ho are not parties to the present
Memorial; and therefore, if your Lordships shall be of opinion, that
the making the grant desired would, notwithstanding the reservation
proposed in respect to such titles, have the effect to disturb those
possessions, or to expose the proprietors to suit and litigation, we do
conceive, that, in that case, the grant would be objectionable in point
of justice.

XII. Upon the whole, therefore, we cannot recommend to your Lordships
to advise his Majesty to comply with the prayer of this Memorial,
either as to the erection of any parts of the lands into a separate
government, or the making a grant of them to the Memorialists; but, on
the contrary, we are of opinion, that settlements in that distant part
of the country should be as much discouraged as possible; and that, in
order thereto, it will be expedient, not only that the orders which
have been given to the Governor of Virginia, not to make any further
grants beyond the line prescribed by the proclamation of 1763, should
be continued and enforced, but that another proclamation should be
issued, declaratory of his Majesty's resolution not to allow, for the
_present_, any new settlements beyond that line, and to forbid all
persons from taking up or settling any lands in that part of the
country.

We are,

My Lords,

Your Lordships most obedient and

Most humble servants,

WHITEHALL, April 15, 1772.

OBSERVATIONS on, and ANSWERS to, the foregoing REPORT.

I. The first paragraph of the Report, we apprehend, was intended to
establish two propositions as facts;--viz.--

First, That the tract of land agreed for with the Lords Commissioners
of the Treasury, contains _part_ of the dominion of Virginia.

Second, That it extends several degrees of longitude _Westward_ from
the Western ridge of the _Allegany_ mountains.

On the first proposition we shall only remark, that no part of the
above tract is to the _Eastward_ of the Allegany mountains;--and that
these mountains must be considered as the true Western boundary of
_Virginia_;--for the King was _not_ seised and possessed of a right _to
the country Westward_ of the mountains, until his Majesty purchased it,
in the year 1768, from the Six Nations: and since that time, there has
not been any annexation of such purchase, or of any part thereof, to
the colony of Virginia.

On the second proposition,--we shall just observe, that the Lords
Commissioners for Trade and Planta