obferve a proper decency in expreffing them. The writer of the hiftorical part of the Annual Register observes, that "their public writers, as well as fpeakers, were ge"nerally very intemperate, and a certain ftile and man"ner was introduced, which feemed peculiar to them"felves, and too ridiculous for ferious compofition. " It is eafy for fuch as do not immediately feel the pain which others fuffer, to account their behaviour ridiculous in the paroxism of their distemper; but provided they were in their fituation, their behaviour would probably be as ridiculous. There is a warmth of zeal that appears in their compofition, as will happen in all cafes when men are in earnest, but at the same time, a due refpect to the characters they are addreffing, and unless men's eyes are blinded through a selfish prejudice, they must be obliged to confess, that so far as the pen has been employed in this controverfy, the colonists have made no contemptible figure. There is an inconfiftency that has been urged against some of their publications," that when on one hand, "they feem to forget their dependency as colonies, "and affume the tone of diftinct and original states; "on the other hand, they claim all the benefits of the English conftitution, and the highest rights of Eng lishmen, but forget that it is their dependence which "can entitle them to any fhare of thofe rights and "benefits." In this there does not appear fo great inconfiftency as fome do imagine. As members of the empire, and fubjects of the fame fovereign, they are mutually dependent, as other fubjects are upon government and the conftitution; but then they certainly are entitled to fome fhare with their brethern in the legislature, otherwife they differ nothing from flaves. We fhall fee afterwards what they fay for themselves, and what their moft fanguine oppofers have faid against them, when the reader fhall be left to judge for himfelf concerning the conclufions neceffary to be drawn. A report that that petition to the King had not been delivered by the fecretary of state, exasperated them greatly. It was faid that the petition was refufed to be received at London, because the agent had not proper authority, and because the governor had not figned it. The diffolution of their affembly had encreased their fufpicions, and the affair of the feizing the floop had confirmed them. They were therefore now in a very ill temper, and fhewed their indignation without much restraint. It is no wonder, in fuch an agitation of temper, that many outrages were committed. When the excife was at firft put in execution in Scotland, there were as great tumults at Glasgow as there were on this occafion at Bofton. When the paffions of men are over-heated, it is not eafy to make them liften to cool reafoning, A While matters were in this unhappy fituation, two regiments were ordered from Ireland, and fome detachments from Halifax in Nova Scotia, to'fupport the civil government. This threw the whole town of Boston into confternation, and raised great commotions: it was confidered in the light of an invasion, and animadverted upon in the fevereft terms. meeting of the inhabitants was called to affemble at Faneuil-hall to confider what was to be done in that extremity, when they chofe one of their late popular reprefentatives as moderator. They then appointed a committee to wait on the governor, to know what reafons he had for fome late intimations he had gi ven, that fome regiments of his Majefty's forces were expected in that town, and to prefent a petition, to defire that he would iffue precepts to convene and affemble femble with the greatest speed; to both which an immediate anfwer was required. The governor anfwered, that his information was of a private nature, and that he could do nothing as to the calling of another affembly for this year, until he received his Majesty's inftructions under whofe confideration it now was. A committee had alfo been appointed to confider the present state of their affairs, which gave in their report, a long declaration and recital of their rights, and the violation of them, which they. conceived had been lately made; and paffed feveral fudden refolutions, particularly with refpect to the legality of raifing or keeping up a standing army among them, without their confent. This refolution they founded upon an act of the first of King William, which declares it to be contrary to law to keep. an army in the kingdom in the time of peace without the confent of parliament. This report and the refolutions were unanimoufly agreed to by the affembly, and a general refolution paffed, whith was alfo founded upon a clause in the fame law, which recommends the fre quent holding of parliaments. Upon this a convention was called to affemble at Boston. In pursuance of this refolution, the four members who had reprefented the town in the late affembly, were now appointed a committee to act for it in the convention; and the felect-men were ordered to write to all the other towns in the province, to propofe their appointing committees for the fame purpose. These proceedings of the colonists were confidered as illegal and unlawful afsemblies, and according to the ideas of the governor, they undoubtedly were fuch. It would appear that both Governor Bernard and the miniftry at home, did not confider the colonists as having the fame benefit of the laws as the people in the mo ther ther country, though they reckoned them bound by them in their fullest extent. For if they had confidered the colonists as having the privilege of other fubjects, they would not have quartered troops upon them in the time of peace, without an act of legislature in which they were reprefented. Butthey feem to have had in idea, a diftinction between a British freeman and a colonist, which the latter did not admit. The colonists judged, that from the law made in the reign of King William, they had a right to their affemblies, which they confidered as their parliaments, and without their confent, it was illegal to keep up a standing army among them: the miniftry confidered them as emigrants that had left their country, but were bound by its laws, without enjoying the privileges that arofe from them, and unless they had this idea, their conduct will appear ridiculous: but all the advocates for the mother country's fupremacy, have founded their arguments upon the diftinction between a free Briton and a colonist. Whether this diftinction is founded in nature and reason, I fhall leave to the reader to determine as he thinks beft. There is one piece of duplicity in the conduct of this town meeting, which cannot be vindicated, which fhews their addrefs more than their honefty, and it is this: they made a requifition to the inhabitants, that as there was a prevailing apprehenfion in the minds of many, of a war with France, they fhould ac cordingly be provided with arms, ammunition, and other accoutrements, fo as to be prepared in cafe of fudden danger. After this, a day of public prayer and fafting was appointed, and the meeting diffolved. It is manifeft that a war with France, was a mere pretence, to carry forward a scheme, to have the inhabitants provided againft another evil than a French war. Though Though the affembly at Boston might have good rea fons for defiring the inhabitants to have arms in readinefs, they ought not to have affigned falfe ones before the appointing of a faft: for this was certainly an act of vile hypocrify, which no good man can approve. The circular letter of the felect-men, was written in the fame ftile, and with the fame temper as their acts and refolutions, which were inclofed, and on which it was founded. In this time of general commotion, ninety-fix towns appointed committees to attend the convention; but the town of Hatfield refused to comply with the measure, and gave their reafons for their refusing to join with the reft. It is plain from this anfwer, that they either had different ideas from the reft of their brethren, or were lukewarm in the cause of liberty*. When the convention met, the first thing they did, was to fend a meffage to the governor, wherein they disclaim all authoritative or governmental acts that they were chofen by feveral towns, and came freely and voluntarily, at the earnest defire of the people, to confult and advife fuch meafures as may promote peace and good order in their prefent fituation. They We have fully confidered your propofal of a convention, and the reafons you are pleafed to align for it, and hereby take the liberty to exprefs our fentiments. We are not fenfible that the ftate of America is fo alarming, or the ftate of this province fo materially different from what they were a few months fince, as to render the measure you propofe either falutary or neceffary. The act of parliament, for railing a revenue, fo much complained of, has been in being and carrying into execution for a confiderable time paft, and proper fteps taken by fevéral governments on this continent to obtain redrefs of that grievance; and humble petitions by them, ordered to be prefented to his Majefty, we truft, have already, or foon will reach the royal ear, be gracioufly received, and favourably anfwered; and the petition from the house of reprefentatives of this province the laft year among the reft: if it should not, for want of an a gent from this province, at the court |