hould at least be made known to the
person most concerned. The Governor therefore requested the Assembly
to furnish him copies of the letters which were attributed to him and
declared by the House to "be destructive of the Constitution." In reply,
the House sent certain dates only. The House was of opinion that the
Governor could easily make authentic copies of whatever letters he had
written at these dates, if he had written any; and such copies, being
furnished to the Assembly, might be published, and the whole matter thus
cleared up without violating the pledged word of anyone.

With this request the Governor refused to comply, on the ground that it
would be improper to reveal his private correspondence and contrary to
instructions to reveal that of a public nature. He would say, however,
that he had written letters on the days mentioned, but in these letters
there was no statement of fact or expression of opinion not already well
known. What his opinions were the Assembly and the world might very well
gather from his published speeches and his "History of Massachusetts
Bay". It could scarcely be maintained that he had ever lacked frankness
in the expression of his opinions; and while his opinions might be
thought destructive of the Constitution, it was rather late to be amazed
at them. In any case, the Assembly was assured by the Governor that
his letters neither tended "nor were designed to subvert, but rather to
preserve entire the constitution of government" as established by the
charter of the province.

A great many people besides the Governor desired to see letters the
substance of which could be so differently understood. Samuel Adams
probably preferred not to be forced to print them knowing their
contents, he may have thought that here was a case of those "dangers
which, being known, lose half their power for evil"; besides, having
pledged his word, he wished to keep it. Yet the pressure of public
opinion, becoming every day greater, was difficult to resist,
particularly by men who were firm believers in the wisdom of the people.
Moreover, it presently appeared that there was no longer any point in
refusing to publish the letters, inasmuch as Mr. Hancock assured the
House that men on the street were, in some way not known, possessed of
copies, some of which had been placed in his hands. Mr. Hancock's copies
being found on comparison to be accurate rescripts of the letters which
had been read in the House, a