Title: Post Office Instructions and Directions, 1753
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

The British post office in America, when Franklin and Hunter were appointed deputy postmasters general (see above, p. 18), had never paid its own expenses, much less provided an adequate return to the deputy postmasters. In 1753 the postmaster general determined to raise the salary of his American deputies from £200 to £600 (£300 for each man), but not to reimburse them for expenses. Thus it was to their interest to operate the system at a profit. Fortunately both Franklin and Hunter had been postmasters in their respective towns, and both were familiar with current American practices, particularly Franklin, who, as comptroller of the post office in America, had made a tour of inspection in the northern colonies in the summer and fall of 1753. Franklin and Hunter introduced a number of reforms, some of them so costly that they drew no income from their office for four years and actually ran into debt for £900. As part of the reorganization Franklin prepared careful instructions for the local postmasters. They filled two large printed sheets: one, headed Instructions, set forth the general regulations; the other, called Directions, illustrated the way to keep the required records and accounts. The dates of the hypothetical entries in the Directions suggest late 1753 as the probable date of composition and printing.

I
Instructions Given By Benjamin Franklin, and William Hunter, Esquires, His Majesty’s Deputy Post-Masters General of all his Dominions on the Continent of North America, to their Deputy Post-Master, for the Stage of in the Province of
Imprimis, You are, previous to the entering upon your Office, to take the Oath required by the Act of the Ninth of Queen Anne (of which we have herewith sent you a Copy) before some one Justice of the Peace, for the County or Place where you reside; which, after being regularly certified, by the said Justice, you must return to our Comptroller at Philadelphia. And you are not to entrust or employ any Person or Persons under you, to receive, sort, mark, or deliver, any Letters or Pacquets, or be any otherways concerned in the Management of your Office; unless such Person or Persons shall likewise have first taken the Oath above-mentioned, which you are also to send to our said Comptroller in like Manner as your own. And for the Care and Fidelity of such Person or Persons, so employed by you, you are to be accountable.
2. Item, You are to keep your Office, in a Place to be set apart for that Purpose, in good Order, and not to suffer the Letters to lie open in any Place, to which Persons, coming to your House, may have Access; nor suffer any Person whatsoever, but such as you entrust in the Execution of your Office, to inspect or handle the Letters at any Time, unless they are first delivered to them, for that Purpose, by you or some Person acting under you.
3. Item, You are, upon the coming in of the Mail, and before you deliver any Letters, to observe the following Directions, viz.
  First, Carefully tell over the Letters charged to your Office twice at least, that you may be certain if the Number and Port of the Letters you receive, answer the Number and Port mentioned in the Bill or Bills sent you therewith. And if there be among them any Way or other Letters belonging to your Stage, not charged to you in any Bill, you are to mark them according to the Rates that other Letters are, or should be charged, from the respective Places whence they came to your Office, and enter them in your Book, as you will find particularly directed in the Precedent, mark’d C.
  Secondly, Put the whole of the Letters received in the Mail belonging to your Stage, tho’ they are sent from different Offices, or are Way-Letters, into one Heap or Parcel.
  Thirdly, Sort them alphabetically according to the Sir-names, and then enter them, in the same alphabetical Order, into a Book to be provided and kept for that Purpose only; and write the proper Date, and Names of the Places from whence received, at the Head of the List; and also set the Pennyweights and Grains, and Value in Currency, of each Letter, against the respective Names, as you will see done in the Specimen sent you herewith, mark’d A.
  Fourthly, Having another Book, kept in the Manner as directed by particular Instructions sent you herewith, turn to the Account of Letters received into your Office (see the Precedent for this Account, mark’d C) and make the proper Entries.
4. Item, You are, when any of the Bills sent to you with Letters are overcharged, to mark on them those Parts that are so, and what they ought to have been; and preserve all the Bills you receive on a File. And when any Letters are overcharged, i.e. single Ones as Double, double Ones as Treble, &c. you are to make Allowances for such Overcharges to the Persons to whom the Letters are directed. And when any Letters are undercharged, double Ones as Single, treble Ones as Double, &c. you are to mark them as they ought to have been charged, and receive the Postage accordingly, taking Care to send a true Account thereof, by the first Post, in your Comptroller’s Bill. And if there be, among the Letters charged to you, any which are not in your Delivery, and ought to have been sent to some other Place, you are then, if you know the proper Stage for their Delivery, to forward them there by the first Post; and if that Stage be farther distant from the Office they were first sent from than yours, you are to mark and charge them as they ought to have been mark’d and charg’d from thence, and mention them as forwarded in the Bill you send therewith; and you must likewise enter an Account of the Pennyweights and Grains of each Missent Letter so forwarded by you, in the Column for that Purpose; and note the same in your next Comptroller’s Bill, that your Account may be credited therewith. And you are likewise to acquaint the Postmasters, from whose Offices any Bills or Letters may come over or under-charged, or missent to you, of the Mistakes they have made, by the first Post after you observe them, which you may do either on the Back of the Bills you send them, or by Letter, as is most convenient.
5. Item, You are, if you find the Post has been longer in riding his Stage than he ought, to examine him strictly as to the Cause of it; and if he cannot give any just Reason, you must, by the next Post, acquaint his Master with it, and write what he says, that the Cause of his Delay may be known.
6. Item, You are not to open or suffer to be opened any Mail or Bag of Letters, except such Bags as shall be sent unto you with Letters to be delivered at your Stage, unless there be an urgent Necessity; and in that Case you must always seal up the Bag again, with the Seal of your Office, and send a Note therein, specifying the Reason why the said Bag was broke open.
7. Item, You are not to receive, or permit or consent to be received, at your Office, for the Port of any Letters or Pacquets, any Rates, but according to the Rates taxed or allowed for the Port of such Letters or Pacquets, in the Table of Rates herewith sent you, which you are to hang up in your Office in a Frame, to be preserv’d for your Government, and the Satisfaction of all Persons paying such Postage.
8. Item, You are not to trust any Person whatsoever for the Postage of Letters or Pacquets, but at your own Risque. And if any Sum, not exceeding Five Pounds Sterling, shall be due from any Person for Letters or Pacquets to them delivered by you, or which now is or shall be due for the Port of Letters or Pacquets by you or your Servants delivered to them, not exceeding that Value, you may recover the same by the afore-mentioned Act before Justices of the Peace, in the same Manner, and under the same Rules, as small Tithes are by the Laws of England to be recovered; and such Debts or Sums of Money are to be preferable in Payment, by the Person owing the same, or from whose Estate the same is or shall be due, before any Debt of any Sort to any private Person whatsoever.

9. Item, You are to cause all Letters and Pacquets, received by you for Persons living in Town, which remain uncalled for on those Days they are brought to the Office, to be carefully delivered the next Morning as directed, so that the Persons receiving them may have convenient Time to return their Answers to your Stage to go by the next Return of the Post; and you are to allow the Person employed by you to deliver Letters aforesaid, to receive of the Persons to whom he delivers them, for his own Use, One English Copper Halfpenny for each Letter, over and above the Postage charged thereon. And when ever any Letters remain in your Office undelivered one Month after you have received them, you are to take a List of the Names of the Parties to whom the same are directed, and their Places of Abode, and publish it in one or all the News-Papers printed in your Province, if the Printers thereof send any of their Papers in his Majesty’s Mail. And all those Letters which remain undelivered two Months after such Publication, you are to send to the General Post-Office, at Philadelphia, as Dead Letters, and your Account will be credited therewith accordingly: And if there be any particular Reason why any Letter was not delivered according to its Direction, mention the same on the Back of such Letter; and on each Bundle mark the Amount of Pennyweights and Grains it contains. If you omit sending the Dead Letters with your quarterly Account, you are to take Notice that you will have no Allowance made you for them till they are sent.
10. Item, You are to use your best Endeavours to prevent any private Collection of Letters, by any Person whatsoever, within any of the Towns or Places under your Care; and if you find any private Collectors of Letters or Pacquets, you are constantly to return the Names, and Places of Abode, of all such Persons making such Collections, to our Comptroller aforesaid.
11. Item, You are to do as much as in you lies, to collect all Letters and Pacquets within your said Stage, and the Districts thereof, to the End that they may be sent in his Majesty’s Mails.
12. Item, You are, until you receive other Directions from us, to continue the Posts in the same Rout, and observe the same Method of conveying Letters by them, in the several Bags, as has been hitherto usual from your Office.
13. Item, You are not to deliver back any Letter put into your Office, unless you are sure it be to the same Person who wrote or brought the same; and if the Person who brought the Letter be not the Writer thereof, and should afterwards come to demand it back again, you are not to deliver it unless he shall bring you the same Superscription, written with the same Hand, and the Impression of the same Seal, wherewith such Letter was superscribed and sealed.
14. Item, You are not to take Charge of, or send in the Mail, any Letters that have Money, Rings, Jewels, or any Thing else of Value, other than Paper or Parchment inclosed; but if any Persons apply to you to have such Things sent, you must acquaint them that they may, if they chuse to run the Risque, agree with the Post-rider for the same, it being allowed him as a Perquisite, to carry those Kind of Things for such Persons as chuse to entrust him therewith; but that you do not in any wise undertake to be accountable for the safe Deliverance thereof.
15. Item, You are to permit any Person who desires it, to pay the Postage of any Letter he may put into your Office to be sent per Post; and you are to mark the same as Paid, and mention them as such in the Bill or Charge you send therewith; and also send, from Time to Time, in the Comptroller’s Bill, a true and exact Account of the Number of Penny-weights and Grains that shall be so paid to you.
16. Item, You are, upon the making up of the Mail, to observe the following Directions, viz.
  First, Carefully sort the Letters, according to the several Stages they are directed for, putting all those for each Stage into a separate Heap or Parcel.
  Secondly, Write on them the Name or Mark of your Stage, and the proper Rate, according to the Table of Rates sent you herewith, being strictly careful, that you neither over or under-rate them. And you are to observe that every single Piece of Paper, however small, or large, is to be tax’d as a single Letter, unless there are wrote on it more Letters than one, or Bills of Exchange, Merchants Accompts, Invoices, Bills of Lading, Writs or Proceedings at Law; in that Case every Letter, Bill, Accompt, Invoice, &c. is to be rated and taxed as so many several and distinct Letters, tho’ wrote on one and the same Piece of Paper; but Letters inclosing several Patterns of Cloth, Silk, Stuff, &c. not exceeding one Ounce Weight, to pay only as a double Letter, or two Pieces of Paper.
  Thirdly, Sort the Letters of each Parcel, into Single, Double, Treble, and Pacquets, Paid and Unpaid, Ship and Inland; and then enter them in that Order in the Bill or Charge to be sent therewith; and date, and sign the Bill with your Name.
  Fourthly, Then tie up the Letters of each Stage in separate Bundles, and enter the Amount of each Bill in your Books, as you will see done in the Precedent, marked Letter B, sent you herewith; and then putting the Letters into their respective Bags, tie the same, and seal them with the Seal of your Office.
17. Item, You are not hereafter to suffer any Letter or Pacquet, to pass in his Majesty’s Mail Post-free, unless you receive a special Order from us for that Purpose. And hereupon we now direct, that all Deputy Post-Masters, bearing Commission immediately from us shall have all the Letters to and from themselves, Post-free; always meaning that they shall not, under Colour of this Privilege, convey Letters for other People, who otherwise would be chargeable for the Postage thereof.
18. Item, You are not, out of Friendship or Compliment to any Person whatsoever, to delay his Majesty’s Post one Quarter of an Hour, beyond the usual and fixed Times of his Departure.
19. Item, You are to direct the Post-riders, who go from your Stage, to wind their Horns once every five Miles, and three Times in every Town or Village, and upon the Meeting any Passenger on the Road; and also on his arriving at, and Half an Hour before his Departure from, your Office.
20. Item, You are to keep a just and true Account of all Monies whatsoever received by you, for the Port of Letters or Pacquets; and at the End of each Quarter, That is to say, at Ladyday, Midsummer, Michaelmas, and Christmas, you are to make out a true and exact Account thereof, with your Disbursements, &c. in the Manner as is done in the Precedent sent you herewith, marked Letter D, and send the same to our Comptroller, at Philadelphia, with the Ballance thereof, either in Gold or Silver, or in the current Money of the Province wherein he resides, or in good Bills of Exchange, to be allowed of by him, and payable upon Sight in the said Province. For your Ease in making out this Account, you have printed Forms sent you.
21. Item, You are strictly enjoined, not to take into your Service, any Rider who hath served any other Post-Master as a Servant to ride, without a Certificate, signed by the Master whom he last served, signifying that he had behaved himself honestly, and been diligent in the Performance of his Duty: And taking a Rider without such Certificate, you shall be answerable for all Faults committed by him with respect to the Post-Office. On employing any Rider, you are to cause him to sign the Bond, and take the Oath sent you herewith for that Purpose; you are to be particularly careful that such Rider perform his Duty in every Respect, and on his Failure, to sue his Bond, and prosecute him for Breach of Oath, as you shall see Cause.
22. Item, You are constantly to observe whether the Bags coming to your Office for your Stage, be sealed with the respective Seals of the Offices from whence they came; and to seal, with a fair Impression of the Seal of your Stage, the several Bags which you send from thence.
23. Item, You are diligently and faithfully to demean yourself in your said Employment, and to the utmost of your Ability and Skill, by all lawful Ways and Means, to promote His Majesty’s Service in your Place, and from Time to Time to keep and observe all the abovementioned Orders and Instructions, and all such other Rules, Orders, Directions and Instructions, concerning the Management of your Place, as you shall receive from us, or our Comptroller aforesaid. And if any Misdemeanor shall be proved against you, you are quietly to submit, and render up your said Place, when we shall signify the same to you under our Hands and Seal of Office, notwithstanding any Agreement between us and you at the Entry into your said Employment.
B. FranklinW. Hunter

