Yale Univeisity Library

¦ - .

i " ¦ ¦ •

YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

FAMILIAR LETTERS

MISCELLANEOUS PIECES,

BY

DR. FRANKLIN.

COLLECTION

FAMILIAR LETTERS

MISCJ

^®wj-j

<&brasc£

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

NOW FOE THE FIRST TIME PUBLISHED.

BOSTON:
PUBLISHED BY CHARLES BOWEN.
1833.

Entered according to the Act of Congress in the Year one thousand eight hundred
and thirty-three, by Jared Sparks, in the'Clerk's Office of the District
Court of the District of Massachusetts.

CAMBRIDGE:
charles folsom,
printer to the university.

PREFACE

The Letters and Miscellaneous Papers,
contained in this volume, and now for the first
time published, have come into my hands
from various sources, while prosecuting re
searches for other objects. They are in every
respect so honorable to the character of
their author, that I have thought a publica
tion of them would be at the same time a
just tribute to his memory, and an acceptable
offering to all classes of readers, that are
fond of tracing the progress of genius, and of
becoming acquainted with the heart and
affections of a man, who, as a philosopher,
statesman, and economist, placed himself in
the first rank of the illustrious persons of the
age in which he lived.
These Letters are almost all strictly of a
private and domestic nature, and must have
A*

VI PREFACE.

been written without the remotest thought, on
the part of their author, that they would ever
be made public. On this account they are to
be regarded as the genuine effusions of his
mind and heart, expressing alike the native
warmth of his feelings, and the sincerity of
his attachments. We have here the records
of a correspondence with different persons
for nearly half a century, and we perceive
from beginning to end a lively and continued
interest in his early friendships, undiminished
by time, unaltered by circumstances. Nor
will it be easy to find, in any letters of the
like description, stronger evidences of kind
ness, sympathy, and all the traits of a truly
amiable character and affectionate temper.
The style of composition, also, is every where
marked with the same unstudied simplicity
and felicitous manner, which communicate
so winning a charm to Dr. Franklin's other
writings. To make the collection more com
plete in its kind, a few letters have been
selected from those heretofore printed, which
tpeat of domestic and familiar topics.
The Miscellaneous Pieces, which form the
second part of the volume, are of another

PREFACE. Vll
cast, but not less valuable as indicating io
pointed language the political opinions of
Franklin at an important crisis, and as afford
ing triumphant proofs of his patriotism at a
time, when it has suited the purpose of his
enemies to represent him as having been a
wavering friend, if not a secret foe, to the
cause of his country.
Few eminent men have been so unfortu
nate, in respect to the publication of' their
writings, as Franklin. No edition of his
works, nor of any part of them except his
early philosophical essays, was ever prepared
by himself, or published under his own inspec
tion. His letters and papers made their
appearance from time to time, either as
forced out by the interested motives of book
sellers, or the importunity of friends. The
papers left by him to his grandson were kept
back from the public for more than twenty
years after the author's death, and were
at last compiled with little ability in the
execution, or justice to the subject. It is
moreover to be remembered, with extreme
regret, that Franklin's letter-books, embrac
ing the entire period of his agency in Eng-

PREFACE.

land, throughout a, space of almost twenty
years, as well as other original papers,
were lost by the negligence or treachery of
the person, to whose care he entrusted them
when he went to France. A few letters
to individuals, which have been collected,
and short biographical memoranda of his
own, relating to detached events, afford all
the materials that exist for a history of his
official transactions and private opinions in
the compass of that eventful portion of his
life. Owing to a train of circumstances, which
at one time were not well understood, but
now admit of an easy and full explanation,
the character of Franklin suffered in the
hands of some ofhis later associates and con
temporaries. Suspicions of his political in
tegrity, and even of his private honesty,
were scattered among the credulous, and
produced impressions on the minds of many
of his countrymen, which his brilliant name
and great services have as yet hardly effaced.
After a laborious inquiry into this matter,
with no ordinary means of information and
opportunities of research, particularly in

PREFACE. IX

regard to his acts as Minister Plenipoten
tiary in France, and in negotiating the treaty
of peace at the end of the war, I feel author
ized to declare, that his conduct admits of
unqualified vindication ; that, so far from open
censure or the whispers of suspicion, he de
serves the lasting praise and gratitude of his
country for the manly, consistent, undevi-
ating, honorable, and efficient course he pur
sued, in the face of numerous obstacles and
embarrassments, during the whole nine years
of his residence in France. His patriotism
and fidelity to his trust were equalled only
by his unrivalled talents and sagacity.
But this is not the place to discuss so wide
a topic. This little volume cannot fail to
present to every reader the elements of
Franklin's character under a favorable aspect,
which will not be changed by a closer study
and a better acquaintance. Having in my
possession ample means for pursuing this
subject to its full extent, I look forward to
some future occasion for at least attempting
to execute so grateful a task.
JARED SPARKS.
Boston, 1 May, 1833.

CONTENTS.

PART I.
FAMILIAR LETTERS. Page.
I. To Miss Jane Franklin ; 6 January, 1726-7. . 3
II. To Mrs. Sarah Davenport. . . ... 4
III. To Mrs. Jane Mecom; 19 June, 1730. Family afflic-
tions; singular instance of mortality. . . 5
IV. To the same ; 28 July, 1743. Religion ; charity. . 8
V. To Mr. and Mrs. Mecom. ... 10
VI. To Mrs. Jane Mecom. Condition of apprentices and
habits of boys. . . .... 10
VII. To Mrs. Abiah Franklin ; 7 September, 1749. Family
incidents. ........ 15
VIII. To the same. Philadelphia, 16 October, 1749. . 16
IX. To the same. Private affairs and family incidents. 17
X. To Mrs. Jane Mecom ; 20 September, 1750. . 19
XI. To Mrs. Abiah Franklin ; 1751. . . 20
XII. To Mrs. Jane Mecom ; 24 October, 1751. . . 21
XIII. To Mr. and Mrs. Mecom; 21 May, 1752. Death ofhis
mother ; religious reflections ; epitaph on the tomb
stone of his father and mother. . . 22
XIV. To Mrs. Jane Mecom ; 14 September, 1752. Ore the
establishing of his nephew as a printer at Antigua. 24
XV. To Mr. and Mrs. Mecom ; 30 November, 1752. . 27
XVI. To Miss Catherine Ray, Block Island; 4 March,
1755  28
XVII. To the same ; 11 September, 1755. . . 30
XVIII. To Mrs. Deborah Franklin; 25 January, 1756.
Humorous account of his building forts at Gna-
dcnhuttcn ..... 35
XIX. To the same ; 30 January, 1756. ... 36
XX. To Mrs. Jane Mecom ; 12 February, 1756. . 38

xii CONTENTS. Page.
XXI. To Miss Hubbard ; 23 February, 1756. Ore the
death of a relation. . . ¦ .39
XXII. To Mrs. Jane Mecom ; 28 June, 1756. Family
affairs ; business concerns of his nephew. . 40
XXIII. To the same ; 12 July, 1756. . . .43
XXIV. To George Washington; 19 August, 1756. Convey
ance of the mail for military purposes. . . 44
XXV. To Mrs. Deborah Franklin ; 13 November, 1756.
Humorous. . . . ¦ .46
XXVI. To Mr. and Mrs. Mecom ; 30 December, 1756. 47
XXVII. To Mrs. Jane Mecom ; 21 February, 1757. . 48
XXVIII. To Miss Catherine Ray; 3 March, 1757. . . 49
XXIX. To Mrs. Jane Mecom ; 19 April, 1757. Habits of
old age. . ... 50
XXX. To the same ; 21 May, 1757. Domestic economy. 52
XXXI. To Mrs. Jane Mecom ; 30 May, 1757. Family con
cerns ; rules of conduct ; habits of industry. 54
XXXII. To Thomas Hubbard, Boston; 28 April, 1758.
Philosophical ; electricity. ... 57
XXXIII. To Miss Stevenson ; 20 August, 1758. . 60
XXXIV. To the same ; 4 May, 1759. ... 61
XXXV. To the same; 14 February, 1760. . . 62
XXXVI. To the same ; 1 May, 1760. Philosophical in
struction. ....... 64
XXXVII. To the same ; 16 May, 1760. Rules for reading. 66
XXXVIII. To the same ; 7 July, 1761. ... 67
XXXIX. To the same ; 29 October, 1761. . . 68
XL. To the same ; 8 March, 1762. . . 69
XLI. To the same ; 24 May, 1762. ... 70
XLII. To the same ; 7 June, 1762  71
XLIII. To the same ; 11 August, 1762. . . 73
XLIV. To Mrs. Catherine Greene ; 23 January, 1763. 74
XLV. To Miss Stevenson ; 25 ¦ March, 1763. Arrival
in America ; recollections of his friends in
England. ....... 75
XLVI. To Jonathan Williams, Boston ; 13 April, 1763. 80
XLVII. To Miss Stevenson ; 10 June, 1763. . . 81
XLVIII. To Jonathan Williams ; 11 June, 1763. . 82
XLIX. To Miss Stevenson ; 27 June, 1763. . . 83
L. To William Greene ; 19 July, 1763. . . 84

CONTENTS. xiii
Page.
LI. To Mrs. Catherine Greene ; 1 August, 1763. 85
LII. To the same ; 5 September, 1763. . . 86
LIII. To the same ; 10 November, 1763. Return from
a journey to New England. ... 87
LIV. To the same; 15 February, 1764. . . 88
LV. Te Miss Stevenson; 14 March, 1764. . . 90
LVI. To Jonathan Williams; 21 April, 1764. . 91
LVII. To Miss Stevenson ; 4 May, 1764. . 92
LVIII. To Jonathan Williams ; 24 May, 1764. . 93
LIX. To the same ; 3 November, 1764. Second mission
to England. ..... 94
LX. To Miss Stevenson ; December, 1764. Arrival in
England. . ... 95
LXI. To the same ; 9 January, 1765. . . 96
LXII. To Jonathan Williams ; 28 April, 1766. Construc
tion of an Armonica, «. musical instrument ; re
ports concerning him. ... 97
LXIII. To Miss Stevenson ; 26 March, 1767. . 99
LX1V. To the same; 16 May, 1767. ... 100
LXV. To the same ; 17 June, 1767. Humorous. . 101
LXVI. To the same ; 14 September, 1767. Description of
a journey to Paris; French fashions ; king and
queen ; Versailles ; Paris ; French politeness ;
travelling. ..... 102
LXVII. To Miss Stevenson ; 9 October, 1767. . . 110
LXVIII. To the same ; 28 September, 1768. Project of a
new alphabet, by which words would be written
as they are spelled ; advantages of such a
scheme. ..... 110
LXIX. To the same ; October, 1768. Prudential advice. 114
LXX. To the same; 20 October, 1768. . 116
LXXI. To the same ; 27 June, 1769. Mode of relieving
the thirst of persons exposed at sea; political and
religious disputes. . . . . 118
LXXII. To the same ; 2 September, 1769. Humorous ;
enthusiasm. ...... 120
LXXIII. To the same ; 22 January, 1770. . 122
LXXIV. To Mrs. Jane Mecom ; 15 March, 1770. . 123
LXXV. To a Friend in America; 18 March, 1770. Opin
ions of the principal persons in England re
specting America ; merchants and manufacturers. 124

xiv CONTENTS. Page.
LXXVI. To Miss Stevenson ; 31 May, 1770. Advice con
cerning a proposal of marriage. . . 127
LXXVII. To Jonathan Williams ; 6 June, 1770 . 129
LXXVIII. To Samuel Franklin, Boston ; 8 June, 1770.
Personal incidents; genealogical; family re
lations. . . . • 132
LXXIX. To Mrs. Hewson ; 24 July, P770. . . 134
LXXX. To Jonathan Williams; 5 March, 1771. . 137
LXXX1. To Mrs. Williams ; 5 March, 1771. . . 139
LXXXII. To Samuel Franklin ; 12 July, 1771. . 140
LXXXUI. To Jonathan Williams; 25 August, 1771. . 142
LXXXIV. To Mrs. Hewson ; 25 November, 1771. While
on a journey ; humorous. . . . 142
LXXXV. To Mrs. Jane Mecom; 13 January, 1772. Fam
ily details ; koto to choose spectacles. . 145
LXXXVI. To Samuel Franklin; 13 January, 1772. Choice
of a wife. . . ... 147
LXXXVII. To Mrs. Hewson; 8 July, 1772. . . 148
LXXXV1II. To Jonathan Williams; 11 August, 1772. . 149
LXXXIX. To a Friend in America ; 26 September, 1774.
On abuse from his enemies ; false reports re
specting his conduct. .... 150
XC. To Mrs. Hewson ; 8 July, 1775. . . 151
XCI. To tlie same ; 12 January, 1777. . 153
XCII. To the same ; 26 January, 1777. Reminiscences
of friends ; humorous account of the mode of
dressing hair in Paris. .... 154
XCIII. To Mrs. Greene ; 28 February, 1778. . 156
XCIV. To William Greene, Governor of Rhode Island. 158
XCV. To John Paul Jones ; 10 June, 1778. Intelli
gence and instructions on naval affairs. . 159
XCVI. To the same; 6 September, 1778. . . 162
XCVII. To Mrs. Stevenson; 25 January, 1779. Private
incidents ; his mode of living in France. . 163
XCVIII. To John Paul Jones ; 27 April, 1779. Plan of
an expedition in which the Marquis de la Fayette
was to join. ...... 166
XCIX. To the same ; 8 July, 1779. . . .169
C. To a Relation in America; 25 October, 1779.
His situation in France  171

CONTENTS. xv
Page.
CI. To John Paul Jones ; 19 February, 1780. Naval
affairs. ... .... 172
CII. To the same ; 18 March, 1780. . . .174
CIII. To Robert Morris ; 3 June, 1780. State of things in
Europe ; neutral trade  177
CIV. To John Paul Jones ; 12 August, 1780. . . 178
CV. To Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse, at Leyden ; 18 Janu
ary, 1781. Death of Dr. Fothergill ; traits of his
character. ... . . 180
CVI. To Mrs. Hewson ; 13 April, 1782. . . 181
CV1I. To Mrs. Stevenson and Mrs. Hewson ; 19 April.
1782  183
CVIII. To Mrs. Hewson ; 13 June, 1782. Education of her
children ; writings of Madame de Genlis. . 184
CIX. To the same ; June, 1782. Aslcs her advice as to the
expediency of Ids visiting England. . . . 185
CX. To the same ; 17 August,' 1782 . .187
CXI. To the same ; 27 January, 1783. Ore the death of
several friends ; declines visiting England ; peace
between England and the United States ; requests
her to come to Paris. .... 188
CXII. To the same; 26 April, 1783  190
CXIII. To the same ; 7 September, 1783. On the future
establishment of her children. • . . . 191
CXIV. To the same ; 26 December, 1783. ... 194
CXV. To the same; 19 March, 1784. . . .195
CXVI. To the same ; 15 August, 17S4. Making prepara
tions to return to America. . . . . 196
CXVII. To the same; 5 May, 1785. . . .197
CXVIII. To the same ; 26 June, 1785  198
CXIX. To the same; 4 July, 1785. Leaves Passy; travels
to Havre in the King's titter, carried by mules. 200
CXX. To the same ; 26 July, 1785  201
CXXI. To Governor Greene and Mrs. Greene ; 20 Septem
ber, 1785. .  202
CXXII. To Mrs. Hewson ; 30 October, 1785. On his return
to America ; engaged again in public business. 203
CXXIII. To the same; 6 May, 1786. Humorous account of
a letter he had received from her ; his occupations
and amusements. ..... 204
CXXIV. To the same ; 30 May, 1786. . . .208

xvi CONTENTS. Page.
CXXV. To a Friend ; 4 July, 1786. Ore bad spelling. 209
CXXVI. To the Reverend Dr. Byles, Boston ; 1 January,
1788. Electricity and electrical points. . 211
CXXV1I. To the Reverend Dr. Lathrop, Boston ; 31 May,
1788. Attachment to his early friends, and the
associations of his youth ; growing felicity of
mankind by improvements in philosophy. . 213
CXXVIII. To a Relation in Boston ; 3 August, 1789. 216

PART II.
MISCELLANEOUS PIECES.
Hints for a Reply to the Protests of certain Members of tlie
House of Lords against the Repeal of the Stamp Act. 221
Observations on Passages in a Pamphlet, entitled " Good
Humor, or a Way with the Colonies. London, 1766." 227
Observations on Passages in •' A Letter from a Merchant in
London to his Nephew in North America. London,
1766."  .231
Observations on Passages in " An Inquiry into the Nature
and Causes of the Disputes between the British Colo
nies in America and their Mother Country. London,
1769."  251
Observations on Passages in a Pamphlet, entitled " The
true Constitutional Means for Putting an End to the
Disputes between Great Britain and the American Col
onies. London, 1769." .... 270
Walpole's Grant. ...... 275
The Craven-Street Gazette. .... 286

PART I.

FAMILIAR LETTERS.

FAMILIAR LETTERS.

LETTER I.
To Miss Jane Franklin.
Philadelphia, 6 January, 1726-7.
Dear Sister,
I am highly pleased with the account Captain Free
man gives me of you. I always judged by your beha
viour when a child, that you would make a good,
agreeable woman, and you know you were ever my
peculiar favorite. I have been thinking what would
be a suitable present for me to make, and for you to
receive, as I hear you are grown a celebrated beauty.
I had almost determined on a tea-table ; but when I
considered, that the character of a good housewife was
far preferable to that of being only a pretty gentlewo
man, I concluded to send you a spinning-wheel, which
I hope you will accept as a small token of my sincere
love and affection.
Sister, farewell, and remember that modesty, as it
makes the most homely virgin amiable and charming,

4 FRANKLIN:
so the want of it infallibly renders the most perfect
beauty disagreeable and odious. But when that bright
est of female virtues shines among other perfections of
body and mind in the same person, it makes the woman
more lovely than an angel. Excuse this freedom, and
use the same with me.
I am, dear Jenny, your loving brother,
B. Franklin.

LETTER II.
To Mrs. Sarah Davenport.
[Date uncertain.]
Dear Sister,
Your kind and affectionate letter of May 15th was
extremely agreeable to me, and the more so, because
I had not for two years before received a line from
any relation, my father and mother only excepted.
I am glad to hear your family are got well through the
smallpox, and that you have your health continued to
you. I am sorry to hear of sister Mecom's loss, and
should be mighty glad of a line from her, and from
sister Holmes, who need be under no apprehensions of
not writing polite enough to such an unpolite reader
as I am. I think if politeness is necessary to make
letters between brothers and sisters agreeable, there
must be very little love among them.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 5
I am not about to be married, as you have heard.
At present I am much hurried in business, but hope to
make a short trip to Boston in the spring.
Please to let me know how sister Douse is, and
remember my kind love to her, as also to brother
Peter and sister Lydia.*
Dear sister, I love you tenderly. Adieu.
B. Franklin.

LETTER III.
To Mrs. Jane Mecom. f
Philadelphia, 19 June, 1730.
Dear Sister,
Yours of May 26th I received, with the melancholy
news of the death of sister Davenport, a loss, without
doubt, regretted by all that knew her, for she was a
good woman. Her friends ought, however, to be
comforted that they have enjoyed her so long, and
that she has passed through the world happily, having
never had any extraordinary misfortune or notable
affliction, and that she is now secure in rest, in the
place provided for the virtuous. I had before heard
of the death of your first child, and am pleased that
* This sister was afterwards married to Mr. Robert Scott.
f Dr. Franklin's sister Jane was married to Mr. Edward Mecom,
of Boston, in July, 1727. 1*

6 FRANKLIN.
the loss is in some measure made up to you by the
birth of a second.
We have had the smallpox here lately, which raged
violently while it lasted. There have been about fifty
persons inoculated, who all recovered, except a child
of the doctor's, upon whom the smallpox appeared
within a day or two after the operation, and who is
therefore thought to have been certainly infected before.
In one family in my neighbourhood there appeared a
great mortality. Mr. George Claypoole (a descend
ant of Oliver Cromwell) had, by industry, acquired a
great estate, and being in excellent business, a mer
chant, would probably have doubled it, had he lived
according to the common course of years. He died
first, suddenly ; within a short time died his best negro ;
then one of his children ;' then a negro woman ; then
two children more, buried at the same time ; then two
more ; so that I saw two double buryings come out of
the house in one week. None were left in the family,
but the mother and one child, and both their lives till
lately despaired of; so that all the father's wealth,
which every body thought, a little while ago, had heirs
enough, and no one would have given sixpence for
the reversion, was in a few weeks brought to the
greatest probability of being divided among strangers ;
so uncertain are all human affairs. The dissolution of
this family is generally ascribed to an imprudent use
of quicksilver in the cure of the itch, Mr. Claypoole
applying it as he thought proper, without consulting a

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 7
physician for fear of charges ; and the smallpox com
ing upon them at the same time made their case des
perate. But what gives me the greatest concern, is the
account you give me of my sister Holmes's misfortune.
I know a cancer in the breast is often thought incura
ble ; yet we have here in town a kind of shell made of
some wood, cut at a proper time, by some man of great
skill, (as they say,) which has done wonders in that dis
ease among us, being worn for some time on the breast.
I am not apt to be superstitiously fond of believing
such things, but the instances are so well attested, as
sufficiently to convince the most incredulous.
This, if I have interest enough to procure, as I think
I have, I will borrow for a time, and send it to you,
and hope the doctors you have will at least allow the
experiment to be tried, and shall rejoice to hear it has
the accustomed effect.
You have mentioned nothing in your letter of our
dear parents ; but I conclude they are well, because
you say nothing to the contrary. I want to hear from
sister Douse, and to know of her welfare, as also of
my sister Lydia, who I hear is lately married. I in
tended to have visited you this summer, but printing
the paper-money here has hindered me near two
months, and our Assembly will sit the 2d of August
next, at which time I must not be absent ; but I hope
to see you this fall.
I am your affectionate brother,
B. Franklin.

8 FRANKLIN.
LETTER IV.
To Mrs. Jane Mecom.
Philadelphia, 28 July, 1743.
Dearest Sister Jenny,
I took your admonition very kindly, and was far
from being offended at you for it. If I say any thing
about it to you, it is only to rectify some wrong opinions
you seem to have entertained of me; and this I do
only because they give you some uneasiness, which I
am unwilling to be the occasion of. You express
yourself, as if you thought I was against the worship
ping of God, and doubt that good works would merit
heaven ; which are both fancies of your own, I think,
without foundation. I am so far from thinking that
God is not to be worshipped, that I have composed
and wrote a whole book of devotions for my own
use ; and I imagine there are few if any in the world
so weak as to imagine, that the little good we can
do here can merit so vast a reward hereafter.
There are some things in your New England doc
trine and worship, which I do not agree with ; but I
do not therefore condemn them, or desire to shake
your belief or practice of them. We may dislike
things, that are nevertheless right in themselves. I
would only have you make me the same allowance,
and have a better opinion both of morality and your
brother. Read the pages of Mr. Edwards's late book,

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 9
entitled, " Some Thoughts concerning the present
Revival of Religion in New England," from 367 to
375, and when you judge of others, if you can per
ceive the fruit to be good, don't terrify yourself that
the tree may be evil ; but be assured it is not so, for
you know who has said, " Men do not gather grapes
of thorns and figs of thistles." I have not time to add,
but that I shall always be your affectionate brother,
B. Franklin.
P. S. It was not kind in you, when your sister
commended good works, to suppose she intended it a
reproach to you. It was very far from her thoughts.*
* The following extract from a letter, written to a relative many
years afterwards, may with propriety be added in this connexion.
" I received a letter or two from you, in which I perceive you
have misunderstood and taken unkindly something I said to you
in a former jocular one of mine concerning charity. I forget
what it was exactly, but I am sure I neither expressed nor meant
any personal censure on you or any body. If any thing, it was
a general reflection on our sect, we zealous Presbyterians being
too apt to think ourselves alone in the right, and that, besides all
the Heathens, Mahometans, and Papists, whom we give to Satan
in a lump, other sects of Christian Protestants, that do not agree
with us, will hardly escape perdition. And I might recommend it
to you to be more charitable in that respect, than many others are,
not aiming at any reproof, as you term it ; for if 1 were disposed
to reprove you, it should be for your only fault, that of supposing
and spying affronts, and catching at them, where they are not.
But as you seem sensible of this yourself, I need not mention it ;
and as it is a fault that carries with it its own sufficient punish
ment, by the uneasiness and fretting it produces, I shall not add
weight to it. Besides, I am sure your own good sense, joined to
your natural good humor, will in time get the better of it."

10 FRANKLIN.
LETTER V.
To Mr. and Mrs. Mecom.
Philadelphia, [date uncertain.]
Dear Brother and Sister,
If you still continue your inclination to send Benny,*
you may do it. by the first vessel to New York. Write
a line by him, directed to Mr. James Parker, Printer,
on Hunter's Key, New York. I am confident he- will
be kindly used there, and I shall hear from him every
week. You will advise him to be very cheerful, and
ready to do every thing he is bid, and endeavour to
oblige every body, for that is the true way to get friends.
Dear Sister, I love you tenderly for your care of
our father in his sickness.
I am, in great haste, your loving brother,
B. Franklin.

LETTER VI.
To Mrs. Jane Mecom.
Philadelphia, [date uncertain.]
Dear Sister,
I received your letter, with one for Benny, and one
for Mr. Parker, and also two of Benny's letters of
complaint, which, as you observe, do not amount to
* Benjamin Mecom, a nephew of Dr. Franklin, whom he seems
to have taken particularly under his charge.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. jj
much. I should have had a very bad opinion of him,
if he had written to you those accusations of his master,
which you mention ; because, from long acquaint
ance with his master, who lived some years in my
house, I know him to be a sober, pious, and conscien
tious man ; so that Newport, to whom you seem to have
given too much credit, must have wronged Mr. Parker
very much in his accounts, and have wronged Benny
too, if he says Benny told him such things, for I am
confident he never did.
As to the bad attendance afforded him in the small
pox, I believe, if the negro woman did not do her
duty, her master or mistress would, if they had known
it, have had that matter mended. But Mrs. Parker
was herself, if I am not mistaken, sick at that time,
and her child also. And though he gives the woman
a bad character in genera], all he charges her with in
particular, is, that she never brought him what he
called for directly, and sometimes not at all. He had
the distemper favorably, and yet I suppose was bad
enough to be, like other sick people, a little impatient,
and perhaps might think a short time long, and some
times call for things not proper for one in his condition.
As to clothes, I am frequently at New York, and
I never saw him unprovided with what was good,
decent, and sufficient. I was there no longer ago than
March last, and he was then well clothed, and made
no complaint to me of any kind. I heard both his
master and mistress call upon him on Sunday morning

12 FRANKLIN.
to get ready to go to meeting, and tell him of his
frequently delaying and shuffling till it was too late,
and he made not the least objection about clothes.
I did not think it any thing extraordinary, that he
should be sometimes willing to evade going to meeting,
for I believe it is the case with all boys, or almost all.
I have brought up four or five myself, and have
frequently observed, that if their shoes were bad, they
would say nothing of a new pair till Sunday morning,
just as the bell rung, when, if you asked them why
they did not get ready, the answer was prepared,
" I have no shoes," and so of other things, hats and
the like ; or if they knew of any thing that wanted
¦mending, it was a secret till Sunday morning, and some
times 1 believe they would rather tear a little, than be
without the excuse.
As to going on petty errands, no boys love it, but
all must do it. As soon as they become fit for better
busmess, they naturally get rid of that, for the master's
interest comes in to their relief. I make no doubt
but Mr. Parker will take another apprentice, as soon
as he can meet with a likely one. In the mean time
I should be glad if Benny would exercise a little pa
tience. There is a negro woman that does a great
many of those errands.
I do not think his going on board the privateer arose
from any difference between him and his master, or
any ill usage he had received. When boys see prizes
brought in, and quantities of money shared among the

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 13
men, and their gay living, it fills their heads with
notions, that half distract them, and put them quite
out of conceit with trades, and the dull ways of getting
money by working. This I suppose was Ben's case,
the Catherine being just before arrived with three rich
prizes ; and that the glory of having taken a privateer
of the enemy, for which both officers and men were
highly extolled, treated, presented, 81c. worked strongly
upon his imagination, you. will see, by his answer to
my letter, is not unlikely. I send it to you enclosed.
I wrote him largely on the occasion ; and though he
might possibly, to excuse that slip to others, complain
of his place, you may see he says not a syllable of
any such thing to me. My only son, before I per
mitted him to go to Albany, left my house unknown to
us all, and got on board a privateer, from whence I
fetched him. No one imagined it was hard usage at
home, that made him do this. Every one, that knows
me, thinks I am too indulgent a parent, as well as
master. I shall tire you, perhaps, with the length of this letter ;
but I am the more particular, in order, if possible, to
satisfy your mind about your son's situation. His
master has, by a letter this post, desired me to write
to him about his staying out of nights, sometimes all
night, and refusing to give an account where he spends
his time, or in what company. This I had not heard
of before, though I perceive you have. I do not won
der at his correcting him for that. If he was my own
2

14 FRANKLIN.
son, I should think his master did not do his duty by
him, if he omitted it, for to be sure it is the high road
to destruction. And I think the correction very light,
and not likely to be very effectual, if the strokes left no
marks. His master says farther, as follows; — "I think I
can't charge my conscience with being much short of
my duty to him. I shall now desire you, 'if you have
not done it already, to invite him to lay his complaints
before you, that I may know how to remedy them."
Thus far the words of his letter, which giving me a
fair opening to inquire into the affair, I shall accord
ingly .do it, and I hope settle every thing to all your
satisfactions. In the mean time, I have laid by your
letters both to Mr. Parker and Benny, and shall not
send them till I hear again from you', because I think
your appearing to give ear to such groundless stories
may give offence, and create a greater misunderstand
ing, and because I think what you write to Benny,
about getting him discharged, may tend to unsettle his
mind, and therefore improper at this time.
I have a very good opinion of Benny in the main,
and have great hopes of his becoming a worthy man,
his faults being only such as are commonly incident to
boys of his years, and he has many good qualities, for
which I love him. I never knew an apprentice con
tented with the clothes allowed him by his master,
let them be what they would. Jemmy Franklin, when
with me, was always dissatisfied and grumbling. When

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 15
I was last in Boston, his aunt bid him go to a shop and
please himself, which the gentleman did, and bought
a suit of clothes on my account dearer by one half,
than any I ever afforded myself, one suit excepted ;
which I don't mention by way of complaint of Jemmy,
for he and I are good friends, but only to show you
the nature of boys.
The letters to Mr. Vanhorne were sent by Mr.
Whitfield, under my cover.
I am, with love to brother and all yours, and duty
to mother, to whom I have not time now to write,
your affectionate brother,
B. Franklin.

LETTER VII.
To Mrs. Abiah Franklin.
Philadelphia, 7 September, 1749.
Honored Mother,
We received your kind letter by this post, and are
glad you still continue to enjoy such a share of health.
Cousin Josiah and his spouse arrived hearty and well
last Saturday noon. I met them the evening before
at Trenton, thirty miles off, and accompanied them to
town. They went into their own house on Monday,
and I believe will do very well, for he seems bent on
industry, and she appears a discreet, notable young
woman. My wife has been to see them every day,

16 FRANKLIN.
calling in as she passes by ; and I suspect has fallen
in love with our new cousin, for she entertains me a
deal, when she comes home, with what cousin Sally
does, and what cousin Sally says, what a good con
triver she is, and the like.
1 believe it might be of service to me, in the matter
of getting in my debts, if I were to make a voyage to
London ; but I have not yet determined on it in my
own mind, and think I am grown almost too lazy to
undertake it.
The Indians are gone homewards loaded with
presents. In a week or two the treaty with them will
be printed, and I will send you one.
My love to brother and sister Mecom, and to all
inquiring friends. I am your dutiful son,
B. Franklin.

LETTER VIII.
To Mrs. Abiah Franklin.
Philadelphia, 16 October, 1749,
Honored Mother,
This has been a busy day with your daughter, and
she is gone to bed much fatigued and cannot write.
I send you enclosed one of our new Almanacs.
We print them early, because we send them to many
places far distant. I send you also a moidore enclosed,

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 17
which please to accept towards chaise hire, that you
may ride warm to meetings this winter. Pray tell us
what kind of a sickness you have had in Boston this
summer. Besides the measles and flux, which have
carried off many children, we have lost some grown
persons, by what we call the Yellow Fever ; though
that is almost if not quite over, thanks to God, who
has preserved all our family in perfect health.. \.^
Here are cousins Coleman, and two Folgers, all
well. Your granddaughter is the greatest lover of her
book and school, of any child I ever knew, and is
very dutiful to her mistress as well as to us.
I doubt not but brother Mecom will send the collar
as soon as he can conveniently. My love to him,
sister, and all the children. I am your dutiful son,
B. Franklin.

LETTER IX.
To Mrs. Abiah Franklin.
Philadelphia, [date uncertain.]
Honored Mother,
We received your kind letter of the 2d instant, by
which we are glad to hear you still enjoy such a
measure of health, notwithstanding your great age.
We read your writing very easily. I never met
2*

18 FRANKLIN.
with a word in your letters but what I could easily
understand, for though the hand is not always the best,
the sense makes every thing plain. My leg, which
you inquire after, is now quite well. I shall keep
these servants ; but the man not in my own house. I
have hired him out to the man, that takes care of my
Dutch printing-office, who agrees to keep him in
victuals and clothes, and to pay me a dollar a week
for his work. The wife, since that affair, behaves
exceeding well ; but we conclude to sell them both
the first good opportunity, for we do not like negro
servants. We got again about half what we lost.
As to your grandchildren, Will is now nineteen
years of age, a tall proper youth, and much of a beau.
He acquired a habit of idleness on the Expedition, but
begins of late to apply himself to business, and I hope
will become an industrious man. He imagined his
father had got enough for him, but I have assured
him that I intend to spend what little I have myself, if
it please God that I live long enough ; and as he by no
means wants acuteness, he can see by my going on,
that I mean to be as good as my word.
Sally grows a fine girl, and is extremely industrious
with her needle, and delights in her work. She is of
a most affectionate temper, and perfectly dutiful and
obliging to her parents, and to all. Perhaps I flatter
myself too much, but I have hopes that she will prove
an ingenious, sensible, notable, and worthy woman,
like her aunt Jenny. She goes now to the dancing-
school.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. \Q
For my own part, at present, I pass my time agree
ably enough. I enjoy, through mercy, a tolerable
share of health. I read a great deal, ride a little, do
a little business for myself, now and then for others,
retire when I can, and go into company when I
please ; so the years roll round, and the last will come,
when I would rather have it said, He lived usefully,
than He died rich.
Cousins Josiah and Sally are well, and I believe
will do well, for they are an industrious loving young
couple ; but they want a little more stock to go on
smoothly with their business.
My love to brother and sister Mecom, and their
children, and to all my relations in general.
I am your dutiful son,
B. Franklin.

LETTER X.
To Mrs. Jane Mecom.
Philadelphia, 20 September, 1750.
Dear Sister,
I received yours the 1 1th instant, with one enclosed
for cousin Benny ; but he, I suppose, is in Boston
with you before this time, as he left New York fifteen
days since with a fair wind for Rhode Island. I do
not know how long his master gave him leave to stay ;
but as I hear the Assembly there is sitting, and doing

20 FRANKLIN.
business, I believe he will be wanted, and therefore
would advise him to return expeditiously, as soon as
you can spare him.
Mr. Cooper is not yet arrived. I shall be glad to
see him ; but as he has not had the smallpox, I sup
pose he will not come so far, for it is spreading here.
As the doctors inoculate apace, they will drive it
through the town, so that we may expect to be free of
it before the winter is over.
My love to brother Mecom and the children, and
duty to mother. I am, dear sister,
Your affectionate brother,
B. Franklin.

LETTER XI.
To Mrs. Abiah Franklin.
Philadelphia, 1751.
Honored Mother,
We received by this post both your letters of April
13th and 20th. The account you give of poor little
Biah grieves me, but I still hope the best. However,
God's will must be done. I rejoice that the rest of
sister's children and brother Davenport's are likely to
escape so well, and Mrs. Billings's.
Enclosed I send an order for six pistoles, which I

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 21
believe will be paid on sight. I beg sister to accept
four of them, and you the other two.
I am your dutiful son,
B. Franklin.

LETTER XII.
To Mrs. Jane Mecom.
Philadelphia, 24 October, 1751.
Dear Sister,
My son waits upon you with this, whom I heartily
recommend to your motherly care and advice. He
is indeed a sober and discreet lad of his years, but he
is young and unacquainted with the ways of your
place. My compliments to my new niece, Miss Abiah,
and pray her to accept the enclosed piece of gold, to
cut her teeth ; it may afterwards buy nuts for them to
crack. Some time since I sent a letter to your care for
our cousin at Casco Bay. Have you had an oppor
tunity to forward it ?
My love to brother Mecom and your children ; and
to brother and sister Davenport and children ; and
respects to Mrs. Billings and her daughter, and all
Other friends, from, dear sister,
Your affectionate brother,
B. Franklin.

