.48 A. D. 1715. 



In New-Engkind, which have done nothing amifs, fliall be the only fuf- 

 ferers : it is therefor humbly prayed, that this province may ftill enjoy 

 its privileges, by being excepted out of the bill. 



With refped: to the Connecticut charter, which was alfo intended to 

 be taken away by tins bill ; it had, like* other charter governments, a 

 grant from the crown, whereby they were empowered to appoint all their 

 own oiTicers, civil and military, for the adminiftration and execution of 

 juflice : the firft planters, entirely confiding in the royal charter for the 

 lecurity of their Uberties therein granted, did, at a vafl; expenfe and 

 great peril, fubdue and plant a wildernefs, whereby they have increafed 

 the dominions of the crown, as well as the commerce of Britain : they 

 have, in all times fince, defended themfelves againft the enemy ; and 

 have impartially adminiftered juflice to the lubject: and when public 

 meafurcs have been concerted for the common good of the colonies, 

 they have cheerfully joined in the expenfe. Moreover, they have never 

 to" this day cofl the crown fo much as one fhilling. They have ftrictly ob- 

 fcrved the acts of trade and navigation. They have been always dutiful 

 to the crown ; and, if their charter be taken away, no equivalent can be 

 given for it ; (for the fame reafons afligned in the Madachufet's bay 

 petition.) It is therefor humbly hoped, that the colony of Connecticut 

 may be excepted out of the bill. 



Petitions were alfo prefented in behalf of the duke of Beaufort and 

 Lord Craven, both minors, to be heard by council againftthe bill, they 

 being confiderable proprietors in Carolina and the Bahama iflands ; 

 and from the agent for the colony ot Rhode ifland and Providence 

 plantation in New-Eiigland. The foregoing petitions, which contain 

 much of the hiftory of the firfl: planting of thefe colonies, were referred 

 to the committee to whom the bill was committed. 



Yet, notwithftanding all the buflle oCcafioned by this bill, it was in 

 the end dropped ; although it is moll certauily and obvioufly of the lafh 

 importance to the public, that the proprietary colonies, ftill exifting as 

 fuch, fliould be bought off and vefted in the crown ; fince the longer 

 they remain proprietary, the more v;vluable they confi:antly grow to the 

 proprietors, and the more difficult it will prove to buy them out. This, 

 iloubtlefs, the legiflature will hereafter duely confider in afeafon of pro- 

 found peace and tranquillity. The foregoing petitions and allegations 

 of the charter colonies are much more difficult to be anfwered, for 

 the 'reafons tlierehi exhibited. And this <\'as probably one main reafon 

 for dropping the bill ; Which, doubtlefs, was a well intended one, though 

 liable to fome objeclioris, which may hereafcer be obviated. What will 

 poflerity fay of the prefent age ? but that, in refpe<5l to the large proprie- 

 tary governments of Britifh America, we were fupinely negligent of the 

 national interefi; ; when it (hall be found, that the proprietors have fo 

 yall an income thereby, as to render it impracticable to buy them out, 



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