and declares that he had invariably recommended implicit Obedience to the Laws, and upon all occasions positively disavowed any Connection with those People. And Whereas it is become highly necessary that this Government should pursue the most vigorous Measures to suppress that daring and licentious Spirit, which has given so much Disturbance to the public Peace, and Interruption to the Course of Justice: In order therefore to undeceive such deluded Persons, and to bring them to a sense of the Duty and Submission they owe to this Government; and that none may pretend Ignorance of the just Title of this Province to the Lands in Question; I have thought fit with the Advice of his Majesty's Council to issue this Proclamation, hereby publickly notifying, That King Charles the Second by his several Letters Patent bearing Date the 12th day of March 1663|4 and the 29th day of June 1674, did Give and Grant in Fee unto his Brother James Duke of York the River called Hudson's River, and "All the Land from the West Side of Connecticut River to the East Side of Delaware Bay”—That until the year 1741, the Limits of the Province of New Hampshire were confined to the Territory granted to Mason and Gorges, which extending only Sixty Miles from the Sea Coast, did not approach Connecticut River within a considerable Distance-That in the year 1741 the Crown by the Royal Commission to the late Governor of that Province, first extended its Limits but without contracting the Bounds of the other Colonies, it being expressly declared in the said Commission, that New Hampshire shall extend Westward and Northward until it meets with his Majesty's other Governments-That the Controversy between the two Provinces touching their respective Limits, first commenced in the year 1749, when the late Governor of New Hampshire by Letter of the 17th day of November, signified to the then Governour of this Province, that he had it in command from his Majesty to make Grants of the unimproved Lands in New Hampshire; and desired Information how far North of Albany this Province extended, and how manny Miles to the Eastward of Hudson's River, Northward of the Massachusetts Line; that he might govern himself accordingly-In answer to which Request, this Government by Letter of the 9th day of Aprill 1750, asserted that

this Province is bounded Eastward by Connecticut River, the before mentioned Letters Patent from King Charles the Second to the Duke of York, expressly granting all the Lands from the West Side of Connecticut River to the East Side of Delaware Bay-That had the Government of New Hampshire adverted to an obvious Distinction between their own Claim and that of the Massachusetts Bay and Connecticut Colonies, it must have removed every objection; for, however exceptionable in other Respects, the Titles of the two latter Governments are founded on Charters prior to the Establishment of New York, but the Royal Commission which first connected the Bounds of New Hampshire with the Limits of this Province, is so recent as the year 1741: and priority of Title, the only argument which could be urged by Massachusetts Bay or Connecticut, is with Regard to New Hampshire in Favour of this Province-The late Governour Wentworth nevertheless in answer to the Information so given him of the unquestionable Right of this Colony to extend to Connecticut River, by his Letter of the 25th Day of April 1750, declared that the claim of New York to Connecticut River as its Eastern Boundary, would have been intirely satisfactory, had not the two Charter Governments of Massachusets Bay and Connecticut, extended their Bounds many Miles Westward of Connecticut River; and that it being the opinion of his Majesty's Council of that Province, that New Hampshire had an equal Right to claim the same Extent of Western Boundary with those Charter Governments, he had before the preceeding Letter came to his Hands, granted one Township, due North of the Massachusets Line, and by Measurement twenty four Miles East of the City of Albany-That the Governor of this Province by Letter of the 6th Day of June 1750, expressed his Surprize at such a Procedure, and insisted if it was Still in his (Governor Wentworth's) Power to recal the Grant he had made of the said Township, his doing So would be but an Act of Justice to this Government; and that otherwise he should think himself obliged to send a Representation of the Matter to be laid before his Majesty; That as to Connecticut, their Claim was founded on an amicable agreement with this Colony in 1683, afterwards confirmed by King William: And that with respect to the Massachusets Bay, they had possessed

