1775 — 80 .]
99
Several resolutions and amendments were movedand seconded by the leading Fellows, but not carried.Eventually, it was determined that a reply should bewritten by the Secretary, to the Secretary of theBoard of Ordnance. It ran thus :—
“ Sir,
“ In answer to your letter of the 19th May,I am directed to inform you, that the Society has neversince its first institution given an opinion as a body atlarge, but constantly by Committees. And that in theparticular instance of the questions lately proposed bythe Board of Ordnance, the Society has no reason to bedissatisfied with the report of its Committee.”
This letter had the effect of increasing the angerof Wilson and his friends, and, strange as it nowappears, the dispute, which had its origin in a ques-tion of natural philosophy, was made one of partypolitics. This is attributable to the fact, that Englandwas at the height of her quarrel with her AmericanColonies, and it was Franklin who invented pointedconductors.
How this philosopher was affected by the dispute,appears in the following authentic letter, addressedto Dr. Ingenhousz , who had espoused the subject withconsiderable warmth against Wilson. The letter waswritten from Passy, where Franklin had taken up hisresidence after leaving England. It is dated October14, 1777.
“ Sir,
“ I am much obliged by your communicationof the letter from England. I am of your opinion, thatit is not proper for publication here. Our friends’ ex-pressions concerning Mr. Wilson will be thought too