319 | To John Pownall

    Boston Novr. 17. 1764

    Dr. Sr.

    You hereby receive all the papers which were the produce of last Session;1 which contrary to many people’s expectations turned out a very quiet one. The members of this Town some time ago pressed me to call the Assembly in what I thought an improper time. I refused to do it, & fixed upon a day more suitable to the having a full house, which I thought very necessary for the business they proposed to bring on. For this I was abused in their paper for above a month together.2 At length my Day came; and after many fruitless attempts to persuade the Assembly under a notion of asserting their right to engage in imprudent remonstrances, the Councils of the Wise and moderate prevailed; and a petition to Parliament was agreed upon which I hope will be thought decent & respectfull: and an address was presented to me to desire my good offices with the ministry.3 So that this session which was expected to be a very turbulent one, proved the most quiet & temperate I ever knew, considering the importance of the matters that were debated & the length of the deliberation. And it Afforded a great instance of the dutifulness & good disposition of the generallity of this Province, notwithstanding the efforts of the Politicians of this Town: and I hope it will be the means of recommending them to favor not only in matters of right but Grace & Benevolence also.

    I transmit to their Lordships a Copy of the petition to Parliament & a Copy of the Address to me:4 but I think it unnecessary to make any fresh representation upon these subjects, as I have Allready fully expressed my Sentiments in former letters to their Lordships, I have however wrote to Lord Halifax: to whom I had not before had much oppertunity to submit my thoughts upon these matters.5 There is, I understand a most Violent Remonstrance from New York;6 I have not yet seen it, & when I do, I must be engaged not to communicate the contents. I have but one thing more, besides what is ready, due to your office: and that is observations upon the Indian Regulations. I have allready wrote all I have to say on that subject, in different letters: and therefore I took the liberty to postpone that, to other business that was more urging, of which I have had no little quantity. However I will send you my last words on that business by the ship that carries this,7 if I can, if not, by the next. Inclosed you have a list of fees which belongs to a former transmission but did not come to hand, time enough to go with it. I am almost worked down, but have very good health, otherwise I could not have gone thro’ what I have done for this last month.

    I am Sr. Your most faithfull &c &c

    J. Pownall Esqr

    L, LbC BP, 3: 260-261.