Benjamin Franklin Papers

From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 28 April 1774

To Thomas Cushing

ALS: Public Record Office

London, April 28. 1774

Sir,

I have written several Letters to you lately by different Conveyances, and sent you the Bills pass’d and about to be pass’d relating to our Province.4 I now send the Report of the Committee of the Lords, which seems hard upon us, as every thing written by any Officer of Government is taken for undoubted Truth.5 I can now only add, that I am, as ever, with great Respect, to the House and yourself, Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant

B Franklin

Honble Thos Cushing Esqr Speaker

Addressed: To / The honble Thomas Cushing Esqr / Boston

Endorsed: Dr Franklin  April 28. 1774

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

4Above, March 22, April 2, April 16.

5For the genesis of the report see the final note on BF’s letter to Cushing of April 2. The report itself, presented by Buckinghamshire, detailed past legislation relating to Massachusetts and the resistance to it, and drew heavily on letters from Bernard and Hutchinson. It was submitted and ordered published on April 20, and appeared as The Report of the Lords Committees, Appointed by the House of Lords to Enquire into the Several Proceedings in the Colony of Massachuset’s Bay, in Opposition to the Sovereignty of His Majesty, in His Parliament of Great Britain, over That Province … (London, 1774). This was the official folio edition printed by Strahan, and must have been what BF enclosed. A highly unofficial 8vo edition with the same title appeared later; a short introduction attempted feebly to refute the charge that the colonies denied the supremacy of Parliament. The earliest mention we have found of what seems to be this 8vo edition was in the London Chron., May 24–26.

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