11From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 2 December 1772 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and incomplete copy: Public Record Office; letterbook draft: Library of Congress The interview described in the first part of this letter involved Franklin further in the developing crisis in Massachusetts, and the enclosure he described in the second part inflamed that crisis and deeply affected the remainder of his English mission. The importance of the letter is obvious, and so are the...
12From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 5 January 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS and copy: Public Record Office; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I did myself the Honour of Writing to you on the 2d of December past inclosing some news papers to 30th november last which I hope got safe to hand. I have since received your Favour of Oct. 27. which containing in a small Compass so full an Enumeration of our Grievances, the Steps necessary to a Removal of them, and the...
13From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 9 March 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I did myself the Honour of Writing to you the 2d of December, and the 5th of January past. Since which I have received your Favour of Nov 28. inclosing the Votes and Proceedings of the Town of Boston, which I have reprinted here with a Preface. Herewith I send you a few Copies. Governor Hutchinson’s Speech at the Opening of your Jany. Session, has...
14From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 3 April 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Public Record Office; letterbook draft: Library of Congress My last was of the 9th past, since which nothing material has occurr’d relating to the Colonies. The Assembly’s Answer to Gov. Hutchinson’s Speech is not yet come over; but I find that even his Friends here are apprehensive of some ill Consequences from his forcing the Assembly into that Dispute, and begin to say it was not...
15From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 6 May 1773 (Franklin Papers)
LS (duplicate): Public Record Office; letterbook draft: Library of Congress Franklin’s account in this letter of his interview with Lord Dartmouth indicates how little scope was left to either of them, two years before Lexington, to further reconciliation between Massachusetts and the mother country. Both the Englishman and the American wanted an end to the quarrel, yet neither could find a...
16From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 2 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
AL (copy ): Public Record Office; ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress 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. 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, and...
17From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 4 June 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Public Record Office; letterbook draft: Library of Congress In the paragraph of this letter that deals with the Tea Act, Franklin implies that the purpose of the statute was “to keep up the Exercise of the Right” to tax the colonies. This idea was sure to be a red rag to the Bostonian bull. All that is known about the passage of the act, however, indicates that the ministry avoided the...
18From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 7 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Public Record Office; ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I am favoured with yours of April 20, and May 6. The Letters communicated to you were not merely to “satisfy the Curiosity” of any, but it was thought there might be a Use in showing them to some Friends of the Province, and even to some of the Governor’s Party, for their more certain Information concerning his Conduct and...
19From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 25 July 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Public Record Office; letterbook draft: Library of Congress I am favour’d with yours of June 14 and 16. the latter containing some Copies of the spirited Resolves of the Committee upon the Letters. I see from your Account of the Transaction, that you could not well prevent what was done. As to the Rumour that other Copies were come from England, I know that could not be. It was an...
20From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 24 August 1773 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): Library of Congress I received duly your several Favours of June 25, 26, and 30. with the Papers enclosed. My Lord Dartmouth being at his Country Seat, in Staffordshire, I transmitted to him the Address for the Removal of the Govr. and Lieut. Govr. and Mr. Bollan and I jointly transmitted the Letter to his Lordship from both Houses. I delivered to Mr. Bollan one Set of...