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Connecticut River; the letters patent from King Charles II. to the Duke of York, expressly granting 'all the lands from the west side of Connecticut River to the east side of Delaware Bay.'

N. B. The above resolve was communicated to Governor Wentworth in a letter, dated April 9th, 1750, by G. Clinton, Governor of New York.*

Letter from Gov. Benning Wentworth to Gov. George

SIR

Clinton.

Portsmouth, April 25, 1750.

I have the honour of your Excellency's letter of the 9th instant before me, in which you are pleased to give me the opinion of his Majesty's Council of your government, that Connecticut River is the eastern boundary of New York government; which would have been entirely satisfactory to me on the subject of my letter, had not the two charter governments of Connecticut and Massachusetts-Bay extended their bounds many miles to the westward of said river; and it being the opinion of his Majesty's Council of this government, whose advice I am to take on these occasions, that New Hampshire had an equal right to claim the same. extent of western boundaries with those charter governments: I had, in consequence of their advice, before your letter came to my hands, granted one township due north of the Massachusetts line, of the contents of six miles square, and by measurement twenty-four miles east of the city of Albany; presuming that this government was bounded by the same north and south line with Connecticut and the Massachusetts-Bay, before it met with his Majesty's other governments. Although I am prohibited by his Majesty's commission to interfere with his other governments, yet it is presumed that I should strictly adhere to the limits prescribed therein; and I assure you that I am very far from desiring to make the least encroachment or set on foot any dispute on these points. It will therefore give me great satisfaction, if at your leisure, you can inform

*George Clinton, governor of the province of New York at this time, received his appointment in 1743. He was the youngest son of Francis Clinton, the Earl of Lincoln. His administration, attended with much turbulence, continued ten years, or till Oct., 1753.-ED.

me, by what authority Connecticut and the Massachusetts governments claimed so far to the westward as they have settled; and in the mean time I shall desist from making any further grants on the western frontier of my government, that may have the least probability of interfering with your government. I am, with great respect, Sir, your Excellency's most obedient humble servant.

B. WENTWORTH.

SIR

Letter from Gov. Clinton to Gov. Wentworth.

June 6th, 1750.

I have received your letter of the 25th April last, in answer to mine of the 9th of the same month, respecting the eastern boundary of this province, wherein you desire to be informed by what authority Connecticut and the Massachusetts governments claim so far to the westward as they have settled.

As to Connecticut, their claim is founded upon an agreement with this government, in or about the year 1684, afterwards confirmed by King William, in consequence of which the lines between the two governments were run, and the boundaries marked in the year 1725, as appears by the commissioners and surveyors proceedings, of record here. But it is presumed the Massachusetts government, at first, possessed themselves of those lands by intrusion, and through the negligence of this government have hitherto continued their possession, the lands not being private property.

From the information I have, there is reason to apprehend that the lands within the township you have lately granted, or part of them, have been granted here: And as my answer to your letter might probably have furnished you with objections against any grant which might interfere with this province, I am surprised you did not wait till it came to hand, before you proceeded therein. If it is still in your power to recall the grant, your doing so will be but a piece of justice to this government: otherwise I shall think myself obliged to send a representation of the matter to be laid before his Majesty.

I am, &c.,

SIR

Letter from Gov. Wentworth to Gov. Clinton.

Portsmouth, June 22, 1750.

As soon as your letter of the 6th inst. came to my hands, I thought it proper to have the sense of his Majesty's Council thereon, who were unanimously of the opinion, not to commence a dispute with your Excellency's government respecting the extent of the western boundary to New Hampshire, until his Majesty's pleasure should be further known; accordingly the council have advised, that I shall, on the part of New Hampshire, make a representation of the matter to his Majesty, relying that your Excellency will do the same on the part of New York; and that whatever shall be determined thereon, this government will esteem it their duty to acquiesce in, without any farther dispute, which I am hoping will be satisfactory on that point.

When I first wrote you on this subject, I thought I had given sufficient time to receive an answer to my letter, before I had fixed the day for passing the grant referred to in your letter; and as the persons concerned therein lived at a great distance, it was inconvenient for them to be delayed beyond the appointed time: I was not apprehensive any difficulty could arise by confining myself to the western boundaries of the two charter-governments; accordingly I passed the patent about ten days before your favor of the 9th of April, 1750, came to hand. There is no possibility of vacating the grant as you desire; but if it falls by his Majesty's determination in the government of New York, it will be void of course. I shall be glad the method I have proposed may be agreeable to your province; and if submitting the affair to his Majesty meets with your approbation, I shall, upon receiving an answer, lose no time in transmitting what concerns this province to the proper offices.

I am with the greatest respect, Sir, your Excellency's most obedient humble servant.

SIR

B. WENTWORTH.

Letter from Gov. Clinton to Gov. Wentworth.

New York, July 25th, 1750.

I have taken the sense of his Majesty's Council on your

Excellency's letter of the 22a ult. respecting the extent of the western boundary of your government, who think it highly expedient I should lay before his Majesty a representation of the matter on the part of this province; and as you propose to do the like on the part of New Hampshire, they are of opinion it will be for the mutual advantage of both governments, if we exchange copies of each others representation on this head. If you approve of this, I will send you a copy of mine accordingly.

I am, &c.

[NOTE. Notwithstanding the interfering claim of the province of New York, Governor Wentworth continued to make further grants west of the Connecticut river, as appears by the following list of grants made up to the year 1764 inclusive, viz. :]*

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The list here given is copied from Slade's "State Papers" on the controversy with New York, &c., pp. 13-16,-and is believed to be correct.-ED.

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