Franklin’s Account of His Audience with Hillsborough
AD: American Philosophical Society
Wednesday, Jan. 16. ’71

At the earnest Instance and Request of Mr. Strahan I went this Morning to wait on Lord Hillsborough. The Porter at first deny’d his Lordship, on which I left my Name, and drove off. But before the Coach got out of the Square, the Coachman heard a Call, turn’d, and went back to the Door, when the Porter came and said, His Lordship will see you, Sir. I was shown into the Levee Room, where I found Governor Barnard, who I understand attends there constantly. Several other Gentlemen were there attending, with whom I sat down a few Minutes. When Secretary Pownall came out to us, and said his Lordship desired I would come in.

l h. I must set you right there, Mr. Franklin, you are not
Agent.
b f. Why; my Lord?
l.h. You are not appointed.
b.f. I do not understand your Lordship. I have the Appoint-
l.h. You are mistaken. I have later and better Advices. I have
b.f. There was no Bill, my Lord; it is a Vote of the House.
l.h. There was a Bill presented to the Governor, for the Pur-
b.f. I cannot understand this, my Lord. I think There must be
l h. I will convince you of it directly. Rings the Bell. Mr. Pow-
b.f. Dressing. You are going to Court. I will wait on
l.h. No, stay, He will come in immediately. To the Servant.
l.h. Have not you at hand Govr. Hutchinson’s Letter men-
sec. p. My Lord?
l h. Is there not such a Letter?
sec. p. No, my Lord. There is a Letter relating to some Bill for
l h. And is there nothing in that Letter to the purpose I men-
sec. p. No, my Lord.
b f. I thought it could not well be, my Lord, as my Letters are
l h. An Information of this kind is not properly brought to me
b.f. I will leave the Paper then with Mr. Pownall, to be—
l.h. (Hastily) To what End would you leave it with him?
b f. To be entred on the Minutes of that Board, as usual.
l.h. (Angrily) It shall not be entred there. No such Paper shall
b.f. I cannot conceive, my Lord, why the Consent of the
l h. (With a mix’d Look of Anger and Contempt) I shall not enter
b f. I beg your Lordship’s Pardon. I do not presume to dispute
l h. Whose Agent is he? (Hastily).
b f. The King’s, my Lord.
l h. No such Matter. He is one of the Corporation, by the
b.f. I did not know there had been such Instructions, I am
l h. Yes, your Offering such a Paper to be entred is an Offence
b.f. (Reaching out his Hand for the Paper, which his Lordship
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