II
Directions to the Deputy Post-Masters,for keeping their Accounts.
A. Form of the Book for keeping an Alphabetical List of Letters, received every Mail, or from on Ship-board, referred to in the Third Instruction.

Dwt.
  Grs.
  £.
  s.
  d.

Received from the Ship Charles,

Captain Johnson, from London,

October 3, 1753.

A

Thomas Archer, 1 Single,
16

John Ashurst, 1 Double,
1

  C

James Cook, 1 Treble,
1
8

T. Cox, a Packet, 1 Ounce wt.
1
16

  F

Edward Fitz Randolph, 1 Single,
16

  H

James Hooper, 1 Double,
1

Charles Haddock,——2 Ounces,
3
8

  P

Matthew Parke, 1 Single,
16

  Z

George Zeisieger, 1 Double,
1

Received from Boston, R. Island,

New-York, and Way Letters

  B

William Bacon,
6

George Baker,
7
16

  D

James Dobbs,
7

Charles Dean,
9

John Downing,
3
16

  M

Benjamin M’Veaugh,
6

O

Israel Oatley,
6
16

Charles Osborne,
3

George Owen,
2

  S

James Sadler,
6

George Savage, (Way Letter)
2

Thomas Suttle, Ditto
2

Peter Stewart,
3

(&c. &c. through the Alphabet)

The second Book referred to in your Instructions must be in Folio, of Post or Demy Paper, about fifteen Inches long, and Eighteen and a Half wide. The Quantity of Paper to be contained in it must be determined by the Number of Letters you receive and dispatch: A Book that will contain three, four, or more Years Transaction, will be best. You are to begin it with an Account of Letters sent from your Office, according to the following Specimen, mark’d B. Every Time you dispatch a Mail, you are to turn to this Account, and fill it up from the Post-Master’s Bills you send to each Office. After heading this Account (that you may have Room to carry it forward from Time to Time, as the Pages become fill’d) you are to leave a Quantity of blank Paper after it, extending to about the Middle of your Book, where you must enter an Account of Letters received into your Office, according to the Form mark’d C.
B. Letters sent from the Post Office, at

  Date of the Bills sent.
  To what Officethe Letterswere sent.
  Number of UnpaidLetters.
  Number of paidLetters.
  FreeLetters.

  Single
  Double.
  Treble.
  Pacquet.
  Sums unpaid.
  Single
  Double.
  Treble.
  Pacquet.
Sums paid.
  Single
  Double.
  Treble.
  Pacquet.

  Dwt.
  Grs.
  Dwt.
  Grs.

  October 4.
Boston,
56
4
1
–
498
16
–
–
–
–
–
–
1
2

Rhode-Island,
2
–
–
–
14

New-York,
43
5
5
2
278
8

Amboy,
1
–
–
–
2
16

  Sent Comptroler’s Bill for the above Oct. 10.
Brunswick,
3
–
–
–
6

Trenton,
3
–
–
–
9
16

Burlington,
1
–
–
–
2

Oct. 10.
Boston,
18
1
–
–
142

New York,
31
1
–
–
142

Amboy,
2
–
–
–
4

Brunswick,
2
–
–
–
4
16

Trenton,
2
–
–
–
2
16

12.
Williamsburg,
–
–
1
1
35
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
2
2
1

Annapolis,
10
1
–
–
36

New-Castle,
1
–
–
–
2

  18.
New-York,
18
–
1
–
71
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
1

Ditto.

  25.
Boston,
10
3
1
–
137

New-York,
23
2
2
–
128
–
1
–
–
–
3
8

Ditto.

  Nov. 1.
Boston,
18
1
2
–
183

New-York,
17
3
1
–
78
–
1
–
–
–
3

  8.
Rhode-Island,
3
1
–
–
35
16

Ditto.

  15.
New-York,
37
7
3
3
279
–
1
–
–
–
3

  22.
Boston,
23
2
–
–
194
–
1
–
–
–
7

Ditto.

  30.
New-York,
15
6
1
1
116
–
3
–
–
–
9

Rhode-Island,
2
–
–
–
14
–
1
–
–
–
7

  Dec. 1.
New-York,
8
–
–
1
45
8

  13.
New York,
9
1
2
1
68
–
1
–
–
–
3

Ditto.

  21.
Boston,
5
–
–
–
37

New-York,
14
3
4
–
99
8
–
1
–
–
6

  22.
Annapolis,
1
–
–
–
3
–
–
1
–
–
6
–
1

1

Sent Comptroler’s Bill for the above.

47
8

C. Letters received into the Post-Office, at

1
  2
  3
  4
  5
  6
  7
  8
  9
  10
  11

  Time of Receiving.
  Names of the Offices, and Ships,from whence they were received.
  Date ofBills received.
  Unpaid Letters received.
  Way Letters received.
  Undercharged from other Offices.
  Overcharged from other Offices.
  Paid Letters received from other Offices.
  Forwarded to other Offices being Mis-sent.
Ship Letters.

    Number paid vfor.
    Belonging to this Office only.

Dwt.
  Grs.
  Dwt.
  Grs.
  Dwt.
  Grs.
  Dwt.
  Grs.
  Dwt.
  Grs.
  Dwt.
  Grs.
  Dwt.
  Grs.

1753.

1753.

Oct. 3.
Ship Charles, Johnson, from Lond.

—

—

—

88
49
16

3.
Boston,
Sept. 24.
113
8
6

Rhode Island,
25.
7

New York,
Oct. 1.
147

9.
Boston,
1.
214
16

New York,
8.
154
16

10.
Annapolis,
6.
8

—

10

17.
Boston,
8.
50

New-York,
15.
165
8

—

—

Brunswick,

2
16

3

6
8

24.
Boston,
15.
93

—

—
7

Rhode-Island,
16.
7

3

New-York,
22.
121
16

Brunswick,

2

25.
Williamsburg,
9.
20

Annapolis,
22.
3

Boyd’s Hole,
No Bill.
70

Nov. 1.
Boston,
Oct. 22.
179
16

—

—
7

Rhode-Island,
23.
7
16

New-York,
29.
158
16

7.
New-York,
Nov. 5.
102

3

3

Rhode-Island,
Oct. 30.
7

Boston,
29.
128

—

—
1

12.
Ship Harriet, from N. Carolina,

—

—

—

14
6
12

15.
Boston,
Nov. 5.
182
16

—

6

New-York,
12.
263
16
6
—

—

9

16.
Ship John, from Bristol,

—

—

—

30
18
12

20.
Ship Amy, from London,

—

—

19
15

21.
Boston,
12.
105
16

Rhode Island,
13.
14

New-York,
19.
323
16
3

Brunswick,

8
16

26.
Ship Freelove, from London,

—

—

—

17
4
16

27.
Ship Happy, from Jamaica,

—

—

14
—

6

29.
Boston,
19.
156

Rhode-Island,
20.
69
8

6

New-York,
27.
189
16

30.
Annapolis,
24.
3

30.
Ship Adventure, from Barbados,

—

—

—

8
6
8

Dec. 5.
New-York,
Dec. 3.
27

Brunswick,

2

5.
Ship Sea-Horse, from London,

—

—

—

17
7

13.
Boston,
Nov. 26.
243
16

8

14

New-York,
Dec. 10.
189
16
12
16

15
16

Brunswick,

2
16

13.
Ship Hector, from Jamaica,

—

—

—

5
8

20.
New-York,
17.
63

32

Brunswick,

2

10

Annapolis,
14.
8

  10

  2
  16

3616
16
65
16
20

44
16
46
8
21
16
199
113
0

That you may be at no Loss to fill up each Column of this Account (mark’d C) properly, observe the following Directions. On the Receipt of any Mail, lay all the Post-Masters Bills before you (having first examined whether they are right or no, as directed in the third Instruction.) Enter the Time of receiving in the first Column. From each of the Bills enter the Name of the Office in the second Column: The Date of the Bill in the Third: The Pennyweights and Grains of the Unpaid Letters you receive from such Office in the fourth Column, exactly according to the Foot of the Bill, whether right or wrong cast up, whether under or overcharged, because the 6th and 7th Columns will rectify the Mistake, if any. Enter the Amount of the Way Letters you receive from the Post-Man, belonging to your Stage only, and also the Amount of the Letters you deliver him from your Stage (not being charged to you in any Bill) to be left on the Road, for which he is to pay you the Postage, in the 5th Column. Enter the Under and Overcharges of each Bill in the 6th and 7th Columns, opposite to the Name of the Office where such Under or Overcharges were made. Enter the Amount of Paid Letters you receive from each Office, in the 8th Column, opposite to the Name of such Office. When you receive any Letters in the Mail, mis-sent, and which you have forwarded to other Offices, place the Amount of such Letters, as charged to you in the Bill, in the 9th Column. When you receive Letters from on board any Ship or Vessel, you are to enter the Name of such Vessel in the 2d Column; the Number of Letters you have paid the Captain or others for in the 10th Column; and the Amount of such of them as belong to your Office only, in the 11th Column, marking the Rates on them at the Time of receiving. Hence you may with little Trouble make up your Quarterly Account, as follows;

