The New Hampshire Gazette

BOSTON, June 1:

The SPEECH of His Excellency FRANCIS BERNARD, Esq; to both Houses of Assembly, May 29th, 1761.

Gentlemen of the Council, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,

At the Opening of the first General Court convened in this Reign, we cannot but cast our Eyes upon Great-Britain, and observe what a happy Influence the Virtues of his Majesty have over the People that are more immediately under his Eye; and with what Joy and Gratitude they receive the Blessings which their King is continually diffusing among them.

The Principal of these is the Establishment of the Government upon the Basis of the People. All excluding Distinctions are removed: The Way to Honor and public Emolument is open to every one who has Merit to introduce him. Party is no more; it is resolved into Loyalty. Whig and Tory, Court and Country are all swallowed up in the Name of Briton; a Name which has received an additional Honour by His Majesty's public Assumption of it.

Can we look on this Happiness and not desire to partake of it? Shall this glorious and universal Coalition in Support of the Crown be confined to Britain only? And shall not a Spark of this Patriotic Fire touch the Breasts of the Provincials of America? Let it not be said in this Province: but rather let me conjure you to catch that Spirit of Gratitude, Love and Duty, which now inspires the whole Body of the People of Great Britain.

Lay aside all Divisions and Distinctions whatsoever; especially those (if any there be) that are founded upon private Views: Let your Strife be, who shall do most to the supporting the Dignity of the King's Government, and the promoting the Welfare of his People.

So shall you obtain the highest Title of Good Subjects of the best of Kings.

Let me also recommend to you, to give no Attention to Declamations tending to promote a Suspicion of the Civil Rights of the People being in Danger. Such Harangues might suit well in the Reigns of Charles and James; but in the Times of the GEORGES, they are groundless and unjust. Since the Accession of the first George, there has been no one Instance of the legal Privileges of any corporate Body being attack'd by any of the King's Ministers or Servants—without public Censure ensuing. His present Majesty has given uncommon Assurances how much he has at Heart the Preservation of the Liberties, Rights and Privileges of all his Subjects. Can it be supposed that he can forfeit his Word, or that he will suffer it to be forfeited by the Acts of any Servant of his with Impunity? An Insinuation so unreasonable and injurious I am sure will never be well received among you.

For my own Part, I shall follow the Example of my Royal Master, at a Distance indeed, but as near as I can. Particularly I shall found my Administration on as broad a Bottom as may be, and shall make Trial whether Party Divisions may not be as well removed from this small Province, as from the Imperial Island of Great-Britain. So shall I make my Service acceptable to my Master, and beneficial to, and approved by, his good People of this Province.

Gentlemen of the House of Representatives,

I have many Things to recommend to you, which if I was to insert here, it would too much extend the Speech that belongs to this Day. I shall therefore as I have done before, inform you of them by separate Messages in the Order they shall require your Consideration. I shall only add in Regard to Provisions for contingent Expences, that the more Confidence you put in me, the more able I shall be to serve the Province. The Alternative is obvious.

Gentlemen of the Council, and of the House of Representatives,

I must recommend to you to make the best Use of your Time whilst you shall continue sitting. Making few and short Sessions will contribute much to the saving the Money of the Province. There are two Means which will conduce to this Purpose; the one by dispatching with Application and Unanimity the Business that properly belongs to you, and for which you are called together; and the other by rejecting that Multitude of trifling Affairs, which are no Part of the Business of this Court, and are greatly beneath its Dignity to take Notice of.

Fra. Bernard.

May 29th 1761.
Saturday last the following ADDRESS of both Houses of Assembly was presented to his Excellency our Governor, viz.

To his Excellency FRANCIS BERNARD, Esq; Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay:

The ADDRESS of the Council and House of Representatives of the Province aforesaid:

May it please your Excellency,

It gives the highest Satisfaction that your Excellency's Speech at the opening of the present Session affords the two Houses an Opportunity of again expressing their high Sense of his Majesty's Virtues.—Virtues in which the Blessings that distinguish Britain have their Source, and the Influences of which have been felt in her remotest Colonies.

The principal of these Blessings "is the Establishment of the Government upon the Basis of the People." Upon such a Basis Government must stand firm; and upon such an one, we are persuaded your Excellency's Government will always stand; even tho' you had not before you the great Example of your Royal Master.

The Happiness of Great Britain is in Nothing more conspicuous than in the Extinction of all Party-Divisions: "Party is now no more; it is resolved into Loyalty: The Way to Honour and public Employment is open to every one who has Merit to introduce him."

The Extinction of Party, at the same Time it shews the Happiness of Britain, is a striking Proof of the Wisdom of his Majesty's Government.

We cannot look on the Happiness of our Mother Country, and not desire to partake of it: The glorious and universal Coalition that reigns there in support of the Crown—The Spirit of Gratitude, Love and Duty which now inspires the whole Body of the People, are not confined to Great Britain; a Spark of this patriotic Fire has touched the Breasts of his Majesty's Subjects of America: And it is with sincere Pleasure we can say that in Regard of the People of this Province this Spark has kindled into a Flame—a Flame that burns pure, undamped by Divisions and Party Distinctions.

It is with Regret we observe your Excellency's Apprehensions that a Party Spirit is prevalent among us. If there be, we are utterly ignorant of it; and can assure your Excellency there is nothing of such a Spirit in the Legislative Part of the Community: Should Such a Spirit appear, we shall discourage it to the utmost of our Power. The only Strife we hope will be "who shall do most to the supporting of the Dignity of the King's Government, and the promoting the Welfare of his People." Then shall we secure a Character we think justly belongs to us, and which we glory in—"Good Subjects of the best of Kings."

Your Excellency's Recommendation will always have Weight with us.—Your Recommendation to give no Attention to Declamations tending to promote a Suspicion of the Civil Rights of the People being in Danger shall have its Weight. It is our Intention to see for ourselves; and it gives us Pleasure to see that the Civil Rights of the People are not in Danger; nor are we in the least Degree suspicious that they ever will be under your Excellency's Administration.

The Assurances given by his Majesty how much he has at Heart the Preservation of the Liberties, Rights and Privileges of all his Subjects, must give them all a most sensible Pleasure. He will never Forfeit his Royal Word; on that we may rely with the greatest Security.

Your Excellency cannot follow a greater Example than his Majesty's: And it gives us great Satisfaction that your Excellency has declared you will follow that Example. You will then make your Service acceptable to his Majesty, and beneficial to and approved by the good People of this Province. A great deal of their Happiness depends upon your Excellency. The Experience we have had of your Excellency's Disposition and Abilities encourages us to hope for a great Share of public Happiness under your Administration: To which Happiness, and to the Ease of your Administration we shall contribute our best Endeavours.

Agreeable to your Excellency's Recommendation we shall make the best use of our Time whilst we continue Sitting; and shall Endeavour to fall upon such Measures for the Dispatch of Business properly belonging to us, as may tend to make the Sessions of the General Court as short as may be, consistent with the publick Service.