which he cannot avoid, of disobliging, if he does his Duty; and those he disobliges have so much more Resentment, than those he obliges have Gratitude, that it often happens when he is strongly attack'd he is weakly defended. You will, therefore, not wonder if you should hear that I do not finish. my political Career with the same Eclat that I began it. It grieves me to learn that you have been afflicted with Sickness. It is, as you say, the Condition of living, but it seems a hard Condition. I sometimes wonder that all good Men and Women are not by Providence kept free from Pain and Disease. In the best of all possible Worlds, I should suppose it must be so; and I am piously inclin'd to believe that this World's not being better made was owing merely to the Badness of the Materials. Embrace for me tenderly the good Dame, whom I love as ever. I thought to have written to her and to Mr. Cabanis by the Pacquet, but must defer it to the next for want of Time. I am, my dear Friend, with sincere Esteem and Affection, yours ever, B. FRANKLIN. Please to present my Respects to M. Le Roy and others of the Wednesday's Dining Party, and love to the Stars and to your Family. My Grandson joins me in best Wishes. 1632. TO MRS. JANE MECOM (L. C.) Philadelphia, April 8, 1786. DEAR SISTER: I received your kind Letter of the 21st of February; I have also received the Box of Soap, the Substance of which appears to be very good, but its Consistence had probably been affected by the Frost, for unless very tenderly and cautiously handled, the Cakes would crumble into little Pieces between one's Fingers. However, having an Opportunity of sending some to my Friends, in France, who much admir'd what I had of you formerly, I with much difficulty took out 22 Cakes, which I wrapt separately in spongy Paper, hoping that, as they dry'd, they might consolidate, and the infinite Number of little Cracks that appear'd in them be closed, and the Parts again united, so I sent them away in a small Box. But having since dry'd a cake very gradually, I fear I shall be disappointed in that Expectation, for it seems. as crumbly as before, and comes to pieces in the Water, so that I am sorry that I sent any of it away, till I had consulted you upon it, who probably must have met with like Accident before, and might know of some Remedy. Business having prevented my Writing, Sally has been making an Experiment. She put 3 or 4 pound of the Crumbs, about the size of Chestnuts, into a little Kettle with some Water, and over a slow Fire, melted them together, and when the whole was uniformly fluid, laded it out into little Paper Pans of the Size of the Cakes. These grew stiff when cold, but were rather soft, and shrunk greatly in drying. Being now dry, they are exceedingly hard, close-grained, and solid, and appear to have all the Qualities of excellent Crown Soap. Only in drying they are twisted and warp'd out of Shape; wherefore I have not continu'd the Process on the rest of the Box, but resolv'd to send you this particular Account, thinking you may possibly teach me a better Method. Capt. All is just arriv'd here, who has given me the pleasure of hearing that you were very well a few Weeks since; he 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 & for washing Chinces, [sic] and other things of delicate Colours. Please to divide them as follows: 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 & 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 to 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 Expences I put you to for Carriage, Postage, etc. 1628. TO THOMAS JEFFERSON (L. C.) Philada March 20, 1786. 1 SIR: I received your Favour of Oct. 5 by Messrs. Fitzhughs, with the Letters and Pacquets you were so kind as to forward to me by those Gentlemen, who have winter'd with us, and are but lately set out for Virginia. I will read du Plessis's Papers as soon as I can find a little time, and say something of them in a future Letter. As to public Affairs, the Congress has not been able to assemble more than 7 or 8 States during the whole Winter, so the Treaty with P. remains still unratified, tho' there is no doubt of its being done so, as a full Congress is expected next Month. The Disposition to furnish Congress with ample Powers augments daily, as People become more enlightened, and I do not remember ever to have seen during my long Life more Signs of Public Felicity than appear at present throughout these States; the Cultivators of the Earth who make the Bulk of our Nation having had good Crops, which are paid for at high Prices with ready Money, the Artisans too receive high Wages, and the Value of all real Estate is augmented greatly. Merchants and Shopkeepers, indeed, 1 In L. C.- Ed. complain that there is not Business enough, but this is evidently not owing to the Fewness of Buyers, but to the too great Number of Sellers, for the Consumption of Goods was never greater, as appears by the Dress, Furniture, and Manner of Living of all Ranks of the People. As to myself, I am, agreable to your kind Wishes, happy in the Bosom of my Friends and Family, enjoying as good Health as ever, the Stone excepted, which does not grow worse: Be pleased to present my affectionate Respects to the good Countess d'Houdetot, who, you say, does me the Honour to enquire concerning me, and I pray you to assure all other enquiring Friends that I retain, and shall ever retain, the deepest Impression of their many Kindnesses to me while I resided among them. I hope your Health is fully established. My best Wishes attend you, being with great and sincere Esteem, Dear Sir, your most obedient and most humble Servant, B. FRANKLIN. 1629. TO DANIEL ROBERDEAU 1 (L. C.) Philadelphia, March 23, 1786 DEAR SIR: I received your Favour proposing to sell me your Plantation in this Country, which I should have answer'd sooner if I could sooner have been informed of its 1 Daniel Roberdeau (1727-1795) was born in the island of St. Christopher, W.I., came in youth to Philadelphia, where he engaged in business. He served in the Revolutionary army and upon the Council of Safety. He was first brigadier-general of the Pennsylvanian troops. — ED. - 2 A farm eight or nine miles from Philadelphia. Roberdeau offered it for sale because of his removal to Alexandria. His letter is dated February 4, 1786. (A. P. S.) — ED. |