486 Minutes of the Board of Revenue, 1768-1775.

Lib. No. 86

As to the Second, We presume that the former Proprietors
were not inclined to enter into Contests with the Crown; but
this Intimation seems to imply that some measures or Instruc-
tions indicative of a peculiar Caution, have been pursued or
given with which we are totally unacquainted, nor do we per-
ceive how the late Dispute between the Colonies of Virginia &
Pennsylvania, which has no relation to the limits of this Prov-
ince, will afford an opportunity of representing the Proprie-

p. 140

tor's Claims with which no acts or Grants of the Government
of Virginia, to our knowledge interfere. If the making of
Surveys and issuing Patents with a view of effecting gradual
& peaceable Settlements under the Charter should now be
stopped upon the Principle of this objection, it may draw on,
and encourage the Interposition of Virginia, and Arguments
may be deduced against the Proprietor's Right from his re-
luctance to claim & exercise it. When the Bounds of the
neighbouring Provinces are liable to controversy, settlements
and Improvements have been always deemed advantageous
to that Colony under whose Title & Government they were
made. It cannot be disputed but that all the Land to the west-
ward of Fort Cumberland in this Province, was subject to be
taken up under the common Conditions of Plantations, and
that the Restriction proceeded from the Order of Governor
Sharpe, pursuant to an order from the Proprietary to reserve
for him 10000 Acres. As the Restriction communicated by
the late Governor's order to the Surveyor of Frederick County
was not general, but for the particular purpose of securing a
Reserve to the Proprietor, which has been fully answered; we
therefore apprehend it was expedient to inform the Surveyor
that he was no longer bound by it. If the Intention had been
to reserve all Land to the westward of Fort Cumberland the
Reservation of parcels was unnecessary, and the Order re-
specting Surveys would have been absolute & general instead
of qualified & special.
In consequence of the late Proprietor's Instruction a Line
from the first Fountain Head of Patowmack was run at a
considerable Expence to his Lordship, but for what Purpose

p. 141

was the Boundary ascertained, if no beneficial Consequence
was to result from its Establishment ?
Further it appears to us that the small number of Surveys
made to the Westward of Fort Cumberland, prior to the order
of Governor Sharpe, was owing to the quantity of vacant
Lands more valuable & conveniently situated, which were sub-
ject to the Conditions of Plantation. Antecedent to the above
Prohibitory Order, we do not find that there was any kind of
Restriction to prevent surveys to the westward, and this Order