D. Dr. The Post-Office at	in

For one Quarter, ending

Current Money

Dwt.
Gr.
£.
s.
d.

1
To Postage of Letters which remained in the Office last Quarter,

2
  To Postage of paid Letters sent from this Office this Quarter,
  46
  8

  3
  To Postage of unpaid Letters received from other Offices Ditto,
  3616
  16

  4
  To Postage of Way Letters belonging to this Office Ditto,
  65
  16

  5
  To Postage of Letters undercharg’d from other Offices Ditto,
  20

  6
  To the Amount of Ship Letters belonging to this Office Ditto,
  113

Account with the General Post-Office of America, Cr.

   the  Day of 17

  Current Money

Dwt.
  Gr.
  £.
  s.
  d.

1
By Postage of dead Letters sent to the General Post-Office this Quarter,

  2
  By Postage of Letters remaining in this Office,

  3
  By Letters mis-sent, being forwarded to other Offices,
  21
  16

  4
  By Overcharge of Letters from other Offices,
  44
  16

  5
  By 199 Pence, paid for Ship Letters,

  6
  By a Quarter’s Allowance for Salary, and Incidents, per Ct.

  7
  By Ditto, paid the Rider between this Office and

  8
   Balance carried to the Credit of the General Post-Office,

For filling up this Account, observe the following Directions:
On the Debtor Side,

Article 1st,
Will be the same Sum as the second Article on the Creditor Side of your preceding Quarterly Account.

  2d,
From the Account of Letters sent from your Office, take the Amount of the paid Letters for the Quarter.

  3d,
Turn to the Account of Letters received into your Office, and from the fourth Column take the Amount of unpaid Letters received from other Offices.

  4th,
From the fifth Column in the said Account, take the Amount of Way Letters.

  5th,
From the sixth Column, take the Amount of Letters which came to you from other Offices, undercharged.

  6th,
From the eleventh Column, take the Amount of Ship Letters.

On the Creditor Side,

  Article 1st,
Will be the Amount of dead Letters, you send with your Quarterly Account to the General Post-Office.

  2d,
Take the Amount of the Letters you keep in your Office, and place the Sum in Pennyweights and Grains opposite to this Article.

  3d,
From the ninth Column of the Account of Letters received into your Office, take the Amount of Letters sent by Mistake, and by you forwarded to other Offices.

  4th,
From the seventh Column of the said Account take the Amount of Letters overcharg’d.

  5th,
Fill this up from the tenth Column, with the Sum you have paid for Ship Letters during the Quarter.

  6th,
Your Quarter’s Salary or Allowance.

  7th,
The Wages you pay the Riders.

  8th,
The Balance due to the General Post-Office.

Sum up the whole Amount of Pennyweights and Grains, on both Sides, and extend it in the current Coin of your Province, in the Columns for that Purpose, at the Rate you receive for Pennyweights and Grains. Then strike a Balance, due from you to the General Post-Office.
Some of the Articles in the above Account will be often unnecessary, as when during the whole Quarter, you have received no mis-sent Letters; have not been under or overcharged; where the Office is not a Sea-port, &c. so that in the printed Account sent to the General Post-Office every Quarter, some of these Articles will remain blank.
It will be proper to copy the Quarterly Accounts you send to the General Post-Office into the latter Part of your Book.
You have now only an Account to raise for the General Post-Office; which, as it will take up but little Room, may be on the last Folio of your Book save one: To the Creditor Side of which Account, you must carry all your Quarterly Balances; and on the Debtor Side, charge all the Money you remit to, or pay by Order of, the Post-Master General, the Comptroller, or either of them.
In placing the aforementioned Accounts in different Parts of your Book, as directed, you may contrive it, as nearly as possible, that every Part of your Book may be filled at one and the same time.
B. Franklin


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to James Alexander, 1753
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Alexander, James

[1753?]
Suppose a tube of any length open at both ends, and containing a moveable wire of just the same length, that fills its bore. If I attempt to introduce the end of another wire into the same tube, it must be done by pushing forward the wire it already contains; and the instant I press and move one end of that wire, the other end is also moved; and in introducing one inch of the same wire, I extrude, at the same time, an inch of the first, from the other end of the tube.
If the tube be filled with water, and I inject an additional inch of water at one end, I force out an equal quantity at the other, in the very same instant.
And the water forced out at one end of the tube is not the very same water that was forced in at the other end at the same time, it was only in motion at the same time.
The long wire made use of in the experiment to discover the velocity of the electric fluid, is itself filled with what we call its natural quantity of that fluid, before the hook of the Leyden bottle is applied to one end of it.
The outside of the bottle being at the time of such application, in contact with the other end of the wire; the whole quantity of electric fluid contained in the wire is, probably, put in motion at once.
For at the instant the hook, connected with the inside of the bottle, gives out; the coating, or outside of the bottle, draws in a portion of that fluid.
If such long wire contains precisely the quantity that the outside of the bottle demands, the whole will move out of the wire to the outside of the bottle, and the over quantity which the inside of the bottle contained, being exactly equal, will flow into the wire, and remain there, in the place of the quantity the wire had just parted with to the outside of the bottle.
But if the wire be so long as that one-tenth (suppose) of its natural quantity is sufficient to supply what the outside of the bottle demands, in such case the outside will only receive what is contained in one-tenth of the wire’s length, from the end next to it; though the whole will move so as to make room at the other end for an equal quantity issuing, at the same time, from the inside of the bottle.
So that this experiment only shews the extream facility with which the electric fluid moves in metal; it can never determine the velocity.
And, therefore, the proposed experiment (though well imagined, and very ingenious) of sending the spark round through a vast length of space, by the waters of Susquehannah, or Potowmack, and Ohio, would not afford the satisfaction desired, though we could be sure that the motion of the electric fluid would be in that tract, and not under ground in the wet earth by the shortest way.


Title: Poor Richard Improved, 1754
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To:

Kind Reader,
I have now serv’d you three Apprenticeships, yet, old as I am, I have no Inclination to quit your Service, but should be glad to be able to continue in it three times three Apprenticeships longer.
The first Astrologers I think, were honest Husbandmen; and so it seems are the last; for my Brethren Jerman and Moore, and myself, the only remaining Almanack-makers of this Country, are all of that Class: Tho’ in intermediate Times our Art has been cultivated in great Cities, and even in the Courts of Princes; witness History, from the Days of King Nebuchadnezzar I. of Babylon, to those of Queen James I. of England. But you will ask, perhaps, how I prove that the first Astrologers were Countrymen? I own this is a Matter beyond the Memory of History, for Astrology was before Letters; but I prove it from the Book of the Heavens, from the Names of the twelve Signs, which were mostly given to remark some Circumstance relative to rural Affairs, in the several successive Months of the Year, and by that Means to supply the Want of Almanacks. Thus, as the Year of the Ancients began most naturally with the Spring, Aries and Taurus, that is, the Ram and the Bull, represented the successive Addition to their Flocks of Sheep and Kine, by their Produce in that Season, Lambs and Calves. Gemini were originally the Kids, but called the Twins, as Goats more commonly bring forth two than one: These follow’d the Calves. Cancer, the Crab, came next, when that Kind of Fish were in Season. Then follow’d Leo, the Lion, and Virgo, the Wench, to mark the Summer Months, and Dog-days, when those Creatures were most mischievous. In Autumn comes first Libra, the Ballance, to point out the Time for weighing and selling the Summer’s Produce; or rather, a Time of Leisure for holding Courts of Justice in which they might plague themselves and Neighbours; I know some suppose this Sign to signify the equal Poise, at that Time, of Day and Night; but the other Signification is the truer, as plainly appears by the following Sign Scorpio, or the Scorpion, with the Sting in his Tail, which certainly denotes the Paying of Costs. Then follows Sagittary, the Archer, to show the Season of Hunting; for now the Leaves being off the Trees and Bushes, the Game might be more easily seen and struck with their Arrows. The Goat accompanies the short Days and long Nights of Winter, to shew the Season of Mirth, Feasting and Jollity; for what can Capricorn mean, but Dancing or Cutting of Capers? At length comes Aquarius, or the Water-bearer, to show the Season of Snows, Rains and Floods; and lastly Pisces, or the two Shads, to denote the approaching Return of those Fish up the Rivers: Make your Wears, hawl your Seins; Catch ’em and pickle ’em, my Friends; they are excellent Relishers of old Cyder. But if you can’t get Shad, Mackrell may do better.
I know, gentle Readers, that many of you always expect a Preface, and think yourselves slighted if that’s omitted. So here you have it, and much good may’t do ye. As little as it is to the Purpose, there are many less so, now-a-days. I have left out, you see, all the usual Stuff about the Importunity of Friends, and the like, or I might have made it much bigger. You think, however, that ’tis big enough o’Conscience, for any Matter of Good that’s in it; I think so too, if it fills the Page, which is the Needful at present, from Your loving Friend to serve,
R. Saunders

In our Almanack for 1750, we gave the Number of Inhabitants in New-Jersey, as taken 1737–8, and 1745, by which it appear’d that the Total of all Ages, Sexes and Colours, amounted

in 1737–8, to
47369

  in 1745, to
  61403

Which makes an Increase in seven Years of
  14034

  being almost one Third, tho’ that is a Province into which there are but few direct Importations of Strangers.
In 1699 an Account was taken of the Freeholders in West-Jersey, by which it appear’d that there were, viz.

