Manners and Rules of Good Society; Or, Solecisms to be Avoided

by Anonymous

In the Case of either a Husband's Sister or a wife's sister being required to act as hostess, precedence should be given to the wife's sister.

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An Eldest Son's Wife should take precedence of her husband's sisters in his father's house.

As regards the precedence due to the relatives of a host or hostess, it should give way in favour of that due to the guests not related to the host or hostess, although their relatives might be, perhaps, of higher rank than the guests themselves.

Occasionally, the eldest son of the house acts as second host, taking down a lady second or third in rank; but the daughters of the house should always be taken down to dinner after the other ladies present, and in no case before them.

No precedence is accorded to either a lady or a gentleman by virtue of a mother's rank.

No precedence is accorded to brides in society, though occasionally in the country old-fashioned people consider it due to a bride to send her in to dinner with the host on the occasion of her first dining at a house within three months of her marriage.

Table of General Precedency

GENTLEMEN

• The King.
• The Prince of Wales.
• The Sovereign's younger sons.
• The Sovereign's grandsons.
• The Sovereign's brothers.
• The Sovereign's uncles.
• The Sovereign's nephews.
• Ambassadors.
• Archbishop of Canterbury.
• Lord High Chancellor.
• Archbishop of York.
• The Prime Minister.
• Lord Chancellor of Ireland.
• Lord President of the Council.
• Lord Privy Seal.
• Dukes who may happen to hold either of these five offices—
• 1. Lord Great Chamberlain.
• 2. Earl Marshal.
• 3. Lord Steward.
• 4. Lord Chamberlain.
• 5. Master of the Horse.
• Dukes in order of their patents of creation—
• 1. Dukes of England.
• 2. " " Scotland.
• 3. Dukes of Great Britain.
• 4. " " Ireland created before the Union.
• 5. Dukes created since the Union.
• Eldest sons of Dukes of Blood Royal.
• Marquesses who may hold either of the Offices of State named above.
• Marquesses in same order as Dukes.
• Dukes' eldest sons.
• Earls holding either of the five Offices of State.
• Earls in same order as Dukes.
• Younger sons of Dukes of Blood Royal.
• Marquesses' eldest sons.
• Dukes' younger sons.
• Viscounts who may hold either of the five Offices of State.
• Viscounts in same order as Dukes.
• Earls' eldest sons.
• Marquesses' younger sons.
• Bishop of London.
• " Durham.
• " Winchester.
• Other English Bishops in order of their consecration.
• Moderator of the Church of Scotland.
• Barons holding either of the five Offices of State.
• Barons who may be Secretaries of State or Irish Secretary.
• Barons in same order as Dukes.
• The Speaker of the House of Commons.
• Treasurer of the Household.
• Comptroller of the Household.
• Vice-Chamberlain of the Household.
• Secretaries of State below the rank of Barons.
• Viscounts' eldest sons.
• Earls' younger sons.
• Barons' eldest sons.
• Commoners who are Knights of the Garter.
• Privy Councillors of rank lower than the foregoing, according to date they were sworn in.
• Chancellor of the Exchequer.
• " " " Duchy of Lancaster.
• Lord Chief Justice of England.
• Master of the Rolls.
• Lords Justices of Appeal and President of Probate Court.
• Judges of the High Court of Justice.
• Viscounts' younger sons.
• Barons' " "
• Sons of Life Peers.
• Baronets according to dates of patents.
• Knights Grand Cross of Bath.
• Knights Grand Commanders, Star of India.
• Knights Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George.
• Knights Grand Commanders of Indian Empire.
• Knights Grand Cross of Royal Victorian Order.
• Knights Commanders of above Orders in same sequence.
• Knights Bachelors of above Orders in same sequence.
• Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order.
• Judges of County Courts in England and Ireland, and Judges of the City of London Court.
• Masters in Lunacy.
• Companions of Orders of Bath, Star of India, SS. Michael and George, and Indian Empire in same sequence.
• Members of 4th class of Royal Victorian Order.
• Companions of Distinguished Service Order.
• Eldest sons of younger sons of Peers.
• Baronets' eldest sons.
• Knights' eldest sons, in order of their fathers.
• Members of 5th class of Royal Victorian Order.
• Younger sons of Peers' younger sons.
• Baronets' younger sons.
• Knights' younger sons, in order of their fathers.
• Naval, Military, and other Esquires by Office.
• Gentlemen entitled to bear Coat Armour.