No. 112. j 687 



than fifteen thousand acres of land. The territory he compre- 

 hended and located under these grants, commencing a half mile 

 south of the river, extended to Judd's patent, which seems to have 

 been previously surveyed, near Splitrock, presenting on the shore 

 of the lake a line of about six miles, and spreading three or four 

 miles into the interior. The purchase of these rights was effect- 

 ed in 1764, and the grants issued and the land surveyed the en- 

 suing year. Impressed by the natural predilections of an Euro- 

 pean to manorial institutions, his policy seems to have designed 

 the creation of an estate in fee, in himself, with subordinate es- 

 tates to a tenantry held at annual leases. The consummation -of 

 a scheme of this character, applied to a wild and uncultivated re- 

 gion, demanded an exercise of extreme skill and sagacity. The 

 inducements presented by Gilliland, to emigration, were conceiv- 

 ed in the most liberal and enlarged spirit. His arrangements lor 

 organizing the proposed colony manifested every regard for its 

 comfort and success. He seems to have secured a body of intel- 

 ligent and industrious emigrants, formed principally of mechanics 

 and laborers, and adapted to endure the toil and privation of a 

 pioneer life. Amply provided with implements, tools, provisions, 

 and all other requisites, he left New-York with his colony on the. 

 10th of May, 1765, and occupied ten days in the voyage from that 

 eity to Albany.* Deciding at this place, to convey a part of the 

 emigrants and the material by water, to Fort Edward, he was 

 ©ompelled to purchase batteaux at Schenectady, and to transport 

 them over land to Albany. In the laborious toil of eight days, 

 contending with the strong current and dangerous rapids of the 

 Hudson, he reached Fort Edward in safety. A part of the 

 train had proceeded by land, driving with them a herd of forty-one 

 head of neat cattle, destined for the future use of the colony. The 

 oxen were employed in the transportation of the boats and effects 

 to Lake George. Three da}s were exhausted in this operation, 

 "when the little fleet was again launched, and wafted by sails to 

 Tio(jnderoga. Two days more of transporlatiou by land, brought 



• I h»vo before mo bji original letter, which cxrm|)liC©a tlie dc\tj and tedium of this ioter- 

 eovrau »t ft etill lator period. It ia (iiiird " CoxBackio 2A inilog from Albiuij fr/day 26th Oct 

 1T92." It mjt, "The Gmt day, all day on the Overslaugh, with a Cce N. W. »md, 2d day a 

 ligbt brccre for a few hours in our favor — then Southerly wind all liwt night &. to day strong 

 jbJo art S E. Wc havo Jout eoojc in to the harbour, from whence I write to icU ytm, that yoo 

 mmfi% iLiikr out tiienc 3 days afl uothii^^ ^ *^ ^°^* .-vllotlcd to my aL«ccaM.'' 



