FORMS OF ADDRESS. Many persons are exposed to inconvenience from their igno rance of the formal modes of addressing letters to persons of title; we shall, therefore, in the present article, give an enumeration, taken mainly from Mr. Dod's Peerage and Bar onage, of the usual ceremonious modes of written address. Previous to their employ ment, the writer must, of course, learn either from the peerage-writers, or from some other source, the precise rank of the person whom he wishes to address, as well as the hereditary, personal, or official distinctions by which that rank is often modified.
1. Archbishop—Letters are addressed: " His Grace, the Lord Archbishop of — " and commence: ".'My'Lord Archbishop." More formal docuMents are addressed Most Reverend Father in God (John Bird), by Divine Providence Lord Archbishop of Canterbury;" other archbishops and suffragan bishops being "by Divine permission." When personally referred to, an archbishop is styled " Your Grace," not " Your Lord ship." The Archbishop of Armagh is addressed as "His Grace the Lord Primate of Ireland." Archbishop's wives, and the other members of their families, enjoy no titles as such. 2. Baron—Addressed : " The Right Honorable Lord—;" referred to as "His Lord ship," or " Your Lordship." Baron's Daughter—" The Honorable Mary —;" or, if married, "The Honorable Mrs. —." Letters commence, " Madam.' Baron's Son—" The Honorable John —." Letters commence, " Sir." Baron's San's Wife—" The Honorable Mrs. —." Letters commence, " Madam." Baron's Wife, and Baroness in her own right—" The Right Honorable Lady —;" in strictness, but more commonly, "The Lady —." Letters commence, " Madam,' and refer to her as " Your Ladyship." Baronet—" Sir John —, Bart. Letters commence, " Sir.P Baronet's Wife—" Lady—." Unless she has a title as the daughter of a peer, no Christian name is used. She is referred to as " Your Ladyship." Bishop—" The Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of —." Letters commence, " My Lord." Frequently the address is simply, " The Lord Bishop of —." The style in
formal documents is "The Right Reverend Father in God (John —), by Divine per mission, Lord Bishop of —." Scotch bishops are addressed " The Bishop of —," sometimes as "The Right Reverend Bishop (e.g., Henry Cotterell)," and letters com mence, " Right Reverend Sir." The colonial bishops are addressed by their territorial titles, like those of England.
Bishops' Wives and Children have no titles.
Countess—"The Right Honorable the Countess of —." Letters commence, "Madam," and refer to her as " Your Ladyship." Duchess—" Her Grace the 'Duchess of --." Letters commence, "Madam," and refer to her as " Your Grace." Duke—" His Grace the Duke of —." Letters commence, "My Lord Duke," and he is referred to as "Your Grace." Duke's Daughter—" The Right Honorable Lady Mary—," or less formally, "The Lady Mary." Letters commence "Madam," and refer to her as "Your Ladyship." If she is married to a person of inferior rank, her surname only is changed.
Duke's Eldest Son—Uses the second or some other title of his family by courtesy, and he is addressed as if he held the title by law, though in formal documents he is. called " —, Esq., commonly called the Marquis or Earl" (as the case may be).
Duke's Younger Son—" The Right Honorable Lord John Russell," or less formally, "The Lord John R.—." "My Lord," and "Your Lordship." Duke's Younger Son's Wife—" The Lady John —," unless where she has a title in her own right. "Madam," and " Your Ladyship." Earl—" The Right Honorable the Earl of —," or less formally, "The Earl of —." "My Lord," and " Your Lordship." Earl's Daughter—Like Duke's Daughter (q.v.) Earl's Eldest Son is addressed as if the title which he holds in courtesy were a title in law.
Earl's Younger Son—Like Baron's Son (q.v.).
Earl's Younger Son's Wife—Like Baron's Son's Wife, unless of superior rank to her husband.
Earl's Wife. See Countess.