already cited1 and the cheering intelligence in the journals, there was read a letter from New York, which was pronounced to be "as encouraging as any thing they had from any part of the continent. There was now a genuine communion of feeling, - a noble surrender of the American mind to the grand emotion of fraternity; and well might the popular leaders feel a glow of inspiration. One of the exulting band wrote, "Our rejoicing was full from an interchange of interesting advices from all quarters." A cluster of morning-stars of a new constellation were rejoicing in the blossoming of American nationality.

CHAPTER XI.

THE REGULATING ACT AND THE SUFFOLK RESOLVES.

THE REGULATING ACT. — HUTCHINSON AND THE KING.-THE RECEPTION OF THE ACT IN THE COLONIES. THE RESISTANCE TO IT. — THE SUFFOLK RESOLVES. THEIR EFFECT ON PUBLIC OPINION.

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1774. JUNE TO SEPTEMBER.

WARREN'S words became more and more the mirror of the passions of his countrymen.' The important service which he rendered in promoting the passage of the famous Suffolk Resolves brought his name prominently before the general congress. These resolves were occasioned by the passage of two additional penal acts by parliament; one regulating the Government of Massachusetts, and the other altering the mode of administering justice. They were signed on the 20th of May. They were designed to carry into effect the principle, that parliament had the right to legislate for the colonies in all cases whatso

ever.

As George III. was about to enter upon the work of enforcing these despotic acts, Hutchinson arrived (July 1) in London, when he was immediately sent for by Lord Dartmouth; and, without even being obliged to change his dress, the ex-governor was ushered into the royal closet, where he had a confer1 Bancroft, vii. 173.

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ence with the king of nearly two hours on American affairs, of which Hutchinson has left a circumstantial relation. The conversation commenced in the follow

ing way:

King. How do you do, Mr. Hutchinson, after your voyage? Hutchinson.- Much reduced, sir, by sea-sickness, and unfit upon that account, as well as my New-England dress, to appear before Your Majesty. [Lord Dartmouth observed, "Mr. Hutchinson apologized to me for his dress; but I thought it very well, as he has just come ashore;" to which the king assented.]

King. How did you leave your Government? and how did the people receive the news of the late measures of parliament?

Hutchinson. When I left Boston, we had no news of any act of parliament except the one for shutting up the port, which was extremely alarming to the people. [Lord Dartmouth said, "Mr. Hutchinson came from Boston the day that act was to take place, the first of June. I hear the people of Virginia have refused to comply with the request to shut up their ports from the people of Boston; and Mr. Hutchinson seems to be of opinion, that no colony will comply with that request."]

King. Do you believe, Mr. Hutchinson, that the account from Virginia is true?

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Hutchinson. I have no other reason to doubt it except that the authority for it seems to be only a newspaper; and it is very common for articles to be inserted in newspapers without any foundation. I have no doubt, that, when the people of Rhode Island. received the like request, they gave this answer, that, if Boston would stop all the vessels which they then had in port, which they were hurrying away before the act commenced, the people of Rhode Island would then consider of the proposal. [The king smiled.]

Lord Dartmouth. - Mr. Hutchinson, may it please Your Majesty, has shown me a newspaper, with an address from a great number of merchants, another from the Episcopal clergy, another from the lawyers, all expressing their sense of his conduct in the most favorable terms. [Lord Dartmouth thereupon took the paper out of his pocket, and showed it.]

King. I do not see how it could be otherwise. I am sure his conduct has been universally approved of here by people of all parties.

Hutchinson. I am very happy in Your Majesty's favorable opinion of my Administration.

King.I am entirely satisfied with it. I am well acquainted with the difficulties you have encountered, and with the abuse and injury offered you.

The conversation for some time turned on the publication of Hutchinson's private letters, and then went on as follows:

King. In such abuse, Mr. Hutchinson, as you have met with, I suppose there must have been personal malevolence as well as party rage.

Hutchinson.-It has been my good fortune, sir, to escape any charge against me in my private character. The attacks have been upon my public conduct, and for such things as my duty to Your Majesty required me to do, and which you have been pleased to approve of. I don't know that any of my enemies have complained of a personal injury.

King. I see they threatened to pitch and feather you.

Hutchinson. Tar and feather, may it please Your Majesty; but I don't remember that I was ever threatened with it.

Lord Dartmouth. -Oh, yes! when Malcolm was tarred and feathered, the committee for tarring and feathering blamed the people for doing it, that being a punishment reserved for a higher person; and we suppose you were intended.

Hutchinson. I remember something of that sort, which was only to make diversion, there being no such committee, or none known by that name.

King.What guard had you, Mr. Hutchinson?

Hutchinson. I depended, sir, on the protection of Heaven. I had no other guard. I was not conscious of having done any thing of which they could justly complain, or make a pretence for offering violence to my person. I was not sure, but I hoped they only meant to intimidate. By discovering that I was afraid, I should encourage them to go on. By taking measures for my security, I should expose myself to calumny, and be censured as designing to render them odious for what they never intended to do. I was, therefore, obliged to appear to disregard all the menaces in the newspapers, and also private intima

tions from my friends, who frequently advised me to take care of myself.

The king was particular in inquiries relative to several of the popular leaders.

King. Pray, what does Hancock do now? How will the late affair affect him?

Hutchinson. I don't know to what particular affair Your Majesty

refers.

King.-Oh! a late affair in the city, his bills being refused. [Turning to Lord Dartmouth], Who is that in the city, my lord? [Lord Dartmouth not recollecting.]

Hutchinson. I have heard, sir, that Mr. Haley, a merchant in the city, is Mr. Hancock's principal correspondent.

Hutchinson. I heard, may it please Your Majesty, before I came from New England, that some small sums were returned, but none of consequence.

King. Oh, no! I mean within this month,-large sums.

Lord Dartmouth. I have heard such rumors, but don't know the certainty.

Hutchinson. Mr. Hancock, sir, had a very large fortune left him by his uncle; and I believe his political engagements have taken off his attention from his private affairs. He was sensible, not long ago, of the damage it was to him, and told me he was determined to quit all public business; but soon altered his mind.

King. Then there's Mr. Cushing. I remember his name a long time. Is not he a great man of the party?

Hutchinson. He has been many years speaker; but a speaker, sir, is not always the person of the greatest influence. A Mr. Adams is rather considered as the opposer of Government, and a sort of Wilkes in New England.

King. What gave him his importance?

Hutchinson. A great pretended zeal for liberty and a most inflexible natural temper. He was the first that publicly asserted the independency of the colonies upon the kingdom, or the supreme authority of it.1

1 I am indebted to George Bancroft for the use of the "Extracts from the Journal of Thomas Hutchinson, Governor of Massachusetts." This manuscript