That unless this Tract of Country was considered as represented in the honorable the Congress, by the Delegates of New York, at the time the Colonies were declared independent of Great Britain, Congress have not yet declared it independent.

'Phat Majorities in several, and respectable Minorities in other Towns in Cumberland County, in particular, Persons of the best Character and Estates, conceiving the Settlement made by the King of Great Britain in the year 1764 to be binding, at least until Congress shall otherwise determine, have refused to join in the Revolt.

That your Petitioners are well informed that in almost or quite every town throughout the District, there are Persons who disapprove of the Government attempted to be established by those who have revolted from New York; but that many of them for fear of popular Rage durst not publicly oppose it ; and that

NEW HAMPSHIRE GRANTS. 983

Since October last almost the whole County of Gloucester have fallen off from Vermont and are now in open opposition to it.

That those who continue in allegiance to New York have refused entering into this unprovoked and unreasonable Rebellion against lawful Authority, not only from Principles of Affection and Duty to the State of which they are a part; but because they conceive that an internal Revolution undertaken at this critical Juncture, must be attended with bad consequences to the common Cause of America. The Powers of Government must at such a time be necessarily weak, and consequently inadequate to the extraordinary exertions which our Country requires from us, both of Men and Money. The precedent which it would make for the disorderly Subjects of other States, and the contempt shewn to the Resolutions of the honorable the Congress, hereinafter in part recited, are other reasons why we have chosen not to join in measures so extraordinary.