Indian Affairs. As to the time and place of meeting it is left to the Governor of New York to fix it, and he has orders to give you early notice of it. We are, Sir Your very loving friends and humble Servants DUNK HALIFAX WHITEHALL Septemb: 18 1753 A like letter was sent to the Governors of Virginia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Letter from Robert Hunter Morris to Ferdinand John Paris-in answer to his of August 18th. [From original among papers of Mr. Paris in Hist. Soc. Library, Bundle H, No. 62.] To Ferd John Paris Esq Sir SPA Sep 11 1753 I came to this place yesterday from a tour I had taken to the Rhine, and then first saw your letter of Aug 18 * * * * * * * * You may well remember what pass'd when I was last with you at the Plantation office, and at other times when the report of the board of trade was under our Consideration; when it was agreed between us to oppose the approbation of that part of the report, relating to the Transactions about the station point upon Delaware, it being a matter that was not properly before the board; and upon which our Council had never been heard; and not only so, but because West Jer sey was greatly Interested, and no party to the contest; This opposition we agreed should be made in the Name of the West Jersey society, or of M' Penn, if they—or Either of them would consent, and if not, then in my name or that of the Eastern Prop's who the Board knew were represented by me. The reason I gave for this Method, was, that I was unwilling to offend the board of Trade, but nevertheless could not suffer a report that so greatly Affected the Interest of those I had undertaken to serve, to be confirmed, without giving it all the opposition, in my power. In order to induce the Jersey society, to take part in this affair, I first wrote to their Secretary, and then waited on Master Lane, to whom I shew'd in what manner West Jersey, & Consequently the Society would be affected by the Confirmation of that Report, and convinced him that it was necessary for them to appear in the thing, and referr'd him to you who was fully Master of the Subject, for the proper method of opposing it: He promised me to lay the matter before the committee, & to consult you upon the Head, & made no doubt but the committee would take a proper part in the affair. Thus stood matters when I left England, and was I now upon the spot I could not put 'em upon a better footing, or give fuller instructions. You say you are without Power, without Instructions, without Proofs, without money for the past or future expence, and without proper security. As to Powers you have Just the same you have always had in this and other affairs of the Prop's if more were necessary, why was it not mentioned to me? and if I am not greatly mistaken, I have more than once offer'd to Execute any Instrument for that purpose that you thought necessary. As to Instructions I gave as full as was then, or is now in my power; and the proof of facts are all in your own hands; and by your well drawn Petition it appears you are fully furnished. As to Money you might have had it, for asking for, as I wrote you upon a former occasion; and as you can't say I have disputed, or neglected to pay any bill you have sent me, either upon my own or the proprietors acc! you need not have been so apprehensive as to the future expence. Security indeed I gave no directions about nor did I know till I had yours that it was necessary, and had you mentioned it to me either before, or at the time I took my leave of you, I should have given Proper directions; however, if Bail be wanted before my return, Inclosed is a letter to Mess Barclay & son to be, or procure it. I have read over the Petition, and think it very fully & properly drawn, and approve of every step you have taken in this affair * * * * * * I am surprised that Catherwood should pick up and tell such an Idle tale of my landing my sister and proceeding to America, and much more so, that it should gain any the least, credit with you when I had told you where I was going, and that I should soon return; I am at a loss for the reason of your sending such a letter as yours to America, where you had the greatest reason to think that I was not, and where it can have no other effect but to make my friends uneasy concerning my safety, for as to any thing else I am too well known in that country to be at all apprehensive about it. I propose to Return to England very soon, and shall be glad to afford my best Assistance in this or any thing, else that concerns the Interest of New Jersey in Gen', or that of the Prop's in Particular, and in the Mean time am Sir Your Most Obed' Humble Serv1 Petition of the Proprietors of East Jersey to the King -asking to be heard against the Representation from the Lords of Trade, recommending the repeal of the Boundary Act of 1747. [From a certified copy among Papers of F. J. Paris in N. J. Hist. Soc. Library, Bundle H.] TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELL MAJSTY IN COUNCILL The humble Petition of the Council of Proprietors of the Eastern Division of Your Majestys province of New Jersey SHEWETH That His late Majesty King Charles the 2nd in the year 1663 Granted to his Brother James then Duke of York in Fee Sundry large Tracts and Territorys in america and amongst others those which are now called the provinces of New York and New Jersey To be held of His said Majesty his Heirs and Successors as of His Manor of East Greenwich in the County of Kent in Free and Common Soccage and not in Capite or by Knights service Yielding 40 Beaver Skins yearly when demanded. That the said Duke of York in June 1664 Granted away one part of the said Territories (since called the province of New Jersey) unto the Lord Berkley and Sir George Carterett in Fee and the Boundary of that part at present Material to be stated (and which was to Divide the particular Tract so Granted away from the Dukes other Territorys which he did not Grant out) was as follows and (extendeth), "to the North "ward as far as the Northernmost Branch of the said "Bay or River of Delaware which is in 41 Degrees and 66 'forty Minutes of Latitude and Crosseth over thence "in a Strait Line to Hudsons River in 41 Degrees of Latitude"-which was a Boundary as plain and Simple and attended with as Little Doubt or Uncertainty as the Boundary of any province in America at that Time was. Notwithstanding which as both the provinces of New York and New Jersey afterwards became and for a Great length of Time were under the Government of one and the same Governor And New York had the Greater Strength and Influence of the two New Jersey hath never been able to get the said Boundary Settled altho every reasonable Endeavour hath been used in order thereto and altho the cultivation and settlement of those parts as well as the peace & Government of the Inhabitants of these provinces and the Rights and propertys of persons seating there are all most Eminently concerned therein But so far otherwise has been the Case that while the s Boundary has remained unsettled pretended Grants have been made by the Governors of New York of Enormous Quantitys of Land at Minute and Trifling Quit Rents And the Grantees of such Quantitys (who have been persons of power & Influence in New York) have by every means obstructed the settlement of the said Boundary In order thereby to have the better opportunity to Extend such Grants into and to Encroach upon the property of Your Majestys other Subjects in New Jersey That in 1676 Deeds of partition were made between the said Sir George Carteret on the one part and William penn Esq' and others (who were the assignees under Lord Berkeley) on the other part of that whole Tract which had been before Granted by the Duke of York into two distinct parts between themselves the Eastern part of which (since called East New Jersey) was thereby released unto the said Sir George Car |