with Commissioners who may be appointed by the Governm! of New York; and with them to agree upon Measures for settling the Bounds of the two Provinces in an amicable Manner, & to setle the same accordingly, "to the End that good Understanding may be preserved, "which ought to subsist between fellow subjects & neighbouring Prov"inces And that a Letter be wrote to Excy Gov! Clinton, desiring that Commissioners (on behalf of the Governm of New York) may be appointed & fully authorized for the Purposes aforesaid. Order of the Comm J CHANDLER In Council April 11, 1753, Read & Accepted Sent down for Concurrence, Tho' Clarke Dept Sect In the House of Representatives April 12, 1753, Read & Concur'd T. HUBBARD Spk! Consented to S. Phips Tho' Clarke Dpty Secry. [Endorsement] 30 April 1753: Referred to a Committee. -[N. Y. Col. MSS., lxxvii, 79. [IN N. Y. COUNCIL.] April 16, 1753. * * His Excellency communicated a Letter from the Lieutenant Governor of Boston of the 23d ult: acknowledging the Receit of his Excellency's of the 6 of the same Month with the Papers accompanying it "referring to the challenges this Government makes to Lands claimed by that Province," and acquainting his Excellency that he thinks the Affair is of great moment, and that he shall lay it before the General Assembly of that Province which will meet the 28th of the same Month. His Excellency laid before the Board a Letter of the 13th Instant from the Lieutenant Governour of Boston inclosing a Report of the Committee of that Government of the 11th Instant whereby it appears, That that Government have agreed to appoint Commissioners to confer with Commissioners who may be appointed by this Government, and with them to agree upon Measures for setling the Bounds of the two Prov inces, in an amicable manner, and to settle the same accordingly: And desire that this Government will appoint and fully authorize Commissioners for the purposes aforesaid. Ordered that the said Letter and Report be referred to the Gentlemen of the Council or any three of them, to consider thereof and make their Report with all convenient speed. Mr. Alexander Chairman of the Committee to whom the Letter from the Governor of Boston of the 13th ult, and the Report accompanying it, were referred by Order yesterday, Read and presented the Committee's Report thereupon to his Excellency; Which was read at the Board, and on the question being put, was agreed to and approved of, and ordered to be entered in the Minutes, which is as follows, viz! May it please your Excellency In obedience to your Excellency's Order in Council of yesterday, referring to a Committee thereof, a Letter to your Excellency, from his Honour the Lieutenant Governor of the Province of MassachusetsBay, of the 13th April last, and the Report inclosed therein from that Government, proposing the Appointment of Commissioners, on the part of both Governments, to agree upon Measures for setling the Bounds of the two Provinces The committee have duely weighed and considered of the same, and are humbly of opinion that the said Report of the Government of the Massachusets-Bay, contains no Answer to the Papers transmitted to them by your Excellency. Those papers did in the opinion of this Committee, shew that Connecticut River was the Boundary of this Province, and the purport of them was to desire that Government "to inform your Excellency what Warrant they had to "claim or exercise any Right to Soil or Jurisdiction, Westward of Con"necticut River.” This Committee humbly conceives that that Request was short, plain, and not liable to be mistaken, and reasonable in itself to be complyed with; as your Excellency had in the most plain and candid manner, laid before that Government, the Title of this Province to that Boundary : But instead of complying with that reasonable Request, they propose the appointment of Commissioners mutually for setling the Bounds of the two Provinces. As to which; it seems to this Committee, that if your Excellency should comply with that Proposal, it would be a tacit Concession, that Connecticut River, (which by those Papers was clearly shown to be the Boundary of this Province) was not the Boundary thereof. As to Lands West of Connecticut River, making a valuable part of the Massachusets Bay, as they alledge: This Committee says that for some years they have heard that several People of the MassachusetsBay, had intruded upon his Majesty's Lands, lying to the West of Connecticut River, within the Jurisdiction of this Province: But that the People of the Massachusets-Bay, had usurped and exercised any jurisdiction over that part of this Province, this Committee believes, has not come to the Knowledge of his Majesty's Council of this Province, til very lately, And this Committee believes that the Council of this Province, had they known sooner of that usurpation, would according