Sketch of the Services of B. Franklin to the United States.

He combated the Stamp Act; and his Writings against it in the Papers with his Examination in Parliament, his Conversations with the Members that were of his Acquaintance, and his Information to Mr. Pitt thro’ Mr. Wood under Secretary, were thought to have contributed much to its Repeal.

He oppos’d the Duty Act, and tho’ he could not prevent its passing, he obtained of Mr. Townsend, an Omission of several Articles particularly Salt.

In the subsequent Difference he wrote and publish’d many Papers refuting the claim of Parliament to tax the Colonies.

He opposed all the oppressive Acts.

He had two secret Negociations with the Ministers for their Repeal, of which he has written a Narrative. In these he offer’d Payment for the destroy’d Tea, at his own Risque in Case they were repeal’d.

He was joined with Messrs. Bolland and Lee in all the Applications to Government for that purpose. Printed several Pamphlets at his own considerable Expence, against the then Measures of Government, whereby he render’d himself obnoxious, was disgrac’d before the Privy Council, depriv’d of a Place in the Post Office of £300 Sterling a Year, and obliged to resign his Agencies, viz.,

In the whole £1500 Sterling Per Annum. Orders were sent to the Kings Governors not to sign any Warrants on the Treasury for the Arrears of his Salaries; and tho’ he was not actually dismiss’d by the Colonies that employ’d him, yet thinking the known Malice of the Court against him render’d him less likely than others to manage their Affairs to their Advantage, he judg’d it to be his Duty to withdraw from their Service, and leave it open for less exceptionable Persons, which saved them the Necessity of removing him.

Returning to America, he encouraged the Revolution. Was appointed Chairman of the Committee of Safety, where he projected the Chevaux de Frize for securing Philadelphia, then the Residence of Congress.

Was sent by Congress to Head Quarters near Boston with Messrs. Harrison and Lynch in 1775 to settle some Affairs with the Northern Governments and Genl. Washington.

In the Spring of 1776. was sent to Canada with Messrs. Chase and Carrol, passing the Lakes while they were yet not free from Ice. In Canada was, with his Colleagues, instrumental in redressing sundry Grievances, and thereby reconciling the People more to our Cause. He there advanced to General Arnold and other Servants of Congress, then in extreme Necessity, £353 in Gold, out of his own Pocket on the Credit of Congress, which was of great Service in procuring Provision for our Army. Being at the time he was order’d on this Service, upwards of 70 Years of Age, He suffer’d in his Health by the Hardships of this Journey, lodging in the Woods &c. in so inclement a Season; but being recover’d; the Congress in the same Year order’d him to France. Before his Departure he ordered all the Money he could raise, upwards of three thousand Pounds, into their Hands; It was the first or nearly the first Loan they received, which demonstrating his Confidence, encourag’d others to lend their Money in support of the Cause.

He made no Bargain for Appointments, but was promised by a Note the Salary of £500 Sterling Per Annum with his Expences and to be assisted by a Secretary who was to have £1000 Per Annum.

When the Pensilvania Assembly sent him in 1764 on the same Salary, they allow’d him one Years Advance for his Passage and in consideration of the Prejudice to his Private Affairs that must be occasion’d by his sudden Departure and Absence. He has had no such Allowance from Congress, was badly accommodated in a miserable Vessel, improper for those northern Seas which was nearly founder’d in going and actually founder’d in her Return. In this Voyage he was so badly fed, that on his Arrival he had scarce Strength to stand.

His Services to the States as Commissioner and afterwards as Minister Plenipotentiary are known to Congress, or may appear in his Correspondence. His extra Services may not be so well known, and therefore may be here mentioned. No Secretary ever arriving, the Business was in part before, and entirely when the other Commissioners left him, executed by himself with the Help of his Grandson, who at first was only allow’d Cloaths, Board and Lodging, and afterwards a Salary never exceeding £300 a Year, (except while he served as secretary to the Commissioners for Pe[ace]) by which Difference in Salary continu’d many Years the Congress sav’d, if they accept it, £700 Sterling a Year.

He served as Consul intirely several Years, till the Arrival of Mr. Barclay, and even after, as that Gentleman was obliged to be much and long absent in Holland, Flanders and England, during which Absences, what Business of the kind occur’d still came to Mr. Franklin.

He served, tho’ without any special Commission for the purpose, as a Judge of Admiralty; for the Congress having sent him a Quantity of blank Commissions for Privateers, he granted them to Cruizers encouraged by him, and fitted out in the Ports of France, some of them mann’d by old smugglers, who knew every Creek on the Coast of England, and running all round the Island distress’d the British Coasting Trade exceedingly and rais’d their general Insurance. One of those Privateers alone, the Black-Prince took in the Course of a Year 75. Sail. All the Papers taken in each Prize brought in, were in Virtue of an Order of Council put up to Mr. Franklin who was to examine them, judge of the Legality of the Capture and write to the Admiralty of the Port, that he found the Prize good, and that the sale might be permitted. These Papers which are very voluminous he has to produce.

He served also as Merchant to make Purchases, and direct the Shipping of Stores to a very great Value for which he has charged no Commisssion.

But the Part of his Service, which was the most fatiguing and confining, was that of receiving and accepting, after a due and necessary Examination[,] the Bills of Exchange drawn by Congress for Interest Money, to the Amount of two Millions and half of Livres annually, multitudes of the Bills very small, each of which, the smallest, gave as much trouble in examining, as the largest. And this careful Examination was found absolutely necessary from the constant Frauds attempted by presenting 2ds. and 3ds. for Payment after the 1sts had been discharged. As these Bills were arriving more or less by every Ship and every Post they required constant Attendance, Mr. F. could make no Journey for Exercise and Health as had been annually his Custom, and the Confinement brought on a Malady that is likely to afflict him while he lives.

In short tho’ he has always been an active Man, he never went through so much Business during 8 Years in any Part of his Life, as during those of his Residence in France which however he did not decline, till he saw Peace happily made and found himself in the 86[th] Year of his Age, when, if ever, a Man has some Right to expect Repose.