Title: From Benjamin Franklin to David Hall, 11 June 1770
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Hall, David

Dear Mr. Hall,
London, June 11. 1770
I received your kind Letter of March 17. The continual Employment of my Time here in other Affairs, together with the Expectation I have had every Year of Returning, have prevented my considering the Accounts between us so as to compleat the Settlement, which indeed can be much better done when we are together with Mr. Parker, who may be able in a Word to explain things that would require much Writing. I hope it will not now be long before we meet, as I am determin’d to see Philadelphia, God willing, next Spring at farthest, if not sooner. I rejoice to hear of the Welfare of your Family, to which I wish all Prosperity. With the greatest Esteem and Regard, I am ever, my dear Friend, Yours most affectionately
B Franklin

Addressed: To / Mr David Hall / Printer / Philadelphia / via New York / Per Packet / B Free FRANKLIN / June 11, 1770.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to the New Jersey Assembly Committee of Correspondence, 11 June 1770
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: New Jersey Assembly Committee of Correspondence

Gentlemen,
London, June 11. 1770
I received your Letter of March 27. acquainting me that a Bill had been agreed upon by the whole Legislature, to provide a more effectual Remedy against excessive Costs in the Recovery of Debts, &c. Mr. Morgann, Secretary of your Province had called upon me just before that Letter came to hand, mentioned his being informed that an Act was likely to pass intended to lessen the Profits of his Office, in which case his Deputy could not afford to remit him so much as heretofore and that he should be oblig’d to enter a Caveat against its receiving the King’s Approbation; to which I could then say nothing, as I knew not the Nature of the Act but from his Information. But assoon as I receiv’d your Letter, apprehending that the Application of a Patent Officer here against an Act of any Assembly, might have too much Weight, I thought it best, if possible, to take off his Opposition in time; and to that End got a Friend of his to represent to him; that the Act would really be of little or no Prejudice to him; that as the Province increased, the Business and Profits of his Office would be continually augmenting; that the Fees of Practising Attorneys, against which the Act was chiefly levelled, had long been complain’d of as a grievous Oppression on the People; that those Gentlemen were the Persons who would principally be affected by it, and that probably the Insinuations to him against it had come from that Quarter; that any Opposition to it from him would appear in an exceeding ungracious Light in the Province, give great Offence to the General Assembly there, who might have it in their Power sometime or other to hurt or help his Office more than any thing in this Act could amount to; and therefore I wish’d, in Friendship to him, that he would take no Step against it. On which he sent me a very obliging Answer, that he would not oppose it. So I hope we shall find no great Difficulty in getting it approved.
I am sorry to acquaint you that the Paper-money Act is disapprov’d by the King. The Objection to it was, its making the Bills a legal Tender in Payment of the Mortgages and Interest to the Loan-Officers, which is said to be contrary to the Act of Parliament, that forbids their being made a legal Tender in any Case whatever. As your Loan-Officers can have no Interest in refusing the Bills, and there is not the least Likelyhood that they will ever refuse them, and it would be a Breach of their Bonds for the due Execution of their Office; I would submit it to your Consideration whether such a Clause might not in a future Act be omitted, whereby the Objection would be taken away, and then perhaps the Act might be allowed. Mr. Charles, Agent for New York, was put upon Applying to Parliament for an Act giving Leave to his Province to make their Bills a Tender to their own Treasurer, the Act of Parliament notwithstanding. Those who had the Direction would not agree to put into some Publick Act an Explanatory Clause to set that Matter right; which I thought the best way, as all acknowledged that it was a mere Mistake; but it must be done by a kind of private Act, and a particular one for each Province that should petition, for which I could see no reason but to increase Fees, which for each Act would be near £200. So Mr. Charles went in alone in his Application, his Bill was altered in the House not much to his Liking; and apprehending his Conduct might be blamed, the poor Gentleman grew delirious thro’ want of Sleep, and unhappily put an End to his own Life. The Secaucus Law is also repealed; but the others have received his Majesty’s Royal Assent. The original Repeals, &c. as I am assured by the Secretary, will be sent to the Governor by to-morrow’s Mail, and I shall send you Copies from the Council Office by the next.
Before this reaches you, you will see by the Public Papers that all the Duties in the last Revenue Act are repealed, except that on Tea. It is generally thought, that will follow next Session, but it is not certain. There seems however a Disposition to be on good Terms with us, saving the Dignity of Parliament. With great Esteem and Respect, I have the Honour of being, Gentlemen Your most obedient and most humble Servant
B Franklin
Cortland Skinner, Hendrick Fisher, Ebenezer Miller, Aaron Leaming, Abraham Hewlings, and Joseph Smith Esqrs. Commee. of Correspondence

Endorsed: Benjamin Franklin  1770
  11th. June 1770


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Deborah Franklin, 13–15 June 1770
From: Franklin, Deborah
To: Franklin, Benjamin

My Dear Child
June the 13[–15] 1770
this afternoon I heard Capt. Friend is to Saile to morrow and I Cold not let him go with oute a line or two to let you know that I am much as I have bin for sume time. I have not heard that Sister is a rived as yit but it gives me much trubel. My King bird is verey well att this time all thow he has bin verey ill with a Sever Cold proseded from a verey Cold spell of Cold wather and a long Spell of Esterly raine but the wather is much better and we air all well. Billey has bin and is att this time he is verey fond of the Child and thinkes he is like Frankey Folger. I thoute so two and had the pickter broute down to look and everey bodey thinkes as much as thow it had bin drawn for him. When we Show it to the Child and tell him he is his littel unkill he will pat it and kiss it and Clape his hand to it and everey morning he Gowes and Clapes to his Grandadey but I wonte say aney more now. Mr. Parker has bin heare and is gon to mareyland he is verey un well in dead So ill I wold not let him go a lone So Gorge is gon with him he is gon 5 Days. I Shold tell you that he billey is gon over Schuelkill after Some buisnes for Sum Gentel man in Ingland but that is all I know of it. I expeckte him to night. My love to all friends. I donte write a boute aney bodey but my Selef I conclud youre a feckshonet wife
D Franklin
But if to morrow will pordues aney Thing I will write a line or two more.

June the 15 Billey Came back and Stayed one night and Dined with us yesterday and Mr. Parker came back yisterday is verey ill. I Sente for Dr. Bond and desires to due what he Can and I will Due all I Can for him. The Aprill packit I had a letter dated 10 I Shall write by that. The in closed is what B Franklin wrote to me from Burlinton Mr. Odel was his Secketarey. Not any new of Sister I am yours
D F.

Addressed: To / Benjamin Franklin Esqr / Craven Street / London


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from John Ewing, 14 June 1770
From: Ewing, John
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir
Philada. June 14th 1770
I received your very agreeable Letter, in which you acknowledge the Receipt of our Observations of the Transit of Venus. I herewith send you a few Copies of them as they are printed in our Transactions; and I suppose in a more perfect Form than that in which they were sent before, as that was done in an Hurry and I have not a Copy of what I sent. If what you received before is not printed in the Philosophical Transactions, please to request Mr. Maskelyne to insert them as they are here, unless he should think it better to abridge or alter them, as to their Dress or Form, which he has full Liberty to do, as he is much better acquainted with Publications of this Kind than I can be supposed to be.
I mentioned to our Society your Proposal to purchase the Transactions of the learned Societies in Europe, and they have taken the Matter under their Consideration. They approved of your Reasoning on the Subject, when I read it to them, and Nothing will prevent their coming into the Resolution if their Poverty does not.
I hope before this Time that Mr. Maskelyne has given you an Estimate of the Expence and Apparatus necessary for erecting an Observatory here, where we are blessed with so happy a Serenity of Air for astronomical Observations. I have not yet mentioned this Matter to our Society, but wait untill I hear farther from you, and would still chuse, that when it is proposed it should come from you and the Astronomer Royal, to whose Judgments our Society pay the greatest Respect in these Matters.
Please to accept of my hearty thanks for the Perusal of your last Volume of the Phil. Transactions. I shall deliver it safely to Mrs. Franklin. When the Observations of the Transit of Venus come to Hand from the East Indies the North of Europe or from South America, I shall be much obliged to you for a Copy of them, as I am anxious to know how they correspond with ours. I am Sir your most obedient and very humble Servant
John Ewing
Please to deliver one of the Copies with my Compliments to the Astronomer Royal the Revd. Mr. Maskelyne
To Benjamin Franklin Esqr. L.LD.

Endorsed: Mr Ewing June 14. 1770


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Galloway, 21 June 1770
From: Galloway, Joseph
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Friend
Philada. June 21. 1770
A number of new Engagements occasioned by the Death of Mr. Growdon, which detained me in the Country for the most part of several Months, prevented my acknowledging the Receipt of your Favors of Jany. 11. Mar. 21. and April 10th. I am much obliged to you for the State of American Affairs on your Side the Water, containd in yours of Mar. 21. The M[inistr]y are much Mistaken in imagining that there ever will be an Union either of Affections or Interest between G. Britain and America untill Justice is done to the latter and there is a full Restoration of its Liberties. The People here are resolved to adhere to their former Non Importation Agreement. The People of Boston and Maryland are of the same Opinion untill the Duty on Tea is taken off. The Yorkers and Rhode Islanders seem to be divided among them selves, but I think they will soon concur to support the Cause of Liberty.
I am greatly Surprized at the Conduct of Administration in Relation to the New York and New Jersey Paper Money Bills. The Reason assigned for their Rejections are really rediculous——And can be accounted for on no other Ground, than that they are determined, the Americans shall not have any Paper Medium at all. Is not every Promisor in a Promisary Note obliged to receive his Note, every Banker to take his Bill and every Drawer of a Bill of Exchange to take it back if not paid, and yet I never understood that such Notes or Bills were ever deem’d Legal Tender? When I Lend to or deposit with another £100 he gives me Paper, or a Promisory Note for Repayment. Is he not Obliged to receive his Paper and deliver me my deposit? Such is the Case of a Bank Bill, and Inland Bill of Exchange as well as foreign, and the same is the Case with Respect to American Paper Money. A Farmer Pledges his Land with the Government and takes Paper——when he comes to redeem his Pledge ought he not to return the Paper, and ought not the Government to be obliged to receive [it] in Discharge of the Land? To say that the Statute [is] intended to prevent this is to say it is Prohibitory of all Paper Money in America. But How is their Conduct on this Occasion to be reconciled with what has passed heretofore? Several of our late Laws for the support of Government and the Act for Payment of the Debts of the House of Employment were liable to the same Objection, and yet they have been laid before the King in Council and passed unrepealed.
I am much pleased with your Information that Mr. Jackson is appointed Council to the Board of Trade. From his good Disposition towards America, his Knowledge of our Affairs and his great Candor and Integrity we have good Reason to hope our Laws will not be rejected on frivolous Pretences and Partial Policy.
Nothing occured in our Winter or Spring Sittings worth communicating, or engaged as I have been, I shoud have wrote to you on what Passed. Several Matters of Consequence was agitated, but faild, some in the House Some with the Governor——particularly a Loan Office Bill which he rejected, (tho the Disposition of the Money was to have been by Act of Assembly) because we would not give him, in a Manner the sole Nomination of the Trustees. But this I do not now regret, since I have been informed of the Temper the Ministry are in with respect to American Currency. I am, Dear Friend, with great sincerity Yours most Affectionately
J. Galloway

