Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 2 December 1772
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Galloway, Joseph

Dear Friend,
London, Dec. 2. 1772
I am favoured by your kind Letter of October 12. inclosing three Bills of Exchange, viz.

Wilcocks on Baillie for
£142
9s.
6½d.

Do. on Col. Johnstone for
166
15s.
3½d.

Roberdeau on Trevanion for
190
  15s.
  2d.

In all
£500
0s.
0d.

being the Amount of my last Year’s Salary. I am much obliged to the House for their Punctuality, and to you for your friendly Care in the speedy Remittance.
I am glad you are returned again to a Seat in the Assembly, where your Abilities are so useful and necessary in the Service of your Country. We must not in the Course of Publick Life expect immediate Approbation, and immediate grateful Acknowledgement of our Services. But let us persevere, thro’ Abuse and even Injury. The internal Satisfaction of a good Conscience is always present, and Time will do us Justice in the Minds of the People, even of those at present the most prejudic’d against us.
I have given Dr. Denormandie a Recommendation to a Friend in Geneva, for which Place he set out this Morning; and I shall be glad of any Opportunity of serving him when he returns to London.
I see by the Pensylvania Gazette of Oct. 21. that you are continued Speaker, and myself Agent, but I have no Line from you or the Committee relative to Instructions. Perhaps I shall hear from you by Falconer. I find myself upon very good Terms with our new Minister Lord Dartmouth, who we have every reason to think means well to the Colonies. I believe all are now sensible that nothing is to be got by contesting with or oppressing us. Two Circumstances have diverted me lately. One was, that being at the Court of Exchequer on some Business of my own, I met there with one of the Commissioners of the Stamp Office, who told me he attended with a Memorial from that Board, to be allowed in their Accounts the Difference between their Expence in endeavouring to establish those Offices in America, and the Amount of what they received, which from Canada and the W India Islands was but about £1500, while the Expence, if I remember right was above £12,000 being for Stamps and Stamping, with Paper and Parchment return’d upon their Hands, Freight, &c. The other is the present Difficulties of the India Company and of Government on their Account. The Company have accepted Bills which they find themselves unable to pay, tho’ they have the Value of Two Millions in Tea and other India Goods in their Stores, perishing under a Want of Demand. Their Credit thus suffering, and their Stock falling 120 per Ct. the Bank will not advance for them; and no Remedy is thought of but lowering their Dividend from 12½ to 6¼ per Cent. whereby Government will lose the £400,000 per annum it having been stipulated that it should no longer be paid if the Dividend fell to that Mark. And altho’ it is known that the American Market is lost by continuing the Duty on Tea, and that we are supply’d by the Dutch, who doubtless take the Opportunity of Smuggling other India Goods among us with the Tea, so that for the 5 Years past we might probably have otherwise taken off the greatest Part of what the Company have on hand, and so have prevented their present Embarrasment, yet the Honour of Government is suppos’d to forbid the Repeal of the American Tea Duty; while the Amount of all the Duties goes on decreasing, so that the Ballance of this Year does not (as I have it from good Authority) exceed £80 after paying the Collection; not reckoning the immense Expence of Guarda Costa’s, &c. Can an American forbear smiling at these Blunders? tho’ in a national Light they are truly deplorable. With the sincerest Esteem, and inviolable Attachment I am, my dear Friend, ever Most affectionately yours
B Franklin
Mr Galloway


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Abel James, 2 December 1772
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: James, Abel

Dear Friend,
London, Dec. 2. 1772
I duly received your Favours of Sept. 22 and Oct. 9. and am glad the Purchase proves acceptable. Our Friend Dr. Evans has remitted me the Bill you mention, drawn for the Produce of the Silk. It exceeds what I paid, and I wait Orders for the Disposition of the Overplus, particularly what I am to pay Wheeler for his Services in the Business.
I do not at this Distance understand the Politics of your last Election, why so many of the Members declin’d the Service, and why yourself and Mr. Fox were omitted (which I much regret) while Goddard was voted for by so great a Number. Another Year I hope will set all right. The People seldom continue long in the wrong when it is nobody’s Interest to mislead them. It must be very discouraging to our Friend Galloway, to see his long and faithful Services, repaid with Abuse and Ingratitude; but let him persevere in well-doing and all will end well, and to his final Satisfaction. And tho’ it may be inconvenient to your private Affairs to attend Publick Business, I hope neither you nor Mr. Fox will thro’ Resentment of the present Slight, decline the Service when again called upon by your Country. With great and sincere Esteem, I am ever, Dear Sir, Your affectionate Friend and most obedient Servant
B F.
Mr Abel James


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 8 December 1772: extract
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Barbeu-Dubourg, Jacques

De Londres, 8 Décembre 1772.
Lorsque les verres sont rangés sur le fuseau horisontal, ou pour me servir de votre expression, enfilés, et que chacun est arrêté à demeure, on voit la totalité du plus grand verre qui est tout à l’extrêmité à main gauche; le suivant entrant dans le premier ne montre qu’environ un pouce de sa bordure qui s’avance en-dehors du bord du plus grand; ainsi successivement chaque verre contenu déborde le verre contenant, laissant par ce moyen à découvert une bordure sur laquelle on peut appuyer le doigt. Les verres ne se touchent pas l’un l’autre, mais ils sont trop serrés pour laisser passer le doigt entre deux, de sorte que la bordure intérieure n’est pas susceptible de frottement. On applique le doigt à plat sur la bordure du plus grand verre, sur le bord du plus petit, en partie sur la bordure et en partie sur le bord des verres des grandeurs intermédiaires. Il n’y a que l’expérience qui puisse bien instruire en pareil cas, parce que les différens verres demandent à être touchés différemment: les uns un peu plus sur le bord, et les autres un peu plus sur la bordure. Il ne faut qu’une heure ou deux d’exercice pour apprendre cela.
Je fais graver une figure de l’Armonica, et je compte pouvoir vous l’envoyer bientôt.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Lord Dartmouth, 8 December 1772
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Dartmouth, William Legge, Earl of

Cravenstreet, Dec. 8. 72
Dr. Franklin presents his best Respects to Lord Dartmouth, and believing it may be agreable as well as useful to him, to receive other Information of the Sentiments and Disposition of Leading People in America, besides what Ministers are usually furnish’d with from the Officers of the Crown residing there, takes the Liberty of communicating to his Lordship a Letter just received from the Speaker of the Assembly of the Massachusetts Bay, written not as Speaker, but in his private Capacity. Dr. F. purposes to wait on Lord D. at his Levee to-morrow, and shall be happy if he may bring from thence any thing proper to write in Answer, that should tend to compose the Minds of People in that Province, at present greatly disquieted and alarm’d by some late Measures of Government.

Endorsed: Note to Lord Dartmth with Mr Cushing’s Letter of Oct. 27 72


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Theophylact Bache, 10 December 1772
From: Bache, Theophylact
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir,
New York 10th decemr. 1772.
Your much esteemed favor of 19th Sepr. was handed me by Mr. Alexander Chysholm. I shall pay due attention to this stranger, and shall be happy in doing him service.
He has been to Phila: and is much disappointed in his expectations of setling there. He intends waiting here until Spring, before he determines what to do: We hope to get him well fixed at Woodbridge.
I am much obliged to you for your kind information of the state of my Mothers family at Preston. I have not heard from them in a long time. Mrs. Franklin, and the family were all well the last Accounts I had from my Brother, and hope it [will not now?] be long before I have the pleasure to see [you? Torn]. With great respect and esteem [I am?] Sir Your most obedient humble Servant
Theophylact Bache

Addressed: To / Benja: Franklin Esqr / London / per Cap Winn


Title: Members of the Purfleet Committee to the Royal Society, [after 10 December 1772 and before 17 December? 1772]
From: Members of the Purfleet Committee
To: Royal Society

On December 8 Benjamin Wilson, the vocal minority of one on the Purfleet committee, amplified his views in a long letter to the Surveyor General of the Ordnance, Sir Charles Frederick, in which he took sharp issue with the other members. On the 10th Sir Charles forwarded the letter to the Royal Society and asked for an opinion on it; the matter was urgent, he pointed out, because the Board of Ordnance needed to know at once what the best means were of safeguarding the magazine. The letter was consequently read at the Society’s meeting later that day, before the report that it criticized; Wilson hoped to persuade the meeting to reject the committee’s recommendation of pointed rather than blunt lightning rods, but he was disappointed. On the 17th his colleagues on the committee responded in a letter to the Society’s President, Sir John Pringle, that ignored his arguments and brusquely reaffirmed their stand.
This chronology indicates that the draft below was composed during the week between the 10th and 17th. What happened, we believe, was that the committee members were so incensed at being attacked before the membership that they commissioned Franklin to write a reply to be read at the next meeting. He did so, elaborating the arguments for pointed rods; and this incomplete draft is what remains of his answer. As the days passed, we conjecture, the angry scientists realized that such a detailed rebuttal would lead only to an unseemly and unprofitable wrangle, and decided to content themselves with a curt letter to Pringle.

Gentlemen,
[After Dec. 10 and before Dec. 17, 1772]
The Committee appointed by you in July last on an Application from the Royal Ordnance to consider of the most proper Means of securing the Powder Magazines at Purfleet from Danger by Lightning, made their Report to the Council during your Recess, agreable to your Instructions, who immediately transmitted it to the said Board. That Report together with the Committee who sign’d it, having since been censured by Mr. Wilson in a Letter to Sir Charles Frederic, Surveyor of the Ordnance, which Letter was read at Sir Charles’s Request to the Society, and before the Report it self, with the Reasons on which it was founded could in the usual Course be laid before them, apparently tending to prejudice the Society against their Committee, especially as Mr. Wilson has stated his Objections with all the Strength they are capable of, and has passed over very slightly the Answers made to them in the Committee, and the Reasons on which it proceeded, only intimating his Ability and Intention of examining and invalidating those Reasons at some future time: We can not but think it a Piece of Justice due, not to ourselves merely, but to the Philosophical Part of the Question, that the Grounds of our Report in the Point controverted should be more fully explained than it could properly be in the Report itself. We therefore take the Liberty of acquainting you, that Mr. Wilson’s Objections to the Use of Pointed Conductors were heard and considered in the several Meetings of the Committee with Patience and with Candour; that they were all answered and obviated to the Satisfaction of every one of the Committee but himself; and the Substance of what was said on the Occasion being contained in a Paper of Experiments, Observations and Facts, drawn up by Mr. Franklin, and read to the Committee in the Presence of Mr. Wilson, several of the Committee having seen the Experiments themselves, we here present the Society with that Paper.
(Here insert the Paper.)