22 FRANKLIN.

LETTER XIII.
To Mr. and Mrs. Mecom.
Philadelphia, 21 May, 1752.
Dear Brother and Sister,
I received yours with the affecting news of our
dear good mother's death. I thank you for your long
continued care of her in her old age and sickness.
Our distance made it impracticable for us to attend
her, but you have supplied all. She has lived a good
life, as well as a long one, and is happy.*
* At another time he wrote to a friend, who was in affliction ; —
" The longer we live we are exposed to more of these strokes
of Providence ; but though we consider them as such, and know
it is our duty to submit to the Divine will, yet, when it comes to
our turn to bear what so many millions before us have borne, and
so many millions after us must bear, we are apt to think our case
particularly hard. Consolations, however kindly administered,
seldom afford us any relief. Natural affections will have their
course, and time proves our best comforter. This I have experi
enced myself; and, as I know your good sense has suggested to
you, long before this time, every argument, motive, and circum
stance, that can tend in any degree to relieve your grief, I will not
by repeating them renew it.
" 1 am pleased to find, that, in your troubles, you do not over
look the mercies of God, and that you consider as such the chil
dren, that are still spared to you. This is a right temper of mind,
and must be acceptable to that beneficent Being, who is in various
ways continually showering down his blessings upon many, that
receive them as things of course, and feel no grateful sentiments
arising in their hearts on the enjoyment of them."
Again he wrote ; — " There are objections to the doctrine of pre-

FAMILIAR LETTERS. £3
Since I sent you the order on Mr. Huske, I have
received his account, and find he thinks he has money
to receive, and, though I endeavour by this post to
convince him he is mistaken, yet possibly he may not
be immediately satisfied, so as to pay that order ;
therefore, lest the delay should be inconvenient to
you, I send the six pistoles enclosed. But if the
order is paid, give those to brother John, and desire
him to credit my account with them.
Your affectionate brother,
B. Franklin.

existence. But it seems to have been invented with a good inten
tion, to save the honor of the Deity, which was thought to be
injured by the supposition ofhis bringing creatures into the world
to be miserable, without any previous misbehaviour of theirs to
deserve it. This, however, is perhaps an officious supporting of
the ark, without being called to such service. Where he has
thought fit to draw a veil, our attempt to remove it may be called
at least an offensive impertinence. And we shall probably suc
ceed little better in such an adventure to gain forbidden knowl
edge, than our first parents did when they ate the apple.
" I meant no more by saying mankind were all devils to one
another, than that being in general superior to the malice of other
creatures, they were not so much tormented by them as by them
selves. Upon the whole I am much disposed to like the world as
I find it, and to doubt my own judgment as to what would mend
it. I see so much wisdom, as to what I understand of its creation
and government, that I suspect equal wisdom may be in what I
do not understand. And thence I have perhaps as much trust in
God, as the most pious Christian."
His father died eight years before hia mother, and they were
buried together. Several years afterwards, when Dr. Franklin

24 FRANKLIN.
LETTER XIV.
To Mr. and Mrs. Mecom.
Philadelphia, 14 September, 1752.
Dear Brother and Sister,
Benny sailed from hence this day two weeks, and
left our Capes the Sunday following. They are sel
dom above three weeks on the voyage to Antigua.
was in Boston, he placed a stone over the grave ofhis father and
mother, with the following inscription ; —
Josiah Franklin,
and
Abiah, his Wife,
Lie here interred.
They lived loving together in Wedlock
Fifty-five Years ;
And, without an Estate, or any gainful Employment,
By constant Labor and honest Industry,
(With God's Blessing)
Maintained a large Family comfortably,
And brought up thirteen Children and seven Grandchildren
Respectably.
From this Instance, Reader,
Be encouraged to Diligence in thy Calling,
And distrust not Providence.
He was a pious and prudent Man,
She a discreet and virtuous Woman.
Their youngest Son,
In filial Regard to their Memory,
Places this Stone.
J. F. born 1655, died 1744, iEt. 89.
A. F. born 1667, died 1752, JEt. 85.
Within a few years a handsome granite monument has been
raised over the tomb of these worthy persons, in honor of their
worth and of their name, by the private munificence of a few of

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 25
That island is reckoned one of the healthiest in the
West Indies. My late partner there enjoyed perfect
health for four years, till he grew careless, and got to
sitting up late in taverns, which I have cautioned
Benny to avoid and have given him all other neces
sary advice I could think of, relating both to his health
and conduct, and I hope for the best.
He will find the business settled to his hand ; a
newspaper established, no other printing-house to
interfere with him, or beat down his prices, which are
much higher than we get on the continent. He has
the place on the same terms with his predecessor,
who, I understand, cleared from five to six hundred
pistoles during the four years he lived there. I have
recommended him to some gentlemen of note for their
patronage and advice.
Mr. Parker, though he looked on Benny as one of
his best hands, readily consented to his going, on the
first mention of it. I told him Benny must make him
satisfaction for his time. He would leave that to be
settled by me, and Benny as readily agreed with me
to pay Mr. Parker as much as would hire a good
journeyman in his room. He came handsomely pro
vided with apparel, and I believe Mr. Parker has, in
every respect, done his duty by him, and, in this
the puhlic-spirited citizens of Boston. Is it presuming too much
to hope, that a sister city will ere long imitate so generous an ex
ample, and render a similar tribute of respect to the remains of
their illustrious son ? 3

26 FRANKLIN.
affair, has really acted a generous part ; therefore I
hope, if Benny succeeds in the world, he will make
Mr. Parker a return beyond what he has promised.
I suppose you will not think it amiss to write Mr. and
Mrs. Parker a line or two of thanks, for, notwith
standing some little differences, they have on the
whole been very kind to Benny.
We have vessels going very frequently from this
port to Antigua. You have some too from your
port. What letters you send this way I will take care
to forward. Antigua is the seat of government for
all the Leeward Islands, to wit, St. Christopher's,
Nevis, and Montserrat. Benny will have the busi
ness of all those islands, there being no other printer.
After all, having taken care to do what appears to
he for the lest, we must submit to God's Providence,
which orders all things really for the best.
While Benny was here, and since, our Assembly
was sitting, which took up my time, and I could not
before write you so fully.
With love to your children, I am, dear brother and
sister, Your affectionate brother,
B. Franklin.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 27

LETTER XV.
To Mr. and Mrs. Mecom.
Philadelphia, 30 November, 1752.
Dear Brother and Sister,
I congratulate you on the news of Benny's arrival,
for whom I had been some time in pain.
That you may know the whole state of his mind
and his affairs, and by that means be better able to
advise him, I send you all the letters I have received
from or concerning him. I fear I have been too for
ward in cracking the shell, and producing the chick
to the air before its time.
We are at present all well, thanks to God, and hope
you and yours are so. I am
Your affectionate brother,
B. Franklin.
P. S. In my opinion, if Benny can but be pre
vailed on to behave steadily, he may make his fortune
there. And without some share of steadiness and
perseverance, he can succeed no where. Please to
return me the letters,

28 FRANKLIN.
LETTER XVI.
To Miss Catherine Ray, Block Island.
Philadelphia, 4 March, 1755.
Dear Katy,
Your kind letter of January 20th is but just come
to hand, and I take this first opportunity of acknowl
edging the favor. It gives me great pleasure to hear,
that you got home safe and well that day. I thought
too much was hazarded, when I saw you put off to
sea in that very little skiff, tossed by every wave.
But the call was strong and just, a sick parent. I
stood on the shore, and looked after you, till I could
no longer distinguish you, even with my glass ; then
returned to your sister's, praying for your safe pas
sage. Towards evening all agreed that you must
certainly be arrived before that time, the weather
having been so favorable ; which made me more easy
and cheerful, for I had been truly concerned for you,
I left New England slowly, and with great reluc
tance. Short day's journeys, and loitering visits on
the road, for three or four weeks, manifested my
unwillingness to quit a country, in which I drew my
first breath, spent my earliest and most pleasant days,-
and had now received so many fresh marks of the
people's goodness and benevolence, in the kind and
affectionate treatment I had every where met with. I
almost forgot I had a home, till I was more than half

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 29
way towards it ; till I had, one by one, parted with all
my New England friends, and was got into the western
borders of Connecticut, among mere strangers. Then,
like an old man, who, having buried all he loved in
this world, begins to think of heaven, I began to think
of and wish for home ; and as I drew nearer, I found
the attraction stronger and stronger. My diligence
and speed increased with my impatience. I drove on
violently, and made such long stretches, that a very
few days brought me to my own house, and to the
arms of my good old wife and children, where I
remain, thanks to God, at present well and happy.
Persons subject to the hyp, complain of the North
east wind, as increasing their malady. But since
you promised to send me kisses in that wind, and I
find you as good as your word, 'tis to me the gayest
wind that blows, and gives me the best spirits. I
write this during a North-east storm of snow, the
greatest we have had this winter. Your favors come
mixed with the snowy fleeces, which are pure as your
virgin innocence, white as your lovely bosom, and —
as cold. But let it warm towards some worthy young
man, and may Heaven bless you both with every kind
of happiness.
I desired Miss Anna Ward to send you over a little
book I left with her, for your amusement in that lonely
island. My respects to your good father, and mother, and
sister. Let me often hear of your welfare, since it is
3*

30 FRANKLIN.
not likely I shall ever again have the pleasure of see
ing you. Acccept mine, and my wife's sincere thanks
for the many civilities I receive from you and your
relations ; and do me the justice to believe me, dear
girl, Your affectionate, faithful friend,
and humble servant,- B. Franklin.
P. S. My respectful compliments to your good
brother Ward, and sister ; and to the agreeable family
of the Wards at Newport when you see them.
Adieu.

LETTER XVII.
To Miss Catherine Ray.
Philadelphia, 11 September, 1755.
Begone, business, for an hour at least, and let me
chat a little with my Katy.
I have now before me, my dear girl, three of your
favors, viz. of March the 3d, March the 30th, and
May the 1st. The first I received just before I set
out on a long journey, and the others while I was on
that journey, which held me near six weeks. Since
my return, I have been in such a perpetual hurry of
public affairs of various kinds, as renders it impracti-

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 3J
cable for me to keep up my private correspondences,
even those that afforded me the greatest pleasure.
You ask in your last, how I do, and what I am
doiDg, and whether every body loves me yet, and why
I make them do so.
In regard to the first, I can say, thanks to God,
that I do not remember I was ever better. I still
relish all the pleasures of life, that a temperate man
can in reason desire, and through favor I have them
all in my power. This happy situation shall continue
as long as God pleases, who knows what is best for
his creatures, and I hope will enable me to bear with
patience and dutiful submission any change he may
think fit to make, that is less agreeable. As to the
second question, I must confess (but don't you be
jealous), that many more people love me now, than
ever did before ; for since I saw you, I have been
enabled to do some general services to the country,
and to the army, for which both have thanked and
praised me, and say they love me. They say so, as
you used to do ; and if I were to ask any favors of
them, they would, perhaps, as readily refuse me ; so
that I find little real advantage in being beloved, but
it pleases my humor.
Now it is near four months since I have been
favored with a single line from you ; but I will not be
angry with you, because it is my fault. I ran in debt
to you three or four letters, and as I did not pay, you
would not trust me any more, and you had some

32 FRANKLIN.
reason. But, believe me, I am honest, and though I
should never make equal returns, you shall see I will
keep fair accounts. Equal returns I can never make,
though I should write to you by every post ; for the
pleasure I receive from one of yours is more than you
can have from two of mine. The small news, the
domestic occurrences among our friends, the natural
pictures you draw of persons, the sensible observa
tions and reflections you make, and the easy, chatty
manner in wliich you express every thing, all con
tribute to heighten the pleasure ; and the more, as
they remind me of those hours and miles, that we
talked away so agreeably, even in a winter journey,
a wrong road, and a soaking shower.
I long to hear whether you have continued ever
since in that monastery ; * or have broke into the
world again, doing pretty mischief; how the lady
Wards do, and how many of them are married, or
about it ; what is become of Mr. B. and Mr. L., and
what the state of your heart is at this instant ? But
that, perhaps, I ought not to know ; and, therefore, I
will not conjure, as you sometimes say I do. If I
could conjure, it should be to know what was that
oddest question about me that ever was thought of,
which you tell me a lady had just sent to ask you.
I commend your prudent resolutions, in the article
of granting favors to lovers. But if I were courting

Block Island,

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 33
you, I could not heartily approve such conduct. I
should even be malicious enough to say you were too
knowing, and tell you the old story of the Girl and
the Miller. I enclose you the songs you write for,
and with them your Spanish letter with a translation.
I honor that honest Spaniard for loving you. It
showed the goodness of his taste and judgment. But
you must forget him, and bless some worthy young
Englishman. You have spun a long thread, five thousand and
twenty two yards. It will reach almost from Rhode
Island hither. I wish I had hold of one end of it, to
pull you to me. But you would break it rather than
come. The cords of love and friendship are longer
and stronger, and in times past have drawn me far
ther; even back from England to Philadelphia. I
guess that some of the same kind will one day draw
you out of that Island.
I was extremely pleased with the  you sent
me. The Irish people, who have seen it, say it is
the right sort ; but I cannot learn that we have any
thing like it here.
The cheeses, particularly one of them, were excel
lent. All our friends have tasted it, and all agree
that it exceeds any English cheese they ever tasted.
Mrs. Franklin was very proud, that a young lady
should have so much regard for her old husband, as
to send him such a present. We talk of you every
time it comes to table. She is sure you are a sensi-

34 FRANKLIN.
ble girl, and a notable housewife, and talks of be
queathing me to you as a legacy ; but I ought to wish
you a better, and hope she will live these hundred
^years ; for we are grown old together, and if she has
any faults, I am so used to them that I don't perceive
them ; as the song says,
" Some faults we have all, and so may my Joan,
But then they 're exceedingly small ;
And now I 'm used to 'em, they 're just like my own,
I scarcely can see them at all,
My dear friends,
I scarcely can see them at all."
Indeed, I begin to think she has none, as I think of
you. And since she is willing I should love you, as
much as you are willing to be loved by me, let us join
in wishing the old lady a long life and a happy.
With her respectful compliments to you, to your
good mother and sisters, present mine,, though un
known, and believe me to be, dear girl,
, Your affectionate friend
and humble servant,
B. Franklin.
P. S. Sally says, " Papa, my love to Miss
Katy." — If it was not quite unreasonable, I should
desire you to write to me every post, whether you
hear from me or not. As to your spelling, don't let
those laughing girls put you out of conceit with it.
'Tis the best in the world, for every letter of it stands
for something.

FAMILIAR LETTERS.

35

LETTER XVIII.
To Mrs. Deborah Franklin.
Gnadenhutten, 25 January, 1756.*
My Dear Child,
This day week we arrived here. I wrote to you
the same day, and once since. We all continue well,
thanks be to God. We have been hindered with bad
weather, yet our fort is in a good defensible condition,
and we have every day more convenient living. Two
more are to be built, one on each side of this, at about
fifteen miles' distance. I hope both will be done in a
week or ten days, and then I purpose to bend my
course homewards.
We have enjoyed your roast beef, and this day
began on the roast veal. All agree that they are both
the best, that ever were of the kind. Your citizens,
that have their dinners hot and hot, know nothing of
good eating. We find it in much greater perfection
when the kitchen is four score miles from the dining-
room. The apples are extremely welcome, and do bravely
to eat after our salt pork ; the minced pies are not
yet come to hand, but I suppose we shall find them
among the things expected up from Bethlehem, on
* A curious account of this military expedition to build forts on
the frontiers, and of his adventures at Gnadenhutten, is found in
the portion of his Memoirs written by himself.

36 FRANKLIN.
Tuesday ; the capillaire is excellent, but, none of us
having taken cold as yet, we have only tasted it.
As to our lodging, 'tis on deal feather-beds, in
warm blankets, and much more comfortable than
when we lodged at our inn, the first night after we
left home ; for the woman ^being about to put very
damp sheets on the bed, we desired her to air them
first ; half an hour afterwards, she told us the bed was
ready, and the sheets well aired. I got into bed, but
jumped out immediately, finding them as cold as
death, and partly frozen. She had aired them indeed,
but it was out upon the hedge. I was forced to wrap
myself up in my great coat and woollen trowsers.
Every thing else about the bed was shockingly dirty.
As I hope in a little time to be with you and my
family, and chat things over, I now only add, that
I am, dear Debby,

Your affectionate husband

B. Franklin.

LETTER XIX.
To Mrs. Deborah Franklin.
Fort Allen, at Gnadenhutten, 30 January, 1756.
My Dear Child,
Every other day, since we have been here, it has
rained, more or less, to our no small hindrance. It
rained yesterday, and now again to day, which pre-

FAMILIAR LETTERS.

37

vented our marching ; so I will sit down half an hour
to confer a little with you.
All the things you sent me, from time to time, are
safely come to hand, and our living grows every day
more comfortable ; yet there are many things we still
want, but do not send for them, as we hope our stay
here will not be long.
I thought to have wrote you a long letter, but here
comes in a number of people, from different parts,
that have business with me, and interrupt me ; we
have but one room, and that quite public ; so I can
only add, that I have just received yours, Sally's, and
Grace's letters, of the 25th, with one from Mr.
Hughes, and one from Mr. Thomson. Present my
respects to those gentlemen (and excuse my not
writing, as I have nothing material, and am much hur
ried), and love to all our friends and neighbors. Billy*
presents his duty to you, and love to his sister ; all
the gentlemen their compliments ; they drink your
health at every meal, having always something on the
table to put them in mind of you.
I found, among the newspapers, Mr. Shoen's bills
of exchange, which should not have been sent up
here ; I suppose it was by mistake, and mention it,
that you need not be troubled to look more for them.
I am, dear girl,
Your loving husband,
B. Franklin.
* His son, William Franklin, afterwards governor of New
Jersey. 4

38 FRANKLIN.
LETTER XX.
To Mrs. Jane Mecom.
Philadelphia, 12 February, 1756. ;
Dear Sister,
I condole with you on the loss of our dear brother.
As our number grows less, let us love one another
proportionably more.
I am just returned from my military expedition,*
and now my time is taken up in the Assembly
Providence seems to require various duties of me. 1
know not what will be next ; but- I find the more I
seek for leisure and retirement from business, the
more I am engaged in it.
Benny, I understand, inclines to leave Antigua.
He may be in the right. I have no objection.
My love to brother, and to your children. I am,
dearest sister, Your affectionate brother,
B. Franklin.

* While on this expedition for building forts he acted in a mili
tary capacity, having been commissioned by the governor for the
purpose. He had five hundred and sixty men under his command.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 39
LETTER XXI.
To Miss Hubbard.*
Philadelpha, 23 February, 1756.
I condole with you. We have lost a most dear
and valuable relation. But it is the will of God and
nature, that these mortal bodies be laid aside, when
the soul is to enter into real life. This is rather an
embryo state, a preparation for living. A man is not
completely born until he be dead. Why then should
we grieve, that a new child is born among the immor
tals, a new member added to their happy society ?
We are spirits. That bodies should be lent us,
while they can afford us pleasure, assist us in acquiring
knowledge, or in doing good to our fellow creatures, is
a kind and benevolent act of God. When they become
unfit for these purposes, and afford us pain instead of
pleasure, instead of an aid become an incumbrance,
and answer none of the intentions for which they were
given, it is equally kind and benevolent, that a way is
provided by which we may get rid of them. Death
is that way. We ourselves, in some cases, prudently
choose a partial death. A mangled painful limb, which
cannot be restored, we willingly cut off. He, who
plucks out a tooth, parts with it freely, since the pain
goes with it ; and he, who quits the whole body, parts
"This letter was occasioned by the death of Dr. Franklin's
brother, Mr. John Franklin.

40 FRANKLIN.
at once with all p6ins, and possibilities of pains and
diseases, which it was liable to, or capable of making
him suffer.
Our friend and we were invited abroad on a party
of pleasure, which is to last for ever. His chair was
ready first ; and he is gone before us. We could not
all conveniently start together ; and why should you
and I be grieved at this, since we are soon to follow,
and know where to find him ? Adieu.
B. Franklin.

LETTER XXII.
To Mrs. Jane Mecom.
New York, 28 June, 1756.
Dear Sister,
I received here your letter of extravagant thanks,
which put me in mind of the story of the member of
Parliament, who began one of his speeches with saying,
he thanked God, that he was born and bred a Presby
terian ; on which another took leave to observe, that
the gentleman must needs be of a most grateful dis
position, since he was thankful for such very small
matters. You desire me to tell you what I know about
Benny's removal, and the reasons of it. Some time
last year, when I returned from a long journey, I found a

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 41
letter from him, which had been some time unanswered,
and it was some considerable time afterwards, before I
knew of an opportunity to send an answer. I should first
have told you, that when I set him up at Antigua, he
was to have the use of the printing-house on the same
terms with his predecessor, Mr. Smith ; that is, allow
ing me one third part of the profits. After this, finding
him diligent and careful, for his encouragement, I
relinquished that agreement, and let him know, that as
you were removed into a dearer house, if he paid you
yearly a certain sum, I forget what it was, towards
discharging your rent, and another small sum to me,
in sugar and rum for my family use, he need keep no
farther accounts of the profits, but should enjoy all the
rest to himself. I cannot remember what the whole
of both payments amounted to, but I think they did
not exceed twenty pounds a year.
The truth is, I intended, from the first, to give him
that printing-house ; but, as he was young and inex
perienced in the world, I thought it best not to do it
immediately, but to keep him a little dependent for a
time, to check the flighty unsteadiness of temper,
which, on several occasions, he had discovered ; and
what I received from him, I concluded to lay out in
new letters (or types), that when I should give it to
him entirely, it might be worth his acceptance ; and if
I should die first, I put it in my will, that the letters
should be all new cast for him.
4*

42 FRANKLIN.
This proposal of paying you and me a certain annual
sum did not please him ; and he wrote to desire I would
explicitly tell him how long that annual payment was
to continue ? Whether, on payment of that, all prior
demands I had against him, for the arrears of our first
agreement, were likewise cancelled ; and finally insisted
that I would name a certain sura, that I would take for
the printing-house, and allow him to pay it off in parts
as he could, and then the yearly payments to cease ;
for though he had a high esteem for me, yet he loved
freedom, and his spirit could not bear dependence on
any man, though he were the best man living.
This was the letter, which occasionally remained, as
I said, so long unanswered ; at which he took farther
offence ; and before I could answer it, I received an
other from him, acquainting me that he had come to a
resolution to remove from the Island ; that his resolution
was fixed, and nothing that could be said to him should
move or shake it ; and he proposed another person to me,
to carry on the business in his room. This was im
mediately followed by another and a third letter, to the
same purpose, all declaring the inflexibility of his
determination to leave the Island, but without saying
where he proposed to go, or what were his motives.
So I wrote him, that I would not attempt to change
his resolutions ; that I made no objections to his quitting,
but wished he had let me know where he was going ;
that, as to the person he recommended to succeed
him, I had kept the office there after Mr. Smith's

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 43
decease, in hopes it might be of use to him (Benny).
I did not incline to be concerned with any other there.
However, if the person would buy it, I named the
price ; if not, I directed it to be packed up and sent
home. All I desired of him was to discharge what he
owed to Mr. Strahan, bookseller in London, one of
my friends, who had credited him on my recom
mendation. By this post I received the enclosed letter, and
understand the things are all arrived. I shall be very
glad to hear he does better in another place, but I fear
he will not for some years be cured of his fickleness,
and get fixed to any purpose ; however, we must hope
for the best, as with this fault he has many good quali
ties and virtues.
My love to brother and children, and to all that
love you. I am, dear sister,
Your affectionate brother,
B. Franklin.

LETTER XXIII.
To Mrs. Jane Mecom.
New York, 12 July, 1756.
Dear Sister,
I am still here, waiting the arrival of Lord Loudoun.
I received yours of the 5th instant, and shall forward
the letter to Benny. I would not have you grieve

44 FRANKLIN.
about the affair ; perhaps all is for the best. When
I get home, I shall send you his letters for your full
satisfaction. My love to brother, and your children.
I am, dear sister,
Your loving brother,
B. Franklin.

LETTER XXIV.
To George Washington.*
Philadelphia, 19 August, 1756.
Sir,
I have your favor of July 23d, and August 3d, but
that you mention to have wrote by Mr. Balfour is not
come to hand. I forwarded the pacquet enclosed in
that of July 23d, as directed, and shall readily take
care of any other letters from you, that pass through
my hands.
The post, between this place and Winchester, was
established for the accommodation of the army chiefly,
by a vote of our Assembly. They are not willing to
* At this time commander-in-chief of the Virginia forces, raised
to protect the frontiers from the Indians and French. His head
quarters were at Winchester. Dr. Franklin was now deputy-
postmaster, or rather the postmaster-general for the Colonies, and
the year previous, during Braddock's march, he had arranged a
post between Philadelphia and Winchester, in consequence of a
vote of the Pennsylvania Assembly.

FAMILAR LETTERS. 45
continue the charge, and it must, I believe, be dropped,
unless your Assembly and that of Maryland will con
tribute to support it, which, perhaps, is scarce to be
expected. I am sorry it should be laid down, as I shall myself
be a loser in the affair of newspapers.* But the letters
per post by no means defray the expense. If you can
prevail with your Assembly to pay the rider from Win
chester to Carlisle, I will endeavour to persuade ours
to continue paying the rider from Carlisle hither. My
agreement with the House was, to carry all public
despatches gratis, to keep account of postage received
for private letters, charge the expense of riders and
offices, and they were to pay the balance.
I am, Sir,
With great esteem and respect,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
B. Franklin.
P. S. We have just received news, that the Dela
ware Indians, with whom we treated lately at Easton,
have burnt the goods they received as presents, and
resolved to continue the war.

* When this letter was written, Dr. Franklin printed and pub
lished a newspaper in Philadelphia.

46 - FRANKLIN.
LETTER XXV.
To Mrs. Deborah Franklin.
Easton, 13 November, 1756.*
My Dear Child,
I wrote to you a few days since, by a special mes
senger, and enclosed letters for all our wives and
sweethearts ; expecting to hear from you by his return,
and to have the northern newspapers and English
letters per the packet ; but he is just now returned
without a scrap for poor us. So I had a good mind
not to write to you by this opportunity ; but I never
can be ill-natured enough, even when there is the most
occasion. The messenger says he left the letters at
your house, and saw you afterwards at Mr. Duche's,
and told you when he would go, and that he lodged at
Honey's, next door to you, and yet you did not write ;
so let Goody Smith give one more just judgment, and
say what should be done to you. I think I won't tell
you that we are well, nor that we expect to return
about the middle of th'e week, nor will I send you a
word of news ; that *s poz.
* This letter was written while Franklin was at Easton, as a
member of the committee appointed by the Assembly of Pennsyl
vania, to accompany the governor thither, for the purpose of
holding a conference with the Indians. The famous Teedyuskung
was one of the chiefs present at that conference.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 47
My duty to mother, love to the children, and to
Miss Betsey and Gracey, &c. &tc.
I am your loving husband, B. Franklin.
P. S. I have scratched out the loving words, being
writ in haste by mistake, when I forgot I was angry.

LETTER XXVI.
To Mr. and Mrs. Mecom.
Philadelphia, 30 December, 1756.
Dear Brother and Sister,
You will receive this by the hand of your son Ben
jamin, on whose safe return from the West Indies I
sincerely congratulate you.
He has settled accounts with me, and paid the bal
ance honorably. He has also cleared the old printing-
house to himself, and sent it to Boston, where he
purposes to set up his business, together with book
selling, which, considering his industry and frugality,
I make no doubt will answer. He has good credit
and some money in England, and I have helped him
by lending him a little more ; so that he may expect
a cargo of books, and a quantity of new letter, in the
spring ; and I shall from time to time furnish him with
paper. We all join in love to you and yours.
I am your loving brother,
B. Franklin.

48 FRANKLIN.
LETTER XXVII.
To Mrs. Jane Mecom.
Philadelphia, 21 February, 1757.
Dear Sister,
I am glad to hear your son is got well home. I like
your conclusion not to take a house for him till sum
mer, and if he stays till his new letters arrive, perhaps
it would not be amiss ; for a good deal depends on
the first appearance a man makes. As he will keep
a bookseller's shop, with his printing-house, I don't
know but it might be worth his while to set up at
Cambridge. I enclose you some whisk seed ; it is a kind of corn,
good for creatures ; it must be planted in hills, like
Indian corn. The tops make the best thatch in the
world ; and of the same are made the whisks you use
for velvet. Pray try if it will grow with you. I brought
it from Virginia. Give some to Mr. Cooper, some to
Mr. Bowdoin.
Love to cousin Sally, and her spouse. I wish them
and you much joy. Love to brother, 8tc.
B. Franklin.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 49
LETTER XXVIII.
To Miss Catherine Ray.
Philadelphia, 3 March, 1757.
Dear Katy,
Being about to leave America for some time, I could
not go without taking leave of my dear friend.*
I received your favor of the 8th of November, and
am ashamed, that I have suffered it to remain so long
unanswered, especially as now, through shortness of
time, I cannot chat with you in any manner agreeably.
I can only wish you well and happy, which I do
most cordially. Present my best compliments to your
good mamma, brother and sister Ward, and all your
other sisters, the agreeable Misses Ward, Dr. Babcock
and family, the charitable Misses Stanton, and, ip short,
to all that love me. I should have said all that love
you, but that would be giving you too much trouble.
Adieu, dear good girl, and believe me ever your
affectionate friend,
B. Franklin.
* He had.been appointed, on the 3d of February, by the Assem
bly of Pennsylvania, a commissioner to proceed to England, as
agent for the province, and particularly to solicit/ the removal of
grievances, under which the province labored, in consequence of
the proprietary instructions to the governors.
5

50 FRANKLIN.
LETTER XXIX.
To Mrs. Jane Mecom.
New York, 19 April, 1757.
Dear Sister,
I wrote a few lines to you yesterday, but omitted to
answer yours, relating to sister Douse. As having
their own way is one of the greatest comforts of life
to old people, I think their friends should endeavour
to accommodate them in that, as well as in any thing
else. When they have long lived in a house, it be
comes natural to them ; they are almost as closely
connected with it, as the tortoise with his shell ; they
die, if you tear them out of it ; old folks and old trees,
if you remove them, 'tis ten to one that you kill them ;
so let our good old sister be no more importuned on
that head. We are growing old fast ourselves, and
shall expect the same kind of indulgences ; if we
give them, we shall have a right to receive them in
our turn.
And as to her few fine things, I think she is in the
right not to sell them, and for the reason she gives,
that they will fetch but little ; when that little is spent,
they would be of no further use to her ; but perhaps
the expectation of possessing them at her death, may
make that person tender and careful of her, and help
ful to her to the amount of ten times their value. If so,
they are put to the best use they possibly can be.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 51
I hope you visit sister as often as your affairs will
permit, and afford her what assistance and comfort you
can in her present situation. Old age, infirmities,
and poverty, joined, are afflictions enough. The ne
glect and slights of friends and near relations should
never be added. People in her circumstances are apt
to suspect this sometimes without cause ; appearances
should therefore be attended to, in our conduct towards
them, as well as realities. I write by this post to
cousin Williams, to continue his care, which I doubt
not he will do.
We expect to sail in about a week, so that I can
hardly hear from you again on this side the water ;
but let me have a line from you now and then, while
I am in London. I expect to stay there at least a
twelvemonth. Direct your letters to be left for me
at the Pennsylvania Coffee-house, in Birchin Lane,
London. My love to all, from, dear sister,
Your affectionate brother,
B. Franklin.
P. S. April 25. We are still here, and perhaps
may be here a week longer. Once more adieu, my
dear sister.

52 FRANKLIN.
LETTER XXX.
To Mrs. Jane Mecom.
Woodbridge, New Jersey, 21 May, 1757.
Dear Sister,
I received your kind letter of the 9th instant, in
which you acquainted me with some of your late
troubles. These are troublesome times to us all ;
but perhaps you have had more than you should.
I am glad to hear that Peter is at a place where he
has full employ. A trade is a valuable thing ; but,
unless a habit of industry be acquired with it, it turns
out of little use ; if he gets that in his new place, it
will be a happy exchange, and the occasion not an
unfortunate one.
It is very agreeable to me to hear so good an ac
count of your other children ; in such a number to
have no bad ones is a great happiness.
The horse sold very low indeed. If I wanted one
to-morrow, knowing his goodness, old as he is, I
should freely give more than twice the money for
him ; but you did the best you could, and I will take
of Benny no more than he produced.
I don't doubt but Benny will do very well when he
gets to work ; but I fear his things from England may
be so long a coming, as to occasion the loss of the
rent. Would it not be better for you to move into
the house ? Perhaps not, if he is near being married.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 53
I know nothing of that affair, but what you write me, ex
cept that I think Miss Betsey a very agreeable, sweet-
tempered, good girl, who has had a housewifely edu
cation, and will make, to a good husband, a very good
wife. Your sister and I have a great esteem for her,
and if she will be kind enough to accept of our
nephew, we think it will be his own fault, if he is not
as happy as the married state can make him. The
family is a respectable one, but whether there be any
fortune I know not ; and as you do not inquire about
this particular, I suppose you think with me, that
where every thing else desirable is to be met with,
that is not very material. If she does not iring a
fortune she will help to make one. Industry, fru
gality, and prudent economy in a wife, are to a trades
man, in their effects, a fortune ; and a fortune suffi
cient for Benjamin, if his expectations are reasonable.
We can only add, that, if the young lady and her
friends are willing, we give our consent heartily, and
our blessing. My love to brother and the children.
Your affectionate brother,
B. Franklin.
P. S. If Benny will promise to be one of the ten-
derest husbands in the world, I give my consent. He
knows already what I think of Miss Betsey. I am his
loving aunt,
Deborah Franklin.

54 FRANKLIN.
LETTER XXXI.
To Mrs. Jane Mecom.
New York, 30 May, 1757.
Dear Sister,
I have before me yours of the 9th and 1 6th instant.
I am glad you have resolved to visit sister Douse
oftener ; it will be a great comfort to her, to find she
is not neglected by you, and your example may, per
haps, be followed by some others of her relations.
As Neddy is yet a young man, I hope he may get
over the disorder he complains of, and in time wear
it out. My love to him and his wife, and the rest of
your children. It gives me pleasure to hear, that
Eben is likely to get into business at his trade. If he
will be industrious and frugal, 'tis ten to one but he
gets rich, for he seems to have spirit and activity.
I am glad that Peter is acquainted with the crown-
soap business, so as to make what is good of the kind.
I hope he will always take care to make it faithfully, and
never slight the manufacture, or attempt to deceive by
appearances. Then he may boldly put his name and
mark, and in a little time it will acquire as good a
character, as that made by his late uncle, or any other
person whatever. I believe his aunt at Philadelphia
can help him to sell a good deal of it ; and I
doubt not of her doing every thing in her power to
promote his interest in that way. Let a box be sent

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 55
her (but not unless it be right good), and she will im
mediately return the ready money for it. It was
beginning once to be in vogue in Philadelphia, but
brother John sent me one box, an ordinary sort, which
checked its progress. I would not have him put the
Frankjin arms on it ; but the soapboilers' arms he has
a right to use, if he thinks fit. The other would look
too much like an attempt to counterfeit. In his
advertisements, he may value himself on serving his
time with the original maker, but put his own mark
or device on the papers, or any thing he may be
advised to as proper ; only on the soap, as it is called
by the name of crown-soap, it seems necessary to use
a stamp of that sort, and perhaps no soapboiler in the
king's dominions has a better right to the crown than
himself. Nobody has wrote a syllable to me concerning his
making use of the hammer, or made the least com
plaint of him or you. I am sorry, however, that he
took it without leave. It was irregular, and if you
had not approved of his doing it, I should have
thought it indiscreet. Leave, they say, is light, and
it seems to me a piece of respect, that was due to his
aunt, to ask it, and I can scarce think she would have
refused him the favor.
I am glad to hear Johnny is so good and diligent a
workman. If he ever sets up atthe goldsmith's business,
he must remember, that there is one accomplishment
without which he cannot possibly thrive in that trade,

56 FRANKLIN.
i. e. perfect honesty. It is a business, that, though ever
so uprightly managed, is always liable to suspicion ; and
if a man is once detected in the smallest fraud, it soon
becomes public, and every one is put upon his guard
against him ; no one will venture to try his wares, or
trust him to make up his plate ; so at once he is
ruined. I hope my nephew will, therefore, establish
a character as an honest and faithful, as well as skilful
workman, and then he need not fear for employment.
And now, as to what you propose for Benny, I
believe he may be, as you say, well enough qualified
for it, and when he appears to be settled, if a vacancy
should happen, it is very probable he may be thought
of to supply it ; but it is a rule with me not to remove
any officer, that behaves well, keeps regular accounts,
and pays duly; and I think the rule is founded on
reason and justice. I have not shown any backward
ness to assist Benny, where it could be done without
injuring another. But if my friends require of me to
gratify not only their inclinations, but their resent
ments, they expect too much of me. Above all
things I dislike family quarrels, and when they hap
pen among my relations, nothing gives me more pain.
If I were to set myself up as a judge of those subsist
ing between you and brother's widow and children,
how unqualified must I be, at this distance, to deter
mine rightly, especially having heard but one side.
They always treated me with friendly and affec
tionate regard ; you have done the same. What can

FAMILIAR LETTERS. - 57
I say between you, but that I wish you were recon
ciled, and that I will love that side best, that is most
ready to forgive and oblige the other ? You will be
angry with me here, for putting you and them too
much upon a footing ; but I shall nevertheless be,
Dear sister,
Your truly affectionate brother,
B. Franklin.

LETTER XXXII.
To Thomas Hubbard, Boston.
London, 28 April, 1758.
Sir,
In pursuance of Mr. Winthrop's memorandum,
which I lately received from you, through the hands
of Mr. Mico, I have procured and delivered to him
the following things, viz.
A mahogany case lined with lead, containing thirty-
five square glass bottles, in five rows, seven in a row.
A glass globe of the same size and kind with that
I used at Philadelphia, and mounted in the same
manner. A large glass cylinder mounted on an iron axis with
brass caps, this form being most used here, and thought
better than the globe, as a long, narrow cushion will
electrify a greater surface at the same time.

58 FRANKLIN.
The bottles have necks, which I think better than
to be quite open, for so they would either be exposed
to the dust and damp of the air, if they had no stop
pers, or the stoppers would be too near together to
admit of electrifying a single bottle, or row of bottles ;
there is only a little more difficulty in lining the inside
with tinfoil, but that is chiefly got over by cutting it
into narrow strips, and guiding them in with a stick
flat at one end to apply the more conveniently to the
pasted side of the glass. I would have coated them
myself, if the time had not been too short. I send the
tinfoil, which I got made of a proper breadth for the
purpose; they should be coated nine inches high, which
brings the coating just even with the edge of the case.
The tinfoil is ten inches broad, which allows for lap
ping over the bottom.
I have bored the holes in all the stoppers for the
communicating wires, provided all the wires, and fixed
one or two to show the manner. Each wire, to go
into a bottle, is bent so that the two ends go in and
spring against the inside coating or lining. The
middle of the wire goes up into the stopper, with an
eye, through which the long communicating wires
pass, that connect all the bottles in one row.
To form occasional communications with more
rows, there must be, on the long wiresof the second
and fourth rows, four other movable wires, which I
call cross-wires, about two inches and a half long,
with a small ball of any metal about the size of a pistol

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 59
bullet at each end. The ball of one end is to have
a holer through the middle, so that it may be slipped
on the long wire ; and one of these cross-wires is to be
placed between the third and fourth bottles of the row
at each end ; and on each of the abovementioned
rows, that is, two to each row, they must be made to
turn easy on the wires, so that when you would
charge only the middle row, you turn two of them
back on the first, and two on the fifth row, then the
middle row will be unconnected with the others. When
you would charge more rows, you turn them forwards
or backwards, so as to have the communication com
pleted with just the number of rows you want.
The brass handles of the case communicate with
the outside of the bottles, when you wish to make the
electrical circuit.
I see now I have wrote it, that the greatest part of
this letter would have been more properly addressed
to Mr. Winthrop himself,* but probably you will send
it to him with the things, and that will answer the end.
Be pleased to tender my best respects to him, and the
rest of the gentlemen of the College.
I am, with great esteem and regard, Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,
B. Franklin.
P. S. I beg the College will do me the favor to
* At that time Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philoso
phy in Harvard University, for which institution the electrical
apparatus described in this letter was designed.

60 FRANKLIN.
accept a Virgil, which I send in the case, thought to
be the most curiously printed of any book hitherto
done in the world.*

LETTER XXXIII.
To Miss Stevenson. f
Tunbridge Wells, 20 August, 1758.
Dear Polly,
My son I know intended writing to you this morn
ing, so as to send by this day's post; but sundry un
expected hindrances have prevented him, as well as
me. He is gone to dine abroad, and I doubt will
hardly be able to disengage himself before the post
goes. Therefore, as well as to acknowledge the
receipt of your kind favor of the 18th, I snatch a
moment from company, and write this line to let you
know, that we are well, and that you will hear from
* A copy of Baskerville's quarto edition of Virgil, printed the
year before at Birmingham, and perhaps the most beautiful of the
various works by which this celebrated type-founder and printer
gained the praise of " uniting, in a singularly happy manner, the
elegance of Plantin with the clearness of the Elzevirs."
t Daughter of Mrs. Stevenson, a widow lady, in whose house
Dr. Franklin resided while in London. This house was situated
in Craven street, near the Strand. It is still standing, and is indi
cated in the London Guide-Bboks, as among the objects worthy
to be noticed by the curious traveller.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. gj
us both by Tuesday's post. Till then I shall only say,
that I find myself, with greater esteem and regard
than ever, dear child,
Your firmly affectionate
Friend and servant,
B. Franklin.

LETTER XXXIV.
To Miss Stevenson.
Craven Street, Friday, 4 May, 1759.
My Dear Child,
Hearing that you were in the Park last Sunday, I
hoped for the pleasure of seeing you yesterday at the
oratorio in the Foundling Hospital ; but though I
looked with all the eyes I had, not excepting even
those I carry in my pocket, I could not find you ; and
this morning your good mamma has received a line
from you, by which we learn that you are returned to
Wanstead. It is long since you heard from me, though not a
day passes in which I do not think of you with the
same affectionate regard and esteem I ever had for
you. My not writing is partly owing to an inexcusable
indolence, which I find grows upon me as I grow in
years, and partly from an expectation I have had,
from week to week, of making a little journey into
6

62 FRANKLIN.
Essex, in which I intended to call at Wanstead, and
promised to myself the pleasure of seeing you there.
I have now fixed this day se'nnight for that journey,
and purpose to take Mrs. Stevenson out with me,
leave her with you till the next day, and call for her
on Saturday in my return. Let me know by a line
if you think any thing may make such a visit from us
at that time improper or inconvenient. Present my
sincere respects to Mrs. Tickell, and believe me ever,
dear Polly, Your truly affectionate friend,
and humble servant,
B. Franklin.
P. S. We have company that dine with us to
day, and your careful mamma, being busied about
many things, cannot write. Will did not see you in
the Park. Mr. Hunter and his sister are both gone.
God prosper their voyage. My compliments to Miss
Pitt.

