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well-spoken man, of good address, and hardly to be distinguished from an Englishman of the middle

classes.

As for inflicting ignominious punishment, it is out of the question in so small a community. Some years ago a man having committed theft, there was nothing for it but to raise a sum of money for the purpose of shipping him and his family off to America.

The mass of plaints which còme before the Court relate principally to "injurien," or abusive words spoken, and those are all disposed of by the Court -ordering, or endeavouring to procure, retractation of the offensive words, or by some kind of admo- nition to the offending party.

The course followed by the Court is to hear the statement of the party preferring the complaint, and then to hear the other side, after which judgment is pronounced.

Either party may empower another to state the case; but no advocates are admitted to plead, and indeed, there is no lawyer on the island.

The administration of an oath is considered as a most solemn proceeding, and is rarely resorted to.

The proceedings of the Court are regularly entered in a book.

I subjoin a short account of two very recent cases, not on account of their importance, but as illustrating the preceding observations.

One was a plaint from a person on the opposite coast, alleging that the wife of a man in Heligoland having purchased wine from complainant, now refused to pay for it; whereupon, he demanded that the woman should be heard in the matter on oath. The woman having, accordingly, been sworn, denied the purchase of the wine, and such denial having been reported to complainant, there was an end of the case.

In the other case, A complained that having lent a sum of money to B, under promise of re- payment with interest, on the 16th of August last, B had not kept his engagement. B, upon being summoned, offered to effect repayment in another year; and A having accepted that undertaking, the plaint was adjudicated accordingly.

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Matters do not, however, always proceed so smoothly.

One Bufe, a Heligolander and agent for Lloyd's, had, under very pressing circumstances, lent some 60%. to two other Heligolanders; the parties giving

a receipt for the loan, with promise of repayment with interest; and, for the fulfilment of that promise, one of the wealthiest men in the island made himself responsible in writing.

Bufe having died, his son, the present agent for Lloyd's, demanded repayment of the loan; but, although the loan is not disputed, and although the Court bas twice ordered its repayment, the debtors, who are known to possess means, refuse to pay, alleging that it will be time enough to do so when they shall, through the interference of the Court, have recovered certain moneys due to them- selves by other persons.

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I may here mention another case to show how powerless the Court is to ensure obedience to its orders.

A steamer arrived at Heligoland some short time ago, having on board a Commission of Light-house officers of the neighbouring States, among whom was a Hanoverian functionary of rank from Stade. This gentleman having gone on shore in the steamer, his landing was opposed by a pilot or boatman, until the } Hanoverian functionary should have paid the charge which is usually exacted from passengers who are brought on shore from steamers by the boatmen, and the Hanoverian officer was altogether so grossly insulted that he refused to land, and returned to his

steamer.

For this misconduct the pilot was suspended by

the Court; but he treated his suspension with scorn, and told the agent for Lloyd's that if any further information were laid against him, he would "ihm den kopf abschlagen" (knock his head off).

I had these statements from Bufe himself.

Wardsmen.

The eight Wardsmen consist of seven pilots and

Council for eight years.

one house carpenter. They are now elected by the

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference —

11 TLY CO. 885

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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