grand master.] SAINT MICHAEL AND SAINT GEORGE.

87

Islands, with such powers and privileges as shall be for that purpose appointedby the Statutes of the said Order.” 2

In the second Article of the original Statutes, the Office of Grand Master wasmentioned in the same words as in the Letters Patent; and his powers andprivileges are thus described, both in those Statutes and in the existing Code:“ He shall do all things, and enjoy all privileges, rights, and prerogatives,touching the said Most Distinguished Order, in as ample and full manner as WeOurselves could have done as Sovereigns of the said Order, if We had beenpersonally present within the said Islands; and He shall further take especialcare that these Statutes be regularly observed and kept.” 3

Though the Grand Master was not specifically appointed a Knight GrandCross, he was evidently intended to be so, because the Letters Patent andthe original Statutes provide, that the number to which the First Class waslimited, was to include the Grand Master for the time being. 4 In all Chaptersand Assemblies of the Order at which the Sovereign is not present, the GrandMaster is ‘ { to wear the same Habits and Robes, together with the Insigniawhich We Ourselves should wear, and which are to be of the same materials andfashion as those hereinafter appointed for the Knights Grand Cross save onlythose alterations which may befit Our Royal dignity and splendour.” 5

It would appear from the seventh Article of the Statutes of 1818, but whichwas altered in April 1826, 6 that all nominations to the Order were to bemade “ through the recommendation of the Grand Master;” and power wasgiven him to hold Conventions of the Members, and to Invest newly appointedKnights. He nominated the King of Arms and Registrar ; and the Secretaryto the Order was his Private Secretary. All Warrants of Dispensation fromthe ceremony of Investiture were issued in his name; and on more than oneoccasion, Sir Thomas Maitland abrogated an important part of the Statutes,before the pleasure of the Sovereign had been taken. 7

However expedient it may have been deemed to confer such extraordinarypowers upon a Subject (which even exceeded those of the Grand Master ofthe Order of Saint Patrick, 8 and were altogether unprecedented, except in the

2 Vide pp. 8, 9, antea. 3 Vide p. 11, antea. 4 Vide pp. 8, 1*2, antea.

5 Vide p. 13, and p. 45, antea. 6 Vide pp. 33, 34, antea. 7 Vide pp. 22, 26, 31, antea.

8 Some remarks on the powers formerly exercised by the Grand Master of the Order of SaintPatrick, will be found in the History of that Order, pp. 75, 76.