“The time has come to show our strengthened hand”

The Earl of Hillsborough (Secretary of State for the Colonies) to Governor Bernard, Whitehall (London), July 30th, 1768

[Part of: “Let Those Flatter Who Fear”: American Independence in Verse.]

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The King commands me tell you that our troops
Immediately will be sent and landed
In Boston. For too long has it resisted
The laws and the authority of Parliament.
The time has come to show our strengthened hand;
His Majesty, now moved to interpose
His great authority, will thus induce
Obedience to the law. Yet you alone
Must stand responsible for making peace.
Remiss of duty will not be excused; 
And pleas of danger in official acts
Will sound as hollow pretense. We do advise
Removing from their office all such persons
As are infected with an opposition
To Parliament’s just power. While Boston be
Possessed by a licentious, unrestrained
Mob, Colonial government cannot
Proceed. It is the King’s benevolent wish
That by lenient methods Boston learn
That those false doctrines and dangerous principles
Inculcated with diligence and art
By wicked men, will lead to Anarchy
And the subversion of our Constitution,
And the destruction of the British Empire.

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