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CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS.
INSTRUCTIONS OF THE NEW YORK LEGISLATURE
TO ITS DELEGATES IN CONGRESS RELATIVE TO THE DISORDERS PREVAILING IN THE NORTH EASTERN
Kingston, August 27, 1779.
Gent". We anxiously expected that, by an effectual Interposition of Congress , our deludedFellow Citizens in the North Eastern Parts of the State would before our present meeting havepeaceably returned to their duty, and prevented the necessity of coercive Measures to compel asubmission to the authority of Legal Government. This we were the more readily induced to hopeas we conceive the Terms we have offered to them to be not only perfectly just and equitable buteven generous ; these pacific Overtures have been disregarded, violence and Outrage are dailycommitted upon, and the Severest punishment threatened against (the latter of which will appearfrom the inclosed Copy of an Act of the Legislature of the pretended State of Vermont ) our goodsubjects in Brattleborough and other well affected Towns, who now claim from us that Protectionwhich we have Solemnly promised to them and which consistent with justice we can no longerwithhold.
While on the one hand we view with a degree of Horror the dreadful consequences of havingRecourse to Force, not only to this State, and especially to the unhappy People who will be itsimmediate Object, but also to the common cause of America —yet on the other we are persuadedour Successful efforts, to expel a foreign Tyranny will avail us little while we remain Subject tothe domestic Usurpation ; earnestly wishing however by every attempt to Peace, to prevent the evilsof a Civil War, we must direct you to entreat once more the mediation of Congress .
A Quorum of the Committee, appointed by the Resolution of the first of June last, having nevermet, and as we have not been informed that Congress have since proceeded in the business we pre-sume it is remaining before them in the same State it was prior to that day upon this supositionwe shall take the Liberty of suggesting several matters for their consideration and proposing certainmeasures, not only just and satisfactory in themselves, but such as we believe will be effectual inrestoring the Peace of the State.
It is to be observed that all the Lands in that District of Country, which has attempted aSeparation from this State under the name of Vermont , is 1 st either unpatented and unoccupied or2 iiI y unpatented and actually occupied or 3 dI y Patented by New Hampshire or Massachusetts Bay and not afterwards patented by New York or 4 thl y Patented by New York prior to any Patent underNew Hampshire or Massachusetts Bay or 5 Patented by New Hampshire or Massachusetts Bay andafterwards patented by New York .
With respect to the first Case the Lands must remain for the future Disposition ot Governmentwith respect to the second we have engaged to confirm to the Occupants their respective Posses-sions together with as much vacant adjoining Land as to form convenient Farms not exceedingthree hundred acres each.
With respect to the third we have engaged to confirm the Patents under New Hampshire orMassachusetts Bay as fully as if they had been made under New York without taking any advantageof a non performance of Condition.
With respect to the fourth and fifth Cases we have engaged besides confirming such Possessionsas were made under New Hampshire or Massachusetts Bay prior to any Patent for the sameLands under New York to submit the Determination of the Right of Soil to Commis rs . to be appointed