1831.] 
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 
79 
Here we have a commercial view of the trade carried oh to 
South Africa,. and the evidence of no small share of enterprise on 
the part of its resident merchants, in order to sustain, so well as 
they appear to do, the balance of trade against the heavy impor- 
tations from the mother country. The affairs of the colony seem 
to be Well managed by his excellency general, the honourable Sir 
G. L. Cole, governor of the colony," president of the council, and 
commander-in-chief of the forces. 
In each district there is a civil commissioner, magistrate, pro- 
tector of slaves, and other subordinate ofiicers, for the preserva- 
tion of peace, and the discharge of all the subordinate duties of. 
the civil govermnent. The duties of the protector are various, 
and are intended to ameliorate the condition of the slave, as much 
as is compatible. He is bound to inquire into all abuses, to re- 
dress all wrongs, to restrain the strong, protect the weak ; in a word, 
to be what his office would indicate, the protector of slaves. There 
is but one in the colony, but he has his agents in all the districts 
where they are needed. 
In the judicial estabUshment there is a supreme court, with a 
chief-justice and three associate judges, who hold four terms in 
the year, in March, June, September, and December. Besides, 
the associate judges hold their separate courts at appointed 
periods, for hearing minor causes. 
In the year 1 827, a charter was granted by the king of England, 
conceding to the colony the right of trial by jury in criminal cases ; 
and the council have taken the proper measures to carry this ar- 
rangement into execution, by issuing an ordmance declaring the 
quahfication of jurors, nine being the number agreed upon, and, 
under certain circumstances, six are to constitute a legal tribunal. 
Attached to the supreme court is the office of high sheriff of the 
colony, which office was created in the year 1828. His duty is 
to carry into execution all the sentences and decrees of the su- 
preme or circuit courts ; and, for this purpose, he is authorized to 
appoint deputies in all the districts. 
The energy of the colonial government pervades every part of the 
settlement ; and the communications kept up with remote districts 
are regular through the postoffice estabhshment, which has no less 
than twenty branches distributed throughout the colony. 
The number of humane and religious institutions, which may 
