them as Lands to which the 50 th Article of the Royal Instructions has clearly no

relation.

Nor do we think that Article ought to be considered to prohibit the Grant of those Tracts to which no French Concessions or Ratifications appear to be transmitted from Quebec, nor any Excuse assigned them before this Government pursuant to the late Proclamation, it being very plain from the Instruction that it was intended to restrain only new Patents for Lands before claimed by

for not laying

Titles derived from the French King, and prior to the Surrender of Canada and as clear that it was the indispensable Duty of all such Claimants in Justice to the Crown to give due Notice of their Claims.

But in due deference to his Majesty's authority, we advise as to the Lands to the Northward of Crown Point, and included by the Concessions & Ratifications lately notified to this Government, that

FRENCH SEISNIORIES ON LAKE CHAMPLAIN. all Petitions for them or any part of them be sent

Home, together with Copies of the French Grants

for His Majesty's Royal consideration.

Several points of Enquiry will arise

upon those Grants, concerning which the Committee chuse

not to decide, on account of their singular Importance and Delicacy.

Whether a Title, if good under the French Government will by the Surrender be valid by our Laws, without the Royal Confirmation ; or in other Words whether the Capitulation gives more to the French Grantee, than an Equitable Right to be preferred before others in the Application