Addressed: To / Benjamin Franklin Esquire / Deputy Post Master General / of North America in / Craven Street / London
Endorsed: Mr Galloway  June 21. 1770


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from [Michael] Francklin, 22 June 1770
From: Francklin, Michael
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Duke Street York Buildings 22 June 1770.
Lieut. Governor Francklin presents his best Compliments to Doctor Franklin and has sent him a Book Mr. Frances the Minister of France sent to his Lodgings, which he apprehends was designed by Mr. Le Roy for the Doctor.
Mr. Francklin hopes he shall be excused for not sending it sooner as he has been out of town and otherwise extremely employed lately.

Addressed: To / Doctor Franklin / Craven Street


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 26 June 1770
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Galloway, Joseph

Dear Sir,
London, June 26. 1770.
Since mine of the 11th. Instant per Packet, I am favoured with yours of May 16. viâ Bristol, acquainting me with what was like to be the Determination of our Merchants relating to Importation, for which I am much oblig’d to you. I hope if in any thing they vary their Agreement, it will be only to make it more uniform with the other Colonies, and in itself more tenable with less Inconvenience, and of course more durable. A Report had been industriously propagated here immediately on the Arrival of the May Packet, that the Agreement was dissolved or broken through at Philadelphia, and that immense Orders were sent hither from thence; on which certain People exulted greatly; and ventured to say with Assurance that New York and Boston would soon follow. But this Intelligence from you and others by the Chalkley, together with the actual Return of the Goods by Scot from Boston, begins to change their Countenance.
I am greatly obliged by your Endeavours to prevent the Publishing of those indiscrete Letters. I must be more prudent, and for the future shall write with reserve on publick Matters, except to yourself.

Nothing material has occurr’d here since my last, except the Death of Mr. Beckford, who is a Loss to the general Interest of America, as he had really a considerable Weight, particularly with Lord Chatham. Party Heats are at present a little abated: But many think the Fire is only smothered, and will break out again before the Meeting of Parliament.
I wish you would write a Line or two to Mr. Strahan, who often enquires of me concerning your Welfare, and wonders he does not hear from you in Answer to some Letter of his. With the greatest Esteem, I am, my dear Friend, Yours most affectionately
B Franklin
Jos. Galloway Esqr

Endorsed: Saile and Wallace Monday
  Story and Meredith Tuesday
  Cox and Garrigues Wednesday
  Lowden[?] and Wharton Freyday
  Middeltown and Moreland


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Rhoads, 26 June 1770
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Rhoads, Samuel

Dear Friend,
London, June 26. 1770
It is a long time since I had the Pleasure of hearing from you directly. Mrs. Franklin has indeed now and then acquainted me of your Welfare, which I am always glad to hear of. It is, I fear, partly, if not altogether, my Fault that our Correspondence has not been regularly continued. One thing only I am sure of; that it has been from no want of Regard on either side, but rather from too much Business and Avocations of various kinds, and my having little of Importance to communicate.

One of our good Citizens, Mr. Hillegas, anxious for the future Safety of our Town, wrote to me some time since, desiring I would enquire concerning the Covering of Houses here with Copper. I sent him the best Information I could then obtain; but have since receiv’d the enclos’d from an ingenious Friend, Mr. Wooller, who is what they call here a Civil Engineer. I should be glad you would peruse it, think of the matter a little, and give me your Sentiments of it. When you have done with the Paper, please to give it to Mr. Hillegas. I am told by Lord Despencer, who has covered a long Piazza or Gallery with Copper, that the Expence is charged in this Account too high; for his cost but 1/10 per foot, all Charges included. I suppose his Copper must have been thinner. And indeed it is so strong a Metal, that I think it may well be used very thin.
It appears to me of great Importance to build our Dwelling-Houses, if we can, in a Manner more secure from Danger by Fire. We scarce ever hear of a Fire in Paris. When I was there, I took particular Notice of the Construction of their Houses; and I did not see how one of them could well be burnt. The Roofs are Slate or Tile; the Walls are Stone; the Rooms generally lin’d with Stucco or Plaister instead of Wainscot; the Floors of Stucco, or of sixsquare Tiles painted brown; or of Flag Stones or Marble; if any Floor were of Wood, it was Oak Wood, which is not so inflammable as Pine. Carpets prevent the Coldness of Stone or Brick Floors offending the Feet in Winter. And the Noise of Treading on such Floors overhead is less inconvenient than that on Boards. The Stairs too, at Paris, are either Stone, or Brick with only a Wooden Edge or Corner for the Step; so that on the Whole, tho’ the Parisians commonly burn Wood in their Chimneys, a more dangerous kind of Fuel than that used here, yet their Houses escape extreamly well, as there is little in a Room that can be consumed by Fire, ex[cept] the Furniture. Whereas [in] London, perhaps scarce a Year passes in which half a Million of Property and many Lives are not lost by this destructive Element. Of late indeed they begin here to leave off Wainscotting their Rooms, and instead of it cover the Walls with Stucco, often form’d into Pannels like Wainscot, which, being painted, is very strong and warm. Stone Staircases too, with Iron Rails, grow more and more into Fashion here. But Stone Steps cannot in some Circumstances be fixed; and there methinks Oak is safer than Pine; and I assure you that in many genteel Houses here, both old and new, the Stairs and Floors are Oak, and look extreamly well. Perhaps solid Oak for the Steps would be still safer than Boards; and two Steps might be cut diagonally out of one Piece. Excuse my talking to you on a Subject with which you must be so much better acquainted than I am. It is partly to make out a Letter for renewing our Correspondence, and partly in hope that by turning your Attention to the Point, some Methods of greater Security in our future Building may be thought of and promoted by you, whose Judgment I know has deservedly great Weight with our Fellow-Citizens. For tho’ our Town has not hitherto suffered very greatly by Fire, yet I am apprehensive, that some time or other, by a Concurrence of unlucky Circumstances, such as dry Weather, hard Frost, and high Winds, a Fire then happening may suddenly spread far and wide over our Cedar Roofs, and do us immense Mischief.
If you favour me with a Line, let me know how good Mrs. Rhoads does, and every one of your Children; and how it fares with my dear old Friend Mrs. Paschal. With sincere Esteem, I am, Yours most affectionately,
B Franklin
Mr. Rhoads.

Addressed: To / Samuel Rhoads, Esqr / Philadelphia / viâ N York / per Packet / B Free Franklin


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Noble Wimberly Jones, 6 July 1770
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Jones, Noble Wimberly

Sir,
London, July 6. 1770
I have now sent you the Mace and Gowns you ordered. They are in two Boxes marked NWJ. No. 1, 2. and directed for you. I have put them into the Care of Mr. Crouch of your Province, who promises to ship them with his own Things. The Gowns are exactly such as are commonly used by the Speaker and Clerks here: It is only when the House goes up to wait on the King in the House of Lords, that the Speaker wears a Gown with Gold Loops. The Mace is allow’d to be an admirable Piece of Workmanship. I supposed the Impression of your great Seal to be the Arms of your Province, and therefore ordered that to be put on one of the Sides; [but] if there be any other, or if you would have any Inscription engrav’d on the Mace, there is a vacant Place to receive it. I wish them safe to hand, and hope they will please. Inclos’d I send the Bills. Be pleased to present my best Respects to the Assembly, and assure them of my most faithful Services. With great Esteem I have the Honour to be Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant
B Franklin
Honble. N. W. Jones, EsqrCopyVerte

Endorsed: Dr. B. Franklin  6th. July 1770


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Parker, 7 July 1770
From: Parker, Samuel
To: Franklin, Benjamin

James Parker has occupied so many pages of these volumes that his departure from the scene deserves an obituary. His friendship with Franklin extended over almost three decades, during which their careers were in some respects strikingly parallel. Both were runaways in their youth; both helped to establish a number of newspapers on the eastern seaboard; both were postmasters and comptrollers of the Post Office; both were instrumental in the development of public libraries. But it was printing that brought them together in partnership in 1742, and it was as a printer that Parker made his principal reputation. He is said to have been better at his trade than Franklin and certainly did more for it, because he trained a number of young men who later established themselves throughout the colonies.
His letters in his last years, when he was in wretched health, are often tedious to a degree. They give the impression of a long-winded, fussy, and self-pitying mediocrity. But Parker had his troubles (the worst of them with the son who wrote the letter that follows) and bore up under them with considerable stoicism. He saw death coming long before it came, yet continued until the last moment to discharge his obligations with diligence and punctuality; for he was above all conscientious—a faithful servant, as his widow rightly called him. If he was not an endearing man, let alone a great one, he did exemplify most of the small virtues that Poor Richard had extolled.