LETTER XXXV.
To Miss Stevenson.
14 February, 1760.
I see I must overcome the indolence so natural to
old men, and write now and then to my dear good
girl, or I shall seldom have the pleasure of a line from

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 63
her ; and indeed it is scarce reasonable in me to
expect it.
I received your kind congratulations, on occasion
-of the new year; and though you had not mine in
writing, be assured that I did and do daily wish you
every kind of happiness, and of the longest con
tinuance. Your good mamma will have the pleasure of seeing
and conversing with you to-day. I should be ex
tremely glad to partake of that pleasure, by accompa
nying her to Wanstead, but business will not permit.
Present my respectful compliments to the good
ladies, your aunts, and believe me to be, with the
sincerest esteem and regard, dear Polly,
Your affectionate friend,
B. Franklin.*
" On the 9th of January, 1760, Dr. Franklin wrote as follows to
a sister in America.
" It is remarkable, that so many breaches by death should be
made in our family in so short a space. Out of seventeen chil
dren, that our father had, thirteen lived to grow up and settle in
the world. I remember these thirteen (some of us then very
young) all at one table, when an entertainment was made at our
house, on occasion of the return of our brother Josiah, who
had been absent in the East Indies, and unheard of for nine years.
Of these thirteen, there now remain but three. As our number
diminishes, let our affection to each other rather increase ; for,
besides its being our duty, 'tis our interest, since the more affec
tionate relations are to each other, the more they are respected by
the rest of the world."
In a biographical sketch of Dr. Franklin, lately published in
' England, which, in the main, is a high eulogium upon his char-

64 FRANKLIN.

LETTER XXXVI.
To Miss Stevenson.
Craven Street, 1 May, 1760.
I embrace, most gladly, my dear friend's proposal
of a subject for our future correspondence ; not only
as it will occasion my hearing from her more fre
quently, but as it will lay me under a necessity of
improving my own knowledge, that I may be better
able to assist in her improvement. I only fear my
necessary business and journeys, with the natural
indolence of an old man, will make me too unpunc-
tual a correspondent. For this I must hope some
indulgence. But why will you, by the cultivation of your mind,
make yourself still more amiable, and a more desira-
acter, is contained the following reflection ; — " Although, in the
service of his country, he occupied his best and ripest powers with
unwearied diligence and unimpeachable disinterestedness, the
details ofhis private life leave some remarkable deficiencies. We
read ofhis father and mother, and of their thirteen children in the
early part ofhis life, but hear little of his intercourse with broth
ers or sisters, after his attainment of wealth and influence." — The
above extract from one of his letters is a sufficient comment upon
this paragraph.
All his brothers and sisters, but two, were dead before he arriv
ed at affluence or eminence in the world. With his surviving
sister, who lived in Boston, his correspondence was constant, cor
dial, and affectionate to the very end of his life, accompanied by
many substantial proofs of fraternal kindness.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 65
ble companion for a man of understanding, when you
are determined, as I hear, to live single. If we enter,
as you propose, into moral as well as natural philoso
phy, I fancy, when I have established my authority as
a tutor, I shall take upon me to lecture you a little on
the chapter of duty.
But, to be serious, our easiest mode of proceeding
I think will be, for you to read some books, that I
may recommend to you ; and, in the course of your
reading, whatever occurs that you do not thoroughly
apprehend, or that you clearly conceive and find
pleasure in, may occasion either some questions for
further information, or some observations that show
how far you are satisfied and pleased with your
author. These will furnish matter for your letters to
me, and, in consequence, of mine also to you.
Let me know, then, what books you have already
perused on the subject intended, that I may the better
judge what to advise for your next reading. And
believe me ever, My dear good girl,
Your affectionate friend and servant,
B. Franklin.
6*

66 FRANKLIN.
LETTER XXXVII.
To Miss Stevenson.
Craven Street, 16 May, 1760.
I send my good girl the books I mentioned to her
last night. I beg her to accept of them as a small
mark of my esteem and friendship. They are written
in the familiar, easy manner, for which the French are
so remarkable ; and afford a good deal of philosophic
and practical knowledge, unembarrassed with the dry
mathematics used by more exact reasoners, but
which are apt to discourage young beginners.
I would advise you to read with a pen in your
hand, and enter in a little book short hints of what
you find that is curious, or that may be useful ; for
this will be the best method of imprinting such par
ticulars in your memory, where they will be ready,
either for practice on some future occasion, if they are
matters of utility ; or at least to adorn and improve
your conversation, if they are rather points of curi
osity. And as many of the terms of science are such,
as you cannot have met with in your common read
ing, and may therefore be unacquainted with, I think
it would be well for you to have a good dictionary at
hand, to consult immediately when you meet with a
word you do not comprehend the precise meaning of.
This may at first seem troublesome and interrupting ;
but it is a trouble that will daily diminish, as you will

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 67
daily find less and less occasion for your dictionary,
as you become more acquainted with the terms ; and
in the mean time you will read with more satisfaction,
because with more understanding.
When any point occurs, in which you would be
glad to have fartherJjj^fmatroT?fe^your book affords
you, I beg you ^mI^^ot nr rbV j^aatffl»prehend, that
I should think itli trcntrbie^te ffefi^SCgJjKuwnswer your
questions. It wilrS^,af^SBa^ire,^ti^o^ouble. For
though I may not be^jjg^urojLjg^Dwn little stock
of knowledge, to afford you what you require, I can
easily direct you to the books, where it may . most
readily be found. Adieu, and believe me ever, my
dear friend, Yours affectionately,
B. Franklin.

LETTER XXXVIII.
To Miss Stevenson.
Craven Street, 7 July, 1761.
This is just to acquaint my dear Polly, that her
good mamma, Mr. and Mrs. Strahan, and her friend
Franklin, purpose to be at Bromley on Tuesday
morning next, to have the pleasure of seeing Dr. and
Mrs. Hawkesworth and the agreeable Misses Blount,
dining there and returning in the evening. They

68 FRANKLIN.
carry down with them Miss Peggy Strahan and leave
her there, instead of Miss Stevenson, who is to come
to town with them. This is the scheme ; but all this
in case it will be agreeable to our friends at Bromley,
of which you are to let us know. Mr. Strahan is
here with us, and we all join in drinking your health,
with that of our Bromley friends. 'Tis eleven o'clock
at night, and the post rings his bell, which obliges me
to conclude, dear good girl,
Your affectionate friend,
B. Franklin.
P. S. Your mamma says, God bless you. Peter
could find me no better paper.

LETTER XXXIX.
To Miss Stevenson.
Craven Street, 29 October, 1761.
My dear Polly's good mamma bids me write two
or three lines, by way of apology for her so long omit
ting to write. She acknowledges the receiving of two
agreeable letters from her beloved daughter, enclos
ing one for Sally Franklin, which was much approved
(excepting one word only) and sent as directed.
The reasons of her not writing are, that her time
all day is fully taken up, during the day-light, with

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 69
the care of her family, and — lying abed in the
morning. And her eyes are so bad, that she cannot
see to write in the evening — for playing at cards.
So she hopes that one, who is all goodness, will cer
tainly forgive her, when her excuses are so substan
tial. As for the Secretary, he has not a Word to say
in his own behalf, though" full as great an offender,
but throws himself upon mercy ; pleading only that
he is, with the greatest esteem and sincerest regard,
his dear Polly's Ever affectionate friend,
B. Franklin.
P- S. Compliments to the good family, and to
Mrs. Byrd, if still with you. We shall be glad to
see Mr. White as often as agreeable to him.

LETTER XL.
To Miss Stevenson.
Monday Morning, 8 March, 1762.
Dear Polly,
Your good mamma has just been saying to me,
that she wonders what can possibly be the reason she
has not had a line from you for so long a time. I
have made no complaint of that kind, being conscious
that by not writing myself, I have forfeited all claim
to such favor, though no letters give me more pleas-

70 FRANKLIN.
ure, and I often wish to hear from you ; but indolence
grows upon me with years, and writing grows more
and more irksome to me.
Have you finished your course of philosophy ? No
more doubts to be resolved ? No more questions
to ask ? If so, you may now be at full leisure to
improve yourself in cards. Adieu, my dear child,
and believe me ever Your affectionate friend,
B. Franklin.
P. S. Respects to Mrs. Tickell, &c. Mamma
bids me tell you she is lately much afflicted and half
a cripple with the rheumatism. I send you two or
three French Gazettes de Medecine, which I have
just received from Paris, wherein is a translation of
the extract of a letter you copied out for me. You
will return them with my French letters on Elec
tricity, when you have perused them.

LETTER XLI.
To Miss Stevenson.
24 May, 1762.
According to promise I write on Monday, to let
my good girl know how her mamma does ; but so
late in the day, that I fear I might as well have let it
alone till Tuesday. She is not yet quite well, but so
well as to be abroad " ever since morning. I went

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 71
early into the city, dined there, and returned, hoping
for the pleasure of a dish of tea with her ; when I
learnt that she went out soon after me, and had not
since been at home. So I was forced to beg my tea
at Mr. Gambier's. This will look like a complaint,
but I don't intend it.
Are you provided with a house ? If not, look into
to-morrow's Daily Advertiser, where you will find one
to be let at Ealing, which I know and think I could
recommend, as to the pleasantness of the neighbour
hood, roads, and the like, if the description appears
such as may make the rest agreeable. I know there
is a good deal of garden, and abundance of room in
and about the house.
I shall be glad to hear, that you got well home and
found all well. Present my best respects to Mrs.
Tickell, Mrs, Rooke, and to Pitty.
I am, my dear friend,
Yours affectionately,
B. Franklin.

LETTER XL1I.
To Miss Stevenson.
London, 7 June, 1762.
Dear Polly,
I received your favor of the 27th past, and have
since expected your intended philosophical epistle.
But you have not had leisure to write it !

72 FRANKLIN.
Your good mamma, is now perfectly well, as I think,
excepting now and then a few rheumatic complaints,
which, however, seem gradually diminishing.
I am glad to hear you are about to enjoy the happi
ness of seeing and being with your friends at Bromley.
My best respects to the good Doctor and Mrs. Hawkes
worth, and say to the dear ladies, that I kiss their
hands respectfully and affectionately.
Our ships for America do not sail so soon as I ex
pected ; it will be yet five or six weeks before we
embark, and leave the old world for the new. I fancy
I feel a little like dying saints, who, in parting with
those they love in this world, are only comforted with
the hope of more perfect happiness in the next. I
have, in America, connexions of the most engaging
kind, and, happy as I have been in the friendships here
contracted, those promise me greater and more lasting
felicity. But God only knows whether these promises
shall be fulfilled.
Adieu, my dear good girl, and believe me ever
Your affectionate friend,
B. Franklin.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 73
LETTER XLIII.
To Miss Stevenson.
Portsmouth, 11 August, 1762.
My Dear Polly,
This is the best paper I can get at this wretched inn,
but it will convey what is entrusted to it as faithfully as
the finest. It will tell my Polly how much her friend
is afflicted, that he must, perhaps, never again see one
for whom he has so sincere an affection, joined to so
perfect an esteem ; who he once flattered himself
might become his own, in the tender relation of a
child, but can now entertain such pleasing hopes no
more. Will it tell how much he is afflicted ? — No, it
cannot. Adieu, my dearest child. I will call you so. Why
should I not call you so, since I love you with all the
tenderness of a father? — Adieu. May the God of all
goodness shower down his choicest blessings upon
you, and make you infinitely happier, than that event
would have .made you. And wherever I am, believe
me to be, with unalterable affection, my dear Polly,
Your sincere friend,
B. Franklin.*
* Dr. Franklin sailed for America immediately after writing this
letter. He had been in England five years, having arrived there

74 FRANKLIN.
LETTER XLIV.
To Mrs. Catherine Greene.
Philadelphia, 23 January, 1763.
I received with great pleasure my dear friend's
favor of December 20th, as it informed me that you
and yours are all well.
Mrs. Franklin admits of your apology for dropping
the correspondence with her, and allows your reasons
to be good ; but hopes when you have more leisure
it may be resumed. She joins with me in congratu
lating you on your present happy situation.
I thank you for your kind invitation. I purpose a
journey into New England in the spring or summer
coming. I shall not fail to pay my respects to you and
Mr. Greene, when I come your way. Please to make
my compliments acceptable to him.
I have had a most agreeable time of it in Europe.
I have, in company with my son, been in most parts
of England, Scotland, Flanders, and Holland ; and
in July, 1757. He was employed during that time as agent for
the colony of Pennsylvania.
At the first session of the Assembly after his return, a vote was
passed allowing him a salary of five hundred pounds sterling per
annum during his absence ; and the thanks of the House were
also voted to be given him by the Speaker from the chair, " as well
for the faithful discharge of his duty to the province in particular,
as for the many and important services done America in general,
during his residence in Great Britain."

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 75
generally have enjoyed a good share of health. If you
had asked the rest of your questions, I could more
easily have made this letter longer. Let me have
them in your next. Ithink I am not much altered ;
at least my esteem and regard for my Katy (if I may
still be permitted to call her so) is the same, and I
believe will be unalterable, whilst I am, &c.
B. Franklin.
P. S. My best respects to your good brother and
sister Ward. My daughter presents her compliments.
My son is not yet arrived.

LETTER XLV.
To Miss Stevenson.
Philadelphia, 25 March, 1763.
My Dear Polly,
Your pleasing favor of November 11th is now before
me. It found me, as you supposed it would, happy
with my American friends and family about me ; and
it made me more happy in showing me, that I am not
yet forgotten by the dear friends I left in England.
And, indeed, why should I fear they will ever forget
me, when I feel so strongly that I shall ever remember
them ?
I sympathize with you sincerely in your grief at the

76 FRANKLIN.
separation from your old friend, Miss Pitt. The
reflection that she is going to be more happy, when
she leaves you, might comfort you, if the case were
likely to be so circumstanced ; but when the country
and company she has been educated in, and those she
is removing to, are compared, one cannot possibly
expect it.
I sympathize no less with you in your joys. But
it is not merely on your account, that I rejoice at the
recovery of your dear Dolly's * health. I love that
dear good girl myself, and I love her other friends.
I am, therefore, made happy by what must contribute
so much to the happiness of them all. Remember me
to her, and to every one of that worthy and amiable
family, most affectionately.
Remember me in the same manner to your and my
good Doctor and Mrs. Hawkesworth. You have lately,
you tell me, had the pleasure of spending three days
with them at Mrs. Stanley's. It was a sweet society.
I, too, once partook of that same pleasure, and can
therefore feel what you must have felt. Remember
me also to Mr. and Mrs. Stanley and to Miss
Arlond. Of all the enviable things England has, I envy it
most its people. Why should that petty Island, which,
compared to America, is but like a steppingTstone in
a brook, scarce enough of it above water to keep one's
* Miss Dorothea Blount.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 77
shoes dry ; why, I say, should that little Island enjoy,
in almost every neighbourhood, more sensible, virtuous,
and elegant minds, than we can collect in ranging a
hundred leagues of our vast forests ? But 'tis said the
Arts delight to travel westward. You have effectually
defended us in this glorious war, and in time you will
improve us. After the first cares for the necessaries
of life are over, we shall come to think of the embel
lishments. Already, some of our young geniuses begin
to lisp attempts at painting, poetry, and music. We
have a young painter now studying at Rome. Some
specimens of our poetry I send you, which, if Dr.
Hawkesworth's fine taste cannot approve, his good
heart will at least excuse. The manuscript piece is
by a young friend of mine, and was occasioned by the
loss of one of his friends, who lately made a voyage to
Antigua to settle some affairs, previous to an intended
marriage with an amiable young lady here, but unfor
tunately died there. I send it to you, because the
author is a great admirer of Mr. Stanley's musical
compositions, and has adapted this piece to an air in
the sixth Concerto of that gentleman, the sweetly solemn
movement of which, he is quite in raptures with. He
has attempted to compose a Recitativo for it, but, not
being able to satisfy himself in the bass, wishes I could
get it supplied. If Mr. Stanley would condescend to
do that for him, he would esteem it as one of the
highest honors, and it would make him excessively
happy. You will say that a Recitativo can be but a
7*

78 FRANKLIN.
poor specimen of our music. 'Tis the best and all I
have at present, but you may see better hereafter.
I hope Mr. Ralph's affairs are mended since you
wrote. I know he had some expectations, when I
came away, from a hand that would help him. He
has merit, and one would think ought not to be so
unfortunate. I do not wonder at the behaviour you mention of
Dr. S. towards me, for I have long since known him
thoroughly. I made that man my enemy, by doing
him too much kindness. 'Tis the honestest way of
acquiring an enemy. And since it is convenient to
have at least one enemy, who, by his readiness to
revile one on all occasions, may make one careful of
one's conduct, I shall keep him an enemy for that
purpose ; and shall observe your good mother's advice,
never again to receive him as a friend. She once
admired the benevolent spirit breathed in his sermons.
She will now see the justness of the lines your laureate
Whitehead addressed to his poets, and which I now
address to her.
"Full many a peevish, envious, slanderous elf,
Is — in his works — benevolence itself.
For all mankind — unknown — his bosom heaves ;
He only injures those, with whom he lives.
Read, then, the man ; — does Truth his actions guide,
Exempt from petulance, exempt from pride ?
To social duties does his heart attend,
As son, as father, husband, brother,/nenrf?
Do those, who know him, love him ? If they do,
You 've my permission, you may love him too."

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 79
Nothing can please me more, than to see your philo
sophical improvements, when you have leisure to com
municate them to me. I still owe you a long letter on
that subject, which I shall pay.
I am vexed with Mr. James, that he has been so
dilatory in Mr. Madison's Armonica. I was unlucky
in both the workmen, that I permitted to undertake
making those instruments. The first was fanciful, and
never could work to the purpose, because he was ever
conceiving some new improvement, that answered no
end. The other I doubt is absolutely idle. I have
recommended a number to him from hence, but must
stop my hand.
Adieu, my dear Polly, and believe me, as ever, with
the sincerest esteem and regard,
Your truly affectionate friend,
and humble servant,
- B. Franklin.
P. S. My love to Mrs. Tickell and Mrs. Rooke,
and to Pitty, when you write to her. Mrs. Franklin
and Sally desire to be affectionately remembered to
you. I find the printed poetry I intended to enclose will
be too bulky to send. I shall send it by a ship, that
goes shortly from hence.

80 FRANKLIN.
LETTER XLVI.
To Jonathan Williams, Boston.
Philadelphia, 13 April, 1763.
Loving Kinsman,
You may remember, that about ten years since,
when I was at Boston, you and my brother sent direc
tions here to attach on Grant's right to some land
here, by virtue of a mortgage given him by one Pitt.
Nothing effectual could be done in it at that time,
there being a prior mortgage undischarged. That
prior mortgage is now near expiring, and Grant's will
take place. Pitt's widow is desirous of being enabled
to sell the place, which cannot be done, without pay
ing off Grant's mortgage. Therefore, if your old
demand against Grant still subsists, you may empower
me in any manner you think proper to recover it.
Is Grant living ? Or, if dead, are there any ofhis
representatives among you ? Inquire. Because here is
a person desirous of purchasing, who, perhaps, may
inquire them out, and get a discharge from them, before
your claim is brought forward, unless the attachment
formerly made in your behalf is still good, which I am
inclined to think may be.
I am going in a few days to Virginia, but expect to
be back in three or four weeks. However, send what
you have to say on this subject to my son, at Burling-

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 81
ton, who was formerly empowered by you, and he will
take the steps necessary, if I should not be returned.*
I am your loving uncle,
B. Franklin.

LETTER XLVII.
To Miss Stevenson.
Woodbridge, New Jersey, 10 June, 1763.
I wrote to my dear friend's good mamma to-day, and
said I should hardly have time to write to you ; but
finding a spare half hour, I will indulge myself in the
* By the following letter from William Franklin to Mr. Jonathan
Williams, it would appear, that he had then just been appointed
governor of New Jersey, and was about establishing himself in
that colony. " Burlington, 7 April, 1763.
" Dear Kinsman,
" I am much obliged to you for your very affectionate letter of
congratulation, and should have acknowledged the receipt of it
sooner, but that I have been at Philadelphia for some weeks past,
much engaged in business.
" I arrived at this place last week, but am obliged to take
lodgings, as there is not at present a house to be hired here.
Whether I shall fix at Burlington, or at Amboy, is at present
uncertain ; but wherever it may be, it will always afford me great
pleasure to see you there, if you should happen to come to New
Jersey. Mrs. Franklin joins in affectionate regards to yourself
and family with " Your assured friend
" and humble servant,
" W. Fkanklin."

82 FRANKLIN.
pleasure of spending it with you. I have just received
your most agreeable epistle of March 11th. The ease,
the smoothness, the purity of diction, and delicacy of
sentiment, that always appear in your letters, never
fail to delight me ; but the tender filial regard you
constantly express for your old friend is particularly
engaging. Continue, then, to make him happy from
time to time with that sweet intercourse ; and take, in
return, all he can give you, his sincerest wishes for
you of every kind of felicity.
I hope that by the time this reaches you, an account
will arrive of your dear Pitty's safe landing in America
among her friends. Your Dolly, too, I hope, has
perfectly recovered her health, and then, nothing will
remain to give you uneasiness or anxiety. Heaven
bless you, and believe me ever, my dear child,
Your affectionate friend
and humble servant,
B, Franklin.

LETTER XLVIII.
To Jonathan Williams.
Woodbridge, New Jersey, 11 June, 1763.
Loving Kinsman,
I am now on my way to New England, and hope
soon for the pleasure of seeing my friends there.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 83
I left at home two boxes to be sent to Boston,
directed to your care. Please to receive them and
pay the freight for me, and place them where they
may not be much tumbled about, as they contain some
things that may receive damage. I hear the vessel
they go in is to sail this day.
My love to your good wife and children.
I am affectionately yours,
B. Franklin.

LETTER XLIX.
To Miss Stevenson.
New York, 27 June, 1763.
Dear Polly,
I received here your kind little letter of April 14th,
with your good mamma's favor of the same date. I
write this line chiefly to acknowledge it, having wrote
to you lately, and little now to add. I congratulated
you on your Dolly's recovery, which you mention as
nearly completed, — assuring you, that I do, as you
suppose, participate your pleasure. Tell her that the
old American loves her ; and all that agreeable family,
that he remembers and honors them. i
I am glad you are pleased with your new neigh
bours ; those you left you used to like, and as Wan
stead is in itself a more pleasant place than Kensington,
you must have suffered greatly by the exchange, if
those you found there were disagreeable.

84 FRANKLIN.
I am ashamed to send a letter so far with so little in
it. In some future letter I will endeavour to make
amends. My respectful compliments to your good
aunts. I am, as ever, my dear friend,
Yours affectionately,
B. Franklin.

LETTER L.
To William Greene, Warwick, Rhode Island.
Providence, 19 July, 1763.
Dear Sir,
From the very hospitable and kind treatment we
met with at your house, I must think it will be agreea
ble to you to hear, that your guests got well in before
the rain. We hope you and Mrs. Greene were like
wise safe at home before night, and found all well.
We all join in the most cordial thanks and best wishes,
and shall be glad on every occasion to hear of the
welfare of you and yours.
I beg you will present our compliments to your good
neighbour, Captain Fry, and tell him we shall always
retain a grateful remembrance of his civilities.
The soreness in my breast seems to diminish hourly.
To rest and temperance I ascribe it chiefly, though the
bleeding had doubtless some share in the effect. We
purpose setting out to go to Wrentham this afternoon,
in order to make an easy day's journey into Boston
to-morrow.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 85
Present our respects to Mrs. Ray, and believe me,
with much esteem, dear Sir,
Your obliged, and most obedient,
humble servant,
B. Franklin.

LETTER LI.
To Mrs. Catherine Greene.
Boston, 1 August, 1763.
Dear Friend,
I ought to acquaint you, that I feel myself growing
daily firmer and freer from the effects of my fall, and
hope a few days more will make me quite forget it.
I shall, however, never forget the kindness I met with
at your house on that occasion.
Make my compliments acceptable to your Mr.
Greene, and let him know, that I acknowledge the
receipt of his obliging letter, and thank him for it. It
gave me great pleasure to hear you got home before
the rain.
My compliments, too, to Mr. Merchant and Miss
Ward, if they are still with you ; and kiss the ladies
for me. Sally* says, And for me too. She adds her
best respects to Mr. Greene and you, and that she
* Dr. Franklin's only daughter, who was afterwards married td
Mr. Richard Bache, a merchant of Philadelphia.
8

86 FRANKLIN.
could have spent a week with you with great pleasure,
if I had not hurried her away.
My brother is returned to Rhode Island. Sister
Mecom thanks you for your kind remembrance of her,
and presents her respects.
With perfect esteem and regard I am, dear Katy
(I can't yet alter my style to " Madam "),
Your affectionate friend,
B. Franklin.

LETTER LII.
To Mrs. Catherine Greene.
Boston, 5 September, 1763.
Dear Friend,
On my returning hither from Portsmouth, I find
your obliging favor of the 18th past, for which I
thank you.
I am almost ashamed to tell you, that I have had
another fall, and put my shoulder out. It is well
reduced again, but is still affected with constant,
though not very acute pain. I am not yet able to
travel rough roads, and must lie by awhile, as I can
neither hold reins nor whip with my right hand till it
grows stronger.
Do you think, after this, that even your kindest
invitations and Mr. Greene's can prevail with me to

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 87
venture myself again on such roads ? And yet it
would be a great pleasure to me to see you and yours
once more.
Sally and my sister Mecom thank you for your
remembrance of them, and present their affectionate
regards. My best respects to good Mr. Greene, Mrs. Ray,
and love to your little ones. I am glad to hear they
are well, and that your Celia goes alone.
I am, dear friend,
Yours affectionately,
B. Franklin.

LETTER LIII.
To Mrs. Catherine Greene.
Philadelphia, 10 November._1763.
Dear Katy,
I should ask Mr. Greene's permission now to call
you so, which I hope he will give me, making allow
ance for the strength of old habits. This is to acquaint
you and him, that your guests, after a very pleasant
journey, got well home on the 5th instant, without the
least ill accident, and had the additional happiness of
finding their friends all well. Mr. Greene's good nature
and yours will be pleased to hear this, and therefore
I take the first opportunity of writing.

83 FRANKLIN.
Sally joins me in thanks to you both, for all your
kindness to us, and in best wishes of prosperity to you
and yours. Please to acquaint Mr. Rufus Greene,
that I shall write to him by next post.
I am, dear friend,
Yours affectionately,
B. Franklin.*

LETTER LIV.
To Mrs. Catherine Greene.
Philadelphia, 15 February, 1764.
Dear Friend,
I have before me your most acceptable favor of
December 24th. Public business and our public con
fusions have so taken up my attention, that I suspect I
did not answer it when I received it, but am really not
certain.; so, to make sure, I write this line to acknowl
edge the receiving of it, and to thank you for it.
* To another friend he wrote, soon after his return ; —
" I find myself at present quite clear from pain, and so have
at length left off the cold bath. There is, however, still some
weakness in my shoulder, though much stronger than when I
left Boston, and mending. I am otherwise very happy in being
at home, where I am allowed to know when I have eat enough
and drunk enough, am warm enough, and sit in a place that I like,
&c, and nobody pretends to know what I feel better than I do
myself. Don't imagine that I am a whit the less sensible of the
kindness I experienced among my friends in New England. I am
very thankful for it, and shall always retain a grateful remem
brance of it.''

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 89
I condole with you on the death of the good old
lady, your mother. Separations of this kind from
those we love are grievous ; but 'tis the will of God,
that such should be the nature of things in this world.
All that ever were born are either dead, or must die.
It becomes us to submit, and to comfort ourselves with
the hope of a better life and more happy meeting
hereafter. Sally kept to her horse the greatest part of the
journey, and was much pleased with the tour. She
often remembers, with pleasure and gratitude, the
kindnesses she met with, and received from our friends
every where, and particularly at your house. She
talks of writing by this post ; and my dame sends her
love to you, and thanks for the care you took of her
old man, but, having bad spectacles, cannot write at
present. Mr. Kent's compliment is a very extraordinary one,
as he was obliged to kill himself and two others in
order to make it ; — but, being killed in imagination
only, they and he are all got alive and well, thanks to
God, and I hope will continue so as long as,
Dear Katy, '
Your affectionate friend,
B. Franklin.
P. S. My best respects to Mr. Greene, and love
"to the little dear creatures." — I believe the instruc
tions relating to the postoffice have been sent to Mr.
Rufus Greene. 8*

90 FRANKLIN.
LETTER LV.
To Miss Stevenson.
Philadelphia, 14 March, 1764.
Dear Polly,
I have received your kind letters of August 30th
and November 16th. Please to return my thanks,
with those of my friend, to Mr. Stanley for his favor in
the music, which gives great satisfaction. I am glad
to hear of the welfare of the Blount family, and the
addition it has lately received ; and particularly that
your Dolly's health is mended. Present my best
respects to them, and to the good Doctor and Mrs.
Hawkesworth, when you see them.
I believe you were right in dissuading your good
mother from coming hither. The proposal was a hasty
thought of mine, in which I considered only some profit
she mi^ht make by the adventure, and the pleasure to
me and my family from the visit ; but forgot poor
Polly, and what her feelings must be on the occasion,
and perhaps did not sufficiently reflect, that the incon
veniences of such a voyage, to a person of her years
and sex, must be more than the advantages could
compensate. I am sincerely concerned to hear of Mrs. Rooke's
long continued affliction with that cruel gout. My
best wishes attend her and good Mrs. Tickell. Let
me hear from you as often as you can afford it. You

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 91
can scarce conceive the pleasure your letters give me.
Blessings on his soul, that first invented writing, with
out which I should, at this distance, be as effectually
cut off from my friends in England, as the dead are
from the living. But I write so little, that I can have
no claim to much from you. Business, public and
private, devours all my time. I must return to Eng
land for repose. With such thoughts I flatter myself,
and need some kind friend to put me often in mind,
that old trees cannot safely be transplanted.
Adieu, my amiable friend, and believe me ever
Yours most affectionately,
B. Franklin.

. LETTER LVI.
To Jonathan Williams.
Philadelphia, 21 April, 1764.
Loving Kinsman,
I have received yours of the 12th instant. As to the
mistake I mentioned, I find on revisal, that it was not
in your account, but in my eyes, which mistook one
figure for another. I wrote to you from Burlington,
that I should pay your order in favor of Robinson, as
soon as I returned to town, which I accordingly did.
I should be glad to know what sum your government
has paid for the bounty on wheat last year, if you can
get at it easily.

92 FRANKLIN.
It grieves me that the glasses are not yet come for
the Armonica. How does cousin Josiah go on with
his spinnet ? But I make no doubt he improves very
fast. We all join in love to you and all yours.
I am your affectionate uncle,
B. Franklin.

LETTER LVII.
To Miss Stevenson.
Philadelphia, 4 May, 1764.
Dear Polly,
Since making up my packet for your good mother,
I have received your favor of the 1st of March, and
have only time now to acknowledge it, the bearer, Mrs.
Empson, being just going to the ship ; but I purpose
writing to you fully by next week's packet. I beg
leave to recommend her to your friendly advice and
civilities, as she is a daughter of one of my good
friends and neighbours, and will be quite a stranger in
London. I am, my dear friend,
Yours affectionately, B. Franklin.
P. S. The verses on Vanity extremely pretty.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 93
LETTER LVIII.
To Jonathan Williams.
Philadelphia, 24 May, 1764.
Dear Kinsman,
The bearer is the Reverend Mr. Rothenbuler,
minister of a new Calvinist German Church, lately
erected in this city. The congregation is but poor at
present, being many of them new comers, and, (like
other builders) deceived in their previous calculations,
they have distressed themselves by the expense of
their building ; but as they are an industrious, sober
people, they will be able in time to afford that assist
ance to others, which they now humbly crave for
themselves. His business in Boston is to petition the generous
and charitable among his Presbyterian brethren for
their kind benefactions. As he will be a stranger in
New England, and I know you are ready to do every
good work, I take the freedom to recommend him
and his business to you, for your friendly advice and
countenance. The civilities you show him shall be
acknowledged as done to
Your affectionate uncle,
B. Franklin.

94 FRANKLIN.
LETTER LIX.
To Jonathan Williams.
Philadelphia, 3 November, 1764.
Loving Kinsman,
The case of the Armonica came home to-night, and
the spindle, with all the rest of the work, seems well
done. But on further consideration, I think it is not
worth while to take one of them to London, to be
filled with glasses, as we intended. It will be better
to send you one complete from thence, made under
my direction ; which I will take care shall be good.
The glasses here will serve for these cases when I
come back, if it please God that I live to return, and
some friends will be glad of them.
Enclosed I send you that impostor's letter. Perhaps
he may be found by his handwriting.
We sail on Wednesday. The merchants here in
two hours subscribed eleven hundred pounds to be
lent the public for the charges of my voyage, &c. I
shall take with me but a part of it, five hundred pounds
sterling. Any sum is to be had, that I may want.*
My love to all. — Adieu. Yours affectionately,
B. Franklin.
* Dr. Franklin was appointed on this second mission to Eng
land by the Assembly of Pennsylvania, October 26th, 1764, and
he was instructed to depart with all convenient despatch. As the

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 95
LETTER LX.
To Miss Stevenson.
December, 1764.
I have once more the pleasure of writing a line to
my dear Polly, from Craven Street, where I arrived
on Monday evening, in about thirty days from Phila
delphia. Your good mamma was not at home, and
the maid could not tell where to find her; so I sat me
down and waited her return, when she was a good
deal surprised to find me in her parlour.
Assembly had not then in the treasury any money, that could be
appropriated for this purpose, they passed a resolve, " that the
expense attending his voyage, and the execution of the trust re
posed in him, should be provided for in the next bill prepared by
the House for raising money to defray the public debts." On the
strength of this pledge, the money was loaned by the merchants,
although a party had made a considerable opposition to the
appointment of an agent, who was known to be hostile to the
proprietaries, and had been active in promoting petitions for a
change of the Pennsylvania government.
Dr. William Smith, a learned and eloquent divine, and provost
of Philadelphia College, afterwards wrote, " that under whatso
ever circumstances this second embassy was undertaken, it ap
pears to have been a measure preordained in the counsels of
Heaven; and it will be for ever remembered to the honor of Penn
sylvania, that the agent selected to assert and defend the rights of
a single province, at the court of Great Britain, became the bold
asserter of the rights of America in general, and, beholding the
fetters that were forging for her, conceived the magnanimous
thought of rending them asunder before they could be rivetted." —
Votes of the Pennnsylvaia Assembly, October 26th, 1764. — Frank
lin's Works, Vol. I. p. 203.

96 FRANKLIN.
She has this afternoon received a letter from you,
and we rejoice to hear that you and our other friends
at Bromley are all well. My love to good Dr. and
Mrs. Hawkesworth, and to your amiable friends the
Misses Blount. Your mamma joins with me in
every affectionate sentiment, and bids me tell you,
that she is indeed but poorly, yet better than she was
•when you left her.
I am, as ever, my dear friend,
Yours affectionately,
B. Franklin.

LETTER LXI.
To Miss Stevenson.
Craven Street, 9 January, 1765.
Your good mamma and myself are both of opinion,
that the Christmas gambols at Bromley last a great
deal too long. We expected you three days ago.
Give my compliments to Dr. Hawkesworth, and tell
him 1 have read three or four times, and every time
with great pleasure, his Dialogue in the Magazine,*
between Mr. Selaway and friends in the Club. I call
the Dialogue his, being sure that nobody else could
write it ; " because why the thing speaks for it-
self." I cannot conceive that any inconvenience can arise
from ray loving young ladies, and their believing that
* The Gentleman's Magazine for 1764, Vol. xxxiv. p. 559.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 97
I love them. Therefore, you may assure your friend
Dolly, that she judges right. I love all good girls,
because they are good, and her for one reason more,
because you love her. I am, my dear friend,
Yours affectionately,
B. Franklin.

LETTER LXII.
To Jonathan Williams.
London, 28 April, 1766.
Dear Cousin,
I have received several of your kind favors, since
my arrival in England, the last by your good brother,
the subject not in the least disagreeable, as you appre
hend, but in truth it has not been at all in my power
to do what you desired ; if for no other reason, yet
for this, that there has been no vacancy.
I congratulate you on the repeal of that mother of
mischiefs, the Stamp Act, and on the ease we are
likely to obtain in our commerce. My time has been
extremely taken up, as you may imagine, in these
general affairs of America, as well as in the particular
one of our province. Yet I did not forget the Armo
nica for cousin Josiah ; but with all my endeavours, I
have not yet been able to procure one. Here is only
9

98 FRANKLIN.
one man, that makes them well ; his price no less
than thirty-four guineas, and he asks forty. I bid
him one hundred guineas for three ; he refused it. I
then agreed to give him the thirty-four guineas for
one. He promised to make it, now a twelve-month
since. I have called on him often, till I am tired,
and do not find that he has yet done a glass of it. If
I could have got this, Josiah should have had it, or
mine. But I fear it will not be got at all. And I
hope his waiting till my return, though it may seem
long, will be no disadvantage, as all his improvement
on the organ, in the mean time, will go towards his
better playing on the Armonica when he gets it.
I rejoice to hear of the welfare and increase of
your family. I pray God to bless them all and you.
Your affectionate uncle,
B. Franklin.
P. S. Sister Mecom speaks very affectionately
of you, and gratefully of your kindness to her in her
late troubles.
The bearer, Mr. Sears, is entering into business as
a merchant here. He is a friend of mine, and I
recommend him to your acquaintance and civilities.*
* On the 1st of March, 1766, he wrote to a friend in America;
" As to the reports you mention, that are spread to my disad
vantage, I give myself as little concern about them as possible. I
have often met with such treatment from people, that I was
all the while endeavouring to serve. At other times I have
been extolled extravagantly where I had little or no merit.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 99
LETTER LXIII.
To Miss Stevenson.
26 March, 1767.
We want to hear how our dear Polly does, after
the loss of her two great teeth together ; whether the
jaw is easy and not swelled.
Sir Charles Blount called in Craven Street last
night, and we learnt with pleasure, that your friend
Dolly, and all that family were well. Dr. Hawkes
worth is to spend' this evening there, and I am morti
fied that I cannot be with them.
Your good mamma bade me send you the enclosed
verses, and so I scribbled this line, just to let you
know we are well. Present my compliments to Mrs.
Tickell, and believe me ever
Your affectionate friend,
B. Franklin.
P. S. Dr. and Mrs. Hawkesworth are to drink
These are the operations of nature. It sometimes is cloudy, it
rains, it hails ; again it is clear and pleasant, and the sun shines
on us. Take one thing with another, and the world is a pretty
good sort of a world, and 'tis our duty to make the best of it, and
be thankful. One's true happiness depends more upon one's
own judgment of one's self, or a consciousness of rectitude in
action and intention, and the approbation of those few, who judge
impartially, than upon the applause of the unthinking, undiscern-
ing multitude, who are apt to cry Hosanna to-day, and to-morrow,
Crucify him."

100 FRANKLIN.
tea with us on Tuesday. It is said to be clever to
kill two birds with one stone. You may make three
or four more alive by one little visit at the same time.

LETTER LXIV.
To Miss Stevenson.
Craven Street, 16 May, 1767.
My Dear Polly,
I have just received yours of yesterday. I wish I
could come to you on Sunday, to spend the afternoon
and evening with you and that agreeable family, and re
turn with you on Monday. But I am too busy to spare
two days without great inconvenience. On Monday,
between two and three, you may expect me. But
then you will hold yourself ready to set out home
wards at six, that we may be in town before night,
and have time, after you have seen' your mother, to
go to Kensington ; for you cannot conveniently lodge
here, Sally being again ill with a fever.
Tell the good Dr. and Mrs. Hawkesworth, that I
love them as I ought, and as every body ought, and
you may whisper Dolly that I love her a little more ;
I hardly know why, but one sometimes has odd fan
cies... Present my respectful compliments to your
hostess, and believe me ever
Your affectionate friend,
B. Franklin.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 101
LETTER LXV.
To Miss Stevenson.
Craven Street, 17 June, 1767.
We were greatly disappointed yesterday, that we
had not the pleasure, promised us, of our dear Polly's
company. Your good mother would have me write a line in
answer to your letter. A muse, you must know,
visited me this morning ! I see you are surprised, as
I was. I never saw one before — and shall never
see another, — so I took the opportunity of her help to
put the answer into verse, because I was some verse
in your debt ever since you sent me the last pair of
garters. This muse appeared to be no housewife. I sup
pose few of them are. She was dressed, (if the ex
pression is allowable) in an undress, a kind of slat
ternly neglige, neither neat and clean, nor well
made ; and she has given the same sort of dress to
my piece. On reviewing it, I would have reformed
the lines, and made them all of a length, as I am told
lines ought to be ; but I find I can't lengthen the short
ones without stretching them on the rack, and I think
it would be equally cruel to cut off any part of the
long ones. Besides, the superfluity of these makes
up for the deficiency of those ; and so, from a princi
ple of justice, I leave them at full length, that I may
9*

102 FRANKLIN.
give you, at least in one sense of the word, good
measure. Adieu, my dear good girl, and believe me ever
Your affectionate, faithful friend,
B. Franklin.

LETTER LXVI.
To Miss Stevenson.
Paris, 14 September, 1767.
Dear Polly,
I am always pleased with a letter from you, and I
flatter myself you may be sometimes pleased in
receiving one from me, though it should be of little
importance, such as this, which is to consist of a few
occasional remarks made here, and in my journey
hither. Soon after I left you in that agreeable society at
Bromley, I took the resolution of making a trip with
Sir John Pringle into France. We set out on the
28th past. All the way to Dover we were furnished
with post-chaises, hung so as to lean forward, the top
coming down over one's eyes, like a hood, as if to
prevent one's seeing the country ; which being one of
my great pleasures, I was engaged in perpetual dis
putes with the innkeepers, ostlers, and postilions,
about getting the straps taken up a hole or two before,
and let down as much behind, they insisting that the

FAMILIAR LETTERS. jqo
chaise leaning forward was an ease to the horses and
that the contrary would kill them. I suppose the
chaise leaning forward looks to them like a willing
ness to go forward, and that its hanging back shows
reluctance. They added other reasons, that were no
reasons at all, and made me, as upon a hundred other
occasions, almost wish that mankind had never been
endowed with a reasoning faculty, since they know so
little how to make use of it, and so often mislead
themselves by it, and that they had been furnished
with a good sensible instinct instead of it.
At Dover, the next morning, we embarked for
Calais with a number of passengers, who had never
before been at sea. They would previously make a
hearty breakfast, because, if the wind should fail, we
might not get over till supper time. Doubtless they
thought, that when they had paid for their breakfast
they had a right to it, and that when they had swal
lowed it they were sure of it. But they had scarce
been out half an hour, before the sea laid claim to it,
and they were obliged to deliver it up. So that it
seems there are uncertainties, even beyond those
between the cup and the lip. If ever you go to sea,
take my advice, and live sparingly a day or two before
hand. The sickness, if any, will be lighter and sooner
over. We got to Calais that evening.
Various impositions we suffered from boatmen,
porters, and the like, on both sides the water. I know
not which are most rapacious, the English or French,
but the latter have, with their knavery, most politeness.

