Prescription

3823

President

ly collected and published (1845) in Eng-
land as Critical and Historical Essays, and in
America as Biographical and Critical Mis-
cellanies. In 1826 Prcscott decided to devote !
himself to the writing of Spanish history, a !
decision undoubtedly influenced by the lee- j
tures of George Ticknor on Spanish litera-
ture ; and in that year he began his first great
historical work, Ferdinand and Isabella. He
then began The Conquest of Mexico, the
most popular of his works, which appeared
in 1843, and which added still further to his
reputation. The Conquest of Peru, a sequence
to The Conquest of Mexico, was begun in
1844, and published in 1847. Later came the
Reign oj Philip 11.

In 1850 Prescott visited England and the
Continent, and was everywhere enthusiastic-
ally received. In addition to his reviews and
his four great historical works already men-
tioned, Prescott wrote a Life of Charles
Brockden Brown (1833) for 'Sparks' Library
of American Biography/ a memoir of John
Pickering (1848) for the Massachusetts His-
torical Society, and a continuation of Rob-
ertson's Charles the Fifth (1856). As a whole,
his writings have stood the test of time, and
are still the best histories of the events with
which they deal. They have appeared in var-
ious editions, and have been translated into
several languages.

Prescription, a physician's formula for
his prescribed medicines. Formerly written
entirely in Latin, now Latin is usually em-
ployed only in names of ingredients used. It
is only by their botanical or chemical names
that drugs can be definitely indicated, but
the directions are now written in English,

Prescription. In the most general sense
of the term the acquisition or extinction of
legal rights by lapse of time. More specifical-
ly, however, in our legal system the term is
limited to the acquisition by long and unin-
terrupted use of the various classes of rights
known as rights in another's land. Both in
the United States and England twenty years'
use is now generally declared by statute to be
necessary for the acquisition of a legal right.

Presentment. In law, technically, the ac-
tion of a grand jury in taking notice of a
crime of their own knowledge, where a bill
of indictment has not been urged by the pub-
lic prosecutor. In its broadest sense it in-
cludes the finding of an indictment, and the
presentment of a matter before any public
body for its consideration.

President of the United States. The

chief executive chosen for a tezm of four
years by an electoral college. In case of death,
removal, resignation or inability, his place is
taken by the Vice President. Under the Con-
stitution the President, by and with the con-
sent oi the Senate, is empowered to make
treaties, to appoint ambassadors and foreign
ministers. The President is commander-in-
chief of the land and naval forces of the
United States. The power of direction over
the executive departments was not clearly
recognized by early Congresses. The act of
1789 creating the Treasury Department con-
templated the direct responsibility of the
head of that department to Congress. In cre-
ating the Postal Department, also, Congress
failed to prescribe presidential direction. In
his struggle with the United States Bank
President Jackson, through successive re-
movals of secretaries of the Treasury who
refused to adopt his policy, definitely estab-
lished the control of the President over all
the executive departments. General control
over the administration is exercised through
the issue of ordinances or executive regula-
tions. Thus there are organized codes of reg-
ulations for the post office, the consular serv-
ice, the army and navy, etc. Such regula-
tions are sometimes issued by express au-
thority of Congress; sometimes as an exer-
cise of the executive power.

The constitutional legislative powers of
the President are the veto power; the power
to lay before Congress communications re-
lative to the state of the nation and to re-
commend such legislation as he may deem
expedient; and the power to summon Con-
gress in extraordinary session and to ad-
journ it in case the two houses fail to agree
upon a date of adjournment. All measures
and resolutions voted by Congress, excepting
a motion to adjourn, must be submitted to
the President for approval; if he disapprove
of such measures, a two-thirds vote in Con-
gress is required for enactment. He is subject
to impeachment by the Senate for treason or
other high crimes or misdemeanors. Upon the
expiration of his term of office he becomes
liable for wrongful acts committed in his
term of office. In case of death of both Pres-
ident and Vice President elect, there is no
constitutional or statutory provision for fill-
ing the office of President for the succeeding
term. Constitutional qualifications for the
Presidency are citteenship acquired by Am-
erican birth, 14 years* residence in the U. S.,
and an age of not less than 35 years. His