A few days ago I received Information, that during the last Winter your Excellency formed the Design of Exploring Connecticut River to its source That the Assembly declining any provision for the Expence, M* Benjamin Whiting and M: Grant were sent on this Service, with a Letter from your Excellency, urging the people near the River (Friends to New Hampshire) to contribute to the charge, in which many engaged from a Persuasion that the Line prescribed by his Majesty's Order as. the Northern Limits of New York, would in no part intersect Connecticut River ; and that his Majesty might be induced from this circumstance -to alter and extend the Jurisdiction of New Hampshire. es

With this Intelligence I received an affidavit, declaring that Messieurs Whiting and Grant, instead of tracing to its source the. Northerly Branch, which is manifestly the head of the River, pursued an Easterly Branch above the Township of Lancaster _ that falls into the Main River, and denominated the farthest Extent of this Easterly stream as the Head of the River.

Had your Excellency thought fit to apprize this Government of your Design they would I am assured readily have adopted the Measure, defray their proportion of the Expence, and join'd in transmitting the Map which by Intelligence has actually been sent to his Majesty's Ministers & which will now be considered asan exparte act, and not deserving of that Weight it might otherwise have had in the Contest.

732 CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE

Tho' unacquainted as yet with the Merits of the Dispute, I am no stranger to the Disturbances it has produced since my arrival in this Government and see with the utmost Concern the consequences still likely to ensue, if the refractory and disorderly Behaviour of the Grantees under New Hampshire is not speedily check'd and punished.