In 1650, a law was passed “for settling this present assembly.” It enacted, that those who were called by special writ shall form the upper house—that those who were chosen by the hundreds shall compose the lower house—and that all bills which shall be assented to by the two branches of the legislature thus established, and assented to by the governor, shall be deemed the laws of the province, and have the same effect as if the freemen were personally present. There was also passed “an act against raising money without the consent of the assembly.” It mentioned, “That no taxes shall be assessed or levied on the freemen of the province, without their own consent, or that of their deputies, first declared in a general assembly. The printed words and early date of this Maryland act demand particular notice. The act of the general assembly and governor were of the same force in their own province, as acts of parliament in England; and could not be repealed without the concurring assent of the proprietary, or his deputy, with the other two estates. _Carolina_ follows Maryland in the order of existence. A few adventurers emigrated from the Massachusetts, and settled round _Cape Fear_, about the time of the restoration. They considered mere occupancy, with a transfer from the natives, without any grant from the king, as a good title to the lands which they possessed. They deemed themselves entitled to the same “civil privileges” as those of the country from whence they had emigrated. For years they experienced the complicated miseries of want. They solicited the aid of their countrymen; and the general court, with an attention and humanity which did it the greatest honor, ordered an extensive contribution for their relief. But the final settlement of the province was effected equally through the rapacity of the courtiers of Charles the II. and his own facility in rewarding those to whom he was greatly indebted, with a liberality that cost him little. The pretence which had been used on former occasions, of a pious zeal for the propagation of the gospel among the Indians, was successfully employed to procure a grant of the immense region lying between the 36° of north latitude and the river St. Matheo, under the 31°. March 24, 1663, this territory was erected into a province, by the name of _Carolina_, and conferred on lord _Clarendon_, the duke of _Albemarle_, lord _Craven_, lord _Berkely_, lord _Ashley_, Sir _George Carteret_, Sir _John Colleton_, and Sir _William Berkely_, as absolute lords proprietaris for ever, saving the sovereign allegience due to the crown. The charter seems to have been copied from that of Maryland, so extensive in its powers, and so noble in its privileges. The noblemen held their first meeting in May; and at the desire of the New-England people abovementioned, published proposals to all that would plant in Carolina. They declared, that all persons settling on Charles