Immanuel.

The special Confidence we repose in You, arising from our long experience of your Sincerity and Candor encourages me to make Known to you That Continued Calumny against Mr. Franklin so grevious to us; which Christopher Sowers has from time to Time Inserted in his papers; and altho we on our parts behold it and the promoters of it, as Slanderers; Yet it is undeniable That the common and more ignorant People are stired up to impricate and curse Mr. F. to all eternity. Besides a great many others who wish Mr: F. well are put in Doubt: They will not be convinced, Because such matters are published of him, particularly as to his being active in promoting the Stamp Act, which is propagated in so plausible a Manner as if their Author was agreed to be No other than Mr. Franklin.

And as we have No particular or personal knowledge ourselves of Mr. F., but always Trusted on Your recomendation, beholding him in an honest light or Character, so in truth we passed unnoticed the innumerable abuses against him, And now, no way Doubting, of his Honour, we request of You our worthy Friends amids the Confusion of Matters without undertaking to direct (and simply Not for ourselves) but in behalf of the above misled persons) That you will Take into your Consideration whether such Malicious Aspertions could not be weekened or Contradicted; If Mr. F. friends, Mesrs. Galloway, Foxe and others from the above causes would be Pleased to remind and encourage him (altho as to ourselves we no way doubt) That he will to the Utmost of his power at all Opportunities Contribute to the Repeal of the Stamp Act; And that over and above all this for the sake of his own Credit, to Solicit this and every other Necessary Matter Touching his Embassy, either by himself or some other Eminent Patrons; and that the same might be made unexceptionably to Appear here.

This or such like open and public demonstration of his Utmost endeavours for the Utility and happiness of this Province, would very likely produce good Effects, to the Confusion of all his other friends Enemies and Slanderers, and give Contentment and satisfaction even to Such who may be as Yet Doubtful.

Thus Friends we have simply laid before you our sincere Mind Touching Mr. F. and his abused Character, and we wish that these prejudices against him may tend to the Satisfaction of the well disposed of All parties to the exposing of Falshood, And that his enemies against their own Inclination in the end, may allow of his due Renowned Fame and reputation.

As to the rest Friends we submit this representation to your serious reflections, in Confidence That you will receive the same and put the best construction on our recit’d Uneasiness.

Lastly we recommend You to the most gracious protection of providence and am the Friend and well wisher of every Blessing.