At the distance of five miles from the Wading-place it crosses Blind Brook near the head of that stream at an angle which the territory of Rye. The famous " Duke's Trees " are about two miles north of terminates this point. The boundary line laid down in 1731 remained without disturbance until 1855, when the question arose as to its existing definiteness. On some portions of the line the marks had disappeared, and along the whole distance the greatest uncertainty existed. Residents near the border refrained from voting in either State, while officers of justice and tax collectors hesitated to exercise their authority up to any well-defined limit. These circumstances were taken advantage of by those wishing to evade the payment of taxes or the enforcement of the law. In May, 1855, the General Assembly of Connecticut took steps to have the true position of the boundary line ascertained, by means of a new survey and the erection of new monuments. Inthe following year the New York legislature took similar action, and the com-

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missioners appointed under the several acts employed an engineer to run the line. The commissioners could not agree, however, as to the method of running the line, and nothing was done. In August, 1859, new commissioners were appointed on the part of each State, hut, owing to the tenacity with which Connecticut adhered to the claim that a straight line should he run,1 regardless of existing monuments to indicate the original course, no agreement could he reached. The last step taken in the matter occurred in 1860. On the 3d of April in that year the legislature of New York passed an act empowering the commissioners formerly appointed " to survey and mark with suitable monuments " the " line between the two States, as fixed by the survey of 1731." They were to give due notice of their purpose to the commissioners of Connecticut, inviting them to join in the duties imposed upon them.