subjected themselves unto us, and being by us taken into our special protection,) without the knowledge and consent of the governor and company of our colony at Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

Also, our will and pleasure is, and we do hereby declare unto all christian kings, princes, and states, that, if any person, who shall hereafter be of the said company or plantation, or any other, by appointment of the said governor and company, for the time being, shall, at any time or times hereafter, rob or spoil, by sea or land, or do any hurt, or unlawful hostility, to any of the subjects of us, our heirs and successors, or to any of the subjects of any prince or state, being then in league with us, our heirs, and successors, upon complaint of such injury done to any such prince or state, or their subjects, we, our heirs, and successors, will make open proclamation, within any part of our realm of England, fit for that purpose, that the person or persons committing any such robbery or spoil shall, within the time limited by such proclamation, make full restitution or satisfaction of all such injuries done or committed, so as the said prince, or others, so complaining, may be fully satisfied and contented; and if the said person or persons, who shall commit any such robbery or spoil, shall not make satisfaction accordingly, within such time so to be limited, that then we, our heirs and successors, will put such person or persons out of our allegiance and protection; and, that then it shall and may be lawful and free for all princes or others to prosecute with hostility such offenders, and every of them, their and every of their procurers, aiders, abettors, and counsellors, in that behalf.

Provided, also, and our express will and pleasure is, and we do, by these presents, for us, our heirs, and successors, ordain and appoint, that these presents shall not in any manner hinder any of our loving subjects whatsoever from using and exercising the trade of fishing upon the coast of New England, in America; but that they, and every or any of them, shall have full and free power and liberty to continue and use the trade of fishing upon the said coast; in any of the seas thereunto adjoining, or any arms of the sea, or salt water rivers and creeks, where they have been accustomed to fish; and to build and set upon the waste land, belonging to the said colony and plantations, such wharves, stages, and work-houses, as shall be necessary for the salting, drying, and keeping of their fish, to be taken or gotten upon that coast.

And further, for the encouragement of the inhabitants of our said colony of Providence Plantations to set upon the business of taking whales, it shall be lawful for them, or any of them, having struck a whale, dubertus, or other great fish, it or them to pursue unto that coast, or into any bay, river, cove, creek, or shore, belonging thereto, and it or them upon the said coast,

or in the said bay, river, cove, creek, or shore, belonging thereto, to kill and order for the best advantage, without molestation, they making no wilful waste or spoil; any thing in these presents contained, or any other matter or thing, to the contrary notwithstanding.

And further, also, we are graciously pleased, and do hereby declare, that if any of the inhabitants of our said colony do set upon the planting of vineyards, (the soil and climate both seeming naturally to concur to the production of vines,) or be industrious in the discovery of fishing banks, in or about the said colony, we will, from time to time, give and allow all due and fitting encouragement therein, as to others in cases of a like nature.

And further, of our more ample grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, we have given and granted, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, do give and grant unto the said governor and company of the English colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in the Narraganset Bay, in New England, in America, and to every inhabitant there, and to every person and persons trading thither, and to every such person or persons as are or shall be free of the said colony, full power and authority, from time to time, and at all times hereafter, to take, ship, transport, and carry away out of any of our realms and dominions, for and towards the plantation and defence of the said colony, such and so many of our loving subjects and strangers, as shall or will, willingly, accompany them in and to their said colony and plantations, except such person or persons as are or shall be therein restrain. ed by us, our heirs and successors, or any law or statute of this realm: and also to ship and transport all and all manner of goods, chattels, merchandises, and other things whatsoever, that are or shall be useful, or necessary for the said plantations, and defence thereof, and usually transported, and not prohibited by any law or statute of this our realm; yielding and paying unto us, our heirs and successors, such duties, customs, and subsidies, as are or ought to be paid or payable for the same.

And further, our will and pleasure is, and we do, for us, our heirs and successors, ordain, declare and grant, unto the said governor and company, and their successors, that all and every the subjects of us, our heirs and successors, which are already planted and settled within our said colony of Providence Plantations, or which shall hereafter go to inhabit within the said colony, and all and every of their children which have been born there, or which shall happen hereafter to be born there, or on the sea going thither, or returning from thence, shall have and enjoy all liberties and immunities of free and natural subjects, within any of the dominions of us, our heirs and successors, to all intents, constructions, and purposes

whatsoever, as if they and every of them were born within the realm of England.

