Author's Preface -- Introduction and Overview -- Franklin's Situation in the 1770s -- Out of the Loop and Frustrated -- Agent, Publicist or Lightning Rod? -- Time Line for and during Franklin's Time in London -- Chapter 1. A Duel in Hyde Park -- Chapter 2. Private Letters, Public Causes -- The Writers -- Crisis in Law and Order -- "An Abridgment of English Liberties" -- "Power in the Populace" -- Notoriety in London -- Franklin's Explanation -- Were the Letters Influential? -- Colonial Anger Toward Hutchinson Heightened -- Who Was Franklin's Source? -- Handling of the Letters in Boston -- Chapter 3. Imperial Over-Reach: The Political Context of the Letters -- Chapter 4. Harvest of Spite: Reaction in the London Press -- Other Adversaries -- An Arc of Resentment -- The Toll from Other Writings -- Chapter 5. Preliminary Hearing -- The Empire Strikes Back -- Franklin Chooses Counsel -- Chapter 6. Showdown in the Cockpit -- The Scene -- The Proceeding: "Just Deserts" or "Fall Guy"? -- Wedderburn's Speech -- Other Details of the Speech -- Chapter 7. The Verdict -- The Petition Dismissed -- Deeper Impact? -- Chapter 8. Circles of Support -- The Closest Circle -- Friends at Large -- The Circle of Kinship -- And a Grandson -- No Stranger to Ambiguity -- Personal Servants -- Affability Versus Closeness -- Chapter 9. Other Perils and After Shocks -- A Private Law Suit -- Would There Be an Arrest? -- The Former Governor Flees Boston, Comes to England -- The Walpole (Ohio) Company -- Summary of Personal Reversals -- Parliament Throws Down the Gantlet -- Consequence or Mere Aftermath? -- Chapter 10. Second Thoughts -- What Would Congress Do? -- Private Overtures -- "Principles ... [Too] Far from Each Other" -- A Gratuitous Affront -- One More Gesture: Chatham Calls -- Chapter 11. Going Home, Looking Back -- Last Days -- Transitions -- Looking Back at the Trial.

Remaining Questions on the Letters Affair -- The Question of Intentions -- Judgment -- Last Clear Chance -- Cynical or Naïve? -- Competing Risks for Franklin? -- Some Irritating Details -- The Positive Side of the Letters Affair for Franklin -- Post Script -- Afterword -- Part I. Remaining Mystery -- Franklin's Source -- A Second Candidate -- A Third Possibility -- Other Nominees -- Best Estimate -- Part 2. What Happened to Them? -- Appendix: Essay and Verbatim Records -- Corruption and Resistance to Change -- Verbatim 1. Franklin's Public Statement about the Hutchinson Letters -- Verbatim 2. The Hutchinson Letters -- Verbatim 3. Wedderburn's Speech before the Privy Council -- Acknowledgments -- Selected Bibliography -- Index.