OFFICERS.]

ORDER OF THE GUELPHS.

23

jfees.

Like most Foreign Orders, that of the Guelphs is entirely exempt from theseobnoxious imposts, either on admission, or for any instruments necessary to givethe Knights actual possession of their Honours.

Aranti Jflaster.

The Sovereign is declared to be the “ Chief Sovereign and Grand Master” ofthe Order; and it is remarkable that all the acts of Sovereignty are statedin the Statutes, to be done by Him not as Sovereign, but as Grand Master.The Grand Mastership is annexed to the Crown of Hanover, from the posses-sion of which it is not, on any consideration, to be separated or disunited . 5

©ffuers of tift ©rtier.

Only three Officers, the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor, and theSecretary are mentioned in the Statutes ; but there have always been threeothers, a King of Arms, a Genealogist, and a Registrar. Of the threefirst named, all that is said in the Statutes is, that the Chancellor shall be theCabinet Minister of the Kingdom of Hanover, resident, for the time being, atthe Sovereign’s Court in London; that for the transaction of the affairs of theOrder in Hanover, the senior Privy Councillor of the Cabinet there should bethe Vice Chancellor; and that the Private Secretary of the Hanoverian Chan-cery in London, should be the Secretary . 6 To the Chancellor the duties were

5 Vide pp. 5, 8, 9, antea.

6 Art. III. p. 5, antea.