Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-26
FRANKLIN on THE TEA PARTY.
He Deprecated the Throwing or Pri-
yate Property Into Boston Harbor.

Boston Transcript, December l6th.)
At the meeting of the Colonial Society
of Massachusetts,, which was held yes
terday afternoon in the Hall of the Amer
lean Academy Of Arts and Sciences, with
President Wheelwright in the chair "a
communication was received from Aoher
q Goodell. Jr.. in which he said
Through the kindness of Mr. Wilber-
force Games. Of the LenoX Library. have
been put in possession or an exact COPY
OF a letter by Franklin, on the doings OF
the Tea Party, which is not included IN
his works as edited by Sparks, nor else
where given in print TO my knowieGse:
The letter, which was addressed 10
Thomas Cushing ard three other Leading
patriots of Massachusetts and Ior =,
time was evidently In the possession OF
Samuel Adams. is as follows: 49,,
London. February 2. 17Ii.
Gentlemen: l received the Honor or
your Letter dated Deer. Il containing
distinct Account OF the Proceedings at
BOSTON relative to the Tea imported
there. and of the Circumstances that oc-
casioned it's Destruction. communi-
Gated the same to Lord Dartmouth, with
some other Advices of the same Import.
II IS vet unknown what Measures will be
taken here on the Occasion; but the Ga
mour against the Proceeding Is high ana
general. 1 am truly concern'd, as l be-
lieve all considerate Men are with you,
for carrying Matters to such Extremity,
as, in a Dispute about Publick Rights 10
destroy private Property; This notwith-
standing the Blame justly due to those
who INSTRUCTED the Return of the Tea)
IL is impossibly to justify with People SO
preiudiced In favour of the Power OF
Parliament 10 tax America, as most are
In this Country.
AS the India Company, however are not
our Adversaries. and the offensive Mea-
- 1fY1cr tllafp
its Rise with them, but was an Expedient
OF the Ministry TO serve them and yet
avoid a repeal of the old Act, l cannot
but wish & hope that before any compul-
siye Measures are thought of here, our
General Court will have shewn Dlspo-
sition to repair the Damage and make
Compensation 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 q colourable Pretence for II.
A speedy Reparation will Immediately
set us right In the Opinion or all Europe.
And tho the Mischief was the Act or
Persons unknown, yet as probably they
cannot be found or brought 10 answer FOR
It. there seems to be some reasonable
Claim on the Society at large In which IL
happened. Making voluntarily such Repa-
ration can be no Dishonor TO us or Pre-
iudice TO our Claim of Rights since Par
lament here has frequently considered IN
the same Light similar Cases; and only
a few Years since, when valuable saw
mill. which had been erected at great
Expence. was violently destroyed by a
Number OF Persons. supposed TO be Saw
yers but unknown, a Grant was made
out Of the Publick Treasury OF TWO
Thousand Pounds to the Owner as a COM
pensation.
/ hope in thus freely (and perhaps too
forwardly) expressing my Sentiments d
Wishes. / shall not give OFFENCE to any.
7 am sure / mean well; being ever with
sincere Affection to my native Country,
and great Respect to the Assembly and
yourselves.
Gentlemen.
Your most obedlent
and most humble Servent,
u FRANKLIN.
Honble Thomas Cushing
Samel Adams
John Hancock
william Phillips
Esouires