llISTORY OF VERMONT. 185 



before the royal determination in 1764 : Ac- 

 tordingly that state put into Congress, a claim 

 to the vvhole territory of Vermont, New York 

 took the same step, and put in her claim to the 

 whole of the lands. As New Hampshire had 

 hot the least pretence, upon any principle what- 

 ever, to make such a claim, it was not ^doubted 

 in Vermontj but tliat intrigues had been formed 

 by the leading men in those two states, to di- 

 vide Vermont between them; The range of 

 mountains, which runs through the state, would 

 afford a natural line, for such a division : And 

 this measure would unite the two states of New 

 Hampshire and New York ; and put an end to 

 all future controversy, with the people of Ver- 

 mont ; either respecting their limits, the validity 

 of their grants, or the powers of government 

 which they had assumed. And if these two 

 states could be united, there v/as a fair prospect 

 that the rest would leave them to settle the af- 

 fairs of Vermontj which began to bear a very 

 serious aspect, and might prove troublesome to 

 Congress; The other states had not as yet con- 

 cerned themselves, about these controversies ; 

 but Massachusetts now interposed; Whether 

 aiming to disappoint the views of New Hamp- 

 shire and New York, or in earnest to secure a 

 part of the controverted lands, that state also 

 put in a claim to a large part of Vermont : And 

 her claim had a much better appearance, than 

 that of New Hampshire ; for although the line 

 between Massachusetts and New Hampshire 

 might be esteemed to be settled, ret the line 

 betv/een Massachusetts and New York had 

 never been determined. 

 YOL. ir. Y 



