BIB_ID
342876
Accession number
MA 150.85
Display Date
undated.
Credit line
Purchased by Pierpont Morgan, 1901.
Description
1 item (2 p.) ; 31.1 cm.
Notes
Part of a large collection of correspondence of Sir Philip Francis; see collection-level record for more information.
This essay is not titled nor is it dated; the title is created based on the contents of the essay.
This essay is not titled nor is it dated; the title is created based on the contents of the essay.
Provenance
By descent to his eldest granddaughter Miss Francis, and in her possession in 1871; sale (London, Sotheby's, 27 November 1897); purchased by Pierpont Morgan from the London dealer J. Pearson & Co., 1901.
Summary
Concerning England's right to tax America; saying "As to America I wish we mayn't burn our Fingers and do Our Enemies work for them, by quarrelling among ourselves, There are in the different Provinces above a Million of People, of which we may suppose at least 200,000 Men able to bear Arms;" adding "There is no saying what their Leaders may put them upon, but if they are active clever people and love Mischief as well as I do Peace and Quiet, they will furnish matter for Consideration to the wisest among You, and perhaps dictate their own terms at least as the Roman People formerly in their famous Secession upon the Sacred Mount. For my own part I think you have no right to tax them and that every Measure built upon this supposed Right stands upon a Rotten Foundation and must consequently tumble down perhaps upon the Heads of the Workmen."
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