1728. TO M. LE VEILLARD1

MY DEAR FRIEND,

(P. C.)

Philadelphia, June 8, 1788.

I received a few days ago your kind letter of the 3d of January. The arrêt in favour of the non-catholiques gives pleasure here, not only from its present advantages, but as it is a good step towards general toleration, and to the abolishing in time all party spirit among Christians, and the mischiefs that have so long attended it. Thank God, the world is growing wiser and wiser; and as by degrees men are convinced of the folly of wars for religion, for dominion, or for commerce, they will be happier and happier.

Eight States have now agreed to the proposed new constitution; there remain five who have not yet discussed it; their appointed times of meeting not being yet arrived. Two are to meet this month, the rest later. One more agreeing, it will be carried into execution. Probably some will not agree at present, but time may bring them in; so that we have little doubt of it becoming general, perhaps with some corrections. As to your friend's taking a share in the management of it, his age and infirmities render him unfit for the business, as the business would be for him. After the expiration of his presidentship, which will now be in a few months, he is determined to engage no more in public affairs, even if required; but his countrymen will be too reasonable to require it. You are not so considerate; you are a hard taskmaster. You insist on his writing his life, already a long work,

1 This letter was sold at Sotheby's, May 12, 1905. I do not know in whose collection it now is. - ED.

VOL. IX-2U

and at the same time would have him continually employed in augmenting the subject, while the time shortens in which the work is to be executed. General Washington is the man that all our eyes are fixed on for President, and what little influence I may have, is devoted to him. I am, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

SIR,

1729. TO DUPONT DE NEMOURS

Philadelphia, June 9, 1788.

I have received your favour of December 31st, with the extract of a letter, which you wish to have translated and published here. But seven States having, before it arrived, ratified the new constitution, and others being daily expected to do the same, after the fullest discussion in convention, and in all the public papers, till everybody was tired of the argument, it seemed too late to propose delay, and especially the delay that must be occasioned by a revision and correction of all the separate Constitutions. For it would take at least a year to convince thirteen States, that the Constitutions. they have practised ever since the Revolution, without observing any imperfections in them so great as to be worth the trouble of amendment, are nevertheless so ill formed as to be unfit for continuation, or to be parts of a federal government. And, when they should be so convinced, it would probably take some years more to make the corrections.

An eighth State has since acceded, and when a ninth is added, which is now daily expected, the constitution will be carried into execution. It is probable, however, that, at the first meeting of the new Congress, various amendments

will be proposed and discussed, when I hope your Ouvrage sur les Principes et le Bien des Républiques en général, &c. &c., may be ready to put into their hands; and such a work from your hand I am confident, though it may not be entirely followed, will afford useful hints, and produce advantages of importance.

But we must not expect, that a new government may be formed, as a game of chess may be played, by a skilful hand, without a fault. The players of our game are so many, their ideas so different, their prejudices so strong and so various, and their particular interests, independent of the general, seeming so opposite, that not a move can be made that is not contested; the numerous objections confound the understanding; the wisest must agree to some unreasonable things, that reasonable ones of more consequence may be obtained; and thus chance has its share in many of the determinations, so that the play is more like tric-trac with a box of dice.

We are much pleased with the disposition of your government to favour our commerce, manifested in the late réglement. You appear to be possessed of a truth, which few governments are possessed of, that A must take some of B's produce, otherwise B will not be able to pay for what he would take of A. But there is one thing wanting to facilitate and augment our intercourse. It is a dictionary, explaining the names of different articles of manufacture in the two languages. When I was in Paris, I received a large order for a great variety of goods, particularly of the kind called hard wares, that is, wares of iron and steel; and when I showed the invoice to your manufacturers, they did not understand what kind of goods or instruments were meant by the names; nor could any English and French dictionary be found to

explain them. So I sent to England for one of each sort, which might serve both as explanation and as a model, the latter being of importance likewise, since people are prejudiced in favour of forms they have been used to, though perhaps not the best. They cost me twenty-five guineas, but were lost by the way, and, the peace coming on, the scheme dropped. It would, however, as I imagine, be well worth reviving, for our merchants say, we still send to England for such goods as we want, because there they understand our orders, and can execute them precisely. With great and sincere esteem, I am, &c.

SIR

B. FRANKLIN.

1730. TO MATHEW CAREY

(A. P. S.)

June 10. 1788

In answer to your Request of this Day,

I do not recollect ever to have seen a Recommendation of the kind you propose of any such periodical Compilation. It seems to me quite a novel Idea, and not likely to be useful as it might appear to the Public impertinent. They have now seen the Work carry'd on more than a Year; They are competent Judges whether it answers their purpose or their Expectations. Such a Work if well executed, recommends itself, and needs no other Recommendation; and if not well executed, will not be help'd by any other, whoever it may be sign'd by, As a principal Use of it is to preserve fugitive Pieces; I think you would do well not to fill any part of it with Extracts from Collections already made such as the Philos. Transactions where they are already preserv'd. I

send you enclos'd a Note of the Value of Provisions 34 years ago in Philad & Boston, which perhaps may be proper to be preserved in your Work, and am looking out for others of more. I was always dispos'd to be serviceable to you, tho' it seems I was once unlucky.1

"May it please your excellency,

[B. F.]

"With uncommon exertions, and the most indefatigable application, I have carried on the Museum for nearly a year and a half- and considering how incredibly small my capital was, at the commencement, my success has been uncommon yet not so great, as under particular circumstances, I might have expected, and would probably have met with. I have now a plan in agitation, which, with your concurrence, and that of a few other respectable Characters, will, in all likelihood, insure me that reward to which honest industry, in a good cause, has so just and undeniable a claim.

"This leads me to the object of the present application. The favour I so earnestly request, is, to subscribe such a declaration or recommendation of the American Museum, as its merits may entitle it to; a form of which I subjoin for your perusal :

"We the subscribers, having carefully examined the tendency and purpose of the American Museum, published by Mathew Carey, of Philadelphia, are of opinion, that it is a very useful work, calculated to disseminate agricultural, political, and other valuable information, in a degree and manner hardly attainable without a publication of that kind

and more especially to preserve various interesting docu

1 This letter was in reply to the following request in a note from Carey dated Philadelphia, June 10, 1788. — ED.