Besides many of -these Military Grants are now owned by other persons who have paid for their possessions and will never become volunteers in the cession in the expectation of other Tracts, while there is reason to apprehend, that the residue of the Land 'in the district, out of which they are to be satisfied, (free from claims) is not of sufficient value, its remoteness and quality considered to compensate for the surrender of what they hold by their Patents.

836 CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE

Fifthly ; how, My Lord, can the State of the possessions, and improvements which are to remain to the Patentees be settled by Inquests in so extensive a Woodland Country will not the partial prejudices that prevail in the respective Provinces of New York and N. Hampshire exclude the Inhabitants of both as Incompetent Tryers? and by whom is the expence to be sustained? This will be considerable, for disinterested and fair Jurors, must be brought from distant places. I shall only add, My Lord,

Sixtkly: that scarce any measure can raise a more general discontent in this Colony, than a Law to vacate Patents for nonsettlement--those of which the advantage might be taken are many, and the dread of a precedent of this kind will unite all the Landholders to oppose a project so alarming to their Interest I will not presume to say, there is no instance, in which the avarice of a Patentee ought not to expose him to the forfeiture on the condition for settlement; But I must nevertheless observe to your Lordp that some of these patentees, plead in excuse that their improvements have been obstructed by the Incursions of the Savages, or by the disputes with the neighboring Colonies, and that it is the general opinion, that the Provee is improved according to its Population, and that the Burthen of the Quit Rents, is sufficient spur to sales and cultivation.: *