152 OFFICE OF MAGISTRATE. 
The Pastor then assured him, that they knew 
all about Louis Napoleon, and the French 
Eepublic, but that all the people on the island 
were loyal subjects of Victoria, Queen of Eng- 
land. The Frenchman again bowed, begged 
pardon, returned the paper to his pocket, and 
explained, that " he did not know Pitcairn was 
a colony," 
Though Pitcairn is not a colony, it is entirely 
English ; and such a loyal and united commu- 
nity, as a whole, cannot be found in any of the 
colonies or dependencies of the British Empire. 
The English union-ja,ck is hoisted on all grand 
occasions; and to England the people would 
look for protection, should any attempt be made 
to interfere with their position. But who would 
think of disturbing so inoffensive and so- poor a 
settlement ? 
Their leading man is a magistrate, who is 
elected on the first of January every year, by the 
general votes of males and females who have 
attained the age of eighteen years. Married 
persons, both males and females, though they 
may be under that age, are entitled to vote, 
Two councillors are chosen at the same time, one 
elected by the magistrate, the other by the 
people. When there is any dispute to be settled, 
which cannot well be decided by the magistrate, 
or by the magistrate and councillors combined, 
a jury of seven is called, to whom the matter is 
referred. Then, should it not be satisfactorily 
arranged, it stands over until the arrival of a 
British man-of-war ; and there is no appeal 
against the Captain's decision. During the 
