382
LT. GOV. COLDEN TO LORD HILLSBOROUGH .
[ Lond. Doc. XLII. ]
My Lord,
His Majestys order in Council of the 24 th July 1767 restrains me from granting the letters Patent prayed for by the inclosed Petition. I am well assured that the tacts are as set forth by thePetitioners, and whatever equitable claim those persons may have who took grants of Lands fromthe Govern 4 of New Hampshire , lying Eastward of any lands granted by this Province certainlycannot extend to such as did lately obtain grants from that Govern 4 of Lands lying nearer HudsonsRiver than lands do, which were granted under this Prov ce upwards of sixty years ago, especiallywhen it is considered that they passed over a large extent of Land, much nearer to Connecticut River to come to those Lands which lye within the antient possessions of the Prov ce That some of themeven seated themselves on Lands which the Settlers under this Prov ce had been obliged to abandonat the commencement of the late War—and that they obtained Grants from the Govern 4 of N.Hampshire for any of these Lands, without paying the least regard to the prior Grants and notoriousclaim of this Province.
The Petitioners have been at Considerable expense in exploring and surveying these lands, andhave hitherto been prevented from receiving the benefit of His Maj 4 >' s bounty. I therefore thoughtit necessary, My Lord, to comply with their desire that I should transmit their Petition to your Lordpin order to obtain His Maj 4 y s Commands thereon.
I find, My Lord, that the Settlement and Cultivation of the Country lying West of ConnecticutRiver, which was formerly granted by the Govern 4 of New Hampshire is entirely retarded by theControversies which have arisen between those Proprietors and this Government. When I formerlyheld the Administration, I had resolved on measures respecting these Lands which I was thenassured would give entire satisfaction to these people & would produce the immediate settlement ofthe Country, and a very considerable augmentation of His Majestys Quit-Rents.
I found the people who had taken grants of Lands from the Govern 4 of N: Hampshire west ofConnecticut River , very willing to take new Grants for the same lands from this Govern 4 • theexpence of taking out the Patents being the only objection. To obviate this, I told as many as thenapplied to me, that I would give them Grants and leave it to themselves to pay me such proportionof my fees as they could conveniently do, and that I would use my influence with the other officersof Govern 4 to lower their fees in these Cases. This was so agreable to the people that the Proprietorsof several Townships immediately proceeded to take the necessary steps, for obtaining the newGrants, but I was prevented from puting the Seal to any of them by the arrival of Sir Henry Moore.He afterwards took his full fees for one of those Grants which had been very near ready for the Sealsbefore he came; and I am told he refused to pass any without his full Fees were paid. This gavegreat disgust to the people, and occasioned those applications which have since been made to theKing on this subject.
I think it my duty to submit my sentiments on this matter to your Lordr as I am still of opinionthat New Grants given by this Govern 4 to those people -who have an equitable pretence by theirformer Grants from New Hampshire , under such fees of office as shall be no ways distressing,will be the shortest and most effectual method to do justice and give satisfaction to the proprietors.That it will immediately produce the settlement of that large and valuable Tract of Country, and