Honoured Sir,
New York, July 7, 1770.
I have just Time to let you know that my poor Father departed this Life on Monday the 2d. Instant; his Disorder was the nervous Fever, he died in Burlington. I suppose Mr. Foxcroft has the immediate Care of the Affairs he left concerning the Post Office. My Mother joins in best Respects, I am Your obedient humble Servant
Saml F. Parker

Addressed: For / Benjamin Franklin, Esqr / Craven Street / London / Via Packet
Endorsed: S. Parker July 7. 1770. His Father’s Death


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson, [before 10 July 1770]
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Hewson, Mary (Polly) Stevenson

Dear Polly
Wednesday P M. [before July 10, 1770]
I send you a few of your Translations. I did not put your Name as the Translator, (which I at first intended) because I apprehended it might look like Vanity, in you, and as I shall otherwise make it known, I think the omitting it, will look like Modesty. Mr. H. is here, requesting me to speak to Mrs. Tickell, which I have promis’d to do on Friday morning. Adieu, Your affectionate Friend
B Franklin
100 are printed, to give to our Friends. Send for as many of them as you please.

Addressed: To / Miss Stevenson / at Mrs Tickell’s / Kensington


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from a Committee of the Town of Boston, 13 July 1770
From: Committee of the Town of Boston
To: Franklin, Benjamin

The Bostonians had long suspected that they were being traduced in England by false reports of what was happening in the town. After the Massacre the suspicion grew. On March 16 a Captain Robson sailed for London with dispatches from Lieutenant Colonel William Dalrymple, commander of the troops, and with Captain Preston’s account of his part in the shooting; on the same ship went John Robinson, the member of the Board of Customs Commissioners who six months before had assaulted James Otis. The Bostonians responded to the threat of Robson’s documents and Robinson’s tongue by drawing up their own narrative of events, backed by depositions, and hiring a sloop to carry this material at once to friends in England, Franklin among them. On April 28 the London Public Advertiser printed some of the material that Dalrymple had sent, including a doctored version of Preston’s account. This version created a furor in London; it was promptly sent back across the Atlantic, and appeared on June 25 as a supplement of the Boston-Gazette. Apprehension was further increased in Boston on July 3, when John Hancock’s brigantine Lydia sailed for England with dispatches from the Board of Customs Commissioners, immured in Castle William. The response to these developments was quick. Samuel Adams drafted the letter below, to Franklin and others in England; it was presented to and approved by a town meeting on July 13, and dispatched the following day.

Sir
Boston July 13th: 1770
It affords very great Satisfaction to the Town of Boston to find that the Narrative of the horrid Massacre perpetrated here on the 5th: of March last which was transmitted to London, has had the desired effect; by establishing truth in the Minds of honest Men, and in some Measure preventing the Odium being cast on the Inhabitants, as the Aggressors in it. We were very apprehensive that all attempts would be made to gain this Advantage against us: and as there is [no re]ason to think that the Malice of our Enemies is in the least degree abated, it has been thought necessary that our friends on your side the Water, should have a true State of the Circumstances of the Town, and of every thing which has Materially occured, since the removal of the Troops to the Castle. For this purpose we are appointed a Committee: But the time will not admit of our writing so fully by this Conveyance, as we intend by the next, in the mean time we intreat your further friendship for the Town, in your Endeavours to get the Judgment of the Public Suspended, upon any representation that may have been made by the Commissioners of the Customs and others, until the Town can have the Opportunity of knowing what is alleged against it, and of answering for itself. We must confess that we are astonished to hear that the Parliament had come to a determination, to admit Garbled extracts from such Letters as may be received from America by Administration and to Conceal the Names of the Persons who may be the Writers of them. This will certainly give great Encouragement to Persons of wicked Intentions to Abuse the Nations and injure the Colonies in the grossest manner with Impunity, or even without detection. For a Confirmation hereof we need to recur no further back than a few Months, when undoubtedly the Accounts and Letters carried by Mr. Robson would have been attended with very Unhappy if not fatal effects, had not this Town been so attentive as to have Contradicted those false Accounts by the depositions of many credible persons under Oath. But it cannot be supposed that a Community will be so Attentive but upon the most Alarming Events: In general Individuals are following their private concerns; while it is to be feared, the restless Adversaries are forming the most dangerous Plans for the Ruin of the Reputation of the People, in order to build their own Greatness on the Distruction of their liberties. This Game they have been long playing; and tho’ in some few instances they have had a loosing hand yet they have commonly Managed with such Art, that they have so far succeeded in their Malicious designs as to involve the Nation and the Colonies in Confusion and distress. This it is presumed they never could have accomplished had not those very letters been kept from the View of the Public, with a design perhaps to conceal the falshood of them the discovery of which would have prevented their having any mischievous Effects. This is the Game which we have reason to believe they are now playing: With so much Secrecy as may render it impossible for us fully to detect them on this Side the Water; How deplorable then must be our Condition, if Ample Credit is to be given to their Testimonies against us, by the Government at home, and if the Names of our Accusers are to be kept a profound Secret, and the World is to See only such parts or parcells of their Representations as Persons, who perhaps may be interested in their favor, shall think proper to hold up. Such a Conduct, if allowed, seems to put it into the Power of a Combination of a few designing Men to deceive a Nation to it’s Ruin. The Measures which have been taken in Consequence of Intelligence Managed with such Secrecy, have already to a very great degree lessened that Mutual Confidence which had ever Subsisted between the Mother Country and the Colonies, and must in the Natural Course of things totally alienate their Affections towards each other and consequently weaken, and in the End destroy the power of the Empire. It is in this extended View of things that our Minds are affected. It is from those Apprehensions that we earnestly wish that all Communication between the two Countries of a public Nature may be unvailed before the public: with the Names of the persons who are concerned therein, then and not till then will American affairs be under the direction of honest Men, who are never affraid or Ashamed of the light. And as we have abundent Reason to be jealous that the most mischievous and virulent Accounts have been very lately sent to Administration from Castle William, where the Commissioners have again retreated for no reason that we can conceive but after their former manner to misrepresent and injure this Town and Province, we earnestly intreat that you would use your utmost influence to have an Order passed that the whole of the packetts sent by the Commissioners of the Customs and others under the Care of one Mr. Bacon late an Officer of the Customs in Virginia, who took his passage the last Week in the Brigantine Lydia Joseph Wood Commander may be laid before his Majesty in Council. If the Writers of those Letters shall appear to be innocent, no harm can possibly arise from such a Measure; if otherwise, it may be the Means of exploring the true Cause of the National and Collonial Malady, and of affording an easy remedy, and therefore the Measure must be justified and applauded by all the World.
We have observed in the English Papers, the most notorious falsehoods published with an apparent design to give the World a prejudice against this Town, as the Aggressors in the unhappy Transaction of the 5th: of March, but no account has been more repugnant to the truth, than a paper printed in the public Advertiser of the 28th: of April which is called The Case of Capt. Preston. As a Committee of this Town We thought ourselves bound in faithfulness to wait on Capt. Preston to enquire of him whether he was the Author. He frankly told us that he had drawn a state of his Case, but that it had passed thro different hands and was altered at different times, and finally the Publication in the Advertiser was varient from that which he sent home as his own. We then desired him to let us know whether several parts which we might point to him and to which we took exception were his own, but he declined Satisfying us herein, saying that the Alterations were made by Persons who he supposed might Aim at Serving him, though he feared they might have a Contrary effect, and that his discrimenating to us the parts of it which were his own from those which had been altered by others might displease his friends at a time when he might stand in need of their essential Service, this was the Substance of the Conversation between us, whereupon we retired and wrote to Capt. Preston a Letter the Copy of which is now inclosed.
The next day not receiving an Answer from Capt. Preston at the time we proposed, we sent him a Message desiring to be informed whether we might expect his Answer to which he replyed by a Verbal Message as Ours was that he had nothing further to add to what he had said to us the day before, as you’l please to observe by the inclosed Certificate.
As therefore Capt: Preston has utterly declined to make good the Charges against the Town in the Paper called his case or to let us know to whom we may apply as the Author or Authors of those parts which he might have disclaimed, and especially as the whole of his Case thus Stated directly Militates not only with his own Letter published under his hand in the Boston Gazette, but with the depositions of others annexed to our Narrative which were taken, not behind the Curtain as some may have been, but openly and fairly, after notifying the Parties interested, and before Magistrates to whose Credit the Governor of the Province has given his full Attestation under the Province Seal, we cannot think that the Papers called the case of Capt. Thomas Preston, or any other Paper of the like import can be deemed in the opinion of the sensible and impartial part of Mankind as sufficient, in the least degree to prejudice the Character of the Town. It is therefore altogether needless for us to point out the many falsehoods contained in this Paper; nor indeed would there be time for it at present for the reason above mentioned. We cannot however omit taking Notice of the Artifice made use of by those who drew up the Statement in insinuating that it was the design of the People to plunder the Kings Chest; and for the more easily effecting that to Murder the Centinel posted at the Custom House where the money was lodged. This intelligence is said to have been brought to Capt. Preston by a Townsman, who assured him that he heard the Mob declare they would Murder the Centinel. The Townsman probably was one Greenwood a Servant to the Commissioners whose deposition Number 96 is inserted among others in the Narrative of the Town and of whom it is observed in a Marginal Note that “Through the whole of his examination he was so inconsistent, and so frequently Contradicted himself, that all present were Convinced that no Credit ought to be given to his deposition, for which reason it would not have been inserted had it not been known that a deposition was taken relating to this affair, from this Greenwood by Justice Murray and carried home by Mr. Robinson,” and further “this deponent is the only person, out of a great Number of Witnesses examined, who heard any thing mentioned of the Custom house”. Whether this part of the Case of Capt: Preston was inserted by himself or some other person we are not told: It is very much to be questioned whether the information was given by any other than Greenwood himself, and the Sort of Character which he bears is so well known to the Commissioners and their Connections some of whom probably assisted Capt: Preston in Stating his Case, as to have made them ashamed if they regarded the truth, to have given the least credit to what he said. Whoever may have helped them to this intelligence, we will venture to say, that it never has been and never can be supported by the Testimony of any Man of a tolerable reputation. We shall only observe upon this occasion, how inveterate our Enemies here are, who, rather than omit what they might think a lucky opportunity of Slandering the Town, have wrought up a Narrative not only unsupported by, but contrary to the clearest evidence of facts and have even prevailed upon an unhappy Man under pretence of friendship to him, to adopt it as his own: Though they must have known with a common share of understanding, that it’s being published to the world as his own, must have injured him, under his present circumstances, in the most tender point, and so shocked was Capt: Preston himself, at its appearing in the light on this side the Water, that he was immediately apprehensive so glaring a falsehood would raise the indignation of a people to such a pitch as to prompt them to some Attempts that would be dangerous to him, and he accordingly applyed to Mr. Sheriff Greenleaf for special protection on that Account. But the Sheriff assuring him there was no such disposition appearing among the People (which is an undoubted truth) Capt. Prestons fears at length Subsided: And he still remains in safe Custody, to be tried by the Superior Court of Judicature at the next term in August; unless the Judges shall think proper further to postpone the Trial, as they have done for one whole term, since he was indicted by the Grand Jury.
Before we conclude it may not be improper to observe that the removal of the troops was in the Slowest order, insomuch that eleven days were spent in Carrying the two Regiments to Castle Island, which had before landed in the Town in less than forty eight hours; Yet in all this time, while the Number of the Troops was daily lessening, not the least disorder was made by the inhabitants, tho’ filled with a just indignation and horror at the blood of their fellow Citizens so inhumanely Spilt! And since their removal the Common Soldiers, have frequently and even daily come up to the Town for necessary provisions, and some of the officers, as well as several of the families of the Soldiers have resided in the Town and done business therein without the least Molestation. Yet so hardy have our Enemies been as to report in London that the enraged populace had hanged up Capt: Preston.
The strange and irreconcileable conduct of the Commissioners of the Customs since the 5th: of March, their applying for leave to retire to the Castle so early as the tenth, and spending their time in making excursions into the Country ’till the 20th: of June following, together with other material Circumstances, are the Subject of our present enquiry; the result of which you will be made acquainted with by the next Conveyance. In the mean time we remain with strict truth, Sir Your much Obliged and most Obedient Servants

