The Satirical Genius of Benjamin Franklin’s 1774 Letter to Lord North

By: Mike Maharrey

 

“A friend to military government.”

That’s not what we’d expect from one of the leading supporters of American independence, but that’s just how Benjamin Franklin signed his “Open Letter to Lord North.”

While many American colonists confronted arbitrary British power and constitutional usurpations with strongly worded resolutions and detailed enumerations of their complaints, Franklin deployed a different weapon – biting sarcasm and parody.

On April 15, 1774, a British newspaper, The Public Advertiser, published “An Open Letter to Lord North.” It suggested that the British “should introduce into North America a Government absolutely and entirely Military” to “quiet all the Disturbances in America, procure a decent Revenue from our Colonies, make our royal Master (at least there) a King de facto, as well as de jure; and finally, as it may be managed, procure a round Sum towards discharging the national Debt.”

Lord North served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1770 to 1782 and was a key British figure in the escalating tensions between Britain and its American colonies.

The letter turned out to be prophetic when North imposed martial law on Massachusetts just one month later with the passage of the Massachusetts Government Act. This was among several other acts passed by Parliament known together as the Coercive Acts, or the “Intolerable Acts” as most people refer to them today. They were meant to punish the colonies in the wake of the Boston Tea Party.

Prior to Franklin’s letter, Parliament passed the Tea Act under North’s leadership. This gave the East India Company a monopoly on the sale of tea and left a tax imposed by the Townshend Acts in place. The Americans viewed this as yet another example of the British government usurping power and infringing on the autonomy of the colonists.

Franklin’s satirical letter suggested North take the next step and exert total control over the colonies.

The entire letter was couched in irony and sarcasm.

It started with the date line where Franklin suggested the letter was sent from the Smyrna Coffee-House, a longtime hangout for Whigs and political liberals. By writing from this location, Franklin symbolically aligned himself with the tradition of open discussion and debate. This contrasted with the autocratic policies implemented by the British government under Lord North.

Franklin also made a tongue-in-cheek suggestion that the mere presence of the British military might cow them into submission.

“The Sight of a few Regiments of bold Britons, appearing with Ensigns displayed, and in all the Pomp of War…would so intimidate the Americans, that the General might march through the whole Continent of North America, and would have little else to do but to accept of the Submission of the several Towns as he passed.”

Franklin went on to assert that the colonists were “a dastardly Set of Poltroons” – in other words, cowards. And while “they are descended from British Ancestors, they are degenerated to such a Degree, that one born in Britain is equal to twenty Americans.”

He went on to further assert that the colonists wouldn’t put up any kind of fight.

“The Yankey Doodles have a Phrase when they are not in a Humour for fighting, which is become proverbial, I don’t feel bould To-day. When they make this Declaration, there is no prevailing on them to attack the Enemy or defend themselves. If contrary to Expectation they should attempt an Opposition, procure Intelligence when it happens not to be their fighting Day, attack them and they will fly like Sheep pursued by a Wolf.”

By using such transparently hyperbolic language, Franklin effectively mocked British prejudice and arrogance toward the colonies.

This wasn’t the first time Franklin had used satire to highlight the arrogance of the empire and the extreme policies that resulted. Seven months earlier, he penned a fake edict by the King of Prussia illustrating the unreasonableness of British actions toward the colonies by creating the impression that similar mandates were being imposed on England by another nation.

Similarly, the exaggeration in “An Open Letter to Lord North” made British policies and attitudes look silly.

Franklin also likely knew that casting the colonists as cowards would increase their resolve and stir a sense of unity and resistance.

Franklin turned to another rhetorical trick – likening British treatment of the colonists to slavery – literal slavery – by casting the government as slave masters.

“When all North America have thus bent their Neck to the Yoke designed for them, I would propose that the Method made use of by the Planters in the West Indies may be adopted, who appoint what they call a Negro Driver, who is chosen from among the Slaves. It is observed that the little Authority that is given him over his Fellow Slaves, attaches him to his Master’s Interest, and his Cruelty would be without Bounds were he not restrained.”

Franklin suggested that “all the Colonists be enrolled in the Militia, subject of course to Martial Law” with a few officers appointed “from among the conquered people.” There would be no courts, leaving military tribunals to mete out justice.

“An Inhabitant, who disobeys an Order, may by a Court Martial be sentenced to receive from One Hundred to a Thousand Lashes in a frosty Morning, according to the Nature of his Offence.”

Franklin insisted that this extreme treatment would minimize the need “of hanging up so many poor Devils as in this free Country.” That would mean the loss of “fewer able men” to the community.

Franklin was subtly pointing out that the British increasingly viewed the colonists as tax cattle to cover the empire’s financial deficits.

Franklin also alluded to the British government’s assertion of absolute power over the colonies in the hated Declaratory Act, suggesting that “the General and Commander in Chief be vested with the Power, and called by the Name of the King’s Viceroy of all North America.” This, Franklin wrote, would increase respect for the King and “have a Tendency to secure their Submission.”

All orders issued by this “supreme authority” would “have the force of laws.”

This proposal was similar to one in another satirical piece by Franklin that explained how to lose an empire.

“On top of all this, assert the power over the people ‘IN ALL CASES WHATSOEVER.’” This will “convince them, that they are at present under a Power something like that spoken of in the Scriptures, which can not only kill their Bodies, but damn their Souls to all Eternity, by compelling them, if it pleases, to worship the Devil.”

Franklin closed out his letter to Lord North by doubling down on the British view that the colonists should effectively serve as tax slaves, suggesting, “When the Colonists are drained of their last Shilling,” sell them to the highest bidder.

Dripping with sarcasm, Franklin wrote, “With such a Sum what glorious Things might he not achieve! Suppose it should be applied towards the Payment of one hundredth Part of the National Debt.”

Franklin masterfully illustrated British absurdity by being absurd, and he ended the letter with an absurd flourish.

“My Lord, excuse the Crudity of these indigested Hints, which your Wisdom is so capable of improving; and believe me, with infinite Respect, Your Lordship’s Most obedient Humble Servant,

“A Friend To Military Government.”