  In Burlington County, and Maidenhead,
  302

  In Gloucester, and Egg-Harbour,
  134

  In Salem County,
  326

  In Cape-May County,
   70

In all, Freeholders,
  832

  If we suppose six Souls to each Freeholder,
    6

  There might then be in West-Jersey, Souls,
  4992

  In 1745 there were in the same Counties, viz.
  Souls.

  Burlington, Hunterdon and Morris, which werein 1699 all Burlington County,
  20180

  Gloucester, which includes Egg Harbour,
  3506

  Salem,
  6847

  Cape-May,
   1188

In all, Souls,
  31821

By which it appears that West-Jersey has increased in Forty-six Years, more than six for one; tho’ some of its Counties are from their Situation reckoned not very healthy.
A Receipt for curing Gammons, in the best Manner.
For three Dozen of Hams, take common Salt, and Sugar, twelve Pounds of each, Salt-petre six Pounds, rub it on the Hams after it is powder’d fine, and let them stand a Week; then make a Lye, of a Bushel of Wood Ashes, with as much common Salt as will make it strong enough to bear an Egg; let the Hams lie in it three or four Weeks: Boil the Lye well, and skim it till it is clear, and let it cool, before you pour it on the Hams. When you smoke them, rub them with Bran till they are dry. This Lye will serve for your hung Beef, or Tongues, after being boiled over again and skim’d.
Note, Gammons thus cured, will fetch a good Price, for Exportation.
January. I Month.
The first Degree of Folly, is to conceit one’s self wise; the second to profess it; the third to despise Counsel.
  Take heed of the Vinegar of sweet Wine, and the Anger of Good-nature.

February. II Month.
  The Bell calls others to Church, but itself never minds the Sermon.
  Cut the Wings of your Hens and Hopes, lest they lead you a weary Dance after them.
March. III Month.
  In Rivers and bad Governments, the lightest Things swim at top.
  The Cat in Gloves catches no Mice.
April. IV Month.
  If you’d know the Value of Money, go and borrow some.
  The Horse thinks one thing, and he that saddles him another.
  Love your Neighbour; yet don’t pull down your Hedge.
May. V Month.
  When Prosperity was well mounted, she let go the Bridle, and soon came tumbling out of the Saddle.
  Some make Conscience of wearing a Hat in the Church, who make none of robbing the Altar.
June. VI Month.
  In the Affairs of this World Men are saved, not by Faith, but by the Want of it.
  Friendship cannot live with Ceremony, nor without Civility.
  Praise little, dispraise less.
July. VII Month.
  The learned Fool writes his Nonsense in better Language than the unlearned; but still ’tis Nonsense.
  A child thinks 20 Shillings and 20 years can scarce ever be spent.
August. VIII Month.
  Don’t think so much of your own Cunning, as to forget other Mens: A cunning Man is overmatch’d by a cunning Man and a Half.

  Willows are weak, but they bind the Faggot.
  You may give a Man an Office, but you cannot give him Discretion.
September. IX Month.
  He that doth what he should not, shall feel what he would not.
  To be intimate with a foolish Friend, is like going to bed to a Razor.
  Little Rogues easily become great Ones.
October. X Month.
  You may sometimes be much in the wrong, in owning your being in the right.
  Friends are the true Sceptres of Princes.
  Where Sense is wanting, every thing is wanting.
November. XI Month.
  Many Princes sin with David, but few repent with him.
  He that hath no ill Fortune will be troubled with good.

For Age and Want save while you may;
No Morning Sun lasts a whole Day.

December. XII Month.
  Learning to the Studious; Riches to the Careful; Power to the Bold; Heaven to the Virtuous.

Now glad the Poor with Christmas Cheer;
Thank God you’re able so to end the Year.


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 1 January 1754
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Colden, Cadwallader

Dear Sir,
Philada. Jan. 1. 1753 [1754]
I have your Favour of the 3d past, with your Son’s Remarks on the Abbé Nollet’s Letters. I think the Experiments and Observations are judiciously made, and so well express’d, that, with your and his Leave, I would transmit them to Mr. Collinson for Publication. I have repeated all the Abbé’s Experiments in Vacuo, and find them answer exactly as they should do on my Principles, and in the material Part quite contrary to what he has related of them; so that he has laid himself extreamly open by attempting to impose false Accounts of Experiments on the World to support his Doctrine. Mr. Dalibard wrote me that he was preparing an Answer that would be published the Beginning of this Winter; but as he seems to have been impos’d on by the Abbé’s confident Assertion that a charg’d Bottle set down on an Electric per se is depriv’d of its Electricity, and in his Letter to me attempts to account for it, I doubt he is not yet quite Master enough of the Subject to do the Business effectually; so I conclude to write a civil Letter to the Abbé myself, in which, without resenting his Chicanery or any thing else in his Letters, I shall endeavour to set the disputed Matters in so clear a Light, as to satisfy every one that will take the Trouble of Reading it. Before I send it home, I shall communicate it to you, and take your Friendly Advice on it. I set out to-morrow on a Journey to Maryland, where I expect to be some Weeks; but shall have some Leisure when I return. At present I can only add my Thanks to your ingenious Son, and my hearty Wishes of a happy New Year to you and him and all yours. I am, Sir, Your obliged, and most obedient humble Servant
B Franklin
P. S. I wrote to you last Post, and sent my Paper on the Increase of Mankind. I send the Supplemental Electrical Experiments in several Fragments of Letters; of which Cave has made the most, by printing some of them twice over.
 Addressed: The honble Cadwallader [Colden]  Coldengham  Free   B Franklin


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Darling and Nathan Whiting, 1 January 1754
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Darling, Thomas,Whiting, Nathan

Gentlemen,
Philada. Jan. 1. 1753[1754]
I received your Money of Mr. Willing, and will remit it to London as soon as I have your Orders to whom.
I expect the Printing Materials for Newhaven early in the Spring; they are to come in to New York, unless there be a Vessel bound to Newhaven or Middletown. As soon as I hear of their Arrival, I purpose a Journey into Connecticut. But reflecting on the Sum you suppose the Building will cost, and remembring from dear Experience that the final Amount is generally double the Computation, I begin to think, that ’till we have made Trial how the Business is like to be encourag’d, it will be better to hire a Room or two, or accept of Mr. Clap’s kind Offer of a Room in the College for the first Year. Yet if you have already done any thing in the Affair, let me know that I may reimburse you. I am, Gentlemen, Your oblig’d humble Servant
B Franklin

I heartily wish a happy New Year to you, Mr. Clap, and all our Newhaven and Connecticut Friends.

 Endorsed: I See Mr. Franklins determinations for which I am Sorry, you’ll act accordingly.  N Whiting at Fairfield


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 14 January 1754
From: Collinson, Peter
To: Franklin, Benjamin

My Dear Friend
Lond: Jry 14: 1753 [1754]
I am so disheartend at the Loss of Capt. Davis, that I cannot tell how to sett Penn to paper. I had so amply Employed my Budget in 2 or 3 pacquetts with a Large pack and Books per M. Dalibard at Paris a Box with 6 of Bird thermometers books Magazins all gone and Poor John Bartram has lost his Two Guinea Microscope and prints for Billey Seeds and Two or three Sheets all of my Scrawl.
I had writt you Largely of Mr. Smiths Affair. The propretor has give Mee all the Assurance He will Support a Rectorship which will be setled when He Comes to Town. I have but a few Minites for this Scrowl so accept my best Wishes. Yours
P Collinson
I hope John Bartram will send Twelve Boxs of Seed.

 Addressed: To  Benn: Franklin  Esqr  at Philadephia  via New England.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Nathan Whiting, 16 January 1754
From: Whiting, Nathan
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir
New York Jany 16 1754
In my passage to N York I met the Post by whom Received your Letter by it percieve you have Suspended the Building your Printing office for the present. I shall be sorry If in the Cost we made upon it we inhanced the price more than we ought, and by that means hinderd your proceeding but I believe we did Not, however should be Glad it might Not Cost you the money, and suppose It would Cost as little perhaps less now than ever. As to the terms we proposed of your advancing £50 Sterling now we should Not have insisted on, but willingly have first Erected the building or part and then we might have known the Just Amount of the bills. As to the trouble we have been at already tis Nothing. We are glad to have it in our power to render you any agreable Service, we have contracted with a Man for Brick Stone and lime to be deliverd early In the Spring and advanced to him Goods at Cash price on That Account but I believe we shall have no great difficulty to perswade him to pay us for the Goods in Some other way. If not Can dispose probably of those Articles.
I am obliged to you for your care in gitting our money of Mr. Willing. We desired you in our last if you did not Join It with some of your own to remit into the hands of Messrs. Livingston & Alexander that I might remit it with other Cash, as it is now too late (the last, fall Ships having sail’d a few Day since) I desire you would remit it to Mr. Alexander Champion in London either in Cash or Goods bills, if before the Reciept of this you have not orderd it to N York, if you have I shall Leave orders for the disposal of it with the Gentleman mentiond. And before I conclude this Subject must ask your pardon for giving You so much trouble about it. I am &c.
N Whiting
 Endorsed: Copy of Letter to Mr Franklin concerning Printing House.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 26 January 1754
From: Collinson, Peter
To: Franklin, Benjamin

My Dear Friend
London Jany 26 1754
As I emptied my Budget Largely by unfortunate Capt. Davis and as our Friend Smith comes in Capt. Shirley it will save Mee a very Long detail of what has passed between Mee and your proprietor as He has been privy to most of It, in General I can tell you He is Ardent in promoting Enlish Schools for teaching the Germans, as you will see by the Scheme When Mr. Smith comes, I am perswaded it will Meet your approbation. The German Society here you will also have an Account of from the same hand of which they are very Desirous of your Correspondence Advice and Counsel. Your Proprietor is very Solicitous about the Prosperity of the Academy for the present. He has orderd Mr. Peters to pay the Rector Fifty pounds per Annum. Butt He has assured Mee several Times that he has appropriated a Considerable Estate in Land and has left it in his Will for the Encouragement of that Seminary which He hopes to see in a year or Two and then will Effectually settle It. He has had frequent occations of seeing Mr. Smith for whom [he] has a very good Esteem and Indeed He has taken Infinite Pains on drawing Schemes and Plans for several Purposes which He will acquaint you with and Does very well approve of his Being Rector. So now I hope that Noble Institution will go on prosperously. You a little to Long Delayed thanking the proprietor for his kind present of £500. But our Friend Smith assign’d Him the Reasons of it. His Bill and Petition to the Lord Chancellor to Inforce His Decree is what detains Him Here for His Lady is very Desirous to go over.

