[316] Reserves for the Crown and Public Uses.

Reference to a plan of a Town and Township of 9 miles front by 12 miles in depth, proposed to be situated on a River or Lake.

The Town is one mile Square. The Town lots each one Acre. The Open Area of nearly half a mile joining the Town Lots to be reserved. The Town parks join the Reserve all round containing each 24 Acres one rood and 12 perch. The Township Lots are the large outside lots containing each 200 and 3 Acres 2 roods and 4 perch.

"I, Thomas Smith, acting Deputy Surveyor for the District of Hesse, have admeasured upon a line due East and west in the front Concession (New Settlement near the mouth of Detroit River), Variation of the Magnet rectified, Lot No. 88 for Thomas Reynolds, Esquire, 9 Gunters Chains, 70 Links in front, by one hundred and twenty in depth, in right angles, forming a Parrallelogram of one hundred and sixteen Acres 4/10 Statute,-proper allowance for high roads reserved-the same is entered into the Register of Surveys at Detroit, this 7th day of April, 1789.

Entered by D. W. Smith.

[318] (Copy.)"

T. SMITH.

"A Gunters Chain by which all lands are measured when laid out or divided into Statute Acres contains in length 66 feet.

Each Gunters Chain is divided into 100 Equal parts called Links.

In one mile Statute Measure there are 80 Gunters Chains.

One Square Statute acre contains 10 Gunters Chains.

The french chain contains 45 Links, each a foot long, french Measure; 4 Such Chains, or 180 Links make the Side of a Square Arpent, Consequently one Square Arpent contains 16 Such chains. I am most Sincerely Yours.

[319] (Circular Letter.)

Report B continued from folio 313.

Report B continued in folio 338.

Detroit, 18 March, 1790.

SIR, I am directed by the President of the Land Board, for the dis trict of Hesse, to request your attendance at the Council Chamber of Detroit, on Fryday next at 11 O'clock, A.M., that Communication from the Gover nor, etc., may be laid before you. I have the honour, etc.

D. W. SMITH, Secretary to the board.

To W. D. Powell, Esquire; A. McKee, Esquire; A. Grant, Esquire; S. M. Adhemar, Esquire.

No. 60. Copy of a Letter from Hugh Finlay, Esquire, To the Board, dated, Quebec, 19 January, 1791.

GENTLEMEN,-By order of the Land Committee, I have the honour to transmit to you a Copy of His Excellency Lord Dorchester's order of reference of the 20th October last, and to request information from the Land Office Board of the District of Hesse, touching the matters stated therein to enable the Land Committee to report as soon as may be thereupon, with due precision, as has been commanded.

[320] The Land Committee farther beg to know what your board conceives to be such a survey of the waste lands of the Crown, in the District of Hesse, as might be sufficient to effectuate their settlement, at the least expense to Government. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, your very obedient and most humble Servant.

(Signed) HUGH FINLAY.

Major Smith, W. D. Powell, A. McKee, W. Robertson, A. Grant, and S. M. Adhemar.

Entered by D. W. Smith, Secretary to the Board.
Received 17 March, 1791.

[321] (Enclosure in No. 60.)

Copy of a Letter from Henry Motz, Esquire, to Hugh Finlay, Esquire. dated Quebec, 20 October, 1790.

SIR, The papers herewith sent relative to the transactions in the land granting Department in Hesse, are referred by His Excellency the Governo to the Consideration of the Land Committee, who are to make full investigation into the causes of the difficulties and impediments, which appear to have hitherto obstructed the Progress of Settlement in that important frontier; and to report the same with due particularity, with their opinion, on consulting with the Surveyor General's Office, of the best means of removing them, and giving effect to the several instructions issued from time to time. [322] respecting the settlement of waste Lands of the Crown in that District.

It having been suggested that the Reservations in the late Indian Cession-in favour of the Hurons may be any incommodious to the County town of Hesse, on that side of the strait, and to the Indians themselves; His Lordship with a view of serving both them and the common interest, authorizes the Land Committee to correspond with the Land Board of Hesse. as well as with Sir John Johnson and any other persons from whom they may hope for full information concerning the object and intended use of

those Reservations, as well as the practability of such means, as may be suggested for satisfying the Huron Indians, in any other part of the District [323] and upon what terms.

And the Committee are in their Report to subjoin the whole of their correspondence upon this subject, and make it known to all, from whom they may desire any information, that their Communications will be put upon the public files of that branch of the Council Office, which relates to the Grant of the waste lands of the Crown. I am, etc.

To Hugh Finlay, Esquire.

(Signed) HENRY MOTZ.

Entered by D. W. Smith, Secretary to the Board.

Received 17 March, 1791.

[324] No. 61. Copy of a Letter from Thos. Aston Coffin, Esquire, to the Board, dated, Quebec, 12 January, 1791.

