the second son, John, had been started in a mercantile career in Boston, which promised to afford an independent source of income when the times mended. The prospect of a baronetcy was, of course, gratifying as a mark of royal favour, and, it may be said, of national approbation; titles of all degrees were then less lavishly dispensed than now, and had more significance. The offer had also a value beyond mere personal gratification, as it was likely to cheer the hearts and strengthen the hands of Massachusetts loyalists. There are, indeed, sundry indications that the honour, when it became public news, was a source of mortification to the insurgent party.

Mr. Hutchinson says that Governor Bernard 'had often expressed his desire to live a more easy life, and repented his change of New Jersey for Massachusetts, though the former had less emolument than the latter; and he had written desiring leave to go to England, hoping for a more easy government.' He adds that the Governor had arranged to take refuge in Halifax, Nova Scotia, if forcibly driven out of Boston, intending there to await the King's pleasure. Bancroft asserts that he was about this time jostled out of the Government of Virginia, in which Lord Hillsborough desired to see him established, and states that he

was now promised the rank of a baronet and the administration of Virginia.2 . . . For Virginia, it was resolved that the office of its Governor should no longer remain a sinecure. . . . In selecting a new Governor, the choice fell on Lord Botetourt.3 It would have been ill for American independence if a man like him had been sent to Massachusetts.4

Hutchinson, Hist. Mass., ch. ii.

2 Bancroft, Hist. U.S., Epoch ii. ch. xxii.

'Beatson, A Political Index to the Histories of Great Britain and Ireland, vol. i. A List of Peers: 1307. John de Botetourt, Lord Botetourt of Welby Castle. The Barony came by a female to the Berkeley family, where it lay many years dormant, when it was claimed by a branch of that family; and, after a long hearing, the House of Peers confirmed it to Norborne Berkeley, Esqre, in 1763; he dying without issue the title now belongs to his sister, Elizabeth Dowager Duchess of Beaufort.' 'The ancient Barony of Botetourt was revived to the 5th Duke' (of Beaufort), Whitaker's Peerage.

Bancroft, Hist. U.S., Epoch ii. ch. xxiii.

DISLOYALTY IN VIRGINIA

149

That the harassed Governor had long been the most anxious man in Boston, and unhappy, so far as the machinations of his enemies could neutralise his appreciation of the blessings which still remained to him, is probable. Moreover, although it is certain that he hoped for some appointment, it is difficult to understand how the Vice-government of Virginia could have fulfilled his expectations.

It was the only colony which provided a fixed stipend for its Governors; nevertheless, it had been the custom for those governors to reside in England, leaving their province to the care of a lieutenant-governor, whose share of the stipend was probably not excessive. It is said that the British Government now determined to end this abuse, in view of the perilous state of America, and it must have been as first resident Governor that Mr. Bernard was thought of; he could not have accepted an inferior position. But that post was no great improvement on his actual troublesome Viceroyalty, since Virginia had already begun to fraternise with Massachusetts, notwithstanding the differences in its constitution and the character of its inhabitants, and was soon to be prominent in the revolutionary struggle.

It appears, indeed, that the person who in England was supposed to be aggrieved by Lord Botetourt's appointment was General Sir Jeffery Amherst, afterwards first Baron Amherst, a man of considerable military distinction, who had been Commander-in-Chief in America, and was Governor of Virginia. Like his predecessors, he resided in England as a matter of course; he does not seem to have been offered the option of doing otherwise, and thus retaining his appointment. The change, it is said, was effected without regard to his feelings, to justice, or to courtesy. His successor, according to statements in several of the Grenville letters and the notes appended to them, had kissed the King's hand, on his appointment, before Amherst knew that

1 The Grenville Papers: being the Correspondence of Richard Grenville, Earl Temple, and the Right Hon. George Grenville, their Friends and Contemporaries. Edited by James Smith, formerly Librarian at Stowe, vol. iv. 'Mr. Knox to Mr. Grenville, August 20, 1768, and Mr. Whately to Mr. Grenville, August 24, 1768.'

he was deposed. Strong excitement was naturally caused by this transaction. The ex-Governor's cause was taken up by 'Lucius '—that is, Junius' under another name-who depicts Botetourt, then a Lord of the Bedchamber, but a gambler and impecunious-as a 'cringing, bowing, fawning, sword-bearing courtier.' To Lord Hillsborough he ascribes the responsibility of the choice, which is inconsistent with Bancroft's view that Hillsborough wished to see Bernard in that position. The only reason given by Lucius' for this assertion is: 'Because there is no other person in the Cabinet who could be supposed to have a wish or motive to give such advice to the Crown.' He adds: 'Besides, they,' namely, the Duke of Bedford and his friends, 'openly disclaim any share in the measure, and they are believed.'

