book. Nobles are exempted from the payment of all taxes and im-
1 ■ pofts whatfoever, being only bound, according to the feodal tenure,
in time of war to furniih their quota of cavalry; and aU
goods and merchandife imported or exported for their ufe pay
no duty.
Their power over their peafants is, if poflible, more unbounded
than that which the Poliih gentry poffefs over their’s. They
enjoy the criminal jurifdiCtion without appeal; and though certain
forms and limits are prefcribed by the laws, yet, in effeCt, no
fuch limitation takes place. In judging delinquencies and crimes,
a noble can form a fummary court of juflice, compofed of him-
felf, three or four friends, and an attorney; and, • after fuch a
mock-trial, may order the delinquent to immediate execution,
or to corporal puniihment..
By the conRitution of Courland, the duke is affifled in the
adminiftration of a flairs by a privy council, called the Supreme
Council, compofed of four high counfellors, and two civilians
or doctors, all appointed by the duke, but holding their places
for life, unlefs proved to be guilty of malverfation, and removed
by the king of Poland. The four high counfellors are, the high
Reward, the chancellor,, the burgrave, and the marfhal.
The province of this council is to advife the duke in all concerns
of Rate, to take care that the rights and privileges of
the fubjeCt are not infringed, and. to make remonRrances.againR.
any grievances.
The four high counfellors form alfoj in conjunction with the
duke,.
duke, the criminal court of judicature for the nobles, to which C H A P .
an appeal lies from the inferior courts of juRice; and which ■ - -
judges, without farther appeal, all crimes excepting premeditated
murder, wilful burning of houfes, robbery, rapes, or open violence,
which, as being capital, are referred to the king of Poland*
The fame four high counfellors are invefled with the regency;
whether in the minority, abfence, or fkknefs of the duke, or on
a vacancy of the ducal throne. In thefe cafes, the two civilians,
who are confidered as the duke’s counfellors, are excluded, to
the great detriment of the country, as they are ufually the moR
enlightened counfellors, and not being nobles, are more inclined
to encourage the arts and fciences, manufactures and commerce,
and are particularly attentive, that the privileges of the lower
orders Ihould be preferved,
The enormous privileges of the nobles have been the occa-
fion of fomenting the troubles, and exciting the civil commotions;
which have overwhelmed Courland for this laR century. Its
internal hiRory is little elfe than a' continued feries of difputes
between the duke and the nobles ,- the boafled freedom of the
country is a fpirit of faCtion under the name of liberty, which,
as in Poland, means an ariRocratical licentioufnefs, oppreffing
others, but free itfelf to commit all kinds of enormities.
In all countries, wherever the fpirit of feudal anarchy and feudal
defpotifm (the worR fpecies of tyranny) prevails, the pea-
fents are oppreffed, and agriculture is in a declining Rate; the
merchants