SOUTHERN AFRICA. 135 
as the situation, though honorable and conferring a distinc- 
tion of rank, was attended with a considerable share of trouble 
and some expence, and as their lucrative offices, on the 
surrender of the settlement to the English, in a great 
measure ceased, it seemed but reasonable that so import- 
ant a duty should be compensated hy an allowance from 
Government, which was accordingly made to them by Lord 
Macartney. 
One part of their practice was particularly repugnant to 
the feelings of Englishmen and to the principles of English 
jurisprudence. The proceedings of the Court were always 
carried on, foribus clausis, with closed doors, except in the 
single instance of the trial of the boors for sedition, on which 
occasion the Fiscal or Attorney General determined, though 
contrary to all precedent, to throw open, for the first time, 
the doors of the Hall of Justice. No oral pleading is ad- 
mitted by the Dutch law ; no confronting the accused with 
the witnesses ; but the depositions of each are singly taken 
down before two commissioners, on oath, and afterwards read 
to the Court ; all persons are excluded from entering the 
Court except the parties concerned. In all criminal causes 
the Fiscal, or Attorney-General, directed two commissioners 
of the Court to examine evidences, take depositions, hold in- 
quests over bodies that had died suddenly by the visitation of 
God, accident, or violence ; and to draw up, in every case, 
preparatory information for the trial. For this troublesome 
part of their duty they had no remuneration, unless when the 
delinquent should be condemned to labor for the service of 
government, in which case the expences of the trial were paid 
out of the produce of that labor. 
