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

‘But is there any thing,’ the Governor had asked, ‘which we have more reason to dread than Independence?’ And the House answered, ‘There is more reason to dread the consequences of absolute uncontrolled power, whether of a nation or of a Monarch.’ ‘To draw the line of distinction,’ they continue, ‘between the supreme authority of Parliament, and the total independence of the Colonies would be an arduous undertaking, and of very great importance to all the other Colonies; and, therefore, could we conceive of such a line, we should be unwillng to propose it, without their consent in Congress.’

Having thus won an unsparing victory over the logic of Hutchinson by accepting all his premises and fitting to them other and apter conclusions, they rebuked the Governor for having reduced them to the alternative, either of appearing by silence to acquiesce in his sentiments, or of freely discussing the supreme authority of Parliament.

The Governor was overwhelmed with confusion. He had intended to drive them into a conflict with Parliament; and they had denied its supremacy by implication from his own premises, in a manner that could bring censure on no one but himself.

During this controversy a Commission composed of Admiral Montagu, the Vice-Admiralty Judge at Boston, the Chief Justices of Massachusetts, New-York and New Jersey, and the Governor of Rhode Island, met at Newport to inquire into the affair of the Gaspee. Deputy Governor Sessions and Stephen