Revised Jun 19 2021
The customs and laws of this community are worthy of attention, more from their being of spontaneous growth, unaffected by any external influences, than on account of anything remarkable or specially curious in themselves. In fact, their primitive simplicity of manner, the absence of vice, the want of scope for the development of any of the more violent passions, naturally induce what may be termed, “a matter of course state of things ;“ such a state as every one can conceive, and hardly any one has seen.
The chief magistrate is elected annually by suffrage, even more universal (pardon the bull) than any thing I have heard proposed at home; all the married people voting, men and women alike, and all the single above eighteen years of age. Many might suppose that the honour of the magistracy would be anxiously sought after; but such is not the case. Most of them, to use their own expression, would sooner give the whole community a feast, than be raised to so troublesome a dignity. The duties of that office are onerous; against which there is nothing to throw into the other scale, but the temporary respect in which he is held. He is allowed two councillors, or assessors, to assist him.
On the Queen’s birthday, which is kept as a public holyday, one of the Bounty's old guns is fired, which is very much honey-combed, having been under water in the sea somewhere about fifty-five years—which will some day give them reason to repent their temerity. Before the day is spent, they all collect by order of the magistrate in front of the church, hoist the royal standard (which is a silk pocket handkerchief), and give three hearty cheers for their beloved Queen. Whenever an English man-of-war visits the island, the captain always inquires whether the magistrate has any complaint to make to him about any one on the island, or regarding the conduct of those belonging to any vessels which have called, since the last visit of a Queen’s ship. Their laws, which relate chiefly to property, are enacted at public meetings.