ÆT. 65.] CONFERENCE WITH HILLSBOROUGH.

77

any act intended. Will your Lordship please to look at it? (With seeming unwillingness he takes it, but does not look into it.)

L. H. An information of this kind is not properly brought to me as Secretary of State. The Board of Trade is the proper place.

be

B. F. I will leave the paper then with Mr. Pownall to

L. H. (Hastily.) To what end would you leave it with him?

B. F. To be entered on the minutes of that Board, as usual.

L. H. (Angrily.) It shall not be entered there. No such paper shall be entered there, while I have any thing to do with the business of that Board. The House of Representatives has no right to appoint an agent. We shall take no notice of any agents, but such as are appointed by acts of Assembly, to which the governor gives his assent. We have had confusion enough already. Here is one agent appointed by the Council, another by the House of Representatives. Which of these is agent for the province? Who are we to hear in provincial affairs? An agent appointed by act of Assembly we can understand. No other will be attended to for the future, I can assure you.

B. F. I cannot conceive, my Lord, why the consent of the governor should be thought necessary to the appointment of an agent for the people. It seems to me that

L. H. (With a mixed look of anger and contempt.) I shall not enter into a dispute with you, Sir, upon this subject.

B. F. I beg your Lordship's pardon; I do not presume to dispute with your Lordship; I would only say, that it

seems to me, that every body of men, who cannot appear in person, where business relating to them may be transacted, should have a right to appear by an agent. The concurrence of the governor does not seem to me necessary. It is the business of the people, that is to be done; he is not one of them; he is himself an agent.

L. H. (Hastily.) Whose agent is he?
B. F. The King's, my Lord.

He is one of the corporation

Besides,

L. H. No such matter. by the province charter. No agent can be appointed but by an act, nor any act pass without his assent. this proceeding is directly contrary to express instructions. B. F. I did not know there had been such instructions. I am not concerned in any offence against them, and—L. H. Yes, your offering such a paper to be entered is an offence against them. (Folding it up again without having read a word of it.) No such appointment shall be entered. When I came into the administration of American affairs, I found them in great disorder. By my firmness they are now something mended; and, while I have the honor to hold the seals, I shall continue the same conduct, the same firmness. I think my duty to the master I serve, and to the government of this nation, requires it of me. If that conduct is not approved, they may take my office from me when they please. I shall make them a bow, and thank them; I shall resign with pleasure. That gentleman knows it, (pointing to Mr. Pownall,) but, while I continue in it, I shall resolutely persevere in the same FIRMNESS. (Spoken with great warmth, and turning pale in his discourse, as if he was angry at something or somebody besides the agent, and of more consequence to himself.)

B. F. (Reaching out his hand for the paper, which his

ÆT. 65.]

CONFERENCE WITH HILLSBOROUGH.

79

Lordship returned to him.) I beg your Lordship's pardon for taking up so much of your time. It is, I believe, of no great importance whether the appointment is acknowledged or not, for I have not the least conception that an agent can at present be of any use to any of the colonies. I shall therefore give your Lordship no further trouble. (Withdrew.)

CHAPTER III.

Silkworms-A Model Young American-Sowing the Wind-How to Make Children Handsome-The New World contrasted with the Old-Lord Hillsborough replaced by Lord Dartmouth.

To Cadwallader Evans, dated Lon

1771.

1771-1772.

I HAVE not now before me your letter, which

came with the sample of silk, having put it don, 10 Feb., into the hands of Mr. Walpole with the sample, who has promised me full and particular answers to all your queries after the silk has been thoroughly examined. In the mean time he tells me, the best sort appears to him to be worth in itself twenty-seven or twentyeight shillings a pound, and will fetch that price when some imperfections in the reeling it are remedied. He tells me farther, that the best eggs are to be had from Valencia in Spain, whence he will procure some for you against the next year; the worms from those eggs being the strongest, healthiest, and producing the finest silk of any others; and he thinks you should get some reelers from Italy, which he would likewise undertake to do for you if desired. He is one of the most opulent and noble-spirited merchants of this kingdom.

ÆT. 65.]

To Jonathan Williams, dated London, 5 March, 1771.

FAMILY INTERESTS.

81

I suppose Jonathan has told you, that the lottery is drawn, and your two new tickets had the same success as the former, namely, one twenty-pound prize, and one blank. Would you go on any further?

Josiah is very happy in being under the tuition of Mr. Stanley, who very kindly undertook him at my request, though he had left off teaching. Josiah goes constantly, too, to several concerts, besides operas and oratorios, so that his thirst for music is in a way of being thoroughly satiated. This is the principal expense; for, in all other respects, I never saw two young men from America more prudent and frugal, than he and his brother are.

Jonathan seems to have an excellent turn for business, and to be a perfect master of accounts. In the latter he has been of great use to me, having put all mine in order for me. There is a proposal from his uncle of his going to East India, as a writer in the Company's service, which I wish may take place, as I think, if he lives, he cannot fail bringing home a fortune. He had ordered a cargo of goods to be sent you for cousin Wood's shop, and had given expectations of paying ready money. But, one of your bills being protested, there seemed a necessity of asking some credit of the merchant. I advised him to take what was wanting of me, rather than fail in punctuality to his word, which is sacred here among all that would maintain a character in trade. He did so; and thereby also saved the discount without putting me to the least inconvenience, provided the money is replaced in six months; and I was glad I ad it in my power to accommodate him.

I hope you have before this time got another tenant for your house, and at the former rent. However, I would have

D*