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the rising Generation, I have made some Progress in it, and hope to finish it this Winter; so I cannot but wish that Project of Mr. Dilly's Biographer may be laid aside. I am nevertheless thankful to you for your Friendly Offer of correcting it.'

As to Public Affairs, it is long since I gave over all Expectations of a Commercial Treaty between us and Britain; and I think we can do as well, or better, without one than she can. Our Harvests are plenty, our Produce fetches a high Price in hard Money, and there is in every Part of our Country incontestible Marks of public Felicity. We discover, indeed, some Errors in our general and particular Constitutions; which it is no Wonder they should have, the time in which they were formed being considered. But these we shall mend. The little Disorders you have heard of in some of the States, rais'd by a few wrong Heads, are subsiding, and will probably soon be extinguish'd. My best Wishes, and those of my Family, attend you. We shall be happy to see you here, when it suits you to visit us; being with sincere and great Esteem, my dear Friend, yours most affectionately,

B. FRANKLIN.

1668. TO CAPTAIN THOMAS DE UGARTA

Y LIANES 2

(L. C.)

Philad", Dec. 16. 1786.

HONOURABLE SIR: The Council having received Information that the Ship under your Command lies in a dangerous Situation, expos'd to be much injur'd, if not destroy'd,

1 The biography was omitted. — ED.

2 Captain of a Spanish frigate lying at Marcus Hook. — ED.

by the Violence of the driving Ice, have thought that not only the Duty of Hospitality towards Strangers in our Port, but the just Regard due from us to the excellent Prince, your Sovereign, and the good Friend of these States, required of us to afford every Assistance in our Power for her Preservation. And apprehending that possibly your People, accustom'd to warmer Climates, may not be so well acquainted with the Force and mischievous Effects of Ice, and the Methods of guarding against it, we send to you two of the Wardens of the Port, Men of Experience and Knowledge in such Matters, on whose Advice you may rely, and who have Authority to obtain such Aid from the Inhabitants, if any should be wanted, as may enable them to put her in a Position of the greatest possible Safety.

Wishing you every kind of Prosperity, I have the honour to be, Honble Sir, your most obedient and most humble Serv*, B. FRANKLIN.

1669. TO CAPTAIN NATHANIEL FALCONER (L. C.) Philada, Dec. 16. 1786.

GENTLEMEN:- When you arrive at Marcus Hook you will deliver the Letter to the Captain of the Spanish Man-ofWar, and having view'd the Situation of the Ship and the Piers, you will respectfully offer him your Opinion and Advice on the best Means of securing her from Damage by the driving Ice, in Writing if he desires it, and afford every Assistance you can procure, for the Expence of which (if he does not pay it), you will be indemnify'd here.

If you find the Piers likely to be damag'd in case of his

Refusal to follow your Council, you will likely represent that to him in Writing, to be made use of hereafter in support of a Complaint to his Court and Demand of Satisfaction, if such a Step should be thought proper. And you will take such prudent Steps as shall occur to you for preventing as far as possible, or lessening such Damage.

You will also inquire into the Truth of the Reports of Injuries done by his People to the Inhabitants, and if you find them true, acquaint him with them, expressing at the same time your Persuasion that he will take Measures to prevent such Injuries for the future.

With sincere Regard, I am, Gentlemen, your humble Serv1, B. FRANKLIN.

1

1670. TO CHARLES THOMSON 1 (L. C.)

DEAR FRIEND,

Philadelphia, January 25, 1787.

You may remember, that in the correspondence between us. in June last, on the Subject of a Million free gift of the King of France, acknowledged in our contract to have been received, but which did not appear to be accounted for in our Banker's accounts, unless it should be the same with the million said to be received from the Farmers-General, I mentioned, that an explanation might doubtless be easily obtained by writing to Mr. Grand, or Mr. Jefferson. I know not whether you have accordingly written to either of them; but, being desirous that the matter should be speedily cleared up, I wrote myself to Mr. Grand a letter upon it, of which I now enclose a Copy, with his answers, and several letters

1 From the Jefferson Papers (L. C.), in the hand of a secretary. — Ed.

from M. Durival, who is Chef du Bureau des Fonds (and has under his care la Finance) des Affaires Etrangères.

You will see by these letters that the million in question was delivered to somebody on the 10th of June 1776, but it does not appear to whom. It is clear that it could not be to Mr. Grand nor to the Commissioners from Congress; for we did not meet in France till the end of December 1776, or beginning of January 1777, and that Banker was not charged before with our affairs.

By the Minister's [reserve] in refusing him a Copy of the Receipt, I conjecture it must be money advanced for our use to M. de Beaumarchais, and that it is a mystère du cabinet, which perhaps should not be further enquired into, unless necessary to guard against more demands than may be just from that agent: For it may well be supposed, that, if the Court furnished him with the means of supplying us, they may not be willing to furnish authentic proofs of such a transaction so early in our dispute with Britain. Pray tell me, has he dropped his demands, or does he still continue to worry you with them?

I should like to have these original letters returned to me, but you may, if you please, keep Copies of them. It is true the million in question makes no difference in your accounts with the King of France, it not being mentioned or charged, as so much lent and to be repaid, but stated as freely given. Yet if it was put into the Hands of any of your Agents, or Ministers, they ought certainly to account for it. I do not recollect whether Mr. Deane had arrived in France before the 10th of June, 1776; but from his great want of money, when I joined him a few months after, I hardly think it could

1 Deane did not arrive in Paris till the first week in July. — ED.

have been paid him. Possibly Mr. Jefferson may obtain the information, tho' Mr. Grand could not, and I wish he may be directed to make the enquiry, as I know he would do it directly [discreetly?]; I mean if by Hortalez and Co.'s further demands, or for any other reason, such an enquiry should be thought necessary.1 I am, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

1671. TO ALEXANDER SMALL

DEAR FRIEND,

(L. C.)

Philada, Feb. 19, 1787.

2

I received your Favour of June last, and thank you for the kind Congratulations contain'd in it. What you have heard of my Malady is true, "that it does not grow worse." Thanks to God, I still enjoy Pleasure in the Society of my Friends and Books, and much more in the Prosperity of my Country, concerning which your People are continually deceiving themselves.

I am glad the Improvement of the Book of Common Prayer3 has met with your Approbation, and that of good Mrs. Bald

1 This matter was not cleared up till 1794, when Gouverneur Morris was American Minister in Paris. By application to the government he procured a copy of the receipt, which had been given by the person who received the million of livres on the 10th of June, 1776. It proved to be Beaumarchais, as Dr. Franklin had conjectured. See Sparks's "Life of Gouverneur Morris," Vol. II, p. 446.

While the correspondence with the banker in Paris was going on, Dr. Franklin's enemies in Congress made themselves busy in propagating a report that he was a defaulter to the amount of one million of livres, and thus gave currency to a most unjust and injurious suspicion against him throughout the country. - S.

2 June 6, 1786, in A. P. S.- ED.

3 See the letter to Granville Sharp, July 5, 1785. — ED.

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