i 4 ACCOUNT OF THE ENGLISH COLONY [1788. 



feal, require to affemble for that purpofe." This court has power to 

 inquire of, hear, determine, and punifh all treafons, mifprifions of 

 treafon, murders, felonies, forgeries, perjuries, trefpaffes, and other 

 crimes whatfoever, that may be committed in the colony ; the punifh- 

 ment for fuch offences to be infli&ed according to the laws of Eng- 

 land as nearly as may be, confidering and allowing for the circum- 

 ftances and fituation of the fettlement and its inhabitants. The charge 

 againft any offender to be reduced into writing, and exhibited by the 

 judge-advocate : witneffes to be examined upon oath, and the major 

 part of the court to adjudge whether or not the prifoner be guilty. If 

 guilty, and the offence be capital, they are to pronounce judgment of 

 death, in like manner as if the prifoner had been convicted by the 

 verdicl of a jury in England, or of fuch corporal punifhment as the 

 major part of the court mail deem meet. And in cafes not capital, 

 they are to adjudge fuch corporal punifhment as the majority of the 

 court fhall determine. But no offender is to fuffer death, unlefs five 

 members of the court fhall concur in adjudging him to be guilty, or 

 until the King's pleafure be fignified thereupon. The provoft-mar- 

 fhal is to caufe the judgment of the court to be executed according to 

 the Governor's warrant under his hand and feal. 



Befide this court for the trial of criminal offenders, there is a civil 

 court, confiding of the judge-advocate and two inhabitants of the 

 fettlement, who are to be appointed by the Governor ; which court 

 has full power to hear and determine in a fummary way all pleas of 

 lands, houfes, debts, contra&s, and all perfonal pleas whatfoever. 

 From this court, on either party, plaintiff or defendant, finding him- 

 felf aggrieved by the judgment or decree, an appeal lies to the Go- 

 vernor, and from him, where the debt or thing in demand fhall ex- 

 ceed the value of 300 1. to the King in council; but thefe appeals 

 muft be put in, if from the civil court, within eight davs, and if 

 from the Governor or fuperior court, within fourteen days after 

 pronouncing the faid judgments. 



To 



