Englishmen hate an arbitrary power (politically considered) as they hate the devil. ... And though many of their incautelous princes have endeavored to null all their charter rights and immunities, and agrandize themselves in the servile state of the subjects, by setting up their own seperate will, for the great standard of government over the nation, yet they have all along paid dear for their attempts, both in the ruin of the nation, and in interrupting the increase of their own grandeur, and their foreign settlements and conquests. Had the late reigns, before the accession of the great _William_ and _Mary_, to the throne of England, but taken the measures of them, and [of] her present majesty,[109] in depressing vice, and advancing the union and wealth, and encouraging the prowice and bravery of the nation, they might by this time have been capable to have given laws to any monarch on earth; but spending their time in the pursuit of an absolute monarchy (contrary to the temper of the nation, and the ancient constitution of the government) through all the meanders of state craft: It has apparently kept back the glory, and dampt all the most noble affairs of the nation. And when under the midwifry of _Machiavilan_ art, and cunning of a daring prince, this MONSTER, tyranny, and arbitrary government, was at last just born, upon the holding up of a finger! or upon the least signal given, ON the whole nation goes upon this HYDRA.[110] The very name of an arbitrary government is ready to put an Englishman's blood into a fermentation; but when it really comes, and shakes its whip over their ears, and tells them it is their master, it makes them stark mad. _c. Boston's Action Relative to the Proposed Permanent Salary for the Governor in 1729_ _Boston Town Records_ (for dates given). The full records of the meeting are given, that the student may see how great matters of state were mingled with trivial and local business. The attempt of England to secure a fixed salary for the Governor of Massachusetts would, if successful, have made that officer wholly independent of popular control. Cf. _American History and Government_, # 118, for the whole story. AT a Meeting of the Freeholders and Other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston Duly Qualified being Regulerly Assembled in a Publick Town meeting at the Town House Tuesday May the 6th 1729-- After Prayer by the Revd mr Thomas Prince [and after] Elisha Cooke Esqr Chose[n] Moderator for this Meeting. Sundry Petitions Read Vizt About a place for the Grainery About m. [Mr.] Peleg Wiswalls Sallary About m. Edward Mills Sallary m. Samuel Oakes Petition m. Jer[=a] [Jeremiah] Condys Petition The Selectmens Report of Sundry things left to them Voted to Chuse 4 Representatives The Number of Voters Were 192