fidence of its subjects is urged to oppreffion not less by neceffity than inclination.

The Judges of the Superior Court of the Maffachusetts province, though removable at the pleasure of the Crown, had hitherto depended on the General Affembly for the continuance of their salaries; but they had now salaries settled upon them by his Majesty, so that the balance of the Constitution was in this respect entirely subverted; both the weights of justice, as was observed, being by this means put into the same scale. Of all the arbitrary innovations of the British Government, none excited greater resentment, or was deemed more dangerous, than this. Nothing, indeed, could be more opposite to the genius of the British Conftitution, which regards the independency of the judicial power on the executive as one of the most important bulwarks of liberty. Committees of Correspondence had been recently established in the different towns and townships throughout the province: and the spirit which now pervaded the Continent may be conjectured from the resolutions passed by the municipal bodies, amongst which, those of the town of Petersham may be cited as exhibiting a curious specimen of that religious enthusiasm by which the inhabiants of New England were once so strongly marked, and which, combined with political enthusiasm-and experience shows how easily they coalefce-gives to the human mind, perhaps, the utmost momentum and and energy of which it is capable. I. Resolved, That with a Governor appointed from Great Britain during pleasure, with a large stipend dependent upon the will of the Crown, with all officers, civil and military, fubject to his appointment or consent, with a castle in the hands of a standing army stationed in the very bowels of the land, no people can ever be truly free. II. That the Parliament of Great Britain ufurping and exercising a legiflative authority over, and extorting an unrighteous revenue from, these colonies, is against all divine and human laws. The late appointment of falaries to be paid to our Superior Court Judges, whose creation, pay, and commiffion depend on mere will and pleasure, completes a system of bondage equal to any ever fabricated by the combined efforts of the ingenuity, malice, fraud, and wickedness of man. III. That it is the opinion of this town, that a despotic arbitrary government is thekingdom of this world, as fet forthin the New Teftament, and has a direct tendency to fink a people into a profound state of ignorance and irreligion; and that if we have an eye to our own and pofterity's happiness, not only in this world but in the world to come, it is our duty to oppose such a government. The inhabitants of Petersham conclude with a declaration, "that it is highly becoming towns and individuals to humble themselves before Almighty God, seriously to

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commune with their own hearts, and seek carefully with tears for the causes of the prevailing diftreffes of the land; and they express their confidence that GOD will not fuffer this land, where the Gospel hath flourished, to become a flave of the world. He will stir up witnesses of the truth, and in his own time fpirit his people to stand up for his cause, and deliver them. In a similar belief that Patriot of Patriots the great Algernon Sydney lived and died, and dying breathed a like sentiment and prophecy touching his own and the then approaching timesa prophecy however not accomplished until a glorious REVOLUTION." The extravagant and exaggerated language of these resolutions is itself a most striking evidence of that diseased and dangerous state of the public mind which could prompt these effusions of enthufiaftic zeal. By a long feries of acts of irritation and oppreffion on the part of Britain, a spirit of resentment, scarcely short of phrenfy, was excited throughout America. All seemed to feel the influence of "the madding hour;" and by the natural and determinate operation of a system detested and detestable, a system by which the present reign has been so confpicuoufly and fatally marked, was this change wrought in a loyal, orderly, and peaceable people, distinguished above all others for their love of liberty and hatred of licentiousness-all ranks and conditions

of

of whom gloried in their connection with Britain, rejoiced in her friendship and protection, and triumphed in her profperity.

During the feffion of the Massachusetts Affembly, in the fummer of 1773, a discovery was made which added fresh fuel to the flame long fince kindled in that province. The celebrated Dr. Franklin, Agent of the House of Representatives in England, had by fome unknown means acquired poffeffion of certain letters written in confidence by the Governor Hutchinson, the Lieutenant Governor Oliver, and others, to divers of their friends and correspondents in England, in which they express themselves very freely on the fituation of affairs in America; and their sentiments are fuch as might reasonably be expected from their public conduct. The writers appear to have been men very respectable in their private characters; but viewing the transactions which were paffing before them through a thick cloud of prejudice, resentment, and interest, they discover an eager folicitude that Government shauld adopt more violent, or in their language "more vigorous," measures in support of its authority; and, in their laudable anxiety for the re-establishment of order and tranquillity, they seemed not in the least to suspect, that of fuch measures a civil war must be the inevitable refult: nor had they the wisdom or magnanimity to comprehend, that far other ties than military force

force and imperious edicts were necessary to form that bond of connection which could alone reftore peace and profperity to the Colonies, or render the connection itself advantageous or honorable to the Mother Country. These letters were, by a licenfe which cannot be justified, even though prompted by motives the most patriotic, tranfmitted by Dr. Franklin to his constituents at Boston, upon whom they made an impression much easier to conceive than to describe. "This, says Mr. Hutchinfon in one of his letters, is most certainly a crifis. If no measures shall have been taken to secure the de

pendence of the Colonies, befides some declaratory acts and refolves, it is all over with us. There must be an abridgment of what are called English liberties; and he lays it down as a maxim, that a Colony cannot enjoy all the liberty of the Parent State. I wish, says he, the good of the Colony, when I wish to fee fome farther restraint of liberty rather than the connection with the Parent State should be broken. In another letter he expreffes his hopes that provifions for diffolving the commercial combinations, and for inflicting penalties on those who do not renounce them, would be made as foon as Parliament meets." Mr. Oliver, the Lieutenant Governor, intimates that the officers of the Crown, i. e. the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Judges, ought to be made independent of the people; for, fays he, it is a difficult matter to serve two