too, is extremely sensible of his Benevolence and great Beneficence towards her, and will ever revere his Memory. These Volumes are a Proof of what I have sometimes had occasion to say, in encouraging People to undertake difficult Public Services, that it is prodigious the quantity of Good that may be done by one Man, if he will make a Business of it. It is equally surprizing to think of the very little that is done by many; for, such is the general Frivolity of the Employments and Amusements of the rank we call Gentlemen, that every Century may have seen three successions of a set of a thousand each, in every kingdom of Europe, (Gentlemen too, of equal or superior Fortune,) no one of which sets, in the course of their lives, has done the good effected by this Man alone! Good, not only to his own nation, and to his cotemporaries, but to distant Countries, and to late Posterity; for such must be the effect of his multiplying and distributing Copies of the Works of our best English Writers, on Subjects the most important to the Welfare of Society.

I knew him personally but little. I sometimes met with him at the Royal Society and the Society of Arts; but he appeared shy of my acquaintance, tho he often sent me valuable Presents, such as Hamilton's Works,' Sidney's Works, &c., which are now among the most precious ornaments of my Library. We might possibly, if we had been more intimate, have concerted some useful operations together; but he loved to do his good alone and secretly; and I find besides, in perusing these Memoirs, that I was a doubtful Character with him.

1 There is here probably a fault of memory in regard to the name of the author; or perhaps an error of the press. The work alluded to, may have been "Toland's Life of Milton," an elegant edition of which was published by Thomas Hollis. - S.

I do not respect him less for his Error; and I am obliged to the Editors for the Justice they have done me. They have made a little mistake in page 400, where a Letter, which appeared in a London Paper, January 7th, 1768, is said to have been written by Mr. Adams. It was written by me, and is reprinted in Mr. Vaughan's Collection of my Political Pieces, p. 231. This Eratum is of no great importance, but may be corrected in a future Edition.

I see Mr. Hollis had a Collection of curious Medals. If he had been still living, I should certainly have sent him one of the Medals that I have caused to be struck here. I think the countenance of my Liberty would have pleased him. I suppose you possess the Collection, and have the same taste. I beg you therefore to accept of one of these Medals as a mark of my Respect, and believe me to be, with sincere esteem, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

SIR,

1446. TO SIR JOSEPH BANKS (U. Of p.)

Passy, Oct. 8, 1783

The Publick were promis'd a printed particular Account of the Rise & Progress of the Balloon Invention, to be publish'd about the End of last Month. I waited for it, to send it to you expecting it would be more satisfactory than any thing I could write; but it does not yet appear. We have only at present the enclos'd Pamphlet which does not answer the Expectation given us. I send you with it some Prints. That of the Balloon lately rais'd at Versailles is said to be an exact Representation. I was not present, but am told it was fill'd in about ten minutes by means of burning Straw. Some say

Water was thrown into the Flame, others that it was Spirits of Sal Volatile. It was suppos'd to have risen about 200 Toises: But did not continue long at that height, was carried horizontally by the Wind and descended gently as the Air within grew cooler. So vast a Bulk when it began to rise so majestically in the Air, struck the Spectators with Surprise and Admiration. The Basket contain'd a Sheep, a Duck & a Cock, who except the Cock receiv'd no Hurt by the Fall. The Duke de Crillon made a Feast last Week in the Bois de Boulogne just by my Habitation, on Occasion of the Birth of two Spanish Princes. After the Fireworks, we had a Balloon of about 5 feet Diameter, fill'd with permanent inflammable Air. It was dismiss'd about One o'Clock in the Morning. It carried under it a large Lanthorn with Inscriptions on its Sides. The Night was quite calm and clear, so that it went right up. The Appearance of the Light diminish'd gradually till it appear'd no bigger than one of the Stars, and in about 20 minutes I lost sight of it entirely. It fell the next Day on the other side of the same Wood near the Village Boulogne, about half after 12, having been suspended in the Air II hours and a half. It lodg'd in a Tree, and was torn in getting it down; so that it cannot be ascertain'd whether it burst when above or not, tho' that is suppos'd. Smaller Repetitions of the Experiment are making every day in all Quarters. Some of the larger Balloons that have been up, are preparing to be sent up again, in a few Days; but I do not hear of any material Improvements yet made either in the mechanical or chemical Parts of the Operation. Most is expected from the new one undertaken upon Subscription by Messieurs Charles & Robert, who are Men of Science and mechanical Dexterity. It is to carry up a Man. I send

you enclos'd the Proposals, which it is said are already subscribed to by a considerable Number, and likely to be carried into Execution. If I am well at the Time, I purpose to be present, being a Subscriber myself, and shall send you an exact Account of Particulars.

With great Esteem and Respect for yourself and the Society; I have the honour to be,

Sir,

1447. TO DAVID HARTLEY'

MY DEAR FRIEND,

(P. C.)

Passy Oct 16, 1783

I have nothing material to write to you respecting public affairs, but I cannot let Mr. Adams who will see you go without a line, to inquire after your welfare, to inform you of mine, & to assure you of my constant respect and attachment.

I think with you, that your Quaker article is a good one, and that men will in time have sense enough to adopt it, but I fear that time is not yet come.

What would you think of a proposition, if I sh'd make it, of a family compact between England, France, and America? America wd be as happy as the Sabine Girls, if she ca be the means of uniting in perpetual peace her father and her husband. What repeated follies are these repeated wars! You do not want to conquer & govern one another. Why then sh'd you continually be employed in injuring & destroying one another? How many excellent things might have been done to promote the internal welfare of each country; what Bridges, roads, canals, and other usefull public works & institutions, 1 From the private collection of Mrs. L. Z. Leiter. — ED.

tending to the common felicity, might have been made and established with the money and men foolishly spent during the last seven centuries by our mad wars in doing one another mischief! You are near neighbours, and each have very respectable qualities. Learn to be quiet and to respect each other's rights. You are all Christians. One is The Most Christian King, and the other Defender of the Faith. Manifest the propriety of these titles by your future conduct. "By this," says Christ, "shall all men know that ye are my Disciples, if ye love one another." "Seek peace, and ensue it.” Adieu.

Yours most affectionately

B. FRANKLIN.

1448. TO EDWARD NAIRNE

DEAR SIR,

Passy, October 18, 1783.

I received your favour of August 14th,' by Mr. Sykes, with the book of directions for using your patent electric machine. The machine itself is also come to hand in good order, after some delay on the road; and I think it very ingeniously contrived indeed; I wish your success in the sale may be equal to its merits. The experiments in your pamphlet gave me pleasure, and I shall be glad to see the account you mention of the shortening of wires by lightning.

What you have heard of the eyes of sheep forced out by a stroke of lightning which killed them, puts me in mind of having formerly seen at Philadelphia six horses all killed by lightning in a stable, every one of whom appeared to have bled at

1 This letter is in A. P. S. - ED.