to their Duty, before this time, have advised your Excellency, pursuant to the Trust reposed in you by his Majesty, to have taken effectual measures to have redressed the same, but before any Measures were taken that Way, were desirous to give the Government of the Massachusets-Bay the opportunity of pointing out what Warrant, if any, that Government had, to claim Right to Soil and Jurisdiction, West of Connecticut River, that it might be in the most amicable manner discussed. Tho' the General Court of the Massachusets-Bay have neglected one opportunity of doing this, Yet as Mr Phips acquaints your Excellency, that another Assembly will meet the latter End of this Month: This Committee are humbly of opinion, that your Excellency should stay the entering on any such Measures as are before mentioned, until that General Court have one other Opportunity of complying with what this Committee conceives is incumbent on them to do, and your Excellency hath the Opportunity of considering their Answer, and doing thereon what shall be agreable to Reason and Justice. All which is nevertheless most humbly submitted to your Excellency: By order of the Committee. New York 1" May 1753. JA: ALEXANDER Chairman. The Council advised his Excellency to send a Copy of the said Report to the Lieutenant Governor of Boston desiring him to lay the same before his Assembly at their next meeting -And that his Excellency do lay all the Papers relating to this Matter before the General Assembly of this Province. [IN N. Y. COUNCIL AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY.] May 30, 1753 * * Gentlemen of the Council and General Assembly, Some Intrusions bave lately been made on the Lands of his Majesty and his Subjects of this Province, whereof sundry Complaints have been made to me, Copies of those Complaints, and of what I have done thereon, shall be laid before you, being well assured, you will use your best Endeavours for the Preservation of his Majesty's Authority and Jurisdiction, to the Extent of the Bounds of this Province, and for the Protection of the Properties of his Majesty and his Subjects within it; and I leave it to you, to consider, whether it may not be expedient that Committees of both Houses should be appointed to meet and concert the most proper Measures to be taken in this Affair, wherein I shall give my best Assistance. To His Excellency the Honorable GEORGE CLINTON * * * * The Intrusions made on the Lands of his Majesty and his Subjects in this Province, of which several complaints have been made to your Excellency may in their consequences greatly endanger the interest and peace of this Colony, We shall be ready to join in concerting the most prudent measures to be taken in this affair. * * His Excellency laid before the Board a Memorial of Robert Livingston Jun! Esq dated the 31 ult, touching the late Proceedings of a Committee of the Massachusets Bay, sent to lay out a Township, within the Manor of Livingston. Also a Petition of John Van Renselaer complaining of Encroach ments on his Manor by People of the Massachusets-Bay and praying Redress-Which were read And the Council advised his Excellency to lay them before the General Assembly. A Message from the General Assembly by Mr Livingston to M' Rens elaer desiring the Council will appoint a Committee to meet and join a Committee of the General Assembly, to consider of that part of his Excellency Speech which relates to certain Intrusions being made on this Colony by the neighbouring Colonies, and acquainting the Council that on notice of such an appointment by the Council, that House wil appoint a Committee accordingly. Ordered, that the Honourable Archibald Kennedy and Edward Hol land Esq" be a Committee to join the Committee to be appointed by the General Assembly for the purpose mentioned in the above Message, And the Speaker of the Council is also desired to assist at the said Committee. Ordered, that the said Committees meet at the Burns in the City of New York on Thursday the in the afternoon. * -[N. Y. Legis. Council Journal, p. 1112. House of George Instant at 5 o clock [IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.] June 5, 1753. * * A Message from the Council by the Honourable Edward Holland, Esq. * * Ordered, That Capt. Richard, Mr. Cruger, Capt. Walton, and Mr. Watts be a Committee to join a Committee of the Council to consider that Part of his Excellency's Speech, which relates to certain Intrusions being made on this Colony. This joint Committee finally reported the Draft of Act of July 4th, 1753, hereafter given in its chronological order. [In MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL COURT.] The Committee appointed the 9th of June Currant to take under Consideration the Report of a Committee directed to repair to the Lands lying within this Province West of Sheffield &c. And also to |