ments from oblivion. We therefore chearfully recommend it to the countenance and patronage of the public in general." 'Perhaps this character of the work is too panegyrical. It is, however, that which I have had from numbers of the most impartial, intelligent, and well informed gentlemen. But at all events, I am not scrupulously attached to the manner of expression.

"I hope and trust there is no necessity to make use of many arguments on this occasion. I have read a declaration of yours, that your own experience of the difficulties attendant on beginners, always strongly inclined you in favour of those in that situation. True, I am not, strictly speaking, a beginner - but every inducement in favour of that description, exists with me.

"Your compliance with this request, will be regarded as a most important obligation, by

"Your excellency's most obedient

"and very humble servant

"MATHEW CAREY."

1731. TO JOHN JAY

(A. P. S.) Philad June 27. 1788

DEAR SIR,

In arranging some old Papers I lately found the enclos'd Letter from Mr. Blunt, enclosing Copy of a Certificate of Comm'. Jones in favour of John Jackson. I ought, (tho' so long delay'd) to send some Answer. Can you inform me whether any thing has been done for Jackson in consequence of the Commodore's Promise?

I send you also two other Papers respecting Services for

merly done the U. S. by Mr. Limousin of Havre, and M. Milliet of Lisbon; for your Consideration; and to be dispos'd of as you shall think proper. Please to inform me whether Dohrman is still in America. With great & sincere Esteem, I am ever, my dear Friend,

Yours most affectionately

B. FRANKLIN.

SIR,

1732. TO GEORGE CLINTON1

Philad. July 10, 1788

I beg leave once more to introduce to your Excellency,' the honourable Mr Redick, a Member of the Supreme Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania, who is charg'd by that Council with some important Matters to communicate to, and consult upon with your Excellency, respecting the outrageous Conduct of our disorderly People inhabiting near the Borders of our two States, which if not speedily and effectually repress'd, it is apprehended may occasion much Inconvenience and Mischief. I request your Excellency to give Mr Redick a favourable Audience, and to afford him your best Counsels, which will be very obliging to this Government, and particularly to

Your Excellency's most obedient and most
humble Servant

B FRANKLIN
Presidt.

1 From the original in Charles Roberts's Collection of Autographs, Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania. — ED.

2 He was governor of New York. - ED.

1733.

TO BENJAMIN CHAMBERS, AND THE OTHER GENTLEMEN OF CHAMBERSBURGH

(L. C.)

Philada, September 20, 1788.

GENTLEMEN:- I received the Letter you did me the honour of writing to me, respecting what was supposed a new Invention, the blowing of Furnaces by a Fall of Water. When Mr. Zantzinger deliver'd me your Letter, I told him that I had several Books in my Library which describ'd the same Contrivance, and I have since shown them to him. They are the "French Encyclopedia or Dictionary of Arts and Sciences"; Swedenborg's Latin Treatise of Iron Works; and the French work "Des Arts et des Métiers," in the Article of Forges. Those Descriptions are all accompanied with Figures in Copper Plate, which demonstrate the Invention to be the same precisely in all its essential Parts; and in the Accounts of it, it is said to have been first practised in Italy about 100 Years since; whence it was brought into France, where it is now much us'd; thence into Sweden and Germany: and I remember to have been informed by a Spaniard who was here forty Years ago, and gave me a Drawing of it, that it was practis'd in some parts of Mexico, in their Furnaces for smelting their Silver Ore. This being the case, you see, Gentlemen that Mr. McClintock cannot properly be recommended to the Assembly as the Discoverer of something new. It is, however, not an uncommon thing for ingenious Men in different Ages, as well as in different Countries, to hit upon the same Contrivance without knowing or having heard what has been done by others; and Mr. M°Clintock has at least the Merit

of having introduc'd the Knowledge of this useful Invention into this Part of America, and of demonstrating by his own Example its Practicability.

I am, gentlemen, with great Regard, your most obedient and most humble Servant,

B. FRANKLIN.

1734.

TO THE DUC DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

(L. C.)

Philada [Oct. 22, 1788]

I received and read with great Pleasure, my dear and much respected Friend, your Letter of the 12th July. It gave me a more clear and most satisfactory Acct of the present State of Affairs in your Country than any I have been able to obtain. You justly suppose they must be interesting to me. I love France, I have 1000 Reasons for doing so: And whatever promotes or impedes her Happiness affects me as if she were my Mother. I hope all will end to the general Advantage.

Having now finish'd my Term of being President, and promising myself to engage no more in public Business, I hope to enjoy the small Remains of Life that are allow'd me, in the Repose I have so long wish'd for. I purpose to so employ it in compleating the personal History you mention. It is now brought down to my Fiftieth Year. What is to follow will be of more important Transactions: But it seems to me that what is done will be of more general Use to young Readers; as exemplifying strongly the Effects of prudent and imprudent Conduct in the Commencement of a Life of Business.

Our public Affairs begin to wear a more quiet Aspect. The Disputes about the Faculty of the new Constitution are sub

sided. The first Congress will probably mend the principal ones, & future Congresses the rest. That which you mention did not pass unnoticed in the Convention. Many, if I remember right, were for making the President incapable of being chosen after the first four Years; but a Majority were for leaving the Election free to chuse whom they pleas'd; and it was alledged that such Incapability might tend to make the President less attentive to the duties of his Office, and to the Interests of the People, than he would be if a second Choice depended on their good Opinion of them. We are making Experiments in Politicks; what Knowledge we shall gain by them will be more certain, tho' perhaps we may hazard too much in that Mode of acquiring it.

I thank you much for the Dissertation sur la Nyctalopie. It was quite a Novelty to me, having never before heard of such a Malady. One of our most ancient Physicians assures me; that tho' he had some knowledge of the Distemper from his Reading, he never knew an Instance of it in any Part of North America. Indeed we have no Chalk in this Country, nor any Soil so white as to dazzle the Eyes when the Sun's Light is reflected from it. The Dissertation mentions that there are terres crétacées, &c. Are those terres white?

Be pleased to make my Respects acceptable to Mad la Duchesse d'Enville, whose many Civilities and Kindnesses to me when in France, I shall ever remember with Gratitude. My best Wishes attend you and all that are dear to you. May I here desire to be remembered kindly to the Marquis de Condorcet & l'Abbé Roshen? With the greatest & most sincere Esteem and Respect, I am, ever,

Your obliged & most obedient Servant

B. FRANKLIN.