The whole number of persons gratuitously taught at the public schools, the Sunday schools, and by the different societies established for the purpose, exceeds 13,000. PART X. COURTS OF JUDICATURE, AND INSTITUTIONS CONNECTED WITH THE ADMINIS TRATION OF JUSTICE. In Philadelphia are held the several Courts of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Supreme Court for the Eastern District, and the several County Courts, 1. Circuit Court of the United States. Under the present organization of the federal judiciary, this court, which consists of one of the judges of the Supreme Court and the district judge, is held twice in each year, on the 11th of April and of October. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction. In the former case, the matter in controversy in civil suits must be of the value of five hundred dollars and upwards, and one of the parties must be a citizen of another state or of a foreign country. The proceedings are either at common law or by the course of chancery. This court has also original criminal jurisdiction of offences against the laws of the United States, or the laws of nations. Suits may also be brought by appeal and writ of error into the Circuit Court from the District Court. The present judge of the Circuit Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, is Bushrod Washington, Esq. The court sits in the southern chamber on the second floor of the County Court-House, at the corner of Sixth and Chesnut streets. 2. The District Court of the United States Is held by the district judge alone. It has four stated terms in each year-viz. on the third Mondays of February, May, August and November. Special sessions are held weekly, when business requires. This court has jurisdiction at com mon law, to a limited extent; criminal jurisdiction, also to a limited extent; jurisdiction of cases arising under the revenue laws of the United States; and admiralty jurisdiction. The present district judge is Richard Peters, Esq. The Court occupies the same room with the Circuit Court. 3. Supreme Court of Pennsylvania for the Eastern District. This court possesses original jurisdiction within the city and county of Philadelphia, where the matter in controversy exceeds five hundred dollars; and appellate jurisdiction in all cases, by writ of error to the Common Pleas and District Courts, and appeal to the Orphan's Court. The judges sit in bank, to hear appeals and writs of error, on the third Mondays in December and March; and courts of Nisi Prius are also held for thirty-three weeks in each year, if the business of the court require it. The present judges are, William Tilghman, Esq. chief justice; John Banister Gibson and Thomas Duncan, Esqrs., justices. The court sits in the northern chamber on the second floor of the County CourtHouse. 4. The District Court for the City and County of Phila delphia, Was established by an Act passed in 1810, and re-organized and continued by another Act passed in 1821. The court consists of three judges, two of whom sit for the trial of causes by jury. It has four terms for the return of process-viz. March, June, September, and December, and original jurisdiction of all causes where the matter in controversy exceeds one hundred dollars, but no criminal or appellate jurisdiction. The present judges (whose commissions will expire on the 30th of March, 1825) are, Moses Levy, Esq. President; Joseph B. M'Kean and Benjamin R. Morgan, Esqrs. associate judges. The court sits in the northern room of the first floor of the County Court-House. 5. The Common Pleas for the City and County of Philadelphia, Has existed under this name from the earliest periods of the colony. At present, it has a very limited original jurisdiction. Its principal business arises from appeals from the · judgments of aldermen and justices of the peace, and certioraris to the same tribunals, This Court has also jurisdiction of cases of insolvent debtors applying for a discharge from imprisonment. It has four terms-viz. March, June, September, and December; and sits for the transaction of its business in the south room on the first floor of the County Court-House. The judges are-John Hallowell, Esq., President; George Morton and Hugh Ferguson, Esqrs. associate judges. 6. Orphan's Court. This is a tribunal of limited and special powers, taking cognizance only of cases of intestate's estates, the accounts of executors, administrators, guardians, &c. It is held by the judges of the Common Pleas, in the same room with that court. The stated sessions are the third Friday of each month. 7. The Courts of Oyer and Terminer and General Gaol Delivery, Are held twice in each year for the city and county of Phidelphia, by the judges of the Supreme Court and of the Common Pleas alternately. The jurisdiction of this court is general, but in practice it is confined to cases of which the Quarter Sessions has not jurisdiction, or such as are attended with circumstances of particular aggravation. The court generally sits in the Common Pleas room. 8. The Quarter Sessions, Held by the judges of the Common Pleas, sits four terms in each year, for the trial of criminal cases arising within the county, and out of the bounds of the city. Its jurisdiction is exercised only in cases of minor felonies and misdemeanors. This court is also invested with cognizance of cases of roads and highways, cases under the poor-laws, and such as relate to apprentices; and has the power to grant tavern licenses. Its sessions are held in the Common Pleas room. 9. The Mayor's Court, For the city of Philadelphia, has the same criminal jurisdiction of cases arising within the limits of the city, as the Sessions has for the county. It is held by the mayor, record |