The settlement of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay was commenced at Salem in 1628. Boston was settled in 1630.

The two colonies continued separate and elected their own governors annually till 1685-6, when they were deprived of their charters, and were placed under the government of Joseph Dudley, and afterwards of Sir Edmund Andros. In 1692, they were united into one colony under a new charter; and the governors were afterwards appointed by the king.

After the Dissolution of the First Charter.

[Joseph Dudley, appointed President of New England, Oct. 8, 1685. Sir Edmund Andros assumes the government of New England, Dec. 20, 1686-is deposed by the people, April 18, 1689.]

[In October, 1774, a Provincial Congress assumed the government, and in July, 1775, elected counsellors; in 1780, the Constitution

The Constitution of this state was formed in 1780, and amended in 1821. The legislative power is vested in a Senate and House of Representatives, which together are styled The General Court of Massachusetts. The members of the House of Representatives are elected annually in May; and they must be chosen ten days at least before the last Wednesday of that month. Every corporate town having 150 ratable polls may elect one representative, and another for every additional 225 ratable polls. The Senate consists of 40 members, who are chosen, by districts, annually, on the first Monday in April.

The supreme executive magistrate is styled The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and has the title of "His Excellency.” The Governor is elected annually by the people on the first Monday of April, and at the same time a Lieutenant Governor is chosen, who has the title of "His Honor." The Governor is assisted in the executive part of government by a Council of nine members, who are chosen by the joint ballot of the Senators and Representatives, from the Senators; and in case the persons elected, or any of them, decline the appointment, the deficiency is supplied from among the people at large.

The General Court meets (at Boston) on the last Wednesday of May, and also in January..

The right of suffrage is granted to every male citizen, 21 years of age and upwards (excepting paupers and persons under guardianship), who has resided within the commonwealth one year, and within the town or district

in which he may claim a right to vote, six calendar months next preceding any election, and who has paid a state or county tax, assessed upon him within two years next preceding such election; and also every citizen who may be by law exempted from taxation, and who may be, in all other respects qualified as above mentioned.

The judiciary is vested in a Supreme Court, a Court of Common Pleas, and such other courts as the Legislature may establish. The judges are appointed by the Governor by and with the advice and consent of the Council, and hold their offices during good behavior..

Government for the Year ending on the last Tuesday in May, 1831.

The pay of each member of the Senate and of the House of Representatives, is $2 for each day's attendance, and $2 for every ten miles' travel.

1. Justices of the Peace have original and exclusive jurisdiction in all civil cases in which the debt or damages demanded do not exceed $20, except where the title to real estate comes in question. They have concurrent criminal jurisdiction as to breaches of the peace, not aggravated in their nature, and in cases of larceny, where the goods stolen do not exceed the value of $5.

2. The Court of Common Pleas has appellate jurisdiction in all civil and criminal cases tried originally before a justice of the peace. It has original and exclusive jurisdiction in all civil, common-law cases, where the debt or damage demanded exceeds the sum of $20; and final jurisdiction where the damages demanded do not exceed $100. Its criminal Jurisdiction depends generally on particular statutes. In relation to offen

ces at common law, its jurisdiction includes every thing, where the punishment does not extend to life, member, or banishment, except where the punishment is, by statute, to be administered by the Supreme Court. In case of mortgages and forfeitures annexed to contracts, this court has a concurrent chancery jurisdiction.

3. The Supreme Judicial Court has appellate jurisdiction in all civil cases where the debt or damage exceeds $100, and in all criminal cases originally tried in the Court of Common Pleas or the Municipal Court of the city of Boston. It has concurrent jurisdiction in all criminal cases cognizable by the inferior courts, and original and exclusive jurisdiction in all capital cases. It has also original and exclusive jurisdiction in all cases of alimony and divorce; and chancery powers in cases of trusts, specific performance of contracts in writing, mortgages, settlement of partnership accounts, waste, nuisance, and forfeitures annexed to contracts. It is the Supreme Court of Probate, entertains appeals from the Probate Courts of the counties, and has a general superintending power over all inferior tribunals by writ of error, certiorari, quo warranto, &c.

4. The Probate Courts, of which there is one in each county, consisting of a single judge, have original and exclusive jurisdiction in the probate of wills, settlement of estates, and guardianship of minors, idiots, lunatics, &c.

5. There is, in Boston, a court consisting of three justices, styled the Police Court for the city of Boston, and a Justices' Court for the county of Suffolk, which has the same civil jurisdiction as justices of the peace in other counties, and the same criminal jurisdiction as justices of the peace, concurrently with the Municipal Court.

6. There is also in Boston a Municipal Court, consisting of one judge, which has cognizance of all crimes, not capital, committed within the county of Suffolk, and appellate jurisdiction in all criminal cases tried before the Police Court.

BANKS.

The state of the Banks as reported to the General Court in January,