TO WILLIAM FRANKLIN.

Concludes to remain in England till he learns the Result of the first Congress.-Thinks the Bostonians ought not to pay for the Tea that was destroyed. Sir William Johnson.

DEAR SON,

London, 7 September, 1774.

I am glad you have met with my friend Barrows. I wish you to cultivate his acquaintance, and that of Mrs. Barrows, who is an amiable woman. I am much obliged to Mr. Panton for his information relating to Mr. Parker's affairs. Cousin Jonathan Williams is now with me, and engaged in posting and settling my accounts, which will be done before the next packet, when I shall send what concerns Parker's.

You mention, that my presence is wished for at the Congress; but no person besides in America has given me the least intimation of such a desire, and it is thought by the great friends of the colonies here, that I ought to stay till the result of the Congress arrives, when my presence here may be useful. All depends on the Americans themselves. If they make, and keep firmly, resolutions not to consume British manufactures till their grievances are redressed, this ministry must fall, and the laws be repealed. This is the opinion of all the wise men here.

I hear nothing of the proposal you have made for a congress of governors. I do not wonder so much as you do, that the Massachusetts have not offered payment for the tea. First, because of the uncertainty of the act, which gives them no security that the port shall be opened on their making that payment. Secondly, no precise sum is demanded. Thirdly, no one

knows what will satisfy the custom-house officers; nor who the others are, that must be satisfied; nor what will satisfy them. And fourthly, they are in the King's power, after all, as to how much of the port shall be opened. As to "doing justice before they ask it," that should have been thought of by the legislature here, before they demanded it of the Bostonians. They have extorted many thousand pounds from America unconstitutionally, under color of acts of Parliament, and with an armed force. Of this money they ought to make restitution. They might first have taken out payment for the tea, and returned the rest. But you, who are a thorough courtier, see every thing with government eyes.

I am sorry for the loss of Sir William Johnson, especially at this time of danger from an Indian war. I see by the papers that you were with him at the time. A Spanish war is now seriously apprehended; and the stocks of course are falling. The August packet is hourly expected, when I hope to hear of your safe return and health. Your affectionate father, B. FRANKLIN.

TO PETER TIMOTHY, CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

Success of the Congress will depend on the Unanimity and Firmness of its Members.

DEAR SIR,

London, 7 September, 1774

I received your favor of May 26th, and am much obliged by your kind invitation to your house, which

Sir William Johnson died at the place of his residence, near the Mohawk River, on the 11th of July, 1774.

I should certainly accept with pleasure, if I should ever go to Carolina.

You wish me to correspond with you on public affairs. Those relating to America have been, and still continue, in so disagreeable a situation, that I cannot write to you upon them with pleasure. Much depends on yourselves. If at the intended congress your deputies are nearly unanimous in declaring your rights, and in resolving firmly against all importations from hence till those rights are acknowledged here, you cannot well fail of carrying your point. This ministry must go out, and give place to men of juster and more generous principles. If you divide, you are lost.

I believe I shall stay here another winter, and shall be glad to hear of the welfare of you and yours. My love and blessing to my little namesake. If you send me any of your papers by the packet, I shall receive them free of expense; for, though I now pay for my letters, they do not charge me for newspapers. I am ever, dear Sir, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

FROM SAMUEL COOPER TO B. FRANKLIN.

Popular Excitement in Massachusetts. - Town Meetings. - General Gage. - Military Force. - · Josiah Quincy, Junior.

DEAR SIR,

Boston, 9 September, 1774.

My last was on the 15th of August, in which I gave you some account of the state of our affairs. About twenty of the Council appointed by the King took the oath; since which one half, not being able to stand the public odium, have resigned. All, who now

hold the commissions, not living in Boston, have retired here, under the protection of the army. Our superior court of justice met here, with the chief justice at their head; but the juries, to a man, refused to serve. The courts through the province are at an end. Sheriffs, justices, and clerks have either made their peace with the people, by solemnly promising not to act upon the new laws, or have fled to this poor proscribed town as an asylum. The lieutenant-governor, who was obliged to resign his commission as counsellor, at his house in Cambridge, being surrounded with four thousand people; and his neighbours, Sewall, the attorney-general, sheriff Phips, and Borland, live in Boston. Town meetings are held all over the province; even at Salem and in Danvers, while General Gage resided there with a regiment and two additional companies. He, indeed, ordered a warrant to be made out against the committee of correspondence in Salem, who called the meeting. Two gave bonds for their appearance, three refused and were let alone. The justice, I am told, who issued the warrant, has since acknowledged his error, and asked pardon of the people.

These things have been effected chiefly by county meetings, composed of delegates from the several towns. A provincial congress of delegates from all the counties is soon to be held at Concord. The people say, their all is at stake; they act only on the defensive; should they allow the new regulations to take place, property and life are at the mercy of men incensed against them, and they should soon be incapable of making any opposition, even a commercial one. The people assembled at Cambridge were landholders, led by captains of the towns, representatives, and committee-men. The selectmen and committee of cor

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respondence for this town went from hence to confer with them, and prevent things from coming to extremities; for a rumor had been propagated, that the whole country, incensed at the governor's taking the provincial powder by a party of soldiers from Charlestown, and inflamed by false reports, were coming to Boston to demand the restitution of the powder, in the face of the army. Happily this did not prove true; and, if there were any misapprehensions in the body, they were removed by the representations of the gentlemen from Boston, who observed to them, that the governor had a right to dispose of the provincial military stores, though not those that belong to the towns, which he had not as yet touched.

This movement of the governor occasioned, however, an extensive alarm. Reports flew through the country, that he was disarming the inhabitants of Boston, and seizing all the ammunition through the province; and that the fleet and army had attacked the town. These false reports being credited for a while, many thousands of people, especially in the western parts of the province, were immediately in arms, and in full march for this place, to relieve their brethren, or share their fate. Thousands were in motion from Connecticut; for the New England provinces are one in sentiment and spirit upon these matters; but, being informed of facts, they quietly returned home, sending their messengers from all quarters, signifying their determination to act unitedly upon any warrantable occasion.

I forgot to mention, that Commissioner Hallowell passed through Cambridge, while the body was there. He had gone by, some time, when it was stated by somebody, that it might be proper to have a conference with him. A number of men on horseback in