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To GOVERNOR FRANKLIN.

Affair of St. Vincent's.-Affairs of the India Company owing to the Refusal of North America to take Tea from England.-Distress among the Manufacturers.

DEAR SON,

London, Feb. 14, 1773.

The opposition are now attacking the ministry on the St. Vincent's affair, which is generally condemned here, and some think Lord Hillsborough will be given up as the adviser of that expedition. But if it succeeds, perhaps all will blow over. The ministry are more embarrassed with the India affairs; the continued refusal of North America to take tea from this country has brought infinite distress on the company: they imported great quantities in faith that that agreement could not hold; and now they can neither pay their debts nor dividends, their stock has sunk to the annihilating near three millions of their property, and government will lose its 400,000l. a year; while their teas lie on hand: the bankruptcies brought on partly by this means have given such a shock to credit as has not been experienced here, since the South Sea year. And this has affected the great manufacturers so much, as to oblige them to discharge their hands, and thousands of Spitalfields and Manchester weavers are now starving, or subsisting on charity. Blessed effects of pride, pique, and passion in government, which should have no passions. Yours, B. FRANKLIN.

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TO THE HON. THOMAS CUSHING, ESQ. BOSTON. Proceeding of the Town of Boston.-Governor Hutchin

SIR,

son's Speech.

London, March 9, 1773.

I did myself the honor of writing to you the 2d of Dec. and the 5th January past. Since which I have received your favor of November 28, inclosing the votes and proceedings of the town of Boston, which I have reprinted here with a preface. Herewith I send you a few copies.

Governor Hutchinson's speech, at the opening of your January session, has been printed and industriously circulated here by (as I think) the ministerial people, which I take to be no good sign. The assembly's answer to it is not yet arrived, and in the meanwhile it seems to make impression on the minds of many not well acquainted with the dispute. The tea duty however is under the consideration of Parliament, for a repeal on a petition from the East India Company, and no new measures have been talked of against America, as likely to be taken during the present session; I was therefore preparing to return home by the spring ships: but have been advised by our friends to stay till the session is over; as the commission sent to Rhode Island and discontents in your province, with the correspondence of the towns may possibly give rise to something here, when my being on the spot may be of use to our country. I conclude to stay a little longer. In the mean-time I must hope that great care will be taken to keep our people quiet, since nothing is more wished for by our enemies, than that by insurrections we should give a good pretence for increasing the military VOL. 1.

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among us, and putting us under more severe restraints. And it must be evident to all that by our rapidly increasing strength we shall soon become of so much importance that none of our just claims of privilege will be as heretofore unattended to, nor any security we can wish for our rights be denied us.

With great respect I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, B. FRANKLIN.

TO THE HON. THOMAS CUSHING, ESQ.

Lord Dartmouth's wish to heal the Breach between Great Britain and America.

SIR,

(Private) London, April 3, 1773.

My last was of the 9th past, since which nothing material has occurred relating to the colonies. The Assembly's answer to Governor Hutchinson's speech is not yet come over, but I find that even his friends here are apprehensive of some ill consequences from his forcing the Assembly into that dispute, and begin to say it was not prudently done, though they believe it meant well. 1 inclose you two newspapers in which it is mentioned. Lord Dartmouth the other day expressed his wish to me, that some means could be fallen upon to heal the breach. I took the freedom to tell him, that he could do much in it if he would exert himself; I think I see signs of relenting in some others. The Bishop of St. Asaph's sermon before the Society for propagating the Gospel is much talked of for its Catholic spirit and favourable sentiments relating to the colonies. I will endeavour to get a copy to send you. With great esteem and respect, I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant, B. FRANKLIN.

To GOVERNOR FRANKLIN.

The Bishop of St. Asaph's Sermon before the Society for propagating the Gospel favourable to America.

DEAR SON,

London, April 6, 1773.

I received yours of February 2, with the papers

of information that accompany it.

I have sent to Mr. Galloway one of the Bishop of St. Asaph's sermons for your Society for propagating the Gospel. I would have sent you one, but you will receive it of course as a member. It contains such liberal and generous sentiments relating to the conduct of government here towards America, that Sir J. Pringle says it was written in compliment to me. But from the intimacy of friendship in which I live with the author, I know he has expressed nothing but what he thinks and feels; and I honour him the more, that through the mere hope of doing good, he has hazarded the displeasure of the Court, and of course the prospect of further preferment. Possibly indeed the ideas of the Court may change; for I think I see some alarm at the discontents in New England, and some appearance of softening in the disposition of government, on the idea that matters have been carried too far there. But all depends upon circumstances and events. We govern from hand to mouth. There seems to be no wise regular plan.

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I saw Lord Dartmouth about two weeks since. He mentioned nothing to me of your application for additional salary, nor did I to him, for I do not like it. I fear it will embroil you with your people.

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While I am writing comes to hand yours of March 2. My letter by the October packet must have sent as usual to the office by the bell-man. That being, as you inform me, rubbed open as some of yours to me have been, gives an additional circumstance of probability to the conjecture made in mine of December 2. For the future I shall send letters of consequence to the office (when I use the packet conveyance) by my clerk.

Your accounts of the numbers of people, births, burials, &c. in your province, will be very agreeable to me, and particularly so to Dr. Price. Compared with former accounts, they will show the increase of your people, but not perfectly, as I think a great many have gone from New Jersey to the more Southern Colonies.

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The parliament is like to sit till the end of June, as Mr. Cooper tells me. I had thoughts of returning home about that time. The Boston Assembly's answer to the Governor's speech, which I have just received, may possibly produce something here to occasion my longer stay. I am, your affectionate father, B. FRANKLIN.

TO THE HON. THOMAS CUSHING, ESQ.

Governor Hutchinson's Speech.-Conversation with Lord Dartmouth respecting the same.

SIR,

(Private) London, May 6, 1773.

I have received none of your favours since that of November 28. I have since written to you of the following dates, December 2, January 5, March 9, and April 3, which I hope got safe to hand.

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