the
government "the causes of their illegal proceedings," and request-
ing them to appoint Mr. Dewey and certain others, as agents to
lay their grievances before the governor and council, and giving
assurance of "full protection to any persons they should choose,"
" except RoEERT Cociieant, as also Allkn, Baker and Sevil, men-
tioned in his proclamation of the 9th of December last, and Shtii
Warner, whose audacious behavior to a civil magistrate has sub-
jected him to the penalties of the laws of his country."
Stepiiisn Fay and his-son Dr. Jonas Fay were appointed agents,
and by them was sent a general answer to Go^'. Tryon's letter, dated
June 5, 1772, explaining the grounds of their grievances, signed
by Mr. Dewey and others ; and of the same date a more detailed
reply, in explanation of their proceedings, signed byErHA::^ Allen,
Ssra Warner,, Rsmembuance Bakkr and Rdbsrt CociiuAN".
These letters were laid by the governor before the council and refer-
9
62 HISTOUY OF ADDIaON OOUNTY.
red to a committeo, who rccommanded that the governor '"should
afford the inhabitants of those townships all the relief in his power,
by suspending, until his Majesty's pleasure should be known, all
prosecutions in behalf of the crown, on account of the crimes with
which they stand charged by the depositions before us, and to re-
commend to the owners of the contested lands, under grants of this
province, to put a stop during the same period to all civil suits con-
cerning the lands in question." This recommendation was adopted
by the council, and when communicated, through the agents, to
the people of Bennington and vicinity, was received with enthusi-
asm and accepted by them