How are these offices now held? By letters patent of the crown, or by the lord chamberlain's nomination?
Where can any list of these offices be found? The office of Master of the Ceremonies, whose duty it is to arrange the reception of all foreign ministers, and their departures, was formerly an office of considerable importance. In the reign of King Charles I. it was held seemingly by grants from ] the crown. In 1627, Sir John Finett says he received news of the death of Sir Lewis Lewknor, by which, in right of his Majesty's grant of reversion by letters patent, he became sole Master of the Ceremonies—an office which he before held jointly with Sir Lewis Lewknor.
S. E. G.
Minor Queries.
286. Cause of Transparency.
—Seeing through the glass of my window a landscape, and not knowing why I see through the glass, and not through the shutters, I will thank one of your philosophical correspondents to tell me the cause of transparency.
ÆGROTUS.
287. Gold Medal of late Duke of York.
—I have a small gold medal, three-quarter inch in diameter, a head with inscription—
"Fredericus dux Eborac."