The Committee had also before them an Experiment of Mr. Henley’s, related in a Letter from that Gentleman to Mr. Franklin, which as it seems to have been misapprehended by Mr. Wilson, is also here inserted, viz.
(Here insert it.)
By this Experiment in which the Prime Conductor [is] suppos’d to represent a Cloud, it appeared, that the Point would operate at 12 times the striking Distance in drawing off and lessening the Quantity of Electric Fluid, before the Cloud could approach within that Distance; that a blunt Body drew off none of it till it came within that distance; that therefore if it struck on the blunt Body it would strike with its whole Force undiminish’d; on the Point it would either not strike at all or with a diminish’d Quantity for what is drawn off by a pointed Conductor, is at the same time convey’d away into the Earth. But these Consequences did not strike Mr. Wilson; to him, as he says in his Letter, “it appeared that the Difference in the Effects upon this Fluid, between pointed and blunted Metal, is as 12 to 1.” And thence he seems to conclude that in a Stroke upon a Point 12 times the Quantity must be discharged, that would have fallen on a Body which had no Point: For being persuaded from some Circumstances observed by the Verger of St. Pauls, in and about the Conductors upon that Building, the morning after the Thunder on March last; and examined by himself and Mr. Delaval about a Week after, that “a Bar of Iron near 4 Inches broad and about ½ an Inch thick,” had been “made considerably hot if not absolutely red; by a Stroke of Lightning;” he says, he “thinks it a happy Circumstance that there was no Point fixed upon the Top of the Church to solicit a greater Quantity;” for “the Difference in the Effects between blunted and pointed Ends, in causing a Discharge in our Electrical Experiments appearing to be as 12 to 1, it is easy to comprehend the very great Danger this noble Fabric has probably escaped, by having no pointed Apparatus upon it.” To your Committee this Deduction still appears quite unconnected with the Premises, which they conceive afford Conclusions directly contrary; and that, supposing the Fact tho’ a doubtful one, that so great a Quantity fell as to heat such an Iron Bar to the Degree imagined, yet if there had been a pointed Apparatus to have operated on the approaching Cloud while it was at 12 Times the Striking Distance, drawing off continually and conveying into the Earth Part of the Quantity it contained, all the Time of its Approach till within the Striking Distance, the Remainder must be less than the original Quantity, and strike therefore with less Force. And For another Reason, drawn from Exp. IV. it seems rather likely that for Want of Points on so great and lofty a Bulk of Metal as the leaded Roof of that Edifice presents to a Cloud, the electric Atmosphere of that Cloud might have been drawn from its more distant Parts, and accumulated over the Building before the Stroke, so as to afford an Explosion much larger than it could have done if such Accumulation had been prevented, or its Quantity previously drawn off and convey’d away by pointed Conductors.
Three of your Committee who signed the Report in question, were also on the Committee you appointed to consider of the securing St. Paul’s. They are now charg’d with Inconsistency, for advising Pointed Conductors in the present Case, and not in the former. “It is worthy of Note,” says Mr. Wilson, “that those Conductors did not terminate in a Point; nor was any Point put upon the Cross at the Top, and yet Dr. Franklin was of that Committee. If Points are so essential to our Safety, why was not the reason enforced at the Committee for having them on that capital Edifice?”
To explain this, it may be proper to observe, that the Advantages expected from Pointed Conductors have been three, viz. I. To prevent a Stroke as in Exp. V. by creating a greater Distance between the striking Parts of a Cloud and the Building. Or, 2dly. if the Cloud should come on so fast that a Stroke could not be prevented, then to lessen its Quantity and Force, by previously drawing off and conveying away into the Earth silently a Part of it. And 3dly. to direct the Lightning precisely upon the Conductor prepared to receive and convey it away without Damage, rather than suffer it to fall on any other Part of the Building, which it might damage in its Way from thence to a low unpointed Conductor. Those who have a Pleasure in Disputation are sometimes apt to make their Opponents say more or less, or something different from what they have really said, in order to obtain a little Advantage in Argument. No one of the Committee has ever asserted that Points were essential to our Safety. Dr. F. who first proposed them, and may therefore be supposed most fond of them, has, as quoted by Mr. Wilson, mentioned a Case in which a House might be safe without them, [that] is, to wit, “when the Roof is covered with Lead or other Metal, and Spouts of Metal are continued from the Roof into the Ground to carry off the Water.” Now this was precisely the Case of St. Pauls. The Dome and the whole Roof of the Church were covered with Lead, from whence a Number of large leaden Pipes descended into the common Sewers; but some Connections of Metal were wanting to unite the different Leaden Coverings with each other, and make the Communication with the Earth compleat. This being agreed to, none of the Committee thought it necessary to propose Points. Dr. F. would not propose them for a Dwelling House so covered, unless where some timid Inhabitant dreaded the Noise of an Explosion, which a Pointed Conductor might give a Chance of Preventing. For it being indifferent on what Part of such a Roof a Stroke should fall, the Conductors being compleat from all Parts, there would be no Reason for desiring to draw it to a particular Quarter. This too was in a great degree the Case of the Board House; another Instance given of our Inconsistency: for tho’ not intirely covered with Lead, yet every Angle of the Roof being well cop’d with broad Plates of that Metal, all communicating with the Leaden Gutters within the Parapet, and thence by large leaden Pipes quite down into the Water of two Wells one on each side the Building, it was thought sufficiently safe as a Dwelling House; and being no Powder Magazine itself, and plac’d at a considerable Distance from them, some of the Committee conceiv’d it not to be within our Charge, and therefore were [remainder missing]
To the Royal Society.


Title: Members of the Purfleet Committee to Sir John Pringle, 17 December 1772
From: Members of the Purfleet Committee
To: Pringle, Sir John

The letter below was the laconic response of the majority of the Purfleet committee to Benjamin Wilson’s attack on their report. The rest of the story is soon told. When Wilson discovered that he could not undo the committee’s decision in favor of pointed lightning rods, he publicized his arguments against them in a pamphlet the following March. Its appearance put Franklin under considerable pressure to reply, and for a time he intended to do so. Then he changed his mind, and decided merely to include the paper that he had read to the committee in the forthcoming edition of Experiments and Observations. Even this, he may have decided, was more disputatious than he cared to be; in any case he eventually limited his rebuttal in the new edition to a brief footnote, which did not mention Wilson by name but cited his pamphlet as an example of misrepresentation.
Franklin’s failure to counterattack doubtless chagrined his supporters. William Henly took on himself to defend the committee’s findings, which were based in part on his own experiments, in a paper before the Royal Society at the end of 1773. Wilson’s reply was read to the Society but not accepted for publication, and then became a second pamphlet. Throughout the protracted debate Franklin held his peace, for he considered Wilson’s objections “too trifling to deserve further notice.” Years later, when the controversy boiled up again, he stayed out of it because, as he said, he had already expressed his opinion fully in the committee report of 1772. “I have never entered into any controversy in defence of my philosophical opinions,” he added; “I leave them to take their chance in the world. If they are right, truth and experience will support them; if wrong, they ought to be refuted and rejected. Disputes are apt to sour one’s temper, and disturb one’s quiet.”

Sir,
December 17, 1772.
Having heard and considered the objections to our Report, concerning the fixing pointed Conductors to the Magazines at Purfleet, contained in a letter from Mr. Wilson to Sir Charles Frederick, and read to the Royal Society, we do hereby acquaint you, that we find no reason to change our opinion, or vary from that Report. We have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient, humble servants,
H. Cavendish,W. Watson,B. Franklin,J. Robertson.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, [19 December? 1772]: extract
From: Barbeu-Dubourg, Jacques
To: Franklin, Benjamin

The document that follows is in two parts, a printed extract and the conclusion of a letter in manuscript. The two are quite different in subject matter; neither contains any evidence of precisely when it was written, or of its belonging with the other. We have joined them and dated them, nevertheless, for reasons that seem plausible though far from conclusive. The printed extract was part of Dubourg’s ongoing colloquy with Franklin about translating Experiments and Observations: the Frenchman sent comments, in the form of embryonic notes, on the American’s “Observations Concerning the Increase of Mankind.” When Franklin, in his letter below of December 26, acknowledged receiving Dubourg’s of the 19th, and went on to say that he would welcome the translator’s notes in the published work, he seems to have been responding to these comments. He then mentioned Mlle. Biheron, perhaps because Dubourg had assigned her a complicated errand at the end of his “longissime lettre”. If the letter was that of the 19th and ranged from comments on the “Observations,” and perhaps other Franklin essays, to instructions for wrapping peppermint water in printed matter, it was indeed long. All that survives of it, we conjecture, is these two disconnected parts.

