THIS number contains those portions of the Colonial Charters which describe and define the boundaries of the Colonies. A few extracts from other official documents have been added as illustrating the general subject or explaining some particular point. The documents, or portions of documents, here presented, have been the basis of an endless succession of decisions by boundary commissions, courts of law, and other official bodies and personages. Many, if not most, of the boundary lines actually in existence to-day are the result of compromise. The historical student, however, should go to the original source of confusion and begin with a study of the documents themselves. There is, perhaps, no better way of showing the student the difficulties which beset the historical writer than to direct him to mark on a map or to describe the boundaries of some of the original States,—Virginia in 1776, for example.

The principal compendious works on this subject are: Gannett, Boundaries of the United States, printed as a Bulletin of the Geological Survey, Washington, 1885; Donaldson, The Public Domain, Washington, 1884, to be used only with the greatest caution; Winsor, in Narrative and Critical History, VII., App. No. I. For other references, see Channing

and Hart, Guide to the Study of American History, sec. 64, and Narrative and Critical History, Vol. VII., as above, and Vols. III. and V., under the several Colonies. Maps designed to elucidate these problems may be found in Hart, Epoch Maps, where an attempt was made to show the boundaries according to legal decisions; MacCoun, Historical Geography of the United States; and B. A. Hinsdale, Old Northwest.

1584. CHARTER TO SIR WALTER RALEIGH.

Free libertie and licence from time to time, and at all times for ever hereafter, to discover, search, finde out, and view such remote, heathen and barbarous lands, countreis, and territories, not actually possessed of any Christian Prince, nor inhabited by Christian People, as to him, his heires and assignes, and to every or any of them shall seeme good, and the same to have, holde, occupie and enjoy to him, his heires and assignes for ever, with all prerogatives, commodities, jurisdictions, royalties, privileges, franchises, and preheminences, thereto or thereabouts both by sea and land, whatsoever we by our letters patents may graunt, and as we or any of our noble progenitors have heretofore graunted to any person or persons, bodies politique or corporate.-Charters and Constitutions of the United States, p. 1379.

1603. THE CHARTER OF ACADIA.

Granted by Henry IV. of France to Pierre du Gast, sieur de Monts.

Nous avon pour beaucoup d'importantes occasions, ordonné, commis & établi le sieur de Monts, Gentilhomme ordinaire de notre Chambre, notre Lieutenant général, pour peupler & habiter les terres, côtes & pays de l'Acadie, & autres circonvoisins, en l'étendue du quarantième degré jusqu' au quarante-sixième, & là établir notre autorité, & autrement s'y loger & assurer ; en sorte que nos sujets desormais y puissent être reçûs, y hauter, résider & trafiquer avec les Sauvages habitans desdits lieux, comme plus expresséments nous l'avons déclaré par nos lettres patentes, expédiées &

délivrées pour cet effet audit sieur de Monts le huitième jour de novembre dernier, suivant les conditions & articles, moyennant lesquelles il s'est chargé de la conduite & exécution de cette entreprise.-Charters and Constitutions of the United States, p. 773.

[TRANSLATION.]

For important reasons, we have ordered, commissioned and appointed the sieur de Monts, Gentleman in Ordinary of our Chamber, our Lieutenant General, to people and colonize the lands, shores and countries of Acadia, and other neighboring lands, extending from the fortieth degree to the forty-sixth, and to establish there our authority, and otherwise to establish and secure himself there; in order that our subjects may henceforth be received there, to build, reside and traffic there with the savages living in the said places, as we have more expressly declared by our letters patent, expedited and delivered, to this effect, to the said sieur de Monts, the eight day of November last, according to the conditions and articles with which he is charged for the conduct and execution of this undertaking.

