1603. TO JOHN JAY AND MRS. JAY1 (P.C.) (L.C.) Philada, Sept. 21, 1785.

DEAR FRIENDS,

I received your very kind Letter of the 16th, congratulating me on my safe Arrival with my Grandsons; an Event that indeed makes me very happy, being what I have long ardently wish'd, and, considering the growing Infirmities of Age, began almost to despair of. I am now in the Bosom of my Family, and find four new little Prattlers, who cling about the Knees of their Grandpapa, and afford me great Pleasure. The affectionate Welcome I met with from my Fellow Citizens was far beyond my Expectation.

I bore my Voyage very well, and find myself rather better for it, so that I have every possible Reason to be satisfied with my having undertaken and perform'd it. When I was at Passy, I could not bear a Wheel Carriage; and, being discouraged in my Project of descending the Seine in a Boat, by the Difficulties and tediousness of its Navigation in so dry a Season, I accepted the Offer of one of the King's Litters, carried by large Mules, which brought me well, tho' in walking slowly, to Havre. Thence I went over in a Packet-Boat to Southampton, where I staid four Days, till the ship came for me to Spithead. Several of my London Friends came there to see me, particularly the good Bishop of St. Asaph and Family, who staid with me to the last. In short, I am now so well as to think it possible, that I may once more have the Pleasure of seeing you both perhaps at New York, with

1 The original letter is in the possession of Mr. Henry E. Pellew, of Washington. An auto. draft is in L. C. — ED.

my dear young Friend (who I hope may not have quite forgotten me). For I imagine, that on the sandy Road between Burlington and Amboy I could bear an easy Coach, and the rest is Water. I rejoice to hear that you continue well, being with true and great Esteem and Affection your most obedient Servant, B. FRANKLIN.

1604. TO THOMAS PAINE

(L. C.)

Philada, Sept 27, 1785.

1

DEAR SIR: Your kind Congratulations on my safe Return give me a great deal of Pleasure; for I have always valued your Friendship.

The Ease and Rest you wish me to enjoy for the Remainder of my Days is certainly what is most proper for me, what I long wish'd for, and what I propos'd to myself in resigning my late Employment: But it is what I find I am not likely to obtain: For my Fellow-Citizens having in a considerable Body express'd their Desire that I would still take a Part in their publick Councils, assuring me it was the unanimous Wish of the different Parties that divide the State, from an Opinion that I might find some means of reconciling them, I had not sufficient Firmness to refuse their Request of Permitting their Voting for me as Councillor at the ensuing Election. Tho' I apprehend they expect too much of me, and that without doing the good propos'd, I shall find myself engag'd again in Business more troublesome than I have lately quitted.

As to my Health, of which you kindly desire some Information, it is as well as, at my Age, can reasonably be expected. 1 In a letter dated September 23, 1785 (A. P. S.). — Ed.

I have the Stone indeed, and sometimes the Gout, but the Pain from the Stone is hitherto not very severe, and there are in the World so many worse Maladies to which Human Nature is subject, that I ought to be content with the moderate Share allotted me.

Be assured, my dear Friend, that instead of Repenting that I was your Introducer into America, I value myself on the Share I had in procuring for it the Acquisition of so useful and valuable a Citizen.

I shall be very glad to see you when you happen to be again at Philadelphia, being with sincere Esteem and Affection, dear sir, your most obedient and most humble Servant,

B. FRANKLIN.

1605. TO FRANCIS CHILDS1

Philadelphia, October 1, 1785.

SIR-I thank you for your kind congratulations on my return. My printing materials, consisting of a great variety of founts, were sent down the Seine some weeks before I left Passy, but were so long in their passage, that when I came to Havre they were not arrived, and I was obliged to come away without them. It was expected that the next packet would be ordered to sail from Havre, in which case I left directions that my packages should all be sent by her to New York. When I hear of their arrival I may possibly come to New York; and then we may treat on the subject you mention.3

1 A printer at New York. Printed from "The Complete Works of Benjamin Franklin" (Bigelow), Vol. IX, p. 268. — ED.

2 In a letter dated September 26, 1785 (A. P. S.). — Ed.

3 Concerning the conditions upon which Franklin had assisted James Parker. ED.

I have now only to add that I shall be glad of being serviceable to you on reasonable terms, and am your humble servant, B. FRANKLIN.

1606. TO DONATIEN LE RAY DE CHAUMONT1 Philadelphia, October 20, 1785.

I make no apology for writing in English, because I know my friend Sophy can translate it for you.

2

Immediately after my landing, I wrote to acquaint you with my safe arrival and the absence of your son. He is since returned in good health, and writes to you by this opportunity, of which he acquainted me. I just now received your favour of August 10th, with two for him. They will be put in his hands as soon as he returns from a hunting party, on which he is out at present with my son Bache and some others; but will be back here next Sunday.

3

I thank you for delivering the table to Madame Le Veillard ; but more particularly for the present you have made to Abbé Morellet, at my request, of the doctoral chair. He had taken a vast liking to it, and the possession must give him great pleasure. The marmite à vapeur I have with me here. We used it at sea with great success; though the water we boiled was salt.

As to Finck, the maitre d'hotel, he was fairly paid in money

1 From "The Complete Works of Benjamin Franklin" (Bigelow), Vol. IX, P. 271.-ED.

2 Sophie de Chaumont, daughter of Le Ray de Chaumont. — ED.

3 Abbé Morellet had always admired Franklin's fauteuil doctoral, and his little cabinet with its drawers for nails and carpenters' tools. Upon the chair he inscribed "Benjamin Franklin hic sedebat." The table presented to

Madame le Veillard was a tea table. — ED.

for every just demand he could make against us, and we have his receipts in full. But there are knaves in the world whom no writing can bind, and when you think you have finished with them, they come with demands after demands sans fin. He was continually saying of himself, Je suis honnête homme; je suis honnête homme. But I always suspected he was mistaken; and so it proves.

I hope your Princess and Princesses and Duchesses and Marquises are not birds of passage, but will stay with you as we did through the winter, so that you may pass it the more agreeably.

I will mention your project for transporting wood, etc., to some of my friends; but I think this is not the best part of the country for such an undertaking.

1607. TO MADAME HELVÉTIUS

[B. F.]

(B. N.)

à Philadelphia, ce 20 octre 1785

Hier etois Mercredi. A dix heures de Matin, j'ai pensé de vous, de votre Maison, de votre Table, de vos Amis, etc. A cette heure, ai je dis, ils sont tous a diner, M. le Roy, M. Hennin, l'Abbés de la Roche & Morellet, M. Cabbanis, peutetre quelques unes des petites Etoiles. Madame sert a toute la Compagnie, avec autant de Facilité que de Plaisir. Mais, helas, je n'etoit pas la, pour participer les jolis Propos de bon Sens, de l'Esprit, & d'Amitié, avec lesquelles ses Repas sont toujours assaisonées !

Vous aurez Plaisir de Sçavoir que je suis ici en bon Santé & heureux dans le Sein de ma Famille. Mais jai manquè de trouver le Repos que j'esperoit; car on m'a saisit pour