Chiltern Hundreds.

Chiltern Hundreds. In former times the beech-forests which covered the Chiltern Hills were infested with robbers, and in order to restrain them it was usual for the crown to appoint an officer, who was called the Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds. The hundreds in question (see HUNDRED) are those of Bodenham, Desborough, and Stoke, in Buckinghamshire. The stewardship, which has long ceased to serve its primary purpose, now serves a secondary one. A member of the House of Commons cannot resign his seat unless disqualified either by the acceptance of a place of honour and profit under the crown, or by some other cause. Now, the stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds is held to be such a place, and it is consequently applied for by, and granted, usually as a matter of course, to any member who wishes to resign, though it has been refused in a case of bribery. As soon as it is obtained, it is again resigned, and is thus generally vacant when required for the purpose in question. The granting of the Chiltern Hundreds to this end began in the year 1750; the gift lies with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The powers, duties, and remuneration are equally things of nought. Northstead in Yorkshire has been used in the same way since 1841; and other manors formerly so used were Old Shoreham in Sussex (1756-99), East Hendred in Berks (1763-1840), Poynings in Sussex (1841-43), Hempholme in York (1845-65). See Quarterly Review, Jan. 1894, and Foster's Chiltern Hundreds (1897).