394 ■^' ^- 1 7^4* 



of white people ought by all means to be encouraged ; and therefor^ 

 after the public lands were referved, it was propofed to make a diftri- 

 bution into lots generally not exceeding loo acres, allowing, however, 

 a few more extenfive lots in fome places fit for fugar. 



In order to prevent a monopoly of lands by jobbing purchafers, it 

 was propofed, that no perfon Ihould be allowed to hold above soo 

 acres ; and at the fame time, to remove every poflibility of partiality 

 in giving gratuitous grants, that the cleared lands, occupied by the 

 French planters, fhould be leafed to them in quantities not exceeding- 

 500 acres on moderate quit-rents, on their taking the neceffary oaths 

 to qualify them as Britilh fubjeds ; that the uncultivated lands, and alio 

 the cultivated lands vefted in the crown, jfhould be fold by auftion, the 

 former being put up at fo low a price as to be almofl; equal to a gra- 

 tuitous grant, while at the fame time the nature of the fale would per- 

 mit every one to be an offerer *, and as far as pofFible prevent undue 

 influence and favour, the purchafers being bound to certain conditions 

 of cultivation, and to the payment of an annual quit-rent of 6ii foi- 

 every acre of cleared land, from which fettlers of lots of 30 acres or 

 under fhould be excufed for four years. 



The town lots, not already cleared, were to be given gratis, on con- 

 dition of clearing and building, and paying one penny annually for 

 every foot in front, and 6d for every acre of the paflurc lots annexed 

 to each town lot. The town lots, already cleared, were to be fold by 

 auction, fubjeft to ground-rents and quit-rents, as the others. 



Such were the report of the lords of trade and plantations upon the 

 flate of the ceded iflands, and their propolalsfor the fettlement of them ; 

 agreeable to which a proclamation was ifllied (March £6th), fetting forth 

 the terms of purchafe and payment, viz. 20 percent to be paid immedi- 

 ately, whereupon a bill of fale was to be given, and the remainder to 

 be paid by inftallments of 10 per cent the firft year, 10 per cent the 

 fecond year, and 20 per cent each year after, till the whole fliould be 

 paid up. The purchafers of cleared grounds to have one white man, 

 or two white women, on every hundred acres, on penalty of £^^0 for 

 every man, or ;(^20 for every woman, deficient. The purchafers of un- 

 cleared land to clear every year at leaft one twentieth part of their lots,, 

 till a half of the whole were cleared, on penalty of £^ for every acre 

 negledled to be fo cleared ; and, as fafl as the ground was cleared, to 

 have the fam.e proportion of white men or women fettled on their lands^ 

 The lots referved for poor fettlers, after four years to be fubje(^ to a 

 quit-rent of 6d for every acre cleared, and 2/ for every acre micleared, 

 and not to be alienated for feven years, except to the children of the 

 grantees. 



* The nature of a fale by auflion alfo tempts every bidder, in cafe of a keen competition, to offer 

 more thaa the value ; and it is the opinion of many, that that was actually the cafe at thefc falcs. 



