The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

PART I.] PRIVATE LETTERS. 357
proposed, will comprehend at least four fifths of the
land, for the purchase and survey of which this government has lately voted two thousand five hundred pounds
sterling. It must, therefore, destroy the well grounded
hopes of those, (if no reservation is made in their favor,)
who have had the strongest assurances, that the government could give, of enjoying a certain portion of the
lands, which have cost this country so much blood and
treasure to secure.
By the extracts, which your Excellency did me the
honor to enclose, I perceive, that the petitioners propose
to begin opposite to the mouth of the Scioto River,
which is at least seventy or seventy-five miles below the
Great Kenhawa, and more than three hundred from
Pittsburg, and to extend from thence in a southwardly
direction through the pass of the Ouasioto Mountain,
which, by Evans's map, and the best accounts I have
been able to get from persons, who have explored that
country, will bring them near the latitude of North
Carolina. Thence they proceed northeastwardly to the
Kenhawa, at the junction of New River and Green
Briar, upon both of which waters we have many settlers
upon lands actually patented. From that point they go
up the Green Briar to the head of its northeasterly
branch, thence easterly to the Allegany Mountains,
thence along these mountains to the line of Lord Fairfax, and thence with his line, and the lines of Maryland
and Pennsylvania, till the west boundary of the latter
intersects the Ohio, and finally down that river to the
place of beginning.*
These, my Lord, are the bounds of a grant prayed
for, and which, if obtained, will give a fatal blow, in my
humble opinion, to the interests of this country. But
* See APPENDIX, No. VII.