sembly's making a law to regulate carriages is imputed to the general's "multitude of letters." Then he tells us “innumerable scouting parties had been sent out during a long period, both by the general and Colonel Bouquet, towards Fort DuQuesne, to catch a prisoner, if possible, for intelligence, but never got any." How happened that? Why, "it was the provincial troops that were constantly employed in that service," and they, it seems, never do anything they are ordered to do. That, however, one would think might be easily remedied, by sending regulars with them, who, of course, must command them, and may see that they do their duty. No; the regulars are afraid of being shot by the provincials in a panic. Then send all regulars. Aye; that was what the colonel resolved upon. "Intelligence was now wanted [says the letter writer]. Col. Bouquet, whose attention to business was [only] very considerable [that is, not quite so great as the general's, for he was not of the northern latitude], was determined to send no more provincials a-scouting." And how did he execute his determination? Why, by sending "Major Grant, of the Highlanders, with seven hundred men, three hundred of them Highlanders, the rest Americans, Virginians, and Pennsylvanians." No blunder this in our writer, but a misfortune; and he is, nevertheless, one of those "acute sharp" men who are “fit for learning." And how did this major and seven hundred men succeed in catching the prisoner? Why, their “march to Fort DuQuesne was so conducted the surprise was complete." Perhaps you may imagine, gentle reader, that this was a surprise of the enemy. No such matter. They knew every step of his motions, and had, every man of them, left their fires and huts in the fields, and retired into the fort.

But the major and his seven hundred men, they were surprised, first to find nobody there at night, and next to find themselves surrounded and cut to pieces in the morning, two or three hundred being killed, drowned, or taken prisoners, and among the latter the major himself. Those who escaped were also surprised at their own good fortune; and the whole army was surprised at the major's bad management. Thus the surprise was indeed complete, but not the disgrace; for provincials were there to lay the blame on. The misfortune (we must not call it misconduct) of the major was owing, it seems, to an unnamed and, perhaps, unknown provincial officer, who, it is said, “disobeyed his orders and quitted his post." Whence a formal conclusion is drawn, "that a planter is not to be taken from the plough and made an officer on a day." Unhappy provincials! If success attends where you are joined with the regulars, they claim all the honour, though not a tenth part of your number. If disgrace, it is all yours, though you happen to be a small part of the whole, and have not the command; as if regulars were in their nature invincible when not mixed with provincials, and provincials of no kind of value without regulars. Happy is it for you that you were neither present at Prestonpans nor Falkirk, at the faint attempt against Rochfort, the rout of St. Cas, or the hasty retreat from Martinico. Every thing that went wrong, or did not go right, would have been ascribed to you. Our commanders would have been saved the labour of writing long apologies for their conduct. It might have been sufficient to say, provincials were with us.

A NEW ENGLANDMAN.

503. TO MISS MARY STEVENSON.1

DEAR POLLEY,

(P. C.)

Tuesday Morn, June 27, 1769.

Agreable to your Orders, delivered to me very punctually by Temple, I return you enclos'd Voltaire's Verses. The Translation I think full as good as the Original. Remember that I am to have them again.

I take this Opportunity to send you, also, a late Paper, containing a melancholy Account of the Distresses of some Seamen. You will observe in it the Advantages they receiv'd from wearing their Clothes constantly wet with Salt Water, under the total Want of fresh Water to drink. You may remember I recommended this Practice many years ago. Do you know Dr. Len, and did you communicate it to him? I fancy his Name is wrong spelt in this Paper, and that it should be Lind, having seen in the Review some Extracts from a book on Sea-Diseases, published within these 2 or 3 Years, by one Dr. Lind; but I have not seen the Book, and know not whether such a Passage be in it.

2

I need not point out to you an Observation in favour of our Doctrine, that you will make on reading this Paper, that, having little to eat, these poor People in wet Clothes Day and Night caught no Cold.

My respects to your Aunt, and love to all that love you. Yours affectionately, B. FRANKLIN.

1 From the original in the possession of T. Hewson Bradford, M.D. — ED. 2 James Lind, M.D. (1716–1794), wrote numerous books upon the diseases of the sea. The particular work to which Franklin refers is probably "An Essay on the most effectual means of Preserving the Health of Seamen in the Royal Navy," the second edition of which appeared in 1762. —ED.

504. TO THE COMMITTEE OF MERCHANTS IN PHILADELPHIA1

GENTLEMEN,

London, July 9, 1769.

I received yours of the 18th of April, enclosing copies of the articles of your agreements with respect to importation, and of your letter to the merchants here. The letter was published, and universally spoken well of, as a well written, sensible, manly, and spirited performance; and I believe the publication has been of service to our cause. You are in my opinion perfectly right in your supposition, that "the redress of American grievances likely to be proposed by the ministry will at first only be partial; and that it is intended to retain some of the revenue duties, in order to establish a right of Parliament to tax the colonies." But I hope, that, by persisting steadily in the measure you have so laudably entered into, you will, if backed by the general honest resolution of the people to buy British goods of no others, but to manufacture for themselves, or use colony manufactures only, be the means, under God, of recovering and establishing the freedom of our country entire, and of handing it down complete to posterity.

And in the mean time the country will be enriched by its industry and frugality. These virtues will become habitual. Farms will be more improved, better stocked, and rendered more productive by the money that used to be spent in superfluities. Our artificers of every kind will be enabled to carry on their business to more advantage; gold and silver will

1 First printed by Sparks.

become more plenty among us, and trade will revive, after things shall be well settled, and become better and safer than it has lately been; for an industrious, frugal people are best able to buy, and pay best for what they purchase. With great regard, I have the honour to be, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

505. TO JOHN BARTRAM1

DEAR FRIEND,

London, July 9, 1769.

It is with great pleasure I understand by your favour of April 10th, that you continue to enjoy so good a share of health. I hope it will long continue. And, although it may not now be suitable for you to make such wide excursions as heretofore, you may yet be very useful to your country and to mankind, if you sit down quietly at home, digest the knowledge you have acquired, and compile and publish the many observations you have made, and point out the advantages that may be drawn from the whole, in public undertakings or particular private practice. It is true, many people are fond of accounts of old buildings, and monuments; but there is a number, who would be much better pleased with such accounts as you could afford them. And, for one, I confess, that if I could find in any Italian travels a receipt for making Parmesan cheese, it would give me more satisfaction than a transcript of any inscription from any old stone whatever.

I suppose Mr. Michael Collinson, or Dr. Fothergill, has written to you what may be necessary for your information 1 First printed by Sparks.