Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. IV
Supported by Abilities that are an honor toa Court, and the highest Blessing to a Country.
Toward the just and effectual prosecution of these Trespassers, it is my Duty herewith to transmit to your Honour & the Council, a Memorial praying that the Lands, where the Trespass was committed (being then the property of the Delinquents) may be escheated to the King; according to the Express Tenor of that Grant by which they held--I presume that upon the Overt Act, the premises revested in the Crown, and that all Subsequent
NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS. 623
Conveyances are futile; therefore I doubt not but that the Memorial will be effectually & early considered.
I very sincerely join with you in regretting the unhappy state of that District under your Government as communicated to me, in your Letter of the 20 December; and will with the greatest pleasure & most immediate readiness exert every Influence of mine, that can possibly avail the King's service, or tend to promote a peaceable and wise subordination to the Laws among any of his subjects--I shall therefore assiduously embrace any useful Opportunity, to this purpose; Altho' from my total unaequaintedness of the Circumstances, that have attended this matter I dare not flatter myself with any prospect of much success in it, more especialy as people so far exasperated & deluded as to resist the due Execution of the Laws, are seldom capable of being perswaded or reason'd into submission, unless proceeding from an Authority, that may strengthen and enforce attention-- Whatever may be the ostensible Claim of these people--They cannot have the least possible pretenee to or hope of any Countenance or Favour from the Province of New Hampshire in any riotous & illegal Conduct which is so effectually detested here, that I have not known the lest Contumacy take place, since my Residence in the Province--whence it can not but be expected that our public & private disaprobation will render vain, & confound ev'ry unlawful View from hence--my particular Testimony against all Violence & riotous disobedience is so fully known within the limits of my duty--that I am at a loss, by what means it can be more publickly testify'd--Aided by ye prudent Dispositions of this province it has hitherto been effectually recogniz'd here, and I truely wish it may be as usefully adopted whenever it is wanting.