egmokt's memorials. 13 mended a constitution for the colonies as nearly similar to that of Britain as the nature of the case would permit. In adopting this policy they had followed what appeared to have been almost the invariable practice of Government ever since the surrender and revocation of those charters which were formerly granted for the settlement of America; and the effects could be best judged of by the present nourishing state of the colonies, and the progress they had made in cultivation and commerce, compared with their condition under those charters, which, though granted to persons of rank and consequence, and accompanied by plans of govern¬ ment,—the result of the study and reading of wise and learned men, —yet, being founded in speculation more than in experience did, in the event, not only disappoint the san¬ guine expectations of the proprietors, but check and obstruct the settlement of the country. The report pointed to the grant made to the Lords Pro¬ prietors of Carolina, as a striking example of the inexpe¬ diency of such a plan of settlement, little progress having been made in the execution of it till the property, being re¬ invested in the crown, a new foundation was laid, which resulted in prosperity and advancement. The report, of which we have attempted to give a sketch, ended with the following words :—" We have not thought proper to take the opinion of Your Majesty's servants in the law upon the question whether Your Majesty can legally make the grant desired by the Earl of Egmont , because we cannot think it expedient, either in a political or commercial light, for Your Majesty to comply with his Lordship's proposals ; and as Your Majesty has been pleased to annex the Island of Saint John to your Province of Nova Scotia , we humbly recom¬ mend the settling it upon the plan and under the regulations approved of by Your Majesty for the settlement of that province in general."