Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-02-19
TWO LETTERS OF FRANKLIN.
FROM THE NEW york TIMES.

TWO LETTERS OF FRANKLIN
FROM TIMES
Mrs John Cough Nichols sends the London Gentle
mans Magazine two original letters of Doctor Franklin
Both have escaped the diligent search Of Mr. Jared
Sparks at least find neither Of them in the Core
spondence of Franklin and the latter is missing from the
Diplomatic Correspondence of the Revolution leaving
hiatus very much to be bewept in that important work
Notwithstanding the levity with which the ghost Of
Franklin has mingled with the poly-colored spirits Of
rappersm the fnme Of the is yet living and
his relics yet venerable So reprint these letters
for the benefit of all concerned
The first in order is addressed to his bankers and il
less momentous than its companion is without sig
nfcance:
CRAvES-srRREr July IL, 1889
GENTLEMEN: have desired Messrs. Freeth, Of Bir-
mingham to send of their mills packed up and
directed to your for my As shall probably be
abroad when 1t comes up, being about to make little
tour in France beg you would be good receive
it, and ship with Captain Faconer pay Messrs Freeth
for it, and chargeit to my account
shall be farther obliged, having time to into
the city, if you send tomorrow forty guineas
May farther give you the trouble Of buying for me
two lottery tickets, to be sent with the money or
Mr. Jonathan Williams, merchant Boston, acquaintng
him with their numbers for they are for him.
am, with much esteem, yours, &c.
B. FRANKLIN.
To Messrs SMITH, WRIGHT GREY,
Bankers Lombard street
The second is Of consequence. Those who have
turned the Diplomatic Correspondence" have
noted the absence Of letters that must have passed
between the negotators of the Treaty of Versailles in
relation the ratification They seemed have abscond
ed adrOty to put seekers for them quite at fault
This GoughNchols contribution is the important
of them; the rest may be spared:
PAssr, MARCH 81, 1884
SIN. We hayp now he NJ Min vou
that the ratification Of the Defntve Treaty is arrived
here by express from Congress. You have already
been informed that the severity of the winter in America
which hindered travelling had oceasoned delay in the
assembling of the States As soon as sufficient number
together the treaty was taken into consideration
have copies Of the proclamation issued the OCCASION
and of the recommendatory resolution The messenger
detained at New York month by the ice which
prevented the packetboats sailing otherwise he would
probably have been here in February We ready
to exchange the notifications with you whenever il shall
be convenient to you With great and sincere esteem we
have the honor to be,
Sir your Excellency's most obedient
and most humble servants,
B. FRANKLIN,
JOHN JAY
His E1ccllency DAVID HARTLEY &C.
There was weather for you, seventy years ago Just
fancy asyou read this bright February day the air
as mild May, and the echb Of last nights thunder lin
gerng your ears fancy we say, season long ago.
when the harbOr frozen up and Congress pre-
vented from meeting because Of the intense cold Those
revolutionary times certainly tried mems souls.
IAN amusing bunder occurs in the few remarks with
which the editor Of the magazine introduces his two epis
tonry prizes Abiding to the latter Of the two he
is dated from Psssy, Paris and addressed to
David Hartley, Es9ure rhO then held other diplomatic
appointment from The United States" Poor old David Hart
ley forgotten and disowned at
ly outared, as it Old Hartley, who used in the
goodness Of his heart and funess Of his fendiness to
America, to make speeches in the House Of Commons
hours long dull prosy undenabe speeches the exord-
of which sent hathe House dinner and the rest
Sleep and all to show that Ministers were wrong and
the Colonists right Hartley the victim OF the wick
eldest wit spent upon honest podder the verta
bic butt of his fellows All the memoirs and histories of
the time have something TO say of him.
His devotion to the American recommended him
to his Government as proper person treat with the
Colonial agents Mt Versailles He was sent thther as
Minister Plenipotentary negotiated the famous treaty
OF 1888 and in less than lifetime afterwards is reject
ed OF his countrymen and set down person holding
some other diplomatic appointment from the United
states And the very pinnacle of the offence is that
Syyanus Urban, gent, is the offender; an authority
which, upon all matters relative English history and an
hquities has always claimed nfalbility Why Sylvsnus
was fifty years old at the time and should know all
it! Is his sight dim with age that the very letter
copies he does not that Hartley is invited British
Penpotentiary to exchange ratfcatons with Franklin
and jay?