The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-02-24
MEMOIR OF RHODE-ISLAND.
l72O.
Letter from Connecticut.
Hartford, June LIST, l720.


Gentlemen,
We have been informed by the commits
sioners appointed in the behalf of this colony to
Join with such as you should appoint for running
line Of twenty miles in length due west from a rock
living in the southeast corner of Warwick, (and who
attended for that end according to your appoint
ment at Warwick the 18th of the last month) that
your commissioners refused to join with them in
running the line unless they would agree and set up
line of division between the colonies from the
place where the said twenty mile should terminate.
We much surprised at the report 1t up
on a memorial relating to the property of some
lands supposed to be in this colony (which memo
rial was signed by the Hon. Sam'l Cranston Esq.,
your Governor and ohers) that agreed to assist
by commissioners running that line that we might
be the better able to resolve concerning the right
claimed; without which we could not so well an
the desire of that memorial as the act we pass
ed thereon IA copy of which was sent you) will
make very manifest. We had no thought at that
time of settling tbs line between our colonies; which
has too often been frutessly endeavored, nor is
there any word IN act referring to it, that the
rejecting of our commissioners, upon the special
business they appointed to assist in, because
they would not proceed to another which wos for
eign to it, and about which ;here concert be-
tween us, is a matter which we believe you will
think needs more explanation.
As for the fixing the line between us, we should
be very glad it fairly accomplished you know
how often we have endeavored it by commissioners
fully empowered for that end, and particularly once
(since that matter by order of the crown argued
before the late Earl of Beamont, when he was
Governor of the Massachusetts bay) viz. at Ston-
ington about fourteen years since; when, had the
commissioners you sent been fully empowered to
determine the matter ours were. something night
have been done effectually but for Want of such
power commissioners could not make better
use of the opportunity, than to discover well
they able how far your desires might carry
you beyond the bounds of your colony set in your
charter, though, as we conceive they entrench up
on the prior grant and charter of the crown made
to US, and it very manifest by the transaction
at that meeting that you was not willing Gf your
commissioners acted according to the instructions
you gave them) to rest contented with Pawcatuck
River mentioned in your Charter, as your bounds
Oh the west, as far it goes into the country to-
wards the north unto the head thereof.
You not ignorant how Pawcatuck River
came to be named Narragansett river, purely in
your favor after our charter was executed, which
carried us to Narragansett Bay, and what large
addition was designed to be thereby made to your
colony. 1t seems therefore to us the more strange
that you should not rest with that river as boun-
Diary and north line from the pond (which is so
well known to be the head of it) the Massachu-
sets line; since that agreement between the agents
of both colonies, in England upon which founda-
ton your charter fixes your western bounds)is what
you seemed to insist upon, though to US it seemed
not to be of such force.
We have no doubt but whenever the matter comes
to be determined, you will find yourselves under
mistake in pretending to extend the bounds of your
colony as far west as Warwick purchase is suppos-
ed to reach and although we are willing, whatever
might be the just right of the gentlemen who made
the purchase the soil, should he allowed them
yet you cant reasonably imagine we should be will
king, that under that pretence, you should annex it
to your colony and assume the government of it,
which Of right belongs to us, even according to the
tenor Of the agreement of our agents. upon which
you have such dependence.
We have been careful, since that line is vet in
dispute, not to suffer any Of grants to be carried
beyond the eastermost part, or head of Pawcauck
river, as supposing it friendly part to keep fair
distance from any thing that may look like an en-
croachment our ucighbors
And we cannot but think it would be fair and
honorable on your part to observe the same meas
ncs, and not advance any settlement TO the west