' As early as 1745 he was termed by the London Evening Post (a strong Jacobite publication), "A Low Church, fanatical, Oliverian Whig, Josiah ben Tucker, ben Judas Iscariot." Differing with Burke on the American question, he, in answer to that statesman's speech in favour of the American colonies, published a pamphlet, in 1775, entitled A Letter of Dean Tucker to Edmund, Burke, M.P. for Bristol, and Agent for the Colony of New York, a copy of which is in the city library. Tucker's scheme of dealing with the revolted American colonies was different from that of the Parliament and that of Burke. The majority in Parliament claimed absolute supremacy; Burke would have given up parliamentary control over each colony, but would have erected each provincial assembly into an independent parliament, subject to the king with his usual prerogatives. Tucker's scheme was absolute separation ; as the colonies would not submit to the authority and jurisdiction of the British legislature, neither should they share in its privleges and advantages. At the same time he would enter into alliances of friendship and treaties of commerce with them, as with any other sovereign state.

Josiah Tucker was a native of Langharne, Carmarthenshire. Born in 1712, he became a scholar of Jesus college, Oxford; entered holy orders at twenty-three years of age, was curate of St. Stephen's, 1737; chaplain to Bishop Butler, by whose interest he was made a prebendary of Bristol cathedral, and on the death of Mr. Oatcott, was made rector of St. Stephen's. He took a decided stand for the naturalisation of the Jews, for which his effigy in canonicals was burnt in Bristol. In 1753 he published a pamphlet on the Turkey trade, in which he opposed the principle of chartered companies. He was largely instrumental in the return of Lord Clare for Bristol, and his lordship, out of gratitude, obtained for him the deanery of Gloucester, in 1758, at which time he took his degree as D.D. In his famous pamphlet, Thoughts on the Dispute Between the Mother Country and America, he asserted that the latter could not be conquered, and if it could, the purchase would be dearly bought; he warned this country against commencing a war with the colonies; advised they should be left to themselves, which he contended would be productive of infinite good to Britain. Both Dr. Johnson and Edmund Burke, one the champion, the other the enemy, of American taxation, treated Tucker's view with contempt; and Burke, in the House, called him "the advocate of the court," and supposed "his labours would raise him to a bishopric." Burke disliked him because he was a thorough supporter of Lord Clare, and opposed the invitation of himself to Bristol. In 1778 Miss Peloquin bequeathed to him a considerable legacy, and her house in Queen square to be a residence for the rector of St. Stephen's. He sent John Henderson, a young man of extraordinary ability, to Oxford, and supported him there at his own expense. Tucker resigned his living, with the consent of the chancellor, in favour of his curate, for whom every man in the parish, Dissenters included, joined with him in the petition. He died in December, 1799.

9. On Monday morning, April 8th, 1776, the Snow Dickenson, from Philadelphia to Nantes, which had been fitted out by order of the congress, and consigned to Messrs. Montandonin & Co., was brought into by the mate and crew, who, on finding that was destined to the purchase of warlike stores against this country, determined to make for Bristol. The cargo and ship were valued at £7,500. The captain's orders were to purchase with the proceeds of the cargo 1500 stand of arms, with bayonets and rods, and fifteen tons of gunpowder, or failing that to bring saltpetre and sulphur.

During this year Dr. Johnson and his friend Boswell paid a visit to Bristol in order to enquire authenticity of Rowley's poetry. There occurred this year a most fearful storm; all the ships in but two were driven on shore. It was computed that 2,500 persons perished in different parts of the city. Some of the lime trees which formed eight cross lines in Queen square being uprooted, the remainder cut down.

" The late treasurer, Mr. Garrard, said in 1825, the corporation had no account of Mayor's dues anterior to 1776. Prior thereto they were received by the Mayor himself. He had accounts of Town's dues up 1640.

An Act of Parliament was obtained, "to remove of fire amongst the ships in the port of Bristol, by prc landing of certain commodities on the present quays, d viding a convenient quay and proper places for landing the same; and for regulating the said quay, and t: boats, and other vessels carrying goods for hire wit:. port of Bristol ; and for other purposes therein menti : object of this Act was to enlarge and occupy the floating-dock, in Rownham meads. From September 29, all that part of the parish of Clifton that lay between the bound-stone of the city on the east of a little brook, anciently called Woodwell lake, but now a sluice under ground, at Limekiln dock, and the ferry called Rownham passage, and between the river Avon and the road which leads from the said bound-stone and the said ferry, were hereby separated from the judicial jurisdiction of Gloucestershire, and made part of Bristol, except with regard to taxes and votes at elections for knights of the shire.
October 17, the limits of the new docks marked out.

Hannah More published Sir Eldred f the Bower and the Bleeding Rock, dedicating the work to David Garrick. John Howard published a pamphlet on Bristol and Bridewell. The "Five Beakers" inn, New Market, was re-named the " Queen Charlotte."

During this year the American colonies declared themselves independent.

In December, 1776, a diabolical series of attempts was made to burn the shipping and city. The Savannah la Mar, a ship of 400 tons belonging to M: Maxey, bound for Jamaica, was maliciously s by means of combustibles, pitch, tar, rosin, w the decks and rigging were bedaubed and s Fortunately there were two large puncheons of water on the deck.... '