The Cornish committee was active in attempting to secure instructions for members of the Vermont Legislature in favor of continuing the union with the sixteen New Hampshire towns, but without much success. When the February session met at Bennington, the attendance of members from the east side of the State

was small. The New Hampshire controversy was brought before the General Assembly in the form of a committee report signed by Jonas Fay, chairman, expressing the opinion that the sixteen towns east of the Connecticut "are of right included within the jurisdiction of New Hampshire." This report was accepted without opposition and it was declared, February 12, 1779, "that the said union be and is hereby dissolved and made totally void, null and extinct." The report and resolution were presented to President Weare and the New Hampshire Council on March 20, by Ira Allen.

A petition signed by Gen. Jacob Bayley and Capt. Davenport Phelps was presented to the New Hampshire Legislature on March 17, claiming that the people of Vermont generally desired a union with New Hampshire, and asking that the entire region embraced in the new State should be annexed. After considering the petition for several weeks it was determined that claim should be made to jurisdiction to all the New Hampshire Grants only in the event that Congress should refuse to admit that region as the State of Vermont. The Cornish committee was requested to obtain the sentiment of the people of Vermont on the subject of union. with New Hampshire. A most energetic protest

against such action was made by Vermont, and Ira Allen was sent to Exeter, the seat of the New Hampshire government, to watch proceedings. Only a few Vermont towns, however, took any action in the matter, the Cornish committee asserting that "the Bennington party" had intercepted and destroyed many copies of the circular letters sent out.

Ethan Allen wrote to President Weare, March 4, 1779, urging the government of New Hampshire to exert its authority on the east side of the Connecticut River, as he considered the schism on both sides to be equally against both governments. The leaders of the "schism" were characterized as a "petulant, petifogging, scribbling sort of gentry that will keep any government in hot water."

Ira Allen issued a statement dated at Norwich, July 13, 1779, and addressed "To the inhabitants of the State of Vermont," reviewing the facts in the New Hampshire controversy, and making a strong, logical and eloquent plea for the preservation of the integrity of Vermont.

About this time both New Hampshire and Massachusetts presented to Congress claims upon the territory of Vermont.

The little Green Mountain commonwealth now was surrounded by enemies, and there were foes within its own household. Three States, New York, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, were claiming its territory, while to the north was Canada, controlled by the common enemy, Great Britain. Such perils might have dismayed

any but the stoutest hearts, but this people had met successfully perils equally great, and they were not discouraged by the dangers that threatened from every side.