tical ideas, from the pen of a subtle and determined enemy.

When the executive functions devolved on Hutchinson, it had been
semi-officially announced that the Ministry, wholly out of commercial
considerations, intended to propose, at the next session of Parliament,
a repeal of a portion of the revenue acts; and the Patriots were
pressing, with more zeal than ever, the non-importation agreement, in
the hope of obtaining, as matter of constitutional right, a total
repeal. To enforce this agreement, the merchants had held a public
meeting in Faneuil Hall, adopted a series of spirited resolves, and
adjourned to a future day; and Hutchinson's first important
gubernatorial decision had reference to this meeting. He had urged the
necessity of troops to sustain the authority of the Government. He had
awarded to them the credit of preventing a great catastrophe. He had
written that they would make the Boston saints as tame as lambs. It was
his settled conviction that the Americans never would set armies in the
field against Great Britain, and if they did, that "a few troops would
be sufficient to quell them." He was now importuned to use the troops at
his command to disperse the merchants' meeting at its adjournment. He
held that this meeting was contrary to law. He characterized its
resolves as contemptuous and insolent, and derogatory to the authority
of Parliament. He never grew weary of holding up to reprobation the
objects which the merchants had in view. And his political friends now
asked him to make good his professions by acts. But he declined to
interfere with this meeting. The merchants proceeded to a close with
their business. Hutchinson's explanation of his course to the Ministry,
on this occasion, applies to the popular demonstrations which took
place, at intervals, down to the military crisis. "I am very sensible,"
are his words, "that the whole proceeding is unwarrantable; but it is so
generally countenanced in this and in several of the Colonies, and the
authority of Government is so feeble, that an attempt to put a stop to
it would have no other effect than still further to inflame the minds of
the people. I can do no more than represent to your Lordship, and wait
for such instructions as may be thought proper." And he continued to
present these combinations of the merchants as "a most certain evidence
of the lost authority of Government," and as exhibiting "insolence and
contempt of Parliament." But he compla