LETTER (OF., Fr. lettre, from Lat. littera, liters, letter). An authoritative writing em powering the person to whom it is issued to exercise a certain office, perform a duty. or do anY other act which, but for such authorization, could not have been lawfully performed. They are issued for many purposes and under a great variety of circumstances. Letter of attorney, or power of attorney, is a writing or deed authoriz ing an agent. (whether he is a certificated attor ney or not) to do any lawful act in the stead of the party executing it. Letter of exculpation. in Scotch criminal law, is a warrant obtained by a prisoner to summon witnesses on his behalf at his trial. Letter missire, in England. is an order from the Lord Chancellor to a peer request ing the latter to enter an appearance to a bill filed in chancery against such peer; in Scotland the word means any written agreement or memo randum relative to some bargain as to mercan tile matters, or as to the sale of land or houses or the letting of land. Letter of request, in Eng
lish ecclesiastical law, means a writ which com mences a suit in the Court of Arches against a clergyman, instead of proceeding, in the first in stance, in the consistory court. Letter of safe conduct means a writ. under the great seal, to the subject of a State at war with any country, au thorizing and protecting such subject. while deal ing or traveling in that country, so that neither be nor his goods may be seized, as they otherwise might he. Letter testamentary is an instrument issued by a judge who has jurisdiction of pro bate matters, declaring that a certain will has been admitted to probate, and giving the executor power to administer the estate. Such an instru ment granted to the administrator of a person dying intestate is called a letter of administra tion. See LETTERS PATENT; LETTERS ROGATORY ; ADMINISTRATION; EXECUTOR.