fee, how it can be inconfiftent with the prerogative of the crown; though I know, that not very long fince, and I fear yet, there are fome who carry the prerogative much higher than it ought, in placing it above the law: but nothing, fave the iniquity of the times, and the depravity of fuch mens manners, could fupport or give countenance to fo fenfeless a thought; for they are very ignorant of the nature of prerogative, if they think it is a power to do hurt, and not to do good. Certainly the king's prerogative is to help and relieve the people, where the edge of the law is too fharp and keen, and not a power by which he may opprefs and destroy his fubjects. Men are to be governed by a power that is guided by reafon, unless we can fuppofe that they have no more understanding, and are of no greater value, than the beafs that perish.

It was faid by one, who was a very competent judge in the cafe, as I remember, it was Sir John Fortefcue, That it is a greater power in a prince to be reftrained by law from oppreffing, than to have an abfolute regal power." And fays another, "The way of governing must be both right and clear, as well as is the end; "and how this can be expected, when a king is guided by no other rule, than that of his unbounded will and pleasure, I do not fee, any more than à man can depend upon the weather.

Do not all examples of it that ever were, prove, that abfolute power and oppreffion are infeparable, and as naturally proceed the one from the other, as the effect doth from the caufe? 'Tis a riddle to me, how that prince can be called God's ordinance, who affumes a power above what the law hath invefted him with, and ufeth it to the grieving and oppreffing of his fubjects: May not the plague, famine, or fword, as well be called God's ordinance, fince one, no less than the other, is fent by him for the punishment of that people whom he fo vifits?

I could run out into a large discourse upon this subject, but I will ftop here, because I am perfwaded, that what I have already faid, is fufficient to convince any one, who is unprejudiced, That an abfolute power is fo far from being the right of the king of England, that the exercife of fuch a power is unlawful in any king.

I know very well, that, in the late reigns, this doctrine would not have been endured; to have faid then lefs than this, would have coft a man his head for whoever would not then comply with arbitrary power, was called a factious man, and an oppofer of the government; but is it not nonfenfe, or very near a-kin to it, to call that feditious, that is for bringing things into order, and for maintaining the laws VOL. III.

Z z

and

and fupporting the government? Arbitrary defires never did any king good, but have ruined many. It hook king Charles the Second's throne, and tumbled down his fucceffor; and though fuch kings are left without excufe when ruined; yet may fay, they are not only in the fault, for their overthrow is in a great meafure occafioned by those who preach up, and ADVISE the king to arbitrary power.

I

"Did not other people cocker up, and cherish arbitrary notions in kings minds, though fuch conceptions might fometimes get into their heads, yet they would never fructify, nor come to perfection, if they were not cultivated by parafites, who make their court that way, in hopes to raise themfelves, though with the hazard of their master's crown: as it befel the late king James, whofe mal-administration rendered him unmeet to fway the fcepter: and I am very well fatisfied, that the judgment upon him was juft; for unless a people are decreed to be miferable, which God Almighty will never do, (except thereto very highly provoked by their fins) certainly be will never fo tye up their hands, that they shall not be allowed to use them, when they have no other way to help themfelves."

For the POLITICAL REGISTER. An Account of the American Controversy, continued from page

144.

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HE mail which arrived from New England on the firft of October, brought the following petition, reported to the house of reprefentatives of the province of Maffachufett's bay, by a committee, and under confideration when the aflembly was diffolved, (fee p, 144.)

To his most excellent Majefty, &c.

"WE, your majesty's most dutiful and faithful fubjects, the reprefentatives of your ancient and loyal province of the Maflachufett's bay, impreffed with the deepeft fense of gratitude to heaven, for calling to the British fucceffion your majefty's illuftrious family, and fo firmly establishing your majefty on the throne of your royal progenitors, and being abundantly convinced of your majefty's grace and clemency, moft humbly implore the royal favour, while we briefly reprefent the grievances we labour under, and which, under God, your majefty can alone redrefs.

It

It is with inexpreffible concern that we are constrained thus publickly to complain of the administration of his excellency Francis Bernard, Efq; your majefty's governor of this province, who has betrayed an arbitrary difpofition.

He early attached himself to a party, whofe principles and views, we apprehend, have ever been repugnant to your majefty's real fervice.

He has, both in his fpeeches, and other public acts, treated the representative body with contempt.

He has, in an unwarrantable manner, taken upon himself the exercise of your majesty's royal prerogative, in granting a charter for a college, without even the advice of your majesty's council.

He has openly attempted to make himself fole and abfolute judge of the qualification of members, returned to serve in the house of reprefentatives.

