The city of Batavia, and all the dominions possessed by the company in the East Indies, are governed by two supreme councils, one of which is named the Council of the Indies, and the other the Council of Justice, both of which are fixed at Batavia, the capital of the dominions belonging to the company.  To the first of these belong all matters of government, and the entire direction of public affairs, and to the other the administration of justice in all its branches.  The governor-general always presided in the former of these councils, which is ordinarily composed of eighteen or twenty persons, called counsellors of the Indies; but it seldom happens that these are all at Batavia at one time, as they are usually promoted to the seven governments which are at the disposal of the company.  This council assembles regularly twice a-week, besides as often extraordinarily as the governor pleases.  They deliberate on all affairs concerning the interest of the company, and superintend the government of the island of Java and its dependencies:  But in affairs of very great importance, the approbation and consent of the directors of the company in Europe must be had.  From this Council of the Indies, orders and instructions are sent to all the other governments, which must be implicitly obeyed.  In this council, all letters addressed to the governor or director-general are read and debated, and answers agreed upon by a plurality of voices.

The Council of Justice consists of a president, who is generally a counsellor of the Indies, together with eight counsellors of justice, a fiscal or attorney-general for affairs of government, another fiscal for maritime affairs, and a secretary.  The first fiscal has a vote along with the counsellors, and receives a third part of all fines below an hundred florins, and a sixth part of all above that sum.  The duty of his office is to observe that the laws are obeyed, and to prefer informations against those who break them.  The fiscal of the sea has jurisdiction over all frauds committed in commerce, in cases of piracy, or in whatever tends to disturb the settled rules of maritime affairs.  Besides these sovereign tribunals, there is a council of the city of Batavia, consisting of nine burgomasters or aldermen, including a president, who is always a member of the Council of the Indies, and a vice-president.  The bailiff of the city, and the commissary of the adjacent territory, have also seats in this council, to which likewise there is a secretary.

The governor-general is head of the empire belonging to the company in India, being as it were stadtholder, captain-general, and admiral of the Indies.  By his office he is president of the supreme council, in which he has two voices.  He has the keys of all the magazines, and directs every thing belonging to them, without being accountable to any one.  He commands by his own proper authority, and every person is bound to obey him, so that his authority