Suggesting that it was but very lately, they knew we had any possessions West of that River, this proceeding of the Gentlemen of New York appear'd indeed extraordinary, as diverse of our ancient and best Towns Had been setled West of this River about an hundred Years, and the Shire Town of Springfield near a hundred and Twenty Years.

MANOR OF LIVINGSTON. 755

The Government in New York thus declining to Join in setling the Line, and atfecting to appear such great Strangers to our Affairs and Circumstances in those Parts of this Province, the General Court here Judg'd it vain to attempt any thing by way of Treaty in the Controversy, and therefore concluded to proceed in the best manner they could by themselves, and tliat they might be well informed of all Circumstances, last April sent a Committee to view the Lands West of Sheffield and Stockbridge, and report the Exact state of Affairs, whicli Committee went accordingly and on the spot Robert Livingston Esq'" aforesaid, agreed with them, and they with liim, that all proceedings should be stopt, till further Orders were taken by the two Governments, notwithstanding wliich in July last, M*" Livingston with above sixty men arm'd with Guns, Swords, and Cutlasses, in a very liostile and riotous manner, entered upon part of said Lands in the possession of Josiah Loomis, Cut down his Wheat, and carried it away in his Wagons, and destroy'd above five acres of Indian Corn, then growing on Lands possesst by said Lomis; complaint being made of these Violent proceedings to the Authority in the County of Hampshire, Warrants Avere granted, and two of the Rioters apprehended, Who enter'd into Bonds fDr appearance things being thus very much perplex'd and likely to grow worse, and New York Government still declining to do any thing, the General Court of this Province in their last Session appointed a Committee to repair to tlie place in Controversy, & dispose of the I^and thus incroaclit on, or some way or otlier quiet the persons contending, whicli Committee proposed soon to proceed in said affair; but ha"\ e not as yet, and as New York Government have appointed Commissioners it is tho't best to Join them, and meet sometime in the Month of November next at Middleton in the Colony of Connecticut, being a neutral place and about midway between ;he Capitol of this & that Government.