628 | To the American Board of Customs

    Boston 13th. June 1768.

    Gentlemen

    In answer to that part of your Letter of this day1 wherein you desire me to grant you such aid and protection as may enable you and your Officers to proceed in your Duty. I can only inform you that after several hours deliberation of the necessity of taking some measures to preserve the peace of the Town & what those Measures should be, the Council have come to a resolution that as there appears to be no immediate danger of further Violence, they are of opinion that it would be best to refer this matter to the Consideration of a Committee of both Houses. I therefore cannot at present let you know what kind of aid & protection you may expect to receive.

    I am Gentlemen your most obedient humble. Servant

    (Signed) Fra. Bernard.

    To the Honble. Commissioners of His Majestys Customs

    L, Copy     T 1/465, ff 161-162.

    Docket: Boston 13th. June 1768_______ Copy of Govr. Bernards Letter to the Commrs. The RC is not extant and this copy was the eighteenth item in the list of enclosures to Appendix 6. Variants: CO 5/757, ff 209-210 (L, Copy); CO 5/766, f 211 (L, LbC); BL: Add 38340, f 271 (L, Copy); extract in Coll. Mass. Papers, 1768; Letters to the Ministry (1st ed.), 100; Letters to the Ministry (repr.), 135. This is the second of two replies to No. 626, both dated 13 Jun.2 Copies of the version enclosed with Appendix 6 were laid before both houses of Parliament on 28 Nov. 1768. HLL: American Colonies Box 1.