JUDICATURE, LEGISLATION, REVENUE, ETC. 65 



fore of six years' legislation in Bermuda is certainly 

 not less than twenty-siso thousand dollars! 



After comparing the expenditure with the revenue 

 of the colony, it will be found that upwards of one- 

 twelfth of the gross income from all sources is 

 swallowed up by the process of law making, mend- 

 ing, and renewing. 



It does not follow that, as the House of Assembly 

 absorbs but one-half of this gross cost, it is therefore 

 an economical institution. We must not lose, sight 

 of the fact that the expenses of the Legislative 

 Council, and all the other larger items, bear an exact 

 proportion to the length of time the Assembly sits ; 

 and as a matter of course, the whole expense of 

 legislation always bears an exact relation to the time 

 consumed in the Lower House. In 1852-3 the House 

 of Assembly cost but 1,456 dollars, and the Council 

 388 doUars; whilst in 1853-4, the former House 

 entailed a charge of 3,002 dollars, and the latter, 

 in consequence, 798 dollars. 



The public will hardly be prepared to learn to - 

 what an extent the temporary measures, so much 

 in vogue in this colony, are carried. It wiU be 

 seen by a few figures, that the principal object 

 of these enactments is the making work for future 

 legislators. Hence, a constant circle of employ- 



5 



