lo JAMAICA. 



derate rent, amounting to much lefs tlan they would pay, if they 

 were obhged to hire houles, which formerly was the cuftom. The 

 offices being thus fo compadtly difpofed, and fo contiguous to the 

 courts of juftice, a very lignal convenience refults to all perfons 

 having bufincfs to tranfiift in them. The aflembly-chamber, or 

 commons-houfe, is about eighty feet in length by about forty. At 

 one end of it a fort of amphitheatre is raifed, with mahogany, 

 fome little elevation above the floor, and lined with feats for the 

 members : the fpeaker's chair is exalted ftill higher. On the floor 

 is a long table, at which the clerk fits; and thereon are regularly 

 heaped, during the feffion, feveral manufcript fohos of laws, mi- 

 nutes, and votes, the Euglifh flatutes at large, votes of the BritiOi 

 houfe of commons, with pens, ink, and paper, for the inftruftioa 

 and accommodation of the fenators. The ipeaker's room is fur- 

 nished with proper conveniences for the private committees ap- 

 pointed to meet in it. The cieling of the commons-houle is lofty 

 and vaulted, except the part of it immediately over the ieats ; this 

 is boarded and flat, in order to render the debates more diftin*5l and 

 audible. The court-houfe is \yell-defigned,,.,.a.nd extremely com- 

 modious for the judges, jury, barriflers, and other parties that at- 

 tend it. The doors of the two houfes are diredlly fronting each 

 other ; fo that, when the fupreme court is held daring the fefiion of 

 the afiembly, the Ipeaktr and chief-Juftice are feated v/s a vis. 

 Thus the judges fecm tacitly admoniihed to a juft difpenfation of 

 the law and their duty ; their condu6l being amenable to the inqui- 

 fition and impeachment of the commons i'n aifembly. The two 

 bodies thus circumrtanced', the one met for framing, amending, or 

 repealing, the ether tor enforcing, expounding, or deciding upon, 

 the Jaws, afford to the fpe£lators a ftriking picture of the legifiative 

 and executive departments, ai; moulded bv our happy conftitution 

 (though here exhibited' only in miniature), each harmonizing the 

 other; ever afting and re-acting; various, yet concurrent. This 

 building, which lines one entire fide of the parade or fquare, had 

 originally a cupola on the middle of the roof, which gave an ap- 

 pearance of lightnels and variety to the view; but, having after- 

 wards been found too cumberfome, and produftive of fome incon- 

 veniences, it was tiiken down ; by which sneans, the front feems 



too 



