That Sundry Persons have intruded into those Counties by Virtue of Grants and Purchases for trifling Considerations under those States particularly the latter and have taken very large and valuable Tracts within the said Counties.

That divers of those Persons altho repeatedly offered Patents for the Lands by them occupied by the late Government of the Colony of New York have obstinately refused to receive the same under Color that*the Fees of office and quit Rents were too great that the said Lands did not lie within this State and other frivolous Pretences.

That many wicked disaffected and turbulent Persons for the Promotion of their own private Interest and other sinister and base Designs have artfully fomented the said Animosities falsely alledging not only that the said Counties are out of the Bounds of this State but also that this State and the Government thereof are determined to oppress harrass and impoverish the Inhabitants: of the said Counties and have at Length incited many of them to disown their allegiance to this State.

926 CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE

That Persons of considerable Rank Influence and Authority in the neighbouring States are deeply concerned in the said Designs with a view of dismembring this State and for that Purpose have promulgated a Report that it is the Intention of the'

honorable the Continental Congress to aid and assist in the Independence of the said Counties.

That such Report hath received great weight and authority from the appointment of Seth Warner to be the Colonel of a Regiment to be raised within that Part of this State and to appoint his own officers independant of this State and utterly contrary to the usual mode of appointment in such cases and also to a Representation made by this Convention of the eleventh Day of July last.