couraged, and the opposition became more general, open, and daring. Several officers were severely injured in their attempts to put in force the decisions of the courts of NewYork-and as the difficulties and dangers thickened, none could be found hardy and daring enough to attempt the dispossession of any of the inhabitants.

Still the acts of ejectment went on in the courts at Albany, but they were never executed, and finally no attention was paid to them.

During this period many acts of roughness and excess were committed; and when it is considered who were the great body of the settlers, and their advantages for refinement, they might naturally be expected. They were a hardy race of men, born and brought up amidst the vicissitudes and hardships of the wilderness, and tho' uncultivated and rude, still they were intrepid, brave, and determined.

They had acquired their possessions by a hard and laborious course of life, and bad suffered many privations in the settlement of the country. That such men, under such circumstances, should quietly give up their property to greedy speculators, or pay four times the original sum which they bad advanced for them, in order to retain them, was more than could reasonably have been expected.

Knowing this, the government of New-York might naturally expect that an attempt to drive them from their firesides and their homes, would call their boisterous elements into action, and furnish a sufficient apology for acts of violence and outrage.

After the decision by the Crown, assigning this territory to them, bad the government of New-York, as prudence. would have dictated, allowed those already in possession to have quietly held their lands, no controversy would ever have arisen. The inhabitants were by no means disposed to question the jurisdiction of New-York; but considering their lands honestly purchased, and laboriously acquired, they felt that they could not be called upon to relinquish them. By the forced construction put upon the decision of the Crown, all these troubles were occasioned, and no advantage ever accrued from it to those who caused them.

This opposition was by New-York called felony, treason, and rebellion against lawful authority: but the truth is, much more blame is to be attached to the government for framing such laws, than to the people for resisting them. Still, as the government persisted in its attempts to en

force these laws, the opposition became more violent, and served to confirm them in their suspicions and prejudices against their rulers.

SEC. 10. At the head of the opposition were Ethan Allen and Seth Warner. Allen, however, was foremost; bold, hardy, and enterprising, undaunted by danger and unmoved by flattery, firm in his determination, and with great confidence in his own abilities, he undertook to direct the proceedings of the people.

By writings and other means, he stirred up the minds of the people, and in pamphlets which he circulated, he strove to display the injustice of the claims of New-York; and though indifferently written, they were much read, and exerted a powerful influence among the people. Though he wrote with asperity, still he avoided every thing like injustice, and was always averse to bloodshed and cruelty.

Warner was next to Allen, and among the most distinguished leaders of the opposition. He was cool, firm, and steady, and determined that the laws of New-York respecting the settlers, should never be carried into effect.

10. Who were at the head of the opposition? Who was foremost? What was his character? Who was next? What was his character ?

CHAPTER IV.

FROM 1767 TO 1775.

Continuation of the disputes concerning NewHampshire grants, to the commencement of the Revolution.

SEC. 1. This controversy became so serious and alarming, that the settlers sent a committee of three, as agents to represent their situation to the Court of Great Britain, and implore the protection of the Crown.

They proceeded to England and presented their petition at the throne. In consequence of this, the King instituted an enquiry into the nature and cause of their grievances, and seemed inclined to afford them relief.

SEC. 2. In 1767 a report was made concerning the New-Hampshire grants, and an edict issued prohibiting the governor of New-York, on pain of the King's displeasure, making any grants of any part of the land described in the report, until the King's further pleasure should be made

known.

This gave encouragement to hope that a period would be put to these oppressive acts of the government. It was believed that this would prevent any further grants, and that they should be allowed to possess their lands in quiet.

But they were destined soon to be disappointed in all these hopes. For while the governor of New-York was calling upon them to submit to the royal decrees, he paid little or no regard to them himself, but still continued to

1. What did the settlers do at this crisis?

2. What edict was issued by the King in 1767? How did it affect the settlers? Were they disappointed? Did the governor of New-York obey this?

make grants, and the fees were caught at with as much avidity as before.

The large emoluments accruing from these, were too tempting to be readily relinquished; for the fees attending the grant of a township exceeded 2000 dollars, while under New-Hampshire it did not amount to more than 100.

The imperfect management of the colloquial affairs, and the difficulty encountered in regulating them, encouraged the government of New-York to hope that they should go on with impunity.

SEC. 3. With the view of conciliating the inhabitants, an address was issued in 1772, by Tryon, governor of New-York, inviting the people of Bennington and vicinity to lay before him the causes of their complaints.

This invitation was accompanied by assurances of the disposition of the governor to afford such relief as the situation and circumstances of the people would justify. Safety and protection was also offered to any persons they might send as agents, excepting Allen, Warner, and some others.

Two were accordingly appointed to wait on the governor, and conduct the negociations in behalf of the settlers.Explanations were also made respecting the conduct of some of the excepted persons.

These negociations, however, resulted in mere formal professions of friendly dispositions on the part of the government. The council recommended the suspension of all criminal suits and prosecutions in behalf of the Crown, until advices could be received as to the wishes of his Majesty.

The crimes here alluded to, consisted in the opposition which had been made to the oppressive acts of New-York. So far from considering this criminal, the settlers had been supported in it by principles of duty and a sense of right.

The government had made no concessions, which tended in the least to remove the cause of their grievances.-The affair was important to the inhabitants, for on the issue of

3. Who attempted a reconciliation? What measures did he take? Were they successful? How did it result? How did the settlers consider their conduet? How was it considered by New-York?

it was staked their all, and they were determined to preserve it.

The government pronounced them traitors and rebellious, and denounced their attempts to preserve their estates, as in open opposition to the laws of their country and the decrees of their King.

Still, while no security was offered them for the peaceable possession of their hard earned estates, and no reconciliation was effected, the minds of the settlers were not likely to be conciliated by the mere suspension of these prosecutions.

A large number had been indicted for riot and rebellion, on account of exertions made in opposition to the new grants. They refused to submit themselves to trial, and had generally either eluded the officers or defended themselves against an arrest.

SEC. 4. Instead of using measures to pacify the irritated feelings of the people, in 1774 New-York passed an act, declaring, that unless all offenders delivered themselves up to the authority of the colony within 70 days, they should, if indicted for a capital offence, be convicted of felony, and suffer death, without the benefit of clergy.

This was a most unexampled display of despotism, and put an end to all further prospect of reconciliation. The courts were empowered to award execution against the offenders, in the same manner as if they had been tried and convicted; and all crimes committed on the grants were to be tried by the courts at Albany.

A proclamation was also issued, offering a reward of fifty pounds each, for the apprehension and delivery of Ethan Allen, Seth Warner, and six others, who were among the most active and powerful members of the opposition party.

The effect of the writings and exertions of Allen and Warner, had been to stir up the people to meet in the sey

4. What act was passed in 1774? What is said of it? What proclamation was made? What had been the effect of Allen's and Warner's writings? What was the effect of the proclamation? What resolution did the committees pass? Who published an address? What declaration did they make?