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.

Thirdly, those townships, which having been originally laid out by the governor of New Hampshire, either continue in the same state, or have been confirmed by grants from New York; and also, those which have since originated under grants foe the latter of those colonies.

With regard to those townships, which fall under the first of the above mentioned descriptions; when we consider their nature and origin, and the numberless difficulties to which the original proprietors of them must have been subjected in the settlement of lands, exposed to the incursions of the savages, and to every distress, which the neighbourhood of the French, in time of war, could bring upon them; and, when we add to these considerations, the great reason there is to believe that the grants were made upon the ground of military services against the enemy; we do not hesitate to submit to your Lordships our opinion, that the present proprietors of these townships ought, both in justice and equity, to be quieted in their possessions: and that all grants whatsoever, made by the government of New York, of any lands, within the limits of those townships, whether the degree of improvement, under the original grant, had been more or less, are, in every light in which they can be viewed, oppressive and unjust. But, as we are sensible that such grants made by the government of New York, however unwarrantable, cannot be set aside by any authority from his Majesty, in case the grantees shall insist on their title; we submit to your Lordships, whether it might not be Benodiont: in order to quiet the original proprietors in their possessions, to propose that all such persons who may claim possession of lands within the limits of such townships, under New York grants, should upon condition of