4.

congrefs. It is an excellent rule of the house, that no vote fhall be re-confidered, unlefs the number of members prefent equals the number at its paffing. When they had the fame number, eighty-two, which makes a Feb. full house, a motion was made for re-confidering the vote against applying to the other colonies; and the vote of re-confideration was obtained by a large majority. The fame day a committee was appointed to prepare a letter to be tranfmitted to the feveral houses of reprefentatives and burgeffes upon the continent, to inform them of the measures the house had taken with regard to difficulties they were apprehenfive would arise from the operation of feveral acts of parliament for levying duties and taxes on the American colonies. The committee, after deliberating a week, reported the letter, 11. which being read in the houfe, was accepted almost unanimously, in the prefence of eighty-three members. It began thus: "Sir, the house of reprefentatives of this province have taken into their ferious confideration the great difficulties that muft accrue to themselves and their conftituents, by the operation of feveral acts of parliament impofing duties and taxes on the American colonies." It then related the measures they had taken in petitioning the king making reprefentations to the ministry, &c. and concluded with," the house is fully fatisfied that your affembly is too generous and enlarged in fentiment, to believe that this letter proceeds from an ambition of taking the lead, or dictating to the other affemblies. They freely fubmit their opinion to the judgment of others, and fhall take it kind in your house to point out to them any thing further that may be thought neceffary. This houfe cannot conclude without

Feb.

without expreffing their firm confidence in the king, our common head and father, that the united and dutiful fupplications of his diftreffed American fubjects will meet with his royal and favorable acceptance."

Peter Gilman efq; fpeaker of the New Hampshire af25. fembly, wrote, by order of the house, in anfwer to the

Maffachusetts circular letter" The fentiments contained in it are highly approved, and the communication kindly received and gratefully acknowledged. The time of the house's existence in that relation is near expiring; they can't engage for their fucceffors, and can only express their fatisfaction in the Massachusetts proceedings, and declare their hopes, that the next affembly will heartily concur in fentiments on this affair, and pursue the fame method." The letter ran in the highest recommendatory strain of the Maffachusetts-Bay affembly; and concluded with, "What remains for us at present is to offer our daily prayer to the Governor and Lord of the universe, to avert the impending evil, and to make way for the full establishment of British liberty in every branch of it, and to quiet every colony in all the enjoyment of all their civil and religious rights and privileges." For thefe courtly expreffions, with which the house declined doing any thing in the business, the next assembly was rewarded with courtly commendati

ons.

The governor, John Wentworth efq; in a meffage of October the twentieth, communicated the copy of the following extract of a letter from Lord Hillsborough, of July the ninth: "It is his majefty's pleasure that you should affure his faithful fubjects in New Hampshire, that his majesty has nothing more at heart than to promote their welfare and happiness, whofe cheerful obe

dience to the laws of this kingdom, and steady refolution in refusing to accede to the measures and propofals which have been urged with so much indecent warmth in other colonies, cannot fail to recommend them to his royal favor and countenance." The affembly however, nine days after, petitioned the king, and mentioned that his royal predeceffors granted them a power of legislation, limited to the approbation or difallowance of the crown, with the powers and privileges effential to British liberty, of raising internal taxes by their own reprefentatives. The petition was most profoundly humble; and fo foftly worded, that it could not offend the most delicate ear of the highest parliamentary prerogative man. By fome accident or contrivance, it was not fent till antiquated and out of feason. Mr. Wentworth had gained an ascendency over the people of his government, by which he kept them from entering into any such spirited measures for the redrefs of grievances as would be offenfive to ministry. The other colonies adopted a different line of conduct. The Virginia houfe of burgeffes applauded the Massachusetts reprefentatives for their attention to American liberty; took notice of the act fufpending the legislative powers of New York; and faid, "If the parliament can compel the colonies to furnish a single article to the troops fent over, they may by the fame rule, oblige them to furnish clothes, arms, and every other neceffary, even to the pay of the officers and foldiers, a doctrine replete with every mischief, and utterly fubverfive of all that is dear and valuable." The council concurred with them in all their proceedings; and their agent was enjoined to confult the agents of the other colonies, and to co-operate with them in ap

VOL. I.

e

plying

22.

plying for redrefs. Most of the affemblies upon the continent, as they had opportunity, approved of the doings of the Maffachusetts, and harmonized with them in refolves and petitions. But an account of their doings April had not reached Great Britain long, ere Lord Hillsborough wrote to governor Bernard upon the occafion. For want of fuller and jufter information, or of due attention to the governor's expreffions, the proceeding which originated the circular letter, was mentioned" as unfair, contrary to the real sense of the affembly, and procured by surprise; and therefore" upon this mistaken principle, the governor was inftructed, "fo foon as the general court is again affembled, to requife of the house of representatives, in his majesty's name, to refcind the refolution which gave birth to the circular letter from the speaker, and to declare their disapprobation of, and diffent to that rafh and hafty proceeding." In cafe they refused to comply, he was immediately to diffolve them, and to transmit to his lordship an account of their transactions. The houfe was informed of what was required; and three days after, of what they were to expect if unpliable. Their refolution not being returned within fix days of the laft part of the information, the governor fent them word he could wait no longer, which haftened the bufinefs in which they were engaged.

June

21.

30.

A committee of the house reported a letter to Lord Hillsborough, fetting forth the feveral votes and refolutions which paffed in the last house of representatives, relating to the circular letter; and fhowing that the whole of these matters was tranfacted in the height of the feffion in a full house, and by a large majority. The letter was approved of by 93 out of 105 members

prefent,

prefent, and ordered to be tranfmitted to his lordship. The house agreed alfo upon a meffage to the governor, in which they faid, "It is to us incomprehenfible that we fhould be required, on the peril of a diffolution of the general court, to refcind a refolution of a former houfe, when it is evident, that that refolution has no existence but as a mere hiftorical fact. Your excellency must know, that the refolution is, to fpeak in the language of the common law, not now executory, but to all intents and purposes executed. If, as is most pro.. bable, by the word refcinding is intended the paffing a vote, in direct and exprefs difapprobation of the meafure taken by the former houfe as illegal, inflammatory, and tending to promote unjustifiable combinations against his majesty's peace, crown and dignity, we muft take the liberty to teftify and publicly declare, that we take it to be the native, inherent, and indefeasible right of the fubject, jointly or feverally, to petition the king for the redrefs of grievances; provided alway, that the fame be done in a decent, dutiful, loyal and conftitutional way, without tumult, diforder and confufion.-If the votes of the house are to be controlled by the direction of a minifter, we have left us but a vain semblance of liberty.We have now only to inform you, that this houfe have voted not to refcind, and that on a divifion on the question, there were ninety-two nays, and seventeen yeas." The meffage was firm, patriotic, and fpirited; and in fome parts allufively fevere upon governor; but every where decently expreffed. The refcinders were governmental receivers or expectants. They had, or looked for a reward, for their crouching

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