, the addition of five hundred pounds a year only; and to the
council, no more than what is given them at other times.

Sec. 3. The gentlemen of the council are appointed by letter or instruction
from his majesty, which says no more, but that they be sworn of the
council.

The number of the counsellors when complete, is twelve; and if at
anytime, by death or removal, there happen to be fewer than nine
residing in the country, then the governor has power to appoint and
swear into the council, such of the gentlemen of the country as he shall
think fit to make up that number, without expecting any direction from
England.

The business of the council, is to advise and assist the governor in all
important matters of government, which he shall consult them in.

In the general assembly, the council make the upper house, and claim an
entire negative voice to all laws, as the house of lords in England.

The salary of the council is in all but three hundred and fifty pounds
per annum, to be proportioned among them according to their attendance
on general courts and assemblies.

Sec. 4. The burgesses of assembly are elected, and returned from all parts
of the country, viz: from each county, two; and from James City, one;
and from the college, one; which make up in all sixty burgesses. They
are convened by writs issued from the secretary's office, under the seal
of the colony, and the test of the governor. These are directed to the
sheriff of each county respectively, and ought to bear date at least
forty days before the return. The freeholders are the only electors, and
wherever they have a freehold (if they be not women, or under age, or
aliens) they have a vote in the election. The method of summoning the
freeholders, is by publication of the writ, together with the day
appointed by the sheriff for election, at every church and chapel in the
county, two several Sundays successively. The election is concluded by
plurality of voices; and if either party be dissatisfied, or thinks he
has not fair treatment, he may demand a copy of the poll, and upon
application to the house of burgesses, shall have his complaint inquired
into. But to prevent undue elections, many acts have been there made,
agreeably to some lately enacted in England.

The first business of a convention, by the governor's direction, is to
make choice of a speaker, and to present him in full house to the
governor. Upon this occasion, the speaker, in the name o