1From Benjamin Franklin to William Shirley, [3 December 1754] (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from The London Chronicle , February 8, 1766. This letter and those to Shirley of December 4 and 22, printed below, were published in William Strahan’s London Chronicle , Feb. 8, 1766, while the repeal of the Stamp Act was under debate in the House of Commons. They were prefaced by a letter to the printer from “A Lover of Britain,” whom Verner W. Crane has identified as...
2From Benjamin Franklin to William Shirley, [4 December 1754] (Franklin Papers)
Copy: British Museum I mention’d it Yesterday to your Excellency as my Opinion, that Excluding the People of the Colonies from all Share in the Choice of the Grand Council would probably give extreme Dissatisfaction, as well as the Taxing them by Act of Parliament where they have no Representative. In Matters of General Concern to the People, and especially where Burthens are to be laid upon...
3From Benjamin Franklin to William Shirley, 22 December 1754 (Franklin Papers)
MS not found; reprinted from The London Chronicle , February 8, 1766. Since the conversation your Excellency was pleased to honour me with, on the subject of uniting the Colonies more intimately with Great Britain, by allowing them Representatives in Parliament, I have something further considered that matter, and am of opinion, that such an Union would be very acceptable to the Colonies,...
4From Benjamin Franklin to William Shirley, [30 December 1754?] (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Massachusetts Historical Society I return your Excellency the Papers you have been pleas’d to favour me with the Perusal of. I really can think of nothing to add on the Topics you mention’d to me; but am of Opinion that the Force and Impression of the Matters contain’d in the 5 first and 3 last Pages, would be greater, if they might be read together, and were not disjoin’d by the...