§ MR. MURROUGHasked the right hon. Gentleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the persons now holding the offices of principal Secretaries of State had been duly appointed by letters patent, and whether there was any objection to lay on the table the letters patent which had been granted and were now in force.
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERreplied that the doctrine which had always been received in regard to Secretaries of State was, that the delivery of the seals invested the persons to whom they were delivered with all the powers and functions of the office. Up to a recent date it had been usual afterwards to take out letters patent, by which the powers of the office were in some way defined and confirmed. A short time since that practice was altered, and of the present Secretaries of State only a portion had taken out letters patent. Whether the persons now holding the office had been duly appointed was a question of law which he could not answer. As to the information sought for by the hon. Member, there would be no objection to lay on the table a return of the names of persons to whom letters patent had been granted.
Address for "Return of the names of persons now holding the offices of Principal Secretaries of State to whom Letters Patent have been issued."
§ The House adjourned at a quarter after Twelve o'clock.