1778-06-27 (static/transcriptions/1778/06/034.jpg)

1778. Sessions. Saturday June 27th.

Present
Sir Robert Chambers
&
Mr. Justice Hyde.

This was the last day of the Sessions and nothing remain’d to be done but pronouncing the Sentences, which my brother Chambers did.
The burning on allowance of Clergy is to be on the left thumb.
There were several Prisoners in the Prison for contempts: My brother Chambers had some inclination to discharge these at the end of the Sessions, but I approved it, because I am of opinion, the Session, so far as it may be consider’d as a Court distinct from the Supreme Court of Judicature has no authority over these commitments, and that the Session being over, was no reason why these Prisoners for contempts should be discharged, because they were not committed for Indictment and Trial, but for punishment, and therefore the discharge ought to be, by the same authority as the commitment, that is, by the Supreme Court of Judicature at Fort William in Bengal, if in term. Or as I
think