* *

=A Colonial Bishop= should not actually be styled "My Lord," or referred
to as "The Lord Bishop," if it is desired to be quite correct; but "My
Lord" or "The Lord Bishop" is now often used by persons who know it is
not the proper style of address, but make use of these titles, wishing
to be more deferential than scrupulously correct. In writing to a
colonial bishop, the envelope should be addressed to "The Right Rev. the
Bishop of ----," and the letter commenced "Right Rev. Sir" or "Dear
Bishop Blank."

A colonial officer who has received the King's special permission to
retain the title of "Honourable" which he bore in his colony, is
accorded at Court, _i.e._ at a levee, Court ball, etc., the same
precedence as a peer's son, who is styled "Honourable," but this does
not practically give him any rank or precedence at ordinary social
gatherings, where that special grant is unknown or ignored. Also the
privilege confers no rank or precedence upon the wife or daughters of a
colonial Honourable, just as the wife of a Right Honourable here has no
special precedence.

The title of Honourable cannot continue to be borne by a retired
colonial officer or Legislative Councillor unless it has been specially
authorised by the sovereign on the recommendation of the Secretary of
State for the Colonies.

CHAPTER XXII

INDIAN ETIQUETTE

It is the custom that those who wish to be invited to Government House
(Viceregal House) at Simla, or elsewhere, should, immediately on
arrival, write their names in the visitors' book kept for that purpose,
and they are sure, if in general society, to be asked to one or more of
the receptions held during the season. They are introduced to the
Vice-Queen--as the wife of the Viceroy is termed--by one of the
_aides-de-camp_ in waiting.

When a lady is the wife of a Government official, it gives her a
position in society in India which perhaps she would not otherwise have,
and is in itself a passport to most functions. Official rank is
everything in India.

* * * * *

=As regards attending the Viceregal Drawing-rooms=, they are only held
in Calcutta and in the evening. If a lady has been presented at a Court
in England, she can attend a Drawing-room in Calcutta; but, if she has
not been presented at home, she must be introduced by some other lady
who has been presented at the Viceregal Court.

In writing unofficially to the Governor-General