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Governor OLIVER, &c. [ Price Two Shilling?. ] t^j;. "Itt.' ■! M ; j w a> *ii ^» i»^i & ^SWi ^>aAiii\HMi i .2 t k. ¥ I ) .-vi...^ < Tl -M THE LETTERS / O F Governor HUTCHINSON, AN9 tieut. Governbr OLIVER, 6cd .1. Printed at B O S T O N. AND REMARKS THEREON. WITH THE ASSEMBLY'S ADDRESS, % A N O T H B . PROCEEDINGS « r T H K LORDS COMMITTEE OF COUNCIL. Together with Tf|rE SUBSTANCE OF MR. WEDDERBURN*S SPEECH RELATING TO THOSE LETTERS. /rrJ^-,,A.. ,'.< LONDON Printed for J. WILKIE, at Number 71, in St. Paul's Church-yard, mdcclxxiv. M^^^lAJ^H- h;,j^ -tW''*OWM*.«2ii»iA* '•-'*- ti.*** ■ ■5" r e "T ■ll . W 1. .A A • ...til J T L*;».iL.'.t— "-iJi^'-thMAi" i' LETTERS, &c. § I ]^^ Bojloi, June \2, iy65, AS you allow me the honour of your corref- pondence, I may not omit acquainting you with fo remarkable an c\ent as the with- draw of the Commlflioners of the Cuftoms, and moft of the other officers iinder them, from the town on board the Romney, with an intent to remove from thence to the Caftlc. In the evening of the lOth, a Qoop belonging to Mr. Hancock, a Reprefentative for Bofton, and a wealthy merchant of great influence over the populace, was feized by tiie Colleftor and Comptroller for a very notorious breach of the afts of trade, and, after feizure, taken into tuftody by the officer of the Romney man of V^ar, and removed under command of her guns. It is pretended that the removal, and not the feizure, incenfed the people. It feems not very material which it was.-A mob was immediately railed, the officers infulted, bruifed, and much hurt, and the windows of fome of their houles broke •, a boat belonging to the CoUeftor burnt in triumph, and many threats uttered againft 1 ,- ^ i4_ II I j> ji -lw ■ !^ r: (■■ . ■-;-- f ' 1 the Commifliohcrs and their otf cers : no notice being taken of their extravagance in the time of it, nor any endeavours by any authority, except the governor, the next day, todifcover and punilh the offenders v and there being a rumour of a higher mob intended Monday (the 13th) in the evening, theCommiflioners,/(7«r ofthem^ thought themfelves altogether unfafe, being deftitute of protection, and removed with their families to the Romney, and there remain and hold their board, and next week intend to do the fame, and alfo open the Cuftom-houfe at tiie Caftle. The Governor preflld the council to aflift him with their advice, but they declined and evaded, calling it a brufh, or fmall difturbance by boys and negroes, not confidering how much it mujl be refented in England that the officers of the Crown fliould think themfelves obliged to quit the place of their refidence, and go on board a King's ftiip for fafety, and all the internal au- thority of the province take no notice of it.^- The town of Bofton have had repeated meet- ings, and by their votes declared the Commif- fioners and their officers a great eaievance, and ycfterday inftrucled their Reprefefttatives to en- deavour, that enquiry fhould be made by the Aflembly whether any perfon by writing or in any other way, had encouraged the fending troops here, there being Ibme alarming reports % that ■^ 1^ i: no notice J the time of ority, except :r and punilh umour of a 13th) in the beniy thought ; deftitute of r families to id hold their Id the fame, c ti)e Caftle. to aflift him and evaded, nee by boys nucb it mujl icers of the liged to quit 3 on board a internal au- :ice of it.^- aeated meet- he Commif- evance, and itives to en- nade by the riting or in the lending ling reports that [ 3 ] that troops are cxpcdled, but have not taken any meafurcs to difcountenancc the promoters of the late proceedings i bur, on the contrary, appointed one or more of the adlors or abettors on a committee appointed to wait on the Gover- nor, and to defire him to order the man of war out of the harbour. Ignorant as they be, yet the heads of a Boflon town-meering influence all public meafurcs. It is not pofliblc this anarchy fhould lad al- ways. Mr. Hallowell, who will be the bearer of this, tells me he has the honour of being per- fonally known to you. I beg leave to refer you to him for a more full account. I am, with great eftcem, Sir, Your moft humble and obedient fervant, THO. HUTCHINSON. SIR, Bofton, Auguft 1768. JT is very neceflTary other information fliould be had in England of the prefent ftate of the commifTioners of the cuftoms than what commoa fame will bring to you, or what you will receive from moft of the letters which go from hence, people in general being prejudiced by many falfe rcpo ts and mifreprefentations concerning them. Seven eighths of the people of the country fup- pofc the board itfelf to be unconftitutional, anc' B 2 cannot ^ A^^\' [ 4 ] cannot be undeceived and brought to believe that a board has exifted in England all this cen- tury, and that the board eftabliQicd here has no new powers given to it. Our incendiaries know it, but they induflrioudy and very wickedly pub- li(h the contrary. As much pains has been taken to prejudice the country againfl the pcr- fons of the Commiflloners, and their charadlcrs have been mir.c /rcicnicd and cruelly treated, cfpeciaiiy iiuce their confinement at the Caftle., where they are not fo likely to hear what is faid pf them, and are not fo able to confute it. It is now pretended they need not to have withdrawn, that Mr. Williams had flood his ground without any injury, although the mob befet his houfe, &c. There never was that fpirit raifed againft the under officers as againft the Comniiflloners, I mean four of them. They •had a public affront offered them by the town of Bofton, who refufed to give the ufe of their hall for a public dinner, unlefs it was ftipulated that the Comminio;icrs fhould not be invited. An affront of tiie lame nature at the motion of Mr. Hancock was offered by a company of cadets. Soon after a velfel of Mr. Hancock's being feized, the officers were mobb'd, and the Com- rniffioners were informed they were threatned. I own I was in pain for rhem. I do not believe if the mob had feized them, there was any autho- rity t to believe all this ccn- here has no diaries know ickcdly pub- ns has been nfl the per- ir charadlers lelly treated, : the Caftlc, what is faid ifute it. not to have ad flood his gh the mob er was that :rs as againft them. They f the town of ; of their hall tipulated that invited. An otlon of Mr. ny of cadets, cock's being md the Com- threatned. I not believe if is any autho- rity [ 5 ] rity able and willing to have refcucd them. After they had withdrawn, the town fignified to the Governor by a meflagc that it was expefted or dcfired they Ihould not return. It was then the general voice that it would not be fufe for them to return. After all this, the fons of liberty fay they defcrted or abdicated. The other officers of the cuftoms in general either did not leave the town, or foon returned to it. Some of them feem to be difcontented with the Commiffioners. Great pains have been taken to increafc the difcontent. Their office by thefe means is rendered extremely burdenfome. Every thing they do is found fault with, and yet no partTcular illegality or even irregularity men- tioned. There is too much hauteur, fome of their officers fay, in the treatment they receive. They fay, they treat their officers as the Com- miffioners treat their officers in England, and require no greater deference. After all, it is not the perfons, but the office of the Commiffioners which has raifed this fpirit, and the diftindion made between the Commiffioners, is becaufe it has been given out that four of them were in favour of the new eftablifliment, and the fifth was not. If Mr. Hallowell arrived fafe, he can inform you many circumftances relative to this diainftion, which I very willingly cxcufe myfelf from mentioning. I know [ <5 3 I know of no burden brought upoh the fair trader by the new eftablifliment. The illicit trader finds the rifque greater than it ufcd to be. efpecialJy in the port where the board is con- ftantly held. Another circumftance which in- creafes the prejudice is this ; the new duties happened to take place jufl about the time the ConimiiTioners arrived. People have abfurdly ^ronnefted the duties and Board of Commiffioners, ^d fuf pofc we fhould have had no additional duties, if there had been no Board to have the charge of collcaing them. With all the aid you can give to the officers of the crown, they will have enough to do to maintain the authority of government, and to carry the laws into exe- cution. If they are difcountenanced, neglefted, or fail of fupporc from you, they mud fubmit to every thing the prefent oppofers of government think fit to require of them. There is no office under greater difcourage- inents than that of the Commiffioners. Some of my friends recommended me to the miniftry, I think myftlf very happy that I am not one. In- deed it would Iiave been incompatible with my ppft as chief juftice, and I muft have declined it, and I (hould do it although no greatei falary had been affixed to the chiefjuftice's place, than the fmall pittance allowed by the province. Froi^ c upon the fair • The illicit it iifcd to be, board is con- ice which in- e new duties t the time the lave abfurdly ommifiioners, no additional to have the i all the aid crown, they the authority iws into exc- el, negleded, uft fubmit to government • difcourage- "s. Some of miniftry, I ot one. In- )le with my ave declined jreatet falary place, than )vince. Froi^ [ 7 1 From my acquaintance with the Commlflloners I have conceived a pcrfonal efteem for them, bflt my chief inducement to make this reprefentation to you is a regard to the public intereft, which I am fure will fuffer if the oppofition carry their point againft them. I am, with very great efteem. Sir, your moft obedient humble fervent, THO. HUTCHINSON. ylugtifl lo. Yefterday at a meeting of the merchants, it was agreed by all prcfent to give no more orders for goods from England, nor re- ceive any on commiflion until the late a£ts a; e repealed. And it is faid all except fixteen in the town have fubfcribed an engagement of that tenor. I hope the fubfcription will be printed^ that I may tranfmit it to you. DearSir, Bojion, richer 4, ! 76S.' T W AS abfent upon one of our circuits whtn •*• Mr. Byles arrived. Since my return, I haVe received from him your obliging letter of 31ft July. I never dared to think what the refent- ment of the nation would be upon Hallowell'* arrival. It is not ftrange that meafures Ihould be immediately taken to reduce the colonies to their former ftate of government and order, but that the national funds fhould be afFeded by it, U r' • [ 8 ] is to me a little myfterious and furprizing. Prin- ciples of government abfurd enough fpread thro' all the colonies •, but I cannot think that in any colony, people of any confideration have ever been fo mad as to think of a revolt. Many of the common people have been in a frenzy, and talked of dying in defence of their liberties, and have fpoke and printed what is highly criminal, and too many of rank above the vulgar, and fome in public pop have countenanced and en- couraged them, until they increafed fo much in their numbers, and in their opinion of their im- portance, as to fubmit to government no fur- ther than they thought proper. The legidative powers have been influenced by them, and the executive powers intirely loft their force. There has been continual danger of mobs and infur- recTions, but they would have fpent all their force within ourfelves, the officers of the Crown, and fome of the few friends who dared to ftand by them, pofTibly might have been knock'd on the head, and fome fuch fatal event would pro- bably have brought the people to their fenfes. For four or five weeks paft the diftemper has been growing, and I confefs I have not been without fome apprehenfions for myfelf, but my friends have had more for me •, and I have had repeated and frequent notices from them from different quarters, one of the l^Ji I will tnclofe lo y6u. Vtfk. •izing. Prin- , fpread thro* that in any n have ever t. Many of , frenzy, and liberiies, add hly criminal, : vulgar, and iced and en- d fo much in . of their im- nent no fur- he legiflative lem, and the force. There )s and infur- 3ent all their of the Crown, dared to ftand n knock'd on nt would Tpto- ) their fenfes. diftemper has lave not been lyfelf, but my id I have had im them from / w/7/ ificlofe to ytm. 1 9 ] yaa *. In this ftate of things, there was no fecn- rity, but quitting my polls, which nothing but the laft extremity would juftify. As Chief Juftice, for two years after our firft diforders, I kept the grand juries tolerably well to their duty. The lad fpring, there had been feveral riots, and a mod: infamous libel had been publiflied in one of the papers, which I enlarged upon, and the grand jury had determined to make prefentments, but the Attorney-General not attending them the firft day, Otis and his creatures, who were alar- med and frightned, exerted themfelves the next day, and prevailed upon fo many of the jury to change their voices, that there was not a fuffi- cient number left to find a bill. They have been €ver fince more enraged againft me than ever. At the defire of the Governor I committed to writing the charge while it lay in my memory, and as I have no further ufe for it I will inclofe it, as it m.ay give you fome idea of our judi- catories. ^ ' Whilft we were in this ftate, news came of two regiments "being ordered from Halifax, and foon after two more from Ireland. The minds of people were more and more agitated, broad hints were given, that the troops fhould never land, a barrel of tar was placed upon the beacon, € io • 5ec the following Letter. r 10 ] in I lie night to be fired, to bring in the country when the troops appeared, and all the authority or the government was not ftrong enough to re- inove it. The town of Boflon met and pafled a iiumber of weak, but very criminal votes ; and as the Governor declined calling an Aflembly, they fent circular letters to all the towns and diltrids to fend a perfon each that there might be a general confultation at fo extraordinary a crifis. They met and fpent a week, made themfelve$ ridiculous, and then diflblv'd thcmfelves, after a mcfTiige or two to the Governor, which he rc- fufcd to receive ; a petition to the King, which I dare fay their agent will never be allow'd to prefent, and a refult which they have publilhed ill-natured and impotent. In this confufion the troops from Halifax ar- rived. I never was much afraid of the people's taking arms, but I was apprehenfive of violence from the mob, it being their laft chance before the troops could land. As the profpeft of re- venge became more certain, their courage abated in proportion. Two regiments are landed, but a new grievance is now rais'd. The troops are by a(fl of parliament to be quartered no where fife but in the barracks, until they are full. There are barracks enough at the Caftle to hold both regiments. It is therefore againft the a<5t W brin^ aiiy of them into the town. This was parted It [ " ] ftarted by tlie Council in their anfwer to the Governor, which, to make themlclves popular, they in an unprecedented way publiflied and have alarmed all the province ; for although none but themoft contradled minds could put fuch a con- ftruftion upon the adl, yet after this declaration of the Council nine tenths of tiie people fuppofe it juft* I wilh the aft had been better exprcfs'd, but It is abfurd to fuppofe the parlian.cnt in- tended to take from the King tfic direflion of his forces, by confining them to a place where any of the colonics might think fit to build barracks. It is befides ungrateful, for it is known to many that this provifion was brought into the bill after it had been framed wiciiout it, from meer favour to the colonies. I hear the Commander in Chief has provided barracks or quarters, but a doubt ftill remains with fome of the Council, whether they are to furnifli the articles required, unlefs the men arc in the province barracks, and they are to determine upon it to-day. The government has been fo long in the hands of the populace, that it muft come out of them by degrees, at leaft it will be a work of time to bring the people back to juft notions of the nature of government. Mr. Pepperrell, a young gentleman of good charader, and grandfon and principal heir to the C 2 late [ >2 ] late Sir William Pepperrcll, being bound to Lon- don, I (hall deliver this letter to him, as it will be too bulky for poftage, and dcfxre him to wait upon you with, it. I am, with very great efteem. Sir, your moft humble and moft obedient fervanr, THO. HUTCHINSON. SIR, TH E great efteem I have for you in every point of light, perhaps renders my fears and doubts for the fafety of your perfon greater than they ought to be -, however if that is an error, it certainly refults from true friendfhip, naturally jealous. Laft night I was informed by a gentleman of my acquaintance, who had his information from one intimate with and know- ing to the infernal purpofes of the fons of liberty, as they falfely ftile themfelves, that he verily be- Irev'd, from the terrible threats and menaces by thofe Catilines againft you, that your life is greatly in danger. This informant, I know, it under obligations to you, and is a man of veracity. He exprefs'd liimfelf with concern for you, and the gentleman acquainting me with this horrid circumftance, alfured me he was very uneafy till you had notice. I Jhould have done myfclf the honour of waiting on you, but am neceflaril/ I to Lou- is it will n to wait t fervaiit, NSON. in every Tiy fears n greater hat is an iendfhip, >rmed by had his id know- f liberty, eerily be- inaces by ir life is know, 2s man of concern me with was very ave done bwt am iCGeflarily [ »3 ] ncceffarily prevented. The duty I owed to you as a friend, and to the public as a member of fociety, would not fufFer me to reft till I had put your honour upon your guard •, for though this may be a falfe alarm, nothing would have given me greater pain, if any accident had hap- pened, and I had been filent. If poflible, I will fee you to-morrow, and let you know further into this black affair. And am, with the fmcereft friendlhip and refpett, your Honour's Moft obedient, and moft humble fervant, ROB. AUCHMUTT. J'o the hon'ble Thomas Hutchinfon, Sept. 14. ^7^^' Dear Sir, Boftort, Dec. 10, 1768. I AM juft now informed that a number of the Council, perhaps eight or ten, who live in ?.nd near this town, have met together and agreed upon a long addrefs or petition to Par- liament, and that it will be fent by this (hip to Mr. Bollan to be prefented. Mr. Danforth, who is Prefident of the Council, told the Go- vernor, upon enquiry, that it was fent to him to fign, and he fuppofed the reft of the Council who had met together, would fign after him in order-, but he had fince found that they had wrote over his name, by order of Council, which J makes t H ] makes it Appeal- to be an aft of Council. This may be a low piece of cunning in him, but be it as it may, it is proper it fliould be known, that the whole is no more than the doings of a part of the Council only ; although even that is not very material, fince, if they had all been prefent, without the Governor's fummons» the meeting would have been irregular and un- conftitutional, and ought to be difcountenanced and cenfured. I fuppofe there is no ioftance of the Privy Council's meeting and doing bufinefs without the King's prefence or fpecial direftion, except in committees upon fuch bufinefs as by his Majefty's order has been referred to them by an aft of Council i and I have known no in- ftance here without the Governor, until within three or four months paft. I thought it very neceflary the circumftanccs of this proceeding fliould be known, though if there be no neceflity for it, I think it would be beft it Ihould not be known that the intelligence comes from mc. I am, with very great regard, , Sir, your moft humble, and mofl obedient fervanr* THO. HUTCHINSON' tt uncil. This jim, but be be known, Joings of a 1 even that lad all bpcn nmonS) the ir and un- luntenanced ioftance of ng bufinefs i\ diredion« ifinefs as by to them by >wn no in- kintil within cnmftanccs , though if t would be intelligence rcat regard, e, ;nt fervant* INSON' C «5 1 Dear Sir, Bo/ion^ Jan. 20, ijSg. YO U have laid me under very great obliga- tions by the very clear and full account of proceedings in Parliament, which I received from you by Capt. Scott. You have alfo done much fervice to the people of the province. For a day or two after the Ihip arrived, the enemies of government gave out that their friends in Parlia- ment were increafing, and all things would be foon