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tition was ordered, there had been a change in the American administration, that the present minister was our friend in the repeal of the stamp act, and seems still to have good dispositions towards us; that you had mentioned to me the probability that the house would have remonstrated on all their other grievances, had not their time been taken up with the difficult business of a general valuation; and since the complaint of this petition was likely alone to give offence, it might perhaps be judged advisable to give the substance of all our complaints at once, rather than in parts, and after a reprimand received; I say, upon the whole, I thought it best not to disoblige him in the beginning of his administration, by refusing him what he seemed so desirous of, a delay at least in presenting the petition, till farther directions should be received from my constituents. If after deliberation they should send me fresh orders I shall immediately obey them, and the application to the crown itself may possibly derive greater weight, from the reconsideration given it, while the temper of the house may be somewhat calmed by the removal of a minister who had rendered himself so obnoxious to them. Accordingly I consented to the delay desired, wherein I hope my conduct will not be disapproved.

"With the greatest esteem and respect, I have the honour to be, sir, your and the committee's most obedient and most humble servant, B. FRANKLIN.”

To the same. (Private.)

LONDON, Jan. 5, 1773.

"SIR,-I did myself the honour of writing to you on the 2d of December past, inclosing some original letters from persons in Boston, which I hope got safe to hand. I have since received your favour of October 27, which containing in a small compass so full an enumeration of our grievances, the steps necessary to remove them, and the happy effects that must follow, I thought that though marked private, it might be of use to communicate it to lord Dartmouth, the rather too, as he would there find himself occasionally mentioned with proper respect, and learn that his character was esteemed in the colonies. Accordingly I wrote him a few lines, and inclosed it a day or two before I was to wait on his lordship, that he might have a little time to consider the contents. When I next attended him, he returned me the letter with great complaisance in his countenance, said he was glad to find that people in America were disposed to think so favourably of him; that they did him but justice in believing he had the best disposition towards them, for he wished sincerely their welfare, though possi

bly he might not always think with them as to the means of obtaining that end. That the heads of complaint in your letter were many, some of them requiring much consideration, and therefore it could scarce be expected that a sudden change should be made in so many measures, supposing them all improper to be continued, which perhaps might not be the case. It was however his opinion, that if the Americans continued quiet, and gave no fresh offence to government, those measures would be reconsidered, and such relief given as upon consideration should be thought reasonable. I need not remark that there is not much in such general discourse, but I could then obtain nothing more particular, except that his lordship expressed in direct terms his disapprobation of the instruction for exempting the colonies from taxation: which however was, as he said, in confidence to me, relying that no public mention should be made of his opinion on that head.

"In the mean time, some circumstances are working in our favour with regard to the duties. It is found by the last year's accounts transmitted by the commissioners, that the balance in favour of Britain is but about eight-five pounds, after payment of salaries, &c. exclusive of the charge of a fleet to enforce the collection. Then it is observed, that the India company is so out of cash, that it cannot pay the bills drawn upon it, and its other debts, and at the same time so out of credit, that the bank does not care to assist them, whence they find themselves obliged to lower their dividend; the apprehension of which has sunk their stock from two hundred and eighty to one hundred and sixty, whereby several millions of property are annihilated, occasioning private bankruptcies and other distress, besides a loss to the public treasury of four hundred thousand pounds per annum, which the company are not to pay into it as heretofore, if they are not able to keep up their dividend at twelve and a-half. And as they have at the same time tea, and other India goods in their warehouses, to the amount of four millions, as some say, for which they want a market, and which, if it had been sold, would have kept up their credit, I take the opportunity of remarking in all companies the great imprudence of losing the American market, by keeping up the duty on tea, which has thrown that trade into the hands of the Dutch, Danes, Swedes, and French, who according to the reports and letters of some custom-house officers in America, now supply by smuggling the whole continent, not with tea only, but accompany that article with other India goods, amounting as supposed in the whole to five hundred thousand pounds sterling per annum. This gives some alarm, and begins to convince people more and more of the impropriety of quarrelling with America,

who at that rate might have taken off two millions and a half of those goods within these five years that the combination has subsisted, if the duty had not been laid, or had been speedily repealed.

