Ben Franklin was pretty level headed during much of the lead-up to the Revolutionary War.  He even spent a lot of time in London arguing for compromise between Great Britain and the colonies.  In December of 1772, Franklin anonymously received a bundle of letters written by Massachusetts Governor Thomas Hutchinson.  Keep in mind that Great Britain appointed Hutchinson.  The letters, sent by Hutchinson to his superiors in Great Britain, spoke of a desire for more British troops to quell the rebellious Americans in Boston.  Franklin sent the letters to his associates in Boston under the condition that they not publicize them.  The letters were printed in the Boston Gazette and furious Bostonians forced Governor Hutchinson to flee back to England.

Now, we wonder about Franklin’s motivations during this whole affair.  Ben Franklin was a man of principle and calm.  He detested the mob actions and destruction that happened during the Tea Party.  Franklin was also a printer and writer.  He must have known the potential power of Hutchinson’s letters.  He also had to realize that the rabble-rousers in Boston took every opportunity to gain support for their cause.  Hmmm.  However, it is also likely that Franklin, a man of honor, believed that his associates in Boston would live by their word.  Franklin would have lived by his.  The publication of the Hutchinson letters led to even more unrest in Boston.  This unrest was just more fuel to the fire that culminated at the Boston Tea Party.  I guess you can say that the teapot was on the flame and boiling.

As a side note, but a major Big Bad Ben side note, this “leak” led to an amazing confrontation between Ben Franklin and the members of the British Privy Council on January 29, 1774.  Obviously the British were upset by the “leak” of the Hutchinson letters, so they looked to pin the blame on someone.  They chose three innocent men to blame.  Ben Franklin stepped forward to take the blame instead of the men.  (See what I mean about honor.) Lord Alexander Wedderburn verbally punished Franklin for an hour in front of the British Privy Council.  Franklin did not respond, standing silent before the Council.  His silence and dignity made a gigantic impression.  (See what I mean about Big Bad Ben.) After this incident Franklin returned to the colonies to help with revolution.  He saw that compromise was not realistic.  Where the Council reprimanded Franklin was called the “Cockpit” because they used to have cock fights there.

Below is an engraving of Franklin standing before the British Privy Council.  There is also a tract written by Franklin after the incident.  Both are courtesy of the Library of Congress.