[December 19, 1772?]
On peut considerer en grand la population de l’univers entier, ou fixer spécialement ses regards sur la population de quelqu’état en particulier. La premiere considération n’est point inutile, pourvu qu’on ne s’y arrête pas trop; la seconde est la plus nécessaire, parce qu’il importe sur-tout de voir autour de soi, et qu’il est plus aisé d’y bien voir. C’est ce que vous avez fait, Monsieur, et je vous en loue; mais il seroit à desirer que vous ne vous en tinsiez pas là: puissé-je vous aiguillonner à pousser vos méditations plus loin.
I. L’intention manifeste du Créateur est que l’homme croisse et se multiplie, et qu’il remplisse la terre; puisqu’il l’a doué d’une fécondité plus que suffisante pour compenser sa mortalité.
II. Tant que la population de la terre n’est pas portée à son comble, c’est entrer dans les vues de la Providence que d’en favoriser l’accroissement.
III. Mais les hommes ayant besoin de nourriture et de vêtement, la terre ne comporte qu’autant d’habitans qu’elle en peut nourrir et vêtir. Telles sont les limites naturelles de la population.
IV. Le point important pour favoriser la population est donc de pourvoir à la subsistance du plus grand nombre d’hommes qu’il soit possible.
V. Le mariage étant le seul moyen de population dans l’univers, doit sans doute être encouragé; mais rien n’est plus propre à l’encourager que la perspective d’une subsistance assurée.
VI. La voix puissante, qui appelle tous les hommes au mariage, se fait sur-tout entendre dans l’âge que la Nature a spécialement adapté à ce grand sacrement. Les mariages prématurés, les mariages tardifs, les mariages mal assortis étant moins conformes à l’ordre éternel, sont moins bénis de Dieu, et contribuent moins à la population. Mais, je le répete, rien n’invite tant à se marier en tems opportun, que l’assurance d’une subsistance aisée, qui semble appeller des consommateurs.
VII. Quel est le moyen de pourvoir à la subsistance du plus grand nombre d’hommes? C’est 1o. de tirer du sein de la terre tout ce qu’elle est capable de produire à leur usage: 2o. de faire de ses productions la meilleure application possible.
VIII. Pour remplir le premier objet, il faut non-seulement recueillir toutes les productions naturelles de la terre, sans en laisser rien perdre mal à propos; mais encore travailler à la fertiliser de plus en plus, en faisant servir l’art à seconder la nature. La recherche des fruits sauvages, herbes, et racines comestibles a fait les premiers fonds de la subsistance des hommes: la chasse et la pêche y ont bientôt concouru: l’agriculture est venue enfin, qui a multiplié, et ne cesse de multiplier annuellement ces fonds, à proportion de l’application qu’on y donne.
IX. L’instinct et l’expérience ont fait connoître l’usage des productions de la terre: des arts émules de l’agriculture ont étendu et multiplié ces usages.
Ces arts précieux à l’humanité ont rendu comestibles des matieres qui ne sembloient pas propres à nourrir des hommes, ou ont approprié à leur vêtement ce qui, dans l’état où la nature l’offroit, n’y pouvoit aucunement convenir; ou ils l’y font servir mieux, ou plus long-tems, ou à un plus grand nombre d’hommes à la fois.
X. La meilleure culture est celle qui peut tirer du même fonds de la terre, les productions les plus abondantes. La meilleure oeconomie est celle qui peut, avec la même quantité de matieres, faire subsister aisément le plus grand nombre d’hommes. Le plus sage gouvernement est celui qui sçait réunir la meilleure culture avec la meilleure oeconomie.
Ces principes posés, essayons d’en faire l’application à quelques articles de votre Mémoire.
Quand vous dites (no. II.) que le peuple s’accroît en raison du nombre des mariages, il est évident que cela doit s’éntendre particulierement des mariages faits à tems et bien assortis.

Ce que vous dites (mêmes no. II.) que ce nombre augmente à proportion de l’aisance et des moyens de soutenir une famille, demande une petite explication; car l’aisance étant le résultat de l’abondance et de l’oeconomie, l’un par l’habitude du luxe se trouve mal à son aise là où plusieurs se trouveroient fort à l’aise par l’habitude de la frugalité.
Ce que vous dites (no. V.) que l’artisan est celui de tous à qui il faut le moins de terrein pour en tirer sa subsistance, ne doit pas être pris à la lettre: car le travail de l’artisan n’étant qu’accessoire au travail productif, il tire de ceux pour qui il travaille les matieres propres à sa subsistance. On peut donc bien dire combien il lui faut de terrein pour son habitation et son atelier, mais non pas combien il lui en faut pour sa subsistance, qu’il attend d’ailleurs.
Parcourez l’Amérique: un peuple chasseur ne sçauroit entretenir presque aucuns artisans sur un territoire immense, tandis qu’un peuple agricole en fait subsister un grand nombre sur un territoire très-borné.
Vous dites (no. XI.) que tout esclave est voleur, par une conséquence assez naturelle de son esclavage. Cela est bien vrai au fond, mais ce terme de voleur ne vous paroît-il pas trop fort? J’aurois dit simplement que tout esclave est pillard; car le mot vol suppose une atteinte portée aux loix d’une juste propriété: or il n’y a aucuns rapports d’équité entre le tyran et l’esclave.
Ce que vous dites du commerce (noo. XII. et XIII.) mériteroit d’être développé et discuté avec soin; mais ce n’étoit pas ici le lieu. Prenons cependant garde d’oublier qu’il y a entre l’agriculture et le commerce la même disparité qu’entre une source et un canal.
Tous ceux que vous appellez (no. XIII.) les Peres de leur nation, ne doivent pas être mis sur une seule et même ligne. En effet, ceux qui encouragent et perfectionnent des arts particulierement utiles à leur patrie sont les peres de leurs nations respectives; mais ceux qui encouragent et perfectionnent l’Agriculture, cet art des arts, dont l’utilité est universelle, sont en quelque sorte les peres de l’humanité.
Vous parlez (no. XV.) de fortifier doublement un pays, en augmentant sa population, et en diminuant celle de ses voisins. Permettez-moi de vous représenter que les avantages qu’on peut tirer du mal de ses voisins, ont souvent plus d’apparence que de réalité. Les principes de la justice et les sources de la félicité sont les mêmes, tant pour les nations que pour les particuliers. Commençons par chercher et faire ce qui est honnête et équitable; et quand nous l’aurons fait, nous ne tarderons peut-être pas à reconnoître que la prudence la plus consommée n’auroit pu nous dicter rien de plus utile. Ceci paroitra un paradoxe à bien des gens; parce que peu de personnes ont assez réflechi sur cette matiere, toute importante qu’elle est. Je me suis appliqué à la développer dans un petit ouvrage que je pourrai peut-être faire imprimer un jour, et dont je prens la liberté de vous envoyer une copie en attendant, pour en avoir votre sentiment.
Tous nos Philosophes oeconomistes vous sçauront bon gré du soin que vous avez eu (no. XVI.) de bien distinguer l’intérêt des marchands de celui de leur nation: deux choses très-différentes, et quelquefois même tout-à-fait opposées, quoique la plupart des politiques modernes ayent presque toujours confondu l’une avec l’autre.
Vous comptez (no. XXI.) sur plus d’un million d’ames Angloises dans les Colonies du continent de l’Amérique Septentrionale en 1751. M. Dickinson a compté sur environ trois millions d’ames dans ces mêmes Colonies à la fin de 1767; c’est-à-dire, 16 ans après. Je cherche à vous concilier. La différence vient apparemment 1o. de ce que vous ne parlez que des naturels Anglois, et qu’il y joint tous les Irlandois, François, Vaudois, Saltzbourgeois, Palatins, Moraves, Juifs, &c, établis parmi eux; 2o. des progrès de la population dans ces heureuses régions en 16 à 17 ans.
Dans ce même paragraphe (XXI.) j’admire le ton modeste avec lequel vous voulez bien supposer que la population de votre pays ne double qu’une fois seulement en 25 ans. Nous prendrions bien un autre ton, si nous pouvions en dire autant ici.
Vous prévoyez qu’en moins d’un siecle il y aura plus d’Anglois en Amérique qu’en Europe. Non-seulement il seroit peu étonnant que l’Angleterre fût un jour à l’égard de ses Colonies, ce que fut Tyr à l’égard de Carthage; mais la postérité pourroit voir sans miracle toute la Grande-Bretagne, ce Chef-lieu, cette Merepatrie, à peine équivalente à l’une de ses provinces d’outremer, et Londres, cette superbe Métropole, éclipsée par votre humble Philadelphie.

Lorsque Melle. Biheron sera un peu reposée, je vous prie de lui dire qu’elle me feroit grand plaisir et encore plus a un de nos amis, si elle vouloit bien nous faire l’emplette a Londres de bonne eau de menthe poivrée (peper menth water) au moins une douzaine de bouteilles de pintes mesure de Paris, en grandes ou petites bouteilles, mais par preference en petites bouteilles, et plustôt encore 24 pintes que 12. d’en faire faire 2 ou 4 ballots bien emballés, et de me les adresser par les voitures publiques avec les precautions d’usage, un seul ballot à la fois, mais tous successivement de semaine en semaine.
S’il y avoit moyen d’enveloper chacune de ces bouteilles d’une feuille de vos notes et matereaux divers, ou d’une feuille de mon petit Code, cela feroit bien mon affaire mais en ce cas, il faudroit 1o. que cela fut si bien emmailloté que ces feuilles ne fussent pas excessivement gâtées, 2o. qu’elle eut attention à n’y employer dans chaque ballot que des exemplaires de la même feuille du Code pour toutes les bouteilles, ou tout au plus que des exemplaires de 2 feuilles, par exemple dabord de la 1e. et de la 3e. et l’ordinaire suivant des exemplaires de la 2e. et de la 4e. afin que si on fouilloit avec le plus grand soin, comme il faut s’y attendre, cela n’eut l’air que de feuilles de rebut, et qu’on ne put pas se douter que l’on pourroit icy les rassembler successivement et en refaire a deux tems des exemplaires complets. Que pensez vous de cette idée?
Au reste si cette eau, peper menth water, est un peu chere à Londres, fut ce à 6 livres argent de france la pinte de france, cela ne doit pas arreter Melle. Biheron; on lui en tiendra un fidele compte.
Mais il est tems de finir cette longissime lettre. Ma femme vous embrasse de tout son coeur, je ne suis point jaloux. J’ai l’honneur d’etre avec un parfait et constant attachement, Monsieur et cher Ami, Votre tres humble et tres obeissant serviteur
Dubourg
Mes respectueuses civilités a Mr. Pringle


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, 26 December 1772
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Barbeu-Dubourg, Jacques

Dear Sir,
London, Dec. 26. 1772
Last Night I received your Favour of the 19th per Post, which I think is the best Conveyance for our Letters without any direct Address; for I perceive that not only the little Piece which I sent on the 4th Inst. but a long Letter of the 8th. have miscarried. With the first I only thank’d you for the Square of 11000, and made a short Remark of some Imperfection I observ’d in it, and told you I had somewhere a Square of 8, with the Diagonals you requir’d which I would send you if I could find it. I also mentioned that I deferr’d sending the other Pieces you directed, till I should hear from you that the first was correct. Nevertheless they went the Week following, and I suppose have likewise miscarried. I shall write over again the Purport of my Letter of the 8th. and send it with this. And as I pay no Postage here, I would request that for the future you would keep a little Account of what you pay there, and we will divide that Expence between us. Only I wish you to let me know how I may make my Letters cheapest, i.e. whether Letters are paid for in Paris according to their Weight, or according to the Number of Pieces of Paper as here.
Page 179 Binnacle, Boyer explains this under the Word Bittacle, which is the same thing, tho’ the first is more agreable to the common Pronunciation.
P. 209. It ought to be 1756, and not 1754.