I think I before acquainted Thee that a Long Memorial containing the State of the Controversy between the Frankleans and Nolletians per Mr. Dalibard was lost on Davis. Thy last Letter I dispatch’d to Him. It is quite Friendly to leave it open for Mee to Reade for it containd many Curious Hints and Experiments.
What was Intimated of New Discoveries on Electricity are not Sufficiently Verified because no further Notice is taken in thine of Novr: 27 and 10br. 4. Douglas 2 Vol. came safe to hand and I have credited thy account with Thirteen Shillings. What I have of Douglas 2 Vol. is to No. 22 Inclusive.
Many Well Wishers Here to Capt. Swains Expedition are Concern’d He had no better Success yett his Journal and Discoveries, maybe well worth our Knowledge. These may be compared with the Maps you have al[ready] and what I now send of the French Discoveries with a New Map of N: Caroline, Virginia and Maryland comes By Budden in a Long Deal Case Marked L†C. There is packed with It some Seed Black Oats and Rape which I friend Elicot [sic] Desird, some School Book &c. for Billy Bartram, and Bill for J. Read. Thine of Decemr: 4 came to late to be packed with the above. So I have sent 15 yd of our Richest Damask for thy Wife in a Box by it self Directed at Length to the Care of Neat & Neve to putt it on board Capt. Budden which I hope will prove to her Satisfaction.
I hope to gett 2 or 3 Thermometers to send per Mr. Smith with the Gold: Medal the Gift of the Royal Society for thy Ingenious and New Discoveries on Electricity. The Oration Deliver’d on this Occation our President has promissed Mee. That unworthy Man Capt. Mitchell contrary to the Directions putt the pacquet into the post office. So there was 23 Shillings postage. But haveing Friends at Court gott it off but no thanks to the Capt. for Every one could not have done that, and then they had lain and been burnt. I have for some Months past heard that Mr. Robinson and Thy Self are admitted post masters, with Ingenious and Indefatigable Men it may be putt on such a footing as to turn to good Account.
Butt it is really very hard for poor Doctor Mitchell who was really Bambozelled per the Office. It is too Long a Story to Tell.
John Bartrams Bill I have Carried to thy Account. Pray is it certainly known what the French have done (by the Speeches for which Wee are much Obliged). Only Mention is made of their marching their Army. Sure the Governers of the Colonies will have private Orders to Dislodge them, turn the Tables, Lett them be the Complainants. If they are not now drove out of their lurking Places it will [be] too Late Ever after. This I know that there was a Cabinett counsel peculiarly for this Purpose and I know further which I hope is known or will be Soone to your Governers. I have seen the Governors Virginia Speech. If it had been couch’d more covertly it would give less alarm to the French of our Intentions but they are Jockeying us every where for they slyly Dispatch a 10 sail Squadron per 2 or 3 Ships at a Time to the E: Indies and now Wee are pressing Men and Hurrying another after them: which is to take in Soldiers at Ireland.
I Heartyly Wish our Worthy Friend Smith may have a Safe Passage. He has great Abilities and he has been Indefatigable in Applying them to several usefull purposes, and as years Increase, His Judgement and Understanding will grow more Mature for his Age. Few if any can Excell Him, the Warmth and fire of youth will be Temper’d by your prudent and Cordial Advice.
The only Thing that your Proprietor objects too Is his takeing Orders because it may give dislike to some to see one att the Head of the Academy in a Canonical Habit and therefore He hopes He will never or but very rarely Use that Dress. This I have Mention’d to Him. From his Good Sence, I hope he will not give Offense.
Pray in thy next Lett Mee know how the Academy Goes on.
I am with much Respect and Esteem thy Affectionate Friend
P Collinson
I send this first for fear it should be left in a few Days I hope to gett the Capt. Receipt for the Long Case with the Map and for the Box with thy Wive’s Silk.


Title: Pennsylvania Assembly Committee: Report on the State of the Trade, 6 February 1754
From: Pennsylvania Assembly Committee
To:

Continuing the efforts of previous Assemblies to increase the amount of paper money in circulation, the House appointed a committee of four, Oct. 17, 1753, “to enquire into the State and Circumstances of the Trade of this Province, with regard to the Quantity of our Paper Currency from its first Emission in 1723, to the present Time.” Accompanying the report, read February 6, was a statistical account of the quantities of wheat, flour, bread, and flaxseed exported from Philadelphia during the six years 1729–31 and 1749–51, which showed an increase in the annual value of these commodities exported, from a total of £62, 473 14s. 3d. in 1729 to £187,457 11s. 1d. in 1751.

[February 6, 1754]
In Obedience to the Order of the House, your Committee have enquired into the State and Circumstances of the Trade of this Province with regard to the Quantity of our Paper Currency from its first Emission in 1723, to the present Time; and do find, by authentic Accounts, that before that Period our Trade was in a declining State; and that since the same, our Importations from Great-Britain have increased as follows, viz.

In 1723 they amounted only to
£15992
19
4

  In 1730 they were
48592
7
5

  In 1737 they were
56690
6
7

  In 1742 they were
75295
3
4

  In 1747 they were
82404
17
7

  In 1751 they were
190917
5
1

We do also find, that in the Years 1729, 1730, and 1731, we had near the same Quantity of Paper Money that we now have, and ever since have had; and that our Exportations of Wheat, Flour, Bread, and Flaxseed, amounted then, one Year with another, to little more than £60000 per Annum; whereas in the Year 1749 those Articles amounted to

£148104
4
11

In 1750 to
155174
19
6

  In 1751 to
187457
11
1

which last is more than treble the Value of those Articles exported twenty Years before. For a more particular Account of those Exportations, your Committee beg Leave to refer to a Valuation of the several Articles hereunto annexed.
By the Report of a former Committee of Assembly, made in August, 1752, it appears that our Numbers of People, and Domestic Trade, have increased in like Proportion.
Your Committee beg Leave to observe, that they apprehend the Occasions for a Medium of Trade; must have increased equally with the Trade; and that our Foreign and Domestic Commerce could not have been carried on as it has been for some Years past, had not the accidental Introduction of great Quantities of Silver and Gold, by the War, supplied the Deficiency of our Paper Currency for that Purpose. And since Complaints of the Want of a sufficient Medium (occasioned by the Diminution of our Quantity of Gold and Silver which is continually sent Home in Return for British and India Manufactures) are daily growing louder; and our Paper Currency must, by the present Acts, begin shortly to diminish one sixth Part annually, your Committee humbly submit it to the Consideration of the House, whether it is not now become necessary, not only to prolong the Re-emissions, but to strike and emit an additional Sum.

Evan Morgan,
Benjamin Franklin,

Joseph Stretch,
William Callender.


Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, 13 February 1754
From: Colden, Cadwallader
To: Franklin, Benjamin

Dear Sir
Coldengham Febry 13th 1754
The want of an opportunity is the only reason why I have not before this acknowleged your favor of the 6th of Decr. and the same cause prevented my having the pleasure of yours of the 1st of last month till a few days since that my son Alexander brought it with him.
I am exceedingly pleased with the friendly complement you make me in that of Decr. 6th for your approbation or esteem I shall allwise value next to the approbation of my own mind in all public actions of my life. For this reason I hope you’l excuse me in explaining my self on my past conduct in public affairs. You know I have seldom troubled you on this Subject. I value highly the English constitution as the best contrived for the security of our Liberty and Property when the ballance is kept equal among the several branches of Government. I think, and I have long thought it, that in America we are in much greater Danger from Popular Licentiousness than from any abuse of Power in our Governers though I own some of them have been bad enough and I think the danger from the too great power in the People is daily increasing. By Popularity Ambitious men who think every measure to be right which serves their purpose have in all ages effectually gained their ends. I hope that upon a strict inquiry it will be found that my actions in the public affairs have been directed only by this Principle of preserving our constitution against popular intrusion. As I had no personal interest with Lord Halifax either by my self or any one friend his approbation pleases me the more as I am fond of believing that it has arose after he had fully considered and weigh’d the several past transactions in this Govt. The concluding part of his letter shews that he thinks I am guided by the Principle I have mentioned as the rule of my conduct. His words are “The same Zeal and Loyalty which you have hitherto shewn in the Support of his Majesty’s Rights, I flatter my self, you will continue to exert; and I hope that all those, who have a true regard to the happiness of the Province, will unite in their endeavours to support its constitution, which may as effectually be destroyed by unjust attacks on the prerogative of the Crown, on the one hand, as on the Rights and Liberties of the People, on the other.” He likewise took the trouble to send me an Authentic proof of his endeavour to do me a particular piece of kindness and which he would have effected had Mr. Clinton’s friends been as hearty as he was.
I am exceedingly pleased with your observations on the increase of mankind. I think with our friend Bartram that the last Paragraph is the only one liable to exception and I wish it had been rather somewhere in the midle than at the end of that discourse because the reader should be the most fully satisfied when you take leave of him. I perswade my self you take my remarks in good part as I expect the like impartiality for me. I must delay any remarks on the Meteorological subject till an other Opportunity. My thoughts of late have been employed in putting some part of my Principles in a better light to remove some objections made by those whose opinion I value most and I hope to do it in such manner as will make these Principles superior to all opposition with men who truely indeavour after truth. I do not expect to avoid contradiction no more than you have escaped it. This with my not knowing of any Opportunity to write by has made me delay considering the papers you inclosed. I send back your observations on the increase of mankind by my son.
My son David thanks you for the notice you are pleased to take of his performance but is affrayed that your desiring leave to send it to Mr. Collinson is a meer complement as he thinks there is nothing new in it to deserve publishing. Tho as to my part I did not remember any experiment which so clearly proves that a greater quantity of Electrical matter may pass through one without giving a Shock than often when it does and that there is something very singular between the inside and outside of the viol or between the one side or other of coated glass and which from your experiments seem evidently to be occasion’d by the one side’s being + and the other —. Tho how this can be is not so easy to explain from what we hitherto know of Electricity. My son Alexander will send you Pike’s book which please to send back after you have read it. I am Sir Your most obedient humble Servant
Cadwallader Colden
Mr. Collinson at last informs me that he had sent my answer to Profr. Kastner to Lord Macclesfield who was much engaged at that time in makeing Interest for his son’s Election for Oxfordshire.

 Addressed: To  Benjamin Franklen Esqr  Philadelphia


Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Edward Shippen, 14 February 1754
From: Franklin, Benjamin
To: Shippen, Edward

Dear Sir,
Philada. Feb. 14, 1754
I receiv’d your Favour of the 8th Inst. with the Dollar enclos’d.

