The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

To the Inhabitants of the Province of MASSACHUSETTS-BAY.

It was not the Person of a Bernard or Hutchinson that made them obnoxious, any other Persons would have met with the same Fate, had they discharged their Duty with equal Fidelity; that is, had they strenuously opposed the Principles and Practices of the Whigs; and when they found that the Government here could not support itself, wrote home for Aid sufficient to do it.---

And let me tell you, had the Intimations in those Letters, which you are taught to execrate, been timely attended to, we had now been as happy a People as good Government could make us. Governor Bernard came here recommended by the Affections of the Province over which he had presided. His Abilities are acknowledged. His true British Honesty and Punctuality are Traits in his Character too strongly mark'd to escape the Eye of Prejudice itself. We know Governor Hutchinson to be amiable and exemplary in private Life; his great Abilities, Integrity and Humanity, were conspicuous in the several important Departments that he filled, before his Appointment to the Chair, and reflect Honour on his Native Country.

But his Abilities & Integrity, added to his thorough Knowledge of the Province, in all it's Interests and Connections, were insufficient in this Case. The Constitution itself was gone, though the ancient form remained; the Spirit was truly republican. He endeavoured to reclaim us by gentle Means. He strove to convince us by Arguments, drawn from the first Principles of Government, our several Charters, and the express Acknowledgments of our Ancestors, that our Claims were inconsistent with the Subordination due to Great-Britain; and if persisted in would work the Destruction of those that we were entitled to. For this he was called an Enemy to his Country, and Set up as a Mark for the envenomed Arrows of Malice and Party Rage. Had I entertained a Doubt about its being the Governor, and not the Man that was aimed at, the admirable Facility with which the News-Paper Abuse was transferred from Governor Hutchinson to his amiable Successor, almost as soon as he set Foot on our Shore, would have removed it.

Thus, disaffection to Great-Britain being infused into the body of the people, the subtle poison stole thro' all the veins and arteries, contaminated the blood, & destroyed the very stamina of the constitution. Had not the courts of justice been tainted in the early stages, our government might have expelled the Virus, and recovered its former Vigour by its own Strength. The Judges of the superior Court were dependant upon the annual Grants of the Gen. Court for their Support. Their Salaries were small in Proportion to the Salaries of other Officers in the Government of less Importance.

They had often petitioned the Assembly to enlarge them without success. They were at
this Time reminded of their Dependence.

However, it is but Justice to say, that the Judges remained unshaken amid the raging Tempests, which is to be attributed rather to their Firmness than Situation. But the Spirit of the Times was very apparent in the Juries. the Grand Jurors were elective, and in such Places where Libels, Riots, and Insurrections were the most frequent, the high Whigs took Care to get themselves chosen.

The Judges pointed out to them the seditious Libels on Governors, Magistrates and the whole Government to no Effect. They were enjoined to prevent Riots & Insurrections, of which there was ample Evidence, with as little success.

To be continu'd.