CONSPIRATION _contre le service du Roi_, _Fr._ a conspiracy against the King’s service. During the existence of the old government of France, any conspiracy, collusion, or unlawful understanding, which was discovered to exist against the king, his governors, commandants, or other inferior officers, was reckoned a capital military offence; and by an order which took place on the 1st of July, 1727; it was enacted, that every person convicted of the crime should be broken upon the wheel. CONSTABLE, _chief_. A person employed under the militia establishment to collect fines. They may likewise apprehend persons suspected of being deserted serjeants, corporals or drummers. _High_ CONSTABLE and _Marshal_ were officers of considerable weight and dignity, not only in France, but throughout all the feudal governments of Europe. The title of constable or _comes stabuli_, according to the ingenious author of an essay on military law, explains the original nature of this office, which was that of commander of the cavalry, and as these once constituted the principal strength of the imperial or royal armies, this officer became naturally the commander in chief of those armies. The office of marshal appears originally to have been of a much inferior nature, the person who exercised it being the actual superintendant of the stables, or chief of the equerries, whose duty was to furnish the provender for the horses, and to oversee their proper management. But in process of time this office grew into high consideration, and the marshal subordinate only to the constable, became the second in command of the armies, and in the absence of the latter supplied his place. See MARSHAL. The powers of the constable as a field officer, were extremely ample and dignified. The constable was subordinate only to the king in the command of the army; and even when the king was actually in the field, the efficient command of the troops seems to have been in this officer, and all the general orders were issued jointly in the sovereign’s name and in the constable’s. CONSUL. The person invested with the powers of the consulate. Consul _chief_, or _premier_ Consul, _Fr._ The first or chief magistrate of three persons, each bearing the title of consul, according to the constitution of France, in 1799, the chief consul commanded, directed, and superintended all the military establishments of the country, and whenever it was judged expedient led the armies into battle. Bonaparte, was appointed chief consul; but soon after emperor. CONSULAR, relating, or appertaining to the consul. CONSULATE, a civil and military power which was originally instituted by the Romans, on the extinction of their kings in Tarquin the Proud. It has been revived in France, and was the principal feature of the last constitution. CONSULSHIP. The office of consul. CONTACT, a touching, or the point or points where one body touches another.