English, gives more room to these Frauds.

Several of the great Tracts lying on Hudson's River are bounded by that River, on the East or West sides and on the North and South sides by Brooks or Streams of Water which, when the Country was not well known, were supposed to run nearly per} endicular to the River, as they do for some distance from their mouths, whereas many of these Brooks run nearly parallel to the River

and sometimes in a course almost directly opposite to the River. This has created great confusion with the adjoining patents, and frequently Contradictions in the boundaries, as they are expressed in the same patent.

Sometimes the Grant is of the Land that belonged to such an Indian by name or is bounded by such an Indians land, but to prove that any particular spot belonged to any particular Indian, or to

show the bounds of any particular Indian, I believe is beyond human skill, so as to make it evident to any indifferent man. I shall next recite what have been the consequences of these large Grants, It is evident that thereby the King has been deprived of almost all his Quitrents, which it appears by the powers

given to the Gov* 3 to grant Lands, the King design'd to reserve.

But the consequence I think, has been much worse as to the improvement of the country for tho this Country was settled many years before Pennsylvania, and some of the Neighboring Collonies, as to the situation and conveniencies of Trade,