my Hands. It has no Date, but I conjecture from some Circumstances, that it must have been about the year 1767 or 68. (It seems, if presented, it had no Effect, since the Act passed.) I imagine it may not be unacceptable to your Readers, and therefore transcribe it for your paper; viz.

To the Honourable the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of Great Britain, in Parliament assembled,

The PETITION of B. F., Agent for the Province of Pensilvania;

Most humbly sheweth;

That the Transporting of Felons from England to the Plantations in America, is, and hath long been, a great Grievance to the said Plantations in general.

That the said Felons, being landed in America, not only continue their evil Practices to the Annoyance of his Majesty's good Subjects there, but contribute greatly to corrupt the Morals of the Servants and poorer People among whom they are mixed.

That many of the said Felons escape from the Servitude to which they were destined, into other Colonies, where their Condition is not known; and, wandering at large from one populous Town to another, commit many Burglaries, Robberies, and Murders, to the great Terror of the People; and occasioning heavy Charges for apprehending and securing such Felons, and bringing them to Justice.

That your Petitioner humbly conceives the Easing one Part of the British Dominions of their Felons, by burthening another Part with the same Felons, cannot increase the common Happiness of his Majesty's Subjects, and that therefore the Trouble and Expence of transporting them is upon the whole altogether useless.

That your petitioner, nevertheless, observes with extream Concern in the Votes of Friday last, that leave is given to bring in a Bill for extending to Scotland, the Act made in the 4th Year of the Reign of King George the First, whereby the aforesaid Grievances are, as he understands, to be greatly increased by allowing Scotland also to transport its Felons to America.

Your petitioner therefore humbly prays, in behalf of Pensilvania, and the other Plantations in America, that the House would take the Premises into Consideration, and in their great Wisdom and Goodness repeal all Acts, and Clauses of Acts, for transporting of Felons; or, if this may not at present be done, that they would at least reject the propos'd Bill for extending the said Acts to Scotland; or, if it be thought fit to allow of such Extension, that then

the said Extension may be carried further, and the Plantations be also, by an equitable Clause in the same bill, permitted to transport their Felons to Scotland.

And your Petitioner, as in Duty bound, shall pray, &c.

This Petition, as I am informed, was not receiv'd by the House, and the Act passed.

On second Thoughts, I am of Opinion, that besides employing our own Vessels, as above propos'd, every English Ship arriving in our Ports with Goods for sale, should be obliged to give Bond, before she is permitted to Trade, engaging that she will carry back to Britain at least one Felon for every Fifty Tons of her Burthen. Thus we shall not only discharge sooner our Debts, but furnish our old Friends with the means of "better Peopling," and with more Expedition, their promising new Colony of Botany Bay.

You will perceive by the inclosed Letter which I have rec from the Board of Treasury, that I am again called on for the Vouchers to your Acct with Congress which were produced to Mess. Wharton and Bancroft. Much of this Transaction, which took place as long ago as the Year 1779, has escaped my Memory; and I should be much obliged to you to acquaint me with what you know concerning it; and particularly whether the Vouchers in question remained in my Office, were returned to you, or sent with your Acct.

to this Country. I have made Search for them among the Papers I brought with me from France, but hitherto with

Immediately on Receipt of your Letter of the 14th Instant, inclosing Copy of one from Mr. Barclay to you, I ordered a fresh Search to be made for the Papers you require respecting the Vouchers of Mr. Ross's Accounts deposited in my Office when in France; and after the most careful & diligent Examination nothing of the kind is found in my Possession. When I was about to leave that Kingdom I ordered all Papers relating to the Publick Accounts, and every thing deposited with me as Consul, (I having acted in that Capacity before Mr. Barclay's Arrival) to be put into his Hands; which was done. I cannot therefore but be of Opinion, that tho' he may not have taken Notice of those Vouchers, nothing having required his Adverting to them, yet they will be found with the other Papers of his Office when they shall arrive in America. I have however enquired of Mr. Ross whether he cannot supply the Deficiency, who informs me that he has an Authenticated Copy which

1 Commissioners of the Treasury. — ED.

he is ready to produce if necessary; but as he sent four similar Copies by four different Ships, all of which arrived safe and delivered their respective Cargo's of the Goods to the Commercial Committee, he is confident some of those Copies must still exist, and may be found among the Papers of that Committee. I have the honour to be, with great Regard, Gentlemen,

Your most obedient

& most humble Servt

B. F.

1714. TO COUNT DE MOUSTIERS 1 (L. C.) Philada Feb. 10, 1788.

SIR, The good News of your Excelly's safe Arrival in this Country, found me confin'd to my Bed by the Bruises of a Fall join'd to a painful Disorder, which has continu'd to harass me till within these few Days. I seize the first Hour of being able to hold a Pen, to congratulate you as I do most sincerely, and to express my Wishes that your Residence among us may be attended with every Circumstance that can make it agreable to you. The Services of a feeble old Man rendered inactive by the Infirmities of Age, are scarcely worth offering; but if in the Course of your Mission any thing should occur, in which I might be in any degree useful to your Affairs, or to those of the best of Kings & the most beloved of Nations, your Commands will be receiv'd & executed with Pleasure by him, who is with great Respect, Sir

Your Excellency's most obed

& most humble Serv

B. F.

1 Eléonore-François-Elie, Comte de Moustiers (1751-1817), Minister Plenipotentiary from the Court of France succeeding Luzerne in the United States, 1787-1789. Ed.

1715. TO JAN INGENHOUSZ

MY DEAR OLD FRIEND,

(A. P. S.)

Philada Feb. 11, 1788.

Your Letter of Sept. 28, 1787, came to my hands but about two Weeks since. It found me very ill with a severe Fit of the Stone, which follow'd a fall I had on the Stone Steps that lead into my Garden, whereby I was much bruised, and my Wrist sprained, so as not to be capable of Writing for several Weeks. I therefore requested Mr. Vaughan to answer it for me, which he has done in his Letter, that I inclose. I will, however, add a little, as my Hand is much strengthened, though I still write with Pain.

All the Books you have sent to me, and to the Philosophical Society here, have been received. They will be acknowledged in our next Volume. In the mean time please to accept our hearty Thanks. There are few Books published in these Times, that contain so much new and useful Knowledge as these you have written.

I lament with you the Prospect of a horrid War, which is likely to engage So great a Part of Mankind. There is little Good gain'd, and so much Mischief done generally, by Wars, that I wish the Imprudence of undertaking them was more evident to princes; in which case I think they would be less frequent. If I were Counsellor of the Empress of Russia, and found that she desired to possess some Part of the Dominions of the Grand Signior, I should advise her to compute

1 And yet he wrote with his own hand a letter on the 31st of January which shows no trace of injury or infirmity. Ingenhousz's letter of September 28 is in A. P. S.- Ed.