* A '5.'^ ^^ ii' %. 0^ - » .* V^ ^ -y^^^^* ^aT X tip,* 4^ ^ '-.'g'^-* 4.: •- %y-' ^ "p^ A^?fA^ ^^. "^^^ :r'%;, ::." A if\ <■ -o . , > ^- -r ^^ ^^ A^- V"' V V-v^ ', if/ ;"'■■) vV* -^^0^ [Reprinted from Thk Amkkk an IIimokuai, Kkvikw, Vol. VIII., No. 2, Jan., I903. } \_e\Ve.TS ..."\Ld \ri(i-Tr\AS v^v^jt^m .,. 2. Letters of Samuel Cooper to Thomas Potvnall, lydg-ijjj} The following letters of the Reverend Samuel Cooper relate to public affains in the American colonies before the outbreak of the Revolution and during the war. As far as the present writer i.s aware they are now for the first time printed. In the library of George III., presented to the nation by George IV., is a manuscript volume (British Museum, King's MSS. 201) comprising " Original Letters, from Dr. Franklin to the Reverend Doctor Cooper, Minister of the Gospel in the Town of Boston in New England, in the years 1769. 1770, 1771, 1772, 1773, and 1774, upon the subject of American Politics." With this volume are two others, bound and lettered in the same style, the one con- taining original letters from Governor Pownall to Dr. Cooper (//-'z^., 202), and the other, drafts and copies, in his own handwriting, of letters from Dr. Cooper to Dr. Franklin and Governor Pownall {ibid., 203). A fourth volume {ibid., 204) contains copies of Cooper's letters to Franklin, Franklin's letters to Cooper (except that of De- cember 30, 1770), and all but two of Pownall's to Cooper, the letters of Cooper to Pownall being omitted." 1 A brief notice of Samuel Cooper may be found in Vol. VI. , p. 301, of the Review. ^ Preceding the transcripts in the last -mentioned volume is a short history of these letters, which runs as follows : " Account of the manner in which the following Letters came into the hands of the Person who now possesses them. " Immediately after the Afifair of Lexington, which happened upon the 19th of AM. HIST. REV., VOL. VIII. 20. 302 Documents Pownall's twenty-six letters to Cooper, comprising' " the newly discovered evidence " of Frederick Griffin, may be found published, generally entire, in that author's Junius Discovivcd (Boston and London, 1854). Cooper's letters to Pownall, fourteen in number, beyond an occasional extract, have not, as far as the present writer can learn, been heretofore printed. The first letter here printed, dated "Boston Feby. 18. 69." and the last one, dated " 28. March 1777," are in the possession of Mr. Marvin M. Ta)-lor of Worcester, Massachusetts. Frederick Tuckerman. I. Samuel Cooper to Thomas Pownall. Dear Sir, BosroN Feby. 18. 69. I am now to acknowledg the Favor of your Letters of the 16 and 20th of Nov'r last, and to Thank you for the kind and particular In- .April, 1775, the Town of Hoston was surrounded by the Rebels and all intercourse with the Country was cut off. Those who were in the Town were not allowed to quit it with- out the permission of the commander in chief, and no person was allowed to pass the lines to go into the country without first being searched by Officers appointed by the Gen- eral for that purpose. At this time many of the leading Men of the disaffected party were still in the Town, and among the rest the Revd. Dr. Cooper, Minister of the ( lospel to one of the Religious Societies in that town, a Man of great weight and influence among the people, who admired him as much for his Abilities, as they respected him on account of his Holy profession, and his exemplary life and conversation. He, with many others, made immediate application for leave to quit the Town, and obtained a Passport for that purpose. " At this time he had in his possession the Originals of the following Letters from Dr. Franklin, together with the original draughts of his Answers, and a great number of letters from Gov. Pownall, written the same time, upon the same subject, with the •draughts of &11 his answers to them. Being unwilling to destroy these papers, and afraid •of detection if he attempted to take them with him through the Lines, he determined to leave them behind in the hands of a confidential friend, with directions to forward them to him by the first safe conveyance. He accordingly packed them all up together in a bundle, and sent them to Mr. Jeffries, one of the selectmen of Boston, who at that time was sick, and unable to leave the Town. He was confined to his bed, when these papers were brought to him ; they were therefore put by in a trunk which contained oiher things of his own. As sonn as .Mr. Jeffries was recovered from his illness, he left the Town, and followed the rest of his Party into the Country. " His son, Dr. John Jeffries, who is now one of the Surgeons to the Hospital at New York, not choosing to take part in the Rebellion, refused to accompany his father into the Country. With this Son he left everything that he could not take with him, and among other things the beforementioned trunk, either not knowing or forgetting that it contained a treasure belonging to his friend. This trunk remained near a year in Dr. Jeffries' possession without his knowing what it contained, till, upon the evacuation of Boston in the month of March following, collecting his effects in order to embark with them for Hallifax, he accidently discovered this packet of Letters, and finding them interesting, took care to preserve them. From Hallifax he brought them with him to London in January last [1777, Ellis; 1779, Sabine], and made a present of them to Mr. Thompson [presumably Benjamin Thompson, later created Count Rumford], who now presumes most humbly to lay them at His Majesty's feet, as a literary, as well as a political curiosity." ' At the head of the original of this letter is written, " Letter 4<'i. ToTho^ Pownall Esqi; Copy." Tljomas Pownall, LL.D. , F. R.S., F.S..