move on condition that they should continue subject to the jurisdiction of this colony. In the year 1635 sixty persons with their families went out and formed an inconsiderable settlement on the west bank of the Connecticut river. They were followed in the year 1636 by about one hundred adventurers, and subsequently by several Companies, who settled Hartford, Springfield, Windsor, Weathersfield and other Towns. Although the country in which they had settled was not within the limits of Massachusetts Bay, yet the commission under which they had departed from that colony invested one Roger Ludlow with authority to publish such orders as were necessary for their government, to inflict punishment, to imprison, and to impose fines, to exercise judicial power, and to call a General Court of the settlers whenever advisable or necessary. Soon after their settlements were established, they purchased a title to the country from Lords, Say, and Seale, disavowed their allegiance to Massachusetts Bay, and entered into a general compact of union under the name of Connecticut.

By this compact it was ordained and provided that two General Assemblies or Courts should be held in each year, during the months of April and Septemberthat the first Court should choose the Governor and his Assistants, who should be sworn to administer justice according to the laws, or, in default of any appropriate enactment, "according to the word of God." All freemen, who had previously taken and subscribed the oath of fidelity, were permitted to vote at this Court. Each town was required to nominate two candidates for Governor, and no person could be elected, or regarded as a candidate, unless he was thus nominated for some days previous to the election. The Governor was to hold his office for one year, and was ineligible two years in succession. Each town was also required to send delegates to this Court, and, after the business of the election was closed, the Assembly consulted on matters of general public interest. The second Court, or that held in September, met for the purpose of enacting laws and ordinances, and making whatever provisions were necessary for the welfare of the colony. These several Courts were convened on a summons sent out by the Governor one month previous to the time of holding their session, while the Governor had the further power of assembling them on special and extraordinary occasions, on a warning of fourteen days. In case, at any time, he should refuse to do so, it was provided that the freemen might order the constables to assemble them, and, meeting under these circumstances, one of their number should be chosen moderator, and their acts were binding on the people of the colony. Hartford, Weathersfield and Windsor sent each four delegates to these Assemblies, and the General Court were to determine, from time to time, the number which should represent the other towns. The General Court consisted of the Governor, or in his absence, as we have seen, a Moderator and four other magistrates, with the delegates from the several towns. Its powers were in all cases supreme. It could make laws and repeal them, grant levies, admit freemen, and take cognizance of all matters, both civil and criminal, and punish offenders. In case of an equal division of the members of the General Court, the Governor had a casting vote. Freemen were not required to be members of the church. Such was the first governmental compact of the Colony of Connecticut. The first General Court under it was held in 1636, at almost

which time they were forced into a war with the natives. These wars led them further into the country, and had the effect of increasing and extending the settlements.

In the year 1637 a small band of adventurers landed at Boston under the conduct and guide of the Rev. Mr. Davenport. Being unwilling to remain under the jurisdiction of a colony which sought to restrain the propagation of their peculiar religious views, they proceeded thence to the southward, in the following year, until they arrived at an extensive level plain, on the bosom of a wide-spreading and beautiful bay, where they planted their settlement and called it New Haven. They had made no provision for a title to the soil, but relied on their ability to make some friendly negociation with the natives, whom they regarded as the true and only proprietors. They were invested with no political privileges, but framed their own ordinances and regulations. The plan of government which they at first adopted was different from that of any other of the New England colonies. It was, if we may so speak, a Christocratic form of government. The church was the head of the colony, the minister the head of the church, and they imitated the early Christians in adopting a community of goods and an equal distribution of lands. Mr. Davenport was at once their Governor and priest, and he first officiated in the latter capacity under a large oak tree, which is still standing, and the spot pointed out with much veneration by their descendants. None were admitted to the privileges of freemen unless they were members of the church, and all officers of the colony, whether civil or military, were required to be professors of the Christian faith. These fundamental principles of their association were adopted at the first session of their General Court,

which was erected in October, 1639. This Court was composed of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Assistants, with two delegates from each settlement, who were chosen annually. All power, executive, legislative, and judicial resided in them, with the right of appeal to a Supreme Court, which was composed of all the magistrates in the colony, six of whom formed a quorum. It will be observed that many of these provisions were applicable only to a small extent of territory, and seem not to have contemplated any wide distribution of their settlements. They remained under this form of government till the year 1664.

Soon after the restoration of Charles II. to the throne in 1662 a charter was issued on an application from the colony of Connecticut, in which the colony of New Haven was included. It was thereby incorporated with Connecticut under the style of "THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE COLONY OF CONNECTICUT IN NEW ENGLAND IN AMERICA." This charter provided that the government should consist of a Governor, Deputy Governor, and twelve Assistants. These, together with two deputies from each town, or city, were to constitute a General Court, which, it was provided, should meet twice in each year. The charter nominated the first Governor and Assistants. The executive authority resided in the Governor and Assistants, the legislative in the General Court, which was authorised annually to elect the Governor, Deputy Governor, Assistants, and other magistrates to establish courts of justice, and generally, to make such laws and provisions as they might judge for the interests of the colony, "provided the same be not contrary to the laws of England." All the liberties, privileges, and immunities of free-born natives of England were guar

anteed to the colonists. The colony of New Haven was indignant at this proceeding on the part of Connecticut. They insisted that it was an illegal and unjust infringement of their liberties and independence, and determined still to adhere to their own separate form of government. The contest between them was carried on with bitter and rancorous hostility. New Haven contended not only against the proceeding under which the charter was obtained, as in itself insolent and offensive, but insisted also that the construction given to it by Connecticut was erroneous, that it did not, nor was intended by the crown to include them. An appeal was made to the crown on this issue. This appeal was arrested by assurances on the part of the agent who was deputed by Connecticut to obtain the charter, that the union should not be considered as complete unless it was voluntarily assented to by New Haven. But the government of Connecticut, notwithstanding, proceeded to exercise jurisdiction over the territory of New Haven. After a tedious course of negociation, however, and certain concessions and stipulations made in favor of New Haven, the enmity was allayed, and the two colonies became inseparably united under the same form of government, 1664. Hartford and New Haven were made the places where the General Court should hold its sessions in alternate years. The magistrates and delegates sat together as one house until the year 1698, when the General Court was divided into two houses, the magistrates and Assistants composing the Upper, and the delegates the Lower House.

In 1685 an attempt was made by the crown to repeal this charter. James II. proposed to consolidate the colonies of New England by erecting a permanent ju