lar leaders
nominated. He laid nothing before the General Assembly but the ordinary
business of the province; but gave notice that the seat of government
would be removed to Salem the 1st of June, in pursuance of the Act for
Closing the Port of Boston.

The Legislature reassembled, according to adjournment, at Salem the 7th
day of June,[336] after ten days' prorogation, and on the 9th the
Council replied to the Governor's speech at the opening of the session.
Their answer was respectful, but firmly and loyally expressive of their
views and feelings. They declared their readiness "on all occasions
cheerfully to co-operate with his Excellency" in every step tending to
"restore harmony" and "extricate the province from their present
embarrassments," which, in their estimation, were attributable to the
conduct of his "two immediate predecessors." They at the same time
affirmed that "the inhabitants of the colony claimed no more than the
rights of Englishmen, without diminution or abridgment;" and that these,
"as it was their indispensable duty, so would it be their constant
endeavour to maintain to the utmost of their power, in perfect
consistence with the truest loyalty to the Crown, the just prerogatives
of which they should ever be zealous to support." To this address the
Governor replied in the following bitter words: "I cannot receive this
address, which contains indecent reflections on my predecessors, who
have been tried and honourably acquitted by the Lords of the Privy
Council, and their conduct approved by the King. I consider this address
as an insult upon his Majesty and the Lords of the Privy Council, and an
affront to myself."

The answer of the Assembly was very courteous, but equally decided with
that of the Council. They congratulated his Excellency on his safe
arrival, and declared that they "honoured him in the most exalted
station of the province, and confided in him to make the known
Constitution and Charter the rule of his administration;" they
"deprecated the removal of the Court to Salem," but expressed a hope
that "the true state of the province, and the character of his Majesty's
subjects in it, their loyalty to their Sovereign and their affection for
the parent country,[337] as well as their invincible attachment to their
just rights and liberties, would be laid before his Majesty, and that he
would be the happy instrument of removing his Majesty's displeasure, and
restoring harmony, which had b