peal. But the inflammation of this country has been a grand object with fome perfons; and neither the indulgence of parliament, nor the moderation of government, nor the exigency of the times have as yet been able to put a stop to that purfuit. However, I have given my teftimony against thefe proceedings in a manner very difagreeable to me, and very contrary to my difpofition. Whilft the bufinefs of the general court was carried on in good humour, and with good understanding, I have been unwilling to interrupt the general harmony by too great an attention to my own sentiments, and have frequently given up my opinion to what has in any degree appeared to be the voice of the people. Every perfon who hears me, can, more or lefs, give teftimony of the mildness and moderation of my admini ftration; how much I have endeavoured to remove and prevent diftinctions of men, and divifions of parties, and how little I have interpofed my judgment against the prefided. But when the government is attacked in form; when there is a profeft intention to deprive it of its beft and moft able fervants, whofe only crime is their fidelity to the crown; I cannot be indifferent, but find myself obliged to exercife every legal and conftitutional power, to maintain the king's authority against this ill judged and ill-timed oppugnation of it. At the fame time I publickly declare, that whenever an opportunity fhall offer to reftore to the provincial council that harmony and union which, not long ago, it was my pride to cultivate, I will embrace it molt cordially, and will ufe my utmost ⚫ endeavours to heal the divifions and bury the animofities which the late diftractions have created. In the mean time, as I have appeared before the British parliament a true friend to the province, as well as a faithful fervant to the crown, I fhall leave it to this good people to recognize me in that united character, at their own time, and in their own manner. Gentlemen, I am in continual expectation to receive his majetty's commands to lay before you matters of great importance, and whenever they shall arrive, I thall be obe liged to call you together again. I therefore think it advifeable to make this feffion as thort as well may be; and re commend it to you, not to engage in any bufinefs that does not require prefent difpatch. The confideration of the terms upon which the ftamp-act has been repealed; of the expectations of the parliament that the Americans will not abuse the indulgencies granted to them; and of the affurances which the promoters of the repeal have publickly given that it will be moft gratefully and humbly received, is a fubject which could well enlarge upon; but I shall referve it to another opportunity, when I fhall probably be aflifted by fpecial inftructions for that purpofe; and, I hope, fhall be able to speak to you with greater authority than my own. FRA. BARNARD. Council-chamber, SIR, St. James's, March 31, 1766. HErewing to get the copy of two ante of parliament juft paffed; the first for securing the juft dependency of the colonies on the mother country; the second for the repeal of the act of the last feffion granting certain ftamp duties in America: And I expect fhortly to send you a third for the indemnity of fuch perfons as have incurred the penalties impofed by the act juft repealed; as fuch bill is now depending, and has made a confiderable progress in the house of commons. The moderation, the forbearance, the unexampled lenity and tenderness of parliament towards the colonies, which are fo fignally displayed in those acts cannot but difpofe the province committed to your care, to that return of chearful obedience to the laws and legislative authority of Great Britain, and to thofe fentiments of refpectful gratitude to the mother country, which are the natural, and I trust will be the certain effects of much grace and condefcenfion, fo remarkably manifested on the part of his majefty and of the parliament, and the future happinefs and profperity of the colonies will very much depend on the teftimonies they fhall now give of these difpofitions. For, as a dutiful and affectionate return to fuch peculiar proofs of indulgence and affection may now, at this great crifis, be a means of fixing the mutual interefts and inclinations of Great Britain and her colonies, on on the most firm and folid foundations, it You would think it fcarce poffible, I imagine, that the paternal care of his majefty for his colonies, or the lenity and indulgence of the parliament fhould go further than I have already mentioned; yet fo full of true magnanimity are the fentiments of both, and fo free from the fmallest colour of paffion or prejudice, that they feem not only difpofed to forgive, but to forget thofe moft undeniable marks of an undutiful difpofition, too frequent in the late tranfactions of the colonies, and which, for the honour of these colonies, it were to be wished had been more difcountenanced and difcouraged by thofe who had knowledge to conduct themselves otherwife. A revifion of the late American trade laws is going to be the immediate object of parliament, nor will the late tranfactions there, however provoking, prevent, I dare fay, the full operation of that kind and indulgent difpofition prevailing, both in his majefty and parliament, to give to the trade and interefts of America, every relief which the true ftate of their circumstances demands or admits. Nothing will tend more effectually to every conciliating purpose, and there is nothing therefore I have in command more earnestly to require of you, than that you should