Travels Through North America 



quisites, amounts to about 1,300!. sterling per year. 

 The governor and council together have the probate 

 of wills, and the power of granting administrations 

 and divorces. 



There are several courts of judicature. All actions 

 under twenty shillings sterling are cognizable by a 

 justice of peace, from whose determination there lies 

 an appeal to the inferior county court of common- 

 pleas; and from hence to the superior provincial 

 court in its circuits, which is also a court of oyer and 

 terminer in criminal affairs, and is held by a chief 

 justice and some assistant judges. In this court, if 

 the determination is not satisfactory, a rehearing of 

 the cause may be had with a different jury;* and 

 even, by petition to the general assembly, a second 

 rehearing: the dernier resort is to his majesty in 

 council, but this only in cases of 300 1. sterling value: 

 and the appeal must be made w^ithin fourteen days 

 after judgment. 



The established religion here, as in all the other 

 provinces of New England, is that of the Congre- 

 gationalists; a religion, different in some trifling 

 articles, though none very material, from the Pres- 

 byterian. There are, besides these however, great 

 numbers of people of different persuasions, particu- 

 larly of the religion of the Church of England, which 

 seems to gain ground, and to become more fashion- 



* Juries are, I believe, appointed partly by lot, and partly by 

 rotation. 



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