.org why not ...

Victorian London - Publications - Etiquette and Household Advice Manuals - Cassells Household Guide, New and Revised Edition (4 Vol.) c.1880s [no date] - Court Manual - (1) Introduction

[-back to main menu-]

Volume 1

[-109-]

COURT MANUAL.-I.

INTRODUCTION.

IN every nation under heaven distinctions of rank are recognised. The most rude and barbarous, equally with the most refined and civilised, have adopted a social gradations under every variety of government. Such an arrangement appears to have been found necessary not only to the well-being, but to the very existence of society. Whatever the explanation, some have been clothed with authority over others, have had the pre-eminence, and been regarded with deference. Such authority and pre-eminence may be regarded as a the necessary consequence of the relations in which people stand to each other. That the husband should be the head of a family, his wife his nearest equal and the children subordinate, seems to be natural, and not an arbitrary decision. The same is true of the relation of master and servant. The principle is adopted in larger communities, and it is found necessary to place one member at the head, whether he be called a chief or a president, a king or an emperor. But inasmuch as one man is not equal to the task of personally regulating state affairs, others are appointed in various degrees of subordination to him, and all having therefore a certain precedence or rank above the mass. The rank thus acquired is in some cases temporary and official but it is often made hereditary, and sometimes rank and title are conferred for important services to the State. In this country, and in many others, probably the majority of those who claim superior rank do so on account of their connections with families which have been ennobled. Some time or other it has come to pass that every member of the community is regarded as belonging to a particular class, and therefore as occupying a definite position in the social scale. This position is not, however, always fixed and irrevocable in the case of individuals, of whom some may ascend and others may descend, where descent is possible.
    It is not the object of these chapters to discuss the topics which have been indicated, nor even to blame or praise all the arrangements which they involve. The object is rather, in a brief and intelligible manner, to enumerate and describe the various ranks and offices which come within our scheme, and to exhibit the order of precedence which is recognised by society and authority. It need scarcely be added that our attention will be limited to our own nation, as most in accordance with the practical character of this work. Moreover, as royalty, in the person of the Sovereign is, in fact, the head and source of all other ranks and high offices, we shall commence with that, and proceed afterwards to other branches of the subject.

THE SOVEREIGN.

In this country the sovereign head of the State may be either a king or a queen, and becomes such by inheritance. The Sovereign, on his or her accession to the throne, is proclaimed, and enters forthwith upon the honours, duties, and emoluments of the Crown. The coronation follows with many solemnities and formalities, amid all the splendour which such an occasion justifies. The new monarch takes the following, or coronation, oath :-" To govern the people of this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the dominions thereto belonging, according to the statutes in Parliament agreed on, and the respective laws and customs of the same; to his power to cause law and justice in mercy to be executed in all his judgments; to the utmost of his power to maintain the laws of God, the true profession of the Gospel, and the Protestant reformed religion established by law; to maintain and preserve inviolably the settlement of the United Church of England and Ireland, and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established within England and Ireland, and the territories thereto belonging ; and to preserve unto the bishops and clergy of England and Ireland, and to the united Church committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges as by law do or shall appertain to them or any of them."
    This oath was taken by her present Majesty, but the last two clauses will have to be modified on any similar occasion hereafter, in consequence of the disestablishment of the Irish Church.
    As the duties of the Sovereign are so great and constant, the throne is never supposed to be vacant, and "the law ascribes to that person a never-ceasing existence," so that when a king dies the office passes at once to the successor.
    Mr. Thoms, in his "Book of the Court," to which we once for all acknowledge our obligations, says: "As the representative of the State, the Sovereign has the supreme exclusive management of transactions between the United Kingdom and all foreign powers." This includes the appointment and reception of ambassadors, making treaties, declaring war and peace, and whatever pertains to military matters. As the "fountain of justice," the Sovereign is sworn to administer according to law, though he does this by means of judges and the Lord Chancellor. The Sovereign is supreme in regard to trade and commerce, and the current coin of the realm, [-110-] and is entitled to all wealth which has no known owners or heirs. As the "fountain of honour and privilege," the Sovereign alone confers titles, dignities, and various high distinctions, including ministerial offices. He pays no toll nor tax, and cannot hold lands of a subject, because such things would imply a certain inferiority. As head of the Church, while he may not alter the established religion, nor forsake the profession of it, the Sovereign may reform abuses and appoint fasts and thanksgivings, appoints bishops and archbishops, and has many other powers and rights as to the disposal of benefices, the calling of synods, the publication of Prayer-books, and the copyright of the authorised version of the Bible.
    As head of the Parliament, the Sovereign alone makes laws of the Bills which are passed by the Lords and Commons. No other can summon a Parliament, or prorogue, or dissolve one. By person or by deputy he must be present at the opening of every session. He appoints the Speaker of the House of Lords by commission, and must approve the Speaker of the Commons. Additions to the peers are made by him at his will. in public documents the Sovereign uses the plural number of the first person  "we," "us," "our," and he is said to be King - Dei gratia - By the grace of God. The principal titles of her present Majesty are "Her Most Excellent Majesty, Victoria, by the Grace of God Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; Defender of the Faith ; Sovereign of the Most Noble Order of the Garter ; of the Most Ancient Order of the Thistle; of the Most Illustrious Order of St. Patrick," &c. The Ionian Islands were formerly mentioned in the Queen's titles, but of course the reference is now dropped. Her Majesty is not styled Sovereign of France, as several of her predecessors were, but she has assumed the title of Empress of India, though it is not to be used in Great Britain and Ireland.
    The Queen does not wear official robes except on her visit to Parliament, when she wears red; and on her coronation, when she proceeded to the Abbey in crimson, and was there invested with the purple. As Sovereign of the Order of the Garter, her Majesty wears the riband over the left shoulder, the badge and stars of the order - the two latter set in diamonds, and an armlet with the motto of the order on her left arm. At such times her Majesty generally wears a circlet of diamonds on her head.
    When the reigning Sovereign is a king, and is married, the queen consort enjoys various privileges and prerogatives, and the same is true of a queen dowager, but we may dispense with an account of them. In the case of a queen regnant. her husband is invested with very high dignities, but does not share in the Sovereign power. For example, the late Prince Consort enjoyed no regal prerogatives.