and war, decides appeals in the laſt reſort; elects the treaſurer, the fourth in rank in the ſtate, and the exterior bailiffs. The thirty-three ſenators conſiſt of eleven alt-raths or ſenior counſellors, and twenty-two yunk-raths or juniors. Upon the removal by death of one of the alt-raths, the eldeſt of the yunk-raths ſuccecds him, and this vacancy is filled, out of the great council, by election of the eleven alt-raths. From among the alt-raths, the two avoyers, the banneret, and the treaſurer, the four principal magiſtrates of the commonwealth, are choſen; and on the death of an avoyer, the banneret ſucceeds to his place, after having gone through the formality of a nomination by the general aſſembly of citizens. Vacancies in the grand council are ſupplied by the alt-raths, from the ſame tribe to which the deceaſed member belonged. There is an annual meeting of the whole body of the citizens, in which the avoyers and banneret are confirmed in their places: the ſenior and junior counſellors at the ſame time mutually confirm each other. All theſe confirmations are matters of courſe, and mere form. All other public employments are diſpofed of by the ſenate.
The revenues of the public, and ſalaries of offices, are very conſiderable, and afford the few diſtinguifhed families very profitable emoluments. The grand ſautier is annually elected by all the citizens. There are ſeveral tribunals and chambers: the ſecret council, formed of the two avoyers, the banneret, the treaſurer, the moſt ancient of the ſenators of the firſt; order or alt-raths, the ſecretary of ſtate, and attorney-general: the council of war: the council of juſtice, which is compoſed of ſix members of the little council, and eleven members of the grand council, one
