609. TO RICHARD PRICE1

(P. C.)

Craven Street, Sept. 28, 1772.

DEAR SIR, - Inclos'd I send you Dr. Priestly's last letter, of which a part is for you, he says; but the whole seems as proper for you as for me. I did not advise him pro or con, but only explain'd to him my method of judging for myself in doubtful cases, by what I called Prudential Algebra.

If he had come to town, and preach'd here sometimes, I fancy Sir John P. would now and then have been one of his hearers; for he likes his theology as well as his philosophy. Sir John has ask'd me if I knew where he could go to hear a preacher of rational Christianity. I told him I knew several of them, but did not know where their churches were in town; out of town, I mention'd yours at Newington, and offer'd to go with him. He agreed to it, but said we should first let you know our intention. I suppose, if nothing in his profession prevents, we may come, if you please, next Sunday; but if you sometimes preach in town, that will be most convenient to him, and I request you would by a line let me know when and where. If there are dissenting preachers of that sort at this end of the town, I wish you would recommend one to me, naming the place of his meeting. And if you please, give me a list of several, in different parts of the town, perhaps he may incline to take a round among them. At present I believe he has no view of attending constantly anywhere, but now and then only as it may suit his convenience. All this to yourself.

1 The original is in the possession of Walter Ashburner, Esq., of London. -- ED.

My best respects to Mrs Price and Mrs Barker. With sincere wishes for your health and welfare, I am ever, my dear Friend

Yours most affectionately,

B. FRANKLIN.

610. TO RICHARD BACHE

(D. S. W.)

London, Oct. 7, 1772.

LOVING SON: I receiv'd yours of Sept. 1, and am rejoic'd to hear you are all well. Your good Mother and Sisters were so about a Fortnight ago, when I heard from them. The Bill you sent me for £60, Whinney on Smith, Wright, & Grey, being good, I return your Note enclos'd and cancel'd. There remains Five Guineas unpaid, which you had of me just on going away, so I suppose you forgot it. Send it in a Venture for Ben to Jamaica. By the way, it has been reported here that some Years since a very long Building in that Island, which had a Rod or Conductor at each End, was nevertheless struck by Lightning in the middle and much damaged. Did you hear of such a Thing while you was there? If so pray enquire and learn the Particulars from thence, what kind of Rods, how plac'd, how high above the Roof, how deep in the Ground, and other material Circumstances with regard to the Building and the Damage. If you heard of no such Event while you was there, I suppose the Story is not true. But a Mr. Smith, who was there in some Business, and now here a Merchant, I think, relates it as what he heard spoken of when there.

I am surpris'd to hear that the Dutchman I assisted with 25 Guineas turned out a Rogue; and that Sheets has paid nothing of what I furnished him when here. I am afraid I do not grow wiser as I grow older. Pray let me know whether the Dutch printer, Armbruster, has paid anything, or is solvable or not. And also how the Affair stands of the Mortgage I had on my friend Maugridge's Plantation, no intelligible Information has yet been given me of it.

We are moving to another House in the same [mutilated] leaving this to Mr. Hewson. As soon as I am settled in my new Apartments I shall examine Parker's Accts and write to you on them.

You hope I was not a Sufferer in the late general Wreck of Credit here. My two Banking-Houses, Browns & Collinson, and Smith, Wright & Grey, stood firm, and they were the only People here in Debt to me, so I lost nothing by the Failure of others; and being out of Debt myself, my Credit could not be shaken by any Run upon me; out of Debt, as the Proverb says, was being out of Danger. But I have since hazarded a little in using my Credit with the Bank to support that of a Friend as far as £5,000, for which I am secur'd by Bills of the Bank of Douglas, Heron, & Co., accepted by a good House here; and therefore I call it only hazarding a little, tho' the Sum is large enough to ruin me if I were to lose it. Our Friends, the Alexanders, went on again immediately, being supported by great Houses here and thro' them by the Bank, their Bottom being manifestly very great and good, tho' they had embarrassed themselves by assisting the Adams's and others.

The Affair of the Grant is in good Train, and we expect

it to be compleated soon after the Boards meet; if no new Difficulties start up unexpected.

My Love to Sally and the Boy.

I am your affectionate Father.

B. FRANKLIN.

611. TO JOHN BARTRAM1

MY DEAR OLD FRIEND,

London, Oct. 17, 1772.

I received some time since the enclosed Letter from Dr. Hope; and lately the Gold Medal it mentions was delivered to me for you. By the first ship directly to Philadelphia, I shall send it in the Care of some safe Hand, thinking it not so well to hazard it with this Letter round through New York. Mr. Hope's Letter to you is not yet come to my hands.

I hope the Rhubarb you have sown and distributed will be taken care of. There seems to me no doubt of its doing as well with us as in Scotland. Remember that for Use the Root does not come to its Perfection of Power and Virtue in less than Seven Years. The Physicians here, who have try'd the Scotch, approve it much, and say it is fully equal to the best imported. I send you enclos'd a small Box of Upland Rice, brought from Cochin China. It grows there on dry Grounds, and not in Water like the common Sort. Also a few Seeds of the Chinese Tallow Tree. They have been carefully preserved in bringing hither by Mr. Ellis's Method. I had them from him, and he tells me they are in good Condition fit to vegetate. I hope they may grow under your skilful Care. My

1 From the original in the Charles Roberts Collection of Autographs, Haverford College. - ED.

love to Mrs. Bartram, and all yours, from

Friend,

your affectionate B. FRANKLIN.

612. TO LORD STIRLING 1 (D. S. W.) London, Nov. 3. 1772

MY LORD: On my Return to Town I found your Favour, with the Schemes of your Lottery, to which I wish Success, and besides ordering some Tickets for myself, I have spoken well of it on every Occasion; but I find little Inclination among my Acquaintance to engage in Lotteries at such a Distance, and one cannot be very open in promoting them, it being contrary to express Acts of Parliament, as well as offensive to Administration here, which would avail itself of all that is to be gain'd that Way.

With great and sincere Esteem, I am, my Lord, your Lordship's most obedient and most humble Serv.t

B. F.

613. TO WILLIAM FRANKLIN (D. S. W.)

London, Nov. 3, 1772

DEAR SON:- I wrote to you per the October Packet, and have not since had any Line from you. I spent 16 Days at Lord Le Despencer's most agreably, and return'd in good Health and Spirits. Lord Dartmouth came to town last Week, and had his first Levee on Wednesday, at which I attended. He receiv'd me very politely in his Room, only Sec' Pownall

1 William Alexander (1726–1783), who claimed to be the sixth Earl of Stirling. — ED.