on the old footing •, in other words, that all a£ls impofing duties would be r:pealed, the Com- iniflloners board diflblved, the cuftoms put oa the old footing, and illicit trade be carried on with little or no hazard. It was very fortunate that I had it in my power to prevent fuch a falfe rcprefentation from fpreading through the pro- vince. I have been very cautious of ufing your name, but I have been very free in publishing abroad the fubftance of your letter, and declar- ing that I had my intelligence from the beft au- thority, and have in a great meafure defeated the ill defign in raifing and attempting to fpread fo groundlefs a report. What marks of refcntment the Parliament will (how, whether they will be upon the province in general, or particular per- Ions, is extremely uncertain, but that they will be placed fomewhere is moft certain, and I add, becaufe / think it cu^bt to be fo, that thofe who have I [ I^ ] have been moft fteady in preferving the conAi- tution and oppofing the licentioufncfs of fuch as call themfelves Sons of Liberty, will certainly meet with favour and encouragement. This is moft certainly a crifis. I really wifli that there may not have been the leaft degree of feverity beyond what is abfolutely neceffary to maintain, I think I may fay to you the depen- dance^\{\z\i a colony ought to have upon the pa- rent ftate ; but if no meafures (hall have been taken to fccure this dependance, or nothing more than fome declaratory afts or refolves, it is all over with us. The friends of government will be utterly dilTieartened, and the friends of anar- chy will be afraid of nothing, be it ever fo ex- travagant. The lad vefTel from London had a quick paf- fage. We expeft to be in fufpence for the three or four next weeks, and then to hear our fate. I never think of the meafures neceffary for the peace and good order of the colonies without pain. There muft be an abridgment of what are called Englifh liberties. I relieve myfelf by confidering that in a remove from the ftate of nature to the moft perfeft ftate of government, there muft be a great reftraint of natural liberty. I doubt whether it is poffible to projed a fylteni of government in which a colony ^000 miles diftant from the parent ftate ftiall enjoy all the liberty erving the confti- oufncfs of fuch as rty, will certainly jemcnt. fis. I really wiflx the leaft degree of uteiy neceffary to to you the depen- lave upon the pa- 5 (hall have been , or nothing more refolves, // is all government will : friends of anar- be it ever fo ex- had a quick paA ?nce for the three hear our fate, leceflary for the colonies without idgment of what relieve myfelf by rom the ftate of of government, f natural liberty, projed a fylteni )ny jooo miles ill enjoy all the liberty t t7 ] liberty of the parent ftate. I am certain I liave never yet ki:n the projeaion. I wilh the pood of the colony when I wifh to fee fotne further rcftraint of liberty, rather than the connexion with the parent ftate fliould be broken j {-or I am ilire fuch a breach muft prove the ruin ofchc colony. Pardon me this excurfion, it really proceeds from the ftate of mind into which our perplexed af- fairs often throws me. I have the honour to be< with very great efteem, Sir, your moft humble and moft obe- dient fervant, ,. . THO. HUTCHINSON. I) E A R Sir, Boflon, OEloher 26, 1 759. T THANK you for your laft favor of July 18th. I fancy in my laft to you, about two months ago, I have anfvvered the greateft pare of it. My opinion upon the combination of the mer- chants, I gave you very fully. How long they will be able to continue them if Parliament Ihould ,'iot interpofe, is uncertain. In moft ar- ticles :hey may another year, and you run the rifque of their fubftituting, when they are put to their ftiifts, fomething of their own in the place of what they ufed to have from you, and which they will never return to you for. But it is not D pofllbJc f [ »8 1 pofllble that provifion for diflblving thcle com* binations, and fubjedting all who do not renounce them to penalties adequate to the offence, fhoiild not be made the firft week the parliament meets* Certainly all parties will unite in fo extraordinary a cafc, if they never do in any other. / So much has been faid upon the repeal of the iduties laid by the laft aft, that it will render it very difficult to keep people's minds quiet, if diat Ihould be refufed them. They defcrvc punHhment, you will fay, but laying or continuing taxes upon all cannot be thought equal, feeing many will be punifhed who are not offciidcrs. Penalties af another kindfeem better adapted. I have been tolerably treated fince the Go- vernor's departure, no other charge being made agaiuft me in our fcandalous news-papers, ex- cept my bad principles in matters of govern- ment } and this charge has had little cffed, and a great many friends promife me fupport. I muft beg tlie favour of you to keep fecret every thing I write, until we are in a more fet- tled ftate, for the party here, either by their agenf^ or by fomeof their emlffaries in London, have feut them ever)' report or rumour of the contents of letters wrote from hence. I hope we (hall fee better times both here and in Eng- land. I am, with great efteem^ Sir, your moft obedient fcrvantv TIIO. HUTCHINSON. — H. I| ) I| W II . «■ »! I ] l» ;^ l , l l. l l ,Jj(nt| )li-j^.«,,,.. g thcle com* > not renounce ffcncc, (hoiild lament meets* extraordinary cr. / So much he iduties laid : very difficult hat IKould be liihment, you taxes upon all many will be Penalties af ince the Go- ;e being made /s-papers, ex- rs of govcrn- tle cffed, and .ipport. to keep fccrcc 1 a more fet- thcr by their :s in London, imour of the ence. I hope e and in Eng- :dient fcrrantv :hinson. [ '9 1 SIR, BoJfoM, Mtiy 7, 1 767. JAM indebted to you for the obliging manner ^ in which you received my recommendation of my good friend Mr. Paxton, as well as for the account you are plcafed to fend me of the fitua- tion of affairs in the mother country. I am very forry that the colonies give you fo much employment, and it is impoflible to fay how long it will be before things fettle into quiet among us. We have fome here who ;hav.c been fo bufy in fomenting the late difturbances, that chcy may now think it needful for their own fe- curity to keep up the fpirit. They have plumed themfelvcs much upon the vidlory they have gained, and the fupport they have fince met with} nor could any thing better flicw what they would ftill be at, than the manner in which, by their own account publifhcd in the news-papcrs laft Auguft, they celebrated the 14th of that month, as the firft anniverfary commemoration of what they had done at the tree of liberty on that day the year before. Here a number of , itfpeftable gentlemen, as they inform us, now met, and among other toafts drank General Paoli, and the (park of liberty kindled in Spain, i am now fpeaking of a few individuals only, the body of the people are well difpofed ; yet when you come to fee the journal of the Houfc ©f Rcprefentatives the laft fcflion, I fear you will D 2 think I ^^5??*^^S*1»t?59P^^ fl [ 20 ] think that the fame fpirit has feized our public counfels. I can, however, fairly fay thus much in behalf of the government, that the laft houfe was packed by means of a public profcription jufl: before the eledion, of the greatefl part of thofe who had appeared in the preceding fefTion in the fupport of government : their names were publiTiCd in an inflammatory news-paper, and their conrtituents made to believe they were about to fell them for fiaves. Writs are now out for a new Afltmbly, but I cannot anfwer for the choice : I hope, however, that the peo- ple in general are in a better temper ; yet the moderate men have been fo brow.beaten in the Houfe, and found themfelves fo infignificant there the laft year, that fome of them will volun- tarily decline coming again. I think this looks too much like a defpair of the commcn-wealth, and cannot be juftified on patriotic principles. The eledlion of Counfellors was carried the laft year as might hav- been expefted from fuch an houfe. The officers of the crown, and the judges of the fuperior court were excluded. And I hear ihat it is the defign of fome. who cxpeft to be returned members of the houfe this year, to make fure work at the enfuing clcaion of Counfellors, uy excluding, if they pan, the gentlemen of the council (who by charter renjain fuch 'till others are chofen in their roomj ■-.aa. w?5E?S7 zed our public ' fay thus much It the laft houfe >lic profcription ;reatefl part of receding fefTion leir names were :ws-paper, and ;ve they were Writs are now cannot anfwer , that the peo- mper; yet tiie v.beaten in the fo infignificant »em will volun- link this looks )mmcn-weaith, c principles, as carried the ftcd from fuch :rown, and the 'Cre excluded, of fome, who of the houfe It the enfuing Jding, if thejr ncil (who by chofen in their roomj [ 21 ] room) from any (hare in the choice, though thcjr have always had their voice in it hitherto from the firft arrival of the charter. If the houfe do this, they will have it in their power to model the Council as they pleafe, and throw all the powers of government into the hands of the people, unlefs the Governor Ihould again exert his negative as he did the laft year. You have doubilefs feen fonie of the curious meflages from the late houfe to the Governor, and can't but have obfcrved with how little decency they have attacked both the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor. They have alfo in effefb forced the Council to declare them- felves parties in the quarrel they had againft the latter in a matter of mere indifference. In their meflage to the Governor of the 31 ft of January, they have explicitly charged the Lieutenant Go^ vernor (a gentleman to whom they are more in- debted than to any one man in the government) with " ambition and luft of power," merely for paying a compliment to the Governor agreeable to ancient ufage, by attending him to court, and being prefent in the council- chamber when he made his fpeech at the opening of the feffion •, at which time they go on to fay, « none but the general court and their fervants are intended to be prefent," ftill holding out to the people the fervants of the crown as obje(5ts of infignificance, ranking '""W^TWr^'SSS^;' mm ' ^s !m mf i0s^!Wi'!^ w^si? i c *m^"* t *« 1 ranking the Secretary with their door-keeper, as iervants of the Aflembly; for the Secretary with his clerks and the door-keeper are the only perfons prefent with the Aflembly on thefe occafions. 1 he officers of the crown being thus lefl*en'd in the eyes of the people, takes off their weight and influence, and the balance will of courfe turn in favour of the people, and what makes them ftill more infignificant is their dependance on the people for a neceflary fupport : If fomc- thing were left to the goodwill of the people, yet nature (hould be fure of a fupport. The Governor's falary has for about thirty-five years pad been pretty well undcrftood to be ^. looo a year fterling. When this fum was firft agreed to, it was very well ; but an increafe of wealth fince has brought along with it an increafe of luxury, fo that what was fufficient to keep up a proper diftinftion and fupport the dignity of a Governor then, may well be fuppofed to be infufficicnt for the purpofe now. The Lieuten- ant Governor has no appointments as fuch : the Captaincy of Caftle -William, which may be worth 1. 120 fterling a year, is looked upon indeed as an appendage to his commiffion, and tlie late Lieutenant Governor enjoyed no other appointment ; he lived a retired life '<.pon his own eftate in the country, and was fjSy. The prefent '" "gtj'X i ll i w i li i 'g li V ' ^ufsfmm^-i^i^ =•! door-keeper, as r the Secretary per are the only imbly on thefc ng thus lefTen'd off their weight will of courfe nd what makes lieir dependancc port : If fome- l of the people. fupport. The thirty-five years to be j^. looo was firft agreed reafe of wealth t an increafe of nt to keep up he dignity of a uppofed to be The Lieuten- ts as fuch : the ivhich may be s looked upon ommiflion, and joyed no other i life '^pon his 'as e^)\ The prefcnt [ 23 ] prefent Lieutenant Governor indeed has other appointments, but the people are quarrelling with him for it, and will not fuffer him to be eafy unlefs he will retire a!fo. The Secretary may have fomething more than £. 200 a year fterling, but has for the two laft years been allowed £^. 60 lawful money a year lefs than had been ufual for divers years preced- ing, though he had convinced the houfe by their Committee, that without this deduftion he would have had no more than £. 250 fterling per annum in fees, perquifites and falary alto- gether, which is not the one half of his annual expencc. The crown did by charter referve to itfelf the appointment of a Governor, Lieutenant Go- vernor and Secretary: the defign of this was without doubt to maintain fome kind of balance between the powers of the crown and of the people i but, if officers are not in fome mea- fure independent of the people (for it is difficult to ferve two mafters) they will fometimes have a hard ftrugglc between duty to the crown and a regard to felf, which muft be a very difagrecable fituation to them, as well as a weakening to the authority of government. The officers of the crown are very few, and are therefore the more cafily provided for without burdening the people : i^fe^ W^^ ^^mMSM;^'^^"^* ' ^WM w**- [ 24 ] and fitcb provi/iott I look upon as necejfary to the rejtoration and fupport of the King's authority. But it may be iaid, How can any new meafurcs be taken without raifing new difturbances ? Tiie manufadurcrs in England will rife again and defeat tlie meafurcs of government. This game, *tis true, has been played once and fuccceded, and it has been aflerted here, that it is in the power of the colonics at any time to laife a re- Ijellion in England, by refufing to fend for their manufadures. For my own parr, I do not be- lieve this. Tlie merchants in England, and I don't know but thofe in London and Briftol only, might always govern in this matter and quiet the manufafturer. The merchant's view IS always to his own interell. As the trade is now managed, the dealer here fends to the mer- chant in England for his goods, upon thefe goods the Englifli merchant puts a profit of lo or more, probably 15 per cent, when he fends them to his employer in America. The merchant is fo jealous of foregoing this profit, that an Ame- rican trader cannot well purchafe the goods he wants of the manufafturer ; for fhould the merchant know that the manufacturer had fup- plied an American, he would take off no more of his wares. The merchants therefore having this profit in view will by one means or other fccure it. They know the goods which the American "'»^'" ' -UUiMU.-,JJ"..j J.I U,.,.^,., i ,.:.u i| i I l ll| J) J JtJ^,j„ ^ ^^,„,^„r.„.^,^^^.^. r tieceffaf-y to the ' authority, y new meafurca rbances ? The rile again and :. This game, ind fuccceded. It it is in the le to laife a re- 3 fend for their , I do not be- ngland, and I »n and Briftol lis matter and ?rchant's view ! the trade is Js to the mei- 3n thefe goods ofit of 10 or he fends them le merchant is that an Ame- the goods he r fhould the urer had fup- off no more refore having leans or other Is which the Americaa [ *5 ] An-,erican market demands, and may therefore fafely take them off from the manufafturer, tho* they Ihould have no orders for (hipping them this year or perhaps the next; and I dare fay, ic would not be longer before the Americans would clamour for a fupply of goods from England, for it is vain to think they can fupply themfelves. The merchant might then put an advanced price upon his goods, and poffibly be able to make his own terms i or if it Ihould be thought the goods would not bear an advanced price to indemnify him, it might be worth while for the government to agree with the merchants before hand to allow them a premium equivalent to the advance of their flock, and then the game ivould be over. 1 have wrote with freedom, in confidence of my name's not being ufed on the occafion. For though I have wrote nothing but what in my confcience I think an American may upon juft principles advance, and what a fervant of the Crown ought upon all proper occafions to fug- gcft, yet the many prejudices J have to combat with, may render it unfit it fliould be made J>ublic. I communicated to Governor Bernard what you mentioned concerning him, who defircs me to prefent you his compliments, and let you ^ know ai i' | »i Blij|i^.-,j | ^L. . ■^^^■^"^Si^g^ [ 26 ] know that he is obliged to you fcr the exprcfl iions of your regard for his injured character. I am, with great refpedt, Sir, Your moft obedient and moil humble fervant, ANDREW OLIVER. I afk your acceptance of a journal of the lafl: feffion which is put up in a box dircded to the Secretary of the Board of trade. ^ I ^r Bojlon, May ii, 1768^ I A M this moment favoured with your very obliging letter by Capt. Jarvis, of the 2d March, which I have but juft time to acknow- ledge, as this is the day given out for the fhip to fail. I wrote you the 23d of February in reply to your letter of the 28th December j that of the 1 2th February which you refer to in this of ths 2d of March is not yet come to hand. You lay me. Sir, under the greatcft obligations, as well for the interefting account of public affairs, which you are from time to time pleafed to tranfmit me, as for your fteady attention to my private concerns. I (hall always have the moft grateful fenfe of Mr. Grenville's intentions of favour alfo, whether I ever reap any benefit from them or not. Without a proper fupport afforded to the king's officers, the refpedl due to government will of courfe fail j yet I cannot fay whether " ■ nm^:vi0>mis>: :. fcr the cxprcf- d character. » lumble fervant^ / OLIVER. journal of the up in a box of the Board ^ay II, 1768; /ith your very MS, of the 2cl ne to acknow- Jt for the fhip " February in icemberj that efer to in this amc to hand. A obligations^ nt of public time pleafcd )r attention to vays have the lie's intentions ip any benefit ■oper fupport refpedl due to 1 1 cannot fay whether r 27 ] wlicther under the prefent circumftanccs, and confidering the temper the people are now in, an additional provifion for me would be of real benefit to me perfonally or not. It has been given out, that no perfon, who receives a ftipcnd from tlie government at home, Ihall live in the country. Government here wants fome effeSiual fupport : No fooner was it known, that the Lieutenant Governor had a provifion of £. 200 a year made for him out of the revenue, than he was advifcd in the Bofton Gazette to refign all pretenfions to a feat in council, either with or without a voice. The temper of the people may be furely learnt from that infamous paper •, it is the very thing that forms their temper j for if they are not in the temper of the writer at the time of the publication, yet it is looked upon as the ORACLE, and they foon bring their temper to it. Some of the latefl: of them are very ex- preflive j I will not trouble you with fending tiiem, as I imagine they fome how or other find their way to you : But I cannot but apprehend from thcfc papers and from hints that are thrown our, that if the petition of the Houfe to his Majefty, and their letters to divers noble Lords fliould fail of fuccefs, fome people will be mad enough to go to extremities. The commiflioners of the cuftoms have already been openly af- fronted, the Governor's company of Cadets have E 2 come sfsns**?":: [ i8 ] come to a refolution not to wait on him ^as ufual) on the day of General Eleftion, the a^thinftant, if thofc gentlemen are of the company. And the Town of Bcfton have pafled a Vote that Faneuil-Hall (in which the Governor and his company ufually dine on that day) fhall not be opened to him, if the CommifTioners are invited to dine with him. A lift of Counfellors has v/ithm a few days paft been printed and difperfed by way of fneer on Lord Shelburnc's letter, made up of King's officers i which lift, the writer fays, if adopted at the next general elcdion, may take away all grounds of complaint, and may pombly prove a healing and very falutary meafure. The Lieutenant Governor is at the head of this lift, they have done me the honour to put me next; the CommifTioners of the Cuftoms are all in the lift except Mr. temple, ?nd to compleat the lift, they have added fome of the waiters. I never thought 'till very lately that they adled upon any fettled plan, nor do I now think they have 'till of late ; a few, a very few, among us have planned the prefent meafures, and the government has been too weak to fubduc their turbulent fpirits. Our fituation is not f ightly knovyn : but it is a matter worthy of thp pipft ferious attention. I am, with the greateft refped. Sir, your moft obedient and moft humble fervant, ANDREW OLIVER* L"-J,.