London, January 1771

Will Strahan, a close friend of Franklin’s, visits. They discuss Franklin’s son, William, and his position as the royal governor of New Jersey. Strahan hands Franklin a letter—an appointment from the Massachusetts Assembly for Franklin to represent their interests in Parliament.

Franklin visits the estate of Lord Hillsborough, Parliament’s official Secretary of State for the colonies. He presents his letter of appointment to Hillsborough, who declares it invalid. Since the appointment came from the Assembly (representing the people of the Commonwealth) rather than the governor (representing the King), Hillsborough will not accept it. Realizing he cannot change Hillsborough’s mind, Franklin’s appointment as Massachusetts’s agent is void. To Hillsborough, Franklin is a symbol of colonial unrest, and he fears his son, William, may be caught in the middle.

New York, October 1771

As “nonimportation” sentiment—or refusal to allow British goods on to American soil—grows, the economic impact is felt in England. Gage assures his restless superiors in London that the sentiment will pass. To assure a dependence on English goods, he considers denying entry to non-English immigrants who might manufacture quality goods in America. Gage then receives a request to send troops to New Hampshire to settle a border dispute with New York.