SIR:

513. TO ANTHONY TODD (P. R. O. A. W. I.) Craven Street, October 29, 1769.

Discoursing with Captain Folger, a very intelligent Mariner of the Island of Nantucket, in New England, concerning the long Passages made by some ships bound from England to New York, I received from him the following Information, viz.,

That the Island in which he lives is inhabited chiefly by People concerned in the Whale Fishery, in which they employed near 150 Sail of Vessels; that the Whales are found generally near the Edges of the Gulph Stream, a strong Current so called, which comes out of the Gulph of Florida, passing Northeasterly along the Coast of America, and then turning off most Easterly, running at the rate of 4, 31, 3, and 21 Miles an Hour. That the Whaling Business leading these People to cruise along the Edges of the Stream in quest of Whales, they are become better acquainted with the Course, Breadth, Strength, and Extent of the same, than those Navigators can well be who only cross it in their Voyages to and from America, that they have Opportunities of discovering the strength of it when their Boats are out in the pursuit of this Fish, and happen to get into the Stream while the Ship is out of it, or out of the Stream while the Ship is in it, for then they are separated very fast, and would soon loose sight of each other if care were not taken that in crossing the Stream to and fro, they frequently in the same meet and speak with Ships bound from England to New York, Virginia, &c. who have Passages of 8, 9, and 10 weeks and are still far from Land, and not likely to be in with it for some time, being en

gaged in that part of the Stream that sets directly against them, and it is supposed that their Fear of Cape Sable Shoals, George's Banks, or Nantucket Shoals, hath induced them to keep so far to the southward as unavoidably to engage them in the said Gulph Stream, which occasions the length of their Voyage, since in a Calm it carries them directly back, and tho' they may have fair Winds, yet the Current being 60 or 70 Miles a Day, is so much subtracted from the way they make thro' the Water. At my request Captain Folger hath been so obliging as to mark for me on a Chart the Dimensions, Course and Swiftness of the Stream from its first coming out of the Gulph when it is narrowest and strongest, until it turns away to go to the southward of the Western Islands, where it is Broader and Weaker, and to give me withall some written Directions whereby Ships bound from the Banks of Newfoundland to New York may avoid the said Stream; and yet be free of Danger from the Banks and Shoals above mentioned. As I apprehend that such Chart and Directions may be of use to our Packets in shortning their Voyages, I send them to you, that if their Lordships should think fit, so much of the Chart as is contained within the Red Lines may be engraved, and printed, together with the Remarks, at the Charge of the Office; or at least the Manuscript Copies may be made of the same for the use of the Packets. The Expence of the former would not much exceed the latter and would besides be of general Service. With much Esteem, I am, etc.

B. FRANKLIN.

Endorsed: "Craven Street, Oct. 29th, 1769, Dr. Franklin to Mr. Todd. In Mr. Todd's to Mr. Pownall, of 17th Feby 1769."

514. TO MISS MARY STEVENSON' (P. C.)

Craven Street, Sat. eve. past ten. [1769]

Ar length I have found an Hour, in which I think I may chat with my dear good Girl, free from Interruption.

The Attention you have always shown to everything you think agreable to me, demands my most grateful Acknowledgements. I have receiv'd the Garters you have so kindly knit for me; they are of the only Sort that I can wear, having worn none of any kind for 20 Years, till you began to supply me; but besides their Usefulness, these appear to me the finest, neatest, and prettiest that were ever made!

Accept my heartiest Thanks, and be assured that I shall think as often of you in the Wearing, as you did of me in the Making them.

The Question you ask me is a very sensible one, and I shall be glad if I can give you a satisfactory Answer. There are two Ways of contracting a Chimney; one, by contracting the Opening before the Fire; the other, by contracting the Funnel above the Fire. If the Funnel above the Fire is left open in its full Dimensions, and the Opening before the Fire is contracted; then the Coals, I imagine, will burn faster, because more Air is directed through the Fire, and in a stronger Stream; that Air which before pass'd over it, and on each side of it, now passing thro' it. This is seen in narrow Stove Chimneys, when a Sacheverell or Blower is used, which still more contracts the narrow Opening. But if the Funnel only above the Fire is contracted, then, as a less Stream of Air is

1 From the original in the possession of T. Hewson Bradford, M.D. — ED.

passing up the Chimney, less must pass thro' the Fire, and consequently it should seem that the Consuming of the Coals would rather be check'd than augmented by such Contraction. And this will also be the Case, when both the Opening before the Fire, and the Funnel above the Fire are contracted, provided the Funnel above the Fire is more contracted in Proportion than the Opening before the Fire.

So you see I think you had the best of the Argument; and, as you notwithstanding gave it up in Complaisance to the Company, I think you had also the best of the Dispute. There are few, tho' convinc'd, that know how to give up, even an Error, they have been once engag'd in maintaining; there is therefore the more Merit in dropping a Contest where one thinks one's self right; 'tis at least respectful to those we converse with. And indeed all our Knowledge is so imperfect, and we are from a thousand Causes so perpetually subject to Mistake and Error, that Positiveness can scarce ever become even the most knowing; and Modesty in advancing any Opinion, however plain and true we may suppose it, is always decent, and generally more likely to procure assent. Pope's Rule,

"To speak, tho' sure, with seeming Diffidence,"

is therefore a good one; and, if I had ever seen in your Conversation the least Deviation from it, I should earnestly recommend it to your Observation.1

I am, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

1 A paragraph of no importance omitted.-ED.

In the many conversations we have had together about our present disputes with North America, we perfectly agreed in wishing they may be brought to a speedy and happy conclusion. How this is to be done is not so easily ascertained.

Five [sic] objects, I humbly apprehend, his Majesty's servants have now in contemplation. First, To relieve the colonies from the taxes complained of, which they certainly had no hand in imposing. Secondly, To preserve the honour, the dignity, and the supremacy of the British legislature over all his Majesty's dominions.

As I know your singular knowledge of the subject in question, and am as fully convinced of your cordial attachment to his Majesty, and your sincere desire to promote the happiness equally of all his subjects, I beg you would, in your own clear, brief, and explicit manner, send me an answer to the following questions. I make this request now, because this matter is of the utmost importance, and must very quickly be agitated. And I do it with the more freedom, as you know me and my motives too well, to entertain the most remote suspicion that I will make an improper use of any information you shall hereby convey to me.

1. Will not a repeal of all the duties (that on tea excepted, which was before paid here on exportation, and of course no new imposition,) fully satisfy the colonists? If you answer in the negative,

1 From the original Ms. in B. M. A French version is in A. P. S. dated November 21st. — ED.