FORMAL MODES OF ADDRESSING PERSONS OF TITLE. CORRECTNESS in addressing a person of title, or one holding high office, can only be attained by first discovering what is his, or her, precise social rank, or his official position. As the name of every individual referred to in the two classes indicated appears in Debretfs Peerage, Baronetage, Knight- age, and Companionage, there will be no difficulty in obtaining the requisite information. It must always be remembeied that clerical, naval, and military prefixes are written before other titles, that initials indicative of distinction are written after the title or name, and that a High Officer of State, or an official holding an important office, should be addressed by his official title when the communication refers to official business. %* A Widow who re-marries loses any title or precedence she gained by her previous marriage. From this rule there is not any exception. Society, however, from pure motives of courtesy, sanctions the retention of former rank, and with one exception permits ladies who have re-married to be addressed as though their titled husbands were living. The exception is that of the widow of an Honourable, who is not permitted even by courtesy to retain after re-marriage the prefix gained through her first husband. But, officially, a widow who re-marries is not recognised as having any claim to bear the title of her deceased husband, e.g. : at a coronation, or other State ceremonial, the widow of a peer would not be summoned as a peeress if she had subsequently married a commoner ; and, if having espoused a peer of lesser degree than her former husband, she would only be recognised by the rank acquired by her last marriage. Ambassador (British). LETTERS. Superscription, "To His Excellency [m other icspects according to his rank], H. B. M.'s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipoten- tiary. ." Commencement, "My Lord," or " Sir," according to rank. Conclusion, " I have the honour to be, My Lord [or Sir], Your Excellency's most humble and obedient Ser- vant," PERSONAL ADDRESS, "Your Excel- lency." [NOTE, a Minister is not addressed as " Excellency."] Ambassador's Wife. When resident abroad at the Court to which her husband is accredited she is sometimes, out of courtesy, styled " Her Excellency," but she is not entitled to be so designated, and when in England the title is never used. Archbishop. LETTERS. Superscrip- tion, "His Grace the Lord Archbishop of ." Commencement, " My Lord Arch- bishop." Conclusion, " I have the honour to be, my Ix>rd Archbishop, Your Grace's most devoted and obedient servant." PERSONAL ADDRESS, " Your Grace." In FORMAL DOCUMENTS the Archbishop of Canterbury is addressed as "The Most Reverend Father in God, [Archi- bald Campbell], by Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of Canterbury " ; the Archbishop of York as " The Most Reverend Father in God, [William] by Divine Permission Lord Archbishop of York." Archbishop's Wife. As the Wife of an Esquire. Archdeacon.. LETTERS. Superscrip- tion, " The Venerable [John] ," or "The Venerable the Archdeacon of ." Commencement, "Venerable Sir." Conclu- sion, " I have the honour to be, Venerable Sir, Your very obedient servant." PERSONAL ADDRESS, " Sir." Baron. LETTERS. Superscription, "The Right. Hon. Lord ." Com- mencement, " My Lord." Conclusion, " I have the honour to be. my Lord, Your Lord- ship's obedient and humble servant." PER- SONAL ADDRESS, "My Lord," or "Your Lordship." Baroness. LETTERS. Superscription, " To the Right Hon. the Baroness ," or Right Hon. the Lady ." Com- mencement, " Madam." Conclusion, " I have the honour to be, Madam, your Ladyship's obedient and humble servant." PERSONAL ADDRESS, "My Lady,". or " Your Ladyship. [See also Baron's Widow.]
- .,.* If a Baroness in her own right marry a
commoner and have issue, the children have the same rank and are addressed as if their father were a Baron. Baronet. LETTERS. Superscription, " Sir [Charles] , Bart." Commence- ment, "Sir." Conclusion, "I have the honour to be, Sir, Your humble and obedient servant." PERSONAL ADDRESS, "Sir." Baronet's Widow. Same as Baronefs Wife if present baronet is unmarried, but if he be married then the widow, being the mottter or grandmotJier of the baronet, is styled, if the daughter of a commoner, " The Dowager Lady ," but when such relationship does not exist the widow must be addressed as "[Helen] Lady ," the Christian name being inserted before " Lady." [See "Dow- ager."] As to re-marriage, see " Widows." Baronet's Wife. LETTERS. Super- scription, if the daughter (i) of a commoner, " Lady "; (ii) of a Baron or a Viscount, "The Hon. Lady "; (iii) of an Earl, a Marquess, or a Duke, " The Lady [Emily], ." Commencement, " Madam," Con- clusion, "I have the honour to be, Madam, Your Ladyship's most obedient Servant" PERSONAL ADDRESS, " My Lady," or " Your Ladyship." Baron's Son's Wife. LETTERS. Superscription, if the daughter (i) of a Vis- count, a Baron, or a commoner " The Hon. Mrs. -," or "The Hon. Mrs. [Edward "; (ii) of an Earl, a Marquess, or a Duke, "The Lady [Ellen]." Commencement, "Madam." Conclusion (i) if of lesser rank
