229 | To Richard Jackson

    Boston Augst. 3d. 1763

    Dear Sir

    I have wrote two letters to you850 Since my receipt of the last packet:851 I must make this third contain all I can write now without distinction of Subject, as the Ship which is to carry these is to sail to morrow

    In my letter to you dat May 20 I desird you to recommend me to Mr. Townshend, whom I then understood to be the first Lord of Trade.852 As it is, I must desire now to apply the second paragraph of that letter to Lord Shelburne.853 It is above a year & a half ago since I wrote to Lord Barrington to offer my Service854 (in person if thought proper) to represent my Sentiments in regard to what appeared to me to be wanting in the political Constitutions of the Severall Governments in America; as it was a Subject I had much Studied tho’ not wrote upon. This was wrote upon a Supposition that there would be a general Reformation in the governments of N America. that if ever this was intended, perhaps it will be postponed, till the Ministry at home is more settled than it seems to be at present. In this letter I represented that if it should be thought that my Attendance would be of use, it should be made unexpensive to me: that in order to save as much of my Salary here as possible, it would be Advisable to keep the Orders for my coming home a secret here, so that I might get my years Salary which is granted at the opening the New Court at the end of May just before I set out. Upon, the appointment of Mr Townshend I reprised Lord Barrington’s Memory on this Subject, & have again done it in another letters that accompanies this:855 and having now mentiond it to you in confidence, I leave it to have Effect or not, as it shall happen, not knowing which will be best for me.

    Your Account of the Danger of the Melasses Act being renewed & carried into full execution is Very alarming. The mischeivous consequences of such a Measure, I fear, will not appear so certain on your side of the Water as they do here. What will be more to be regretted upon this occasion is, that by lowering the duty so as not to exceed ½ d Þ Gallon, (which, I am told, is the utmost it will bear) a fund might be established sufficient to create a civil list for each colony, which is a provision absolutely necessary for the firm Establishment of government in this Country. On the other hand, if the Northern Colonies are not allowed to import foreign Sugars & Melasses upon Practicable terms, they will, become desperate, for they really wont be able to live. I could write a Volume on this Subject but must defer adding any more at present. I will endeavour some other time to be more particular on this; at present I will only say that I dread the consequences of such a resolution.

    I have wrote so much upon the affair of Sagadehock, that I will only now repeat my thank to you.856 I promist to make a remittance on the behalf of the Settlers of the 6 townships for fees &c: but they have been disappointed in the formality of making thier Collection, so that they were obligd to apply to the generall Court for a further authority to oblige People to pay, which has been granted & the Collections are now making. The principal Proprietor with whom I communicate here, expects that the mony will be sent for, in a few days. The Collection for this purpose is set at dollar a share amounting in the 81 pound Sterg. If that is not Sufficient more must be raised. The Defence of the Province’s Title is to lie upon the Province__ I am &c

    R Jackson Esq

    L, LbC BP, 3: 92-94.