P. 219. Acrement-close, is a proper Name, the Name of a particular Field.
P. 225. It should be, a Point as at P in Fig. 2.
P. 231. What you say on the Fixing of Salt, may be put in a Note of the Translator.
P. 253. after a warm Spell. Spell is a vulgar English Word, therefore improper. It should have been, after a warm Season.
P. 266. Here make another Note of the Translator.
P. 278. A Surveyor’s Chain, meant here, is four Pole, or 66 feet.
P. 311. Outward Warmth—It is not a “chaleur exterieure que l’on eprouve en entrant dans une Chambre pour y prendre le bain froid,” that would indeed be unintelligible. As the Passage seems difficult, I have got my Clerk who is of French Extraction, to put it into his French, which perhaps you will understand better than my English.
I will as you desire send to Messrs. Dilly and enquire for the American Transactions. If it is not come there, I shall send you another by the first Opportunity. I am sure the President of that Society can have but one Objection to your translating their Book, which is, an Apprehension that the Sale of it will not pay for the Trouble and Expence of printing; and the Society must esteem it great Honour to them to enroll you among their foreign Members.
I have not the least Objection to your making what Notes you please in the Translation. I only wish I could have the Advantage of seeing them before my new Edition is printed in English.
Melle. Biheron has been indispos’d, but is now well again. We join in the Wishes of the Season for you and Madame Dubourg. I am ever, Yours most affectionately
B F
M Dubourg


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 26 December 1772
From: Williams, Jonathan Jr.
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear and honoured Sir
Boston Decemr 26. 1772
This being the last month in the Year, I have been ’till now busily employed in casting up and settling my affairs, and as I never form’d very great Expectations, I find myself very content with the result. It appears that I have good enough to pay all I owe, and £300 Sterling left being the clear profits of last years Business. In the last Account I gave you of my Affairs with Mr. Warren the Ballance in his favour was £87

since I have received Goods which become due not till Janry next
761
  12s.

Ballance
  848
  12s.

I have paid him as follows

Bill Holder on Smith
£100

Higington on Elton
119

Saunders on Hog
160

Hodge on Newman
86
2s.
8d.

Newman on Newman
62
6s.
8d.

Brooks on Brooks
  32
  5s.

559
14s.
4d.

Ballance Due Janry next
  288
  17s.
  8d.

848
12s.
0d.

please to turn over

I have had Goods since to the amount of
  £295
  10s.

Which become due in May next. Ballance on the other side
  288
  17s.
  8d.

the whole sum I stand indeted to Mr. Warren
  584
  7s.
  8d.

You will please to excuse my troubeling you with such Circumstances but I think it my duty to inform you of the State of my Affairs.
As this is the Season of the Year, when Business is almost entirely stagnated, and my Father having some Accounts in Phila. which require the presence of one of us, I shall set out next week, and hope soon to pay my Respects to your good Lady and Family. Please to remember me to all enquiring Friends and believe me to be your Dutifull and affectionate Kinsman
J Williams junr

Addressed: To / Doctr Benja Franklin / at Mrs Stevensons In Craven Street / Strand / London


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from William Henly, [30 December 1772]
From: Henly, William
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir:
[December 30, 1772]
I send you herewith the paper of your experiments, and shall think myself under great obligation for the addition. I am quite at a loss what to think or say about the Bell. The effects are so contrary to the notions I [had] entertained of Electricity; and yet I scarse know how to disbelieve my Friends relation, for though by his Letter he appears to be no Schollar at all, yet [he] is as sensible, and as clever a Man in Conversation as you would wish to converse with.
Mr. Nairne Mr. Lane and I were yesterday from [about?] 3 O Clock at St. Pauls. I took my fishing Rod.
Going up. In the Stone Gallery Thermometer 28. no Ch[arge]. Wind very troublesome quite round the Building. In the Golden Gallery Thermometer 31. Balls diverged 1 Inch full. In the Lanthorn a very warm Room Thermometer 35. The Rod being projected through a Hole its whole length, on the side opposite to that, from which the Wind blew: the balls diverged I think 1¾ Inch and were nearly stationary.
Coming down. In the Stone Gallery Thermometer 29. Balls diverged ½ Inch. The Wind while we were there got round more to the Southward, and the Air grew more hazy, which I believe brought on, or increased the Electricity.
Monday Evening 5 O Clock Mr. Bell went there, and observed that in the Stone Gallery Balls diverged when held at Arms length ½ Inch, Thermometer 34. In the Golden Gallery, held in the same manner they diverged ½ Inch Thermometer 33. In all these cases the Mercury had time to subside before observation. I am Dear Sir sincerely yours
W Henly


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg: Dedicatory Epistle, [late 1772]
From: Barbeu-Dubourg, Jacques
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Monsieur,
[Late 1772]
Vous reconnutes dans la premiere esquisse de ce Petit Code, l’effusion simple et naïve de votre propre coeur; j’ai achevé de le developer autant que je l’ai pu, et j’espére que vous ne vous y reconnoitrez que mieux. S’il m’étoit échappé quelque chose de moins exact, daignez le rectifier; c’est pour vous le soumettre que je vous l’ai dedié, ayant été assez heureux pour trouver réunis en vous un grand maître et un bon ami. Vous allez vous éloigner de cet hemisphere, et je ne puis vous suivre dans l’autre; mais l’immense océan que vous avez à traverser ne separera point les meilleures parties de nous-mêmes, nos ames seront toujours unies, comme elles l’ont toujours été; je me fais honneur de le publier, et vous ne rougirez pas de l’avouer; vous pouvez avoir de plus nobles emules, mais vous n’avez point de plus fidele serviteur.
J B. D.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Sir William Browne, [1772]
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Browne, Sir William

This blast shows Franklin at his most abusive and least witty. His anger had been aroused by the vagaries of Sir William Browne, an old and wealthy physician and former President of the Royal College of Physicians, and an F.R.S. since 1739. Sir William had strongly opposed the election of Sir John Pringle, as noted above, to the presidency of the Royal Society. Browne’s speeches on that occasion had aroused a small furor, but they had clearly not exhausted what the octogenarian had to say: he had written and published further attacks on Sir John. They elicited the following counterattack from Franklin. It was presumably intended for whatever newspaper had published Browne’s polemics, but we have no indication that it ever saw print.

[1772]
People are sometimes too young to take Advice. They have not yet Sense enough to see its Propriety and feel its Value. Possibly a Man may also be too old, when that Sense begins to fail him. I hope it is not quite your Case, and therefore I take the Trouble of giving you a little Admonition.
Your Years have a Claim to some Respect, if you did not forfeit it by your Misbehaviour. Buffoonery and Tavern-Bawling can not possibly become a Physician and Philosopher. If People laugh, ’tis a Laugh of Contempt which they find hard to be restrain’d even by their Pity. But when you think to entertain them with malicious Libels on the most worthy Characters in miserable Verse and more wretched Prose, which manifest the Badness of your Heart as well as Head, their Contempt gives Place to their Indignation.
A learned Society many Years since when your Character was not so much impair’d did you the Honour of chusing you a Member. Unhappily indeed: For that Choice has never been an Honour to the society. You owe it however some Respect, though the Members should never on any Vacancy, once think of you for their President. Your Ambition may be excusable, but not your Resentment. They may know, tho’ you do not, your extreme Unfitness for the Station. And you ought to have had more Regard for the Reputation of the Body you are connected with, than to endeavour rendering the Members ridiculous to the Publick, by framing absurd Harangues of your own, and printing them as delivered by the Person chosen, at the time of his Election. The Endeavour indeed is impotent. No Reader can even believe what you wish him to believe that the Speech you have written and twice published as the President’s, was ever spoken by him or heard by them; or that they could possibly have elected a Man capable of making it: But every one who knows Sir W. B. may readily believe it yours; for he who can with such Facility make silly Speeches for himself, can easily forge them for other People.
Hitherto, therefore, your Malevolence has done no great Mischief. But for your Life, stir not a Foot farther, in this dangerous Road. When a Man once gives the Devil leave to guide him, there is no knowing how far he may be led. From forging a Speech to rob another of his Reputation, ’tis any easy Step to forge a Bond to rob him of his Money. Aged as you are there may be several Sessions at the Old Bailey, before you are call’d upon by a natural Death; One of these may afford you a real Occasion for the Exercise of your Speech-making Faculty; and perhaps your last Performance of the kind, may be that which will give your Hearers the highest Satisfaction. I am, Sir Wm. among many others,

An OFFENDED Fellow OF THE R. Society
To Sir Wm Browne


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from William Henly, [1772?]
From: Henly, William
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir:
[1772?]
I think myself exceedingly obliged to you for your intended favour of a Visit some Evening, but hope you will so far oblige me as to give me previous notice by a Line, when I shall with a high pleasure accommodate my time to your convenience. I am with the utmost Respect Sir your obedient and Humble Servant
W Henly
To Dr. Franklin

Addressed: To / Dr. Franklin


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Maseres, [1772]
From: Maseres, Francis
To: Franklin, Benjamin

[1772]
Mr: Maseres presents his compliments to Dr: Franklyn and sends him two more copies of the collection of Quebec instruments and the draught of a toleration-act; of which he desires the doctor to transmit one set to his son, Governour Franklyn of New Jersey, and the other to Mr: Galloway, of Philadelphia, the speaker of the house of Assembly, with Mr: Maseres compliments, by the first convenient opportunity. He desires the doctor would send him another copy of his tract called Squire Richard, if he can spare one, for a friend of Mr: M’s, who was much pleased with it, and desires to have one.

