Besides this they observe that the Regulation is extremely Partial since thereby Lands of the greatest value both as to Quality & Situation pay no Part of a Tax which falls heavy upon the Possessors of a rough or even mountainous Country remote from the means of obtaining large supplies of money for discharging this unequal and of Consequence inequitable Impost. And to this they add that such Quit Rents generally fall heavy upon the poor man who purchases & small Farm and who is burthened not only with paying all the arrearages due upon it but liable to be turned out and have his Property sold by the Laws of this State to pay the Quits of a

NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS. 939

large Patent in which he hath no other Interest than by having purchased a small Part. .

The particular Inconveniences and Disadvantages complained of by the said Township are that by the steady attachment of the Inhabitants thereof to this State and their unwearied opposition to the Independency claimed by sundry evil minded Persons in the said Counties the said Inhabitants are not only become odious to some of their neighbours but from the Indolence or Disaffection of their militia officers incapable of Exerting themselves against the common Enemy they having never yet been called out upon

any alarm altho as well from their zeal as their Propinquity to Ticonderoga they might be of great utility whenever the Enemy shall think proper to make an attempt upon that Fortress or its vicinage, They are also much destressed for want of arms and feel themselves under great streights on account of the Tories who cannot now be dealt with. For altho by the late Resolutions of this Convention the said Israel Smith is of opinion that new and more spirited measures will be taken against them yet from the distracted state of the said County it may be impracticable to collect a County Committee for Defect whereof the said Resolutions may become ineffectual altho perfectly consonant to the Wishes & Desires of the People. ;