George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 5, 13th edition.

[176] against the impending measures, of which the extent

chap. IX.} 1764. Jan.

was kept secret. Massachusetts, in January, 1764, with a view to effect the greatest possible reduction of the duty on foreign West Indian products, elected Hutchinson as its joint agent with Mauduit. But before he could leave the province, the house began to distrust him, and by a majority of two, excused him from the service.¹

The designs of government were confided to the crown officers in America. For generations they, and their predecessors, had been urging the establishment of a parliamentary revenue for their support. They sought office in America for its emoluments; the increase and security of those emoluments formed their whole political system. When they learned that the taxes which they had so long and so earnestly recommended, were to be applied exclusively to the support of the army, they shrunk from upholding obnoxious measures, which to them were to bring no profit. They were disheartened, and began to fear that provision for the civil list, the only object they cared for, was indefinitely postponed. In their view, the regulation and the reformation of the American government was become a necessary work, and should take precedence of all other business. They would have a parliamentary regulation of colonial charters, and a certain and sufficient civil list,² laid upon perpetual funds. But Grenville, accepting the opinions of his secretary, Jackson, refused to become the attorney for American office-holders, or the founder of a stupendous system of colonial patronage and corruption. His policy looked mainly to the improvement