a holiday, filled my pocket with coppers. I went directly to a shop where they sold toys for children; and, being charmed with the sound of a whistle, that I met by the way in the hands of another boy, I voluntarily offered and gave all my money for one. I then came home, and went whistling all over the house, much pleased with my whistle, but disturbing all the family. My brothers, and sisters, and cousins, understanding the bargain I had made, told me I had given four times as much for it as it was worth; put me in mind what good things I might have bought with the rest of the money; and laughed at me so much for my folly, that I cried with vexation; and the reflection gave me more chagrin than the whistle gave me pleasure.

This however was afterwards of use to me, the impression continuing on my mind; so that often, when I was tempted to buy some unnecessary thing, I said to myself, Don't give too much for the whistle; and I saved my money.

As I grew up, came into the world, and observed the actions of men, I thought I met with many, very many, who gave too much for the whistle.

When I saw one too ambitious of court favour, sacrificing his time in attendance on levees, his repose, his liberty, his virtue, and perhaps his friends, to attain it, I have said to myself, This man gives too much for his whistle.

When I saw another fond of popularity, constantly employing himself in political bustles, neglecting his own affairs, and ruining them by that neglect, He pays, indeed, said I, too much for his whistle.

If I knew a miser, who gave up every kind of comfortable living, all the pleasure of doing good to others, all the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and the joys of benevolent friendship,

for the sake of accumulating wealth, Poor man, said I, you pay too much for your whistle.

When I met with a man of pleasure, sacrificing every laudable improvement of the mind, or of his fortune, to mere corporeal sensations, and ruining his health in their pursuit, Mistaken man, said I, you are providing pain for yourself, instead of pleasure; you give too much for your whistle.

If I see one fond of appearance, or fine clothes, fine houses, fine furniture, fine equipages, all above his fortune, for which he contracts debts, and ends his career in a prison, Alas! say I, he has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle.

When I see a beautiful, sweet-tempered girl married to an ill-natured brute of a husband, What a pity, say I, that she should pay so much for a whistle!

In short, I conceive that great part of the miseries of mankind are brought upon them by the false estimates they have made of the value of things, and by their giving too much for their whistles.

Yet I ought to have charity for these unhappy people, when I consider, that, with all this wisdom of which I am boasting, there are certain things in the world so tempting, for example, the apples of King John, which happily are not to be bought; for if they were put to sale by auction, I might very easily be led to ruin myself in the purchase, and find that I had once more given too much for the whistle.

Adieu, my dear friend, and believe me ever yours very sincerely and with unalterable affection,

B. FRANKLIN.

1059. FROM MLLE. LE VEILLARD TO

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

(A. P. S.)

Dreux 18 Novembre 1779.

Vous souvient-il, Monsieur, d'avoir demandé à ce que vous appellez votre enfant une petite lettre pendant son séjour à Dreux? Il est trop bon à vous de vouloir bien qu'elle vous occupe d'elle, mais c'est bien peu pour elle de ne pouvoir que vous écrire; car en conscience elle aimeroit infiniment mieux vous voir et même vous embrasser, quoique vous disiez qu'elle ne le fasse pas de bonne grace; savez-vous que vous êtes quelquefois très injuste vis à vis de moi? vous savez sans doute un grand nombre de choses, vous avez beaucoup voyagé; vous connaissez les hommes, mais vous n'étes jamais entré dans la tête d'une fille française; eh bien! je vais vous dire leur secret; quand vous voulez en embrasser une, et qu'elle prétend que cela ne lui fait pas de peine, c'est-à-dire que cela luy fait plaisir, a présent je vous ai dit le fin de la chose, j'espère que vous ne me ferez plus de mauvaises querelles; ne m'en faites pas non plus de ne vous avoir pas écrit plutôt.

Adieu, Monsieur, vous m'avez dit que lorsque vous m'écririez que vous m'aimez un peu, cela voudrait dire beaucoup. Moi je vous dis que je vous aime beaucoup, j'espère que vous n'en conclurez pas que je vous aime un peu. Ce seroit encore une injustice à vous, et je vous assure que mon beaucoup est à prendre dans toute sa valeur.

Bien des compliments à Mr votre petit fils, si cela ne le chagrine pas trop; j'ai l'honneur d'être, Monsieur, votre très humble et très obéissante servante LEVEILLARD.1

2

1060. TO GIAMBATISTA BECCARIA (L. C.)

DEAR SIR,

Passy, Nov. 19, 1779.

Having some time since heard of your Illness with great Concern, it gave me infinite Pleasure to learn this Day from

1 Daughter of Franklin's friend and neighbour at Passy. — ED.

This letter, translated into Italian by Prospero Balbo, was published in "Memorie istoriche intorno gli studi del Padre Giambatista Beccaria" (Turin, 1783), p. 151.-ED.

VOL. VII-2E

M. Chantel, (who did me the honour of a Visit,) that you were so far recover'd as to be able to make little Excursions on Horseback. I pray God that your Convalescence may be quick and perfect, and your Health be again firmly established. Science would lose too much in losing one so zealous and active in its Cause, and so capable of accelerating its Progress and augmenting its Dominions.

I find myself here immers'd in Affairs, which absorb my Attention, and prevent my pursuing those Studies in which I always found the highest Satisfaction; and I am now grown so old, as hardly to hope for a Return of that Leisure and Tranquillity so necessary for Philosophical Disquisitions. I have, however, not long since thrown a few Thoughts on Paper relative to the Aurora Borealis, which I would send you, but that I suppose you may have seen them in the Journal of l'Abbé Rozier. If not I will make out a Copy, and send it to you; perhaps with some Corrections.

Every thing of your Writing is always very welcome to me; if, therefore, you have lately published any new Experiments or Observations in Physicks, I shall be happy to see them, when you have an Opportunity of sending them to me. With the highest Esteem, Respect, and Affection, B. FRANKLIN.

I am, &c.

1061. TO CAPTAIN CONYNGHAM1

(D. S. W.)

Passy, Nov. 22, 1779

SIR, It gave me great Pleasure to hear of your Escape out of Prison, which I first learnt from 6 of the Men who broke

1 Captain Gustavus Conyngham, commander of an American cutter, Revenge, was taken by the Galatea in the spring of 1779. He notified Franklin by

out with you and came to France in a Boat. I was anxious lest you should be retaken, and I am very glad indeed to hear of your safe Arrival at Amsterdam. I think it will be best for you to stay awhile at Dunkirk, till we see what becomes of the little Squadron from Holland, for which it is said the English are lying in wait with a superior force. The Congress resented exceedingly the inhuman Treatment you met with, and it ordered three English officers to be confined in the same manner, to abide your fate.

There are some Frenchmen returned to Dunkirk who were put by you into one of your first Prizes, which was afterwards carried into England. I wish you would adjust their Claims of Wages, Prize-Money, &c., and put them in a way of getting what may be due to them.

I write to M. Coffyn by this Post to supply you with Necessaries. You will be as frugal as possible, Money being scarce with me and the Calls upon me abundant. With great Esteem, I have, etc.

B. FRANKLIN.

1062. TO JOHN PAUL JONES (D. S. W.)

Passy, Dec. 6. 1779.

SIR, As the arrangements that M. le Duc de la Vauguyon, Ambassador of the King in Holland, must make with the States-General, for the free Departure from the Texel of letter from Amsterdam (November 18, 1779) that on the 3d of November, with about fifty of his countrymen, he had broken out of Mill Prison: "The treatment I have received is unparalleled - Irons, Dungeons, hunger, the hangman's Cart I have experienced." ED.