I have some Doubts whether you will find your Bookselling and Printing Business sufficiently profitable at first for the Support of three Families, because the French Language in which I suppose your Books chiefly are, is not yet much extended in North America. It is however since the Alliance with France daily increasing, Schools being established in all the great Towns for teaching it. But if you can add to the Sale of Books the different Manufactures of your Country, and settle such Correspondences before you leave it as may keep you constantly supply'd with them, it is possible the Gains may be very considerable.

I inclose a little Pamphlet which will give you some Information respecting our Country, and if I can be of any Service to you there it will be a pleasure to,

Je suis trop étranger, Monsieur, à toute dispute sur le Mesmérisme pour consentir que mon nom paroisse ni directe

Vous prévoiez, Monsieur, que je vais non pas vous engager à la vengeance (elle est au-dessous de vous) mais à me permettre de faire connaître sous vos auspices l'orateur Mesmèrien, en disant au public ébranlé par moi, mais désabusé par vous à peu près ce qui sait :

Puisque Mesmer ne se donne pas la peine d'écrire lui même ses sottises, le sage Bostonien a le même droit, avec cette différence que Mesmer paye très cher l'encre et qu'on la donne cette encore à M. Franklin sans intérêt sans

ment ni indirectement ailleurs que dans le Rapport des Commissaires au nombre desquels la Majesté m'avoit nommé. J'ai l'honneur d'être, Monsieur,

These People are so accustomed to see every thing done by sollicitation of Interest, or what they call Protection, and nothing without it, that they hardly conceive it possible to obtain the Payment even of a just Debt, but by means of Persons whom they suppose to have Influence enough to support and enforce their Pretensions. We should naturally suppose, that the proper time for asking such Aid would be after a regular Demand, and a Refusal of Justice; but they run about to everybody with their Memorials, before they have even presented their Account to those whom they consider as their Debtors. Thus the Creditors, not only of a State in America, but even of private Merchants, teize the Ministers of this Country, as well as those of America here, with their Petitions and Cases, requesting Assistance and

espoir de salaire, d'aussi bon cœur que l'estime et la vénération dont il est si digne."

Interest to procure attention to their Affairs, when it does not appear that their Claims have been refused, or even made where they ought to be made.

I beg leave to refer to you the enclosed Papers, and to request, that, if you are acquainted with the Affair, and can give any comfortable Expectation or Counsel to the poor Man, you would be so good as to furnish me with it, that I may communicate it to him in my Answer. With great and sincere Esteem, I am, Sir,

Your Excellency's most obedient

& most humble Servant

I AM glad to hear that your family are safely arrived in London, and that you propose to bring them here with you. Your life will be more comfortable.

I thank you much for the translation of the Abbé de Mably's letters. The French edition is not yet published here. I have as yet only had time to run over the translator's preface, which seems well written. I imagine Mr. Snowden to be a Presbyterian minister, as I formerly corresponded with one of that name in Holland, who, I suppose, might be his father. I have not seen the piece you mention of a Berlin academician. I should not object to his enjoyment of the discovery he has made, that despotism in the best possible form of government, by his living under it as long as he pleases. For I admire the decision of his prince in a similar case of a dispute among his clergy concerning the duration of hell torments. reat respect, I have the honour to be, etc.,

B. FRANKLIN.

1545. TO SAMUEL JACKSON PRATT1

2

Passy [no date, circa 1784].

SIR: I should have been flattered exceedingly by Mrs. Melmoth's showing the least inclination for one of those portraits, when Mrs. Izard accepted the other, and should have presented it to her with the greatest pleasure. She did not appear to desire it, and I did not presume it of value enough to be offered. Her quarrel with me on that account is pleasing. The reconciliation, when I can obtain it, will be more So. At present another lady has put it out of my power to comply with the terms. M. de Chaumont, at whose pottery in the country they were made, receiving a request from Petersburg for one of them, to gratify the curiosity of the Empress, and having none in town, he got from me the only one I had left, and has sent it away. But I am promised another soon, and shall seize the first moment of making my peace with it. In the meantime, I hope you will intercede. for me, in that heart where I am sure you have interest. Accept my thanks for the books, from the reading of which I promise myself a good deal of pleasure. Please to accept also the trifle inclosed, and believe me with most sincere esteem, etc.,

B. FRANKLIN.

1 From "The Complete Works of Benjamin Franklin " (Bigelow), Vol. IX, p. 72. Samuel Jackson Pratt (1749-1814) was a book writer whose hireling pen seems to have been of some service to Franklin. He wrote under the pen name of Courtney Melmoth. — ED.

2 By Nini. - ED.

I received pour knd free off Demie sinc Bath. I am fad to hear that your god asterisi afway towards Movery my respects and best wishes amend ben.

T

I can floved mu kener to Mr. Jeferson to remind tim of me prele to canalate to you the intelligence he might receive from America to the subjects you mention; and now, having got back, I shall endeavour to answer the other parts of t

What you propose to draw up of your opinions on American negociation, may be of great use, if laid, as you intend, before administration, in case they seriously intend to enter on it after the meeting of Parliament; for I know your ideas all tend to a good understanding between the two countries and their common advantage; and in my mind, too, all selfish projects of partial profit are the effects of short-sightedness, they never producing permanent benefits, and are at length the causes of discord and its consequences, wherein much more is spent than all the temporary gains amounted to.

I do not know that any one is yet appointed by your court to treat with us. We some time since acquainted your minister with our powers and disposition to treat, which he communicated to his court, and received for answer, that his Majesty's ministers were ready to receive any propositions we might have to make for the common benefit of both coun

Private Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin," 1818, Vol. II,

P.