CONSUL

In Politics, a public officer whose functions partake of the diplomatic and commercial characters. Such officers appear to have been first employed by the Italian republics, to protect their merchants engaged in trade in the cities of the Levant. The consuls of European states in that region, and in Africa, are at the present time officers of more importance than those established in the cities of Christen dom; as they exercise, according to treaties, civil jurisdiction over the citizens of their respective states. In general, the consul is not regarded as a minister or diplomatic functionary, and is subject to the civil authorities of the place where he resides. A resident English merchant, acting here as consul of a foreign country, is not exempt from arrest on mesne proce . English consuls are now under the regulations of Stat. 6 G. 4., by which they are made salaried officers, and the fees which they are still allowed to take are specified. (^See MCultock's Com. Die.) [s. 288]