Travels Through North America 



by the proprietor; and a house of representatives 

 elected by the people, consisting of thirty-seven 

 members. These are of various religious persua- 

 sions; for by the charter of privileges which Mr. 

 Penn granted to the settlers in Pennsylvania, no per- 

 son who believed in God could be molested in his 

 calling or profession; and any one who believed in 

 Jesus Christ might enjoy the first post under the 

 government. The crown has reserved to itself a 

 power of repealing any law, w^hich may interfere 

 with the prerogative, or be contrary to the laws of 

 Great Britain. 



The judicature consists of different courts. The 

 justices of the peace, who, together with the other 

 judges, are of the governor's appointments, hold 

 quarterly sessions conformable to the laws of Eng- 

 land; and, when these are finished, continue to sit 

 in quality of judges of common pleas, by a special 

 commission. The supreme court consists of a chief 

 justice, and two assistant judges; they have the united 

 authority of the King's Bench, Common Pleas, and 

 Court of Exchequer. They not only receive appeals, 

 but all causes once commenced in the inferior courts, 

 after the first writ, may be moved thither by a habeas 

 corpus, certiorari, writ of error, etc. The judges of 

 the supreme court have also a standing and distinct 

 commission, to hold, as shall seem needful, courts 

 of oyer and terminer, and general gaol-deliveries 

 throughout the province; but this power they sel- 



l94] 