themselves of the Lands Westward of Connecticut River by Intrusion-That the said late Governor of New Hampshire by letter of the 224 day of June 1750, declared the Council of that Province were unanimously of the opinion not to commence a Dispute with this Government respecting the Western Extent of New Hampshire, until his Majesty's Pleasure should be further known; and accordingly had advised that he should on the Part of New Hampshire, make a Representation of the Matter to his Majesty; relying that the Governor of this Province would do the Same on the Part of New York, and that whatever Should be determined thereon, that Government would esteem their Duty to acquiese in without any further Dispute-That there was no Possibility of vacating the Grant he had made, but that if it should fall by his Majesty's. Determination within the Government of New York it would be void of course That this Province accepted of the proposal contained in the last mentioned Letter, adding that it would be for the mutual advantage of both Provinces, to exchange copies of each others Representation; to which the Government of New Hampshire consented, promising to transmit an authentick copy of theirs when perfected That the late Governor of that Colony, did notwithstanding State and transmit the claim of New Hampshire to his Majestys Ministers, by Letter dated the 23d day of March 1750|1, without previously communicating a Copy thereof to this Government; the first Intimation of which Transaction was had from their own agent in Great Britain-That the Representation containing a State of the claim of New York was forwarded to the proper office about · the close of the year 1751; and Incroachments having been made by the Inhabitants of New Hampshire on the Lands and Possessions of his Majesty's Subjects of New York, this Government on the 28th day of July 1753 issued a Proclamation for apprehending all Persons who should thereafter under Colour of Title from New Hampshire, take Possession of Lands granted by this Province-That after this Period the Matter rested, the Incursions of the Indians immediately preceeding the late War, obstructing all new Settlements, and the Government of New York, confiding, that New Hampshire after what had passed, would not venture to make any further Grants of the Lands in VOL. IV.

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Contest, until his Majesty should be pleased to determine the Limits between his two Provinces, as every such Grant could be considered in no other Light than as a mere Nullity-But the Government of New Hampshire totally disregarding the solemn appeal to his Majesty by both Provinces, without waiting for the Royal Decision, issued Grants for many Townships Westward of the River Connecticut, some of which are within about seventeen Miles of Hudson's River, and others on the Banks of Wood Creek and Lake Champlain, altho' it is notorious that the whole country on the Borders of Massachusets Bay, and partly on the late claim of New Hampshire, was very anciently and long before the latter Government extended even to Connecticut River, granted under the great Seal of this Province, 24, 28 and even 30 Miles to the Eastward of Hudson's River-That apprized of these Proceedings on the Part of New Hampshire, The Government of New York on the 28th Day of December 1763, issued a Proclamation stating the Claim of both Provinces to the contested Lands; asserting the ancient Jurisdiction of this Colony Eastward to Connecticut River, and warning all Persons against setling such Lands under Title derived from New Hampshire--And that finally to put an End to this Controversy, his Majesty was pleased by his Royal order bearing Date the 20th Day of July 1764, with the advice of his privy Council, to declare the Western Banks of the River Connecticut from where it enters the Province of Massachusetts Bay, as far North as the forty fifth Degree of Northern Latitude, the Boundary Line between the said two Provinces of New York and New Hampshire And that the said Royal order was publickly notified by proclamation of this Government enjoining a due obedience thereto on the Part of this Colony-From all which is Manifest that no reasonable or well grounded objection can be assigned against the Title of this Province, so ancient and clear in itself, and so fully established by his Majesty's Royal Adjudication and Authority; and that those who presume to disturb the public Peace on pretence of a prior Right to Lands Westward of Connecticut River, under the groundless Claim of the Government of New Hampshire, are altogether inexcusable, and will justly draw on themselves the Severest Punishment-I do therefore

hereby in his Majesty's Name enjoin require and command all Persons residing on any of the Lands within this Colony heretofore claimed by the Province of New Hampshire, to yield the Strictest Obedience to the Laws, and. to demean themselves as good and faithful subjects within this Government, as they will answer the contrary at their Peril: And I do also hereby require all Judges, Justices, Sherifs and other Civil Officers to be vigilant in their Duty, and attentive to the preservation of the public Peace; and to transmit to me the Names of all Persons who shall for the future be found exciting any Riot, under whatever pretence, or perpetrating any act tending to a Breach of the Peace, or the Disturbance of Government, with a particular Information of the circumstances attending the same, that such measures may be taken for the Punishment of the Offenders as the Nature of their Crimes shall require.

Given under my Hand and Seal at Arms at Fort George in the City of New York the eleventh Day of December 1771 in the twelfth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth.

By the inclos'd Copy, from ye Journal of his Majesty's Council for this Province upon communicating to them your Excellency's Letters to me dated Fort George N: York Oct. 2d 1771 and 23d Dec 1771 together with your Proclamation inclos'd in the letter, and my answer to the first Letter; It will appear that I cannot issue any public Act relative to those violences recited in your Excellency's Letters & Proclamation as done in the Province of New York unless in possitive contrariety to their express advice, officially required, and given me upon this occa