136 



of the general court, before which court he is to be tri- 

 ed first hy a grari<l jury of 24, of whom 13 must concur 

 in oj)inion : if ihcy find him guilty, he is then tried by 

 a jury of 12 men of the county where the offence was 

 committed, and hy their verdict, which must be unani- 

 mous, he is acquitted or condemned without appeal. If 

 the criminal be a slave, the trial by the county court is 

 final. In every case, however, except that of high trea- 

 son, there resides in the governor a [)ower of pardon. 

 In high treason, the pardon can only flow from the ge- 

 neral assembly. In civil matters these justices have 

 jurisdiction in all cases of whatever value, not apper- 

 taining to the department of the admiralty. This ju- 

 risdiction is twofold. If the matter in dispute be of 

 less value than four dollars and one-sixth, a single 

 member may try it at any time and place within his 

 county, and may award execution on the goods of the 

 party cast. If it be of that or greater value, it is de- 

 terminable before the county court, which consists of 

 four at least of those justices, and assembles at the 

 court-house of the county on a certain day in every 

 iTionth. From their determination, if the matter be of 

 the value of ten pounds sterling, or concern the title or 

 bounds of lands, an aj)peal lies to one of the superior 

 courts. 



There are three superior courts, to wit, the high 

 court of chancery, the general court, and the court of 

 admiralty. The first and second of these receive ap- 

 peals from the county courts, and also have original ju- 

 risdiction, where the subject of controversy is of the 

 value of ten pounds sterling, or where it concerns the 

 title or bounds of land. The jurisdiction of the admi- 

 ralty is original altogether. The high court of chance- 

 ry is composed of three judges, the general court of 

 five, and the court of admiralty of three. Tiie two first 

 hold their sessions at Richmond at stated times, the 

 chancery twice in the year, and the general court twice 

 for business civil and criminal, and twice more for cri- 

 minal only. The court of admiralty sits at Williams- 

 burgh whenever controversy arises. 



