George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 6, 10th edition.

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The document could not increase the zeal of the

Chap. XLIV.} 1770. May.

patriots of Boston; Hutchinson made an effective use of it to quicken the apprehensions of the Ministry; and its reception contributed to produce that new set of measures, which hastened American Independence by seeking to crush its spirit.¹ England assumed, that there existed a design for a general revolt, when there only existed a desire to resist ‘innovations;’ but the inference was a just one, that between the opinions of the House of Lords and those of the Town of Boston, the difference was irreconcilable.

The eagerness of Hutchinson to keep Bernard's favor and ingratiate himself with Hillsborough, induced him to call the newly elected Legislature, as he had done the last, to Cambridge. ‘Not the least shadow of necessity,’ said the House in its remonstrance, ‘exists for it. Prerogative is a discretionary power vested in the King only for the good of the subject.’ Hutchinson had over-acted

June.

his part; and now found himself embarrassed by his own arbitrary act, for which he dared not assign the true reason and could not assign a good one. The House censured his conduct by a vote of ninety-six against six, and refused to proceed to any other business than that of organizing the Government. Thus Hutchinson opened his administration with a foolish strife, wantonly provoked, and promising no advantage whatever to British authority.

Meantime a most elaborate paper on the disorders in America, was laid before the British Council.