CHAPTER XV. 
TEE GOVERNOR-GENERAL. 
Office THE office of Governor-General of Canada created by the 
ried by Crown by Letters Patent existed prior to the Union of 1867, 
Patent. fut after the Confederation the Letters Patent were revised, 
and new ones were issued in 1878. The Letters Patent 
create the office and declare that the person who shall 
fill the office shall be appointed by Commission under Sign 
Manual and Signet, and that he shall exercise the powers 
vested in him by virtue of the Letters Patent and of the 
Commission issued to him, according to such Instructions as 
may from time to time be given to him either under Sign 
Manual and Signet, or by Order in Council, or by Her Majesty 
through one of the Secretaries of State and in accordance 
with such laws as may be in force in the Dominion. 
Changes, When the draft of these Letters Patent was submitted 
byCanada. t0 the Canadian Government, it was urged by the then 
Minister of Justice that, as Canada possessed more extensive 
powers of self-government than had been conceded to any 
other colony, and consisted not of one province but of seven 
provinces, the widest powers possible consistent with the 
British North America Act should be conferred on the 
Governor-General. This principle was practically adopted 
by the Home Government, and on the appointment of the 
Marquis of Lorne several changes were introduced into 
the Commission and Instructions. of which the more important 
were as follows :— 
1 Ses Appendix.