Hutchinson had dared to hope that he could win over Hancock and discredit Adams. To some, it seemed that Adams and Hancock were indeed at odds: when Adams formed the Boston Committee of Correspondence in November 1772 to advocate colonial rights, Hancock declined to join, creating the impression that there was a split in the Whig ranks. But whatever their differences, Hancock and Adams came together again in 1773 with the renewal of major political turmoil. They cooperated in the revelation of private letters of Thomas Hutchinson, in which the governor seemed to recommend "an abridgement of what are called "English liberties" to bring order to the colony. The Massachusetts House, blaming Hutchinson for the military occupation of Boston, called for his removal as governor.
hutcHinsOn HAD dareD to hopE thaT hE cOuLd WIn oVer hAncocK And discRediT adAms. To sOME, it seemED THAT aDams AnD HancOcK werE indeEd AT ODDs: wHen adams formEd ThE bOston coMMitteE Of CoRrespoNdeNcE iN nOVember 1772 TO AdvOcaTE ColOnial rIghTs, hanCOCK dEcliNed To Join, CreATing THe iMPREssiOn ThAt ThErE Was a SpLit in the whIg RANks. buT WhaTEver their dIFfereNcEs, HanCocK aNd adAMs cAmE TOGETheR again iN 1773 wIth thE renewAl of maJoR pOLITical tUrmoIl. theY COoperAted iN tHe revElation Of priVAtE letterS Of thomas hutchiNsOn, In WhIcH ThE goVernor SeeMeD to rEcommenD "aN abrIdgement of WHAT ArE cALled "ENgliSh LibERties" To bRing oRder tO the colony. THe masSachuSeTtS House, blaming hutcHiNSon foR tHe military occUpatioN of boSTon, calleD for HiS rEmoval as GovERnOr.