The treasurer receives all moneys paid into the treasury of the state. He is required to give a bond in the sum of fifty thousand dollars, with four or more sureties, for the faithful performance of his duties. He deposites the money that comes into his hands, in such banks in the city of Albany, as shall be deemed safe, and shall pay the highest rate of interest to the state; and he pays all warrants drawn on the treasury by the comptroller. The salary of the treasurer is one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars; that of his clerk, eight hundred dollars.

The attorney general prosecutes and defends all the suits in which the state is interested. And he may not act as attorney in any private suit, unless the people of the state be interested in the event. He receives a salary of one thousand dollars.

The surveyor general superintends surveys and sales of lands belonging to the state. He keeps in his office a map, and when the bounds of a town cannot be delineated, he may order a special survey to determine disputes. He has a salary of eight hundred dollars a year.

The salaries of the preceding, and other officers of the government, legislative, executive and judicial, together with other expenses in administering the government of the state, are paid out of the general fund. The general fund consists of the stocks, debts, and other property of the state, together with the increase and revenue thereof; all moneys paid into the treasury for duties on pedlers; and the fees of office received by the secretary of state, the comptroller, and the surveyor general. These officers receive fixed salaries; and their fees, which are established by law, are paid into the treasury, and constitute a part of the general fund.

clerk? What are the duties of the surveyor general? His salary? How are the expenses of the state officers paid? Of what is the general fund composed?

CHAPTER IV.

Of Counties.-County Officers-their Powers and Du

ties.

For the more convenient administration of justice, it has been found necessary to divide states of any considerable extent, into districts, with administrations adapted to the management of their local affairs. The first grand

division in these United States, is into counties, or shires: these are again subdivided into towns. These districts correspond to similar institutions in England, the country

of our ancestors.

A county or town, as a body corporate, has certain powers and rights. A corporation or body politic, means a number of persons formed or incorporated into one body, with the power of acting under one name. The word corporation is derived from the Latin, corpus, meaning body. Corporations have a perpetual succession. For, when the persons constituting a corporation shall have passed off, and been succeeded by others, the corporation will still exist. Every state, county or town, as well as every bank or turnpike company, acting under a common name, by virtue of a public law, is a corporation.

Each county in the state has a capacity to sue and be sued; tobuy and hold lands within its own limits; to buy and hold such personal property as may be necessary to the exercise of its corporate powers; and to make orders for the regulation and use of its property as the interests of its inhabitants may require.

How are states divided? For what purpose? What is a corporation? What capacity or powers does a county possess?

What

The principal county officers are, the board of supervisors, a county treasurer, a clerk, a sheriff, four coroners. a surrogate, and a district attorney.

The board of supervisors consists of the supervisors of all the towns in the county, who meet annually on a day designated by law, which is, in most of the counties, in the month of October or November; and they may also hold special meetings whenever it may be necessary. Their duties and powers are, to make orders respecting the corporate property of the county; to examine and settle the accounts against the county, and to order the raising of money to defray its expenses; to provide for repairing the court house and jail, and fitting them for the purposes for which they are required. They choose one of their number, at every meeting, to preside as chairman, and appoint some proper person to be their clerk, whose duty it is to record the proceedings of the board, and to preserve and file all accounts passed upon by the board.

The county treasurer is appointed by the board of supervisors, and holds his office at their pleasure. He gives a bond, with sureties, for the faithful execution of his duties. It is his duty to receive all moneys belonging to the county, and all moneys belonging to the state. that are by law directed to be paid to him; and to pay and apply such moneys in the manner required by law, and to render a true account thereof to the board of supervisors and to the comptroller of the state when required

The county clerk is elected by the people at the annual election, and holds his office for three years. He has the custody of all the books records, deeds, parchments, maps

are the principal officers appointed and elected in each county? What are the powers and duties of the board of supervisors? How is the county treasurer appointed? What are his duties? How is the county clerk elected? What are his duties? Of his deputy!

He

and papers, relating to the business of the office. records in books prepared for that purpose, all deeds, mortgages, or other conveyances, and all papers and documents required by law to be recorded. He also files all

He appoints a

papers required to be filed in his office. deputy clerk, who is authorized to perform the duties of the office. County clerks, except in the county of New York, serve also as clerks of all the county and circuit courts held in their respective counties.

Sheriffs also are elected at the annual elections in November, for three years: they may not be re-elected for the next three years. A sheriff is required to give a bond, with sureties, in the penal sum of twenty thousand dollars, for the faithful performance of his duties; and this bond is to be renewed every year. He appoints an under sheriff, who performs the duties of sheriff when the office shall be vacant, and as many deputies as he may think proper. It is the duty of a sheriff to attend the sitting of all courts held in the county; to serve all processes directed to him by any of the state or county courts; to have the custody of the jails and prisons, and the prisonors in the same. Executions issued out of any courts in the state, against the property of any person, are directed to the sheriff of the county in which the person resides.

Coroners. When a person has been slain, or has suddenly died, or has been dangerously wounded, notice is given to the coroner, who goes to the place where such person shall be, and summons a jury to make inquisition respecting such death or wounding. Witnesses are also called, among whom there is a physician or surgeon.The jury upon inspecting the body of the person dead or

How are sherifs elected? What are their duties? What subordiDate officers do they appoint? What are the duties of coroners?

R

wounded, and hearing the testimony, deliver to the corrner their inquisition, in writing, stating in what manner the person came to his death, or was wounded. If a murder or assault has been committed, the coroner binds over the witnesses to appear and testify before the grand jury at the next criminal court to be held in the county. An examination of this kind, into the cause of a person's death, is called a coroner's inquest. Coroners also perform the duties of sheriff, when vacancies happen in the offices of both sheriff and under sheriff.

approves of it.

A surrogate is a person that is appointed to make inquiry into, and settle the estates of persons deceased. He examines witnesses to prove whether the wills made by such persons are valid or not. If he be satisfied that a will was executed as the law requires, he If there be no will, or none that is legal, he appoints an administrator to dispose of the property, and settle the estate. The person exercising the duties of surrogate, is in some states called a judge of probate. Probate is a Latin word, meaning proof; and is used in law to signify the proving of a will. Surrogates, in this state, are appointed by the governor and senate.

The district attorney attends the courts of oyer and terminer and jail delivery, and general sessions, and conducts all prosecutions for crimes cognizable in such courts.

What other duties sometimes devolve on them? What are the duties of a surrogate? Of a district attorney?