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CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS.
To prevent as much as in my power the evil consequences of these proceedings, I have by theadvice of his Ma'y? Council of this Prov ce issued a Proclamation of which a printed copy is inclosed,and another in my letter of Jany 20 th to which letter I beg leave to refer.
It became tire more necessary for me at this time to vindicate the right of this Govern 1 to the landsbecause great numbers of reduced Officers and disbanded soldiers who have served in America ,have applied to me for the Reward in Land, granted by His Maty’s Proclamation in their favour,and I have no other lands to grant but these, which the Govern* of New Hampshire have taken uponthemselves to grant, in the manner above mentioned. I endeavour to distribute His Majesty’sBounty in the manner most agreable to the officers, and so that the grants may pass with the greatestdispatch and least expence, as will appear by the minute of Council which I inclose. Since thattime in a few days, near one hundred Commissioned and non-commissioned officers and privateshave applied- for Grants of Land, so that from this Province, all the reduced officers and disbandedSoldiers in this part of North America , cliuse to receive the Kings reward in lands within thisProvince.
As the reduced officers and Soldiers will find the necessary and unavoidable expence of Sellinghard upon them, they are apprehensive of an additional expence of Law suits, however slight thepretensions be, and therefore it will greatly encourage and forward the Settlement of that part of theCountry, to have a speedy end put to the pretensions of the Govern* of New Hampshire , whichyour Lord h P s may effectually do, by only signifying to the Gov. of N. Hampshire his Majesty’spleasure on that head, and by sending a duplicate of the order to the Governor of this Province.
The only thing which can make any person prefer the grants of New Hampshire to those of thisGovern* is the difference of quit rent; for as the Commerce of that Country must be carried on byHudson’s River, it must be more convenient for the Inhabitants to be under the jurisdiction of NewYork. The quit rent of New Hampshire , I am told, is at the rate of one shilling sterling for everyhundred acres, and that of New York is at the Rate of two shillings and six pence ; this differenceon a moderate computation may amount to one thousand pounds sterling yearly. So that it is like-wise much for the benefit of His Majesty’s Revenue of Quit-Rents that this dispute be speedily putan end to.
I am informed that the officers and private Men of the Provincial troops of this and the neigh-bouring Colonies imployed in the late war of America , design to apply for His Majesty’s bounty inlands to be extended to them as to the officers and Soldiers of His Majesty’s Army . I have noobjection to this, only that the civil officers of the Govern* ought to be considered, who have freelygiven up their usual fees in favour of the army; for I apprehend the same reason does not extend toboth in this respect.
The Officers and Men of the Provincials, all live in this Country, have their friends and Relationsto assist them, and as the Colony Troops were levied annually, and received annual bounty, differentOfficers and Men were employed in different years; their numbers will be very great, and thetrouble to the Civil Officers of this Govern* become very heavy; for the charter and ProprietaryGovern' s are not bound by the King’s proclamation. It seems therefore reasonable that, if the Kingshould think proper to extend his Bounty of an abatement of Quit Rents, for ten years, in favour ofthe Provincials, that they receive their grants on paying the usual fees.
I am with great respect & humble submission My Lords