761 | To Richard Jackson

    Boston April 8th 1769

    Dear Sir,

    The disagreeable State of the public Affair both ^at^ home & here makes them a very unpleasant Subject to write upon. And this has contributed to make our Correspondence less frequent & full than it used to be;1 tho with Regard to myself, the Voluminous Correspondence which I am obliged by Order & Necessity to keep up with the Secretary of State has unavoidably contracted my private Letters of all kinds.

    We are now waiting to know what the House Will determine upon the American Affairs now before them, our Advices having not as yet reached so far. For my own Part I give up all Thoughts of staying here. the publishing my Letters wrote in Confidence & in Obedience of strict Orders will make it necessary for the Minister to provide for me else where: and I believe the Intention is more determined upon than the Means. Lord Barrington in a late Letter2 asks my thoughts concerning Barbados: I remind him that about 2 ^½^ Years ago I informed him & You that I should thankfully accept Barbados;3 & I was much mortified, when about a Year after it was given to a Gentleman who had not acquired a public Character.4 I know not how to expect its being made vacant so soon after it has been filled. But to be sure under the present Circumstances, it would suit me better than anything else I can think of.

    I have often wished that Mr Blackbourne either by his own hand or yours would have sent me a Copy of my Leave of Absence. For there may be in it Conditions & Restrictions, which I may break thro Ignorance, & yet not be allowed that Plea. If it is sent away immediately after you receive this, it may & most probably will find me here.5 At present my Plan is to call the Assembly at Concord on May 31st; and as soon as the Session is over which if they do Nothing to hasten the Determination of it, will last at least a Month, I shall look towards England: & about that Time I may expect to receive all the Orders which will be issued in Pursuance of what will be done in Parliament. But this must be a precarious threatning Reckoning untill I know what Part the Parliament takes. Even now whilst I am writing this, I have received a Note advising that a Letter from New-York just arrived informs that the House of Commons have among other Things, resolved that the Constitution of this Government should be altered:6 which shows how much too early it is for me to form a Scheme ^for disposing of myself^ half a Year hence.

    I shall be glad to hear from ^you^ as often as Your Leisure will permit, & to know your Sentiments on the Public Proceedings. The Censure of Wilkes is considered here as a good Assurance of the firmness of Government.7

    I am &c.

    R Jackson Esqr:

    L, LbC     BP, 7: 274-276.

    Minor emendations not shown. In handwriting of Thomas Bernard.