EARLY HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY. 19'5 



the year 1795, conveyed by deed to a company or association of • 

 persons, his entire right to the natural privileges, which were used 

 and viewed as a bona fide estate, and the Legislature passed acts 

 of incorporation, giving them plenary powers to defend themselves 

 from foreign and domestic aggression, thus virtually acknowledging 

 the validity of their title. Previous to the year 1840, a suit was 

 instituted in East Jersey, the result of which was favorable to the 

 proprietors ; but on an appeal to the United States' Supreme Court 

 from the Circuit below, the decision was reversed, confirming the 

 right of the State to all the immunities and privileges of the water 

 thereof, barring out the proprietary claims altogether, and establish- 

 ing the principle that the State possessed the right as the guardian 

 and for the use of the whole people, in opposition to the claims of 

 individuals or associations, however instituted or empowered. 



In June following he offered them his whole landed estate and 

 the natural privileges in the county, excepting his farm in Gold 

 Spring Neck, and a right for his family in the privileges, for ^67000, 

 which offer was declined.* 



He further states : " Mr. James Grodfrey, in behalf of the Upper 

 Precinct, applied to me to purchase the natural privileges in that 

 precinct. I told him I should be glad to gratify that precinct, and 

 please myself also ; and could I see a prospect of making a good 

 foreign purchase, and thereby exchange a storm for a calm to equal 

 advantage to my posterity, I should think it advisable ; and in that 

 case, if I sold, I should by all means give the public a preference, 

 but at present did not incline to sell. I remarked to him this 

 was a delicate affair, that I did not know well how to conduct 

 myself, for I was willing to please the people, and at the same 

 time to do my posterity justice, and steer clear of reflection. Re- 

 collecting that old Mr. George Taylpr, to the best of my memory, 

 obtained a grant for the Five-Mile Beach and the Two-Mile Beach, 

 and, if I mistake not, the cedar-swamps and pines for his own use, 



* Spicer's Diary. 