- ".i-air-- ■nff. I luvt fccn a letter from our friend In- gcrfyll with t!iis paraphrafc upon it—*' Wc hope that your J^xceIiency obierving with your own eyes nczv the troops are among us, our peacc.ible and quiet bchavour, will be convinced that that wicked G r B d told a fib in laying. We were not fo before they came." I have given you the fenfe of a ftranger on a fingle paragraph of this addrefs, becaufe I fuf- pefted my own opinion of it, 'till I found it thus confirm'd— If you have the news-papers containing the addrefs, your own good fenfe will lead you to make fome other remarks upon ir, as well as to trace the influence under which ■. feems to have been penned. The difturber.s cf our peace take great advantage of fuch aids, from people in office and power — The Lieute- nant Governor has communicated to me your letter containing an account of the debates in parliament, on the firft day of the feffion : We foonexpea their decifion on Ai, Hcan afl=airs, fome I doubt not with fear and trembling— Yet I have very lately hadoccafion to know, that be the determination of parliament what it will, it is the determination of fome to agree to no terms, that fhall remove us from our old foun- dation. This confirms me in an opinion, that I have taken up a long time fmce, that if there be no way to take off »hc original incendiaries, they ■^ ::^!m our friend In- it—*' Wc hope "ith your own our peacc.ible inceil that that I fib in laying, I ftranger on a becaufr I fuf- II I found it e news-papers good fenfe will larks upon ir, nder which ?. difturbers cf of fuch aids, -The Lieute- lo me your he debates in fefllon : We rican affairs, jmbling — Yet Lnow, that be hat it will, it agree to no )ur old foun- opinion, that that if there incendiaries, they r 31 J they will continue to inftill their poifon into the minds of the people, through the vehicle of the BOSTON GAZETTE. In your letter to the Lieutenant Governor, you obferve upon two defers in our conftitution, the popular election of the Council, and the return of Juries by liic Towns. The firll of thefe arifes from the Charter itfclf ; the latter from our provincial Laws. The method of ap- pointing our Grand Juries lies open to manage- ment. Whoever plcafes, nominates them at our town-meetings -, by this means one who was fup- pos'd to be a principal in the Riots of the 10th of June laft, \/as upon that Jury, whofe bufinela it was to inquire into them : But the provincial legiQature hath made fufficient provifion for the return of Petit Juries by their ad of 23d Geo- ad, which requires the feveral towns to take lifts of all perfons liable by law to ferve, and forming them into two claffes, put their name* written on feparate papers into two different boxes, one for the fupcrior coart, and the other for the inferior : And when venires are ifllied, the number therein required are to be drawn out in open town-meeting, no perfon to ferve oftencr than once in three years— The method of appointing Grand Juries appeare indeed de- feaive J but if the other is not, it tnay be im- puted to the times rather than to the dcfeft of: •■^^^e^igg^r uh [ 32 1 the laws— that neither the Grand Juries nor the Petit Juries have of late anfwcrcd the expeda- tions of government. As to the appointment of the Council, I am of opinion that neither the popular eleftions in this province, nor their appointment in what are called the royal governments by the King's man- damus, are free from exceptions, efpecially if the Council as a leglflative body is intended to anfwer the idea of the Houfc of Lords in the Britifh legiflaturc. There they are fuppos'd to be a free and independent body, and on their being fuch, the ftrength and firmnefs of the conftitution does very much depend : whereas the eledion or appointment of the Councils in the manner be^ fore mentioned renders them altogether depen- dent on their conftitucnts. The King is the fountain of honour, and as fuch the peers of the realm derive their honours from him ; but then they hold them by a furer tenure than the provincial Counfcllors, who are appointed by mandamus. On the other hand, our popular cleftions very often expofe them to contempt j for nothing is more common, than for the repre- fentatives, when they find the Council a little untradlable at the clofe of the year, to remind them that May is at hand. It may be accounted by the colonies as dan- gerous to admit of any alterations in their 2 charters, i^ Juries nor the d the expedla- Council, I am lar eleftions in ent in what arc le King's man- ffpecially if the :nded to anfwer » in the Britifti pos'd to be a on their being he conftitution the eledion or ic manner be>. •gether depcn- e King is the I the peers of >m him ; buc nure than the appointed by our popular to contempt} for the repre- )uncil a little ar, to remind lonies as dan- Ions in their charterSf [ 33 ] charters, as it is by the Governors in the church to make any in the cllablilhmcnt -, yet to make the rcfemblance as near as may be to the Briiifh parliament, rome alteration is acccllary. It is not rcqiiifite, that I know of, that a Counfeilor fliould be a 1* rechoKlcr •, his lendcnce according to the charter is a rufficient qualilka- tion i for that provides only, that he be an in- habitant of or proprietor of lands within the diftridt for which he is chofen : whereas the Peers of the realm fit in the Houfe of Lords, as I take it, in virtue of their baronies. If there Ihould be a reform of any of the colony charters, witiiavicwto keep vip tlie refemblancc of the three cftates in b.ngiivnd, the legiflative Council fliould confill of men of landed eftates ; but as our landed eftates here are fmall at prcfcnt, the yearly value of £. loo fterling per annum, might in fome cf them at leaft be a fufficient qualification. As our eftates are partable after the deceafe of the proprietor, the honour could not be c intinued in families as in England : It might however be continued in the appointee qnam dill bene fe gejfcrit^ and proof be required of fome mal-pradice before a fufpenfion or removal. Bankruptcy alfo might be another ground for removal. A fmall legiflative Council might anfwer the purpofcs of government \ but it might tend to weaken that levelling principle, F which .^yAfev-jfui [ 34 ] which is chcrifh'd by the prcfertt popular con- ititution, to have an honorary order eftablifh'd» out of 'vluch the Council fliou'd be appointed. There is no way now to put a man of fortune above the common level, and exempt him from being chofen by the people into the lower offices, but his being appointed a Juftice of the Peace j this is frequently done, when there is no kind of expeftation of his undertaking the trufl:, and has its inconveniences. For remedy hereof it might be expedient to have an order of Patri- cians or Efquires inftituted, to be all men of fortune or good landed eltates, and appointed by the Governor with the advice of Council, and cnroll'd in the Secretary's office, who fhou'd be exempted from the lower offices in government, as the juftices now are ; and to have the legifla- tive Council ('U!hicb in the Jirjl injlattce mighi he nominated by the Crown) from time to time fiU'd up, as vacancies happen, out of this order of men, who, if the order confided only of men of Lin-Jed eftates, might eledt, as the Scottiih Peers do, only refer /ing to the King's Governor, a negative on fuch choice. The King in this cafe wou'd be ftiU acknowledged as the foun- tain of honour, as having, in the firfl: inftance, the appointment of the perfons enroll'd, out of whom the Council are to be chofen, and finally having a negative on the choice. Or, the King - might it popular con- rUer eftablifh'd» d be appointed, man of fortune ;mpt him from le lower offices, : of the Peace j re is no kind of the truft-, and nedy hereof it )rder of Patri- be all men of 1 appointed by Council, and vho fhou'd be n government, ive the legifla- ^ance might be i to tim.e fiU'd this order of only of men the Scottilh ig's Governor, King in this as the foun- firfl: inftance, roll'd, out of 1, and finally Or, the King might [ 35 ] might have the immediate appointment by matt* damns, as at prefent in the royal governments. As the gentlemen of the Council would rank above the body from which they are taken, they might bear a title one degree above that of efquire. Befides this legiflative Council, a privy Council might be eftablifh'd, to confifl of fome or all of thofe perfons who conftitute the legi- flative Council, and of other perfons members of the Houfe of Reprefentatives, or otherwife of note or diftintftion ; which wou'd extend the honours of government, and afford opportunity of diftinguilhing men of charafter and reputa- tion, the expeftation of which wou'd make go- vernment more refpeclable. I wou'd not trouble you with thcfe reveries df mine, were I not afilircd of your readinefs to forgive the communication, although you could apply it to no good puipofe. Mr. Spooner fent me a pamphlet under a blank cover, intituled, " thejlate of the nation" I run over it by myfelf before I had heard any one mention it, and tho't I cou'd evidently mark the fentiments of fome of my friends. By what I have fince heard and fecn, it looks as if 1 was not miftaken. Your right honourable friend I truft will not be offended if I call him mine — I am fure you will not when I term you fuch— I have fettled it for a long time in my F 2 own Mr [ ^(> ] own mind, that without a rcprefentation in the fupr mc legiflatuic, there cannot be that union between the h.cad and the members as to pro- duce a healthful conftituticn of the whole bodv. I have doubted v-ht-thcr this union could be perfeded by the firft experiment. 7'he plan here exhibited feems to be formed in "enerous and moderate principles, and bids the faireft of any I have yet feen to be adopted. Such a great defign may, as in painting, require frequent touching before it becomes a piece highly finilli'd ; and after all, may require the meliorating hand of time to make it plcafe univcrfally. Thus the Britilh conftitution, confukr'd as without the colonics, attain'd it's glory. The book I had fcnt me i.-? in fuch rcqr.cil, that I have not been able to keep it long cnougli by me, to confidcr it in all its parts. I v„fii to hear how it is receiv'd in the Iloufe of Commons. I find by the publications, both of Governor Pownall and Mr. Bollan, that they each of them adopt the idea of an union .-?nd rcprefentation, and I think it mufl more and more prevail. The argument againft it from local inconvenicncy, nuift, as it appears to me, be more than balanc'd by greater inconveniences on the other fide the queltion : the great difficulty will be in the terms of union.—I add no more, as I fear I have already ' ' tJl^-SM ii -^mmi ntation in the >e that union ers as to pro- : whole body, on could be I'hc plan :i in generous the faireft of Such a p;rcat Jire frequent ighlyfiniHi'di iorating hand r. Thus the without the book I had ive not been ', to confidcr ar how it is s. I find by Pownall and n adopt the tion, and I revail. Tlie convenicncv, han balancM ther fide the in the terms fear I have already C il 1 already trdpafs'd much on your time and pa- tience, but that I am, Sir, Your obliged and moft obedient humble fervant, ANDREW OLIVIiR. SIR, Ner^-Tork, Au^ujl 12, 1769." T H A V E been in this city for lome time pall, ■*" executing (with othersj his Majeily's com- miflion for fettling the boundary between this province and th.at of New- Jerfey. I left Bofton the nth July, fince which, my advices from London have come to me very imperfedl ; but as my friend Mr. Thompfon writes me, that he had drawn up my cafe, and with your approba- tion laid it before the D. of Grafton, I think it needful once more to mention this bufinefs to you. There was a time when I thought the autho- rity of government might have been cafily re- ftored i but while it's friends and the officers of the crown are left to an abjed dependance on thole very people who are widermming Ws au- thority i and while thefe are fuftered not only to go unpunilhed, but on the contrary, meet \i\i\\ all kind of fupport and encouragement, it can- not be cxpcfted that you will ever again recover that refped, which the colonies had been wont to [ 3S 1 to pay to the parent ftate. Government at home will deceive itfelf, if it imagines that the taking oft' the duty on glafs, paper and painter's colours will work a reconciliation, and nothing more than this, as I can learn, is propofed in Ld. H's late circular letter. It is the principle that is now difputcd v the combination againft impor- tation extends to tea, although it comes cheaper than ever, as well as to the other forementioned articles. In Virginia it is extended lately to wines ; and I have heard one of the firft leaders in thefe meafures in Bofton fay, that v.e fiiould never be upon a proper footing 'till all the re* venue acts from the 15th Charles II. were re- pealed. Our Aflembly in the Mafiachufetts may have been more illiberal than others in their public meffages and refolves •, yet we have fome people among us ftill who dare to fpeak in favour of government : But here I do not find fo much as one, unlefs it be fome of the King's fervants ; and yet my bufmefs here leads me to aflbciate with the beft. They univerfally ap- prove of the combination againft importing of goods from Great-Britain, unlefs the revenue afts are repealed, which appears to me little lefa than afluming a negative on all afts of parlia- ment which they do not like ! I'hey fay exprefly, we are bound by none made fiiice our emigration, but fuch as for our own convenience we choofe to nmcnt at home :hat the takiii;^ aimer's colours nothing more )pofed in Ld. ; principle that againft impor- comes cheaper forementioned ided lately to the fir ft leaders that we fiiould 'till all the re* es II. were re- Mafiachufetts others in their we have fome fpcak in favour not find fo of the King's :re leads me to Liniverfally ap- 1 importing of fs the revenue o me little lefa afts of parlia- ey fay exprefly* 3ur emigration, ence we choofe to I 39 ] to fubmit toi fuch, for inftance, as that for cftablifhing a poft-office. The Bill of Rights and the Habeas Corpus Ads, they fay, are only declaratory of common law which we brought with us. Under fuch circumftances as thefe, why fhould I wi(h to cxpofe mylclf to popular refentment ? Were I to receive any thing out of the revenue, J mult expedl to be abufcd for it. Nor do I find that our Chief Jufticehas received the £. 200 granted him for that fervice ; and yet the Aflcm- bly have this year withheld his ufual granr, moft probably becaufe he has fuch a warrant from the crown. With regard to my negociations with Mr, Rogers, I did in conformity to your opinion inake an apology to Mr. Secretary Pownall for mentioning it, and there fubmitted it. I hear it has been fuice talk'd of; but unlefs I could be aflured in one (hape or other of ^. 300 per annum, with the other office, I would not chufe to quit what I have. 1 have no ambition to be diftinguifiicd, if I am only to be held up as a mark of popular envy or refentment. I was in hopes before now, through the intervention of your good office?, to have received fome mark of favour from your good friend ; but the time is jiot yet come 10 ex'peft it through that channel ! J will however rely on your friendflup, when- ever •^rTZ<-%^} ,-..^^.>. -L^ , ,1 h f 40 1 ever you can with propriety nppear in forward- ing my intereft, or preventing any thing that may prove injurious to it. If Mr. R. has intereft enough to obtain the Secretary's i)lace, 1 Hiall upon receiving proper iecurity think myfelf in honour bound to fecond his vie-A-s, though I have none at prefent from him but a conditional note he formerly wrote me. If he is not like to fucceed, and my fon Daniel could have my place, I would be con- tent, unlefs affairs take a different turn, to refign in his favour, whether adminiftration fhould think proper to make any further provifion for me or not. And yet I never thought of with- drawing myfelf from the fervice, while there appeared to me any profped of my being able to promote it. If I have wrote with freedom, I confidcr I j.m writing to a friend, and that I am perfeftly ink in opening myfelf to you. I am, with great refpeft. Sir, \our moft obedient, humble fervant, ANDREW OLIVER. ¥i. :ar in forward- any thing that 11 to obtain the ecciving proper )Ound to fecond It prefent from formerly wrote :d, and my fon i would be con- t turn, to refign iftration fhould zr provifion tor iouo;ht of with- ce, while there my being able m, I confidcr I It I am perfedlly t. Sir, humble fervant, VV OLIVER. [ 41 ] t)EAll Sift, TH E CommiTioners of the Cuftoms have met with every infult fince their arrival at Bofton, and at laft have been obliged to feek protedlion on board his Majelly's fhip Romncy : —Mr. Hallowcll, the Comptroller of the cuf- toms, who will have the honour to deliver you this Letter, will inform you of many particu- lars ; he is fent by the Board with their letters to government, Unlefs we have immediately two or three regiments, 'tis the opinion of all the friends to government, that Bofton will be in open rebellion. I have the honour to be, with the greatefi: refpedt and warmed regard. Dear Sir, Your moft faithful and obliged fervant, CHARLES PAXTON. On hoard his Majejifs Ship Romncy y Bofton Harbcur, June 20, 176S. My Dear Sir, Bofton^ Dec. 12, 176S. T Wrote you a few days ago, and did not then -*■ think, of troubling you upon any private affair of mine, at leaft not fo fuddcnly ; but within this day or two, I have had a conver- fation with Mr. Oliver, Secretary of the pro- vince, the defign of which, was my fucceeding G ? to ■mmM i s?fc C 42 3 to the poft he holds from the crown, upon the idea, that provifion would be made for Go- vernor Bernard, and the Lieutenant Governor would fuccced to the chair, then the Secretary is dcfirous of being Lieutenant Governor, and if in any way three hundred pounds a year could be annexed to the appointment. You are Icnfible the appointment is in one department, and the grant in another ; now the prefeht Lieu- tenant Governor has an afTignment of £. ico ii year upon the cuftoms here ; he has not received any thing from it as yet, and is doubt- ful if he fliall •, he has no doubt of its litpfe to i]\c crown, if he has the chair •, if then by any incerell, tiiat fum could be afllgncd to Mr. Oliver as Lieutenant Governor, and if he fliould be allowed (as has been ufual for all Lieutenant Governors) to hold the command of the caftle, that would be another jT. loo. This would compleat the Secretary's views; and he thinks his public fervices, the injuries he has received in that fervice, and the favourable fentiments entertained of him by government, may lead him to theie views, and he hopes for the intereft of his friends. The place of Secretary is worth £. 300 a year, but is a provincial grant at pre- knU ^o t'"t it will not allow to be quartered on : And as I had view upon the place when I was in England, and went lb far as to converfe with fcvcral mmitiimmmi9iim^)0n'> rn, upon the ide for Go- ,nt Governor the Secretary ovcrnor, and lunds a year nt. You are : department, prefeht Lieu- nt of £. 200 he has not and is doubt- of its litpfe to f then by any gncd to Mr. d if he niould all Lieutenant of the caftle. This would and he thinks t has received ble fcntiments nt, may lead for the interell: retary is wortli 1 grant at pre- ■ quartered on : ce when I was ) converfe with fcvcral L 43 ] feveral men of intcreft upon it, though I never had an opportunity to mention it to you after I recovered my illnefs— I hope you will allow me your influence, and by extending it at the treafury, to facilitate the anignmcnt of the £. 200 a year-, it will be lerving the Secretary, and it will very much oblige me. 'Vh« Secretary is advanced in life, though much move fo in health, v>hich has been mu;h im- paired by the injuries he received, and he wilheg to quit the more aflive fcencs •, he confidcrs this as a kind of otiiim cum dignitate, and Irom merits one may think he has a claim to ir. I will mention to you the gentlem.cn, who arc acquainted with my views, and whofe favo.irabl-i approbation I have had. Governor Pownall, Mr. John Pownall, and Dr. Franklin.