82 Prerogative as to Offices, S^c, [Ch. VII. Sec. L Seneschal of England («) ; and the offices of sheriff, gaoler, park-keeper or forester, steward or bailiif of a manor, have also been legally granted in fee-simple (Jb), This interest in offices is generally if not universally inapplicable to judicial offices of trust, which are not grantable for a longer estate than for life; because they should be exercised only by persons of skill and capacity, and if grantable for a longer estate than for life, they might become vested in persons wholly unfit to fill them (c). For the same reason they cannot be granted for years [d) ; nor can a judicial office, or an office partly judicial and partly ministerial, without an express custom, be granted in reversion, for he who at the time of the grant in reversion may be able and sufficient to fill the office, may before it falls, become insufficient {e). But they may be granted for years, determinable on the death of the person to whom they are granted; for in this case they cannot go to executors or ad- ministrators (f). Mere ministerial offices are not subject to this rule, and may in general be granted in reversion {g) or for years {h). Offices may be granted at will, of which there are many instances [i) ; and it is a general common law rule, upon which, however, various exceptions have been engrafted by statute, that the King may terminate at pleasure the autho- rity of officers employed by his Majesty. The Lord Chancel- lor holds his high situation only during the King's pleasure (^), and the twelve Judges of the courts of common law formerly held them on the same footing (/) ; but, by legislative provi- sion, they [m) and the Vice-Chancellor [n) hold their respec- tive situations during their good behaviour, which gives them, in legal contemplation, an estate for life, as their good beha- (a) 3 Cruis. Dig. 141, 2. Bac. Ab. Offices, H. (i) Dyer, 285. 7 Co. R. 53. Plowd. 2; 379, b; 381, a. 2 Inst. 382. 3 Rol. Ab. 153. 9 Co. 48, 97. Bac.Ab. Officers, H. (c) 5 Bac. Ab, tit. Offices, H. 3 Cruis. 142. (rf) 8 Co. 95. See other authoiities cited, 5 Bac. Ab. 201, title Offices, H. See 3 Cruis. 144. 2 Show. R. 171. (e) Co. Lit. 3, b. and note 5. 1 1 Co. Rep. 2, 4, a. 2 Ventr. 188. Cas. Temix Talb. 99. 5 Bac. Ab. 202. 3 Cruis. 145; but see March. 42. Dyer, 295. (f) Sutton's Case, 6 Mod. 57. (g) Bac. Ab. Offices, &c. I. {h) Ibid. Hardr. 46.351. See va- rious instances put in 5 Bac. Ab. 201 . tit. Offices, H. (i) See 9 Co. Rep. 91, a. Dyer, 176,8. 5Bac. Ab. 202. {k) See 1 Sid. 338. 4 Inst. 87. (/) 4Inst,74, 75, 117. (m) 12 and 13 W. 3. c. 2. (n) 53 Geo. 3. c. 24. viour
