From an attentive consideration of the above statement, which is drawn up with as much accuracy as possible, from the Rolls and Journals of both Houses of Parliament, the following facts may be deduced: In the first place it appears that, since the year 1509 (when it is generally supposed that the duration of Parliaments was extended beyond one year), only four Parliaments have existed beyond seven years, and that only eleven more have had a sexennial duration. In the second place, it is sufficiently evident that, of the rest, only ten Parliaments have lasted above five years, only six Parliaments above four, and five above three years. Thirdly, of the remaining number, only eleven existed above two years, and no less than thirty-seven for a shorter period. Lastly, it is certain that, one Parliament with another, the duration of each, since the reign of Henry VII., does not exceed the space of two years and about nine months, even including the long Parliament in the reign of King Charles I., and the still longer one which his son retained in existence for the enormous period of nearly seventeen years. PRESENT POPULATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM (1871). OFFICERS OF STATE. THE LORD STEWARD'S DEPARTMENT. The estate of the Queen's household is entirely committed to the Lord Steward, to be ruled and governed by his discretion; and all his commands in court are to be obeyed; his authority reaches over all the officers and servants of the Queen's house, except those of the Queen's chamber, stable, and chapel. Under the Lord Steward, in the compting-house, are the treasurer of the household, comptroller, cofferer, master of the household, clerks of the green cloth, &c. It is called the compting-house, because all the accounts and expenses of the Queen's household are daily taken and kept in it. Lord Steward. 1880, May 3, Earl Sydney. Treasurer of the Household. 1880, May 3, Earl of Breadalbane. Comptroller of the Household. 1880, May 3, Lord Kensington. Master of the Household. 1866, March 6, Sir John-Clayton Cowell, K.C.B. Secretary. 851, May 10, Edward-Mash Browell, esq. THE LORD CHAMBERLAIN AND HIS DEPARTMENT. His office is to take care of all the officers and servants (excepting those belonging to the Queen's bedchamber, who are under the Groom of the Stole) belonging to the Queen's chambers, who are sworn in their places by him. He hath the oversight of the officers of the wardrobes at all Her Majesty's houses; and of removing wardrobes or beds; of tents, revels, music, comedians, and, what is not common in other nations, although a layman, he hath oversight of the Queen's chaplains, and of all the heralds, physicians, apothecaries, &c. It is his place to inspect into the charges of coronations, marriages, public entries, cavalcades, funerals, and into all furniture for and in the parliament houses and rooms of addresses to the Queen. Grooms in Waiting. Colonel Hon. Augustus Liddell. Hon. Sir Charles Augustus Murray. (Extra.) Lieut.-General Sir Francis H. Seymour. (Extra.) Lieut.-Colonel W. G. Stirling, R.A. (Extra.) Lieut.-Colonel Hon. C.-H. Lindsay. 1, Lieut.-Col. W.-H.-F. Cavendish. Captain F. Edwards. Gen. Sir M.-A. Biddulph. 1880, Jan. 1, Capt. A.-J. Bigge, R.A. May 20, Hon. Col. Carington. Capt. Walter D.-S. Campbell. Mistress of the Robes. 1880, May 3, Duchess of Bedford. Ladies of the Bedchamber. Dowager Marchioness of Ely. Lady Waterpark. Dowager Duchess of Roxburghe. Dowager Countess of Mount Edgecumbe (Extra.) Countess of Gainsborough. (Extra.) Countess of Caledon. (Extra.) Women of the Bedchamber. 1855, Nov. 10, Dec. 9, 1856, June 10, 1859, May 14, 1866, May 25, 1870, April 16, 1874, Nov. 6, Viscountess Chewton. Lady Sarah-Elizabeth Lindsay.. Lady E.-P. Biddulph. (Extra.) Mrs. Pratt. (Extra.) Hon. Flora-Clementina-Isabella Macdonald. Hon. Horatia-Charlotte Stopford. 1880, Jan. 13, Hon, Emily S. Cathcart (Extra.) |