New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-08-01
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A ROYAL GOVERNOR.

III n T01onE Cap,ain.General and Governor-in
Coef Of his late Msestys Province Cd 81 b Ad
mSlstration when he Member and speaker OF the
thsi Colony during tie Difficult Peroi that preceded
the War OF Independence. Compiled rom the or'g,
his descendants by PETER ORLANDO HUTcHNsoS'
one OF his great grandsons svo PIP o9i housh'on'
Mihn Il Co.
Thomas Hutchinson. the last Loyallst Governor
of Massachusetts was a better historian than he
has ever yet had the credit of being;
but as darist he was dull aud I'M
necessarily minute. As for his great grandson.
Mr. Peter Orlando Hutchinson, he shows himself
to be at one of the fussest and most lncompe-
tent Of editors. This volume ~ bulky with stun
which has no possible vaue-is vaguely wandering
TO the last degree and duse to the point OF Sosuru
ity. A book of half the size would have contained
all that was worth saving, and would nave neen ir
more credltable to writer and editor me I"'-
fer has apparently mado tho mistake iof re-
pardiug all the words of bis ancestor
as sacred and lifted above triviality 10y the august
hand that penned thcm-a manifestation OF maj
devotion beautiful in itself but involvement LOT
the reader. who must search Tor gram aiDlu NJ
much chat. The reverence with which TINS Eng
Ish descendant of an American regards his own
family ia positively ludicrous " always inquire
with interest =" he writes to Boston correspondent
after Mr. and Mrs Robbins | hope they are
we'll PRAY remember me to them. Renember-Mr
Robbius's ancestor married Elizabeth Hutchinson,
and that is something in the worlds history lhat
Remember is worthy of Charles !, aud MI hu''h-
inson's large ideas of his relations are to be
respected "a loyal but doubtless the world would
have wapged on had not good Master Robbins
married Elizabeth hutchinson, and had issue after
so,ne generations of Mr.. and MIS- Robbins" Tho
editor, ly the way. displays the usual myinolble
British ignorance of things American when he de-
mands an explanation of certain matters from Mr.
Everett and others "if they would get
Get themselves right with public opinion
II would seem that nm editor who assumes such
familiarity with American history ought to know
that 80 eminent Statesman aud orator as Edward
Everett went many yeaIs ago beyond the reach OF
public opinion.
This volume docs not add very much to
knowledge Of the period with which IL deals, nor
to out apprehension of the Governors character
aud hntrnses. II seems 60 shnw, however, that the
real Thomas Hutchinson something bot euh tho
sofdid aud ambitions ppiAan pictured br bancroft
aud tho saint Of ha great -eiandh"hH hdniai'"h
Tho Goyeinofa mind Was OF Tho conservative, frd
tapo aud somewhat solnhh order, aud II naturally
led him toward the methods aud rewards ol an es-
tahiished government lie had no generous rieVisioh
NJ to the tate o-othsr peoples -posloIity, and hut
little understanding OF the temper OF tho Colonies
the real aspect of the contest aud the possibilities
of the future. AS for any comprehension
of the grounds of justice and of human
right upon which the patriots based their
arguments no one, except his editor perhaps, could
have been more dense. lie clung to the theory OF
the divine night of King and Parliament to do what
they would with the Colonies with persistence
which was logical enough, according to his c0nVlc-
tions but which was entirely without any element
of broad craftsmanship sympathy with the pollt-
ical progress of mankind Chatham could feel the
q. Of hat az Amer
ican question; but the Provincial Cover
nor could not ser beyond his own nose,
md the respectable member that adorned
the fat cOuntenance of the stupldeSt
and most obstinate of English Kings. We need not
60 over the conventional opinions of the Massachu
sets loyalists but the reader who turns to him
from the sublime common-sense OF Dickinson ana
the unseliish patriotism of Quincy will have a
keen appreciation of Hutchinson's personal and pO-
litica limitations
Why the Governor went to England has never
been explained save by the superstition that he
either meant to enter into some business or to get
Administration to recognize his loyalty and his
burnt house and MSS. by some substantial settle
ment He wrote to his son before sailing " hope
10 make such provision there that need not eXpend
nv estate while live, but leave If to my children
who come after me- There is nothing to show
that by this provision lie meant gifts Of place
reasonable to conjecture that he honestly thought
himself entitled to recompcnse for what was I'm
\ doubtedly TO him real suffering. II he
u did not think so he certainly
more modest than many of his brother refugees.
1t was rather humliating part that most of
them PLAYED in London. 10 gossip in coffee houses;
10 swell with information which was Of
the least possible Importance whom dis
closed in interviews with condescend-
ing and half contemptuous ministers; TO
necessarily worry Administration for relief. aud TO
accept Inequalities they could not return-theso
were the occupations and amusements Of many Of
Governor Hutchinson feow-suileTeTs. The Cover
nor himself so far as We know, behaved with in
Gnitely more dignity; but one cannot read now
without smile bis accounts Of the extremely
solemn and perfectly futile interviews he held from
day to day with members of the Government. lie
was treated apparently with respect and consid-
Grafton, and for time was something of a bug
bear to the struggling fathers of tho Republic.
But they did not long regard him in that light,
aud had indeed little 70 dread his influence.