for planning with us such a Treaty. The Ministry are suppos'd to have been too busy with the new Elections, when he left London, to think of those Matters. This Court has not compleated its intended new System for the Trade of their Colonies, so that I cannot yet give a certain Account of the Advantages, that will in fine be allow'd us. At present it is said we are to have two Free Ports, Tobago and the Mole, and that we may carry Lumber and all sorts of Provisions to the rest, except Flour, which is reserv'd in favour of Bordeaux, and that we shall be permitted to ex port Coffee, Rum, Mollasses, and some Sugar, for our own Consumption. We have had under Consideration a commercial Treaty propos'd to us by the King of Prussia, and have sent it back with our Remarks to Mr. Adams, who will, I suppose, transmit it immediately to Congress. Those plann'd with Denmark and Portugal wait its Determination. Be pleased to present my dutiful Respects to the Congress, and believe me to be, with sincere and great Esteem, Sir, &c. B. FRANKLIN. 1504. TO HENRY LAURENS DEAR SIR, (L. C.) Passy, May 13, 1784. I am sorry for the numerous Disappointments you have lately met with. The World, it's true, is full of Disappointments, but they are not equally divided, and you have had more than your Share. The Ratifications of the definitive Treaty are now exchang'd; but Mr. Hartley waits for Instructions respecting a Treaty of Commerce, which, from what you observe, may probably never arrive. I shall, however, be glad to receive what you are so good as to promise me, your Thoughts on the Subject of such a Treaty. You have been so kind as to offer me your friendly services in America. You will oblige me greatly in forwarding my Dismission from this employment, for I long much to be at home; and if you should think my Grandson qualified to serve the States as Secretary to my Successor, or Chargé d'Affaires, till a Successor arrives, I shall thank you for recommending him. His Knowledge of this Court, and acquaintance with the Language, and the Esteem the Minister has for him, are Circumstances in his favor; his long Experience in the Business here is another, he having served an Apprenticeship to it for more than seven Years. His Intelligence, Discretion, and Address, you can judge better of than myself, who may be partial. His Fidelity and Exactitude in performing his Duty, I can answer for. My best Wishes attend you, your very valuable Son, and amiable Daughter. God bless you all, and give you a good Voyage, and a happy Meeting with your Friends, with long Life, Health, and Prosperity, is the sincere Prayer of your affectionate humble Servant, B. FRANKLIN. 1505. TO CHARLES THOMSON1 DEAR SIR, Passy, May 13, 1784. Yesterday evening Mr. Hartley met with Mr. Jay and myself when the ratifications of the Definitive Treaty were exchanged. I send a copy of the English Ratification to the President. 1 From the original in the New York Historical Society. — ED. Thus the great and hazardous enterprize we have been engaged in is, God be praised, happily compleated; an event I hardly expected I should live to see. A few years of Peace, will improve, will restore and encrease our strength; but our future safety will depend on our union and our virtue. Britain will be long watching for advantages, to recover what she has lost. If we do not convince the world, that we are a Nation to be depended on for fidelity in Treaties; if we appear negligent in paying our Debts, and ungrateful to those who have served and befriended us; our reputation, and all the strength it is capable of procuring, will be lost, and fresh attacks upon us will be encouraged and promoted by better prospects of success. Let us therefore beware of being lulled into a dangerous security; and of being both enervated and impoverished by luxury; of being weakened by internal contentions and divisions; of being shamefully extravagant in contracting private debts, while we are backward in discharging honorably those of the public; of neglect in military exercises and discipline, and in providing stores of arms and munitions of war, to be ready on occasion; for all these are circumstances that give confidence to enemies, and diffidence to friends; and the expenses required to prevent a war are much lighter than those that will, if not prevented, be absolutely necessary to maintain it. ། I am long kept in suspense without being able to learn the purpose of Congress respecting my request of recall, and that of some employment for my secretary, William Temple Franklin. If I am kept here another winter, and as much weakened by it as by the last, I may as well resolve to spend the remainder of my days here; for I shall be hardly able to bear the fatigues of the voyage in returning. During my long absence from America, my friends are continually diminishing by death, and my inducements to return in proportion. But I can make no preparations either for going conveniently, or staying comfortably here, nor take any steps towards making some other provision for my grandson, till I know what I am to expect. Be so good, my dear friend, as to send me a little private information. With great esteem, I am ever yours, most affectionately B. FRANKLIN. 1506. TO MR. AND MRS. JAY (L. C.) MY DEAR FRIENDS, Passy, May 13, 1784. I find I shall not be able to see you again as I intended. My best Wishes, however, go with you, that you may have a prosperous Voyage and a happy sight of your Friends and Families. Mr. Jay was so kind as to offer his Friendly Services to me in America. He will oblige me much by endeavouring to forward my Discharge from this Employment. Repose is now my only Ambition. If too, he should think with me, that my Grandson is qualified to serve the States as Secretary to a future Minister at this Court, or as Chargé d'Affaires, and will be kind enough to recommend such an Appointment, it will exceedingly oblige me. I have twice mentioned this in my letter to Congress, but have not been favored with any answer; which is hard, because the suspense prevents my endeavouring to promote him in some other way. I would not, however, be importunate; and therefore, if Mr. Jay should use his Interest without Effect, I will trouble them no more on the subject. My Grandson's acquaintance with the Language, with the Court and Customs here, and the particular Regard M. de Vergennes has for him, are Circumstances in his favour. God bless and protect you both. Embrace my little Friend for me, and believe me ever yours, &c. B. FRANKLIN. 1507. TO .COMTE DE VERGENNES (P. A. E. E. U.) Passy, May 31. 1784. SOME inconveniences are said to have arisen from a want of certainty in the power of our consuls. The articles respecting that matter have been some time prepared and agreed to between M. de Rayneval and me. If there is no change. of sentiment respecting them, I beg leave to request your Excellency would direct such steps to be taken as may be proper for compelling them. I am ready on the part of the United States to sign them at any time. With great respect, I am sir, etc., B. FRANKLIN. 1508. METEOROLOGICAL IMAGINATIONS AND CONJECTURES1 (L. C.) Passy, May, 1784. THERE seems to be a Region high in the Air over all Countries, where it is always Winter, where Frost exists continu 1 First printed in the "Memoirs of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester," Vol. II, p. 357. It was communicated to the Society by Dr. Percival, and read December 22, 1784. — Ed. |