822. TO MRS. MARY HEWSON 1 (P. C.) Paris, Jan. 26, 1777. DEAR POLLEY, I wrote a few Lines to you by Dr. B[ancroft], and have since seen your Letter to Jona. by which I have the great Pleasure of learning, that you and yours were well on the 17th. What has become of my and your dear Dolly?? Have you parted? for you mention nothing of her. I know your Friendship continues; but perhaps she is with one of her Brothers. How do they all do? I have not yet receiv'd a Line from my dear old Friend, your Mother. Pray tell me where she is, and how it is with her. Jonathan, who is now at Nantes, told me that she had a Lodging in Northumberland Court. I doubt her being comfortably accommodated there. Is Miss Barwell a little more at rest, or as busy as ever? Is she well? And how fares it with our good Friends of the Henckel Family? But, principally, I want to know how it is with you. I hear you have not quite settled yet with those people. I hope, however, that you have a sufficient Income, and live at your Ease, and that your Money is safe out of the Funds. Does my Godson remember any thing of his Doctor Papa? I suppose not. Kiss the dear little Fellow for me; [not?] forgetting 1 From the original in the possession of T. Hewson Bradford, M.D.- ED. 2 Dorothea Blount.-ED. * An allusion to a letter from Mrs. Hewson (September 3, 1776), in which she told Franklin, "We drank your health to-day; the person who first proposed the toast was my son William who took up his glass of wine and water (for he is still very sober) & said 'My Doctor Papa's health!' He came up to me this moment whispering, 'Give my love to Dr. Papa.'” — Ed. the others. I long to see them and you. What became of the Lottery Ticket I left with your good Mother, which was to produce the Diamond Earings for you? Did you get them? If not, Fortune has wrong'd you, for you ought to have had them. I am, my dear Friend, ever yours with sincere Esteem and Affection, B. FRANKLIN. P. S. 27th Jan'. They tell me, that, in writing to a Lady from Paris, one should always say something about the Fashions. Temple observes them more than I do. He took Notice, that at the Ball in Nantes, there were no Heads less than 5 and a few were 7 Lengths of the Face, above the Top of the Forehead. You know that those who have practis'd Drawing, as he has, attend more to Proportions, than People in common do. Yesterday we din'd at the Duke de Rochefoucault's, where there were three Dutchesses and a countess, and no Head higher than a Face and a half. So, it seems, the farther from Court, the more extravagant the Mode. 823. INSTRUCTIONS TO CAPTAIN SAMUEL NICHOLSON (L. C.) Paris, January 26, 1777. SIR: You are directed to proceed to Boulogne, and there purchase, on as good terms as possible, a cutter suitable for the purpose of being sent to America. The purchase being made, despatch the vessel to Havre de Grace to the care of Mons. Limozin, and agree in the bargain to have her delivered at said port, at the risk and expense of the original owner, at which stipulate to make the payment. Should you miss of one at Boulogne, proceed to Calais and pursue the same directions. If you fail there, pass to Dover, or Deal, and employ a person there to make the purchase as for Mr. Limozin of Nantes, at whose house the payment shall be made. Your skill in maritime affairs will enable you to judge of the vessel proper for our purpose, in which we wish you to embark yourself for Havre and on your arrival put the vessel into the care of Mr. Limozin, to be filled with every thing necessary for her to proceed the designed voyage, at the same time directing Mr. Limozin to call her and speak of her as his own, - after which you will instantly set off for this place, to inform us of your proceedings. Meantime you are, on purchasing, to write, first post, not to us but to Mr. Le Grand, Banq: rue Mons Mart, vis-à-vis St Joseph, à Paris, only saying in a few words that you have made a purchase, and shall draw on him soon for the money favour of Mr. Limozin, or words to that purpose. This letter will be shown us, and we shall regulate our proceedings accordingly. Should you be obliged on purchasing, to pay at Dover or Deal, Mons. Le Grand's letter will give a sufficient credit for that purpose and at Calais or Boulogne you will address yourself, on the score of advice and assistance in money matters, to the persons to whom you will have letters directed, but on no other account, and avoid hinting your proceedings or views to any one. But should Capt. Hynsen arrive from London and you, let him go in the vessel you purchase to Havre and there wait our further orders. Should he arrive and no vessel be purchased, in such case procure him a passage to Havre and direct him to apply to Mr. Limozin VOL. VII-C for our directions. In the whole, we have to wish you to make the utmost despatch and to conduct with the utmost secrecy and the economy consistent with hastening as fast as possible the object in view. [BENJAMIN FRANKLIN] 824. TO JOSEPH PRIESTLEY DEAR SIR, (L. C.) Paris, Jan. 27, 1777. I received your very kind Letter of Feb' last,' some time in September. Major Carleton, who was so kind as to forward it to me, had not an Opportunity of doing it sooner. I rejoice to hear of your continual Progress in those useful Discoveries; I find that you have set all the Philosophers of Europe at Work upon Fix'd Air; and it is with great Pleasure I observe how high you stand in their Opinion; for I enjoy my Friends' fame as my own. The Hint you gave me jocularly, that you did not quite despair of the Philosopher's Stone, draws from me a Request, that, when you have found it, you will take care to lose it again; for I believe in my conscience, that Mankind are wicked enough to continue slaughtering one another as long as they can find Money to pay the Butchers. But, of all the Wars in my time, this on the part of England appears to me the wickedest; having no Cause but Malice against Liberty, and the Jealousy of Commerce. And I think the 1 Priestley's letter was dated February 13, 1776, and was printed by Sparks, Vol. VIII, p. 171; and in The Pennsylvania Magazine, Vol. 27, p. 169. —ED. 2 Brother of Guy Carleton, first Lord Dorchester, governor of Quebec.-ED. Crime seems likely to meet with its proper Punishment; a total loss of her own Liberty, and the Destruction of her own Commerce. I suppose you would like to know something of the state of Affairs in America. In all Probability we shall be much stronger the next campaign than we were in the last; better arm'd, better disciplin'd, and with more Ammunition. When I was at the camp before Boston,' the Army had not 5 Rounds of Powder a Man. This was kept a Secret even from our People. The World wonder'd that we so seldom fir'd a Cannon; we could not afford it; but we now make Powder in Plenty. To me it seems, as it has always done, that this War must end in our favour, and in the Ruin of Britain, if she does not speedily put an end to it. An English Gentleman here the other day, in Company with some French, remarked, that it was folly in France not to make War immediately; And in England, reply'd one of them, not to make Peace. Do not believe the reports you hear of our internal Divisions. We are, I believe, as much united as any People ever were, and as firmly. B. FRANKLIN. 825. RESOLUTIONS OF THE COMMISSIONERS (U. OF P.) IN PARIS Paris, Feb! 2 1777. It is considered that in the present situation of things at the Courts of France and Spain, we find no probability of 1 In October, 1775. |