STEWARD OF THE HOUSEHOLD, LORD, an officer of the royal household in England, of great antiquity, originaly designated the lord great master of the household. lie is the head of the ancient court called the board of green cloth, and as such has the control of all the officers and servants of the household, except those belonging to the chapel, the chamber, and the stable. The other members of the board of green cloth are the treasurer and the controller, over whom, as well as the master of the household. the lord steward's authority extends. That court had, by 3 Hen, VII. c. 14, and 33 Hen. VIII. c. 12, authority to try and punish all treasons, misprisions, murders, manslaugh ters. bloodsheds, etc., in the royal palace, and within the verge of the court. But this jurisdiction, which had long fallen into disuse, was in part repealed by 9 Geo. IV. c. 31, and altogether abolished by 12 and 13 Viet. c. 101: and the functions of the board of
green cloth are now confined to the supervision of the household expenses and accounts, the purveyance of the provisions and their payment, and the good government of the servants of the household. The lord steward selects all the subordinate officers and ser vants, except those connected with the royal stables; he also appoints the queen's trades men. He is always sworn a member of the privy council, and has precedence of all peers of his own degree. He has no formal grant of office, but receives his charge from the sovereign in person, who, delivering to him a white wand as his staff of office, says: "Seneschal, tenez le baton de noire maison." He holds his appointment during pleasure, and his tenure depends upon the political party to which he belcngs. The salary of the office is £2,000.