The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-10-10
BOSTON TEA PARTY.
Benjamin Franklin Did Not APP

F'ranklin's moderation in the early
years of the conflict of this country
with England is well known; he with
many other strong and patriotic minds
hoped that the Colonies might secure
redress without a resort to arms. How
he viewed the Boston Tea Party is
perhaps not so well known. He was
in London at the time, and the follow
ing is a letter that he wrote to sew
eral men in Boston-ardent patriots,
among them Samuel Adams and John
Hancock. The original of the letter is
in the New York Public Library among
the Adams papers. 1t is printed in the
September Bulletin of the Library
London, Feb. 2 1774.
Gentlemen: ] received the Honour of
your Letter dated Deer. q, containing
distinct Account of the Proceedings at
Boston relative to the Tea importated
there and of the Circumstances that oc
casioned its Destruction. / communicated
the same to Lord Dartmouth, with some
other AdviceS of the same import. 1t is
yet unknown what Measures will be ia
ken here on the Occasion: but the
Glamour against the Proceeding is high
and general | am truly concern'd, as l
believe all considerate Men are with you,
that there should seem to any a NeceS
sity for carrying Matters to such Ex
tremity, as, in Dispute about Publick
Rights, to destroy private Property;
This Notwithstanding the Blame Justly
due to those who INSTRUCTED the Return
of the Tea) 1t is impossible to justify with
People so prejudiced in favour of the
Power of Parliament to tax America, as
most are in this Country.-AS the In
Cia Company however are not our Adj
versaries, and the offensive Measure of
sending their Teas did not take its Rise
with them, but was an EXpedient of the
Ministry to serve them and yet avoid a
Repeal of the old Act I cannot but wish
q hope that before any compulSiVe Meas
ures are thought of here, our General
Court will have shewn Disposition to
repair the Damage and make Compen-
Sation to the Company. This all our
Friends here wish with me- and that if
War is finally to be made upon us, which
some threaten, an Act of violent Injustice
on our part, unrectified may not give
colourable Pretence for it. A speedy Re-
paration will Immediately set US right
in the Opinion of all Europe And tho
the Mischief was the Act of Persons I'M
known, yet as probably they cannot be
found or brought to answer for 1t, there
seems to be some reasonable Claim on
the Society at large in which it happen
ed Making voluntarily such Preparation
can be no Dishonour to us or Prejudice
to our Claim of Rights, since Parliament
here has frequently considered in the
same Light similar Cases; and only a few
Years since, when a valuable Saw-mill,
which had been erected at a great Elk
pense was violently destroyed by a num-
Der of Persons supposed to be Sawyers,
but unknown, a Grant was made out Oh
the Publick Treasury of Two Thousand
Pounds to the Owner as a Compensation.
i hope in thus freely (and perhaps too
forwardly) expressing my Sentiments &
Wishes, l shall not give Offence to any.
am sure l mean we'll; being ever with
sincere Affection to my native Country,
and great Respect to the Assembly and
yourselves, Gentlemen,
Your most obedient and most humble
Servant B FRANKLIN.
HOnble Thomas Gushing, Saml Adams
John Hancock, William Phillips, Es-
QuireS.