LAW AND POLITICS. 195 



cottage in Scotland that did not possess an English 

 slave. 



Assiento. 



This is a Spanish word, signifying a " farm," and 

 was formerly used to denote a bargain between the 

 king of Spain and other powers for permission to 

 import negroes into the Spanish dominions in South 

 America, and more especially to Buenos Ayres. 

 The first Assiento was made with the French Guinea 

 Company, and by the treaty of Utrecht,* transferred 

 to the English, who were to furnish 4800 negroes 

 annually. 



Judicial Establishments. 



In England, 12 Judges, 10 Masters in Chancery, 

 and the Lord and Vice-Chancellor, compose the ju- 

 dicial establishment. In France, exclusive of the 

 justices of the peace, there are altogether 5600 sti- 

 pendiary judges and magistrates. 



In England and Wales, in 1823, there were 4430 

 acting county magistrates ; but as many of these act 

 under different commissions, the real number is no 

 doubt less. 



The Tread-Mills, and Milbank Penitentiary. 

 At Lewes, each prisoner walks at the rate of 66 00' 



* Peace with France might have been concluded on infinitely 

 better terms, two years before the treaty of Utrecht j but the 

 negociations were broken off principally on account of this As- 

 siento, which Great Britain most pertinaciously insisted on, and 

 Louis XIV. at last most reluctantly conceded, although he gained 

 political objects of great magnitude. Several bloody battles, 

 and still more bloody sieges, took place, and much treasure was 

 expended ; but the English nation, however disunited in other 

 respects, was unanimous in its determination to engross this now 

 reprobated privilege, which, although nominally limited to 4800 

 negroes, furnished a pretext for smuggling in three times that 

 number. On such matters, national feelings seem periodically 

 subject to hot and cold fits. 



