of the next year, provided that a redress of grievances was not previously obtained.

THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS. The breach between England and the colonies became wider. Consequently, in accordance with the recommendation of the first continental congress, delegates were appointed by the several colonies, who met in Philadelphia on the 10th of May, 1775. As in the first congress, some of the delegates were chosen by conventions, and some by the legislatures. In almost every instance the several colonies appointed the same delegates that had served them the previous year. This body is known as the second continental congress. It became the national government of this people, and continued its sessions for fourteen years.

The colonies are now upon the eve of the great revolutionary war. They have convened that body which brought forth the declaration of independence, and which carried on the war to a happy termination in the acknowledged independence of the United States of America.

Before proceeding with this history, let us retrace our steps, and consider more particularly the condition of the colonies previous to this time, with special reference to their forms of government.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE COLONIAL GOVERNMENTS: THEIR SPECIFIC FORMS.

THE leading nations of Europe, at an early date, undertook voyages of discovery in North America, and fitted out colonies to settle at various points upon the new continent. This new world, but vaguely known, was then supposed to contain mines of the fabulous wealth and to have a climate of such a wonderful character as to prolong life indefinitely. The Spanish, particularly, had heard of a wonderful fountain in this fairy-land, by bathing in which one could renew his youth. It was supposed that the natives were accustomed to wear the most costly jewels, and that the very sand upon the fields and upon the banks of the rivers sparkled with gold. Moreover, the hope of finding a short passage to the East Indies stimulated the government to fit out vessels and send them on voyages of discovery.

Spain, at this time, was one of the richest and most powerful of the nations of Europe. Her conquests in the new world gave her great riches, and so increased. her power as to make the other governments more anxious, both to establish colonies and to find a western passage to India.

Three of these European powers put forth greater efforts than others, and as we have already seen, vied with each other for supremacy on this continent.

Within the present limits of the United

States, Spain made settlements only in Florida, New Mexico, and California. She sent many vessels on voyages of discovery, which coasted along the Pacific coast from Mexico northward as far as latitude 50, and the oldest permanent settlement in our country was made by the Spanish at St. Augustine, Fla., in 1565. This nation had also the honor of establishing the second oldest town, Santa Fé, N.M., which was settled about twenty years after the Spanish had established themselves at St. Augustine.

ENGLAND. The English made their first permanent settlement on a little island in the York river, Virginia, in 1607.

THE FRENCH.-France effected permanent settlements in the valley of the St. Lawrence, and held the whole valley of the great Mississippi and its numerous and important tributaries.

The Dutch established themselves at New York in 1613. The English at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620. From this period onward English settlements multiplied at various points along the coast, between the Spanish settlements in Florida and the French in Nova Scotia. The last of these original English colonies was established at Savannah, Georgia, in 1733.

THIRTEEN ENGLISH COLONIES. — At the beginning of the Revolution there were thirteen colonies along this coast, all of them weak and feeble, though rapidly increasing in strength and power. These colonies in order of their settlements were: Virginia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. They were not all settled

as so many distinct colonies, but various changes had taken place among them. Massachusetts, for instance, had within her borders, originally, three distinct colonies,

(1) the colony of the Bay, (2) Plymouth, and (3) the province of Maine. The colony upon the Connecticut river and the colony at New Haven had united under one government. On the other hand, the Carolinas had divided. What was, up to 1729, one colony, in that year was made two, assuming the names of North Carolina and South Carolina. Although the Dutch had settled in New York, the English government never recognized their claim to the territory. In 1654 King Charles gave to his brother, the Duke of York, all the territory of New Netherlands, as the settlement was then called, and the surrounding country. The royal commissioners, who had been sent to examine the charter governments of New England, were directed to demand of the Dutch the surrender of their territory. No resistance was made, and the New Netherlands thence became an English colony, called New York.

Among these various English colonies a variety of forms of government prevailed. The colonies all acknowledged allegiance to the mother country, but they had no political connection with one another. Neither was there a cordial, friendly feeling between them. The smaller colonies were jealous of the larger ones, and accused them of being domineering and overbearing.

THE KINDS OF COLONIAL GOVERNMENT. Prior to the Revolution these colonial governments were of three kinds, provincial, proprietary, and charter.

THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS. At the outbreak of

the Revolution the provincial governments were those of New Hampshire, New York, Virginia, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The colonies under proprietary governments were Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware. The colonies which had charter governments were Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The provincial governments were called royal. While retaining certain powers in the hands of the colony, they accorded the more important prerogatives to the crown. The governor and the council were appointed by the king, and the legislature was composed of two houses, the upper house being the council, and the lower house being elected by the people. This legislature was subordinate to the royal governor, who had the right of veto upon all its proceedings, and could prorogue or dissolve it; but otherwise the legislature might enact laws, which must not be contrary to the laws of England, and these laws, in order to be operative, must be approved by the governor and ratified by the crown.

Courts were established and judges and other officers appointed by the royal governor, with the advice and consent of his royal council. In these governments it will readily be seen that the people were accorded the right primarily to make their own laws, but these laws must first be approved by the royal governor and the crown, and then their execution was entrusted to the governor and the officers appointed by him. Consequently, the people in reality had but little actual power in their hands.

PROPRIETARY GOVERNMENTS. In the proprietary government the people held similar legislative rights and powers, while the governors were appointed by the pro