duce, otherwise B will not be able to pay for what he would
take of A. Bat there is one thing wanting to facilitate and
augment our intercourse. It is a dictionary, explaining the
dames of different articles of manufacture, in the two lane
guages. When I was in Paris I received a large order for å
great variety of goods, particularly of the kind called hards
wares, i. e. wäres 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 : not
could any English and French dictionary be found to exi
plain 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 preju-
diced in favor of forms they have been used to, though per-
haps not the best. They cost me 26 guineas, but were lost
by the way, and the peace coming on the 'scheme dropped.
It would however, as I imagine, be well worth receiving.
For our merchants say we still send to England for such
goods as 'we watt, because there they understand our orders,
and can execute them precisely. With great and sincere
esteem, I am, &c. $:':

B. FRANKLIN.

trog ent an

To The 'PRINTER OF THE EVENING HERALD.

Justification of the State of Massachusetts, against certain

censures in the British papers. SIR,

The British news-writers are very assiduous in their
endeavors to blacken America. Should we not be careful
not to afford them any assistance by censures of one another,
especially by censures not well

, founded ?
I lately observed in one of your papers, the couduct of
the state of Massachusetts reflected on as being inconsistent

and absurd, as well as wicked, for attempting to raise a tas by a stamp act, and for carrying on the slave-trade.

The writer of those reflections might have considered, that their principal objection to the stamp tax was, its being imposed by a British parliament, which had no right to tax them, for otherwise a tax by stamps is perhaps to be levied with as little inconvenience as any other that can be invented. Ireland has a stamp act of its own; but should Britain pretend to impose such a tax ou the Irish people, they would probably give a general opposition to it, and ought not for that to be charged with inconsistence.

One or two merchants in Boston, 'enıploying ships in the abominable African trade, may deservedly be condemned, though they do not bring their slaves home, but sell them in the West Indies. The state as such, has never, that I have heard of, given encouragement to the diabolical commerce ; and there has always been fewer slaves in the New England governments, than in any other British colonies. National reflections are seldom just, and a whole people should not be decried for the crimes of a few individuals.

Your inserting this may make that brave people some amends, and will oblige one of your customers, who is

A PENNSYLVANIAN.