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Majesty’s pleasure shall be known, all prosecutions in behalf of the Crown, on account of the Crimeswith which stand charged ; and to recommend it to the Owners of the contested Lands under Grantsof this province, to put a Stop during the same period, to all civil Suits concerning the Lands inQuestion and to agree with the Setlers for the purchase thereof on moderate Terms ; Exacting noother Condition on their part, than their future peaceable and quiet behaviour—That instead ofembracing so favourable an offer with Gratitude, they have again perpetrated fresh acts of violence,and rendered themselves still more obnoxious and inexcusable. That there is too much Reason toapprehend that so pernicious an Example if not speedily check’d and punished, must be attendedwith tiie worst Consequences, by bringing the Authority of Government into Contempt andobstructing the Course of Justice. And that the Board consider the Letter from Bennington ashighly insolent, and deserving of Sharp Reprehension, and the Insinuation that the Settlements wereto proceed under the New Hampshire Grants, and to be stayed under those of New York asutterly without any Foundation. The Council farther observed to his Exellency that every meeract of executory Government to restrain the Patentees of this Colony from improving their Estateswould be unauthoratative, and flatly repugnant to the Law, as well as against the Conditions andTerms expressed in their patents, and directed by the Royal Instructions. And that the Boardtherefore foresee that the Endeavours of the New Hampshire Grantees to increase the Numberof their Possessions upon the controverted Lands, must speedily create Confusion and Bloodshed.That it is beyond the power of the Civil Magistrate to put a Stop to this Growing evil, which in theopinion of the Board cannot be effectually suppressed without the aid of the Regular Troops. Thatevery material Information touching this Contest, has been transmitted and now lies for his Majesty’sConsideration. And that as the Circumstances of the Colony absolutely require it. The Board areunanimously of opinion that his Excellency do urge his Majesty’s Ministers the necessity of a speedysignification of his Majesty’s pleasure on this subject; and at the same Time intimate that from theNumber and Extent of the Grants under this province to reduced Officers and Soldiers and others,as well as the Confirmations that have been made to those who had Grants under New Hampshire and others associated with them in the Counties of Cumberland and Gloucester and Charlotte,and the numerous settlements that have been made under those patents and under Ancient Grantsin the County of Albany , the Revocation of the Royal Decision of 1764, and the subjecting of theCountry Westward of Connecticut River to the Jurisdiction of New Hampshire , appears to this Boardto be a Measure unfriendly to the Rights of the Crown, dangerous to the Patentees holding under theGreat Seal of this Colony, introductive of endless Contentions among the Inhabitants, and Subver-sive of the Growth and Cultivation of a very valuable Country, which but for the Disturbances inBennington and the Neighborhood of that Town, is now in a peaceful and flourishing Condition.
GOV. TRYON TO LORD HILLSBORO’.
[Lona. Doc: Vol. XIJII.]
My Lord. The middle of last month I received an answer from the Inhabitants of Bennington &adjacent Townships, to my letter sent them from Albany , requiring them to put Coll Reid’s Tenantsin possession of the Tenements and Farms they had turned them out of. This letter with one fromM r Kelly a Gentleman of the Law, I laid before the Council Board, and desired they would Report