The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-26
FRANKLIN ON THE BOSTON TEA
PARTY.


A Letter OF Regret About IL That
He sent From London.
Fanklins moderation In the early years
OF the conflict Of this country with Eng
land is well known; he with many other
strong and patriotic minds hoped that tho
colonies might secure redress without re-
sort to arms. How he viewed the Boston
tea party is perhaps not so we'll known.
He was in London at the time. and the
following Is n letter that he wrote to sew
cral men in Boston, ardent patriots, among
them Samuel Adams aud John Hancock.
The original OF the letter is In the New
Yory public library among the Adams pa
pers II is printed In the September Bull
letin Of the library:
London. February 2, 1774,
Gentlemen: | received the Honour OF
your Letter dated Deer. "a. containing a
distinct Account of the proceedings at
Boston relative 10 the Tea imported there,
and OF tho Circumstances that oceasioned
Its Destruction. ! communicated the same
TO Lord Dartmouth, with some other Adj
vices OF the same import. 1t Is yet un-
known what Measures Will be taken here
ON the Occasion, but the Glamour against
the Proceedings is high and general, l am
truly concord, as believe all considerable
Men are with you, that there should seem
to any a Necessity for carrying Matters
10 such Extremity, as. In Dispute about
Pubick Rights, to destroy private Prop
erty; This Notwithstanding the blame jusN
ly duo to those who INSTRUCTED the Return
Of the Teal 1t is impossible to justify with
Power OF Parliament 10 tax America. as
most are in this Country.--As the India
Company. however, are not our Adver-
saries, and the offensive Measure OF send
Ing their Teas did not take It's Rise with
them, but was an Expedient OF the Minis
try 10 serve them and yet avoid u Repeal
OF the old Act, / can not but wish n
hope that before any compuleive Measures
arc thought OF here, our General Court
will have shcwn Disposition TO repair
the damage and make Compensation TO
the Company. This all our Friends here
wish with me: and that II War Is finally
to be made upon us, which some threaten
an Act Of violent Injustice on our part
| unrectfed, may not give colourable
| Pretence for II. A speedy Reparation
will Immediately set us right In the cpn-
| ion of all Europe. And tho the Mischief
| was the Act OF Persons unknown. yet MS
| probably they can not be found or brought
| 10 answer for Il, there seems TO be some
| reasonable Claim on the Society at large
| in which 1t happened. Making voluntary
| such Reparation can be no pishonour 10 ne
| or Prejudice oar Claim or Rights, since
Parliament has frequently considered in
| the same Light similar cases and only 1
| few Years since, when valuable Saw mill
| which had been erected Mt great Ex-
| pense. was violently destroyed by a Mum
| Der OF Persons supposed to be Sawyeis
| but unknown. n Grant was made out o
the Publick Treasury OF Two Thousand
| Pounds to the owner as a Compensation -
hope in thus freely land perhaps too for
wardly) expressing my Sentiments 4
| Wishes. I shall not give Offence to any
am sure | mean WE'LL being ever will
sincere Affection to my Native Country
and Great Respect to the Assembly ar,
yourselves, Gentlemen. Your most obodlen
and most humble Servant, u. Franklin
Hon'ble Thomas Cushing, SAINT <la.ns
John Hancock. William Phillips. .Es
| quires.