violently attacked as a thief by Wedderburn, 188, 189; the "suit of Manchester velvet," 191; begins and abandons a defense of himself, 192; dismissed from office of postmaster, 192; loses his standing in England, 192, 193; resigns agency for Massachusetts, 193; rebuked by Massachusetts for laxity, 194; slandered by Arthur Lee, 194; danger of charges of treason, 195; interview with Lord Chatham, 196; urges policy of colonial self-government, 197; denies that independence is desired, 197; wishes unity of the Empire, 198; attacked by Lord Sandwich in House of Lords, 198; defended by Chatham, 198, 199; irritated at attacks on America in House of Commons, 199; writes an angry letter to Dartmouth, 200; demands reparation for injuries done America and rights denied, 200; saved from presenting this by advice of Walpole, 201, 202; rejects secret attempts by ministry to negotiate, 202; again rejects bribes, 202; last day in London with Priestley, 203; emotion at situation, 203; leaves for home, 203; significance of his failure, 203. _Member of Congress._ Revulsion of feeling on reaching America, 204; anger against England, 205; letters to Priestly and Strahan, 204, 205; elected to Congress, 206; active in committee work, 206; willing to send the Olive Branch petition, 206; hopes thus to put England in the wrong, 206; suggests offer by colonies to pay annual sum for privilege of Free Trade, 207; repels humorously charge of colonial ingratitude, 207, 208; formulates a plan of union, 208; chairman of committee on postal service, 209; postmaster-general, 209; chairman of Committee of Safety, 209; plans defenses for Philadelphia, 209; prevented by necessary oath of allegiance from sitting in Pennsylvania Assembly, 209; sent to Boston to confer with Washington, 209; to Montreal to confer with Arnold, 210; president of Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention, 211; willing to join a New England confederacy rather than none, 212; connection with Declaration of Independence, 212; his famous jests, 212; in the Articles of Confederation wishes votes of States according to population, 212; correspondence with Lord Howe, who wishes reconciliation, 213; replies condemning the English, 213, 214; member of committee of Congress to confer with Howe, 214; remarks, 215; says nothing short of independence is possible, 216; his indignation at British attacks, 217; suggests, in humorous form, to Priestley, the impossibility of conquering the Americans, 217, 218; depth of his feeling, 218. _Minister to France._ Appointed, 219, 232; the only American with diplomatic experience, 220, 221; voyage, 232, 233; alarm of English at news of his arrival, 234; French enthusiasm, 234, 235; settles at Passy, 235; avoids thrusting himself upon the government, 236; presents credentials at audience given by Vergennes, 236, 237; gains a secret loan, 237;