138 AUTHEXTIC HISTORY 



of the counties of Chester, Lancaster, and of New Castle, Kent, and Sux- 

 sex, on Delaware, as follows: 



" Gentlemen : You are not, I believe, insensible how much the whole 

 country has been disappointed in the just hopes which had been enter- 

 tained of seeing a final period put to those long depending disputes be- 

 tween this Government and that of Maryland, touching their respective 

 boundaries, by the execution of the solemn agreement concluded between 

 the Proprietaries of each. It is however no small satisfaction to me, that 

 I can now acquaint you that this agreement, with the proceedings of the 

 Commissioners thereon, having been laid before his Majesty's Attorney 

 and Solicitor General, we have had the pleasure of lately receiving their 

 opinion, that the Agreement still remains valid and binding on both Pro- 

 prietaries, although their Commissioners, by reason of difference in sen- 

 timents, have not carried it into execution. Now as the Northern bounds, 

 formerly set by the Lord Baltimore to himself differ not much from those 

 latel}^ agreed upon, I know not how we can judge better or with more 

 certainty, of any bounds by which we can limit our present jurisdiction, 

 than near the place where it is known they will fall when the lines shall 

 be actually run. 



" In the mean time that a stop may be put to any further insults on 

 the people of this Government, and to incroachments on Lands within 

 the bounds of the same, I am again to renew to you those pressing in- 

 stances I have repeatedly made, that agreeable to the duty of your sta- 

 tions, you exert your utmost endeavors for preserving peace through- 

 out your county, and protecting all the inhabitants in their just and right 

 possessions, in the legal and necessary defence of which every person 

 ought to be encouraged to appear with boldness, and to be assured of 

 receiving all the countenance that lawful authority can give. And as 

 the late disturbances have been in a great measure owing to the unjust 

 attempts of those, who pretending right to, or claiming disputed Lands, 

 under that pretence have come many miles into this Province, and with 

 force possessed themselves of Lands for which they can have no lawful 

 grant from any other persons but our Honourable Proprietors only, and 

 have likewise committed very great violences upon sundry of our inhab- 

 itants, you are to give strict orders for apprehending and securing all 

 such who have been principals or accessaries therein, as well as those 

 who hereafter shall presume to offer any injury to the persons or pro- 

 fessions of his Majesty's peaceable subjects, or encroach on any lands 

 within the known and reputed limits of your county, that they may be 

 brought to condign punishment. But as in the year 1724, it was agreed 

 ' that for avoiding all manner of contention or difference between the 

 inhabitants of the two Provinces, no person or Persons should be dis- 

 turbed or molested in their Possessions they then held on either side,' 



