families, but also strengthen our colonies, and increase the trade, navigation, and wealth of these our realms: …
"And whereas we think it highly becoming our Crown and royal dignity to protect all our loving subjects, be they never so distant from us, to extend our fatherly compassion even to the meanest and most unfortunate of our people, end to relieve the wants of our above-mentioned poor subjects; and that it will be highly conducive for accomplishing those ends that a regular colony of the said poor people be settled and established in the southern frontiers of Carolina; and whereas we have been well assured, that if we would be most graciously pleased to erect and settle a Corporation for the receiving, managing, and disposing of the contributions of our loving subjects, divers persons would be induced to contribute to the uses and purposes aforesaid:
"Know ye, therefore, that we have, for the considerations aforesaid, and for the better and more orderly carrying on the said good purposes, of our special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, willed, ordained, constituted, and appointed, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, do will, ordain, constitute, declare, and grant, that our right trusty and well-beloved John Lord Viscount Perceval, &c., &c., and such other persons as shall be elected in the manner hereinafter mentioned, and their successors to be elected in manner as hereinafter ia directed, be, and shall be one body politic and corporate, in deed and in name, by the name of The Trustees for establishing the Colony of Georgia in America …
"And we do hereby for us, our heirs and successors, give and grant unto the said Corporation and their successors, full power and authority to constitute, ordain and make, so many bye-laws, constitutions, orders, and ordinances as to them, or the greater part of them at their general meeting for that purpose, shall seem meet, necessary, and convenient for the Veil ordering and governing of the said Corporation …
"And we do hereby for us, our heirs and successors, ordain, will, and establish, that for and during the term of one-and-twenty years, from the date of these our letters patent, the said Corporation assembled for that purpose shall, and may, form and prepare, laws, statutes, and ordinances, fit and necessary for, and concerning the government of the said colony, and not repugnant to the laws and statutes of England; and the same shall and may present under their common seal to us, our heirs and successors, in our or their privy council, for our or their approbation or disallowance; and the said laws, statutes and ordinances being approved by us, our heirs and successors, in our or their privy council, shall from thenceforth be in full force and virtue, within our said province of Georgia …
"And our will and pleasure is that the common council of the
