Envoy

In International Law. A diplomatic agent sent by one state to another. In accordance with the rules adopted at the Congress of Vienna, in 1815, envoys are placed among diplomatic agents of the second class. They are not regarded as representing the person and dignity of their sovereigns, and thus they rank below ambassadors. On the other hand, they are accredited to the sovereign of the state and, except for the obsolete privilege of treating with the head of the foreign state personally, their position is not substantially different from that of an ambassador (q. v.).

1 Opp. 443- 446.