And further, know ye, that we, of our more abundant grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, have given, granted, and confirmed, and, by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, do give, grant, and confirm unto the said governor and company, and their successors, all that part of our dominions, in New England, in America, containing the Nahantick and Nanhyganset alias Narraganset bay, and countries and parts adjacent, bounded on the west or westerly, to the middle or channel of a river there, commonly called and known by the name of Pawcatuck alias Pawcawtuck river; and so, along the said river, as the greater or middle stream thereof stretches or lies up into the north country northward unto the head thereof, and from thence, by a straight line drawn due north, until it meet with the south line of the Massachusetts colony; and on the north or northerly by the aforesaid south or southerly line of the Massachusetts colony or plantation, and extending towards the east or eastwardly three English miles, to the east and north-east of the most eastern and north-eastern parts of the aforesaid Narraganset bay, as the said bay lieth or extendeth itself from the ocean on the south or southwardly, unto the mouth of the river which runneth towards the town of Providence; and from thence, along the eastwardly side or bank of the said river (higher called by the name of Seacunck,) up to the falls called Patucket Falls, being the most westwardly line of Plymouth colony; and so, from the said falls, in a straight line, due north, until it meet with the aforesaid line of the Massachusetts colony, and bounded on the south by the ocean, and in particular the lands belonging to the town of Providence, Patuxit, Warwick, Misquammacock, alias Pawcatuck, and the rest upon the main land, in the tract aforesaid, together with Rhode Island, Block Island, and all the rest of the islands and banks in Narraganset bay, and bordering upon the coast of the tract aforesaid, (Fisher's island only excepted,) together with all firm lands, soils, grounds, havens, ports, rivers, waters, fishings, mines royal, and all other mines, minerals, precious stones, quarries, woods, wood grounds, rocks, slates, and all and singular other commodities, jurisdictions, royalties, privileges, franchises, pre-eminences, and hereditaments whatsoever, within the said tract, bounds, lands, and islands aforesaid, to them or any of them belonging, or in any wise appertaining: to have and to hold the same, unto the said governor and company, and their successors for ever, upon trust, for the use and benefit of themselves and their associates, freemen of the said colony, their heirs and assigns;-to be holden of us, our heirs and successors, as of the manor of East Greenwich, in our county of Kent, in free and common soccage, and not in capite, nor by knight's service;-yielding and paying therefor to us, our

heirs and successors, only the fifth part of all the ore of gold and silver which, from time to time, and at all times hereafter, shall be there gotten, had, or obtained, in lieu and satisfaction of all services, duties, fines, forfeitures, made or to be made, claims, or demands, whatsoever, to be to us, our heirs, or sucsessors, therefore or thereabout rendered, made, or paid; any grant or clause in a late grant to the governor and company of Connecticut colony, in America, to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding; the aforesaid Pawcatuck river having been yielded, after much debate, for the fixed and certain bounds between these our said colonies, by the agents thereof, who have also agreed, that the said Pawcatuck river shall also be called alias Narrogancett or Narragansett river, and to prevent future disputes that otherwise might arise thereby, for ever hereafter shall be construed, deemed, and taken to be the Narragancett river, in our late grant to Connecticut colony, mentioned as the easterly bounds of that colony.

And further, our will and pleasure is, that in all matters of public controversies, which may fall out between our colony of Providence Plantations, to make their appeal therein to us, our heirs and successors, for redress in such cases, within this our realm of England; and that it shall be lawful to and for the inhabitants of the said colony of Providence Plantations, without let or molestation, to pass and repass with freedom into and through the rest of the English colonies, upon their lawful and civil occasions, and to converse and hold commerce and trade with such of the inhabitants of our other English colonies, as shall be willing to admit them them thereunto, they behav. ing themselves peaceably among them; any act, clause, or sentence in any of the said colonies, provided, or that shall be provided, to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

And lastly, we do, for us, our heirs and successors, ordain and grant, unto the said governor and company, and their successors, by these presents, that these our letters patent shall be firm, good, effectual, and available, in all things in the law, to all intents, constructions, and purposes whatsoever, according to our true intent and meaning herein before declared, and shall be construed, reputed, and adjudged, in all cases most favourable on the behalf, and for the best benefit and behoof of the said governor and company, and their successors, although express mention, &c. În witness, &c.

Witness, &c. Per Ipsum Regum.

[The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations has not assumed a form of government different from that contained in the foregoing charter. For in that, the king ceded to the governor and company all powers, legislative, executive, and judicial, reserving to himself, as an acknowledgment of his sovereignty, a render of the fifth part of the gold and silver ore

that should be found within the territory. The governor, chief magistrates, and legislators, are chosen by the freemen, as usual, and all judicial and executive officers are annually elected by the governor and company, or upper and lower house of assembly. All processes, original and judicial, formerly issued in the king's name, but they now issue in the name of the governor and company. The oaths of allegiance and of office are made conformable to the principles of the revolution. The governor, in his legislative capacity, cannot give a negative to any act of the two houses; but, in common with the other magistrates, has one voice only.

The state is divided into five counties, in each of which there is a court of common pleas and general sessions of the peace, held twice every year, for the trial of all causes not capital, that arise within their limits; from which an appeal lies to the superior court of judicature, court of assize and general gaol delivery, whose jurisdiction extends over the whole state, and who also sit twice a year in each county. The constitution admits not of religious establishments, any further than depends upon the voluntary choice of individuals. All men professing a belief in one Supreme Being, are equally protected by the laws; and no particular sect can claim pre-eminence.]

CONSTITUTION OF CONNECTICUT.

PREAMBLE.

THE people of Connecticut, acknowledging, with gratitude, the good providence of God, in having permitted them to enjoy a free government, do, in order more effectually to define, secure, and perpetuate the liberties, rights, and privileges which they have derived from their ancestors, hereby, after a careful consideration and revision, ordain and establish the following constitution and form of civil government.

ARTICLE 1.

Declaration of Rights.

That the great and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and established, we declare: § 1. That all men, when they form a social compact, are equal in rights; and that no man, or set of men, are entitled to exclusive public emoluments or privileges from the community.