1808. ] Directions for € 
hope, that should any of your readers 
undér such impressions think of coming 
hither, that they will alter their minds, 
and stay at home ; for, assuredly as they 
come, they will encounter mortification, 
disappointment, and distress. Should 
others of a different cast and character 
PEOpose to ener es if when they arrive 
they can possibly afford a littie ume and 
money, I can assure them both will be 
well expended in looking about before 
they settle. They will find itmuch safer 
to depend upon their own eyes than those 
of others; and to all such [ should cer- 
tainly advise a journey west of the moun- 
tains, before any permanent settlement 
be attempted. Ihave one other duty to 
fulfil—to thank you, Sir, for the readiness 
with which you have honoured my let- 
ters. with a portion of your valuable 
pages, and to request of your readers 
that indulgence of error, wherever it has 
appeared, and of whatever kind it may 
have been, which liberal-minded men are 
ever most ready toafford. Your's, &c, 
Alexandria, R. Dinmore. 
September 7, 1807. 
TE 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
INSTRUCTIONS (0 GRANDJURYMEN. By 
 @ late FOREMAN of the GRAND JURY for 
MIDDLESEX. 
1. GRAND jury is one of the 
“&\ most ancient and respectable 
tribunals known to the constitution of 
this kingdom, and its members are usual- 
ly gentlemen of the highest consequence 
and best figure in the county. A know- 
ledge of the duties and powers of a grand 
juryman is absolutely necessary to every 
gentleman in the kingdom, because his 
own property, his liberty, and his life, de- 
pend upon maintaining in its legal force 
this branch of trial ‘by. jury. ’ Black- 
stone, book wi. chap. 23. 
2. Their foreman is to be chosen by 
themselves, and any attempt on the part 
of the court, or sheriff, to nominate him, 
or swear him in as such, should be re- 
sisted. In Middlesex, it is usual to choose 
a foreman in the grand jury room, after 
which, the members, with him at their 
head, present themselves in court to be 
‘ sworn 1n, 
3. The grand jury ought to be com- 
posed of twenty-three persons, but the 
business frequently proceeds -although 
‘that number are not present, the fore- 
Man taking care that no bill is found un- 
supported by the votes of TWELVE of 
jurymen. Blackstone, b. ww. chap. 
is the express object of a 
Grand Furymen. V7 
erand jury to decide whether there is any 
maiter of accusation agaist the party ac- 
cused, or whether he ought to be put on 
his dehice: they are competent to de- 
cide finally ‘and totally on all the parts of 
the charge, both as to fact and inten- 
tion. Siat.29 Hitz. 3. Cap. 4 and 42. 
Eliz. 3. Cap... They stand in the situ- 
ation of umpires between the accuser 
and the accused, and are thus abie at all 
times to protect the weak against the 
strong, This uncontrolled and important 
power of a grand jury constitutes one of 
the chief glories of the constitution of 
England, and is a grand bulwark of the 
liberties ‘of the people. 
5, Agrand jury ought to be thopafih 
ly and eee satisfied of the tr uth 
of all the parts of an indictment before | 
they find it, and ought never to be influ- 
enced by remote probabilities, it is a 
very serious and solemn matter for a per= 
son to be placed on his trial at the bar of 
a court of justice ; and asthe grand jury 
hear evidence only on the side of the 
prosecution, the whole case ought to be 
CLEARLY and UNQUESTIONABLY made 
out by the prosecutor to justify them in 
finding a true bill. 
6. ‘To find a bill, éwelve at least of the 
grand jury must agree that the evidence 
is COMPLETE and sarisracrory. Cro, 
(iz. 654. Hob.248. 2 Inst.387. 3 Inst. 
30. When this is the case, the words, 
‘¢ A-TRUE BILL,” are to be indorsed on 
the back of the indictment; but when 
twelve do not hold up thew hands, the 
nae “NOT FOUND” are to be endorsed 
by the foreman. It is usual to put the 
question only in the athrmative, and if 
the shew of hands is less than twelve, the 
bill is instantly endorsed, “* Nov FounD.” 
7. No person not of the grand Jury, 
no barrister, attorney, clerk ef che court, 
or other person, can be present during 
the deliberations and decisions of the 
grand jary; but it is sometimes usual for 
a deputation of the jury to consult the 
court on any point of law. 
8. When two or more persons are in- 
ciuded in the same bill, the names of 
each ought to be mentioned aloud in their 
turn, by the foreman, because some may 
be guilty, and others mnocent. 
g. In an indictment for stealing, if the 
crime is not proved against the thief, the 
accessary must be acquitted as matter of 
course, because if there beno thief, there 
can be no receiver. 
10. For the dispatch of business, and 
the convenience of witnesses, all -bills 
against the same person ought to be the 
subject of uninterrupted decision; and 
"for 