Addressed: To / Dr: Franklyn, in Craven Street / in the Strand.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from [Johann David Michaelis?], [1772?]: résumé
From: Michaelis, Johann David
To: Franklin, Benjamin

<1772? In Latin with no date, salutation, or signature. Has decided, because of Franklin’s “most noble occupations” and involvement in public affairs, to consult him as little as possible. Wishes first to thank him for favoring the Society by taking with him twelve copies of its revived work; has arranged to have the volumes bound and sent to Hamburg at the Society’s expense (in excess of twelve thalers) in the hope that through them more buyers will be attracted; although the Society is not interested in making a profit, neither does it wish to lose money. Asks Franklin to select, perhaps with the advice of the illustrious Watson, the names of outstanding people who have recently died, particularly physicians, professors, and members of the Royal Society, and to have their biographies compiled and sent to ornament future volumes of the transactions. Encloses a few small literary gifts, to refresh Franklin’s memory of the Göttingen circle. May God return him unscathed to his fatherland. “Embrace in your friendship and favor those who love you and wish you well.”>


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Shipley, [1772?]: résumé
From: Shipley, Jonathan
To: Franklin, Benjamin

<Monday evening, [1772?], a note in the third person and in the Bishop’s hand. He and his family will call upon him with Lord and Lady Spencer tomorrow evening between seven and eight.>


Title: A Committee of the Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital to Franklin, David Barclay, and John Fothergill, 1 January 1773
From: Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital
To: Franklin, Benjamin,Barclay, David Junior,Fothergill, John

Esteemed Friends
Pennsylvania Hospital, 1 mo. 1st. 1773
We are now deputed by a Board of Managers of this Hospital to inform you, That it is agreed to draw on you for the further Sum of Four thousand pounds Sterling as Opportunities offer to dispose of our drafts, and to put out the money on Interest on good and Sufficient Securities, which from our present prospect we expect will be Effected in a short time.
You will therefore be pleased to provide for the discharge of these drafts by selling out of the Stocks with the necessary Caution, a sufficient Sum for this purpose.
We have heretofore regularly advised you the particulars of our former drafts, and purpose to continue the like care in respect to the Bills intended to be drawn. We are Respectfully Your Obliged Friends
John ReynellIsrael PembertonJames Pemberton
To Docr. John Fothergill Benjamin Franklin and David Barclay in London


Title: The Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital to Franklin, David Barclay, and John Fothergill, 4 January 1773: résumé
From: Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital
To: Franklin, Benjamin,Barclay, David Junior,Fothergill, John

<January 4, 1773: In accordance with the letter of Jan. 1 from their committee, they have drawn on the recipients for £700 sterling in four bills of exchange in favor of John Clark, three for £200 each and one for £100.>


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Bache, 4 January 1773
From: Bache, Richard
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear and Honoured Sir
Philadelphia Janry 4. 1773.
By the October Packet, I am favored by yours of 7. that Month, am obliged to you for the pleasing Intelligence, that my Mother and Sisters were well, for it is some time since I heard from them. I am glad to hear, that the Bill I sent you was duly honored. I had really forgot the five Guineas you lent me, on the Morning I left you, or should have included them in the Bill. They shall be applied as you direct. My Note I received, inclosed in your Letter to my Mother by the Novr. Packet.
I had the Pleasure when in Jamaica, of being acquainted with several Gentlemen, who had a smattering of Electricity, and were great Admirers of your Publication on that, and other Philosophical Subjects; but I never heard any such Report as you mention, of any Building being struck by Lightening, which had two Conductors, or any Conductor, tho’ such a thing might have happened in a remote part of the Island, and I never hear of it. Mr. Ross of this Place was told some years ago by Captain Oswald Eve, whom I believe you know; and who has been in Jamaica, that such an Accident as you describe happened there, and Mr. Ross gave such credit to the Story, as to induce him to take down the Rod which he had put up at the Gavel End of his new House in Chestnut Street, because Mr. Lawrence had put up one at the end of his House, which is adjoining Mr. Ross’, and indeed both Houses may be said to be under one Roof. By first Opportunity, I shall write to my Friend Mr. Grant of Kingston, who is a sensible, intelligent Man, and desire him to inquire and let me know, if any such Accident ever happened in Jamaica, and to give me the particulars you require.
I am afraid I shall be obliged to sue Shuts’ Estate for the Amount of your Note, as the Executors seem little disposed to liquidate it. Armbruster hath never paid any thing, nor is it likely that he ever will pay any thing, he has been in Jail, and is an idle, drunken good for nothing Fellow; The Types he had were distrained for Rent, and by my Mother replevied, in Consequence of which she was obliged to pay £35. to get possession of the Types, and it is a Doubt with me whether they are worth this Sum. Mr. Maugridge’s Mortgage has been paid off, my Mother tells me some time ago, this is all I know of it. I am afraid that the Insurance on your two Houses in Market Street, in front of us, expired some time ago, and hath not been renewed, if I find this to be the Case (which the Policies will declare, when my Mother finds them) I shall meet the Directors, and endeavor to get the Policies renewed, without forfeiture of premium, which I find is a penalty annexed to the failure of renewing them within a year after they expire. I am glad your Bankers stood their Ground—I imagined you could not otherways be affected by the late Failures.

I suppose my Mother, who writes you by this Conveyance, acquaints you of Mr. Hall’s Death, he was a good Man and dies much lamented. I hope we shall soon hear of the Completion of the Ohio Grant, numbers of People seem eager to become Setlers in that part, and many more Purchasers as they think it will be providing at least for Posterity.
Sally and Ben join me in Love and Duty, and in wishing you and your new Neighbours in Craven Street the return of many happy Years. I have the Honor to subscribe myself Dear Sir Your Affectionate Son
Richd: Bache


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas O’Gorman, 4 January 1773
From: O’Gorman, Thomas, chevalier
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Sir
Paris 4th January 1773
I beg pardon for having been hitherto defficient in acquiting myself of my duty towards you and in returning you thanks for the many Civilities I have received from you While in London. Receive, I beseech you, tho late, my sincere acknowledgement thereon and be assur’d I shall for ever with pleasure embrace every opportunity of Shewing you the defference I have for the honour of your friendship. I profit of the departure of a friend for your City to Carry you this letter and I woud have Wrote to you before now, had I not been totally obsorbed these three Months past in preparing my eldest Son for his reception as page to the King and in tending my two other boys in the small pox, of which they have had, thank god, a looky riddance.
I Can with pleasure tell you that I have had a good ventage this Season and that I am able to Send choice Burgundy to my friends in London. I have mark’d before my departure from home a Hogshead of the right Sort for you, and shall have the pleasure to Send it you in March next. It gives me equal pleasure to hear that you and your friends have Succeeded to your wishes in your grand plan. I wish you heartily great joy on it. I am Sure that in the hands of Such Spirited and opulent men it will become a mighty matter. Our friend Mr. Huske is laid up in the gout. He expects Soon to finish his affairs in this Country and to be able to embrace you in London. He desires in the mean time to be Most Kindly remembered to you. I shall be always glad to hear from you and to Cultivate the honour of your acquaintance and friendship. If any Commands you may have on this Side, pray dont Spare me. I have the honour to be with great defference Sir your most obedient and humble Servant
O’ Gorman

P.S. You’l please to direct to me at Tonnerre in Burgundy where I entend to go in a few days. You may hint to me with Caution and in a neutral manner What may be the thoughts of your friends upon what you and I have talked of.

Addressed: Doctor Franklin at / Mrs. Stevenson’s in Craven / Street—Strand / London


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 5 January 1773
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Cushing, Thomas

Sir,
London, Jan. 5. 1773
I did myself the Honour of Writing to you on the 2d of December past inclosing some news papers to 30th november last which I hope got safe to hand. I have since received your Favour of Oct. 27. which containing in a small Compass so full an Enumeration of our Grievances, the Steps necessary to a Removal of them, and the happy Effects that must follow, I thought that tho’ a private Letter, it might be of Use to communicate it to Lord Dartmouth, the rather too, as he would there find himself occasionally mentioned with proper Respect, and learn that his Character was esteemed in the Colonies. Accordingly I wrote him a few Lines and enclos’d it, a Day or two before I was to wait on his Lordship, that he might have a little time to consider the Contents. When I next attended him, he return’d me the Letter with much Complacence in his Countenance, said he was glad to find that People in America were dispos’d to think so favourably of him; that they did him but Justice in believing he had the best Dispositions towards them, for he wish’d sincerely their Welfare, tho’ possibly he might not always think with them as to the means of obtaining that End. That the Heads of Complaint in your Letter were many, some of them requiring much Consideration, and therefore it could scarce be expected that a sudden Change should be made in so many Measures, supposing them all improper to be continued, which perhaps might not be the case. It was however his Opinion that if the Americans continued quiet, and gave no fresh Offence to Government, those Measures would be reconsidered and such Relief given as upon Consideration should be thought reasonable. I need not remark that there is not much in such general Discourse; but I could then obtain nothing more particular, except that his Lordship express’d in direct Terms his Disapprobation of the Instruction for exempting the Commissioners from Taxation; which, however, was, he said, in Confidence to me, relying that no publick Mention should be made of his Opinion on that head.

In the meantime some Circumstances are working in our favour with regard to the Duties. It is found by the last Years Accounts transmitted by the Commissioners, that the Ballance in favour of Britain is but about £85 after Payment of Salaries, &c. exclusive of the Charge of a Fleet to enforce the Collection. Then it is observ’d that the India Company is so out of Cash, that it cannot pay the Bills drawn upon it, and its other Debts; and at the same time so out of Credit, that the Bank does not care to assist them, whence they find themselves obliged to lower their Dividend; the Apprehension of which has sunk their Stock from 280 to 160, whereby several Millions of Propery are annihilated, occasioning private Bankrupcies and other Distress, besides a Loss to the Publick Treasury of £400,000 per Annum which the Company by Agreement are not to pay into it as heretofore, if they are not able to keep up their Dividend at 12½. And as they have at the same time Tea and other India Goods in their Warehouses to the Amount of Four Millions as some say, for which they want a Market, and which if it had been sold would have kept up their Credit, I take the Opportunity of remarking in all Companies, the great Imprudence of losing the American Market, by keeping up the Duty on Tea, which has thrown that Trade into the Hands of the Dutch, Danes, Swedes and French, who (according to the Reports and Letters of some Custom-House Officers in America) now supply by Smuggling the whole Continent, not with Tea only, but accompany that Article with other India Goods, amounting as suppos’d in the whole to £500,000 Sterling per Annum. This gives some Alarm, and begins to convince People more and more, of the Impropriety of Quarrelling with the Americans, who at that Rate might have taken off two Millions and a Half of those Goods within these 5 Years that the Combination has subsisted, if the Duty had not been laid, or had been speedily repealed.
But our great Security lies, I think, in our growing Strength both in Wealth and Numbers, that creates an increasing Ability of Assisting this Nation in its Wars, which will make us more respectable, our Friendship more valued, and our Enmity feared; thence it will soon be thought proper to treat us, not with Justice only, but with Kindness; and thence we may expect in a few Years a total Change of Measures with regard to us; unless by a Neglect of military Discipline we should lose all our martial Spirit, and our western People become as tame as those in the eastern Dominions of Britain, when we may expect the same Oppressions: For there is much Truth in the Italian Saying, Make yourselves Sheep and the Wolves will eat you. In confidence of this coming Change in our favour, I think our Prudence is mean while to be quiet, only holding up our Rights and Claims on all Occasions, in Resolutions, Memorials, and Remonstrances, but bearing patiently the little present Notice that is taken of them. They will all have their Weight in Time, and that Time is at no great Distance. With the greatest Esteem, I have the Honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant
B Franklin
Honble Thomas Cushing, Esqr

