perhaps, that resulted from this short congress, was the occasion furnished to some of the principal characters in different colonies, to become personally known to each other, to compare their views and principles, and to give pledges of mutual support. There had been so little intercourse between the colonies, they were so separated by distance and by prejudice, that this chance of meeting for a common purpose, of combining their efforts, and of knowing the characters of those with whom they were to act, was invaluable. The foundation of political sympathy between distant provinces was laid, greater confidence was acquired in the defence of their rights, and a feeling of closer alliance was excited, which prepared the way for a more intimate and permanent confederation.

Just before the meeting of this congress, and while the Massachusetts legislature was in session, the unlucky stamps arrived in Boston, for that province; as also, those for Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Governor Bernard sent a message to the house, to ask their advice and assistance in regard to these papers, as the officers named to distribute them had all resigned, and there was no one to take charge of " the king's property of very con siderable value." The answer was pithy and laconic enough: "The house having given all due attention to your excellency's message this day, beg leave to acquaint your excellency, that as the stamped papers mentioned in your message, are brought here without any directions to this government, it is the

sense of the house, that it may prove of ill consequence for them any ways to interest themselves in this matter. We hope, therefore, your excellency will excuse us if we cannot see our way clear to give you any advice, or assistance therein."*

Chapter XIX.

Angry Speech of Governor Bernard-Answer of the House-Virulent attacks upon Otis-Messages and Answers respecting Counsellors —Message and Answer on the repeal of the Stamp Act-Question of compensation to the sufferers by the Riots-First opening of gal leries for the public.

THE Governor had pressed upon the house in his opening speech, in September 1765, the duty of submitting quietly to the stamp act, and also of making compensation to the sufferers by the riots in August. On this latter topic, he was so unguarded as to insinuate in a distant way, that the legislature might be thought to countenance those excesses. In answer, they express unqualified disapprobation of the stamp act, and warmly repel the implication, that either they, or any respectable persons in the community, could for a moment have countenanced those outrages; which in fact were repressed, not by

* Massachusetts State Papers, p. 49.

the government, but by the precautions and efforts of the citizens. In closing the session he delivered a very animated speech to both houses, reproaching them with their altered tone towards him, denying that he had any agency in producing the stamp act; and hinting to them that they "may stand in such need of advocates, as to make it not prudent to cast off any of their natural and professed friends," of whom he asserted himself to be one of the warmest.

At the beginning of the next session of the legislature, a committee was appointed, of which Otis was chairman, to consider this speech of the governor. The answer bears strong marks of his manner. It commences by saying, that its careful perusal had been made the first business of the session, and they would have been glad to have passed over it in silence. They would not dispute his right to deliver a speech at whatever moment he pleased; at the same time, when it contained sentiments that bear hard on them, or their constituents, they add, “it appears to us an undue exercise of the prerogative, to lay us under the necessity, either of silence, or of being thought out of season in making a reply."

The following paragraph will shew the feelings of the legislature. "Your Excellency says, that these times have been made more difficult than they need have been; which is also the opinion of this house. Those who have made them so, have reason to regret the injury they have done to a sincere and honest people. We are glad, however, to find,

that the difficulty of the times is in a great measure removed; and we trust, that the province will be soon restored to its former tranquillity- your excellency is pleased to add, 'reputation.'-The customhouses are now open, and the people are permitted to do their own business. The courts of justice must be open-open immediately, and the law, the the great rule of right, in every county in the province, executed.* The stopping the course of justice is a grievance which this house must enquire into. Justice must be fully administered through the province, by which the shocking effects which your excellency apprehended from the people's compliance with the stamp Act, will be prevented. Nothing now remains but to support the king's executive authority in this province, for which there is sufficient provision in the laws; and patiently to wait in hope, that the humble, dutiful, and loyal application, jointly made by the people of the continent, for the repeal of the act, will be successful. And though your excellency has told us, that you never thought proper to express your sentiments against the act, we have reason to expect, that as it is a business in which you have no pretence to interpose' you have never taken any steps to prevent its repeal."

it

The Committee of grievances followed up the affair of the Courts very strenuously, and the House passed an imperative resolve, that the courts should

*The courts had been suspended for some months, because they would not proceed to business without stamps, and the people declined using them." Massachusetts State Papers, p. 61,

be opened. The Council non-concurred this resolve, giving as a reason, that they were convinced from information received, that the Supreme courts would be open at the commencement of the next term, and that all the others were preparing for the transaction of business. The administration had found, though the people had been remarkably orderly under this suspension of justice, that it would not be endured much longer, and that a very dangerous state of anarchy would ensue.

In the spring of this year, Otis was frequently assailed in the Boston Evening Post, a newspaper, that was devoted to the administration, as the Boston Gazette was to the patriotic cause. There was a considerable display of wit, with a full measure of acrimony in the direct personal attacks, that were made upon distinguished individuals, of the opposite parties: Bernard was the chief object on one side, and Otis on the other; one of the series of papers, addressed to the former, was a kind of brief, sarcastic chronicle in latin: its writer could hardly be accused of inflaming the minds of the people at large. But of all these effusions, some of those, that were written against Otis, were the most outrageous; they are really of a surpassing scurrility and brutal coarseness of language. Soon after one of these pieces had appeared, he mentioned it in a letter to his sister, Mrs. Warren, from which, the following extract is taken. It was dated April 11th, 1766. ***“This country must soon be a *** or may be engaged in contests that will require neither the tongue nor the