-\., statesman and antiquary, was f. Letters of Samuel Cooper to Thomas Pouniall 303 formation you have given me of Affairs relating to America, and this Province in particular. As I am fully persuaded both of your Ability and Inclination to serve us, and have heard with much Pleasure of your friendly Exertions on our Behalf, I shall omit no ' P^ndeavors of my own, as far as they will go to enlarge your Opportunities of shewing your Kind Regard to us. I have made, and shall continue to make the best Use of your Letters to this End, and at the same Time in so cautious a a manner as to avoid ev'ry Inconvenience to you. — The Agents for America, lam afraid have not thoroly done their Duty to their Constituents. De Berdt - has grossly fail'd respecting the Petitions committed to his Care — I am told it was asserted in Parliament, in Favor of the Secretary of State, that the Petition of y''' House was never given to him ; nor can I learn that this was contradicted, tho the Agent wrote the Speaker that He had offered it to H s Lordship. — The Province is certainly much oblig'd to you for the sound Advice you gave him res])ecting the Petition of the Conven- tion,* and his not acting according to it, at such a Crisis appears to me unpardonable, and has lost him much Confidence here. I was surprised to see the Complexion of the Thing such after the Petition had got home, and the good Conduct and Effect of the Convention were known, as also the Testimony of the Council to the good Order of the Town ; and am afraid this was owing to uncandid and exaggerated Accounts transmitted from hence, and too easily credited by Administration. "I'he People of this Town and Province, are under this great Disadvantage, that living so distant from the great Fountain of Government, they Know not what has been alledg'd against them, nor in what Light their Con- duct has been plac'd, and con^^equently it is out of their Pow'r to vindicate themselves till the Misrepresentation has had its Effect. — In political Con- tests, of so important a Nature as the present, between Britain and the Col - onies, is it just that Government should act upon Accounts stated ex parte ; for such we may suppose many of the Accounts receiv'd at the great offices from the immediate Servts of the Crown, and industriously conceal' d born at 1 iiicoln about 1722, and graduated at Cambridge in 1743. Ten years later became to America as private secretarj' to Sir Dan vers Osborn, Bart., royal governor of New \'ork. In 1755 'ic was appointed commissioner for Massachusetts; and in 1757 succeeded General Sbirley as governor of that province. In 1759 he was appointed governor of South Carolina, but he never assumed the government of that colony. In 1760 he returned to iMigland, and satin Parliament first for the Cornish borough of Tregony, and subsequently for Minehead, Somerset. He died at Bath, February 25, 1805. Pownall was a staunch friend to the American colonies, and as a member of Parliament strenuously opposed the ministerial measures against them. He protested against the war with America, predicting the consequences which followed. For some further account of him see IH(t. A^at. Bioi^., XLVI. pp. 264-268. A list of his writings may be found in the appendix to fiiiiuts Discovered, by Griffin. ^ After this the word " opportunity " is written and stricken out. Other erasures of this kind have been made, but have not been transferred in publication. •^ Dennis De Bt-idt, colonial agent in England for the Massachusetts assembly. ^ This word may be "y^," /. c, "the" and perhaps it should be printed "the" here. ■"The convention of September 22, 176S. See Frothingham, Life of IVairefi, 86-96. •?04 Documents from the People who are essentially interested in them ; Ought not the People to be made acquainted with these Accounts, and invited to vindicate themselves as far as they can, before Decisions are founded upon them that must affect their most important Interests — I find it has been receiv'd among you, as an undoubted Fact, that the Convention was called by the I'own of Boston, upon the Precedent of 1688 — on Sup- position of the Dissolution of Government, and with Intention to erect a new one — Had this been true, I should not wonder at the Resentment expres't against the Town of Boston, and the Circular Letter of the Selectmen. But this is far from the Truth — I never heard that they intended to proceed upon such a Ground, till it came from your Side the Water, suggested I believe from hence — The Letter mentions no such Thing— and it was, I am persuaded, far from the Intention of those who propos'd and carried that measure. If the Proceedings of the Convention were legal, innocent, and even meritorious, as I think they were, so were those of the Town of Boston, and of the Selectmen, that made Way for the Convention — The Design of it was, to calm the People, to prevent Tumults, to recognize the Authority of Government by