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to the Earth during the Conjunctions of the Sun and Moon, compar'd with other Times, was this. We suppose, that, by the Force of Gravity in those Luminaries, the Water of the Ocean, an immense Weight, is elevated so as to form the Tides; if that be so, might we not expect, that an iron Ball of a pound suspended by a fine spiral Spring, should, when the Sun and Moon are together both above it, be a little attracted upwards or rendered lighter, so as to be drawn up a little by the Spring on which it depends, and the contrary when they are both below it. The Quantity, tho' very small, might perhaps be rendred visible by a Contrivance like the above. It is not difficult to make this Experiment, but I have never made it. With regard to the Tides, I doubt the Opinion of there being but two High Waters and two Low Waters existing at the same time on the Globe. I rather think there are many, and those at the Distance of about 100 Leagues from each other. The Tides found in the River Amazones seem to favour this Opinion. Observations hereafter in the Isles of the Pacific Ocean may confirm or refute it.

If I were in a Situation where I could be a little more Master of my Time, I would as you desire, write my Ideas on the Subject of Chimneys. They might I think be useful. For by what I see everywhere the Subject seems too little understood, which occasions much Inconvenience & fruitless Expence. But besides being harass'd with too much Business, I am expos'd to numberless Visits, some of Kindness and Civility, many of mere idle Curiosity, from Strangers of America & of different Parts of Europe, as well as the Inhabitants of the Provinces who come to Paris. These devour my Hours, and break my Attention, and at Night I often find myself fatigu'd without having done any thing. Celebrity

may for a while flatter one's Vanity, but its Effects are troublesome. I have begun to write two or three Things, which I wish to finish before I die; but I sometimes doubt the possibility.

I thank you much for the Postscript respecting my Disorder, the Stone. I have taken heretofore, and am now again taking the Remedy you mention, which is called Blackrie's Solvent. It is the Soap Lie, with Lime Water, and I believe it may have some Effect in diminishing the Symptoms, and preventing the Growth of the Stone, which is all I expect from it. It does not hurt my Appetite; I sleep well, and enjoy my Friends in chearful Conversation as usual. But, as I cannot use much Exercise, I eat more sparingly than formerly, and I drink no Wine.

I admire that you should be so timid in asking Leave of your good imperial Master to make a Journey for visiting a Friend. I am persuaded you would succeed, and I hope the Proposition I have made you in this Letter will assist your Courage, and enable you to ask and obtain. If you come here soon, you may when present get your Book finish'd, and be ready to proceed with me to America. While writing this, I have receiv'd from Congress my Leave to return; and I believe I shall be ready to embark by the middle of July, at farthest. I shall now be free of Politicks for the Rest of my Life. Welcome again my dear Philosophical Amusements.

I see by a full Page of your Letter, that you have been possess'd with strange Ideas of America; that there is no Justice to be obtain'd there, no Recovery of Debts, Projects of Insurrection to overturn the present Government, &c. &c.; that a Virginia Colonel Nephew of the Governor had cheated

a Stranger of 100,000 Livres, and that somebody was imprisoned for only speaking of it; that D' Bancroft was afraid of Mr. Wharton's Power, and the like very improbable Stories. As to Dr. Bancroft he gave me no such Reason for not recovering his Money, nor any other but Wharton's present Inability; and for the rest believe me they are all Fictions or Misrepresentations. If they were Truths, all Strangers would avoid such a Country, and foreign Merchants would as soon carry their Goods to sell in Newgate as to America. Think a little on the Sums England has spent to preserve a Monopoly of the Trade of that People, with whom they had long been acquainted, and of the Desire all Europe is now manifesting to obtain a Share of that Trade. Our Ports are full of their Ships, their Merchants buying and selling in our Streets continually, and returning with our Products. Would this happen? Could such Commerce be continu'd with us, if we were such a Collection of Scoundrels and Villains as we have been represented to you? And Insurrections against our Rulers are not only unlikely, as the Rulers are the Choice of the People, but unnecessary; as, if not lik'd, they may be chang'd annually by the new Elections.

I own you have Cause, great Cause to complain of Wharton, but you are wrong to condemn a whole Country by a single Sample. I have seen many Countries, & I do not know a Country in the World in which Justice is so well administ❜red, where Protection and Favour have so little Power to impede its Operations, and where Debts are recovered with so much Facility. If I thought it such a Country as it has been painted to you, I should certainly never return to it. The Truth I believe is, that more Goods have been carried thither from all Parts of Europe, than the Consumption of the Coun

try requires, & it is natural that some of the Adventurers are willing to discourage others from following them, lest the Prices should still be kept down by the Arrival of fresh Cargoes; and it is not unlikely, that some negligent or unfaithful Factors sent thither, may have given such Accounts to excuse their not making Remittances. And the English magnify all this, and spread it abroad in their Papers, to dissuade Foreigners from attempting to interfere with them in their Commerce with us.

Your Account of the Emperor's condescending Conversation with you concerning me, is pleasing. I respect very much the Character of that Monarch, and think, that, if I were one of his Subjects, he would find me a good One. I am glad that his Difference with your Country is likely to be accommodated without Bloodshed. The Courier de l'Europe, and some other Papers, printed a Letter on that Difference, which they ascrib'd to me. Be assured my Friend that I never wrote it, nor was ever presumptuous enough to meddle with an Affair so much out of my way.

All the Letters you at any time enclos'd to me have been faithfully forwarded. I obtain'd from Mr. Williams an Answer which I enclose. I am asham'd I have kept it so long; but I had put it among your Letters, intending to send it with the first I should write to you, and that has been too long delay'd.

Mesmer continues here and has still some Adherents and some Practice. It is surprizing how much Credulity still subsists in the World. I suppose all the Physicians in France put together have not made so much Money during the Time he has been here, as he has done. And we have now a fresh Folly. A Magnetiser pretends that he can by

establishing what is called a Rapport between any Person and a Somnambule, put it in the Power of that Person to direct the Actions of the Somnambule, by a simple strong Volition only, without Speaking or making any Signs; and many People daily flock to see this strange Operation!

Your last did not reach me till long after its Date. I have spent some Days in writing this. It is now the 2d of May, and I shall not be able to forward it till by Thursday's Post, the 5th Instant. If in the meantime I can learn anything respecting the Publication of your Book I will add it in a Postscript. Rejoice with me, my dear Friend, that I am once more a Freeman: after Fifty Years Service in Public Affairs. And let me know soon if you will make me happy the little Remainder left me of my Life, by spending the Time with me in America.

I have Instruments if the Enemy did not destroy them all, and we will make Plenty of Experiments together.

Believe me ever,

Yours most affectionately

B. F.

SIR,

1560. TO COMTE DE VERGENNES (L. C.)

Passy, May 3, 1785.

I have the honour to acquaint your Excellency, that I have at length obtain'd, and yesterday receiv'd, the Permission of Congress to return to America. As my Malady makes it impracticable for me to pay my Devoirs at Versailles personally, may I beg the favour of you, Sir, to express respectfully for me to his Majesty, the deep Sense I have of

VOL. IX-Y

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