Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: MR. PENN'S PLAN FOR A UNION OF THE COLONIES IN AMERICA [The text is as given in O'Callaghan's Documents Relating to the Colonial History of New York, vol. iv, pp. 296-7. The plan is summarized in Fortesciie's Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series, America and West Indies, 1696-7, No. 694. It was read by Board of Trade Feb. 8, 1696-7.] A Bkiefe and plaine scheam how the English Colonies in the North parts of America, viz. Boston, Connecticut, Road Island, New York, New Jerseys, Pensilvania, Maryland, Virginia and Carolina may be made more usefull to the Crowne, and one anothers peace and safty with an uni- versall concurrence. 1. That the severall colonies before mentioned do meet once a year, and oftener if need be during the war, and at least once in two years in times of peace by their stated and appointed deputies, to debate and resolve of such measures as are most adviseable for their better understanding and the public tranquility and safety. 2. That in order to it two persons well qualified for sence, sobriety, and substance be appointed by each Province as their Representatives or Deputies, which in the whole make the Congress to consist of twenty persons. 3. That the King's Commissioner for that purpose specially appointed shall have the chaire and preside in the said Congresse. 4. That they shall meet as near as conveniently may be to the most centrall Colony for ease of the Deputies. 5. Since that may in all probability be New York, because it is now the center of the Colonies, and for that it is a frontier and in the King's nomination, the Governor of that Colony may also be the King's High Commissioner during the session after the manner of Scotland. 6. That their business shall be to hear and adjust all matters of complaint or difference be...