Thomas Cushing
Wm: Phillips

R Dana
W Molineux

Saml Adams
Ebenezer Storer

John Hancock
Wm Greenleaf

Benjamin Franklin Esqr

Endorsed: Comtee of Boston about abuse of the Town in England 1770


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from W. Masters, 17 July 1770
From: Masters, W.
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir
Philadelphia July 17th: 1770
Your kind reply to what I formerly wrote you in favour of Thos: Truck a Soldier in the trane, together with his and Father in law’s perpetual entreaties that I would once more befriend them by writing to you; emboldens me to remind you off your Promise of Endeavouring to procure his discharge; which would be a completion of Earthly Happiness to a poor yet Honest Family, and a favour conferr’d on your humble Servant
W Masters

Addressed: To / Doct: / Benjamine Franklin / London / per Capt: / Scott


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Stevenson Hewson, 18 July 1770
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Hewson, Mary (Polly) Stevenson

Dear Polly,
London, July 18. 1770
Yours of the 15th. informing me of your agreable Journey and safe Arrival at Hexham gave me great Pleasure, and would make your good Mother happy if I knew how to convey it to her; but ’tis such an out-of-the-way Place she is gone to, and the Name so out of my Head, that the Good News must wait her Return. Enclos’d I send you a Letter which came before she went, and, supposing it from my Daughter Bache, she would have me open and read it to her, so you see if there had been any Intrigue between the Gentleman and you, how all would have been discovered. Your Mother went away on Friday last, taking with her Sally and Temple, trusting me alone with Nanny, who indeed has hitherto made no Attempt upon my Virtue. Neither Dolly nor Barwell, nor any any other good Female Soul of your Friends or mine have been nigh me, nor offered me the least Consolation by Letter in my present lonesome State. I hear the Post-man’s Bell, so can only add my affectionate Respects to Mr. Hewson, and best Wishes of perpetual Happiness for you both. I am, as ever, my dear good Girl, Your affectionate Friend
B Franklin


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 19 July 1770
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Franklin, Deborah

My dear Child,
London, July 19. 1770
This will be delivered to you by our ingenious Countryman Mr. Benbridge, who has so greatly improv’d himself in Italy as a Portrait Painter, that the Connoisseurs in that Art here think few or none excel him. I hope he will meet with due Encouragement in his own Country, and that we shall not lose him as we have lost Mr. West: For if Mr. Benbridge did not from Affection chuse to return and settle in Pensilvania, he certainly might live extreamly well in England by his Profession.
I have just received Letters from you and Mr. Bache and Sally, which I shall answer fully per next Opportunity, having now only time to add my Love to you and them, and to your dear little Boy. I am, as ever, Your affectionate Husband
B Franklin

Addressed: To / Mrs Franklin / at / Philadelphia / per favour of / Mr Benbridge


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Gilpin, 19 July 1770: extract
From: Gilpin, Thomas
To: Franklin, Benjamin

July 19th [1770]
Since my last New York has relaxed from the non-importation agreement but this and the other provinces stand fixed although we have an account here from a vessel spoken in going to Boston that the Tea duty has been taken off.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Abel James, 19 July 1770
From: James, Abel
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Friend
London 19 July 1770
I take the Liberty to repeat my Request to thee that Thou wilt lay before James West Esqr. the Inclos’d Paper, hoping that, that worthy Gentleman will give Orders to the Executor of Peter Razor deceased to let me dispose of the Trunk of Cloaths as he desir’d me to do by the within mention’d Paper, which I got proved before I left Philada. The other Trunk referr’d to was never deliver’d to me, but this is in my Custody, and I can [torn] our Friend West that Peter Razor repeatedly requested [torn] his mind fulfill’d therein. Thy Attention hereto will [torn] Addition to the many Benevolent Actions of thy Life, [torn] him that is with perfect Esteem Thy Affectionate Friend
Abel James


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Le Despencer, 26 July 1770
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Le Despencer, Francis Dashwood, Baron

My Lord,
Cravenstreet, July 26. 1770
I heartily wish your Lordship would urge the Plan of Reconciliation between the two Countries, which you did me the Honour to mention to me this Morning. I am persuaded that so far as the Consent of America is requisite, it must succeed. I am sure I should do everything in my Power there to promote it.

I beg leave to lay before your Lordship, and to request you would be so good as to peruse the enclos’d original Letters to me from Gen. Bouquet, who commanded the British Troops in Pensilvania in 1764, when I was one of the Commissioners of the Board of Treasury there. He was then on an Expedition against the Indians in the Ohio Country. Your Lordship will in these Letters see the effectual Use I made from time to time of my Influence in America, for his Majesty’s Service. Gen. Bouquet in that Expedition fought and defeated the Indians, and compell’d them to sue for Peace. He afterwards own’d great Obligations to me for the Assistance I procur’d him from our Province.
I have Enemies, as every public Man always has. They would be glad to see me depriv’d of my Office; and there are others who would like to have it. I do not pretend to slight it. Three Hundred Pounds less would make a very serious Difference in my annual Income. But as I rose to that Office gradually thro’ a long Service of now almost Forty Years, have by my Industry and Management greatly improv’d it, and have ever acted in it with Fidelity to the Satisfaction of all my Superiors, I hope my political Opinions, or my Dislike of the late Measures with America (which I own I think very injudicious) exprest in my Letters to that Country; or the Advice I gave to adhere to their Resolutions till the whole Act was repealed, without extending their Demands any farther, will not be thought a good Reason for turning me out. I shall, however, always retain a grateful Sense of your Lordship’s Good-will and many Civilities towards me, and remain as ever, with the greatest Respect, Your Lordship’s most obedient and most humble Servant
B Franklin
P.S. There are Letters also in the Secretary of State’s Office, from Gen. Braddock to the then Sir Thos. Robinson, expressing his great Obligations to me for the Services I rendered him.
Lord Le Despencer

Endorsed: Doctor Franklin


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Dorothea Blunt, 26 July 1770
From: Blunt, Dorothea
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Bromley July 26 [1770]
Be assur’d that I feel very kindly to you for the favour I receiv’d this Morning. It was not more than I wanted, tho much more than I expected——not because more than you would have given sooner if the state of my Mind had been known to you, but because you gave me unask’d the strongest proof of a tender and disinterested friendship, which tho I had no foundation for such fear, yet I did fear wou’d gradualy decay whenever it shou’d cease to be supported by our Polly. She taught you to esteem me which for her sake and mine you soon learnt to do. She has now another employment, or the same thing to do for others. Most joyfully therefore shall I assume one so pleasing as that will be to me of paying more attention to you than I have hitherto paid tho not more than I have always been prompted from affection to pay. Yes indeed My Dear Sir I do feel and think exactly as you think and feel——that what Mrs. Hewson will gain, you and I must lose. My friendship was strong enough to enable me to suppress my feelings at a time I felt most, and therefore tho my spirits sink when I reflect upon our friends absence, no more to return the same to you, and me, she once was, yet when I likewise reflect that it may be for her good, I submit, nay I do more——I am thankful. I have also heard from her that she is happy in her new Relations. I am sure I wish her all possible happiness, and therefore, that part of it she already possesses, from these new Connections. Yet I will own to you that when I first read it something rose within too much like Jealousy, but which till I could examine was by self love call’d injury and therefore poor Dol at first thought herself so. It is probable I may see you before you see this as I have a half promise from Mr. Brown of a place in his Chaise tomorrow, but as next to a Woman, Man is the most variable creature that never changes its appearance, nor wou’d be suppos’d capable of changing, I write this least so common a thing shou’d come to pass. With the love that I at this time, and which I shall at all times feel for you you must be content, as I have none of those amiable persons with me that you remember’d in your letter being perhaps the only inhabitant in this Mansion, at this Moment as I know the family to be far from hence, and I hear the servants out of doors. The Dr. is in London, Mrs. H: at Hackney, My Sister at Sir Charles’s and the rest dispers’d various ways. Thus circumstanc’d, I shou’d have been gloomy if by Conferring a favour you had not given me the most agreable employment I cou’d have desir’d, of returning it in part, by assuring you that I am your much pleased and oblig’d Friend &c
D. Blunt
I desire to be remember’d to S: Franklin——and Mrs. S: tho I take for granted she is not at home.
Upon a recollection of what I have written and how I have written, I feel asham’d, as I have neither tried to amuse, nor to amend those faults, you lov’d me well enough to wish me to amend; and which I do hope to repeat no more.

