THE CHARGÉ D'AFFAIRES is the fourth order, and is merely accredited to the individual who, for the time being, holds the office of principal secretary of state, or minister for foreign affairs. The powers of an envoy or minister, may be as full as those of an Ambassador; the former may be as completely PLENIPOTENTIARY as the latter: the difference merely affects their personal rank, expenses, and equipage, their distinctions when received at court, and the dignity of the individual through whom their communications are made. The privileges attached to the representative of a foreign power are as follow: He enjoys perfect security both of person and property. No legal process can affect him, and he is not amenable for his conduct before any tribunal in the country where he may be resident. Offences committed by Ambassadors must always be referred to the courts which they represent, and though they may be peremptorily dismissed by the foreign court, they must be brought to trial in their own country; if the offence, however, threatens the immediate safety of the state, then the personal immunity of an Ambassador ceases to be any protection, and he may be put under arrest in order to be sent home. The privileges of Ambassadors are equally extended to the whole of their suite, and every servant in their employment, whether a British subject or a foreigner, provided only that they do not render themselves subject to the bankrupt laws. The wife of an Ambassador enjoys all the immuni ties of her husband; and her rank in society and precedence at court, accord exactly among ladies with the privileges which her husband enjoys among men. The residence of an Ambassador is exempt from entry or search by police and revenue officers. His goods are not liable to customs' duties, he is exempt from all direct taxation, and in all civilized countries he is allowed the free exercise of his religion. There is attached to every embassy a secretary of legation," who, in the absence of the principal functionary, carries on the business of the embassy. " In addition to the secretary, there are several young gentlemen called attachés," who assist in the labours of the office, for the purpose of rendering themselves familiar at an early age with the business of diplomacy, in order to pursue it as a profession, and of course, expecting in more advanced life, to attain to the higher offices in that branch of the public service. The following is an alphabetical list of the courts where British ministers reside, with a statement of the rank in the diplomatic service which each British representative enjoys, according to the arrangements at present in force. AUSTRIA. Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary. BAVARIA. Envoy extraordinary and minister plenipoten tiary. BELGIUM. Ditto. BRAZILS. Ditto.. BUENOS AYRES. Minister Plenipotentiary. COLUMBIA. Envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary. DENMARK. Envoy extraordinary and minister plenipoten tiary. FRANCE. tiary. Ambassador extraordinary and plenipoten GERMANIC CONFEDERATION. Minister plenipotentiary. HANOVER. Envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary. MEXICO. Minister plenipotentiary. NAPLES. Envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary. NETHERLANDS. Envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary. PERSIA. Minister plenipotentiary. PORTUGAL. Envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary. PRUSSIA. Ditto. RIO DE LA PLATA. Minister plenipotentiary. RUSSIA. Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary. SARDINIA. Envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary. SAXONY. Envoy extraordinary. SICILIES (TWO). Envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary. SPAIN. Ditto. SWEDEN. Ditto. SWITZERLAND. Minister plenipotentiary. TURKEY. Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary. TUSCANY. Minister resident. UNITED STATES OF NORTH AMERICA. Envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary. VENEZUELA. Chargé d'affaires. WURTEMBURG. Envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary. Letters intended for foreign ambassadors resident U in this country, are addressed by prefixing the words "His Excellency" to the name and titles of the individual for whom they are intended, and then adding their accredited rank as diplomatists. Whatever may be their title, the letter usually commences with "Sir, and concludes with "I have the honour to be, with great respect, Sir, your Excellency's most obedient humble servant." Although envoys and chargés d'affaires are generally styled "Excellency;" yet this is in mere courtesy, for none but Ambassadors receive that title when corresponding with the government of the country where they reside. The wives of Ambassadors, and (by courtesy) of envoys, are addressed, "to her Excellency," &c. LORD LIEUTENANT OF IRELAND. THE chief governor in Ireland is theoretically considered to represent, in all its plenitude, the power and majesty of the Crown; practically, however, he is but the resident functionary through whom the Secretary of State for the home department conducts the government of that part of the United Kingdom. Before the legislative union, and when the means of communication between London and Dublin were comparatively slow and difficult, the Lord Lieutenant wielded the powers of the Crown almost as completely as the monarch himself would rule during any temporary residence in that country. Since that great political event, and since the establishment of certainty and speed in the transmission of communi cations between the two countries, the duties of this eminent functionary have been stripped by degrees of much of their regal independence; and it now seldom happens that the Lord Lieutenant takes any important step without the advice, assistance, and sanction of the home secretary; and in matters of very great moment, even the cabinet deliberate and advise before the Lord Lieutenant proceeds to act. On occasions of sudden emergency, in every case that admits not of delay, his power of independent action is, however, as complete, and of as much authority, as that of the Crown. He enjoys the assistance of a privy council, specially belonging to that part of the kingdom, and their sanction is essential to give validity to many of his acts. His "chief secretary" is an officer of more importance in the administration of the government, than might at first be supposed from his official designation; he however in reality exercises many of the vice-regal functions, and is strictly the "prime minister" of the Lord Lieutenant; he is frequently a member of the cabinet council in England, and always has an establishment of undersecretaries and clerks, both in London and in Dublin, to execute the details of his office. As the Lord Lieutenant is always a noble of high rank and commanding station, so the chief secretary is usually a mem ber of the house of Commons, of considerable power and ability. These two great officers of the Crown hold their positions so long only as their political party continue members of the administration, and with the rest they resign at the formation of new cabinets. The Lord Lieutenant maintains an establishment of |