-— My Lord Hillfborough i:-not unacquainted with ic— I have, fince 1 have been here, wrote Mr Jac:U- fon upon the Ibbjeft, and have by this ver.el wrote Mr. Mauduit. I think my characler fiands fair— I have not been without application to public affairs, and have acquired fom.e know, lodge of our provincial affairs, and notwithltand- ing our many free converfations in England, I am confidcred litre as on government fide, fur which I have been often traduced both pub- licly and privately, and very lately have had ^wo or ihrce Ikips. The Governor and Lien- G 2 tenant i ■■ i ' .,1 tenant Governnr are fully acquainted with the negotiation, and I meet their approbation ; all ii upon the idea tlic Governor k provided tor, and there flull by any means be a vacancy of the Lieutenant Governor's place. I iuive gone lo far, as to lay to fome of my friends, that rather than not fucceed I would agree to pay th.e Secre- tary /. 100 a year ont of the office, to make up £. 300, provided he could obtain only the al- iignment of £, 200 — bur the oiher prcpofal ■would, to be lure, be niolt eligible. I iarce know any apology to make for troubling you upon the fubjcd ; the friendfhip you Pnewed me m London, and the favourable exprelfions yoi^ made ufc of to the Lieutenant Governor in my behair, encourage me, befides a Tort of er^otifm, which inclines men to think what they wifli to be real. I lubmit myfclf to the en.;uiries cf any cf my counrryrnen in Knglund, but I Ihould wjfii the matter puy be fecret, 'till it is eiTecltd. I am, with very great refpccl and regard, my dear Sir, Your moll; obedient, and molt humble fcrvanr, r,^/,;il<- ,.;■'-,'. NATH. ROGERS, . 1 '. - ,i t t-f^ J 1 [ 45 3 cd wuli the ation ; all ii !ccl tor, and ancy of the ave gone fo , that rather y t!;e Sccrc- to make up only the al- icr prCfiofal c. I icarcc nibling you 1 Pncwcd me jreiFions yoi^ jovernor in IS a Tort of ik what they the en.jviirios inland, but I et, 'till it is 1 regard, my. nble fcrvanr^ ROGERS, REMARKS U I' N THE ABOVE LETT E R.S. THESE are the Letters, upon which the Afiembly have artfully been induced tq pals their ccnfures, and have founded an Ad- drefs to remove his Majcfty's Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Unable to point out ^ finglc a-ftion of the Governor's during his four years adminillration, they find themfelves under a necclTity of recurring to letters, writ- ten before the time, when either of thefe Gen-. tlemcn were pofleflbd of the offices which they now enjoy. Upon the revifal of them, I fee ftrong proofs of Mr. Mutchinfon's judgment and underftand- ing, of his jult notions of the intereft of that country and of this^ and of his fidelity and (leady regard to the welflire of both : but am wm^ IT 7 I [ 46 ] at a lofs ro find what there is in thcni, which can be a ground of blame i and much lefs warrant the very extraordinary ccnfures, which have been pafled on them. They are his pri- vate correfpondcnce with the late Mr. Thomas ^Vhately, a private Gentleman in London : a Member of Parliament indeed, and one who had been Secretary to the Treafury : but who was then out of place •, and far from being con- nefled with Government, during the whole time while thefe letters were writing, was voting in oppofition. Being neither ol them in trade, their letters did not contain bills or invoices, but they turned upon iV.bjcds which Gentlemen natu- rally write about to each other : the occurrences of the time, and the fcveral public matters, which were traniading in the places where each of them refided. The intelligences they con- tain may have come tq hand fomething earlier than thofe by the conimon conveyance. But the fadts themfelves were, foon after, all known to every man in this country as well as that. They give an account of a riot at Bofton, upon the feizure of a fmyggling ve0el belong- ing to Mr. Hancock, a principal fupporter of the party, and one of the Coinmittce appointed to the management of the cenfure pafled upon |hefe letters •, but of this riot we all of us in 2 due them, which d much lefs ifures, which ■ are his pri- Mr. Thomas London : a ind one who iry : but who m being con- ic whole time ras voting in lem in trade, invoices, but ntlemcn natu- je occurrences iblic matters, :s where each :es they con- lething earlier eyaqce. But er, all known 11 as that, lot at Bofton, veflel belong- il fupporter of ttce appointed e pafled upon : all of us in due C 47 ] due time from our reveral corrcfpondents knew full as much as Mr. Whately did from his *. The letters mention the combinations at Bof- ton againll taking our goods : but is it a crime to write as news, what they wiflied to have told to all the world ? and printed in their news- papers for that very purpofe, in order to bully our Minifters, and frighten our Merchants and Manufafturers. — They mention, that upon the Governor's not judging it proper to call an Aflembly at the will of the party leaders at Bofton, thefe townfmen took upon themfelvcs to write circular letters to all the towns and dif- tri(5ts, to fend one perfon each to Bofton — And do we not all know that they did fend fuch fum- mons ? and that this Mock Aflembly did meet f and did they not defire that the world Jhould know it, and publifli their refolves for that purpofe ? Thefe letters mention the need there is of the government's fupporting and encouraging the • In this riot, Mr. Harrifon, the Collcftor, an old Gentleman of an irreproachable charafter, and very re- fpeftablc appearance, received a coniufion in his breaft by a brick-bat, which was thrown at him ; under the ill effefts of which he languifhed for more than twelve months, and probably might have been trampled to death, if his fon and others had not refcucd him. This is what they called a Brulh, or fmall difturbance with boys and negroes. '■n' [ 48 ] the officers of the crown in thefiiitliful difcharge of their duty — And had not the llouie of Com- mons long before this determin;.d the very fame- thing? and did they not addrc^fs his Majefty, that he liiculd fo fupport and countenance them ? They mention the common people's having been worked up into a frenzy, and talked of dying in defence of their liberties — And have they not been perpetually publifhing threatenings of the fame fort ? and in all th;:ir papers founding the trumpet of mutiny and fedition ? The letters fay that many of rank above the vulgar, and fome in public pofts, had encou- raged this frenzy. And do thefe cenfurers pre- tend to fay they were not in fuch a ftate of confufion ? Far from denying the truth of this account, the Committee of Council themfelves acknowledge that " the ftate of things at this *' time was greatly difordered, but the great- *' nefs of this diforder they fay arofe from ** other caufes •" which they there enumerate. Whether they or Mr. Hutchinfon were right in their" judgment about the caufes of thefe dif- orders is immaterial to the prefent argunrent. Both acknowledge that there were diforders. And had not Mr. Hutchinfon as good a right to give his opinion about the caufes of them to a private correfpondent, as thefe Gentlemen have openly 'SWWW iitiiful difclurge 1 louie of Corn- .1 the very fame :rs Ills Majcfty, ntenancc them ? le's having been talked of dying And have they threatenings of papers founding ion ? rank above the )fts, had encou- fe cenfurers pre- fuch a ftate of ic truth of this jncil themfelves >f things at this but the great- fay arofe from here enumerate, in were right in ;s of thefe dif- efent argunrent. were diforders. as good a right ifes of them to a Gentlemen have openly C 49 1 openly to traduce the Britilh Government, and to fay that they were owing to them ? With the relation of thefc fafts, the letters mention the writer's fentiments upon Govern- ment, and fuch other fubjefls as occur: fenti- ments which, as Mr. Hutchinfon juftly obferves, contain nothing fefpeding the conftitution of the colonies, more than what is contained in his public fpeeches to the AfTembly. But whether they did or did not, will thefe fons of liberty, as they affedl to call themfelves, avow the pofi- tion, that a Gentleman of Bofton ought not to write his opinions to his friend in London, un- lefs thofe opinions do exaftly coincide with theirs ? I fay nothing of the moderation and good tem- per which appears in all thefe letters j for if they could have been ftill more temperate, yet, while Mr. Hutchinfon Hands in the way of the leaders of a fadtion, who can live by nothing but con- fufion, they would have equally condemned them. They wanted nothing more than to get fome letters under the Governor's hand; and whatever they were they would have condemned them in the fame manner as they do thefe, and have found that the defign of them was to over- throw the Conftitution, and to introduce arbi- trary power into the province. Thus they have treated their former Governors ; thus they have treated this •, and^ if Mr. Hutchinfon were to H c\k; sii^ ^^^s m \mi i«: :i^l. ]m C 50 ] iiiion of this if the Superior g pleafure, any d depend upon fupport, inde- )f the General 'orld, that he lortance of an I impartial [ 55 1 * impartial adminiftration of juftice, that he is * an enemy to the conftitution, and has it in his * heart to promote the eftablifliment of an arbi- * trary government in the province.' Reader, After the perufal of thefe rcfolutions, wljat are all the things faid of thefe men in Mr. Hutch- infon's letters, compared with what they here fay of themfehes ? Or what is there in his mentioning fome particular inftances of their not paying a due obedience to the authority of government, compared with this open difavowal of the whole ? Yet the Committee, which drew up thefe refolutions, confided chiefly of the fame individual men, with the Committee, which drew up the ccnfure on thefe letters : And in- deed they are the fame fet of men, whofe names appear in all Committees of this fort. Thefe are the men, who, in order to give a plaufible colour to their cenfures, can transform them- felves into the appearance of the moft meek and fubmiffive of all his Majefty's fubjefts, and affeft to be greatly alarmed at thefe private letters, and to believe that * they had a natural * and efficacious tendency to interrupt and * alienate the affeiStions of our Moft Gracious ' Sovereign, King George the Third, from * this his loyal and affeftionate province : to * dcftroy that harmony and good-will between * Great- C 5^ ] « Creat-^ritain and tliis colony, which every * friend to either would wifli to eftablifh •, and * to excite the refentment of the Britifli Adiiii- * niftration againit this province, &c.' At that very time, when they knew that they had been flying in the face of his Majefty, let- ting adts of parliament at defiance, and pafling the moft fcditious rtfolutions againft the dignity of the Britifh nation, and the fuprenrje autho- rity of the empire j at that very time thefe ten- der-minded loyalifts are moft piteoufly con- cerned about Ibme private letters, left they fliould interrupt and alienate the affedions of their Moft Gracious Sovereign King George the Third : Letters which fet them in a light of Innocence, compared witli the mutinous and infolent portrait, which they have here drawn of thcmfelvcs. After having in their public votes fpurncd at the King's orders, aflumed to themfelves the controul of his Courts of Juftice, and profcribcd the King's Judges as enemies to the conftitution, and promoters of arbitrary government, if they obey the King's order, founded on an a6t of parliament, and receive the King's falaries, they then call themfelves his moft loyal and affec- tionate fubje£l:s. They openly recite u folemn ad of the Britilh iegiftature, and make a counter declaration of their , which every eftablifh -, and Britifli Adiiii- &c.* knew that they is Majefty, let- re, and paHing linft the dignity upremc autho- timc thefe ten- pitfeoufly cen- ters, left they le afFedions ot' jng George the i in a light of mutinous and ivc here drawn irotes fpurned at themfclves the , and profcribed the conftitution, rnment, if they d on an z£t of 5's falaries, they loyal and afFec^ id of the Britilh r declaration of their [ 57 ] their own in direct oppofition to it •, and then pretend to be mightily afraid, left thefe letters to Mr. W'hatcly fliould dellroy the harmony and good will between Great-Britain and the colony. But not content with profefTing their grnit concern to preferve the good will of the Britifh nation, and to appear to his Majcfty as his moft afFeclionate fubjtds, they are anxious even about the good opinion of his Minifters-, and are grievouOy concerned, left thefe letters ftiould excite the refentment of the Britiflj Adminipa- tion. Reader, thefe very men, Adams, Han^ cock, &c. who, in the form of a Committee of Correfpondence for the town of Bofton, have been inflaming all the towns in the province againft the King's government; who, in the form of a Committee of Aflembly, drew up thefe refolutions, and thefe cenfures ; thefe very men, in a meflageto the Governor, 12th February, 1773, cxprefs themfelves in the following terms t « We are more and more convinced, that it has * been the defign of Adminiftration, totally to « fubvert the conftitution, and to introduce arbi- « trary government into this province.' Doubt- kfs the King's fervants ought, every man of them, to join in advifing his Majefty to difmifs his Governor and Lieutenant-Governor, who could fuppofe any thing ill of men who ftood fo much in awe of their refentment ? I There 1 [ 58 ] There is one remark more, which cannot hav« cfcapccl the Reader. One of the chief paflagcs objcdccl to by thcfe cenfiirers, is that where Mr. Hutchinfon fays : * If no meafurcs fhall have * been taken to fecurc this depcndance, or nothing * more than fonie declaratory acfls or refolves, * it is all over with us.* Can there pofTibly be required a ftronger proof of the truth of this obfcrvation about the incfRcacy of our declara- tory adl, than the counter declaration which \vc have now fcen ? yet, after having thenifclvcs verifieJ the predittion, ihcy would have his Majelty turn out his Governor for having fore- told it. Reader, there are btit too n-.any men to be found, who, after doing a bad thing, will be f.ilfe enough to charge it upon others. There are alfo other inlbances of men, who having done a wrong thing, will afFtfl to confider as the higheft afiront, the being told that they have done it. But for men firfl to do a thing, then to avow it, and publilh to the world that tlvey have done it j and after all this to cenfure it as a crime in their Governor to fuppofe them capable of doing it r' This is a degree of effrontery fuited only to the; complexion of a Bofton Committee-man. , ; ,,i / I cannot hav« :hief pafluges at where Mr, :s (hall have :e, or nothing or refolves, e pofTibly be truth of this " our declara- ion which wc g llieniidvcs iild have his having fore- ly men to be ling, will be s. There are laving done a as the highed lave done it. en to avow it, have done it •, crime in their of doing it r> ed only to, the; :-maa. ,._; : ,,f : i.:; •. . ,jO -.• ^'^ :v^^ z' [ 59 ] 'T'lIEKE are a few other remarks which it may be of ufo to make upon thefe letters. The only exceptionable cxprcfTion in Mr. Hutchinlbn's letters, is that in whicli he fays: Jibere mujl be an ahyidgmatt of what are called En'i;^Uj}} Liberties. Aiul this appears lb, only from our not being apprized of the meaning, of it. An Englifl) reader naturally concludes, that by Enghjh Libirtics^ is meant our being governed, not by arbitrary will, but only by Adls of Parliament. In the Bollon new dia' ledt the import of this plirafe is juft the con- trary i and what they call Englijb Liberties, is the not being governed by A6ts of Parliament. The reader need only look into their votes and public proceedings, to be convinced that this is the true and avowed fenle in which they underltand it. In the Charter of the MalTachufet's colony, King William, in the words of their old Charter, fays : * And * farther our will and pleafure i?, and we * do hereby for us, our heirs, and fucceffors, * grant, eftablifl), and ordain, That all and * every of the fubjeds of us, our heirs, and * fucceflbrs, which fliall go to and inhabit within ( our fiiid province and territory, and every of f their children, which fhall happen to be bora I 2 * there. 0^ I I ■, « . !ll 1 \ :i r <5o ] ' there, or or. the fcas in going thither, or re- « turning from thence, ih-Jl have and enjoy all » liberiic; ami imtnunliics of free and natural * fubjefts, wili.!ii any cf the doininhns of us, our * heirs, and fuccejors, to all intents, conftruc « tions, and purpofcs whatfoever, as if they and « every of them were born within this our realm * of England.* From King William's reign to this, no one ever had the Icafl: doubt about the meaning of this claufe-, and the New-Englanders have ever enjoyed the full b.nefit of ir, by their being treated in all parts of the King's domi. nions, wherever they came, not as aliens, but as denilbns, and enjoying all the liberties and im- munities of free and natural born fubjefts. This 1 fay has invariably hitherto been underltood to be the meaning cf this paragraph. But withm thefe few years, the leaders of the fadlion at Bofton have been inlh-ufted to put a quite new interpretation upon thefe words, and to fay : The people of England have a right to chufe Re- prcfentatives for themfelves, and are governed only by Ads of Parliament -, the charter fays, that we fhall enjoy all liberties and immunities of free and natural fubjefts within any of the King's dominions; therefore we too have as good a right, as tlie people of England have, to choofe our own Reprefentatives, and to bo governed only by the laws made by our own Afiemblyj lither, or re- and enjoy all and natural ons of usy our Its, conllruc- is if they and his our realm am's reign to ubt about the w-Englanders )f ir, by their King's domi- aliens, but as rties and im- ubjefts. This underftood to . But within :he fadlion at : a quite new id to fay : The ; to chufe Re- are governed e charter fays, ind immunities lin any of the ; too have as gland have, to 3, and to be c by our own Afiembly j [ 6i 1 Afiembly •, and the Parliament of England have nothing to do with us. Wc, as well as the in- habitants of England, by our charter arc entitled to Englifli liberties, and therefore wc will make laws for ourfelves •, and no Icgiflaturc of Great- Britain has any right to controU us. A fubordinate power of legiflation, for the well ordering the feveral provinces and corpora- tions, and for the making laws for their own good government among themfclves, //^«/ is a power which we can well underftand ; and ac- cordingly in the Maflaclujfetts Charter, as well ^s in mod other Charters, there is an exprefs claufe, giving them 'his legiflative power, and limiting the extent of it j that its laws (hall not be repugnant or contrary to the laws of the realm, or as the next paragraph fays, repug- nant to the laws and ftatutes of this our realm. But thefc Boftoners pafling over this, and all the other claufes in their Charter, which pro- vide for their welfare and good government, while they continue in the province, have moft unfortunately chofen to build their high claim of independence upon that fingle claufe which grants them nothing while they are in the pro- vince, but only provides for their good recep- tion in all farts of the King's dominions, when thc7 go out of it. In V ■ i: L 62 ] In oppofition to this wild and futile claim of independence, Mr. I Jutchinfon infifts, * that * from King William's days to thcfe, the oldeft * man living never heard of this interpretation. * That never before thele days was a doubt made ' of the fupreme authority of Parliament over * every part of the empire. That in every go- * vernment there muft be fomewhere a fupreme * uncontroulable power, an abfolute authority to * decide and determine. That two fuch powers * crinnot co-exifl, but nccefiarily will make two « diPiincI: fta'es.' Whether it be right or not, that the empire fhould be fplit into a number of fcparate and independent goven.ments, which fhall each of them be at liberty to take their own courfe, and make laws .iccording to their own liking, with- out being fubjeft to any controul from that fupreme Icgiflature, which has hitherto been thought to have the care of the whole, and whofe duty it is to fee that no part of the empire fuffer any detriment, that is an argument which I leave to the determination of a fupcrior autho- rity. Whether it be a juftifiable procedure to foller and encourage this froward humour in the Colo- nifts and to fupport them in thefe pretenfions of independence, till we have nurfed up their 2 difcontents Rf t ' ' »w * U ' ^!M- H in i '■Bfi'»«!tWf 4 *' " " * * * > **' 1 i futile claim of I infifts, * that thcfe, tlieoldeft s interpretation, as a doubt made Parliament over lat in every go- vhere a fuprcme lute authority