Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

he was obliged to leave them, and is now busied in supplying himself here. As soon as that is done, he proposes to wait on you in Virginia, as he understands there is no prospect of your coming hither, which would indeed make me very happy; as it would give me the opportunity of congratulating with you personally on the final success of your long and painful labours in the service of our country, which have laid us all under eternal obligations.

"With the greatest and most sincere esteem and respect, I am, dear sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

"B. FRANKLIN."

"Mr. and Mrs. Jay.

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 21, 1785.

"DEAR FRIENDS,-I received your very kind letter of the 16th, congratulating me on my safe arrival with my grandsons; an event that indeed makes me very happy, being what I have long ardently wished; and considering the growing infirmities of age, began almost to despair of. I am now in the bosom of my family, and find four new little prattlers, who cling about the knees of their grandpapa, and afford me great pleasure. The affectionate welcome I met with from

about to put into the hands of Mr. Taylor, (a gentleman in the department of the secretary for foreign affairs,) the enclosed letter, when I had the honour to receive your favour of the 20th instant.

"I have a grateful sense of the partiality of the French nation towards me. And I feel very sensibly for the indulgent expression of your letter, which does me great honour.

"When it suits Mr. Houdon to come hither, I will accommodate him in the best manner I am able, and shall endeavour to render his stay as agreeable as I can.

"It would give me infinite pleasure to see you. At this place I dare not look for it, although to entertain you under my own roof would be doubly gratifying. When, or whether ever, I shall have the satisfaction of seeing you at Philadelphia, is uncertain, as retirement from the walks of public life has not been so productive of that leisure and ease, as might have been expected.

"With very great esteem and respect, I am, dear sir, your most obedient humble G. WASHINGTON."

servant,

"David Hartley.

"PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 27, 1785. "DEAR SIR,-I received at Havre de Grace

six copies of your print, which I have brought with me hither. I shall frame and keep one of them in my best room. I shall send one to Mr. Jay, and give the others among some friends, who esteem and respect you as we do.

my fellow-citizens, is far beyond my expect ation; I bore my voyage very well, and find myself rather better for it, so that I have every possible reason to be satisfied with my having undertaken and performed it. When I was at Passy, I could not bear a wheel carriage; and being discouraged in my project of distresses and miseries that these states are "Your newspapers are filled with accounts of descending the Seine in a boat, by the difficulties and tediousness of its navigation in plunged into since a separation from Britain. so dry a season, I accepted the offer of one of is no truth in those accounts. You may believe me, when I tell you there I find all prothe king's litters, carried by large mules, which brought me well, though in walking in value; that of houses and towns at least perty in lands and houses augmented vastly slowly, to Havre. Thence I went over in a fourfold. The crops have been plentiful, and packet-boat to Southampton, where I staid four days, till the ship came for me to Spit- of the farmer. At the same time all imported yet the produce sells high, to the great profit head. Several of my London friends came there to see me, particularly the good bishop goods sell at low rates, some cheaper than the first cost. Working people have plenty of of St. Asaph and family, who staid with me to employ and high pay for their labour. These the last. In short, I am now so well, as to appear to me as certain signs of public prosthink it possible that I may once more have the pleasure of seeing you both perhaps at trade is dead; but this pretended evil is not perity. Some traders indeed complain that New York, with my dear young friends (who an affect of inability in the people to buy, pay I hope may not have quite forgotten me) for for, and consume the usual articles of comI imagine that on a sandy road between Bur-merce, as far as they have occasion for them; lington and Amboy I could bear an easy coach, and the rest is water.

"I rejoice to hear that you continue well, being with true and great esteem and affec tion, your most obedient servant,

"B. FRANKLIN."

Dr. Franklin.

"MOUNT VERNON, Sept. 26, 1785. "DEAR SIR,—I had just written, and was

it is owing merely to there being too many traders who have crowded hither from all parts of Europe, with more goods than the natural demand of the country requires. And what in Europe is called the debt of America, is chiefly the debt of these adventurers and supercargoes to their principals, with which the settled inhabitants of America, who never paid better, for what they want to buy, have nothing to do. As to the contentment of the

inhabitants with the change of government, confusions occasioned in sudden and various methinks a stronger proof cannot be desired, than what they have given in my reception. You know the part I had in that change, and you see in the papers the addresses from all ranks with which your friend was welcomed home, and the sentiments they contain confirmed yesterday in the choice of him for President, by the council and new assembly, which was unanimous, a single voice in seventy-seven excepted.

