produced the formation of a more democratic government. The constitution, adopted in 1842, forms the government into three departments-the legislative, executive, and judicial. The first is composed of two branches, the senate and House of Representatives. The senate consists of the lieutenant-governor, and of one senator from each town or city in the state; at present thirty-two. The house cannot exceed seventy-two members. The governor, lieutenant-governor, senators, and representatives are elected annually. The legislature meets annually; the May session is held at Newport; the October session, biennially, at South Kingstown; and biennially, alternately at Bristol and East Greenwich; and an adjourned October session, annually, at Providence.

The judicial power of the state is vested in one Supreme Court, and such other inferior courts as the legislature may ordain from time to time. Every male citizen of the United States, of the age of twenty-one years, is a qualified voter, provided he has been a resident in the state one year, holding property to the amount of 134 dollars, over and above all debts, or property producing a rent not less than seven dollars per annum, and shall have paid a poll-tax of one dollar.

NORTH CAROLINA.

This state was originally included in the grant given by Queen Elizabeth to Sir Walter Raleigh in 1584, for the territory named Virginia. Attempts were made to settle the country in 1585, and again in 1589; but the efforts. were unsuccessful. In 1650, some Virginians fled to this

territory to enjoy religious toleration, which they had not been able to realise in Virginia. They settled near Albemarle Sound, and declared they would not acknowledge any superior on earth, nor obey any laws but those of God and nature. In 1661, a few people from Massachusetts settled on the shores of Cape Fear River; and, in 1666, there were about 800 inhabitants. Charles II. granted a patent to Lord Clarendon, and others, for all the territory between 300 and 36° N. lat., extending from the Atlantic to the South Sea (Mississippi River), or Pacific Ocean. Emigration was encouraged, and they were promised religious liberty, and the right to be governed by an assembly. A settlement was made at Charleston (South Carolina); and being very successful, it proved to be a rival to the one on Albemarle Sound. It was owing to this circumstance that the terms "North" and "South" Carolina originated, and ultimately a division of the territory. A despotic governor reduced North Carolina to half its population, which only numbered, in 1694, 787.

In 1707, some Huguenots, or French protestants, located themselves on the river Trent, and conducted their affairs with prudence, effecting prosperity. In 1710, a large number of Palatines came from Germany, and settled in North Carolina; but the most of them, and many of the other inhabitants, were massacred by the Indians in 1712. After this, North Carolina came under the government of South Carolina, until about 1729, when it was transferred to the king by the proprietors. Subsequently, another government was established under the crown. The early

annals of this portion of the American continent are written in blood, through the fierce and implacable hostility of the Indians, who on several occasions devastated the settlement, and massacred the unprotected inhabitants. The people of this state took an early and active part in the most stirring events of the revolution, and many sanguinary conflicts with the royal forces took place within her borders. The Mechlenberg Declaration of Independence was made on the 31st of May, 1775; and North Carolina therefore claims the honour of being the first of the colonies to demand a separation from the parent country.

The area of North Carolina is 50,704 square miles; and at the commencement of the revolution in 1775, included Tennessee. In 1790, it ceded the territory of Tennessee (then called Franklin) to the United States; which was, in 1796, admitted into the Union as a state.

The face of the country comprehended within the limits. of this state, is, on the south-east and east sides, level and sandy, interspersed with shallow lakes and marshes. A chain of low islands or sand-banks lines the whole extent of the coast, cutting off a number of shallow lakes or lagoons, which are difficult to navigate. The tract known as the Great Dismal Swamp, partly in the north-east of this state and partly in Virginia, is a soft spongy mass, supposed to be higher than the surrounding country, and to hold the water by capillary attraction. No state has a greater variety of soil than North Carolina. The dwarf palms and the live oak grow around the mouth of Cape Fear River; whilst, in the western sections, the forest

marks a climate of much lower temperature. In the southwestern part of the state, and in most of the seaward zone, cotton is the staple production. In the west, almost every species of grain, except rice, is cultivated. Figs, apples, peaches, and the greatest variety of fruits are produced in abundance. Wheat, rye, barley, oats, flax, and Indian corn are the crops of the state. Cotton is raised in very considerable quantities. North Carolina abounds in iron ore. Its gold mines have been very profitable. The mines found upon the Yadkin and its branches, extend over a district comprising about 1,000 square miles. Manufacturing is carried on to a considerable extent.

The prefix to the present organic instrument reads thus: "The constitution, or form of government, agreed to and resolved upon by the representatives of the freemen of the state of North Carolina, elected and chosen for that particular purpose, in Congress assembled at Halifax, December 18th, 1776." The government is vested in the legislative, executive, and judiciary departments. The legislative consists of two branches-the senate and the House of Commons. The senate is composed of fifty members, elected biennially. The House of Commons is composed of 120 members, biennially chosen by the people. The general assembly meets biennially. The governor of the state is elected by the people for a term of two years. The legislature elects the judges, and ordains the judicial system of the state. The judges of the supreme and superior courts are elected by joint ballot of both houses of the general assembly: and they hold office during good behaviour. Every freeman, of the age of twenty-one years,

resident of the state for one year, and possessed of a freehold of fifty acres of land, is a qualified voter; but "no free negro, free mulatto, or free person of mixed blood, descended from negro ancestors to the fourth generation inclusive, shall vote for members of the senate and House of Commons."

The constitution further declares, that "no person who shall deny the being of God, or the truth of the Christian religion, or the divine authority of the Old or New Testament; or who shall hold religious principles incompatible with the freedom or safety of the state, shall be capable of holding any office or place of trust in the civil department within this state."

SOUTH CAROLINA.

The early history of the settlement of this state is associated with the persecutions and sufferings of the Huguenots; a party of whom, under the auspices of Admiral Coligny, and the immediate leadership of Ribault (an officer of great spirit and enterprise), emigrated from France in 1562, with the intention of forming a protestant colony in Florida. This effort, by the mismanagement of the authorities, resulted in a failure, and the colonists returned to France. A second attempt, under the same leader, was equally unsuccessful; and, for a time, the colonisation of this portion of the American continent was abandoned.

The next enterprise in this direction was undertaken in 1584, by Sir Walter Raleigh, who, having obtained a grant of the territory from Queen Elizabeth, chartered