minate issue ; — and from that state of them to suggest, the absolute necessity there is of their being determined by that part of government, which shall be found to have the right and power to determine them ; and to be so determined, that while the rights, liberties, and even privileges of the colonies are preserved, the colonies may be retained in that true and constitutional dependance to the mother country, and to the government of the mother country, which shall unite them to it as parts of one whole.
It is a duty of perfect obligation from government towards the colonies, to preserve the liberty of the subject, the liberty of the constitution : It is a duty also of prudence in government towards itself, as such conduct is the only permanent and sure ground, whereon to maintain the dependance of those countries, without destroying their utility as colonies.
Thomas Pownall, The Administration of the Colonies (London, 1765), 49-54.
60. A Reprimand to a Colonial Governor (1772)
BY SECRETARY THE EARL OF DARTMOUTH
Dartmouth was one of the English secretaries of state from 1772 to 1775, and in charge of colonial affairs. This rebuke illustrates the discipline which might be applied to governors, short of removal (see No. 58 above).
Sir,
Whitehall. 9. Decr 1772.
AS I have mentioned to you in my Dispatch of this day's date No 4. that the state of what has passed respecting the lands between the Rivers Hudson & Connecticut and also respecting grants of Lands in General, would probably be the subject of a separate letter, I must not loose this opportunity of telling you that the Reports of the Board of Trade upon those subjects have not yet been decided upon at the Council Board, and therefore the instructions which I am to give, in consequence of their Lordpps determination, must be deferred till the next Packet — It becomes my duty however, in obedience to the King's commands, to acquaint you, that the deviations from the letter, & spirit of the Kings instructions in respect to the New Hampshire Townships to the west of Connecticut River ; to grants of Land to the North of Crown point, and to Licenses to private persons to purchase lands of the