Lord Hillsborough's own account, as appears in the 'Grenville Papers,' was that he thought of Lord Botetourt ' in his difficulty.' How this difficulty was produced is not explained, but the natural inference is that he had not found any desirable person willing to accept the post; possibly, if not probably, Governor Bernard had declined it. 'Lucius,' of course, takes a different view: 'It was not Virginia that wanted a Governor, but a Court favourite that wanted a salary.' However this might be, Lord Botetourt was scarcely to be envied, or hated, as a man prosperous beyond his deserts, since his period of administration proved uneasy and brief; he died in October 1770. 1

Bancroft, Hist. U.S., Epoch ii. ch. xxx. Bancroft (ch. xxiii.) praises Lord Botetourt, evidently intending to hold him forth as a contrast to Sir Francis Bernard, although he was the King's own friend.'

ARRIVAL OF THE TROOPS

151

CHAPTER XXIII

THE QUARTERING OF THE TROOPS

Arrival of the Troops--Quarters refused by the Council-The Council deliberates independently of the Governor-Governor Bernard receives little moral support from the Reinforcements-The Struggle over the Question of Barracks for the Troops-The Manufactory House '-Governor Bernard's alleged indifference to the Ill-usage of the Commissioners-Opinions of his Conduct-Threatening Attitude of other American Colonies.

ON September 28 in this year (1768)1 the two regiments from Halifax, under Colonel Dalrymple, with artillery, which, according to Bancroft, 'Bernard, by a verbal message, had specially requested,'' arrived off Boston, and the vessels which brought them cast anchor in Nantasket Bay, a few miles below Castle William. On October 1 Governor Bernard wrote to Lord Hillsborough:

As soon as I was informed of it, I went to the Castle, and got there before the ships got to anchor. Soon after I saw Colonel Dalrymple, and informed him of all the proceedings of the Council concerning his quarters, and the difficulties he was to encounter. And it was agreed that I should call a Council at the Castle the next morning, and invite the Colonel and commanding officer of the fleet to attend the Council.

The Council accordingly met at the Castle the next morning, being Thursday, September 29th. The commanding officers likewise attended after the business was opened, the Colonel acquainted them in a very genteel manner that he was ordered to quarter one of the regiments at Boston; that he hoped he was going among his friends, and that his men would on their part behave as such; that he should be glad if he could have quarters

'Letters to the Ministry': 'Letter from Governor Bernard to the Earl of Hillsborough, dated Boston, October 1, 1768.' Life of Sir Francis Bernard. See also the histories of the time.

2 Bancroft, Hist. U.S., Epoch ii. ch. xxiv.

VOL. II.

*L 4

in the way of barracks, where he could keep his men under the eyes of their officers, and then he would engage that his men should be kept in good order. He added several kind expressions signifying his desire to conduct the business in a manner that should be most easy and agreeable to the town. He was answered that they hoped he would observe the Act of Parliament; and if he did, he would put both his regiments in the barracks at the Castle, which were in the town of Boston, and capable of holding two regiments; that when the barracks were full, the Council had nothing to do with quartering troops till the public-houses were full. The Colonel. said he would not dispute whether the Castle Island was in the town or not; they certainly were distinct places in his orders; that he was not used to dispute his orders, but obey them, and therefore should most certainly march his regiment in the town; and if they assigned him quarters in the public-houses, he should take them; but then he could not be answerable for the good order of his men, which it would be impossible to preserve if they were intermixed with the town people and separated from their officers. I then interrupted, and asked whether, as the Colonel had now told them that he must and would march his regiment into the town, it would not be best to reconsider my proposal for fitting up the Manufactory House for a barrack. It was observed that it was not regular to put a question until the board was cleared: the gentlemen thereupon withdrew.

I then desired that in reconsidering my proposal for fitting up the Manufactory House they would let me know what objection they had to it; the only objection worth notice was that they had no power to draw the money. I told them that there was an appropriation in the Treasury for contingent services, which had much more money upon it than would be wanted for this business, which was a contingent service. They still declined it. I then told them that I would make one more proposal to them, which was that if they would authorise me to fit up this building, I would be answerable it should be done at the charge of the Crown. This also they refused in writing, referring to their former answer. I then gave them to understand that those subterfuges would not disappoint the execution of the King's commands, and that I by myself would assign the house in question for a barrack.

The next morning, when I got to the Castle as usual to hold a further consultation, Capt. Montresor, an engineer, arrived here and brought letters from General Gage for me and the Colonel,