would think we were in the utmost distress, in want of every thing, all in confusion, no government, and wishing again for that of England. Be assured, my friend, that these are all fictions, mere English wishes, not American realities. There are some few faults in our Constitutions, which is no wonder, considering the stormy season in which they were made, but those will soon be corrected. And for the rest, I never saw greater and more indubitable marks of public prosperity in any country. The produce of our agriculture bears a good price, and is all paid for in ready hard money, all the laboring people have high wages, everybody is well clothed and well lodged, the poor provided for or assisted, and all estates in town and country much increased in value. As to wishing for the English government, we should as soon wish for that of Morocco. Be so good as to forward the letters you will receive herewith, and charge me with the expense. My love to all the good family, and believe me ever, my dear friend, yours most affectionately, B. FRANKLIN. MCCCCVII TO M. LE VEILLARD PHILADELPHIA, 6 March, 1786. MY DEAR FRIEND:-I received and read with great pleasure your kind letter of October 9th. It informed me of your welfare, and that of the best of good women, and of her amiable daughter, who I think will tread in her steps. My effects came all in the same ship, in good order; and we are now drinking every day les eaux épurées de Passy with great satisfaction, as they kept well, and seem to be rendered more agreeable by the long voyage. I am here in the bosom of my family, and am not only happy myself, but have the felicity of seeing my country so. Be assured that all the stories spread in the English papers of our distresses, and confusions, and discontents with our new governments, are as chimerical as the history of my being in chains at Algiers. They exist only in the wishes of our enemies. America never was in higher prosperity, her produce abundant and bearing a good price, her working people all employed and well paid, and all property in lands and houses of more than treble the value it bore before the war; and, our commerce being no longer the monopoly of British merchants, we are furnished with all the foreign commodities we need, at much more reasonable rates than heretofore. So that we have no doubt of being able to discharge more speedily the debt incurred by the war, than at first was apprehended. Our modes of collecting taxes are indeed as yet imperfect, and we have need of more skill in financiering; but we improve in that kind of knowledge daily by experience. That our people are contented with the revolution, with their new constitutions, and their foreign connections, nothing can afford a stronger proof than the universally cordial and joyous reception with which they welcomed the return of one that was supposed to have had a considerable share in promoting them. All this is in answer to that part of your letter in which you seem to have been too much impressed with some of the ideas which those lying English papers endeavor to inculcate concerning us. I am astonished by what you write concerning the Prince Evêque. If the charges against him are made good, it will be another instance of the truth of those proverbs which teach us, that Prodigality begets necessity, that Without economy no revenue is sufficient, and that It is hard for an empty sack to stand upright. I am glad to hear of the marriage of Mademoiselle Brillon; for every thing that may contribute to the happiness of that beloved family gives me pleasure. Be pleased to offer them my felicitations, and assure them of my best wishes. Will you also be so good as to present my respectful compliments to Madame la Duchesse d'Enville, and to M. le Duc de la Rochefoucauld? You may communicate the political part of this letter to that excellent man. His good heart will rejoice to hear of the welfare of America. I made no progress when at sea in the history you mention; but I was not idle there, having written three pieces, each of some length: one on nautical matters; another on chimneys; and a third a description of my vase for consuming smoke, with directions for using it. These are all now printing in the Transactions of our Philosophical Society, of which I hope soon to send you a copy. B. FRANKLIN. I Memoirs of his own life. My grandsons present their compliments. The eldest is very busy in preparing for a country life, being to enter upon his farm the 25th instant. It consists of about six hundred acres, bounding on navigable water, sixteen miles from Philadelphia. The youngest is at college, very diligent in his studies. You know my situation, involved in public cares; but they cannot make me forget that you and I love one another, and that I am ever, my dear friend, yours most affectionately, B. FRANKLIN. MCCCCVIII TO MR. GRAND PHILADELPHIA, 20 March, 1786. DEAR FRIEND:-I wrote to you on the 5th instant, and the vessel not being yet gone, I add a few lines to give you a little trouble in requesting you to receive and divide among some of my friends a few hams (jambons) and some cakes of our soap. The hams are in a cask, and have labels to denote who are [sic] they are for. I send them, because strangers here admire them for their good taste and the sweetness of their fat, which is all made by their feeding on maize, and I hope they will come good to hand. The soap is thought to be the best in the world, for shaving and for washing chinces, [sic] and other things of delicate colors. Please to divide them as follows: VOL. XI.-16. This kind of soap is not made for sale in this country at present, and perhaps I may not be able to procure any more of it. I must also request you to purchase and send me M. de La Lande's History of All the Navigable Canals in the World. It is said to be in folio with plates. I wish you and yours all sorts of felicity, being ever, my dear friend, yours most affectionately, B. FRANKLIN. Don't forget to charge me with the expenses I put you to for carriage, postage, etc. MCCCCIX TO BENJAMIN RUSH PHILADELPHIA, March, 1786. MY DEAR FRIEND:-During our long acquaintance you have shown many instances of your regard for |