1578 PREROGATIVE INSTRUMENTS 
not being later than one year after the passing of that Act, Our 
Colonies of the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, the Transvaal, and the 
Orange River Colony (hereinafter called the Colonies), should be 
united in a legislative union under one Government under the name 
of the Union of South Africa, and that on and after the day appointed 
by such proclamation the Government and Parliament of the Union 
should have full power and authority within the limits of the Colonies, 
but that We mught at any time after the proclamation appoint a 
Governor-General for the Union : 
And whereas We did on the Second day of December 1909, by 
and with the advice of Our Privy Council, declare by Proclamation 
that on and after the Thirty-first day of May 1910, the Colonies 
should be united into a legislative union under one Government under 
the name of the Union of South Africa : 
And whereas by the said recited Act it was further enacted that 
the Governor-General shall be appointed by Us, and shall have and 
may exercise in the Union during Our pleasure, but subject to that 
Act, such of Our powers and functions as We may be pleased to assign 
to him, and that the provisions of that Act relating to the Governor- 
General shall extend and apply to the Governor-Genera) for the time 
being, or such person as We may appoint to administer the Govern- 
ment of the Union : 
And whereas We are desirous of making effectual and permanent 
provision for the office of Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief 
n and over the Union : 
Now know ye that We do by these presents declare Our Will and 
pleasure as follows : 
I. There shall be a Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in 
and over Our Union of South Africa (hereinafter called the Union), 
and appointments to the said office shall be made bv Commission 
ander Our Sign Manual and Signet. 
And We do hereby authorize and command Our said Governor- 
General and Commander-in-Chief (hereinafter called the Glovernor- 
General) to do and execute, in due manner, all things that shall 
pelong to his said office, and to the trust We have reposed in him, 
according to the several powers and authorities granted or appointed 
him by virtue of the South Africa Act, 1909, and of these present 
Letters Patent and of such Commission as may be issued to him 
under Our Sign Manual and Signet, and according to such Instructions 
as may from time to time be given to him, under Our Sign Manual 
and Signet, or by Our Order in Qur Privy Council, or by Us through 
one of Qur Principal Secretaries of State, and to such laws as are or 
shall hereafter be in force in the Union. =~ 
IL. There shall be a Great Seal of and for the Union, which the 
Governor-General shall keep and use for sealing all things whatsoever 
that shall pass the said Great Seal. Provided that, until a Great 
Seal shall be provided, the private seal of the Governor-General may 
be used as the Great Seal of the Union.