if long neglected will tend not only to leave the borderers on said line under great disadvantage in respect to their settling and improvements, but also to lead them into contention, which to prevent, with many other inconveniences that may follow thereupon, I am obliged earnestly to move to your Excellency that it may not be delayed beyond the next suitable opportunity, which I suppose may be in the latter end of September, or beginning of October next. Should be glad of your Excellency's concurrence, and shall wait for your Excellency appointing the day. Am, Sir,

Your Excellency's most humble obedient Serv't,
J. TALCOTT.

To his Excellency,

WILLIAM BURNET, Esq.

At New York.

[Indorsed] To Gov' BURNET, June the 9th 1726.

GOVERNOR BURNET OF NEW YORK TO GOVERNOR

TALCOTT.

NEW YORK, 28th June, 1726.

Sir: I have received yours of the 9th June, 1726, and am sorry that the Assembly have not this time enabled me to go on with that work, as you will see by the enclosed printed vote.*

* Votes and Proceedings of the General Assembly of New York:April 6, 1726. Extract from the speech of Gov. Burnet: "I have received a Letter from the Governor of Connecticut, about finishing the Partition Line, which I will lay before you, that you may make Provision for so necessary a Work."

May 27, 1726. The house taking into Consideration that Part of his Excellency's Speech relating to the Letter from the Governor of Connecticut, about finishing the Partition Line between that and this Colony;

Resolved, That the Consideration thereof be referred to the next Session of this House, the Season of the Year being too far spent for such an Undertaking.

It is true there was a sum raised among others for performance of that work, but it has been expended, and I find nobody willing to go upon it at their own charge; so that I must have patience till I can obtain a supply. I see by your Act of Assembly that you are ready to go on with it, which is to your credit. I wish I could say we were not to blame.

I have had lately a complaint made to me, that the people of your Province disturb some old settlers of this Colony. I hope you will hinder all such proceedings, of which you will be informed by the enclosed copy of a Petition to me. As it is the design of this Government to do all equitably with the people of your Colony, that it is believed will fall within this Province, and to procure them quiet possession, as far as the Government can, we have reason to expect the same to our inhabitants who it is thought will fall within your line. This is what I think it my duty earnestly to recommend to your care, who am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant,

W. BURNET.

NOTIFICATION TO THE AGENT OF THE MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL.

COUNCIL OFFICE, WHITEHALL, 29th July 1726.

Sir: My Lord President ordered me to acquaint you, that there will be a Committee on Tuesday next at ten in the Morning, when the affair relating to the Boundaries of Connecticut and Rhode Island is to be taken into consideration, and that you should give your attendance at that time. I am, with great respect, Sir,

Your Most humble Servant.

WM. SHARPE.

JEREMY DUMMER TO GOVERNOR TALCOTT.

Sir: I have receiv'd no letter from you by the late ships, nor any answer to my last, in which I inclos'd you the Report of my Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, which fixes the boundarys between the two Colonies according to the agreement at Stoningtown. Since my writing that letter, we have had a hearing before the Council, when the Report was read, and the two letters from Connecticut to the Lords of Trade submitting the controversy to their decision, after which my Lord President ask't me if I had anything to say against the confirmation of the Report. It was a little difficult to make an answer, but I was oblig'd to say something, and it was this; That I humbly apprehended that the Government of Connecticut meant no more than a compliment in what they writ, and I insisted in their behalf that it was a matter of property and of great importance, and could have no legal determination but in Westminster Hall. One of the Secretarys of State ask't me if I was directed by my Principals to make this plea, and I told his Lord I could not say that I was. Then says he a little hastily, Why will you start difficulties, when your Principals are ready to acquiesce? To this I reply'd that I hop'd I knew my duty, and that if my Principals did not make the best of their cause, it was my business to do it for them, as their agent and advocate. Hereupon their Lord's all rose, and every body withdrawing, it was believed there would be an Order for confirming the Report. But I writ a letter to the Duke of Devonshire that evening, (who is Lord President of Council,) and at my desire the matter is suspended till October next, when I intend to have it strongly argu'd. I receiv'd this day the inclos'd angry letter from Mr. Partridge, agent for Rhode Island, by

which he would intimidate me from proceeding, but he is much mistaken in his man. You'l observe in the beginning of his letter, he seems to challenge me with not keeping my word, in which he is very silly. I told him indeed always that I would use no unnecessary delays, but at the same time, when there was a decree just going to be made against my Principals, and I had art and interest enough to put it by, I must be unfaithful to my trust, if I did not make use of it. What he says of my incurring the anger of the Lords, and his making me pay costs, is only put into his head by some cunning person. Indeed it would be very well for him if he could saddle me with costs, for he declares he has expended above nine hundred pounds Ster'. in the cause; and I don't know but he has, for he has always an Attorney and Solicitor at his elbow, who know how to make out long bills, whereas I have always done that drudgery myself; but have always had the best Council in the nation. I have had no more than one hundred pounds ster1. from Connecticut for this cause, which has been de

pending near seven years. Fifty pounds ster'. I had from Gov Saltonstal, and £150 pounds New England money from you, which now lyes in my Brother's hands, and I could not make full 50 of, if I had an opportunity to draw for it. I don't say this by way of complaint, but that you may see what a good husband I have been for you. What Mr. Partridge says in his letter, of his having fully clear'd up the right and title of Rhode Island to the lands in question, is the most mistaken thing in the world. For his Council insisted on nothing material but the two agreements, and if they would have given up that plea, I would have routed them at the first hearing.

I write in great haste, the passengers being this minute going. I am, Sir,

Yours, and the Colony's most

HON. WILLIAM THOMPSON TO GOVERNOR TALCOTT.

LONDON, Octobr 6th 1726. Sir: I had the favour of yours of the 2d of August last. I have searched our books in relation to the expectation you seem to have had, that one moiety of what we remit abroad should be assign'd for the service of the Indians in your Colony, and I can't find in them any ground for such expectation, or that Mr. Jeremy Dummer had any authority to say any such thing.

I laid your letter before a Court which I held the 4th inst. But, Sir, the truth is, we have all a disposition to promote the service you propose, but our revenue is not sufficient. Almost all of it we remit annually to our Commissioners in the other Colony.

Our Commissioners there are of opinion that your proposal is too chargeable. We pay a great regard to their opinion, and as it [is] impracticable to engage in what you propose without abridging very much the services we have already encouraged in the other Colony, I can not at present give you any hopes upon this head, tho' the Corporation will keep this affair in their thoughts, and if time and abilities shall