104 FRANKLIN.
The roads we found equally good with ours in
England, in some places paved with smooth stones,
like our new streets, for many miles together, and
rows of trees on each side, and yet there -are no turn
pikes. But then the poor peasants complained to us
grievously, that they were obliged to work upon the
roads full two months in the year, without being paid
for their labor. Whether this is truth, or whether,
like Englishmen, they grumble, cause or no cause, I
have not yet been able fully to inform myself.
The women we saw at Calais, on the road, at
Boulogne, and in the inns and villages, were gener
ally of dark complexions ; but arriving at Abbeville
we found a sudden change, a multitude of both
women and men in that place appearing remarkably
fair. Whether this is owing to a small colony of
spinners, wool-combers, and weavers, brought hither
from Holland with the woollen manufactory about sixty
years ago, or to their being less exposed to the sun,
than in other places, their business keeping them
much within doors, I know not. Perhaps, as in some
other cases, different causes may club in producing
the effect, but the effect itself is certain. Never was
I in a place of greater industry, wheels and looms
going in every house.
As soon as we left Abbeville, the swarthiness re
turned. I speak generally ; for here are some fair
women at Paris, who, I think, are not whitened by
art. As to rouge, they don't pretend to imitate nature

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 105
in laying it on. There is no gradual diminution of
the color, from the full bloom in the middle of the
cheek to the faint tint near the sides, nor does it show
itself differently in different faces. I have not had
the honor of being at any lady's toilette to see how it
is laid on, but I fancy I can tell you how it is or may
be done. Cut a hole of three inches diameter in a
piece of paper ; place it on the side of your face in
such a manner, as that the top of the hole may be
just under the eye ; then, with a brush dipped in the
color, paint face and paper together ; so when the
paper is taken off, there will remain a round patch of
red exactly the form of the hole. This is the mode,
from the actresses on the stage upwards through all
ranks of ladies to the princesses of the blood ; but it
stops there, the Queen not using it, having in the
serenity, complacence, and benignity, that shine so
eminently in, or rather through her countenance, suf
ficient beauty, though now an old woman, to do ex
tremely well without it.
You see I speak of the Queen as if I had seen her ;
and so I have, for you must know I have been at
court. We went to Versailles last Sunday, and had
the honor of being presented to the King ; he spoke to
both of us very graciously and very cheerfully, is a
handsome man, has a very lively look, and appears
younger than he is. In the evening we were at the
Grand Concert, where the family sup in public.
The table was half a hollow square, the service gold.

106 FRANKLIN.
When either made a sign for drink, the word was
given by one of the waiters. A boire pour le Roi, or,
A boire pour la Reine. Then two persons came from
within, the one with wine and the other with water in
carafes ; each drank a little glass of what he brought,
and then put both the carafes with a glass on a salver,
and then presented it. Their distance from each
other was such, as that other chairs might have been
placed between any two of them. An officer of the
court brought us up through the crowd of spectators,
and placed Sir John so as to stand between the
Queen and Madame Victoire. The king talked a
good deal to Sir John, asking many questions about
our royal family ; and did me too the honor of taking
some notice of me ; that is saying enough ; for I
would not have you think me so much pleased with
this king and queen, as to have a whit less regard than
I used to have for ours. No Frenchman shall go
beyond me in thinking my own king and queen the
very best in the world, and the most amiable.
Versailles has had infinite sums laid out in building
it and supplying it with water. Some say the expen
ses exceeded eighty millions sterling. The range of
buildings is immense ; the garden-front most magnifi
cent, all of hewn stone ; the number of statues,
figures, urns, Stc. in marble and bronze of exquisite
workmanship, is beyond conception. But the water
works are out of repair, and so is great part of the
front next the town, looking with its shabby, half-

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 107
brick walls, and broken windows, not much better than
the houses in Durham Yard. There is, in short, both
at Versailles and Paris, a prodigious mixture of
magnificence and negligence, with every kind of ele-°
gance except that of cleanliness, and what we call tidi
ness. Though I must do Paris the justice to say, that
in two points of cleanliness they exceed us. The
water they drink, though from the river, they render
as pure as that of the best spring, by filtering it
through cisterns filled with sand ; and the streets with
constant sweeping are fit to walk in, though there is
no paved footpath. Accordingly, many well-dressed
people are constantly seen walking in them. The
crowds of coaches and chairs for this reason is not so
great. Men, as well as women, carry umbrellas in
their hands, which they extend in case of rain or too
much sun ; and, a man with an umbrella not taking
up more than three foot square, or nine square feet of
the street, when, if in a coach, he would take up two
hundred and forty square feet, you can easily con
ceive that though the streets here are narrow, they
may be much less encumbered. They are extremely
well paved, and the stones, being generally cubes,
when worn on one side, may be turned and become
new. The civilities we everywhere receive give us the
strongest impressions of the French politeness. It
seems to be a point settled here universally, that
strangers are to be treated with respect ; and one has

108 FRANKLIN.
just the same deference shown one here by being a
stranger, as in England by being a lady. The cus
tom-house officers at Port St. Denis, as we entered
Paris, were about to seize two dozen of excellent
Bordeaux wine given us at Boulogne, and which we
brought with us ; but as soon as they found we were
strangers, it was immediately remitted on that ac
count. At the Church of Notre Dame, when we
went to see a magnificent illumination, with figures,
&c. for the deceased Dauphiness, we found an im
mense crowd, who were kept out by guards ; but the
officer being told, that we were strangers from Eng
land, he immediately admitted us, accompanied and
showed us every thing. Why don't we practise this
urbanity to Frenchmen ? Why should they be allowed
to outdo us in any thing ? •>
Here is an exhibition of painting, like ours in Lon
don, to which multitudes flock daily. I am not con
noisseur enough to judge which has most merit.
Every night, Sundays not excepted, here are plays
or operas ; and though the weather has been hot, and
the houses full, one is not incommoded by the heat so
much as with us in winter. They must have some
way of changing the air, that we are not acquainted
with. I shall inquire into it.
Travelling is one way of lengthening life, at least in
appearance. It is but about a fortnight since we left
London, but the variety of scenes we have gone
through makes it seem equal tor six months living in

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 109
one place. Perhaps I have suffered a greater change,
too, in my own person, than I could have done in six
years at home. I had not been here six days, before
my tailor and perruquier had transformed me into a
Frenchman. Only think what a figure I make in a
little bag-wig and with naked ears ! They told me I
was become twenty years younger, and looked very
gallant. This letter shall cost you a shilling, and you may
consider it cheap, when you reflect, that it has cost me
at least fifty guineas to get into the situation, that ena
bles me to write it. Besides, I might, if I had stayed
at home, have won perhaps two shillings of you at
cribbage. By the way, now I mention cards, let me
tell you that quadrille is now out of fashion here, and
English whist all the mode at Paris and the court.
And pray look upon it as no small matter, that,
surrounded as I am by the glories of the world, and
amusements of all sorts, I remember you and Dolly,
and all the dear good folks at Bromley. 'Tis true, I
can't help it, but must and ever shall remember you
all with pleasure.
Need I add, that I am particularly, my dear good
friend, Yours most affectionately,
B. Franklin.
10

110

FRANKLIN.

LETTER LXVII.

To Miss Stevenson.

Friday Morning, 9 October, 1767.
I write this line just to acquaint my dear Polly, that I
left her amiable friend Miss Henckell well at Calais on
Wednesday noon, waiting for good weather to come
over. She has been four months at Spa. She in
quired concerning Miss Stevenson's health and wel
fare in the most tender and affectionate manner, and
will be disappointed at not finding you at Bromley.
We got home well last night. My respectful com
pliments to Mrs. Tickell.
I am, as ever, my dear friend,
Yours affectionately,
B. Franklin.

LETTER LXVIII.
To Miss Stevenson.*
Craven Street, 28 September, 1768.
Dear Polly,
The objection you make to rectifying our alphabet,
" that it will be attended with inconveniences and
difficulties," is a natural one ; for it always occurs when
* Dr. Franklin had contrived a scheme for a new alphabet, in
which, by the use of six new characters and certain changes in

FAMILIAR LETTERS. m
any reformation is proposed, whether in religion, gov
ernment, laws, and even down as low as roads and
wheel-carriages. The true question, then, is not
whether there will be any difficulties or inconven
iences, but whether the difficulties may not be sur
mounted, and whether the conveniences will not, on
the whole, be greater than the inconveniences. In this
case, the difficulties are only in the beginning of the
practice. When they are overcome, the advantages
are lasting. To either you or me, who spell well in
the present mode, I imagine the difficulty of changing
that mode for the new is not so great, but that we
might perfectly get over it in a week's time.
As to those, who do not spell well, if the two diffi
culties are compared, namely, that of teaching them
true spelling in the present mode, and that of teaching
them the new alphabet, and the new spelling according
to it, I am confident that the latter would be by far the
least. They naturally fall into the new method already,
as much as the imperfection of their alphabet will
admit of. Their present bad spelling is only bad,
because contrary to the present bad rules. The diffi
culty of learning to spell well in the old way is so great,
that few attain it, thousands and thousands writing on
to old age, without ever being able to acquire it. It is,
the vowels, all the words in the language would be spelled
according to the natural sounds of the letters. He amused him
self with teaching this alphabet to Miss Stevenson, and the present
letter was written in the characters of the new scheme. It is here
transcribed in the common orthography.

112 FRANKLIN.
besides, a difficulty continually increasing, as the sound
gradually varies more and more from the spelling, and
to foreigners it makes the learning to pronounce our
language, as written in our books, almost impossible.
Now, as to the inconveniences you mention, the first
is, " that all our etymologies would be lost, and conse
quently we could not ascertain the meaning of many
words." Etymologies are at present very uncertain ;
but such as they are, the old books would still pre
serve them, and etymologists would there find them.
Words in the course of time change their meanings, as
well as their spelling and pronunciation, and we do
not look to etymology for their present meanings. If
I should call a man a knave and a villain, he would
hardly be satisfied with my telling him, that one of the
words originally signified only a lad or servant ; and
the other an under-ploughman, or the inhabitant of a
village. It is from present usage only, that the meaning
of words is to be determined.
Your second inconvenience is, that " the distinction
between words of different meaning and similar sound
would be destroyed." That distinction is already
destroyed in pronouncing them ; and you rely on the
sense alone of the sentence to ascertain wbich of the
several words, similar in sound, we intend. If this is
sufficient in the rapidity of discourse, it will be much
more so in written sentences, which may be read
leisurely, and attended to more particularly in case of
difficulty, than you can attend to a past sentence,
while a speaker is hurrying you along with new ones.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. H3
Your third inconvenience is, that " all the books
already written would be useless." This inconvenience
would only come on gradually, in a course of ages.
You, and I, and other now living readers, would hardly
forget the use of them. People would long learn to
read the old writing, though they practised the new.
And the inconvenience is not greater, than what has
actually happened in a similar case in Italy. For
merly, its inhabitants all spoke and wrote Latin ; as
the language changed, the spelling followed it. It is
true, that, at present, a mere unlearned Italian cannot
read the Latin books, though they are still read and
understood by many. But, if the spelling had never
been changed, he would now have found it much more
difficult to read and write his own language, for writ
ten words would have had no relation to sounds, they
would only have stood for things ; so that, if he would
express in writing the idea he has, when he sounds
the word Vescovo, he must use the letters Episcopus.
In short, whatever the difficulties and inconveniences
now are, they will be more easily surmounted now,
than hereafter ; and some time or other it must be
done, or our writing will become the same with the
Chinese, as to the difficulty of learning and using it.
And it would already have been such, if we had con
tinued the Saxon spelling and writing, used by our
forefathers. I am, my dear friend,
Yours affectionately,
10* B. Franklin.

114 FRANKLIN.
LETTER LXIX.
To Miss Stevenson.
October, 1768.
I see very clearly the unhappiness of your situation,
and that it does not arise from any fault in you. I
pity you most sincerely. I should not, however, have
thought of giving you advice on this occasion, if you
had not requested it, believing, as I do, that your own
good sense is more than sufficient to direct you in
every point of duty to others -and yourself. If, then,
I should advise you to any thing, that may be contrary
to your own opinion, do not imagine, that I shall con
demn you, if you do not follow such advice. I shall
only think, that, from a better acquaintance with cir
cumstances, you form a better judgment of what is fit
for you to do.
Now, I conceive with you, that  , both from
her affection to you, and from the long habit of having
you with her, would really be miserable without you.
Her temper, perhaps, was never of the best ; and when
that is the case, age seldom mends it. Much of her
unhappiness must arise from thence ; and since wrong
turns of mind, when confirmed by time, are almost
as little in our power to cure, as those of the body, I
think with you, that her case is a compassionable one.
If she had, though by her own imprudence, brought
on herself any grievous sickness, I know you would
think it your duty to attend and nurse her with filial

FAMILIAR LETTERS. U5
tenderness, even were your own health to be endan
gered by it. Your apprehension, therefore, is right,
that it may be your duty to, live with her, though
inconsistent with your happiness and your interest ;
but this can only mean present interest, and present
happiness ; for I think your future, greater, and more
lasting interest and happiness will arise from the reflec
tion, that you have done your duty, and from the high
rank you will ever hold in the esteem of all that know
you, for having persevered in doing that duty, under
so many and great discouragements.
My advice, then, must be, that you return to her as
soon as the time proposed for your visit is expired ;
and that you continue, by every means in your power,
to make the remainder of her days as comfortable to
her as possible. Invent amusements for her; be pleased
when she accepts of them, and patient when she per
haps peevishly rejects them. I know this is hard, but
I think you are equal to it ; not from any servility of
temper, but from abundant goodness. In the mean
time, all your friends, sensible of your present uncom
fortable situation, should endeavour to ease your
burthen, by acting in concert with you, and to give
her as many opportunities as possible of enjoying the
pleasures of society, for your sake.
Nothing is more apt to sour the temper of aged
people, than the apprehension that they are neglected ;
and they are extremely apt to entertain such suspicions.
It was therefore that I proposed asking her to be of our

116 FRANKLIN.
late party ; but, your mother disliking it, the motion
was dropped, as some others have been, by my too
great easiness, contrary to my judgment. Not but that
I was sensible her being with us might have lessened
our pleasure, but I hoped it might have prevented you
some pain.
In fine, nothing can contribute to true happiness,
that is inconsistent with duty ; nor can a course of
action, conformable to it, be finally without an ample
reward. For, God governs ; and he is good. I pray
him to direct you ; and, indeed, you will never be
without his direction, if you humbly ask it, and show
yourself always ready to obey it.
Farewell, my dear friend, and believe me ever
sincerely and affectionately yours,
B. Franklin.

LETTER LXX.
To Miss Stevenson.
Thursday, 20 October, 1768.
Dear Polly,
Last night your good mother received the enclosed
letters from Mr. T. Henckell, and answered him that
we should all be happy to have his company, and
appointed him to be at our house in Craven Street, at
half after seven, on Saturday morning, that we might
set out by eight.
Our reason for going so early is, that, having the
day before us, we may do our business, and dine in

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 117
time, so as to be back by daylight. There is otherwise
danger of our being benighted, as the days are now
short, and you know I don't love travelling in the dark,
after a day of pleasure, thinking it like a bad epilogue
to a good play. The company now is, Mrs. Steven
son and Polly, Dolly and Mr. Henckell, Mr. and Mrs.
and Miss Wilkes, Dr. Rush, and
Your affectionate friend,
B. Franklin.
P. S. The above list makes nine. Mr. or Mrs.
Viney will perhaps join us, but that is not yet certain.*
* Extract from a letter to a lady in America. " London, 27 April, 1769.
— " Mrs. Stevenson has executed your order, and sends the
things in a bandbox directed to you. A new-fashioned something,
that was not ready when the box was packed up, is enclosed in
her letter.
" I am now grown too old to be ambitious of such a station, as
that which you say has been mentioned to you. Repose is more
fit for me, and much more suitable to my wishes. There is no
danger of such a thing being offered to me, and I am sure I shall
never ask it. But even if it were offered, I certainly eould not
accept it, to act under such instructions, as I know must be given
with it. So you may be quite easy on that head.
" The account you write of the growing industry, frugality,
and good sense of my countrywomen, gives me more pleasure
than you oan imagine ; for from thence I presage great advan
tages to pur country. I should be sorry that you are engaged in
a business, which happens not to coincide with the general in
terest, if you did not acquaint me that you are now near the end
of it."
The allusion above is to a report, which Dr. Franklin's enemies
spread abroad, that he was disposed to accept an office under the

118 FRANKLIN.
LETTER LXXI.
To Miss Stevenson.
Tuesday Morning, 27 June, 1769.
Dear Polly,
Agreeably to your orders, delivered to me very
punctually by Temple, I return you enclosed Voltaire's
verses. The translation I think full as good as the
original. Remember that I am to have them again.
I take this opportunity to send you, also, a late
paper containing a melancholy account of the dis
tresses of some seamen. You will observe in it the
advantages they received from wearing their clothes
constantly wet with salt water, under the total want of
fresh water to drink. You may remember I recom
mended this practice many years ago. Do you know
British government, at the same time that he was acting as an agent
to sustain the rights of his country against the encroachments of
that government. There never were any grounds for such a report.
The ministry, no doubt, would have been glad to win such a
champion to their side, and it has been said, that the office of
under-secretary of state was held out as an allurement. This
was probably the station, which his correspondent had mentioned,
as hinted at in the above extract. But this letter is proof enough,
that there was no foundation for such a surmise. Indeed, all his
correspondence and other writings of that period, and particularly
the papers that are contained in the second part of this volume,
indicate opinions, a tone of feeling, and a course of conduct, as far
removed as possible from any tendency to abet the acts and doc
trines of the British government respecting the colonies. The
contrary is every where and uniformly manifest.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. H9
Dr. Len, and did you communicate it to him ? I fancy
his name is wrong spelt in this paper, and that it should
be land, having seen in the Review some extracts from
a book on sea-diseases, published within these two or
three years, by one Dr. Lind ; but I have not seen the
book, and know not whether such a passage be in it.
I need not point out to you an observation in favor
of our doctrine, that you will make on reading this
paper, that, having little to eat, these poor people in
wet clothes day and night caught no cold.
My respects to your aunt, and love to all that love
you. Yours affectionately,
B. Franklin.*

* In writing to a friend in America, February 23d, 1 769, he
expressed himself in the following characteristic manner con
cerning the nature and tendency of religious disputation.
"Tour political disputes I have no objection to, if they are
carried on with tolerable decency, and do not become outrageously
abusive. They make people acquainted with their rights, and the
value of them. But your squabbles about a bishop I wish to see
speedily ended. They seem to be unnecessary at present, as the
design of sending one is dropped ; and if it were not dropped,
I cannot think it a matter of such moment, as to be a sufficient
reason for division among you, when there never was more need
of your being united. I do not conceive, that bishops residing in
America would either be of such advantage to Episcopalians,
or such disadvantage to Anti-episcopalians, as either seem to
imagine. " Each party abuses the other ; the profane and the infidel
believe both sides, and enjoy the fray ; the reputation of religion
in general suffers, and its enemies are ready to say, not what was

120 FRANKLIN.
LETTER LXXII.
To Miss Stevenson.
Saturday Evening, 2 September, 1769.
Just come home from a venison feast, where I have
drunk more than a philosopher ought, I find my dear
Polly's cheerful, chatty letter, that exhilarates me more
than all the wine.
Your good mother says there is no occasion for any
intercession of mine in your behalf. She is sensible
that she is more in fault than her daughter. She
received an affectionate, tender letter from you, and
she has not answered it, though she intended to do it ;
but her head, not her heart, has been bad, and unfitted
her for writing. She owns that she is not so good a
subject as you are, and that she is more unwilling to
pay tribute to Caesar, and has less objection to smug-
said in the primitive times, Behold how these Christians love one
another, — but, Mark how these Christians hate one another !
Indeed, when religious people quarrel about religion, or hungry
people about their victuals, it looks as if they had not much of
either among them."
In speaking of the death of an acquaintance, in 1773, he says, —
" Your neighbour must have been pretty well advanced in years
when he died. I remember him a young man when I was a very
young boy. In looking back, how short the time seems ! I sup;
pose that all the passages of our lives, that we have forgotten,
being so many links taken out of the chain, give the more distant
parts leave, as it were, to come apparently nearer together."

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 121
gling ; but 'tis not, she says, mere selfishness or ava
rice ; 'tis rather an honest resentment at the waste of
those taxes in pensions, salaries, perquisites, contracts,
and other emoluments for the benefit of people she
does not love, and who do not deserve such advan
tages, because — I suppose — because they are not of
her party.
Present my respects to your good landlord and his
family. I honor them for their conscientious aversion
to illicit trading. There are those in the world, who
would not wrong a neighbour, but make no scruple of
cheating the king. The reverse, however, does not
hold ; for whoever scruples cheating the king will
certainly not wrong his neighbour.
You ought not to wish yourself an enthusiast.
They have, indeed, their imaginary satisfactions and
pleasures, but these are often balanced by imaginary
pains and mortification. You can continue to be a
good girl, and thereby lay a solid foundation for ex
pected future happiness, without the enthusiasm that
may perhaps be necessary to some others. As those
beings, who have a good sensible instinct, have no
need of reason, so those, who have reason to regu
late their actions, have no occasion for enthusiasm.
However, there are certain circumstances in life,
sometimes, where it is perhaps best not to hearken to
reason. For instance ; possibly, if the truth were
known, I have reason to be jealous of this same insin
uating, handsome young physician ; but as it flatters
11

122 FRANKLIN:
more my vanity, and therefore gives me more pleasure,
to suppose you were in spirits on account of my safe
return, I shall turn a deaf ear to reason in this case,
as I have done with success in twenty others. But
I am sure you will always give me reason enough to
continue ever Your affectionate friend,
B. Franklin.
P. S. Our love to Mrs, Tickell. We shall long for
your return. Your Dolly was well last Tuesday ; the
girls were there on a visit to her ; I mean at Bromley.
Adieu. No time now to give you any account of my French
journey.

LETTER LXXIII.
To Miss Stevenson.
Craven Street, 22 January, 1770.
Dear Polly,
I received your favor of Saturday, early this morn
ing, and am as usual much obliged by the kind readi
ness with which you have done what I requested.
Your good mother has complained more of her
head since you left us than ever before. If she
stoops, or looks, or bends her neck downwards, on
any occasion, it is with great pain and difficulty, that
she gets her head up again. She has, therefore,
borrowed a breast and neck collar of Mrs. Wilkes,
such as misses wear, and now uses it to keep her

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 123
head up. Mr. Strahan has invited us all to dine there
to-morrow, but she has excused herself. Will you
come, and go with me ? If you cannot well do that,
you will at least be with us on Friday.
As to my own head, which you so kindly inquire
after, its swimming has gradually worn off, and to-day
for the first time I felt nothing of it on getting out of
bed. But as this speedy recovery is, as I am fully
persuaded, owing to the extreme abstemiousness I
have observed for some days past at home, I am not
without apprehensions, that, being to dine abroad this
day, to-morrow, and next day, I may inadvertently
bring it on again, if I do not think of my little monitor
and guardian angel, and make use of the proper and
very pertinent clause she proposes, in my grace.
Here comes a morning visitor. Adieu. My best
respects to Mrs. Tickell. I am, my dear friend,
Yours affectionately,
B. Franklin.

LETTER LXXIV.
'To Mrs. Jane Mecom.
London, 15 March, 1770.
Dear Sister,
I received your kind little letter of January 3d from
Philadelphia. I am glad your visit thither proves
agreeable to you. Since your family is so much

124 FRANKLIN.
reduced, I do not see why you might not as well con
tinue there, if you like the place equally with Boston.
It would be a pleasure to me to have you near me ;
but your own discretion must govern you. I propose,
God willing, to return this summer.
With true regard, I am ever
Your affectionate brother,
B. Franklin.

LETTER LXXV.
To a Friend in America.
London, 18 March, 1770.
Dear Sir,
Your very judicious letter of November 26tb, being
communicated by me to some member of Parliament,
was handed about among them, so that it was some
time before I got it again into my hands. It had due
weight with several, and was of considerable use. You
will see that I printed it at length in the London
Chronicle, with the merchants' letter. When the
American affairs came to be debated in the House of
Commons, the majority, notwithstanding all the weight
of ministerial influence, was only sixty-two for continu
ing the whole last act ; and would not have been so
large, nay, I think the repeal would have been carried,
but that the ministry were persuaded by Governor
Bernard, and some lying letters said to be from Boston,
that the associations not to import were all breaking to

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 125
pieces, that America was in the greatest distress for
want of the goods, that we could not possibly subsist
any longer without them, and must of course submit to
any terms Parliament should think fit to impose upon
us. This, with the idle notion of the dignity and
sovereignty of Parliament, which they are so fond of,
and imagine will be endangered by any farther con
cessions, prevailed, I know, with many, to vote with
the ministry, who, otherwise, on account of the com
merce, wish to see the difference accommodated.
But though both the Duke of Grafton and Lord
North were and are, in my opinion, rather inclined to
satisfy us, yet the Bedford party are so violent against
us, and so prevalent in the Council, that more moderate
measures could not take place. This party never speak
of us but with evident malice ; " rebels" and " traitors "
are the best names they can afford us, and I believe
they only wish for a colorable pretence and occasion
of ordering the soldiers to make a massacre among us.
On the other hand, the Rockingham and Shelburne
people, with Lord Chatham's friends, are disposed to
favor us if they were again in power, which at present
they are not like to be ; though they, too, would be
for keeping up the claim of parliamentary sovereignty,
but without exercising it in any mode of taxation.
Besides these, we have for sincere friends and well-
wishers the body of dissenters generally, throughout
England, with many others, not to mention Ireland
and all the rest of Europe, who, from various motives,
11*

126 FRANKLIN.
join in applauding the spirit of liberty, with which we
have claimed and insisted on our privileges, and wish
us success, but whose suffrage cannot have much
weight in our affairs.
The merchants here were at length prevailed on to
present a petition, but they moved slowly, and some
of them, I thought, reluctantly ; perhaps from a despair
of success, the city not being much in favor with the
court at present. The manufacturing towns absolutely
refused to move at all ; some pretending to be offended
with our attempting to manufacture for ourselves ;
others saying, that they had employment enough,
and that our trade was of little importance to them,
whether we continued or refused it. Those, who
began a little to feel the effects of our forbearing to
purchase, were persuaded to be quiet by the minis
terial people, who gave out that certain advices were
received of our beginning to break our agreements ;
of our attempts to manufacture proving all abortive
and ruining the undertakers ; of our distress for want
of goods, and dissensions among ourselves, which prom
ised the total defeat of all such kind of combinations,
and the prevention of them for the future, if the gov
ernment were not urged imprudently to repeal the
duties. But now that it appears from late and authen
tic accounts, that agreements continue in full force,
that a ship is actually returned from Boston to Bristol
with nails and glass (articles that were thought of the
utmost necessity), and that the ships which were waiting

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 127
here for the determination of Parliament, are actually
returning to North America in their ballast, the tone
of the manufacturers begins to change, and there is no
doubt, that, if we are steady and persevere • in our
resolutions, these people will soon begin a clamor, that
much pains has hitherto been used to stifle.
In short, it appears to me, that if we do not now
persist in this measure till it has had its full effect, it
can never again be used on any future occasion with
the least prospect of success, and that, if we do per
sist another year, we shall never afterwards have
occasion to use it.
With sincere regards, I am, dear Sir,
Your obedient servant,
B. Franklin.

LETTER LXXVI.
To Miss Stevenson.
Thursday, 31 May, 1770.,
Dear Polly,
I received your letter early this morning, and as I
am so engaged, that I cannot see you when you come
to-day, I write this line just to say, that I am sure you
are a much better judge in this affair of your own,
than I can possibly be.* In that confidence it was,
" Alluding to a proposal from Mr. Hewson, a physician of Lon
don, to whom Miss Stevenson was soon afterwards married.

128 FRANKLIN.
that I forbore giving my advice, when you mentioned
it to me, and not from any disapprobation. My con
cern (equal to any father's) for your happiness makes
me write this, lest, having more regard for my opinion
than you ought, and imagining it against the proposal
because I did not immediately advise accepting it,
you should let that weigh any thing in your delibera
tions. I assure you, that no objection has occurred to me.
His person you see ; his temper and understanding
you can judge of; his character, for any thing I have
ever heard, is unblemished ; his profession, with the
skill in it he is supposed to have, will be sufficient to
support a family ; and, therefore, considering the for
tune you have in your hands (though any future ex
pectation from your parent should be disappointed), I
do not see but that the agreement may be a rational
one on both sides.
I see your delicacy, and your humility too, for you
fancy that if you do not prove a great fortune, you
will not be loved ; but I am sure, were I in his situa
tion in every respect, knowing you so well as I do,
and esteeming you so highly, I should think you a
fortune sufficient for me without a shilling.
Having thus, more explicitly than before, given my
opinion, I leave the rest to your sound judgment, of
which no one has a greater share ; and I shall not be
too inquisitive after your particular reasons, your
doubts, your fears, and the like. For I shall be con-

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 129
fident, whether you accept or refuse, that you do right.
I only wish you may do what will most contribute to
your happiness, and of course to mine ; being ever,
my dear friend, Yours most affectionately, B. Franklin.
P. S. Don't be angry with me for supposing your
determination not quite so fixed as you fancy it.*

LETTER LXXVII.
To Jonathan Williams.
London, 6 June, 1770.
Dear Cousin,
Your favor of January 8th came duly to hand, but
I have been so much engaged during the sitting of
Parliament, that I could not correspond regularly with
* Dr. Franklin seems not to have had great confidence in the
efficacy of advice. To a person, who once wrote to him on this
head respecting a young man under his charge, he replied ; —
" As to my reproving and advising him, which you desire, he
has not hitherto appeared to need it, which is lucky, as I am not
fond of giving advice, having seldom seen it taken. An Italian
poet, in his account of a voyage to the moon, tells us, that
All things lost on earth are treasured there.
On which somebody observed, there must then be in the moon a
great deal of good advice."

130 FRANKLIN.
all my friends, and have of course trespassed most
with those on whose good nature and indulgence I
could most rely. I am, however, ashamed of being
so long silent. It was but the other day, that I inquir
ed after the fate of your tickets, when I received the
enclosed answer, whereby you will, see that the whole
cost has not been lost. I only wished to see three 0'a
more following the sum. I have not any further
orders from you, but think to take at a venture two
tickets more on your account. If you disapprove and
choose to rest where you are, signify it by a line,
before the drawing, directed to Messrs. Smith, Wright,
and Grey, who may then dispose of the tickets.
I am glad to hear the old gentleman, your father,
is still alive and happy. Please to remember me to
him respectfully. Probably he can recollect but little
of me, as it is a good deal more than half a century
since he has seen me ; but I remember him well, a
lively, active, handsome young man, with a fine full
flowing head of hair. I suppose he must now be near
fourscore. If I could have given you any intimation of the
intentions of government, with regard to America, that
might be depended upon, you should have had them
in good time for use, in the views of trade you hint
at. But there have been this winter such changes of
men, and of minds, and such continual expectations
of more and other changes, that nothing was certain ;
and I believe that to this day the ministry are not all

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 131
of a mind, nor determined what are the next steps
proper to be taken with us. Some are said to be for
severe, others for lenient measures ; others for leav
ing things as they riow are, in confidence that we
shall soon be tired of our non-importation agreements,
manufacturing schemes, and self-denying frugalities,
submit to the duties, and return by .degrees to our
dear luxuries and idleness, with our old course of
commercial extravagance, folly, and good humor.
Which of these opinions will prevail and be acted on,
'tis impossible yet to say. I only know, that gener
ally the dispute is thought a dangerous one, and that
many wish to see it well compromised in time, lest
by a continuance of mutual provocations the breach
should become past healing.
I am much obliged to you and cousin Hubbard for
your kindness to my friend Hughes, of which he inform
ed me, with many expressions of gratitude for your
civilities. He would have been very happy in that
station, and in your acquaintance so nigh him ; but he
is now removed to Carolina.
My love to your good wife and children, and be
lieve me ever Your affectionate uncle,
B. Franklin.

132 FRANKLIN.

LETTER LXXVIII.
To Samuel Franklin, Boston.*
London, 8 June, 1770.
Loving Cousin,
I received your kind letter of the 23d of March.
I was happy to find that neither you, nor any of your
family, were in the way of those murderers. f I hope
that before this time the town is quite freed from such
dangerous and mischievous inmates.
I rejoice to hear that you and your good wife and
children continue in health. My love to them. I
still enjoy a considerable share of that blessing,
thanks to God, and hope once more to see Boston
and my friends there before I die. I left it first in
1723. I made a visit there in 1733 ; another in
1743; another in 1753; another in 1763. Perhaps
if I live to 1773, 1 may then call again and take my
leave. J
* The grandson of Dr. Franklin's father's brother Benjamin.
¦f Alluding to the tragical scene in the streets of Boston on the
5th of March, commonly called the massacre, when Captain Pres
ton's troops fired upon the inhabitants, and killed three persons.
J Dr. Franklin wrote from Passy, May 12th, 1784, when, after
stating the same facts, he added ; — "In 1773 I was in England ; in
1775, 1 had a sight of Boston, but could not enter, it being in pos
session of the enemy. I did hope to have been there in 1783, but
could not obtain my dismission from this employment here ; and
now I fear I shall never have that happiness. My best wishes,

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 133
Our relation, Sally Franklin, is still with me here,
is a very good girl, and grown up almost a woman.
She sends her love to you and yours.*
I am, with sincere regard,
Your affectionate cousin,
B. Franklin.
however, attend my dear country. Esto perpetua. It is now blest
with an excellent constitution. May it last forever ! "
Although Dr. Franklin visited Boston at the above mentioned
decennial' periods, he was there likewise at intermediate times.
* Sally Franklin was a distant relation, whom he found in Eng
land. In a letter written to one of his family connexions in Amer
ica, July 17th, 1771, he thus speaks of her; —
" Sally Franklin has lived with me these five years, a very
good girl, now sixteen. She is great-granddaughter of our father's
brother John, who was a dyer at Banbury in Oxfordshire, where
our father learnt that trade of him, and where our grandfather
Thomas lies buried. I saw his grave-stone. Sally's father, John's
grandson, is now living at Lutterworth, in Leicestershire, where he
follows the same business, his father too being bred a dyer, as was
our uncle Benjamin. He is a widower, and Sally his only child.
These two are the only descendants of our grandfather Thomas
now remaining in England, that retain the name of Franklin.''
Dr. Franklin's grandfather had nine children, eight of whom
were sons, and his father seventeen. It is believed, that there is
not now living a single descendant of Franklin's grandfather in
the male line, or bearing that name. From the above extract it
seeme probable, that there is none such in England, and it is not
known that there has been living for many years in this country
any descendant by the name of Franklin from Dr. Franklin's
father or uncles.
Dr. Franklin was the fifteenth child and the youngest son, and
was born in Boston, January 6th, 1706. He was married to Deborah
Read, of Philadelphia, September 1st, 1730. He had two chil-
12

134 FRANKLIN.
LETTER LXXIX.
To Mrs. Hewson.
London, 24 July, 1770.
Dear Polly,
I wrote a few lines to you last week, in answer to
yours of the 15th, since which I have been in the
country ; and, returning yesterday, found your good
mother was come home, and had got a letter from you
of the 20th. She has just put it into my hands, and
desired me to write to you, as she is going into the
city with Miss Barwell to buy things. Whether she
will have time to write herself, or whether, if she had,
she would get over her natural aversion to writing, I
cannot say. I rather think she will content herself
with your knowing what she should say, and would
say, if she wrote ; and with my letting you know, that
she is well, and very happy in hearing that you are so.
Your friends are all much pleased with your ac
count of the agreeable family, their kind reception
and entertainment of you, and the respect shown you ;
dren by this marriage, — a son, named Francis Folger, who died
at the age of four years, — and a daughter, named Sarah, born
September 11th, 1744. This daughter was married to Mr. Bache
on the 29th of October, 1767, and died October 5th, 1808, aged
sixty-four. She had seven children, namely, Benjamin Franklin,
William, Elizabeth, Louis, Deborah, Richard, and Sarah. The
three last are still living, and the descendants of Mrs. Bache,
through these seven children, have already become numerous.
Dr. Franklin's wife died December the 19th, 1774.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 135
only Dolly and I, though we rejoice and shall do so
in every thing that contributes to your happiness, are
now and then in low spirits, supposing we have lost
each a friend. Barwell says she conceives nothing of
this ; and that we must be two simpletons to enter
tain such imaginations. I showed her your letter to
your mother, wherein you say, " Dolly is a naughty
girl, and, if she does not mend, I shall turn her off ; for
I have got another Dolly now, and a very good Dolly
too." She begged me not to communicate this to Dol
ly, for though said in jest, yet, in her present state of
mind, it would hurt her. I suppose that it was for the
same good-natured reason, that she refused to show
me a paragraph of your letter to Dolly, that had been
communicated by Dolly to her.
July 25th. The above was written yesterday, but,
being interrupted, I could not finish my letter in time for
the post ; though I find I had little to add. Your mother
desires me to express abundance of affection for you,
and for Mr. Hewson ; and to say all the proper things
for her, with respect to the rest of your friends there.
But you can imagine better than I can write. Sally
and little Temple * join in best wishes of prosperity to
you both. Make my sincerest respects acceptable to
Mr. Hewson, whom, exclusive of his other merits, I
shall always esteem in proportion to the regard he

* William Temple Franklin, son of William Franklin, governor
of New Jersey.

136 FRANKLIN.
manifests for you. Barwell tells me, that your aunt
had received his letter, and was highly pleased with
it and him ; so I hope all will go well there ; and I
shall take every opportunity of cultivating her good
disposition, in which I think you used to be some
times a little backward, but you always had your rea
sons. I am apt to love every body that loves you, and
therefore I suppose I shall in time love your new
mother, and new sister, and new Dolly. I find I
begin to like them already, and if you think proper
you may tell them so. But your old Dolly and I
have agreed to love each other better than ever we
did, to make up as much as we can our supposed loss
of you. We like your assurance of continued friend
ship, unimpaired by your change of condition, and we
believe you think as you write ; but we fancy we
know better than you^ You know I once knew youj
heart better than you did yourself. As a proof that
I am right, take notice — that you now think this the
silliest letter I ever wrote to you, and that Mr. Hew«
son confirms you in that opinion.
However, I am still what I have been so many
years, my dear good girl,
Your sincerely affectionate friend and servant,
B. Frankhn,

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 137
LETTER LXXX.
To Jonathan Williams.
London, 5 March, 1771.
Loving Cousin,
I suppose Jonathan has told you, that the lottery is
drawn, and your two new tickets had the same suc
cess as the former, namely, one twenty-pound prize,
and one blank. Would you go on any further ?
Josiah is very happy in being under the tuition of
Mr. Stanley, who very kindly undertook him at my
request, though he had left off teaching. Josiah goes
constantly, too, to several concerts, besides operas
and oratorios, so that his thirst for music is in a way
of being thoroughly satiated. This is his principal
expense ; for in all other respects I never saw two
young men from America more prudent and frugal,
than he and his brother are.
Jonathan seems to have an excellent turn for busi
ness, and to be a perfect master of accounts. In the
latter he has been of great use to me, having put all
mine in order for me. There is a proposal from his
uncle of his going to East India, as a writer in the
Company's service, which I wish may take place, as
I think, if he lives, he cannot fail bringing home a
fortune. He had ordered a cargo of goods to be
sent you for cousin Wood's shop, and had given ex
pectations of paying ready money. But, one of your
12*

138 FRANKLIN.
bills being protested, there seemed a necessity of ask
ing some credit of the merchant. I advised him to
take what was wanting of me, rather than fail in punc
tuality to his word, which is sacred here among all
that would maintain a character in trade. He did so ;
and thereby also saved the discount, without putting
me to the least inconvenience, provided the money is
replaced in six months, and I was glad I had it in my
power to accommodate him.
I hope you have before this time got another tenant
for your house, and at the former rent. However, I
would have you go on advancing to my sister the
amount of it, as I am persuaded she cannot well do
without it. She has, indeed, been very unfortunate
in her children.
I am glad to hear, that, as soon as the weather per
mits, the tomb will receive a thorough repair. Your
kind care in this matter will greatly oblige
Your affectionate uncle,
B. Franklin.

