The Examination being finish’d, the Prince went into the Council-Chamber, and soon return’d with a final Sentence to this Purpose: That I had acted imprudently in calling in Question the Judgment of _Karatti_, and that therefore I had incurr’d the Penalty which the _third lesser Space of the fourth greater Space_ inflicts upon Slanderers (by the greater and lesser Spaces, or _Skibal_ and _Kibal_, they mean Books and Chapters) and that I deserv’d to undergo the _Venæ-section_ in both my Branches, and also to be imprison’d. The Words of the Law, _lib._ 4. _cap._ 3. concerning Defamation are these, _Spik. antri. Flak. Shak. mak. Tabu Mihalatti Silac_. But tho’ the Sense of the Words was very clear and evident, and the Law too sacred to be evaded, yet his most Serene Highness, by a Stretch of his Prerogative, thought fit to pardon this Offence of mine, occasioned through an Immaturity of Judgment, as well as Ignorance of the Law, which could hardly be said to be infring’d by this Indulgence to me, inasmuch as I was a Stranger and a Foreigner. And to give me a more ample Testimony of his most gracious Favour, he appointed me one of his Messengers in Ordinary, an Honour I ought to hold myself highly satisfy’d with. Immediately the _Kiva_, or Secretary, was sent for, who enroll’d my Name in the Book of Promotions, together with the Names of several other Candidates. This Secretary was a most extraordinary Person; for he had eleven Pair of Branches, and could consequently write eleven Letters all at the same Time, and with the same Ease and Expedition that we can one; yet he had a very indifferent Judgment, upon which Account he never could expect any farther Promotion, and so he grew old in the same Post which he had fill’d for thirty Years. I contracted a close Friendship with him, and indeed I could not help cultivating an Affection for him, because all the Edicts and Letters of State, which he wrote, I, as Messenger in Ordinary, dispers’d over the Province. I was often astonish’d to see him execute Business with so much Dexterity; for it was a common Thing with him to write eleven Letters at once, and afterward seal them all in the same Instant. Among the Blessings therefore of a Family, a large Number of Branches is reckon’d one. And hence the Women in Child-Bed, immediately after the Birth of the Infant, are wont to signify to the Neighbours how many Branches it has brought into the World with it. It was reported, that the Father of our Secretary was born with twelve, and that his Family had long been famous for a Plurality of Branches.