humble Remonstrances and Petitions, and to lead the People to seek Redress only in a Constitutional Way. The discerning who promoted this Measure, saw that it must have this Effect. Had any Thing been intended in Opposition to Govern- ment, common Sense would have forbid the Calling the Members to as- semble in this Capital, where all they said and did must be Known, and would have left them to act more secretly, and effectually in the several Districts where they had Influence — The Publicity of the Meeting, was consider'd as the surest Pledg of the Prudence and good Temper of their Proceedings. Candor would have thus represented it to Ad- ministration. I have nothing to say, as to the Propriety of the Vote respecting Arms — It had an ill Api)earance upon which Account I dis- lik'd it ; but that was all. it was strictly legal — For it was not, as has been maliciously represented, a Resolution to take up Arms, but only to comply with a Law that obliges the Inhabitants to be proviih'd ivith them. There was at that Time, not only a Report, but a General Appre- hension of a War with France — Some however, I do believe were in Favor of this Vote, not Knowing what Excesses the Troops that were then expected might commit, and because they judg'd it expedient for the Inhabitants at such a Juncture to avail themselves of the Privilege given them by Law, and that a public Declaration of this might be a Se- curity to them. Mr Greenville's Pamphlet is in many Places rather plausible than solid — Your Note is handsom [?] and conclusive — It is strange that we should be rejjresented as paying no Taxes, becau-e we avoid as much as may be. Duties and Ikirdens upon Trade, and make jjrompt Payment; — that a Necessity for Paper mony should be be consider'd as a Mark of our Riches, and that a Tax should be propos'd to be laid on America, an infant Country, twice as large as upon Ireland, an old Kingdom, of Letters of Sauuiel Cooper to TJiomas Poivnall 305 establish' d Manufactures — that the [///d^/M'] of Woollen Manufactures, should be held out as a Douceur to the last, and nothing but a severely- restricted Trade to poor America. — A larger Quantity of British Goods were imported into America, the Year of the Stamp Act than in the succeeding ones, because the Merchants here gave Orders to their Cor- respondents, in Case they apprehended the Repeal would take Place, to shi|) a more than common Quantity of Goods; because the Act had given a start to American Manufactures wch was perceptible the next year and still further promoted by subsequent Acts of the same Spirit : so that Facts truly stated are directly repugnant to the Author's Argu- ment. Manufactures daily advance among us : Hundreds of the Troops station' d here have already deserted, delighted with the Country, and mixing with its Inhabitants, carrying useful Arts and Trades as well as military Skill, wherever they go — In short, ev'ry hard Measure from Britain, reacts upon itself; and true Policy respecting America seems to have forsaken your Councils. I have heard that when the Secretary of State was pres't in Parlia- ment, upon American Measures, it was said in his Vindication, that the Order to dissolve the Assembly in Case of Non rescinding, was never de- sign'd as a Threat to a Corporation ; that being address'd to the Gov- ernor, as a Direction to his Conduct alone, it could by no Means be con- sider'd in that light ; and that another Assembly must of Course meet in May — But the Governor laid this Order before the Assembly, declaring himself indispensably oblig'd to obey it — It had therefore as much Effect upon their Deliberations as if it had been addres't immediately to them. The House desiring a short Recess, to consult their Constituent upon so important a Point, were refus'd — Nay when they only took a few days to deliberate upon it, the Governor grew impatient, and told them in a Message, that He expected an immediate Decision, and should regard a longer Hesitation as an absolute Denial, and proceed accordingly — Was all this HO Threat to a Corporation — ' II. Samuel Cooper to Thomas Pownall. May 11'.'' 1769 My Dear Sir. I am extremely obliged to you for the trouble you have given your- self, so particularly to inform me of Affairs in which America is inter- ested. I havereceiv'd your Letters of 30 Jan^ [and] 13 Feb^ [and those of] 19, 21, 22 March" have been deliver'd to me. I wrote you by Capt. Hall, and Scot, who both promised me very particularly to deliver my Letters into your own Hand. Tho I suppose by your Letters, that some have not fulfill' d their engagements to me upon this Head. I shall how- ever take the best care I am able in this Point for the Time to come. Ev'ry 1 The remainder of this letter is missing. With a few exceptions Dr. Cooper's draffs or copies are signed by him, either in full or with his initials. ^ All of the letters here mentioned, except that of March 21, are printed by Griffin in Junius Discovered. 