Essay # 2; Ian Furgason and Carolyn Shaw.

Carolyn's Blog: http://ducttapehaven.blogspot.com

Essay: Total Word Count: 2,256 (Intro + Dialogue)
Bold + Highlight = Thesis.

Royal Governor: Alexander Wheatley’s opinions written by Ian Furgason

Alexander’s wife and sister-in-law: Mary Wheatley, Amelia Ambrewster and all editing by Carolyn Shaw

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Amelia Ambrewster was born in England to a very loving family. She had 2 sisters, her twin Mary and an older sister named Samantha, as well as an older brother named Jacob. She has remained very close to all of them except Jacob, who died in the Seven Years War, in her transcontinental move from England to Boston. Her parents were considered very odd by pleasant society, as they educated her in arithmetic and the sciences as well as allowing and even encouraged her love of politics. Because of that, when the time came for her to choose a husband, most men wouldn’t have her and those who would only wanted her fortune. She chose none of her suitors, choosing instead to move to the colonies in hope of a more lenient view, as well as to stay with her sister Mary. After arriving there she finds that contrary to her mistaken beliefs, while America is indeed more lax about some things, it is even more puritanical about the ability of women to speak their minds. In desperation, she speaks to her brother-in-law about politics, shocking him. She explains her dilemma, and after much debate, he accepts the inevitableness of the discussions with good grace. Through these discussions, he learns of her Patriotic leanings and though he is taken aback at first he agrees not to tell anyone of her Patriotic leanings as long as she only discusses her views with him, so as to save his family and his position.

Governor Wheatley was born and raised in England by wealthy parents. His father was a member of Parliament and his mother met with other parliament wives for tea every Sunday after mass. In the course of time, his parents impressed upon him an intense loyalty to King and his empire, which has continued to affect him to this day. During the years leading up to the revolution he was chosen as governor of Massachusetts, and swore loyalty to the king for the duration of his term.

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Governor Wheatley’s loyal stance towards the King causes contention between himself and his Patriotic sister-in-law Amelia, while Amelia does her best to convince Governor Wheatley of the validity and the –in her view- indisputable truth of the Patriotic claims.

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Amelia smiled across the circle of women at her sister. “Are you alright?” she mouthed concernedly, knowing as she did the trials that her sisters’ previous pregnancy had put her through. Her sister smiled back across, nodding to show that she was fine. Amelia sighed, bored to the tips of her toes by the inane chatter of the women surrounding them. All they wished to talk about was the newest fashions and how their children were doing. She had long since despaired of getting any honest conversation out of them, as they couched their true feelings on the war that they were shortly escalating into in terms of their husbands “stocks” and such.

----- 4 Hours Later-----

Governor Wheatley smiled as he strode into his home. He had worked hard at his fathers firm for many years to get to the place that he was now, and he regretted not a moment of it. Even though his beloved appointment had required that he move across an ocean, it was and always had been worth it. His wife, Mary, and sister-in-law Amelia had been at a sewing bee and they had stayed over at their friends’ house, and were thankfully due home any moment. In these uncertain times, he did not like letting them out of the house, but stopping those women was like stopping a wild horse. He also knew that when they got home, Amelia would want to discuss politics with him as she often did after being subjected to the inane chatter of the women for days on end.

Upon that thought, he heard his wife and her sister enter the house. Amelia called “Anyone home?” as she and Mary glided over the threshold. Mary looked very worn as being away from her family, especially with her being in the beginning stages of pregnancy as she was, exhausted her.

“Good evening, ladies.” Alexander Wheatley said suavely, “Would you like to join me for some drinks?”

Mary ran across the room to her loving husband, embracing him quickly in deference to the presence of her sister in the room. “Mary, my love, how was your time at the sewing bee?” asked Wheatley.

“Oh Alex, you know how it is. Women’s talk.” Mary said as she smiled up at Alexander.

“Indeed, and you Amelia, was your time as wonderful as my wives?”

“Of course Alexander” said Amelia, though in truth she had been extremely bored the entire time.

“And you Alexander, how have your last few days gone?” asked Mary, overjoyed to be home and with her husband.

“Oh you wouldn’t want to know, those dastardly patriots are still raising hell.” Alex grumbled.

Mary gasped, only slightly offended at the use of language –she was used to it- though she did not like to hear it always.

Amelia smirked at her sister, knowing that the gasp was only for show. “Please, tell me more.”

“Amelia you know I do not enjoy such discourse.” interjected Mary. She was so happy to be home, and she really didn’t want them to have this discussion again.

“And you know how I do sister. Please, do tell if you don’t mind doing so.” Amelia said to Alexander, moving to one of the armchairs and settling there, ready for a long debate.

Alexander hugged his wife again, giving her a chaste kiss on the cheek. He walked over to the area that Amelia was sitting and sat down on a chair across from her, though he got up again not 30 seconds later. “Patriotic rebels are prancing all around town shouting about liberty and that subversive scholar John Locke’s doctrines about governments ruling according to the wants and needs of the people.” spat Wheatley.

Mary came over and hugged her sister once, and then exited the parlor while saying; “Though I love you both, I cannot stand to hear any mention of their actions, it distresses me too much. I shall be resting in our room if you have further need of me.”

