In 1677, the controversy which had been so long pending between Massachusetts and the heirs of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, relative to Maine, was decided by Massachusetts purchasing their claim through the agency of a wealthy Boston merchant, from the said heirs, for £1,200; and thus, spite of Charles II.’s wish to obtain it as an appanage for the Duke of Monmouth, Maine became a province of the State of Massachusetts. The extent of the province, however, was not equal to that which constitutes the present State of Maine. France occupied the district from St. Croix to the Penobscot, and New York that between the Penobscot and the Kennebec. New Hampshire had now for some years submitted to the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, under which it was greatly content; but Mason’s claims, which had long lain dormant, having been again revived in England, were only decided to be valid with respect to unappropriated land; and the government, wishful to humble and mortify Massachusetts, pronounced the towns on the Piscataqua not to be within her limits, and, in 1679, proceeded formally to separate New Hampshire from her jurisdiction. New Hampshire was now erected into a royal province, the assembly to be chosen by the people, the president and council to be appointed by the crown. This change was extremely unwelcome to the people of New Hampshire, and the following year the General Assembly sorrowfully addressed the friends from whom they were severed in these words:—“We thankfully acknowledge your kindness while we dwelt under your shadow, avowing ourselves deeply obliged that, on our earnest request, you took us under your government and ruled us well. If there be opportunity for us to be in anywise serviceable to you, we shall show you how ready we are to embrace it. Wishing the presence of God to be with you, we crave the benefit of your prayers on us who are separated from our brethren.”