FAMILAR LETTERS. 139
LETTER LXXXI.
To Mrs. Williams.
London, 5 March, 1771.
Dear Cousin,
I received your kind letter by your sons. They
are, I assure you, exceeding welcome to me ; and they
behave with so much prudence, that no two young
men could possibly less need the advice you would
have me give them. Josiah is very happily employed
in his musical pursuits. And as you hinted to me,
that it would be agreeable to you, if I employed Jona
than in writing, I requested him to put my accounts
in order, which had been much neglected. He under
took it with the utmost cheerfulness and readiness,
and executed it with the greatest diligence, making
me a complete new set of books, fairly written out
and settled in a mercantile manner, which is a great
satisfaction to me, and a very considerable service.
I mention this, that you may not be in the least
uneasy from an apprehension of their visit being
burthensome to me ; it being, I assure you, quite the
contrary. It has been wonderful to me to see a young man
from America, in a place so full of various amuse
ments as London is, as attentive to business, as dili
gent in it, and keeping as close at home till it was
finished, as if it had been for his own profit ; and as

140 FRANKLIN,
if he had been at the public diversions so often, as to
be tired of them.
I pray God to keep and preserve you, and give you
again, in due time, a happy sight of these valuable
sons ; — being Your affectionate uncle,
B. Franklin.

LETTER LXXXII.
To Samuel Franklin.
London, 12 July, 1771.
Loving Cousin,
I received your kind letter of May 17th, and rejoice
to hear that you and your good family are well. My
love to them.
With this I send you the print you desire for Mr.
Bowen. He does me honor in accepting it.
Sally Franklin presents her duty to you and Mrs.
Franklin. Yesterday a very odd accident happenedfi
which I must mention to you, as it relates to your grand
father. A person, that deals in old books, of whom I
sometimes buy, acquainted me, that he had a curious
collection of pamphlets bound in eight volumes folio,
and twenty-four volumes quarto and octavo, which he
thought, from the subjects, I might like to have, and

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 141
that he would sell them cheap. I desired to see
them, and he brought them to me. On examining,
I found that they contained all the principal pamphlets
and papers on public affairs, that had been printed
here from the restoration down to 1715. In one of
the bla,nk leaves at the beginning of each volume the
collector had written the titles of the pieces contained
in it, and the price they cost him. Also notes in the
margin of many of the pieces ; and the collector, I
find, from the handwriting and various other circum
stances, was your grandfather, my uncle Benjamin.
Wherefore, I the more readily agreed to buy them.
I suppose he parted with them, when he left England
and came to Boston, soon after your father, which was
about the year 1716 or '17, now more than fifty years
since. In whose hands they have been all this time
I know not. The oddity is, that the bookseller, who
could suspect nothing of any relation between me and
the collector, should happen to make me the offer of
them. My love to your good wife and children.
Your affectionate cousin,
B- Fmnkuni

142 FRANKLIN.
LETTER LXXXIII.
To Jonathan Williams.
London, 25 August, 1771.
Dear Cousin,
I have received yours of July 8th and 12th, with
the bills, which are carried to your credit. I hope
your son Jonathan may be with you by this time.
Josiah is well, and sticks close to his business.
I have not time to add more, being this minute set
ting out on a short trip to Ireland, to visit some Amer
ican friends, or rather friends to America, and take
that portion of exercise and fresh air, which is every
year necessary to my health. My love to your spouse
and children. I am sincerely
Your affectionate uncle,
B. Franklin.

LETTER LXXXIV.
To Mrs. Hewson.
Preston, 25 November, 1771.
Dear Friend,
I came to this place on Saturday night, right well
and untired with a seventy miles' journey. That day
I met with your and my Dolly's joint letter, which

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 143
would have refreshed me with its kindness if I had
been ever so weary.
The account you give of a certain lady's having
entertained a new gallant, in my absence, did not sur
prise me ; for I have been used to rivals, and scarce
ever had a friend or a mistress in my whole life, that
other people did not like as well as myself. And,
therefore, I did not wonder when I read in the news
papers some weeks since, that " the Duke of C."
(that general lover) " had made many visits of late to
an old lady not many miles from Craven Street." I
only wondered, considering the dislike she used to
have for the family, that she would receive his visits.
But as I saw, soon after, that Prince Charles had left
Rome, and was gone a long journey, nobody knew
whither, I made no doubt but the newswriters had
mistaken the person, and that it was he, who had
taken the opportunity of ray absence to solace himself
with his old friend.
I thank you for your intelligence about my godson.
I believe you are sincere, when you say you think
him as fine a child as you wish to see. He had cut
two teeth, and three, in another letter, make five ; for
I know you never write tautologies. If I have over-
reckoned, the number will be right by this time. His
being like me in so many particulars pleases me
prodigiously ; and I am persuaded there is another,
which you have omitted, though it must have occurred
to you, while you were putting them down. Pray let

144 FRANKLIN.
him have every thing he likes. I think it of great
consequence, while the features of the countenance
are forming ; it gives them a pleasant air, and that
being once become natural and fixed by habit, the
face is ever after the handsomer for it, and on that
much of a person's good fortune and success in life
may depend. Had I been crossed as much in my
infant likings and inclinations, as you know I have
been of late years, I should have been, I was going
to say, not near so handsome, but as the vanity of that
expression would offend other folks' vanity, I change
it, out of regard to them, and say, a great deal more
homely. I rejoice that your good mother's new regimen
succeeds so well with her. We are to set out, my
son and I, to-morrow for London, where I hope to
be by the end of the week, and to find her, and you,
and all yours well and happy. My love to them all.
They tell me dinner is coming in, and I have yet said
nothing to Dolly ; but must nevertheless conclude, my
dear friend, Yours ever most affectionately,
B. Franklin.
P- S. I am very happy here in the pleasant fam
ily of Mr. Burke's mother and sister.
To Miss Dorothea Blount.
Dear Dolly,
I love you more than you can imagine. B. Franklin.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 145
LETTER LXXXV.
To Mrs. Jane Mecom.
London, 13 January, 1772.
My Dear Sister,
I received your kind letters of September 12th, and
November 9th. 1 have now been some weeks returned
from my journey through Wales, Ireland, Scotland,
and the North of England, which, besides being an
agreeable tour with a pleasant companion, has contrib
uted to the establishment of my health ; and .this is
the first ship I have heard of, by which I could write
to you.
I thank you for the receipts ; they are as full and
particular as one could wish ; but they can easily be
practised only in America, no bay-berry wax, nor any
Brasiletto, being here to be had, at least to my knowl
edge. I am glad, however, that those useful arts,
which have so long been in our family, are now put
down in writing. Some future branch may be the
better for it.
It gives me pleasure, that those little things sent by
Jonathan proved agreeable to you. I write now to
cousin Williams to press the payment of the bond.
There has been forbearance enough on my part ;
seven years or more, without receiving any principal
or interest. It seems as if the debtor was like a
whimsical man in Pennsylvania, of whom it was said
13

146 FRANKLIN.
that, it being against his principle to pay interest, and
against his interest to pay the principal, he paid
neither one nor the other.
I doubt you have taken too old a pair of glasses,
being tempted by their magnifying greatly. But
people in choosing should only aim at remedying the
defect. The glasses that enable them to see as well,
at the same distance they used to hold their book or
work, while their eyes were good, are those they
should choose ; not such as make them see better, for
such contribute to hasten the time when still older
glasses will become necessary.
All, who have seen my grandson, agree with you
in their accounts of his being an uncommonly fine
boy, which brings often afresh to my mind the idea
of my son Franky,* though now dead thirty-six years,
whom I have seldom since seen equalled in every
thing, and whom to this day I cannot think of with
out a sigh. Mr. Bache is here ; I found him at
Preston, in Lancashire, with his mother and sisters,
very agreeable people, and I brought him to London
with me. I very much like his behaviour. He returns
in the next ship to Philadelphia. The gentleman, who
brought your last letter, Mr. Fox, stayed but a few
minutes with me, and has not since called, as I de
sired him to do.
* His son, Francis Folger, who died when four years of age.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 147
I shall endeavour to get the arms you desire for
cousin Coffin. Having many letters to write, I can
now only add my love to cousin Jenny, and that I am,
as ever, Your affectionate brother,
B. Franklin.
P. S. Sally Franklin presents her duty. Mrs.
Stevenson desires to be affectionately remembered.
No arms of the Folgers are to be found in the Herald's
Office. I am persuaded it was originally a Flemish
family, which came over with many others from that
country in Queen Elizabeth's time, flying from the
persecution then raging there.

LETTER LXXXVI.
To Samuel Franklin.
London, 13 January, 1772.
Dear Cousin,
I received your kind letter of November 8th, and
rejoice to hear of the continued welfare of you and
your good wife and four daughters. I hope they will
all get good husbands. I dare say they will be edu
cated so as to deserve them.
I knew a wise old man, who used to advise his
young friends to choose wives out of a bunch ; for
where there were many daughters, he said, they
improved each other, and from emulation acquired

148 FRANKLIN.
more accomplishments, knew more, could do more,
and were not spoiled by parental fondness, as single*
children often are. Yours have my best wishes, and
blessing, if that can be of any value.
I received a very polite letter from your friend, Mr.
Bowen, relating to the print. Please to present him
my respectful compliments. I am just returned from
a long journey. Your affectionate cousin,
B. Franklin.

LETTER LXXXVII.
To Mrs. Hewson.
Birmingham, 8 July, 1772.
Dear Polly,
I arrived here yesterday, in my return from the
North. This morning I had the pleasure of receiving
yours of the 6th. I am sorry that my engagements
here will not permit me to be in London on the anni
versary of your wedding-day ; but I repeat my wishes
of happiness to you on that occasion, and pray that
you may have many returns of that day, each happier
than its predecessor, from a reflection on the constant
felicity the nuptial state has afforded you.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 149
I must request Mr. Hewson to get the machine
sent by Osborne, if possible. The direction will be
the same with that of the enclosed letter.
I rejoice to hear of all your welfares. My love to
all. I hope to be in town on Sunday.
I am, my dear friend,
Yours most affectionately,
B. Franklin.

LETTER LXXXVIII.
To Jonathan Williams.
London, 11 August, 1772.
Dear Cousin,
I received yours of July 4th, with the bill enclosed
of two hundred pounds for your brother, which I
delivered to him accordingly. Calling in here at the
New England Coffee-House, and finding this ship just
upon sailing, I would not miss the opportunity of giving
you this information, though I cannot now write to my
other friends.
It grieves me to hear that poor Josiah is in so bad
a state of health. But being young, it is to be hoped
he may weather it.
My love to my dear sister, and to cousin Grace
and your family. I shall write to Jonathan by the
next opportunity. I am Your affectionate uncle,
B. Franklin.
13*

150 FRANKLIN.
LETTER LXXXIX.
To a Friend in America.
[Extract.] London, 26 September, 1774.
— I hope you continue in health, as I do, thanks
to God. But I wish to know how you fare in the
present distress of our dear country. I am apprehen
sive, that the letters between us, though very innocent
ones, are intercepted. They might restore to me yours
at least, after reading them ; especially as I never
complain of broken, patched-up seals (of late very
common), because I know not on whom to fix the fact.
I see in a Boston paper of August 18th, an article
expressing, " that it is generally believed Dr. Franklin
has received a promise of being restored to the royal
favor, and promoted to an office superior to that which
he resigned." I have made no public answer to any
of the abuses I have received in the papers here, nor
shall I to this. But as I am anxious to preserve your
good opinion, and as I know your sentiments, and
that you must be much afflicted yourself, and even
despise me, if you thought me capable of accepting
any office from this government, while it is acting with
so much hostility towards my native country, I cannot
miss this first opportunity of assuring you, that there is
not the least foundation for such a report ; that, so far
from having any promise of royal favor, I hear of

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 151
nothing but royal and ministerial displeasure, which,
indeed, as things at present stand, I consider as an
honor. I have seen no minister since January, nor
had the least communication with them. The gener
ous and noble friends of America in both Houses do
indeed favor me with their notice and regard ; but they
are in disgrace at court, as well as myself. Be satis
fied, that I shall do nothing to lessen me in your
esteem, or my own.. I shall not, by the least concur
rence with the present measures, merit any court-
favor, nor accept of any, if it were offered me, which,
however, is not at all likely to happen.
As those here, who most interest themselves in
behalf of America, conceive that my being present at
the arrival of the proceedings of the Congress and the
meeting of Parliament, may be of use, I submit to
their judgment, and think it now likely that I shall
not return till spring. I am ever, &c.
B. Franklin.

LETTER XC.
To Mrs. Hewson.
Philadelphia, 8 July, 1775.
My Dear Friend,
I thank you for your kind letter of April 14th. It
grieves me, that the present situation of public affairs

152 FRANKLIN.
makes it not eligible for you to come hither with your
family, because I am sure you would otherwise like
this country, and might provide better here for your
children, at the same time that I should be made more
happy by your neighbourhood and company. I flatter
myself, that this may yet happen, and that our public
disputes may be ended by the time your private busi
ness is settled to your mind, and then we may be all
happy together.*
The debt you mention of mine to Bolton remains
unpaid through his own neglect. I was charged by
Matthews ten pounds for the tea-kitchen, but Bolton
told me I ought not to pay so much ; that he would
see what it should be when he got home, and send me
word, which he never did. I dunned him for it by
letters, as often as Matthews sent to me, but received
no answer.
I take it kindly of my godson, that he should
remember me ; my love to him. I am glad to hear
the dear children are all well through the measles.
I have much delight in my godsons. Mr. and Mrs.
Bache join in love to yours. Ben,f when I delivered
him your blessing, inquired the age of Elizabeth, and
thought her yet too young for him ; but as he made
no other objection, and that will lessen every day,
* Mrs. Hewson was now a widow, her husband having died in
May, 1774. An aunt, lately deceased, had left to her a con
siderable fortune.
t Benjamin Franklin Bache, grandson of Dr. Franklin.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 153
I have only to wish being alive to dance with your
mother at the wedding.
Temple was much obliged by your kind remem
brance of him. He is now very happy with his father
at Amboy, near New York, but returns to me in
September, to prosecute his studies in our college.
I am much pleased with the contribution letter, and
thank you for your share of it. I am still well and
hearty, and never went through more business than I
do at present. God knows when I shall be permitted
to enjoy the repose I wish. Adieu, my very dear
friend. Continue your pleasing correspondence, and"
believe me ever Yours most affectionately,
B. Franklin.

LETTER XCI.
To Mrs. Hewson, London.
Paris, 12 January, 1777.
My Dear, Dear Polly,
Figure to yourself an old man with gray hair,
appearing under a martin fur-cap, among the pow
dered heads of Paris. It is this odd figure that salutes
you, with handfuUs of blessings on you and your dear
little ones.

154 FRANKLIN.
On my arrival here, Madamoiselle Biheron gave
me great pleasure in the perusal of a letter from you
to her. It acquainted me that you and yours were
well in August last. I haVe with me here my young
grandson, Benjamin Franklin Bache, a special good
boy. I shall give him a little French language and
address, and then send him over to pay his respects to
Miss Hewson.
My love to all that love you, particularly to dear
Dolly. I am ever, my dear friend,
Your affectionate B. Franklin.
P. S. Temple, who attends me here, presents his
respects. I must contrive to get you to America.
I want all my friends out of that wicked country.
I have just seen in the paper seven paragraphs about
me, of which six were lies.

LETTER XCII.
To Mrs. Hewson.
Paris, 26 January, 1777.
Dear Polly,
I wrote a few lines to you by Dr. B., and have
since seen your letter to Jonathan, by which I have
the great pleasure of learning, that you and yours were
well on the 17th.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 155
What is become of my and your dear Dolly ? Have
you parted ? for you mention nothing of her. I
know your friendship continues ; but perhaps she is
with one of her brothers. How do they all do ?
I have not yet received a line from my dear old
friend, your mother. Pray tell me where she is, and
how it is with her. Jonathan, who is now at Nantes,
told me that she had a lodging in Northumberland
Court. I doubt her being comfortably accommodated
there. Is Miss Barwell a little more at rest ; or as busy as
ever ? Is she well ? And how fares it with our good
friends of the Henckell family ?
But, principally, I want to know how it is with you.
I hear you have not quite settled yet with those people.
I hope, however, that you have a sufficient income,
and live at your ease, and that your money is safe out
of the funds. Does my godson remember any thing
of his Doctor papa ? I suppose not. Kiss the dear
little fellow for me, — not forgetting the others. I long
to see them and you.
What hecame of the lottery ticket I left with your
good mother, which was to produce the diamond ear
rings for you ? Did you get them ? If not, Fortune
has wronged you, for you ought to have had them.
I am, my dear friend, ever yours,
with sincere esteem and affection,
B. Franklin.

156 FRANKLIN.
P. S. January 21th. They tell me, that, in writing
to a lady from Paris, one should always say something
about the fashions. Temple observes them more than
I do. He took notice, that at the ball in Nantes, there
were no heads less than five and a few were seven
lengths of the face, above the top of the forehead.
You know that those who have practised drawing, as
he has, attend more to proportions, than people in
common do. Yesterday we dined at the Duke de
Rochefoucauld's, where there were three duchesses
and a countess, and no head higher than a face and a
half. So, it seems, the farther from court, the more
extravagant the mode.

LETTER XCIII.
To Mrs. Greene.
Paris, 28 February, 1778.
My Dear Old Friend,
Don't be offended at the word old. I don't mean
to call you an old woman ; it relates only to the age of
our friendship ; which, on my part, has always been a
sincerely affectionate one, and, I flatter myself, the
same on yours.
I received your kind letter from Boston of October
28th, which gave me great pleasure, as it informed me
of the welfare of you and your family. I continue
hearty, as do my two grandsons, who present their

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 157
respects to you and Mr. Greene, being pleased with
your remembrance of them. We are all glad to hear
of Ray, for we all love him. I have been often
much concerned for my friends at Warwick, hearing
that the enemy was so near them. I hope your
troubles will not be of much longer duration ; for,
though the wickedness of the English court, and its
malice against us, are as great as ever, its horns
are shortened, its strength diminishes daily, and we
have formed an alliance here, and shall form others,
that will help to keep the Bull quiet, and make him
orderly. I chat, you see, as usual, any how with you, who
are kind enough never to criticize improprieties in
my compositions, or any thing else. I see by yours
that my sister's granddaughter is married. I wish
the young folks joy and lasting happiness. I pity my
poor old sister, to be so harassed and driven about
by the enemy ; for I feel a little myself the inconve
nience of beir/g driven about by my friends.
I live here in great respect, and dine every day
with great folks; but I still long for home and for
repose ; and should be happy to eat Indian pudding
in your company, and under your hospitable roof.
Remember me kindly to the remainder of the Wards,
and to all that wish me well. Assure Mr. Greene
of my sincere esteem and respect, and believe me ever,
My dear friend,
Yours most affectionately,
B. Franklin.
14

158 FRANKLIN.

LETTER XCIV.
To William Greene, Governor or Rhode
Island.
Passy, June, [year uncertain.]
Dear Sir,
I received your kind letter of December 10th,
with the bills of exchange for two hundred and six
teen dollars, and with the list of goods you would have
in return. As I live far from any seaport, and am
unacquainted with merchandise, I sent the bills with
your order directly to my nephew at Nantes, who
will, I doubt not, accomplish it to your satisfac
tion. I shall be glad of any opportunity of being service
able to your son-in-law, both for your sake and his
father's. Your letter with the first set of the bills did not
come to hand, which I regret the more, as by that
means I have lost Mrs. Greene's letter, which you
tell me was enclosed. Present my affectionate respects
to her ; and my love, with that of my grandson, to
honest Ray, of whose welfare I am very glad to hear
and of his progress in his learning.
If my sister continues under your hospitable roof,
let her know that I hope to receive hers of the 7th
that you mention. Tell her I have not time now to

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 159
write to her, but will by the next opportunity ; and
that I am well and love her as well as ever.
With great esteem and respect,
I am, dear Sir,
Your most obedient
and most humble servant,
B. Franklin.
P. S. If the Chevalier de la Luzerne should pass
through your government, I recommend him warmly
to your civilities. He goes over to supply the place
of M. Gerard, as his Most Christian Majesty's minis
ter to the Congress. He is a gentleman of a most
amiable character here, has great connexions, and is a
hearty friend to America.

LETTER XCV.
To John Paul Jones.
Passy, 10 June, 1778.
Dear Sir,
I received yours of the 1st instant with the papers
enclosed, which I have shown to the other Commis
sioners ; but have not yet had their opinion of them.
I only know, that they had before (in consideration of
the disposition and uneasiness of your people) ex
pressed an inclination to order your ship directly back

160 FRANKLIN.
to America. You will judge from what follows,
whether it would not be advisable for you to propose
their sending her back with her people, and under
some other command.
In consequence of the high opinion the Minister of
the Marine has of your conduct and bravery, it is
now settled (observe that this is to be a secret between
us, I being expressly enjoined not to communicate it
to any other person, not even to the other gentlemen)
that you are to have the frigate from Holland, which
actually belongs to government, and will be furnished
with as many good French seamen, as you shall re
quire. But you are to act under Congress' commis
sion. As you may like to have a number of Ameri
cans, and your own are homesick, it is proposed to
give you as many as you can engage out of two hun
dred prisoners, which the ministry of Britain have at
length agreed to give us in exchange for those you
have in your hands. They propose to make the ex
change at Calais, where they are to bring the Ameri
cans. Nothing is wanting to this, but a list of yours
containing their names and rank ; immediately on the
receipt of which, an equal number are to be prepared
and sent in a ship to that port, where yours are to
meet them. Pray send this list by the return of the
post if possible. If by this means you can get a good
new crew, I think it will be best, that you are quite
free of the old, for a mixture might introduce the

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 161
infection of that sickness you complain of. But this
may be left to your discretion.
Perhaps we shall join with you the Providence,
Captain Whipple, a new continental ship of thirty
guns, which, in coming out of the river of Providence,
gave the two frigates that were posted to intercept her
each of them so heavy a dose of her eighteen and
twelve pounders, that they had not the courage, or
were not able, to pursue her. The Boston is sup
posed to be gone from Bordeaux.
It seems to be desired, that you' should step up to
Versailles, (where one will meet you) in order to such
a settlement of matters and plans with those, who have
the direction, as cannot well be done by letter. I
wish it may be convenient to you to do it directly.
The project of giving you the command of this ship
pleases me the more, as it is a probable opening to the
higher preferment you so justly merit.
I have the honor to be, &c.
B. Franklin.
14*

162 FRANKLIN.

LETTER XCVI.

To John Paul Jones.
Passy, 6 September, 1778.
Dear Captain,
I received your favors of the 24th and 31st of
August. I am told by M. de C, that M. de S. is
sorry you did not go with M. d'Orvilliers. He had
sent orders for that purpose, and your staying at
L'Orient occasioned your missing the opportunity.
Your letter was sent to the Prince de Nassau. I am
confident something will be done for you, though I
do not yet know what.
Dr. Bancroft has been indisposed, and I have not
lately seen him ; but I hear he is getting better, and
suppose he has written. I go out of town early this
morning for a few days, but the other Commissioners
will answer your letter.
I am glad you have procured a guard for the pris
oners. It is a good piece of service. They have
concluded in England to send us an equal number of
ours, and we expect to-morrow to send the passport
for their cartel ship, which is to bring them. If we
are to deliver theirs at Calais, I should be for accept
ing thankfully the offer you mention.
We have no news from America, but what comes
through England. Clinton's letter is in the London
Gazette, and for style and coloring is so like Keppel's,

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 153
that I cannot help thinking neither of them originals,
but both the performance of some under-secretary,
whose business it is to cook the news for the minis
ters. Upon the whole, we learn, that the English
army was well worried in its march,* and that their
whole fleet and forces are now blocked up in New
York by Washington and Gates on the land side, and
by Count d'Estaing by sea, and that they will soon
be in want of provisions. I sympathize with you in
what I know you must suffer from your present inac
tivity ; but have patience. I am, Sic.
B. Franklin.

LETTER XCVII.
To Mrs. Stevenson.
25 January, 1779.
It is always with great pleasure, when I think of
our long continued friendship, which had not the least
interruption in the course of twenty years (some of
the happiest of my life), that I spent under your roof
and in your company. If I do not write to you as
 — — — -  _
* The march across New Jersey to New York, after the evacua
tion of Philadelphia. During this march was fought the battle
of Monmouth.

164 FRANKLIN.
often as I used to do, when I happened to be absent
from you, it is owing partly to the present difficulty of
sure communication, and partly to an apprehension of
some inconvenience, that my correspondence might
possibly occasion you. Be assured, my dear friend,
that my regard, esteem, and affection for you, are not
in the least impaired or diminished ; and that, if cir
cumstances would permit, nothing would afford me so
much satisfaction, as to be with you in the same house,
and to experience again your faithful, tender care and
attention to my interests, health, and comfortable
living, which so long and steadily attached me to you,
and which I shall ever remember with gratitude.
I thought I had mentioned to you before (and I
believe I did, though my letter may have miscarried),
that I had received the white cloth suit, the sword,
and the saddle for Temple, all in good order. I
mention them now again, because Polly tells me you
had not heard of their arrival. I wore the clothes a
good deal last summer. There is one thing more,
that I wish to have, if you should meet with an op
portunity of sending it. I mean the copper pot, lined
with silver, to roast fowls in by means of a heater. I
should also be glad of the piece of elephant's tooth.
It is old ivory, perhaps, of the time before the flood,
and would be a rarity to some friends here. But I
doubt you will not be able to send them.
I rejoice to learn, that your health is established,
and that you live pleasantly in a country town, with

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 165
agreeable neighbours, and have your dear children
about you. My love to every one of them. I long
to see them and you ; but the times do not permit me
the hope of it. Why do you never write to me ? I
used to love to read your letters, and I regret your
long silence. They were seasoned with good sense
and friendship, and even your spelling pleased me.
Polly knows I think the worst spelling the best. I do
not write to her by this conveyance. You will let
her know, that I acknowledge the receipt of her pleas
ing letter, dated the 1 1th instant. I shall now only
observe to you upon it, that I know not how the
patent can be taken out in Jacobs's name. I am sure
he had no claim to it ; for when I first proposed to
him the making of such wheels at Mr. Viny's, in the
country, he objected to it as impracticable. But
Mr. Viny, who seized the thought, and carried it into
execution, had certainly the best right to the patent.
I wish he would send me a good drawing, with the
proportions of the little carriage with horses, which
his children came once in to see us. How do they
all do, and particularly my little patient Bessum ?
Since my coming here, I have been told, that
Mr. Henley, the linen-draper, had said, on my going
to America, that I had gone away in his debt. I can
hardly believe it. Let me know if you have heard
such a thing, and what is the meaning of it. I thought
he had been fully paid, and still think so, and shall,

166 FRANKLIN.
till I am assured of the contrary. Let me know, at
the same time, how my account stands with you.
You wish to know how I live. It is in a fine house,
situated in a neat village, on high ground, half a mile
from Paris, with a large garden to walk in. I have
abundance of acquaintance, dine abroad six days in
seven. Sundays I reserve to dine at home, with such
Americans as pass this way ; and I then have my
grandson Ben, with some other American children
from the school.
If being treated with all the politeness of France,
and the apparent respect and esteem of all ranks, from
the highest to the lowest, can make a man happy, I
ought to be so. Indeed, I have nothing to complain
of, but a little too much business, and the want of that
order and economy in my family, which reigned in it
when under your prudent direction. My paper gives
me only room to add, that I am ever
Yours most affectionately,
B. Franklin.

LETTER XCVIII.
To John Paul Jones.
Passy, 27 April, 1779.
Dear Sir,
I have, at the request of M. de Sartine, postponed
the sending of the Alliance to America, and have

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 167
ordered her to proceed immediately from Nantes to
L'Orient, where she is to be furnished with her com
plement of men, join your little squadron, and act
under your command.
The Marquis de la Fayette will be with you soon.
It has been observed, that joint expeditions of land
and sea forces often miscarry, through jealousies and
misunderstandings between the officers of the different
corps. This must happen, where there are little
minds, actuated more by personal views of profit or
honor to themselves, than by the warm and sincere
desire of good to their country. Knowing you both
as I do, and your just manner of thinking on these
occasions, I am confident nothing of the kind can
happen between you, and that it is unnecessary for
me to recommend to either of you that condescen
sion, mutual good will, and harmony, which contribute
so much to success in such undertakings.
I look upon this expedition as an introduction only
to greater trusts, and more extensive commands, and
as a kind of trial of both your abilities, and of your
fitness in temper and disposition for acting in concert
with others. I flatter myself, therefore, that nothing
will happen that may give impressions to the disad
vantage of either of you, when greater affairs shall
come under consideration. As this is understood to
to be an American expedition, under the Congress'
commission and colors, the Marquis, who is a Major-
General in that service, has of course the step in point

168 FRANKLIN.
of rank, and he must have command of the land for
ces, which are committed by the King to his care ;
but the command of the ships will be entirely in you ;
in which I am persuaded, that, whatever authority his
rank might in strictness give him, he will not have the
least desire to interfere with you. There is honor
enough to be got for both of you, if the expedition is
conducted with a prudent unanimity. The circum
stance is indeed a little unusual ; for there is not only
a junction of land and sea forces, but there is also a
junction of Frenchmen and Americans, which in
creases the difficulty of maintaining a good under
standing. A cool, prudent conduct in the chiefs is,
therefore, the more necessary, and I trust neither of
you will in that respect be deficient.* With my best
wishes for your success, health, and honor,
I remain, &c.
B. Franklin.

* The expedition here referred to, which was intended to act on
the coast of England, was at length changed by the French gov
ernment. The following letter on the occasion was written by
the Marquis de la Fayette to Paul Jones. " Paris, 22 May, 1779.
" Dear Sir,
" I dare say you will be very sorry to hear, that the King's dis
positions concerning our plan have been quite altered, and that,
instead of meeting you, I am now going to take the command of
the King's regiment at Saintes. What will be further determined
about your squadron is yet uncertain, and the ministers are to
oonsult about it with Dr. Franklin. Political and military reasons
have occasioned the alteration of things, and I am only to tell you,

•

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 169
LETTER XCIX.
To John Paul Jones.
Passy, 8 July, 1779.
Dear Sir,
I received your favors of the 2d and 4th instant.
I am sorry for the accidents, that have obliged your
little squadron to return and refit, but I hope all may
be for the best. Some days since M. de Chaumont
handed to me the substance of a letter in French,
which contained heads of the instructions, that M. de
Sartine wished me to give you.* I had them trans
lated, and put into the form of a letter to you, which
I signed, and gave back to Mr. C, who, I suppose,
has sent it to you. I have no other orders to give,
for as the court is at the chief expense, I think they
have the best right to direct.
my good friend, how sorry I feel not to be a witness of your suc
cess, abilities, and glory.
" I hope every thing will be arranged for the best, and the
more calculated for the common advantage. Be convinced, Sir,-
that nothing could gratify me more, than the pleasure of having
again something of the kind to undertake with such an ofiicer as
Captain Jones. That occasion I shall ever wish for, and shall, I
hope, find, before the end of the war.
" With the sincerest afFection and esteem, I am, &c.
" Lafayette.''
* See these Instructions in the Diplomatic Correspondence of
the American Revolution, Vol. III. p. 77.
15

170 FRANKLIN.
I observe what you write about a change of the
destination ; but, when a thing has been once consid
ered and determined on in council, they don't care to
resume the consideration of it, having much business
on hand, and there is not now time to obtain a recon
sideration. It has been hinted to me, that the inten
tion of ordering your cruise to finish at the Texel, is
with a view of getting out that ship ; but this should
be kept a secret.
I can say nothing about Captain Landais' prize.
I suppose the minister has an account of it, but I
have heard nothing from him about it. If he re
claims it on account of his passport, we must then
consider what is to be done. I approve of the careen
age proposed for the Alliance, as a thing necessary.
As she is said to be a remarkably swift sailer, I should
hope you might by her means take some privateers,
and a number of prisoners, so as to continue the car
tel, and redeem all our poor countrymen.
My best wishes ever attend you.
I am, Sic.
B. Franklin.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 171
LETTER C.
To a Relation in America.
[Extract.] Passy, 25 October, 1779.
I received your kind letter of February 14th, the
contents of which gave me a kind of melancholy satis
faction. The greater ease you will now enjoy makes
some compensation in my mind for the uncomfortable
circumstance that brought it about. I hope you will
have no more affliction of that kind, and that, after
so long and stormy a day, your evening may be serene
and pleasant.
The account you have had of the vogue I am in
here has some truth in it. Perhaps few strangers in'
France have had the good fortune to be so univer
sally popular ; but the story you allude to, mention
ing " mechanic rust, " is totally without foundation.
But one is not to expect being always in fashion. I
hope, however, to preserve, while I stay, the regard
you mention of the French ladies ; for their society
and conversation, when I have time to enjoy them,
are extremely agreeable.
The enemy have been very near you indeed.
When only at the distance of a mile, you must have
been much alarmed. We have given them a little
taste of this disturbance upon their own coasts, this

172 FRANKLIN.
summer ; and though we have burnt none of their
towns, we have occasioned a good deal of terror and
bustle in many of them, as they imagined our Com
modore Jones had four thousand troops with him for
descents. I am glad to learn, that my dear sister continued
in good health, and good spirits, and that she had
learnt not to be afraid of her friend, fresh air.
With the tenderest affection, Sic.
B. Franklin.

LETTER CI.
To John Paul Jones.
Passy, 19 February, 1780.
Dear Sir,
I received yours from Corogne of the 16th past,
and from L'Orient of the 13th instant. I rejoice that
you are so safely arrived in France, malgre all the
pains taken to intercept you.
As to the refitting of your ship at the expense of
this court, I must acquaint you, that there is not the
least probability of obtaining it, and therefore I cannot
ask it. I hear too much already of the extraordinary
expense you made in Holland, to think of proposing
an addition to it, especially as you seem to impute
the damage she has sustained more to Captain Lan-

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 173
dais' negligence, than to accidents of the cruise. The
whole expense will, therefore, fall upon me, and I am
ill provided to bear it, having so many unexpected
calls upon me from all quarters. 1 therefore beg you
will have mercy on me, put me to as little charge as
possible, and take nothing that you can possibly do
without. As to sheathing with copper, it is totally out of the
question. I am not authorized to do it, if I had
money, and I have not money, if I had orders. The
purchase of the Serapis is in the same predicament.
I believe the sending of cordage and canvass from Am
sterdam has already been forbidden ; if not, I shall
forbid it. I approve of your applying to Messrs.
Gourdale &i Moylan for what repairs you want, hav
ing an exceedingly good opinion of those gentlemen ;
but, let me repeat it, for God's sake be sparing, unless
you mean to make me a bankrupt, or have your drafts
dishonored for want of money in my hands to pay
them. We are likely to obtain fifteen thousand stand of
good arms from the government. They are much
wanted in Ameriea. M. de la Fayette has just now
proposed, that you should take them as ballast. You
know best if this is practicable.
Mr. Ross requests to be permitted to take his pas
sage with you. As he has been a servant of the
States, in making their purchases in Europe, it
seems to me, that it would be wrong to refuse him,
15*

174 FRANKLIN.
if you can accommodate him. There is also a par
ticular friend of mine, Mr. Samuel Wharton of Phila
delphia, who desires to go with you. These gentle
men will doubtless lay in their own stores, and pay as
customary for their accommodations, and I am per
suaded you will find them agreeable company. Mr.
Lee and Mr. Izard also propose to take their passages
in your ship, whom I hope you can likewise accommo
date. Pray write me immediately your sentiments on
these particulars, and let me know, at the same time,
when you think you can be ready, that I may forward
my despatches.
I am glad to hear, that your indisposition is wear
ing off. I hope your health will soon be reestab
lished. I am, &c.
B. Franklin.

LETTER CII.
To John Paul Jones.
Passy, 18 March, 1780.
Dear Sir,
I received your letter relating to the bullets of the
engineer in Denmark, and shall write thither accord
ingly. I have also just received yours of the 13th.
Mr. Ross writes to me, that he finds a difficulty in

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 175
passing the goods to you from l'lsle Noirmoutier. I
do, therefore, now desire you, if practicable, to call at
or off that island, in order to take them on board, their
speedy and safe arrival in America being of the great
est consequence to the army. I have sent my de
spatches by Mr. Wharton, who set off yesterday'
morning. When they arrive, and you have got the
cloth on board, I know of nothing to retard your pro
ceeding directly to such port in North America, as
you shall judge most likely to be reached with safety.
If iii other respects equal, Philadelphia is to be pre
ferred. I wish the prize-money due to your people could
be paid, before they go. I have spoken often about
it. As to the prizes sent in to Norway, you know they
were delivered back to tlie English by the court of
Denmark.* I have reclaimed them by a strong me
morial, but have yet received no answer ; and it is
doubted whether we shall recover any thing, unless by
letters of marque and reprisal from the Congress,
against the subjects of that kingdom, which, perhaps,
in the present circumstances, it may not be thought
proper soon to grant. The ships of war, that you
took, are, I hear, to be valued, the king intending to
purchase them ; and the muster-roll of the Bon
Homme Richard is wanting, in order to regulate the
* See Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution,
Vol. III. p. 121.

176 FRANKLIN.
proportions to each ship. These things may take
time. I have considered, that the people of the Bon
Homme may want some little supplies for the voyage,
and, therefore, if these proportions should not be regu
lated and paid before you sail, and you find it neces
sary, you may draw on me as far as twenty-four thou
sand livres to advance to them, for which they are to
be accountable ; but do not exceed that sum. I do
this to prevent, as much as in me lies, the bad effects
of any uneasiness among them ; for I suppose that reg
ularly all payments to seamen should be made at
home. A grand convoy, I understand, is to sail from Brest
about the end of this month, or beginning of the next.
It is of great importance to the United States, that not
only the Alliance, but the merchantmen that may sail
under her convoy, should safely arrive there. If it
will be convenient and practicable for you to join that
convoy, and sail with it till off the coast, I wish it may
be done. But I leave it to your discretion and judg
ment. I have no farther instructions to give, but,
committing you to the protection of Providence, I
wish you a prosperous voyage, and a happy sight of
your friends in America; being with great esteem, &c.
B. Franklin.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 177
LETTER CHI.
To Robert Morris.
Passy, 3 June, 1780.
Dear Sir,
I received your kind letter of March 31st, acquaint
ing me with your having engaged in M. de la Frete's
affairs on my recommendation. I thank you very
much, and beg you to be assured, that any recom
mendation of yours will be regarded by me with the
greatest attention. The letter you enclosed to M. Du
mas is forwarded to him. We are impatient to hear
from America, no account of the operations before
Charleston, later than the 9th of March, having yet
come to hand.
Every thing here in Europe continues to wear a
good face. Russia, Sweden, Denmark, and Holland
are raising a strong naval force to establish the free
navigation for neutral ships, and of all their cargoes,
though belonging to enemies, except contraband, that
is, military stores. France and Spain have approved
of it, and it is likely to become henceforth the law of
nations, that free ships make free goods. England
does not like this confederacy. I wish they would
extend it still farther, and ordain, that unarmed trading
ships, as well as fishermen and farmers, should be re
spected, as working for the common benefit of man
kind, and never be interrupted in their operations,

178 FRANKLIN.
even by national enemies ; but let those only fight
with one another, whose trade it is, and who are
armed and paid for the purpose.
With great and sincere esteem I am,
Dear Sir,
Your most obedient
and most humble servant,
B. Franklin.

LETTER CIV.
To John Paul Jones.
Passy, 12 August, 1780.
Dear Sir,
I received yours by the Count de Vauban, and I
send by him my public despatches, requesting you to
sink them if necessary. I am glad you are so near
ready for sailing. I return all the papers, that were
enclosed in yours, and send copies of some others,
which perhaps may be of use to you in your future
affair with Landais.
Depend upon it, I never wrote to Mr. Gillon, that
the Bon Homme Richard was a privateer. I could
not write so, because I never had such a thought. I
will, next post, send you a copy of my letter to him,
by which you will see, that he has only forced that
construction from a vague expression I used, merely

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 179
to conceal from him (in answering his idle demand,
that I would order your squadron, then on the point
of sailing, to go with him to Carolina), that the expe
dition was at the expense and under the direction of
the King, which it was not proper or necessary for him
to know. The expression I used was, that the con
cerned had destined the squadron for another service.
These words, the concerned, he and the counsellor
have interpreted to mean, the owners of a privateer.
I shall send per post some private letters for my
American friends, for which I had no time by your
express. If you should be still at L'Orient when
they come, it is well ; but do not wait a moment for
them, if you are ready to sail, and the wind serves.
Adieu ! I wish you a prosperous voyage, a happy
sight of your friends and country, and that you may
be received with all the honors you have so justly
merited. I am, &tc. B. Franklin.
P- S. I say nothing about the prize-money, hav
ing never had any thing to do with it ; but I will en
deavour to forward the payment to those honest fel
lows, who are gone to America. Pray let me know
if the despatches I formerly sent down to go with you
in the Alliance, are gone in her. Theie were letters
containing the proceedings about Captain Landais.

