interest of country gentlemen in their neighboring boroughs, is overborne by the monied interest of the new people who have got sudden fortunes in the Indies, or as contractors, &e.: 4000/. is now the market price for a borough. In short, this whole venal nation is now at market, will be sold for about two millions; and might be bought out of the hands of the present bidders (if he would offer half a million more) by the very devil himself.

I shall wait on Lord H. again next Wednesday on behalf of the sufferers by Indian and French depredations, to have an allowance of lands out of any new grant made by the Indians so long solicited (and perhaps still to be solicited) in vain: I am your affectionate father, B. FRANKLIN."

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P.S. I dined yesterday with General Monckton, Major Gates, Colonel Lee, and other officers who have served in and are friends of America. Monckton inquired kindly after your welfare.

TO THE COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE, PENN

SYLVANIA.

Affair of the boundary line with the Indians-General Gage -Governor Penn.

GENTLEMEN,

London, March 13, 1768. On receipt of your letter of January 20, Mr. Jackson and myself waited on Lord Hillsborough, the new secretary of state for American affairs, and communicated to him the contents, pressing the necessity of enforcing the orders already sent to Sir William Johnson for immediately settling the affair of the boundary line with the Indians. His Lordship was pleased to assure us, that he would cause duplicates

of the orders to be forwarded by this packet and urge the completion of them.

#n' 5 og V199 & 94

We communicated also the copy of General Gage's letter, and the messages that had passed between the governor and the house thereupon. His Lordship acquainted us that a letter from Governor Penn had been shown him by the proprietor importing that a horrid murder had lately been committed on the Indians, upon which the governor had issued a proclamation for, apprehending the murderer; and that a bill was under his and the council's consideration to prevent future settlements on Indian lands. But his lordship remarked that these messages had not been communicated to him by the proprietor.

Government here begins to grow tired of the enormous expense of Indian affairs, and of maintaining posts in the Indian country, and it is now talked of as a proper measure to abandon these posts, demolishing all but such as the colonies may think fit to keep up at their own expense; and also to return the management of their own Indian affairs into the hands of the respective provinces as formerly. What the result will be is uncertain, counsels here being so continually fluctuating. But I have urged often that after taking those affairs out of our hands, it seems highly incumbent on the ministry not to neglect them, but to see that they are well managed, and the Indians kept in peace. I think, however, that we should not too much depend on their doing this, but look to the matter a little ourselves, taking every opportunity of conciliating the affections of the Indians by seeing that they always have justice done them, and some times kindness. For I can assure you that here are not wanting people who, though not now in the ministry, no one knows how soon, they may be, and if they were ministers would take no step to prevent an Indian war in the colonies, Hier mila podaldry,

being of opinion, which they express openly, that it would be a very good thing, in the first place to chastise the colo pists for their undutifulness, and then to make them sensible of the necessity of protection by the troops of this country bus

Mr. Jackson being now taken up with his election busi ness, will hardly have time to write by this opportunity. But he joins with me in respects to you and the assembly, and assurances of our most faithful services. I am, gentlemen, your most obedient, and most humble servant,"

D3

Lord Hillsborough The old parliament gone-First ing stance of bribery in Queen Elizabeth's time-Monstrously

risen since.

London, March 13, 1763. Į

DEAR SIR, -wrote to you very fully per Falconer on February 17, and have since received yours of January 21, together with one from the committee, and the messages, which as you will see by my answer to the committee I communicated to Lord Hillsborough. His lordship read them deliberately, and took notice that the message of the assembly seemed to insinuate that the governor had been tardy in bringing the former murderers to justice, which gave me an opportunity of ex plaining that matter to him; whereby he might also understand why the proprietor had not shown him the messages when he communicated the governor's letter concerning the Indian uneasinesses, the law under his consideration for removing them, the late murder, and his proclamation. I shall wait on his lordship again next Wednesday on our affairs, and show him moreover your letter with some other papers,

The old parliament is gone, and its enemies now find themselves at liberty to abuse it, I enclose you a pamphlet published the very hour of its prorogation. All the mem

bers are now in their counties and boroughs among their drunken electors; much confusion and disorder in many places, and such profusion of money as never was known before on any similar occasion. The first instance of bribery to be chosen a member, taken notice of on the journals, is no longer ago than Queen Elizabeth's time, when the being sent to parliament was looked upon as a troublesome service, and therefore not sought after it is said that such a one, "being a simple man, and conceiving it might be of some advantage to him, had given four pounds to the mayor and corporation that they might choose him to serve them in parliament." The price is monstrously risen since that time, for it is now no less than 4000/.! It is thought that near two millions will be spent this election; but those who understand figures and act by computation, say, the crown has two millions a year in places and pensions to dispose of, and it is well worth while to engage in such a seven years' lot→ tery, though all that have tickets should not get prizes. I am, my dear friend, yours affectionately, B. FRANKLIN,

TO THE COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE,

PENNSYLVANIA.

Repeal of the duty act-Change of government-Legal tender of paper money.

GENTLEMEN,

London, Saturday, April, 16, 1768. I have just received your favor of February 20, directed to Mr. Jackson and myself, containing instructions for our conduct relating to the application for a repeal of the duty act, to the change of government, and to the legal tender of paper money; which instructions we shall observe to the best of our abilities. Mr. Jackson has read your letter, and is now reading the messages and other papers transmitted

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to us, which we shall lay before the secretaries of state on Monday, and thereupon press the necessity of a change in the administration of our province. The parliament will have a short session, it is said, in May, when if any application is made for the repeal of that act by the agents of the other colonies we shall join them heartily, and do what we can likewise in the affair of paper money. In the mean time should an Indian war make it necessary to emit paper mo ney with a legal tender, it may be considered how far the fourth clause in the act of the 24 Geo. II. might give coun tenance to your providing in that way for the emergency; that act not being altered or repealed by any later, it seems as if the parliament thought that clause not improper, though they have not expressly made the same provision for the other colonies. The mail being to go this evening, I can only add, that I am with the utmost respect for you and the assembly, gentlemen, your most obedient and most humble B. FRANKLIN,

servant,

TO GOVERNOR FRANKLIN.

Now parliamentary elections—Wilkes's election for Middlesex-Illuminations on that occasion.

DEAR SON,

London, April 16, 1768. Since my last, a long one of March 13, nothing has been talked or thought of here, but elections. There have been amazing contests all over the kingdom, 20 or 30,000l. of a side spent in several places, and inconceivable mischief done by debauching the people and making them idle, besides the immediate actual mischief done by drunken mad mobs to houses, windows, &c. The scenes have been horrible. London was illuminated two nights running at the command of the mob for the success of Wilkes in the Mid