fectionately to your good dame and children, and accept my thanks for your kind visits to my little family in my absence. I wish you would continue to meet the Junto, notwithstanding that some effects of our public political misunderstandings may sometimes appear there. It is now perhaps one of the oldest clubs, as I think it was formerly one of the best, in the King's dominions. It wants but about two years of forty since it was established. We loved and still love one another; we are grown gray together, and yet it is too early to part. Let us sit till the evening of life is spent. The last hours are always the most joyous. When we can stay no longer, it is time enough then to bid each other good night, separate, and go quietly to bed. Adieu, my dear friend, yours affectionately, B. FRANKLIN. TO MRS. DEBORAH FRANKLIN. London, 13 July, 1765. MY DEAR CHILD, I had the great pleasure of hearing from you and Sally last night by the packet. I cannot now answer every particular of your letters, having many to write that are to go by this day's mail, but will by the next opportunity. Mrs. Stevenson bids me tell Sally, that the striped gown I have sent her will wash, but it must be with a light hand. I am glad to hear of Captain Robinson's arrival, and it gives me pleasure, that so many of my friends honored our new diningroom with their company. You tell me of a fault they found with the house, that it was too little, and not a word of any thing they liked in it, nor how the kitchen chimneys perform; so I suppose you VOL. VII. Ꮓ spare me some mortification, which is kind. I wonder you put up the oven without Mr. Roberts's advice, as I think you told me he had my old letter of directions; but I can add no more, only that I am very well and in good spirits. I wrote you largely by Captain Friend, and sent a case with a number of particulars. My love to all. Your affectionate husband, B. FRANKLIN. FROM JOSEPH GALLOWAY TO B. FRANKLIN. Transmitting a Memorial from the Merchants of Philadelphia to the Merchants and Manufacturers in Great Britain. DEAR SIR, Philadelphia, 29 November, 1765. The merchants of this city, greatly distressed with the present circumstances of their commerce, have transmitted to the merchants and manufacturers of Great Britain a memorial, pointing out their difficulties and hinting at the remedies which they conceive will afford them the desired relief. They have been induced to take this step, from an expectation, that the British merchants and manufacturers, who are deeply interested in our trade, and of course in the success of this memorial, will exert their influence with the Parliament to remove the cause of the present languishing state of American commerce, so very detrimental to the interest of Britain and her colonies. This memorial is attended with a letter, referring the merchants in England to you for such information as they may stand in need of, and desiring that they will advise with you on this important occasion. A committee of the merchants here has furnished the committee of correspondence with a copy of their memorial, and requested they would transmit it to you, which they had agreed to do; but, as the Speaker and the rest of the committee are now out of town, I take that task on myself, and send it herewith. Your well known attachment to the interest and welfare of America leaves our merchants no room to doubt, but that you will afford their friends in England all the advice and assistance in your power, and fully coöperate with them in the measures most proper to be pursued for restoring our commerce to its former flourishing and beneficial state. I am, &c. JOSEPH GALLOWAY. FROM JOSEPH GALLOWAY TO B. FRANKLIN. Political Pamphlets.· - Popular Excitement produced by the Stamp Act. - Petition to Parliament. DEAR SIR, Philadelphia, 13 January, 1766. I received your favors of September 26th and November 9th. We are sensible of the many obstructions and unavoidable difficulties, which you have met with, in proceeding on our petitions; and, from the perfect confidence we repose in you, we have not the least doubt but that every thing has been done for the obtaining the desirable object, a royal government, should it be obtained or not. The presentation of the petitions gives us great pleasure, and we hope the full orders of the present Assembly, to prosecute them to effect forthwith, will facilitate an * This letter was likewise addressed to Richard Jackson, the joint agent for Pennsylvania. issue upon them, and remove any difficulty that may remain with your worthy colleague; though, by his letters to the committee of correspondence, as well as to myself, he seems firmly resolved to unite with you in bringing this affair to a speedy conclusion. I thank you sincerely for the notice you took of the piece signed "Americanus." Be assured I shall ever esteem your approbation of my conduct among the highest rewards. I have nearly finished a pamphlet on the same subject, entitled "Political Reflections on the Dispute between Great Britain and her Colonies respecting her Right of imposing Taxes on them without their Assent." I shall show it, when done, to my good friend your son, and not publish it without his approbation. Something of this kind seems absolutely necessary to allay the violent temper of the Americans, which has been so worked up as to be ready even for rebellion itself. But the difficulty will be in getting it published, the printers on the continent having combined together to print every thing inflammatory, and nothing that is rational and cool, by which means every thing that is published is ex parte. The people are taught to believe the greatest absurdities, and their passions are excited to a degree of resentment against the mother country, beyond all description. Our Assembly is now sitting, and yesterday ordered to be transcribed a petition to the Commons for the repeal of the law prohibiting paper money from being lawful tender in the colonies. I hope the decency of it will recommend it to the attention of that House in these violent times, as well as its merits. And I think, if the Parliament duly weighs the effects of granting us the liberty prayed for, they will not refuse it. Without money, labor will be low; and man ufactures may and must from necessity be carried on in America, which must diminish our British importations. Let us have money, and we shall never think of manufacturing, or, if we do, we shall never be able to perfect it to any degree. I hope the petition will be ready to come by this conveyance. We impatiently wait for the resolutions of the British Parliament, respecting the Stamp Act. For, while on one part, the law is prevented from being executed by the mobs in the principal colonies of America, on the other, no business is transacted in any of the courts of justice, which is attended with inexpressible mischief. A certain sect of people, if I may judge from all their late conduct, seem to look on this as a favorable opportunity of establishing their republican principles, and of throwing off all connexion with their mother country. Many of their publications justify the thought. Besides, I have other reasons to think, that they are not only forming a private union among themselves, from one end of the continent to the other, but endeavouring also to bring into their union the Quakers, and all other Dissenters, if possible. But I hope this will be impossible. In Pennsylvania I am confident it will. I am, my dear friend, with the sincerest wishes for your happiness, Your truly affectionate humble servant, JOSEPH GALLOWAY. VOL. VII. 39 * N |