HIGH COURT . OF MADRAS. 



33 



constitute for the good government of the inhabitants of 

 Fort St. George and Madras. Their judgment was to be 

 final in all causes civil wherein the value of the damages 

 adjudged for the defendant to pay should not exceed three 

 pagodas, but in case of a larger amount an appeal was given 

 to the Supreme Court of Judicature, commonly called the 

 Court of Admiralty, whose judgment was to be final in all 

 such cases. In criminal cases upon which sentence should be 

 awarded for the taking away the life or limb of any offender, 

 the offender or prisoner so sentenced might appeal to the 

 Supreme Court, whose sentence in such case should be final, 

 and execution accordingly awarded and done within three 

 days, except the General and Council, or General of India, 

 or President and Council of Fort St. Greorge, for the time 

 being, should by reprieve order execution to be respited, or 

 pardon the offender. 



" And our further mind and will is, and we do hereby grant 

 and ordain, that the said Mayor and Aldermen may elect and 

 nominate from time to time one discreet person, skilful in the 

 laws and constitutions made by us or hereafter to be made by 

 us for the good government of our Town of Fort St. George and 

 City of Madrassapatam and all the inhabitants thereof, to be 

 Recorder of the said Corporation, who is always to be an 

 Englishman born and our Covenant Servant at the time and 

 during all the time of his being Recorder of the said Corporation, 

 and is to have place and session next after the Mayor for the 

 time being, and to be assistant to the Mayor in trying, judging 

 and sentencing all causes of any considerable value or intricacy, 

 when he can be present from other more weighty affairs." 

 * # * * * . a A n cL we do hereby concede and appoint, that 

 Sir John Biggs, Knight, Judge of our Supreme Court of Judi- 

 cature aforesaid, shall be the first and modern Recorder of the 

 Corporation aforesaid, and shall and hath hereby power to do 

 and execute all things that belong to the duty of Recorder. 



" And we do further give and grant that the said Mayor and 

 Aldermen at their discretion^ or the major part of them, may 



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