88 Choate: Franklin 



stands out from that ignoble scene an heroic figure, bear- 

 ing silent testimony to the cause of the colonists for 

 whose sake he suffered — not a muscle moved, not a heart 

 beat quickened — and casting into the shade of lasting 

 oblivion all those who joined in the assault upon him." 



He said next day to Dr. Priestley that " he had never 

 before been so sensible of the power of a good con- 

 science; for that, if he had not considered the thing for 

 which he had been so much insulted as one of the best 

 actions of his life, and what he should do again in the 

 same circumstances, he could not have supported it." 



No doubt this cruel event, which at once became the 

 talk of the town and country, did seriously impair his 

 popularity and prestige during the rest of his stay in 

 London, which continued for another year, and which 

 he steadily devoted to the hopeless cause of conciliation. 

 But it did not cost him a single one of his great and true 

 friends, and Lord Chatham spoke and acted for them all 

 shortly afterwards when, on the occasion of a great de- 

 bate in the House of Lords on American affairs, he in- 

 vited him to attend in the House, " being sure that his 

 presence in that day's debate would be of more service 

 to America than his own," and later, in answer to a fling 

 at Franklin by another noble lord, declared, " that if he 

 were first minister of this country, and had the care 

 of settling this momentous business, he should not be 

 ashamed of calling to his assistance a person so perfectly 



