b o o k manner above-mentioned, the votes to the fenators, and the
. *' , marihal of the equeftrian order to the perfons of that order,
and the majority ihall be colle&ed with the greateft exa<ft-
nefs. The majority may be afcertained by two modes of
decifion ; either by fecret, or by open votes, when the perfon
who affents, faying “ I p e rm i t ; ' the fuffrages ihall be infcribed
in the regifter by each voter.
The Tu rn u s can never be employed/«pleno, excepting the
members of the council are fifteen in number; and before
the turnus is made ufe of, the perfon who lays any propo-
iition before the council ought to aik the members if they
confent; the anfwer, that they confent, or ftlence, announces
unanimity ; but if any member ihould oppofe and demand
the turnus, then they ihall proceed to open voting.
Each propoiition may be the fubjedt of deliberation during,
three days; but if any one member objedts to that delay, he
may propofe to determine, by ballot, whether the affair fliall
be taken into confideration, or be immediately decided.
T h e t u r n u s , o n c e b e g u n , i h a l l b e c o n t i n u e d w i t h o u t i n t e r r
u p t i o n u n t i l t h e f u b j e c t i n a g i t a t i o n i h a l l b e f i n a l ly d e c
id e d , See.
In all queftions, the decifion by ballot may be infifted-on
by any one 'member, but it muft be ufed in the following,
points.
1. In election of vacant offices referved to the council..
2 . I n e x t r a o r d i n a r y e x p e n c e s if iu e d b y t h e t r e a f u r y o f t h e
r e p u b l i c , n o t w a r r a n t e d b y l a w .
3. In matters of high treafon, ftate crimes, difturbance of
the public tranquillity, and conventicles contrary to law.
The votes by ballot ihall be colledled with the greateft precaution
and fidelity, and with every mark of neceffary fo-
lemnity. For this purpofe, a table ihall ftand in the middle
of
of the apartment, furrounded with curtains about the height c h a p .
-of a man, which may be drawn and undrawn to admit the. v'
eounfellors ; upon this table ihall be placed a vafe, having
two openings with infcriptions affirmative and negative, into
which the balls ihall be p u t ; thefe openings ihall be only
big enough to admit the balls, and not to receive the whole
hand. The vafe ill all be alfo clofed with a lock, the key
whereof ihall be placed upon the council table until all the
members have given their fuffrages, and the balis are to be
counted. The vafe being opened, the marihal minifter, and
the marihal of the equeftrian order, ihall firft hold it up
and invert it to ihew that it is empty ; after which, it
ihall be fealed by the two marihals, and covered with the
curtains. Next, the fecretary ihall diftribute ivory balls to
all who have a vote in the council; and every member, according
to his rank, ihall approach the table, and, firft holding
up his hand to ihew that he has but one ball, ihall put it
into one of the openings, permitting, or not permitting, as
he ihall think proper, and according to his confoience; and
in this manner he cannot fee how the others give their votes,
nor be feen himfelf.
I f there are many candidates, the fecretary ihall diftribute
to each member billets, all written in the lame hand, containing
the names and furnames of the candidates ; each
member ihall then put into the vafe the billet containing
the names and furnames of the candidates whom he favours,
and ihall burn the other billets, a candle being ready for
that purpofe.
. In cafe of equality of fuffrages, the king has the calling
vote; and, to.the end that each member may folicit the
vacant charges in the gift of the permanent council, they
L a may .