CHAP. II.] 
WEST INDIES. 
187 
CHAPTER IE* 
Houses of Assembly.—Prerogative denied to by in the 
Crown of establishing in the Colonies Constitutions less 
free than that of Great Britain.—Most of the British 
West Indian Islands settled by Emigrants from the 
Mother Country.—Iloyal Proclamations and Charters , 
Confirmations only of ancient Rights. — Barbadoes, And 
some other Islands, originally made Counties Palatine. 
—Their local Legislatures how constituted , and the ex¬ 
tent of their jurisdiction pointed out.—Their Allegi¬ 
ance to, and Dependence on, the Crown of Great Bri¬ 
tain, how' secured.—Constitutional Extent of Parlia¬ 
mentary Authority over them. 
I N treating of the assemblies, or popular branch 
in the local system of colonial administration, I 
shall first attempt to investigate the origin of the 
* In this chapter, the nature and necessary uniformity of my work, 
compel me to tread over a field wherein the footsteps of a great many 
preceding writers are still visible. I presume not therefore to fancy 
that I can produce many new arguments myself, or give additional 
weight to those which have been advanced by others, on subjects so 
well understood, and So frequently and freely canvassed during the 
late unhappy disputes with America. My aim will be answered, if, 
■nstead of originality and novelty, I am found to possess perspicuity 
and precision. Happily the great rights of mankind are sufficiently 
apparent, without the aid of logical deduction, and abstracted hypo¬ 
thesis. • 
