TREASURER, an officer to whom the treasure of a prince or corporation is committed to be kept, and duly disposed of. The Lord High Treasurer of Great Britain, or first Commissioner of the Trea sury, when in commission, has under his charge and government all the King's revenue, which is kept in the Exchequer.. He holds his place during the King's plea sure, being instituted by the delivery of a white staff to him : he has the check of all the officers employed in collecting the customs and other royal revenues ; and in his gift and disposition are all the offices of the customs in the several ports of the kingdom ; escheators in every comity are nominated by him ; he also makes leases of the lands belonging to the crown, There is, besides,the Lord Treasurer, a. Treasurer of the King's Household, who is of the Privy Council, with Comptroller and Steward of the Marshal sea, has great power. To these may be added the Treasurer of the navy ; as also the Treasurer of the King's Chamber, and of'the wardrobe ; and most corporations throughout the kingdom have treasurers, whose office is to receive their rents, and disburse their common expences. The
Treasurer of the County, is an officer that keeps the county-stock, in which office there are two in every county, who are chosen by the major part of the justices of the peace at Easter-sessions. They ought to have certain estates in lands, or to be worth 1504 in personal estate, and are to continue in their office only for a year, at the end whereof, or within ten days after the expiration of the year, they . must account to their successors, under certain penalties. The county-stock which this officer has the keeping,of, is raised by rating every parish annually ; and the same is from time to time disposed of to charitable uses, towards relief of maimed soldiers and mariners, prisoners in the county goals, paying the salaries of governors of houses of correction, 'and relieving poor alms-houses, &c.