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CHAPTER IV. 



BRITISH WEST INDIES. 



The British establishments in the West Indies — The branches of 

 tlie Legislature — The Governor — The Council — The House of 

 Assembly. 



The British establishments in the West India colonies 

 conform very nearly, in their internal constitutions, 

 to that of the mother-country. Their different orders 

 of judicature are exactly like those of England ; and 

 their legislatures, in general, respectively consist of 

 three distinct branches, i, e. a Governor, representing 

 the Crown ; Council, or Upper House ; and a body 

 of Delegates, representing the people at large. 



Of the powers and privileges claimed and exer- 

 cised by these branches respectively in their own 

 little sphere, and the source whence they are derived, 

 I give the following brief account. 



Governor. — Every chief governor in the British 

 colonies is appointed by letters patent under the 

 great seal of Great Britain. He receives by courtesy 



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