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"SIR,-I did myself the honour of writing to you the 2d of December and the 5th January past. Since which I have received your and proceedings of the town of Boston, which favour of November 28, inclosing the votes I have reprinted here, with a preface. Herewith I send you a few copies.

open

"But our great security lies, I think, in our growing strength, both in numbers and wealth, that creates an increasing ability of assisting this nation in its wars, which will make us more respectable, our friendship more valued, "Governor Hutchinson's speech at the and our enmity feared, thence it will soon be thought proper to treat us not with justice ing of your January session, has been printed only, but with kindness, and thence we may think) the ministerial people, which I take to and industriously circulated here by (as I expect in a few years a total change of measures with regard to us; unless by a neglect it is not yet arrived, and in the mean while it be no good sign. The assembly's answer to of military discipline we should lose all martial spirit, and our western people become as seems to make impression on the minds of tame as those in the eastern dominions of Bri- many not well acquainted with the dispute. tain, when we may expect the same oppresThe tea duty however is under the considersions, for there is much truth in the Italian ation of parliament, for a repeal on the petisaying, Make yourselves sheep and the wolves tion from the East India company, and no new will eat you. In confidence of this coming is likely to be taken during the present sesmeasures have been talked of against America, change in our favour, I think our prudence is meanwhile to be quiet, only holding up our sion; I was therefore preparing to return rights and claims on all occasions in resolu- home by the spring ships, but have been adtions, memorials, and remonstrances; but bear-vised by our friends to stay till the session is ing patiently the little present notice that is over: as the commission sent to Rhode Island, taken of them. They will all have their weight in time, and that time is at no great

distance.

"With the greatest esteem, I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient and most

humble servant,

B. FRANKLIN."

"Governor Franklin.

"LONDON, February 14, 1773.

The

"DEAR SON,―The opposition are now at tacking the ministry on the St. Vincent's affair, which is generally condemned here, and some think lord Hillsborough will be given up, as the adviser of that expedition. But if it succeeds perhaps all will blow over. ministry are more embarrassed with the India affairs; the continued refusal of North America to take tea from hence, has brought infinite distress on the company: they imported great quantities in faith that the agreement could not hold; and now they can neither pay their debts nor dividends, their stock has sunk to the annihilating near three millions of their property, and government will lose its four hundred thousand pounds a-year; while their teas lie on hand: the bankruptcies brought on partly by this means have given such a shock to credit as has not been experienced here since the South Sea year. And this has affected the great manufactures so much, as to oblige them to discharge their hands, and thousands of Spitalfields and Manchester weavers are now starving, or subsisting on charity. Bless ed effects of pride, pique, and passion in government, which should have no passions. B. FRANKLIN." 24*

"Yours, VOL. L.... 2 N

and discontents in your province, with the
correspondence of the towns, may possibly
give rise to something here, when my being
on the spot may be of use to our country.
time I must hope that great care will be taken
conclude to stay a little longer. In the mean
to keep our people quiet, since nothing is
more wished for by our enemies than that by
insurrections we should give a good pretence
for increasing the military among us, and put-
must be as evident that by our rapidly increas
ting us under more severe restraints. And it
ing strength we shall soon become of so much
importance, that none of our just claims of
privilege will be as heretofore unattended to,
nor any security we can wish for our rights
be denied us.

be, sir, your most obedient humble servant,
"With great respect I have the honour to

"B. FRANKLIN."

To the same. (Private.)

