With regard to the conduct of his Majestys Governor of New York in having departed from the letter of his Instruction matter which must be submitted to your Lordships consideration upon the grounds and reasons asigned by that Gentleman in his letter of the 24 of February last But we think it necessary | to say] to your Lordships that it is a step of sucha nature as to have rendered nugatory and impracticable almost every proposition contained in the Report of this Board of the 6 of June 1771 and has as well for that reason as on account of the further information contained in these papers respecting the state of that District made it necessary for us take up the consideration of it upon new ground and to recommend to your Lordships a variety of new Propositions.

Upon the fullest examination into all the circumstances which at present, constitute the state of that District and out of which, the greatest disorders and confusion have arisen; it seems to us, that the principal-objects of attention in the consideration of any measures that can be suggested for restoring public tranquility, and quieting possessions, are,

First, those townships, which, having been originally settled

808 CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE

and established under grants from the government of the Massachusetts Bay, fell within this District, by the determination of the northern boundary of that Province, in 1740.

Secondly, those grants of land, made within this District, by the governor of New York, ereioee to the establishment of the townships laid out by the governor of New Hampshire, after the conclusion of the peace; and which lands now lie within the limits of some one or other of those townships.