The young man who is the subject of this letter had arrived in London the previous November.4 On December 6, the day when Franklin was discussing his “Hints” with Barclay and Fothergill, young Quincy was visited by Corbyn Morris, whom he described as “a choice friend of the ministry” and who urged upon him “the propriety of my laying down some line of conduct to which the colonies would accede, and by which the present controversy might be amicably adjusted.”5 If this was an overture for negotiations parallel with Franklin’s, nothing seems to have come of it. But the young American was most cordially received and, despite moments when his tuberculosis laid him low, had a vigorous social life. He talked with North and Dartmouth, Lord Shelburne went out of his way to cultivate him, he visited the Royal Society and dined with the Club of Honest Whigs, breakfasted with Sir George Savile and David Hartley, and was attended on his sickbed by Dr. Fothergill; he moved, in short, among the political and intellectual notables of London. His constant companion, and the one whom he clearly revered the most, was Franklin.6 “Dr. Quinancy” had come to England to help “the Electrical Doctor” stir up sedition throughout the country, a correspondent proclaimed in the Public Advertiser of February 28; impossible, another replied on March 6, because Franklin had not been out of town all winter and “Joseph” Quincy had been ill for six weeks. But illness did not prevent his gathering information of such value, as Franklin implies in his postscript, that returning home with it at once would be “of singular service.” Quincy cut short his stay and embarked on March 16. Whatever news he carried was in his head, and will never be known; for he died a few hours before his ship entered Gloucester harbor.7