3o6 Documents American and indeed ev'ry Friend to the true Interest of the Nation is indebted to you for your Speech in Parliament upon the Resolution in which you united Reasoning and Eloquence with a precise Knovvledg of Facts. But I'm afraid that some on your Side the water do not wish that things should be view'd in a clear and just Point of Light, they have taken their Part, and know not how to recede, and seem determin'd to use their utmost efforts to support the credit of their Representations, upon which they have hastily founded their Sentiments and Conduct — Measures that have been gone into thro Mistakes and ixom false Lii:^/its held out to lead- ing men, must be maintain'd and perserver'd in for the Sake of Dignity, as if it could be for the Honor or Support of Government to persist in Error. Your Speech which was soon Publish' d and dispers'd among us, tho not from the copy sent me, which came later than some others, is much admir'd among us, and regarded as a Proof of your Knowledg Public Business, and of your Zeal for the Welfare of both countries. But tho there is nothing in it, that I can discern, to give the least Umbrage to the warmest Friends of Government, yet I suspect that ev'ry Part of it is not highly relish' d by some few among us, who are fond of Assuming this character, and are for having ev'ry thing carried with a high Hand. On the other Side, some are jealous that from your concessions on the Head of externa/ Taxes you meant the Establishment of a Revenue, on Port Duties, which they say would not be going back to the old Ground : inasmuch as before the Stamp Act : Parliament evidently in- tended nothing more than a simple regulation of Trade for the Benefit of the whole as a Proof of which they allidg, that the Duties rais'd by the Molasses Act were consider' d only as Perquisites to the Officers here, and not appropriated to any use by Parliament, or bro't into the accounts of the Exchequer — In the observations on the state of the Nation, said here to be M' Rourkes, it is remark' d if I mistake not, that a Country from which Britain reapes the Fruits of a double Monopoly, that of all its Im- ports and all its exports, can never in true Policy be consider'd as the Object of Taxation — These Monopolies must draw from it all it can yield : and if they are not strictly Taxes, they certainly include all Taxes. So that Government may take the old Ground with ev'ry ad- vantage to itself — The Gentlemen of the convention and particularly the Selectmen of Boston are greatly oblig'd to you for your Candid and ac- curate Vindication of them, from these artful and cruel Misrepresentations which aim'd at nothing Short of involving them in the Penalties of Treason — Tho there is not a man among us, but must be convinc'd in his own Mind, from the open Part which they took, and from other cir- cumstances that these Gentlemen were not apprehensive that they were doing anything illegal. 1 cannot think of the Malignity of some among us, without Detestation and Horror. I do not wonder that the nullum Tempus Bill, was not consider'd as extending to America; nor am I surpris'd after what has taken place; that it made a Question whether any of the great acts, that guard the Letters of Samuel Cooper to TJumias Ponuiall 307 Liberties of the Subject do thus extend an unbounded Pow'r, can do anything with us. It can create and anihilate us as often as it Pleases, whom we are to obey, it can make us absolutely and completely British Subjects : when we claim a Privelege it can as easily unmake us. How dreadfully precarious is such a condition, and can any Man imagine, that ■ so great a Part of the Nation, as now inhabits America, and that is rap- idly growing, to an equality in Numbers with those within the Realm, can be contented with such a Situation, while they have as thoro an understanding as high a value for the Rights of the British Constitution as any who enjoy them : We must be plac'd upon a broader and firmer Bottom than we stand at present or Things will inevitably tumble into confusion — I am oblig'd to you for the copy Inclos'd of the Mutiny Bill, it being the only one in the Place. — I read it to General Mackay, ^ who arrived about a Fortnight ago. — The alterations which you origi- nated have greatly amended the act — But the passing a Law here for the Purpose Mention'd, is like to meet with opposition upon two accounts; because we have never made an act the operations of which is to be Sus- pended \\\\ it be confirm'd by the King ; and because People will be ex- tremely jealous of anything that shall look like a conceding to the estab- lishment of an Army among us in Time of Peace. — For the same Reasons as because the Troops were quarter' d in this Town in direct opposition to act of Parliament, our assembly will thoroly deliberate I imagine be- fore they give any Money towards the Support of these Troops in their present Situation. Many I am persuaded w'd chose to have their Money taken from them by Force, rather than give the Sanction of their own consent, to the Maintenance of an Army sent among us under Pretence of aiding the civil Magistrates, while they protested ag'st it, and which threatens to overthrow the constitution. 