4^4 TRAVELS IN 
In Its firft capacity it may be confidered as a fort of Court of 
Confcience. The pronenefs of the people to litigation made it 
necelTary, notwithftanding the fcanty population, toeftablifli this 
as a relief to the Superior Court, by taking off its hands the de- 
cifion of a multiplicity of trifling fuits, as well as, by a fummary 
mode of proceeding, to prevent heavy cofts. The procefs for 
the recovery of a debt is very fimple. A fummons is fent from 
the Secretary to the debtor, forty-eight hours before the meeting 
of the Court, which is every Saturday. The parties are heard, 
a decifion taken, and fentence pronounced. An appeal lies to 
the Superior Court. 
In order to obtain a licence for marriage, it Is necelTary for 
both perfons to appear perfonally before the Court, to anfwer to 
fuch queftions as may be put to them concerning their age, the 
confent of parents or guardians, their relationfhip, and fuch 
like ; after which a certificate is given, and the banns are pub- 
liQied thrice in the church. The confent of parents or guar- 
dians is neceflary to be had by all who marry under the age of 
twenty-five years. If the confent of parents or guardians be 
refufed to a minor, the removal of the objedlions is left to the 
difcretion of the Court. If either of the parties has been mar- 
ried before, and has children, a certificate muft be produced 
from the Secretary of the Orphan Chamber, or from the notary 
appointed to adminifter to the affairs of the children, that the 
laws of the colony relating to inheritance have been duly com- 
plied with. 
The 
