CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS.

485

thereon; being willing that His Maj 1 ? might be informed of the opinion of that Board, as well as myown suggestions, of the present state of the distractions in Charlotte County. As Lieut . Coll: Reidwas charged with very harsh proceedings in the Bennington letter, I ordered he should be servedwith an extract of so much of the letter as related to him. In consequence of which, he deliveredin Council, on Monday last, his memorial with his affidavit, and that of Archibald Clark inconfutation of such injurious charges, and in justification of his procedure. Coll. Reid’s honorableconduct in His Maj‘y s service and his delicate principles of honor, would have secured him fromthe malice of these aspersions, among the unprejudiced, tho he had treated these calumnies withsilent contempt. By the transmission of these letters, Memorial, affidavits and Report of the Council,your Lordp will be evinced of the real expediency of an immediate Royal decision to the contro-versy. As your Lordp must be sensible, tliat the line of jurisdiction cannot be exerted or have itseffect until the line of property is drawn. I must beg leave to solicit His Maj‘y that I may havepermission, as soon as possible, to admit as many of the Townships of New Hampshire to take con-firmations under this Gover nt , on half fees, or such other Terms, as His Maj'y shall prescribe, asvoluntarily offer to take out patents under this Govern 1 under the usual restrictions and limitations.This measure is founded on the soundest policy, as every such confirmation is securing the inhab-itants of that Township in the interest of, and obedience to this Govern 1 . The new Hampshire proprietors who have offered to confirm their titles under the seal of this Prov ce on half fees, andhave been restricted by His Majesty’s late order forbidding me to proceed in giving them titles, arevery importunate, and begin to be so much sowered and disgusted, that there is much reason toapprehend as they find the Bennington people and the adjacent Country daily increase in strengthand uninterrupted by Govern’, they will soon reject any offers from this Country, and combine inopposition to the jurisdiction of this Province; besides, the partition line between this Govern 1and Massachusetts Bay being still unsettled; by the aid of those Borderers, the opposition mayreasonably be expected to be very formidable; too much so, for militia forces to encounter.

These observations, My Lord, taking under consideration with my former correspondence on thesubject, will I am confident have that weight with His Maj 1 ?’ 8 Ministers, as is proportioned to theirimportance, and I trust, my Royal Master will believe, they flow from a zealous and earnest desireto promote his service, and the peace and welfare of this Colony.

I am with all possible respect & esteem, My Lord.

Your Lordship’s most obedient servant

Wm Tryon.

ORDER OF COUNCIL ON PETITION OF BENJN STEVENS.

In Council, October 21 st 1772.

His Excellency laid before the Board the petition of Complaint of Benjamin Stevens DeputySurveyor of Lands, and John Brandon and John Dunbar, setting, that the Complainants being ontheir lawful Business was on the 29‘i> of September last met with by Remember Baker, Ara Allen,and five other persons at Onion River, and were without any provocation stript by them of theirproperty and Effects, insulted and threatned, and the petitioner John Dunbar thrown into the Fire,Bound and Burned and otherwise beat and abused in a Cruel manner, as more fully appears by theaffidavits thereunto annexed’; and praying Relief.

On reading of which petition and Depositions, and his Excellency requiring the opinion of the