sure to abandon these posts, demolishing all but such as the colonies may think fit to keep up at their own expence; 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 sometimes 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, being of opinion, which they express openly, that it would be a very good thing, in the first place to chastise the colonists for their undutifulness, and then to make them sensible of the necessity of protection by the troops of this country.

Mr. Jackson being now taken up with his election business, 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, B. FRANKLIN.

To JOSEPH GALLOWAY, Esq.

Lord Hillsborough.-The old Parliament gone.-First Instance of Bribery in Queen Elizabeth's Time.— Monstrously risen since.

DEAR SIR,

London, March 13, 1768.

I 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 explaining 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 inclose 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, had given four pounds to the Mayor and Corporation that they might chuse him to serve them in parliament." The price is monstrously risen since that time, for it is now no less than 40007.! 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. I am, my dear friend, yours affectionately, B. FRANKLIN.

TO THE COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE,

Το

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 favour 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 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 VOL. I.

X

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 money with a legal tender, it may be considered how far the fourth clause in the act of the 24 Geo. II. might give countenance 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 servant, B. FRANKLIN.

To GOVERNOR FRANKLIN.

New 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 15, 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 inconceiv able 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

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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 has been computed at 50,000l. it must have been great, though probably not so much. The ferment is not yet over, for he has promised to surrender himself to the Court next Wednesday, and another tumult is then expected; and what the upshot will be no one can yet foresee. "Tis really an extraordinary event, to see an outlaw and exile, of bad personal character, not worth a farthing, come over from France, set himself up as candidate for the capital of the kingdom, miss his election only by being too late in his application, and immediately carrying it for the principal county. The mob, (spirited up by numbers of different ballads sung or roared in every street) requiring gentlemen and ladies of all ranks as they passed in their carriages to shout for Wilkes and liberty, marking the same words on all their coaches with chalk, and No. 45 on every door; which extends a vast way along the roads into the country. I went last week to Winchester, and observed that for fifteen miles out of town, there was scarce a door or window shutter next the road unmarked; and this continued here and there quite to Winchester, which is 64 miles.