The Lords Commissioners afterwards commiserating the unhappy circumstances of many poor widows, whose husbands died before this corporation was established, and therefore could receive no benefit from the fund which was justly appropriated to the relief of the widows of those officers who had paid to its support, renewed their application to his Majesty, who recommended their case to the Parliament; upon which it was enacted, that one seaman should be allowed upon the books of every ship of war, in the sea-pay in every hundred men that its complement should consist of, and that the produce of the wages of such seamen, and the value of their victuals should be given and applied towards the relief of poor widows of commission and warrant officers of the royal navy. SEACOAL _lane_, extends from Snow hill to Fleet lane. Stowe thinks it was originally called Limeburners lane, and that it took its present name from the burning of lime there with sea coal. SEAHORSE _alley_, Durham yard, in the Strand.* SEARLE’S _square_, Lincoln’s Inn.† SEARLE’S _street_, Carey street, Lincoln’s Inn.† SEARLE’S _wharf_, near White Friars.† _Office of sick and hurt_ SEAMEN, _and for taking care of_ PRISONERS OF WAR, on Tower hill, is under the government of four Commissioners, the first of whom has 400_l._ _per annum_, and 65_l._ for house rent; and the other three 300_l._ a year. The officers under these Commissioners are, a Secretary, who has 200_l._ _per annum_; a first Clerk, who has 100_l._ a year; and three inferior Clerks, who have 60_l._ a year. _Office for sick and maimed_ SEAMEN IN THE MERCHANTS SERVICE, in the Royal Exchange. The corporation who provide for these objects of distress, consists of a number of merchants, who were incorporated on the 24th of June 1747, and are governed by a President, and a Council of twenty-one. SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE, Whitehall. The Kings of England had anciently no more than one Secretary of state, till about the end of the reign of Henry VIII. when it was thought proper that this important office should be discharged by two persons of equal authority, both stiled _Principal Secretaries of state_. At that time they did not sit at the council board; but having prepared their business in a room adjoining to the council chamber, they came in, and stood on either hand of the King; when nothing was done till they had gone through with their proposals. But Queen Elizabeth seldom coming to council, that method was laid aside, and the Secretaries took their places as Privy Counsellors, which dignity they have enjoyed ever since, and a Council is seldom, or never, held without the presence of, at least, one of them.