278 HISTORY OP 



vanced as will serve a present turn, rather than those of 

 more integrity and skill, in the laws. 



'^Juries are of two kinds, and are commonly distin- 

 guished by Grand and Petit Juries; the former, which 

 you are, have larger power than the other, as very 

 plainly appears by the qualification, which you have 

 taken. Your power extends to all offences within the 

 county ; and your office is principally concerned in two 

 Xhin^s, presentments and indictments ; the difference of 

 which is this, the first is, where you, of your own 

 knowledge, or inquiry, take notice of some offence, 

 crime, or nuisance, to the injury of the public, which you 

 think ought to be punished, or removed, and give notice 

 to the court, in writing, briefly, of the nature of the 

 thing, and the person's name and place: this is 

 called a ^Jre.se?^/7?^e;^/, and differs from an indict- 

 vient in these two respects : first, in that it is not drawn 

 up in form; whereas indictments are generally drawn 

 up and presented to you, by the Attorney General and 

 the witnesses qualified to attend you; and when you 

 have exammed them you either indorse, that it is a true 

 bill; or, that it does not appear to you, sufficient grounds 

 for the accusation, that the person's life, estate, or repu- 

 tation, should be brought in question; all which is under- 

 stood, by indorsing the word ignoramus. From hence, 

 it appears, that you are appointed, as well to be guar- 

 dians of the lives, liberties, estates, and even reputations 

 of the innocent, as to be a means of bringing offenders 

 to justice. And, as you are endued with a sufficient 

 portion of understanding to know what offences are 

 represent able by you, I shall not enumerate them; 

 Iiaving already said, they are generally under your 

 notice ; but shall rather recommend to you, and your 

 successors, a steady care, both for the security of the 