"I remembered you used to wish for newspapers from America. Herewith I send a few, and you shall be regularly supplied, if you can put me in a way of sending them, so as that you may not be obliged to pay postage. -With unchangeable esteem and respect I am, my dear friend, yours most affectionately. "B. FRANKLIN.”

"Mathon de la Cour.

"PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 18, 1785.

"SIR,-I received duly the letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 25th of June past, together with the collection you have made comptes des rendus de vos controleurs generaux; and your Discours sur les moyens d'encourager le patriotisme dans les monarchies. The first is a valuable work, as containing a great deal of useful information; but the second I am particularly charmed with, the sentiments being delightfully just, and expressed with such force and clearness, that I am persuaded the pamphlet, though small, must have a great effect on the minds of both princes and people, and thence be productive of much good to mankind. Be pleased to accept my hearty thanks for both.

"It is right to be sowing good seed whenever we have an opportunity, since some of it may be productive. An instance of this you should be acquainted with, as it may afford you pleasure. The reading of Fortuné Ricard's Testament, has put it into the head and heart of a citizen to leave two thousand pounds sterling to two American cities, who are to lend it in small sums at five per cent. to young beginners in business; and the accumulation, after an hundred years, to be laid out in public works of benefit to those cities.

"With great esteem, I have the honour be, sir, your most obedient and most humble

servant,

B. FRANKLIN.”

"Dr. Bancroft, F. R. S.

"PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 26, 1785. "DEAR SIR, I received your kind letter of September 5, informing me of the intention Mr. Dilly has of printing a new edition of my writings, and of his desire that I would furnish him with such additions as I may think proper. At present all my papers and manuscripts are so mixt with other things, by the

removals, during the late troubles, that I can hardly find any thing. But having nearly finished an addition to my house, which will afford me room to put all in order, I hope soon to be able to comply with such a request; but I hope Mr. Dilly will have a good understanding in the affair with Henry and Johnson, who, having risked the former impressions, may suppose they thereby acquired some right in the copy. As to the Life proposed to be written, if it be by the same hand who furnished a sketch to Dr. Lettesom, which he sent me, I am afraid it will be found too full of errors for either you or me to correct: and having been persuaded by my friends, Messrs. Vaughan and Monsieur Le Veillard, Mr. James of this place, and some others that such a Life, written by myself, may be useful to the rising generation, I have made some progress in it, and hope to finish it this winter so I cannot but wish that project of Mr. Dilly's biographer may be laid aside. I am nevertheless thankful to you for your friendly offer of correcting it.

"As to public affairs, it is long since I gave over all expectations of a commercial treaty between us and Britain; and I think we can do as well, or better without one than she can. Our harvests are plenty, our produce fetches a high price in hard money, and there is in every part of our country, incontestible marks of public felicity. We discover, indeed, some errors in our general and particular constitutions; which it is no wonder they should have, the time in which they were formed being considered. But these we shall soon mend. The little disorders you have heard of in some of the states, raised by a few wrong heads, are subsiding, and will probably soon be extinguished.

attend you. We shall be happy to see you "My best wishes, and those of my family here, when it suits you to visit us: being with sincere and great esteem, my dear friend, yours most affectionately,

"B. FRANKLIN.”

"To the bishop of St. Asaph.

"PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 24, 1786.

kind letter of November 27. My reception "DEAR FRIEND,-I received lately your here, was, as you have heard, very honourable indeed; but I was betrayed by it, and by some remains of ambition, from which I had imagined myself free, to accept of the chair of government for the state of Pennsylvania, when the proper thing for me was repose and a private life. I hope however to be able to bear the fatigue for one year, and then to retire.

