I observ’d one strange Custom in their Manner of administring Justice. The Names of the contesting Parties are conceal’d from the Judges; and the Differences are not decided in the Place where they arose, but the Case is sent to the more remote Provinces to be determin’d. The Reason of this strange Custom is this. Experience taught them, that Judges were often corrupted by Presents, or sway’d by Partiality. These Temptations they think they effectually remove, if the Parties are conceal’d, if the Names of the Plaintiff and Defendant, together with the Names of the Lands or Estates litigated, be all unknown. The Reasons and Arguments alone are sent, at the Discretion of the Prince, to whatever Court of Justice he thinks fit, with certain Marks and Characters; for Example, “_Whether_ A _who is in Possession, ought to restore the Thing possess’d at the Suit and Motion of_ B.” I should rejoice to find such a Custom introduc’d among us, since we often experience the fatal Force of Corruption and Partiality in the Minds of our Judges. Justice in general is freely administer’d without Respect of Persons. Against the Prince only no Action can lie during his Life, but upon his Death the publick Accusers, or (if one may so call them) the Council for the Kingdom, cite him to Judgment. There in full Senate the Actions of the departed Monarch are strictly examin’d, and at length Sentence is pronounc’d, which according to the Merit of the Deceas’d is distinguish’d by different Words and Characters, such as these, _Laudably_; _Not illaudably_; _Well_; _Not ill_; _Tolerably_; _Indifferently_; which Words are proclaim’d aloud to the People, and afterwards engrav’d on the Monument of the Deceas’d. The _Potuans_ give this Account of that Custom: That the Prince while living cannot be proceeded against without great Commotions and Disturbances; for that during his Life a perfect Obedience and inviolable Veneration should still be paid him, which indeed is the very Basis of Government. But when that Obligation is dissolv’d by Death, the Subjects then have Liberty to call his Actions to a strict Account. Thus by this salutary, tho’ very paradoxical Law, the Security of the Sovereign is provided for, his Authority not at all invaded, and the Welfare of the People at the same Time promoted. For these Characters, tho’ given to the Dead, are to the Living so many Spurs to Virtue. The _Potuan_ Histories for four hundred Years afford only two Instances of Princes who bore the last mention’d Character, that is, that of _Indifferent_. All the others obtain’d either the _Laudable_ or the _Not illaudable_ Character, as appears from the Inscriptions upon their sepulchral Monuments, which have escap’d the Injuries of Time. The Character of _Indifferent_, which in the _Potuan_ Language is call’d _Rip-fac-si_, causes such Grief in the Royal Family, that the Successor of the deceas’d Prince, with all his Kindred, mourn for six whole Months. And