Endorsed: Dr Franklin  Jany 5 1773


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from William Franklin, 5 January 1773
From: Franklin, William
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Honoured Father,
Burlington Janry. 5, 1773
I am favoured with your Letters by the October and November Packets, and want much for an Opportunity of writing to you safely on several Subjects, but I cannot venture to do it by the Packet, as your Letter by the October Packet came opened to me exactly in the same Manner that mine did to you. And Mr. Todd I hear has wrote to Mr. Foxcroft that his Letters [to] him by the New York Packet were broke open and new seal’d. This makes me now suspect that the Villainy is committed by some Person on this Side the Water; though as Mr. W. told you he had seen all the same Accounts before (relative to the Virginia Claims) and did not chuse to let you read those you received from me, I confess I suspected it was owing to his having had a Sight of my Letters to you, otherwise I think he would out of mere Curiosity have liked to have seen whether I wrote the same Sentiments as Mr. Foxcroft had done. I think the best way is to have the Direction of our Letters by the Packet wrote in a different Hand, and sealed with a different Seal. If mine to you in that Way come safe do let me know. And if each Sheet is sealed it may be better.
I am glad to find that Lord D. has spoke so favourably of me, and am much obliged to you for mentioning me to him in the Manner you have done. I have wrote to him by this Opportunity in favour of Mr. Skinner the Attorney General who requests an Augmentation of his Salary, and have taken Occasion to say a Word or two in my own Behalf. If you have an Opportunity of promoting our Application with his Lordship, Mr. Cooper, or any of our Friends I must beg you will do it.
Enclosed is a Copy of a Letter I have just received from Lord Stirling now in Virginia, who I requested to enquire particularly into the Virginia Claim.
I can only add that Betsy joins me in Duty and the Compliments of the Season. I am, in the greatest Haste Honoured Sir Your ever dutiful Son
Wm: Franklin

Addressed: To / Doctor Franklin / Craven Street / London / per Packet


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from the Trustees of the Burlington Free School, 5 January 1773
From: Trustees of the Burlington Free School
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Respected Friend
Burlington (January) 1st mo: 5th 1773
To a person of Doctor Franklins well known character, for humanity and benevolence, we think it scarcely necessary to enter into an apology for the freedom we have taken in enclosing the within Petition to the King, in presenting which we request thy friendly assistance.
Notwithstanding the application made by Lord Rochford for a Grant of the Islands in Delaware was thrown aside, at some future day, one similar may be revived. We therefore thought it a duty incumbent on us, as Guardians of an infant charitable seminary, to address the Throne for a confirmation of our Right; and no time we thought more favourable than the present, when the application abovementioned, may be supposed, very justly, to have alarmed us.
The rents of the Island for about 26 years to come, will annually educate 25 poor children, and for 20 years then next succeeding 30 poor children; being lett out on a lease of 50 years, 4 of which are expired. But here a difficulty arises, our funds are wholly appropriated to this purpose, and if any considerable expence is likely to accrue in obtaining a confirmation of our Title, we have no way of defraying it, but by withdrawing the Scholars, till the rents make up the sum; as this would be an irreparable loss to a number of poor boys and girls, we would willingly hope some method may be fallen on to obviate any heavy expence, and we beleive no person would be more ready to devise, or more willing to execute, a plan suitable to the scanty state of our finances, than our worthy Agent. We therefore also beg a kind attention to this important point, and be pleased to inform us what may be likely to be the attendant charges. We humbly conceive that an Instruction to the Governour to grant a Pattent (as in New York and other Royal Governments) might answer every purpose, and be attended with little or no expence, flattering ourselves that the pattenting Officers would generously give up their fees to so charitable a use.
As we serve entirely without pay, and have no private interest to promote, by this application, but only to procure some useful learning to those who might otherwise be destitute of it, we hope our desires of avoiding expence, wont be thought little or unreasonable. We remain with great respect on behalf of the Trust, Thy Friends

John Hoskins
Saml How

Abrm. Hewlings
  Ellis Wright

Richard Wells
  Saml: Allinson

Doctor Benjamin Franklin

Endorsed: Letter from Trustees of Burlington School, concerning the Island.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Alexander Colden, 6 January 1773: résumé
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Colden, Alexander

<London, January 6, 1773. Returns two protested bills, Zeph[aniah] Turner on Barnes & Ridgate for £72 7s. 5d. and William Taylor on Perkins, Buchanan & Brown for £15; the charges on each are 5s. 9d. Asks to have the bills acknowledged and to be credited with £87 18s. 11d.>


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to a Committee of the Managers of the Philadelphia Silk Filature, 6 January 1773: résumé
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Managers of the Philadelphia Silk Filature

<London, January 6, 1773. Has paid Mr. Wheeler twenty guineas, pursuant to the instructions of November 16, and encloses his receipt.>


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 6 January 1773
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Franklin, Deborah

My dear Child,
London, Jan. 6. 1773.
I feel still some Regard for this Sixth of January, as my old nominal Birth-day, tho’ the Change of Stile has carried the real Day forward to the 17th, when I shall be, if I live till then, 67 Years of Age. It seems but t’other Day since you and I were rank’d among the Boys and Girls, so swiftly does Time fly! We have however great Reason to be thankful that so much of our Lives has pass’d so happily; and that so great a Share of Health and Strength remains, as to render Life yet comfortable.
I received your kind Letter of Nov. 16. by Sutton. The Apples are not yet come on shore, but I thank you for them. Capt. All was so good as to send me a Barrel of excellent ones, which serve me in the meantime. I rejoice to hear that you all continue well. But you have so us’d me to have something pretty about the Boy, that I am a little disappointed in finding nothing more of him than that he is gone up to Burlington. Pray give in your next as usual, a little of his History.
All our Friends here are pleas’d with your remembring them, and send their Love to you. Give mine to all that enquire concerning me, and a good deal to our Children. I am ever, my dear Debby, Your affectionate Husband
B Franklin


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 6 January 1773
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Galloway, Joseph

Dear Friend,
London, Jan. 6. 1773
I have received your Favours of Oct. 18 and 30. I am oblig’d greatly to you and Mr. Rhoads for your friendly Interposition in the Affair of my Salary. As I made never any Bargain with the House, I accept thankfully whatever they please to give me; and shall continue to serve them as long as I can afford to stay here: Perhaps it may be thought, that my other Agencies contribute more than sufficient for that purpose; but the Jersey Allowance tho’ well-paid is a very small one; that from Georgia, £100 only, is some Years in Arrear; and will not be continued, as the Appointment is by a Yearly Act, which I am told the Governor will not again pass with my Name in it. And from Boston I have never receiv’d a Farthing, perhaps never shall, as their Governor is instructed to pass no Salary to an Agent whose Appointment he has not assented to. In these Circumstances, with an almost double Expence of Living by my Family remaining in Philadelphia, the Losses I am continually suffering in my Affairs there through Absence, together with my now advanced Age, I feel renewed Inclinations to return, and spend the remainder of my Days in private Life; having had rather more than my Share of publick Bustle. I only wish first to improve a little for the general Advantage of our Country, the favourable Appearances arising from the Change of our American Minister, and the good Light I am told I stand in with the Successor. If I [can] be instrumental in [torn] Things in good train, with a Prospect of their [being?] on a better Footing than they have had for some Years past I shall think a little additional Time well spent, tho’ I were to have no Allowance for it at all.
I must however beg you will not think of retiring from Publick Business. You are yet a young Man, and may still be greatly serviceable to your Country. It would be I think something criminal, to bury in private Retirement so early, all the usefulness of so much Experience and such great Abilities. The People do not indeed always see their Friends in the same favourable Light; they are sometimes mistaken, and sometimes misled; but sooner or later they come right again, and redouble their former Affection. This I am confident will happen in your Case, as it often has in the Case of others. Therefore preserve your Spirits and persevere, at least to the Age of 60, a Boundary I once fix’d for my self, but have gone beyond it.
I am afraid the Bill, Wilcocks on Col. Alexander Johnstone for £166 15s. 3½d. must be return’d with a Protest. I shall know in a Day or two.
I shall consult Mr. Jackson, and do in the Island Affair, what shall be thought best for securing your Interest and that of all concerned.
By our Spring Ships I shall write you more fully. At present I can only add that I am, with unalterable Esteem and Affection, Yours most sincerely
B  Franklin
Jos. Galloway Esqr


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Alexander Colden, 7 January 1773: résumé
From: Colden, Alexander
To: Franklin, Benjamin

<General Post Office, January 7, 1773: Has received Franklin’s letter of October 7 acknowledging receipt of several bills, and of Nov. 3 enclosing Mackie’s bill on Molleson for £294 5s. 2d. with the protest, which Colden will transmit to him. Encloses the second bill for £150 sterling by John Hancock on Haley & Hopkins in favor of Tuthill Hubbart; the first was sent on Dec. 2 by the Halifax, packet. Encloses a first bill for £100 sterling by Archibald Ritchie on Hyndman, Lancaster & Co. in favor of Joseph Williamson, postmaster at Hobbs Hole. Will send by the next packet the printed advertisement about Mrs. Elizabeth Holland and an account of what he has done about it.>


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jane (Jenny) Mecom, 9 January 1773
From: Mecom, Jane
To: Franklin, Benjamin

My dear and Honourd Uncle
Boston Janry the 9 1773
My Heart has ever been susceptible of the warmest greatitude for your frequent Benefactions to the whole of our Family, but your last KIND, unexpected as well as undiserved, NOBLE presant in particular to me, calls for a particular acknoledgement from me. Except then dearest Sir, my most Sinceare and hearty thanks, with a promise, that your kindness Shall ever be greatefully rememberd, and your donation be made the best use of; as it will be laid out by my Mamma and the good Mrs. Williams, who is allways, ready with Mr. Williams, to give their friendly advice, and asistance on every occasion, few are blessed, with Such friends as we are; how then can we be unhappy; I am not nor would I change conditions with one person living were I sure of fullfilling my most ardent wish, that every action of my life, may be a credit to my Uncle, my constant endeavours and earnest prayers, shall not be wanting. When dear Sir, shall I have the happiness, of thanking you in person, for all your kindness; god send it may be soon: till then, please to except this incorrect Scrawl and permit me to Subscribe myself, your Sincearly affectionate forever obliged, and ever dutifull Niece,
Jenny Mecom
P S the Man who will Share your goodness with me desires his most dutifull respects and Sincear thanks.
J M