Addressed: Doctor Franklin / Craven Street / Charing Cross


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Parker, 12 August 1770
From: Parker, Mary
To: Franklin, Benjamin

New York August 12th 1770
It is with inexpressable Grief that I am Obliged to give you an Account of my Dear Mr. Parkers Death. He kept his house the Greatest part of the Winter with the gout and an inflamation in his Legg. The 4 June as soon as he could git Abroad, his Anxiety to doe his duty as Comptroller Carried him Down to New Town; On his return he fell ill at Bristol; was Carried over to Burlington, and Died there 2d. July of a nervous fevor. Presently after his Death Mr. Thomas Foxcroft came here, and took with him all the Comptrollers Books of the post office, and I at the same time paid him £19 3s. 8½d. I received, on the post office Acct in Mr. Parkers absence. How his Acct. Stands with the Post Master’s General as I have not the Books nor a Copy of his General Account I am at present an utter Stranger to. It gives me great uneasiness that Mr. Parkers friends blames me much for parting with the Books out of my hands (to Mr. Foxcroft or any other person) which is now the reason that I cannot Answer that part of your Letter relating the £135 5s., £1 2s. 7d., and £48 10½d. The Bill in yours with protest a Copy of which have sent Mr. Vernon; his answer as soon as git shall Acquaint you. Mr. Parkers friends think I have done injustice to myself and family and that the Profits of the Office ought to be for the benefit of his heirs, untill a Comptroller was appointed as he was a faithful Servant, but this must be left to you who I am assured will do what is right; be it as it will I shall be Satisfied if you think I have done what will please you. I have this day wrote Mr. Foxcroft to send me the books by my Daughter. I am afraid Mr. Parker has not left me and his family in so good a Situation as we Expected. However I must be Content. Inclosed the Copy of a Recet, for a bill Gov. Franklin took out of Mr. Parkers pocket after his Death. I am after my Prayers for your Prosperity, with Great Gratitude for your friendship to Mr. Parker your assured and faithfull Humble Servant
Mary Parker
Benjamin Franklin Esqr:

Addressed: Benjamin Franklin


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Deborah Franklin, 16 August 1770
From: Franklin, Deborah
To: Franklin, Benjamin

My Dear Child
August the 16 1770
yisterday I reseved yours of June the 10. I am verey Sorrey to thinke I shold not have it in my power to atend on you. When will it be in your power to Cume home? How I long to see you but I wold not say one word that wold give you one momentes trubel. I will then tell you that as to my helthe I am as well as I ever expeckte to be and I thinke better then I ever did [expect] I Shold be. I have recoverd flesh and look more then I did for a yeair but my memerey but I muste expeckte when I am a verey old women. If your haveing the Goute is of Servis to you I wonte say one word only I wish I was near aneuef to rube it with a lite hand. As to Naney I am Sorrey shee has Such hard lucke what buisnes and name had her husband. Tell her I am glad shee is with good mrs. Stephen son I supouse shee was verey happey when shee lived with her. I hope shee will be verey obligeing to her. Now I am to tell you a boute my King bird he has bin verey ill indead we thought we shold lues him so bad he was that he was so much altred in a boute 30 ouers was surprised that we thoute he was so altred that we never flattered he Cold recoverd. His father and mother was Sadley distresed but it plesed god to bles what was dun to him and mended as faste. Mr. Bache was a going to Jamaco. Billey Come to town and in vited them up to his house so I was verey glad as thay Cold ride everey day. But I shold tell you mr. Banton sente him a Carraig to take him oute and as soon as mrs. Masters knew he was un well shee sente twise a day to take him oute. His dadey stayed tell he was pronounesd oute of dainger. In a boute two weeks after mr. Bache was gon his unkill Come down and took him and his mother and maid up and he is perfecktely recovered. I wold give much for you to see him if he was not our one [own] I wold say that I never saw a finer Child. When his maid is a takein him oute he is stoped by everey bodey to aske who he is and is much admired by everey bodey. Maney ses he is like you and sume his father. He is a manly child a fine temper one thing I forget wather I told you he is a graite admierer of Singing and musick. His father wold play on your instruyment I wold hold him and when he wold plaid a softe or tender tune he wold be in anentexey and bow doune and the tears wold flow doune his cheeks as wold his dadey and Joyne his with his kis and blsse him and Cole him his angel. When his father and mother wold [sing] a Song in the Padlocke he woud Joyne with them and sing with them. Tell mrs. Stephenson I did thinke to write to her and tell her what a fine child he is a fine skin a charming pair of fine eyes it was a dispute wather he wold have blew or Black but I think thay air Black. When he was borne his hair was verey darke but it is fair. His unkill has shaifed his head and dipes him in the river everey day and [he] behaves like a Jentelman. His maid is a strong woman for a gorle cold not a tend him. His dadey had a Negrow Boy for a house servent but when his master was a going desired him to leve him with his master as he love him so he was lefte so he was invited to go up as it was thoute it is easy [?] to a tend him when he walkes. I never knew a finer Nurse then Salley makes and a verey good mother. He was [torn] to have aney you mers [humors] tell he was sick and one day he freted and showed Sum you m[ers. His] mother set him on her lape and told him he had as much good senes as aney of his [torn] but he semed displesed she laid him over her knee and whiped him and then told him [what] for and looked at him. In an instant he smiled on her and held oute his mouthe and kised her and be haved himselef charminly his dayey [daddy] by and I was all. Sume time after shee asked if shee did doe well yis sed Mr. Bache and mother for we sed not one word nor did we say one word to him. I donte remember he ever showed aney tember or aney pashon he semes to give pleshuer to all a round. While he was ill what is inseydent to Children he was his Gumes so Sweld the Dr. lansed one tuthe out senes he has cute 4 more and is so pleased with them that he is a showing of them. While I write I long to see him I donte know what to due a boute it.
You see I never say aney thing a boute aney bodey but my selef and our one [own] children but I will tell you that a boute two weeks a go our friend mr. Rhodes Come and took me down to his plase and I spente the day. We talked much of you. I told him that you had sente me one of your Books he sed he wished he Cold get one but he never saw one asked me if I knew if thay air to be sold. I sed I did not know. The nexte day I sente it to him. He and his kind good wife and his Dafter desired to be rememberd to you in a porticker manner. I sume times [see] our good old friend mr. Wharton Sener and he desier me to menshon me to you his son Franklin is a fine Lad indead. Nansey Clifton came in shee desired me to give her love to you but thinkes you donte remember her. I promised so I wrote and my poor mrs. Sumain come in and did desier me to desier you if you Cold let her Dafter know shee had reseved her letter. Thay air in a miserabel Staite he has loste all Senes and wants every nesesarey seven years loste to him selef shee is not a bove halef so big as shee was when you yoused to Cole her a threed paper. I am verey busey att this time a geting our wood for the whinter and am ofen hinderd by the men. I have yousd to due it my selef of Laite but it is a mersey I Can get it I am thankfull for it now. I have looked over this letter and I wold write it over a gen but the poste will go befor I Cold due it. My beste Compley mentes to Mr. and Mrs. Strahan to Mr. and Mrs. Weeste tell his pickter has bin att our house. Kiss him for me due my bete regardes to all that remember. I was glad to hear of Mr. Orrey dus Sir John make you a visit sume times? I did reseve a letter from him but I did not write to him a gen. I supose Sister has wrote to you shee wished me not to write tell I shold hear from her so I have not had leve as yit. I nead not tell you as you muste see in the papers we have loste our friend mr. Parker. Mrs. Parker and her children and we correyspend senes his death. My beste Love to our good Miss Polley Stephenson. We ofen talke of her. I will write by a shipe I hear is to saile from N yorke. God bles you is the desier of your afeckshonet wife
D Franklin


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from John Bard, 18 August 1770
From: Bard, John
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Augst: 18 1770
Altho the reluctance I have to ask favours of my Friends, Especially when there is too great a probability of its not being convenient, or in their power, to grant them; greatly discourages me in the request I am about to make. Yet while there is the most distant prospect of Success, I can not but hope your Friendship will Excuse me, as a Parent, in Ventureing to recommend to you, my Son Samuel, as a Successor to the late Mr. Parker, in the office he held in the post office. I hope Dr. Franklin will not attribute it to my Partial affection, when I tell him his Acknowledg’d Character in this place —his Integrity and merit render him worthy of such a Trust—and if it should not be Inconvenient, or Interfere with any other Views you may have; it will be adding an obligation, to the many Instances I have received of your Friendship and good will; which we shall ever remember with the warmest Gratitude and Affection. I am Dear Sir your most obliged and most Humble Servant
John Bard

Addressed: To / Doctr. Benjn. Franklin L.L.D. / Craven Street / London


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwalader Evans, 27 August 1770
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Evans, Cadwalader

Dear Doctor
London, Aug. 27, 1770.
I am favoured with yours of June 10. With this I send you our last Volume of Philosophical Transactions, wherein you will see printed the Observations of Messrs. Biddle and Bayley on the Transit, as well as those of Messrs. Mason and Dixon relating to the Longitude of Places. When you and your Friends have perus’d it, please to deliver it to Mrs. Franklin to be put among my Books.
Thanks for the Books on the Silk Affair. It will give me great pleasure to see that Business brought to Perfection among us. The Subscription is a noble One, and does great Honour to our Public Spirit. If you should not procure from Georgia, as you expected, one that understands the Reeling, I believe I can procure you such a Hand from Italy, a great Silk Merchant here having offered me his Assistance for that purpose if wanted.
I am happy beyond Expression to see the Virtue and Firmness of our Country with regard to the Non-importation. It does us great Honour. And New York is in great Disgrace with all the Friends of Liberty in the Kingdom, who are, I assure you, no contemptible Number, who applaud the stand we have made, wish us Success. I am, my dear friend, Yours most affectionately,
B. Franklin.
Dr. Cad. Evans.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to John Ewing, 27 August 1770
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Ewing, John

Reverend Sir,
London, Augt. 27. 1770.
I received your Favour of June 14. with several Copies of your Observations of the Transit of Venus, for which I thank you. I have sent one of them to Mr. Maskelyne as you desired, with an Extract from your Letter, and another to Paris. I have not yet obtain’d from him the Estimate he promis’d me, but hope to have it soon; tho’ by what I hear from others I begin to fear the Expence will be thought too heavy for us. I shall send the new Volume of the Transactions to Mrs. Franklin, where you will find what Observations have been received and published here. I am, very respectfully, Reverend Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant
B Franklin
Mr Ewing

