local jurisdiction extended over the whole Collectorship of Colombo, excepting the lands of Chilaw, and the lands within the gravets or limits, which as has been before mentioned, belonged to the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice,

In the year 1770, the Government of Ceylon authorized the Landraad to decide not only on contests' relative to land, but on all disputes of civil cog. nizance arising among the natives under its jurisdiction.

On this arrangement the Regulation for the Landraads framed by the late -Governor Van de Graaf was ratified by Government and issued in the year 1789. The Supreme Government of Batavia disapproved this Regulation, and directed that the Landraad should be limited to the determination of those matters only for which it had originally been instituted.

The correspondence between Ceylon and Batavia, each Government adhering to its own opinion, was carried to a great length, and in the meantime the Regulation of M. Van de Graaf had been introduced, and was observed by all the Landraads, it being found by experience to be well adapted to the circum tances of the natives, and the decision of their contests.

were

All sequestrations decided by the Court of Justice on Lands lying beyond the gravets, were executed by the Landraads, and proprietors of lands not at liberty to dispose of their estates without a certificate from the Land raads stating that no impediment existed to prevent the alienation.

JAFFNAPATAM,

At Jaffnapatam the Judicial establishments were formed on the same model as those at Colombo, and consisted of "The Court of Justice," the "Court of Matrimonial and petty causes," and the "Laudraads."

First. "The Court of Justice" was composed of a President, eight Members and a Secretary. The Commandant was the Permanent President. The Members consisted of the Dessave or Collector, the Commandant of the Troops, the. Administrator, the Secretary to the Council of Government, one Military Officer, and three of the Company's Book-keepers, in addition to which persons, the Fiscal in all civil cases was entitled to a vote.

The jurisdiction of this Court in criminal cases extended over the district of Jaffna including the country called the Wauny (or more properly the Vahna) from its being covered with wood, and Manaar.

In civil cases its jurisdiction was limited to the town and fort of Jaffa patam and a small part of the country known by the name of the Fiscal's Church District.

L The sentences of this Court were final in all civil cases not exceeding in value the sum of 300 Rix-dollars, in cases beyond that amount an

lay to the Court of Justice at Colombo.

appeal

In Criminal cases its sentences could not be executed without the ratifica

tion of the Government of Ceylon, in the same manner as has been mentioned under the article of Colombo, but whenever an appeal was directed, it lay to the Court of Justice at Colombo, and not as in the latter settlement to the Court of Batavia.

Here also" Parata Executio' required the fiat of the Fiscal, previous to its being carried into effect.

Second, "The Court of Matrimonial and petty causes" was composed of a Preident and six members.

The Administrator was President. Four of the members were Burghers of Jafina, and the other two were Company's Servants.

The Chief Officer of the Burghers was always the Fice President.

The Secretary of the Landraad officiated also as Secretary to this Court. Its local jurisdiction in civil cases was similar to that of the Supreme Council at Jaffna, which was limited to the amount of 120 Rix-dollars, and an appeal lay from the sentences of this Court to the Court of Justice at Jaffua. 3rdly. "The Landraad" was composed of the Dessave or Collector, who was President, the members were selected from the junior Merchauis and Book-keepers of the Company, and some of the Native Malabar Chiefs together with a Secretary.

Its jurisdiction within the District of Jaffna was similar in every respect to that of the Landrand of Colombo, subject to an appeal to the Court of Justice at Jaffna, provided the permission of the Commandant of that place was previously obtained.

GALLE.

At Galle the same arrangement of the Tribunals prevailed.

First. "The court of Justice was composed of a president, eight members and. a secretary: Of these the Commandant was permanent, president, the Admi nistrator, the Commandant of the troops, the Master Attendant, the Book-keeper of payments, the Chief Ware-house keeper, the head Surgeon and a Company's book-keeper, composed the rest of the Court. The Fiscal in civil cases po8,sessed a vote.

The jurisdiction of this Court in criminal cases extended over the District of Galle and the Dessavonie or Collectorship of Matura, and was exercised precisely as at Jaffuapatam.

In civil cases, after the alteration in the functions of the Landraads which has been before mentioned, the jurisdiction of the Court of justice was limited to the town of Galle and its immediate environs; it decided cases of the ame amount and subject to the same appellate jurisdiction as the Court of Jaffnapatam.

Secondly. "The Court for Matrimonial and petty causes" was composed of a pre

sident and four members; the Administrator was President, the Captain of the Burghers Vice-President, thace of the menlers were Eurghers, and one ▲ Company's servant. Its jurisdiction was limited to causes not exceeding ole hundred Kixdollars with an appeal therefrom to the Court of justice.

Thirdly. "The Landraad was composed of the Superintendent of the Galls Corle (or 1st division,) President the Book-keeper of payments, Vice President, the Tombo keeper, certain of the Company's bock-keepers, the Modliars of Galle, and of the Corles or Districts, together with two Mohandirams of the body guard and the Secretary; whenever the chief of the Mahabadde (or Cha lias) happened to be at Galle, he also had a seat and voice in this Court next to the President.

The jurisdiction of the Court extended over the whole District of Galle and that part of the Wallawitti Corle which belongs to Galle, with an appeal from its sentences to the Court of justice, in the same cases, and with the Landraad at Jaffna,

the same restrictions, as from

The inhabitants of Chilaw being entirely Cingalese, there was at that town ■ Landrand only; it consisted of the Chief, as President, the principal na tive chiefs of the several departments into which Chilaw is divided; the Se cretary of Government at Chilaw was Secretary of the Laudraad also. An appeal from its decrees lay to the Court of justice at Colombo; provided permission was obtained from the Governor.

