AUTHORITIES.

Parliamentary Debates, Reports, Estimates, Returns, especially from 1760 to 1775, and during the last thirty years.

Reports of Colonial Legislatures.

1852. 2 vols.

Colonial Policy, Earl Grey. 1852.

Report of Committee of House of Commons, 1857, printed in 1859.

Report of Select Com. of the House of Commons on Colonial Military Expenditure. 1861.

Arthur Mills, M.P.-Colonial Constitutions. 1856. Charters of Old English Colonies in America, by Samuel Lucas.

Story on Constitution of United States. 2 vols.

Graham's History of United States. 4 vols.

Bancroft's History. 8 vols.

Herman Merivale's Lectures on Colonization and Colo

nies. 1861.

Holmes' Annals.

1829.

Chalmers' Political Annals.

Right Hon. C. B. Adderley, M.P.-Pamphlet on Colonies. 1862.

Hallam, May, Russell, on Constitutional History of England.

Lord Brougham's Colonial Policy.

Flanigan's History of New South Wales.

BRITAIN AND HER COLONIES.

CHAPTER I.

GOVERNMENT OF THE FIRST ENGLISH COLONIES.

First Permanent English Settlement in America-The Two Centres of Colonization-Difference in their Origin and Development-First Representative Body-New EnglandOrigin and Character of Government: Assemblies, Church, Oath of Supremacy, Pure Democracy, Representative Government-Charter by William and Mary, 1691-Blackstone's Divisions of Colonies-Omnipotence of ParliamentPp. 1-11.

THE first permanent English settlement made in America in 1606 under a charter from James I. to Sir Thomas Gates and his associates. That charter granted to them the territories in America lying on the sea-coast between the 34th and 45th degrees of north latitude, and the islands adjacent within 100 miles. The associates were

B

divided into two companies, one was to settle between the 34th and 41st degrees of north latitude, and the other to the north. By degrees the name of Virginia was given to the first or southern colony; the second assumed the name of the Plymouth Company, and New England was founded by them.

The charter of the Virginia colony was altered in 1609 and 1612. From this period the progress of the two provinces, Virginia and New England, forms a regular and connected history. The former in the south and the latter in the north, may be considered as the original and parent states of the northern and southern portions of the republic. From these two centres, the one in Virginia and the other on Plymouth rock, have sprung two great groups of nations, differing in the character of their founders, in the development which the two have received, and destined apparently to diverge still more widely from each other in the future. The settlements in Virginia were the earliest by a few years. As they increased in numbers they grew impatient for the privileges which they had enjoyed under the government of their native country. To quiet this uneasiness, Sir George Yeardley, then the governor, called a general assembly, composed of the representatives of the various plantations. This assembly, which met at

James Town, in Virginia, in June 1619, composed of the governor, the newly-appointed council, and the delegates of the boroughs, constituted the first representative body convened in America. The general assembly was to imitate and follow the policy and form of government, laws, customs, and manner of trial used in the realm of England, as near as may be.'

In 1621 they received a written constitution. The form of government was analogous to that of England, and was, with some modifications, the model of the constitutions which were afterwards granted by the crown to the various colonies in America: a governor was to be appointed by the company; a permanent council likewise appointed by the company; a general assembly, to be convened yearly, to consist of the council and two burgesses to be chosen from each of the several plantations. The courts of justice were required to conform to the laws and manner of trial used in England. This corporation was dissolved in 1624, and the King issued a commission appointing a governor and twelve councillors, to whom was committed the government of the infant commonwealth.

The first settlers of New England, while yet at sea, drew up and signed an original compact, in which, after acknowledging themselves subjects of the crown of England, they declare, 'We covenant and combine

ourselves together into a civil body politic for our better ordering and preservation; and by virtue hereof, do enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws and ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general good of the colony.' This compact was signed by forty-one persons. It established a pure democracy. They organized a government under the name of New Plymouth, but considered themselves as planting a colony in the northern part of Virginia. They at once appointed a governor and other officers, and proceeded to enact laws. The governor was chosen annually by the freemen. The supreme legislative power resided in and was exercised by the whole body of the male inhabitants who were members of the church. A House of Representatives was established in 1639, the members of which, as well as all the other officers, were annually chosen.

The Plymouth colonists acted at first under the mutual agreement formed at sea. In 1629 a patent was obtained from the council at Plymouth, England, under the charter of James, given in 1620; but the patent not being confirmed by the crown, the colony remained in law a mere voluntary association. They did not fail, however, to avail themselves of all the provisions granted in that document. Having lost