"LONDON, April 3, 1773. "SIR,-My last was of the 9th past, since which nothing material has occurred relating to the colonies. The assembly's answer to governor Hutchinson's speech is not yet come over, but I find that even his friends here are apprehensive of some ill consequences, from " his forcing the assembly into that dispute; and begin to say it was not prudently done, though they believe it meant well. I inclose you two newspapers in which it is mentioned. Lord Dartmouth the other day expressed his wish to me, that some means could be fallen upon to heal the breach. I took the freedom

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"SIR,-I have received none of your favours

"DEAR SON,-I received yours of Febru- since that of November 28. I have since ary 2, with the papers of information that ac-written to you of the following dates, Decemcompany it. ber 2, January 5, March 9, and April 3, which I hope got safe to hand.

me.

"I have sent to Mr. Galloway one of the bishop of St. Asaph's sermons for your society for propogating the gospel. I would have sent you one, but you will receive it of course as a member. It contains such liberal and generous sentiments relating to the conduct of government here towards America, that sir J. P. says it was written in compliment to But from the intimacy of friendship in which I live with the author, I know he has expressed nothing but what he thinks and feels; and I honour him the more, that through the mere hope of doing good he has hazarded the displeasure of the court, and of course the prospect of further preferment. Possibly indeed the ideas of the court may change; for I think I see some alarms at the discontents in New England, and some appearance of softening in the disposition of government, on the idea that matters have been carried too far there. But all depends upon circumstances and events. We govern from hand to mouth. There seems to be no wise regular plan.

"I saw lord Dartmouth about two weeks since. He mentioned nothing to me of your application for additional salary, nor did I to him, for I do not like it. I fear it will embroil you with your people.

"While I am writing comes to hand yours of March 2. My letter by the October packet must have been sent as usual to the office by the bell-man. That being, as you inform me, rubbed open as some of yours to me have been, gives an additional circumstance of probability to the conjecture made in mine of December 2. For the future I shall send letters of consequence to the office (when I use the packet conveyance) by my clerk.

"Your accounts of the numbers of people, births, burials, &c. in your province, will be very agreeable to me, and particularly so to Dr. Price. Compared with former accounts, they will show the increase of your people, but not perfectly, as I think a great many have

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The council and assembly's answer to governor Hutchinson's speech I caused to be printed here as soon as I received them. His reply I see since printed also, but their rejoinder is not yet come. If he intended by reviving that dispute to recommend himself, he has greatly missed his aim; for the administration are chagrined with his officiousness, their intention having been to let all contention subside, and by degrees suffer matters to return to the old channel. They are now embarrassed by his proceedings; for if they lay the governor's despatches, containing the declaration of the general court before parliament, they apprehend measures may be taken that will widen the breach; which would be more particularly inconvenient at this time, when the disturbed state of Europe gives some apprehensions of a general war; on the other hand, if they do not lay them before parliament they give advantage to opposition against themselves on some future occasion, in a charge of criminal neglect. Some say he must be a fool, others that through some misinformation he really supposed lord Hillsborough to be again in office.

"Yesterday I had a conversation with lord D. of which I think it right to give you some account. On my saying that I had no late advices from Boston, and asking if his lordship had any, he said, none since the governor's second speech; but what difficulties that gentleman has brought us all into by his imprudence! though I suppose he meant well:

yet what can now be done? It is impossible that parliament can suffer such a declaration of the general assembly, asserting its independency, to pass unnoticed. In my opinion, said I, it would be better and more prudent to take no notice of it. It is words only. Acts of parliament are still submitted to there. No force is used to obstruct their execution. And while that is the case, parliament would do