The Postage of the Letter to Boston is
  0.
  2.
  11

  3 Bunches of Quills at 1s. 6d.

  4.
  6

Ballance

  1

  £0.
  7.
  6

They are the best Quills I could get in Town.
I was about to send for my Printing Materials, &c. as I heard that S. Holland was broke up. But a sober young Man, a Printer, desires to make a little Tryal of Lancaster, and I have consented to let him have the Use of them for that purpose a few Months. If he meets with Encouragement he will settle among you: Otherwise, he will bring away the Press and Letters. I should imagine a Printing-House would be thought a publick Convenience in such a Place as yours, and therefore, as well as for the sake of the young Man, hope he will have your Countenance, if he behaves properly. My Compliments to Mrs. Shippen, and all Friends. I am, Dear Sir, Your most obedient Servant
B Franklin
P.S. I do not know in what Condition, or in whose Care S. Holland has left my Things; I must therefore beg you would be so good as to take care of them for a few Days in my Behalf, till Mr. Dunlap gets up, which I hope will be by the Beginning of next Week: Besides the Printing Materials there were Books and Paper belonging to me.
 Addressed: To  Edwd Shippen Esqr  Lancaster  with a Parcel
Endorsed: Benjamin Franklin Feb. 14. 1754 Letter Philada.


Title: Pennsylvania Assembly Committee: Report on Laws, 15 February 1754
From: Pennsylvania Assembly Committee
To:

Soon after the opening of each October session, the Pennsylvania Assembly appointed a committee “to inspect the Laws of this Province, and report which of them are expired, or near expiring, and ought to be re-enacted; with their Opinion what Amendments to them or others may be necessary.” The committee appointed October 17, 1753, made its report the following February 15.

[February 15, 1754]
We the Committee appointed to consider what Laws of this Province are expired or near expiring, and what others need Amendment, &c. do report,
That the Act for the new Appointment of Trustees, &c. passed in the Twenty-second Year of the present Reign, is, so far as relates to that Appointment, now expired.
That the several Acts for establishing of Ferries, except that for the Middle Ferry on Schuylkill, are expired.
That the Term of one Year, mentioned in the Act for the Continuance of an Act, intituled, An Act for the better securing the City of Philadelphia from the Danger of Gunpowder, is expired; and as the present Situation of the Powder-house is inconvenient and dangerous to the Neighbourhood, of late Years grown much thicker, we think the Powder might be better placed at the Battery, below the Town, where we understand a Powder-house is already erected.
That the Laws relating to Roads want some Amendment, at least to accommodate them to the particular Circumstances of some Roads and Streets.
That the Act for prohibiting the Importation of Germans, or other Passengers, in too great Numbers in one Vessel, is defective, in not directing the Room each Freight shall have in Height, as well as in Length and Breadth; and also needs some other Provisions to prevent the Abuses those poor Strangers complain of; and also to prevent the Importation of German Papists and Convicts.
That it might be of Use to both Landlords and Tenants, and prevent chargeable Suits for small Dues, if Actions of Debt for Rent under Five Pounds, were not excepted in the Five Pound Act.
That as some Doubts have arisen, whether Persons under Age are bound by their Covenants to serve as Apprentices or Servants, it may be proper to ascertain that Matter by a Law.
That there seems a Necessity of providing some Law to punish more effectually the Counterfeiters of Gold and Silver Coin, and the Paper Currency of the neighbouring Colonies passing in this Province. And also to prevent the Passing of Counterfeit English Halfpence, which are now bringing in, in great Quantities.
That great Frauds are complained of in the Making up of Hemp for Sale in this Province; and in the Packing of Butter for Exportation; and as nothing is more to the Reputation of a People, and the Advantage of Commerce, than Faithfulness in making up their Wares and Merchandize, we think a Law to remedy the above Evils will be very useful.
That if the several Poor Acts were revised, and reduced to one, we think it would be more convenient than to have them, as at present, dispersed in the Book.

That the Clause relating to Witchcraft, in the Act for the Advancement of Justice, as it brings over a Statute since repealed, and seems unnecessary here, may as well be repealed, and the Substance of the Statute made instead of it, in the Ninth of the present Reign, brought over in its Place.
That for the better Preservation of the English Language, in this Province, it may be proper to require by a Law, that all written Contracts be in English, and to give some Encouragement to English Schools in those Parts of the Province where Foreigners are thick seated.
And that a Law for regulating the Indian Trade is, in our Opinion, now become absolutely necessary.
All which is nevertheless humbly submitted to the House, by

Evan Morgan,
Benjamin Franklin,

Joseph Trotter,
William Callender.

Joseph Fox,


Title: Franklin and Hall: Notice to the Public, 26 February 1754
From: Franklin, Benjamin,Hall, David
To:

   Our Subscribers in Virginia, are desired to pay their respective Ballances due for this Gazette, to William Hunter, Esq; of Williamsburgh; those on the Western Shore of Maryland, to William Young, Esq; of Baltimore County; and those on the Eastern Shore, to Thomas Ringold, Esq; of Chester Town; their several Accounts being left with those Gentlemen for that Purpose, who are fully impowered by us to receive, give Discharges, &c.
Franklin and Hall


Title: William Smith to Richard Peters and Benjamin Franklin, [February 1754]
From: Smith, William
To: Peters, Richard,Franklin, Benjamin

The attitudes and behavior of the Germans of Pennsylvania toward politics, defense, and war had concerned Franklin as far back as 1747, when he flattered them in Plain Truth, hoping to win their support for the Association (see above, III, 203). He did not succeed in detaching them from the Quakers, however; they remained pro-Quaker, some were Roman Catholics who seemed open to French blandishments, and others belonged to unorganized or disorganized Protestant churches with poor leadership. At a time when the British were preparing for the decisive struggle with France for control of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, the Germans were at best no source of strength to imperial thought or force. After 1751 Franklin expressed this apprehension frequently. The concern of Rev. Michael Schlatter, a German Reformed minister, for his people was different. When he returned to Holland in 1751 after five years in Pennsylvania, he appealed for help in providing teachers, catechists, and ministers to the rural Germans. The synods, several Dutch states, and many private persons responded, among them the English minister at Amsterdam, Rev. David Thomson. He translated Schlatter’s appeal, circulated it in England, and personally presented it to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which authorized a collection that netted £1200.
To receive and disburse the money a committee was formed in London, with Rev. Samuel Chandler, the eminent Dissenting minister of the Old Jewry, as secretary. At this point William Smith, in London for ordination, offered the Society a practical program (see below, p. 214). The Society approved it with some revisions, ordered it printed, and expressed a desire to receive the “Correspondence, advice and Counsel” of Franklin, whom Smith and Collinson told them about. To administer the Society’s business in America trustees-general were soon nominated. Thomas Penn proposed Governor Hamilton, Chief Justice Allen, Secretary Richard Peters, and, of course, Smith. Smith added Franklin’s name; and Penn nominated Conrad Weiser, “only because he is a German and it might be agreeable to that People.” The Society then named Schlatter superintendent of the schools to be opened.
Opposition formed at once. Christopher Saur, publisher of the Pensylvanische Berichte and the most influential single spokesman of the German sectarians, recognized it for what it was—an imperial scheme—and attacked it strongly. Germans everywhere resented being called stupid, stubborn, rebellious, and even traitorous. Suspicions multiplied, wild misrepresentations were spread abroad, and even Germans who favored the schools as individuals found it hard to cooperate. The trustees helped matters somewhat by printing early in 1755, in English and German, a history of the Society, which they had asked Smith to write. The Reformed Coetus meeting at Lancaster in April, for example, spoke favorably of the “praiseworthy undertaking” and protested Saur’s statements. On April 10 Smith reported to Penn that four schools were in operation, that six others would open in a few weeks, and that petitions had been received for fifteen more.
Despite this not unhopeful beginning, however, the German school movement slowed. Smith himself was partly responsible. In a vigorous attack on Quaker leadership in Pennsylvania politics published in London in 1755 and sent to Pennsylvania at once, he repeated the familiar charges against the Germans and proposed some of the restrictions Collinson had suggested two years before, with the addition of a test oath to bar pacifists, both German and Quaker, from the Assembly. Matters worsened with the publication at Boston in 1755 of Franklin’s Observations on the Increase of Mankind, with its intemperate reference to “Palatine Boors.” Few could now gainsay Saur’s assertion to Weiser that Franklin and his friends were not really interested in the Germans’ religion or education, but only in how “the stupid Germans could be used as militia-men to protect their property.” By fall of that year the Reformed Coetus had become cool to the schools. And the disruption of life in the western parts of the province which followed Braddock’s defeat, dealt the movement another blow.
Nonetheless the German Society went on collecting money, and some schools continued—nine were in operation in 1760. On both sides of the ocean, however, the imperialists realized that they had failed to “anglify” the foreigners in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, and instead had solidified German opposition to their aims. Schlatter resigned his superintendency in 1757; at the end of that year the Society’s newspaper, the Philadelphische Zeitung, ceased publication. Franklin went to England, where he not only took no part in the Society’s waning work but was not even invited to meetings. In 1769 the London group turned over its remaining funds—£88 12s. 4d.—to the trustees of the College of Philadelphia.

