DIME1, money. A silver coin of the United States, of the value of one-tenth part of a dollar or ten cents.
2. It weighs forty-one and a quarter grains. Of one thousand parts, nine hundred are of pure silver and one hundred of alloy2. Act of January 18, 1837, s. 8 and 9, 4 Sharsw. cont. of Story's L. U. S. 2523-4.
DIMINUTION3 OF THE RECORD, practice. This phrase signifies that the record from an inferior court, sent up to a superior, is incomplete. When this is the case, the parties may suggest a diminution of the record, and pray a writ4 of/ certiorari to the justices of the court below to certify5 the whole record. Tidd's Pr. 1109; 1 S. & R. 472; Co. Ent. 232; 8 Vin. Ab. 552; 1 Lilly's Ab. 245; 1 Nels. Ab. 658; Cro. Jac. 597; Cro. Car. 91; Minor6, R. 20; 4 Dev. R. 575; 1 Dey. & Bat. 382; 1 Munf. R. 119. Vide Certiorari. DIOCESE, eccl. law. The district over which a bishop7 exercises his spiritual functions. 1 B1. Com. 111.
DIPLOMA. An instrument of writing, executed by, a corporation or society, certifying8 that a certain person therein named is entitled to a certain distinction therein mentioned.
2. It is usually, granted by learned institutions to their members, or to persons who have studied in them.
3. Proof of the seal of a medical institution and of the signatures of its officers thereto affixed10, by comparison with the seal and signatures attached to a diploma received by the witness from the same institution, has been held to be competent evidence of the genuineness of the instrument, although the witness never saw the officers write their names. 25 Wend. R. 469.
4. This word, which is also written duploma, in the civil law, signifies letters issued by a prince. They are so called, it is supposed, a duplicatis tabellis, to which Ovid is thought to allude11, 1 Amor. 12, 2, 27, when he says, Tunc ego12 vos duplices rebus13 pro9 nomine sensi Sueton in Augustum, c. 26. Seals also were called Diplomata. Vicat ad verb.
DIPLOMACY14., The science which treats of the relations and interests of nations with nations.
DIPLOMATIC AGENTS. This name has been given to public officers, who have been commissioned, according to law, to superintend and transact15 the affairs of the government which has employed them, in a foreign country. Vattel, liv. 4, c. 5.
2. These agents are of divers16 orders, and are known by different denominations17. Those of the first order are almost the perfect representatives of the government by which they are commissioned; they are legates, nuncios, internuncios, ambassadors, ministers, plenipotentiaries. Those of the second order do not so fully18 represent their government; they are envoys19, residents, ministers, charges d'affaires, and consuls20. Vide these several words.
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