we will here give the number of Judicial Districts in each State as they now exist, and the total number in all the States. They are as follows: CHAPTER XVIII. Court of Claims. 1. THIS court was established by act of Congress in 1855. A brief extract from the law itself, will best explain the object of its creation, its jurisdiction, powers and duties. The law reads thus: "A court shall be established to be called the Court of Claims, to consist of three judges, to be appointed by the President and Senate, and to hold their offices during good behavior; and the said court shall hear and determine all claims founded upon any law of Congress, or upon any regulation of an Executive department, or upon any contract express or implied, with the government of the United States; which may be suggested to it by a petition filed therein; and also all claims which may be referred to said court by either house of Congress." 2. On the third of March, 1863, the jurisdiction of this court was enlarged, and two additional judges appointed, (making five,) from the whole number of which the President was authorized to appoint one a Chief Justice for said court. 3. The mode of commencing proceeding before this tribunal is by petition; in which the claimant must fully set forth his claim, how it arose, its amount, and the parties interested therein. After the case has been heard and determined, the court reports to Congress what its decision is, and if favorable to the claimant, a bill is passed for his relief. 4. It holds one session a year, in Washington, commencing on the first Monday in October, and continuing as long as business before it requires. It not only tries claims against the government, but by its enlarged jurisdiction, conferred in 1863, it also tries counter claims, and set-offs, which the United States may have against the claimant. Appeals are taken from the Court of Claims to the Supreme Court of the United States, when the amount in controversy exceeds $3,000. 5. Before the establishment of this court, the only remedy persons having claims upon the government had, was by petitioning to Congress for relief; which experience proved to be a long, tedious and expensive mode of obtaining their dues. The petition now goes to this court, where it is heard and adjudicated in the same form, and by the same rules of procedure which are observed in other courts; for Congress has conferred upon it all the powers commonly possessed by other courts of law. It also has a seal. 6. It has greatly facilitated the settlement of claims against the government, and has relieved Congress of a great amount of labor, which was urgently pressed upon it at every session. 7. In addition to the five judges, it has a Solicitor, an Assistant Solicitor, and a Deputy Solicitor, all of whom are appointed by the President and Senate; and are officers of the court, whose duty it is faithfully to defend the United States in all matters and claims before this court. The Judges receive $4,000 per annum salary. The Solicitor and Assistant Solicitor receive $3,500 each, and the Deputy Solicitor $2,500 per annum. A bailiff, a clerk, a crier and messenger, all of whom are appointed by the court, make up the remaining officials. In order to give the reader a better idea of proceedings in this tribunal, it may be stated that claimants stand in relation of plaintiffs, and the government in that of defendant. CHAPTER XIX. District Attorneys. 1. In the twelfth chapter we spoke of the appointment, position and duties of the Attorney General of the United States, and originally intended to place our remarks upon the District Attorneys, next in order; but subsequently changed this plan, and determined to place them immediately after those upon the courts; for next to the judges, they—the District Attorneys— are the higest officers in both the Circuit and District Courts. By reading this and the twelfth chapter consecutively, a better understanding of both these classes of officials may be gained, and a clearer insight into the judicial machinery of the government. 2. In another place we have spoken of the division of the United States (see political divisions), into Judicial Districts, in each of which there is held a District Court, and a District Attorney is appointed for each court, in the same manner that the Attorney General is appointed. He bears the same official relation to these courts, and has similar duties to perform in them, that the Attorney General has in the Supreme Court. It is his duty "to prosecute in such district all delinquents for crimes and offences cognizable under the authority of the United States, and all civil actions in which the United States shall be concerned." They are his clients, and he must enforce their rights, and defend them, in the same |