HISTORY OF VERMONT. IS 



^r claimed to the west of Connecticut river : 

 ■And there were no principles, which apply to 

 human affairs, by which this grant would bear 

 a strict examination. If it be examined geo- 

 graphically, the bounds of it were contradictory, 

 indefinite, and impossible. If it be subjected 

 to a legal construction, the whole of it, upon 

 James' accession to the throne, merged in the 

 crown ; and at his abdication, passed to William 

 his successor. If it be considered as an instru- 

 ment of government, it did not establish any 

 Colony or province of New York, or any power 

 to govern any such province. Upon this inade- 

 quate and blundering transaction of Charles the 

 second. New York founded her claim and hope, 

 of obtaining the lands, v hich New Hampshire 

 was granting. To check the proceedings of 

 New Hampshire, and to intimidate the settlers, 

 Mr. Colden, lieutenant governor of New York, 

 issued a proclamation,* reciting the grants to 

 the duke of York, asserting their validity, claim- 

 ing the jurisdiction as far east as Connecticut 

 river, and commanding the sheriff of the county 

 of Albany, to make a return of the names of all 

 persons, who under the color of the New Hamp- 

 shire grants, had taken possession of any lands^ 

 to the west of the river. To prevent the effects 

 that might arise li^om this proclamation, the 

 governor of New Hampshire put forth another 

 proclamation, t declaring the grant to the duke 

 of York to be obsolete, that New Hampshire 

 extended as far to the west, as Massachusetts 

 and Connecticut, that the grants made by New 



* 1763. Dec. 28. 

 ■f 1764. March 13. 



