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 INTRODUCTION. 305 vernor replied, that unless his majesty's plea- chap. vm. sure had due weight with them, their desires 1728. should have very little with him. The council now interposed with a resolu- tion declaring, " that it is expedient for the court to ascertain a sum as a salary for his ex- cellency's support, as also the term of time for its continuance." This resolution was trans- mitted to the house of representatives, where it was immediately disagreed to. After much controversy, a small seeming advance towards an accommodation was made. Instead of granting a salary, as had been usual, for half a year, a grant was made to the go- vernor of three thousand pounds, equal to one thousand pounds sterling, in order to enable him to manage the affairs of the province. This was generally understood, though not expressed, to be a salary for a year. The go- vernor withheld his assent from this vote, whereupon the house entreated him to accept the grant; and added, " we cannot doubt but that succeeding assemblies, according to the ability of the province, will be very ready to grant as ample a support, and if they should not, your excellency will then have an oppor- tunity of showing your resentment. The go- vernor, however, still persisted in withholding his assent from the vote. The country generally, and especially Bos- ton, was opposed to a compliance with the vol. i. e r