Hutchinson letters are laid before Massachusetts House June 2; House resolves that they were intended to subvert constitution and appoints committee to petition crown for Hutchinson's and Oliver's removal. Hutchinson surreptitiously obtains copy of July 7 letter from Franklin to Massachusetts Speaker Cushing and sends it to Lord Dartmouth, colonial secretary, who judges it treasonable and asks General Thomas Gage, commander-in-chief in America, to obtain original so Franklin can be prosecuted; Gage fails to obtain it (Cushing may have destroyed the original after copying to protect Franklin). Franklin forwards to Lord Dartmouth petition for removal of Hutchinson and Oliver. Publishes satires "Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to a Small One" and "Edict by the King of Prussia" in September. Experiments with use of oil to calm waters of Spithead in October.