MOELETIVOE.

At this place was held a Landraad, for the determination of all civil suits arising in the Wanny or Vahna country. It was composed of the Chief of the Wapny country, as President, the commandant of the troops, three Civil Servants of Moeletivoe, the Company's residents at the outer stations of this District and the Modeliays of the difierent provinces. The Secretary of Goverument at Moeletivoe was also Secretary of this Court.

MANNAAR,

On similar principles the Landraad at Mannaar was formed. The chief was President, the commandant of the troops, three Civil Servants, and the Chiefs of the natives were members; together with the Secretary of Government of Mannaar, who was also Secretary of this Court.

From each of the Landraads of Moeletivoe and Mannaar, an appeal was allowed to the Court of justice at Jafinapatam, but the permission of the res. pective commandeurs at each station was necessary to its allowance.

BATTICALOE.

At this place there were two judicial establishments, a Landsvergadering and

Landraad.

First. "The Landsvergadering” or "Assembly of the Country," was composed of the Chief of Batticaloe President. The Commondant of the Troops, the Commercial Book-keeper, the Acting Secretary of the principle Native Chiefs: This Court determined all contests arising between the inhabitants of the provinces, belonging to Batticaloe and exercised regulative power over the agriculture, taxes, and onilli services, (that is tax in lieu of personal service) the resolution of this assembly were transmitted for approval or reversal to the Government of Ceylon.

Secondly. "The Landraad," consisted of the same President, and other European Members, as the Laudsvergedering, together with the Surgeon and Company's Presidents at the outer stations.

This was a Court of Civil Jurisdiction over the Inhabitants of Batticaloe oaly. An appeal herefrom lay to the Hoff van Justice, at Colombo, the permission of the Governor having been first obtained.

CALPENTYN.

At Calpentyn, during the last ten years, the Chief alone acted as Judges .in all civil cases.

PUTLAM.

At Putlam a Landraad was established, consisting of the Chief as President, the Wannias and the Chief of the Musselinaus, an assistant a servant of the Company's was Secretary, an appeal from hence lay to Court of Justice at Colombo, the permission of the Governor having been previously obtained.

OR LETTERS FROM A PLANTER TO HIS COUSIN IN LONDON.

LETTER II.

TO JOHN SMITH, CRUTCHED FRIARS, LONDON.

Epping Bungalow, June 20th, 1841.

MY DEAR COUSIN,-Since my last from this we've seen and done little or nothing, for what with the heavy rains and getting to rights a bit we've had quite enough to do in doors. Talk of rains indeed, I only wish some of you in old England could get a sight and a taste of one of the tropical showers. You'd think you had got the New River of the City canal flying about your ears, and no mistake,

It doesn't seem to require any very extensive knowledge of architecture or engineering to erect the temporary Bungalow of a Coffee Planter, and yet Mr. Trunk has made a shocking mess of mine! Its architectural pro

portions are certainly of the Adam and Eve order, and consist of four an equal, crooked sides with a very unsightly roof, and a door that will not be persuaded on any account to come near the door post. My walls were composed of green branches of trees stuck a foot or two into the ground, with the twigs and leaves left on them to keep out some of the wind, the roof is merely grass laid on pretty thickly, and affords an excellent and commo; dious retreat for rats and snakes of all sorts. The floor is the pure soil of the isle, which being of a fine bright red gives a nice tinge to our wearing apparel, particularly during the heavy rains. My superintendent had built or rather stuck the bungalow on the side of a hill which he had levelled 'to a certain extent but not sufficiently to prevent every thing having a decided inclination to slide towards one end of our hut. The first few nights I found the floor so sloping that I was continually gliding towards the bottom part of the oed, and with my feet projecting beyond the bough-walls into the rain. Another evil was that although our being on the side of a hill protected us from the wind, it at the same time caused us to be inundated by the mountain streams that came pouring down from the top of the hill. One day I really thought we were all going to be washed away. It was raining like mad and the water on our mud-floor was rising every minute. In my distress called for Mr. Trunk, but he was not within hearing: then I sent for some coolies and they would not stir out in the wet, so as there was no time to lose I had to off coat and shoes and with spade and pickaxe cut a channel for the water, by which means the deluge was turned off. I used to think, and I dare say so used you, consin, that an indian jungle life, a sort of Paul and Virginia existence, was a most delightful and beau、 tiful thing. And so perhaps, it is, with two young persons making love, like the above individuals, but when it comes down to a mere wife and two very small children, the thing is altered altogether and it won't do.

What nonsense it is for those chaps on the stage to pretend to be so happy when acting an indian character, with their bear-skin jackets and oh-no-we never-mention-ems, their fowling pieces and their clay houses. They appear to be so comfortable and snug, and sing such a lot of songs: but its all humbug! A week out here in the jungle would knock them all up. Cooper too, in his American novels, makes one believe that the Cherrykeys and the Snatches, with their scalped heads, their tommy-banks and their portable furniture, are the finest chaps in the world, and a great deal happier than ..the Lord Mayor of London with his glass coach and six, and his gold sword.

But how is it they make such a capital thing of a savage life, says you? Why, says I, because they say nothing about heavy showers of rain, having your curry and rice spoilt, or your bed wet, and never allude to such articles as squalling children and a fidgetty wife: there aint any romance in thei