Addressed: To / Dr. Benjamin Franklin / Craven Street. / London.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, [13 January 1773?]
From: Barbeu-Dubourg, Jacques
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Monsieur et cher Ami,
[Jan. 13?, 1773]
Je n’ai encore reçu ni votre paq[uet ni votre lettre?] du 8e. Je vous prie de me marquer [torn] ferez l’honneur de m’ecrire par la [torn] vous etiez servi pour les deux [torn] voyageans, je pourrois pour peu que [torn] decouvrir icy dans les hôtels garnis ou [torn] et si ce sont des françois domiciliés a Paris cela seroit encore plus simple, mais gueres plus sûr.
Si vous ne trouviez point d’inconvenient a communiquer au public l’explication que Miss s—n a proposée de la chaleur que l’eau de Bristoll aquert par l’action de la pompe, je pense que cela ne pourroit que faire plaisir au public. J’ose encore mieux vous repondre qu’on seroit fort aise de sçavoir comment vous rendez raison de ce que le [torn] des rhumes, et que le linge [torn] mouillés n’en causent pas. Si vous ne [torn] publier encore l’explication, je vous [torn] de la communiquer pour mon instruction.
[Torn] noircir les murs des espaliers a fruits [torn] fait executer, ou vu executé quelque [torn] il peut y avoir du pour et du contre. Les murs blanchis reflechissent plus de chaleur sur les fruits pendant le jour, et peuvent consequemment contribuer à avancer leur accroissement, et assurer leur parfaite maturité dans les climats un peu froids. Etes vous bien certain (même avant l’experience) que ce que les murs noircis pourront leur rendre pendant la nuit de leur reserve du jour, compensera avec surabondance ce qu’ils leur en auront absorbé de plus que les murs blancs ordinaires?
Dans votre derniere lettre du 26e–30e. Xbre. vous avez la bonté de m’expliquer le mot chain en ces termes a surveyor’s chain meant here, is four pole, or [66 feet.] [Torn] des arpenteurs est de 4 perches [torn] est donc de 16 pieds et demi [torn] commode pour l’usage, je soupçonne [torn] par mégarde un chiffre pour l’autre [torn] la perche varie un peu d’une province à [l’autre et dans une province?] royale est de 22 pieds, ainsi 66 pieds [torn] je demande donc si vous n’auriez point [torn] 4 perches pour 3, ou 66 pieds pour [torn]. En examinant l’appareil electrique de M. Dalibard pour son experience de Marly la ville (tant la description que la figure) il me semble qu’il n’avoit pas bien pris ses precautions pour la sureté de son ami Coiffier, et que si le tonnerre eût eté tres fort, il auroit bien pu eprouver le meme sort que M Richman, puisque la verge de fer n’avoit point de communication etablie avec la terre, et portoit au contraire sur une planche isolée par des bouteilles. Qu’en pensez-vous?
Permettez moi de vous addresser le petit memoire cy joint de M. Missa mon Confrere, qui vous seroit fort obligé si vous pouviez sans [torn] procurer quelques eclaircissemens [torn.] [Nihil] humanum à te alienum putas.
[Torn] Mademoiselle Biheron depuis bien du [torn] beaucoup d’inquietude sur sa santé. Si [torn] ne lui est pas favorable, faites la [torn] la santé n’est point mauvaise, [torn] [intelli]gence, qui nous afflige tous, et [torn] Mademoiselle Basseporte malade.
Votre graveur [prend?] votre portrait fort à coeur, et se flatte que s’il avoit eu le bonheur de vous voir dans un de vos precedens voyages, il auroit fait quelque chose de mieux que ce que je lui ai donné à copier et reduire. Et il se propose de profiter de l’occasion que vous nous faites esperer l’été prochain pour le refaire à neuf. J’ai l’honneur d’etre avec un devouement à toute epreuve Monsieur et cher Ami Votre tres humble et tres obeissant serviteur
Dubourg


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Noble Wimberly Jones, 13 January 1773
From: Jones, Noble Wimberly
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Savannah 13. Jany: 1773
I am realy ashamed at my remissness in neglect of Writing after your repeated favours, And this now can only serve as an Appology the Captn: being ready to go down. Your much esteemed of the 5th. May containing the curious Seed from India I received safe, also yours of the 3d. of August and a few days since that of the 7th. of October, which repeated marks of kindness fills me with pleasure and gratitude, shall do all in my power that they may answer your laudable Intentions, the Rice there is little doubt of doing well, the others may fail for want of a proper knowledge of the kind of Land necessary the time of sowing and method of Treatment, tho hope they will succeed. I have not seen Mr. Jonathan Bryan since receiv’d your last, shall take care when I do that your and Mr. Ellis’s request be fulfill’d which cant be many days, as our Assembly is to meet Monday next (of which he is a member) am glad to hear tho he and I never agreed in politics that Mr. Ellis still thinks of us, and I heartily wish him well, the Province certainly throve under his Administration. Our present Assembly met the 9th. Decr. last (tho many new Members) did me the Honour of Electing me Speaker which must gaul such arbitrary Men as we have been blest with but my private business making it so very inconvenient determined me to decline accepting, it gave me however real pleasure to see the sentiment of them and that they would not be dictated to. I trust notwithstanding every obsticle that the Province will have the Hapiness of your continuance and Assistance. Time Obliges to conclude with the Honour of subscribing myself with the greatest Respect Dear Sir Your Most Obedient and Very Humble Servant.
N W Jones


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from François Rozier, 24 January 1773
From: Rozier, abbé François
To: Franklin, Benjamin

The letter below is an interesting example of scientific communication in the period. The editor of a scientific journal in Paris was inviting each of many learned societies in Europe to send him a periodic report of its current activities, which he would then broadcast within three months via his journal. After the letters of invitation were printed he seems to have decided to send with them, at least in some cases, sets of his own periodical to prove his bona fides and advertise his wares; he thereupon added to each letter a handwritten postscript explaining his gift. Franklin received the invitation and the volumes as president of the American Philosophical Society. He promised to do what he could to keep Europe informed, by this new medium, of the Society’s work, and forwarded the books to Philadelphia.

Monsieur,
Paris, ce 24 Janvier 1773.
Les Savans ne cessent de se plaindre de la tardive communication des découvertes et des nouvelles relatives aux Arts et aux Sciences: Nous croyons pouvoir obvier à cet inconvénient, si vous daignez concourir à une entreprise qu’une société d’amis et moi avons formée. Toute l’Europe sera instruite, dans l’espace de trois mois au plus tard, des travaux dont votre Compagnie se sera occupée. Pour cet effet, permettez que j’aie l’honneur de vous proposer les moyens suivans:
1º. De donner le titre des Mémoires qui auront été lus dans ses assemblées.
  2º. Une simple notice, ou une petite analyse des articles essentiels qu’ils contiennent.
  3º. Un abrégé de la vie des Académiciens que la mort ravira à votre Société, et sur-tout un tableau des Ouvrages qu’ils auront donnés et des découvertes qu’ils auront faites.
Ces Extraits ne sauroient nuire à l’impression de la Collection de vos Mémoires; ils serviront même de véhicule pour les faire desirer avec plus d’ardeur.
Chaque mois, à commencer à la fin de Janvier de cette année, je ferai remettre à l’Ambassadeur de votre Souverain résidant à Paris, un Exemplaire de mon Journal; et en cas de refus, je me servirai de quelqu’autre voie aussi prompte et aussi sûre: heureux si cet Ouvrage mérite l’approbation de votre Académie! Je vous prie de vous servir de la même voie pour me faire parvenir ce que vous aurez la bonté de me communiquer, ou bien de le faire remettre chez le Ministre de France résidant en votre Ville: Pour lors il faudra, s’il vous plaît, faire une double enveloppe, et écrire sur l’extérieure, A Monseigneur le Duc d’Aiguillon, Ministre et Secretaire des Affaires Etrangeres en France; et sur l’enveloppe intérieure, écrire ces mots: M. Rozier, Journal des Académies.
L’utilité de cette entreprise me fait espérer que votre Compagnie daignera l’encourager, et nommer spécialement un de ses Membres pour se charger de cette correspondance, laborieuse il est vrai; mais indispensable pour le progrès des Sciences. Je suis avec respect, Monsieur, Votre très-humble et très-obéissant serviteur,
L’ Abbé RozierPlace et Quarré Sainte-Genevieve.

P.S Ayez la bonté de presenter de ma part à Votre Illustre Societé ces deux Volumes de mon Recueil, comm’un Obseque qui est dû à la noble entreprise de votre Institut Philosophique: et de recevoir pour vous meme les autres deux.
Outre les voyes que je viens de vous indiquer dans cette Lettre pour les communications ci-dessus, peutetre vous sera-t-il plus aise de me les faire passer par les mains de Mr. le Docteur Franklin in Craven Street, ou de Mr. Magalhaens at no. 4. Old North Street Red Lyon Square, ou de Mr. Elmsley Bookseller facing Southampton Street in the Strand, tous trois à Londres, qui ont souvent des occasions pour me les envoyer à Paris.

