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equity of administration, accounted to the public for what seemed very strange: "That while a man of Dr. Frankin's character and abilities was daily and maliciously traduced, he had not published a line in his own defence." The essays which appeared for him in the public papers, were without his participation and without his knowledge. He had however written a full and clear account of the part he had taken in all public measures; and the motives and views on which he acted, probably with the intention of submitting it to the consideration of the world, whenever he could do it with safety. In the mean time, it was the duty of his friends to do what they could to prevent the effects of the most deliberate and rancorous malice that had ever been exerted against an innocent and praise-worthy man.

Every objection to his conduct was answered at the time, and generally well answered;' except the plausible one, which was triumphantly made by the friends of administration. They said that a man holding a place under a government, should be faithful to that government; and that Dr. Franklin having a lucrative office should not have embroiled government, on any account, with the Americans. This was suffering to be taken for granted, what indeed it would not have been diffi

'See letter to Alexander Wedderburn, Esq. APPENDIX, No. 5.

cult to prove, that the interest of administration is one thing, and the interest of the people another. It does not signify where the people reside, whether in America or in Middlesex. This being the case, it is avowing the plainest principle of tyranny, to maintain that the king's servants are his own, and have no duty or relation to the people! Despotic governments perhaps may be alarmed to find this doctrine now condemned even in the army, which they consider as immediately depending on themselves, and perfectly separate from the public interest. To the honor of the military gentlemen, however, it is a fact, that many officers define their obligations with an integrity and public spirit which would have pleased a Cato. "We are the king's servants," say they, "but it is only while the king is the servant of the people." Apply this glorious principle to the case of Dr. Franklin; and let the Mauduits and Wedderburns nibble at it to the end of time.

Immediately after the proceedings before the privy council, Dr. Franklin was dismissed from the office of deputy post-master-general,' which he held under the crown. It was not only by his transmission of the letters of Governor Bernard and Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson, that he had given offence to the British ministry, but by his popular writings in favor of America. Two pieces in particular had lately attracted a large share of

public attention on both sides of the Atlantic. The one purported to be an edict from the king of Prussia,' for taxing the inhabitants of Great Britain, as descendants of emigrants from his dominions. The other was intitled, "Rules for reducing a great empire to a small one;" in both of which he exposed the claims of the mother-country and the proceedings of the British ministry, with the severity of poignant satire.

2

Pending these transactions another antagonist to Dr. Franklin's fame started up. A publication by Josiah Tucker, D. D. and dean of Gloucester, appeared, and occasioned the following correspondence; by which it will readily be seen, that Dr. Franklin earnestly endeavored to obtain from the Dean, an open and fair communication of the grounds and reasons upon which the latter had relied, in making certain charges against the former; and that he did this in the fullest confidence of being able completely to justify himself against them. And it will be as readily seen, that Dr. Tucker most uncandidly endeavored to avoid that communication, and that discovery of the truth which it was likely to produce.

'See letter to Thomas Cushing, Esq. Sept. 12, 1773, and to Governor Franklin, Oct. 6, 1773, PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE, Part II.

2 See WRITINGS, Part I. Sec. 1.

TO DEAN TUCKER.

REVEREND SIR,

London, Feb. 12, 1774.

Being informed by a friend that some severe strictures on my conduct and character had appeared in a new book published under your respectable name, I purchased and read it. After thanking you for those parts of it that are so instructive on points of great importance to the common interest of mankind, permit me to complain, that if by the description you give in pages 180, 181, of a certain American patriot, whom you say you need not name, you do, as is supposed, mean myself, nothing can be further from the truth than your assertion, that I applied or used any interest directly or indirectly to be appointed one of the stamp officers for America; I certainly never expressed a wish of the kind to any person whatever, much less was I, as you say, "more than ordinarily assiduous on this head." I have heretofore seen in the newspapers insinuations of the same import, naming me expressly; but being without the name of the writer, I took no notice of them. I know not whether they were yours, or were only your authority for your present charge; but now they have the weight of your name and dignified character, I am more sensible of the injury; and I beg leave to request, that you will reconsider the grounds on which you have ventured to publish an accusation, that, if believed, must prejudice me extremely in the opinion of good men, especially in my

own country, whence I was sent expressly to oppose the imposition of that tax. If on such reconsideration and inquiry you find, as I am persuaded you will, that you have been imposed upon by false reports, or have too lightly given credit to hearsays in a matter that concerns another's reputation, I flatter myself that your equity will induce you to do me justice, by retracting that accusation. In confidence of this, I am with great esteem, Reverend Sir, your most obedient, and most humble servant, B. FRANKLIN.

SIR,

TO DR. FRANKLIN.

Monday, Feb. 21, 1774. The letter which you did me the honor to send to Gloucester, I have just received in London, where I have resided many weeks, and am now returning to Gloucester. On inquiry I find that I was mistaken in some circumstances relating to your conduct about the stamp act, though right as to the substance. These errors shall be rectified the first opportunity. After having assured you, that I am no dealer in anonymous newspaper paragraphs, nor have a connexion with any who are, I have the honor to be, Sir, your humble servant,

TO DEAN TUCKER.

REVEREND SIR,

J. TUCKER.

I received your favor of yesterday. If the substance of what you have charged

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