[Dec. 3.] Mr. Otis, jun. was carried off in a post-chaise, bound hand and foot, his reasoning powers being wholly deranged. This calamity, which somewhat lessens the weight of opposition to ministerial measures, is to be imputed, not to any effects of the affray with Mr. _Robinson_, but rather to the high tone given to his animal frame by the strength of his passions, and a failure in the point of temperance. The sons of liberty would have sustained an excessive loss, had this event taken place in the early stage of the opposition; but the times had brought so many able persons of similar sentiments into the general court, who had been training for four years, and were conversant with the political management of public business, that the plans of the Massachusetts anti-governmental party suffered no derangement. An opportunity now offers of mentioning, that Sir Alexander Gilmour, baronet, and George Dempster, esq. were the gentlemen who so nobly distinguished themselves by voting for the repeal of the stamp act, while all the other Scotch members present voted against it. After what has been written and transmitted, you will judge yourself under an obligation to return me speedy information of all that is doing in Great-Britain relative to the American colonies. LETTER V. _Roxbury, June 25, 1773._ [1772.] The annual elections of the _Massachusetts_ were in favor of the friends to colonial liberty; but the state of Mr. _Otis_’s mind necessarily occasioned his being left out of the list of the _Boston_ representatives. [May 28.] The general court still met at _Cambridge_, but the governor adopted a conciliating measure, in declining to negative Mr. _Hancock_, who was again chosen one of the council.—He had been repeatedly chosen, and till now as repeatedly negatived; he declined, however, taking his seat at the board, choosing to remain in the assembly as one of the Boston members. [June 13.] Mr. _Hutchinson_ acquainted the house, in answer to a message, that his majesty had made provision for his support; and then, after requiring the opinion and advice of the council, upon their oaths, whether he might now remove the general court to Boston, consistent with the signification of his majesty’s pleasure to him, and receiving their unanimous opinion and advice in the affirmative, adjourned them to meet at Boston. He might have asked and received that very advice long before.