Travels Through North America 



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

 The governor and council together have the probate 

 of v^ills, 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 I. sterling value: 

 and the appeal must be made within 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. 



[138] 



