members are appointed by each avoyer, one by each ſeizenier and ſenator, and two or three others by other officers of ſtate: if there are more vacancies, they are filled by the election of the ſeizeniers and ſenators.
The ſeizeniers, who have this elective power, are drawn by lot from among thoſe members of the o-rand council who have held the office of bailiffs, and who have finiſhed the term of their adminiſtration. The bannerets and ſeizeniers have, by the conſtitution, an authority, for three days in Eaſter, reſembling that of the cenſors in ancient Rome, and may deprive any member of either council of his place; but, as their ſentence muſt be confirmed by the great council, they never exerciſe their power. There are ſix noble families at Berne, who enjoy the precedence of all the other ſenators, although more ancient members, and have rank immediately after the bannerets.
The principal magiſtrates are, the two avoyers, who hold their offices for life; the two treaſurers, who continue for ſix years; and the four bannerets, who remain only four. The avoyers officiate alternately a year; and the reigning avoyer, although he preſides in council, in an elevated ſeat under a canopy, and has the public ſeal before him, has no vote except in caſes of equal diviſions, and never gives his opinion unleſs it is required. The avoyer, out of office, is the firſt ſenator and preſident of the ſecret council.
The ſecret council is compoſed of the avoyer out of office, the four bannerets, the two trcaſurers, and two other ſecret counſellors taken from the ſenate. In this body all affairs that re-
