people, the most insincere, and the most wrong headed; witness besides his various behavior to me, his duplicity in encouraging us to ask for more land: ask for enough to make a province, (when we at first asked only for 2,500,000 acres,) were his words; pretending to befriend our application, then doing every thing to defeat it, and reconciling the first to the last by saying to a friend, that he meant to defeat it from the beginning; and that his putting us upon asking so much was with that very view, supposing it too much to be granted. Thus by the way, his mortification becomes double. He has served us by the very means he meant to destroy us, and tript up his own heels into the bargain. Your affectionate father, B. FRANKLIN. - To MR. WINTHROP, BOSTON. DEAR SIR, London, July 25, 1778. I am glad to see that you are elected into the council, and are about to take part in our public affairs. Your abilities, integrity, and sober attachment to the liberties of our country, will be of great use in this tempestuous time, in conducting our little bark into safe harbor. By the Boston newspapers, there seems to be among us some violent spirits, who are for an immediate rupture. But I trust the general prudence of our countrymen will see, that by our growing strength we advance fast to a situation in which our claims must be allowed; that by a premature struggle we may be crippled and kept down another age; that as between friends every affront is not worth a duel, between nations every injury is not worth a war, so between the governed and governing every mistake in government, every encroachment on right is not worth a rebellion. It is in my opinion sufficient for the present that we hold them forth on all occasions, not giving up any of them, using at the same time every means to make them generally understood and valued by the people; cultivating a harmony among the colonies, that their union in the same sentiments may give them greater weight: remembering withal, that this protestant country, (our mother, though lately an unkind one) is worth preserving, and that her weight in the scale of Europe, and her safety in a great degree may depend on our union with her. Thus conducting, I am confident we may in a few years obtain every allowance of, and every security for, our inestimable privileges, that we can wish or desire. With great and sincere esteem, I am,' B. FRANKLIN. you SIR, TO THE HON. THOMAS CUSHING, ESQ. Printing of General Hutchinson's letters. London, July 25, 1773. I am favored with yours of June 14 and 16, containing some copies of the resolves of the committee upon the letters.' I see by your account of the transaction, that could not well prevent what was done. As to the report of other copies being come from England, I know that could not be. It was expedient to disengage the house. I hope the possession of the originals, and the proceedings upon them, will be attended with salutary effects to the province, and then I shall be well pleased. I observe that you mention that no person besides Dr. Cooper and one of the committee knew they came from me. I did not accompany them with any request of being myself concealed; for believing what I did to be in the way of my duty as agent, though I had no doubt of its giving offence, VOL. I. 1 Governor Hutchinson's. 2 A not only to the parties exposed, but to administration here, I was regardless of the consequences. However, since the letters themselves are now copied and printed, contrary to the promise I made, I am glad my name has not been heard on the occasion; and as I do not see it could be of any use to the public, I now wish it may continue unknown; though I hardly expect it. As to yours, you may rely on my never mentioning it, except that I may be obliged to show your letter in my own vindication to the person only who might otherwise think he had reason to blame me for breach of engagement. It must surely be seen here, that after such a detection of their duplicity in pretending a regard and affection to the province while they were undermining its privileges, it is impossible for the crown to make any good use of their services, and that it can never be for its interest to employ servants who are under such universal odium. The consequence one would think should be their removal. But perhaps it may be to litles, or to pensions—if your revenue can pay them. I am, with great esteem, sir, your most obedient humble servant, B. FRANKLIN. DEAR SIR, To DR. COOPER, BOSTON. Hutchinson's letters. London, July 25, 1773. I wrote to you on the 7th instant pretty fully, and am since favored with yours of June 14. I am much pleased with the proposal of the Virginia assembly and the respectful manner in which it has been received by ours. I think it likely to produce very salutary effects. I am glad to know your opinion that those letters came seasonably, and may be of public utility. I accompanied them with no restriction relating to myself; my duty to the province as their agent, I thought required the communication of them, as far as I could: I was sensible I should make enemies there, and perhaps might offend government here; but those apprehensions I disregarded. I did not expect, that my sending them could be kept a secret: but since it is such hitherto, I now wish it may continue so, because the publication of the letters contrary to my engagement, has changed the circumstances. If they serve to diminish the influence and demolish the power of the parties whose correspondence has been, and probably would have continued to be, so mischievous to the interest and rights, of the province, I shall on that account be more easy under any inconveniences I may suffer either here or there; and shall bear as well as I can the imputation of not having taken sufficient care to insure the performance of my promise. I think government can hardly expect to draw any future service from such instruments, and one would suppose they must soon be dismissed. We shall see. I hope to be favored with a continuance of your correspondence and intelligence, while I stay here, it is highly useful to me, and will be as it always has been pleasing every where. I am ever, dear sir, your obliged and most obedient humble servant, B. FRANKLIN. TO THE HON. THOMAS CUSHING, ESQ. Address of Massachusetts for the removal of their governor SIR, and lieut. governor. London, Aug. 24, 1773. I received duly your several favors of June 25, 26, and 30, with the papers enclosed. My Lord Dartmouth being at his country-seat in Staffordshire, 1 transmitted to him the address for the removal of the governor and lieutenant governor; and Mr. Bollan and I jointly transmitted the letter to his lordship from both houses. I delivered to Mr. Bollan one set of the authenticated copies of the letters, and we shall co-operate in the business we are charged with. I am told that the governor has requested leave to come home; that some great persons about the court do not think the letters, now they have seen them, a sufficient foundation for the resolves; that therefore it is not likely he will be removed, but suffered to resign, and that some provision will be made for him here. But nothing I apprehend is likely to be done soon, as most of the great officers of state who composed the privy council, are in the country, and likely to continue till the present parliament meets, and perhaps the above may be chiefly conjecture. I have informed Mr. Lee, that in case there should be an hearing, I was directed to engage him as council for the province; that though I had received no money I would advance what might be necessary; those hearings by council being expensive. I purpose writing to you again by the packet, and am with the greatest respect, sir, your most obedient humble servant, B. FRANKLIN. P.S. No determination is yet public on the case of Mr. Lewis against Governor Wentworth, which has been a very costly hearing to both sides. |