serve the peace, and act in concert with the civil magistrate."

be

There is nothing in Mr. Deberdt's letter to shew, that he was not the dupe of Lord Hillsborough's pretty protestations. Nothing, however, could be more insulting than this language, to those men, to whom these professions were transmitted, because it supposed a degree of credulity incompatible with only a moderate share of understanding. Mr. Deberdt was entirely out of his element in this agency, the habitual deference of most persons of his standing in England, to mere titled rank, prevents the due exercise of the faculties in their presence; and the talking a "whole hour with his lordship," seems to have prepared his mind for any lief whatever. With Hillsborough for a minister, and Bernard for a Governor, the affairs of the colonies would have been brought sooner to a crisis, which was retarded under the agency of Lords Shelburne and Dartmouth. The absurd and inconsistent statements of the Governor, that the whole country was on the eve of a rebellion, and yet there was no opposition, except what was caused by "a few dissatisfied leaders of an expiring faction," was acted upon in a kindred spirit, by this incompetent and blundering minister. A military force was the infallible remedy confided in by both. The proposition that one house should rescind the "executed" transactions of another, had something ludicrous in its very terms. The punishment for their contushould be dissolved, was evidently

macy, that they

devised by some one wholly ignorant of the circumstances of the country, and who thought it would be as serious an injury to the members, as such an operation would be to the members of the English Parliament when in fact, the only effect here would have been, after two or three experiments, to have procured a legislature unanimous in their opposition.

Lord Hillsborough possessed a great deal of that systematic duplicity, and courtier-like flattery, which have too often been mistaken by monarchs for the substantial qualifications of statesmen. His measures, as secretary for the colonies, aggravated every difficulty, Otis had seen so much of his mismanagement, that he felt a strong contempt for him, which was expressed on several occasions. It has been already regretted, that there are no reports of any of his speeches; yet occasionally some contemporary, the survivor of his generation, can recall some passage, that had made a strong impression from its humour or peculiarity. One or two of these may be cited, relating to Lord Hillsborough. At the time the measures in regard to the circular letter were under debate, and he was speaking in the most

*His power in this way must have been considerable, since he was able to deceive even the sagacity of Franklin. When the latter was prosecuting his favourite scheme of a great settlement on the Ohio, Hillsborough advised, with a warm appearance of friendship, to extend his demand for land. 'Ask for more,' said he, ask for enough for a province.'-This he did in order to defeat his object by its extravagance. A very frank and amusing display of Franklin's vexation on this subject, may be seen in the letter to his son giving an account of it, as also of his paying him in his own coin, in an interchange of flattery during an interview at Oxford,

animated manner of what was required of them by the ministry; he asked with the most emphatic expression of contempt: "and who are these ministers? The very frippery and foppery of France, the mere outsides of monkeys!"* On another occasion, after the legislature had been adjourned to

These contemptuous expressions were related by the venerable Dr. Danforth, who remembered them from their singularity. They probably occurred in a speech, of which Governor Bernard gives the following account, in his letter to the earl of Hillsborough, of June 25th, 1768. "In the afternoon, when the messages, &c. (this was the message that communicated Lord Hillsborough's order to rescind the circular letter,) were read a second time. Otis made a speech near two hours long, of the most violent and virulent nature. He abused all persons in authority both here and at home; he indeed excepted the king's person, but traduced his government with all the bitterness of words. He said that the king appointed none but boys for his ministers; that they had no education but travelling through France, from whence they returned full of the slavish principles of that country; that they knew nothing of business when they came into their offices, and did not stay long enough in them to acquire that little knowledge which is gained from experience; that all business was really done by the clerks, and even they were too frequently changed to understand what they were about; that the people in England did not know what the rights of Englishmen were; that there was not a person in England, capable of composing so elegant, so pure, and so nervous a writing, as the petition to the king, which passed the last session, &c.

"I give your lordship a specimen of this rhapsody; and it was remarked that in this general censure of the administration of the king's government, no exception was made of the ministers who favoured America by the repeal of the stamp act, and by other indulgences, by the abuse whereof this very faction has risen to this head: all were involved in one common obloquy. I quote these sayings from the mouths of those who heard them delivered in the house, which was laid quite open, both doors and gallery, upon this occasion, but neither they nor I can pretend to exactness of words, but the substance, I dare say, does not vary materially. In another part of his speech, he passed an encomium on Oliver Cromwell, and extolled the times preceding his advancement, and particularly the murder of the king," Sir Francis, in repeating these hearsays, is obliged to admit, that the orator spoke of the king with respect; but if he had not, he would have considered it little more reprehensible than the freedom with which he treated the minister and governor. The speech of two hours' by Otis on this occasion was one of his most masterly harangues.

Cambridge, as will be presently described, it was said in favour of some measure, that it was taken by advice of council. In noticing this justification, Otis exclaimed, “aye, by advice of council forsooth! and so it goes, and so we are to be ruined! The council are governed by his excellency, his excellency by lord Hillsborough, lord Hillsborough by his majesty, his majesty by lord Bute, and lord Bute by the Lord knows who. This recalls to mind what used to be said when I was a student in this place. It was observed at that time, that the president directed the scholars how they should act, madam directed the president, Titus their black servant governed madam, and the devil prompted Titus!"

Chapter XXI.

Seizures by the Commissioners-Town-meeting-Arrival of the Troops-Feelings of the people--Refusal of the inhabitants to join in amusements with the Crown officers-Meeting of the legis lature in 1769-Proceedings relative to the army in Boston-Legislature adjourned to Cambridge-Protest-Answer to the Governor's requisitions-Recall of Governor Bernard-His administration.

On the 10th day of June, a vessel belonging to Mr. Hancock was seized by the commissioners of the customs, in a very violent and insulting manner.

Several barges from a ship of war took possession of the vessel, towed it from the wharf, and anchored it under cover of the guns of the Romney ship of war. The inhabitants considered this act, as particularly designed to mortify the chief merchant, and one of the most distinguished patriots of the town. A mob assembled, assaulted some of the CustomHouse officers, and burnt the collector's boat. The next day, the officers retired to the castle, declaring that they did not consider their lives safe in the town. This affair was doubtless concerted, that some disturbance might ensue, to justify the employment of the army that had been already ordered. A Town-meeting was held at which Otis presided, when a committee of twenty-one, of which he was chairman, was appointed to draw up an accurate statement of the late occurrences, and transmit the same to the agent in England, to prevent misrepresentations from being listened to by the ministry. The council, whose conduct had always been studiously moderate, passed certain resolutions, censuring the Custom House officers; which the House could not act upon, before they were dissolved. When the next legislature met in 1769, one of the first measures was to pass a resolve, thanking the council for their proceedings, which had involved them in a long altercation with Governor Bernard, and in which they had blamed the commissioners and justified the

town.

After the letter of the agent, mentioning the intention of sending troops to Boston, was received