180 FRANKLIN.
LETTER CV.
To Dr. Benjamin Waterhouse, at Leyden.
Passy, 18 January, 1781.
Sir,
I received your obliging letter of the 16th past,
enclosing one from my dear friend, Dr. Fothergill.
I was happy to hear from him, that he was quite free
of the disorder that had like to have removed him last
summer. But I had soon after a letter from another
friend, acquainting me that he was again dangerously
ill of the same malady ; and the newspapers have
since announced his death. I condole with you most
sincerely on this occasion. I think a worthier man
never lived. For, besides his constant readiness to
serve his friends, he was always studying and project
ing something for the good ofhis country and of man
kind in genera], and putting others, who had it in their
power, on executing what was out of his own reach ;
but whatever was within it he took care to do him
self; and his iucredible industry and unwearied activ
ity enabled him to do much more than can now be
ever known, bis modesty being equal to his other vir
tues. I shall take care to forward his letter to Mr. Pem
berton.* Enclosed is one I have just received under
* Of Philadelphia, an eminent character in the Society of
Friends.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. igi
cover from that gentleman. You will take care to
convey it by some safe opportunity to London.
With hearty wishes for your prosperity and success
in your profession, and that you may be a good copy
of your deceased relation, I am
Your friend and humble servant,
B. Franklin.

LETTER CVI.
To Mrs. Hewson.
Passy, 13 April, 1782.
My Dear Friend,
I received your kind letter of the 23d of Decem
ber. I rejoice always to hear of you and your good
mother's welfare, though I can write but seldom, and
safe opportunities are scarce. Looking over some old
papers, I find the rough draft of a letter, which I wrote
to you fifteen months ago, and which probably miscar
ried, or your answer miscarried, as I never received
any. I enclose it, as the spring is coming on, and the
same proposition will now again be in season, and
easily executed, if you should approve of it.
You mention Mr. Viny's being with you. What is
his present situation ? I think he might do well with
his wheel business in this country. By your news-
16

182 FRANKLIN.
papers, Jacob seems to have taken it to himself.
Could he not make up a good coach, with the latest
useful improvements, and bring you all in it ? It
would serve here as a specimen of his abilities, if he
chose to stay, or would sell well if he chose to return.
I hope your mother has got over her lowness of spirits
about the dropsy. It is common for aged people to
have at times swelled ancles towards evening, but it is
a temporary disorder, which goes off of itself, and has
no consequences. My tender love to her.
If you have an opportunity of sending to Geneva, I
like well enough your sending the books thither for
my godson grandson, who goes on well there. You
do well to keep my granddaughter without stays. God
bless her, and all of you.
You may imagine I begin to grow happy in my
prospects. I should be quite so, if I could see peace
and good will restored between our countries, for I
enjoy health, competence, friends, and reputation.
Peace is the only ingredient wanting to my felicity.
Adieu, my dear friend, and believe me ever
Yours most affectionately,
B. Franklin.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 183

To Mrs. Stevenson and Mrs. Hewson.
LETTER CVII.
Paris, 19 April, 1782.
I wrote to you, my dear friends, very lately, and
directed my letter to Cheam in Surrey. Mr. White-
foord tells me, that you are removed to Kensington
Square, and I fear that ray letter may therefore not
find you. I sent it under cover to Mr. William Hodg
son, merchant, in Coleman Street, which I mention,
that in case it has not come to hand, you may there
enquire for it, though it contains little worth the trou
ble, as it only expresses- what you always knew, that
I love you both very much, and very sincerely.
Mr. Whitefoord will inform you how I live, and
that I am very well, as happy as the situation of public
affairs will permit, only capable of being made more
so, if you were here with me ;
Being ever your truly affectionate friend,
B. Franklin.

184 FRANKLIN.
LETTER CVIII.
To Mrs. Hewson.
Passy, 13 June, 1782.
My Dear Child,
I received your pleasing letter of the 1st of May,
through the hands of Mr. Hodgson, and one since by
Mr. Oswald. You cannot be more pleased in talking
about your children, your methods of instructing them,
and the progress they make, than I am in hearing it,
and in finding, that, instead of following the idle
amusements, which both your fortune and the custom
of the age might have led you into, your delight and
your duty go together, by employing your time in the
education of your offspring. This is following nature
and reason, instead of fashion, than which nothing is
more becoming the character of a woman of sense and
virtue. We have here a female writer on education, who
has lately published three volumes, that are much
talked of. I will send them to you by the first oppor
tunity. They are much praised and much censured.
The author, Madame la Comtesse de Genlis, is made,
in consequence of her writing that work, governess of
the children of the Due de Chartres, who is son of
the Duke of Orleans. Perhaps you may not find
much in it, that can be of use to- you, but you may
find something.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 185
I enclose another piece on the same subject, writ
ten by another Comtesse, Madame de Forbach, who
does me the honor of calling me her friend, by which
means I have a copy, it not being published. When
you have leisure, 1 shall like to see your remarks.
Do not send any books to Geneva. The troubles
of that city have driven the school and my boy out of
it, and I have thoughts of sending for him home.
Perhaps I may put him for a while under your care,
to recover his English in the same school with your
sons. I hope with you, that there may be a peace, and
that we may once more meet. Remember me kindly
to Mr. and Mrs. Viny. I do not at present want a
carriage. Embrace your good mother for me with
much -affection, and believe me to be, my dear friend,
Yours ever,
B. Franklin.

LETTER CIX.
To Mrs. Hewson.

Passy, June, 1782.
I send you a few of your translations. I did not
put your name as the translator (which I at first
intended) because I apprehended it might look like
16*

186 FRANKLIN.
vanity in you ; and as I shall otherwise make it known,
I think the omitting it will look like modesty.
Present my sincere love to your mother. Nothing
would give me greater pleasure, than to see you both
once more, well and happy. But you, who are truly
sagacious and honest, and can give good advice, tell
me frankly your sentiments, whether, in case of a
peace, it will be prudent in me to visit England, be
fore I return to America. I have no other call there,
but the pleasure of seeing my friends, of whom I must
again soon take leave ; and my appearing may per
haps exasperate my enemies. If you think this not of
serious consequence, tell me whether I may come
right through London to Kensington, with the view of
finding room in your house ; or whether I should take
a lodging in the city to return to. Don't let me in
the least incommode you.
I forget whether 1 ever acknowledged the receipt
of the prints of Mr. Hewson. I have one of them
framed in my study. I think it very like. I believe
I acquainted you with good Mr. Dubourg's death. He
had enlarged his little piece, which you translated ;
and, in respect for his memory, I have had it printed.
I enclose a copy.
I am sorry to learn the still unsettled state of Mr.
 's family. Mrs.  is undoubtedly well
qualified to teach English here, but I cannot think it
would be worth her while to come hither for that pur
pose. . It is true, that our language is in vogue here,

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 1Q7
and many learn a little of it, but the instructers are
poorly paid, and the employ precarious and uncertain ;
this observation is so general, as to have given rise to
a proverb, Pauvre comme un maitre de langues.
Your affectionate friend,
B. Franklin.

LETTER CX.
To Mrs. Hewson.
Passy, 17 August, 1782.
My Dear Good Child,
I received your kind letter by Dr. Shuttleworth.
It always gives me great pleasure to hear of the wel
fare of you and yours. As to myself, I continue as
hearty as at my age could be expected, and as cheer
ful as ever you knew me, hoping ere long to see peace
and my friends, whose continued regard for me, after
so long and so thorough an acquaintance with me, I
esteem among my honors and felicities.
It is now a quarter of a century since our friend
ship commenced, and though we lived much of the
time together, it has never been interrupted by the
smallest misunderstanding or coolness. In this obser
vation I include your good mother, from whom 'I had
lately the pleasure of receiving a few lines. I embrace
you both with the most tender affection, being ever
sincerely yours,
B. Franklin.

188 FRANKLIN.

LETTER CXI

To Mrs. Hewson.
Passy, 27 January, 1783.
The departure of my dearest friend,* which I learn
from your last letter, greatly affects me. To meet
with her once more in this life was one of the princi
pal motives of my proposing to visit England again,
before my return to America. The last year carried
off my friends Dr. Pringle, Dr. Fothergill, Lord
Kaims, and Lord le Despencer. This has begun to
take away the rest, and strikes the hardest. Thus
the ties I had to that country, and indeed to the world
in general, are loosened one by one, and I shall soon
have no attachment left to make me unwilling to
follow. I intended writing when I sent the eleven books,
but I lost the time in looking for the twelfth. I wrote
with that ; and hope it came to hand. I therein asked
your counsel about my coming to England. On re
flection, I think I can, from my knowledge of your
prudence, foresee what it will be, viz. not to come
too soon, lest it should seem braving and insulting
some who ought to be respected. I shall, therefore,
omit that journey till I am near going to America,
and then just step over to take leave of my friends,
* Mrs. Stevenson, the mother of Mrs. Hewson.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 189
and spend .a few days with you. I purpose bringing
Ben with me, and perhaps may leave him under your
care. At length we - are in peace, God be praised, and
long, very long, may it continue. All wars are fol
lies, very expensive and very mischievous ones.
When will mankind be convinced of this, and agree
to settle their differences by arbitration ? Were they
to do it, even by the cast of a die, it would be better
than by fighting and destroying each other.
Spriug is coming on, when travelling will be de
lightful. Can you not, when you see your children
all at school, make a little party, and take a trip
hither ? I have now a large house, delightfully situ
ated, in which I could accommodate you and two or
three friends, and I am but half an hour's drive from
Paris. In looking forward, twenty-five years seem a long
period, but in looking back, how short ! Could you
imagine, that it is now full a quarter of a century since
we were first acquainted? It was in 1757. Dur
ing the greatest part of the time, I lived in the same
house with my dear deceased friend, your mother ;
of course you and I conversed with each other much
and often. It is to all our honors, that in all that
' time we never had among us the smallest misunder
standing. Our friendship has been all clear sunshine,
without the least cloud in its hemisphere. Let me
conclude by saying to you, what I have had too fre-

190 FRANKLIN. .
quent occasions to say to my other remaining old
friends, The fewer we become, the more let us love
one another. Adieu, and believe me ever
Yours most affectionately, B. Franklin.

LETTER CXII.
To Mrs. Hewson.
Passy, 26 April, 1783.
Mr Dear Friend,
I received in its time your kind letter of February
22d. I am sensible of the prudence pf your advice,
respecting my coming to England, and shall follow it.
Accept my thanks for that, and for your kiud invita
tion to Cheam, when I do come ; but the little left of
life at my age will, perhaps, hurry, me home, as soon
as I can be quit of my employment here. I should,
indeed, have great pleasure in seeing you, and in
being some time with you and your little family. I
cannot have all I wish.
Mr. Williams is now here with his family. I shall
mention to him his not answering your letter. We
talked yesterday of you, and of his friend Dolly,
whom I have not forgotten, as she supposes. He ex-

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 191
pressed the highest esteem and regard for you both.
My love to her when you see her.
I send you some more of the little books, and am
ever, my dear friend, You

LETTER CXIII.
To Mrs. Hewson.
Passy, 7 September, 1783.
My Dear Friend,
I received your kind letter of the 9th past. I am
glad, that the little books are pleasing to you and your
children, and that the children improve by them.
My grandson Bache has been four years at school
at Geneva, and is but lately come home to me here.
I find reason to be satisfied with the improvement he
has made in his learning. He translates common
Latin readily into French, but his English has suf
fered for want of use ; though I think he would readi
ly recover it, if he were a while at your school at
Cheam, and at the same time be going on with his
Latin and Greek. You were once so kind as to offer
to take him under your care ; would that be still con
venient to you ? He is docile and of gentle manners,
ready to receive and follow good advice, and will-set

192 FRANKLIN.
no bad example to your other children. He gains
every day upon my affections.
I long much to see 'you and yours, and my other
friends in England, but I have not yet determined on
the journey. Our definitive treaty of peace being
now signed, I have indeed less to confine me here,
and might make -a short excursion without much
inconvenience; but short days and winter are, com
ing on, and I think I can hardly undertake such an
expedition before the spring of next year.
With regard to the future establishment of your
children, which you say you want to consult me about,
I am still of opinion, that America will afford you more
chances of doing it well than England. All the means
of good education are plenty there, the general man
ners are simple and pure, temptations to vice and folly
fewer, the profits of industry in business as great and
sure as in England ; and there is one advantage more,
which your command of money will give you there, I
mean the laying out a part of your fortune in new land,
now to be had extremely cheap ; but which must be
increased immensely in value, before your children
come of age, by the rapid population of the country.
If you should arrive there while I live, you know you
may depend on every assistance in my power to afford
you, and I think my children will have a pleasure too
in serving their father's friend. I do not offer it as a
motive, that you will be much esteemed and respect
ed there ; for that you are, and must be. every where ;

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 193
but give me leave to flatter myself, that my being
made happier in my last years by your neighbourhood
and society may be some inducement io you.
I forwarded your letter to Mr. Williams. Temple
is always with me, -being my secretary. He presents
his respects to you. I have been lately ill with a fit
of the gout, if that may indeed be called a disease.
I rather suspect it to be a remedy, since I always find
my health and vigor of mind improved after the fit is
over. I am ever, my dear friend,
Yours most affectionately,
B. Franklin.
P. S. You say you are a little afraid that our
country is spoiled. Parts of it have indeed suffered
by the war, those situated near the sea ; but the body
of the country has not been much hurt, and the fer
tility of our soil, with the industry of our people, now
that the commerce of all the world is open to us, will
soon repair the damages received, and introduce that
prosperity, which we hope Providence intends for us,
since it has so remarkably favored our revolution.
17

194 FRANKLIN.

LETTER CXIV.
To Mrs. Hewson.
Passy, 26 December, 1783.
Dear Polly,
In reading Mr. Viny's letter, when I received it,
I missed seeing yours, which was written behind it in
a corner. I thank you much for your kind offer re
specting my grandson. I was fully resolved on send
ing him in September last, and engaged Mr. Jay, one
of my colleagues, then going to England, to take him
over in his company. But when it came to be pro
posed to him, he showed such an unwillingness to
leave me, and Temple such a fondness for retaining
him, that I concluded to keep him till I should go
over myself. He behaves very well, and we love
him very much.
I send herewith two different French grammars, not
knowing which to prefer, opinions here being divided.
Your French master may take his choice, and you
will present the other to my godson, as my new year's
gift, with the two volumes of Synonymes Frangois,
an excellent work. They will be left at Mr. Hodg
son's, merchant in Coleman Street, where you may
have them on sending for them.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 195
Adieu, my dear friend. I long to see you and
yours, but God only knows when that may happen.
I am, nevertheless, Yours most affectionately, B. Franklin.
January 1, 1784. Health, and prosperity, and
many happy years to my dear friend and her children,
for whom I send the enclosed little books.

LETTER CXV-
To Mrs. Hewson.
Passy, 19 March, 1784.
You will forget me quite, my dear old friend, if I
do not write to you now and then.
I still exist, and still enjoy some pleasure in that
existence, though now in my seventy-ninth year. Yet
I feel the infirmities of age come on so fast, and the
building to need so many repairs, that in a little time
the owner will find it cheaper to pull it down and
build a new one.
I wish, however, to see you first, but I begin to
doubt the possibility.
My children join in love to you and yours, with
Your affectionate friend,
B. Franklin.

196 FRANKLIN.
LETTER CXVI.
To Mrs. Hewson.
Passy, 15 August, 1784.
Dear Friend,
I received your kind letter of July 20tb. I wish
you had executed your project of taking a little trip
to see me this summer. You would have made me
very happy, and might have bathed your children
here, as well as at Southampton, I having a bath in my
house, besides the river in view. I like your monthly
account of them, and in return send you my daugh
ter's account of my grandchildren in Philadelphia.
You will see she expected me home this summer, but
my constituents have sent me a new commission, and
I must stay another winter. Can you not come and
pass it with me here ?
Temple, who purposes to have the pleasure of de
livering this to you, will explain to you how you may
be accommodated, and, if you can resolve to come,
will conduct you. Except being at home, which I
begin now to fear I never shall be, nothing could give
me greater pleasure. Come, my dear friend, live
with me while I stay here, and go1 with me, if I do go,
to America. Yours most affectionately, B. Franklin.
P. S. My love to the dear children, particularly
my godson, for whom Temple has a little present of
of French books.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 197
LETTER CXVII.
To Mrs\ Hewson.
Passy, 5 May, 1785.
My Dear, Dear Friend,
I received your little letter from Dover, which gave.
me great pleasure, as it informed me of your happy
progress so far in your way home. 1 hope the rest
of your journey was as prosperous.*
You talk of obligations to me, when in fact I am
the person obliged. I passed a long winter, which
appeared the shortest of any I ever past. Such is
-the effect of pleasing society, with friends one loves.
I have now received my permission to return, and
am making my preparations. I hope to get away in
June. I promise myself, or rather flatter myself,
that I shall be happy when at home. But however
happy that circumstance may make me, your joining
me there will surely make me happier, provided your
change of country may be for the advantage of your
dear little family. When you have made up your
mind on the subject, let me know by a line, that I
may prepare a house for you as near me, and other
wise as convenient for you, as possible.
My neighbours begin to come out from Paris, and
replace themselves in their Passy houses. They
* Mrs. Hewson had spent the winter with Dr. Franklin at
17*

198 FRANKLIN.
inquire after you, and are sorry you are gone before
they could make themselves known to you. M. Ie
Veillard, in particular, has told me at different times','
what indeed I knew long since, Cest une Men digne
femme, cette Madame Hewson, une tres aimable femme.
I would not tell you this, if I thought it would make
you vain ; but that is impossible ; you have too much
good sense.
So wish me a good voyage, and when you pray at
church for all that travel by land or sea, think of
Your ever affectionate friend,
B. Franklin.
P. S. My love to William, and Thomas, and
Eliza, and tell them I miss their cheerful prattle.
Temple being sick, and Benjamin at Paris, I have
found it very triste breakfasting alone, and sitting alone,
and without any tea in the evening.

LETTER CXVIII.
To Mrs. Hewson.
Passy, 26 June, 1785.
Dear Friend,
I wrote to you the 5th of last month, and have
since received your kind letters of the 8th, informing
me of your welfare, and that of the dear children,
which gave me great pleasure. I shall long to see

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 199
you all again in America, where I hope to be soon.
Almost all my things are now packed up, and will be
in the barge next Wednesday, to go down the river ;
for though I know not yet what vessel I shall go in, I
would have every thing at Havre ready to embark ;
and I suppose I shall not be here myself a fortnight
longer. I say nothing to persuade you to go with me or to
follow me ; because I know you do not usually act from
persuasion, but from judgment ; and, as that is very
sound, I leave you to yourself. You will do what'is best
for you and yours, and that will give me most pleasure.
Miss Lamotte's friends do not consent to her going to
England. I enclose her letter, by which you will
see, that, though she speaks the language prettily, she
does not write it correctly. Indeed, abundance of the
French are deficient in their own orthography. I
offered her, as you desired, the money that might be
necessary for the journey.
Temple is not yet quite well, having had several
returns of his ague. Benjamin continues hearty, and
has been very serviceable in packing. They both
present their respects.
If you should write me a line before my departure,
direct it to Havre de Grace.
Adieu, my very dear friend, and believe me ever
Yours with sincere respect and affection,
B. Franklin.
P. S. My love to every one of the children.

200 FRANKLIN.
LETTER CXIX.
To Mrs. Hewson.
Dear Frie'nd,
Passy, 4 July, 1785.
By this post I have given orders to engage a fine
ship, now at London, to carry me and my family to
Philadelphia. My baggage is already on the Seine,
going down to Havre, from whence, if the captain
cannot call for us there, we shall cross the^channel,
and meet him at Cowes in the Isle of Wight. The
ship has a large, convenient cabin, with good lodging-
places. The whole will be at my disposition, and
there is plenty of room for you and yours. You may
never have so good an opportunity of passing to Amer
ica, if it is your intention. Think of it, and take your
resolution ; believing me ever
Your affectionate friend,
B. Franklin.
P. S. Love to the dear children. If Mr. Wil
liams is returned to London, he will inform you of the
particulars. If not, you may enquire of Wallace,
Johnson, & Muir, merchants, London, to be heard
of at the Pennsylvania Coffee-House, Birchin Lane.
The ship is to be at Cowes the 1st of August.*
* Extract from a letter to a friend in America.
" St. Germain, twelve miles from Paris, 13 July, 1785.
" I left Passy yesterday afternoon, and am here on my way to
Havre de Grace, a seaport, in order, to embark for America. I

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 201
LETTER CXX.
To Mrs. Hewson.
Southampton, 26 July, 1785.
Dear Friend,
I received here yours of the 23d instant. I am
sorry it did not suit you to go in the ship with me,
having engaged places in the cabin, that would have
accommodated you and yours,, not indeed on your ac
count, because I never depended on your going ; but
I took the whole cabin, that I might not be intruded
on by any accidental disagreeable company.
If you come to Philadelphia, you will find an always
affectionate friend in me, and in my children after I
am gone. My love to yours, and to Dolly ; and my
respects to Mrs.. Hawkesworth. I came to^ Havre
de Grace in a litter, and hither in the pacquet-boat ;
and, instead of being hurt by the journey or voyage, I
make use of one of the King's litters carried by mules, which
walk steadily and easily, so that I bear the motion very well. I
am to be taken on board a Philadelphia ship on the coast of Eng
land, (Captain Truxton,) the beginning of next month. Not hav
ing written to you since the letter, which contained a. bill on
Mr. Vernon, and as I may not have another opportunity before
my arrival in Philadelphia (if it pleases God I do arrive), I write
these particulars to go by way of England, that you may be less
uneasy about me. I did my last public act in this country just
before I set out, which was signing a treaty of amity and com
merce with Prussia. I have continued to work till late in the
day ; 'tis time I should go home, and go to bed."

202 FRANKLIN;
really find myself very much better, not having suf
fered so little for the time these two years past.
Adieu, my dear friend, accept my repeated thanks
for the agreeable winter your kind company, with
that of my young friends, made me pass, and believe
me ever, Yours sincerely and most affectionately,
B. Franklin.

LETTER CXXI.
To Governor Greene and Mrs. Greene.
Philadelphia, 20 September, 1785.
I seize this first opportunity of acquainting my dear
friends, that I have once more the great happiness of
being at home in my own country, and with my fam
ily, because I know it will give you pleasure. I shall
be glad to hear of your welfare, also, and beg you to
favor me with a line, and let ine know particularly
how my young friend Ray does.
I enjoy, thanks to God, as much good health as can
reasonably be expected at my time of life ; and am
ever, With- sincere esteem, my dear friends,
Yours most affectionately,
B. Franklin.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 203
LETTER CXXII.
To Mrs. Hewson.
Philadelphia, 30 October, 1786.
I received my dear friend's letter of July 23d, at
Southampton, where I arrived the 24th, and stayed till
the 28th. I believe I acquainted you by a line im
mediately after my arrival here, that we had a pleas
ant, and not a long passage, in which there was but
one day, a day of violent storm, in which I was glad
you were not with us. I had the happiness of finding
my family well, and of being very kindly received by
my country folks.
I say nothing to persuade your coming, because I
said in a former letter, I would leave you entirely to
your own judgment, which is very good. I would
only mention a fact, that, on inquiry, I am informed
the usual apprentice-fee to a mercantile'house of emi
nence, is from one hundred to one hundred and fifty
pounds sterling. I am plunged again into public busi
ness, as deep as ever ; and can now only add my love
to the dear children, in which this family all join.
Temple is just gone to look at his lands, and Ben is
at college to complete his studies. I am ever, my
dear friend, Yours most affectionately,
B. Franklin.*
* Extract from a letter to a relation. " Philadelphia, 24 January, 1786.
" Your letter to Mr. V. seems to me very proper and well writ-

204 FRANKLIN.
LETTER CXXIII.
To Mrs. Hewson.
Philadelphia, 6 May, 1786.
My Dear Friend.
A long winter has past, and I have not had the
pleasure of a line from you, acquainting me with your
and your children's welfare, since I left England. I
suppose you have been in Yorkshire, out of the way
and knowledge of opportunities ; for I will not think
that you have forgotten me.
To make me some amends, I received a few days
past a large pacquet from Mr. Williams, dated Sep
tember, 1776, near ten years since, containing three
letters from you, one of December 12, 1775. This
pacquet had been received by Mr. Bache, after my
ten, and I think he was wrong in detaining the five dollars. But
when we consider, that he was under no legal obligation to pay
a debt contracted by his son, we may be glad, that we have re
ceived so much of it, and that, when it is common to pay the
interest of an old debt in ill language, he has paid you only in
silence. It is a family I have formerly been in friendship with,
and I would not have you trouble them with any farther demands.
" I do not wonder at your blaming me for accepting the govern
ment [the office of President of Pennsylvania]. We have all of
us wisdom enough to judge what others ought to do, or not to do,
in the management of their affairs, and 'tis possible I might blame
you as much if you were to accept the offer of a young husband.
My example may teach you not to be too confident in your own
prudence, as it teaches me not to be surprised at such an event,
should it really happen."

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 205
departure for France, lay dormant among his papers
during all my absence, and has just now broke out
upon me, like words, that had been, as somebody
says, congealed in northern air. Therein I find
all the pleasing little family history of your children ;
how William had begun to spell, overcoming, by
strength of memory, all the difficulty occasioned by
the common wretched alphabet, while you were con
vinced, of the utility of our new one ; how Tom,
genius-like, struck out new paths, and, relinquishing
the old names of the letters, called U bell, and P bot
tle ; how Eliza began to grow jolly, that is, fat and
handsome, resembling aunt Rooke, whom I used to
call my lovely. Together with all the then news of
lady Blount's having produced at length a boy ; of
Dolly's being well, and of poor good Catherine's de
cease ; of your affairs with Muir &l Atkinson, and
of their contract for feeding the fish in the channel ;
of the Vinys and their jaunt to Cambridge in the
long carriage ; of Dolly's journey to Wales with Mrs.
Scott ; of the Wilkeses, the Pearces, Elphinstones,
&c. ^concluding with a kind of promise, that, as soon
as the ministry and Congress agreed to make peace, I
should have you with me in America. That peace
has been, some time made ;- but, alas ! the prom
ise is not yet fulfilled.
I have found' my family here in health, good cir
cumstances, and well respected by their fellow citi
zens. The companions of my youth are indeed
18

206 FRANKLIN.
almost all departed, but I find an agreeable society
among their children and grandchildren. I have
public business enough to preserve me from ennui,
and private amusement besides in conversation, books,
my garden, and cribbage. Considering our well fur
nished, plentiful market as the best of gardens, I am
turning mine, in the midst of which my house stands,
into grass plots and gravel walks, with trees and
flowering shrubs. Cards we sometimes play here, in
long winter evenings, but it is as they play at chess,
not for money, but for honor, or the pleasure of beat
ing one another. This will not be quite a novelty to
you, as you may remember we played together in that
manner during the winter at Passy. I have indeed now
and then a little compunction, in reflecting that I
spend time so idly ; but another reflection comes to
relieve me, whispering, " You know that the soul is
immortal ; why then should you be such a niggard of
a little time, when you have a whole eternity before
you?" So, being easily convinced, and, like other
reasonable creatures, satisfied with a small reason,
when it is in favor of doing what I have a mind" to, I
shuffle the cards again, andTiegin another game.
As to public amusements, we have neither plays
nor operas, but we had yesterday a kind of oratorio,
as you will see by the enclosed paper ; and we have
assemblies, balls, and concerts, besides little parties at
one another's houses, in which there is sometimes
dancing, and frequently good music ; so that we jog

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 207
on in life as pleasantly as you do in England ; any
where but in London, for there you have plays per-
¦ formed by good actors. That, however, is, I think,
the only advantage London has over Philadelphia.
Temple has turned his thoughts to agriculture,
which he pursues ardently, being in possession of a
fine farm, that his father lately conveyed to him. Ben
is finishing his studies at college, and continues to be
have as well as when you knew him, so that I think
he will make you a good son. His younger brothers
and sisters are also promising, appearing to have good
tempers and dispositions, as well as good constitu
tions. As to myself, I think my general health and
spirits rather better, than when you saw me. The
particular malady I then complained of continues
tolerable. With sincere and very great esteem, I am ever, my
dear friend, Yours most affectionately, B. Franklin.
P. S. My children and grandchildren join with
me in best wishes for you and yours. My love to
my godson, to Eliza, and to honest Tom. They will
all find agreeable companions here. Love to Dolly,
and tell her she will do well to come with you.

208 FRANKLIN.
LETTER CXXIV.
To Mrs. Hewson.
Philadelphia, 30 May, 1786.
Dear Polly,
I have just received your kind letter of April 2d,
which made me some amends for your long silence.
By the last ship from hence I wrote to you, acknowl
edging the receipt of some very old letters, when I was
sorry I could mention none of later date. I have,
however, no right to complain, being so bad a corre
spondent myself. But my last was a long one, and I
hope you have received it.
You seem now inclined to come over, if you could
meet with a captain, that you know and like. We
mentioned it to Captain Falkener. He goes no more
to sea, but strongly recommends Captain Willet, who
carries this letter, as a good man and excellent sea
man. His ship is the Harmony, which lately brought
over Mr. and Mrs. Bingham. Mr. Williams will
hardly, I doubt, be with you in time this year to
assist in your embarkation, but if you apply to
Messrs. Johnson & Company, American merchants,
to whom I write, I am persuaded they will make
the bargain for you, and assist you with their advice
in every circumstance.
Temple, who presents his respects, has, however,
no hopes of your coming. He says you were so long

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 209
irresolute and wavering about the journey to Paris,
that he thinks it unlikely you will decide firmly to
make the voyage of America.
I enclose a truer state of affairsin our country, than
your public prints will afford you, and I pray " God
guide you."
This family are all well, and join in love to you
and yours, with your affectionate B. Franklin.
P. S. Captain Willet is to leave London on his
return about the 1st of August. Your son Ben, and
all this family, join in the hope of your resolving to
come over.*

LETTER CXXV.
To a Friend.
[Extract.] Philadelphia, 4 July, 1786.
 You need not be concerned, in writing to
me, about your bad spelling ; for, in my opinion, as
our alphabet now stands, the bad spelling, or what is
called so, is generally the best, as conforming to the
* Mrs. Hewson soon afterwards came over with her family to
America, and established herself at Philadelphia.
18*

210 FRANKLIN.
sound of the letters and of the words. To give you
an instance. A gentleman received a letter, in which
were these words, — Not finding Brown at horn, I
delivered your meseg to his yf. The gentleman
finding it bad spelling, and therefore not very intel
ligible, called his lady to help him read it. Between
them they picked out the meaning of all but the yf,
which they could not understand. The lady proposed
calling her chambermaid, because Betty, says she,
has the best knack at reading bad spelling of any
one I know. Betty came, and was surprised that
neither Sir nor Madam could tell what yf was.
" Why," says she, " y f spells wife, what else can it
spell ? " And, indeed, it is a much better, as well as
shorter method of spelling wife, than Doubleyou,
i, ef, e, which in reality spell Doubleyifey.
There is much rejoicing in town to-day, it being
the anniversary of the declaration of Independence,
which we signed this day ten years, and thereby
hazarded lives and fortunes. God was pleased to
put a favorable end to the contest much sooner than
we had reason to expect. His name be praised.
Adieu,
B. Franklin.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 211
LETTER CXXVI.
To the Reverend Dr. Byles, Boston.
Philadelphia, 1 January, 1788.
Dear Old Friend,
I duly received your kind letter of May 14th, 1787.
I was then busily engaged in attending our General
Convention, which, added to the ordinary current
business of this government, took up so much of my
time, that I was obliged to postpone answering many
letters of friends, which gave occasion of mislaying
some of them, and among those was yours, only last
week come again to hand. I think I never received
what you mention, respecting the university of Aber
deen ; but the good-will I might show on that occa
sion was not of importance enough to deserve your
repeating the acknowledgment. It was in me only
paying a debt ; for I remember with gratitude, that
I owe one of my first academical honors to your
recommendation. It gives me much pleasure to understand, that my
points have been of service in the protection of you
and yours. I wish for your sake that electricity had
really proved, what at first it was supposed to be, a
cure for the palsy. It is however happy for you,
that when old age and that malady have concurred
to enfeeble you, and to disable you for writing, you

212 FRANKLIN.
have a daughter at hand to nurse you with filial atten
tion, and to be your secretary, of which I see she is
very capable, by the elegance and correctness of her
writing in the letter I am now answering. I too
have a daughter, who lives with me and is the com
fort of my declining years, while my son is estranged
from me. by the part he took in the late war, and
keeps aloof, residing in England, whose cause he
espoused ; whereby the old proverb is exemplified ;
" My son is my son till he gets him a wife ;
But my daughter is my daughter all the days of her life."
I remember you had a little collection of curiosities.
Please to honor with a place in it the enclosed
medal, which I got struck in Paris. The thought
was much approved by the connoisseurs there, and the
engraving well executed. My best wishes attend you,
being ever Your affectionate friend,
and humble servant,
B. Franklin.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 213
LETTER CXXVII.
To the Reverend Doctor Lathrop, Boston.
Philadelphia, 31 May, 1788.
Reverend Sir,
I received your obliging favor of the 6th instant by
Mr. Hilliard, with whose conversation I was much
pleased, and would have been glad to have had more
of it, if he would have spared it to me ; but the short
time of his stay has prevented. You need make no
apology for introducing any of your friends to me.
I consider it as doing me honor, as well as giving me
pleasure. I thank you for the pamphlet of the Humane So
ciety. In return please to accept one of the same
kind, which was published while I resided in France.
If your Society have not hitherto seen it, it may pos
sibly afford them useful hints.
It would certainly, as you observe, be a very great
pleasure to me, if I could once again visit my native
town, and walk over the grounds I used to frequent
when a boy, and where I enjoyed many of the inno
cent pleasures of youth, which would be so brought to
my remembrance, and where I might find some of my
old acquaintance to converse with. But when I con
sider how well I am situated here, with every thing
about me, that I can call either necessary or conven
ient ; the fatigues and bad accommodations to be met

214 FRANKLIN.
with and suffered in aland journey, and the unpleasant
ness of sea voyages, to one, who, although he has
crossed the Atlantic eight times, and made many
smaller trips, does not recollect his having ever been
at sea without taking a firm resolution never to go
to sea again ; and that, if I were arrived in Boston,
I should see but little of it, as I could neither bear
walking nor riding in a carriage over its pebbled
streets ; and, above all, that I should find very few
indeed of my old friends living, it being now sixty-
five years since I left it to settle here ; — all this con
sidered, I say, it seems probable, though not certain,
that I shall hardly again visit that beloved place.
But I enjoy the company and conversation of its
inhabitants, when any of them are so good as to visit
me ; for, besides their general good sense, which I
value, the Boston manner, turn of phrase,- and even
tone of voice, and accent in pronunciation, all please,
and seem to refresh and revive me.
I have been long impressed with the same senti
ments you so well express, of the growing felicity of
mankind, from the improvements in philosophy, mor
als, politics, and even the conveniences of common
living, and the invention and acquisition of new and
useful utensils and instruments ; so that I have some
times almost wished it had been my destiny to be
born two or three centuries hence. For invention
and improvement are prolific and beget more of their
kind. The present progress is rapid". Many of great

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 215
importance, now unthought of, will before that period
be produced ; and then I might not only enjoy their
advantages, but have my curiosity gratified in knowing
what they are to be. I see a little absurdity in what
I have just written, but it is to a friend, who will
wink and let it pass, while I mention one reason more
for such a wish, which is, that, if the art of physic
shall be improved in proportion to other arts,
we may then be able to avoid diseases, and live as
long as the patriarchs in Genesis ; to which I suppose
we should have little objection.
I am glad my dear sister has so good and kind a
neighbour. I sometimes suspect she may be back
ward in acquainting ine with circumstances in which I
might be more useful to her. If any such should
occur to your observation, your mentioning them to
me will be a favor I shall be thankful for.
With great esteem, I have the honor to be,
Reverend Sir,
Your most obedient,
and most humble servant,
B. Franklin.

216 FRANKLIN.
LETTER CXXVIII.
To a Relation in Boston.
[Extract.] Philadelphia, 3 August, 1789.
 I am glad to learn, that you have at length
got some of the letters I so long since wrote to you.
I think your postoffice is very badly managed. I
expect your bill, and shall pay it when it appears. I
would have you put the books into our cousin's
hands, who will dispose of them for you, if he can, or
return them hither. I am very much pleased to
hear, that you bavejiad no misunderstanding with
his father. Indeed, if there had been any such, I
should have concluded, that it was your fault ; for
I think our family were always subject to being a
little miffy.
By the way, is our relationship in Nantucket quite
worn out ? I have met with none from thence of late
years, who were disposed to be acquainted with me,
except Captain Timothy Folger. They are won
derfully shy. But I admire their honest plainness of
speech. About a year ago I invited two of them to
dine with me. Their answer was, that they would,
if they could not do better. I suppose they did
better ; for I never saw them afterwards, and so
had no opportunity of showing my miff, if I had
one.

FAMILIAR LETTERS. 217
I shall make the addition you desire to my super
scriptions, desiring in return that you will make a sub
traction from yours. The word Excellency does not
belong to me, and Doctor will be sufficient to dis
tinguish me from my grandson.
This family joins in love to- you and yours.
B. Franklin.

19

PART II.

MISCELLANEOUS PIECES.

HINTS FOR
A REPLY TO THE PROTESTS
OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS
AGAINST t
THE REPEAL OF THE STAMP ACT.*

FIRST PROTEST.
We have submitted to your laws, — no proof of our
acknowledgment of your power to make them ; rather
an acknowledgment of their reasonableness, or of our
own weakness. — Postoffice came as a matter of
utility, — was aided by the legislature. Mean to take
* In the Athen^dm at Philadelphia are many volumes of pam
phlets, which formerly belonged to Dr. Franklin. Some of these
are curious from the manuscript notes they contain in the margin,
A few specimens have been selected for publication, both as hav.
ing an historical interest, and as being peculiarly characteristic of
their author.
It should here also be observed, that the notes contained in
these pamphlets were penned at the very time, when he was sup.
posed, by some persons, either unfriendly to his character or igno.
rant of his motives, to be secretly acting a part in England more
19*

222 FRANKLIN.
advantage of our ignorance. Children should not be
imposed on ; are not, even by honest shopkeepers.
A great and magnanimous nation should disdain to
govern by tricks and traps, that would disgrace a
pettifogging attorney.
Settlement of the colonies stated. Parliament not
consulted ; — not till after the restoration, except by
rebel Parliament. — Anxious about preserving the
sovereignty of this country ? Rather be so about pre
serving the liberty. We shall be so about the liberty
of America, that your posterity may have a free coun
try to come to, where they will be received with open
arms. King, the sovereign, cannot take in his Parliament ;
at least can give no greater power, than he had him
self. Compliment the Lords. Not a wiser or better body
of men on earth. The deep respect impressed on me
accordant to his private aims, than to the high duties of a
true lover of his country. From the tone, temper, and sub
stance of these notes, let the reader judge with what justice such
suspicions have been entertained, and such insinuations haz
arded to the public. As mere private records of his thoughts,
prompted by the impulse of the moment, without any design of
their ever seeing the light, they must be admitted to reveal his
true sentiments, and to exhibit the unbiassed workings of his mind.
The above " Hints " are found in the margin of Dr. Franklin's
printed copy of the Protests, written at the time (1766), from
which it would appear, that it was his intention to make a formal
answer to these Protests. This purpose, it is believed, was never
executed.

MISCELLANEOUS. 223
by the instance I have been witness to of their justice.
They have been misled by misinformation. Proof of
my opinion of their goodness, in the freedom with
which I purpose to examine their Protests.
The trust of taxing America was never reposed
by the people of America in the legislature of Great
Britain. They had one kind of confidence, indeed,
in that legislature, — that it would never attempt to
tax them without their consent. The law was de
structive of that confidence among them.
Other advantages of colonies besides commerce.
Selfishness of commercial views.
The sovereignty of the Crown I understand. The
sovereignty of the British legislature out of Britain I
do not understand.
The fear of being thought weak is a timidity and
weakness of the worst sort, as it betrays into a per
sisting in errors, that may be much more mischievous,
than the appearance of weakness. A great and pow
erful state, like this, has no cause for such timidity.
Acknowledging and correcting an error shows great
magnanimity. Small states and small republics can
not afford to do so.
America not in the realm of England or Great
Britain ? No man in America thinks himself exempt
from the jurisdiction of the Crown, and of the As
semblies, or has any such private judgment.
The agitation of the question of rights makes it
now necessary to settle a constitution for the colonies.

224 FRANKLIN.
Restrictions should be only for the general good.
Endeavour to convince reasonable creatures by reason.
Try your hands with me.
 Never think of it. They are reasonable
creatures. Reasonable laws will not require force.
I observe two or three Scotch lords protest. Many
more voted against the repeal. Colonies settled
before the union. Query ; If the Parliament had a
jurisdiction over the colonies by the first settlement,
had they a right to introduce new legislators ? Could
they sell or commute the right with other nations ?
Can they introduce the peers of Ireland and Com
mons, and the States of Holland, and make them legis
lators of the colonies ? How could Scotland acquire
a right to legislation over English colonies, but by
consent of the colonies themselves ?
I am a subject of the Crown of Great Britain, — •
have ever been a loyal one, — have partaken of its
favors. I write here with freedom, relying on the
magnanimity of the Parliament. I say nothing to
your Lordships, that I have not been indulged to say
to the Commons. Your Lordships' names are to your
Protest, therefore I think I ought to put mine to the
answer. — Desire what I have said may not be im
puted to the colonies. I am a private person, and do
not write by their direction. I am over here to solicit,
in behalf of my colony, a closer communication with
the Crown.

