y divert them, and the Distance of the Country may prevent
them from obtaining true Notions, and exact Accounts of the Nature of
the _Colony_ and the _College_; so that for these Reasons, they can't do
for it the Good, which they otherwise might: For their better
Information, and for Direction of all, in promoting Religion and
Learning in this _Plantation_, I have made Publick this Account of _it_,
and _its_ Inhabitants.

Fronting the _College_ at near its whole Breadth, is extended a noble
Street mathematically streight (for the first Design of the Town's Form
is changed to a much better) just three Quarters of a Mile in Length: At
the other End of which stands the _Capitol_, a noble, beautiful, and
commodious Pile as any of its Kind, built at the Cost of the _late
Queen_, and by the Direction of the _Governor_.

In this is the _Secretary's Office_ with all the Courts of _Justice_ and
_Law_, held in the same Form, and near the same Manner, as in _England_;
except the _Ecclesiastical Courts_.

Here the _Governor_ and _twelve Counsellors_ sit as _Judges_, at the
_General Courts_ in _April_ and _October_, whither Trials and Causes are
removed from Courts, held at the Court-Houses Monthly in every County by
a Bench of _Justices_ and a _County Clerk_.

Here are also held the _Oyer and Terminer Courts_, one in Summer, and
the other in Winter, added by the Charity of the _late Queen_, for the
Prevention of Prisoners lying in Gaol above a Quarter of a Year before
their Trial.

Here are also held _Courts Martial_, by Judges appointed on Purpose, for
the _Trial_ of _Pyrates_; likewise _Courts of Admiralty_, for the Trial
of _Ships_ for illegal Trade.

The Building is in the Form of an =H= nearly; the _Secretary's Office_,
and the _General Court_ taking up one Side below Stairs; the Middle
being an handsom _Portico_ leading to the Clerk of the _Assembly's_
Office, and _the House of Burgesses_ on the other Side; which last is
not unlike the _House of Commons_.

In each Wing is a good Stair Case, one leading to the _Council Chamber_,
where the _Governor_ and _Council_ sit in very great State, in Imitation
of the _King and Council_, or the _Lord Chancellor_ and _House of
Lords_.

Over the _Portico_ is a large Room where _Conferences_ are held, and
_Prayers_ are read by the Chaplain to the General Assembly; which Office
I have had the Honour for some Years to perform. At one End of this is a
Lobby, and near it is the _Clerk