a hundred years' profit or the full enjoyment of them can compensate. Remember me affectionately to good Dr. Price, and to the honest heretic, Dr. Priestly. I do not call him honest by way of distinction; for I think all the heretics I have known have been virtuous men. They have the virtue of fortitude, or they would not venture to own their heresy; and they cannot afford to be deficient in any of the other virtues, as that would give advantage to their many enemies; and they have not, like orthodox sinners, such a number of friends to excuse or justify them. Do not, however, mistake me. It is not to my good friend's heresy that I impute his honesty. On the contrary, it is his honesty that has brought upon him the character of heretic. I am ever, my dear friend, yours sincerely, B. FRANKLIN. 1742. TO FERDINAND GRAND1 MY DEAR FRIEND (P. C.) Philad Oct. 24, 1788 The last Letter I have been favour'd with from you is of the 5th of May. But I had the Pleasure of hearing of your Welfare and that of the good Family; of a later Date by your Letter to my Grandson. I sometime ago receiv'd from a Mr. Ross the Sum you drew for upon him, with which you will therefore charge my Account. And I drew upon you in August last for Ten Thousand Livres in favour of Mas―rie and Company and also for Seventy-five Pounds Sterling in favour of Zantzinger to supply the Bills for the same Sum of the preceding Year which came back protested. 1 From the original in the possession of Mr. Joseph Sabin. - ED. I congratulate you on the Addition to your Family. I hope your young Brood will, like mine, be a Comfort to you in your old Age. Our public Affairs are getting into good Order. I hope yours are in the same way. With sincere Esteem and Affection, I am Ever yours B. FRANKLIN. P. S. In the heart of our Debates on the new Constitution I wrote the enclos'd Paper. It is the only one I wrote on the Subject. It was said to have had some good Effect. If I shall be capable of remembering anything the Remembrance of your Friendship will be retained as having made too deep an Impression to be obliterated, and will ever as it always has done Afford me infinite Pleasure. Adieu, Adieu, B. FRANKLIN. 1743. TO MADAME HELVÉTIUS (L. C.) Philade, Oct. 25, 88 Je ne peux pas laisser partir cette Occasion, ma chere Amie, sans vous dire que je vous aime toujours, & que je ne porte bien. Je pense continuellement des Plaisirs que j'ai joui dans la douce Société d'Auteuil. Et souvent dans mes Songes, je dejeune avec vous, je me place au coté de vous sur une de votre mille Sofas, ou je proméne avec vous dans votre belle jardin. Dites, si. v. p. à Messieurs vos bons Abbé, qu'etant actuellement libre des Affaires publiques, j'espere de devenir meilleur Correspondant, & que je les écrivai bientôt tous au long. B. F. 1744. TO JEAN-BAPTISTE LE ROY (L. C.) Philada, Oct. 25, 1788 MY DEAR FRIEND:- Your kind Letter of the 6th of May, after some Delay by the Way, is come safe to Hand, with the Memoirs, and elegant Prints of your projected Hospital, which I shall dispose of as you direct. It may in time to come be useful here. I receiv'd, also, the Volume of Academy Memoirs, and thank you for your Care in sending them. I am now in Possession of the Repose I have so long wish'd for, having finish'd the third Year of the Presidentship, the Term limited by our Constitution, and resolving to engage no more in public Business; my Enjoyment of that Repose can, however, be but short, as I am now near 83. We have no philosophical News here at present, except that a large Boat row'd by the force of Steam is now exercis'd upon our River, stems the Current, and seems to promise being useful when the Machinery can be more simplified and the Expence reduced. I am ever, my dear Friend, yours most affectionately, 1745. TO DON DIEGO GARDOQUI1 (L. C.) Philad", Oct. 26, 1788. SIR: Messrs. Henry Pawling and Greenberry Dawson one of whom will have the honour of presenting this to the hand of your Excellency, are projecting a Voyage from the 1 Minister from the Court of Spain. - ED. Ohio Settlements with the Produce of that Country, to be sold at New Orleans. I know not how far the Laws existing there admit of such Commerce; But if it is allowable, I would then beg leave to request that your Excell' would be so good as to give them your Counsels with a Line of Protection. And as they are here esteemed Persons of honest Principles, who have good Characters, I am persuaded they will not forfeit them and show themselves unworthy of your Excellency's Favour by any contraband or illegal Practices. With great and sincere Esteem and Respect, I am, Sir, your Excellency's most obedient and most humble Servant, B. FRANKLIN. 1746. TO JOSEPH ELAM1 (A. P. S.) Philad®, Nov. 10, 1788. SIR: I received your note of the 8th instant, and being now, as you observe, retired to a private station, I hope to enjoy the repose appertaining to it. I cannot think, therefore of calling, as you propose, you and your accusers before me, to discuss differences which I have no authority to judge of or to determine. I can only give you my friendly advice, which is to behave peaceable and respectfully to the religious society you profess to be connected with, especially in their public assemblies; in which case I am persuaded you may quietly enjoy "that liberty of a freeholder and citizen" which you desire, without receiving from them the smallest interruption. By giving me no further trouble with your quarrels, you will oblige your well-wisher, B. FRANKLIN. 1 A Virginian, mentally unbalanced, who from eccentric behaviour in Philadelphia was placed by the Quakers in a hospital. — ED. 1747. TO THE DUC DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD DEAR FRIEND, (L. C.) Philadelphia, Nov. 13, 1788. As the Bearer Mr. Sentris is not acquainted with our Friend Mr. Le Veillard, I take the Liberty of enclosing for him, under your Cover, the Memoirs which he has so long & earnestly demanded of me. I think your Character will be a Protection to them, and that under it they will be more likely of getting safe to hand. I send also my Paper on the American Debts, which, if I am not mistaken, you desired to see. I am not without my Doubts concerning the Memoirs, whether it would be proper to publish them, or not, at least during my Life time. And I am persuaded there are many Things that would, in Case of Publication, be best omitted; I therefore request it most earnestly of you, my dear Friend, that you would examine them carefully & critically, with Mr. Le Veillard, and give me your candid & friendly Advice thereupon, as soon as you can conveniently. I should not venture to make this Request but that I hope your public Affairs, which must have taken up much of your Time, are now settled: I sincerely hope to the mutual Advantage of both King and Nation. My best Wishes attend you and your amiable Family, and I beg you to believe that I am ever, with sincere Respect & Affection, Dear Sir, Your most obed and humb Serv*. B. FRANKLIN. |