FIRST FRAME OF GOVERNMENT. 21 



said, the provincial Council shall, from time to time, divide itself into 

 four distinct and proper committees, for the more easy administration of 

 the affairs of the Province, which divides the seventy-two into four eigh- 

 teens, every one of which eighteens shall consist of six out of eacli of the 

 three orders, or yearly elections, each of Avhich shall have a distinct portion 

 of business, as followeth : Fust, a committee of plantations, to situate 

 and settle cities, ports, and market towns, and high- ways, and to hear and 

 decide all suits and controversies relating to plantations. Secondly, a 

 committee of justice and safety, to secure the peace of the Province, and 

 punish the mal-administration of those who subvert justice, to the preju- 

 dice of the public, or private, interest. Thirdly, a committee of trade 

 and treasury, who shall regulate all trade and commerce, according to 

 law, encourage manufacture and country growth, and defray the public 

 charge of the Province. And, Fourthly, a committee of manners, educa- 

 tion and arts, that all wicked and scandalous living may be prevented, 

 and that youth may be successively trained up in virtue and useful 

 knowledge and arts: the quorum of each of which committees being six, 

 that is, two out of each of the three orders, or yearly elections, as afore- 

 said, make a constant and standing Council of tiventy-four, which will 

 have the power of the provincial Council, being the quorum of it, in all 

 cases not excepted in the fifth article; and in the said committees, and 

 standing Council of the Province, the Governor, or his Deputy, shall, or 

 may preside, as aforesaid; and in the absence of the Governor, or his 

 Deputy, if no one is by either of them appointed, the said committees or 

 Council shall appoint a President for that time, and not otherwise ; and 

 what shall be resolved at such committees, shall be reported to the said 

 Council of the province, and shall be by them resolved and confirmed 

 before the same shall be put in execution ; and that these respective com- 

 mittees shall not sit at one and the same time, except in cases of necessity. 

 XIV. And, to the end that all laws prepared by the Governor and 

 provincial Council aforesaid, may yet have the more full concurrence of 

 the freemen of the province, it is declared, granted and confirmed, that, 

 at the time and place or places, for the choice of a provincial Council, 

 as aforesaid, the said freemen shall yearly chuse Members to serve in a 

 General Assembly, as their representatives, not exceeding two hundred 

 persons, Avho shall yearly meet, on the twentieth day of the second month, 

 which shall be in the year one thousand six hundred eighty and three 

 following, in the capital town, or city, of the said province, where, during 

 eight days, the several Members may freely confer with one another ; and, 

 if any of them see meet, with a committee of the provincial Council 

 (consisting of three out of each of the four committees aforesaid, being 

 twelve in all) which shall be, at that time, purposely appointed to receive 

 from any of them proposals, for the alterations or amendment of any of 



