18 



ground of not less annual value than five 

 pounds sterling, or else have been domiciliated 

 in the place for one year previous to the writ 

 of summons issuing, and have paid one year^'s 

 rent, not under ten pounds sterling, for a house 

 or lodging. There exists no disqualification 

 either for the electors or the elected on account 

 of religious tenets, for, in this country, where 

 toleration reigns in its plenitude, every one, 

 whatever may be his faith, is eligible to fill any 

 office or employ, provided the other quali^ 

 fications required by law are not wanting. 

 The sittings of the house begin in January, 

 and all the public and private business is 

 usually gone through by the latter end of 

 March, about which time it is prorogued, so 

 that the session never exceeds the term of 

 three months between January and April. 

 Should parliament not be dissolved by the go- 

 vernor, a circumstance that, indeed, very sel- 

 dom occurs, its duration is limited by the act 

 of the constitution to the period of four years, 

 when its functions expire, and writs are imme- 

 diately issued for the election of another: at 

 such a crisis the independence and energy 

 of the various voters, the professions and hu- 

 mihty of the candidates, are as strikingly pour- 

 trayed as in the more turbulent contests that 

 take place on similar occasions in the mother 



