so many workmen and furnishers of materials, such as bricklayers, carpenters, stone-cutters, painters, glaziers, limeburners, timber-merchants, copper-smiths, carters, labourers, etc., etc., have added not a little to the fatiguing business I have gone through in the last year, as mentioned above, and strengthen in some degree my apology for being so bad a correspondent.

Mr. Brabanzon has requested me to send him some seeds in time to plant this spring, but his letter came to hand too late. They will be got the ensuing autumn and sent, so as to be ready for planting next year.

Temple and Benjamin will write to you. This letter goes by Mr. Paine, one of our principal writers at the Revolution, being the author of "Common Sense" a pamphlet that had prodigious effects.

He does not speak French, or I should recommend him to your civilities, as I do to those of our friend, the good Duke.

The last letter I have had the pleasure of receiving from you is that of Nov. 19, 1786. I cannot give you a better idea of my present happiness in my family than in telling you that my daughter has all the virtues of a certain good lady that you allow me to love; the same tender affections and intentions, ingenuity, industry, economy, etc., etc., etc. Embrace that good dame for me warmly, and the amiable daughter. My best wishes attend the whole family, whom I shall never cease to love while I am

B. FRANKLIN.

1674. TO THE DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD1

Philadelphia, April 15, 1787.

I HAVE been happy in receiving three very kind letters from my greatly respected and esteemed friend, since my being in America. They are dated November 30th, 1785, February 8th, 1786, and January 14th, 1787.2 In mine of this date to M. le Veillard, I have made the best apology I could for my being so bad a correspondent. I will not trouble you with a repetition of it, as I know you often see him. I will only confess my fault, and trust to your candour and goodness for my pardon.

Your friendly congratulations on my arrival and reception here were very obliging. The latter was, as you have heard, extremely flattering. The two parties in the Assembly and Council, the constitutionists and anti-constitutionists, joined in requesting my service as counsellor, and afterwards in electing me as President. Of seventy-four members in Council and Assembly, who voted by ballot, there was in my first election but one negative, besides my own; and in the second, after a year's service, only my own. And I experience, from all the principal people in the government, every attention and assistance that can be desired towards making the task as little burdensome to me as possible. So I am going on very comfortably hitherto with my second year, and I do not at present see any likelihood of a change; but future events are always uncertain, being governed by Providence or sub

1 From "The Private Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin" (1818), Vol. I, p. 216. — ED.

2 All but January 14, 1787, are in A. P. S.- ED.

ject to chances; and popular favour is very precarious, being sometimes lost as well as gained by good actions; so I do not depend on a continuance of my present happiness, and therefore shall not be surprised, if, before my time of service expires, something should happen to diminish it.

These States in general enjoy peace and plenty. There have been some disorders in the Massachusetts and Rhode Island governments; those in the former are quelled for the present; those of the latter, being contentions for and against paper money, will probably continue some time. Maryland too is divided on the same subject, the Assembly being for it, and the Senate against it. Each is now employed in endeavouring to gain the people to its party against the next elections, and it is probable the Assembly may prevail. Paper money in moderate quantities has been found beneficial; when more than the occasions of commerce require, it depreciated and was mischievous; and the populace are apt to demand more than is necessary. In this State we have some, and it is useful, and I do not hear any clamour for more. There seems to be but little thought at present in the particular States, of mending their particular constitutions; but the grand Federal Constitution' is generally blamed as not having given sufficient powers to Congress, the federal head. A convention is therefore appointed to revise that constitution, and propose a better. You will see by the enclosed paper, that your friend is to be one in that business, though he doubts his malady may not permit his giving constant attendance. I am glad to see, that you are named as one of a General Assembly to be convened in France. I flatter myself, that great good may accrue to that dear 1 The Old Confederation. - ED.

nation from the deliberations of such an assembly. I pray God to give it his blessing.

I sympathize with you and the family most sincerely, in the great loss sustained by the decease of that excellent woman.1 It must be indeed a heavy one. My best wishes attend those that remain, and that the happiness of your sweet domestic society may long continue without such another interruption.

I send herewith a volume of the Transactions of our Philosophical Society for you, another for M. de Condorcet, and a third for the Academy. The war had interrupted our attempts to improve ourselves in scientific matters, but we now begin to resume them.

The bearer of this is Mr. Paine, the author of a famous piece, entitled "Common Sense," published here with great effect on the minds of the people at the beginning of the Revolution. He is an ingenious, honest man; and as such I beg leave to recommend him to your civilities. He carries with him the model of a bridge of a new construction, his own invention, concerning which I intended to have recommended him to M. Peyronnet, but I hear he is no more. You can easily procure Mr. Paine a sight of the models and drawings of the

2

1 The Duchess d'Enville, mother of the Duke de la Rochefoucauld. W. T. F.

2 Jean-Rodolphe Perronet (1708-1794), a famous designer of bridges. He was a member of the Academy of Sciences and a fellow of the Royal Society. In the hall of the Royal Society his bust is placed next to that of Franklin. Paine wrote to Franklin, June 22, 1787 (A. P. S.): "Your old friend M. Perinet [sic], the Bridge Architect is yet living. I was introduced to him by M. Le Roi. He has taken a Residence in the Elysian Fields, for the purpose of being near the works. He has invited me to see his House at Paris where all his drawings and Models are." Speaking of Franklin's friends in Paris, Paine said in the same letter, "My reception here in consequence of them [Franklin's letters of introduction] has been abundantly cordial and friendly. I have received visits and invitations from all who were in Town. The Duke

collection appertaining to the Ponts et Chaussées; they must afford him useful lights on the subject. We want a bridge over our river Schuylkill, and have no artist here regularly bred to that kind of architecture.

My grandsons are very sensible of the honour of your remembrance, and desire me to present their respects. With the most sincere and perfect esteem and attachment, I am ever, my dear friend, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

1675. TO COMTE D'ESTAING 1

1

(L. C.)

Philada, April, 15, 1787.

DEAR SIR:

When I receiv'd the two Letters you did me the honour of writing to me last Year, I was made to hope for the great Pleasure of soon receiving you here, in your Way to Georgia. That Event would have made me very happy. I should have had an Opportunity of showing some Marks of the Respect I bear and always shall for the generous Warrior, who fought and bled in the Cause of Liberty and my Country. The Assembly of that State has

de Rochefoucauld & General Chastellux are in the Country. I dined yesterday with an old Friend of yours M. Malesherbes who is of the new Council of finances; and who received me with an Heartiness of friendship. It must have been a very strong attachment to America that drew you from this Country for your friends are very numerous and very affectionate.

"M. Le Roi has been most attentively kind to me. As he speaks English there is scarcely a day pass without an interview. He took me a few days ago to see an old friend of yours M. Buffon. But we were informed by the servant that he was very ill, and under the operation of Medicine." — ED. 1 Charles Hector-Theodat, Comte d'Estaing (1729-1794), naval officer.— ED.

2 D'Estaing was severely wounded, October 9, 1779, in an attack upon Savannah. Ed.