1839.J COLONIAL LIFE. 261 



absurd, to continue their present state of dependence on a 

 power so remote. 



The judicial power of the colony is vested in a chief jus- 

 tice, and two assistant judges, who try all cases, both crimi- 

 nal and civil. In criminal actions, which mostly arise among 

 the convicts, a jury consisting of seven naval and military 

 officers, selected by the governor, is associated with one of 

 the judges. The party on trial has the right of challenge, 

 however, and the judge decides all questions that may arise 

 in relation thereto. Civil causes are tried before one of the 

 judges, and two assessors, who must be magistrates of the 

 colony, unless the parties mutually consent to have a jury of 

 twelve men, when the proceedings are conducted pretty much 

 in the same manner as in the English courts. An appeal 

 lies to the governor, in all cases where the amount in contro- 

 versy exceeds five hundred pounds, and, where a judgment 

 has been reversed, or the amount in litigation exceeds two 

 thousand pounds, to the king in council. 



Similar powers are possessed by the executive officers in 

 the other colonies, and the legislative and judicial depart- 

 ments are constituted in like manner, and exercise their func- 

 tions in nearly the same way. 



An Englishman may well be pardoned for being proud of 

 these colonial establishments of his country. They are stu- 

 pendous monuments, more enduring than marble or brass, 

 of the greatness and power of his native land. The penal 

 settlements, founded at such an enormous outlay, afford un- 

 mistakable evidences of her wealth ; and the prosperous con- 

 dition of the colonists, declares, in eloquent terms, the all- 

 conquering industry and indomitable perseverance of the race 

 to which they belong. There is, in all this, much to excite 

 feelings of pride ; and he who manifests them, does but justice 

 to the nature God has planted within him. 



(9.) Colonial life is the same in Australia as in the other 

 possessions of England, of a similar character. In the towns 

 situate in those colonies which are not penal, there are no pe- 

 culiarities observable,, that seem to require particular mention \ 



