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with Attention, and, as far as I understand it, am much pleas'd with it. I do not perfectly comprehend the Arrangement of his Cases; but the Reduction of the Number of Pieces by the Roots of Words, and their different Terminations, is extreamly ingenious; and I like much the Idea of cementing the Letters, instead of casting Words or Syllables, which I formerly attempted, and succeeded in having invented a Mould, and Method by which I could in a few minutes, form a Matrice, and adjust it, of any Word in any Fount at pleasure, and proceed to cast from it.

I send enclosed a specimen of some of my Terminations, and would willingly instruct Mr. Johnson 1 in the Method if he desired it; but he has a better. He mentions some Improvements of Printing that have been proposed, but takes no Notice of one published here at Paris, in 1776; so I suppose he has neither seen nor heard of it. It is in a Quarto Pamphlet, entitled, "Nouveau Système Typographique, ou Moyen de diminuer, de Moitié, dans toutes les Imprimeries de l'Europe, le Travail et les Frais de Composition, de Correction, et de Distribution, découvert en 1774, par Madame de ***.* Frustra fit per plura quod potest fieri per pauciora. A Paris, de l'Imprimerie Royale, MDCCLXXVI." It is dedicated

dor at Paris, whose opinion I wished for, his name was among my list of subscribers, and when it was given, among near two hundred more, to the King's librarian and a fount of the cemented words had been sent there [Buckingham Palace] for his Majesty's inspection and acceptance, I found an increasing coolness in the librarian, and afterwards a note from him, saying the King had viewed it with pleasure, but, there being no room in Buckingham House, he desired I would send some person to take it away. Thus ended royal patronage." See J. R. Thursfield in "Dict. Nat. Biog." — ED.

1 Henry Johnson, the inventor, from whom John Walter purchased the patent rights. Ed.

2 Madame de St. Paul. - ED.

to the King, who was at the Expence of the Experiments. Two Commissaries were named to examine and render an Account of them; they were M. Desmarets, of the Academy of Sciences, and M. Barbou,' an eminent Printer. Their Report concludes thus; "Nous nous contenterons de dire ici, que M. de St. Paul a rempli les engagemens qu'il avoit contractés avec le Gouvernement; que ses expériences projetées ont été conduites avec beaucoup de méthode et d'intelligence de sa part; et que par des calculs longs et pénibles, qui sont le fruit d'un grand nombre de combinaisons raisonnées, il en a déduit plusieurs résultats qui méritent d'être proposés aux artistes, et qui nous paroissent propres à éclairer la pratique de l'imprimerie actuelle, et à en abréger certainement les procédées. . . . Son projet ne peut que gagner aux contradictions qu'il essuiera sans doute, de la part des gens de l'art. A Paris, le 8 Janvier, 1776." The pamphlet consists of 66 Pages, containing a Number of Tables of Words and Parts of Words, Explanations of those Tables, Calculations, answers to Objections, &c. I will endeavour to get one to send you if you desire it; mine is bound up with others in a Volume.

It was after seeing this Piece, that I cast the Syllables I send you a Sample of. I have not heard, that any of the Printers here make at present the least use of the Invention of Madame de ***. You will observe, that it pretended only to lessen the Work by one half; Mr. Johnson's Method lessens it three fourths. I should be glad to know with what the Letters are cemented. I think cementing better than

1 Nicolas Desmarest (1725-1805), a student of French industries; and Joseph-Gérard Barbou (1715-1813), one of a notable family of printers, and the second of the name to pursue the business in Paris. — ED.

casting them together, because if one Letter happens to be battered, it may be taken away and another cemented in its Place. I received no Letter with the Pamphlet. I am, Sir, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

1

1497. TO DAVID HARTLEY 1 (P. C.)

DEAR SIR,

Passy April 17 1784

The Commissioners have received the Letter you did them the honour of writing to them the 9th Instant, and are glad to learn that they may expect the Pleasure of seeing you soon again at Paris. It is a particular Satisfaction to me, as it will give me an opportunity of communicating an Idea to you in Conversation which may tend to promote your excellent views of "effecting a cordial & conciliatory Intercourse between our Countries" but which I cannot so well explain at present by writing.

The Bearer, Col. Harmar,' is an American of good Character, who visits England in Curiosity to see the Country and People he has been fighting against. I wish to give him a good Opinion of them by the Sample he may be acquainted with, and therefore beg leave to recommend him to your Acquaintance & Civilities.

With great and inalterable Esteem & Affection
I am ever my dear Friend

Yours most sincerely

B. FRANKLIN

1 From a copy in the collection of Mrs. L. Z. Leiter. — ED.

2 Josiah Harmar (1753-1813) entered the Continental army in the 1st Pennsylvanian regiment and served throughout the war. He took the ratification of the definitive treaty to France in 1784. — Ed.

1498. TO BENJAMIN WEBB

DEAR SIR,

1

(L. C.)

Passy, April 22, 1784.

I received yours of the 15th Instant, and the Memorial it inclosed. The account they give of your situation grieves me. I send you herewith a Bill for Ten Louis d'ors. I do not pretend to give such a Sum; I only lend it to you. When you shall return to your Country with a good Character, you cannot fail of getting into some Business, that will in time enable you to pay all your Debts. In that Case, when you meet with another honest Man in similar Distress, you must pay me by lending this Sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the Debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with such another opportunity. I hope it may thus go thro' many hands, before it meets with a Knave that will stop its Progress. This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money. I am not rich enough to afford much in good works, and so am obliged to be cunning and make the most of a little. With best wishes for the success of your Memorial, and your future prosperity, I am, dear Sir, your most obedient servant,

B. FRANKLIN.

1 The Duke of Sussex wrote in the margin of his copy of Franklin's works (now in B. M.), “the idea of this loan is most beautiful and bespeaks a goodness of heart for which one must love the man.” — ED.

2 This letter written at Geneva is in A. P.S. The writer had been declared

a bankrupt in England, fell under suspicion of having secreted property, and fled to the continent. He now wished to return to England and reëmbark in business. ED.

1499. TO HENRY LAURENS

(L. C.)

Passy, April 29, 1784

DEAR SIR: I received your Favour by Mr. Bourdieu and yesterday another of the 18th, per Mr. Hartley, who also gave me the Gazette with the Proclamation. I am with you very little uneasy about that, or any other Measures the Ministers may think proper to take with respect to the Commerce with us. We shall do very well. They have long lost Sight of their true Interest, and are now wandring blindfold in search of it, without being able to find it; but they may feel what they cannot at present see; and all as you say will come right at last.

Mr. Hartley seems to have some Expectation of receiving Instructions to negociate a Commercial Treaty. He thinks he could hardly be sent here merely to exchange the Ratifications. I have not much dependance on this. Yet as we are authoriz'd to receive Overtures from any European Power, and to plan Treaties to be sent to Congress for Approbation, and I am not yet dismiss'd, I shall much regret your Absence if such a Treaty should be brought upon the Tapis: for Mr. Jay will probably be gone, and I shall be left alone, or with Mr. A., and I can have no favourable Opinion of what may be the Offspring of a Coalition between my ignorance and his Positiveness. It would help much if we could have from you a Sketch of the Outlines, and leading Features of the Treaty, in case your propos'd Embarkation for America should take Place before Mr. Hartley makes his Overtures.

There being but nine States present at the Ratification, was owing only to the extreme Inclemency of the Season, which

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