Law Officers
The Law Officers of the Crown is a legal position in Britain which can be dated back
to the early 1300s. From the middle of this century, the officers were responsible
for submitting accounts of the “King's rent” and other incomes such as salaries, defence,
and charities to the English Exchequer.
The Officers' position and responsibilities evolved over time, becoming more directly
involved in legal authorities. Some Officers held a seat in the House of Commons and
became personal lawyers to the other members of the House. Law Officers of the Crown were regularly consulted on legal questions which concerned
Britain's colonies or the
outskirts of the British Empire.
In this
despatch, the Officers were consulted on matters of trading establishments in relation to
the
Hudson's Bay Company.
The role of Law Officer also included matters of land, manorial possessions, and other
properties. This
despatch depicts a statement by the Law Officers concerning the
Hudson's Bay Company land acquisition on
Vancouver Island.
The position of Law Officers of the Crown is appointed by royal warrant and today
the officers are known as “Receiver General.” Although the office still exists today,
many of the activities and responsibilities of the Officers have been diminished in
the 20th century.
- 1. History, Law Officers of the Crown.
- 2. Edward Cavanagh, The Imperial Constitution of the Law Officers of the Crown: Legal Thought on War and
Colonial Government 1719-1774, Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History, (2018), 0.2-3.
- 3. Ibid.; [Sender not known] to Merivale, 19 April 1958, 3854, CO 305/9, p.318.
- 4. History, Law Officers of the Crown; Ward to Hawes, 5 February 1848, 259, CO 305/1, p.299.
- 5. History, Law Officers of the Crown.