The third Claim and indeed the only remaining one which appears tous to merit particular indulgence is that of the reduced: officers and Soldiers, as well those comprehended within the petition referred tous by your Lordships as all others under the like circumstances who may have obtained warrants from the Government of New York for the survey of Lands to them in this district the possession of which Lands has been obstructed by the pretensions of those claiming under the New Hampshire » Grants ; and with regard to these persons we cannot but be of opinion that no time should be lost in carrying their Grants into effect, provided however that the surveys under which they claim do not include Lands which were actually & bona fide settled and improved by persons claiming under Grants from the

-Governor of New Hampshire antecedent to such warrants of

Survey ; who we think for the reasons already given ought not

to be disturbed in their possessions on any account but that if

any such case should exist the officer or soldier, claiming such " Land under warrant of survey from the Government of New - York should have compensation made to him by an adequate -Grant in some other part of the district.

716 CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE

With regard to the remainder of the Lands contained in this extensive District which if the foregoing propositions can by consent of the parties interested be carried into effect will remain for His Majestys diposal they are on all hands represented to be of great value & Importance not only from theirnatural situation ' & fertility but as including very extensive Tracts containing large growth of white pine Trees, and of other Timber fit for Naval purposes and when we consider the great advantage of them in this light it is our duty in Conformity to what we humbly represented to His Majesty on the 24 day of July 1767 respecting the preservation of wood Lands in America, to recommend to your Lordships to advise His Majesty not to allow any further Grants to be made, or warrants of survey issued for any Lands within this District ; until the person who in consequence of that Representation has been appointed Surveyor for that Division of North Americain which this district is ineluded shall have carried his Instructions into execution & shall have marked out, for Reservation to His Majesty such parts of it, as shall contain any considerable growth of Trees fit for the purposes above mentioned.