CHAPTER XVI.

GOVERNOR POWNALL.-GOVERNOR BERNARD.-GOVERNOR HUTCHINSON. -THE GATHERING STORM.

GOVERNOR SHIRLEY'S successor represented a different public policy, and was received by Shirley's friends with coolness, but by his enemies with enthusiasm; while the course of events soon made him a favorite of the popular party. In the

church, however, he took

his place in the Governor's pew, and sat as the representative of "His Most Gracious Majesty George the Second, by the Grace of God Defender of the Faith."

THOMAS POWNALL, born in Lincoln, in 1720, was grandson of Thomas of Barnton. His elder brother was secretary to the Lords of Trade and Plantations, which opened for him. the way into political life.

Porrall

BOSTON, August 4 [1757].-Tuesday last, in the Afternoon, arrived in Nantasket-Road, from Halifax, his Majesty's Ship Nightingale, Capt. Campbell; in which Ship came his Excellency, THOMAS POWNALL, Esq., with his Majesty's Royal Commission to be Captain-General, Governor, and Commander-in-Chief in and over this his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts-Bay; as also a Commission from the Right Honourable the Lords of the Admiralty to be Vice-Admiral of the same, etc. His Excellency is also Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of New Jersey,

and Agent for His Majesty's General Affair under the command of Lord LOUDON.

Soon after the Ship came to Anchor, his Excellency proceeded to Castle William in a Barge, being saluted by a Discharge of the Cannon from the Ship at his putting off, by the Province Snow Prince of Wales as he passed from the Ship to the Castle, and at the Castle upon his landing there, where his Excellency received the Compliments of a Number of Gentlemen who had repaired thither on this Occasion.

...

His Excellency lodged there that Night; and Yesterday, about Noon, came up to Town in the Castle Barge, being saluted by the Guns of that Fortress when the Barge put off, and by those of the Batteries, and Vessels in the Harbour, upon his passing up and landing at the Long-Wharf, where he was receiv'd and welcom'd by the Members of His Majesty's Council, and a Number of other Gentlemen; from thence walk'd in Procession up to the Court-House, being escorted thither by the Company of Cadets.

The Regiment of Militia in this Town and the Troop of Guards being under Arms, and drawn up in Kingstreet, his Excellency receiv'd the Compliments of the Officers, by their paying the standing Salute as he pass'd by; and the Streets and Windows of the Houses, etc., were crowded with Spectators on the Occasion. His Majesty's Commission to his Excellency, as also that from the Lords of the Admiralty aforementioned, were open'd and publickly read in the Council-Chamber; and the usual Oaths were administred by Mr. Secretary OLIVER: After which he was congratulated by the Council and a great Number of other Gentlemen there present.

A Proclamation was then issued by His Excellency, and published from the Balcony, "impowering and requiring all Officers to continue in the Exercise of the Trusts reposed in them by their respective Commissions until further Order," Which was followed by three Huzzas and the Discharge of three Volleys from the Militia, etc. His Excellency, with the Gentlemen of the Council, a Number of Officers and other Gentlemen, were entertain'd with a handsome Dinner, provided at the British Coffee House in King-Street; and he was afterwards attended to the Seat prepared for his Reception: And in the Evening the Court-House was beautifully illuminated.

The following Congratulatory ADDRESS was made to His Excellency. Yesterday by a Committee appointed by the General Court, viz. :—

May it please your Excellency, THE Council and House of Representatives having appointed us a Committee to pay your Excellency the Compliments of this Government upon your safe Arrival; We therefore beg Leave with the greatest Sincerity to congratulate your Excellency thereupon: And assure your Excellency, we are heartily glad to see you Safe and in good Health among us after the Fatigues of your Voyage. To which his Excellency was pleas'd to return the following ANSWER:

Gentlemen of the Committee,-I return you my Thanks for your kind Congratulation.

This early Attention in the Council and House to the Honour of His Majesty's Commission, is a Mark of that true Loyalty which did ever distinguish this Province.

