that are for having no Maypole, shall have no Maypole ; and you, that are for having a Maypole, shall have a Maypole. Get about your business, and let me hear no more of this quarrel."*

Your compliment of gold and wisdom is very obliging to me, but a little injurious to your country. The various value of every thing in every part of this world arises, you know, from the various proportions of the quantity to the demand. We are told, that gold and silver in Solomon's time were so plenty, as to be of no more value in his country than the stones in the street. You have here at present just such a plenty of wisdom. Your people are, therefore, not to be censured for desiring no more among them than they have; and if I have any, I should certainly carry it where, from its scarcity, it may probably come to a better market.

*

To Mary Ste

Our ships for America do not sail venson, dated London,

so soon as I expected; it will be yet five or

7 June, 1762. six weeks before we embark, and leave the old world for the new. I fancy I feel a little like dying saints, who, in parting with those they love in this world, are only comforted with the hope of more perfect happiness in the next. I have, in America, connexions of the most engaging kind; and, happy as I have been in the friendships here contracted, those promise me greater and more lasting felicity. But God only knows whether these promises shall be fulfilled.

*

To Mary Ste- This is the best paper I can get at this venson, dated Portsmouth,

wretched inn, but it will convey. what is inII

August, trusted to it as faithfully as the finest. It will 1762.

tell my Polly how much her friend is afflicted, that he must, perhaps, never again see one for whom he has so sincere an affection, joined to so perfect an esteem ; who he once flattered himself might become his own, in the tender relation of a child, but can now entertain such pleasing hopes no more. Will it tell how much he is afflicted? No, it cannot.

Adieu, my dearest child. I will call you so. Why should I not call you so, since I love you with all the tenderness of a father ? Adieu. May the God of all goodness shower down his choicest blessings upon you, and make you infinitely happier, than that event would have made you. And, wherever I am, believe me to be, with unalterable affection, my dear Polly, your sincere friend.

To Lord

I am now waiting here only for a wind to Kames, dated Portsmouth,

waft me to America, but cannot leave this 17 August, happy island and my friends in it, without 1762. extreme regret, though I am going to a country

I and a people that I love. I am going from the old world to the new; and I fancy I feel like those, who are leaving this world for the next; grief at the parting ; fear of the passage; hope of the future. These different passions all affect their minds at once; and these have tendered me down exceedingly. It is usual for the dying to beg forgiveness of their surviving friends, if they have ever offended them.

Can you, my Lord, forgive my long silence, and my not acknowledging till now the favor you did me in sending me your excellent book ?

Can
you

make some allowance for a fault in others, which you have never experienced in yourself; for the bad habit of postponing from day to day, what one every day resolves to do to-morrow ? A habit that grows upon us with years, and whose only excuse is we know not how to mend it. If you are disposed to favor me, you will also consider how much one's mind is taken up and distracted by the many little affairs one has to settle before the undertaking such a voyage, after so long a residence in a country; and how little, in such a situation, one's mind is fitted for serious and attentive reading; which, with regard to the “ Elements of Criticism,” I intended before I should write. I can now only confess and endeavour to amend. In packing up my books, I have reserved yours to read on the passage.

I hope I shall therefore be able to write to you upon it soon after my arrival. At present I can only return my thanks, and say that the parts I have read gave me both pleasure and instruction ; that I am convinced of your position, new as it was to me, that a good taste in the arts contributes to the improvement of morals; and that I have had the satisfaction of hearing the work universally commended by those who have read it.

And now, my dear Sir, accept my sincere thanks for the kindness

you
have shown me,

and
my

best wishes of happiness to you and yours. Wherever I am, I shall esteem the friendship you honor me with as one of the felicities of my life ; I shall endeavour to cultivate it by a more punctual correspondence; and I hope frequently to hear of your welfare and prosperity.*

* Dr. Franklin sailed for America immediately after writing this letter, and after a sojourn in England of five years.-Ed.

a

CHAPTER II.

His Reception in America–His Son's Marriage, and appointment as Gov

ernor of New Jersey-Tour through the Colonies as Postmaster-GeneralInsurrection of the Indians-Drafts a Militia Bill—Its Rejection by the Governor-Drafts a Petition to the Throne for a Change of GovernorIs Defeated for the Assembly-Sent to England again as Agent of the Colony of Pennsylvania-Parting Advice to his Daughter.

1762-1764.

I THANK you for your kind congratulations Philadelphia, on my son's promotion and marriage.* If he 7 Dec., 1762. makes a good governor and husband, (as I hope he will, for I know he has good principles and a good disposition,) these events will both of them give me continual pleasure.

The taking of the Havana, on which I congratulate you, is a conquest of the greatest importance, and will doubtless contribute a due share of weight in procuring us reasonable terms of peace. It has been, however, the dearest conquest, by far, that we have made this war, when we consider the terrible havoc made by sickness in that brave army of veterans, now almost totally ruined.

To Mrs. Cath

dated Philadelphia, 23

I received with great pleasure my dear erine Greene, * friend's favor of December 20th, as it informed

me that you and yours are all well. Mrs. Jan., 1763

Franklin admits of your apology for dropping the correspondence with her, and allows your reasons to be good; but hopes, when you have more leisure, it may be resumed. She joins with me in congratulating you on your present happy situation. I thank

you

for your kind invitation. I purpose a journey into New England in the spring or summer coming. I shall not fail to pay my respects to you and Mr. Greene, when I come your way. Please to make my compliments acceptable to him.