164 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



public safety ?— The situation of the inhabitants 

 at this time, seems to have approached nearly 

 to what has been called bv some, a state of na- 

 ture. A large number of people were hcattereci 

 over a large tract of country, in small settle- 

 ments, at a great distance from each other, with- 

 out any form of government, any established 

 laws, or civil officers. Nature and necessity had 

 forced them to associate, and to combine to- 

 gether, to promote their common safety and in- 

 terest : But they had not entertained the idea, 

 of setting up an independent government, or 

 formed any plan for their future proceedings, or 

 regulation. They seem to have been waiting, 

 for the course of events to point out to them^ 

 wliat was practicable and prudent. 



To obtain information, in the fall of the year 

 1775, some of the leading members went to 

 Pliiladclphia, to procure the advice of CongresSo 

 Tliey did not obtain any formal act or advice froni 

 that body, but upon their return dispersed a 

 number of letters, representing it as the opi'iion 

 of several uieinbers of Congress, that the people 

 should form a temporary association, and gov- 

 ernment by committees and conventions, as the. 

 circumstances of the people might require. Ac-; 

 cordingh'j on January 16, 1776, a conventior^ 

 met at Dorset, and drew up a petition to Con- 

 gress. Their application they 'styled, " The 

 humble petition, address, and remonstrance of 

 that part of America, being situate south of 

 Canada line, west of Connecticut river, com- 

 monly called and known by the name of the New 

 Hampshire grants." They avow their readiness 

 to bear a full proportion of the American war^ 



