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494]
Government received official information,
1 that the
people of
Boston had thrown the tea overboard, and this event swelled the anger against the
Americans.
In this state of public feeling,
Franklin on the twenty-ninth, assisted by
Dunning and
John Lee, came before the Privy Council, to advocate the removal of
Hutchinson and
Oliver, in whose behalf appeared
Israel Mauduit, the old adviser of She Stamp Tax; and
Wedderburn the
Solicitor General.
It was a day of great expectation.
Thirty-five
Lords of the Council were present; a larger number than had ever attended a hearing; and the room was filled with a crowded audience, among whom were
Priestley,
Jeremy Bentham and
Edmund Burke.
The Petition and accompanying papers having been read,
Dunning asked on the part of his clients the reason of his being ordered to attend.
2 ‘No cause,’ said he,
is instituted; nor do we think advocates necessary; nor are they demanded on the part of the Colony.
The Petition is not in the nature of accusation, but of advice and request.
It is an Address to the King's wisdom, not an application for criminal justice; when referred to the Council, it is a matter for political prudence, not for judicial determination.
The matter, therefore, rests wholly in your Lordships' opinion of the propriety or impropriety of continuing persons in authority, who are represented by legal bodies, competent to such representation, as having (whether on sufficient or insufficient grounds) entirely forfeited the confidence of the Assemblies
