CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS.

E09

the settlers in these Townships, and that His Majesty’s Grace to the other N. Hampshire Granteeswill be most gratefully accepted.

To guard against any improper advantage that may be taken of his Maj‘y’ s instructions in favourof possessions and improvements, Terms used in the Report of the Lords of Trade, I must notomit mentioning to your Lordp that with the Inhabitants of America , they are not restrained toHouses, and Barns and Lands inclosed, and prepared for the Scythe and Plough , but applied oftento a Tract of girdled Trees, surrounded by dry loose brush, and a square Hutt, made of unhewn Logs,and covered with Bark.

I am sensible, My Lord, that agreeable to these Hints, the peace of the Prov ce is to be purchasedat His Majty’ 8 expence, but there seems to be an inevitable necessity for the sacrifice.

If it be thought to be most eligible for His Maj‘y to take the work into his own hands, withoutthe Legislative aid, which, I fear, cannot be had in the Colonies, I hope your Lordp w ill pardonmy importunity in repeating the intimation that its success will depend upon the proper measuresbeing immediately prosecuted. The parties concerned, who, in the present Infant State of this con-troversy, may now listen to the Royal Voice and overtures, will in a very short time, look only to theLaw, for a settlement of their disputes, and when strengthened by numbers, impoverished by Lawsuits and animated by a concourse of Banditti, whose interest it is to flock to such troubledquarters, the Law itself will loose the authority, and the whole Country become a scene of thewildest confusion, equally destructive to the felicity of the subject, and the interest of the Crown.

But tho’ I conceive the restoration of the common tranquility, practicable with some liberality tothe N. Hampshire Grantees, yet nothing but a sense of duty prompts me to urge it, forseeing as Ido, that in the execution of the trust, much must be left to His Maj l y’ s servants in this Prov ce , andthat the jealousies of avarice and ignorance of the Petitioning Claimants will render the serviceneither desirable nor easy.

Before I conclude, and for your Lordp’s more ready comprehension of my idea of the State ofthe Country in dispute, the condition and situation of the Claimants, and what general principleswill best suit the exigency of those affairs, I shall with the utmost deference offer several propositionsfor your Lordp’s attention, to which I confess myself a Convert.

That some more easterly line be substituted instead of the Curve line proposed ; be it a con-tinuation of the line agreed upon at Hartford, or the western boundary lines of the Counties ofCumberland and Gloucester, dividing them from Albany and Charlotte as established by an Actof our last Session either of which will reduce the object of the Report from that degree of liberal-ity to New Hampshire, so alarming to the Proprietors under New York .

That all the New York patents within this Govern 1 be declared valid whether they do or not inter-fere with prior or subsequent Grants under N. Hampshire.

That all New Hampshire Patents be declared void being destitute of Legal foundation. But thatall occupants under New Hampshire Grants not covered by New York Patents, may have confirm-ations of their Possessions under the Great seal of this Prov eo in such propositions, and upon suchterms as his Majesty shall prescribe.

That all occupants under New Hampshire Titles, and within New York Patents, whether thelatter be prior or subsequent, have such liberal equivalents out of the waste lands, and such otherindulgences by a suspension of Quit Rents, as His Majty shall think equitable, the situation of1 icse. settlers being the consideration of the greatest hardship & difficulty.

That all persons generally, who shall be found to have made settlements at the time of the Royalorder for terminating these differences be considered as bona fide occupants, it being conceived to