Ini my letter of the 11" Dect I was very Explicit upon the point of former Grants you are therein directed to "take care " that the Inhabitants lying Westward of the Line, reported by "the Lords of Trade as the Boundary of the Two Provinces be "not molested on account of Territorial differences, or disputed " jurisdiction for whatever Province the Setlers may be found to " belong to, itskould make no difference in their Property, pro-

590 CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE

"vided that their Titles to their Lands should be found good in "other Respects or that they have been long in the uninterrupt- "ed Possession of them." His Majesty's Intentions are so clearly expressed to you in the above Paragraph that I Cannot doubt of your having immediately upon receipt of it removed every cause of those complaints which the Petitioners set forth. If not it is the King's express command that it may be done without the smallest delay, The Powerof Granting Lands was vested in the Governours of the Colony originally for the purpose of accommodating not distressing setlers especially the poor and industrious any perversion of that Power, therefore must be highly derogatory both from the dignity of their Stations and from that disinterested Character which a Governor ought to support, and which His Majesty expects from every person honored by him With his Commission. The unreasonableness of obliging a very large Tract of Country to pay a Second Time the immense sum of thirty three thousand pounds in Fees according to the allegations of this Petition for no other reason than its being found necessary to settle the Line of Boundary between the Colonies in question is So unjustifiable thdt his Majesty is not only determined to have the strictest Enquiry made into the Circumstances of the Charge, but expects the clearest and fullest answer to every part of it.