time have its exceptions; but I think it will hold good for the most part, at least while the present ministry, continues, or rather while the present madman has the choice of ministers. You desire to know whether I am satisfied with the ministers here? It is impossible for any to be more so. I see they exert themselves greatly in the common cause, and do every thing for us they can. We can wish for nothing more, unless our great want of money should make us wish for a subsidy, to enable us to act more vigorously in expelling the enemy from their remaining posts, and reducing Canada. But their own expenses are so great, that I cannot press such an addition to it. I hope however, that we shall get some supplies of arms and ammunition; and perhaps, when they can be spared, some ships to aid in reducing New York and Rhode Island. At present I know of no good opportunity of writing to America. There are merchant ships continually going, but they are very uncertain conveyances. I long to hear of your safe arrival in England: but the winds are adverse, and we must have patience. With the sincerest esteem and respect, I am, ever, &c. SIR, To the Marquis de la Fayette. (With the Sword ordered by congress.) Passy, August 24, 1779. THE congress, sensible of your merit towards the United States, but unable adequately to reward it, determined to present you with a sword, as a small mark of their grateful acknowledgment. They directed it to be ornamented with suitable devices. Some of the principal actions of the war, in which you distinguished yourself by your bravery and conduct, are therefore represented upon it. These with a few emblematic figures, all admirably well executed, make its principal value. By the help of the exquisite artists France affords, I find it easy to express every thing but the sense we have of your worth, and our obligations to you. For this, figures and even words are found insufficient. I therefore only add, that with the most perfect esteem and respect, I have the honor to be, &c. B. FRANKLIN. PS. My grandson goes to Havre with the sword, and will have the honor of presenting it to you. DEAR SIR, To Dr. Cooper. Passy, Oct. 27, 1779. IT is a long time since I have had the pleasure of hearing from you. The intelligence you were used to favor me with, was often useful to our affairs. I hope I have not lost your friendship, together with your correspondence. Our excellent Mr. Winthrop, I see, is gone. He was one of those old friends for the sake of whose society I wished to return and spend the small remnant of my days in New England. A few more such deaths will make me a stranger in my own country. The loss of friends is the tax a man pays for living long himself. I find it a heavy one. You will see by the newspapers that we have given some disturbance to the British coasts this year. One little privateer out of Dunkerque, the Black Prince, with a congress commission, and a few Americans mixed with Irish and English smugglers, went round their islands and took thirty-seven prizes in less than three months. The little squadron of commodore Jones, under the same commissions and colors, has alarmed those coasts exceedingly, occasioned a good deal of internal expense, done great damage to their trade, and taken two frigates, with four hundred prisoners. He is now with his principal prizes in Holland, where he is pretty well received, but must quit that neutral country as soon as his damages are repaired. The English watch with a superior force, his coming out, but we hope he will manage so as to eir vigilance. Few actions at sea have demonstrated such steady, cool determined bravery as that of Jones in taking the Serapis. There has been much rumor this summer, throughout Europe, of an approaching peace, through the mediation of Russia and Holland: but it is understood to arise from the invention of stock-jobbers, and others interested in propagating such opinions. England seems not to be yet sufficiently humbled, to acknowledge the independence of the American states, or to treat with them on that footing, and our friends will not make a peace on any other. So we shall probably see another campaign. By the invoices I have seen and heard of, sent hither with Congress Interest Bills of Exchange to purchase the goods, it should seem that there is not so great a want of necessaries as of superfluities among our people. It is difficult to conceive that your distresses can be great, when one sees that much the greatest part of that money is lavished in modes, gewgaws, and tea! Is it impossible for us to become wiser, when by simple economy and avoiding unnecessary expenses we might more than defray the charge of the war. We export solid provision of all kinds which is necessary for the sustenance of man, and we import fashions, luxuries, and trifles. Such trade may enrich the traders, but never the country. The good will of all Europe to our cause, as being the cause of liberty, which is the cause of mankind, still continues; as does the universal wish to see the English pride humiliated, and their power curtailed. Those circumstances are encouraging, and give hopes of a happy issue. Which may God grant, and that you my friend, may live long a blessing to your country. I am, &c. VOL. VI. 3 A B. FRANKLIN, DEAR SIR, To the Rev. Dr. Cooper. Passy, May 25, 1781. IT gives me great pleasure to learn that your new constitution is at length settled, with so great a degree of unanimity and general satisfaction. It seems to me, upon the whole, an excellent one; and that if there are some particulars that one might have wished a little different, they are such as could not in the present state of things, have been well obtained, otherwise than they are, and if by experience found inconvenient, will probably be changed hereafter. I would only mention at present one article, that of maintenance for the clergy. It seems to me that by the constitution the quakers. may be obliged to pay the tax for that purpose. But as the great end in imposing it is professedly the promotion of piety, religion, and morality, and those people have found means of securing that end among themselves without a regular clergy, and their teachers are not allowed to receive money; I should think it not right to tax them and give the money to the teacher of the parish; but I imagine that in the laws to be made for levying parish taxes, this matter may be regulated to their contentment. Yours, &c. B. FRANKLIN. To the Honorable Robert Morris, Esq., Superintendant of the Finances of the United States. DEAR SIR, I HAVE just received your very friendly letter of the 6th of June past, announcing your appointment to the superintendance of our finances. This gave me great pleasure, as from your intelligence, integrity, and abilities, there is reason to hope every advantage the public can possibly receive from such an office. You are wise in estimating before hand, as the principal advantage you can expect, the consciousness of having done service to your country. For the business you have undertaken is of so complex a nature, and must engross so much of your time and attention, as necessarily to hurt your private interests; and the public is often niggardly even of its thanks, resembling those little dirty stinking insects, that attack us only in the dark, disturb our repose, molesting and wounding us while our sweat and blood is contributing to their subsistence. Every assistance that my situation here, as long as it continues, may enable me to afford you, shall certainly be given. For besides my affection for the glorious cause we are both engaged in, I value myself upon your friendship, and shall be happy if mine can be made of any use to you. &c. With great and sincere esteem, I am ever, dear sir, &c. B. FRANKLIN. PS. With this I shall send an answer to your official letter of June 8. To Sir Edward Newenham, Bart., Ireland. DEAR SIR, Passy, Oct. 2, 1783. I HAVE just received your very kind letter of the 16th past. I rejoice sincerely to hear of your safe return to your own country, family, and friends, and of the success of your election. It is a pleasing reflection arising from the contemplation of our successful struggle, and the manly, spirited, and unanimous resolves at Dungannon; that liberty, which some years since appeared in danger of extinction, is now regaining the ground she had lost, that arbitrary governments are likely to become more mild, and reasonable, and to expire by degrees, giving place to more equitable forms; one of the effects this of the art of printing, which diffuses so general a light, augmenting with the growing day, and of so penetrating a na |