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to be Considered as a possession of the whole, and that the duke of York thereby becameactually possessed of the whole lands Granted to him, and that the whole thereupon become partof this Government, under the duke of York ; and Therefore that Connecticut River is realy andTruly the Eastern Bounds of this Colony.
Tis True that by the Abdication of the Crown by the Duke of York ; afterwards in the year 1688 ;this Government became vested in the Crown (If not before) but I believe no record or otherwriting Can be produced, whereby it Can be made appear, that the Crown Ever Intended to abridgethe Northern bounds of this Government or to confine it to any-Bounds ; but what it had, whenunder the Government of the Duke of York ; whence I conclude That the bounds of this GovernmentContinue Still the Same as in his time; Except where they may have been altered as above byAgreement that it Extends to Connecticut River; and Therefore that the Government of NewHampshire , which is to Extend westward till it meets with his Majestys other Governments, andno farther ; must Terminate at that River ; as its utmost western Boundary.
I am very Sensible ; may it Please your Excellency ; that the above Representation, Relating tothe Eastern bounds of this Government, is very Imperfect; being framed only on the few papersand materials I have been able to collect, at this time ; Relating to a matter, which I must confess,myself, very much unacquainted with. But hope these few Hints, may be of Some use in the affair,and doubt not but his Majesty’s Surveyor General, who I suppose is much Better acquaintedwith the Bounds of this government, than I can pretend to be; will give your Excellency muchfurther Light Relating to them.
I am Your Excellencys most Obedient Humble Servant
R. Bradley.
(Endorsed) Attorney Generals report in the Case between New York & New Hampshire .
SURVEYOR GENERAL’S OBSERVATIONS ON MR. BRADLEY’S REPORT.
Gent" You were pleased on the 9 th instant to desire me to put in writing some thoughts whichthen occurred to me on the subject matter of a representation of the late Attorney Gen* respectingthe eastern boundary of this Province. In obedience thereto I shall observe that as the Soil of boththe provinces of New York and New Hampshire is now vested in the Croun the King may fix theboundary between these his two Governments at his pleasure on which it may be proper to remark.
1. That the line lately run by the Government of New Hampshires to Hudson’s River as theirSouthern boundary comes (as I am informed) within 8 or 10 miles of the City of Albany. That so faras I can learn Albany is a place more considerable in the numbers of its inhabitants & for trade(having a communication by water with the Sea for vessels of Burthen) than any toun in NewHampshire and that the parts of the country lying • between Connecticut river & Hudsons river arenearer to Albany than to any Port or place of trade in New Hampshire .
2. In time of war incursions on this Province by the French & French Indians have been generallymade through that part of the country between Connecticut river & Hudson’s river. For boththese reasons it must be more for the benefite & security oi the inhabitants of that part of theCountry between these two rivers as well as for the security of the other parts of the Province of NewYork that the country between the said rivers continue under the Government of New York .
Besides these considerations from the publick utility it may be remarked