all
proprietary rulers are worse men than other rulers, nor that all people
in proprietary governments are worse people than those in other
governments. I suspect, therefore, that the cause is radical, interwoven
in the constitution, and so become the very nature, of proprietary
governments; and will therefore produce its effects as long as such
governments continue." It indicated a broad and able mind, and one well
under control, to assume as a basis this dispassionate assertion of a
general principle, amid such personal heats as were then inflaming the
passions of the whole community. His conclusion held one of his
admirable similes which had the force of argument: "There seems to
remain then but one remedy for our evils, a remedy approved by
experience, and which has been tried with success by other provinces; I
mean that of an immediate _Royal Government_, without the intervention
of proprietary powers, which, like unnecessary springs and movements in
a machine, are so apt to produce disorder."

Further, he held out a bait to the crown:--

"The expression, _change of government_, seems indeed to be too
extensive, and is apt to give the idea of a general and total
change of our laws and constitution. It is rather and only a
_change of governor_--that is, instead of self-interested
proprietaries, a gracious king. His majesty, who has no views but
for the good of the people, will thenceforth appoint the governor,
who, unshackled by proprietary instructions, will be at liberty to
join with the Assembly in enacting wholesome laws. At present, when
the king desires supplies of his faithful subjects, and they are
willing and desirous to grant them, the proprietaries intervene and
say: 'Unless our private interests in certain particulars are
served, _nothing shall be done_.' This insolent tribunal VETO has
long encumbered our public affairs and been productive of many
mischiefs."

He then drew a petition "to the king's most excellent majesty in
council," which humbly showed "That the government of this province by
proprietaries has, by long experience, been found inconvenient, attended
by many difficulties and obstructions to your majesty's service, arising
from the intervention of proprietary private interests in public
affairs, and disputes concerning those interests. That the said
proprietary government is weak, unable to support its own authority,