1 enclose you the Instruction of the Town of Boston, from which you may judg of the general Disposition of the whole Province : and how far the late measures are likely to soften us to any concession — Our Merchs stand firm to their agreement respecting Non Importation of Goods.'' Some who had goods sent contrary to expectation, have readily resign'd them to a committee of the Body. — a few who never enter'd into the agreement and have imported a small Quantity, have their Names pub- lish'd in Hand Billits, to their great vexation, because they know it is the Spirit of the People in the country as well as Town not to purchase of them. For which Purpose Engagements will be form'd among the Purchasers of Connecticut and N. Hampshire as well as this Province. Ill Humers if violently repell'd at one avenue do naturally break out at ' Colonel (afterwards Major-General ) Alexander Mackay arrived in Boston with tbe troops from Ireland in November, 1768, being at that time in command of the 65'h Regiment. He returned to England the following August. See Mass. Hist. Coil., ( tli Series, IX. 170. note. 2 The merchants and traders of ISoston had entered into an agreement not to import goods from Great Britain, and further agreed that no goods should be sent from IJosi. n until the revenue acts had been repealed, and so notified De l!erdt, the agent of the col- ony in England. See Mem. Hist. BostO'i. III. 29, note. ^o8 Documents another, till there is a radical cure. The same Firmness is discover' d by the Merchants at N. York and some that have imported there, have Solemnly engag'd to send back their goods while we are thus stopping our Importation Manufactories continually increase among us ; We are ambitious of being clad in our own Produce ; and the invention of a Sagacious and injur'd People quite thro this extended Continent is now upon the Stretch, to find out ways and means to supply themselves, and diminish the com- mercial advantage Britain has reaped from them. — This is indeed an unnatural state — But we have been drove to it, and if the Presure continues the state will become natural by Habit, and the Tree will break before it is made strait again. In the Mean Time the Figure and Influence of the Nation is impair' d — The weight of Negotiation is lost. — It is understood that Peace must be preserv'd upon any Terms with Foreign Pow'rs. — The Manilla Ransom must and other Points Per- haps of greater importance must be wav'd from confessed Weakness. This indited new Insults and Infractions of Treaties — and precipitates rather than protract a dreaded War — And for what are the Foundations thus out of course? Sovereignty you always had and might continue to have ; ev'ry good and valuable Purpose — nor can the Colonies be more useful upon any Plan than that upon wch they stood from the Beginning and is [it] worth while to incur such capital Distresses for the sake of a Shadow : or to Support a few unworthy Servants of the Crown, whose Avarice, paltry Ambition, and base Misrepresentations, have shook the Empire, and essentially injur'd the Service of that good Prince, they were under ev'ry obligation to promote. — Governor Bernard is still convinc'd as we \Jllegihle\ to sooth us, on Doubt into compliance. — and employ his great Interest with the People for the service of the Crown, strange that He should seem so loth to leave a country He has so grossly injur'd and abus'd, and He has indeed essentially tho undesignedly Serv'd us — Had he been wise and smooth and known how to have establish'd himself upon a broad Bottom, our Liberties might have been lost without a strougle The assembly 1 be- lieve will keep up as firm a Tone as any former ones ; and the Council will be more than ever united with the House and the People — For this we are greatly indebted to the Governor — From what you dropt in your last letter, I expect the Agency would not now be agreable to you ; as it would give me great Pleasure to have you in that important Trust, but much more to see you again at the Head of the Province, as no man would be more likely to heal our Wounds, and essentially to promote the service of both Countries — The Rev'd M!' Moore, Presbyterian Minister of Hallifax, promises to deliver this to you with his own Hand — He goes to Sollicit Aid for the poor Ministers at N. Scotia: He is well recommended, and His Success in this affair seems to me of no small Importance to the Support of this declining Province. To T. Povvnall It. Boston, III. 30. Letters of Samuel Cooper to Thomas Poiviiall 317 when a Party of Soldiers with Capt. Preston at their head fir'd upon the Inhabitants in King Street without a civil Magistrate without the least Reason to justify so desj^erate a step and without any warning given to the People, who could have no apprehension of Danger. The circumstances that preceded, that accompanied, and follow'd this shocking and unex- ampled scene of Barbarity you will see in the public and authentic accounts w'ch this vessel hir'd by the Town on Purpose to carry. The Day following, when the Town assembled, and the Governor met his council, with the principal Military Officers the Town prest for a total Removal of the Troops to the Castle, the council unanimously advis'd it, and Col. Dalrymple, the commanding Officer, Signified his readiness, and even appear'd to desire it; which shows his good Judg- ment in such a critical circumstance. But the LI Governor alone was backward would have compounded for one Regiment, and kept the affair in suspence till near night, when he gave way with reluctance. He is by this Time sensible I believe that it is easier to advise and act the second Part in Government, than to stand forward and open in the first Depart- ment. It was a great Favor of Heav'n that the soldiers proceeded no further : That the Inhabitants did not attempt to revenge