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| | Lalor, Cyclopaedia of Political Science, V.2, Entry 316, MINISTRY: Library of Economics and Liberty |
 | | At first it was a small committee, chosen by the king from the parliament, then called the "great council," and was possessed of much power, a part of which was the right to inquire into all offenses against the state, and to commit offenders for trial before the proper courts of law. |
 | | Lord Derby then became prime minister, but almost immediately gave way to Lord Palmerston, who remained in office six years and went out in 1858, on the defeat of the "conspiracy bill." In 1859 he was again recalled, and remained first lord of the treasury until he died, in October, 1865. |
 | | It is composed of the heads of the various departments of the federal government, and consists of the secretary of state, secretary of the treasury, secretary of war, secretary of the navy, secretary of the interior, the attorney general and postmaster general. |
| www.econlib.org /library/YPDBooks/Lalor/llCy707.html (2215 words) |
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