"A convention of two delegates from each town on Long Island' was held at Hempstead in February, 1665, for the purpose of receiving from the Governor the code which he had prepared, and which was called ' the Duke's Laws.' The code was chiefly compiled from laws then in force in New England, 'with an abatement of the severity against such as differ in matters of conscience and religion.' The only popular feature of the code was the one organizing the town courts. It provided for the election, by a majority of the freeholders of each town, of eight overseers, to try minor causes, and adopt local ordinances, subject to the approval of the Court of Assize. Four were to retire each year, and from them a constable was to be elected on the 1st or 2d of April, to act with the overseers, his election being subject to confirmation by the justice, in whose hands the local administration was really vested. Long Island, Stateu Island and parts of Westchester were united in a shrievalty called Y'orkshire, and divided into three districts, called ridings. The English system of sheriff's courts was introduced. Ttie Governor and the Council appointed each year a sheriff for the whole of Yorkshire, and three justices of the peace for each riding, who were to continue in office during the Governors pleasure, and were to hold a Court of Sessions in each riding three times a year, in which the Governor or any of his councilors might preside. Besides their local duties, the high sheriff" and justices were to sit with the Governor and his Council in the Supreme Court of the Province, called the Court of Assize, which was to meet at New Y'ork once a year, on the last Thursday in September. This court was also a legislative body, as it was invested with ' the supreme power of making, altering and abolish-