contribute to establish Health, as well as pleasingly gratify the Curiosity of seeing the Progress, which the Arts, Agriculture, Science, and Industry are making in a new Country. With great Respect, I have the honour to be, &c. B. FRANKLIN. 1581. TO GRANVILLE SHARP 1 DEAR SIR, Passy, July 5, 1785. I received the books you were so kind as to send me by Mr. Drown. Please to accept my hearty thanks. Your writings, which always have some public good for their object, I always read with pleasure. I am perfectly of your opinion, with respect to the salutary law of gavelkind, and hope it may in time be established throughout America. In six of the States, already, the lands of intestates are divided equally among the children, if all girls; but there is a double share given to the eldest son, for which I see no more reason, than giving such share to the eldest daughter; and think there should be no distinction. Since my being last in France, I have seen several of our eldest sons, spending idly their fortunes by residing in Europe and neglecting their own country; these are from the southern States. The northern young men stay at home, and are industrious, useful citizens; the more equal 1 From "The Private Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin" (1818), Vol. I, p. 192. Granville Sharp (1735-1813), philanthropist and pamphleteer. He started a movement for the introduction of Episcopacy into the United States. He was aided by Thomas Secker, archbishop of Canterbury, and for his efforts in this cause he received honorary degrees from Harvard and William and Mary. — ED. 2 Solomon Drown, of Providence, Rhode Island, a student of medicine.-ED. division of their fathers' fortunes not enabling them to ramble and spend their shares abroad, which is so much the better for their country. I like your piece on the election of bishops. There is a fact in Holinshed's Chronicles, the latter part relating to Scotland, which shows, if my memory does not deceive me, that the first bishop in that country was elected by the clergy. I mentioned it some time past in a letter to two young men,' who asked my advice about obtaining ordination, which had been denied them by the bishops in England, unless they would take the oath of allegiance to the King; and I said, I imagine that unless a bishop is soon sent over with power to consecrate others, so that we may have no future occasion for applying to England for ordination, we may think it right, after reading your piece, to elect also. The Liturgy you mention was an abridgment of that made by a noble Lord of my acquaintance, who requested me to assist him by taking the rest of the book, viz. the Catechism and the reading and singing Psalms. These I abridged by retaining of the Catechism only the two questions, What is your duty to God? What is your duty to your neighbour? with answers. The Psalms were much contracted by leaving out the repetitions (of which I found more than I could have imagined), and the imprecations, which appeared not to suit well the Christian doctrine of forgiveness of injuries, and doing good to enemies. The book was printed for Wilkie, in St. Paul's Church Yard, but never much noticed. Some were given away, very few sold, and I suppose the bulk became waste paper. In the prayers so much was retrenched, 1 See the Letter to Messrs. Weems and Gant, July 18th, 1784.—ED. that approbation could hardly be expected; but I think, with you, a moderate abridgment might not only be useful, but generally acceptable.1 I am now on the point of departing for America where I shall be glad occasionally to hear from you, and of your welfare; being with sincere and great esteem, dear Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant, B. FRANKLIN. 1582. TO DAVID HARTLEY' Passy, July 5, 1785. I CANNOT quit the coasts of Europe without taking leave of my ever dear Friend Mr. Hartley. We were long fellow labourers in the best of all works, the work of peace. I leave you still in the field, but having finished my day's task, I am going home to go to bed! Wish me a good night's rest, as I do you a pleasant evening. Adieu! and believe me ever yours most affectionately, B. FRANKLIN, in his 80th year. 1 On this subject Mr. Sharp had written as follows: "I have been informed, that several years ago, you revised the Liturgy of the Church of England, with a view, by some few alterations, to promote the more general use of it; but I have never yet been able to see a Copy of the form you proposed. Our present public Service is certainly, upon the whole, much too long, as it is commonly used; so that a prudent revision of it, by the common consent of the Members of the Episcopal Church in America, might be very advantageous; though, for my own part, I conceive, that the addition of one single Rubric from the Gospel would be amply sufficient to direct the advisers to the only corrections that seem to be necessary at present. I mean a general Rule, illustrated by proper examples, references, and marks, to warn officiating Ministers how they may avoid all useless repetitions & tautology in reading the service."-London, June 17, 1785. (A. P. S.) — Ed. 2 From "The Private Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin" (1818), Vol. I, p. 194. — ED. 1583. TO JONATHAN WILLIAMS 1 DEAR COUSIN (P. C.) Passy July 5. 1785 I have just receiv'd your Letter from Dublin acquainting me that you were in Treaty for a Vessel to take me in from Havre. I have already thro' Mr. Johnson agreed to go with Capt. Truxton, who is to meet me at Cowes; so that an Agreement with any other is needless. I am nevertheless oblig'd by your kind Attention. We are to be at Cowes and sail from thence the first of August. I hope your Affairs will allow your joining us there. It is a fine Ship of 400 Tons with excellent Accommodations for Passengers. Our Luggage is gone down the River and we follow in a few Days. Your Family was well on Sunday. I am ever Your affectionate Uncle B. FRANKLIN SIR, 1584. TO COMTE DE SALMES (U. OF P.) Passy, July 5. 1785. I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me some time since, respecting the Application of Keys to the Harmonica as contriv'd by Abbé Perno; and requesting to know if any thing of the kind had been done at Paris, London or elsewhere. When I was in London, about 12 years since, Mr Steele an ingenious Musician there, made an Attempt 1 From the original in the possession of Louis A. Biddle, Esq.-Ed. of that sort; but the Tones were with Difficulty produc'd by the Touch from the Keys, and the Machinery in Playing made so much Noise and Rattle, as to diminish greatly the Pleasure given by the Sound of the Glasses; so that I think the Instrument was never compleated. The Duchess of at Paris about the same time endeavour'd to obtain the same End, and has not yet laid aside the Project, tho' it has not hitherto perfectly succeeded. Baron Feriet of Versailles, began to work on the same Idea about the Time I receiv'd your Letter; and as he is a very ingenious Man, & has a hand to execute as well as a head to contrive the necessary Machinery, I hoped soon to have given you an Account of his Success: but I begin to doubt it, as I have nothing from him lately. In my Manner of Playing on my Instrument the Fingers are capable of Touching with great Delicacy; and the Glasses hum so smoothly, that one hears no other Sound but that given by the touch. If the Instrument of Abbé Perno has the same Advantages, its being play'd with Keys gives it an undoubted Preference, and I should be glad to know the Construction. I should be happy if I had any thing to send to the Academy worthy its Acceptance. My Occupations have for some Years past, prevented my Attention to philosophical Subjects. I can only wish Success to its laudable Pursuits; and beg you to believe me, with sincere Esteem Sir, B. FRANKLIN. |