This Day In Founding Fathers History – 28 November 2012

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This Day In Founding Fathers History – 28 November 2012

On this day in 1768, Benjamin Franklin wrote to an unknown recipient, “Being born and bred in one of the countries, and having lived long and made many agreeable connexions of friendship in the other, I wish all prosperity to both; but I have talked, and written so much and so long on the subject, that my acquaintance are weary of hearing, and the public of reading any more of it, which begins to make me weary of talking and writing; especially as I do not find that I have gained any point, in either country, except that of rendering myself suspected, by my impartiality; in England, of being too much an American, and in America of being too much an Englishman. Your opinion, however, weighs with me, and encourages me to try one effort more, in a full, though concise statement of facts, accompanied with arguments drawn from those facts; to be published about the meeting of parliament, after the holidays. If any good may be done I shall rejoice; but at present I almost despair.” ₁

In 1777 on this day, John Adams was appointed by Congress to replace Silas Deane as commissioner to France. Deane was recalled after being accused by diplomat Arthur Lee of misappropriating French funds. “Congress proceeded to the election of a commissioner to the Court of France in the room of S. Deane, Esqr. and, the ballots being taken, John Adams, a delegate in Congress from Massachusetts bay, was elected.” ₂

_{1 Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin, Volume I
2 Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789, Friday, November 28, 1777}