I have been too much and too closely engaged in public Affairs, since his being here, to enjoy all the Benefit of his Conversation you were so good as to intend me. I hope soon to have more Leisure, and to spend a part of it in those Studies, that are much more agreable to me than political Operations.

I join with you most cordially in rejoicing at the return of Peace. I hope it will be lasting, and that Mankind will at length, as they call themselves reasonable Creatures, have Reason and Sense enough to settle their Differences without cutting Throats; for, in my opinion, there never was a good War, or a bad Peace. What vast additions to the Conveniences and Comforts of Living might Mankind have acquired, if the Money spent in Wars had been employed in Works of public utility! What an extension of Agriculture, even to the Tops of our Mountains: what Rivers rendered navigable, or joined by Canals: what Bridges, Aqueducts, new Roads, and other public Works, Edifices, and Improvements, rendering England a compleat Paradise, might have been obtained by spending those Millions in doing good, which in the last War have been spent in doing Mischief; in bringing Misery into thousands of Families, and destroying the Lives of so many thousands of working people, who might have performed the useful labour!

I am pleased with the late astronomical Discoveries made by our Society.' Furnished as all Europe now is with Academies of Science, with nice Instruments and the Spirit of Experiment, the progress of human knowledge will be rapid, and discoveries made, of which we have at present no Conception. I begin to be almost sorry I was born so soon, 1 The Royal Society. - ED.

since I cannot have the happiness of knowing what will be known 100 years hence.

I wish continued success to the Labours of the Royal Society, and that you may long adorn their Chair; being, with the highest esteem, dear Sir, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

P. S. Dr. Blagden will acquaint you with the experiment of a vast Globe sent up into the Air, much talked of here, and which, if prosecuted, may furnish means of new knowledge.

1429. NOTE BY BENJAMIN FRANKLIN UPON A LETTER ADDRESSED TO HIM BY THOMAS BARCLAY, JULY 28, 17831 (P. A. E. E. U.)

WHEN the Ship Alliance belonging to the Congress was at l'Orient, under the Command of Capt. Jones, Moylan and C° Merchants there, were appointed to supply the Ship with what was necessary during her stay.

1 The letter upon which the above is written is as follows:

“SIR,

"Auteuil 28 July 1783.

"I have the honor to inform your Excellency that I received last post a Letter from Mess Schweighauser and Dobrée of Nantes under whose care the Arsenal belonging to the United States is placed, informing me that their Partner at L'Orient Mess" Puchelberg and C., had some months ago laid an attachment on all the Arms and other Military supplies under the Care of Mess Schweighauser and Dobrée.

"I need not inform your Excellency of the nature of the transaction, as it fell immediately under your own inspection, but I beg leave to say that unless Government passes some signal Censure on those persons who have brought the Execution my office will be embarrass'd beyond description.

"I beg Sir you will lay the matter in its proper light before the Ministers,

Capt. Landais taking Possession of the Ship surreptitiously in the absence of Capt. Jones, apply'd to one Puchelberg, a Commis of M: Schweighauser, for some Provisions, who not only without Orders either from me or Mr Schweighauser, but contrary to express Orders from both, furnished the same, pretending that Landais demanded them in the name and on Account of the Navy-Board of Boston.

Payment was afterwards demanded of me, which I refus'd, referring the Matter to the said Navy-Board. It was also demanded of his Employer Schweighauser, who it seems refus'd also, probably because the Disbursement was made contrary to Orders.

This Man, Puchelberg, has on this Account, arrested the Property of the United States, in whose Hands soever he could find any.

The Consul of the States complains of it as an Injury, and an Insult. And it is certain, that great Inconveniencies will follow, if such Proceedings are permitted, and if every man who pretends a Demand against any Foreign Power, however ill-founded, may arrest the Effects of that Power in France; for so the arms, ammunition, Clothing, &c., purchased in France, and depended on for important Operations of Government, may be stopt by any private Person, perhaps under Direction of an Enemy, and those Operations defeated; and the United States can never hereafter with safety make any such Purchases in France.

and obtain as soon as possible the dismission of this attachment and of those laid on the Alliances prize money.

"These attachments have been held in suspence several months to the great determent of the Public business under my care, and at the imminent risk of a heavy loss in the final payment.

"I have the honor to be etc,

"THO BARCLAY." — ED.

It is therefore submitted to consideration, whether the said

arrests ought not only to be immediately discharg'd, but the Arrester punish'd for his Insolence.

Capt. Barney brought us the Dispatches we so long expected. M. Deane as you observe is lost: D. Bancroft is I believe steady to the Interest of his Country, and will make an agreeable passenger if you can take him. You desire to know something of the State of Affairs here. Everything goes well with respect to this Court & the other Friendly Powers. What England is doing, or means to do; or why the Definitive Treaty is so long delay'd, I know perhaps less than you do; as, being in that Country, you may have Opportunities of hearing more than I can. For myself I am at present as hearty & well as I have been these many years; and as happy as a Man can be where everybody strives to make him so.

The French are an amiable People to live with: They love me, & I love them. Yet I do not feel myself at home, & I wish to die in my own Country. -Barney will sail this Week without Despatches. A good voyage to you, my friend; and may God bless you.

B. FRANKLIN.

1 In A. P. S.- ED.

1431. TO COMTE DE VERGENNES (P. A. E. E. U.)

SIR,

Passy, August 16, 1783.

I have the honour to inform your Excellency, that the English ministry do not agree to any of the propositions that have been made, either by us or by their minister here; and they have sent over a plan for the definitive treaty, which consists merely of the preliminaries formerly signed, with a short introductory paragraph, and another at the conclusion, confirming and establishing the said preliminary articles. My colleagues seem inclined to sign this with Mr. Hartley, and so to finish the affair. I am, with respect, Sir, your Excellency's, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

1432. TO HENRY LAURENS 1

(L. L.)

Passy, Aug. 21. 1783.

DEAR SIR,

I do not doubt but you have written to some one or other of your Colleagues since your Arrival in England: and as we have heard nothing from you, I thought it necessary by a Line to inform you that none of your Letters are come to Hand.

After making and sending over many Propositions of ours and of M Hartley's, and long Delays of Answers, it is come finally to this, that the Ministers propose our signing as a Definitive Treaty the Preliminary Articles, with no Alteration