Page:Revised Statutes of the State of North Carolina - Volume 1.djvu/12

viii the first court next following the first of May under the penalty of five pounds for such neglect." A number of well drawn and important acts were passed at this session, among which be mentioned one, "An Act concerning old titles of lands and for limitation of actions and for avoiding suits in law," the provisions of which, with slight alterations, have continued in force to the present day.

On the twentyfifth day of July, 1729, seven of the eight proprietors of Carolina, in consideration of seventeen thousand five hundred pounds sterling, conveyed all their rights, privileges and franchised to George the Second, King of Great Britain; and Earl Carteret, afterwards Lord Granville, the eighth lord proprietor, conveyed all his right of jurisdiction over said province or colony, reserving his one eighth part of the soil and territorial rights. The proprietary government then ceased and the regal government commenced. The last General Assembly held under the proprietary government met at Edenton on the 27th day of November, 1729, and the first under the royal government met at the same place in the year 1734. It may be proper here to remark, (though there is some confusion in history at this point,) that the division into North and South Carolina had probably been consummated before or about the year 1700. George Burrington was appointed by the king on the twentyninth April, 1730, the first royal governor. His council consisted of seven members, three of whom with the governors formed a quorum. They were appointed by the crown, except that the governor and council might temporarily fill vacancies, and constituted the first branch of the legislature. Burrington having abdicated, Gabriel Johnston was appointed governor, the ablest of all the colonial governors, not less distinguished for his energy and prudence than for his extensive classical and scientific attainments. He continued in office from 1734 till his death in 1752. During this period the style of enactment was as follows—"We pray that it may be enacted and be it enacted by his Excellency Gabriel Johnston, Esq., Governor, by and with the advice and consent of his Majesty's council and General Assembly of this province and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same." After the death of Governor Johnston, Matthew Rowan first as president, and then successively Arthur Dobbs, William Tryon and Josiah Martin as governors, presided over the province until the revolution in 1776. The style of enactment was changed after the year 1753. It was then "Be it enacted by Governor, Council, and Assembly and by the authority of the same." The acts were signed by the governor, president of the council and speaker of