936. BOUNDARIES, Massachusetts
and New York.—I enclose you a Massachusetts
paper, whereby you will see that some
acts of force have taken place on our eastern
boundary. * * * The want of an accurate
map of the Bay of Passamaquoddy renders
it difficult to form a satisfactory opinion in
the point in contest. * * * There is a report
that some acts of force have taken place
on the northern boundary of New York, and
are now under the consideration of the government
of that State. The impossibility of
bringing the court of London to an adjustment
of any difference whatever, renders our
situation perplexing. Should any applications
from the States or their citizens be so urgent
as to require something to be said before your
return, my opinion would be that they should
be desired to make no new settlements on our
part, nor suffer any to be made on the part of
the British, within the disputed territory; and
if any attempt should be made to remove them
from the settlements already made, that they
are to repel force by force, and ask aid of the
neighboring militia to do this and no more. I
see no other way of forcing the British government
to come forward themselves and demand
an amicable settlement.—
To President Washington.
Washington ed. iii, 230.
(Pa.,
March. 1791)
