From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 2 June 1773
To Thomas Cushing
AL (copy2): Public Record Office; ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress
London, June 2. 1773.
Sir,
Since my last, which was of the 6th past, I have been honour’d with yours of March 6. and 24. inclosing a Petition to the King, and a Letter to Lord Dartmouth.3 On considering the whole, I concluded that a longer Delay of presenting the first Petition and Remonstrance was not likely to answer any good Purpose,4 and therefore immediately waited on Lord Dartmouth, and deliver’d to him the Letter, and the second Petition, at the same time redelivering the first, and press’d his Lordship to present them to his Majesty, which he promised to do. Enclos’d I send you the Answer I have just received from him,5 this Day’s Pacquet, (the Mail for which is to be made up and dispatch’d in a few Hours) being the earliest Opportunity, as the Ships for Boston do not sail till the Beginning of next Week. By one of them I shall send a Copy with what Observations occur to me on the Occasion, which the Time will not now permit me to write.6 In the mean while I would just beg leave to say, that I hope the House will come to no hasty Resolves upon it. The longer they deliberate, the more maturely they consider, the greater Weight will attend their Resolutions. With great Respect, I am, &c.
2. At the head of BF’s letter below, June 4; the original has been lost. Cushing’s answer to both letters is below, Aug. 26, and Thomas Moffatt’s comment on both is appended to that of June 4.
3. Cushing’s letter of March 6 is missing; see that of March 24 for the second petition and the letter to Dartmouth.
4. In his draft BF added here, and then struck out, “since the new one would probably be full as disagreeable.”
5. See the following document.
6. When he sent the copy with his letter of June 4, he was again too hurried to make any observations.