her views toward the improvement of commerce, navigation, and her
colonies.

Hitherto the extensive territory of North America had been divided into
two districts, which were called South and North Virginia. All lands
lying towards the river St. Lawrence, from the northern boundaries of the
province now called Virginia, belonged to the northern, and all those to
the southward, as far as the Gulf of Florida, to the southern district.
And though the first European settlement in America was attempted in
Florida by the French, yet they were compelled to relinquish that place;
and the English, preferring what they esteemed a more favourable climate,
had hitherto neglected it.

[Sidenote] The first proprietors and their charter.

After the restoration, England began to recognize her claim to a large
territory in the southern district. In the year 1662, Edward Earl of
Clarendon, George Duke of Albemarle, William Lord Craven, John Lord
Berkeley, Antony Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, Sir William Berkeley,
and Sir John Colleton, being apprized of the excellent soil of this
country, united and formed a project for planting a colony in it. Upon
application to the crown for a charter, Charles granted them all the
lands lying between the thirty-first and thirty-sixth degrees of north
latitude. Two years afterwards he confirmed this grant, and by a second
charter enlarged the boundaries of it, from the 29th degree of north
latitude to 36 degrees 30 minutes, and from these points on the sea-coast
westward in parallel lines to the Pacific ocean. Of this immense region
the king constituted them absolute lords and proprietors, saving to
himself, his heirs and successors the sovereign dominion of the country.
At the same time he invested them with all the rights, jurisdiction,