1

1684. TO THOMAS JORDAN 1

DEAR SIR,

Philadelphia, May 18, 1787.

I received your very kind letter of February 27th,2 together with the cask of porter you have been so good as to send me. We have here at present what the French call une assemblée des notables, a convention composed of some of the principal people from the several States of our confederation. They did me the honor of dining with me last Wednesday, when the cask was broached, and its contents met with the most cordial reception and universal approbation. In short, the company agreed unanimously, that it was the best porter they had ever tasted. Accept my thanks, a poor return, but all I can make at present.

3

Your letter reminds me of many happy days we have passed together, and the dear friends with whom we passed them; some of whom, alas! have left us, and we must regret their loss, although our Hawkesworth is become an Adventurer 3 in more happy regions; and our Stanley' gone, “where only his own harmony can be exceeded." You give me joy in telling me, that you are "on the pinnacle of content." Without it no situation can be happy; with it, any. One means of becoming content with one's situation is the com

1 From "The Private Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin” (1818), Vol. I, p. 225. Thomas Jordan was a London brewer. ED.

2 In A. P. S. - ED.

8 In allusion to the "Adventurer," by John Hawkesworth (1715-1773), compiler of the account of the Discoveries made in the South Seas by Captain Cook. — ED.

John Stanley, an eminent musician and composer, became blind at the age of two years.-W. T. F.

paring it with a worse. Thus, when I consider how many terrible diseases the human body is liable to, I comfort myself, that only three incurable ones have fallen to my share, viz. the gout, the stone, and old age; and that these have not yet deprived me of my natural cheerfulness, my delight in books, and enjoyment of social conversation.

I am glad to hear, that Mr. Fitzmaurice' is married, and has an amiable lady and children." It is a better plan than that he once proposed, of getting Mrs. Wright to make him a wax-work wife to sit at the head of his table. For after all, wedlock is the natural state of man. A bachelor is not a complete human being. He is like the odd half of a pair of scissors, which has not yet found its fellow, and therefore is not even half so useful as they might be together.

I hardly know which to admire most; the wonderful discoveries made by Herschel, or the indefatigable ingenuity by which he has been enabled to make them. Let us hope, my friend, that, when free from these bodily embarrassments, we may roam together through some of the systems he has explored, conducted by some of our old companions already acquainted with them. Hawkesworth will enliven our progress with his cheerful, sensible converse, and Stanley accompany the music of the spheres.

Mr. Watmaugh' tells me, for I immediately inquired after her, that your daughter is alive and well. I remember her

1 The Honourable Fitzmaurice was settled in Wales in the Vale of Clwydd, where he employed himself bleaching linen manufactured on his estate in Ireland. — ED.

2 He had one son. - ED.

8 The discovery of the two satellites of Georgium Sidus. — ED.

Mr. Watmaugh brought the cask of porter from England to Philadelphia. - ED.

a most promising and beautiful child, and therefore do not wonder, that she is grown, as he says, a fine woman. God bless her and you, my dear friend, and every thing that pertains to you, is the sincere prayer of yours most affectionately, B. FRANKLIN.

SIR,

in his eighty-second year.

1685. TO WILLIAM HERSCHELL'

(H.)

Philad. May 18, 1787.

I received the letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 18th of Feb. past, together with your Catalogue of 1000 new nebulae and Clusters of Stars, which I immediately communicated to our Philosophical Society, who return their thanks, and congratulate you cordially on your important new Discovery of the two Satellites revolving round the Georgian planet.

You have wonderfully extended the Power of human Vision, and are daily making us Acquainted with Regions of the Universe totally unknown to mankind in former Ages. Had Fortune place'd you in this part of America, your Progress in these Discoveries might have been still more rapid, as from the more frequent clearness of our Air, we have near one Third more in the year of good observing Days than there are in England. With great esteem, I have the honour to be, Sir,

Your most obedient, humble Servant

B. FRANKLIN.

1 In the Sparks papers at Harvard University, endorsed by Jared Sparks 'sent by Charles Sumner from Vienna. Rec'd March 3d 1840." It came too late to be published by Sparks. — ED.

SIR

1686. TO JOHN ADAMS

(M. H. S.)

Philada May 18, 1787.

I received by D' White the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me the 27th of January, together with two copies of your Defence of the American Constitutions, one for myself for which I beg you would accept my Thanks, the other for the Philosophical Society whose Secretary will of course officially acknowledge the Obligation. That work is in such Request here, that it is already put to Press, and a numerous Edition will speedily be abroad. My son Beach and my Grandson are much flatter'd by your Remembrance of them and join in presenting their Respects. Be pleased to offer mine to Mr Adams and your amiable daughter. With great Esteem I have the honour to be,

MY DEAR FRIEND, - I received your favour of Jan. 26' with the volume of Sermons, for which please to accept my thanks. I have read them with great pleasure, and I think no one can read them without improvement.

1 From a copy in M. H. S. The original is in the possession of Mr. Walter Ashburner, of London. - ED.

2 In A. P. S.- Ed.

I condole with you on the loss of that excellent woman, so long your pleasing companion.' The being depriv'd of dear friends and relations one after another, is a very severe tax we pay for living a great while ourselves. But such is the miserable state of things in this period of our existence; the rectification is only to be expected in that which is to

come.

My health continues as when Mrs. Vaughan left us. My malady does not grow perceptibly worse, and I hope may continue tolerable to my life's end, which cannot now be far distant, being in my 82 year.

On farther consideration of my scheme for sinking the national debt, I became so doubtful of it as not to venture exposing it to Baron Maseres. I must digest it a little better.

We have now meeting here a Convention of the principal people in the several States, for the purpose of revising the federal Constitution, and proposing such amendments as shall be thoroughly necessary. It is a most important business, and I hope will be attended with success.

With great and sincere esteem, I am ever, my dear Friend Yours most affectionately.

B. FRANKLIN.

If you have not receiv'd the Vol. of our Transactions I will send you another.

1 Mrs. Price died of palsy in September, 1786. - Ed.