Chap. XL.} 1769. April. |
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colonial possessions; England to retain her own in
more complete dependence than before.
Both desired and both needed peace; but Choiseul regarded the British proffers of confidence as an unmeaning jargon, and fearing a rupture at any moment, when it should assist to change a Ministry or secure a majority, he told the English plainly, ‘that the King of France and his Ministry applied themselves unremittingly to maintain peace, but never lost out of sight, that to preserve peace it was necessary to be in a condition to sustain a war.’1 England and France grew more and more distrustful of one another; and while the latter was yielding to the liberal ideas to which free inquiry had given circulation, England more and more forgot that her greatness sprung from her liberty.
The publication of some of the American letters, which had been laid before Parliament and copied for Beckford,2 unmasked Bernard's duplicity.
The town of Boston repelled the allegation, that they were held to their allegiance only by the ‘band of terror and force of arms.’
In their representation to the King, which Barre himself presented, they entreated the removal of the troops, a communication of the charges against them, and an opportunity to defend themselves, for justice and law forbade that they should be condemned unheard.
The Council, too, without delay, calmly and unanimously vindicated the Province and themselves.
They proved their own undeviating respect for law; they set in a strong light Bernard's unmanly
1 Choiseul to Du Chatelet, 16 April, 1769.
2 Hutchinson to Mauduit, 16 April, 1769.
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