This charge refers to edicts issued occasionally by the King that the representative bodies of the colonies be dissolved for various reasons. For example, in 1768, the representative assembly of Massachusetts issued a letter for circulation charging the King and Parliament with infringing the rights of Americans. After this letter had come to the attention of the British government, Governor Bernard of Massachusetts was ordered to dissolve the assembly unless the letter were rescinded. Letters were also sent to the governors of other colonies ordering them to prevail upon the members of their respective assemblies to ignore the letter. When the Massachusetts House voted not to rescind the letter, the Governor ordered it dissolved.