"I have much regretted our having so little opportunity for conversation when we

last met. You could have given me informa- | house, with six grandchildren, the eldest of tions and counsels that I wanted, but we which you have seen, who is now at college were scarce a minute together without being in the next street, finishing the learned part broken in upon. I am to thank you however of his education; the others promising both for the pleasure I had after our parting, in for parts and good dispositions. What their reading the new book you gave me, which conduct may be when they grow up and enI think generally well written and likely to ter the important scenes of life, I shall not do good though the reading time of most live to see, and I cannot foresee. I therefore people is of late so taken up with newspapers, enjoy among them the present hour, and and little periodical pamphlets, that few now-leave the future to Providence. a-days venture to attempt reading a quarto volume. I have admired to see that in the fast century, a folio, Burton on Melancholy, went through six editions in about forty years. We have, I believe, more readers now, but not of such large books.

"He that raises a large family, does indeed, while he lives to observe them, stand, as Watts says, a broader mark for sorrow; but then he stands a broader mark for pleasure too. When we launch our little fleet of barks into the ocean, bound to different ports, "You seem desirous of knowing what pro- we hope for each a prosperous voyage; but gress we make here in improving our govern- contrary winds, hidden shoals, storms, and ments. We are, I think, in the right road of enemies come in for a share in the disposiimprovement, for we are making experiments. tion of events; and though these occasion a I do not oppose all that seem wrong, for the mixture of disappointment, yet considering multitude are more effectually set right by ex- the risk where we can make no insurance, perience, than kept from going wrong by rea- we should think ourselves happy if some resoning with them. And I think we are daily turn with success. My son's son, (Temple more and more enlightened; so that I have no Franklin) whom you have also seen, having doubt of our obtaining in a few years as much had a fine farm of 600 acres conveyed to him public felicity as good government is capable by his father, when we were at Southampton, of affording. Your newspapers are filled with has dropped for the present his views of actfictitious accounts of anarchy, confusion, dis- ing in the political line, and applies himself tresses, and miseries we are supposed to be ardently to the study and practice of agriculinvolved in, as consequences of the revolu- ture. This is much more agreeable to me, tion; and the few remaining friends of the who esteem it the most useful, the most inold government among us, take pains to mag-dependent, and therefore the noblest of emnify every little inconvenience a change in the course of commerce may have occasioned. To obviate the complaints they endeavour to excite, was written the enclosed little piece, from which you may form a truer idea of our situation, than your own public prints would give you. And I can assure you, that the great body of our nation find themselves happy in the change, and have not the smallest inclination to return to the domination of Britain. There could not be a stronger proof of the general approbation of the measures that promoted the change, and of the change itself, than has been given by the assembly and council of this state, in the nearly unanimous choice for their governor, of one who had been so much concerned in those measures; the assembly being themselves the unbribed choice of the people, and therefore may be truly supposed of the same sentiments. I say nearly unanimous, because of between seventy and eighty votes, there were only my own and one other in the negative.

"As to my domestic circumstances, of which you kindly desire to hear something, they are at present as happy as I could wish them. I am surrounded by my offspring, a dutiful and affectionate daughter in my

*At Southampton, previous to Dr. Franklin's embark ing for the United States.

Paley's Moral Philosophy,

ployments. His lands are on navigable wa-
ter, communicating with the Delaware, and
but about 16 miles from this city. He has
associated to himself a very skilful English
farmer, lately arrived here, who is to instruct
him in the business, and partakes for a term
of the profits; so that there is a great appa-
rent probability of their success. You will
kindly expect a word or two concerning my-
self. My health and spirits continue, thanks
to God, as when you saw me. The only
complaint I then had, does not grow worse,
and is tolerable. I still have enjoyment in the
company of my friends; and being easy in my
circumstances, have many reasons to like liv-
ing. But the course of nature must soon put
a period to my present mode of existence.
This I shall submit to with less regret, as,
having seen during a long life a good deal of
this world, I feel a growing curiosity to be
acquainted with some other; and can cheer-
fully with filial confidence resign my spirit to
the conduct of that great and good Parent of
mankind who created it, and who has so gra-
ciously protected and prospered me from my
birth to the present hour. Wherever I am,
I always hope to retain the pleasing remem-
brance of your friendship, being with sincere
and great esteem, my dear friend, yours most
affectionately,
B. FRANKLIN,

"We all join in respects to Mrs. Shipley."

"M. Veillard.

