our historians as the " Board of Trade." On the 15th May, in that year, King William III., by royal commission, constituted and appointed the great officers of state, for the time being, and certain other persons, " Commissioners, during the royal pleasure, for promoting the trade of the Kingdom, and for inspecting and improving the Plantations in America, and elsewhere." This board was empowered and required to examine into the general condition of the trade of England, and of foreign parts, and to make representations to the King thereupon to take ;

into their custody all records and papers belonging to the Plantation Office; to inquire into the condition of the Plantations ; to examine into the instructions of the Governors, &c., and represent their conduct to the King ; to present the names of proper persons for Governors and Secretaries, &c., in the Colonies, to the King in council ; to examine into and consider the acts passed in the Colonies to hear complaints, and make representations thereupon, &c. ;

and with power to send for persons and papers. The Board of Trade and Plantations, as thus organized, was continued through the succeeding reigns, by royal commissions, until its final dissolution, by act of Parliament, in July, 1782. " ' The records of the Board of Trade were kept with much care and system. Their proceedings on all subjects brought before them were accurately entered in a series of large folio journals, commencing with 1696 and extending down to 1782; and which, including the records of the proceedings of the Committee of Privy Council, between 1675 and 1696, number about 130 volumes. " The documents relating to the affairs of each Province and Colony were regularly and '