in the public law of the German empire, a right claimed by the states of the empire of adjoining plenipotentiaries, in public treaties and negotiations, to those of the emperor, for the transacting of matters which relate to the empire in general. In which sense adlegation differs from legation, which is the right of sending ambassadors on a person's own account.—Several princes and states of the empire enjoy the right of legation, which have not that of adlegation, and vice versa. The bishops, for instance, have the right of adlegation in the treaties which concern the common interest, but no right of legation for their own private affairs. The like had the duke of Mantua.—The emperor allows the princes of Germany the privilege of legation, but disputes that of adlegation. They challenge it as belonging to them jure regni, which they enjoy in common with the emperor himself.