Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

and sink at Sea.' This being known would be a great Encouragement to Passengers.

I send you a Copy of a Chart of the Gulf Stream, which is little known by European Navigators, and yet of great Consequence; since in going to America they often get into that Stream and unknowingly stem it, whereby the Ship is much retarded and the Voyage lengthened enormously.

The directions being imperfectly translated and expressed in French, I have put them more correctly in English. I have the honour to be, etc.,

1469. ON IMMIGRATION

TO AN UNKNOWN CORRESPONDENT

(L. C.)

Your Queries concerning the Value of Land in different Circumstances & Situations, Modes of Settlement, &c. &c. are quite out of my Power to answer; having while I lived in America been always an Inhabitant of Capital Cities, and not in the way of learning any thing correctly of Country Affairs. There is a Book lately published in London, written by Mr. Hector St. John, its Title, Letters from an American Farmer,' which contains a good deal of Information on those Subjects; and as I know the Author to be an observing intelligent Man, I suppose the Information to be

1 See "Maritime Observations,” letter to David Le Roy. — ED.

2 "Letters from an American Farmer, describing certain provincial situations, manners and customs not generally known; . . . written for the information of a friend in England, by J-Hector Saint John, a farmer in Pennsylvania." London, Thomas Davies, 1782. — Ed.

good as far as it goes, and I recommend the Book to your perusal.

There is no doubt but great Tracts may be purchased on the Frontiers of Virginia, & the Carolinas, at moderate Rates. In Virginia it used to be at 5£ Sterling the 100 Acres. I know not the present Price, but do not see why it should be higher.

Emigrants arriving pay no Fine or Premium for being admitted to all the Privileges of Citizens. Those are acquired by two Years Residence.

No Rewards are given to encourage new Settlers to come among us, whatever degree of Property they may bring with them, nor any Exemptions from common Duties. Our Country offers to Strangers nothing but a good Climate, fertile Soil, wholesome Air, Free Governments, wise Laws, Liberty, a good People to live among, and a hearty Welcome. Those Europeans who have these or greater Advantages at home, would do well to stay where they are.

DEAR SIR,

1470. TO JOHN JAY1

(L. C.)

Passy, Jan. 6, 1784.

I received your kind letter of the 26th past, and immediately sent that inclosed to Mrs. Jay, whom I saw a few days since with the children, all perfectly well. It is a happy thing that the little ones are so finely past the small-pox, and I congratulate you upon it most cordially.

It is true, as you have heard, that I have the stone, but not that I have had thoughts of being cut for it. It is as yet very tolerable. It gives me no pain but when in a Carriage 1 Only an incomplete transcript exists in L. C. — ED.

2 In A. P. S.- ED.

on the Pavement, or when I make some sudden quick movement. If I can prevent its growing larger, which I hope to do by abstemious living and gentle exercise, I can go on pretty comfortably with it to the end of my Journey, which can now be at no great distance. I am chearful, enjoy the company of my Friends, sleep well, have sufficient appetite, and my Stomach performs well its Functions. The latter is very material to the preservation of Health. I therefore take no Drugs, lest I should disorder it. You may judge that my Disease is not very grievous, since I am more afraid of the Medicines than of the Malady.

It gives me pleasure to learn from you, that my Friends still retain their Regard for me. I long to see them again, but I doubt I shall hardly accomplish it. If our Commission for the Treaty of Commerce were arrived, and we were at liberty to treat in England, I might then come over to you, supposing the English Ministry disposed to enter into such a Treaty.

I have, as you observe, some enemies in England, but they are my enemies as an American; I have also two or three in America, who are my Enemies as a Minister; but I thank God there are not in the whole world any who are my Enemies as a Man; for by his grace, thro' a long life, I have been enabled so to conduct myself, that there does not exist a human Being who can justly say, "Ben. Franklin has wrong'd me." This, my friend, is in old age a comfortable Reflection. You too have, or may have, your Enemies; but let not that render you unhappy. If you make a right use of them, they will do you more good than harm. They point out to us our Faults; they put us upon our guard, and help us to live more correctly.

My Grandsons are sensible of the honor of your Remembrance, and join their respectful Compliments and best wishes with those of, dear Sir, your affectionate humble servant,

[blocks in formation]

I duly receiv'd your Letter of the 18th of September,' with the Papers that accompanied it: but being at that time afflicted with two painful Disorders, the Gout and Gravel, I could not then give any Attention to Business; and, before my Recovery, the Letters and Papers were both most unaccountably missing. I spent Hours, from time to time, in searching for them, and delay'd writing in continual Hopes of finding them, which I was not able to do till within these few Days, when on removing a writing-press in my Closet, I discover'd that they had fallen and lay conceal'd behind it.

I had deliver'd the Letter you enclos'd to the Marquis de la Fayette, and, as the Court was then at Fontainebleau, and I could not follow it by reason of my Illness, I requested him to sound M2 le Marquis de Castries on the subject of the Loss of your Ship. He did so; and the Result of the Conversation was, that, if you thought fit to prosecute the Matter,

1 Samuel Chase (1741-1811), signer of the Declaration of Independence, was the companion of Franklin and Charles Carrol in their mission to Canada. ED.

[ocr errors]

2 A long letter, written from London, and now in A. P. S. -ED.

8 The Matilda, a ship owned by Dorsey, Wheeler & Co., of Baltimore, of which company Chase was a member. The ship was captured by a British frigate, The Perseverance. - ED.

you should present a Memorial, upon which he might regularly take the Affair into Consideration. You mentioned your coming to Paris before finishing your other Business, in case I should think there was a Probability of obtaining Compensation, either from the Property of the Captain, or the Generosity of the Prince. I have not yet been able to learn any thing of the Captain's Circumstances; and as clear Proof of his Delinquency must precede an Application to the King, and perhaps the Protest of Captain Belt will hardly be thought sufficient Testimony, and other Evidences corroborating cannot be obtained but with great Expense & Loss of Time, and the Chicanery practis'd in the Courts here to procure Delay is immense and endless; on these Considerations I cannot advise your coming hither for the Purpose of such a Prosecution to the Prejudice of your other Affairs; tho' I shall be happy to see you, when it may be convenient to you, and, when you are here, we will take the Advice of some judicious Persons, and if it appears possible for me to serve your Cause, I shall do it with great Pleasure.

M. de Rochambeau was not in Town, but I forwarded Mr. Carrol's letter to him. I have written, as you desired, to Brest, and as soon as I receive an Answer, I will communicate it to you. I am not enough acquainted with the French Laws or Customs to inform you what Claims the Widow of M. le Vache1 may have on his Property. I only think I have heard, that Marriages by a Protestant Minister are not deemed valid. I will make inquiry.

Since writing the above, I am inform'd that, if celebrated

1 M. Jean Levache de Vanburn, volunteer in the Artillery of Maryland, and captain in the army, married Ann Howard of Annapolis. He was believed to have perished at sea. - ED.

« ZurückWeiter »