that the Board consider the Letter from Bennington as highly insolent, and deserving of Sharp Reprehension, and the Insinuation that the Settlements were to proceed under the New Hampshire Grants, and to be stayed under those of New York as utterly without any Foundation. The Council farther observed to his Exellency that every meer act of executory Government to restrain the Patentees of this Colony from improving their Estates would be unauthoratative, and flatly répugnant to the Law, as well as against the Conditions and Terms expressed in their patents, and directed by the Royal Instruetions. And that the Board therefore foresee that the Endeavours of the New Hampshire Grantees to increase the Num-

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NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS. 97

ber of their Possessions upon the controverted Lands, must Speedily create Confusion and Bloodshed. That it is beyond the power of the Civil Magistrate to put a Stop to this Growing evil, which in the opinion of the Board cannot be effectually suppressed without the aid of the Regular Troops. That every material Information touching this Contest, has been transmitted and now lies for his Majesty's Consideration. And that as the Circumstances of the Colony absolutely require it. The Board are unanimously of opinion that his Excellency do urge his Majesty's Ministers the necessity of a speedy signification of his Majesty's pleasure on this subject ; and at the same Time intimate that from the Number and Extent of the Grants under this province to reduced Officers and Soldiers and others, as well as the Confirmations that have been made to those who had Grants under New Hampshire and others assoviated with them in the Counties of Cumberland and Gloucester and Charlotte, and the numerous settlements that have been made under those patents and under Ancient Grants in the County of Albany, the Revocation of the Royal Decision of 1764, and the subjecting of the Country Westward of Connecticut River to the Jurisdiction of New Hampshire, appears to this Board to be a Measure unfriendly to the Rights of the Crown, dangerous to the Patentees holding under the Great Seal of this Colony, introductive of endless Contentions among the Inhabitants, and Subver sive of the Growth and Cultivation of @ very valuable Country, which but for the Disturbances in Bennington and the Neighborhocd of that Town, is now in a peaceful and flourishing