external compelling principle should act to the same end.

I hope the crisis of pain, under which you were suffering, is gone off, and that you are in good health to enjoy the happiness you must feel. That God may bless you, is the wish and prayer of your old friend, THOMAS POWNALL.

P. S. I am this day made happy by having received and hung up an excellent portrait of you, my old friend, copied from that which West did for you.

*

TO JOHN COAKLEY LETTSOM.

DEAR SIR,

Passy, 6 March, 1783.

I received your favor of September last. It found me laboring under a painful disorder, which continued. long, and put me much behindhand in my correspondence. I thank you for the valuable publications that accompanied it, particularly those of your own composition, which I read with pleasure.

Our late excellent friend† was always proposing something for the good of mankind. You will find instances of this in one of his letters which I enclose, the only one I can at present lay my hand on. I have some very valuable ones in America, if they are not lost in the late confusions. You will be so kind as to return it to me, after having extracted from it what you may think proper. Just before I left England, he, in conjunction with Mr. Barclay and myself, la

* The original of this picture by West, is now in the possession of Mr. Edward D. Ingraham, of Philadelphia.

Dr. Fothergill.

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bored hard to prevent the coming war, but our endeavours were fruitless. This transaction is alluded to in the paragraph that begins at the bottom of the first page. If we may estimate the goodness of a man by his disposition to do good, and his constant endeavours and success in doing it, I can hardly conceive that a better man has ever existed.

I desire to be considered as a subscriber, if there is a subscription, for two sets of his works, which I will pay for on demand. With great esteem, I am, Sir, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

DEAR SIR,

TO ROBERT MORRIS.

Loan in France.

Passy, 7 March, 1783.

With this I send you a copy of the last contract I made with this court, respecting the late loan of six millions, the terms of the loan, and the times of repayment. It was impossible for me to obtain more, and, indeed, considering the state of finances and expenses here, I wonder I have obtained so much. You will see by the enclosed Gazette, that the government is obliged to stop payment for a year of its own bills of exchange, drawn in America and the East Indies; yet it has advanced six millions to save the credit of You will, I am sure, do all in your power to avoid drawing beyond your funds here; for I am absolutely assured, that no farther aid for this year is to be expected; and it will not be strange, that they should suffer your bills to take the same fate with their

ours.

own.

You will also see in the contract fresh marks of the

King's goodness towards us, in giving so long a term for payment, and forgiving the first year's interest. I hope the ravings of a certain mischievous madman here against France and its ministers, which I hear of every day, will not be regarded in America, so as to diminish in the least the happy union that has hitherto subsisted between the two nations, and which is indeed the solid foundation of our present importance in Europe. With great esteem, I am ever, dear Sir, B. FRANKLIN.

&c.

TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

Paris, 7 March, 1783.

SIR,

opportunity, by which acquaint you, that I

I but this moment hear of this I can only send you a line to have concluded the treaty with Sweden, which was signed on Wednesday last. You will have a copy by the first good opportunity. It differs very little from the plan sent me; in nothing material.* The English court is in confusion by another change of ministry, Lord Shelburne and his friends having resigned; but it is not yet certainly known who will succeed, though Lord North and Mr. Fox are talked of as two, they being reconciled! I cannot add, but that I am, with great esteem, Sir, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

P. S. The change in the ministry is not supposed of any importance respecting our definitive treaty, which must conform to the preliminaries; but we shall see.

*This treaty is printed in the public Journals of Congress, Vol. IV. p. 241, under the date of July 29th, 1783.

FROM DAVID HARTLEY TO B. FRANKLIN.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

London, 12 March, 1783.

It is a long while since I have heard from you, or indeed since I wrote to you. I heartily congratulate you on those pacific events, which have already happened, and I wish to see all other final steps of conciliation succeed speedily. I send you copies of two papers, which I have already communicated to Mr. Laurens; the one called Conciliatory Propositions, in March, 1783; the other, A Sketch of a Provisional Treaty of Commerce, for opening the Ports between Great Britain and the United States of America without Delay; to each of which is prefixed a short state of the argument on each head.*

As for the news of this country, you have doubtless heard, that Lord Shelburne's administration has for some time been considered as at an end; although no other has been as yet substituted in the place of it. It was understood yesterday, and I believe with good foundation, that what is now called the Portland party have been applied to, and they are now considered as the party most likely to succeed. As far as my wishes go, such an event would be most satisfactory to me. I have known the Duke of Portland for many years; and by experience I know him to be a nobleman of the strictest honor, and of the soundest whig principles, sincere and explicit in every thought and transaction, manly in his judgment, and firm in his conduct. The kingdom of Ireland, of which he was lately Lord Lieutenant, bears unanimous testimony to

See these papers in the Diplomatic Correspondence, Vol. IV. PP.

78, 80.

this character of him. The Cavendish family (a good whig name), Mr. Fox, Lord Fitzwilliam, &c. &c. form the core of his system and connexions. I most earnestly wish to see a firm administration upon a whig foundation, which I should consider as a solid basis, on the part of this country, for a perpetual correspondence of amity and conciliation with America. I am very anxious to hear of your health. God bless you. Ever your most affectionate

D. HARTLEY.

TO THE EARL OF BUCHAN.

Lands and new Settlements in America.

MY LORD,

Passy, 17 March, 1783.

I received the letter your Lordship did me the honor of writing to me, and am obliged by your kind congratulations on the return of peace, which I hope will be lasting.

With regard to the terms on which lands may be acquired in America, and the manner of beginning new settlements on them, I cannot give better information than may be found in a book lately printed in London, under some such title as Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer, by Hector St. John. The only encouragements we hold out to strangers are, a good climate, fertile soil, wholesome air and water, plenty of provisions and fuel, good pay for labor, kind neighbours, good laws, liberty, and a hearty welcome; the rest depends on a man's own industry and virtue. Lands are cheap, but they must be bought. All settlements are undertaken at private expense; the public contributes nothing but defence and justice. I should not,

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*