Minutes of the Board of Revenue, 1768-1775. 479

the South Branch 'til it intersected the west Line run between
Maryland and Pennsylvania. From these appearances I think
it highly improper for the Proprietor or his Officers, to throw
the first Stone by granting Lands over the Allegany Moun-
tains; nor is it in my opinion just, or equitable, that the Office
should have been opened for granting Land to the Westward
of Fort Cumberland, before the back Inhabitants, who stood
the Brunt of two Indian Wars (and some of whom I have

Lib. No. 86

heard obtained warrants with a view of Locating them on
these Lands before the Reserve was laid) had notice, and
thereby an equal Chance with others of taking up these Lands.
By a Rule of the Land Office, all Certificates are to lye in that
Office three months before Patents can be made out, this Rule
I conceive to be a very just one, and not to be dispensed with,
if it should, a younger Certificate might be prefered to an
elder. As I am very sensible of your Justice and Equity, as
well as your inclination to promote the Interest of the Pro-
prietor, so I am certain there will be, but one unalterable Rule
of Right, by which your decissions will be guided; and as a
Month or two longer than the three Months, will afford the
Guardians of the Proprietor time to signify their Pleasure in
this Business, I submit, to your better Judgment which will
direct you, either to grant or refuse my Request. I hope you
will excuse the Freedom, which my Duty has impelled me to
take & believe me to be, with due Regard,
Gen" Your most Obed^t hble Serv^t
Danl of S^t Tho^s Jenifer
Hon^ble Geo. Steuart &
B. Calvert, Esq^rs

p. 128

Sir,
Yours dated the 29^th Ult^o directed to M^r Calvert and myself
I duly received. M^r Calvert's distress, occasioned by the
Death of his Son, prevents his coming to Town, this and the
hopes of your retracting the Letter, to which this is an
answer, prevented my writing to you sooner, I told you it
contained an improper request and that I thought you in the
wrong, in this perhaps I may be mistaken, however I meant
well & friendly. It was from M^r Calvert I first heard that the
Governor intended to order warrants to be issued to the west-
ward of Fort Cumberland, both of us waited on you that
Instant & informed you of it, and at the same time told you
that we could not consistent with our Instructions issue any
Warrants until you had certified that the Caution money was
paid, when you had done that it became our Duty to issue
Warrants, and when the Surveyor returns Certificates of
the execution of them, it is no less our Duty to make out

p. 129