Notation: 1773 Rozier


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg, [January? 1773]
From: Barbeu-Dubourg, Jacques
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Monsieur,
[January? 1773]
Ayant fait voir ces jours-ci les premieres épreuves de vos feuilles sur la Musique à MM. G——, amateurs éclairés de tous les beaux arts, je crois devoir vous communiquer le résultat de ma conversation avec eux.
On ne doute point que ces airs Ecossois, que vous exaltez tant, ne soient excellens dans leur genre et parfaitement assortis aux paroles de ces anciennes ballades, telles que votre Chevy-chase, dont le Spectateur a fait un si bel éloge dans deux de ses feuilles. On ne doute pas non plus que la plupart de vos Musiciens d’Angleterre, ainsi que ceux de bien d’autres Nations, ne se soient attiré de trop justes reproches par des compositions bruyantes, sans objet, sans expression, ou remplies de contresens. Mais d’un autre côté, il ne paroît pas raisonnable, et ce n’est surement pas votre intention d’assujettir les Musiciens à un seul genre de Musique, et de les renfermer dans un cercle plus étroit que leur art ne le comporte. Ils ne sauroient se donner un trop libre effort, lorsque le génie les éleve et que le goût les dirige. En Musique, comme en Poësie et en Peinture, il faut savoir exprimer énergiquement et distinctement tous les objets, tous les sentimens et toutes les passions généralement quelconques; il ne faut pas employer les mêmes tons à représenter une cabane, un naufrage, une noce de village, ou l’apothéose d’Hercule; il ne faut pas tout entasser confusément, mais faire un choix judicieux, et mettre à leur juste place les palais et les chaumieres, les héros et les bergers. Un grand Musicien doit savoir produire de doux sons, une mélodie agréable, former de beaux accords, une harmonie charmante, être varié, être abondant dans l’exécution d’un plan simple et aisé, et déployer à propos la grace et la force, le tendre et le terrible, le naïf et le sublime. Toutes ses compositions doivent être tellement assorties à leur objet qu’elles puissent plaire généralement à tout le monde, mais que chacune fasse plus spécialement les délices d’un certain ordre de personnes. Ainsi dans une ballade, ou un vaudeville destiné à l’amusement de l’universalité du peuple, le Musicien doit s’attacher à des modulations très-simples, et dont tous les rapports soient faciles à saisir; dans un opéra, ou un ballet qui doit être représenté devant des amateurs et des maîtres, qui ont le goût délicat et des oreilles exercées, le Musicien doit réunir plus d’harmonie, combiner un plus grand nombre de rapports, et chercher même du nouveau, pourvu qu’il ne s’écarte jamais du vrai. Mais il faut avouer qu’il est peu de Musiciens, comme il est peu de Peintres et de Poëtes assez favorisés de la nature, et dont les talens ayent été assez perfectionnés par l’art, et assez épurés par le goût, pour se pénétrer intimément de ces grands principes, les suivre constamment et les aggrandir successivement, comme vous le desireriez surement, ainsi que nous. J’ai l’honneur d’être, &c.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Alexander Colden, 2 February 1773
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Colden, Alexander

London, Feb. 2 1773
I receiv’d yours of Dec. 2. enclosing a Bill Hancock on Haley & Hopkins for £150 for Account of the Gen. Post-Office.
Inclos’d I return you the Bill, Dunn on Long, Drake and Long, for £100 Sterling, with the Protest which costs 5s. 9d. I hope you are careful to give me Credit for these Protested Bills. I sent you two per last Packet, and one by that of November. Present my Respects to your Good Father, and your very ingenious Brother David, whose Letter I have received. They shall hear from me by the next NYork Ships. I am ever, with great Regard, Dear Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant
B Franklin
Alexr Colden Esqr—per Packet


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Deborah Franklin, 2 February 1773
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Franklin, Deborah

My dear Child,
London Feb. 2. 1773
Since my last I have got the Apples on shore, and they come out very good. Accept my best Thanks. Mr. Bache of NYork has also kindly sent me two Barrels, Capt. Winn one, and Capt. Falconer One. I told you before that Capt. All gave me one, so that I am now plentifully supply’d.
I know you love to have a Line from me by every Packet; so I write tho’ I have little to say, having had no Letter from you since my last of Jan. 6.
In Return for your History of your Grandson, I must give you a little of the History of my Godson. He is now 21 months old, very strong and healthy, begins to speak a little, and even to sing. He was with us a few Days last Week, grew fond of me, and would not be contented to sit down to Breakfast, without coming to call Pa, rejoicing when he had got me into my Place. When seeing me one Day crack one of the Philada. Biskets into my Tea with the Nutcrackers, he took another and try’d to do the same with the Tea Tongs. It makes me long to be at home to play with Ben.
My Love to him and our Children, with all enquiring Friends. Mrs. Stevenson presents her affectionate Respects, and Sally her Duty. I am ever, my dear Debby, Your loving Husband
B Franklin


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jane Parker Bedford, 2 February 1773
From: Bedford, Jane Parker
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Honoured Sir,
Woodbridge February 2d: 1773
At my Mamas perticular request I take the liberty of writing to you, whom once I could address without ceremony, but the unhappy Difference between our families render that perhaps now more necessary, which would formerly have been looked upon as an Act of Duty. You my Dear Sir, I was ever taught to look upon as the Friend, the Benefactor of one of the best of Parents and tho’ he is now no more, and his memory and Actions too Soon forgot by some, yet that hand which so kindly assisted him and thought him worthy when here of friendship, we hope will not forget his family now he is no more. When my Papa died he left Something pritty behind him enogh to maintain Mama and for his children to enter into the World upon. His Estate was no way incumbred, but with those Bonds to Mr. Franklin, as now appears, but which my Mama have frequently heard him say before his Death, were almost discharged, that he had remitted s[ome mone]y to Mrs. Franklin to near the Amount of them, and perti[cularly the?] last time he went frome home he told Mama he believed he had Sufficient with him to Discharge them. However let that [be] as it will and owing to what cause it may on either side there are now heavy Sums appear due on those Bonds. We have seen Powers of Attorney in the hands of both Governor Franklin and Mr. Bache to receive, and secure the Debt, as soon as the Governor appeared we sent in our Account and were ready to settle. Governor Franklin then took time to send the Account over to you. When we called upon him again he said he had nothing to do with the matter that Mr. Bache had come with a later Power of Attorney, and that we must settle with him. We [have] furnished Mr. Bache with the same Accounts as we had the Gove[rnor] who in answer said he could not settle till he had heard further from you. Since that we have Waited and called upon him, again and again, but he says no news from home, and all must be let o[ver?] till then. Mama thinks it very hard. If interest runs upon the Bonds they have almost consumed the Estate, tho this is what we principally want to know, papa in his Books mentions it, that if Interest is charged upon his Bonds to Mr. Franklin, he think it but reasonable he should have commissions upon the Business he did for him. Now what business he did, or what commissions to charge we know not as he kept no Account of it, and therefore we would wish to know from yourself wither or not we must pay Interest upon the Bonds and if we do, wither it is reasonable we should from the time [that?] we have been ready to settle them. It will make an odds in the Inte[rest] [torn] time upon so Great a sum. There was likewise [line missing] March 1770 to you by papa of which there is no mention made in the Account furnishd Govenor Franklin and Mr. Bache. I think he mentions the money arising from Books sold by Auc[tion] of which we should be glad to be informed of with the rest.
In Mr. Coldens settling the Post Office Books there appears a Ballance due to Mama of betwen 20 and 30 pounds, and Mr. Foxcroft in a letter to her mention that in consequence of papas faithful discharge of his duty when in office, she is to be allowed the Sallary from the time of his Death to Mr. Coldens takeing the office. Mr. Colden likewise in a letter to mama mentions it and says that as Mr. Foxcroft had spoke to him about it, and had informed mama of it, he has only charged his Sallary from the third of October 1770, which was about a quarter after papas Death, he dying July 2d 1770, and has [kept the?] intervening Sallary to be receivd by the Board, and upon any orders [from] them he would immediately pay it to her. Now Good Sir, if you think Proper mama should receive the quarters Sallary, from papas Death to Mr. Coldens takeing the office and will make inter[est?] so far, as to have so much of it paid to you as will discharge [Mr.?] Potts his Account against the Estate for the London Chronicle, [from] the time papa began to take it October 10th 1768, to his Death Ju[ly 2] 1770 you will Greatly oblidge my Mama. Mr. Potts has cha[rged] his last Account to January 1773, but he must Charge Inslee for the money after papas Death til then, as we never received [torn] after, but Inslee and Carr has, who took his office.
We should not have troubled or wrote to you, Good Sir was it not for mamas Great anxiety to have her affairs settled and her perticular desire that you should in some measure [be] concerned in them, that she may know from yourself what she must depend on as to your Accounts; as she finds much Difficulty in settling them in her present situation. She is now advanced in years and afflicted, and would Willingly live in peace and she thinks if those Bonds were discharged she could be ha[ppy?] as they are the only incumbrance on the Estate, but which tho we fear will eat the most of it up. She sincerely joins with me in much love and Gratitude for your many favours as would Mr. Bedford, the person whom I am so happy in calling Husband: were he present, a Gentleman tho unknown to you yet I flatter myself, whose Good qualities would recommend to your favour. Permit me therefore for him, with [myself?] to wish you many happy years, and a safe return to your Family and Friends. From Honoured Sir your affectionate Humble Servant
Jenny Bedford

Addressed in another hand: To / Dctr Benjamin Franklin / Craven Street / London


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Theophylact Bache, 3 February 1773
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Bache, Theophylact

Dear Sir,
London, Feb. 3. 1773
I am much oblig’d by your Favour of Dec. 10. with the 2 Barrels of Apples which prove excellent, and are a great Refreshment to me. Please to accept my Thanks, and best Wishes for your Prosperity.
I thank you for your Kind Attention to Mr. Chysholme. I hope he will at last be fix’d to his Mind.
Enclos’d is a Letter from your good Mother, which will inform you of her Welfare and your Sisters. With great Esteem, I am, Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant
B F.
Mr Theo. Bache


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to James Hunter, 10 February 1773
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Hunter, James

Sir
London, Feb. 10. 1773
I duly received your Letter of Nov. 16. and in Answer acquaint you, that you may draw on me for Eighty-seven Pounds ten Shillings Sterling at 30 Days Sight, and the Bill shall be punctually paid. I am glad your Daughter is arrived at an Age when the Money may be of Use to her, and I wish her and you good Luck with it. When you draw send me a Letter of Advice with a Receipt expressing that the Payment of the Bill will be in full for the Principal of the Legacy, £50 and the Interest for 15 Years, at 5 per Cent and of all Demands. I am Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant
B Franklin
Mr James Hunter


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to James Johnston, 10 February 1773
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Johnston, James

Sir,
London, Feb. 10. 1773
I received your Letter, with the Sample of N. American Senna, which I put into the Hands of a Friend who is a great Botanist as well as a Physician, and has made some Trial of it. He tells me that to render it merchantable here, the Stalks should be pick’d out, and the Leaves pack’d up neatly, as that is which comes from the Levant. Perhaps among your Druggists you might see some of those Packages, and so inform yourself of the manner. He has not yet had sufficient Experience of it to be decisive in his Opinion of its Qualities in Comparison with other Senna, but thinks it likely that it may answer the same purposes. Of the Quantity that may be in demand here, I have yet been able to obtain no Intelligence. I am, Sir, Your humble Servant
B Franklin
Mr James Johnston