Franklin and the Stamp ActAuthor(s): Benjamin FranklinSource: The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 8, No. 4 (Dec., 1884), pp.426-427Published by: The Historical Society of PennsylvaniaStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20084678 .

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426 Franklin and

1795.?Eight burials.

Sept. 14. Philip Weber.

1796.? Thirteen interments.

April 1. Edward Bright's wife. "

24. Albert Davis' wife.

1797.? Twelve burials.

Apr. 22. Christopher Brust.

Oct. 8. William Engle, Jr.

1798.? Thirteen burials.

Aug. 21. Mr. Davison's wife.

1799.?Nine burials.

Feb. 2. William Saxton's wife.

the Stamp Act.

Oct. 11. Rudolph Kittinger's wife.

July 9. Hannah Jones. "

24. Michael Dicker.

Oct. 19. Hugh Stephens.

Sept. 25. Christian Duy.

April 17. Israel Englis.

FRANKLIN AND THE STAMP ACT.

[When the Stamp Act was passed, Franklin wrote to Charles Thomson : "

Depend upon it my good neighbour, I took every step in my power to

prevent the passage of the Stamp Act no body could be more concerned in

interest than myself to oppose it sincerely & heartily. But the Tide was too

strong against us. The nation was provoked by American Claims to Inde

pendence & all Parties joined in resolving by this act to settle the point. We might as well have hindered the sun's setting. That we could not do.

But since it is down my Friend and it may be long before it rises again, let

us make as good a night of it as we can. We may still light candles. Fru

gality and Industry will go a great way toward indemnifying us. Idleness

and Pride tax with a heavier hand than Kings and Parliament. If we can

get rid of the former we may easily bear the latter." When he wrote this

he certainly had no idea of the storm that the " Act" would raise in America

and accepted it as a Law which must be obeyed. The frugality and industry he proposed to practise are set forth in the following letter to his partner David Hall, dated about one month after his letter to Thomson.?Ed.]

London, Augt 9,1765. Dear Mr. Hall:

I received yours of June 21 & 22. I have wrote my Mind fully to you in former Letters relating to the Stamp Act, so that I have but little to add except what you desire

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Franklin and the Stamp Act 427

to know about the 2/ on Advertisements. It is undoubtedly to be paid every Time the Advertisement is inserted. As to

the Paper sent over, I did it for the best, having at that time

Expectations given me that we might have had it Stamped there, in which case you would have had great Advantage of

the other Printers, since if they were not provided with such

Paper, they must have either printed but a half Sheet, com

mon Demi, or paid for two stamps on each Sheet. The Plan was afterwards alter'd notwithstanding all I could do, it be

ing alledged that Scotland & every Colony would expect the same Indulgence if it was granted to us. The Paper must now be sent back again. But I hope you will excuse what

I did in Good Will, tho' it happened wrong. The Molds I still think you should have, as you see that Paper from hence is much Dearer than we can make it, with all the Charge of

Carriage, but that I hope to get off.

I would not have you by any means drop the Newspaper, as I am sure it will soon recover any present Loss and may be carried on to advantage if you steadily proceed as I pro

posed in former Letters.

I am, yours affectionately, B. FRANKLIN.1

1 The original of this letter is in the possession of George M. Conarroe, Esq.

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