themselves Instantly; That the Promise of Justice was immediately perform'd and the Party with the Captain deliver'd up to the civil Magistrates. Had more Blood been shed of which there was the most eminent Hazard in the first Heat and confusion our Brethren in the country, apprehending a general M.issacre, being on Tip Toe to come to our Defence, no one can tell where it would have stopt, nor what consequences it would have drawn after it, not only in this but in other. Colonies : But a Kind Providence interpos'd for us, and we are now happily deliver'd from that Army, which instead of preserving the Peace among us, has in numerous In- stances most audaciously violated it, and instead of Aiding has overaw'd and sometimes even assaulted the civil Magistrates, and Demonstrated how impossible [it] is for Soldiers and Citizens at least in our Circum- stances to live together. For these and other reasons we cannot suppose that Trooj)s [will] ever again be quarter'd in the Body of the Town. — I could say much upon this Subject but chose to forbear. The Commissioners have never held a Board since the late Tragical affair, they have adjourn' d themselves from Time to Time, without con- sulting M' Temple ; ' and have left the Town ever since the Departure of the Soldiers, and tho not the least Injury or Insult has been offer'd either to their Persons or any thing belonging to them, it is tho't that they are now so sensible of the Public Odium, and so tir'd of their employment, as to wish for a Removal. The night after the Massacre, the State and ap- prehension of the Town absolutely requir'd a strong Military watch : This ' lohn Temple, one of the five commissioners of the board of customs for North Am- erica, and after the war consul-general of Great Britain to the United States. He married Elizabeth, only daughter of Governor Bowdoin, and in 1786 succeeded his kins- man, Sir Richard Temple, as eighth baronet of .stowe. AM. HIST. RK\., VOL. VHI. — 21. 3 1 8 Dociinieiits was kept up till the Soldiers had all retir'd to the Castle, and the Town has been quiet and in good order ever since. The Officers with their Servants and Attendants from the Castle pass the Streets night and Day in their Regiments without the least Molestation or Uneasiness. M." Robinson one of the Commissioners sail'd for London more than a week ago. His Intention was kept a profound secret till he had em- barqued and was under Sail, this has occasion'd many Conjectures. It is reported among other things that he carries Depositions secretly taken, relating to the firing upon the Inhabitants, and hopes for the advantage of making the first Impression If it should be represented that there was a great Mob in King Street, and the Custom House attack' d, you may depend upon it nothing can be further from the truth as you will see by the Depositions sent. Our General Court is now sitting at Cambridg. Both Houses are uneasy at their inconvenient Situation. The Representatives sit in the New Chapel without fire. The \1 Governor pleads an instruction from which he cannot, and the House protests ag'st this as an Infraction of the Charter. They are now preceding to Business, having as the first step, appointed a Committee of Grievances. Such Prorogations instead of humbling do but increase the Spirit of opposition, and by this Time it must be evident to all, that it is absolutely necessary to restore Harmony and Confidence upon a broad, equal, and Constitutional Basis. It gives me great Joy to hear of your Recovery. May God long confirm your Health, and grant to you and yours all good Things. 1 am my dear Sir, with the most cordial Attachment Your Obedt. and hum''.'- Servt. To Governor Pownall • S. Cooper. viii. Samuel Cooper to Thomas Pownall. Dear Sir Boston. July 2. 70 I have receiv'd your rejjeated Favors, the Dates of which I am not now where I can command, but believe all you have sent have been de- liver'd : Tho my ill state of Health and absence from Town have pre- vented my writing you as I should have done, we are greatly indebted to you for your uncommon services, and unremitted exertion in Parliament, for the joint Interest of Britain and the colonies, for your Speeches — your state of the Colonies, — your attention to the unconstitutional Military Fow'r introduc'd among us in i'ime of Peace : and your concern that the grand securities of British Liberty may be clearly extended God prosper and reward your generous L (Torts. Your Speech in March I immediately communicated to Speaker Gushing He admir'd it, and carried it to Cambridg the same Day, and read it to the House— it was heard with great Avidity and Pleasure : and we have seen nothing like it from any Member of Parliament. I am astonish'd however that the Rea- soning and Force of Expression should have no greater effect in your H. where they ought to have had the most. Letters of Samuel Cooper to TJioinas Pownall 319 I am astonish'd to find upon Gardiner's arrival, t)y whom I have receiv'd yours of 11"' of May' how basely the bloody affair of the s**" March has been Misrepresented in the London Papers. It shows the Malignitv of some men against this Town and Province. Those who are capable of giveing and sup|)orting such false and cruel Representa- tions are the chief source of the Troubles of both Countries, and consider- ing the Disposition of these