The Bernards of Abington and Nether Winchendon

IMMEDIATE CONSEQUENCES OF THE STAMP ACT Secretary Oliver appointed Stamp Distributor-Attack on Mr. Oliver's HouseRiots at Boston-Wrecking of Lieut.-Governor Hutchinson's PropertyGovernor Bernard's Remonstrances to the British Government on the Defenceless State of his Province-His Speech to the Assembly on the Stamp Act-The Assembly's Reply-Governor Bernard's Reply theretoAdoption by the Assembly of Fourteen Resolutions against Great Britain's Claim to Tax America-Governor Bernard's Objections to the Stamp ActHis Views on the Subject of American Representation.

THE moderate and courteous tone hitherto observable in the Assembly's answers to the Governor, which breathe a spirit of loyalty to the Crown and of regard for its representative in Massachusetts, renders the subsequent outbursts difficult to understand. But they were undoubtedly the result of secret influence, and of inflammatory newspaper articles prompted by that influence. Few persons, even in Boston, appear to have anticipated the full extent of the evil, except the agitators and some of the followers whom they had instructed, although it was, no doubt, a time of great anxiety to the loyalists.

The intelligence that the obnoxious tax had become law arrived at an unlucky moment,' when the annual general

1 For the events narrated in this and the succeeding paragraphs see Bancroft, History of the United States (Edn. 1885), Epoch ii.; Hutchinson, History of Massachusetts from 1749 to 1774, ch. ii.; Life of John Adams (begun by J. Q. Adams, and completed by Charles F. Adams), ch. ii. (written by J. Q. Adams, son of John Adams).

VOL. II.

election in May was impending; and it produced an immediate consequence, which was the beginning of trouble. The principal officials in the province--that is, the LieutenantGovernor, King's Secretary, and Judges of the High Court― had, as a matter of course, for many years been elected annually to the Council; but unhappily Secretary Oliver was the person appointed by the British Government to the office of Stamp Distributor. Up to that time he had been a general favourite; now an attempt was made by the malcontents to exclude him from the Council. Corresponding efforts, it may be supposed, were made on the other side, and Mr. Oliver retained his seat by a majority of three or four votes only. This hairbreadth escape was a serious disaster; but, although duly reported by the Governor, England's statesmen do not appear to have taken warning.

The Governor had a critical task to perform in opening the session, since his speech must of necessity touch on topics connected with the excitement actually prevailing, and from a point of view distasteful to the most stirring members of the Assembly. The biographer of John Adams, his own son, sneers at that part of the speech in which, as he puts it, Mr. Bernard 'descanted to them upon his own exertions to introduce into the province three improvements—namely, potash, hemp, and the carrying lumber to British markets'-and told the House that these were 'proper objects of their concern,' while he recommended submission to the decrees of the Parliament as their interest as well as their duty.' There was another unpalatable subject, the revision of the charters, which the Governor was obliged to mention as likely to take place ere long. Contrary to custom, the House vouchsafed no reply to this address.

The younger Adams describes at some length, and with exultation, the further steps taken to worry and embarrass the Governor as follows:

They did nevertheless, on the afternoon of the day on which it was delivered, appoint committees to consider and report on the paragraphs respecting potash, hemp, and lumber. These committees never did report; but on the 5th of June the Speaker of

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The Bernards of Abington and Nether Winchendon: A Family History, Volumen2