COLONY

A dependent political com- ' munity, consisting of a number of 'citizens of the same country who have emigrated therefrom to people another, and remain subject to the mother-country. U. S. v. The Nancy, S Wash. C. C. 287,.Fed. Oas. No. 15,854. A settlement. in a foreign country po e ed and cultivated, either wholly or partially, by immigrants and their descendants, who have a political connection with and,aubordination to the mother-country, whence they emigrated. In other words, it ls a place peopled from some more ancient city or co_untry. Wharton. -<lolonie.l laws. In America, this term designates the bo,i;y of law in force in the thirteen ~riginal colomes before the Declaration of Independence. In England, the term signifies the laws enacted by Canada and the other pres- -ent 'British colonies.-Oolonial office.,In the English govemmenj:, thi is the department of state through whicli the sovereign appoints colonial , etc., and communicates with them. Until the year 1854, the secretary for the colonies was also secretary for war. [s. 223]