Abbé Nollet publishes Lettres sur l’Electricité in January, disputing Franklin's electrical theories. Second set of electrical experiments (Supplemental Experiments and Observations) published in London in March. Sponsors former journeyman Samuel Holland as printing partner in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, June 14. Travels through New England from mid-June to September, receiving honorary Master of Arts degrees from Harvard (July 25) and Yale (Sept. 12). Appointed joint deputy postmaster general of North America August 10, having solicited appointment from England. September 26-October 4, negotiates treaty at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, with Ohio Indians; prints resulting treaty in November. Awarded Copley Medal of Royal Society of London, November 30, for work in electricity.