Final answer:
The letter that Benjamin opened referred to a meeting of the Legislative Assembly. The General Court in Puritan colonies functioned as the legislative branch, making laws and exerting influence over colonial governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The letter that Benjamin opened before his sons told of a meeting of the Legislative Assembly.
The General Court in Puritan colonies was the legislative branch of the government. This body was responsible for making the laws of the colony. In the Massachusetts Bay Charter issued in 1629, the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts-bay in New England formed a government where the legislative body, known as the General Court, wielded legislative power. Additionally, during the eighteenth century, colonial assemblies such as the House of Burgesses in Virginia worked to expand their power and influence over colonial affairs, often challenging the authority of the colonial governor.