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

‘Connecticut,’ said Johnson, ‘is a loyal Colony.’ ‘You are a very free Colony,’ rejoined Hillsborough; ‘generally you have used your very extraordinary powers with moderation; but you are very deficient in your correspondence, so that we have too little connection with you.’—‘That,’ answered the agent, ‘is owing to the good order and tranquillity which have so generally prevailed in a quiet Colony, where the government is wisely administered and the people easy and happy. Add to this: from the nature of our constitution fewer occasions arise of troubling the King's Ministers with our affairs than in the Governments immediately under the Crown.’

‘A request for a copy of your Colony laws,’ said Hillsborough, ‘has been repeatedly made; but I cannot find that any obedience has been paid to the requisition.’—‘The Colony,’ replied Johnson, ‘has several times sent over copies of the printed Law Book; there is one or more at the Plantation Office.’ —‘It is the duty of the Government,’ resumed Hillsborough, ‘to transmit from time to time, not only the laws that pass, but all the minutes of the proceedings of the Council and Assembly, that we may know what you are about, and rectify whatever may be amiss.’—‘If your Lordship,’ rejoined the agent, ‘wants a copy of our laws for private perusal, for the information of your clerks, or for reference, the Colony will send you one of their Law Books; and you will find it as good a code of laws, almost, as could be devised for such an infant country; and in no respect inferior to any collection of the kind in any of the Colonies. But if your Lordship means ’