charter rights of this Province, will be confirmed and per-
petuated."

The meeting substituted the word "patron" for "father."
Before the adjournment a committee was appointed, of
which Mr. Adams was a member, to prepare a resolution
thanking Conway and Barré for their noble and generous
speeches at the last session of Parliament, and directing that
their portraits should be placed in Faneuil Hall as soon as
they could be obtained.

Governor Bernard, in his opening address to the Legis-
lature, on the 25th of September, alluded to the late vio-
lences, and the declarations which had been made against
the execution of the Stamp Act within the Province. The
instructions of the previous week had enjoined the Boston
members of the Legislature against participating in any pub-
lic measures for countenancing or assisting the execution of
the act. The ordinary executive authority of the govern-
ment being insufficient to oppose the force with which such
"declarations" were supported, the Governor now called on
the Legislature for aid. He asserted that Parliament had the
right to make laws for the American Colonies, that it would
maintain and support its authority, and that opposition
would bring on a contest which might prove the most detri-
mental and ruinous event which could happen to this people.
Parliament would most probably require submission as a
preliminary to granting relief. His Excellency then drew a
vivid picture of the dreadful effect of a general refusal to use
the stamped papers, and the consequent shutting up of the
courts of justice and custom-houses, -- the fraud and rapine
which would succeed to credit and mutual faith. The hand
of violence would be let loose, and general distress and out-
lawry would reign.

"I would not," he continued, "willingly aggravate the dangers
which are before you: I do not think it very easy to do it. This
Province seems to me to be on the brink of a precipice, and that it
depends upon you to prevent it falling. Possibly I may fear for

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