[GANONG ] BOUNDARIES OF NEW BRUNSWICK 167 
This passage appears to show that not only did the Council for 
New England willingly give up a part of their grant, but that it was 
they who assigned the general location of New Scotland. The entire 
paragraph, by the way, in which the above cited passage occurs contains 
a most concise statement of the genesis of Nova Scotia by its founder, 
and deserves a high place among the classics of Nova Scotian history. 
A somewhat different impression of the yielding of the part of the 
New England grant to Nova Scotia is given by Sir Ferdinando Gorges, 
chief promoter of the Plymouth Company. After telling us that Sir 
William Alexander, in conversation with Captain Mason, of Newfound- 
land, had expressed himself as eager for American Colonization, he 
adds : — 
The Captaine understanding how far forth I had proceeded in the business 
of New England, advised him [Alexander] to deale with me for a part of 
what we might conveniently spare, without our prejudice within the bounds 
of our Grant. Sir William Alexander intending to make himselfe sure of his 
purpose, procured his Majesty (for what could they not do in those times in 
such cases) to send to me to assigne him a part of our Territories, his 
Majesty’s gracious message was to me, as a command agreeing with his 
pleasure to have it so. Whereupon an instrument was presently drawn for 
the bounding thereof which was to be called New Scotland. 
(Bazxter's ‘ Sir Ferdinando Gorges,” Vol. IL., 56.) 
I have been unable to discover any other contemporary reference 
to this proceeding, or any other recognition of the withdrawal of this 
great part (from about 45° to 48°) of the grant to the Council for New 
England. Its only public recognition was apparently the inclusion of 
the tract in Nova Scotia. We do not know positively who it was that 
proposed the St. Croix as the western boundary of Nova Scotia, but the 
probabilities appear to be, judging from Gorges’ statement, that it was 
Alexander’s idea, proposed by him to the King and readily adopted. 
The importance of this boundary in our subsequent history makes 
it worth while for us to inquire somewhat fully into its genesis. Why 
was the St. Croix selected for the beginning of the western boundary 
of Nova Scotia ? Why was the western branch specified ? Why was 
a north line chosen, instead of a west line like that which bounded New 
England on the north ? Happily, we can give at least highly probable 
answers to these questions. 
First we consider the selection of the St. Croix. The first grant 
to the Plymouth Company of 1606 extended northward only to 45°, and 
this was extended in the second charter of 1620 to 48°. When, there- 
fore, this company gave up a large share of its northern territory, what 
more natural than that it should yield the additional part, bringing the 