Persons the Arts they employ, the attention paid to them (Check'd only now and then by Facts publish' d to all the O) and the encouragement given them by Secreting their Names; I have small hopes of a speedy and cordial accommodation. If any Person here give true Information of what ought to be known by Governm't, it cannot be to their Dishonor. If otherwise, they ought to be expos' d, what chance have we, in our present critical situation, if men disaffected to the Coun- try in general may accuse us, and give a Malevolent Turn to ev'ry Inci- dent, while we can neither know the Authors, nor the Matter of the accu- sation. I expect from what has already happen'd, that before this reaches you, you will hear inflam'd accounts of the Treatment the Population have given to the Importers and to the Informers, and of Commissioner Hulton's windows being broke at Brookline. The Town at their Meet- ing yesterday chose a committee to state these Facts. But not knowing in what Light they will be held up, it is difficult to state circumstances so minutely, as to obviate any Misrepresentation. Thus had we been aware of the shockingly false Idea that would have been given of the Military Execution, The Captains [Captions?] tho sufficient as they now stand to disprove it might have been more clear and ample to this particular Pur- pose. You will see perhaps Proclamations from the L! Governor and council upon some of these Disorders, Tho no Proclamation has ap- pear' d at N. York upon Several Occasions at least as important, particu- larly when M' Rogers was drove out of that City, as an Importer and oblig'd to fly in the night. I am an enemy to all Disorders, and wish they c'd be prevented. But circumstances are candidly to be consid- er'd. — and a country distinguis'd from a few obscure Persons in it. When Governm't would enforce Measures that People of all orders ap- prehend to be unconstitutional, there it will and there perhaps it ought to be weak. The commissioners you know having Tarried some Time in Town after Preston's affair, without the le[a]st affront, retir'd into the Country and held no Board since the Breaking of Hulton's Windows, which notwithstanding the reward offer'd, still remains a Mystery, they have gone to the Castle. — attended by Officers of the Revenue Importers etc. The Castle is no disagreable situation in the Summer Season, and they expect great things Perhaps from the Retirement. But the Plot will not bear a second Acting. Notwithstanding the Infidelity of a few — the NonTmportation Agreement [?] still Continues. It is got in a great Measure under the controul of the Body of the People thro the Continent. The Importers here, wish'd to be restor'd to the Esteem of their country upon any Terms. W Rogers particularly have made the 1 Printed in Griffin, /. i., 269. 3 20 Doaiments most pressing applications: and Individuals I believe will be less in- clin'd than ever to act secretly and sei)arately from the Body — and Bills of Exchange go a begging greatly under Par. Commodore Hood ' unable to dispose of Bills, has borrow'd ^5000 sterl. of the Revenue chest, to pay for the King's works at Hallifax. Instead of being, we are becoming, creditors to your Merchants ; and some of us have order' d Money, instead of goods to be remitted. If you knew all the circumstances you w'd admire the Candor of the People to Capt. Preston. The 'I'own order' d the account of his affair, and the Affidavits to be kept secret here, lest they s'd operate to his Prejudice on his Trial, and tho his false Acc't in the London Papers have been reprinted in ours and may be suppos'd to have some effect in the country and in other Provinces, as a Ballance to w'ch it was mov'd in the late Town Meeting, that our own acc't s'd be despers'd, yet this Motion was negativ'd from Tenderness to him. Peo|)le seem universally to wish him a fair Trial — Tho a Tendency prevails that from Court Favor the Law will be eluded — and indeed the confidence of the People in the Executive Pow'r is greatly awak'ned in all cases that have a Polit- ical Connection. To Gov-: P. IX. Samuel Cooper to Thomas Pownall. 12 Oct.' 70. and Nov 5'.'' Dear Sir I am the more obliged to you for the repeated Favors you have done me in Writing this Summer, as my state of Health and visits into the Country have prevented my Letters. Upon my return f 'm a late excur- sion I received y'r Letters^ by Capt. White, w'ch I found to be Dupli- cates of w't Commodore Gambler,^ who arriv'd in our Harbor 2 days ago did me the Honor to convey to me last evening immediately upon his coming to Town. As you have very kindly introduc'd me to this Gentleman, I shall take the first opp.y to pay my respects to him in comj^any with M.' Bavvdoin, and s'd be glad to have it in my Pow'r to promote in any measure the ease and agreableness of his Service here. I find you are unwearied in y'r exertions to serve America, and particu- larly the Province you once so happily Govern'd You will at le[a]st have the homefelt satisfaction that must attend such generous efforts. A Speech said to have been deliver' d the last sessions of Parliam't doing gt Honor to the Massachusetts, f 'm our past Services to the Crown, and Strongly pleading that the supreme Military s'd not be separated from ' Samuel Hood, a distinguished British naval commander. For his services during the wars of the French Revolution he was made an admiral and created Viscount Hood. •^ Refers to the July letters, of which there are three in the King's Library, one with a duplicate. 