From John Huske
ALS: American Philosophical Society
[Before Nov. 1, 1768?]

[(1) He encloses a demonstration that the customs house is erroneous in evaluating West Indian imports. “London alone imported to full this amount upon the medium of these five years,” while in the same period more than half as much came in through other British ports. He asks to confer about using these statistics to show how Scotland and Ireland have been financially favored, and the American colonies alone have been discriminated against in Britain’s search for revenue. (2) He encloses suggestions on how the statistics on exports and imports that he has sent can be utilized in the American cause. Franklin may do what he pleases with the suggestions, but is not to let them out of his hands or allow Huske’s name to appear. One of the enclosures may soften public resentment against America, and pursuade Members of Parliament who represent the interests of Scotland, Ireland, the West Indies, the Bank, and the East India and Hudson’s Bay Companies “that if they don’t assist to extinguish the flame in their neighbours house, their own may be the next on fire.” He is sending enough material for a pamphlet or for a series of letters to the press. (3) If Franklin publishes anything he has sent, he begs to have the postscript omitted. Something in it “will do great mischief to private property; particularly as a very large account in one of those funds is within a few days of adjustment, and there is a sale of some of the stock of the latter advertised this evening for next week, which it might hurt.”]

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