Ordinances, &c.
which are to remain in force for one year only, unless confirmed by the
Governor and Council. They also constitute a Court of Record or
Inferior Court of Common Pleas for the City and County of St. John. The
terms of this Court are quarterly, and it takes cognizance of all
causes from five pounds value to fifty pounds, in which titles of land
shall not come in question: and by an Act of the Provincial
Legislature, its Jurisdiction is enlarged to all transitory actions of
any value.

It may be observed that the Mayor by virtue of his office possesses
extensive powers; such as making Free Citizens, regulating the Markets,
&c.; and that the Aldermen are Justices of the Peace for the County as
well as for the City of St. John.

The Corporation can hold real property to the amount of L2,000 per
annum, within or without the City. They have at present an annual
revenue of about L2,000 at their sole disposal for the improvement of
the City.

It must, however, be observed that no great attention has yet been paid
to ornamenting the City. This arises in some measure from the peculiar
cast of its inhabitants. The men of independent property, and those
holding high offices in the different departments being too few to do
much, although some of them have fine seats, and many of the Merchants
engaged in the shipping business, being transient persons, who from
time to time come to the Province, and whose main object is to make as
much as they can, in as short a time as possible, with the intention of
soon returning to enjoy their gains in their native country. These
persons do not feel that interest in the improvement of the place, that
those do whose interests are identified with the country. Having,
therefore, no local attachment to the soil, it is no wonder that they
should extend their views no farther than present convenience. Such
persons, then, who are to be found in all the ports of the Province add
nothing to the wealth of the country, but rather act as drains to it. A
few seats have, however, lately been begun on the Marsh near the City,
which will soon make an alteration in the appearance of the Suburbs.

Some small improvement is much wanted at the Quays for the convenience
of the Public and protection of Goods from the mud. This could be
easily effected by laying sleepers and covering them with strong plank
and running a railing along the margin. This would obviate the
inconvenience so much felt at pr