[June 13.] The Massachusetts assembly, who were the first representative body that took the act into consideration, ordered, that Mr. _Otis_ and four others of the house should be a committee in the recess of the court, to write to the other governments, and acquaint them with the instructions voted to be sent to their agent; and that the said committee, in the name and behalf of the house, should desire the several assemblies on the continent to join with them in the same measures. The committee attended to the business; and the end proposed by it was answered: committees were moreover appointed by divers other colonies to correspond with the several assemblies, or committees of assemblies on the continent. Thus a new kind of correspondence was opened between the colonies, tending to unite them in their operations against ministerial encroachments on their privileges, and which proved of great advantage to them afterward. [Oct. 24.] At the next session a committee was appointed to consider the state of the province, as it might be affected by certain duties and taxes laid, and proposed to be laid by acts of parliament upon the colonies. The consequence was, a committee of the council and house to prepare an address to the parliament. The lieutenant governor, Mr. _Hutchinson_, who was of the council, was chairman, but declined drawing up any. Several were proposed, which expressed in strong terms an exclusive right in the assembly to impose taxes. He urged the indecency and bad policy, when they had the resolutions of the house of commons before them, of sending an address, asserting, in express words, the contrary. Many days having been spent upon the business, at the desire of the committee he drafted an address, which considered the _sole power_ of taxation as an indulgence of which they prayed the continuance, and it was _unanimously_ agreed to. The petition does not intimate the least denial of the right of parliament to tax them; but sets forth the impolicy of the laws, and the hardships brought upon the petitioners, and prays that they may be relived from the burdens brought upon them by the sugar sct; that the privileges of the colonies relative to their internal taxes, which they have so long enjoyed, may be still continued; or that the consideration of such taxes as are proposed to be laid upon the colonies may be referred, until the petitioners, in conjunction with the other governments, can have an opportunity to make a full representation of the state and condition of the colonies, and the interest of Great-Britain with regard to them. The proceeding of the general court was approved of out of doors, until the copy of the _New-York_ address was received, which was so high, that many of the friends of liberty were mortified at their own conduct, and if possible, would gladly have recalled their own doings.[77]