Presents credentials as Massachusetts agent on January 16 to Lord Hillsborough, secretary of state for the colonies, who refuses to accept them because Franklin had been appointed by Assembly without governor's concurrence. Elected to Batavian Society of Experimental Science, Rotterdam, June 11. June 17-24, and again July 30-August 13, visits Bishop Jonathan Shipley at Twyford, where, on latter visit, writes first part of autobiography. Tours Ireland and Scotland with Richard Jackson from August 25 to November 30; attends opening of Irish Parliament, October 8; stays with David Hume in Edinburgh, and with Lord Kames at Blair-Drummond. At the end of trip, visits mother and sister of son-in-law Richard Bache at Preston in Lancashire, meets Richard for first time, and returns to London with him.