MISCELLANEOUS. 225
SECOND PROTEST.
Talk with Bollan on this head. Query ; Courts
of common law ? Particular colonies drained, — all
drained, as it would all come home. Those, that
would pay most of the tax, would have least of it
spent at home. It must go to the conquered colo
nies. The view of .maps deceives.
All breach of the constitution. Juries better to be
trusted. Have rather an interest in suppressing
smugglers. Nature of smuggling. It is picking of
pockets. All oppressions take their rise from some
plea of utility ; often in appearance only.
The clamor of multitudes. It is good to attend
to it. It is wiser to foresee and avoid it. It is wise,
when neither foreseen nor avoided, to correct the
measures that give occasion to it. Glad the majority
have that wisdom.
Wish your Lordships had attended to that other
great article of the palladium ; " Taxes shall not be
laid but by common consent in Parliament." We
Americans were not here to give our consent.
My duty to the King, and justice to my country,
will, I hope, justify me, if I likewise protest, which I
now do with all humility in behalf of myself and of
every American, and of our posterity, against your
Declaratory Bill, that the Parliament of Great Britain
has not, never had, and of right never can have, with-

226 FRANKLIN.
out consent, given either before or after, power to
make laws of sufficient force to bind the subjects in
America in any case whatever, and particularly in
taxation. I can only judge of others by myself. I have some
little property in America. I will freely spend nine
teen shillings in the pound to defend my right of giv
ing or refusing the other shilling ; and, after all, if I
cannot defend that right, I can retire cheerfully with
my little family into the boundless woods of America,
which are sure to afford freedom and subsistence to
any man, who can bait a hook or pull a trigger.

OBSERVATIONS ON
PASSAGES IN A PAMPHLET,
EHTITLED
"GOOD HUMOR,
OR
A WAY WITH THE COLONIES.
LONDON, 1766."*

" The reply of the Governor of Massachusetts to the
Assembly's answer is in the same consistent style ; and
affords still a stronger proof, as well of his own ingenuity,
honor,, and integrity, as of the furious and enthusiastic
spirit of the province."
They knew the Governor to be, as it afterwards
turned out, their enemy and calumniator in private let
ters to government here.
" It had been more becoming the state of the colonies,
always dear to Britain, and ever cherished and defended
by it, to have remonstrated in terms of filial duty and
obedience." • The passages included within quotation marks are extracts
from the pamphlet, and the sentence following each contains
Dr. Franklin's observations.

228 FRANKLIN.
How ignorant is this writer of facts ! How many
of their remonstrances were rejected !
"They must give us leave in our turn to except
against their demonstration of legal exemption."
There never was any occasion of legal exemption
from what they never had been subject to.
" But then it is to be further observed, that this same
method of arguing is equally favorable to governors as
governed, and to the mother country as the colonies."
Here is the old mistake of all these writers. The
people of the mother country are subjects, not gov
ernors. The King only is sovereign in both countries.
" The colonies will no longer think it equitable to
insist upon immunities, which the people of Great Britain
do not enjoy."
Why not, if they have a right to them ?
" To claim a right of being taxed by their Assemblies
only, appears to have too much the air of independence-;
and though they are not represented here, would give
them an immunity beyond the inhabitants of this
island." It is a right, however ; what signifies what air it
has ? The inhabitants being freeholders ought to
have the same. If they have it not, they are injured.
Then rectify what is amiss among yourselves ; and
do not make it a justification of more wrong.
" Or could they hope to procure any advantages from
one hundred representatives 1 Common sense answers
all this in the negative."
Why not, as well as Scotland from forty-five, or
rather sixty-one ? Common sense, on the contrary,
says, that a body of one hundred votes in Parliament
will always be worth the attention of any ministry ;

MISCELLANEOUS. 229
and the fear of offending them will make every min
ister cautious of injuring the rights of their country,
lest they join with his opposers in Parliament.
" Therefore the interest of Great Britain and that of
the colonies is the same."
All this argument of the interest of Britain and the,
colonies being the same is fallacious and unsatisfac
tory. Partners in trade have a common interest,
which is the same, the flourishing of the partnership
business ; but they may, moreover, have each a
separate interest," and, in pursuit of that separate in
terest, one of them may endeavour to impose on the
other, may cheat him in the accounts, may draw to
himself more than his share of the profits, may put
upon the other more than an equal share of the ex
pense and burden. Their having a common interest
is no security against such injustice. The landholders
of Great Britain have a common interest, and yet
they injure one another in the inequality of the land-
tax. The majority in Parliament, being favored in
the proportions, will never consent to do justice to the
minority by a more equal assessment.
" But what reasonable ground of apprehension can
there be, that the British Parliament should be ignorant
of so plain a matter, as that the interests of Britain and
the colonies are the same 1 "
If the Parliament is so knowing and so just, how
comes it to restrain Ireland in its manufactures, Amer
ica in its trade ? Why may not an Irishman or an
American make the same manufactures, and carry
20

230 FRANKLIN.
them to the same ports, as an Englishman ? In
many instances Britain shows a selfish regard to her
own interest, in prejudice of the colonies. America
therefore has no confidence in her equity.
" But I can conceive no earthly security better, none
indeed so good, as that which depends upon the wisdom
and integrity of a British King and Parliament."
Suppose seats in your House of Commons heredi
tary, as those of the House of Lords ; or suppose the
Commons to be-nominated by the King, or chosen by
the Lords ; could you then rely upon them ? If your
members were to be chosen by the people of Ireland,
could you then rely upon them ? Could you depend
upon their wisdom and integrity as a security, the best
possible, for your rights ? And wherein is our case
different, if the people of England choose legislators
for the people of America ?
" If they have a spark of virtue left, they will blush to
be found in a posture of hostility against Great Britain,"
There was no posture of hostility in America, but
Britain put herself in a posture of hostility against
America. Witness the landing of the troops in Bos
ton, 1768.

OBSERVATIONS ON PASSAGES IN
"A LETTER FROM
A MERCHANT IN LONDON
TO
HIS NEPHEW IN NORTH AMERICA.
LONDON, 1766."

" The honest indignation you express against those
artifices and frauds, those robberies and insults, which
lost us the hearts and affections of the Indians, is partic
ularly to be commended ; for these were the things, as
you justly observed, which involved us in the most bloody
and expensive war, that ever was known."
This is wickedly intended by the author, Dean
Tucker, to represent the North-Americans as the
cause of the war. Whereas, it was in fact begun by
the French, who seized the goods and persons of the
English traders on the Ohio, who encroached on the
King's land in Nova Scotia, and took a fort from the
Ohio Company by force of arms, which induced Eng
land to make reprisals at sea, and to send Braddock
to recover the fort on ihe Ohio, whence came on th§
war.

232 FRANKLIN.
" By the spirit of Magna Charla all taxes laid on by
Parliament are constitutional, legal taxes."
There is no doubt but taxes laid by Parliament,
where the Parliament has jurisdiction, are legal taxes ;
but does it follow, that taxes laid by the Parliament of
England on Scotland before the union, on Guernsey,
Jersey, Ireland, Hanover, or any other dominions of
the Crown not within the realm, are therefore legal ?
These writers against the colonies all bewilder them
selves, by supposing the colonies within the realm,
which is not the case, nor ever was. This then is
the spirit of the constitution, that taxes shall not be
laid without the consent of those to be taxed. The
colonies were not then in being, and therefore noth
ing relating to them could be literally expressed. As
the Americans are now without the realm, and not of
the jurisdiction of Parliament, the spirit of the British
constitution dictates, that they should be taxed only
by their own representatives, as the English are by
theirs. " Now the first emigrants, who settled in America,
were certainly English subjects, subject to the laws and
jurisdiction of Parliament, and consequently to parlia
mentary taxes, before the emigration, and therefore sub
ject afterwards, unless some legal constitutional exemp
tion can be produced."
This position supposes, that Englishmen can never
be out of the jurisdiction of Parliament. It may as
well be said, that wherever an Englishman resides,
that country is England. While an Englishman
resides in England he is undoubtedly subject to its

MISCELLANEOUS. 233
laws. If he goes into a foreign country, he is sub
ject to the laws and government he finds there. If
he finds no government or laws there, he is subject
there to none, till he and his companions, if he has
any, make laws for themselves ; and this was the
case of the first settlers in America. Otherwise,
and if they carried the English laws and power of
Parliament with them, what advantage could the Puri
tans propose to themselves by going, since they would
have been as subject to bishops, spiritual courts,
tythes, and statutes relating to the church, in America
as in England ? Can the Dean, on his principles, tell
how it happens, that those laws, the game acts, the
statutes for laborers, and an infinity of others, made
before and since the emigration, are not in force in
America, nor ever were ?
" Now, upon the first settling of an English colony,
and before ever you Americans could have chosen any
representatives, and therefore before any assembly of
such representatives could have possibly met, — to whose
laws and to what legislative power were you then sub
ject ? To the English, most undoubtedly ; for you could
have been subject to no other."
The author here appears quite ignorant of the fact.
The colonies' carried no law with them ; they carried
only a power of making laws, or adopting such parts
of the .English. law, or of any- other law, as they
should think suitable to their circumstances. The
first settlers of Connecticut, for instance, at their first
meeting in that country, finding themselves out of all
' 20*

234 FRANKLIN.
jurisdiction of other governments, resolved and enact
ed, that, till a code of laws should be prepared and
agreed to, they woyld be governed by the law of
Moses, as contained in the Old- Testament.
If the first settlers had no right to expect a better
constitution, than the English, what fools were they
for going over, to encounter all the hardships and
perils of new settlements in a wilderness ! For these
were so many additions to what they suffered at
home, from tyrannical and oppressive institutions in
church and state ; with a subtraction of all their old
enjoyments of the conveniences and comforts of an
old settled country, friends, neighbours, relations, and
homes. " Suppose, therefore, that the Crown had been so ill
advised as to have granted a charter to any city or coun
ty here in England, pretending to exempt them from
the power and jurisdiction of an English Parliament.
Is it possible for you to believe an absurdity so gross and
glaring?" The American settlers needed no exemption from
the power of Parliament ; they were necessarily ex
empted, as soon as they landed out of its jurisdic
tion. Therefore, all this rhetorical paragraph is
founded on a mistake of the author, and the absurdity
he talks of is of his own making.
"Good heavens! What a sudden alteration is this!
An American pleading for the extension of the preroga
tive of the Crown ! Yes, if it could make for his cause ;
and for extending it, too, beyond all the bounds of law,
of reason, and of common sense ! "

MISCELLANEOUS. 235
What stuff! Why may not an American plead for
the just prerogatives of the Crown ? And is it not a
just prerogative of the Crown to give the subjects
leave to settle in a foreign country, if they think it
necessary to ask such leave ? Was the Parliament at
all considered, or consulted, in making those first set
tlements ? Or did any lawyer then think it neces
sary ?
" Now this clause, which is nothing more than the
renunciation of absolute prerogative, is quoted in our
newspapers, as if it was a renunciation of the rights of
Parliament to raise taxes."
It was not a renunciation of the rights of Parlia
ment. There was no need of such a renunciation,
for Parliament had not even pretended to such a
right. But, since the royal faith was pledged by the
King for himself and his successors, how can any
succeeding King, without violating that faith, ever
give his assent to an act of Parliament for such taxa
tion ?
" Nay, many of your colony charters assert quite the
contrary, by containing the express reservations of par
liamentary rights, particularly that great one of levying
taxes." A fib, Mr. Dean. In one charter only, and that a
late one, is the Parliament mentioned ; and the right
reserved is only that of laying duties on commodities
imported into England from the colony or exported
to it.
" And these charters, which do not make such provi
sions in express terms, must be supposed virtually to im-

236 FRANKLIN.
ply them ; because the law and constitution will not
allow, that the King can do more either at home or
abroad by the prerogative royal, than the law and consti
tution authorize him to do."
Suppositions and implications will not weigh in
these important cases. No law or constitution for
bade the King's doing what he did in granting those
charters. " Confuted, most undoubtedly, you are beyond the
possibility of a reply, as far as the law and constitution
of the realm are concerned in this question."
This is hallooing before you are out of the wood.
" Strange, that though the British Parliament has been,
from the beginning, thus unreasonable, thus unjust and
cruel towards you, by levying taxes on many commodities
outwards and inwards " —
False ! Never before the restoration. The Parlia
ment, it is acknowledged, have made many oppressive
laws relating to America, which have passed without
opposition, partly through the weakness of the colo
nies, partly through their inattention to the full extent
of their rights, while employed in labor to procure the
necessaries of life. But that is a wicked guardian,
and a shameless one, who first takes advantage of the
weakness incident to minority, cheats and imposes on
his pupil, and, when the pupil comes of age, urges
those very impositions as precedents to justify continu
ing them and adding others.
" But surely you will not dare to say, that we refuse
your votes when you come hither to offer them, and
choose to poll. You cannot have the face to assert, that
on an election-day any difference is put between the

MISCELLANEOUS. 237
vote of a man born in America, and of one born here in
England." This is all banter and insult, when you know the
impossibility of a million of freeholders coming over
sea to vote here. If their freeholds in America are
within the realm, why have they not, in virtue of these
freeholds, a right to vote in your elections, as well as
an English freeholder ? Sometimes we are told, that
-our estates are by our charters all in the manor of
East Greenwich, and therefore all in England ; and
yet have we any right to vote among the voters of
East Greenwich ? Can we trade to the same ports ?
In this very paragraph, you suppose that we cannot
vote in England, if we come hither,- till we have by
purchase acquired a right ; therefore neither we nor
our estates are represented in England.
"The cause of your complaint is this; that you live at
too great a distance from the mother country to be pres
ent at our English elections ; and that, in consequence
of this distance, the freedom of our towns, or the free
holds in our counties, as far as voting is concerned, are
not worth attending to. It may be so ; but pray con
sider, if you yourselves choose to make it inconvenient
for you to come and vote, by retiring into distant coun
tries, — what is that to us 1 "
This is all beside the mark. The Americans are
by their constitutions provided with a representation,
and therefore neither need nor desire any in the Brit
ish Parliament. They have never asked any such
thing. They only say, Since we have a right to grant
our own money to the King, since we have Assem
blies where we are represented for such purposes,

238 FRANKLIN.
why will you meddle, out of your sphere, take the
money that is ours, and give us yours, without our con
sent ?
" Yes, it is, and you demand it too with a loud voice,
full of anger, of defiance, and denunciation."
• An absolute falsehood ! We never demanded in
any manner, much less in the manner you mention,
that the mother country should change her constitu
tion. " In the great metropolis, and in many other cities,
landed property itself hath no representative in Parlia
ment. Copy-holds and lease-holds of various kinds
have none likewise, though of ever so great a value."
Copy-holds and lease-holds are supposed to be
represented in the original landlord of whom they are
held. Thus all the land in England is in fact repre
sented, notwithstanding what he here says. As to
those, who have no landed property in a county, the
allowing them to vote for legislators is an impropriety.
They are transient inhabitants, and not so connected
with the welfare of the state, which they may quit
when they please, as to qualify them properly for such
privilege. " And, besides all this, it is well known that the East
India Company, which have such vast settlements, and
which dispose of the fate of kings and kingdoms abroad,
have not so much as a single member, or even a single
vote, quatenus a company, to watch over their interests at
home. And may not their property, perhaps a little short
of one hundred millions sterling, as much deserve to be
represented in Parliament, as the spattered townships
or straggling houses of some of your provinces in Amer

ica

1»

MISCELLANEOUS. 239
By this argument it may be proved, that no man in
England has a vote. The clergy have none as cler
gymen ; the lawyers, none as lawyers ; the physicians,
none as physicians ; and so on. But if they have
votes as freeholders, that is sufficient ; and that no
freeholder in America has for a representative in the
British Parliament. The stockholders are many of
them foreigners, and all may be so when they please,
as nothing is more easy than the transferring of stock
and conveying property beyond sea by bills of ex
change. Such uncertain subjects are, therefore, not
properly vested with rights relating to government.
 " Yet we raise no commotions ; we neither ring
the alarm-bell, nor sound the trumpet, and submit to be
taxed without being represented ; and taxed, let me tell
you, for your sakes. All was granted when you cried for
help." This is wickedly false. While the colonies were
weak and poor, not a penny or a single soldier was
ever spared by Britain for their defence. But as
soon as the trade with them became an object, and a
fear arose that the French would seize that trade and
deprive her of it, she sent troops to America unasked.
And she now brings this account of the expense against
us, which should be rather carried to her own mer
chants and manufacturers. We joined our troops
and treasure with hers to help her in this war. .Of
this no notice is taken. To refuse to pay a just debt
is knavish ; not to return an obligation is ingratitude ;
but to demand payment of a debt where none has

240 FRANKLIN.
been contracted, to forge a bond or an obligation in
order to demand what was never due, is villany.
Every year both King and Parliament, during the
war, acknowledged, that we had done more than our
part, and made us some return, which is equivalent
to a receipt in full, and entirely sets aside this mon
strous claim.
By all means redress your own grievances. If you
are not just to your own people, how can we trust
you ? We ask no representation among you ; but if
you have any thing wrong among yourselves, rectify
it, and do not make one injustice a precedent and
plea for doing another. That would be increasing
evil in the world instead of diminishing it.
You need not be concerned about the number to
be added from America. We do not desire to come
among you ; but you may make some room for your
own additional members, by removing those that are
sent by the rotten boroughs.
" I must now tell you, that every member of Parlia
ment represents you, and me, and our interests in all
essential points, just as much as if we had voted for him.
For although one place or one set of men may elect and
send him up to Parliament, yet, when once he becomes a
member, he is the equal guardian of all."
In the same manner, Mr. Dean, are the Pope and
Cardinals representatives of the whole Christian
church. Why don't you obey them ?
" This, then, being the case, it therefore follows, that
our Birminghams, Manchesters, Leeds, Halifaxes, &c.
and your Bostons, New-Yorks, and Philadelphias, are as

MISCELLANEOUS. 241
really, though not so nominally; represented, as any part
whatsoever of the British empire ; and that each of these
places have in fact, instead of one or two, not less than
five hundred and fifty-eight guardians in the British
Senate." What occasion is there then, my dear Sir, of being
at the trouble of elections ? The Peers alone would
do as well for our guardians, though chosen by the
King, or born such. If their present number is too
small, his Majesty may be good enough to add five
hundred and fifty-eight, or make the present House
of Commons and their heirs-male Peers for ever. If
having a vote in elections would be of no use to us,
how is it of any to you ? Elections are the cause of
much tumult, riot, contention, and mischief. Get rid
of them at once, and for ever.
 " It proves that no man ought to pay any tax but
that only to which the member of his own town, city, or
county hath particularly assented."
You seem to take your nephew for a simpleton,
Mr. Dean. Every one, who votes for a representa
tive, knows and intends, that the majority is to gov
ern, and that the consent of the majority is to be
understood as the consent of the whole ; that being
ever the case in all deliberative assemblies.
" The doctrine of implication is the very thing to
which you object, and against which you have raised so
many batteries of popular noise and clamor."
How far, my dear Sir, would you yourself carry
the doctrine of implication ? If important positions
are to be implied, when not expressed, I suppose you
21

242 FRANKLIN.
can have no objection to their being implied where
some expression countenances the implication. If
you should say to a friend, " I am your humble ser
vant, Sir," ought he to imply from thence, that you
will clean his shoes ?
"And consequently you must maintain, that all those
in your several provinces who have no votes," &c.
No freeholder in North America is without a vote.
Many, who have no freeholds, have nevertheless a
vote ; which, indeed, I don't think was necessary to be
allowed. " You have your choice, whether you will accept of
my price for your tobacco ; or, after bringing it here,
whether you will carry it away, and try your fortune at
another market."
A great kindness this, to oblige me first to bring it
here, that the expense of another voyage and freight
may deter me from carrying it away, and oblige me
to take the price you are pleased to offer.
" But I have no alternative allowed, being obliged to
buy yours at your own price, or else to pay such a duty
for the tobacco of other countries, as must amount to a
prohibition. Nay, in order to favor your plantations, I
am not permitted to plant this herb on my own estate,
though the soil should be ever so proper for it."
You lay a duty on the tobacco of other countries,
because you must pay money for that, but get ours
in exchange for your manufactures.
Tobacco is not permitted to be planted in England,
lest it should interfere with corn necessary for your
subsistence. Rice you cannot raise. It requires

MISCELLANEOUS. 243
- eleven months. Your summer is too short. Nature,
not the laws, denies you this product.
" And what will you say in relation to hemp ? The
Parliament now gives you a bounty of eight pounds per
ton for exporting your hemp from North America, but
will allow me nothing for growing it here in England."
Did ever any North-American bring his hemp to
England for this bounty ? We have yet not enough
for our own consumption. We begin to make our
own cordage. You want to suppress that manufac
ture, and would do it by getting the raw material from
us. You want to be supplied with hemp for your
manufactures, and Russia demands money. These
were the motives for giving what you are pleased to
call a bounty to us. We thank you for your boun
ties. We love you, and therefore must be obliged- to
you for being good to yourselves. You do not
encourage raising hemp in England, because you know
it impoverishes the richest grounds; your landholders
are all against it. What you call bounties given by
Parliament and the Society, are nothing more than
inducements offered us, to persuade us to leave em
ployments, that are. more profitable, and engage in
such as would be less so without your bounty ; to
quit a business profitable to ourselves, and engage in
one that shall be profitable to you. This is the true
spirit of all your bounties.
Your duties on foreign articles are from the same
motives. Pitch, tar, and turpentine used to cost you
five pounds a barrel, when you had them from for-

244 FRANKLIN.
eigners, who used you ill into the bargain, thinking
you could not do without them. You gave a bounty
of five shillings a barrel to the colonies, and they have
brought you such plenty as to reduce the price to
ten shillings a barrel. Take bajk your bounties, when
you please, since you upbraid us with them. Buy
your indigo, pitch, silk, and tobacco where you please,
and let us buy our manufactures where we please.
I fancy we shall be gainers. As to the great kind
ness of these five hundred and fifty-eight parliamen
tary guardians of American privileges, who can for
bear smiling, that has seen the Navigation Act, the
Hatters' Act, the Steel-Hammer and Slit-Iron Act,
and numberless others restraining our trade, obstruct
ing our manufactures, and forbidding us the use of the
gifts of God and nature. Hopeful guardians, truly !
Can it be imagined, that, if we had a reasonable share
in electing them, from time to time, they would thus
have used us !
 " And must have seen abundant reason before this

time to have altered your former hasty and rash opinion."
We see in you abundance of self-conceit, but no
convincing argument.
" Have you no concerts or assemblies, no play-houses
or gaming-houses, now subsisting] Have you put down
your horse-races and other such like sports and diver
sions ? And is the luxury of your tables, and the variety
and profusion of your wines and liquors, quite banished
from among you ? "
This should be a caution to Americans, how they
indulge for the future in British luxuries. See here

MISCELLANEOUS. 245
British generosity ! The people, who have made you
poor by their worthless, I mean useless, commodities,
would now make you poorer by taxing you ; and
from the very inability you have brought on your
selves, by a partiality for their fashions and modes of
living, of which they have had the whole profit, would
now urge your ability to pay the taxes they are
pleased to impose. Reject, then, their commerce as
well as their pretended power of taxing. Be frugal
and industrious, and you will be free. The luxury of
your tables, which could be known to the English
only by your hospitably entertaining them, is by these
grateful guests now made a charge againsLyou, and
given as a reason for taxing you.
" Be it also allowed, as it is commonly asserted, that
the public debt of the several provinces amounts to eight
hundred thousand pounds sterling."
I have heard, Mr. Dean, that you have studied
political arithmetic more than divinity, but, by this
sample of it, I fear to very little purpose. If personal
service were the matter in question, out of so many
millions of souls, so many men might be expected,
whether here or in America. But when raising
money is the question, it is not the number of souls,
but the wealth in possession, that shows the ability.
If we were twice as numerous as the people of Eng
land, it would not follow that we are half as able.
There are numbers of single estates in England, each
worth a hundred of the best of ours in North Amer-
21*

246 FRANKLIN.
ica. The city of London alone is worth all the
provinces of North America.
" When each of us pays, one with another, twenty
shillings per head, we expect that each of you should pay
the sum of one shilling ! Blush, blush, for shame at your
perverse and scandalous behaviour ! "
Blush for shame at your own ignorance, Mr. Dean,
who do not know, that the colonies have taxes, and
heavy ones of their own to pay, to support their
own civil and military establishments ; and that the
shillings should not be reckoned upon heads, but
upon pounds. There never was a sillier argument.
" Witness our county taxes, militia taxes, poor taxes,
vagrant taxes, bridge taxes, high-road and turnpike taxes,
watch taxes, lamp and scavenger taxes, &c. &.c. &c."
And have we not all these taxes too, as well as
you, and our provincial or public taxes besides ?
And over and above, have we not new roads to
make, new bridges to build, churches and colleges to
found, and a number of other things to do, that your
fathers have done for you, and which you inherit
from them, but which we are obliged to pay for out
of our present labor ?
" We require of you to contribute only one shilling to
every twenty from each of us. Yes, and this shilling too
to be spent in your own country, for the support of your
own civil and military establishments."
How fond he is of this one shilling and twenty.
Who has desired this of you, and who can trust you
to lay it out ? If you are thus to provide for our
civil and military establishments, what use will there
afterwards be for our Assemblies ?

MISCELLANEOUS. 247
" And yet, small and inconsiderable as this share is,
you will not pay it. No, you wiilnot! and it is at our
peril if we demand it."
No ! we will pay nothing on compulsion.
"For how, and in what manner, do you prove your
allegations'! Why truly by breaking forth into riots and
insurrections, and by committing every kind of violence
that can cause trade to stagnate, and industry to cease."
The Americans never brought riots as arguments.
It is unjust to charge two or three riots in particular
places upon all America. Look for arguments in the
petitions and remonstrances of the Assemblies, who
detest riots, of which there are ten in England for one
in America. "Perhaps you meant to insinuate (though it was
prudence in you not to speak out), that the late Act was
ill-contrived and ill-timed, hecause it was made at a junc
ture when neither the French were in your rear to
frighten, nor the English fleets and armies on your front
to force you to a compliance."
It seems a prevailing opinion in England, that fear
of their French neighbours would have kept the colo
nies in obedience to the Parliament, and that if the
French power had not been subdued, no opposition
would have been made to the Stamp Act. A very
groundless notion. On the contrary, had the French
power continued, to which the Americans might have
had recourse in the case of oppression from Parlia
ment, Parliament would not have dared to oppose
them. It was the employment of fifty thousand men
by land and a fleet on the coast, for five years, to sub
due the French only. Half the land army were provin-

248 FRANKLIN.
cials. Suppose the British twenty-five thousand had
acted by themselves, with all the colonies against
them ; what time would it have taken to subdue the
whole ?
"Or shall we give you entirely up, unless you will
submit to be governed by the same laws as we ate, and
pay something towards maintaining yourselves ? "
The impudence of this language to colonies, who
have ever maintained themselves, is astonishing ! Ex
cept the late attempted colonies of Nova Scotia and
Georgia, no colony ever received maintenance in
any shape from Britain ; and the grants to those col
onies were mere jobs for the benefit of ministerial
favorites, English or Scotchmen.
"Whether we are to give you entirely up, and, after
having obfged you to pay your debts, whether we are to
have no further connexion with you as a dependent state
or colony " —
Throughout all America English debts are more
easily recovered than in England, the process being
shorter and less expensive, and land subject to exe
cution for the payment of debts. Evidence, taken
ex parte in England, to prove a debt, is allowed in
their courts, and during the whole dispute there was
not one single instance of any English merchant's
meeting with the least obstruction in any process or
suit commenced there for that purpose.
"Externally, by being severed from the British em
pire, you will be excluded from cutting logwood in the
bays of Campeachy and Honduras, from fishing on the
banks of Newfoundland, on the coast of Labrador, or in
the bay of St. Lawrence, &c."

MISCELLANEOUS. 249
We have no use for logwood, but to remit it for
your fineries. We joined in conquering the Bay of
St. Lawrence and its dependencies. As to the Sugar
Islands, if you won't allow us to trade with them, .per
haps you will allow them to trade with us ; or do you
intend to starve them ? Pray keep your bounties,
and let us hear no more of them ; — and your troops,
who never protected us -against the savages, nor are
fit for such a service ; — and the three hundred
thousand pounds, which you seem to think so much
clear profit to us, when, in fact, they never spend a
penny among us, but they have for it from us a pen
ny's worth. The manufactures they buy are brought
from you ; the provisions we could, as we always did,
sell elsewhere for as much money. Holland, France,
and Spain would all be glad of our custom, and
pleased to see the separation. ¦»
" And after all, and in spite of any thing you can do,
we in Britain shall still retain the greatest part of your
European trade, because we shall give a better price for
many of your commodities, than you can have any where
else, and we shall sell to you several of our manufactures,
especially in the woollen-stuff and metal way, on cheaper
terms." Oho ! Then you will still trade with us ! But can
that be without our trading with you ? And how
can you buy our oil, if we catch no whales ?
" The leaders of your parties will then be setting all
their engines to work, -to make fools become the dupes of
fools." Just as they do in England.

250 FRANKLIN.
" And instead of having troops to defend them, and
those troops paid by Great Britain, they must defend
themselves, and pay themselves."
To defend them ! — To oppress, insult, and murder
them, as at Boston !
" Not to mention that the expenses of your civil govern
ments will be necessarily increased ; and that a fleet
more or less must belong to each province for guarding
their coasts, ' ensuring the payment of duties, and the
like." These evils are all imaginations of the author. The
same were predicted to the Netherlands, but have
never yet happened. But suppose all of them to
gether, and many more, it would be better to bear
them than submit to parliamentary taxation. We
might still have something we could call our own.
But, under the power claimed by Parliament, we
have not a single sixpence.
The author of this pamphlet, Dean Tucker, has
always been haunted with the fear of the seat of
government being soon to be removed to America.
He has, in his Tracts on Commerce, some just no
tions in matters of trade and police, mixed with many
wild and chimerical fancies totally impracticable.
He once proposed, as a defence of the colonies, to
clear the woods for the width of a mile all along
behind them, that the Indians might not be. able to
cross the cleared part without being seen ; forgetting
that there is a night in every twenty-four hours.

OBSERVATIONS ON PASSAGES IN
"AN INQUIRY
INTO
THE NATURE AND CAUSES OF THE DISPUTES
BETWEEN
THE BRITISH COLONIES IN AMERICA
AND
THEIR MOTHER COUNTRY.
LONDON, 1769."

" Supreme power and authority must not, cannot,
reside equally every where throughout an empire."
Writers on this. subject often confuse themselves
with the idea, that all the king's dominions make one
state, which they do not, nor ever did since the con
quest. Our kings have ever had dominions not sub
ject to the English Parliament. At first the provin
ces of France, of which Jersey and Guernsey remain,
always governed by their own laws, appealing to the
King in Council only, and not to our courts or the
House of Lords. Scotland was in the same situation
before the union. It had the same King, but a separ
ate Parliament, and the Parliament of England had no
jurisdiction over it. Ireland the same in truth, though

252 FRANKLIN.
the British Parliament has usurped a dominion over it.
The colonies were originally settled in the idea of such
extrinsic dominions of the King, and of the King
only. Hanover is now such a dominion.
"If each Assembly, in this case, were absolute, they
would, it is evident, form not one only,' but so many
different governments perfectly independent of one
another." ' This is the only clear idea of their real present
condition. Their only bond of union is the King.
" Now that of Great Britain being exactly the kind of
government I have been speaking of, the absolute impos
sibility of vesting the American Assemblies uith an au
thority in all respects equal to that of the mother country,
without actually dismembering the British empire, must
naturally occur to every one."
It would not be dismembering it, if it never was
united, as, in truth, it never yet has been. Breaking
the present union between England and Scotland
would be aTsmembering the empire ; but no such
union has yet been formed between Britain and the
colonies. " Where divers remote and distant countries are united
under one government, an equal and fair representation
becomes almost impracticable, or, at least, extremely
inconvenient." Here appears the excellency of the' invention of
colony government, by separate, independent legisla
tures. By this means, the remotest parts of a great
empire may be as well governed as the centre ; mis
rule, oppressions of proconsuls, and discontents and
rebellions thence arising, prevented. By this means

MISCELLANEOUS. 253
the power of a king may be extended without incon
venience over territories of any dimensions, how great
soever. America was thus happily governed in all its
different and remote settlements, by the Crown and"
their own Assemblies, till the new politics took place
of governing it by one Parliament, which have not
succeeded and never will.
" Should we carry our supposition much farther, the
inconveniences attending such long journeys would be
very great, although not interrupted by water."
Water, so far from being an obstruction, is a means
of facilitating such assemblies from distant countries.
A voyage of three thousand miles by sea is more
easily performed, than a journey of one thousand by
land. It is, in my opinion, by no means impracticable to
bring representatives conveniently from America to
Britain ; but I think the present mode of letting them
govern themselves by their own Assemblies much
preferable. They will always be better governed ;
and the Parliament has business enough here with its
own internal concerns.
 " Whether they should not be allowed such a form
of government, as will best secure to them their just rights
and natural liberties."
They have it already. All the difficulties have
arisen from- the British Parliament attempting to de
prive them of it.
" Is it not, let me ask, most egregious folly, so loudly
to condemn the Stuart family, who would have governed
22

254 FRANKLIN.
England without a Parliament, when at the same time we
would, almost all of us, govern America upon principles
not at all more justifiable 1 "
Very just. Only that the arbitrary government of
a single person is more eligible, than the arbitrary
government of a body of men. A single man may be
afraid or ashamed of doing injustice ; a body is
never either one or the other, if it is strong enough.
It cannot apprehend assassination, and by dividing
the shame among them, it is so little apiece that no
one minds it.
" And consistently with our rights of sovereignty

over them."
I am surprised, that a writer, who, in other re
spects, appears often very reasonable, should talk of
our sovereignty over the colonies ! As if every indi
vidual in England was a part of a sovereign over
America ! The King is the sovereign of all.
The Americans think, that, while they can retain
the right of disposing of their own money, they shall
thereby secure all their other rights. They have,
therefore, not yet disputed your other pretensions.
" That England has an undeniable right to consider
America as a part of her dominions is a fact, I presume,
which can never be questioned."
You do, indeed, presume too much. America is
not part of the dominions of England, but of the
King's dominion. England is a dominion itself, and
has no dominions.
" I will only observe at present, that it was England,
in some sense, which at first gave them being."

MISCELLANEOUS. 255
In some sense ! In what sense ? They were not
planted at her expense. As to defence, all parts of
the king's dominion have mutually always contributed
to the defence one of the other. The. man in Amer
ica, who contributes sixpence towards an armament
against the common enemy, contributes as much to
the common protection as if he lived in England.
They have always been ready to contribute, but
by voluntary grants according to their rights ; nor
has any Englishman yet had the effrontery to deny
this truth.
" If they are at liberty to choose what sums to raise, as
well as the manner of raising them, it is scarcely to be
doubted, that their allowance will be found extremely
short. And it is evident they may, upon this footing,
absolutely refuse to pay any taxes at all. And if so, it
would be much better for England, if it were consistent
with her safety, to disclaim all further connexion with
them, than to continue her protection to them wholly at
her own expense."
Why is it to be doubted, that they will not grant
what they ought to grant ? No complaint was ever
yet made of their refusal or deficiency. He says, if
they are not without reserve obliged to comply with
the requisitions of the ministry, they may absolutely
refuse to pay any taxes at all. Let him apply this
to the British Parliament, and the reasoning will
equally prove, that the Commons ought likewise to
comply absolutely with the requisitions of ' the min
istry. Yet I have seen lately the ministry demand
four shillings in the pound, and the Parliament grant

256 FRANKLIN.
but three. But Parliaments and provincial Assem
blies may always be safely trusted with this power of
refusing or granting in part. Ministers will often
demand too much. But Assemblies, being acquainted
.properly with the occasion, will always .grant what is
necessary. As protection is, as I said before, mutual
and equal in proportion to every man's property, the
colonies have been drawn into all British wars, and
have annoyed the enemies of Britain as much in pro
portion as any other subjects of the king, equal in
numbers and property. Therefore, this account has
always balanced itself.
" It may further be observed, that their proceedings
are not quite so rapid and precipitate, as those of the
Privy Council ; so that, should it be found unnecessary,
they will have more time to petition or make remonstran
ces. For this privilege, the least which a subject can
enjoy, is not to be denied them."
Late experience has fully shown, that American
petitions and remonstrances are little regarded in
Britain. The privilege of petitioning has been
attempted to be wrested from them. The Assemblies
uniting to petition has been called a flagitious attempt,
in the Ministers' letters; and such Assemblies as
would persist in it have therefore been dissolved.
It is a joke to talk thus to us, when we know that
Parliament, so far from solemnly canvassing our peti
tions, has refused to receive or read them.
"Our right of legislation over the Americans-, unrep
resented as they are, is the point in question. This right
is asserted by most, doubted of by some, and wholly dis
claimed by a few."

MISCELLANEOUS. 257
I am one of those few ; but am persuaded the
time is not far distant, when the few will become the
many ; for, Magna est Veritas et prevalebit.
" But, to put the matter in a stronger light, the ques
tion, I think, should be whether we have a general right
of making slaves, or not."
A very proper state of the question.
" And the Americans may be treated with as much
equity, and even tenderness, by the Parliament of Great
Britain, as by their own Assemblies. This, at least, is
possible, though perhaps not very probable."
How can we Americans believe this, when we
see almost half the nation paying but one shilling and
sixpence in the pound, while others pay full four shil
lings ; and that there is not virtue and honesty
enough in Parliament to rectify this iniquity ? How
can we suppose they will be just to us at such a dis
tance, .when they are not just to one another ? It is
not, indeed, as the author says, very probable. The
unequal representation, too, that prevails in this king
dom, they are so far from having virtue enough to
attempt to remedy, that they make use of it as an
argument, why we should have no representation
at all.
" To the equity of this measure [an American repre
sentation in Parliament] the Americans themselves, I
presume, could have nothing fairly to object."
Provided they had an equitable number of repre
sentatives allowed them.
" As to those, indeed, which attend only the choosing
a new Parliament, they may, perhaps, by proper means,
be considerably lessened, though not wholly removed."
22*

258 FRANKLIN.
Let the old members continue till superseded by
new ones from America.
" But should theTCing at any time be disposed to dis
solve his Parliament, and convene a new one, as hath
been often done, only at a few weeks' notice, this, upon
the same footing, could not be effected."
By the above it might.
" The method, however, of examining and deciding
contested elections, when necessary, must undoubtedly
with respect to America be set, in a great measure, upon
a different footing from that at present practised in this
kingdom." Let the members be chosen by the American
Assemblies, and disputed elections settled there, if
any ; but there would be none.
" It is not in the least, at this time, probable, that an
American representation will ever be convened in Eng
land." I think so too ; where neither side approve a match,
it is not likely to be made.
" They will be almost wholly excluded the benefit of
private Acts, by reason of the immoderate expense."
They may make them at home. The expense of
private Acts in England is shamefully great.
 " The repairing of highways, making rivers naviga
ble, and cutting canals, with a variety of other things of the
like kind, wherein recourse must be had to Parliament,
and yet the expense be supplied chiefly, if not wholly, by
private persons."
All this may be done by their own laws at home.
" This mode of compromise may as well be waived,
as it cannot be effected, it is evident, without immense
trouble." Very little.