exert yourself in recommending it ftrongly to the affembly, that full and ample compenfation be made to thofe, who, from the madness of the people, have fuffered for their deference to the acts of the British legislature. And you will be particularly attentive that fuch perfons be effectually fecured from any further insult, and that, as far as in you lies, you will take care by your example and influence, that they may be treated with that refpect to their perfons, and that justice in regard to all their pretenfions, which their merits and fufferings undoubtedly claim. The refolutions of the house of commons, which by his majesty's I tranfinit to you, to be laid before the Aug affembly, will fhew you the fenfe of that houfe on thefe points: And I am perfuaded it will, as it moft certainly ought, be the glory of that affembly, to adopt and imitate thofe fentiments of the British parliament founded on the cleareft principles of humanity and juftice. I must mention the one circumstance in unhappy people, whom the outrage of the particular, that should recommend those populace has driven from America, to the affection of all that country; which is, that, unprovoked by the injuries they had fuffered to a forgetfulness of what they owed to truth and their country, they gave their teftimonies with knowledge, but without paffion or prejudice; and thofe teftimonies had, I believe, great weight in perfuading the repeal of the ftamp act. great pleasure, that every part I have only to add, which I do with conduct has had the entire and hearty apof your probation of your fovereign; and that the judicious reprefentations in favour of your laid before both houfes of parliament, province, which appear in your letters feem to have their full weight in all thofe parts of the American interefts, to which they relate. And as his majesty honours you with his fulleft approbation, both for the firmness and temperance of your conduct, fo I hope your province will cordially feel what they owe to the goveinor, whom no outrage could provoke relax in his endeavours to perfuade his to refentment, nor any infult induce to majefty to fhew his indulgence and favour even to the offending part of his people. I am, With great truth and regard, The Speech of bis Excellency Francis Bar- To the Great and general Court of the Gentlemen of the Council, and Gentlemen honourable Mr. Secretary Conway inclofing inclofing two acts of parliament: the one, to impeach the right. But if your right fecuring the dependency of the colonies, on the mother country, and the other for the repeal of the ftamp-act. At the fame time he is pleafed to fignify what his majefty and his parliament expect from the colonies in return for the indulgencies fhewn to them. I am alfo ordered to recommend to you, that full and ample compenfation be made to the late fufferers by the madness of the people: And for that purpose I am directed to lay before you, the votes of the houfe of commons, expreffing their fenfe upon that fubject; whofe humanity and juftice it is hoped it will be your glory to imitate. The whole of this letter is conceived in fuch ftrong, patriotic, and conclufive terms, that I fhall not weaken it by a reprefentation of my own, other than this fhort recapitulation neceffary to introduce what I have to fay on the subject. I cannot but lament that this letter did not arrive before the meeting of the general court: If it had, I flatter myself it would have prevented a tranfaction which must now be more regretted than ever. I mean, your excluding from the king's council the principal crown officers; men not only refpectable in themselves for their integrity, their abilities and their fidelity to their country as well as to their king, but also quite neceffary to the adminiftration of government, in the very ftation from which you have difplaced them. By this you have anticipated the expectations of the king and parliament, and difappointed them, before they have been communicated to you. It is not now in your power in fo full a manner as will be expected, to fhew your refpectful gratitude to the mother country, or to make a dutiful and affectionate return to the indulgence of the king and parliament. It muft and will be understood, that thefe gentlemen are turned out for their deference to acts of the British legiflature. Whilft this proceeding has its full effect, you will not, you cannot avoid being chargeable with unthankfulness and diffatisfaction on ground of former heat and prevailing prejudice. It is impoffible to give any tolerable colouring to this proceeding: If it fhould be justified by afferting a right, that it is a legal power to choole whom you pleafe without regard to any confiderations whatfoever; the juftification itfelf will tend is ever fo abfolute, the distinction between a right and the property of exerciting it, is very obvious; as this diftinction has fo lately been used with great effect to your own interest. Next to withing that this had never happened, it is to be wifhed fome measures might be found to draw a veil over it, or at leaft to palliate it, and prevent its bad effects; which furely must be very hurtful to this province, if it should be maintained and vindicated. If any expedients can be found out for this purpofe, I will heartily concur in them; and in general I will make the best ufe of all means which you all put into my hands to fave the credit of the province upon this unhappy emergency; and I will fet off to the beft advantage I can, all other methods which you thall take to demonftrate thofe fentiments which are expected