George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 4, 15th edition.

‘ [53] for enforcing the king's instructions. Con-

chap. II.} 1749.

sider,’ he adds, ‘the great liberties you are indulged with. Consider, likewise, what may be the consequences, should our mother country suspect that you design to lessen the prerogative of the crown in the plantations. The Romans did not allow the same privileges to their colonies, which the other citizens enjoyed; and you know in what manner the republic of Holland governs her colonies. Endeavor, then, to show your great thankfulness for the great privileges you enjoy.’

The representatives¹ adhered unanimously to their resolutions, pleading that ‘governors are generally entire strangers to the people they are sent to govern; . . . . . they seldom regard the welfare of the people, otherwise than as they can make it subservient to their own particular interest; and, as they know the time of their continuance in their governments to be uncertain, all methods are used, and all engines set to work, to raise estates to themselves. Should the public moneys be left to their disposition, what can be expected but the grossest misapplication, under various pretences, which will never be wanting?’ To this unanimity the governor could only oppose his determination of ‘most earnestly’ invoking the attention of the ministry and the king to ‘their proceedings;’ and then prorogued the Assembly, which he afterwards dissolved.

To make the appeal to the ministry more effective, Shirley, who had obtained leave to go to England, and whose success in every point was believed to be