MISCELLANEOUS. 259
" And if they should be divided in their sentiments
upon it, and uncertain what measures to adopt and follow,
it cannot be matter of just wonder and censure."
Then leave it as it is. It was very well, till you
attempted alterations and novelties.
" In respect to the article of levying taxes, it should
be deemed only a matter of grace, to be resumed at
pleasure." Your humble servant ! We thank you for noth
ing. Keep up your claim, and make the most of it.
" To be placed upon a level with the rest of the sub
jects of the British Crown, is the utmost the colonies can
challenge." No. They may challenge all that was promised
them by charters to encourage them to settle there.
They have performed their part of the contract, and
therefore have a right to expect a performance of the
other part. They have, by the risks and expenses
they have incurred, additional merit, and are therefore
to be considered as above the level of other subjects.
" We cannot otherwise maintain our sovereignty over
it, unless our safety were actually at stake and absolutely
required it."
I am quite sick of our sovereignty. Your safety is
only endangered by quarrelling with the colonies ; not
by leaving them lo the free enjoyment of their own
liberties. " They, who first migrated from England to settle in
America, well knew, I presume, they were still to con
tinue the subjects of the same government."
They well knew the contrary. They would never
have gone, if that had been the case. They fled

260 FRANKLIN.
from your government, which oppressed them. If
they carried your government with them, and of
course your laws, they had better have stayed and
endured the oppression at home, and not have added
to it all the hardships of making a new settlement.
They carried not your laws ; but, had they carried
your government and laws, they would now have been
subject to spiritual courts, tythes, church acts of par
liament, game acts, Sic. &c, which they are not, and
never were since their being out of the realm.
" They knew they were not to be independent."
They were to depend on the King only.
" For no one, I imagine, would doubt, if their charters
granted them an inconsistent power, but that they might
be justly cancelled ; as no government can be supposed to
alienate prerogatives necessary to its safe existence."
Every government is supposed to be compos mentis
when it grants charters, and shall not be allowed to
plead insanity. If you break the charters, or violate
them, you dissolve all ties between us. ,
" However, a right of sovereignty in this case we may
undeniably claim and vindicate; though we might safely
grant them independency."
You may claim it ; but you have not, never had,
nor, I trust, ever will have it. You, that is, the peo
ple of England, cannot grant the Americans inde
pendency of the King. It can never be, but with his
consent and theirs.
" Preserving our sovereignty over them, although

at the expense of some portion of their natural prerogatives.
They partly consist of our own plantations, and partly
of the conquests we have made from a nation in whose

MISCELLANEOUS. 261
hands it would have been dangerous for us to have con
tinued." Our sovereignty ! Our sovereignty for ever. Of
their, not our plantations. The conquests may be
yours partly ; but they are partly conquests belonging
to the colonies, who joined their forces with yours in
equal proportion.
" Our very being, therefore, at least as a free people-,
depends upon our retention of them."
Take care, then, how you use them.
" They are now treated as children. Their complaints
are heard, and grievances redressed. But then they
would be treated rather as slaves, having the swords of
their masters perpetually held at their throats, if they
should presume to offer half the indignities to the officers
of the French crown, which they have often with impu
nity done to those of the British."
The direct contrary is true ; they are not redress
ed ; they are refused to be heard. Fresh oppressions
and insults are continually added. English swords
are now held at our throats. Every step is taking to
convince us, that there is no difference in government.
" Nay, they have Assemblies of their own to redress
their grievances."
It is well they have.
" And if that should be done, what marks of sove
reignty will they allow us to enjoy 1 What sort of claim
will they indulge us with ? Only, I suppose, a mere titu
lar one. And if so, would they then expect, that we
should still protect them with our forces by sea and land ?
Or will they themselves maintain an army and navy suffi
cient for that purpose 1 This they certainly at present are
not able to do, if they were not sheltered by the wings
of Great Britain."

262 FRANKLIN.
What would you have? Would you, the people
of England, be subjects and kings at the same time ?
Don't be under any apprehensions for them. They
will find allies and friends somewhere ; and it will
be worth no one's while to make them enemies, or
to attack so poor a people, so numerous, and so well
armed. " Nor is there any reason to apprehend, that they
should be at all formidable to England; as the number
[of American representatives in Parliament] might be
properly limited, as those of Scotland were at the union."
A proper limitation can only be this, that they
shall from time to time have such a number of addi
tional members, as are proportioned to their increas-
ingshare of the taxes and numbers of people.
" An exact estimate can scarcely be made of what ex
pense their protection stands in to Great Britain."
The protection is mutual. They are always in
time of war at as much expense as would be neces
sary to protect themselves ; first, by the troops and
armed ships they raise and equip ; secondly, by the
higher price they pay for all commodities, when
drawn into war by English European quarrels ; third
ly, by obstructions to the vent of their produce by
general embargo.
" They are justly chargeable with a certain portion of
the civil list ; for this most indubitably constitutes a part
of government. How this article at present is man
aged in England, is not now my business to enquire."
I will tell you how it is managed. The colonies
maintain their governors, who are the King's repre-

MISCELLANEOUS. 263
sentatives ; and the King receives a quitrent from the
lands in most of the colonies.
" In many parts they are little, perhaps, or nothing at
all inferior in respect of their conveniences to the mother
country." As these differences cannot be known in Parlia
ment here, how can you proportion and vary your
taxes of America so as to make them equal and fair ?
It would be undertaking what you are not qualified
for, as well as doing what you have no right to do.
" Yet it must be granted, that they know best the state
of their own funds, and what taxes they can afford to pay."
- And yet you would be meddling.
"It is very certain, that England is entitled to a great
deal of gratitude from her colonies."
The English are eternally harping on this string,
the great obligation the colonies are under for pro
tection from the French. I have shown, already,
that the defence was mutual. Every man in Eng
land, and every man's estate, have been defended from
the French ; but is it sense to tell any particular
man, " The nation has incurred a debt of one hundred
and forty-eight millions to protect you and your
estate ; and therefore you owe a great deal of grati
tude to the nation?" He will say, and justly, "I
paid my proportion, and I am under no obligation."
The colonies, as I have shown in preceding notes,
have always paid more in various ways, and besides
extending your trade sometimes (from which you ex
clude the colonies), and for whims about the balance

264 FRANKLIN.
of power, and for the sake of continental connexions
in which they were separately unconcerned. On
the other hand, they have, from their first settlement,
had wars in America, in which they never engaged
you. The French have never been their enemies, -
but on your account.
" That the late war was chiefly kindled and carried on,
on your account, can scarcely be denied."
It is denied.
 " By the steps they seem to take to shake off our
sovereignty." Our sovereignty again ! This writer, like the Geno
ese-queens of Corsica, deems himself a sprig of
royalty !
" For as soon as they are no longer dependent upon
England, they may be assured they will immediately be
come dependent upon France."
We are assured of the contrary. Weak states, that
are poor, are as safe as great ones that are rich.
They are not objects of envy. The trade, that may
be carried on with them, makes them objects of friend
ship. The smallest states may have great allies ;
and the mutual jealousies of great nations contribute
to their security.
 " And whatever reasons there might exist to dis
pose them in our favor in preference to the French ; yet,
how far these would operate, no one can pretend to say."
Then be careful not to use them ill. It is a bet
ter reason for using them kindly. That alone can
retain their friendship. Your sovereignty will be. of
no use, if the people hate you. Keeping them in

MISCELLANEOUS. 265
obedience will cost you more, than your profits from
them amount to.
" It is not, indeed, for their jealousy of their rights and
liberties, but for their riotous and seditious manner of
asserting them."
Do you Englishmen then pretend to censure the
colonies for riots ? Look at home ! I have seen,
within a year, riots in the country about corn ; riots
about elections; riots about^ work- houses; riots of
colliers ; riots of weavers ; riots of coal-heavers ; riots
of sawyers ; riots of sailors ; riots of Wilkesites ; riots
of government chairmen ; riots of smugglers, in which
custom-house officers and excisemen have been mur
dered, the King's armed vessels and troops fired at,
fcc. In America, if one mob rises, and breaks a few
windows, or tars and feathers a single rascally inform
er, it is called rebellion ; troops and fleets must be
sent, and military execution talked of, as the decentest
thing in the world. Here, indeed, one would think
riots part of the mode of government.
"And if she had not thought proper to centre almost
all her care, as she has done, upon making the late peace,
in procuring them a safe establishment, and to sacrifice
to it, in a manner, every other object, she might, at least,
expect from them a more decent and dutiful demeanor."
In the last war America kept up twenty-five thou
sand men at her own cost for five years, and spent
many millions. Her troops were in all battles, all
service. Thousands of her youth fell a sacrifice. The
Crown gained an immense extent of territory, and a
great number of new subjects. Britain gained a new
23

266 FRANKLIN.
market for her manufactures, and recovered and secured
the old one among the Indians, which the French had
interrupted and annihilated. But what did the Ameri
cans gain, except that safe establishment, which they are
now so taunted with ? Lands were divided among
none of them. The very fishery, which they fought
lo obtain, they are now restrained in. The plunder of
the Havana was not for them. And this very safe
establishment they might as well have had by treaty
with the French, their neighbours, who would proba
bly have been easily made and continued their friends,
if it had not been for their connexidn with Britain.
" And it seldom happens, that any one fares the better
for his insolence."
Then don't be insolent with your power.
" For should matters on all sides, as I hope they never
will, be carried to extremities, I cannot take upon me to
say but England may yet produce both a Ministry and Par
liament, that would rather share them once more with the
French, than totally relinquish her present pretensions."
We have been often threatened with this wise meas
ure of returning Canada to France. Do it when you
please. Had the French power, which you were' five
years subduing with twenty-five thousand regulars,
and twenty-five thousand of us to help you, continued
at our backs ready to support and assist us, whenever
we might think proper to resist your oppressions, you
would never have thought of a Stamp Act for us ;
you would not have dared to use us as you have done.
If it be so politic a measure to have enemies at hand,
(as the notion is) to keep your subjects in obedience,

MISCELLANEOUS. 267
then give part of Ireland to the French to plant.
Plant another French colony in the Highlands, to keep
rebellious Scotland in order. Plant another on Tower
Hill, to restrain your own mobs. There never was a
notion more ridiculous. Don't you see the advantage
you may have, if you preserve our connexion ? The
fifty thousand men and the fleet employed in Amer
ica, during the last war, are now so much strength at
liberty to be employed elsewhere.
" The legislative power of every kingdom or empire
should centre in one supreme assembly."
Distinguish here what may be convenient from what
is fact. Before the union it was thought convenient,
and long wished for, that the two kingdoms should
join in one parliament. But, till that union was form
ed, the fact was that their parliaments were distinct,
and the British Parliament would not make laws for
Scotland. The same fact now subsists in America.
The parliaments and states are distinct ; but the
British Parliament has taken advantage of our minor
ity, and usurped powers not belonging to it.
" It would be amiss, perhaps, to ask them what bounds
they would be content to fix to their claims and demands
upon us, as hitherto they seem to be at a loss where to
stop." They only desire, that you would leave them where
you found them ; repeal all your taxing laws, and
return to requisitions where you would have aids from
them. " 1 must freely own, that whatever opinion I may have
of their right, I certainly have not quite as favorable one

268 FRANKLIN.
of their conduct, which often is neither consistent nor
prudent." They think the same of yours.
" If they are really willing we should exercise any acts
of sovereignty among them at all, the imposition they
have so riotously resisted might not improperly, perhaps,
have been allowed better quarter."
Leave the King, who alone is the sovereign, to ex
ercise his acts of sovereignty in appointing their gov
ernors, and in approving or disapproving their laws.
But do you leave it to their choice to trade elsewhere
for commodities ; to go to another shop ? No ! you
say they shall buy of you, or nobody.
" Nor should mere custom, nor any charter or law in
being, be allowed any great weight in the decision of this
point." The charters are sacred. Violate them, and then
the present bond of union (the kingly power over us)
will be broken.
" The Americans may insist upon the same rights,
privileges, and exemptions, as are allowed the Irish, be
cause of the similarity, if not identity, of their connexions
with us."
Surely the Americans deserve a little more. They
never put you to the trouble and expense of conquer
ing them, as Ireland has done three times over.
They never were in rebellion. — I speak now of the
native Irish. The English families settled there lost
no rights by their merit in conquering that country.
" But if any distinction were to be made, most certainly,
of the two nations, the Americans are least entitled to any
lenity on that score."
I wonder much at this " most certainly."

MISCELLANEOUS. 269
" The terms she may not think safe and. proper to
grant the Irish, she may judge full as dangerous and im
prudent to grant the Americans."
It is very imprudent to deprive America of any of
her privileges. If her commerce and friendship are
of any importance to you, they are to be had on no
other terms, than leaving her in the full enjoyment of
her rights.
" Long before we could send among them any consid
erable number of forces, they might do a great deal of
mischief, if not actually overturn all order and govern
ment." They will take care to preserve order and govern
ment for their own sakes.
" Several other reasons might be offered, why the same
measures, in regard to both nations, might not be alto
gether alike convenient and advisable."
Where you cannot so conveniently use force, there
you should endeavour to secure affection.

23*

OBSERVATIONS

PASSAGES IN A PAMPHLET,
ENTITLED
" THE TRUE CONSTITUTIONAL MEANS
FOR
PUTTING AN END TO THE DISPUTES
BETWEEN
GREAT BRITAIN AND THE AMERICAN COLONIES.
LONDON, 1769."

" Every British subject must acknowledge, that the
directive influence of the British state remains with the
British legislature, who are the only proper judges of
what concerns the general welfare of the whole empire."
The British state is only the Island of Great
Britain ; the British legislature are undoubtedly the
only proper judges of what concerns the welfare of
that state ; but the Irish legislature are the proper
judges of what concerns the Irish state, and the Amer
ican legislatures of what concerns the American states
respectively. By " the whole empire " does this writer
mean all the King's dominions ? If so, the British
Parliaments should also govern the Isles of Jersey and
Guernsey, and Hanover ; but this is not so.

MISCELLANEOUS. 271
" But the land tax, which I have proposed, ,is in its
very nature unoppressive, and is equally well suited to
the poorest as to the richest province of the British em
pire." This writer seems ignorant, that every colony has
its own civil and military establishment to provide for;
new roads and bridges to make ; churches and all
public edifices to erect ;, and would he separately tax
them, moreover, with a tax on lands equal to what is
paid in Britain ?
" The colonists must possess a luxuriant abundance to
be able to double their inhabitants in so short a space."
How does this appear ? Is not a mere competence
sufficient for this purpose ? If America will consent
to pay thus its proportion of British taxes, will Britain
pay out of the whole all the American taxes ? Or is
America to pay both ?
" The produce of the planters purchases for them what
others buy with gold and silver ; but even several of the
colonists of the rank of good livers have often been seen
to pay the price of a negro with gold. As instances of
Virginian luxury, I have been assured, that there are few
families there without some plate ; and that. at some en
tertainments the attendants have appeared almost as
numerous as the guests."
Was not the gold first purchased by the produce of
his land, obtained by hard labor ? Does gold drop
from the clouds in Virginia into the laps of the indo
lent ? Their very purchasing plate and other super
fluities from England is one means of disabling them
from paying taxes to England. Would you have
it both in meal and malt ?' It has been a great folly

272 FRANKLIN.
in the Americans to entertain English gentlemen with
a splendid hospitality ill suited to their circumstances ;
by which they excited no other grateful sentiments in
their guests, than that of a desire to tax the landlord.
" It cannot be deemed exorbitant, considering their
traffic with the French sugar-islands, as well as with our
own; and this will make the whole of their importations
four millions per annum."
This is arguing the riches of a people from their
extravagance ; the very thing that keeps them poor.
" The inhabitants of Great Britain pay above thirteen
millions sterling every year, including turnpikes and the
poor's rates, two articles which the colonists are exempt
from." A'turnpike tax is no burthen, as the turnpike gives
more benefit than it takes. And ought the rich in
Britain, who have made such numbers of poor by
engrossing all the small divisions of land, and who
keep the laborers and working people poor by limiting
their wages, — ought those gentry to complain of the
burthen of maintaining the poor that have worked for
them at unreasonably low rates all their lives? As
well might the planter complain of his being obliged
to maintain his poor negroes, when they grow old,
are sick, or lame, and unable to provide for them
selves. " For though all pay by the same law, yet none can be
required to pay beyond his ability ; and the fund from
whence the tax is raised, is, in the colonies that are least
inhabited, just as able to bear the burthen imposed, as in
the most populous county of Great Britain."

MISCELLANEOUS. 273
The colonies are almost always considered by
these ignorant, flimsy writers, as unwilling to contribute
to the general exigencies of the state; which is not
not true. They are always willing, but will have the
granting of their own money themselves; — in which
they are right for various reasons.
" They would be content to take land from us gratui
tously." What land have they ever taken from you ? The
lands did not belong to the Crown, but to the Indians,
of whom the colonists either purchased them at their
own expense, or conquered them without assistance
from Britain. The engagement to settle the Ameri
can lands, and the expense of settlement, are more
than equivalent for what was of no value to Britain
without a first settlement.
" The rental of the lands in Great Britain and Ireland
amounts to about twenty-two millions ; but the rental of
the same extent of lands in America is not probably one
million sterling."
What signifies extent of unsettled lands, that pro
duce nothing?
" I beg to know if the returns of any traffic on earth
ever produced so many per cent., as the returns of agri
culture in a fertile soil and favorable climate."
How little this politician knows of agriculture ! Is
there any county where ten bushels of grain are gen
erally got in for one sown ? And are all the charges
and advances for labor to be nothing ? No farmer of
America in fact makes five per cent, of his money.
His profit is only being paid for his own labor, and

274 FRANKLIN.
that ot his children. The opulence of one English
or Dutch merchant would make the opulence of a
hundred American farmers.
"It may, I think, be safely concluded, that the riches
of the colonists would not increase so fast, were the in
habitants to leave off enlarging their settlements and
plantations, and run eagerly upon manufactures."
There is no necessity of leaving their plantations;
they can manufacture in their families at spare times.
Depend upon it, the Americans are not so impolitic,
as to neglect settlements for unprofitable manufac
tures ; but some manufactures may be more advan
tageous to some persons, than the cultivation of
land, and these will prosecute such manufactures
notwithstanding your oratory.

WALPOLE'S GRANT.*

May 10th, 1766. I like the project of a colony in
the Ilinois country, and will forward it to my utmost
here. August 25th, 1766. I can now only add, that I
will endeavour to accomplish all that you and our
friends desire relating to the settlement westward.
September 12th, 1766. I have just received Sir
William's open letter to Secretary Conway, recom-
* Some time after Dr. Franklin went to England on his second
mission, as agent for Pennsylvania, a project was formed in Amer
ica, originating with Sir William Johnson, Governor Franklin,
and others, for settling a new colony in the Ohio country. They
wrote to Dr. Franklin, requesting him to use his influence to pro
cure a grant from the Crown for this purpose. A company was
formed, at the head of which was Mr. Thomas Walpole, a banker
in London, and hence the tract of land solicited by them went
under the name of Walpole' s Grant.
The above extracts are from letters written by Dr. Franklin to
his son on this subject. The copy, from which they are printed,
was found among Sir William Johnson's papers. It has been
surmised, from vague expressions in Franklin's published corre
spondence, that this was some private affair, in which he waa
seeking the interest of himself and his son. These extracts will

276 FRANKLIN.
mending, your plan for a colony in the Ilinois, which
I am glad of. I have closed and sent it to him. He
is not now in that department ; but it will of course
go to Lord Shelburne, whose good opinion of it I have
reason to hope for ; and I think Mr. Conway was
rather against distant posts and settlements in Amer
ica. We haye, however, suffered a loss in Lord
Dartmouth, who I know was inclined to a grant there
in favor of the soldiery, and Lord Hillsborough is said
to be terribly afraid of dispeopling Ireland. General
Lyman has been long here soliciting such a grant, and
will readily join the interest he has made with ours,
and I should wish for a body of Connecticut settlers,
rather than all from our frontiers. I purpose waiting
on Lord Shelburne on Tuesday, and hope to be able
show such a suspicion to be perfectly groundless. The truth is,
he had no more concern in it, than any other proprietor. The
grant was to be divided into seventy-two shares, owned by a large
number of persons. The petitions were made publicly to the
Board of Trade, and to the King in Council, by Mr. Walpole and
his associates. The project encountered much opposition, and
met with delay; but it was finally approved, and the grant ratified
about the year 1772. The revolutionary troubles, then coming on,
defeated the execution of the plan.
In the progress of soliciting the grant, Lord Hillsborough wrote
for the Board of Trade a Report against it. Dr. Franklin's answer
to this Report is one of the ablest efforts ofhis pen.
In the year 1754, Dr. Franklin had drawn up a plan for settling
two colonies on the Ohio ; and two years afterwards a petition
was presented by Governor Pownall to the Duke of Cumberland
for such a purpose. See Franklin's Works, Vol. IV, p. 31.

MISCELLANEOUS. 277
to send you his sentiments by Falconer, who is to sail
about the twentieth.
A good deal, I imagine, will depend on the account,
when it arrives, of Mr. Croghan's negotiation in that
country. This is an affair I shall seriously set about,
but there are such continual changes here, that it is
very discouraging to all applications to be made to
the ministry. I thought the last set well established,
but they are broken and gone. The present set are
hardly thought to stand very firm, and God only knows
whom we are to have next.
The plan is I think well drawn, and I imagine Sir
William's approbation will go a great way in recom
mending it, as he is much relied on in all affairs, that
may have any relation to the Indians. Lord Adam
Gordon is not in town, but I shall take the first oppor
tunity of conferring with him. I thank the Company
for their willingness to take me in, and one or two oth
ers that I may nominate. I have not yet concluded
whom to propose it to ; but I suppose our friend Sar
gent should be one. I wish you had allowed me to
name more, as there will be in the proposed country,
by my reckoning, near sixty-three millions of acres,
and therefore enough to content a great number of
reasonable people, and by numbers we might increase
the weight of interest here. But perhaps we shall do
without. September 21th, 1766. I have mentioned the Ilinois
affair to Lord Shelburne. His Lordship had read
24

278 FRANKLIN.
your plan for establishing a colony there, recommended
by Sir William Johnson, and said it appeared to him
a reasonable scheme, but he found it did not quadrate
with the sentiments of people here ; * that their ob
jections to it were, the distance, which would make it
of little use to this country, as the expense on the
carriage of goods would oblige the people to manu
facture for themselves ; that it would for the same
reason be difficult both to defend it and to govern it ;
that it might lay the foundation of a power in the
heart of America, which in time might be trouble
some to the other colonies, and prejudicial to our
government over them ; and that people were wanted
both here and in the already settled colonies, so that
none could be spared for a new colony. These argu
ments, he said, did not appear to him of much weight,
and I endeavoured by others to invalidate them en
tirely. But his Lordship did not declare whether he
would or would not promote the undertaking ; and we
are to talk further upon it.
I communicated to him two letters of Mr. Cro
ghan's, with his journal, and one or two of yours on
that subject, which he said he would read and con
sider ; and I left with him one of Evans's maps of
the middle colonies, in the small-scale part of which
I had marked with a wash of red ink the whole coun-
* I fancy, but am not certain, that his Lordship meant Lord
Hillsborough, who, I am told, is not favorable to new settlements.

MISCELLANEOUS. 279
try included in your boundaries. His Lordship re
marked, that this would coincide with General Ly
man's project, and that they might be united.
September 30th, 1766. I have just had a visit from
General Lyman, and a good deal of conversation on
the Ilinois scheme. He tells me, that Mr. Morgan,
who is under-secretary of the Southern department, is
much pleased with it ; and we are to go together to
talk to him concerning it.
October 11th, 1766. I was again with Lord Shel
burne a few days since, and said a good deal to him
on the affair of the Ilinois settlement. He was pleased
to say he really approved of it ; but intimated that
every new proposed expense for America would meet
with great difficulty here, the treasury being alarmed
and astonished at the growing charges there, and the"
heavy accounts and drafts continually brought in from
thence. That Major Farmer, for instance, had lately
drawn for no less than thirty thousand pounds extra
ordinary charges, on his going to take possession of
the Ilinois ; and that the superintendents, particularly
the southern one, began also to draw very largely.
He spoke, however, very handsomely of Sir William
on many accounts.
November 8th, 1766. Mr. Jackson is now come to
town. The ministry have asked his opinion and
advice on your plan of a colony in the Ilinois, and he
has just sent me to peruse his answer in writing, in
which he warmly recommends it, and enforces it by

280 FRANKLIN.
strong reasons ; which gives me great pleasure, as it
corroborates what I have been saying on the same
topic, and from him appears less to be suspected of
some American bias.
February lAth, 1767. Great changes being expect
ed keeps men's minds in suspense, " and obstructs
public affairs of every kind. It is therefore not to be
wondered at, that so little progress is made in our
American schemes of the Ilinois grant, and retribution
for Indian losses.
June 13th, 1767. The Ilinois affair goes forward
but slowly. Lord Shelburne told me again last week,
that he highly approved of it, but others were not of
his sentiments, particularly the Board of Trade. Ly
man is almost out of patience, and now talks of car
rying out his settlers without leave.
August 28th, 1767. Last week I dined at Lord
Shelburne's, and had a long conversation with him and
Mr. Conway (there being no other company) on
the subject of reducing American expenses. They
have it in contemplation to return the management of
Indian affairs into the hands of the several provinces,
on which the nations border, that the colonies may
bear the charge of treaties, and the like, which they
think will then be managed more frugally, the treasury
being tired with the immense drafts of the superin
tendents. I took the opportunity of urging it as one mode of
saving expense in supporting the out-posts, that a set-

MISCELLANEOUS. 281
tlement should be made in the Ilinois country, expa
tiated on the various advantages, namely, furnishing pro
visions cheaper to the garrisons, securing the country,
retaining the trade, raising a strength there, which, on
occasions of a future war, might easily be poured dawn
the Mississippi upon the lower country, and into the
bay of Mexico, to be used against Cuba, the French
islands, or Mexico itself. I mentioned your plan, its
being approved by Sir William Johnson, and the readi
ness and ability of the gentlemen concerned to carry
the settlement into execution, with very little ex
pense to government. The secretaries appeared
finally to be fully convinced, and there remained no
obstacle but the Board of Trade, which was to be
brought over privately, before the matter should be re
ferred to them officially. In case of laying aside the
superintendents, a provision was thought of for Sir
William Johnson. He will be made governor of the
new colony.
October Qth, 1767. I returned last night from Paris,
and just now hear that the Ilinois settlement is approv
ed of in the Cabinet Council, so far as to be referred to
the Board of Trade for their opinion, who are to con
sider it next week.
November 13th, 1767. Since my return, the affair
of the Ilinois settlement has been renewed. The
King in Council referred the proposal to the Board of
Trade, who called for the opinion of the merchants on
two points, namely, whether the settlement of colonies in
24*

282 FRANKLIN.
the Ilinois country and at Detroit might not contribute
to promote and extend the commerce of Great Brit
ain ; and whether the regulation of Indian trade might
not best be left to the several colonies that carry on
such trade ; both which questions they considered at
a meeting where Mr. Jackson and I were present, and
answered in the affirmative unanimously, delivering
their report accordingly to the Board. We shall know
in a few days what report the Board will make to the
King in Council. Enclosed I send you the notice I
received from the Board to attend the first call with
the merchants. You must know, government here is
quite tired of having the management of Indian affairs,
the superintendents drawing for such immense sums
to be given in presents to the Indians ; who, neverthe
less, they say, are not kept in so good temper as when
every colony managed the neighbouring Indians, and
put the Crown to uo expense. It seems therefore the
present inclination to drop the superintendencies, and
provide for Sir William in some other way ; but
whether they will finally resolve on this, is rather un
certain ; for they seem afraid of changing any thing
in settled measures, lest something should go wrong,
and the opposition make an advantage of it against
them. The merchants, to a man, disliked the plan of
regulating the trade under the superintendents, and
speak strongly against it. The plan I think I have
seen in your hands, as proposed by the Board of
Trade.

MISCELLANEOUS. 283
November 25th, 1767. As soon as I received Mr.
Galloway's, Mr. Samuel Wharton's, and Mr. Cro-
ghan's letters on the subject of the boundary, I com
municated them to Lord Shelburne. He invited me
the next day to dine with him. Lord Clare was to
have been there, but did not come. There was
nobody but Mr. Macleane. My Lord knew nothing
of the boundary's having ever been agreed on by Sir
William ; had sent the letters to the Board of Trade,
directing search to be made there for Sir William's
letters ; and. ordered Mr. Macleane to search the
Secretary's office, who found nothing. We had much
discourse about it, and I pressed the importance of
despatching orders immediately to Sir William to
complete the affair. His Lordship asked who was to
make the purchase, that is, who should be at the ex
pense. I said, that if the line included any lands
within the grants of the charter colonies, they should
pay the purchase, money of such proportion. If any
within the proprietary grants, they should pay their
proportion. But what was within royal govern
ments, where the King granted the lands, the Crown
should pay for that proportion. His Lordship was
pleased to say he thought this reasonable. He finally
desired me to go to Lord Clare as from him, and
urge the business there, which I undertook to do.
Among other things at this conversation, we talked
of the new settlements. His Lordship told me he had
himself drawn up a paper of reasons for those settle-

284 FRANKLIN.
ments, which he laid before the King in Council;
acquainting them, that he , did not offer them merely
as his own sentiments ; they were what, he had collect
ed from General Amherst, Dr. Franklin, and Mr.
Jackson, three gentlemen that were allowed to be the
best authorities for any thing that related to America.
I think he added, that the Council seemed to approve
of the design ; I know it was referred to the Board of
Trade, who I believe have not yet reported on it, and
I doubt will report against it.
I waited next morning on Lord Clare, and pressed
the matter of the boundary closely upon him. He
said they could not find, that they had ever received
any letters from Sir William concerning it, but were
searching farther ; agreed to the necessity of set
tling it, but thought there would be some difficulty
about who should pay the purchase-money ; for that
this country was already so loaded, it would bear no
more. We then talked of the new colonies. I found
he was inclined to think one near the mouth of the
Ohio might be of use in securing the country, but did
not much approve that at Detroit. And as to the
trade, he imagined it would be of little consequence if
we had it all, but supposed our traders would sell the
peltry chiefly to the French and Spaniards at New
Orleans, as he heard they had hitherto done. Pray
tell me, if you know whether that has been the case,
with regard to the skins belonging to our friends
B. W. & M.

MISCELLANEOUS. 285
March 13th, 1768. The purpose of settling the new
colonies seems at present to be dropt, the change of
American administration not appearing favorable to it.
There seems rather to be an inclination to abandon
the posts in the back country, as more expensive than
useful.1 But counsels are so continually fluctuating
here, that nothing can be depended on. The new
Secretary, Lord H., is, I find, of opinion, that the
troops should be placed, the chief part of them, in
Canada and Florida, only three batalions to be
quartered in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsyl
vania ; and that Forts Pitt, Niagara, Oswego, &c.
should be left to the .colonies to garrison and keep up,
if they think it necessary for the protection of their
trade. Probably his opinion may be followed, if
new changes do not produce other ideas. The letters
from Sir William Johnson, relating to the boundary,
were at last found, and orders were sent over about
Christmas, for completing the purchase and settle
ment of the difference about it. My Lord H.
has promised me to send duplicates by this packet,
and urge the speedy execution, as I represented to
him the danger that these dissatisfactions of the In
dians might produce a war.

THE CRAVEN-STREET GAZETTE.

Saturday, September 22, 1770.
This morning Queen Margaret, accompanied by
her first maid of honor, Miss Franklin, set out for
Rochester. Immediately on their departure, the
whole street was in tears — from a heavy shower of
rain. It is whispered, that the new family admin
istration, which took place on her Majesty's departure,
promises, like all other new administrations, to govern
mueh better than the old one.
We hear, that the great person (so called from his
enormous size), of a certain family in a certain street,
is grievously affected at the late changes, and could
hardly be comforted this morning, though the new
ministry promised him a roasted shoulder of mutton
and potatoes for his dinner.
It is said, that the same great person intended to
pay his respects to another great personage this day,
at St. James's, it being coronation-day ; hoping thereby
a little to amuse his grief; but was prevented by an
accident, Queen Margaret, or her maid of honor, hav-

MISCELLANEOUS. 287
ing carried off the key of the drawers, so that the
lady of the bedchamber could -not come at a laced
shirt for his Highness. Great clamors were made on
this occasion against her Majesty.
Other accounts say, that the shirts were afterwards
found, though too late, in another place. And some
suspect, that the wanting a shirt from those drawers
wasonly a ministerial pretence to excuse picking the
locks, that the new administration might have every
thing at command.
We hear, that the lady chamberlain of the house
hold went to market this morning by her own sell,
gave the butcher whatever he asked for the mutton,
and had no dispute with the potato-woman, to their
great amazement at the change of times.
It is confidently asserted, that this afternoon, the
weather being wet, the great person a little chilly,
and nobody at home to find fault with the expense of
fuel, he was indulged with a fire in his chamber. It
seems the design is, to make him contented by de
grees with the absence of the Queen.
A project has been under consideration of govern
ment, to take the opportunity of her Majesty's absence
for doing a thing she was always averse to, namely, fixing
a new lock on the street door, or getting a key made
to the old one ; it being found extremely inconvenient,
that one or other of the great officers of state should,
whenever the maid goes out for a ha'penny worth of
sand, or a pint of porter, be obliged to attend the door

288 FRANKLIN.
to let her in again. But opinions being divided, which
of the two expedients to adopt, the project is for the
present laid aside.
We have good authority to assure our readers, that
a Cabinet Council was held this afternoon at tea ; the
subject of which was a proposal for the reformation of
manners, and a more strict observation of the Lord's
day. The result was a unanimous resolution, that no
meat should be dressed to-morrow ; whereby the cook
and the first minister will both be at liberty to go to
church, the one having nothing to do, and the other
no roast to rule. It seems the cold shoulder of mut
ton, and the apple-pie, were thought sufficient for
Sunday's dinner. All pious people applaud this meas
ure, and it is thought the new ministry will soon be
come popular.
We hear that Mr. Wilkes was at a certain house in
Craven Street this day, and inquired after the absent
Queen. His good lady and the children are well.
The report, that Mr. Wilkes, the patriot, made the
above visit, is without foundation, it being his brother,
the courtier. Sunday, September 23.
It is now found by sad experience, that good reso
lutions are easier made than executed. Notwithstand
ing yesterday's solemn order of Council, nobody went
to church to-day. It seems the great person's broad-

MISCELLANEOUS. , 289
built bulk lay so long abed, that the breakfast was not
over till it was too late to dress. At least this is the
excuse. In fine, it seems a vain thing to hope refor
mation from the example of our great folks.
The cook and the minister, however, both took
advantage of the order so far, as to save themselves
all trouble, and the clause of cold dinner was en
forced, though the going to church was dispensed
with ; just as common working folks observe the com
mandment. The seventh day thou shalt rest, they
think a sacred injunction ; but the other six days thou
shalt labor is deemed a mere piece of advice, which
they may practise when they want bread and are out
of credit at the ale-house, and may neglect whenever
they have money in their pockets.
It must, nevertheless, be said, in justice to our
court, that whatever inclination they had to gaming,
no cards were brought out to-day. Lord and Lady
Hewson walked after dinner to Kensington, to pay
their duty to the Dowager, and Dr. Fatsides made
four hundred and sixty-nine turns in his dining-room,
as the exact distance of a visit to the lovely Lady Bar-
well, whom he did not find at home ; so there was no
struggle for and against a kiss, and he sat down to
dream in the easy-chair, that he had it without any
trouble. Monday, September 24th.
We are credibly informed, that the great person
dined this day with the Club at the Cat and Bagpipes
25

290 FRANKLIN.
in the City, On cold round of boiled beef. This, it
seems, he was under some necessity of doing (though
he rather dislikes beef), because truly the ministers
were to be all abroad somewhere to dine on hot roast
venison. It is thought, that, if the Queen had been at
home, he would not have been so slighted. And
though he shows outwardly no marks of dissatisfac
tion, it is suspected, that he begins to wish for her
Majesty's return.
It is currently reported, that poor Nanny had noth
ing for dinner in the kitchen, for herself and puss, but
the scrapings of the bones of Saturday's mutton.
This evening there was high play at Craven-Street
House. The great person lost money. It is sup
posed the ministers, as is usually supposed of all min
isters, shared the emoluments among them.
Tuesday, September 25th.
This morning the good Lord Hutton called at
Craven-Street House, and inquired very respectfully
and affectionately concerning the welfare of the
Queen. He then imparted to the big man a piece of
intelligence important to them both, which he had just
received from Lady Hawkesworth, namely, that their
amiable and excellent companion, Miss Dorothea
Blount, had made a vow to marry absolutely him of
the two, whose wife should first depart this life. It is
impossible to express with words the various agita
tions of mind appearing in both their faces on this

MISCELLANEOUS. 291
occasion ; vanity at the preference given them over
the rest of mankind ; affection for their present wives ;
fear of losing them ; hope (if they must lose them) to
obtain the proposed comfort ; jealousy of each
other, in case both wives should die together, — all
working at the same time, jumbled their features into
inexplicable confusion. They parted, at length, with
professions and outward appearances of ever-during
friendship ; but it was shrewdly suspected, that each
of them wished health and long life to the other's
wife ; and that however long either of these friends
might like to live himself, the other would be very
well pleased to survive him.
It is remarked, that the skies have wept every day
in Craven Street the absence of the Queen.
The public may be assured, that this morning a
certain great person was asked very complaisantly by
the mistress of the household, if he would choose to
have the blade-bone of Saturday's mutton, that had
been kept for his dinner to-day, broiled or cold. He
answered gravely, If there is any flesh on it, it may
be broiled ; if not, it may as well be cold. Orders
were accordingly given for broiling it. But when it
came to table, there was indeed so very little flesh, or
rather none at all (puss having dined on it yesterday
after Nanny), that, if our new administration had been
as good economists as they would be thought, the
expense of broiling might well have been saved to the
public, and carried to the sinking fund. It is assured

292 FRANKLIN.
the great person bears all with infinite patience. But
the nation is astonished at the insolent presumption,
that dares treat so much mildness in so cruel a man
ner. A terrible accident had like to have happened this
afternoon at tea. The boiler was set too near the end
of the little square table. The first ministress was sit
ting at one end of the table to administer the tea ; the
great person was about to sit down at the other end,
where the boiler stood. By a sudden motion, the
lady gave the table a tilt. Had it gone over, the
great person must have been scalded ; perhaps to
death. Various are the surmises and observations on
this occasion. The godly say, it would have been a
just judgment on him for preventing, by his laziness,.
the family's going to church last Sunday. The
opposition do not stick to insinuate, that there was a
design to scald him, prevented only by his quick catch
ing the table. The friends of the ministry give out,
that he carelessly jogged the table himself, and would
have been inevitably scalded, had not the ministress
saved him. It is hard for the public to come at the
truth in these cases.
At six o'clock this afternoon, news came by the
post, that her Majesty arrived safely at Rochester on
Saturday night. The bells immediately rang — for
candles to illuminate the parlour ; the court went into
cribbage ; and .the evening concluded with every
demonstration of joy.

MISCELLANEOUS. 293
It is reported, that all the principal officers of state
have received an invitation from the Duchess Dow
ager of Rochester, to go down thither on Saturday
next. But it is not yet known whether the great
affairs they have on their hands will permit them to
make this excursion.
We hear, that, from the time of her Majesty's leav
ing Craven-Street House to this day, no care is taken
to file the newspapers ; but they lie about in every
room, in every window, and on every chair, just
where the Doctor lays them when he has read them.
It is impossible government can long go on in such
v hands. " To the Publisher of the Craven-Street Gazette.
" Sir,
" I make no doubt of the truth of what the papers
tell us, that a certain great person has been half-starv
ed on the bare blade-bone of a sheep (I cannot call it
of mutton, because none was on it), by a set of the
most careless, blundering, foolish, crafty, and knavish
ministers, that ever got into a house, and pretended
to govern a family and provide a dinner. Alas, for
the poor old England of Craven Street ! If these
nefarious wretches continue in power another week,
the nation will be ruined ; undone, totally un
done, if the Queen does not return, or (which is bet
ter) turn them all out, and appoint me and my friends
to succeed them. I am a great admirer of your use-

294 FRANKLIN.
ful and impartial paper, and therefore request you
will insert this, without fail, from
" Your humble servant,
" Indignation."
" To the Publisher of the Craven-Street Gazette.
" Sir,
" Your correspondent, ' Indignation, ,' has made a
fine story in your paper against our excellent Craven-
Street ministry, a,s if they meant to starve his High
ness, giving him only a bare blade-bone for his dinner,
while they riot upon roast venison. The wicked
ness of writers in this age is truly amazing. I believe
we never had, since the foundation of our state, a
more faithful, upright, worthy, careful, considerate,
incorrupt, discreet, . wise, prudent, and beneficent
ministry, than the present. But if even the angel
Gabriel would condescend to be our minister, and
provide our dinners, he could scarcely escape news
paper defamation from a gang of hungry, ever-restless,
discontented, and malicious scribblers.
" It is, Sir, a piece of justice you owe our righteous
administration to undeceive the public on this occa
sion, by assuring them of the fact, which is, that there
was provided, and actually smoking on the table under
his royal nose at the same instant, as fine a piece of
ribs of beef roasted, as ever knife was put into ; with
potatoes, horse-radish, pickled walnuts, &c. ; which
beef his Highness might have eaten of, if he had

MISCELLANEOUS. 295
pleased so to do ; and which he forbore to do, merely
from a whimsical opinion (with respect be it spoken),
that beef doth not with him perspire well. This is
the truth ; and if your boasted impartiality is real, you
will not hesitate a moment to insert this letter in your
very next paper.
" I am, though a little angry with you, at present,
" Yours, as you behave,
" A Hater of Scandal."
Junius and - Cinna came to hand too late for this
day's paper, but shall have place in our next.
Marriages. None since our last ; but puss be
gins to go a courting.
Deaths. In the back closet and elsewhere,
many poor mice.
Stocks. Biscuit — very low. Buckwheat and
Indian meal — both sour. Tea lowering daily — in
the canister.
Wednesday, September 26th. Postscript. — Those
in the secret of affairs do not scruple to assert roundly,
that the present first ministress proves very notable,
having this day been at market, bought excellent mut
ton-chops, and apples four a penny, made a very fine
apple-pie with her own hands, and mended two pair of
breeches. END.

CAMBRIDGE:
CHARLES F0L90M, PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY.

^9002 00466 7412