islands and banks in the Narraganset Bay, and bordering upon the coaft of the tract aforesaid, (Fisher's Ifland only excepted) together with all firm lands, foils, grounds, havens, ports, rivers, waters, fishings, mines royal and all other mines, minerals, precious ftones, quarries, woods, wood-grounds, rocks, flates, and all and fingular other commodities, jurisdictions, royalties, privileges, franchises, pre-eminencies and hereditaments whatsoever, within the faid tract, bounds, lands, and islands aforesaid, to them or any of them belonging, or in anywife appertaining. To have and to hold the fame unto the said Governor and Company, and their fucceffors forever, upon truft, for the use and benefit of themfelves, and their affociates, freemen of the faid Colony, their heirs and affigns. To be holden of us, our heirs and fucceffors, as of the manor of Eaft-Greenwich in our

county of

and not in

Kent, in free and common foccage, capite, nor by knights fervice. Yielding and paying therefor to us, our heirs and fucceffors, only the fifth part of all the ore of gold and filver, which from time to time, and at all times hereafter, shall be there gotten, had or obtained, in lieu and fatisfaction of all fervices, duties,

fines, forfeitures, made or to be made, claims or demands whatsoever, to be to us, our heirs or fucceffors, therefor or thereabout rendered, made or paid; any grant or claufe, in a late grant to the Governor and Company of Connecticut Colony in America, to the contrary thereof in any wife notwithstanding; the aforefaid Pawcatuck river having been yielded after much debate, for the fixed and certain bounds between thefe our faid Colonies, by the Agents thereof; who have alfo agreed, that the faid Pawcatuck river fhall alfo be called alias Narrogancett or Narroganfett river, and to prevent future disputes that otherwise might arise thereby, for ever hereafter fhall be conftrued, deemed and taken to be the Narrogancett river, in our late grant to Connecticut Colony, mentioned as the easterly bounds of that Colony. And further, our will and pleafure is, that in all matters of public controverfies, which may fall out be tween our Colony of Connecticut and Providence Plantation, to make their appeal therein to us, our heirs and fucceffors, for redrefs in fuch cafes, within this our realm of England: and that it fhall be lawful to and for the inhabitants of the faid Colony of Providence Plantation without lett or molestation to pass and repass with free

dom

dom into and through the rest of the English Colonies upon their lawful and civil occafions, and to converfe, and hold commerce, and trade with such of the inhabitants of our other English Colonies, as fhall be willing to admit them thereunto, they behaving themselves peaceably among them; any act, clause, or fentence, in any of the faid Colonies provided, or that shall be provided, to the contrary in any wife notwithstanding. And laftly, we do for us, our heirs and fucceffors, ordain and grant unto the faid Governor and Company, and their fucceffors, by these prefents, that these our letters patents fhall be firm, good, effectual, and available, in all things in the law, to all intents, constructions and purposes whatfoever, according to our true intent and meaning herein before declared; and fhall be conftrued, reputed and adjudged in all cafes, moft favourably on the behalf, and for the best benefit and behoof of the faid Governor and Com→ pany, and their fucceffors, although exprefs mention, &c. In witnefs, &c. witnefs, &c. Per Ipfum Regem.

[Since the commencement of hoftilities by Great Britain, the State of Rhode-Inland and Provi

Providence Plantations has not affumed 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, referving to himself, as an acknowledgement of his fovereignty, a render of the fifth part of the gold and filver ore that fhould be found within the territory. The Governor, chief magiftrates, and legiflators are chosen by the freemen as ufual, and all judicial and executive officers are annually elected by the Governor and Company, or Upper and Lower House of Affembly. All proceffes, original and judicial, formerly iffued in the King's name, but they now iffue 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 legiflative capacity, cannot give a negative to act of the two Houfes; but, in common with the other magiftrates, has one voice only.

any

The State is divided into five counties, in each of which there is a Court of Common Pleas and General Seffions of the Peace, held twice every year, for the trial of all caufes not

capital,

capital, that arife within their limits; from which an appeal lies to the fuperior court of judicature, court of affize and general jail delivery, whofe jurifdiction extends over the whole State, and who alfo fit twice a-year in each county: The Conftitution admits not of religious establishments, any farther than depends upon the voluntary choice of individuals. All men profeffing one Supreme Being are equally protected by the laws, and no particular fect can claim pre-eminence.