The Massachusetts Spy, Or, Thomas's Boston Journal

For the MASSACHUSETTS SPY

Mr. THOMAS,

You are desired to insert the following copy of a letter in your paper.

County of Cumberland, in the province New-York, Feb. 10th, 1773:

SIR,

HAVING but just time to write you a few lines, I think I cannot employ it to better purpose than acquainting you, that the designing and monopolizing land jobbers are again at work, and have another plan on foot viz. Because, as it is said, his Excellency Governor Tryon is restricted by his Majesty from granting any more of those lands, upon Connecticut river and contiguous thereto, which were heretofore granted by the late Governor Wentworth and which were lately ceded to New York, they have been circulating a petition for the inhabitants of said lands to sign; therein praying his Excellency that he would use his influence to obtain, that his Majesty would graciously be pleased to give orders that all the abovesaid land, that has not been, may be patented by New-York under the great seal thereof, upon half fees. In consequence whereof a considerable number, three or four-hundred (as it is said) have signed said petition, and it is now forwarded to New. York, and as it may perhaps be represented to his Excellency, as being a petition of the most reputable interested persons concerned in those lands, and that his Excellency may not be deceived in so important an affair; and that so unfair and unjust a proceeding, may prove abortive in the very embryo, it is absolutely necessary that it be made known to him, that many of said petitioners (if not the major part of them) consists of minors and persons who no ways at present are owners of any of said lands, and some who never knew the nature or consequence of said petition, but were totally ignorant thereof -and of some who have no interest or residence except in towns whole fees, with contingent charges, is said to be about Fifteen Hundred dollars per township, some say more, some less !-For those land jobbing gentry do not all agree in their stories, though the honest peasant is obliged to be obsequious to them, under pain of the highest displeasure, viz. losing all their lands, being from two to three hundred miles from the seat of JUSTICE.

already patented, and of others who signed from quite different views and ends, than those expressed in the petition. And as his Excellency Governor Tryon is represented to be a gentleman of candour, truth and justice-an opportunity now presents for him to support that character, by causing a fair and impartial enquiry to be made into the characters and interests of those petitioners, or whether it be the general voice of the people, or whether it will not upon examination, demonstratively appear that it is only a scheme, characteristic of the persons first mentioned.

But if such a method of proceeding should not be deemed eligible, whether or no a suitable time ought not to be given to the people for a petition, counter to the first, to be circulated among them, that truth and justice may PREVAIL.

They were so assiduous in getting the petition signed, that it is said not one in ten, knew, could or can tell the import of it.