Rules for reducing a Great Empire to a Small One Petition of the Massachusetts Assembly for Hutchinson's Recall- Hearing in the Cockpit-Wedderburn's Insolence-The Petition rejected-Franklin dismissed from the Postoffice-Death of Mrs. Franklin-Relations of Franklin with Earl Chatham and Lord Ministerial Hostility to Franklin-Alarm of the Manufacturers-Death of Mr. Stevenson-Lord Chatham-The Proper Uses of Eloquence -Thomas Paine-Corruption in England-Proposals of Lord North -Writes an Account of his Negotiations with Lord Howe-Jeffer- son's Suspicions that Wm. Temple Franklin had tampered with it— Franklin chosen Delegate to the Second Continental Congress-His Expedition to Canada-Discouragements and Return-Declaration of Independence-Chosen President of the Pennsylvania Consti- Franklin's Mission to France-Complaints of Lord Stormont-Arrival in Passy-M. de Chaumont-Reception in Paris-Count de Ver- Recall of Silas Deane-France prepares for War-Advances made to Franklin by the English Government-His Difficulties with Mr. Lee New Attempts to corrupt the Commissioners-Pickpocket Commerce -Too many Cooks-Indiscretion of British Commissioners-The Wreckers-Cruelty to American Prisoners-American Extravagance Inception of Irish Emigration to America-Intrigues of Personal Enemies-The First Clay Medallion in France-Rules for judging Englishmen-Sword to Lafayette-Beaumarchais' Accounts-Paying too much for the Whistle-Complaint of the Left Hand (1779- 1780) Never a Good War or a Bad Peace-British Devilism-Prospects of Science--Invites Washington to visit Europe-Free Ships make Free Goods-Madame Brillon-The Ephemera-Dialogue between Franklin and the Gout-His Eurydice and Madame Helvetius-An Economical Project for diminishing the Cost of Light-Indiscretion of John Adams-Count de Vergennes declines answering his Letters -Desperate Situation of the American Republic-New Appeal for THE LIFE OF FRANKLIN. CHAPTER I. The Election to the New Parliament-The Wilkes Riots-Franklin's Temptations-Named President of the American Philosophical Society-Early Marriages-Sensitiveness of Old Age-The Culture of Political SciencePeter Collinson-Paper Money-Smoky Chimneys-Food a Measure of Value-Advice to the Colonists-The Shop-Keeping State-Non-Importation Pledge-The Craven Street Gazette. Το Joseph Galloway, dated London, 13 1768. 1768-1770. THE old Parliament is gone, and its enemies now find themselves at liberty to abuse it. I March, enclose you a pamphlet, published the very hour of its prorogation. All the members 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, 8 PARLIAMENTARY CORRUPTION. [ÆT. 62. 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 four thousand pounds! 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' lottery, though all that have tickets should not get prizes. William To Since my last, a long one, of March 13th, Franklin, dated London, nothing has been talked or thought of here , 16 April, 1968. but elections. There have been amazing contests all over the kingdom, twenty or thirty thousand pounds 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 Middlesex election. The second night exceeded any thing of the kind ever seen here on the greatest occasions of rejoicing, as even the small cross-streets, lanes, courts, and other out-of-the-way places were all in a blaze with lights, and the principal streets all night long, as the mobs went round again after two o'clock, and obliged people who had extinguished their candles to light them again. Those who refused had all their windows destroyed. The damage done, and expense of candles, have been computed at fifty thousand pounds. It must have been great, though probably not so much. The ferment is not yet over, for he has promised to sur. |