Addressed: To / The Revd. Mr Ewing / at / Philadelphia / per Capt. Osborne


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Sr., 27 August 1770
From: Williams, Jonathan Sr.
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Honoured Sir
Boston Augt 27th. 1770
My Son Josiah is determined to go to London and I Belive Will Sail in about a month. I wish he might be accomidated at Good Mrs. Stevensons if agreeable if this Cant be please to direct the unfortinate Stranger to Some Other Good place. I Shall Send his Brother to take Care off him, it may apper to you Very extrodnary for us to Consent to Such a Step but the Happiness of his whol Life Seemes to Depend on his Going to England and Some of the best Gentlemen in town adviz’d to it. He has for a long time been Very anxious to Se the Famus Mr. Stanley Who he thinks Can Serve him in the Siance of Musick in which he has made Some Proficance and is Very fond of Excelling, but Dispares allmost of all Instruction but this Great Blind man Who he Says can give him more Light in this matter then any man living that Can See.
We have no Business nor likley to have owing to the unhappy differance between Great Britain and her Collines Which will consequenthaly prove the total Ruin of thousands.
Aunt Mecom is well Settled in the Old place tho almost a N House; we flatter ourselves that you Will on your Return Call at Boston if So I Shall take it kind if you make my [House] your Home, I am Sinesible you are much engag’d in Public Concerns and I dont mean by Writing to you to give you too much Concern or troble with my Sons tho I Shall esteem it a great favour if you take notice of them if Only as Strangers in London. Your advice may not only Save my money but them from Ruin in [in the margin: Plas to turn over] Such a place as London is tho thay are Good Lads and I belive have Some Merit Otherwise I Should not have trustd them.
We Want a Governor and all most every Body Wishes Doctor Franklin might Come as well as your Dutifull Nephew and Humble Servant
Jona Williams

Endorsed: Jona Williams  Aug. 27. 1770


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Alexander, 3 September 1770
From: Alexander, Robert
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir,
3 Sepr. 1770
Since my return to Scotland, I have been some days in the Country by which means I did not receive your Letter before yesterday. I return you a Thousand Thanks for the Trouble you have taken about the Harpsichord, the one you describe at 33 Guineas is precisely what is wanted and therefore you will please give orders to have it immediately packt up and Sent down, after putting it in the best order and I desire you will give Mr. Barron who has assisted you whatever you think he deserves. Both my Brothers desire to be remembr’d to you in the kindest manner and with my best Compliments to Mrs. Stevenson and your other Friends I remain Dear Sir, Your most humble and most obedient Servant
Robert Alexander
[In the margin:] There are every Week Ships going from London to Leith.

Addressed: To / Dr Ben. Franklin / Craven Street / London


Title: Extract of a Letter, [before 6 September 1770]
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

[Before September 6, 1770]
Mr. Wilkes seems to be enjoying the solid Advantages of his Popularity with little Noise. The Boston Affair is a general Subject of Conversation, but, like every other American Concern, is so enveloped with Prejudices and Misrepresentations, that the still Voice of Truth and Candour is not heard. They are Rebels——Aggressors, with a long &c. of ministerial Epithets. I am sorry to find an Observation made concerning Corsica, verified in England. Every Englishman considers himself as King of America, and peculiarly interested in our Subjection; it gratifies his Pride, and he is at the same Time free from any Apprehensions of suffering himself. As to Relief from the Wisdom and Tenderness of Administration, Hope itself is gone, even with our most sanguine Friends. We have no other Resource but in our own Virtue and Resolution, which our Enemies allow will prevail, if we can but persevere.
You desired me to write you, whether your Non-importation was really felt, and if not, to what it is owing? I have made the best Enquiry, and find it has had little Effect on the Manufacturers, who, like stupid Animals, must smart before they will move. The Russian War has had some Effect——Germany, and even France, it is said, take off very considerable. That the Ministry play into each others Hands, to serve their own arbitrary Purposes in each Kingdom, so as to relax the former Systems of Politics and Commerce, seems too forced a Conjecture——but that Merchants are encouraged by the Promises of Ministry, even to Indemnification, is universally believed; and the Owner of the Malt-ship, sent back from Philadelphia, now makes no Secret of the Intention of his Voyage. Unjust and tyrannical Notions of Colony Government, seem too much to prevail, even among the Sons of Liberty.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Mary Hopkinson, 6 September 1770
From: Hopkinson, Mary
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir
philada Septr 6 1770
My Son Thomas will have the Honor to deliver this to you; shall I beg you will condescend to advise and instruct a young Man; although honest and open hearted, yet intirely unacquainted with the world and the Dispositions of those whome it is his Interest to please. Any other Man in your place and Station I could not ask such a Favor of engaged, as you are, in such a multiplicity of Business and that for your country. But I know I write to a Gentleman who is capable of carrying on the greatest affairs and yet can attend to the most minute, whenever called upon by friendship or charity. You will answer both by this Condescension, and will add one more obligation to the many my family have receivd from you. Mr. Warrin has been so good as to invite him to lodge at his House, his Goodness to my other Son, and this new favor I Shall never forget, it calls for my utmost Gratitude and my sincere prayer is, that it may be returned to him by the Father of the fatherless in Blessings Seventy fold. And do you think, Sir I can seperate in my heart the obligations I am under to you as the Instrument in the Hand of God in making me acquainted with such kind Relations. I canot——but shall with great Gratitude ever think my Self your obliged humble Servant
Mary Hopkinson
Dr Franklin


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from John Borthwick, 8 September 1770
From: Borthwick, John
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir,
New York, 8 Septemr. 1770.
I used the Freedom to write you a few Lines at two times from Philadelphia.
I have been here for sometime in the high part of the Town and continue to grow better.
I had the pleasure of seeing the Governor his Lady, Mrs. Beache and the young Dr. at Burlington, as I passed, in good health, stayed a few days with Mr. Laurence the Mayor with whom I went and saw Judge Reids Iron Works by which he is no danger of growing too rich. Mr. Beache is at Jamaica.
I say nothing of the Transactions here, O homines ad servitudem paratos.
As I hope to be well soon, and am determined to remain on this Continent, I must not remain idle, and I now presume on your Goodness to make this Application to you as I apprehend it may be in your power to procure something for me, if Mr. Alexander is in London I hope he will assist. I had wrote for recommendations to Lord D—re but there’s no news of him, and I am told nothing can be done with him without m——y, not in my Power to give. I desire not your immediate Answer, that you may think of it at your Leisure. I shall return to Philadelphia in a few days——the other day a Gentleman here made me a present of a Manuscript entitled “An Examination into the Value of Canada and Guadaloupe with an impartial Account of the latter in answer to a late Pamphlet entitled ‘The Interest of Great Britain’s considerd with regard to her Colonies’ in a Letter to a Gentleman in England.” He says he believes it was not publishd as it contains some curious particulars. I will in a Subsequent Letter send you what he says about Cayenne by which you’ll recollect if you have ever seen it. It is dated “New York 5 January 1761” and contains 86 pages besides an Appendix, and was said to be wrote by one Mr. Kennedy alias Scott. For the meaning of the word alias see P—y Johnson’s Dictionary 1st Edition. I was at Mr. Levisey’s some day’s and had the pleasure of reading your Lucubrations. I forgot to tell you in a former Letter that the Old Duke of Wharton has a Duplicate of the Plan of Philadelphia the same with the one I gave you.I remain with Esteem [torn] Your most Obedient
John Borthwick
Direct for me to the care of Mr. Joseph Wharton ju Philadelphia.

Addressed: To / Doctor Benjn. / Franklyn / to the care of / Mr. Strahan Printer / in / London. per Paquet.
Endorsed: Mr Borthwick


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Fitzmaurice, 10 September 1770
From: Fitzmaurice, Thomas
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir,
Knighton House. Isle Wight. Septr. 10. 1770.
I promised Dr. Hawkesworth that I w’d by this post acquaint you how eagerly we expect your arrival here, we were in hopes that possibly you might have arrived yesterday with Sir Chas. Knowles who means to make a stay of some days here. I flatter myself that you and he will meet yet; he purposes to make a very curious Experiment upon the force and direction of the Winds upon one of our highest neighbouring Downs. Dr. H. and myself have declared that if you dont come soon we will Libel you in the public Advertiser, you don’t know what inferences may be drawn from many of your Experiments which appear so inoffensive at the same time that they are so usefull. In short we shall pour down a sort of Thunder and lightening upon you that you are little conversant with, that is we will abuse you plentifully, tho’ in the mean time he joins his best respects to you with those of, Dear Sir, Your very faithfull and Obedient Humble Servant
Thoms. Fitzmaurice


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Gilpin, [21] September 1770: extract
From: Gilpin, Thomas
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Philadelphia Sepr. [21,] 1770.
The silk business is in a fair way and I am convinced will be of consequence if attended to——there are also numbers of minor manufactures which would succeed if parliament would but lay on a few more duties, or as I may say bounties here, for such is the effect of their duties; it is nothing but the easy terms upon which we obtain all sorts of manufactures from abroad and the more free and relaxed life it affords that hinders our manufacturers from starting up and making a rapid progress. I should be glad to see the unanimity of the two countries restored and Great Britain succeed in her manufactures as we in ours and in our agriculture but no restrictions; at a meeting of the merchants here last night it was agreed to give notice to the other provinces of an intention to make some alterations in our own non-importation agreement so as to admit the importation of some articles which we cannot at present do without, and increase the restrictions upon others in order that it may not be said we cannot hold out until a change of ministry or policy takes place.


Title: The Cravenstreet Gazette, 22–26 September 1770
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

This famous blend of parody and nonsense reveals, under its genial persiflage, more about the details of Franklin’s daily life in London than anything else in his papers. The setting of the Gazette can only be deduced from its contents. Mrs. Stevenson and Sally Franklin had left to visit relatives or friends in Rochester about whom nothing is known, except that their hostess—a widow, because she is referred to as the Duchess Dowager—invited the Craven Street household to join them there. Before Franklin’s landlady left, she had apparently arranged for Polly and her new husband, William Hewson, to move into the house and take care of him in her absence. For his own entertainment and that of his circle, he wrote this account of the results. His audience could doubtless identify the members of the household more confidently than his editors can, but we are inclined to think that there were only four: Franklin, the maid Nanny, and the two Hewsons. Polly in that case was Cook, Lady Chamberlain of the Household, Lady of the Bedchamber, and first Ministress, while her husband was Groom Porter and first Minister.

