693 | To the Earl of Hillsborough

    [Boston, 30 Sept. 1768]

    Having since the finishing that Letter had an opportunity to meet the Council I enquired of themselves of the proceedings on Monday1 for printing their answer to me; and finding it vary2 from my narrative in some particulars, I am desirous that it should be corrected, being unwilling that there should be any misrepresentations even of Matters indifferent.

    1. They say that a formal Vote was not taken; but admit that Care was had that the Opinion of every Gentleman should be known.3

    2. They say that the division among them was not upon printing in general, but upon the time of printing, whether then or hereafter; which one Gentleman explained by saying that he was against the Printing it before it was presented to me; But another Gentleman declared he was against printing it at any time.

    3. It seems that the copy which I saw the Gentleman4 correcting, together with the Printer,5 was not the Letter press of the Printer, but a Copy wrote for the Printer, which it is admitted was delivered to the Printer, before the Original was delivered into the Secry’s Office for the Governor.

    How far these Variations are material is left to your Lordship; but they make no difference in the Arrangement of the 10 Councillors employed in this business, who may be divided thus,

    3. 4. 9. 10

    Four principal Managers.6

    2. 6

    Two Aiders & Abettors.7

    1. 5. 7

    Three Acquiescers overawed.8

    8.

    One Opposer & protester thro’ the whole.9

    But however this is, it is agreed on all hands that it is the greatest blow that has been given to the King’s Government here for this long while; And it is the heavier, as it comes from so respectable a body, as to be called tho’ very improperly, His Majesty’s Council. It has had two evil Effects: The One to persuade the People that Troops would not have been sent here, if they had not been misrepresented; And all Charges of Misrepresentation are naturally applied to the Governor. Whereas they do not believe that a misrepresentation is the Cause of sending Troops hither; they must know that the plain facts were sufficient for such an effect; & that a Falsification of them was neither necessary nor practicable, as accounts are transmitted by so many hands that a false one must have been detected.

    The other is that the People are told that the Execution of the King’s Orders is contrary to Law; And the People are thereby encouraged to resist with a notion that they shall act with the Law on their side. In this Sense, considering all Circumstances, the Nature of the King’s orders, the Ill-Temper of the People, & the Wickedness of those who have worked up that Ill-temper, & above all the Authority of the Writers & Publishers, it is the most inflammatory Paper that has been published. These are not my own Words, but taken from the Mouths of prudent & sensible Men; among whom this Proceeding is universally censured. And it is not doubted but it will receive a severe Censure at Westminster.

    F.B.

    L, RLbC     CO 5/767, ff 115-117.

    Letterbook entry: Inclosure 6. Supplement to the above Letter No. 24.10 dated Septr. 30. 1768. The RC was enclosed in No. 690. The numbers refer to the names provided in “List of the Council who passed upon the Answer [of the Council of 26 Sept. 1768],” CO 5/757, f 429, enclosed with No. 690. Variant in BP 7: 64-67 (L, LbC). Hillsborough acknowledged receipt with No. 712.11