GENTLEMEN, The proceedings of the Land Board of Hesse, on the application of a Number of discharged Rangers Loyalists and others for Lands and Provisions, have been laid before the Committee of Council for waste Lands of the Crown, who, concurring in opinion with the Board, have recommended that all such of the inclosed List (being in Number 76) as shall prove satisfactory to the Board that at the Close of the war they were by any General or Special order of Government entitled to Lands, Provisions and [325] Tools, and did actually forego on establishment with these advantages in Nassau, or any of the Lower Districts, to forward a Settlement at the mouth of the River Detroit, promoted by Government, should obtain provisions in the like proportion with those issued to persons of the same description who settled in the lower districts.

His Excellency Lord Dorchester, having taken the same into consideration, has been pleased to direct that provisions should be issued to them and their families, accordingly, upon monthly certificates of the Land board [326] granted from time to time in proof that they are actually improving their Lands; For the more full information and guidance of the board, Copy of the letter to the Commissary General on this subject is enclosed.

The tools and farming utensils sent out by Government have been all distributed as far as they went; and at this time, there are none remaining in the King's Stores.

Should other people than those contained in the enclosed List claim similar assistance, on the same Grounds, the board, after receiving satis[327] factory Proof of their being of that description, and as such entitled to similar Indulgencies, are requested to transmit Returns thereof for His Lordship's Consideration and orders. I am Gentlemen, etc.

(Signed) T. A. COFFIN.

To Major Smith, etc., W. D. Powell, Esquire, A. McKee, Esquire, W. Robertson, Esquire, A. Grant, Esquire, S. M. Adhemar, Esquire. Entered by D. W. Smith, Secretary to the Board. Received 17 March, 1791.

(Enclosure A in No. 61.)

Copy of a Letter from Francis Le Maistre, Esquire, M. S., To J. Craigie, Esquire, Commissary General, dated Quebec, 12 January, 1791.

SIR, The Land Board of Hesse having stated to his Excellency Lord Dorchester that there are a number of discharged Rangers, Loyalists and others, residing at or near Detroit, who had drawn Lots of the waste Lands [328] of the Crown at the entrance of Detroit River, where Government was desirous to promote a Settlement; that after they had received certificates for Location, but few of them could proceed to clear their lands from want of provisions and tools, which they had been taught to expect from Government; that those among them who had made no improvements by clearing or otherwise within the year were deprived of the Lots they had drawn, and they were given to other applicants; that notwithstanding their Disappointment, the greatest part are still resident in the Settlement and are desirous. to obtain Lots at the River La Tranche, not far from the mouth of Detroit River, and having submitted to His Lordship that all such as shall satis[329] factorily prove to the board that at the Close of the War they were by any general or special order of Government entitled to lands, Provisions and tools, and did actually forego an establishment with those advantages in Nassau, or any other of the lower Districts, to forward a Settlement at the mouth of the River Detroit, promoted by Government, should now be located and provisioned in the same proportion with those who settled below and if provisions should be granted to persons of the above description it would conduce much to their true Comfort and Relief that they may be issued only monthly, and upon proof that they are actually improving [330] their lands, the same having been referred to the Land Committee who, concurring in opinion with the Land Board, have recommended that such of them as are situated as has been set forth, by the Board of Hesse, and whose names (being in Number 76) are included in the List inclosed may obtain Grants of the waste Lands of the Crown, upon the river La Tranche, or in any other part of the Tract ceded to the Crown by the Indians in May last, as they may chuse, and that they may further obtain provisions in the Like proportion with those issued to persons of the same description [331] who settled in the lower districts. His Excellency, having taken the same into Consideration, is pleased to direct that provisions be accordingly issued to all such of the above mentioned List and their families, who shall prove to the Board that they come within the description aforesaid, an exact return of which with the Number composing each family the Commissary will transmit as soon as ascertained. The Provisions to be issued monthly, upon the Certificates of the Land Board who will continue the same, from time to time, upon Proof that they are actually improving their [332] lands, and it is expected that the Settlers will commence their Improvements without delay, as no Arrears of provisions will be allowed. I am, Sir, etc. (Signed) F. LEMAISTRE, M.S.

John Cragie, Esquire.

Received 17 March, 1791.

(Signed) T. A. COFFIN.

Entered by D. W. Smith, Secretary to the Board.

(Enclosure 6 in No. 61.)

List of the Names of discharged Rangers, Loyalists and others residing at or near Detroit to whom provisions are to be granted on proof to the satisfaction of the Land Board of Hesse, that they have actually forgone an Establishment in the lower Districts in order to promote a Settlement in the

Mouth of the River Detroit, which provisions are to be continued to them by monthly issues, and in the same proportion as were given to the settlers below, on further proof that they are actually improving their Lands.