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

[131]

The difficulty respecting taxation was heightened

Chap. XXXII.} 1768. Feb.

by personal contentions, which exasperated members of the Legislature of Massachusetts. The House¹ discovered that their leaving the Crown officers out of the Council had been misrepresented by Bernard to Shelburne; and in the most temperate language they wisely suggested the recall of the Governor,² of whose accusatory letters they requested copies.³ ‘It is not in the power of these people to move my temper,’ wrote Bernard.⁴ The indignation of Otis rose almost to a frenzy; a paper in the Boston Gazette, bearing the marks of his excited mind,⁵ exposed ‘the obstinate malice, diabolical thirst for mischief, effrontery, guileful treachery, and wickedness’ of Bernard. The Governor called on the House to order a prosecution of the printers. ‘The

March

Liberty of the Press,’ they answered,⁶ ‘is the great bulwark of freedom.’ On occasion of proroguing the Legislature, Bernard⁷ chid in public its leading Members. ‘There are men,’ said he, ‘to whose importance everlasting contention is necessary. Time will soon pull the masks off those false patriots, who are sacrificing their country to the gratification of ’