194 HISTORY OF THE [book. vn 
concerns) as he governed his subjects in Ireland, by 
parliaments of their own. Nor, if the election of 
representatives is, “ an original right, vested in, 
and inseparable from the freehold, as it hath been 
pronounced by the highest authority;* and if the 
impracticability of the colonists being adequately 
represented in the British legislature be admitted, 
could such a consent be withheld from them on 
any principle of reason and justice ; unless indeed 
it be reasonably and just to contend, that the colo¬ 
nists, as having, from their remote situation, need 
of greater protection than their fellow-subjects at- 
home, are on that account entitled to less. 
Provincial parliaments, or colonial assemblies (it 
matters not by what name that they are called) be¬ 
ing thus established and recognized, we shall find 
that in their formation, mode of proceeding, and 
extent of jurisdiction within their own circle, they 
have constantly copied, and are required to copy, as 
nearly as circumstances will permit, the example of 
the parliament of Great Britain. The freeholders 
are assembled in each town or parish respectively 
by the king’s writ; their suffrages are taken by an 
officer of the crown, and the persons elected are 
afterwards commanded, by royal proclamation, to 
meet together at a certain time and place in the 
proclamation named, to frame statutes and ordi¬ 
nances for the public safety. When met, the oaths 
of allegiance, &c. are administered unto each of 
* Lord Chief justice Holt, 