  [September 22–26, 1770]

  The Cravenstreet Gazette. No 113

Saturday, Sept. 22. 1770
This Morning Queen Margaret, accompanied by her first Maid of Honour, Miss Franklin, set out for Rochester. Immediately on their Departure, the whole Street was in Tears——from a heavy Shower of Rain.
It is whispered that the new Family Administration which took place on her Majesty’s Departure, promises, like all other new Administrations, to govern much better than the old one.
We hear that the great Person (so called from his enormous Size) of a certain Family in a certain Street, is grievously affected at the late Changes, and could hardly be comforted this Morning, tho’ the new Ministry promised him a roasted Shoulder of Mutton, and Potatoes, for his Dinner.
It is said, that the same great Person intended to pay his Respects to another great Personage this Day, at St. James’s, it being Coronation-Day; hoping thereby a little to amuse his Grief; but was prevented by an Accident, Queen Margaret, or her Maid of Honour having carried off the Key of the Drawers, so that the Lady of the Bedchamber could not come at a laced Shirt for his Highness. Great Clamours were made on this Occasion against her Majesty.
Other Accounts say, that the Shirts were afterwards found, tho’ too late, in another Place. And some suspect, that the Wanting a Shirt from those Drawers was only a ministerial Pretence to excuse Picking the Locks, that the new Administration might have every thing at Command.
We hear that the Lady Chamberlain of the Household went to Market this Morning by her own self, gave the Butcher whatever he ask’d for the Mutton, and had no Dispute with the Potatoe Woman——to their great Amazement——at the Change of Times!
It is confidently asserted, that this Afternoon, the Weather being wet, the great Person a little chilly, and no body at home to find fault with the Expence of Fuel, he was indulg’d with a Fire in his Chamber. It seems the Design is, to make him contented, by Degrees, with the Absence of the Queen.
A Project has been under Consideration of Government, to take the Opportunity of her Majesty’s Absence, for doing a Thing she was always averse to, viz. Fixing a new Lock on the Street Door, or getting a Key made to the old one; it being found extreamly inconvenient, that one or other of the Great Officers of State, should, whenever the Maid goes out for a Ha’pworth of Sand or a Pint of Porter, be obliged to attend the Door to let her in again. But Opinion, being divided, which of the two Expedients to adopt, the Project is for the present laid aside.
We have good Authority to assure our Readers, that a Cabinet Council was held this Afternoon at Tea; the Subject of which was a Proposal for the Reformation of Manners, and a more strict Observation of the Lord’s Day. The Result was, an unanimous Resolution that no Meat should be dress’d to-morrow; whereby the Cook and the first Minister will both be at Liberty to go to Church, the one having nothing to do, and the other no Roast to rule. It seems the cold Shoulder of Mutton, and the Applepye, were thought sufficient for Sunday’s Dinner. All pious People applaud this Measure, and ’tis thought the new Ministry will soon become popular.
We hear that Mr. Wilkes was at a certain House in Craven Street this Day, and enquired after the absent Queen. His good Lady and the Children were well.
The Report that Mr. Wilkes the Patriot made the above Visit, is without Foundation, it being his Brother the Courtier.

Sunday, Sept. 23.
It is now found by sad Experience, that good Resolutions are easier made than executed. Notwithstanding yesterday’s solemn Order of Council, no body went to Church to day. It seems the great Person’s broad-built-bulk lay so long abed, that Breakfast was not over ’till it was too late to dress. At least this is the Excuse. In fine, it seems a vain thing to hope Reformation from the Example of our great Folks. The Cook and the Minister, however, both took Advantage of the Order so far, as to save themselves all Trouble, and the Clause of cold Dinner was enforc’d, tho’ the going to Church was dispens’d with; just as the common working People observe the Commandment; the seventh Day thou shalt rest, they think a sacred Injunction; but the other Six Days shalt thou labour is deem’d a mere Piece of Advice which they may practice when they want Bread and are out of Credit at the Alehouse, and may neglect whenever they have Money in their Pockets. It must nevertheless be said in justice to our Court, that whatever Inclination they had to Gaming, no Cards were brought out to Day. Lord and Lady Hewson walk’d after Dinner to Kensington to pay their Duty to the Dowager, and Dr. Fatsides made 469 Turns in his Dining Room as the exact Distance of a Visit to the lovely Lady Barwell, whom he did not find at home, so there was no Struggle for and against a Kiss, and he sat down to dream in the Easy Chair that he had it without any Trouble.

Monday, Sept. 24.
We are credibly informed, that the great Person dined this Day with the Club at the Cat-and-Bagpipes in the City, on cold Round of boil’d Beef. This, it seems, he was under some Necessity of Doing (tho’ he rather dislikes Beef) because truly the Ministers were to be all abroad somewhere to dine on hot roast Venison. It is thought that if the Queen had been at home, he would not have been so slighted. And tho’ he shows outwardly no Marks of Dissatisfaction, it is suspected that he begins to wish for her Majesty’s Return.
It is currently reported, that poor Nanny had nothing for Dinner in the Kitchen, for herself and Puss, but the Scrapings of the Bones of Saturday’s Mutton.
This Evening there was high Play at the Groom Porter’s in Cravenstreet House. The Great Person lost Money. It is supposed the Ministers, as is usually supposed of all Ministers, shared the Emoluments among them.

Tuesday, Sept. 25.
This Morning the good Lord Hutton call’d at Cravenstreet House, and enquired very respectfully and affectionately concerning the Welfare of the absent Queen. He then imparted to the big Man a Piece of Intelligence important to them both, which he had just received from Lady Hawkesworth, viz. That [the] amiable and excellent Companion Miss Dorothea Blount had made a Vow to marry absolutely him of the two, whose Wife should first depart this Life. It is impossible to express with Words the various Agitations of Mind appearing in both their Faces on this Occasion. Vanity at the Preference given them to the rest of Mankind; Affection to their present Wives; Fear of losing them; Hope, (if they must lose them) to obtain the propos’d Comfort; Jealousy of each other, in case both Wives should die together; &c. &c. &c. all working at the same time, jumbled their Features into inexplicable Confusion. They parted at length with Professions and outward Appearances indeed of ever-during Friendship; but it was shrewdly suspected that each of them sincerely wished Health and long Life to the other’s Wife; and that however long either of those Friends might like to live himself, the other would be very well pleas’d to survive him.
It is remark’d that the Skies have wept every Day in Cravenstreet the Absence of the Queen.
The Publick may be assured, that this Morning a certain great Person was ask’d very complaisantly by the Mistress of the Houshold, if he would chuse to have the Blade Bone of Saturday’s Mutton that had been kept for his Dinner to Day, broil’d or cold? He answer’d gravely, If there is any Flesh on it, it may be broil’d; if not, it may as well be cold. Orders were accordingly given for broiling it. But when it came to Table, there was indeed so very little Flesh, or rather none at all (Puss having din’d on it yesterday after Nanny) that if our new Administration had been as good Oeconomists as they would be thought, the Expence of Broiling might well have been sav’d to the Publick, and carried to the Sinking Fund. It is assured the great Person bears all with infinite Patience. But the Nation is astonish’d at the insolent Presumption that dares treat so much Mildness in so cruel a manner.
A terrible Accident had like to have happened this Afternoon at Tea. The Boiler was set too near the End of the little square Table. The first Ministress was sitting at one End of the Table to administer the Tea; the great Person was about to sit down at the other End where the Boiler stood. By a sudden Motion, the Lady gave the Table a Tilt. Had it gone over, the great Person must have been scalded; perhaps to Death. Various are the Surmises and Observations on this Occasion. The Godly say, it would have been a just Judgment on him, for preventing by his Laziness, the Family’s going to Church last Sunday. The Opposition do not stick to insinuate that there was a Design to scald him, prevented only by his quick Catching the Table. The Friends of the Ministry give out, that he carelessly jogg’d the Table himself, and would have been inevitably scalded had not the Ministress sav’d him. It is hard for the Publick to come at the Truth in these Cases.
At six o’Clock this Afternoon News came by the Post, that her Majesty arrived safely at Rochester on Saturday Night. The Bells immediately rang——for Candles, to illuminate the Parlour; the Court went into Cribbidge, and the Evening concluded with every other Demonstration of Joy.
It is reported that all the principal Officers of the State, have received an Invitation from the Dutchess Dowager of Rochester to go down thither on Saturday next. But it is not yet known whether the great Affairs they have on their Hands will permit them to make this Excursion.
We hear that from the Time of her Majesty’s leaving Craven Street House to this Day, no Care is taken to file the Newspapers; but they lie about in every Room, in every Window, and on every Chair, just where the Doctor lays them when he has read them. It is impossible Government can long go on in such Hands.

To the Publisher of the Craven Street Gazette.
Sir,
I make no doubt of the Truth of what the Papers tell us, that a certain great Person has been half-starved on the bare Blade-bone, of a Sheep (I cannot call it of Mutton because none was on it) by a Set of the most careless, thoughtless, inconsiderate, corrupt, ignorant, blundering, foolish, crafty, and Knavish Ministers, that ever got into a House and pretended to govern a Family and provide a Dinner. Alas, for the poor Old England of Craven Street! If these nefarious Wretches continue in Power another Week, the Nation will be ruined——Undone!——totally undone, if the Queen does not return; or (which is better) turn them all out and appoint me and my Friends to succeed them. I am a great Admirer of your useful and impartial Paper; and therefore request you will insert this without fail; from Your humble Servant
Indignation.

