[The following important document, written, it is stated, mainly by Rev. William Smith, D. D., Provost of the University of Pennsylvania in 1774. It so admirably refutes the claim of Connecticut and withal is so important a paper in the Wyoming controversy, that we here give it in full.] AN EXAMINATION OF THE CONNECTICUT CLAIM TO LANDS IN PENNSYLVANIA. The Notion of extending the Claim of the Colony of Connecticut to Lands Westward as far as the South Sea, thereby including a considerable Part of the Royal Grant of Pennsylvania made to WILLIAM PENN, Esq; as well as of the western Crown Lands yet ungranted, seems to have been first started about twenty Years ago, by a certain Schemer; and has since generally treated as the wild Chimera of a visionary Brain. In this Light it would deserve still to be considered, if it was not render`d more serious by a late Resolve of the Connecticut Assembly to support that Claim-a Resolve which, after long declining to interfere in the Matter, seems at last to have been obtained from them with much Difficulty, in the Strength of some late Law-Opinions from England. It is porposed therefore, in the following Sheets, without calling in Question the great and acknowleged Abilities of the Gentlemen who have signed those Opinions, to examine the State of the Case laid before them. Previous to which it will be proper. 1st. To take some Notice of the different American Grants, and particularly those of New England. 2dly. To enquire under what Circumstances the Settlement of Connecticut was made, and its present Charter obtained. 3dly. What is the true Construction of the Charter Limits of that Colony, what has been their own Construction of them, and the Construction made by the Crown, as well as by their neighbouring Colonies, for more than a Hundred Years? Some incidental Remarks will be interspersed, and on the whole it will be submitted whether their Charter at first could, and much less after the Acquiescence of near a whole Century, it now can, be extended in the Sense they claim, thereby vacat ing other intermediate Crown Grants, and numerous Settlements of Boundaries since made by the Royal Authority? And lastly, whether on this full and true State of the Case, those learned Gentlemen in England would have given the same Opinions, or indeed any Sanction to the Connecticut Assembly for voting their Support to a Set of Men, who, in a lawless and |