CEREMONIAL, in a more particular sense, denotes the manner in which princes and ambassadors used to receive and to treat one another. There are endless disputes among sovereigns about the ceremonial: some endeavouring to be on a level, and others to be superior; insomuch that numerous schemes have been proposed for settling them. The chief are, 1. To accommodate the difference by compromise or alternation; so that one shall precede now, the other the next time; or one in one place, and the other in another: 2. By seniority; so that an elder prince in years shall precede a younger, without any other distinction,
These expedients, however, have not yet been accepted by any, except some alternate princes, as they are called, in Germany.