CHAMBER

(Fr. chambre.) In Architecture, properly a mom faulted or arched; but now generally used in a more restricted sense to mean an apartment appropriated to lodging. With the French the word has a much more extensive meaning; but with us the almost only use of it, beyond what is above stated, Is as applied in a palace to the room in which the sovereign receives the subject, which <s called the Presence Chamber. ClfAMBERLAlN. (Fr chambellanj Germ, kammernerr.) A high officer in all European courts. Originally Me chamberlain was the keeper of the treasure-chamber {camera, in the 10th century); and this meaning of the word I preserved, in the usages of the corporations of I.on don and other places, where the chamberlain is the officer who keeps the money belonging to the municipal body. But, in modern times, the court officer styled chamberlain nas the charge of the private apartments of the sovereign or noble to whom be is attached. In England, the lord chamberlain, or king's chamberlain, is one of the •hie.' treat officers of the king's household. He has the control of all the officers above stairs, except the precinct •fthe be lchamber, which is under the government of the crnom o' the stole. Under him are the vice-chamberlain, lord oftl.e bedchamber, 4.C.; the chaplains, officers of the wardrobe, physicians, tradesmen, artizans, and others retained in his majesty's service are in his department, and •worn into office by him. He is commonly one of the highest nobility of the country; in virtue of his situation he precedes dukes. The emblem of office appropriated to the thamberlain in European courts is a gold key, generally suspended from two gold buttons. The Lord Great Chamberlain op England (not of the Household) is the sixth great officer of state. This office ••longed for many centuries to the noble family of De Vere, Earls of Oxford; afterward to that of Bertie, Lords Wil« tough by de Eresby and Dukes of An caster. In that line it oecame vested in coheire es, by whom the present deputy chamberlain (Lord Gwydir) is appointed. • lUMBRE [s. 227]