well to turn a deaf ear, and seem not to know | it. Then adding my wishes that I could be that such declarations had ever been made. of any service in healing our differences, his Violent measures against the province will lordship said, I do not see any thing of more not change the opinion of the people. Force service than prevailing on the general assemcould do no good. I do not know, said he, bly, if you can do it, to withdraw their anthat force would be thought of; but perhaps swers to the governor's speech. There is not, an act may pass to lay them under some in- says I, the least probability they will ever do conveniences till they rescind that declaration. that; for the country is all of one mind upon Can they not withdraw it? I wish they could the subject. Perhaps the governor may have be persuaded to reconsider the matter, and do represented to your lordship, that these are it of themselves voluntarily, and thus leave the opinions of a party only, and that great things between us on the old footing, the numbers are of different sentiments which points undiscussed. Don't you think (con- may in time prevail. But if he does not detinued his lordship) such a thing possible? ceive himself he deceives your lordship: for No, my lord, said I, I think it is impossible. If in both houses, notwithstanding the influence they were even to wish matters back in the appertaining to his office, there was not, in situation before the governor's speech, and the sending up those answers, a single dissenting dispute obliterated, they cannot withdraw voice. I do not recollect, says his lordship, their answers till he first withdraws his that the governor has written any thing of speech, which methinks would be an awk- that kind. I am told, however, by gentlemen ward operation, that perhaps he will hardly from that country, who pretend to know it, be directed to perform. As to an act of par- that there are many of the governor's opinion, liament, laying that country under inconveni- but they dare not show their sentiments. I ences, it is likely that it will only put them never heard, said I, that any one has suffered as heretofore on some method of incommoding violence for siding with the governor. Not this country till the act is repealed; and so violence perhaps, said his lordship, but they we shall go on injuring and provoking each are reviled and held in contempt, and people other, instead of cultivating that good will and do not care to incur the disesteem and disharmony, so necessary to the general welfare. pleasure of their neighbours. As I knew goHe said, that might be, and he was sensible vernor Bernard had been in with his lordship our divisions must weaken the whole; for we just before me, I thought he was probably are yet one empire, said he, whatever may be one of these gentlemen informants, and therethe sentiments of the Massachusetts assembly, fore said, people who are engaged in any party but he did not see how that could be avoided, or have advised any measures are apt to magHe wondered, as the dispute was now of pub-nify the numbers of those they would have lic notoriety, parliament had not already called understood as approving their measures. His for the despatches; and he thought he could lordship said that was natural to suppose not omit much longer the communicating might be the present case; for whoever obthem, however unwilling he was to do it, from served the conduct of parties here, must have his apprehension of the consequences. But seen it a constant practice: and he agreed what (his lordship was pleased to say) if you with me, that though a nemine contradicente were in my place, would or could you do? did not prove the absolute agreement of every Would you hazard the being called to account man in the opinion voted, it at least demonin some future session of parliament, for keep-strated the great prevalence of that opiing back the communication of despatches of such importance? I said, his lordship could best judge, what in his situation was fittest for him to do; I could only give my poor opinion with regard to parliament, that supposing the despatches laid before them, they would act most prudently in ordering them to lie on the table, and take no farther notice of them. For were I as much an Englishman as I am an American, and ever so desirous of establishing the authority of parliament, I protest to your lordship, I cannot conceive of a single step the parliament can take to increase it, that will not tend to diminish it; and after abundance of mischief they must finally lose it. The loss in itself perhaps would not be of much consequence, because it is an authority they can never well exercise for want of due information and knowledge, and therefore it is not worth hazarding the mischief to preserve

nion.

"Thus ended our conference. I shall watch this business till the parliament rises, and endeavour to make people in general as sensible of the inconveniences to this country that may attend a continuance of the contest, as the Spitalfields weavers seem already to be in their petition to the king, which I herewith send you. I have already the pleasure to find that my friend, the bishop of St. Asaph's sermon, is universally approved and applauded, which I take to be no bad symptom.

"B. FRANKLIN."

To the same.

"LONDON, June 2, 1773.