'I'hey are printed in Griffin, loi . cit., 274-287. •'James Gambier, afterwards vice admiral, from 1770 to 1773 commander-in-chief of the fleet on the North American station. He subsequently served at New York and thence was transferred to Jamaica. His son James was raised to the peerage as Baron Gambier. Letters of Samuel Cooper to ThoDias Poioiiall 32 i the Supreme Civil Command, wch I take to be yours has found its way here, been reprinted, and read with much attention and Pleasure. It will do g't service, as it points out very clearly in some important Instances, the Ground we ought to take : And I could wish with you that we were at all Times wise eno to distinguish Things f m Persons, and to place ourselves on the broadest and most constitutional Bottom. It appears to me of no small Importance that we s'd commit our affairs on yr side the Water to the Conduct of some capable trusty Agents: But w't will be done on this Head is at present quite uncertain — M' Bau doin will never accept this Trust, Mr Bollan has the Interest of a great Part of the Council : The House on the other hand notwithstanding his exertions against S' Fr. do not confide in him upon Acc't of his personal connections here, vv'ch I need not particularly mention to you. Some of considerable Influence seem not Sollicitous for any Agent. They say it is alledg'd that one who can do effectual Service must be chosen by the whole Legislature, and this is giving the Governor great Influence in this important Matter, and for this very reason S!' Francis Bernard hinted to ministry an objection to the late Agent of the House, wch objection ought to have operated ag'st the Agent for N. York and others, had there been any Weight in it, and yt they who refuse the negociations of an Agent for the House only would do the same by one chosen by the whole Leg- islature w'n the nature of the Business was not agreable to you, and that such an Agent, with Pow'rs equal to w't were formerly given, might make such concessions on the Part of the Province at this Juncture that would be irritrieveable : They say further, that Experience has shown in the present Disposition of Men the inutility of all remonstrances and negociation. They therefore seem inclin'd to expect their fate with a Sullen Silence : and almost dispairing of the Mildness, they w'd found some Hopes in the extremity of Measures. I think however that we ought to do ev'ry thing in our Pow'r to allay the Storm, and scatter the Cloud of Misrepresentation, f 'm w'ch we are so severely Fhreatn'd, and accordingly I agree with M!' Bawdoin in wishing, that you and D!" Frank- lin might be joint agents, and if this c'd not be otherwise effected, that MI' Bollan might be added. I s'd be glad if it were in my pow'r to do more in this Matter than barely to express my wishes. The House pinch'd by the expiration of some important Acts relative to Property, and by the ajiprehension of a heavy Tax falling upon the Constituents for the coming year, voted two days ago by a considerable Majority, to proceed to Business out of the Town of Bos- ton, and at the same Time, chose a committee to frame some resolu- tions and as a Protest to save as far as may be, the Privilege for w'ch they have contested. I shall give you the earliest notice of these Pro- ceedings I'he Defection of the Merchants in N York f 'm the non- Importa- tion agreement has render'd it impracticable both here and at Philadel- phia to maintaining any longer that agreem't. It stood long however considering how much it was oppos'd to private Interest and did not fall 322 DociLDients at last it is suppo^'d without a secret exertion of Ministerial Influence: The Measure is exhausted, but its effect may long remain. The true spirit of it has been a good deal diffus'd thro the Country and there, according to an observation of yours it flourishes in its native soil. There is a proposal here for forming a society for encouraging Manufactures, and at the same Time entring into agreement for discouraging the consump- tion of British Goods. — The misfortune of my great Friend Capt. Phillips^ touches me not a little, who without the least warning is de- priv'd of an agreeable Settlem't as he had good reason to suppose for Life, by the introduction of regular Troops into the Castle, without any appointm't to alleviate his loss. He is a worthy Man, and I heartily wish some Provision might be made for him. W't impression this Measure makes here, consider'd in a public view, you may easily con- jecture. The Commissioners after contributing to this and some other Purposes, by their pretended Fears, and retiring to the Castle, tho no Insult or Injury was ever offer' d to the Persons or any thing belonging to them, in the Town of Boston. After spending their Summer in a situation that in the season was always agreable to you, and f 'm whence they have freely [/7/^ '^ ■ -.^ %^ ,^ /^i(^\ ^,^ _^^ .:^ 9^ ^^ ,. %^ ^^-^^ ,^^' .0* t^-0^ :^ ^S^ .V ^^V c » " * « ^, 'P .0^ v" '-j^"^- , o. S - " o , i o V V % °o •^- " <^ .. ^*\' * * t r\ \n, ■> i. ■'ay' ^* > ^^> c:?^' ^^cv^^;^<^ ^^-, .& '•\l'£S^''-i'^"_ ■ ^^^^ \\ %'^^ "«^0^ ''^^ vV *->: ^". ^o. v^ "^^ .-. '*' "ov