LAST ROYAL GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS 31 



Hall declared by a unanimous vote its abhorrence of 

 the shameful work of the night. It was the opening- 

 day of the session of court, and the chief justice, whose 

 wardrobe had perished, came to the bench in his loose- 

 gown, and with the quiet dignity that never deserted 

 him pointed out to the crowded audience the wicked- 

 ness of the misunderstanding of which he had been 

 made the victim. Court adjourned till order could be 

 restored. Town meetings throughout Massachusetts 

 condemned the mob. Several ringleaders were arrested 

 and sent to jail, but another mob released them. The 

 disorder was not fully abated until the Qth of Septem- 

 ber, when news came from England that the Grenville 

 ministry had fallen. The advent of Lord Rocking- 

 ham as prime minister gave hope that the Stamp Act 

 policy would be reconsidered, and for two years quiet 

 was restored in America. A bill for the relief of per- 

 sons who had suffered from the riots was passed by 

 the Massachusetts assembly, and Hutchinson's dam- 

 ages were repaired, so far as might be, in money. The 

 loss of materials for the student of American history 

 was something that could never be repaired. 



In the year of the Stamp Act Samuel Adams was 

 chosen a member of the legislature. The exclusion 

 of crown officers from a seat in either branch of that 

 body had for some time been one of his favourite ideas, 

 and in 1 766 he so far succeeded in realizing it that 

 Hutchinson, with four others, failed to be elected to 

 the council. The last two years of Bernard's admin- 

 istration, 1768 and 1769, were full of strife and bitter- 

 ness. The news of Charles Townshend's measures 

 led to the famous resolutions of 1768 and the circular 

 letter inviting the other colonies to resistance. Then 



