The Correspondence of Thomas Hutchinson, Volume 5: July 1772-May 1774

Volume Five covers the last years of Hutchinson’s governorship. The proliferation of committees of correspondence throughout the province in late 1772 prompted Hutchinson to make a major speech at the opening of the General Court in January 1773, laying out his understanding of the relationship between the colonies and Parliament. The speech prompted a series of rejoinders and counter rejoinders that dragged on throughout the winter. No sooner had the matter died down, then Samuel Adams ann...