"Will you also be so good as to present my respectful compliments to madame la duchesse d'Enville, and to M. le duc de la Rochefoucault? you may communicate the political part of this letter to that excellent man. His good heart will rejoice to hear of the welfare of America.

"I made no progress when at sea in the his

having written three pieces, each of some length: one on nautical matters; another on Chimnies; and the third a description of my Vase for consuming Smoke, with directions for using it. These are all now printing in the Transactions of our Philosophical Society, of which I hope soon to send you a copy.

"My grandsons present their compliments. The eldest is very busy in preparing for a country life, being to enter upon his farm the 25th instant. It consists of about 600 acres, bounding on navigable water, sixteen miles from Philadelphia. The youngest is at college, very diligent in his studies. You know my situation, involved in public cares, but they cannot make me forget that you and I love one another, and that I am ever, my dear friend, yours most affectionately,

"PHILADELPHIA, March 6, 1786. "MY DEAR FRIEND, I received and read with great pleasure your kind letter of October 9. It informed me of your welfare, and that of the best of good women, and of her amiable daughter, who I think will tread in her steps. My effects came all in the same ship, in good order; and we are now drink-tory you mention:* but I was not idle there, ing every day les eaux epurées de Passy, with great satisfaction, as they kept well, and seem to be rendered more agreeable by the long voyage. I am here in the bosom of my family, and am not only happy myself, but have the felicity of seeing my country so. Be assured that all the stories spread in the English papers of our distresses, and confusions, and discontents with our new governments, are as chimerical as the history of my being in chains at Algiers. They exist only in the wishes of our enemies. America never was in higher prosperity, her produce abundant and bearing a good price, her working people all employed and well paid, and all property in lands and houses of more than treble the value it bore before the war; and our commerce being no longer the monopoly of British merchants, we are furnished with all the foreign commodities we need, at much more reasonable rates than heretofore. So that we have no doubt of being able to discharge more speedily the debt incurred by the war, than at first was apprehended. Our modes of collecting taxes are indeed as yet imperfect, and we have need of more skill in financiering; but we improve in that kind of knowledge daily by experience. That our people are contented with the revolution, with their new constitutions, and their foreign connexions, nothing can afford a stronger proof, than the universally cordial and joyous reception with which they welcomed the return of one that was supposed to have had a considerable share in promoting them. All this is in answer to that part of your letter, in which you seem to have been too much impressed with some ideas, which those lying English papers endeavour to inculcate concerning us.

"I am astonished by what you write concerning the prince Evêque.* If the charges against him are made good, it will be another instance of the truth of those proverbs which teach us, that prodigality begets necessity, that without economy no revenue is sufficient, and that it is hard for an empty sack to stand upright.

"I am glad to hear of the marriage of Miss Brillon; for every thing that may contribute to the happiness of that beloved family, gives me pleasure. Be pleased to offer them my felicitations, and assure them of my best wishes.

The cardinal de Rohan.

“B. FRANKLIN.”

"Mrs. Hewson, London.

"PHILADELPHIA, May 6, 1786. "MY DEAR FRIEND,-A long winter has passed, and I have not had the pleasure of a line from you, acquainting me with your and your children's welfare, since I left England. I suppose you have been in Yorkshire, out of the way and knowledge of opportunities; for I will not think you have forgotten me. Το make me some amends, I received a few days past a large packet from Mr. Williams, dated September, 1776, near ten years since, containing three letters from you, one of December 12, 1775. This packet had been received by Mr. Bache, after my departure for France, lay dormant among his papers during all my absence, and has just now broke out upon me like words, that had been as somebody says, congealed in Northern air. Therein I find all the pleasing little family history of your children; how William had begun to spell, overcoming by strength of memory all the difficulty occasioned by the common wretched alphabet; while you were convinced of the utility of our new one. How Tom, genius-like, struck out new paths, and relinquishing the old names of the letters called U bell and P bottle. How Eliza began to grow jolly, that is fat and handsome, resembling aunt Rooke, whom I used to call my lovely. Together with all the then news

* Dr. Franklin's "Memoirs of his Life."

