1639. TO CHARLES THOMSON1 DEAR SIR, Philadelphia, June 18, 1786. I received in its time your favour of the 15th past,' with an extract from the contract made at Versailles, February 21st, 1783. This extract being a translation, I have spent some time in searching for a copy. I supposed I might have the original, but have not yet met with it, and will now no longer delay my answer, which is, that, if the translation be just, and the original really mentions three millions, as given before the treaty of 1778, it has either been a mistake of one million, or the million received from the Farmers-General is included, as a don gratuit of the King; in which latter case, as you observe, they owe us for the tobacco received, in part. For I think it a certainty, that no money was received from the crown, which did not go directly into the hands of Mr. Grand; and, though he accounts for three millions received before 1778, one of them is the million received of the FarmersGeneral. An explanation and adjustment of this matter may, I make no doubt, be easily obtained by writing to Mr. Grand and Mr. Jefferson. There can be no error of that magnitude in Mr. Grand's accounts, for they were rendered to the Commissioners from time to time, and settled while all the transac 1 First printed by Sparks, Vol. X, p. 443. The affair of "the lost million" is referred to in the following letters: to Ferdinand Grand, July 11, 1786; to Charles Thomson, January 27, 1787; and also in various letters from M. Durival to M. Grand and from M. Grand to Franklin found in Sparks, Vol. X, pp. 269-272.- Ed. tions were fresh in memory. And I am persuaded, the minister will very readily either correct the error in the contract, or direct our demanding of the Farmers the value of the tobacco, as the case may be. With great and sincere esteem, I have the honour to be, Sir, &c. B. FRANKLIN. SIR, 1640. TO NOAH WEBSTER (L. L.) Philad June 18, 1786. I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 24th past,' with the Scheme inclosed of your reform'd Alphabet. I think the Reformation not only necessary, but practicable; but have so much to say to you on the Subject, that I wish to see and confer with you upon it, as that would save much Time and Writing. Sounds, till such an Alphabet is fix'd, not being easily explain'd or discours'd of clearly upon Paper. I have formerly consider'd this Matter pretty fully, and contriv'd some of the means of carrying it into Execution, so as gradually to render the Reformation general. Our Ideas are so nearly similar, that I make no doubt of our easily agreeing on the Plan; and you may depend on the best Support I may be able to give it, as a Part of your Institute, of which I wish you would bring with you a compleat Copy, having as yet seen only a part of it: I shall then be better able to recommend it as you desire. Hoping to have soon the Pleasure of seeing you, I do not enlarge, but am with sincere Esteem, Sir, &c. B. FRANKLIN. 1 In A. P. S.- ED. 2 Grammatical Institute of the English Language, published in 1784. — ED. 1641. TO JAN INGENHOUSZ (L. C.) Philada June 27, 1786. DEAR FRIEND :- My Time being much taken up with the Business of my present Station, I can now only write a short Letter; but in the Volume of our Transactions, which I send you herewith, you will find a very long Letter, which I wrote to you at Sea when on my Passage hither. I inclose some Papers relating to your Affair with Wharton. The promise therein made, tho' repeatedly urg'd by me and Mr. Vaughan, was never fulfilled. The Father is since striken with the Palsie, and the Son is in a worse Situation,-being, as is said, an habitual Drunkard. In short, I believe nothing is to be done with him by fair Means, and unless you send a Power of Attorney to sue for your Demand, or come yourself, I am afraid you will never get anything. You are upon the List of Persons nominated to be Members of our Philosophical Society, and will be chosen undoubtedly at the next full Meeting, which perhaps will not be till January next. I have given them the German Edition of your Pieces, which you presented to them; and have told them that I have some other Presents from you which I shall deliver as soon as I can put my things in order so as to find them. Except that I am too much encumber'd with Business, I find myself happily situated here, among my numerous Friends, plac'd at the Head of my Country by its unanimous Voice, in the Bosom of my Family, my Offspring to wait on me and nurse me, in a House I built 23 Years since to my Mind. My Malady, the Stone, indeed continues, but does not grow worse; and human Nature is subject to so many more terrible Evils, that I ought to be content with the Share allotted me. I rejoice to hear that the Difference between the Emperor and your Country is accommodated, for I love Peace. You will see in the Treaty we have made with Prussia some Marks of my Endeavors to lessen the Calamities of future Wars. Present my humble Respects, and best wishes to your good Master, if you think they may not be unacceptable, and believe me ever, with sincere Affection, your old true Friend and humble Servant, B. FRANKLIN. If you send a Power of Attorney, let it be to Mr. Samuel Vaughan, jr. 1642. TO (L. C.) Phila. July 3. 1786. (?) DEAR SIR, I have read your Manuscript with some Attention. By the Argument it contains against the Doctrines of a particular Providence, tho' you allow a general Providence, you strike at the Foundation of all Religion. For without the Belief of a Providence, that takes Cognizance of, guards, and guides, and may favour particular Persons, there is no Motive to Worship a Deity, to fear its Displeasure, or to pray for its Protection. I will not enter into any Discussion of your Principles, tho' 1 The auto. draft of this letter in A. P. S. is endorsed by Franklin: "Rough of Letter dissuading from publishing his Piece." S. published it as addressed to Thomas Paine. The deistical writings of Thomas Paine were not published until several years after the supposed date of this letter. - ED. you seem to desire it. At present I shall only give you my Opinion, that, though your Reasonings are subtile, and may prevail with some Readers, you will not succeed so as to change the general Sentiments of Mankind on that Subject, and the Consequence of printing this Piece will be, a great deal of Odium drawn upon yourself, Mischief to you, and no Benefit to others. He that spits against the Wind, spits in his own Face. But, were you to succeed, do you imagine any Good would be done by it? You yourself may find it easy to live a virtuous Life, without the Assistance afforded by Religion; you having a clear Perception of the Advantages of Virtue, and the Disadvantages of Vice, and possessing a Strength of Resolution sufficient to enable you to resist common Temptations. But think how great a Proportion of Mankind consists of weak and ignorant Men and Women, and of inexperienc'd, and inconsiderate Youth of both Sexes, who have need of the Motives of Religion to restrain them from Vice, to support their Virtue, and retain them in the Practice of it till it becomes habitual, which is the great Point for its Security. And perhaps you are indebted to her originally, that is, to your Religious Education, for the Habits of Virtue upon which you now justly value yourself. You might easily display your excellent Talents of reasoning upon a less hazardous subject, and thereby obtain a Rank with our most distinguish'd Authors. For among us it is not necessary, as among the Hottentots, that a Youth, to be receiv'd into the Company of men, should prove his Manhood by beating his Mother. I would advise you, therefore, not to attempt unchaining the Tyger, but to burn this Piece before it is seen by any other Person; whereby you will save yourself a great deal of Morti |