The whole proceedings of the Governt of New Hampshire, in this'case, if what is told me be true, are shameful and a discredit to the King's authority, under which they act. Tho' it be not in my power to beauthentically informed, it is in your Lordsrps for it is evident from the low price shares are sold at, it is not for the benefit of persons who design to settle and improve. Your Lordprs by a proper enquiry may discover for whose benefit these fraudulent grants are really made.

568 CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE

To prevent as much as in my power the evil consequences of these proceedings, Ihave by the advice of-his Matys Council of this Provee issued a Proclamation of which a printed copy is inclosed, and another in my letter of Jany 20t to which letter I beg leave to refer.

It became the more necessary for me at this time to vindicate the right of this Governt to the lands because great numbers of reduced Officers and disbanded soldiers who have served in America, have applied to me for the Reward in Land, granted by His Maty's Proclamation in their favour, and I have no other lands to grant but. these, which the Governt of New Hampshire have taken upon themselves to grant, in the manner above mentioned. I endeavour to distribute His Majesty's Bounty in the manner most agreable to the officers, and so that the grants may pass with the greatest dispatch and least expence, as will appear by the minute of Council which I inclose. Since that time in a few days, near one hundred Commissioned and noncommissioned officers and privates have applied for Grants of Land, so that from this Province, all the reduced officers and disbanded Soldiers in this part of North America, chuse to receive the Kings reward in lands within this Province.