ment of the country, lying
to the westward of the great mountains_, as it was the center of the
British dominions, _would be for his Majesty's interest, and the
advantage and security of Virginia and the neighbouring colonies_."

And on the 23d of February 1748-9, the Lords Commissioners for Trade
and Plantations _again reported_ to the Lords of the committee of the
privy council, that they had "fully _set forth the great utility and
advantage of extending our settlements beyond the great mountains_
("which _Report has been approved of by your Lordships_").--And as, by
these _new_ proposals, there is _a great probability of having a much
larger tract of the said country settled than under the former, we are
of opinion, that it will be greatly for his Majesty's service_, and the
_welfare and security of Virginia, to comply with the prayer of the
petition_."

And on the 16th of March 1748-9, an _instruction_ was sent to the
Governor of Virginia to grant 500,000 acres of land _over the Allegany
mountains_ to the aforesaid Mr. Hanbury and his partners (who are now
_part_ of the company of Mr. Walpole and his associates); and that
instruction sets forth, That "_such settlements will be for our
interest_, and the _advantage and security of our said colony, as well
as the advantage of the neighbouring ones_;--inasmuch as our loving
subjects _will be thereby enabled to cultivate a friendship, and carry
on a more extensive commerce_ with the nations of Indians inhabiting
those parts; _and such examples may likewise induce the neighbouring
colonies to turn their thoughts towards designs of the same
nature_."--Hence we apprehend, it is evident, that a former board of
trade, at which Lord Halifax presided, was of opinion, that settlements
_over_ the Allegany mountains were not against the King's interest,
_nor_ at such a distance from the sea-coast, as to _be without_ "the
_reach_ of the trade and commerce of this kingdom," nor _where_ its
authority or jurisdiction could not be exercised.--But the _Report_
under consideration suggests, that two capital objects of the
proclamation of 1763 were, _to confine_ future settlements to the
"sources of the rivers which fall into the sea from the West and
North-West," (or, in other Words, to the _Eastern side of the Allegany
mountains_) and to the three new governments of Canada, East Florida,
and West Florida;--and to establish this fact, the Lords Commissioners
for Trade and Plantations