Dear and worthy Sirs
[February 1754]
The loss of a very large packet (which took me up above a week’s writing), sent by Capt. Davis, is the reason why I have not communicated to you before now, the Success I have had in several Schemes for your Province. My whole time has been spent this way, and you’ll see by those papers I send you that I have been pretty constantly employed. There are 3 or 4 letters of great importance, I cannot now send you the originals being lost with Davis, unless I should trouble Mr. Penn to take them from his Copies. It would have been well if you had seen all the steps taken, with the Archbishop’s, Mr. Collinson’s and other letters; but this you shall know by word of mouth. Those I send will make you master of the Schemes. The one of them I just borrowed from Mr. Collinson and copied with some assistance. It is the 2d part of a long letter to Mr. Penn, and contains the Scheme for your Academy and the Arguments for it, which I hope are conformable to your own Sentiments. You’ll see it must be kept private. Mr. Penn has come in to every part of it, and he will give an yearly Sum for some time, and when he comes to Pennsylvania intends to give a manor to the Academy for the purposes I have pointed out. He ask’d me at first what I thought would be the best way of bestowing his donation, and you’ll see how disinterested I was to propose a new object for one half of it, when the whole might otherwise have been applied for a philosophy professor. But I shall always glory to prefer private to public good, and I rejoice exceedingly to have been the means of two such Foundations, which, being once made by the proprietor, he will not desert for the sake of a small additional expence. It would not become me to say how many arguments I used to bring these Schemes to bear. The proprietor was not at first satisfy’d that such liberal institutions were useful in an infant Country. Your Academy also interfered with a Design he had in view of his own, and of which he intended to be the Founder. These and many other Circumstances were obstacles. But when I was able to shew the worthy Gentleman the necessity of such a seminary in a political light, he generously agreed to ingraft his Scheme upon yours in the two Foundations proposed, provided I would undertake to be the person to execute them. Tho’ I had not, nor have not yet, heard from either of you I agreed to this, hoping that the person who had been the great means of such an Union (which otherwise might have been the work of years) even if not personally known to you, would be welcome to all the Trustees, when he comes recommended by the proprietor, with an order for foundations, by one of which, he will be in a great measure supported, with small addition from you.
I must in a very particular manner thank Mr. Peters for his kind letter to Mr. Penn, and his having transmitted my Mirania &c. in such a favorable light to him. This together with the good Archbishop’s Letter procured me an uncommon share of his confidence, and such as no indifferent person ever before enjoy’d. I have been several days with him in the country, and have the Honor to dine once or twice with him in Town every week especially on Sundays. He is pleased to consult me upon every point that relates to literature in his Country, which he sees absolutely necessary to maintain good Government. For my arguments on this head I refer you to my large letter concerning the Germans. I have sent you the original Copy as it was done currente calamo, as I could not possibly transcribe it. You will see many repetitions and faults of Diction which were not in the fair and more concise Copy to Mr. Penn. This last mentioned Copy was read before the Society entrusted with the moneys for the Germans. They have adopted Your scheme and are satisfy’d that the Education of youth ought to be their more immediate Object. They were pleased to thank me for what I had laid before them, and desired me against their next meeting to shorten it that a few [Copies] might be transcribed for the Archbishop, Lord Chancellor, Lord Halifax, and the minister, and speaker of the H. of commons. This I presented last saturday and had their approbation. Copies are now making and I have got a friend to do one for you. The long one, if (as I hope from candid friends) you overlook its incorrectness will be useful to you, as you should see all that can be said, and may improve the rough hints. The short one is more correct and is thought such a warm representation of the case that [it] must have good Effects. You’ll observe I have [drawn?] in strong arguments to shew the use of learning in the colonies, and have taken the liberty in some places to make use of Mr. Franklin’s letters which the friendly Mr. Jackson supplied me with. Another great part of my aim was to have the management of this important Trust devolved upon Men of the first rank of Pennsylvania, and not upon Clergy who depend on Dutch Synods. I hope to see all such dependence entirely shaken off once we can supply the Germans with ministers from the Academy. And the entrusting the money with proper Persons in Philadelphia will keep their Clergy who are in our pay under proper awe. I beg you’ll consider attentively the plan of Government and political education I have proposed. It merits the deepest deliberation, for its Effects will be long felt in one shape or other. The good Mr. Schlatter is here. I have been at some pains with him; and see but one Fault in him, his too great Attachment to foreign Synods and clergy who would counterwork our design. Ecclesiastical power from Holland will not go down in Pennsylvania. I wish the Dutch Churches there were a complete body under their own separate Government. Appeals to Holland are troublesome and tedious, as Mr. Schlatter has felt. Were their Church in pennsylvania a complete one with full powers, under the civil power of the Country, his affair would long ere now have been compromised and settled.
By the following Scheme, however, which I have laid before the Society and which they approve of, Mr. Schlatter will be made easy; he will have more powers than ever and yet seem to have less as he will be screen’d by some great names. The Scheme is this. Messieurs Hamilton, Allen, Franklin, Peters, Weiser, Schlatter (to which number they propose adding myself while in the Academy) are to be Trustees-general, as in the larger Scheme. They are to appoint Mr. Schlatter with one or other of their own number to visit all the Schools once a year, as in the larger Scheme. Besides this Schlatter will also have a commission from the Dutch Synods to superintend and visit all the Churches, which he may do at the same Time. For this service, and in Consideration of what he has suffered, the Society propose £100 Sterling to him per annum, which, with his Congregation in Philadelphia will support him. Besides this I have proposed that the Schoolmasters educated on the Proprietor’s Bounty, and other Germans that may come to the Academy shall, to remove all objections, an hour or two every day attend Mr. Schlatter or some other of their own Clergy in Philadelphia to be instructed in their own Religion, and it is proposed to the Society to give such a Clergyman £20 or £30 per annum and call him Hollisian or German Professor of Divinity. You will see the necessity of this when you consider the Scheme upon which Mr. Tennent came over, which I soon smell’d out, and with some Assistance from names I must not mention have I believe broke the Neck of. He came begging for the Jersey College. He petitioned the Society for German Affairs to found a Professorship there, as that College was the fittest in America to educate Clergy for the German Ministry on account of its being a presbyterian one. (N.B. When it serves his Ends he calls it a catholic one.) He gave out also that the Society could not refuse this request if they considered that the money was raised to serve the dissenting Interest. I had the honor to be present when this Petition was read. I saw Mr. Tenent’s design was to procure a Coalition between the Germans and the new-lights. He blabbed out that the Germans had been instructed from Holland to join and be govern’d by their Synods. Such a formidable union would destroy the whole political balance of your provinces and crush every other persuasion beneath its weight. But yet such an union he thought to obtain if not by authority of the Church of Holland, at least by monopolizing the Education of German Clergy and sending them out such Hell-fire hot ones as he himself once was called. I represented all this and shew’d how much it would for ever tend to defeat the political Coalition desired in Pennsylvania, should all their Clergy be educated in another Province of a different Constitution from the Country in which they were to live, and that we had better have Clergy from Holland than have them on such a Scheme. I also observed how ridiculous it would be to send our Germans to be educated in Neighbouring provinces, When there was such an excellent Institution in Pennsylvania; and indeed it is obvious of how great importance it is to have both Schoolmasters and Clergy for some years in the City of Philadelphia for Education, where they will form Connexions and learn to love and admire your Constitution, which they probably would not do by a Jersey education. I have been more full on this head that from these and other arguments in my Letters you may know what is doing, and take proper Steps to prevent Measures so prejudicial to the good of your province.
Partly in consequence of what I had said, and partly by reason of [a] Sermon of Mr. Tennants which had been sent from Philadelphia to Mr. Chandler, Tennant was mortify’d in a very odd manner. Mr. Schlatter and I were at breakfast with Chandler. Tennant came in, and happening to have some talk about the jersey college and its fitness to educate German Clergy, I told him that the Union he proposed would be hurtful in a political Sense and was impossible in a religious one; and that if he meant only an union in Love and good Offices, I did not see why it might not prevail among all that name Christ, without being confined to English and german presbyterians. Upon this Chandler said, “Mr. Tennant I have been just reading a Sermon against Union among Christians.” Tennant replied that was strange, and begg’d to see it. Chandler then put the Sermon into his hand; and figure to yourselves his Confusion, when he saw his own name in the Title. For several minutes he could not speak, and I was in pain at the too severe blow. He at last began to justify his Sermon, to which Chandler abruptly replied that he had read it twice, and was able to judge for himself, and that he begg’d to be excusd from having any thing to do with the man who could preach such a sermon, or the business he was engag’d in.
In order to prevent this Scheme of drawing the Pennsylvania Germans to the Jersey College (which is the only thing that could have made me interfere, as I heartily wish prosperity to every American Seminary, and am sensible how much knowlege tends to support free Society) I say in [order] to prevent this Scheme, I have proposed to the Society to give £20 per annum to the eldest German Minister in Philadelphia who may be called German Professor of Divinity as I said before. This will be agreeable to the Germans and bring their young Clergy to Philadelphia for a year or two which will be of great use to anglify them, and attach them more and more to us by their forming connexions in the City. Good Mr. Schlatter is for having none of the young Clergy come near your City for fear of their morals; but this would keep them still Germans, and as the Scheme is chiefly to anglify and incorporate; the City for [a] year or two is to be chosen. I shall be able, I believe, to reconcile the worthy man, and I know the Society are of my mind, and I believe will agree to fix such a Professor in Philadelphia or leave it to the Trustees-general.
The proprietor has agreed to give ten or twelve acres of land to every Schoolmaster and I hope whatever opinions some on your Side of the water entertain of him, they will now be convincd that he is not the nominal but the real father of his Country. As I shall sail in 6 weeks after the date of this, I shall not give you the pain of reading more on this Subject, in this hasty Scribble, where I beg you’ll neither look for Method nor correctness. I have been so employ’d this week I could not write you as good manners and the regard I have for you require; but yet I thought it incumbent on me to write.
I have this day drawn out a short memorial of 3 pages, containing the case of the Germans, without any reasonings on Education. This is gone to the Press and you shall have a few next Ship. When it is printed the four Peers who are of the Society are to divide their own house among them and give away copies, and sollicit Contributions. The same method will be taken among the Commons and in the City. And I doubt not the Contributions will amount to a great Sum, his Majesty having given £1000 and the Princess Dowager £100.
Mr. Chandler and I go to the Archbishop on Monday. He has had a Copy of my letter to the Society. He has been very kind to me. I have seen him oft, and he said he would provide for me. But when I let him know the project for my return, he press’d it, and writ to Mr. Penn on the subject. He said I would have an opportunity of doing more good with you than in England; and that the Encouragment would be better than I could expect at first setting out in England even if I had the greatest friends. This, with the precariousness of the Archbishops life, as he is in a very bad state of health, determined me; for if he should die, he is the only person I know that bestows his favors on unfriended merit.
Col. Martin of Antigua sent a letter to Mr. Penn in my favors, which I send you a copy of. The Colonel told me if I return’d he would send his youngest Son to the Academy who he believd might be attended with several others from that Island. I have desired him to make his Son meet me in the beginning of June, and I expect he will do so. Mr. Penn speaks of sending out a Nephew with me, but he is not yet come to an absolute determination. He shew’d me some orations on the Subject of his Charter. He is justly displeas’d at the word Protection in Mr. Morris’s. It is imprudent as well as weak to say Philadelphia will be the Protection of England. I suppose Strength or support was meant. J. Martin is greatly improved if the oration he subscribes is his own. I much approve of Compositions of this Nature.
([Illegible] on Monday) Mr. Chandler and I have been with the Archbishop this day. I had sent his Grace a few days before the shortest Copy about the Germans, as is just mentioned above; upon which he made the enclosed remarks at the end of the piece; and I hope you’ll be pleased to see so great a name bear testimony to the force of my reasonings. Money will not be wanted. His Grace, as you’ll see, wants to make a parliamentary work of it. I shall come over with a form’d Scheme and an appointment of Trustees; till then take in good part and make the best use of this hasty Scrawl. My zeal to forward this affair and the extensive correspondence in which it has engaged me for some weeks now leaves me no time to write correctly. I ever remain, Dear Sirs, Your most obliged humble Servant
Will Smith

