16 Industrial Experiments in Colonial America. 



fugitives, workmen, or servants of the company; that sudden 

 deaths should not be enquired into by the coroner of the place 

 or colony, but by the coroner or other sworn officers belong- 

 ing to the company; that deeds, fines and forfeitures appertain- 

 ing to agents or servants of the company should accrue to the 

 company exclusively; that they should have the right to try 

 all civil pleas not exceeding iio, and not concerning title of 

 land, which might arise between their servants and other 

 inhabitants of the colony; that the workmen, agents and other 

 officers of the company be exempted from serving on juries, 

 inquests and sessions of any other than the company's courts: 

 also from all ordinary military service by land or sea, except 

 for necessary defense in case of invasion or open rebellion."^ 



The question which raised most doubt in the minds of the 

 Lords of Trade, and of the Attorney General to whom they re- 

 ferred the matter, was how far such extensive powers would be 

 compatible with the charters of the colonies in which such 

 grants should be situated. Attorney General Powys reported 

 his opinion that the powers specified would be too great for 

 such a company in England, but not for an uninhabited coun- 

 try.- Accordingly, an Order in Council was issued to draw up 

 a patent. This was done, but in the confusion of the Revolu- 

 tion, it was prevented from passing the Great Seal.^ 



On the accession of William and Mary, a second charter was 

 drawn up for the incorporation of Sir Matthew Dudley and 

 others under the name of the "Governor and Company of Ad- 

 venturers for the Discovery and Working of Mines and Min- 

 erals in Our Territory of New England." The Board of Trade 

 seem to have determined to favor the granting of this charter, 

 and a warrant was made out for the king's signature, March 17, 

 1692; but "a caveat being entered at the Secretary's office by 

 the Copper Miners' Company of England (on what ground 



^Proposals of the Petitioners, B. T. New Eng., B: 23. 

 ^Reports of Sir Thos. Powys, Aug. 4 and Oct. 2, 1688, B, T. New 

 Eng., B: 23. 



^Memorandum, Aug. 1688, B. T. New Eng., B: i. 



