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The Council and Assembly's answer to Governor Hutchinson's speech I caused to be printed here as soon as I received them. His reply I see since printed also, but their rejoinder is not yet come. If he intended by reviving that dispute to recommend himself he has greatly missed his aim; for the Administration are chagrined with his officiousness, their intention having been to let all contention subside, and by degrees suffer matters to return to the old channel. They are now embarrassed by his proceedings; for if they lay the Governor's dispatches containing the declaration of the general court before parliament, they apprehend measures may be taken that will widen the breach; which would be more particularly inconvenient at this time, when the disturbed state of Europe gives some apprehensions of a general war; on the other hand, if they do not lay them before parliament they give advantage to opposition against themselves on some future occasion, in a charge of criminal neglect. Some say he must be a fool, others that through some misinformation he really supposed Lord Hillsborough to be again in office.

Yesterday I had a conversation with Lord D. of which I think it right to give you some account. On my saying that I had no late advices from Boston, and asking if his Lordship had any, he said, none since the Governor's second speech; but what difficulties that gentleman has brought us all into by his imprudence! though I suppose he meant well:-yet what can now be done? It is impossible that parliament can suffer such a declaration of the General Assembly, asserting its independency, to pass unnoticed. In my opinion, said I, it would be better and more prudent to take no notice of it. It is words only.

Acts of parliament are still submitted to there. No force is used to obstruct their execution. And while that is the case, parliament would do well to turn a deaf ear, and seem not to know that such declarations had ever been made. Violent measures against the province will not change the opinion of the people. Force could do no good. I do not know, said he, that force would be thought of; but perhaps an act may pass to lay them under some inconveniencies till they rescind that declaration.Can they not withdraw it? 1 wish they could be persuaded to reconsider the matter, and do it of themselves voluntarily, and thus leave things between us on the old footing, the points undiscussed. Don't you think (continued his Lordship) such a thing possible? No, my Lord, said I, I think it is impossible. If they were even to wish matters back in the situation before the Governor's speech, and the dispute obliterated, they cannot withdraw their answers till he first withdraws his speech, which methinks would be an awkward operation that perhaps he will hardly be directed to perform, As to an act of parlia ment laying that country under inconveniencies, it is likely that will only put them as heretofore on some method of incommoding this country till the act is repealed; and so we shall go on injuring and provoking each other, instead of cultivating that good will and harmony so necessary to the general welfare. He said, that might be, and he was sensible our divisions must weaken the whole; for we are yet one empire, said he, whatever may be the sentiments of the Massachusetts Assembly, but he did not see how that could be avoided. He wondered, as the dispute was now of public notoriety, parliament had not already called for the dispatches; and he thought he could not omit

much longer the communicating them, however unwilling he was to do it from his apprehension of the consequences. But what (his Lordship was pleased to say) if you were in my place, would or could you do? Would you hazard the being called to account in some future session sof parliament, for keeping back the communication of dispatches of such importance? I said his Lordship could best judge, what in his situation was fittest for him to dó. I could only give my poor opinion with regard to parlia ment, that supposing the dispatches laid before them, they would act most prudently in ordering them to lie on the table, and take no farther notice of them. For were loas much an Englishman as I am an American, and ever so desirous of establishing the authority of parliament, E protest to your Lordship I cannot conceive of a single step the parliament can take to increase it, that will not tend to diminish it; and after abundance of mischief they must finally lose it. The loss in itself perhaps would not be of much consequence, because it is an authority they can never well exercise for want of due information and knowledge, and therefore it is not worth hazarding the mischief to preserve it. Then adding my wishes that I could be of any service in healing our differences, his Lordship said, I do not see any thing of more service than prevailing the General Assembly, if you can do it, to withdraw their answers to the Governor's speech. There is not, said I, the least probability they will ever do that; for the country is all of one mind upon the subject. Perhaps the Governor may have represented to your Lordship, that these are the opinions of a party only, and that great numbers are of different sentiments which may in time prevail. But if he does not deceive himself he deceives

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your Lordship for in both houses, notwithstanding the influence appertaining to his office, there was not, in sending up those answers, a single dissenting voice. I do not recollect, said his Lordship, that the Governor has written any thing of that kind. I am told, however, by gentlemen from that country who pretend to know it, that there are many of the Governor's opinion, but they dare not show their sentiments. I never heard, said I, that any one has suffered violence for siding with the Governor. Not violence perhaps, said his Lordship, but they are reviled and held in contempt, and people do not care to incur the disesteem and displeasure of their neighbours. As I knew Governor Bernard had been in with his Lordship just before me, I thought he was probably one of these gentlenien informants, and therefore said, people who are engaged in any party or have advised any measures are apt to magnify the numbers of those they would have understood as approving their measures. His Lordship said, that was natural to suppose might be the present case; for whoever observed the conduct of parties here, must have seen it a constant practice; and he agreed with me, that though a nemine contradicente did not prove the absolute agreement of every man in the opinion voted, it at least demonstrated the great prevalence of that opinion.

Thus ended our conference. I shall watch this business till the parliament rises, and endeavour to make people in general as sensible of the inconveniences to this country that may attend a continuance of the contest, as the Spital-fields weavers seem already to be in their petition to the King, which I herewith send you. I have already the pleasure to find that my friend, the Bishop of

St. Asaph's sermon, is universally approved and applauded, which I take to be no bad symptom. With sincere esteem and respect, I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, B. FRANKLIN.

Petition to the King, and his Answer.mas $18.

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Since my last of the 6th past I have been honoured 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 an presenting the first petition and remonstrance was not likely to answer any good purpose, and therefore immediately waited on Lord Dartmouth, and delivered to him the letter, and the second petition, at the same time redelivering the first, and pressed his Lordship to present them to his Majesty, which he promised to do. Enclosed I send you the answer I have just received from him, as this day's packet (the mail for which is to be made up and dispatched in a few hours) is the earliest opportunity, the ships for Boston not being to sail till the beginning of next week. By one of them I shall send a copy, with what observations occur to me on the occasion, which the time will not now permit me to write. In the mean while I would just beg leave to say that I hope the house will come to no hasty resolves upon it. The longer they deliberate, the more maturely they consider, the greater weight will attend their resolutions. With sincere respect, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, B. FRANKLIN.

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