Ambassador
a diplomatic officer of the highest rank, sent by a sovereign or nation to another power to treat on affairs of state, representing not only the affairs, but also the person, of his sovereign or executive and entitled to almost equal respect. Anciently ambassadors were sent only on special missions, after the performance of which they returned, their functions corresponding to those of the modern ambassador extraordinary; only in modern times did there originate the employment of an ambassador residing permanently at the seat of a foreign government, who is expected to familiarize himself with its politics and to exert his influence AMBER for the advantage of his own nation.
At the outbreak of war between his own government and that to which he has been sent, the ambassador is distions between the two countries, he may ambassador appointed mon ment be considered by the state to which ed by one governhe is assigned personally disagreeable or not calculated to produce friendly relations between the two countries, he may fined, but include the inviolability of the and his reception refused; but if he is actually received he is entitled to each and every privilege of his office. These privileges have never been closely defined, but include the inviolability of the person of the ambassador from public and private violence; im immunity from all onc jurisdiction, both civil and criminal, of the country in which he is a resident; and similar exemption from local jurisdiction for his family, household, and retinue. His house is sacred, but he cannot harbor malefactors. He must regard the laws and customs of the country in which he is a resident, or complaint may be made to the government he represents, and his recall demanded, or if his offense be serious, he may be sent beyond its borders by the offended power and a trial in his own country Court. The term ambassador was not tion in all diplomatic cases is by the agents, the highest rank being envoy ex- formerly applied to American diplomatic Court. The term ambassador was not formerly applied to American diplomatic age gents, the highest rank being envoy ex-