I speak of that: large District between Hudsons river and the Lakes George and Champlain on the West and Connecticut River on the East ; and between the North line of the Massachusetts Bay and the 45th degree of Latitude, assigned for the partition between this and the Province of Quebec.

This is a fine country, capable of great cultivation, and of subsisting many thousands of useful subjects ; but before the Conquest of Canada was so exposed to the incursions of the

676 CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE

French, and the Savages in their Interest, that very few settlements weré made in it, except in that quarter nearest to Hudsons River

It is clearly within the limits of this Province ; as granted by King Charles the Second to James Duke of York ; and accordingly His present Majesty in the year 1764, was pleased to declare the Western Bank of Connecticut River to be the partition boundary between New York and New Hampshire.

I wish {I could say, My Lord, that the Royal Decision had been followed with that chearfull submission which was due to so express and authoritative an intimation of the King's pleasure. I am oblidged on the contrary, to complain that there seems to be too much reason to believe, that the disorders in that Country owe their origin and progress to the intrigues of persons in power in the Province of New Hampshire, with aims of inhancing their private fortunes, out of the Crown Lands; and the vain hope that His Majesty may be moved to annex this territory to the Province of New Hampshire under which their Grants were obtained.