APPENDIX OF PREROGATIVE 
INSTRUMENTS 
CANADA 
~ THE instruments issued under the prerogative for the 
Government of Canada comprise (1) Letters Patent under 
the Great Seal constituting the office of Governor-General, 
(2) Royal Instructions under the Sign Manual and Signet to the 
Governor-General, and (3) the Commission to the Governor- 
General. The two former instruments are permanent, the 
last is issued anew with each change of Governor, but is not 
otherwise varied in form. The permanent letters patent and 
instructions were first issued in 1878, and represent the result 
of Mr. Blake’s criticisms ;1 they were revised in 1905, and 
show traces of the influence of the similar instruments for the 
Commonwealth.2 
LETTERS PATENT passed under the Great Seal of the 
United Kingdom, constituting the Office of Governor- 
General and Commander-in-Chief of the Dominion of 
Canada. 
Letters Patent. Dated 15th June 1905. 
Edward the Seventh, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom 
of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the British Dominions beyond 
the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India ; To all 
to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting : 
Whereas by certain Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Our 
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland bearing date at 
Westminster the Fifth day of October 1878, Her late Majesty Queen 
Victoria did constitute, order, and declare that there should be a 
Governor-General in and over Our Dominion of Canada, and that 
the person filling the said office of Governor-General should be from 
time to time appointed by Commission under the Royal Sign Manual 
and Signet : 
* See above, pp. 158 seq. 
* Clause V of the Instructions does not give the Governor-General power to 
pardon for an offence committed outside but triable in Canada. This power 
was given in the old Instructions, but, it seems, too close adherence to the Com- 
monwealth model has resulted in its omission. See pp. 1415, 1416.