donnera une bonne tasse de chocolat. Il l'assure

de son respect.

Du petit Luxembourg, Lundi, 26 Mai, 1777.

To this note, found among Dr. Franklin's papers, is added the following memorandum in his hand-writing.

"The above is from the Abbé Niccoli, minister of the Grand Duke of Tuscany. The intention of it was, to give the emperor an opportunity of an interview with me, that should appear accidental. Monsieur Turgot and the Abbé were there to be present, and by their knowledge of what passed, to prevent or contradict false reports. The emperor did not appear, and the Abbé Niccoli since tells me, that the number of other persons who visited him that morning, of which the emperor was informed, prevented his coming; that at 12, understanding they were gone, he came; but I was gone also."

The cause of America becoming very popular in France, and the number of officers out of employ being so considerable, Dr. Franklin was extremely harassed by the numerous applications for service in the armies of the United States. The following letter to a friend is so fully and strongly descriptive of his sentiments and feelings on this subject, and in other respects so entertaining, that we here insert it.

To *

Passy,

You know, my dear friend, that I am not capable of refusing you any thing in my power, which would be a real kindness to you, or any friend of yours; but when I am certain that what yout request would be directly the contrary, I ought to refuse it. I know that officers going to America for employment will probably be disappointed; that our armies are full; that there are a number of expectants unemployed, and starving for want of subsistence; that my recommendation will not make vacancies, nor can it fill them, to the prejudice of those who have a better claim; that some of those officers I have been prevailed on to recommend have, by their conduct, given no favorable impression of my judgment in military merit; and then the voyage is long, the passage very expensive, and the hazard of being taken and imprisoned by the English, very considerable. If, after all, no place can be found affording a livelihood for the gentleman in question, he will perhaps be distressed in a strange country, and ready to blaspheme his friends who, by their solicitations, procured for him so unhappy a situation. Permit me to mention to you, that, in my opinion, the natural complaisance of this country often carries people too far in the article of recommendations. You give them with too much facility to persons of whose real characters

you know nothing, and sometimes at the request of others of whom you know as little. Frequently, if a man has no useful talents, is good for nothing, and burthensome to his relations, or is indiscreet, profligate and extravagant, they are glad to get rid of him by sending him to the other end of the world; and for that purpose scruple not to recommend him to those they wish should recommend him to others, as “un bon sujet-plein de mérite," &c. &c. In consequence of my crediting such recommendations, my own are out of credit, and I cannot advise any body to have the least, dependance on them. If, after knowing this, you persist in desiring my recommendation for this person, who is known neither to me nor to you, I will give it,' though, as I said before, I ought to refuse it.

For cases of this kind, and where it was absolutely impossible to refuse, Dr. Franklin drew up the following as a model for such letters of recommendation, and actually employed it in some instances, to shame the persons making such indiscreet applications; and to endeavor, in some measure, to put a stop to them.

Model of a Letter of Recommendation of a person you are unacquainted with.

SIR,

Paris, April 2, 1777.

The bearer of this, who is going to America, presses me to give him a letter of recommendation, though I know nothing of him, not even his name. This may seem extraordinary, but I assure you it is not uncommon here. Sometimes, indeed, one unknown person brings another equally unknown, to re

I

These applications are my perpetual torment. People will believe (notwithstanding my repeated declarations to the contrary) that I am sent hither to engage officers.-In truth I never had any such orders. It was never so much as intimated to me that it would be agreeable to my constituents. have even received for what I have done of the kind, not indeed an absolute rebuke, but some pretty strong hints of disapprobation. Not a day passes in which I have not a number of soliciting visits, besides letters. If I could gratify all, or any of them, it would be a pleasure. I might indeed give them the recommendation and the promises they desire, and thereby please them for the present; but when the certain disappointment of the expectations with which they will so obstinately flatter themselves shall arrive, they must curse me for complying with their mad requests, and not undeceiving them; and will become so many enemies to our cause and country. You can have no conception how I am harassed. All my friends are sought out and teazed to teaze me. Great offi

commend him; and sometimes they recommend one another! As to this gentleman, I must refer you to himself for his character and merits, with which he is certainly better acquainted than I can possibly be: I recommend him however to those civilities which every stranger, of whom one knows no harm, has a right to; and I request you will do him all the good offices, and show him all the favor that, on further acquaintance, you shall find him to deserve. I have the honor to be, &c.

cers of all ranks, in all departments; ladies, great and small, besides professed solicitors, worry me from morning to night. The noise of every coach how that enters my court terrifies me. I am afraid to accept an invitation to dine abroad, being almost sure of meeting with some officer or officer's friend, who, as soon as I am put in good humor by a glass or two of champaigne, begins his attack upon me. Luckily I do not often in my sleep dream of these vexatious situations, or I should be afraid of what are now my only hours of comfort. If, therefore, you have the least remaining kindness for me, if you would not help to drive me out of France, for God's sake, my dear friend, let this your twenty-third application be your last. Yours, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

The following letter, on the same subject, was addressed by Dr. Franklin to an impertinent and unknown applicant; and contains some wholesome advice in a tart and pithy style.

ŞIR,

Passy, near Paris, April 6, 1777.

I have just been honored with a letter from you, dated the 26th past, in which you express yourself as astonished, and appear to be angry that you have no answer to a letter you wrote me on the 11th of December, which you are sure was delivered to me.