† See "Letters and Papers on Philosophical Subjects."

of lady Blunt's having produced at length a | when you knew him, so that I still think he boy; of Dolly's being well, and of poor good will make you a good son. His younger Catherine's decease. Of your affairs with brothers and sisters are also all promising, apMuir and Atkinson, and of their contract for pearing to have good tempers and dispositions, feeding the fish in the channel. Of the Vinys, as well as good constitutions. As to myself, and their jaunt to Cambridge in the long I think my general health and spirits rather carriages. Of Dolly's journey to Wales with better than when you saw me, and the parMr. Scot. Of the Wilkes's, the Pearces, ticular malady I then complained of, continues Elphinston, &c. &c. Concluding with a tolerable.-With sincere and very great eskind of promise, that as soon as the ministry teem, I am ever my dear friend, yours most B. FRANKLIN.” and congress agreed to make peace, I should affectionately have you with me in America. That peace has been some time made, but alas! the promise is not yet fulfilled. And why is it not

Efulfilled?

"I have found my family here in health, good circumstances, and well respected by their fellow-citizens. The companions of my youth are indeed almost all departed, but I find an agreeable society among their children and grandchildren. have public business enough to preserve me from ennui, and private amusement besides, in conversation, books, my garden, and cribbage. Considering our well furnished plentiful market as the best of gardens, I am turning mine, in the midst of which my house stands, into grass plats, and gravel walks with trees and flowering shrubs. Cards we sometimes play here in long winter evenings, but it is as they play at chess, not for money but for honour, or the pleasure of beating one another. This will not be quite a novelty to you; as you may remember we played together in that manner during the winter you helped me to pass so agreeably at Passy. I have indeed now and then a little compunction in reflecting that I spend time so idly; but another reflection comes to relieve me, [whispering] 'You know the soul is immortal; why then should you be such a niggard of a little time, when you have a whole eternity before you? So being easily convinced, and, like other reasonable creatures, satisfied with a small reason, when it is in favour of doing what I have a mind to do, I shuffle the cards again and begin another game.

with me in best wishes for you and yours. "P. S. My children and grandchildren join My love to my godson, to Eliza, and to honest Tom. They will all find agreeable companions here. Love to Dolly,* and tell her she will do well to come with you.

"Mrs. Partridge, Boston.

"PHILADELPHIA, June 3, 1786.

"MY DEAR CHILD,-I have just received your kind letter of the 14th past, which gave me great pleasure, as it informed me of your welfare. You complain with reason of my being a bad correspondent. I confess I have long deserved that character. If you keep my old letters, as I once think you told me you did, you will find in one of July 17, 1767, the best apology I could then make for that fault, and I cannot now make a better. I must therefore refer you to it, only requesting that you would ascribe my neglect of writing to any cause rather than to a diminution of that tender, affectionate regard I always had, and still retain for you.

"I hoped for repose when I solicited my recall from France, but I have not met with it, being as much engaged in business as ever. I enjoy, however, a good share of health, (the stone excepted) as does all this family, who join with me in best wishes of happiness to you and yours.-I am ever, my dear niece, your affectionate uncle,

"B. FRANKLIN.” In his 81st year.

"Noah Webster.

"PHILADELPHIA, June 18, 1786.

"As to public amusements, we have neither plays nor operas, but we had yesterday a kind of oratorio, as you will see by the enclosed paper; and we have assemblies, balls, and concerts, besides little parties at one another's "SIR,-I received the letter you did me houses, in which there is sometimes dancing, the honour of writing to me the 24th past, and frequently good music; so that we jog on with the scheme enclosed of your reformed in life as pleasantly as you do in England, Alphabet. I think the reformation not only any where but in London; for there you have necessary but practicable; but have so much plays performed by good actors. That how-to say to you on the subject, that I wish to ever is, I think, the only advantage London has over Philadelphia.

[ocr errors]

Temple has turned his thoughts to agriculture, which he pursues ardently, being in possession of a fine farm that his father lately conveyed to him. Ben is finishing his studies at college, and continues to behave as well as

see and confer with you upon it, as that would save much time and writing. Sounds, 'till such an alphabet is fixed, not being easily explained or discoursed of clearly upon paper. have formerly considered this matter pretty

* Mrs. Dorothy Blunt.

« AnteriorContinuar »