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Since that time, 1 have from curiosity been frequent in my inquiries concerning the Truth of these observations, I am confirmed in my Thoughts that no Tract in these northern parts is intrinsically of such Value, as this might be, to His Majesty, in supplying the Royal Navy in so essential a Part of its construction. This Territory may be considered as divided into three Divisions, one from St. John’s River to Riviere St. Croix, belonging to Nova Scotia, one from that River westward including the Country of Sagadahook, and then the Province of Main, or as it is now called by the Province of Massachusetts to whom it appertains, York County, which extends from Sagadahook westerly to Piscatagua River & inland along the New Ham shire Boundary. The many attempts to bring this Country into a civilized state, ghath at last ha their effect & several promising Towns now make their appearance along the sea coast, but none equal Falmouth which is the present capital & 1s seated in Casco Bay, & as I am informed almost pretends to vie with Portsmouth in New Hampshire; yet notwithstanding this, as they are under the Laws of the Massachusetts, many Regulations are wanting, which from the Distance of the seat of government cannot well be otherwise, to the great Incommodity of the Inhabitants in their private Interest; but to those of Public, particularly in the affair of masts, the Distress as well to His Majesty as the Individual is inconceivable; there being continually a greater consumption of Mast-Pines, than are wanted, merely from unskillfulness or worse causes in cutting; was His Majesty benefited by this, it might be Reasonable, but it is certainly greatly to the Royal Detriment to have an unnecessary waste of so usefull a commodity & to the Individual, thus circumstanced a grievance. I lately had a long conversation with Commodore Gambier at Boston, as well as with some of the principal gentlemen of that Place who wish well to government; & the Result was, that nothing could so effectually secure His Majesty’s Interest in this par‘ ticular, & give Ease to Individuals, as making a separate government of the whole Territory. Their sentiments accord with those I have long entertained on this subject & I cannot but think it would be greatly for the King’s advantage if it was, & it was then hinted to me, that something of this kind was on the carpet at Home, as the late conduct of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, was such as must severely affect their charter; & would give government an opportunity (Pi sejparating this Territory of Main, politically, as it is seperated naturally from its present

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Supposing a Province to be erected there, the Happiest Boundaries for it, I with great submission think, would be the River St. John in the Bay of Fundy to the East, & Saco River with the New Hampshire Eastern Boundary to the west, agreeable to the sketch I have the Honor to inclose: That Part belonging to Nova Scotia would be no very considerable Loss to the Province, & for the small Tract between Saco & Piscataqua Rivers now a Part: of Main, it may with Propriety be annexed to the Royal government of New Hampshire, that Province having so little sea coast, & the River Saco would be a very natural Limit as its Eastern Line buts on Part of it.

I again beg your Lordship's Pardon, if any Thing here should be disagreeable: My Desire is to please you, my Lord, & if I am favored with a set of articles for Inquiry into any particulars within my Power or Capacity, I shall endeavor to prove it.

With the greatest Respect & gratitude for the many Favors Your Lordship has honored me with, I am, My Lord,

Your Lordship’s most devoted humble servant,

The Right Honorable SAMUEL HOLLAND. the Earl of Hillsborough. Endorsed: Piscataqua River, 19 Decmbr. 1770. Mr. Holland. R. 4 March, 1771. D. 13.

It would appear from the above reports that the surveys of the River St. Lawrence from some point above Quebec to Gaspe, the south-west shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Isle St. Jean, the Magdalenes and Cape Breton had been surveyed and mapped in the period 1764 and 1770, and that in the last mentioned year he was engaged on the coasts of Maine and New Hampshire. The Nova Scotia coast was probably not surveyed by him, but Holland’s work connected with Des Barres’ at Strait of Canso and at the St. Croix or the St. John River. In 1771 and 1772 the coast survey was continued and in 1773 the work had reached Boston. Reports were made by Holland to the President of the Board of Trade and Plantations from time to time on the progress of his