the chief magistrate of the Roman commonwealth, invested with regal authority for the space of one year. They were two in number, called consuls a confulendo, and annually chosen in the Campus Martius. The two first consuls were L. Jun. Brutus, and L. Tarquinius Collatinus, chosen in the year of Rome 244, after the expulsion of the Tarquins. In the first times of the republic the two consuls were always chosen from Patrician families or noblemen, but the peo- ple obtained the privilege in the year of Rome 388, of electing one of the consuls from their own body, and sometimes both were plebeians. The first consul among the plebeians was L. Sextius. It was required that every candidate for the consulship should be 43 years of age, called *legitimum tempus*. He was always to appear at the election as a private man without a retinue, and it was requisite before he canvassed for the office to have discharged the functions of *quaestor*, *edile*, and *praetor*. Sometimes these qualifications were disregarded. Val. Corvinus was made a consul in his 23rd year, and Scipio in his 24th. Young Marius, Pompey, and Augustus, were also under the proper age when they were invested with the office, and Pompey had never been *quaestor* or *praetor*. The power of the consul was unbounded, and they knew no superior but the gods and the laws; but after the expiration of their office their conduct was minutely scrutinized by the people, and misbehaviour was often punished by the laws. The badges of their office was the *prætexta*, a robe fringed with purple, afterwards exchanged for the *toga picta* or *paludata*. They were preceded by 12 lictors carrying the *falces* or bundles of sticks, in the middle of which appeared an axe. The axe, as being the characteristic rather of tyranny than of freedom, was taken away from the *falces* by Valerius Poplicola, but it was restored by his successor. They took it by turns monthly to be preceded by the lictors while at Rome, lest the appearance of two persons with the badges of royal authority should raise apprehensions in the multitude. While one appeared publicly in state, only a crier walked before the other, and the lictors followed behind without the falces. Their authority was equal; yet the Valerian law gave the right of priority to the older, and the Julian law to him who had most children; and he was generally called *consul major* or *prior*. As their power was absolute, they presided over the senate, and could convene and dismiss it at pleasure. The senators were their counsellors; and among the Romans the manner of reckoning their years was by the name of the consuls, and by M. Tull. Cicerone et L. Antonio Consulibus, for instance, the year of Rome 689 was always underflood. This custom lasted from the year of Rome 244 till the 1294, or 541st year of the Christian era. In public assemblies the consuls sat in ivory chairs, and held in their hand an ivory wand called *fascia oblonga*, which had an eagle on its top as a sign of dignity and power. When they had drawn by lot the provinces over which they were to preside during their consulship, they went to the capitol to offer their prayers to the gods, and intreat them to protect the republic; after this they departed from the city arrayed in their military dress and preceded by the lictors. Sometimes the provinces were assigned them without drawing by lot, by the will and appointment of the senators. At their departure they were provided by the state with whatever was requisite during their expedition. In their provinces they were both attended by the 12 lictors, and equally invested with regal authority. They were not permitted to return to Rome without the special command of the senate; and they always remained in the province till the arrival of their successor. At their return they harangued the people, and solemnly protested that they had done nothing against the laws or interest of their country, but had faithfully and diligently endeavoured to promote the greatness and welfare of the state. No man could be consul two following years; yet this institution was sometimes broken, and we find Marius re-elected consul after the expiration of his office during the Cimbrian war. The office of consul, so dignified during the times of the commonwealth, became a mere title under the emperors, and retained nothing of its authority but the useless ensigns of original dignity. Even the duration of the office, which was originally annual, was reduced to two or three months by J. Caesar; but they who were admitted on the first of January denominated the year, and were called *ordinarii*. Their successors during the year were distinguished by the name of *suffecti*. Tiberius and Claudius abridged the time of the consulship; and the emperor Commodus made no less than 25 consuls in one year. Constantine the Great renewed the original institution, and permitted them to be a whole year in office.

**Consul**, at present, is an officer established by virtue of a commission from the king and other princes, in all foreign countries of any considerable trade, to facilitate and dispatch business, and protect the merchants of the nation. The consuls are to keep up a correspondence with the ministers of England residing in the courts whereon their consulate depends. They are to support the commerce and the interest of the nation; to dispose of the sums given and the presents made to the lords and principals of places, to obtain their protection, and prevent the insults of the natives on the merchants of the nation.