90 
TRAVELS IN 
but by way of reconciiing, in fome meafure, the free burghers, 
which were not in their employ, a certain iiuniber of thefe were 
admitted into the civil courts and boards ; but the opinions and 
propofitions of the former were, in mod matters, found to pre- 
ponderate. 
Neither one nor the other in the Court of Juftice were pro- 
feffional men ; nor were they fuppofed to poffefs a greater (hare 
of legal knowledge than the other citizens out of which they 
were chofen. As- members, compofmg a Court of Judicature,, 
they had no falaries under the Dutch government, and there- 
fore were fuppofed not to reje6t prefents from one or both of 
the parties who had fuits before the Court. But although they 
had no fpecial falaries, moft of them either adually enjoyed 
other employments attended with profit, or were confidered as 
entitled to fucceed to them on vacancies, in recompence for their 
fervices as minifters of juftice. And as the fituation, though 
honourable and conferring a diftindlion of rank, was attended 
with a confiderable fhare of trouble and fome expence, and as 
their lucrative offices, on the furrender of the fettlement to the 
Englifti, in a great =^ meafure ceafed, it feemed but reafonable 
that fo important a duty fliould be compenfated by an allowa.nce 
from Government, which was accordingly made to them by 
Lord Macartney. 
One part of their pradice, however, in conformity with the 
cuftom of the United Provinces, was particularly repugnant to 
the feelings of Engliflimen and to the principles of Englifh 
jurifprudence. The proceedings of the Court were always car- 
ried 
