information they received from others, and, hearing the office had been given to a person of my nomination, might as naturally suppose I had solicited it, as Dr. Tucker, hearing that I had solicited it, might “ conclude it was for myself.

I desire you to believe, that I take kindly, as I ought, your freely mentioning to me “that it has long appeared to you, that I much exceeded the bounds of morality in the methods I pursued for the advancement of the supposed interests of America.” I am sensible there is a good deal of truth in the adage, that our sins and our debts are always more than we take them to be; and though I cannot al present, on examination of my conscience, charge myself with any immorality of that kind, it becomes me to suspect, that what has long appeared to you may have some foundation. You are so good as to add, that, “if it can be proved you have unjustly suspected me, you shall have a satisfaction in acknowledging the error. It is often a thing hard to prove that suspicions are unjust, even when we know what they are; and harder when we are unacquainted with them. I must presume, therefore, that in mentioning them, you had an intention of communicating the grounds of them to me if I should request it, which I now do, and I assure you, with a sincere desire and design of amending what you may show me to have been wrong in my conduct, and to thank you for the admonition. In your writings I appear a bad man; but, if I am such, and you can thus help me to become in reality a good one, I shall esteem it more than a sufficient reparation to, Reverend Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

CHAPTER IV.

Franklin's Examination before the House of Commons.

1766.

The examina- From the journal of the House of Commons, tion of Dr. Benjamin

as given by Mr. Vaughan. Franklin, in “February 31, 1766. Benjamin Franklin the British

and a number of other persons ordered to atHouse of Commons, re

tend the committee of the whole House, to lative to the whom it was referred to consider farther the repeal of the American

several papers, which were presented to the Stamp Act, in House by Mr. Secretary Conway.

“February 13th. Benjamin Franklin, hav

1766.

ing passed through his examination, was excepted from farther attendance.

“February 24th. The resolutions of the committee were reported by the chairman, Mr. Fuller; their seventh and

the change of the ministry, and a preparation for bonfires at night, and several houses threatened to be pulled down.

" Cousin Davenport came and told me that more than twenty people had told him it was his duty to be with me. I said I was pleased to receive civility from any body, so he staid with me some time; towards night I said he should fetch a gun or two, as we had none. I sent to ask my brother to come and bring his gun also, so we [turned] one room into a magazine; I ordered some sort of defence up-stairs, such as I could manage myself. I said when I was advised to remove, that I was very sure you had done nothing to hurt anybody, nor had I given any offence to any person at all, nor would I be made uneasy by anybody, nor would I stir or show the least uneasiness, but if any one came to disturb me, I should show a proper reSentment, and I should be very much affronted with anybody.

"Sally was gone with Miss Rose to see Captain Real's daughter, and heard the report there, and came home to be with me; but I had sent her word not to come. I was told there were eight hundred men ready to assist any one that should be molested.

Billy (the Governor of New Jersey) came down to ask us up to Burlington. I consented to Sally's going, but I will not stir, as I really don't think it would be right in me to stir or show the least uneasiness at all.

" It is Mr. Samuel Smith that is setting the people mad by telling them it was you that had planned the Stamp Act, and that you are endeavoring to get the Test Act brought over here."

Such was the state of affairs in America when the subject was again brought before Parliament in the beginning of '66, the Marquis of Rockingham having displaced Mr. Grenville.

The new ministers resolved to recommend a repeal of the Stamp Act. While the question was under debate in Parliament, a motion which probably originated with the ministers, who were now striving to effect a repeal of the act, was adopted, tha: Franklin be called before the House and examined respecting the state of affairs in America. This is the report of his examination.

There is nothing he ever wrote in which Franklin exhibited more of all the qualities which distinguished him among men than his replies to the questions put to him on this occasion.-- ED.

last resolution setting forth, that it was their opinion that the House be moved, that leave be given to bring in a bill to repeal the Stamp Act."

1. Q. What is your name, and place of abode? A. Franklin, of Philadelphia.

2. Q. Do the Americans pay any considerable taxes among themselves ?

A. Certainly many, and very heavy taxes.

3. Q. What are the present taxes in Pennsylvania, laid by the laws of the colony?

A. There are taxes on all estates real and personal ; a poll tax; a tax on all offices, professions, trades, and businesses, according to their profits; an excise on all wine, rum, and other spirits; and a duty of ten pounds per head on all negroes imported, with some other duties.

4. Q. For what purposes are those taxes laid ?

A. For the support of the civil and military establishments of the country, and to discharge the heavy debt contracted in the last war.

5. Q. How long are those taxes to continue?

A. Those for discharging the debt are to continue till 1772, and longer, if the debt should not be then all discharged. The others must always continue.

6. Q. Was it not expected that the debt would have been sooner discharged ?

A. It was, when the peace was made with France and Spain. But, a fresh war breaking out with the Indians, a fresh load of debt was incurred; and the taxes, of course, continued longer by a new law.

7. Q. Are not all the people very able to pay those taxes?

A. No. The frontier counties, all along the continent, having been frequently ravaged by the enemy and greatly impoverished, are able to pay very little tax. And therefore, in consideration of their distresses, our late tax laws do expressly favor those counties, excusing the sufferers; and I suppose the same is done in other governments.

8. Q. Are not you concerned in the management of the post-office in America ?

A. Yes. I am deputy - postmaster - general of North America.

9. Q. Don't you think the distribution of stamps by post to all the inhabitants very practicable, if there was no opposition ?

A. The posts only go along the seacoasts ; they do not, except in a few instances, go back into the country; and, if they did, sending for stamps by post would occasion an expense of postage amounting in many cases to much more than that of the stamps themselves.

10. Q. Are you acquainted with Newfoundland ? A. I never was there.

11. Q. Do you know whether there are any post-roads on that island ?

A. I have heard that there are no roads at all, but that the communication between one settlement and another is by sea only.

12. Q. Can you disperse the stamps by post in Canada?

A. There is only a post between Montreal and Quebec. The inhabitants live so scattered and remote from each other in that vast country, that posts cannot be supported among them, and therefore they cannot get stamps per post. The English colonies, too, along the frontiers are very thinly settled.