Chiltern Hundreds

A range of hills in England, formerly much infested by robbers. To exterminate the robbers, a steward of the chiltern hundreds was appointed. The office long since became a sinecure, and is now used to enable a member -of parliament to resign, which he can do only by the ac-, ceptance of some office within the gift of the chancellor. 2 Steph. Comm. 403; Wharton.

The offices of steward or bailiff of His Majesty's three Chiltern Hundreds of Stoke, Desborough, and Bonenham; or the steward of the Manor of Northsted. These offices have sometimes been refused, but they are ordinarily given to any member of the House of Commons who applies for them as a means of ceasing to be a member of the House, an office which cannot be resigned; but which becomes vacant upon the acceptance of any other office by a member. The office is retained until the appointment is revoked to make way for the appointment of another holder. The practice began about 1750. The offices of steward of the Manor of East Hendred and Hempholme were last used for this purpose in 1840 and 1865 respectively. Chiltern Hundreds is an appointment under the hand and seal of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In 1861, and since, the words "reposing especial trust and confidence," etc., were omitted. May, Parl. Pr. 642.

In English law. The stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds is a nominal office in the gift of the crown, usually accepted by members of the house of commons desirous of vacating their seats. By lawa member once duly elected to parliament is compelled to discharge the duties of the trust conferred upon him, and is not enabled at will to resign it. But by statute, if any member accepts any ottice of profit from the crown, (except officers in the army or havy accepting a new commission,) his seat is vacated. If, therefore, any member wishes to retire from tle representation of Lhe county or borough by which he was sont to pariiament, he applies to the lords of the treasury for the stewardship of one of the Chiltern Hundreds, which having received, and there by accomplished his purpose, he again resigns the office. Brown.

The hundreds of Stoke, Desborough, and Bonenham, the stewardship of which is a nominal office in the gift of the Crown. As acceptance of an office under the Crown vacates a seat in the House of Commons, this office is giyen to a member wishing to retire, to evade the principle that a member of Parhament cannot give up his seat.

In English politics. A tract of cpuntry extending through part of Buckingham and Oxfordshires, comprising the hundreds of Stoke, Desborough and Bonenham; the stewardship of which is a nominal office in the gift of the crown. As members of parliament, strictly speaking, cannot resign their seats, and as, on the other hand, the acceptance of an office under the crown has the effect of vacating a member's seat, the mode of abandoning a seat is by taking the stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds. 2 Steph. Com. 403. Holihouse. Wharton. Brands.