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298

[Governors Message]

The Commissioners have also set off so much of the land falling to the share of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, upon the division of the public lands already made, as in their estimation is of the value of thirty thousand dollars, to the end that the said Commonwealth may be enabled to assign the same to this State, or in lieu thereof, pay the said sum at its election, as an indemnification to Maine, for having assumed to perform all the duties and obligations of the Commonwealth towards the Indians. - I also lay before you a copy of this Act of the Commissioners, from which you will perceive the rate at which the estimate was made. - As the Commonwealth has the right to make the election at any time within one year, there is probably no reason to expect any further information upon this subject, during the present session. - It is understood that the Commissioners do not contemplate making any very considerable surveys or division of the public lands, the ensuing season, and it is presumed, therefore, that the necessary expences in this business the present, will be much less than the last year.

Untill [until] the northeastern boundary of this State shall be settled, there can be no final division of these lands, and until then, it is believed, there will be no urgent necessity for any considerable expenditures under this commission. - Although no progress has been made in the adjustment of that boundary the past year, there is reason to believe, that everything within the power of our government, has been and will be done