court of chancery, who holds a separate court ranking next to that of the lord chancellor, and lias the keeping of the rolls and grants which pass the great seal, and the records of the chancery. He was originally appointed only for the superintendence of the writs and records appertaining to the common-law department of the court, and is still properly the chief of the masters in chancery. 3 Steph. Comm. 417. Under the act constituting the supreme court of judicature, the master of the rolls he- comes a judge of the high court of justice and ex officio a member of the court of appeal. The same act. however, provides for the abolition of this office, under certain conditions, when the next vacancy occurs. See 31! & .17 Viet. c. 66,