approach of Sir Jeffry Amherst in 1759, abandoned Crown Point, there were found no ancient possessions,

nor any improvements, worthy of consideration on either side of the Lake.

The Chief

were in the environs of the Fort, and seemed intended meerly for the accommodation of the Garrisons, and I have reason to believe, that even at this day, there are very few, if any, to the Southward of the latitude forty five, except what have been made since the peace, by British subjects under the grants of this Colony.

I had the honor of transmitting to the

Earl of Hillsborough a paper on this

subject drawn up by Council here, at the request of the reduced officers, to whom & the disbanded Soldiers a very considerable part of the

Country on the East side of Lake Champlain, hath been

granted in obedience to his Maj^ Royal proclamation.

The proof of several material facts, which

influenced my opinion, are there stated, and to which I beg leave to refer your Lordp.

LORD DARTMOUTH TO GOV* TRYON. Whitehall 3 March 1773.

With regard to the grants heretofore made by the Governors of Canada adjacent to Lake Champlain, & by the Gov of New Hampshire to the west of Connecticut River, I do not conceive that the claimants or possessors ought to have been discussed or determined upon any argument or reason drawn from a consideration of what were or were not the ancient Limits of the Colony of New York. Had the soil and jurisdiction within the Prov ce of New York been vested in proprietaries as in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusets Bay, or other Charter Govern' 3 it would have been a different question but when both, the soil and jurisdiction are in the Crown, it is I conceive, entirely in the breast of the Crown, to limit that jurisdiction and to dispose of the property in and after what had passed, and the restrictions the soil in such manner as shall be thought most fit