to :wo fuch powers 1 will make two that the empire of fcparate and h fhall each of 3wn courfe, and /n liking, with- troul from that J hitherto been he whole, and rt of the empire argument which I fuperior autho- )cedure to foller our in the Colo- thefe pretenfions nurfed up their difcontentj C H ] difcontents into mutiny and rebellion : whether, I fay, it be a juftifiable thing to do this, for the fingle purpofe of diftrefling or overfetting a miniltry, that I leave to the dilcretion of our party leaders. All that I have to obferve is this : That if by Englifh libeities and immunities be meant a right given to a fet of fubjedts, wherever they go, to ereft a legiflature of their own ; and then to fay that they will be governed by that only, and that the Parliament has nothing to do with them i if, immediately after King James had been expelled for attempting to fufpend a very few A6ts of Parliament, it can be fuppofed, that King William meant to afllime a power to fufpend them all \ we may then allow, that the people of Bofton have a right to vote thefe to be Englifh liberties. But if the Britifh empire be but one em- pire, and we do not wilh to fee it crumble to pieces, and break it into as many feparate governments, as are the provinces, counties, and corporations contained in it : we mufl: then be convinced, that a grant of Englifh liberties and immunities does not mean a right given to every province or corporation of the empire, to feparate itfelf from t!;e rei'c of the Britifh dominions, and to form to itfelf a legi- flature of its own, which fhall be uncontroulable by Parliament : Or, *f I 64 ] Or, if the people of MaflUchufctts Bay will perfift in the nfe of this phrafe ; and will fay, that this ought to be cUed Englifti liberties; we muft then fay, as Mr. Hutchinfon does, that the Briti(h empire is but one, and that to preferve that unity, there muft be an abridg- ment of what arc (thus abfurdly) called EngUp liberties. [ III* To iiw w » ii ' y w i^ i i i ifi«jBfiii — —-lis Vt^i -^ «i5 ifctts Bay will ; and will fay, glifh liberties i tchinfon does, one, and that be an abridg- callcd EngUp To To the Right Hon. the Earl of Dartmouth. (Copy) My Lord, London, Aigujl lu i773- T H AVE jull received from the Houfeof Kc- •■■ preftaLaCiv'-^s of the Mafiachufett's Bay, thtrir Addrefs to the King, which I now enclofc, and .fend to your Lordfliip with my humble requcft in their behalf, that you would be pleafed to prefcnt jt to his Majefty the firll convenient opportunity. I have tlie pleafure of hearing from that pro- vince by my late letters, that a fincere difpofition prevails in the people there to be on good terms with the Mother Country •, that the Aflcmbly have declared their defire only to be put into the fituation they were in before the flamp aft ., they aim at no novelties. And it is faid, that having lately difcovered, as they think, the au- thors of their grievances to be fome of their own people, their rcfentment againft Britain is thence much abated. This good difpofition of their's (will your Lordfhip permit me to fay) may be cultivated by a favourable anfwer to this Addrefs, which I therefore hope your goodnefs will endeavour w obtain. With the greatelt refpedt, I have the Honour to be, my Lord, &c. ^ B. FRANKLIN, Jgent for the Houfe of Reprefcfitatives. K ; 1 C 66 ] li!n. To the Clerk of the Council in waiting, (COPY) SIR, Whitehall Bee. 3, i773« THE Agent for the Houfc of Reprefentatives of the Province of the Mafiachufett's Bay, having delivered to Lord Dartmouth an Addrefs of that Houfe to the King, figned by their Speaker, complaining of the condudt of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of that pro- vince, in refpedl to certain private letters written by them to their correfpondents in England, and praying that they may be removed from their pofts in that government; His Lordfhip hath prefented the faid Addrefs to his Majefly •, and his Majefty having fignified his pleafure, that the faid Addrefs fhould be laid before his Majefty in his Privy Council, I am diredled by Lord Dartmouth to tranfmit the fame ac- cordingly, together with a copy of the Agent's letter to his Lordfhip accompanying the faid ^ddrefs. I am, Sir, Your moft obedient humble fervant, (Signed) J. POV.^NALU [ 67 3 11 waiting, Oec. 3, 1773- eprefentatives :hufett's Bay, th an Addrefs ned by their idudt of the r of that pro- letters written in England, emoved from His Lordfhip his Majefty-, his pleafure, lid before his am diredled the fame ac- f the Agent's I'ing the faid imble fervant, :)V.^NALU 'To the KIN G's Mod Excellent Majefly. Moji Gracious Sovereign, WE your Majefty's loyal fubje^s, the Re- prefentatives of your ancient Colony of the Maflachufcts Bay, in General Court legally affembled, by virtue of your Majefty's writ under the hand and feal of the Governor, beg leave to lay this our humble Petition before your Majeily. Nothing but the fenfe of the duty we owe to our Sovereign, and the obligation we are under to confult the peace and fafcty of the Province, could induce us to remonftrate to your Majefty the Mal-Conduft of perfons who have heretofore had the confidence and ejleem of this people, and whom your Majejly has been f leafed, pom the purefl motives of rendering your fiibjeiis happy, to advance to the highert places of truft and authority in the Province. Your Majefty's humble petitioners, with the deepeft concern and anxiety, have feen the dif- cords and animofities which have too long fub- fifted between your fubje<5ls of the Parent State and thofe of the American Colonies. And we have trembled with apprehenfions that the con- fequences naturally arifing therefrom, would at ^ngth prove fatal to both Countries. K 2 Permit [ 68 ] Permit us humbly to iuggefl to your Ma- jefty, that your fubjcds here liave been inclined to be!iu\ c, that the Grievances which they have fufFtred, and ftill continue to i'utfcr, have been occafioned by your M^jefty's Minifters and Prin- cipal Servants being, unfortunately for us, mil- informed in certain fa«5ls of very intcrefting impor- tance to us. It is for this realbn that former Aflcmblies have from lime to timic prepared a true ftate of Fads to be laid before your Ma- jcfty, but their humble Kemondrances and Peti- tions, it is prcfumcd, have by fome means bcer> prevented from readying yom- Royal hand. Your Majefty's Pttitioners have very lately- had before them certain papers from wliich they humbly conceive, it is mod realbnable to fup- po!e, that there has long been a confpiracy of evil men in this province, who have contem- plated meafures and farmed a plan to advance themfelves to povv'er and raife their own fortunes by means deftru^live of the charter of the pro- vince, at tlie expence of the quiet of the nation, and to. the annihilating c^;the rights and iibcr-, ties of the American coJ al hand. : very lately n which they able to iup- :onfpiracy of lave contem- i to advance own fortunes of the pro- tf the nation, ts and iibcr-, iiTion to yovH" ,. complain of nas Hutchin- Honourable nc GovcrnoF I ^9 ] of this your Majefty's province, as having ti natural and efficacious tendency to interrupt and alienate the affc<5lions of your Majefty our Rightful Sovereign from this your Loyal Pro- vince, to deftroy tliat harmony and good-will between Great- Britain and this Colony, which every honeft fubjedl would drive to eftablini, to excite the rcfentment of the Britilh Admini- ftration againft this province, to defeat the en- deavours of our Agents and friends to ferve us by a fair reprefentatibn of our ftate of fails, to prevent our humble and repeated petitions from reaching the ear of Your Majefty, or having their defired efied:. And finally that the faid Thomas Hutchinfon and Andrew Oliver have been among the chief inftruments in introducing a fleet and an army into this province, to eftablifh and perpetuate their plans, whereby they have been not only greatly inftrumental of didurbing the peace and harmony of the government, and caufmg unnatural and hateful difcords and ani- mofities between the feveral parts of your Ma- jefty's extenfive dominions, but are juftly charge- able with all that corruption of morals and all that confufion, mifery, and bloodlhed, which have been the natural effeds of porting an army ih a populous town. Wherefore we moft humbly pray that your Majefty would be plcufcd to remove from tlieir 7 IH i flj 4 flH i ■S \ H 1 H ■ « { Wfk am 1 jHRw M' BR ^i! I-.,; ■ ' -^t ■/».'i '\ fc iv i tt» i fe» 'ty W ii iii.to»^^ traordinary a edent, except ; to the Ro- t. IVl line? — Qnirnam probavic — nit ). 3f this impor- and LieutC" idence of the papers, which to them, and ^ injiruments in he province. — - ters read, and iency. I can : was not thcfe t vrhich made regiments. In : for in Mr, appears, that 3S. And they could appeal 3r the printed I's and General them, which •ary. But [ 79 ] But as my learned friends have not attempted to point out the demerits of thefc letters, I need not enter into the defence of them. To call them only innocent letters, would be (7/eatly to depreciate them. They contain the ftrongeft proofs of Mr. Mutchinfon's gootl fcnfc, his great moderation, and iiis finccre regard to the welfare of that his native province. Yet, for tiiefe it is, that they tell us he has loft the confidence of the people. My Lords, There cannot be a more ftriking inftance of the force of truth, than what the Committee, who drew up thcfe papers, exem- plify ill their conduct. In their fccond refolu- tion, they acknowledge the high tharafler, in v/hich Mr. Hutchinlon ftands upon account of his eminent abilities. Tn the very outfet of their addrefs, they acknowledge the good ufe which he had made of thoie abilities : for he could not have enjoyed their confidence, as they fay he heretofore did, if he had made a bad one. They acknowledge that this confidence fubfifted, at lead till the time of his being m. de Governor, lilfe they could not exprefs tluir thctnkfulntfs to his Majclly as they do, and applaud the appoint- ment of him, as prcceeaing from the purejl mo- tives of rendering his fuhjtits h tippy. In the heighth of their ill will therefore to Mr. Hutchinfon, truth looki. his enemies .. full ^! ' ^0x i§tm tefi^ I w » r. So J full in the face, and extorts from them a con- fclTion of his merit, even in the very adl of accufing him. But, whatever be the cenfures, which the Aflembly may have been induced to pafs on him, I will now f,iv<; your Lordfliips a proof of his enjoying the peo; l-'s confidence, to the very time of the arriv.,1 of thefe letters. Every one knows that there are few fubjefls, in which the people of the colonics have more eagerly interclled themfelves, than in fettling the boundary lines between the feveral provinces. Some of your Lordfliips may remember the long hearings which have been held at this Board upon thefe difputes. Of late, they have taken upon themfelves to fix the limits of the King's charters. An agreement was made between the two Aflcmblies of New York and Maflachufett's Bay, that they Ihould each appoint their Com- miflkries, to meet and fettle the boundary line between the two provinces. Both of them no doubt looked out for the beft men they had for that purpofe. But the people of Maflachu- fett's Bay, after they had chofen their commifla- ries, ftill thought that they could more fecurely truft their intcrefts in their hands, if Mr. Hutch- infon would go along with them. To him they had been ufcd to look, as the man, who beft knew the hiftory of their firft fettlements ; him they confidered as the ableft defender of the province's rights : I l U ii mj ii .i i i-' iia r II i wr M i Tf rrr.'''*'f i » »i f »)'. wi i^ ) g;t y BIJ !. i II n i . i t HM W ff' ^' ) them a con- ic very adl of •es, which the to pafs on him, a proof of his :, to tlic very • re few fubjefts, lies have more n in fettling the cral provinces. remember the Id at this Board they have taken of the King's ide between the 1 Maflachufett's oint their Com- : boundary line ih of them no len they had for of Maflachu- their commifla- d more fecurely if Mr. Hutch- To him they , who beft knew ;nts i him they :)f the province's rights : ""WW I' , ' MM,.D i g ' •'-■- WJa f -iil^ c^. V^» IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) ?, ^ fc 1.0 I.I I^i2£ |2.5 Itt 1^ 12.2 S hi 12.0 11.25 iU J4 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 weST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716)872-4503 ^«9 o CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques ii^ .^M..... — ■■ w «iw <— ^t ni0 $^ ^ ^i i ^ ^r [ 8i j rights: and had ever found in him the moft. zealous afFedion for their welfare. The party leaders perhaps might have been content to lofc to the province any number of acres or a few townlhips, rather than owe to Mr. Hutchinfon the prefcrvation of them. But they did not dare to fet their faces againft the general fenfe of the people. The Governor was therefore re- quefted to go with the Commiflaries. He did fo, and fettled for them a much better line, than they had ever expefted. And the New York and their own Commiflaries both of them ac- knowledged, that the advantage gained to the province, was chiefly owing to the fuperior knowledge and abilities of Mr. Hutchinfon. Thus far then the Governor's chara<5ler ftands fair and unimpeachcd. Whatever there- fore be the foundation of this Addrefs for his removal, it mufl: be fomething done by him, or known of him, fince his return from this fcrvice juft before the arrival of thefe letters. Your • Lordfliips will obferve, that his enemies don't ' attempt to point out a fingle adlion, during the . four years, in which he has been Governor, as a fubjeft of complaint. The whole of this Ad* drefs refts upon the foundation of thefe letters, written before the time, when^either of thefe Gentlemen were poffeffed of the offices, from, which the Aflembly no\ir alk their removal. They owe therefore all the ill will which has . , , M been .N C S2 1 • been railed againfl them, and the lofs of that confidence, which the Aflcmbly themfelves ac- knowledge they had heretofore injoyed, to Dr. Franklin's good office in fending back thefe letters to Bofton. Dr. Franklin therefore (lands in the light of the firft mover and prime con- duiftor of this whole contrivance againft his Majefty's two Governors •, and having by the helj) of his own fpecial confidents and party leaders, firft made the Aflembly bis Agents in carrying on his own fecret defigns, he now ap- pears before your Lordlhips to give the finilhing iftroke to the work of his own hands. ' How thefe letters came into the pofiTefllon of any one but the right owners, is ftill a myftery for Dr. Franklin to explain. — They who know the afFedionate regard which the Whatelys had for each other, and the tender concern they felt for the honour of their brother's memory, as well as their own, can witnefs the diftrefles which this occafioned. My Lords, the late Mr. Whately was moft fcrupuloufly cautious about his letters. We lived for many years in the ftriftcft intimacy •, and in all thofe years I never faw a fingle letter written to him. Thefe letters I believe were m his cuftody at his death. And I as firmly believe, that without fraud, they could not have been got out of the cuftody of the pcrfon whofe liands they fell into. His brothers little wanted this additional aggravation V. I ..JUllllg g BUWj.gMW' ii »" i :inirn.i|Jij. || , ii uJ i . ic lofs of that :hemfelves ac- joyed, to Dr. ig back thefe lierefore (lands id prime con- :e againft his aving by the nts and party his Agents in IS, he now ap- re the finilhing nds. le pofiefllon of ftill a myftery ley who know Whatelys had ncern they felt 's memory, as the diftreHes ords, the late oufly cautious many years in thofe years I i him. Thefe ly at his death, without fraud, of the cuftody fell into. His lal aggravation .to [ 83 3 to the lofs of him. Called upon by tlieir cor- refpondents at Bollon ; anxious for vindicating their brother's honour and their own, they en- quired i gave to the parties aggrieved all the information in their power ; but never accufed. Your Lordlhips know the train of niifchiefs which followed. — But wherein had my late worthy friend or his fiuiuly offended Dr. Frank- lin, that he fhould firft do fo great an injury to the memory of the dead brother, by fccreting and fending away his letters: and then, con- fcious of what he had done, fhould keep himfelf concealed, till he had nearly, very nearly occa- fioned the murder of the other. ; .' . 1: After the mifchiefs of this concealment had been left for five months to have their full ope- ration, at length comes out a letter, which it is impolTible to read without horror ; exprefTive of the cooleO: and moft deliberate malevolence. — My Lords, what poetic ficlion only had penned for the breaji of a cruel African, Dr. Franklin has realized, and tranfcribed from his own. His too is the language of a Zanga : * " « Know then 'twas — I. «« I forg'd the letter — I difpos'd the picture— *« I hated, I defpis'd, and I deftroy." What are the motives he afTigns for this con- duct, I (hall now more deliberately confider. M 2 My mim* rmf^w - Memty m t^f^m mm C 84 ] My Lords, if there be any thing held facrcd in the intercourfe of mankind, it is their private letters of friendfhip — If there can be any fuch private letters, thofe which paffed between the late Mr. Whately and Mr. Oliver are fuch— The friendftiip between the two fannilies is of thirty years {landing — during all that time there has been kept up an intercourfe of letters ; firft with Mr. Whately, the father, and then with the late Mr. Thomas Whately, the fon — In the courfe of this friendfliip, a variety of good ofSces have paffed between the two families : one of thefe fell within the period of thefe letters — Upon Mr. Oliver's daughter's coming to England with her hulband upon bufinefs, they were received at Nonfuch by Mrs. Whately and her fons, as the fon and daughter of their old friend and cor- refpondent — And accordingly your Lordlhips will find, that one part of thefe letters is to return thanks for the civilities Ihewn to Mr. and Mrs. Spooner at Nonfuch. Thefe are the letters which Dr. Franklin treats as public letters, and has thought proper to fccrete them for his own private purpofe. How he got at them, or in whofe hands they were at the time of Mr. Whately's death, the Doftor has not yet thought proper to tell us; Till he do, he wittingly leaves the world at ^ liberty "m i'- ;'"•'' %'-'^"--^''^'' 'fgP^'^f^'^^^^f^'^''''- ling held facrcd is their private an be any fuch ;d between the are fuch — The lies is of thirty time there has tters i firft with en with the late -In the courfe ood offices have : one of thefe letters — Upon :o England with were received 1 her fons, as the friend and cor- your Lordlhips tters is to return 9 Mr. and Mrs. !i Dr. Franklin thought proper private purpofe. lofe hands they :ely's death, the roper to tell us; ;s the world at liberty [ 85 ] liberty to conjefture about them as they pleafo, and to reafon upon thofe conjedures. — But let the letters have been lodged where they may, from the hour of Mr. Thomas Whately's death, they became the property of his brother and of the Whately family. Dr. Franklin could not but know this, and that no one had a right to difpofe of them but they only Other re- ceivers of goods difhonourably ccme by, may plead as a pretence for keeping them, that they don't know who are the proprietors: In this cafe there was not the common excufe of ignorance •, the Doftor knew whofe they were, and yet did not reftore them to the right owner —This property is as facred and as precious to Gentlemen of integrity, as their family plate or .jewels are. And no man who knows theWhatc- ly*s, will doubt, but that they would much fooner have choff n, that any pcrfon (hould have taken their plate, and fent it to Holland for his avarice, than that he (hould have fecrcted the letters of their friends, their brother's friend, and their father*s friend, and fent them away to Boft*1o gratify an enemy's malice. The reafons afflgned for this, are as extraor- dinary as the tranfaclion itfelf is : They are public letters, to public perfons, on public affairs, and intended to produce public mea- fures. This, my Lords, is the firft j and the -• , ^' ■ next im [ 86 ] next reafon afiigned for publilhing them is, be- eaufe the writers defire that the contents of them fliould be kept fccret. If thefc are public letters, I know not what can be reckoned private. If a letter whofe firft bufmefs is to return thanks to an old Lady of feventy, for her civilities at Nonfuch, be not a private letter, it will be neceffary that every man fliould be particularly careful of his papers : for, after this, there never can be wanting a pre- tence for making them public*. ,f|;i I;- But fays the Doflor, " They were written by « fuMk officers^ — Can then a man in a public ftation have no private friends ? and write no private letters ? Will Dr. Franklin avow the principle, that he has a right to make all private letters of your Lordfliips his own, and to apply them to fuch ufes as will befl: anfwer the pur- pofes of party malevolence ? "Whatever may have been the confidence heretofore placed in him, fuch a declaration will not furely contri- bute to increafe it. But they were written to perfons in public ftations. Juft the contrary to this appears to have been the cafe : Dr. Franklin is too well acquainted * The reader will be pleafed to obferve, that the qaeftion here is not whether they be good letters or bad ones, but whether they are public letters or private. r them is, bc- intents of them now not what :tcr whofe firft L old Lady of >nfuch, be not iry that every of his papers : wanting a pre- were written by an in a public and write no iklin avow the lake all private , and to apply nfwer the pur- Whatever may fore placed in furely contri- irfons in public this appears to in is too well acquainted ;, that the qaeftion I or bad ones, but [ 87 1 acquainted with our hiftory, not to know, that Mr. Whately, during both thefe years, and for two years before and after, wai only a private Member of Parliament-, and. as Mr. Oliver juftly obferves in a letter of his, They at Bojlon could not be fuppofed to apply to him as having an interejl with the Minifters, when they knew that he was all that time voting in oppofttion to them. Does then the Doftor mean, that his being a Member of Parliament placed him in a public ftation ?