Thursday last the Ministers and Wardens of the Episcopal Churches in this Town presented the following ADDRESS to His Excellency: May it please your Excellency, WE, the Ministers and Wardens of the Episcopal Churches in this Town, beg Leave to congratulate your Excellency upon your safe Arrival at this your Government. With Hearts full of Gratitude and Loyalty we acknowledge his Majesty's paternal Care in your Excellency's Appointment, from whose Administration we promise ourselves a Continuance of the Happiness we enjoy'd under our late excellent Governor. The Report of your Excellency's great Abilities and your late indefatigable Application to inform yourself of the State and Interest of these Provinces leave us no Room to doubt of your wise and happy Conduct of the publick Affairs of this Government.

Among other Things which will fall under your Excellency's Care we beg Leave to recommend the Interest of Religion, and the several Churches within this Province. It is our Duty, Sir, and we shall likewise make it our constant Endeavour, to cultivate a Spirit of Peace and Submission, so strongly recommended in the Gospel, and highly calculated for the Preservation and Support of Government. From a deep Sense of that Duty, we humbly beseech almighty God to bless all your Excellency's Designs and Endeavours for the Advancement of his Glory and the Good of this Province.

To which His Excellency was pleased to return the following ANSWER:

Gentlemen,

YOUR Congratulations are extreamly obliging, and I thank you.

It shall be my Endeavour that the Hopes which you express from the kind Sentiments you are pleased to entertain of me may not be frustrated. My Attention to Religion will be alway that which my private Duty as a Christian, and my Public as Supream Magistrate, demands of me; and I shall alway hope for that Essential Support which the State receives from the Church.

On Friday last the Associated Ministers of the Congregational Churches in this Town waited on His Excellency the Governor, and presented the following Address, viz. :

May it please your EXCELLENCY,

WE, the Associated Pastors of the Congregational Churches in Boston wait upon your EXCELLENCY to express our Loyalty to the KING, and all due Respect to your EXCELLENCY, as constituted by Him the Governor of this Province.

1 Boston "Weekly Newsletter,”. Aug. 4, 1757.

We congratulate your safe Arrival; and take Leave upon this Occasion to commend our civil and Religious Rights, the Cause of Virtue, and the Interest of Literature, to your EXCELLENCY'S Care and Patronage.

The Common Duties of your High Station are weighty and important; and the present State of our Public Affairs is critical and alarming: Permit us, then, to assure your EXCELLENCY of our constant Prayers to the SUPREME RULER, that your whole Administration, animated by His Influence, and succeeded by His Blessing, may prove happy to Yourself, and auspicious to this Community.

And may your EXCELLENCY never fail to receive every becoming Testimony of Duty, and Esteem, from an obliged and grateful People. To which his Excellency was pleas'd to return the following Answer,

viz.:

Gentlemen,

Your Address is, as it ought to be, particularly agreeable to me, as it ultimately refers all Honour to His Majesty, where alone it truly resides. I thank you for your Congratulations.

Where the Spirit of Virtue and Knowledge is, there is Civil and Religious Liberty; I shall therefore alway support the one, as I mean conscientiously to maintain the other.

I thank you for the Tender of your Services. · Government can never fail of all due Honour, and a Conscientious Obedience, from a People animated by true Religion, under the leading of a pious and godly Ministry.1

He was familiar with American affairs, having come to this country in 1753 as secretary to Sir Danvers Osborne, Governor of New York, on whose unfortunate death, instead of returning to England, Mr. Pownall remained in America. In February, 1755, he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of New Jersey, where his chief, Mr. Belcher, was "old and infirm." Ambitious and able, he rose quickly to influence. "Shirley took him into his confidence and communicated his plans to him; and he was accused of betraying this trust, by anticipating all the important information in his own communications to the Ministry." In 1755 he returned to England, coming back with Lord Loudoun in 1756, but soon going home again to receive the appointment to succeed Shirley. "His politics were those of Chatham; and he came to his government full of zeal and animation to promote the grand designs of that Minister for putting an end to the contests with France in America, by depriving that power of all its North American possessions." 2

1 Boston "Weekly Newsletter," Aug. that Pitt did not receive the title " Earl 11, 1757. of Chatham" till 1766.

2 Tudor's Life of Otis, p. 43. Note