The year is 1759 and the Masters family, John, Mercy and their son James, are in London, England. They have travelled here to meet the members of the Albion firm, the new trading house through which their London business is being shipped.
At first, the whole family is enjoying the hospitality of the English and the opportunities for cultural and social activities. Even their son James seems to be in his element and he is highly considering staying in England to study at Oxford. However, it is the mother, Mercy, who becomes quite uncomfortable with the English way of life. When she sees people living in palaces and the king with an openly accepted mistress, she sees London as a world of "aristocratic excess and immorality", which conflicts with her Quaker background.
The meeting with Benjamin Franklin, who in this story is in his early fifties and living in London, is surprising. Although several historic facts are mentioned accurately, some of his statements do not coincide with reality. When he states, "Kick the French out of Canada and have the whole place to ourselves", this contradicts the fact that he was responsible for the development of positive relations between France and America. He was even admired by the French in his role as American Minister to Paris. Why the different portrayal? Perhaps the author wanted to highlight Mercy's aversion to the English and her desire to go back home to New York.
This short glimpse of the year 1759 in London presents the English view of the importance of the settlement of America as part of the expanding British empire, British judgements about other countries and the political situation of the time. It is not a favourable impression for Mercy or for me as a reader. The arrogance and prejudice against other cultures is reflected in the statement, "She had seen the heart of the empire and she did not like it".
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