you seem to desire it. At present I shall only give you my Opinion, that, though your Reasonings are subtile, and may prevail with some Readers, you will not succeed so as to change the general Sentiments of Mankind on that Subject, and the Consequence of printing this Piece will be, a great deal of Odium drawn upon yourself, Mischief to you, and no Benefit to others. He that spits against the Wind, spits in his own Face. But, were you to succeed, do you imagine any Good would be done by it? You yourself may find it easy to live a virtuous Life, without the Assistance afforded by Religion; you having a clear Perception of the Advantages of Virtue, and the Disadvantages of Vice, and possessing a Strength of Resolution sufficient to enable you to resist common Temptations. But think how great a Proportion of Mankind consists of weak and ignorant Men and Women, and of inexperienc'd, and inconsiderate Youth of both Sexes, who have need of the Motives of Religion to restrain them from Vice, to support their Virtue, and retain them in the Practice of it till it becomes habitual, which is the great Point for its Security. And perhaps you are indebted to her originally, that is, to your Religious Education, for the Habits of Virtue upon which you now justly value yourself. You might easily display your excellent Talents of reasoning upon a less hazardous subject, and thereby obtain a Rank with our most distinguish'd Authors. For among us it is not necessary, as among the Hottentots, that a Youth, to be receiv'd into the Company of men, should prove his Manhood by beating his Mother. I would advise you, therefore, not to attempt unchaining the Tyger, but to burn this Piece before it is seen by any other Person; whereby you will save yourself a great deal of Morti fication from the Enemies it may raise against you, and perhaps a good deal of Regret and Repentance. If men are so wicked as we now see them with religion, what would they be if without it. I intend this Letter itself as a Proof of my Friendship, and therefore add no Professions to it; but subscribe simply yours, B. F. 1643. TO MRS. JANE MECOM DEAR SISTER, (L. C.) Philad July 4, 1786. I receiv'd the second Box of Soap, which appears very firm and very good. I am much obliged by the Pains you have taken to humour me in that Matter. You need not be concern'd, in writing to me, about your bad Spelling; for, in my Opinion, as our Alphabet now Stands, the bad Spelling, or what is call'd so, is generally the best, as conforming to the Sound of the Letters and of the Words. To give you an Instance: A Gentleman receiving a Letter, in which were these Words, Not finding Brown at hom, I delivard your meseg to his yf. The Gentleman finding it bad Spelling, and therefore not very intelligible, called his Lady to help him read it. Between them they pick'd out the meaning of all but the yf, which they could not understand. The lady propos'd calling her Chambermaid: for Betty, says she, has the best knack at reading bad Spelling of any one I know. Betty came, and was surprised, that neither Sir nor Madam could tell what yf was. "Why," says she, "y f spells Wife; what else can it spell?" And, indeed, it is a much better, as 1 See letter to Mrs. Mecom, April 8, 1786. — ED. well as shorter method of spelling Wife, than by doubleyou, i, ef, e, which in reality spells doubleyijey. Your Grandson is well and behaves well. The Family also is all well. There is much Rejoicing in Town to-day, it being the Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which we sign'd this day Ten Years, and thereby hazarded Lives and Fortunes. God was pleas'd to put a favourable End to the Contest much sooner than we had reason to expect. His Name be praised. Adieu, your affectionate Brother B. FRANKLIN. 1644. TO CHARLES THOMSON (L. C.) Philada July 6, 1786. SIR: This will be delivered to you by Scotosh, son to the Half-King to the Wyondot Nation, who is well recommended as having been always very friendly to our People, and who, with his Suite, goes to New York on a Visit to Congress. I make no doubt but the same Care will be taken of them, that they may be accommodated comfortably while at New York, as they have experienc'd here. With great Esteem, I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient and most humble Servant, B. FRANKLIN. [Endorsed: Read 12 July, 1786. Referred to Secretary at War to report.] [ENCLOSURE.] Philadelphia, July 3, 1786. Scotosh, an Indian chief of the Wyondots, and son to the half-king of that nation, visited the President, accompanied by Mons. Pierre Drouillier, a French trader of Detroit, as Interpreter, who acquainted the President that the Chief had a few words to deliver from his Father. The Chief then taking in his hand three strings of white wampum, said: "Brothers, I come from my Father to speak to you of good and bad affairs; good and bad news my Father now speaks. "My Brothers: "I inform you that among my people all is good; we have no bad affairs, no bad news, to relate to you. Nor have I heard of any bad news from Detroit. [A string.] "Near the Falls I have heard there are bad affairs; but that country is far from mine. There are some bad people thereabouts, vagabonds from different nations, but none of my people are among them. [A string.] "My Brothers: "I shall be very glad to hear that the measuring the Indian country may be delayed. For the bad people will, I fear, take occasion from the measuring to do more mischief. Perhaps the measurers will be killed. And it would give pain to me and my nation to hear such bad news.'' [A string.] The chief then spoke as from himself : "Brothers: “You have made a good clear road for us to come to you without danger or inconvenience. I have found it good and safe, having been kindly treated everywhere by your people. We will do the same for them, when they have occasion to pass through our country. "Brothers: "I request you would as soon as possible let me know what you think of the words I brought from my father, that I may acquaint him therewith, and the mischief to the measurers may be prevented." He added that he was going to New York to visit the Congress, and that he had a curiosity to cross the seas and see France. The President replied that he would communicate the words to the Council, and on Wednesday give an answer. He had no expectation of so much formality in this visit, or he should have requested a meeting of the Council to receive him. July 5, 1786. Scotosh, son to the half-king of the Wyondots, with Mr. Drouillier, his Interpreter, coming again to the President's house, the President spoke to him as follows: "Brother: "I have communicated to the Council the words you delivered to me from your father, and we now return the answer I am about to give you to be sent him. "Our Brother: "We are glad to learn from you that there are no bad affairs in your country, and that all is well with you. We hope it may long so continue. [A string.] "Our Brother: "We know there are some bad people about the Falls, from whence we sometimes hear of mischief done by them. We are glad that none of our friends, the Wyondots, are among them. For they will probably soon suffer for their evil action. [A string.] "Our Brother: "This state of Pennsylvania measures no land but what has been fairly purchased of the Six Nations. The country you speak of is far beyond our limits, and the measuring of it under the direction of Congress. It is therefore with that great Council to consider your friendly advice on that subject.'" [A string.] The President then acquainted Scotosh that, as he was going to New York, the Council had ordered some money to be given to him for his travelling expense (which was accordingly done,) and that the charge of their entertainment while here would also be defrayed; for which he returned hearty thanks. He was at the same time assured that we should endeavor always to keep the road between us as open, clear, and safe as he always found it. 1645. TO JOHN JAY (L. C.) Philada July 6, 1786. SIR: The inclos'd Paper will inform you of what has pass'd here between Scotosh, a Chief of the Wyondot Nation, and this Government, on his Way to Congress: He is recommended as having been always very friendly to our People, and the Council have defray'd the Expence of him and his Company here and to New York, where, as Col. Harmar informs, he is to visit Congress. He expresses a strong Desire of going to France; but as it must cost something considerable to support him thither, there, and back again, we have given him no Expectation that the Congress will approve of it: But if it could be well afforded, I should conceive it might be of Use to our Affairs in that Part of the Country, if, after viewing the Court and Troops and Population of France, |