The Benson signal., 1917-02-17
DenIanoin franklin & George Washington 4


ing well for the Public, but our Temp
ers do not suit, and we are got into
Disputes and Contentious that are not
to our Credit, and which have some
times feared would go to Extremes.
"YOu know the natural Disposition
Of some Of us, how jealous, how cap
tious. how suspicious even of real
Friends, and how positive, after sus-
pecting while, that the Suspicious
are certain Truths, Combinations
strong as Proofs from Holy Writ. You
will, therefore, I am persuaded, If Com
plants of one another should come to
such Tempers, and suffer no Man to
be condemn'd unheard, I do not write
thus on my own Account, as am not
apprehensive Of your receiving any
Complaints Of me; for tho it Is diff
cult to live in peace with such Char
acters, how much soever one esteems
them for the Virtue and Abilities they
otherwise possess, I have, however,
done it tolerably hitherto; but as
am not sure it can last, l wish most
sincerely that we were separated; for
our being together seems Of no Use,
and, as we limited formerly in joint
Letter, is attended with many incon-
veniences.
"Such Inconveniences being former.
ly experienced by other States, sup
pose the Reason, that no Power in
Europe, for Century past, has sent
more than one Person to one Court.
Possibly this desirable Event may soon
take place, for If France & Spain ac-
knowledge us as independent States,
the other Courts will follow, and re-
ceive our ENJOYS.
Il have the Pleasure to assure you,
that all Europe is Of our side except
the King of England and his Placemen
and Pensioners, Contractors and Ex-
pectors. There is, however, a furious
Ferment in his Parliament about his
Measures, and If you could be FORUM
ate enough to treat Howe as you have
done Burgoyne, he would be in danger
Of the old House falling on his Head"
In the next letter, which is dated
from Passy, June 8, 178O, Franklin ex-
presses himself upon the subject of
free ships and free goods. What he
had to say must be Illuminating in the
present European struggle and its ef'
feet upon neutral commerce OF the
world.
"We are impatient to hear from
America, no Accounts Of the Opera
tions before Charlestown later than
the 9th of March having yet came to
hand. Everything here in Europe con-
tinues to wear good Face. Russia,
Sweden, Denmark and Holland are
raising a strong Naval Force, to es-
tablish the free Navigation for Neu-
trail Ships, and of all their Cargoes,
tho belonging to Enemies, except con-
traband; that is, military Stores.
"France and Spain have approved
of it, and it is likely to become hence
forth the Law Of Nations, that free
Ships make free Goods. England
does not like this Confederacy. wish
they would extend it still further, and
ordain that unarm'd Trading Ships, as
we'll as. Fishermen, and Farmers,
should be respected, as working for
the common Benefit Of Mankind, and
never be interrupted in their Opera
tions 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"
The last Franklin item consists Of
contemporary copy Of letter in cipher
to Franklin acquainting him that Con.
gress had passed a resolution express
ing the sense of that body that he was
not exerting himself with the Govern
ment of France in manner to benefit
America. On this Franklin added
line to Morris, saying, 81 need not tell
you that Messrs. Lee, &C., are among
the foremost to make these asser'
tiOns."
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