1606. THE FIRST CHARTER OF VIRGINIA.

That part of America commonly called VIRGINIA, and other parts and Territories in America, either appertaining unto us, or which are not now actually possessed by any Christian Prince or People, situate, lying, and being all along the Sea Coasts, between four and thirty Degrees of Northerly Latitude from the Equinoctial Line, and five and forty Degrees of the same Latitude, and in the main Land between the same four and thirty and five and forty Degrees, and the Islands thereunto adjacent, or within one hundred Miles of the Coast thereof;

And to that End, and for the more speedy Accomplishment of their said intended Plantation and Habitation there, are desirous to divide themselves into two several Colonies and Companies; the one consisting of certain Knights, Gentlemen, Merchants, and other Adventurers, of our City of Lon

don and elsewhere, which are, and from time to time shall be, joined unto them, which do desire to begin their Plantation and Habitation in some fit and convenient Place, between four and thirty and one and forty Degrees of the said Latitude, alongst the Coasts of Virginia, and the Coasts of America aforesaid: And the other consisting of sundry Knights, Gentlemen, Merchants, and other Adventurers, of our Cities of Bristol and Exeter, and of our Town of Plimouth, and of other Places, which do join themselves unto that Colony, which do desire to begin their Plantation and Habitation in some fit and convenient Place, between eight and thirty Degrees and five and forty Degrees of the said Latitude, all alongst the said Coasts of Virginia and America, as that Coast lyeth.

That the said Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Somers, Richard Hackluit, and Edward-Maria Wingfield, Adventurers of and for our City of London, and all such others, as are, or shall be, joined unto them of that Colony, shall be called the first Colony; And they shall and may begin their said first Plantation and Habitation, at any Place upon the said Coast of Virginia or America, where they shall think fit and convenient, between the said four and thirty and one and forty Degrees of the said Latitude.

And we do likewise, for Us, our Heirs, and Successors, by these Presents, Grant and agree, that the said Thomas Hanham and Ralegh Gilbert, William Parker, and George Popham, and all others of the Town of Plimouth in the County of Devon, or elsewhere, which are, or shall be, joined unto them of that Colony, shall be called the second Colony; And that they shall and may begin their said Plantation and Seat of their first Abode and Habitation, at any Place upon the said Coast of Virginia and America, where they shall think fit and convenient, between eight and thirty Degrees of the said Latitude, and five and forty Degrees of the same Latitude; And that they shall have all the Lands, Soils, Grounds, Havens, Ports, Rivers, Mines, Minerals, Woods, Marshes, Waters, Fishings, Commodities, and Hereditaments, whatsoever, from the first Seat of their Plantation and Habitation by the Space of fifty like English Miles, as is aforesaid, all

alongst the said Coasts of Virginia and America, towards the West and Southwest, or towards the South, as the Coast lyeth, and all the Islands within one hundred Miles, directly over against the said Sea Coast; And also all the Lands, Soils, Grounds, Havens, Ports, Rivers, Mines, Minerals, Woods, Marshes, Waters, Fishings, Commodities, and Hereditaments, whatsoever, from the said Place of their first Plantation and Habitation for the Space of fifty like Miles, all alongst the said Coast of Virginia and America, towards the East and Northeast, or towards the North, as the Coast lyeth, and all the Islands also within one hundred Miles directly over against the same Sea Coast; And also all the Lands, Soils, Grounds, Havens, Ports, Rivers, Woods, Mines, Minerals, Marshes, Waters, Fishings, Commodities, and Hereditaments, whatsoever, from the same fifty Miles every way on the Sea Coast, directly into the main Land, by the Space of one hundred like English Miles; And shall and may inhabit and remain there; and shall and may also build and fortify within any the same for their better Safeguard, according to their best Discretion, and the Discretion of the Council of that Colony; And that none of our Subjects shall be permitted, or suffered, to plant or inhabit behind, or on the back of them, towards the main Land, without express Licence of the Council of that Colony, in Writing thereunto first had and obtained.

Provided always, and our Will and Pleasure herein is, that the Plantation and Habitation of such of the said Colonies, as shall last plant themselves, as aforesaid, shall not be made within one hundred like English Miles of the other of them, that first began to make their Plantation, as aforesaid.Charters and Constitutions of the United States, pp. 1889, 1890.

1609. THE SECOND CHARTER OF VIRGINIA.

And we do also of our special Grace, certain Knowledge, and mere Motion, give, grant and confirm, unto the said Treasurer and Company, and their Successors, under the Reservations, Limitations, and Declarations hereafter ex