[Enclosure]William Smith to the Society for the Relief and Instruction of Poor Germans
[December 13, 1753]
Abstract: He is gratified to learn that a society has been formed in London to propagate Christian knowledge and the English language among the Germans of Pennsylvania. He will not propose any scheme for the more equal distribution, in the future, of foreigners among the British colonies, or inquire whether British America might not grow as fast by the natural increase of population without the admission of additional foreigners. He will consider here only “the most probable method for incorporating these foreigners with ourselves, who are already settled among us.” What he submits to the Society is essentially what he has already laid before Proprietor Thomas Penn on the same subject.
Imagine “upwards of 100,000 strangers settled in our territory, chiefly by themselves, and multiplying fast; strangers … to our Laws and manners; strangers to the sacred sound of liberty in the land where they were born, and uninstructed in the right use and Value of it in the country where they now enjoy it; utterly ignorant and apt to be misled by our unceasing enemies, … and what is worst of all, in danger of sinking deeper and deeper every day into these deplorable circumstances, as being almost entirely destitute of instructors and unacquainted with our language, so that it is hardly possible for us to warn them of their danger, or remove any prejudices they once entertain.” Indeed, these prejudices may actually be increased by designing men, for in Pennsylvania many German books are imported, there are as many German printing houses as English, of late legal documents are often made in German, interpreters are constantly needed in courts “and will probably be soon wanted in the assembly itself to tell one half the legislature what the other says.” These circumstances should awaken both our compassion and our vigilance. The Germans are not themselves blamable. They simply lack the means to prevent themselves from falling into ignorance or being seduced from their religion, for they have neither preachers nor teachers to instruct them or their children in the gospel or in English, which is the qualification for all posts of honor, used in all writings, the courts of justice, and the like. For commiserating their circumstances, “the whole British nation, nay the whole protestant interest, and the interest of liberty” are all obliged to the Society. This is not the work of any party, but “a British work”; nor does it concern a particular denomination, but aims to keep a vast multitude of fellow Protestants from falling into deeper ignorance, being seduced by the enemy, living in a separate body, turning trade out of its proper channels, and at last giving us their laws and language.
He proposes the following measures:
1. That faithful clergymen be supplied to preach the gospel among the Germans, for their principles, and keep them to their duty.
2. That English common schools be established in the German communities, which German and English children may attend free. Such institutions “could hardly fail of incorporating them in process of time,” for there they will form acquaintances and connections, learn the common language, like manners, and the meaning of liberty, a common weal, and a common country. Intermarriage will follow, which will further unite them in a common interest, as Roman history shows. More important, this common education will promote such a spirit through all ranks as is best suited to the particular genius of every colony.

He then takes up the following practical questions:
1. The method of education “should be calculated rather to make good citizens than what is called good scholars.” English “together with a short system of truths and duties, in the socratic method by way of catechism,” writing and arithmetic are all the education necessary for the vulgar; but at the same time they must be instructed in the principles of our common Christianity, the use and end of society, the differences between forms of government, and the excellency of our own, for “the virtue of the active vulgar is the strength of the state.” But this is such a large topic he will enlarge on it in a separate letter.
2. The government of the schools should be under the direction of six or seven of the principal gentlemen living in Pennsylvania where the need for English schools is greatest; these may be called trustees-general. One or more of them should visit all the schools annually to examine the students and award prizes to those who speak or read English best and give the best answers to questions on religious and civil duties. The trustees-general should be empowered to appoint at least six deputy trustees or visitors for each school, three English and three German, who should visit the schools monthly, present premiums, and transmit monthly or quarterly reports to the trustees-general at Philadelphia. The appointment of trustees-general should be the first step taken to put the schools into operation.
3. Supplying proper instructors is “something difficult.” They must know English and German and be able to teach mathematics, geography, drawing, history, ethics, “with the constitution and interests of the several colonies with respect to the mother country and one another.” They should be natives of the countries where they will teach, whose genius they will therefore know, and where they will therefore exert a natural leadership. Fortunately in Pennsylvania there is a flourishing seminary, “on the most catholic and manly bottom,” for educating such teachers; and the Proprietor of the province has agreed to endow the education of three or four poor English and German youths in the academy each year, which should amply supply the German schools.
4. Maintenance. The Germans could not support these instructors; but the English in America, though with difficulty providing for their own children, would do what they could toward erecting school-houses, churches, and housing with a few acres for the teachers. For the rest, they must depend on the charity of the Society. Twenty pounds to a schoolmaster and forty to one who is both minister and schoolmaster (together with a glebe “and the perquisites of some of the most substantial Scholars”) would enable them to live decently.
He prays for success in their undertaking. The propagation of such knowledge is the only way to preserve good government and advance the interests of the mother country in America. “Commerce is the child of Industry and an unprecarious Property; but these depend on virtue and liberty, which again depend on knowledge and Religion.” A free people can be governed only by reason, virtue, glory, honor, and the like, which are the results of education, without which, therefore, they cannot be governed at all. Where men are free to speak and act they must be instructed how to speak and act rightly, otherwise they will use their liberty against those from whom they received it.
But there are other lights than the merely political in which to consider this matter. The fate of a considerable branch of the Protestant interest in this part of the world is important, and the plight of the children is most affecting of all, for they are “coming forward into the world like grasshoppers in multitude,” liable to remain in ignorance, an easy prey for the designing. In their hands is the fate of a great part of the new world: whether it shall fall under the dread reign of popery or sink back into original barbarism, or flourish long in all that exalts and embellishes society.
The churches of the Netherlands and of Scotland will help as they have done in the past. But the English have the most immediate obligation “to incorporate these foreigners with themselves; to mingle them in equal privileges with the Sons of freedom, and teach their conscious bosoms to exult at the thoughts of an unprecarious property, a home and social endearments; to contrive Laws for making them flourish long in a well-ordered Society, and make a provision for improving their natures and training them up for eternal scenes!”
He hopes to be “a pleased spectator of part of this happiness,” and assures his correspondents that he will “decline no labor as often as you honor me with any opportunity of forwarding your grand Scheme to effect it.”
Notes by Archbishop Herring, February 1754. This plan seems “as great and as necessary to be put in Execution, as any that ever was laid before the British Nation,” and neglect of it might occasion inconceivable and even irreparable mischief. The method of recommending it to the public should be short and comprehensible.
1. State and prove how many Germans have migrated.
2. Tell where they came from, why they moved away, what their religion, temper, circumstances, and occupations are.
3. State where they now live, the country and the people they border on, how they subsist at present, what provisions are made for their government and the due exercise of religion. “These things and others of equal consequence being clearly and precisely known, they will all of them probably furnish very convincing arguments that they are Objects highly worthy our attention.” It may then be requisite
1. To show what has been done for them and how inadequate private collections are “to attain fully so great and desirable an End, which seems worthy the immediate Care of some parliamentary provision.”
2. To suggest a way to channel and direct the German immigrants so as to make them governable, by dividing them into districts under the inspection of magistrates, the control of the laws, and the instruction of Christian preachers and schoolmasters.
3. To show the necessity for a regular education which will lead to a common language, friendship, intermarriage, and a general blending of interests. The notion should be propagated that the Germans are one with the English and that it is best for both to have in time a common language. There should be no affectation in this education and no attempt at a high degree of science; but the content should be plain and practical religion and knowledge suitable to their occupations. “There will be room enough left under these general regulations to attend to any distinguished Genius.”
“The arguments to enforce this good plan will be drawn, not from general Considerations, but the particular interest of our Colonies, which would bleed under the mischief, if such a number of sober and useful protestant people be abandoned to be made the prey of French papists and Jesuits or become mixed with the Tribes of Indians who are under the pay and Influence of the French.”


Title: Subscription to Freemasons’ Hall, 13 March 1754
From:
To:

Philadelphia March 13. 1754
Whereas at a Meeting of the Grand and First Lodges, on Thursday the 12th day of March 1752, a Committee was then appointed and fully authorized to look out for a suitable Lot whereon to erect a Building for the Accomodation of the said Lodges, Philadelphia Assembly, and other Uses; and to take such Deed for it in their Names, for the Use and Behalf of the aforesaid Grand and First Lodges as they shall be advised to by Council learned in the Law; and to do such other Things for the carrying on and compleating the same, and Letting it out when finished, as in and by the Minutes of that Meeting they are directed to do. And whereas the said Committee have in Pursuance thereof made a Report to the Grand and first Lodges (who met for that Purpose on Saturday the 23d of February last) of a certain Lot, which was unanimously approved of by the said Lodges, who Did then in full Confidence of the Honour and Integrity of the said Committee, confirm the Authoritys given to them in 1752, and enjoined them to take proper measures for purchasing the said Lot, and erecting the proposed Building as soon as conveniently may be. Now We the Subscribers, being willing to promote the aforementioned laudable undertaking, (as we think it will not only tend to the establishing our particular Society on a lasting Foundation and enable us further to extend our Charity to the Distressed among Masons, but also be of general Service to the Inhabitants of this City, who have frequent occasion for a Building of the Kind propos’d to be erected) Do therefore agree to advance and pay to Messrs. Samuel Mifflin and John Swift, towards defraying the Expences thereof, the Sums annex’d to our respective Names on Demand: Saving to us, our Heirs, Executors, Administrators, or Assigns, the Right of being fully repaid by the persons who shall from time to time have the said Building in Trust as aforesaid, in the Manner directed by the Minutes inserted in the Minute Book of the first Lodge on the 12th day of March 1752. Vizt. “Out of the first Moneys arising from the said Building after all Expences are paid, in Proportion to the several Sums lent.”

for Mr. John Mather jun
}
£15

per [?] Daniel Roberdeau,

JS
Tench Francis JUNR:

£15

SM
John Swift for
}
15

SM
Richd: Hill junr.

JS
James Trotter

15

JS
Wm. Moore

15

SM
Robt. Osborne

15

JS
Tho Lawrence JR

£15

JS
John Wallace for Self and
}
£25 [?]

JS
Alexr Hamilton

SM
Edwd. Shippen JR

£15

SM
Wm Donnelly

£15

JS
James Wallace

£15

SM
Andrew Elliot

£15

Conrad Shutz

£15

SM
Benj. True

£15

pd.
Chas Humphreys

£15

JS
David M’Ilvaine

£15

JS
Alexr. Lunan

£15

SM
Michl. Hillegas

£15

JS
John Bell

£15

JS
Wm. Franklin

£15

SM
Daniel Roberdeau

£15

JS
Saml: Mifflin

£15

JS
Judah Foulke

£15

Henry Elwes

£15

pd.
Robt: Smith

£15

SM
John Swift

£15

SM
Townsend White

£15

SM
Charles Stedman

£15

JS
John Kidd

£15

JS
Alexr Huston

£20

JS
James Hamilton

£50

SM
Will: Allen

£50

SM
B Franklin

£20

SM
Wm Plumsted

£25

JS
Thos. Cadwalader

£15

SM
Thomas Bond

£15

SM
Thos Boude

£15

JS
Thomas Hart

£15