some jealousy. Let us, therefore, hold fast our loyalty to our King, who has the best disposition towards us, and has a family interest in our prosperity; as that steady loyalty is the most probable means of securing us from the arbitrary power of a corrupt Parliament, that does not like us, and conceives itself to have an interest in keeping us down and fleecing us. If they should urge the inconvenience of an empire's being divided into so many separate states, and from thence conclude, that we are not so divided, I would answer, that an inconvenience proves nothing but itself. England and Scotland were once separate states, under the same King. The inconvenience found in their being separate states did not prove, that the Parliament of England had a right to govern Scotland. A formal union was thought necessary, and England was a hundred years soliciting it, before she could bring it about. If Great Britain now thinks such a union necessary with us, let her propose her terms, and we may consider them. Were the general sentiments of this nation to be consulted in the case, I should hope the terms, whether practicable or not, would at least be equitable; for I think, that, except among those with whom the spirit of Toryism prevails, the popular inclination here is, to wish us well, and that we may preserve our liberties. I unbosom myself thus to you, in confidence of your prudence, and wishing to have your sentiments on the subject in return. Mr. Pownall, I suppose, will acquaint you with the event of his motions, and therefore I say nothing more of them, than that he appears very sincere in his endeavours to serve us; on which account, I some time since republished with pleasure the parting addresses to him of your Assembly, with some previous remarks to his honor, as well as in justification of our people. I hope, that before this time those detestable murderers have quitted your province, and that the spirit of industry and frugality continues and increases. To his wife, dated London, 10 June, 1770. By Captain Falconer I answered Sally's letter about her son's being inoculated, and told her Sir John Pringle's opinion, as to the probability of his not having the smallpox hereafter. I think he advised, as no eruption appeared, to make sure of the thing by inoculating him again. I rejoice much in the pleasure you appear to take in him. It must be of use to your health, the having such an amusement. My love to him, and to his father and mother. Captain Ourry is going abroad as a travelling tutor to Lord Galway's son; Mrs. Strahan is at Bath; Mr. Strahan and children, Mr. and Mrs. West and their son, are all well at present; though Mr. West himself has had a long illness. They always inquire after you, and I present your compliments. Poor Nanny was drawn in to marry a worthless fellow, who got all her money, and then ran away and left her. So she is returned to her old service with Mrs. Stevenson, poorer than ever, but seems pretty patient, only looks dejected, sighs sometimes, and wishes she had never left Philadelphia. Mr. Montgomery died at sea, as we have lately heard. In As to myself, I had, from Christmas till Easter, a disagreeable giddiness hanging about me, which however did. not hinder me from being about and doing business. the Easter holidays, being at a friend's house in the country, I was taken with a sore throat, and came home half strangled. From Monday till Friday, I could swallow nothing but barley water and the like. On Friday came on a fit of the gout, from which I had been free five years. Im mediately the inflammation and swelling in my throat disappeared; my foot swelled greatly, and I was confined about three weeks; since which I am perfectly well, the giddiness and every other disagreeable symptom having quite left me. I hope your health is likewise by this time quite reëstablished; being as ever, my dear child, your affectionate husband. To Mrs. Mary ted 24 July, 1770. Your friends are all much pleased with your account of the agreeable family, their kind reception and entertainment of you, and the respect shown you; only Dolly and I, though we rejoice and shall do so in every thing that contributes to your happiness, are now and then in low spirits, supposing we have lost each a friend. Barwell says she conceives nothing of this; and that we must be two simpletons to entertain such imaginations. I showed her your letter to your mother, wherein you say, "Dolly is a naughty girl, and, if she does not mend, I shall turn her off; for I have got another Dolly now, and a very good Dolly too." She begged me not to communicate this to Dolly, for though said in jest, yet, in her present state of mind, it would hurt her. I suppose that it was for the same good-natured reason, that she refused to show me a paragraph of your letter to Dolly, that had been communicated by Dolly to her. July 25th. The above was written yesterday, but, being interrupted, I could not finish my letter in time for the post; though I find I had little to add. Your mother desires me to express abundance of affection for you, and for Mr. Hewson; and to say all the proper things for her, with respect to the rest of your friends there. But you can imagine better than I can write. Sally and little Temple join in best wishes of prosperity to you both. Make my sincerest respects acceptable to Mr. Hewson, whom, exclusive of his other merits, I shall always esteem in proportion to the regard he manifests for you. Barwell tells me, that your aunt had received his letter, and was highly pleased with it and him; so I hope all will go well there; and I shall take every opportunity of cultivating her good disposition, in which I think you used to be sometimes a little backward, but you always had your reasons. But your I am apt to love everybody that loves you, and therefore I suppose I shall in time love your new mother, and new sister, and new Dolly. I find I begin to like them already, and, if you think proper, you may tell them so. old Dolly and I have agreed to love each other better than ever we did, to make up as much as we can our supposed loss of you. We like your assurance of continued friendship, unimpaired by your change of condition, and we believe. you think as you write; but we fancy we know better than you. You know I once knew your heart better than you did yourself. As a proof that I am right, take notice,— that you now think this the silliest letter I ever wrote to you, and that Mr. Hewson confirms you in that opinion. However, I am still what I have been so many years, my dear good girl, your sincerely affectionate friend and servant. To Mrs. Margaret Steven son, dated The Craven Street Gazette.* This morning Queen Margaret, accompanied by her first maid of honor, Miss FrankSaturday, 22 lyn, set out for Rochester. Immediately on Sept., 1770. their departure, the whole street was in tears— * This newspaper burlesque, written during the temporary absence of Mrs. Stevenson at Rochester, and exclusively for the entertainment of his from a heavy shower of rain. It is whispered, that the new family administration which took place on her majesty's departure, promises like all other new administrations, to govern much better than the old one. We hear that the great person (so called from his enormous size) of a certain family in a certain district, is grievously affected at the late changes, and could hardly be comforted this morning, though the new ministry promised him a roasted shoulder of mutton and potatoes for his dinner. It is said that the same great person intended to pay his respects to another great personage this day, at St. James, it being coronation-day; hoping thereby a little to amuse his grief; but was prevented by an accident, Queen Margaret, or her maid of honor, having carried off the key of the drawers, so that the lady of the bed-chamber could not come at a lace shirt for his highness. Great clamors were made on this occasion against her majesty. Other accounts say, that the shirts were afterwards found, though too late, in another place. And some suspect, that the wanting of a shirt from those drawers was only a ministerial pretense to picking the locks, that the new administration might have everything at command. We hear that the lady chamberlain of the household went to market this morning, by her own self, gave the butcher whatever he asked for the mutton, and had no dispute with the potato woman, to their great amazement at the change of times. It is confidently asserted, that this afternoon, the weather being wet, the great person a little chilly, and domestic circle, is overrunning with a most genial humor, and belongs to an order of jeux d'esprit in the production of which Franklin had few, if any, superiors.-ED. |