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THE COURT HOUSE.
lower or west end of the apartment are congregated all the canaille—the very riff-raff of the town—who flock to hear speeches they understand as much as a Greek syllogism ; the respectable spectators are admitted within the enclosure. The barristers plead in gowns, but not in wigs, very much to their comfort I should apprehend, in this warm climate. The upper floor of the court house is divided into two apartments by wooden partitions, leaving a lobby between ; but these can be removed at pleasure, making the whole one room, as on the ground-floor. The east apartment is appropriated to the governor and council, when sitting ; at other times for the use of the grand jury, or petty juries in criminal causes. A long table covered with "green cloth" runs across the room, and around which are placed very handsome chairs, of unique patterns, (oak, with cane backs, and green morocco seats and elbows,) the one destined for the use of the governor being of larger dimensions, and having the arms of England painted upon it. The west room is used for the meeting of the house of assembly, and is furnished in the same manner as the other apartment, only that under the royal arms (which are attached to the north side of the room) is a kind of rostrum, furnished with its proper seat, and intended for the accommodation of the speaker of the house of assembly. On returning by the west flight of stairs, my eyes were directed to a padlock in the wall, which formerly secured the ladder made use of at executions ; but happy am I to say, such scenes are now of very rare occurrence in this island. I should have observed, that balls and dinners are sometimes held at the court house ; as well as Bible and missionary meetings; and also fancy sales for charitable purposes. The last fancy fair, or rather bazaar, held there by the Churchof-England Association, was a very crowded affair. It took place on the day after Christmas-day, a day of all others devoted by the Antiguans to a display of dress. Not only all kinds of fancy and ornamental articles, fabricated by the