Condition, Sa nEREIEIRREEECan Acca ; GOV. TRYON TO LORD HILLSBORO'. [Lond. Doe: Vol. XLHOfI.] ¥ New York 7 Octob. 1772. My Lord.

The middle of last month I received an answer from the Inhabitants of Bennington & adjacent Townships, to my letter sent them from Albany, requiring them to put Coll Reid's Tenants in possession of the Tenements and Farms they had turned them

798 CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE

out of. This letter with one from M" Kelly a Gentleman of the Law, I laid before the Council Board, and desired they would Report thereon ; being willing that His Maj' might be informed of the opinion of that Board, as well as my own suggestions, of the present state of the distractions in Charlotte County. As Lieut. Coll: Reid was charged with very harsh proceedings in the Bennington letter, I ordered he should be served with an extract of so much of the letter as related to him. Jn consequence of which, he delivered in Council, on Monday last, his memorial with his affidavit, and that of Archibald Clark in confutation of such injurious charges, and in justification of his procedure. Coll. Reid's honorable conduct in His Maj'ys service

and his delicate principles of honor, would have secured him

from the malice of these aspersions, among the unprejudiced, tho he had treated these calumnies with silent contempt. By the transmission of these letters, Memorial, affidavits and Report of the Council, your Lordr will be evinced of the real expediency of an immediate Royal decision to the controversy. As your Lordp must be sensible, that the line of jurisdiction cannot be exerted or have its effect until the line of property is drawn. I must beg leave to solicit His Maj'y that I may have permission, as soon as possible, to admit as many of the Townships of New Hampshire to take confirmations under this Gover", on half fees, or such other Terms, as His Majty shall prescribe, as voluntarily offer to take out 'patents under this Governt under the usual restrictions and limitations.