"SIR,-Since my last of the 6th past, I have been honoured with yours of March 6 and 24, inclosing a petition to the king, and

a letter to lord Dartmouth. On considering the whole, I concluded that a longer delay of presenting the first petition and remonstrance was not likely to answer any good purpose, and therefore immediately waited on lord Dartmouth, and delivered to him the letter, and the second petition, at the same time redelivering the first, and pressed his lordship to present them to his majesty, which he promised to do. Inclosed I send you the answer I have just received from him, as this day's packet (the mail for which is to be made up and despatched in a few hours) is the earliest opportunity, the ships for Boston not being to sail till the beginning of next week. By one of them I shall send a copy, with what observations occur to me on the occasion, which the time will not now permit me to write. In the mean while I would just beg leave to say, that I hope the house will come to no hasty resolves upon it. The longer they deliberate, the more maturely they consider, the greater weight will attend their resolutions.

66 B. FRANKLIN."

To the same.

"LONDON, June 4, 1773.

To the same.

"LONDON, July 7, 1773.

"SIR,-I thank you for the pamphlets you have sent me, containing the controversy between the governor and the two houses. I have distributed them where I thought they might be of use. He makes perhaps as much of his argument as it will bear; but has the misfortune of being on the weak side, and so is put to shifts and quibbles, and the use of much sophistry and artifice, to give plausibility to his reasonings. The council and the assembly have greatly the advantage in point of fairness, perspicuity, and force. His precedents of acts of parliament binding the colonies, and our tacit consent to those acts are all frivolous. Shall a guardian who has imposed upon, cheated, and plundered a minor under his care, who was unable to prevent it, plead those impositions after his ward has discovered them, as precedents and authorities for continuing them. There have been precedents time out of mind for robbing on Hounslow heath, but the highwayman who robbed there yesterday, does nevertheless deserve hanging.

"I am glad to see the resolves of the Virginia house of burgesses. There are brave spirits among that people. I hope their proposal will be readily complied with by all the

that if the oppressions continue, a congress may grow out of that correspondence. Nothing would more alarm our ministers; but if the colonies agree to hold a congress, I do not see how it can be prevented.

"SIR,-The above is a copy of mine, per packet, which inclosed the original of his majesty's answer to our petitions and remon-colonies. It is natural to suppose as you do, strance. I now send an exact copy of the same, which I did intend to accompany with some observations, and my sentiments on the general state of our affairs in this country, and the conduct proper for us to hold on this occasion. But beginning to write, I find the matter too copious, and the subject (on reflection) too important to be treated of in an hasty letter; and being told the ships sail to-morrow, I must postpone it to another opportunity.

"It was thought at the beginning of the session, that the American duty on tea would be taken off. But now the wise scheme is to take off so much duty here, as will make tea cheaper in America than foreigners can supply us, and to confine the duty there to keep up the exercise of the right. They have no idea that any people can act from any other principle but that of interest; and they believe that three pence in a pound of tea, of which one does not perhaps drink ten pounds in a year, is sufficient to overcome all the patriotism of an American.

"I purpose soon to write to you very fully. As to the letters I communicated to you, though I have not been able to obtain leave to take copies or publish them, I have permission to let the originals remain with you as long as you may think it of any use to have them in possession.

"B. FRANKLIN."

"The instruction relating to the exemption of the commissioners I imagine is withdrawn; perhaps the other also relating to the agents, but of that I have heard nothing. I only wonder that the governor should make such a declaration of his readiness to comply with an intimation in acting contrary to any instructions, if he had not already, or did not soon expect a repeal of those instructions. I have not and shall never use your name on this or any similar occasion.

"I note your directions relating to public and private letters, and shall not fail to observe them. At the same time I think all the correspondence should be in the speaker's power, to communicate such extracts only as he should think proper for the house. It is extremely embarrassing to an agent, to write letters concerning his transactions with minis ters, which letters he knows are to be read in the house where there may be governor's spies, who carry away parts, or perhaps take copies that are echoed back hither privately; if they should not be, as sometimes they are, printed in the votes. It is impossible to write freely in such circumstances, unless he would hazard his usefulness, and put it out of his

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