tes the appointment and powers of such commissioners. In
most large towns the minimum qualification for appointment is six years'
continuous practice, and the application must be supported by two
barristers, two solicitors and at least six neighbours of the applicant.
The charge made by commissioners for every oath, declaration,
affirmation or attestation upon honour is one shilling and sixpence; for
marking each exhibit (a document or other thing sworn to in an affidavit
and shown to a deponent when being sworn), one shilling.

COMMITMENT, in English law, a precept or warrant _in writing_, made and
issued by a court or judicial officer (including, in cases of treason,
the privy council or a secretary of state), directing the conveyance of
a person named or sufficiently described therein to a prison or other
legal place of custody, and his detention therein for a time specified,
or until the person to be detained has done a certain act specified in
the warrant, e.g. paid a fine imposed upon him on conviction. Its
character will be more easily grasped by reference to a form now in use
under statutory authority:--

In the county of A, Petty Sessional Division of B.

To each and all of the constables of the county of A and the governor
of His Majesty's Prison at C.

E. F. hereinafter called the defendant has this day been convicted
before the court of summary jurisdiction sitting at D.

(Here the conviction and adjudication is stated.)

You the said constables are hereby commanded to convey the defendant
to the said prison, and there deliver him to the governor thereof
together with this warrant: and you the governor of the said prison to
receive the defendant into your custody and keep him to hard labour
for the space of three calendar months.

Dated Signature and seal of a justice of the peace.

A commitment as now understood differs from "committal," which is the
decision of a court to send a person to prison, and not the document
containing the directions to executive and ministerial officers of the
law which are consequent on the decision. An interval must necessarily
elapse between the decision to commit and the making out of the warrant
of commitment, during which interval the detention in custody of the
person committed is undoubtedly legal. A commitment differs also from a
warrant of arrest (_mandat d'amener_), in that it is not made until
after the person t