44 FOREST COMMISSIONER S REPORT. 



tion, is stated, in the inventory of 1820, to be 354,912 acres. 

 These returns however exhibit deficiencies, which are, partly 

 ascertained, and partly computed to be, about 46,000 acres; 

 making the whole of the lands, east of the Penobscot, alienated 

 prior to the revolution, to be about 400,900 acres; about 60,000 

 of which was for a claim originating prior to the charter of 

 William and Mary. 



OTHER GRANTS. 



In the western parts of the State, there were othei grants made 

 during the same period. These were made absolutely, and were 

 principally subsequent to the peace of 1763, though some were 

 earlier. A considerable part of the whole of those granted dur- 

 ing this period, both absolutely and conditionally, were as 

 indemnities for claims, of various descriptions, against the 

 Province, for military and other services ; though some were 

 sales for present or future considerations; and most of them 

 were made with a view to promote immediate settlements, and 

 actually were settled to a considerable extent. 



These grants included all the present county of Cumberland, 

 except the towns on the sea coast, which had been granted under 

 Gorges and Rigby, and a few detached strips and parcels of 

 small amount; with 12 townships, amounting to about 310,000 

 acres, in Oxford ; and several tracts in York, some of which 

 were of considerable extent, not covered by the claims under 

 the Indian deeds and other grants, before alluded to, which 

 occupied the principal part of that county. The whole quantity 

 contained in these grants collectively, in the western section of 

 the State, as near as can be at present ascertained, is nearly 

 750,000 acres. 



Those acquainted with the inaccuracy of a large portion of 

 the original surveys made in all parts of the State, will perceive 

 the difficulty of obtaining a correct account of the quantity of 

 the' lands included in the various ancient grants which have 

 been mentioned. It might be supposed, however, that the law 

 requiring a statement under oath, of the quantity of land, of 

 every description, in every town, would have produced an 

 amount, so far at least as respected the towns which have been 

 sometime settled, and repeatedly surveyed, which might be 

 relied on as perfectly accurate ; yet it is found that, in about 



