A curious relic among the documents of the Lasselle Collection is an early form of commission for the office of Justice of the Peace. Francis "Bussero," to whom the commission was issued, properly spelled Busseron, or Bosseron, was one of the most prominent French citizens of Vincennes at the time of the conquest and for some years after. He was a Major in the militia and his name is to the present day perpetuated in Knox County by a creek and a village.

The commission, issued by the "Honourable Winthrop Sargent, Esquire," who is "vested with all the powers of the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Territory of the United States Northwest of the River Ohio," and bearing the Seal of the Territory, is curious by reason of a legal wording that seems little short of barbarous maltreatment of language, and it is interesting a s showing the functions imposed upon the magistrate. He seems, indeed, to have been a Justice, a Prosecuting Attorney and a Grand Jury all rolled into one. The commission follows:

"To all unto whom these Presents shall come, Greeting:

"Know ye that we have assigned and constituted, and do by these Presents constitute and appoint Francis Bussero, Esquire, to be one of the justices to keep the Peace of the Quorum in our county of Knox, and to keep and cause to be kept, the Laws and Ordinances made for the Good of the Peace, and for the Conservation of the same, and for the Quiet, rule and Government of our Citizens and Subjects in the said county in all and every the Articles thereof according to the Force, Form and Effect of the same, and to chastise and punish all Persons offending against the Form of those Laws and Ordinances, or any of them, in the county aforesaid, as according to the Form of those Laws Ordinances, shall be fit to be done; and to cause to come before him, the said Francis Bussero, Esquire, all those that shall break the Peace, or attempt anything against the same, or that shall threaten any of the Citizens or Subjects in their Persons, or in burning their Houses, to find sufficient security for the peace, and for the good Behavior toward the Citizens and Subjects of this Government; and if they shall refuse to find such security, then to cause them to be kept save in Prison until they shall find the same; and to do and perform in the county aforesaid, all and whosoever, according to our Laws and Ordinances, or any of them, a Justice of the Peace & Quorum may and ought to do (according to the Tenor of the Commission to them granted) to enquire by the oaths of good and lawful men of the said county by whom the Truth may be better known, of all and all Manner of Thefts, Trespasses, Riots, Routs and unlawful Assemblies whatsoever, and all and singular other Misdeeds and offenses of which by Law Justices of the Peace in their General Sessions may and ought to enquire, by whomsoever or howsoever done or perpetrated, or which shall hereafter happen, howsoever to be done or attempted in the county aforesaid, contrary to the Form of the Laws and Ordinances aforesaid, made for the common good of our Citizens and Subjects; And with other Justices of the Peace (according to the Tenor of the Commission to them granted as aforesaid) to hear and determine all and singular the said Thefts, Trespasses, Riots, Routs, unlawful Assemblies, and all and singular other Premises, and to do therein as to Justice appertaineth, according to the laws, Statutes and Ordinances Aforesaid.

"In Testimony Whereof, we have caused our Public Seal to be hereunto affixed: Witness Winthrop Sargent Esqr. Vested with all the Powers of Our Governor and Commander-in-Chief.

Dated at Post Vincennes the third day of July, Anno Domini One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety, and in the fourteenth year of the Independence of the United States of America.

"W. Sargent,

"Secretary.

"Before me, Winthrope Sargent, appeared Francis Bussero, Esqre. And took the oath prescribed to all officers by an Act of the United States, and also the Oath of Office as directed by the Laws of this Territory.

"In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this fifty day of July, 1790.

"W. Sargent."