* * * Pursuant to an Application made to me by the Council and House of Representatives of this Province occasioned by a Petition of one Payne I must desire of your Honour

that nothing may be done by the Government of New York or any particular persons there, that shall tend to raise a Contention between the two Governments at a time when a strict Friendship and Union seems more than ever to be necessary ; and that such severe Proceedings as are said to be had against the said Payne may be prevented for the future, and that this poor Prisoner

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(if he has been hiilierto debar'd) may be now allowed the Privilege of Law more especially in relation to the extraordinary Bail demanded of him ; and that he may be set at Liberty upon reasonable Bail ; and tliat as to tlie other People living on Lands in Dispute between the two Governments, a Suspension may be had of all proceedings against them, and that they may be suffered quietly to improve their Possessions untill tlie Proposed method for adjusting the Differences between the two Governments shall have been attempted.

I thank you for giving me Intelligence of the Report at Albany concerning a French Fort's being lately finished at Coas ; as also for tliat concerning tlie strength of their fort at Niagara.

The Assembly is upon the Point of rising and the Post of its departure ; so I have only time to subscribe myself Sir