Such was their answer. It was conveyed in sixteen sentences which were numbered and which were very similar to the ones we have given. The communication excited great displeasure. It was considered alike false and insolent. Even the tranquil mind of Franklin was fired with indignation. He replied to the document with a power of eloquence and logic which carried the convictions of nearly all the colonists. CHAPTER IX. _Franklin's Mission to England._ New marks of respect--Lord Loudoun--Gov. Denny and Franklin--Visit the Indians--Franklin commissioner to England--His constant good nature--Loudoun's delays--Wise action of an English captain--The voyagers land at Falmouth--Journey to London--Franklin's style of living in London--His electrical experiments--He teaches the Cambridge professor--Complimentary action of St. Andrews--Gov. Denny displaced, and dark clouds arising--Franklin's successful diplomacy--His son appointed Governor of New Jersey--Great opposition--The homeward voyage--Savage horrors--Retaliating cruelties--Franklin's efforts in behalf of the Moravian Indians. The general impression, produced throughout the colonies, by the controversy with the proprietaries, was that they were very weak men. Indeed it does not appear that they were much regarded even in London. A gentleman, writing from that city, said, "They are hardly to be found in the herd of gentry; not in court, not in office, not in parliament." In March, Franklin left his home for a post-office tour. Some forty of the officers of his regiment, well mounted, and in rich uniform, without Franklin's knowledge, came to his door, to escort him out of the village. Franklin says, "I had not previously been made acquainted with their project, or I should have prevented it, being naturally averse to the assuming of state on any occasion." The proprietaries in London heard an account of this affair. They were very much displeased, saying they had never been thus honored, and that princes of the blood alone were entitled to such distinction. The war was still raging. Large bodies of troops were crossing the ocean to be united with the colonial forces. Lord Loudoun was appointed by the court commander-in-chief for America. He was an exceedingly weak and inefficient man; scarcely a soldier in the ranks could be found more incompetent for the situation. Governor Morris, of Pennsylvania, worn out with his unavailing conflicts with the Assembly, was withdrawn, and the proprietaries sent out Captain William Denny as their obsequious servant in his stead. The Philadelphians, hoping to conciliate him, received him cordially, and with a public entertainment. William Franklin wrote: "Change of devils, according to the Scotch proverb, is blithesome."