from you in the most effectual manner. Gentlemen of the house of representatives, The requifition contained in this letter is of a moft fingular nature, and the only one of the kind that I have known fince I have ferved his majesty in America. It is founded upon a refolution of the house of commons, formed after a full confideration of the matter, and reprefented to his majefty by the address of that houfe. The justice and humanity of this requifition are fo forcible, that it cannot be controverted; the authority with which it is introduced fhould preclude all disputation about complying with it. I hope therefore you will add to the merit of compliance by the readiness of it, and affume to yourselves the honour, which now offers itfelf, of fetting the firft example of gratitude and dutiful affection to the king and parliament, by giving thofe proofs of it, which are now pointed out to you. I must obferve that it is from the provin cial affembly that the king and parliament expect this compenfation should be made to the fufferers, without referring them to any other perfons whatfoever. Who ought finally to be charged with this expence, may be a proper confideration for you; and I fhall readily concur with you in your refolutions thereon after the fufferers have been fully satisfied. Gentlemen, Both the bufinefs and the time are most critical; critical; and let me intreat you to recol- to answer for to both countries, and will lect yourselves, and confider well what probably be called to answer. you are about. When the fate of the But I hope it will not be fo, not in a province is put in a scale, which is to rife fingle inftance; but that every person, or fall according to your prefent conduct, even they who have given the greatest will you fuffer yourfelves to be influenced offence, will embrace this opportunity to by party animofities or domeftic feuds? reftore peace to their country, and obtain Shall this fine country be ruined, because indemnity for themselves. And all such every perfon in the government has who thall really defire to reconcile themnot been gratified with honours or offices felves to the king's government, either at according to the full of his pretenfions? home or here, may affure themselves, that Shall the private interefts, pallions or re- without a future delinquency, every thing fentments of a few men deprive this whole paft, will be as far as it can be, buried people of the great and manifold advan- in total oblivion. No one can suspect me tages which the favour and indulgence of of want of fincerity in making this declatheir fovereign, and his parliament, are ration; as too ready a forgetfulness of even now providing for them? There ne- injuries hath been faid to be my weakness: ver was at any time whatsoever so fair a However, it is a failing which I had raprofpect of the improvement of the peace ther fuffer by, than be without. and welfare of this province, as is now opening to you. Will you fuffer this pleafant view to be intercepted or overclouded by the ill humours of particulars? When wealth and happiness are held out to you, will you refufe to accept of them? Surely after his majesty's commands are known, and the terms, in which they are fignified, well confidered, the very perfons which have created the prejudices and prepoffeffions, which I now endeavour to combat, will be the first to remove them, and prevent their ill effects. It is now declared that fuch is the magnanimity of the king and his parliament, that they feem difpofed not only to forgive but to forget thofe unjustifiable marks of an undutiful difpofition too frequent in the late tranfactions of the colonies. It is my defire to render this grace as beneficial and extenfive within this province as it can well be made. But it must be expected that whofoever intends to take the benefit of it, fhould intitle themselves to it by a departure from that offenfive conduct which is the object of it. Here then will it be neceffary to draw a line to diftinguish who are and who are not the proper objects of the gracious intentions of the king and parliament. And if after this proffered grace, any perfon fhould go beyond this line, and ftill endeavour directly or indirectly to foment a divifion between Great Britain and her colonies, and prevent that connection of policy and union of interests which are now in fo fair a way of being established to perpetuity, furely that man will have much I have spoke to you with fincerity, openness, and earnestnefs, fuch as the importance of the fubject deferves. When the fate of the province feems to hang upon the refult of your prefent deliberations, my anxiety for the event, I hope, will make my warmth excufeable. If I have let drop any word which may seem fevere or unkind, let the cause I am engaged in apologize for it: and where the intention is upright, judge of what I fay, not by detached words and fyllables but by their general purport and meaning. I have always been defirous of cultivating a good understanding with you: And when I recollect the former happy times, when I fcarce ever met the general court without giving and receiving testimonies of mutual approbation, I cannot but regret the interruption of that pleasant intercourse by the successful artifices of defigning men, enemies to the country, as well as to me. But now that my character for affection to the province, and attention to its interefts, is confirmed by the most authentic testimonials, I hope that at the fame time you renew your duty to the king, you will refume a confidence in his reprefentative. FRA. BARNARD. |