We have also reason to apprehend, that he has endeavoured to perfuade your majefty's minifters to believe, that an intention was formed, and a plan fettled, in this, and the reft of your colonies, treafonably to withdraw then felves from all connection with, and dependance upon, Great Britain, and from their natural allegiance to your majefty's facred perfon and government.

He has, in his public fpeeches, charged both houses of affembly with oppugnation against the royal authority, and with leaving gentlemen out of the council only for their fidelity to the crown.

He has indifcretely, not to fay wantonly, exercised the prerogative of the crown, in the repeated negative of counfellors of an unblemished reputation, and duly elected by a great majority of both houfes of affembly.

He has declared, that certain feats at the council board fhall be kept vacant, till certain gentlemen, his favourites, fhall be re-elected.

He has, unconftitutionally, interfered with, and unduly influenced elections; particularly in the choice of an agent for the province.

He has, very abruptly, displaced divers gentlemen of worth, for no apparent reafon but their voting againft his meafures.

He has practifed the fending over depofitions to the ministry, against gentlemen of character, here, without giving the accufed the leaft notice of his purpofes and proceeding.

He

He has created divers new and unconftitutional offices.

He has drawn divers warrants on the treasury, for the payment of monies, against the exprefs appropriations of the affembly.

He has, at this feffion, prefumed to threaten the general affembly, upon the non-compliance of the house of reprefentatives with a certain requifition, not only to diffolve them, but to delay to call a new affèmbly, which is beyond your majesty's orders.

By the means aforefaid, and many others, that might be enumerated, he has not only rendered his administration difagreeable to the whole body of the people, but entirely alienated their affections from him; and thereby wholly destroyed that confidence in a governor, which your majefty's fervice indifpenfably requires.

Wherefore we moft humbly intreat your majefty, that his excellency Francis Bernard, Efq; may be removed from the government of this province: and that your majefty would be graciously pleafed to place one in his ftead, worthy to reprefent the greatest and best monarch on earth.

And as in duty bound, we, &c, hall ever pray.”

Copy of the Agreement entered into by the inhabitants of Boflon, the Capital of the Province of Maffachufett's Bay.

TH

HE merchants and traders in the town of Bofton, having taken into confideration the deplorable fituation of their trade; and the many difficulties it at prefent labours under daily encreafing, for want of the proper remittances to difcharge our debts in Great Britain, and the large fums collected by the officers of the customs for duties on goods imported; the heavy cax levied to difcharge the debts contracted by the government in the late war; the embarrassments and reftrictions laid on the trade by feveral acts of parliament, together with the bad fuccefs of our cod fishery this feafon, and the difcourageing profpect of the whale fishery, by which our principal fources of remittance are like to be greatly diminished, and we thereby rendered unable to pay the debts we owe the merchants in Great Britain, and to continue the importation of goods from thence :

We the fubfcribers, in order to relieve the trade under these difcouragements, to promote induftry, frugality and oeconomy, and to difcourage luxury, and every kind of extravagance, do promife and engage to and with each other as follows;

Firft,

Firft, That we will not fend for or import from Great Britain, either upon our own account or upon commiffions, this fall, any other goods than what are already ordered for the fall fupply.

Secondly, That we will not fend for or import any kind of goods or merchandize from Great Britain, either on our own account, or on commiffion, or any otherwife, from the first of January 1769, to the firft of January 1770, except falt, coals, fifh-hooks and lines, hemp and duck, bar lead and fhot, wool-cards and card-wire.

Thirdly, That we will not purchase of any factor, or others, any kind of goods imported from Great Britain' from January 1769, to January 1770.

Fourthly, That we will not import, on our own account, or on commiffions, or purchase of any, who fhall import from any other colony in America, from January 1769, to January 1770, any tea, glafs, paper, or other goods, commonly imported from Great Britain.

Fifthly, That we will not, from and after the ft. of January 1769, import into this province any tea, paper, glafs, or painters colours, until the act impofing duties on thofe articles fhould be repealed.

T

In witnefs whereof we have hereunto set our hands this ift. day of August 1768.

Remarks on the foregoing Refolutions.

HE laft accounts from Bofton inform us, that refolutions have been agreed to by the inhabitants of New England, not to import any British manufactures for one year, from the first of January next. These refolutions are equivalent to a prohibition, and intended to operate as fuch, and therefore the moit natural return is a like prohibition of trade between Great Britain and the people of New England.

This is a method of making war without bloodfhed; and let us enquire whether it might not be effectual for fhewing thefe people their infignificancy: let an act of parliament take place the ft. of next January, and continue in force so long as the people of New England adhere to their refolutions;

Firft, That no veffel, built in or belonging to New England, be admitted into any port of Great Britain, or other the dominions thereunto belonging, during a limited time.

Secondly, That no veffel belonging to New England be permitted to fish on the banks of Newfoundland, or in the

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