In this Conference, the Gentlemen declared their disapprobation of the present method of Proceeding, on the Part of both Governments, in Seizing and prosecuting the Inhabitants upon the Borders, and confessed tliat such Courses, had no suitable Tendency, to bring about a Settlement, but Still alledged in their own Justification, that their Government, had made reasonable Proposals to the Province of New York for an Accomadation or Settlement of tlie Dispute, v/hich being rejected, rendered it proper for the Massacliuset's Bay, to extend its Jurisdiction & Possessions, as far westward as its Right did extend. We were very particular in our Inquiries, as to tlie Nature of those offers, and the time of their being made -- Brigadier Dwiglit and Major Hawley confessed, that their knowledge concerning them depended upon frequent Informations, Avhich they believed to be true -- but Coll^ Choat declared, that he was in the House of Representatives, when they concurred in the Offers Last Winter, and moved an Amendment, wliich he carried. That tlie Tenor of the Proposals was for each Province, to chuse two Commissioners in the Nature of Referees to settle the Line, granting them power to Chuse a fifth man, if they should happen to be equally divided : Tliat their Adjudication was not to be final without his Majesty's Confirmation, but tliat untill Such Confirmation, tlie Jurisdiction of botli Provinces,

MANOR OF LIVINGSTON. 805

was to be regulated by the Judgment of the Commissioners. CoUo Choate would not take upon him to assert, tliat M^' Sliirley liad transmitted an Account of tliese Proposals to this Province, but believed he liad and thouglit tlvdt he had seen a Letter from Your Honour to M Shirley, declining a Compliance with their offer. Tlie next morning we offered tlie Committee, a Copy of the Minute ol Council of the S^h Instant, and beged a Copy of the Vote of tlie General Court, under wliicli they now acted, but the Gentlemen declined tlie former, and refused the latter which iievertlieless they permitted us to peruse. -- Tlie purport of it, v/as, as well as \ye can remember, to enable them, to grant Rights tmder the Massachusetts Bay, West of Sheffield & Stockbridge, as far as to the Province of J^Teio York.