The document summarizes the administration of justice in Madras from 1639-1726. It describes the evolution of the court system over this period with three key stages: 1) Establishment of the Court of Admiralty in 1686 by the East India Company to try maritime and commercial cases according to Roman law and merchant customs. 2) Creation of a Corporation in 1687 that established the Mayor's Court, headed by a mayor and aldermen, to try all civil and criminal cases in the settlement. 3) By 1726, the judicial structure was reorganized, establishing separate Admiralty, Governor's, and Mayor's courts, as well as Choultry Courts, to administer justice in the growing