CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS.
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GOV. CLINTON TO GOV. WENTWORTH.
Sir I have received your Letter of the 25 th April last iu answer to mine of the 9 th of samemonth, respecting the Eastern Boundary of this province wherein you desire to be informed bywhat Authority Connecticut and the Massachusetts Governments claim so far to the westward asthey have Setled.
As to Connecticut , their Claim is founded upon an agreement with this Government, in or aboutthe year 1684, afterwards confirmed by King William; in Consequence of winch the Lines betweenthe two Governments were run, and the Boundaries marked in the year 1725, as appear by theCommissioners and Surveyors Proceedings of Record here—But it is presumed the Massachusetts Government at first possessed themselves of those Lands by Intrusion, and thro the negligenceof this Government, have hitherto continued their Possession, the Lands not being private Property.
From tire Information I have, there is Reason to apprehend that the Lands within the Townshipyou have lately granted, or part of them, have been granted here; And as my answer to your Lettermight probably have furnished you with objections against any Grant which might interfere withthis Province I am Surprised you did not wait ’till it came to hand, before you proceeded therein.If it is still in your power to recall the Grant, your doing So, will be but a piece of justice to thisGovernment, otherwise I shall think myself obliged to Send a Representation of the Matter to be laidbefore his Majesty.
I am & c
To Governour Wentworth.
GOV. WENTWORTH TO GOV. CLINTON.
Portsmouth June 22 d 1750.
Sir As soon as your Letter of tire 6 th instant came to my hands, I tlio’t it proper to have theSense of His Majesty’s Council thereon, who were unanimously of the opinion, not to commence adispute with your Excellency’s Government, respecting the Extent of Western Boundary to NewHampshire , until His Majesty’s pleasure should be -further known; Accordingly the Council haveadvised, that I shall on the part of New Hampshire make a representation of tire matter to hisMajesty, relying that your Excellency will do the Same on the part of New York , & that whatevershall be determined thereon, this Government will Esteem their duty to Acquiesce in, without anyfurther dispute, which I am hopeing will be Satisfactory on that point.
When I first wrote you on this Subject, I tho’t I had given Sufficient time to receive an Answerto my letter, before I had fixed the Day for passing the grant refer’d to in your Letter, & as thepersons concern’d therein lived at a great distance, it was inconvenient for them to be Delay’d,beyond the appointed time; I was not apprehensive any Difficulty could arrise by confineing my Selfto the Western boundary's of the two Charter Governments, accordingly I passed the paltentabout ten Days, before your favour of the 6 th of January 1749 came to hand.
There is no possibility of vacateing the grant as you desire, but if it falls by His Majesty’s deter-mination in the Government of New York , it will be void of course.