WEST INDIES. 
CHAP. I.] 
167 
general the governor exercises within his jurisdic¬ 
tion, the same extensive powers as are possessed 
by the lord high chancellor of Great Britain. 
Thirdly: The governor is ordinary, and collates 
to all vacant church benefices. He hath also the 
power of granting probate of wills, and administra¬ 
tion of the effects of persons dying intestate. He 
grants licenses for marriages, and licenses for 
schools, &c. and is sole judge in all matters rela¬ 
ting to the consistorial or ecclesiastical law. 
Fourthly: The governor presides in the court of 
error, of which he and the council are judges, to 
hear and determine all appeals, in the nature of 
writs of error, from the superior courts of common 
law. 
Fifthly: The governor is also vice-admiral within 
the extent of his government. As such, he is en¬ 
titled to the rights of jetsan , flotsam, &c. and in 
time of war he issues his warrant to the judge of 
the court of vice-admiralty, to grant commissions 
to privateers.* 
* It may not be improper to observe in this place, that the court of 
vice admiralty in the colonies, by the iv. of Geo. III. chap. 15, is in¬ 
vested with a concurrent jurisdiction with the courts of record, in 
cases of forfeitures and penalties incurred by the breach of any act of 
parliament relating to the trade and revenues of the British coioives in 
Ameiica ; and in prosecutions in this court, all questions, as well of 
fact as of law, are decided by the judge alone, without the interven- 