To the Publisher of the Craven Street Gazette.
Sir,
Your Correspondent Indignation has made a fine Story in your Paper against our excellent Cravenstreet Ministry, as if they meant to starve his Highness, giving him only a bare Blade Bone for his Dinner, while they riot upon roast Venison, &c. The Wickedness of Writers in this Age is truly amazing! I believe we never had since the Foundation of our State, a more faithful, upright, worthy, careful, considerate, incorrupt, discreet, wise, prudent and beneficent Ministry than the present. But if even the Angel Gabriel would condescend to be our Minister and provide our Dinners, he could scarcely escape Newspaper Defamation from a Gang of hungry ever-restless, discontented and malicious Scribblers. It is, Sir, a piece of Justice you owe our righteous Administration to undeceive the Publick on this [Occasion], by assuring them [of] the Fact, which is, that there was provided, and actually smoaking on the Table under his Royal Nose at the same Instant, as fine a Piece of Ribbs of Beef, roasted, as ever Knife was put into; with Potatoes, Horse radish, pickled Walnuts, &c. which Beef his Highness might have eaten of, if so he had pleased to do; and which he forbore to do, merely from a whimsical Opinion (with Respect be it spoken) that Beef doth not with him perspire well, but makes his Back itch, to his no small Vexation, now that he hath lost the little Chinese Ivory Hand [at] the End of a Stick, commonly called a Scratchback, presented to him by her Majesty. This is the Truth; and if your boasted Impartiality is real, you will not hesitate a Moment to insert this Letter in your very next Paper. I am, tho’ a little angry with you at present. Yours as you behave
A Hater OF Scandal.

Junius and Cinna came to Hand too late for this Days Paper, but shall have Place in our next.

Marriages.
None since our last; but Puss begins to go a Courting.

  Deaths.
In the back Closet, and elsewhere, many poor Mice.

  Stocks.
Biscuit very low.

Buckwheat and Indian meal, both sour.

Tea, lowering daily in the Canister.

Postscript. Wednesday Sept. 26.
Those in the Secret of Affairs do not scruple to assert soundly, that our present First Ministress is very notable, having this day been at Market, bought excellent Mutton Chops, and Apples 4 a penny, made a very fine Applepye with her own Hands, and mended two pair of Breeches.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jane Mecom, 25 September 1770
From: Mecom, Jane
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Boston Sept 25 [1770]
I have trobled my Ever Dear Brother [with] several Leters Since I have had the P[leasure of] won from Him but cannot omit Ading won more by my well Respected and much Esteemed Kinsmen whome wee all Part from with Regrett Notwithstanding we hope Ther Future Benifit and saif return will be occasion of Joy to all there Friends.
Josiah says He fears nothing He Shall have to Incounter so much as your Disaprobation of His Sceme. He Expects you will advise Him to Return in the first Ship, yet He cant conquer His Inclineation. I tell Him you have seen so much of the Follies of Human Nature and So L[ittle] Els in the comon Run of man kind, that you will know Beter how to Pitty and Advice him.
[There is?] a Rumer Hear that you have mett with some [harsh?] Treetment and I cant Help being conserned about [you tho’ you?] forbad me, I Fansey by this time you have [found there?] are more wicked folks in the world than [you thou]ght there was; and that thay are capeble of Doing [you hu]rt. I Pray God to Preserve your Usefull Life among them and that Every Good man may not be Distroyed from of the Face of the Earth.
I am Desiered by a Lady of my Acquaintanc to send you the Pamphlit Discribed by this note and says if I will send for two she will make me a Present of won. She is won I should [be] Glad to oblige and think it may be Agreable to me to have won. [I] beg the favour of you to send a Cople if to be had. Cousen Josiah will be Able to Inform you Every thing that Conserns me that will be Agreable to you to know that I need not make my Leter more Lengthy and only [to] add that I am with much fear about your wellfare Your Ever Affectionat Sister
J [Ane Mecom]


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Galloway, 27 September 1770
From: Galloway, Joseph
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Friend
Philada. Septr. 27. 1770
In the Midst of Hurry, I take up my Pen to write you a few Lines. Our Sup. Court and Assembly Sitting and our Election approaching leaves me scarcly a Moments Lieusure.
As to our Election, we are all in Confusion; The White Oaks and Mechanicks or many of them have left the old Ticket and tis feared will go over to the Presbyterians, and yet I believe the Proprietary Party will not Stir. Under these Circumstances what will be the Event as to my Self is uncertain. Thus much indeed I have always found certain——a great deal of Abuse and Calumny instead of grateful Returns for the most faithful Services. So much of them have fallen to my Share, since your Departure, that was it not for my Connections in Politics, Nothing woud induce me to serve the Public.
I have it from many, and those on whom I can depend, that General G——ge has sent to the Ministry a Copy of your Letter to Ch. Thomson: This has truely given me much Concern and uneasiness as I fear the Consequences not only on your private Account but on that of the Publicks. Pray be cautious in future what you write to that Man, who is void of Principle or Virtue. I have found him so on more Occasions than one, and I am confident you will also should you continue your free Correspondence.
I will write to you fully by C. Falkner and to Mr. Strahan. My Time now will only admit me to assure you that I shall always remain with great Truth and Sincerity yours most Affectionately
J. Galloway

Addressed: To / Benjamin Franklin Esquire / in Craven Street / London / per Michael McGraw


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Gilpin, 28 September 1770
From: Gilpin, Thomas
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Esteemed friend
Philada. Septm 28th 1770
This will Convey to thee an account of this Places Breaking through the non importation agreement which happened on the 20th by a Large Majority of the Votes of the Subscribers about 5 to 1. I am Sorry it has So happend but it is only what Might have beene Expected from the first and what I Realy Did Expect and thiarefore Wold not Meddle in it for I always thought it a Verry great Risque wheather the acts wold be Repealed Whilst those Interested on this Side Cold be kept in any Degree of quietude. It is a hard thing for So maney to Sacrifise their Living one year after another at So high a Rate and Maney of those who were averse to a partial Importation at first and Realey prevented it from being Came into near 6 months before the generall non importation Commenced, are now most forward to Relax. Every one is at Libertey now to Import any goods Exept tea or any article as may be Taxed for the use of Raising a Revenue. Those who have held out obstanate against a Disolution are trying now to forme a new plan Similar to that of Maryland but I think it is too Late they have Delayed too Long and have beene too obstinate. On the 5th of june it was Contended for by the other but was oposed by the old Committee and by availing them Selves of Some Letters thine in particular for which I was Sorry, and by Some other Stratigems they prevented an alteration then which was Realey the Right time to have Done it. I have always Compared our Proceedings Like young giddey Q[uick?] furnished troops going against a Strong fortifyed City wheare as Wee aught to have gone with the greatest Caution and well Supleyd. If wee had decliard against all Dutey goods Superfluitys and Such as wee Cold Manufacture at a tolerable Rate, then the Marchant wold have had Some thing to do the artificer Incouradged, wee have Payed no Duteys, and the acts Rendered a Real Advantage to the Couloneys. This Might with Justice [have] beene Contended for and wold have beene Observed. This was Contended for but over Ruled and now I am a fraid little or no order will be observed. Wee began wrong. Wee had the Mode from the Northward but town Meetings are not the thing nor the noyse of a promiscus assembly the way to Digest good politicks by. Although I think the Ministry and parliment is Very Impolitick and wrong in attempting to Tax us without a Representation, yet I think it is highly Proveble that america ought to Contribute but the mode is the thing to fix who Shall be Judges. Aplying to So many provances will always be attended with Intricaceys and great Delay it will be harder for Each to Degist a Measure than all in one. A Representation in parlimint wee are afraid of wee think they will Corrupt our Members and over Rule them. I think a better way wold be to propose a Committee of Each to meete Some whare and a Eaquill number of [in?] Each or for England to Borrow of america and pay Interest to her owne People Instead of forignors and the paying this Interest will be a Real Advantage to hir as it will be Done in the Labour of Manufacturors and tend to keep the nation full of people which is hir Stranth. Thiase are Trantiant thoughts I have had which please to Excuse my troubling thee with and believe me to be thy friend
Thomas Gilpin

Addressed: To / Doctr / Benjamin Franklin / agent for Pensylvania / in London


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 2 October 1770: extract
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Barbeu-Dubourg, Jacques

London, October 2, 1770.
I see with pleasure that we think pretty much alike on the subjects of English America. We of the colonies have never insisted that we ought to be exempt from contributing to the common expences necessary to support the prosperity of the empire. We only assert, that having parliaments of our own, and not having representatives in that of Great Britain, our parliaments are the only judges of what we can and what we ought to contribute in this case; and that the English parliament has no right to take our money without our consent. In fact, the British empire is not a single state; it comprehends many; and though the parliament of Great Britain has arrogated to itself the power of taxing the colonies, it has no more right to do so, than it has to tax Hanover. We have the same king, but not the same legislatures.
The dispute between the two countries has already lost England many millions sterling, which it has lost in its commerce, and America has in this respect been a proportionable gainer. This commerce consisted principally of superfluities; objects of luxury and fashion, which we can well do without; and the resolution we have formed of importing no more till our grievances are redressed, has enabled many of our infant manufactures to take root: and it will not be easy to make our people abandon them in future, even should a connection more cordial than ever succeed the present troubles. I have indeed, no doubt that the parliament of England will finally abandon its present pretensions, and leave us to the peaceable enjoyment of our rights and privileges.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Pierre du Pont de Nemours, 2 October 1770
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Du Pont de Nemours, Pierre-Samuel

Dear Sir,
London, Oct. 2. 1770
I received with great Pleasure the Assurances of your kind Remembrance of me, and the Continuance of your Goodwill towards me, in your Letter by M. le Comte Chreptowitz. I should have been happy to have rendred him every Civility and Mark of Respect in my Power (as the Friend of those I so much respect and honour) if he had given me the Opportunity: But he did not let me see him.
Accept my sincere Acknowledgements and Thanks for the valuable Present you made me of your excellent Work on the Commerce of the India Company, which I have perused with much Pleasure and Instruction. It bears throughout the Stamp of your Masterly Hand, in Method, Perspicuity, and Force of Argument. The honourable Mention you have made in it of your Friend is extremely obliging. I was already too much in your Debt for Favours of that kind.
I purpose returning to America in the ensuing Summer, if our Disputes should be adjusted, as I hope they will be in the next Session of Parliament. Would to God I could take with me Messrs. Dupont, Dubourg, and some other French Friends with their good Ladies! I might then, by mixing them with my Friends in Philadelphia, form a little happy Society that would prevent my ever wishing again to visit Europe. With great and sincere Esteem and Respect, I am, Dear Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant
B Franklin
M. Dupont