After she left, Amelia’s focus came back to Alexander. “You must admit that John Locke had some very concrete points, especially in his 2^nd treatise on government.” She asserted
vehemently.

“Why does it not surprise me that you have read it?” Alex said wryly. “Yes I have gone over his work, but I consistently find myself more appreciating the work of Thomas Hobbes and his plain talk on the need for a monarchy.”

Amelia smirked at Alexander “Well of course you like him, he is all about monarchy and how the King is God to the people. But you know how I feel; the monarchy has gone on too long, it is very outdated, especially in these colonies.”

“Those patriots have been prancing all around town shouting about freedom from governmental control and how this new tea act will ruin us all. I just can’t see how they can be so full of bigotry toward our king and sovereign. It was him who gave us this land and it is him who will continue to allow us to remain in it. What do they think that they could run these colonies alone? Without one ruler to keep the peace, the peace will be utterly lost forever. And don’t forget how the east India tea company lower the prices below that of which we normally pay. How generous do these filthy patriots want our sovereign to be?” Alexander demanded as he paced the length of the room, gesturing emphatically.

“They expect that their “King” will leave them well enough alone! The raising of the Tea tax was only one of the many things that the King has done to alienate and enslave his subjects. And I would like to remind you that those “filthy patriots” as you called them include me and quite a few of your peers.” Amelia shot back “And the stamp act was completely uncalled for, it wasn’t needed for ANYTHING!”

“I will consent that the King’s Stamp Act was a step that could have been withheld but the Empire did save us from the French and the Indians and he does deserve some compensation for that extreme act of loyal kindness.” Said Alexander, shaking his finger in Amelia’s direction.

“Thank you for that acknowledgment of my point, but I would also like to expound upon the idea that that act of “loyal kindness” as you called it, would not have been necessary were it not for the French’s grudge against the English.” Amelia said, her face showing her disgust at the thought of the Seven Years War. “Our brother Jacob would still be alive if it weren’t for that stupid grudge, and you know it!” she stated emphatically. “Those stupid English…” she said.

“You are English madam, do not forget. Do you not stand for your heritage or would you just toss the hundreds of years of your history to the side and start your own? How foolish, do not forget the wisdom of your ancestors.” Alexander said roughly, incised at her dismissal of the heritage he held very dear.

“Oh, I am English by birth that I do not deny, but my personal beliefs require me to equate myself with a new term that I’ve heard; American, those who were born and raised here in the Colonies, and those who accept and believe in the Patriotic way.” Amelia said.

“Blasphemous! There are no ‘Americans’ for we are all European Colonists! If you would choose to call your group of patriots ‘Americans’ you may. But do not assume to call those who were born and raised here American’s, for there are many English men and women born here in the America’s.” Alexander nearly shouted, turning and glaring at Amelia as he said it.

“Again, not everyone is an American; oh English brother-of-mine. But some would rather be called American than the dreaded English or even German or Dutch.” Amelia stood up and walked towards Alexander. “That taxation of the King’s was a horrible idea as it completely alienated the general populace of the colonies, especially as the colonists have had no representation at all.”

Alexander paced back to the center of the room, then over to a liquor cabinet and poured himself a snifter of brandy. He swallowed some, and then said “More about this nonsense about no taxation without representation in the parliament! We are British subjects and we should be more than happy to be treated as such. Indeed there is nothing wrong with telling the king of our ills, but if he sees fit to put it one way, let it be that way. It is obvious to any well meaning gentleman or woman that these Acts, the Coercive, Townshend, Tea, Stamp and Sugar, were overstepping the lines but our sovereign king will in the end do what’s best for the empire.”

Amelia also went to the cabinet, though she poured herself nothing more than a small glass of sherry. “Ah yes, the 'Empire' that we are supposed to be so enraptured with living in! But what of the common people, those that –unlike myself or even you- eke out a living from this land? It is they that have grown to understand and support the Patriotic side of things, because of how the King treats them.” She said as she walked over to the picture window that looked over the street in front of the house.

Alex scoffed. “These patriots, don’t they realize what they are pushing for? Without the king on our side who will defend us from the numerous savages to the west or the ruthless Spanish to the south? Who will give us order and supply us with the most exquisite clothing and furnishing in this world? Who will buy our fish and our tobacco and our indigo? Why don’t they just submit?”

Amelia smiled tiredly at Alexander as she finished her glass of sherry. “They are pushing for freedom Alex. Nothing less will ever satisfy them. Even now I hear from my maid that the people on the street are readying for war. There is even talk of a Declaration of Independence for goodness sakes!” She leaned her head against the cool window, looking out to the harbor, crowded with ships. “As for your questions, those I cannot answer. Only time will tell. And brother dearest, I fear that this discussion has taken my energy.” She said as she turned away from the window. “I would love to continue it another time, as you know, but not right now.” She walked over and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “I shall retire now; shall I see you at dinner? Or do you have business to attend to today?” She asked.

Alexander smiled down at her, glad she was done for the day. Though he would never admit it, these discussions often drained him as well. “I shall be dining with the family tonight, no business today.” He said, sinking into a chair close to the fire.

Amelia smiled back at Alexander. “I shall relay the good news to Mary then.” She said as she stepped out of the parlor. “Until dinner!” she called back over her shoulder.

Alexander stared into the flames. “Until dinner.” He said contemplatively.