— And will he then avow, that a Gentleman's being in Parliament is ground fuf- ficient for him to make his letters lawful plun- der, and to fend them to his enemies ? But they were written on public affairs. A very grievous offence ! But it is a crime, of which probably we all of us have been guilty, and ought not, furely, for that only, to forfeit the common rights of humanity. But th^ were intended to procure public mea- fures. And does not every man, who writes in confidence to his friend upon political fubjefts, lament any thing which he thinks to be wrong, and wiflb to have it amended ? And is this the. crime of fo heinous a nature, as to put Mr. "Whately's friends out of the common protedion ? and to give to Dr. Franklin a right to hang them up to party rage, and to expofe them, for - what he knew, to the danger of having their hoiill's *B,iili »i \ C 8g 1 Jiblifes a fecond time puU'd down by popular fury. But the writers of them deftred fecrecy. — True, they did fo. And what man is there, who, when he is writing in confidence, does not with for the fame thing ? Does not every man fay things to a friend, which he would not chufe to have pub- liflied to other people, and much lefs to his enemies ? Would letters of friendlhip be letters of friendftiip, if they contained nothing but fuch in- different things as might be faid to all the world ? If this is the cafe at all times with the confi- dential intercourfe of friends, in times of party- violence, there mud be a thoufand things faid in letters, which, though innocent in themfclves, either by rival malice or party prejudice, may be turned to a very diflferent con{lru<5):ion. Thefe letters themfelves have been dillorted in this manner; and fome expreflions in them cannot pofllbly be underftoodt without knowing the correfpondent letters, to which they refer. And when a factious party had got poflelfion of the Town meetings, and led the Aflembly into vvhat refolutions they pleafed, and were watch- ing for any pretence to abufe and infult their Governors, is it at all to be wondered, that they did not wifh to have the contents of their letters told to their enemies P When we read in thefe letters fuch paflage^ a$ thefe : ** If there be no neceflity for it, I think i( It m by popular fecrecy. — True, ;rc, who, when lot with for the fay things to a e to have pub-» ch lefs to his hip h letters of ng but fuch in- > all the world ? with the cx)nfi- iimes of party- ind things faid t in themfclvesj prejudice, may :ru<5l:ion. Thele iftorted in this 1 them cannot : knowing the ley refer. And oflelTion of the Aflembly into id were watch- nd infult their vondered, that intents of their s fuch paflagei :y for it, I think « it {« t 89 ] ^'* it would be bcft it (hould not be known that ♦' this intelligence conies from me." Or this : " I have wrote with freedom, in confidence of " my name's not being ufed on the occafion. ** For though I have wrote nothing but what, id my confcience, I think an American may* " upon juft principles, advance, and what a ** fervant of the crown ought, upon all proper " occafions, to fuggcft > yet the many prejudices •' I have to combat with, may render it unfit «* it (hould be made public." Or this of Mr. Hutchinfon's : " 1 muft beg the favour of yoii ** to keep ferret every thing I write, until we •• are in a more fettled ftate, for the party here» ** either by their Ageht, or by fome of their **, emiflfaries in I^ondon^ have f^nt them every ** report or rumour of the contents of letters " wrote from hence. I hope we fliall fee better " tinle$ both here And in England." Or thi| again of Mr* Oliver's : " / have ivrote withfree*- «* dim i / conftdtr I am vnriting to o friend \ and •* that I am pe^feSlfyfafe in opening myfelf to you** Upon reading thefe pallages, which are all there are of this kind, a man, whofe heart was caft in the common moald of humanity, would have been apt to fay : Thefe are letters ir"*gu« larty obtained : The writers defire that every thing they write (hould be kept fecret : they be^ long to Mr. Whately, who never injured me : I Mia will sy I 9<^ 1 \i\\\ therefore return them to the right owner. Dr. Franklin's reafoning is of a very different caft. After havingjuft before told us: Thefcarc public letters, fcnt to public perfons, defigncdfor public purpofes, and therefore I have a right to betray them •, he now fays, thefe are letters which the writers dcfire may be kept fecret, and there- fore I will fend them to their enemies. Prepared on both fides for his rival's overthrow, he makes that an argument for doing him hurt, which any other man would confider as a principal aggra- vation of the injufticc of it. j ■ ' ; • ..,«v.o*."» > - But, if the defiring fecrecy be the proof, and the mcafure of guilt, what then arc we to think of Dr. Franklin's cafe ? whofe whole condud in this affair has been fecret and myftcrious ? and who, through the whole courfe of it, has difco- vercd the utmoft folicitudc to keep it fo ? My Lords, My accounts fay, that when thefclctters were fcnt over to Bofton, fo very defirous was Dr. Franklin of fecrecy, that he did not chufc to fet his nan^ to the letter which accompanied them. This anonymous letter exprefsly ordered, that it Ihould be (hewn to none but to a junto of fix perfons. If the Dottor chufe it, I will name the fix. The direction of every letter was crafcd, and ftri£t orders were given, that they Ihould be carefully returned again to London. The man- ner in which they were brought into the Aflfem>- '-~V .:^ le right owner, very different lus: Thefcarc IS, defigned for lave a right to re letters which ret, and there- nies. Prepared row, he makes lurt, which any irincipal aggra- , » ,;■«■«» tp* ■ the proof, and are we to think lole condihft in lyfterious ? and fit, has dilco- cp it fo ? My hen thefe letters kfirous was Dr. 1 not chufe to h accompanied ;prefsly ordered, lut to a junto of it, I will name Iter was erafed, c they Ihould be Ion. The man- into the Af&mw bly. t 91 ] bly, all fhcwed the moft carncft defire of conceal- ment. Under thcfe myfterious circumftanccs have the AffemWy paffed their ccnfurcs-, and voted this Addrefs to his Majcfty againft Mr. Hutchinfon and Mr. Oliver, upon account of a parcel of letters dlrefted to fome-body, they know not whom; and fent from fome-body, they know not where. And Dr. Franklin now appears before your Lordlhips, wrapt up in im- penetrable fecrccy, to fupport a charge againft his Majtfty's Governor and I .ieutenant Gover- nor-, and expefts that your Lordlliips (hould advife the punilbing them, upon account of certain letters, which he will not produce, and which he dares not tell how he obtained. But the Dodtor fays, bs tranfmitud them to his conjiituents, i« '; That Dr. Franklin fent thefe letters to fuch perfons as he thought would in fome way or other bring them into the Affembly, may be true, and accordingly, after an alarm of fome dread- ful difcovery, thefe letters were produced by one fingle pcrfon, pretending to be under an in- jundtion to obferve the ftricfteft fecrecy, and to fuffer no copies to be taken of them. — After altowing two or three days for Fame to amplify, and for Party-malice to exaggerate; and after having thereby raifed a general prejudice againft the Governor j at length another Member tells N 2 the LiM >¥:-■: ii^(: m E 92 ] die Afl*embly, that he had received from an un- known hand a ecpy of the letters ; and wilhed to have that copy compared and authenti- cated with the originals. After this, when they had brought the Council into their meafurcs, they then found their powers enlarged; and that they were at liberty to fhew them to any one, provided they did not fuffer them to go put of their hands ; and the King's Governor and Lieutenant-Governor were permitted to look upon them only in this opprobrious manner, in order to render the indignity fo much the more pfFenfive. This Dr. Franklin may call tranfmitting the letters to his conftituents j and upon thofe who know nothing of the courfe of thefe proceedings, may eafily impofe the belief of it : But your Lordftijps will readily fee, and every man who has been an agent very well knows, that this is not what is meant by tranfmitting to his con- ftituents. My Lords, when an agent means to write to the Affembly, he addrefles his letter to the Speaker^ to be. communicated to the Houfe. And the DosStor knows, that there are many articles in the Journals of this tenor ; " A letter " from Dr. franklin to the Speaker, was read.'- •^ . But the courfe tak^n with thefe letters was juft the reverfe of this. The letter which came with ^ ^hem was anonymous j though the hand was well !i aM* ' w» t a»-wia:dw^ ' !i!fe-^Bi iiir .^v . tjjvMi>.-v^^ ed from an im- i ', and wilhed and aUthentir his, when they their meafurcs, irged -, and that m to any one, 1 to go put of Governor and Tiitted to look ous manner, in much the more iranfmitting the upon thofe who lefe proceedings, F it : But your every man who ows, that this is ing to his con- i agent means to efles his letter to ed to the Houfe. there are many enor ; " A letter aker, was read.'* fc letters was juft which came with :hehand was well known ^ [ 93 ] known : too well perhaps known to the felefted few, who only were to be allowed the fight of St.— Since therefore the Doftor has told us that he tranfmitted thcfe letters to his conftituents, wc know now who they are. His conftituents, by his own account, muft be this particular junto : for to them, and them on^j were the letters commu- nicated. Dr. Franklin did net communicate fhcm, as their agent, to tlwj Aflembly: For whatever may have been the whifpers of fhis junto, the Aflembly, as an Aflembly, docs not to this day know by whom the letters were fenr. And fo little do thefe innocent well-meaning farmers, which compofe the bulk of the Aflem- J)ly, know what they are about, that by the arts of thefe leaders, they have been brought to vote on Addrefs to his Majefty to difmifs his Govcr. jior and Lieutenant-Governor, founded upon certam papers, which they have not named; fent to them from fome-body, tlury know not whom*, and originally dircdted to fome-bqdy, ^hey cannot tell where : for, my Lords, my ac- counts fay, that it did hot appear to the Houfc ^hat thefe letters had ever been in London. I have pointed out to your Lordfliips, the manner in which this confpiracy againft the Go- vernor was conduced, with all its circumfVances, as the letters from Bofton rtlare them. And from this account your Lordthips will not wander .,.,. that i riif . I 94 ] that I confider Dr. Franklin not fo much in the light of an agent for the Aflcmbly*s purpofe, as in that of a firft mover and prime conduclor of it for his own ; not as the AfTembly's agent /or avenging this dreadful confpiracy of Mr. Hutchinfon againft his native country i but as the ador and fecret fpring, by which all the ' Affcmbly's motions were direded : the inventor and firft planner of the whole contrivance. He ' it was that received and fent away Mr. Whate- '■* ly's letters. By what means he laid his hands on them, he does not fay ; till he do, he leaves ' us at liberty to fuppofe the worfl; ; I would wi(h ' to fugged the bed. One cafe only muft be ex- ' cepted ; Dr. Franklin will not add another injury, ' and fay to the reprefentative * of the Whately family, that tb^ were any of them confenting to the perHdy. And yet, my Lqrds, nothing but ^ that confent could put him honourably in pof- iefllon of them, and much lefs give him a right to apply them to fo unwarrantable a purpofe. My Lords, there is no end of this mifchief. I have now in my hand an expoftulatory letter from a Mr. Roome, not a native of America, but fent from London to Rhode Ifland, to col- led in and fue for large outftanding debts there. This * Mr. Whately intended, if he had been well enough, to have been at die Council. »!.i4iMuu^^ms>;^ ' ■teiw^^-" I much in the )ly*s purpofe, ne conduclor jtnbly's agent racy of Mr. intry ; but as irhich all the the inventor rivance. He Mr. Whate- aid his hands do, he leaves I would wi(h mufl be ex- lother injury, the Whatcly confenting to > nothing but rably in pof- : him a right a purpofe. this mifchief. :ulatory letter ; of America, (land, to col- y debts there. This en well enough, I 95 1 This poor man, in a familiar letter to a friend in the fame province, exprefles a juft indignation at the difficulties he met with in executing his truft, from the iniquitous tendency of their laws, and of the proceedings of thci courts, to de- fraud their Englilh creditors j and then gives him an invitation to come and fpend fome time with him at his country houfe, and catch perch and be of their filhing party. For this letter, the Aflcmbly brought him under examination, and committed him to prifon, becaufe he would not anfwer to hb printed name at the end of one of the letters in this book*. Upon this oc- cafion he writes a let:?*- to one of his imployers, with whom he had ferved hb derklhip here in London, expoftulating on the cruelty and in- juftice of the executors fufFering their dead bro- ther's papers to be applied to fuch a purpofe. For he, my Lords, had no conception that any one elfe couW have made this ufe of letters which did not belong to him. Mr. Roome had heard that the Bofton letters had all been fent back again to London •, and knew that their Speaker was direfted to procure his original let- ter, in order to their proceeding againft him ftill more feverely. The Merchant here came with io • The Bwk of Letteri, printed at Bofton, then in hit hand. [ 5<5 j Vvith this letter to a friend of Mr. Whatcly'a< dcfiring that he would go with him to Mri Whately, and join in intreadng him, not to fend back the letter to their Speaker, which w6uld oblige him^ he writes, either to fly the Province^ or elk to fiiffer a long imprifcMiment. My Lords^ Mr* Whately's fHend had feen too much of.thd anguilh of mind under which he had been fuf-* (ering for the Hve months fmce this difcovery^ ^e knew that it would be giving him arwtbef fiah to fuflTer a llranger abruptly to put this kttec intq his bands ^ he informed the merchant (tf the ftate of the af&kii;, and prevented his going ^o him« :n.; <.n -iSJi-^i m miv^^ ;ys i;au£i3 niBut what had this poor man done to Dr< Franklin, that his later (hould b6 ient back too? Mr. Hutchinlpn and Mr. Oliver were public perfons, and their letter^ ^cording to ch? Doctor's new code of morally, tn^y be l^yft- £ul prize: But Mr. ^ooqif^'s^s a nacne-w^ |iad never he;^rd of^ Was he too ft tmn in. « public itation ? iiis friend^ to whom ^^ fent this invitation to come a fifliing with him, w^s he a public perfon ? Could Mr. Roome, when he was writing to New London, imagine tha|: he was writing a letter to be fliewn to the King ? and to alienate his aifedlions from that loyal people ? Did the failing of the four Regi- ments to Bofton depend upon the intelligence of a man -i sA< i « A' myb^tiw t miv#Pife r. Whatcly'3/ him to Mn 1, not to fend which w6uld the Province^ t MyLords^ > much of.thd had been fuf* his difcovery^ g him afwtbef pm this kttec : merchant (tf ited. his going ji'.".; ;wi i;ofs£7 - done to I)r< fent back too? r were, public »i:ding to th9 may be l^yr*- \% a nacne-w^ 9- tmn in. # whom )\^ fent with hicn, w^s Roome, when , imagine tha|: Ihewn to the ions from that the four Rcgi- intelligence of a mah r 97 ] ^ ft man at Narraganfctt ? The writer of this letter could not have a thought of its produ- cing public meafures — Surely then the returning of this letter might have been omitted -, and this poor man at leaft might have been fpared. But all men, be they in public ftafions or in private, be they great or fmall, all are prey that unfor- tunately fall into Dr. Franklin's hands : He wan- tonly and indifcriminately fends back the letters of all i unfeeling of the refleclion, which muft arife in every other breaftj that what is fport to him, may be imprifonmenc and death to them. But under all this weight of fufpicion, in the full view of all the mifchievous train of confequences which have followed from this treachery (for fuch there muft be fomewhere, though Dr* Franklin docs not chufc to let us know where to fix it) with a whole province fet in a flame i with an honeft innocent man thrown into jail* ftnd calling on Mr. Whately not to furnifh the means of Sxing him there; with a wor- thy family diflref&d^ in the refleftions cafl on their own character, and in the fufferings brought upon their friends and correfpondents ;' with the memory of one brother greatly injured* and the life of another greatly indangercd ; with all this weight of fufpicion, and with all thia train of mifchiefs before his eyes, Dr. Franklin's apathy fets him quite at eafe, and he would have U8 think, that he has done nothing more O - than m [ ^8 ] than what any other Colony Agent would have done. He happened only to be the firft Co- lony Agent who laid his hands on them, and he thought it his duty to tranfmit them to his conftitucnts. My Lords, I have the pleaforC of knowing feveral very refpeftaWc Gentlemen, who have been Colony Agents, and carmot but feel a little concern at feeing this ftrange imputation eaft on that charader. I have heard the fentiments of fomc of them. Upon being afked, whether, if they had laid their hands upon another Gentle- man's letters, they would have thought it their duty to n'.ake a like ufe of them : My Lords-, tliey received the propofal with horror. One of them faid, it was profaning the word Duty to apply it to fuch a purpofe; another, that if he had been their Agent, he would fooner have cut off his right hand than have done fuch a thing. My Lords, Dr. Franklin's mind may have been fa pofTefled with the idea of a Great Ame- rican Republic, that he may eafily Aide into the language of the minifter of a foreign indepen- dent (late*. A foreign Ambaflador when rcfiding here, jufl: before the breaking out of a war, or upon particular occafions, may bribe a villain to ileal or betray any (late papers ; he is under the ..„..,...,.- .,.■..,„ ,-- . com- * bee «]ro his leuer to Lord Darunourh. «w,^H'.M.va?-t-#Jii» ' jW'f'»!a ' Wi!i-Wte It would have the firft Co- them, and he them to hrs g of knowing rn, who have lut feel a little itation caft on fentjtnents of d, whether, if lother Gentle- lought it their : My Lords-, irror. One of word Duty to ler, that if he )oner have cut 'uch a thing, nd may have a Great Arae- f Aide into the reign indepen- r when refiding c of a war, or ibe a villain to le is under the com- rh. L 99 ] command of another ftate, and is not amenable to the laws of the country where he rcfidts ; and the fecure exemption from punifhmcnt may in- duce a laxer morality. But Dr. Franklin, whatever he may teach the people at Bofton, while he is here at leaft is a lubjcft i and if a fubjeft injure a fubjed, he is anfwerable to the law. And the Court of Chancery will not much attend to his new fclf- ' created importance. But, my Lords, the rank in which Dr. Franklin appears, is not even that of a Province Agent: he moves in a very inferior orbit. An Agent for a province, your Lordfliips know, is a perlon chofen by the joint acl of the Governor, Council, and Aflembly, after which, a commifTion is ifTued by the Secretary, under the province feal, ap- . pointing him to that ofiice. Such a real Cobny Agent, being made by the joint concurrence of » all the three branches of the Government, will ' think it his duty to confult the joint fervice of all the three; and to contribute all he can to \ the peace, harmony, and orderly government „ of the whole ; as well as to the general welfare and profperity of the province. This at leaft is , what I learn from the copy books of two Gen- tlemen, who at different periods were Agents for this very Colony. But Dr. Franklin's appoint- paunt feoms to have been made in diredl oppo- * ' ^ O 2 fition '!