Page:The Life of George Washington, Volume 1.djvu/569

 ~r 39 — We have also, with the advice of our privy council afore- said, annexed to our province of Georgia all the lands tying between the river Alatamaha and St. Mary's. And whereas, it will greatly contribute to the speedy set- tling our said new governments that our loving subjects should be informed of our paternal care for the security of the liberties and properties of those who are and shall become inhabitants thereof, we have thought fit to publish and de- clare, by this our proclamation, that we have in the letters patent under our great seal of Great Britain by which the said governments are constituted, given express power and direction to our governors of our said colonies, respectively, that so soon as the state and circumstances of the said colo- nies will admit thereof, they shall, with the advice and con- sent of the members of our council, summon and call general assemblies within the said governments, respectively, in such manner and form as is used and directed in those colonies and provinces in America which are under our immediate government; and we have also given power to the said gover- nors, with the consent of our said council, and the representa- tives of the people, so to be summoned as aforesaid, to make, constitute and ordain laws, statutes, and ordinances, for the public peace, welfare and good government of our said colo- nies, and of the people and inhabitants thereof, as near as may be agreeable to the laws of England, and under such regulations and restrictions as are used in other colonics: and in the mean-time, until such assemblies can be called as aforesaid, all persons inhabiting in, or resorting to, our said colonies, may confide in our royal protection for the enjoy- ment of the benefit of the laws of our realm of England ; for which purpose we have given power, under our great seal, to the governors of our said colonies respectively, to erect and constitute, with the advice of our said councils respec- tively, courts of judicature and public justice within our said colonies, for the hearing and determining all causes, as well criminal as civil, according to law and equity, and as near as may be agreeable to the laws of England: with liberty to all persons who may think themselves aggrieved by the sentences