Hutchinson Affair – Benjamin Franklin Historical Society

On September 22, 1773, Benjamin Franklin published two satires, “Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to a Small One” and "An Edict by the King of Prussia" in the Public Advertiser criticizing Britain's colonial policies in the American colonies. An excerpt from the article:

"During the 1760s Britain imposed a series of taxes on its American colonies (1764 Sugar Act and Currency Act, 1765 Stamp Act and Quartering Act, 1767 Townshend Act) to pay for its increasing national debt and cost of military protection of its American colonies. The colonies protested against their implementation under the slogan “No Taxation without Representation”. One of the first actions to unite the colonies was the formation of Committees of Correspondence to share information among colonies and coordinate actions. Several revolts had occurred by the time Franklin obtained the incendiary letters written by Governor Hutchinson of Massachusetts and Lieutenant Governor Andrew Oliver.

The Hutchinson Letters

In December 1772, while residing in London as agent for the House of Representatives of Massachusetts, Franklin received a package containing 13 letters by an anonymous sender. The letters were correspondence of Massachusetts Governor Thomas Hutchinson and Lieutenant Governor Andrew Oliver with English authorities. In these letters Hutchinson explained the revolts in the colony against taxes and recommended that colonial government should be made independent from provincial assemblies and the gradual reduction “by degrees” of English liberties. He also urged to send more troops to keep rebels under control advocating repressive measures against agitators in the colonies.

Understanding the nature of these letters, Franklin sent them to Samuel Adams who was the head of the Massachusetts Committee of Correspondence. Franklin authorized the letters to be shown to members of the Committee but not copied or published.

Massachusetts Speaker Thomas Cushing wrote a letter to Franklin asking if he could ease the restriction of its circulation. Because of its inflammatory nature, Cushin presented the content of the letters before the Massachusetts House on June 2nd, 1773. The House concluded that Hutchinson intended to overthrow the constitution and decided to appoint a committee to petition the crown for Hutchinson’s and Oliver’s removal. Despite Franklin’s wishes and because of public interest the letters were published in the Boston Gazette in June 1773 causing political and civil revolt in the city.

In September 1773 Franklin published in the Public Advertiser in London “Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to a Small One” and “Edict by the King of Prussia”. Both are satires that criticize British attitude towards its colonies."