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How Ben Franklin Viewed the Action of the Protractive Patriots. Franklin's moderation in the early years of the conflict of this country with England is well known. He with many other strong and patri otic minds hoped that the colonies might secure redress without a re sort to arms. How he viewed the Boston tea party is perhaps not so well known. He was in London at the time, and the following is a let ter that he wrote to several men in Boston, ardent patriots, among them Samuel Adams and John Han cock. The original of the letter is in the New York Public library among the Adams papers: Lostom, Pub. 2, 177k OCestrewes—! received the Honour of your Letter dated Deer. 01, containing a distiyct Account of the Proceedings at Boston relativ, to the Tea imported there, and of the Ctroan stances that occasioned ite Destruction, 1 com municsted the same to Lord Dartmouth, with some other Advices of the same import. Its yet unknown what Measures will be taken here on the Occasion, but the Clamour against the Proceeding is high and general. I am truly concern'd, as I believe all considerate Men are with you, that there should seem to any n Ne cessity for carrying Matters to such Extremity, or, in a Dispute about Publick Rights, to de stroy private Property . This (notwithstanding the Blame justly due to those who obstructed the Return of the Tea) it is impossible to litera ty with People so prejudiced in favour of the Power of Parliament to tax Americs, as most are in this Country.——As the India Company however are not our Adversaries, and the of fensive Measure of sending their Teas did not take its Rise with them, but was an Expedient of the Ministry to serve them and yet avoid a Repeal of the Old Act, I cannot but wish hope that before any compulsive Measures are thought of here, our General Court will have shown a Disposition to repair the Damage and make Compensation to the Company This all our Friends here wish with me, and that if War is finally to be made upon us, which some threaten, an Act of violent Injustice on our part, unrectified, may not give a colourable Pretence for it. A speedy Reparation will im mediately set us right in the Opin’ 9 of all Europe. And tha’ the Mischief was the Act of Persons unknown, yet as probably they cannot be found or brought to answer for it, there seems to be mome reasonable Claims on the so ciety at large in which it happened. Making voluntarily such Reparation can be no dis honour to us or Prejudice to our Claim of Hights, since Parliament here has frequently considered in the same Light shratar Cases, and only a few Years since, when a valuable Saw-mill, which had been erected at a great Expense was violently destroyed by a Number of Persons supposed to be Sawyers, but un known, 4 Grant was made out of the Publick Treasury of Two Thousand Pounds to the Owner as a Compensation.——I hope in that freely (and perhaps too forwardly) expressing my Sentiments Wishes, I shall not give Offence to any. I am sure I mean well, being ever with sincere Affection to my native Coun try, and great Respect to the Assembly and yourselves, Gentlemen, Your most obedient and most humble Serv ant B FRANKLIN Honble Thomas Cushing, Sam'l Adams, John Hancock, William Phillips, Esquires.
Newspaper Details
The Williamson County Sun
Georgetown, Texas, US
Thu, Nov 04, 1897
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Kelley L.
USA 15 Jul 2026
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