The letters sent over to the Massachusetts by Dr. Franklin, have produced a duel between Mr. _Whateley_, the banker, brother to the late secretary to the treasury, and _John Temple_, esq. in which the former was dangerously wounded. This has led the doctor to inform the public, that both the gentlemen are totally ignorant and innocent as to the transaction and its circumstances about which they fought. He declares that he alone was the person who obtained and transmitted to Boston the letters in question and says—“Mr. W. could not communicate them, because they were never in his possession; and for the same reason they could not be taken from him by Mr. T.” The doctor justifies his own conduct, and concludes with telling the world, he “thought it his duty to transmit them to his constituents.” But if they were sent over to be communicated to a few confidential gentlemen only, instead of being addressed to the speaker of the assembly, or one of the committee appointed to correspond with him, with orders to lay them before the house, how were they _transmitted to his constituents_? There is something mysterious in this business, which it is apprehended will not bear a discovery at present. It is suspected that the letters were procured out of some public office; and that Mr. Temple is not so perfectly ignorant of all circumstances as the doctor’s language seems to express. [Jan. 29, 1774.] The merits of the petition, presented some time ago by the doctor as agent for the Massachusetts, praying for the removal of the governor, came on to be heard before the privy council. It is reported, that Mr. _W——_, wandering from the question before their lordships, poured forth such a torrent of virulent abuse on Dr. _Franklin_ as scarce ever before took place in judicial proceedings. His reproaches appeared to some present to be incompatible with the principles of law, truth, justice, propriety and humanity. And it was thought it would have redounded more to the honor of their lordships, had they seemed to enjoy less the lashes which the doctor underwent; and had they expressed their dissatisfaction by reducing the orator to the remembrance of the exalted characters before whom he uttered such language. The petition was dismissed, and the doctor is displaced from the office of deputy post-master general for the colonies. The philosopher may recollect in some future day the liberties taken with him before the privy-council on the twenty-ninth of January, and take ample revenge on British ministers and courtiers.