•■ IM! [ »oo ] fition to all thcle. Upon a mclTagc from the Council to the Airembly, defiring that they would join in the choice of an Agent for the Colony, they came to a refolution, that they will not join with the Honourable Board in the choice of fuch an Agent •, but refolvc that they will choofe an Agent of their own i and then, that Dr. Franklin ftiould be that Agent. My Lords, the party by whom the Aflembly is now direded, did not want a man who Ihould think himfelf bound in duty to confult for the peace and harmony of the whole government ; they had their own private feparate views, and they wanted an agent of their own, who (hould be s\ willing inftrumeni and inftruftor in the accom- plilhing their own feparate purpofes. Dr. Frank- lin therefore, your Lordfhips fee, not only moves in a different orbit from that of other Colony Agents, but he gravitates alfo to a very different center. His great point appears to be to ferve the intereft of his party j and privately to fup-r ply the leaders of it with the neceffary intelli^ gence. Whercfocvcr and howfoevcr he can lay his hands on them, he thinks it his duty to fur- nifh materials for diffcntionsi to fet at variance the different branches of the Legiflature; and to irritate and incenfe the minds of the King's fub- icfts againft the King's Governqr, ^ ; But, tsyni*' •S^O mftf - T age from the ig that they .gent for the >n, that they Board in the Ive that they n i and then, Agent. My fembly is now » (hould think : for the peace irnment; they ews, and they 10 (hould be 9 in the accom- :s. Dr. Frank- not only moves ' other Colony i very different ; to be to ferve ivately to fup-f leceffary intelli-. ►ever he can lay his duty to fur- fet at variance ;iflaturei and to the King's fub- But, 1 , [ 101 ] But, fays the Dodor, the tendency of theft letters li^as to incenfe the mother country againjl her folonies. - ... _..,.-,- ,,/ ■ '• ' There is a certain fteadinefs which is fingu- larly remarkable in this cafe. Thele men arc perpetually offering every kind of infult to the Englilh nation. Setting the King's authority 9X. defiance •, treating the parliament as ufurpcra of an authority not belonging to them, and flatly denying the Supreme Jurifdiaion of the Britifti empire : And have been publilliing their votes and refoluiions for this purpofe y and yet now pretend a great concern about thefe letters. as having a tendency to incenfe the parent ftax ggainft the colony. Not content with bidding defiance to our authority, they now offer infuit to our underftanding : And at the very time while they are flying in the King's face, would have him turn out his Governor, becaufe he has in the mildeft terms intimated his opinion, 4hat they do not pay the reverence, they ufed to do, to the Britifli authority. My Lords, we are perpetually told of m^n*j incenfing the mother country againfi: the colonies, of which i have never known a finglc inftance : But we hear nothing of the vaft variety of arts, which have been made ufe of to incenfe the colonies ag^inft the mother country. And in all ihcfe arts no one I fear has been a more fucceCiful proficient, than the very man, who now (lands ■-■-'"*' forth [ 102 ] forth as Mr. Hutchinfon's accufer. My Lords, a3 he has been pleafed in his own letter to avow this accufation, I (hall now return the charge, and fhew to your Lordihips, who it is that is the true incendiary, and who is the great abetter of that fa^ion at Bodon, which, in form of a Committee of Correfpondencc, have been in- flaming the whole province againft his Majedy's government. My Lords, the language of Dr. Franklin's peculiar correfpondents is very well known. For years pad they have been boading of the coun- tenance, which he receives in England, and the encouragement, which he fends over to them at Bodon. One of their lad boaded advices was : Go on, abdain from violence, but go on -, for you have nothing to fear froqi the government here. My Lords, from the excefs , of their zeal, thefe men are apt fometimes to let out a little too much. In the Bodon Gazette of the 2oth of September lad is a letter, underdood at Bodon CO have been written by Mr. Adams, one of Dr. Franklin's fix condituents *, which ends with the following pafTage. — " The late Agent Mr. (( * This Gentleman was the manager of the difcovery of Mr. Hutchinfon's letters in the Aflembly; as Mr. Bow> doin, another of the Six, was in the Council. "■ efe^-ij; -m My Lords, ettcr to avow I the charge, is that is the great abetter in form of a avc been in- his Majcfty's r. Franklin's known. For of the coun- and, and the er to them at advices was: : go on; for r government f their zeal, t out a little f the 2oth of lod at Bofton dams, one of which ends lie late Agent " Mr. the difcovery of f; asMr. Bow> cU. [ »03 1 Mr. Dc Bert in one of his letters wrote, that Lord Hillfl)orough profeflcd a great regard for the intcreft of America j and he thought the only thing that could be done loferve us, was to keep the matter of right out offtght. The profejfed defign of that miniftcr it fccms was to fcrve us. But America has not yet thought it wife to agree to his Lordfliip's political plan, to wink their liberties out of fight, for the fake of a temporary accommodation." * Dr. Franklin, who is perhaps as penetrating a ge- nius as his Lordfliip, extended his views a little farther. I hope, fays he, in a letter dated in 1771, "the colony Aflcmblies will ihow by repeated rcfolves, that they kmw their rights, and do not lofe fight of them. ^Our ; growing importance will ere long compel an acknowledgment of them, and eftablilh and fecure them to our pofterity** And he adds, I purpofe to draw up a memorial /tf/Zw^ our , rights and grievances, and in the name and behalf of the province, protefting particularly againft the late innovations — Whether fpeedy rcdrefs is or is not the confequcnce, I imagine it may be of good ufe to keep alive our claims, and Jhow that we have not given up the con- tcftcd points.' " It feems to have been the judgment of this great man, that a ftate of rights fliould accompany a complaint of grie- 5* vancesi and that decent and manly protclls " againft ..'•-? «f [ 104 ] againft particular innovations, have tlic fured •* tendency to an effeftual, if not a fjicedy rc- •* moval of them *." Your Lordfhips will be pleafed to obfcrve the time of Dr. Franklin's announcing his intention of drawing up for them fuch a nncmorial, was in 1 77 1. At the proper fcafon in the next year, there was produced a great work, under ihefe very heads of a State of Rights, and a State of Grievances, and Protefts againft the new Inno- vations : But not from the prefs in London } that would not have anfwered the purpofe. It -was to be a memorial in the name and behalf of the province j and therefore Was firft to be fent thither, and receive the ftamp of their authorities. A town meeting therefore was called, and a Committee of Correfpondence chofen, to draw up a (late of their rights and grievances, and from the form of the refolution it is pretty mani- fed:, that the leaders knew already what the work was to be. After an adjournment the Com- mittee met, and produced this great twelve. penny book, tinder the very heads of a State of their Rights, and containing a lifl: of theii* Grievances, with remonftrances fufficiently flrong againft what they call Innovations. The work was received with the utmoil applaufe, and in* itantly converted into votes and refolutions of the town cf Bofton. And doubtlefs it well de- '.-'- :-^ , •iUt-xui hiiAL *::i'"^;sr: t-:^Ah--!. fcrvcd * This Gazette wu miiplaced during the fpeech. have tlie fureft t a fpcedy re- I to obfcrve the ig his intention memorial, was I the next year, •k, under ihefc and a State of the new Inno- fs in London j \\c purpofe. It te and behalf of firft to be fent heir authorities. called, and a :horen, to draw grrievances, and : is pretty manii ' what the work nent the Com- i great twelve, js of a State of a lifl: of their ifficiently flrong >ns. The work )plaure, and in* i refolutions of btlefs it well de- i hrt fcrved [ 105 ] f^Tvcd it : It is a let or ready drawn heads of a declaration tor any one colony in America, or any one diltant county in the kingdom, which Ihall cluile to revolt from the Biitilli emnire, and fiy that ihey will not be governed by the King and Parliament at Weilminiler. They therefore votal that this report of their Com- mittee of Correfpondence fliould be printed in a pamphlet, and that fix hundred copies of them fliould be difpoled of to the Iblecl men of the towns of the province, with an inflammatory letter, founding an alarm of a plan of defpotifm, ivitb ivhich the Admimftration (and the Parliament) intended to eli/Iave them ; and threatened them with certain and inevitable deftruHion : And de- firing that they Would call town-meetings, and fend their votes and refolutions upon this book. In 60 or 70 villages or townfliips fuch meetings hiid been held : And all cxprefs the higheft approbation of this excellent performance. And well they might i for it told them a hundred rit^hts, of which they never had lieard before, And a hundred grievances which they never before had felt. Your Lordflaips fee the votes aird inftructions of thefe fcveral townlhips, in the Bofton gazettes here before me. They are full of the moft extravagant abfurdities. Such as the enthufiaaic rants of the wildeft of my coun- trymen in Charles the 2d's days cannot equal. P *" ng the fpeech. [ 10^ ] It is impoffiblc to read them to your Lordfhips J Tliofe of Pembrok and of Marble-head are particularly curious : but I (hall take thofe of the town of Peterlham. « Refolved, That the Parliament of Great- " Britain, ufurping and exercifing a legiflativc *•• authority over, and extorting an unrighteous « revenue from thefe colonies, is againft all *' divine and human laws. The late appoint- «♦ ment of falaries to be paid to our Superior « Court Judges, whofe creation, pay, and com- " TiilFion, depend on mere will and pleafure, «* complete a fyftem of bondage equal to any « ever before fabricated by the combined efforts « of the ingenuity, malice, fraud, and wick- ♦' edncfs of man. *' Therefore, Refolved, That it is the firlt «» and higheP- focial duty of this people, to " confider of, and feek ways and means for a « fpeedy rcdrels of thefe mighty grievances and " intolerable wrongs -, and that for the obtain- « ment of this end, this people are warranted, «' by the laws of God and nature, in the ufe «« of every rightful art, and energy of Policy ^ *' Stratagem^ and Fcrce. *' Therefore, it is our earned defire, and « we here diied you, to ufe your utmoft influ- «« ence (as one of the legiflative body) to con- " vince the nation of Great-Britain, that the " mea- ur Lordfhips ! irble-head are take thofe of ent of Great- g a legiflative m unrighteous is againfl all late appoint- I our Superior pay, and com- and pleafure, equal to any •mbined efforts id, and wick- it is the firit lis people, to 1 means for a grievances and for the obtain- are warranted, ire, in the ufe ergy of Policy^ i^ defire, and \t utmoft influ- body) to con- -itain, that the " mea- [ 107 ] " meafurcs that they have meted out to us, «* will have a direft tendency to deftroy botli ** them and us ; and petition the King and Par- " liament of Great-Britain, in the mofl: patlie- ** tic and ftriking' manner, to relieve us from *' our aggravated grievances ; but if all this " fhould fail, we recommend it to your conli- ** deration, and direct you to move it to the ** confideration of the honourable Court, " whether it would not be bell to call in the aid ** of fame Protejiant Power or Powers, requefc- " ing that they would ufe their kind and Chriftian " influence, with our mother country, that fo *' we may be relieved, and that brotherly love ** and harmony may again take place," Thefe are the leflbns taught in Dr. Frank- lin's fchool of Politics. My Lords, I do not fay that Dr. Franklin is the original author of this book. But your Lordfhips will give me leave to obferve, in the iirft place, that it is not very likely, that any of the Dodor's fcholars at Bofton, fhould attempt to draw up fuch a ftate of rights and grievances, when the great man, their mafter, had given them notire that he fliould himfelf let about fuch a work: and, in the next place, that if the Doftor (hould not chufe now to filiate the child, yet the time has been when he was not alhamed of it -, for, after it had had its operation in Aujciica, the P 2 Doftor sp^ 1 [ io8 ] Doctor reprinted it here, with a preface of his own, and prcfcnted it to his friends. M/ Lords, I have faid, that fixty or feventy of the 'ownfiiips had already voted their appro- banon of the book. The evil was carchirg from town to town (and if the* greater part could have been enga^red, they would have forced the reft) when tlic Governor thought it his duty to interpofe. He therefore called uprn the Afiembly to ..ifown ihefe undntiful pr cced- in!^s. Had he only mentioned the dill>yaky and evil tendency of then^, they would pro- bably have pafied a few rcfolutiotis, and have fufTercd the evil to go on. He was well aware, that the Afiembly could eafily vote themfelves as many privileges .-^s they pleafcd, but that it was not fo cufy to prove their right to them. He, therefore, difarmed them of their (lixngth in vot- itig, and put them under the necefllry of proving -, and there he knew they would fail. By opening the fclTion with that very mafterly fpeech in de- fence of the Britidi An^.crican conllitution, he, for a time, ftunncd the faQion, and ga\e a check to the progrefs of their Town-Meetings. And though the fame men were in the Aflembly created a Comiriittee of Correlpondence, to write to the AlTcmblies of the other provinces, yet the fpirit of t'le defign langiiilhed, and but Uttle more was '..jen done in it. This, preface of his Is. " ixty or feventy d their appro- was caichir.2 ? greater part I woultl hive nor thought it ,re called uprn Litifiil pr ccc-d- thc dilloyaky ey would pro- ions, and have iras well aware, ite them lei ves as but that it was to them. He, (licngth in vot- [llry of proving; il. By opening ly fpecch in dc- :onUitution, he, )n, and gave a Fown-Mfctings. in the AfTembly relpondence, to other provinces, uilhcd, and but This, [ 109 1 •This, my Lords, is the great and princip4 ground of their quarrel with Mr. Hutchinfon. They want a Governor, who (hall know Icfs than theniielves, whereas he makes them feel that he knows more. He itoppcd the train which V>^. Franklin's conllituents had laid, to blow up the province into a flame, which from thence was to have been fpread over the other provinces. This was the re il provocati n : and for this they have been fceking for Ibn-e ground of accuiation iigainil him. ,_ -. .., . = .,.,.' After fiititig his whole condu6c for the four yc^rs, in vviiich he has been Governor, tliey are not able to point out a fingle acliun to find fault with. Their only recourfe is to their own furmifes of what were the fcntiments of his , heart five or fix years ago. He ^vy?j, they fay, . amon^ the injiruments in intrcducing a fuei and oi-jpy into tkc province. — riave they attempted any proof of this ? No. But they f ;ncy it from fome letters of his, which do not fay a finglc word of that fort. !.'; it poITible to conceive of a more grounulcfs accufutioii, or not to fee their intent in it? - , ^ ^ My Lords, They mean nothing mo-e by this Addrels, than to li>j a fi:i_ma on the Governor, by the accufation. Their charge, toundeJ upon a pretence of knowing fix yean; ago, what were Mr. liutchinlbn's.thouglits, is not really de- ^ figned [ no ] fjgned for his Majefty in Council. They know that your Lordfliips will not take an accufation for a proof i nor condemn without evidence. They never defired to be brought to a hear- ing : and therefore the firfl: inftant when your Lordfhips call for their proofs, they fly off, and fay they do not mean this as a charge, or a trial before your Lordfliips •, and they fay truly : they meant to bring it before the multitude, and to addrefs the popular prejudices. The mob, they know, need only hear their Governors accufed, and they will be fure to condemn. My Lords, they boaft at Bofton, that they have found this method fucceed againft: their laft Governor, and they hope to make it do againfl: this ; and by a fecond precedent to eftablifti their power, and make all future Governors bow to their authority. They wifli to ereft themfelves into a tyranny greater than the Roman : To be able, fitting in their own fecret cabal, to diftate for the Aflembly, and fend away their verbofa et grandis epiftola, and get even a virtuous Go- vernor dragged from his feat, and made the fport of a Boflon mob. Having turned out all other Governors, they may at length hope to get one of their own. The letters from Boflion, for two years pafl;, have intimated that Dr. Franklin was aiming at Mr. Hutchinfon's governnient. It was not eafy before They know an accufation out evidence, ht to a hear- mt when your ey fly off, and irge, or a trial ly truly : they ititude, and to The mob, eir Governors :ondemn. My lat they have inft their laft : it do againft > eftablifti their crnors bow to reft themfelves aman : To be ibal, todidtate ■ their verbofa a virtuous Go- and made the lovernors, they ; of their own. wo years pad, was aiming at It was not eafy before [ 1" } before this to give credit to fuch furmifes : But nothing furely but a too eager- attention to an ambition of this fort, could have betrayed a wife man into fuch a condiift as we h.ive now feen. Whether thefe furmifes arc true or not, your Lordfhips are much the beft judges. If they Ihould be true, I hope that Mr. Hutchin- fon will not meet with the lefs countenance from your Lordfhips, for his Rival's being his accufer. Nor will your Lordfliips, I truft, from what you have heard, advife the having Mr. Hutch- infbn difplaced, in order to make room for Dr. Franklin as a fucceflbr. "With regard to his ccnjlituents, the faftious leaders at Bofton, who make this complaint againft their Governor ; if the relating of their 4Evil doings be criminal, and tending to alienate his Majefty's affeftions, muft not the doing of them be much more fo ? Yet now they aik that his Majefty will gratify and reward tbem for doing . thefe things ; and that he will punifh their Go- f vernor for relating them, becaufe they are fo very bad that it cannot but offend his Majefly to hear bf them. My Lords, if the account, given in thefe * letters, of their proceedings, five years ago, tended to alienate his Majefly's affeftions, has their condudt ever fince been in any refpeft more conciliating ? Was it to confute or prevent the ... . per- [ "2 1 pernicious effca of thcfe letters, that the good men of Bofton have lately held their meetings, appointed their Committees, and whh their wllial moderation dellroycd tl;C cargo of three Britilh (hips ? If an Englifli Conful, in any part of France or Spain, or rather Algiers or Tripoli, (for European Powers refpeft the law of na- tions) had not called this an outrage on his country, he would have deferved punifhmcnt. But if a Governor at Bofton Ihould prelume to whifper to a friend, that he thinks it fomcwhat more than a moderate exertion of Engliih liberty, to deilroy the fhips of England, to attack her officers, to plunder their goods, to pull down their houfes, or even to burn t,he King's Ihips of war, he ought to be removed i becaufe fuch a conduct in him has a natural and efficacious ten- dency to interrupt the harmony between Great-Bri- tain and the colony, which tllefc good fubjca* are ftriving by fuch means to eftabiilh. vi[^i<. On the part of Mr. Hutchinfon and Mr. Oliver, I am inftruded to aflurc your LordQiips, that they feel no fpark of refentment, even at the individuals who have done them this injul- tice.. Their private letters breathe nothing but moderation. They are convinced that the peo- ple, though mifled, are innocent. If the con- dud of a few Ihould provoke a juft indignation, they would be the moil forwards, an-J, 1 trult. that the good their iriCctings, md whh their cargo of three iful, in any part gicrs or Tripoli, the law of na- outrage on his ed punifhmcnt. )uld prelume to nks it fomcwhat ■ Englifh liberty, 3, to attack her I, to pull down ; King's Ihips of becaufe fuch a td efficacious ten- ween Great-Bri- b good fubjedU :ablilh. :)J«i#i binfon and Mi*, your LordQiips, ntment, even at them this injuf- ithe nothing but ed that the peo- it. If the con- jufl: indignation, rd, an. <■ i ■»i- i. . * I tis ] The following Letter having been mentioned in Mr. Weddbr burn's Speech, it is printed for the Reader's Satisfaftion, and to complete the CoUcftion. Copy ef a Letter returned with ihofe ftgntd Tho. Hutchinfon, Andrew Oliver, i^c. . • From ENOtAND. SIR, Narraganfety Dec. 22, 1767. I AM now withdrawn to my little country villa, where, tho' I am more retired from the bufy world, yet I am ftill enveloped with uneafy reflexions for a turbulent, degenerate, ungrateful continent, and th« oppofition I have met with in my indefatigable endea- vours to fecure our property in this colony, but hitherto without fuccefs.