SIGNET OFFICE, Whitehall; an office under the Principal Secretaries of state, who have the custody of the King’s seal, called the signet; the use and application whereof gives name to this office, which constantly attends the court. In this office there are four chief Clerks, and two Deputies. These chief Clerks wait alternately by months, and prepare such writings as are to pass the signet. They have no fee from the King, but only 200_l._ a year board wages. One of them always attends the court wheresoever it removes, and, by warrant from his Majesty, prepares such bills or letters for the King to sign, as not being matter of law, they are directed by warrant to prepare. In their office all grants, either prepared by the King’s Counsel at law, or by themselves, for the King’s hand, when signed, are returned, and there transcribed again; and that transcript is carried to one of the Principal Secretaries of state, and sealed; and then it is called a signet. This being directed to the Lord Privy Seal, is his warrant for issuing out a privy seal upon it. Privy seals for money, however, now always begin in the Treasury, from whence the first warrant issues, counter-signed by the Lord Treasurer: but when the nature of the grant requires the passing of the great seal, then the privy seal is an authority to the Lord Chancellor, to pass the great seal; as the signet was to the Lord Privy Seal to affix that seal to the grant. But in all these three offices, the signet, privy seal, and great seal, the grant is transcribed; and therefore every thing which passes from the King has these several ways of being considered before it is perfected. _Chamberlain’s Present State._ SILKMEN, a company incorporated by letters patent granted by King Charles I. in the year 1631. They have a Governor and twenty Assistants; but neither hall nor livery. _Maitland._ SILK THROWERS. This trade was first practised in London in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, by foreigners, whose dependents, and those to whom they had taught the art of silk throwing, were constituted a fellowship of the city in 1622, and were afterwards incorporated by letters patent granted by King Charles I. in the year 1630. They are governed by a Master, two Wardens, and twenty Assistants; but have neither hall nor livery. _Maitland._ _Office of Clerk of the King’s_ SILVER, in the Inner Temple. To this Clerk every fine or final agreement upon the sale of land, is brought, after it has been with the Custos Brevium, when he makes an entry of what money is to be paid to the King’s use. This office belongs to the court of Common Pleas, and is executed by a Deputy. _Chamberlain’s Present State._ SILVER _court_, 1. Oxford street, 2. Woodstock street, Oxford street.