[Jan. 31, 1767.] The _Massachusetts_ house of assembly continued their opposition to the lieutenant governor Mr. _Hutchinson_, and resolved, “That he not being elected a counsellor, has by the charter, no right to a seat at the council board, with or without a voice, while the commander in chief is in the province.” March the fifth the council determined the same; but in their message to the house, expressed their surprise at what had been done without them, and at its not being mentioned to the board till February the twenty-fourth. Mr. _Hutchinson_ afterward did not attempt to be present. Lord Shelburne, in answer to what was transmitted to him by the governor upon the affair, wrote in September, “the admission of the lieutenant governor, lies after all in the breast of the council only, as being the proper judges of their own privileges, and as having a right to determine whom they will admit to be present at their deliberations.” These proceedings of the _Massachusetts_ and _New-York_ assemblies, thought to be, in name at least, two of the most considerable in the colonies, were ascribed to an unreasonable perverseness of temper; and exasperated the friends of America by exposing them, however unjustly, to the imputation of sacrificing the interests of Great-Britain to those of America. They also encouraged the anti-Americans to resume the plan of taxing the colonies; and Mr. _Charles Townsend_ pawned his credit to them for effecting it, and became chancellor of the exchequer. But three of the ministry opposed in the council taxing the Americans afresh, and it would have been a blessing had their opinion prevailed.