— -The times are fo corrupted, and the conflict of parties fo predominant, that faftion is blind, or fliuts her eyes to the moft evident truths that crofs her defigns, and believes in any abfurdities that affifts to accomplifh her purpofes under thcprofti- tution and proftration of an infatuated government.— Judge then, my dear Sir, in what a critical fituation the fortunes of we poor Europeans muft be among them. ^ We have not been able to recover our property for years paft, how great focver our exigencies may have been, unlefs we foothed them into a compliance : — • We are unwilling to enter into a litif-conteftatiolv with them, becaufe the perverfion of their iniquitous courts of juftice are fo great, that experience has convinced us we had better lofe half, to obtain the other quietly, than purfue compulfary meafures :— . We are alfo afraid to apply to a Britiih parliament for , '"•W* Q^;j relief^ [ m6 ] r lief, a< none can be eftcdhially adminiftred without a chanp/ o( government, and a butter adminiitration of jn(kkv introduced ; and was it known here that wt made fuch application home, not only our for- tunes would be in greater jeopardy, but our lives en- dangered by it before any (alutary regulations could take place. — We are fcnfible of the goodnefs of the King and Parliament, but how far, or in what ipace of time our grievance, as a few individuals, might weigh againd the influence of a charter govern- ment, we are at a lofs to determine. , . In 1761, I arrivjcd in America, which circumftance you probably remember well.— With great induftry, ' caution and circumfpcdlion, I have not only reduced our demand?, and regulated our cnnne£tions in fome ni^afure, but keot my heav out of a halter which you had the honour to grace. (Pray Do;Slor how did it feel ? The fubjeft is ft iIc, but I muft be a little funny with you on the occahon.) Much ftill remains to be done, and after all my bcft endeavours,^ my conltituenrs, from a moderate calculation, cannot Jofc lef* than 50,000/. fterling, by the baneful con- ititutinn c' 'his colony, and corruption of their courts of ju cature. // ii really a very affe£ltng and mehinchnly cenftdcmtlon. * Under a de;'p fenft; of the infirmities of their con- ftitution ; the innovations which they have gradually interwoven among thcmlllves ; and flimulated by every a gulations could goodnefs of the far, or in what 'ew individuals, charter govcrn- 5; ich circumftance - I great induftry, lot only reduced e£tions in Tome ' HALTER which Do;Sior how did muft be a little uch flill remains sndeavours,^ my ulation, cannot le baneful con- Liption of their - itry affta'tng and tes of their con- y have gradually I ftimulated by (I patience, we intil deluges of t z€i% liberated illy, had our in-f [ "7 ] fjifputable accounts refufcd admiifion for our pro« portion of the fmall remains, until colony creditors were firft paid, and the whole ablurbed. We have had veflels made over to us for the fatisfa£^ion of debts* and after bills of fales were executed, carried off in open violence and force by Capt. Snip-fnap of Mr. Nobody's appointment, and when we fucd him for damages, recovered a loufe. We have in our turn been fued in our abfence, and condemned ex partt in large fums for imaginary damages, for which vvc can neither obtain a trial, nor redrels. They rcfufe us an appeal to the king in council ; the money muft be paid when their executions become returnable-, and were we to carry it home by way of complaint, it would coft us two or three hundred pounds flcrling to profecute, and after all, when his Majefty's decrees come over in our favour, and refunding the money can no longer be evaded, I expert their efFeds will be fecreted, their bodies releafed by the infolvent a£l, and our money, both principal, intereft and expences irrecoverably gone. — Is not our cafe grievous ? — We. have in actions founded upon notes of hand, been cail in their courts of judicature. — We have appealed to his Majefty in council for redrefy, got their verdidls rc- verfed, and obtained the Icing's decrees for our money, but that is all; for altho' 1 have had them by me above twelve months, and employed two eminent lawyers to enforce them into execution, conformable to the colony law, yet we have not been able to recover a fjngle Ihilling, though wc have danced after their courts and aflemblies above thirty days, ;,'; vain to accomplifh that purpofe only : Confidcr, my dear Sir, what expence, vexation and lofs of time this muft 3 be he to u!«, And whether wc have not juft caufe of complaint. Wc hive alfo in vain waited with great impatience for years paft, in hopes his MajcUy would have nomi- nated his judges, and other executive officers in every colony in America, which would in a great meafure have removed thecaiife of ourcomplaint.— Nothing can be more neceffary than a fpeedy regulation in this, and conftituting it a regal government ; and nothing is of fuch important ufc to a nation, as that men who excel in wifdom and v'trtut fliould be encouraged to undertake the bufincfs of government : But the iniqui- tous courfe of their courts of juftice in this colony, deter fuch men from ferving the public, or if they io fo, unlcfs patronized at home, their wifdom and virtue are turned againft them with fuch malignity, that it is more fafe to be infamous than renowned.— The principal exception I have met with here, is Jarr.ci. Helmes, Efq. who was chofen chief juftice by the general affembly at laft eleaion.— He accepted his appointment, diftinguiflics himfelf by capacity and application, and feems neither afiaid nor afliamed to adminiller impartial juftice to all^ even to the native and rcfiding creditors of the mother country. — I have known him grant them temporary relief by writs of eror, &c. when both he and they were over-ruled hy the partiality of the court ; and in vain, though with great candour and force, plead with the reft of the bench, that for the honour of the colony, and their own reputation, they ought never to pay lefs regard to the decrees of his Majefty in council, becaufe the property was determined in Great Britr.in, than to ■ i:---- 1 ,■ -': >!f!( -.^^:isi.» -!'« ..,.-.^.^.. .■^, . their juft caufc of ■cat impatience uld have nomi- )fficcrs in every I great meafure .—Nothing can on in this, and id nothing is of that men who ; encouraged to Buttheiniqui- in this colony, , or if they do ir wifdom and fuch malignity, an renowned.— t with here, is chief juftice by He accepted his ly capacity and nor afliamed to en to the native ountry. — I have elief by writs of were over-ruled, in vain, though with the reft of L-olony, and their pay lefs regard to icil, bccaufc the Britr.in, than to - > their [ i'9 1 tMt'iT own. I have alfo heard him with rtfolution and firmnejs, when he dilcovered the court to be immodt- rattly partial, order his name to be inrollcd. as dillent- ing from the vcrdia-For fuch honefty and candour, I am perfuaded he will be depofcd at next cledion, unlcfs they ihould be ftill in hopes of maki^^s a convert of him. . I wifli it was in my power to prevent every American from fufFcring for the caufe of integrity, and their mother country ; he, in an efpccial manner, (houli not only hcpreuatJini/upperud, but appear among the firit promoticns,.— Is there no gentleman of public fpirit at home, that would be pleafcd to be an inftru- inent of elevating a man of his principles and probity ? or is it become faftionable for vice to be countenanced vrith impunity, and every trace of virtue paffed over unnoticed! God forbid. . • ■'*. The colonies have originally been wrong founded. ^Thcy ought all to have been regal governments, and every executive officer appointed by the king. Until that is eflreaed. and they arc properly regulated, they will never be beneficial to themfelves, nor good fub- iefts to Great Britain.— You fee with what contempt they already treat the aas of parliament for regulating their trade, and enter into the moft public, illegal and affronting combinations to obtain a repeal, by again impofing upon the Britifh merchants and manu- faaurers, and all under the cloak of retrenching their expences by avoiding every unnecepry fupfrfuity. Were that really the cafe, lam fure I would, and alfo every other Britifli fubjeft, efteem them for it ; but the faa is, they obtained a repeal of the ftamp aft by mer- cantile influence, and they are pow endeavouripg by thf 11! t .,-^„ li-- J.11H.I .J mi \,\jM ' ." [ I20 ] the fame artifice and finefle to repeal the aifls of trade, and obtain a total exemption from all taxation. Were itotherways, and they fincerely difpofed to flop the importation of every unneceflary fuperfluity, without affronting the Britifli legiflation, by their public, general and illegal combinations, they might accomplifh their purpofes with much more decency^ and fupprcfs it more effe<5lually by the ads of their own IcgiHation, impofing fuch duties upon their im- portation here *, as might either occafion a total pro- hibition, or confine the confumption of them to particular individuals that can afford to buy, by which meafiires they would alfo raife a confiderable colony Revenue, and calfc the poorer inhabitants in the tax they now pay : — But the temper of the country is exceedingly/<7<7/tf«f, and prone to fedition ; they are growing more imperious, haughty^ nay infoknt evtiy day, and in a (hort fpace, unlefs wholefome regu- lations take place, the fpirit they have inkindled, and the conceptions of government they have imbibed will be more grievous to the mother country than ever the oilracifm was to the Athenians. A bridle atprefent, may accomplifli more than a rod hereafter } for the malignant poifcn of the times, like a general peftilence, fpreads beyond conception ; and if the Britifli parliament are too late in their regu- lations, negle£t meafures feven years, which are effen- tially ncccflary now, fliould they then be able to ftifle their commotions, it will only be a temporary ex* tindion, * I mean foreign growth, or fabrications ; but if on Bricifli, it would be more pardonable than their prefenf .f^&eiu. » t 121 3 : aifls of trade, ill taxation.— lifpofcd to flop ry fuperfluity, tion, by their IS, they might more decency y i ads of their :pon their im- on a total pro- I of them to buy, by which ierable colony nts in the tax the country is tion ; they are infolent every olefome rcgu- nkindled, and e imbibed will than ever the ore than a rod he times, like iception j and n their regu- lich are eflen- ; able to ftifle empovary ex. tindion, IS ; but if on 1 their prefeaf t fition to the mother country, in a mere imperieut man*' ner than they have done thefe four years fajl ? Have they not made ufe of every flrokc cf policy (in their' way) to 'avail themfelves of thi: dark purpofes of their- independence, and fufFered no reflraint of confci- encc, or fear, not even the guilt of threatening /g txcitt aMvil wary and revolt^ if not indulged with an< unlimited trade, without reflraiht ; and Britifh pro- tedion, without expence \ for. that is the engine of it. — Is this their true, or mlflaken portrait ? Say.-^ If it Is their true one, ought not fuch pernicious maxims of policy ? fuch wicked difcipline ? fuch Ingratitude \ fuch diffimulation ? fuch perfidy ? fuch R violent ^,v .4* '^^'^ Cominictee to the Sons of Liberty, &c. [ 122 y violent, ruthkfs and fanguinary councils, where, a aeon bears rule, and an Ariftidcs cannot be en- dured, tobecrulhed in embryo? If not, the alter- futive cannot avoid producing fuch a government, » will ere long throw the whole kingdom into the utmoftconfufion, endanger the life, liberty and pro- perty of every good fubjea, and again expofc them tt> the mercilefs affiiffmation of a rabble. I am fenfiblc that in all poUtical difputes, efpeci- My in America, a man may fee fome things to Wame on both fides, and fo much to fear, which ever faftioii fliould conquer, as to be juftified m not intermeddling with either i but in matters of fuch vaft imporunce a? th<5 prefcnt, wherein we have fuf- ftrcd fo much.-ftill deep'y interefted, and by which the peace and tranquUity of the nation is at ftake ; it is difficult to conceal one's emotions from a fnciio, and remain a tranquil fpeaator on a theatre of fuch chicanery and coUufion, as will inevitably (if not checked, and may fooner happen than is imagined by ««>y) chiU the blood of many a true Briton. It may be true policy, in fome cafes, to tame the ficrceft fpirit of popular liberty, not by blows, or by chains, but by fooihing her into a willing obedi- ence, and making her kifs the very hand that rettrains her I but fuch policy would be a very unfuitable potion to cure the malady of the prcfent times. They are too much corrupted* and already fo intoxicated with their own importance, as to make a wrong ufe of lenient meafures.-They conftrue them mto their own natural rights, and a timidity in the inother country. They confidcr themfelves a litUc bigger than tbc frog in the fabU, and that G. Britain can ■^ * never i."i"«i*f% . Ills, where a inot be en- t, the alter- government, ;dom into the Brty and pro- expofe them lutes, efpeci- te things to 1 fear, which e juftified in latters of fuch we have fuf- md by which I is at ftake; from a friciid, leatre of fuch itably (if not s imagined by Iriton. , to tame the by blows, or willing obedi" 1 that retrains ery unfuitabk times. They fo intoxicated e a wrong ufe hsm into their n the mother a little bigger 3. Britain can never T m 1 •never long grapple with their huge territory of i Jo6 miles frontier, already populous, and increafing with fuch celerity, as to double their numbers once in twrnty-Jhe years. — This is not perfeftly confonant with my idea of the matter, though fuch calculation lias been madej and admitting it to be erroneous, yet as they believe it, it has the fame evil effcft, and poffefles the imaginations of the people with fuch a degree of infanity and enthufiafmi as there is hardly any thing more common than to hear them boaft o( particular colonies that can raife on a (hort notice an hundred theufand fighting nun, to oppofi the force of Great- Britain i certain it is, that they increafe in num* bcrs by emigration, &c. very faft, and are becom« fuch a body of people, with fuch extenfive territorf as require every bud of their genius and difpofition to be narrowly watched, and pruned with great judgment, otherwife they may become not only troui* blefome to Great Britain, but enemies to themfelvet. •>-Now is the critical feafon^^They are ftill like fome raw giddy youth juft emerging into the world in a corrupt degenerate age. A parent, or a guar<* ^ian, ia therefore ftill ncceffiuy ; and if well managed^ they will foon arrive at fuch maturity as t»p becoaoe obedient, dutiful children; but if negleaed long, the rod of chaftifement will be fo much longer necet- fary as to become too burthenfome, and muft be 'dropt with the colonies. — ^They almdl confider them* felves as a feparate people from Qr^nt Britain already. Laft month, while I was attending the Genera! Aflembly, the Governor fent a written meffage to the loweif houfc, importing his intentions of a rdig- •aation at the next election, afligning for reafons, R 2 the [ t24 ] the funiei in ihe colony and party fpirit were ft high, flind that bribery and eorruption were fo predomi- nant, that neither ///ir, libtrtyy nor prepirtf were fafe, &c. &c. &c. Now, Sir, whether the Governor's intentions as exhibited in this open, public declara- tion, was real, or ftlgntd to anfwer political purpofes j it ftill evinces their decrepid ftate; the proftitution of government ; and melancholy fituation of every good fubjeS : For it cannot be fuppofed, by any candid inquifitor, that a declaration of that nature, and form, would, if not true, been delivered by a Go- vernor to a whole legiflative body, in order to eman- cipate himfelf. If this truth is granted, and this allowed to be their unhappy fituation, how much \& ft the duty of every good man, and what language is fufficient to paint, in an efFeaual manner, this internal imbecillity of an Englifli colony (in many other refpcfts favourably fttuated for trade and com- merce, one of the fafeft, largeft, and moft commo- dious harbours in all America, or perhaps in all Europe, accefltble at all feafons, fttuated in a fine climate, and abounding with fertile foil) — ^to the maternal bowek of compaiHon, in order that (he may feafonably, if flie thinks it neceffiuy to iaterpofe, regulate, and wipe away their pernicious CHAR- TER, rendered obnoxious by the abufe of it. I am afraid I have tired your patience with a fub- >eft that muft give pain to every impartial friend to Great Britain and her colonies. — ^When I took up my pen, — ^I only intended to have communicated the out-lines of fuch of my perplexities (without dipping lb far into political matter) as I thought would atone fott. xsra ^ere tb higb, * fo prcdomi- y were fafe, : Governor's )lic declara- :a] purpofes | -oftitution of r every good y any candird nature, and 1 by a Go- [cr to eman* d, and this Ik>w much U hiat language nanner» this »y (in many <\c and com- loft commo> rliaps in all ^ in a fine foil) — ^to the that flie may to iaterpofe, usCHAR- ! of it. s with a fub<- tial friend to n I took up nunicated the thout dipping C would atone £bs» C 5*5 1 ^ for, or bccufemy long ftlcnce, and excite your com« paffion and advice. .^ ' ^ ,^ Our friend Robinfon is gone to Bbfton to join the commiflioners. My compliments to Col. Stuart. — May I aflc the favour of you both to come and cat a Xmas dinner with me at fiatchelor's hall, and cele- brate the feftivity of the feafon with me in Narra« ganfet woods. A covy of partridges, or bevy of quails, will be entertainment for the Colonel ai:d me. while the pike and pearch ponds amufe you. — Should bufinefs or pre-ingagement prevent me that pleafurc, permit me to aflc the favour of your earlieft intelli- gence of the proceedings of parliament ; and of your opinion whether our cafe is not fo grievous as to excite their compaflion and interpofition were it known. This narration, together with your own knowledge of many of the fa£is, and the difpofltion of the colonies in general, will refrefli your memory, and enable you to form a judgment. Relief from home feems fo tedious, efpecially to us who have fuffered fo much, like to fufler more, and unac- quainted with their reafons of delay, that I am quite impatient. Above twelve months ago, I received from three Gentlemen in London (in truft for feveral others) exemplified accounts for a balance of above twenty- fix thoufand pounds fterliog, moflly due from this colony, not £. 50 of which fhall I ever be able to recover without compulfive mcafures, and what is flill worfc, my lawyer advifes me from all thoughts of profecution, unlefs a change of government enfues. I am therefore obliccd to feud them his opinion (in jufti-. ■■ tumittr t »2« 1 Itiftifietfito of my «wn condua) in Ifeu *^ *o«wt ten years due. Poor fatisfaaion I Our confobtioii mttft be in a Britifli parliament. Every other arenuc Is rendered impregnable by their fiibtlety, and dege* neracy, and we ean no longer depend upon a people who are fo unthankful for our indulgences, and the lenity of their mother country. I wiA you the compliments of the approaching fcafon, and a fiic, celfion of many happy new year.. '>'^=^ 4iw .d..t, I am. Sir, with much regard, i . t > ■ f - . 1 . / . 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