Digital Paxton: Digital Collection, Critical Edition, and Teaching Platform Main Menu Introduction Will Fenton Using Digital Paxton Historical Overview Will Fenton Digital Collection Keywords GHOST RIVER Education Transcriptions Public Outreach Contact Credits The Historical Society of Pennsylvania and The Library Company of Philadelphia

Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, February 11, 1764 - 1

7200
Philade Feb. 11 1764

Dear Sir,

I have just reviewed your Favour by the extra Packet of Nov. 26. and am pleas’d to find a just Resentment so general in your House against Mr Wms for [sedulous?] Conduct, and to hear the present Administration is like to continue –

If Money must be raised from us to Support 14 Battalions, as you mention, I think your Plan the most advantageous to both the Mother Country & Colonies of any I have seen. A moderate Duty on Foreign Messages may be collected; when a high one could not. – The same on Foreign Wines, and a Duty not only on Tea, but on all East India Goods might perhaps not be amiss, as they are generally rather Luxuries than Necessaries; and many of your Manchester Manufacturers might well Supply their Places. The Duty on Negros I would wish large enough to obstruct their Importation, as they everywhere prevent the Increase of Whites. – But if you lay such Duties as may destroy your Trade with the Foreign Colonies, I think you will greatly hurt your own Interest as well as ours. – I need not explain this to you, who will readily see it. – The American Fishery, too, should be as little burthened as possible. It is to no purpose to enlarge on [those] Heads, as probably your Acts are pass’d before this can reach you. –

In my last I mention’d to you the Rioting on our Frontiers, in which 20 peaceable Indians were

Contents of this annotation:

  1. Benjamin Franklin to Richard Jackson, February 11, 1764 - 1