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THE Fundamental Constitutions OF CAROLINA.
OUR Sovereign Lord the King having out of His Royal Grace and Bounty, granted unto us the Province of Caro∣lina, with all the Royalties, Proprieties, Jurisdictions and Privileges of a County Palatine, as large and ample as the County Palatine of Durham, with other great Privileges; for the better Settlement of the Government of the said Place, and esta∣blishing the Interest of the Lords Proprietors with Equality, and without Confusion, and that the Government of this Province may be made most agreeable to the Monarchy under which we live, and of which this Province is a Part; and that we may avoid erecting a numerous Democracy, we the Lords and Proprietors of the Province aforesaid, have agreed to this following Form of Government, to be perpetually established amongst us, unto which we do oblige our selves, our Heirs and Successors, in the most binding Ways that can be devised.
§. 1. THE Eldest of the Lords Proprietors shall be Palatine, and upon the Decease of the Palatine, the Eldest of the Seven surviving Proprietors shall always succeed him.
§. 2. There shall be Seven other Chief Offices erected, viz. The Admirals, Chamberlains, Chancellors, Constable, Chief-Justices, High-Stewards and Treasurers; which Places shall be enjoy'd by none but the Lords Proprietors, to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 at first 〈…〉〈…〉 upon the Vacancy of any one of the Seven Great 〈…〉〈…〉, or other∣wise, the Eldest Proprietor shall 〈…〉〈…〉 the said Place.
§. 3. The whole Province shall be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into Counties; each Coun∣ty shall consist of Eight 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Eight Baronies, and Four Precincts, each Precinct shall consist of Six Colonies.