Benjamin Franklin Papers

From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 26 July 1765

To William Franklin

Extract: reprinted from Collections of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1 (1853), 126.

Franklin’s letter is known only by this extract quoted in a letter from William Franklin to Charles Thomson, October 3, 1765. The New Jersey governor introduced the passage in these words: “As a farther proof that my father had no hand in the Stamp Act,3 I will give you an extract of a letter I received from him this morning, dated July 26th, viz:”

[July 26, 1765]

No public business can go on till the ministry is established;4 we have, however, so many friends among the ins, that we think of endeavoring, if they continue, to get a repeal of the Stamp Act. No endeavor of mine shall be wanting, but I have not much hopes, such things once done are seldom given up.

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

3During the Pa. election campaign of 1765 it was charged that BF had been an advocate of the passage of the Stamp Act.

4The new Rockingham ministry had been in office only about two weeks when BF wrote.

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