tion, and over whom they have no control. The
Congress have now opened to all the world a sale of landed
settlements where the liberty and property of each
individual is to be consigned to his own custody and
defence. The first settlers, as the seedlings of a new
State, will be under a temporary government of their own
choice, provided it be similar to some one of the present
American governments. But as soon as their numbers shall
amount to twenty thousand, their temporary government is to
cease, and they are to establish a permanent government for
themselves, and whenever such new State shall have of free
inhabitants as many as shall be in any one the least
numerous of the original States. These are such propositions
of free establishments as have never yet been offered to
mankind, and cannot fail of producing great effects in the
future progress of things. The Congress have arranged their
offers in the most inviting and artful terms, and lest
individual peasants and laborers should not have the means
of removing themselves, they throw out inducements to
moneyed adventurers to purchase and to undertake the
settlement by commission and agency, without personal
residence, by stipulating that the lands of proprietors
being absentees shall not be higher taxed than the lands of
residents. This will quicken the sale of lands, which is
their object. For the explanation of these points, I beg
leave to refer your Lordship to the documents annexed, Nos.
5 and 6, namely, the Map and Resolutions of Congress, dated
April, 1784. There is another circumstance would confirm
that it is the intention of Congress to invite moneyed
adventurers to make purchases and settlements, which is the
precise and mathematical mode of dividing and marking out
for sale the lands in each new proposed State. These new
States are to be divided by parallel lines running north and
south, and by other parallels running east and west. They
are to be divided into hundreds of ten geographical miles
square, and then again into lots of one square mile. The
divisions are laid out as regularly as the squares upon a
chessboard, and all to be formed into a Charter of Compact.

"They may be purchased by purchasers at any distance, and
the titles may be verified by registe