76 CONFERENCE WITH HILLSBOROUGH. [Æt. 65. B. F. There was no bill, my Lord; it was a vote of the House. L. H. There was a bill presented to the governor for the purpose of appointing you and another, one Dr. Lee, I' think he is called, to which the governor refused his assent. B. F. I cannot understand this, my Lord; I think there must be some mistake in it. Is your Lordship quite sure that you have such a letter? L. H. I will convince you of it directly. (Rings the · bell.) Mr. Pownall will come in and satisfy you. B. F. It is not necessary, that I should now detain your Lordship from dressing. You are going to court. I will wait on your Lordship another time. L. H. No, stay; he will come immediately. ( 70 the servant.) Tell Mr. Pownall I want him. (Mr. Pownall comes in.) L. H. Have not you at hand Governor Hutchinson's letter, mentioning his refusing his assent to the bill for appointing Dr. Franklin agent? Sec. P. My Lord ? Sec. P. No, my Lord; there is a letter relating to some bill for the payment of a salary to Mr. De Berdt, and I think to some other agent, to which the governor had refused his assent. L. H. And is there nothing in the letter to the purpose I mention ? Sec. P. No, my Lord. B. F. I thought it could not well be, my Lord; as my letters are by the last ships, and they mention no such thing. Here is the authentic copy of the vote of the House appointing me, in which there is no mention of a a 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.) 78 CONFERENCE WITH HILLSBOROUGH. [Ar. 65. 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? L. H. No such matter. He is one of the corporation by the province charter. No agent can be appointed but by an act, nor any act pass without his assent. Besides, 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 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. 1771-1772. 1771. To Cadwalla- I HAVE not now before me your letter, which der Evans, came with the sample of silk, having put it dated London, 10 Feb., into the hands of Mr. Walpole with the sam ple, 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. |