1400. TO SIR WILLIAM JONES1

DEAR FRIEND,

Passy, March 17, 1783.

I duly received your obliging letter of November 15th. You will have since learned how much I was then, and have been continually engaged in public affairs, and your goodness will excuse my not having answered it sooner. You announced your intended marriage with my much respected friend, Miss Anna Maria, which I assure you gave me great pleasure, as I cannot conceive a match more likely to be happy, from the amiable qualities each of you possesses so plentifully. You mention its taking place, as soon as a prudent attention to worldly interests would permit. I just now learn from Mr. Hodgson, that you are appointed to an honourable and profitable place in the Indies; so I expect now soon to hear of the wedding, and to receive the profile. With the good Bishop's permission, I will join my blessing with his; adding my wishes, that you may return from that corrupting country, with a great deal of money honestly acquired, and with full as much virtue as you carry out with you.

The engraving of my medal, which you know was projected before the peace, is but just finished. None are yet struck in hard metal, but will be in a few days. In the mean

1 Sir William Jones (1746-1794), the distinguished Oriental scholar, was appointed in March, 1783, Judge of the high court at Bengal. The appointment long coveted by him was delayed because of his uncompromising hostility to the American war. He was knighted March 19, 1783, and in April he was married to Anna Maria, eldest daughter of Jonathan Shipley, bishop of St. Asaph. During his residence in India (1783-1794) he founded the Bengal Asiatic Society, and made numerous contributions to the "Asiatic Researches." The letter is printed here from Sparks, Vol. IX, p. 500. — ED.

time, having this good opportunity by Mr. Penn, I send you one of the épreuves. You will see that I have profited by some of your ideas, and adopted the mottos you were so kind as to furnish.

I am at present quite recovered from my late illness, and flatter myself that I may in the ensuing summer be able to undertake a trip to England, for the pleasure of seeing once more my dear friends there, among whom the Bishop and his family stand foremost in my estimation and affection. I thank you for your good wishes respecting me. Mine for your welfare and prosperity are not less earnest and sincere; being with great truth, dear Sir, your affectionate friend, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

1401. TO JOHN DICKINSON 1

1

(L. C.)

Passy, March 23, 1783

SIR: Permit me to congratulate your Excellency on your advancement to the Presidency of Pennsylvania, wherein I hope you may find opportunities of doing much good to your Country, the only Consideration that can make an elevated situation agreeable to a reasonable Mind.

Mr. Penn, son of our late Proprietary, purposes going over shortly, and will do me the honour of delivering this line to you. He appears to me, in the short acquaintance I have had with him, to be an amiable young Gentleman of a promising valuable Character, and if any Recommendations of mine to your Civilities and Friendship could be thought necessary, he should have them fully. But I confine myself 1 Then president of the state of Pennsylvania. — ED. 2 John, son of Thomas Penn.

- ED.

here to what regards the Family in general. They think the late Act of Assembly respecting their Lands has done them great Injustice. Not being in the Country when it was made, and being unacquainted with the Reasonings upon which it was founded, I have only been able to say that I did not believe any Injustice was intended, and that the offered Compensation had been supposed an equitable one. I have not heard that the Family was considered as delinquent in the Affair of the Revolution. But as I find it is imagined that some Suspicions of their being unfavourable to it have perhaps prejudiced the Assembly against them, and that the Warmth of the Times has produced a harder Treatment of their Interests than would otherwise have been thought of, I would beg leave to mention it to your Excellency's Consideration, whether it would not be reputable for the Province, in the cooler Season of Peace to reconsider that Act, and if the Allowance made to the Family should be found inadequate, to regulate it according to Equity, since it becomes a Virgin State to be particularly careful of its Reputation, and to guard itself not only against committing Injustice, but against even the suspicion of it.

With great Esteem and Respect I have the honour to be, etc. B. F.

1402. TO DAVID HARTLEY'

DEAR SIR,

Passy, March 23, 1783.

I received the letter you did me the honour of writing to me, requesting a recommendation to America, of Mr. Joshua

1 From "The Private Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin " (1817), Vol. II, p. 326.- ED.

Grigby. I have accordingly written one, and, having an opportunity the other day, I sent it under cover to Mr. Benjamin Vaughan. The general proclamations you wished for, suspending or rather putting an end to hostilities, are now published; so that your "heart is at rest," and mine with it. You may depend on my joining my hearty endeavours with yours in "cultivating conciliatory principles between our two countries"; and I may venture to assure you, that if your bill for a provisional establishment of the commerce had passed as at first proposed, a stipulation on our part in the definitive treaty, to allow reciprocal and equal advantages and privileges to your subjects, would have been readily agreed to. With great and sincere esteem, I am ever, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

1403. TO COMTE DE VERGENNES (P. A. E. E. U.) (A. P. S.) Passy, March 24, 1783.

SIR,

I am desirous of printing a translation of the Constitutions of the United States of America, published at Philadelphia, in 1781, by order of Congress. Several of these Constitutions have already appeared in the English and American newspapers; others have appeared elsewhere; but there has never yet been a complete translation of them. That, of which I have the honour to speak to your Excellency, being an octavo volume, contains the different Constitutions of the United States, their treaty with France, and no foreign matter. I have made arrangements for this purpose with M. Pierres, who is ready to commence the impression, and I hope that your Excellency will give your approbation.

M. Pierres will need a permit from the Keeper of the Seals for printing and selling this work, after having furnished me with the number of copies agreed upon. As I strongly desire, that this translation may appear at an early day, I shall feel under great obligations to your Excellency, if you will have the goodness to request the Keeper of the Seals to send the order without delay; and, should the formalities required for the purpose demand any considerable time, to request him to authorize by letter M. Pierres to proceed with the work. I have the honour to be, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

1404. TO EMMANUEL DE ROHAN1

MY LORD,

Passy April 6, 1783.

I have the honour to address to your Eminent Highness the medal, which I have lately had struck. It is a homage of gratitude, my Lord, which is due to the interest you have taken in our cause; and we no less owe it to your virtues, and to your Eminent Highness's wise administration of govern

ment.

Permit me, my Lord, to demand your protection for such of our citizens as circumstances may lead to your ports. I hope that your Eminent Highness will be pleased to grant it to them, and kindly receive the assurances of the profound respect with which I am, my Lord, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

1 Grand master of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, and ruler of Malta (1775-1797). - Ed.

2 See letter to R. R. Livingston, March 4, 1782.-ED.