If the Lords preferred, or had no objection, to have any local duties, legal acts, or offices, exercised by justices of the peace, assessors, constables, and other minor officers, either chosen by their tenants alone, or by their tenants in connection with the inhabitants, freeholders of any adjoining non- Manorial lands, this could be done by an act of the Provincial Legislature. But no act of such a nature could be passed against their wishes. Hence there are to be found many acts of the kind alluded to in the Colony laws.

The jurisdiction of the " Supreme Court," of the "Inferior Court of Common Pleas "and of the Court of Sessions, extended to all lands whether Manorial or non Manorial.

THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE MANORS.

So too, in the matter of elections, the inhabitants of all the Manors, (except that of Cortlaiult which had ii representative of its own as a franchise of its Manor- (irant) united with the people of the non-Manorial lauds in the choice of jMeuibers of Assembly for the County.

The i)ower of the High Sheriff of the County, who was always a gentleman, was appointed by the Governor, and served without pay, as in England, was as complete and thorough in the Manors as out of them. The fees of the othce, which were vastly lighter in proportion, than those of elected Sheriffs now, went after being reported to, and scrutinized by the High Sheriff, to the Undersheriff and the one or two deputies, who were all that the business of the County required in the Colonial era. If any overcharge or oppression, was attempted, a complaint properly proven, to the High Sheriff himself, was all that was necessary to right the wrong.