The inhabitants now amount to between six and seven hundred families, of which number 450 odd have signed a Petition to me, which Ihave by this Packet transmitted to your Lordship, praying to be continued in thisGovernment ; there is another Petition, as I understand, sent home by Governor Wentworth, signed by about 200, praying to be under the Government of New Hampshire ; but how these names were obtained your Lordship will easily be able to conceive if you take the trouble of looking into the different papers I have sent by this Packet ; but surely tis more natural, even supposing that the New Hampshire Claim was preferable to that of New York, to have a River such ag Connecticut for the boundary : Add to this, that the Income of Government would be considerably increased annually be receiving half a Crown Quit-Rent, instead of nine pence, per 100 acres, for so large a tract of Land as was disputed. I am, My Lord,
Your Lordships most Obedient humble Servant, Dunmore.
P. 8. I have to inform your Lordship of the death of Joseph Reade Esq". one of his Majesty's Council in this Province, I also inclose to your Lordship three affidavits which I have
678 CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE
lately received, which confirm our belief that the disorders above mentioned are promoted by people of the greatest power in the Province of New Hampshire.
SURVEYOR-GENERAL'S CERTIFICATE
OF RESERVATIONS IN FAVOUR OF THE NEW-HAMPSHIRE OCCUPANTS, SETTLED BEFORE THE 22ND DAY OF May 1765.