U NATURAL AND ClVlL 



annexed to the county of Albany ; the north- 

 west, were formed into a county by the name 

 of Chiirlotte. On the east side of the green 

 ftiountains, two counties were formed ; Cum- 

 berland to the south ; and Gloucester, to the 

 north J and in these, courts were regularly held. 

 The settlers were required to surrender the 

 charters, which they had received fnom New 

 Hanij)sliire, and to take out new grants from 

 Ne^v York, which v/ere attended with great fees, 

 and expense. Some of the towns complied with- 

 this requisition, and boiiglit their lands the se- 

 cond time, but the greater part refused it : And 

 where it was not complied with, on the part of 

 the grantees, new grants were made of their 

 lands, to such petitioners, as would advance the 

 fees which were demanded. Actions of eject- 

 ment were commenced in the courts at Albany, 

 against several of the ancient settlers ; and the 

 decisions of the courts, were always in favor of 

 the New York proceedings, and against all titles 

 and grants, derived from the governor of New 

 Hampshire. The case of the settlers did not 

 admit of any relief, from the customary forms 

 of law ; but only from the equity, the wisdom, 

 and the moderation, of a provincial government : 

 But moderation, and tenderness of the rights of 

 individuals, unable to defend their claims, was 

 not to be expected from adventurers, and spec- 

 ulators, who had an opportunity to acquire what 

 lands they pleased, under the customary forms 

 of law, and governmerit. The governor, and 

 seme of the leading men in New York, availed 

 themselves of this state of things ; and derived 

 much more enormous profits, by making a 



