whom I had in so short an Acquaintance so much Esteem and Affection. Mr Pique deposited in my "Hands" thirty Louis d'ors and some Silver Spoons and Forks, which will be delivered to him if living, or to his Representative. I have the Honour to be with great Regard, Sir

Your most obedient

& most humble Servant
B. FRANKLIN.

1724. TO THE PRINCESS DASHKOW (L. C.)

MADAME

Philada, May 7, 1788.

It gave me great Pleasure to hear, that your magnanimous Empress had plac'd you at the Head of your Academy of Sciences. It was doing Honour to Learning. With this you will receive the second Volume of the Transactions of our Philosophical Society, who hope it may be favourably accepted as a Testimony of their Respect for yours. With great & sincere Esteem & Respect, I am,

Madam

Y. m. o. &c [B. F.]

1725. TO REV. JOHN LATHROP 2 (L. C.)

REVEREND SIR,

Philada, May 31, 1788.

3

I received your obliging Favour of the 6th Inst by Mr.

1 At St. Petersburg. — ED.

2 An eminent clergyman of Boston, and for many years a neighbour and valuable friend of Mrs. Mecom, the sister of Dr. Franklin. - S.

3 In A. P. S. — ED.

Hilliard,' with whose Conversation I was much pleased, and would have been glad to have had more of if, it he could have spar'd it to me; but the short time of his stay has prevented. You need make no apology for introducing any of your friends to me. I consider it as doing me Honour, as well as giving me Pleasure.

I thank you for the pamphlet of the Humane Society. In return please to accept one of the same kind, which was published while I resided in France. If your Society have not hitherto seen it, it may possibly afford them useful Hints.

It would certainly, as you observe, be a very great Pleasure to me, if I could once again visit my Native Town, and walk over the Grounds I used to frequent when a Boy, and where I enjoyed many of the innocent Pleasures of Youth, which would be so brought to my Remembrance, and where I might find some of my old Acquaintance to converse with. But when I consider how well I am situated here, with every thing about me, that I can call either necessary or convenient; the fatigues and bad accommodations to be met with and suffered in a land journey, and the unpleasantness of sea voyages, to one, who, although he has crossed the Atlantic eight times, and made many smaller trips, does not recollect his having ever been at sea without taking a firm resolution never to go to sea again; and that, if I were arrived in Boston, I should see but little of it, as I could neither bear walking nor riding in a carriage over its pebbled streets; and, above all, that I should find very few indeed of my old friends living, it being now sixty-five years since I left it to settle here; all this considered, I say, it seems probable, though

1 A clergyman, and successor to the venerable Dr. Appleton in the ministry at Cambridge. — ED.

not certain, that I shall hardly again visit that beloved place. But I enjoy the company and conversation of its inhabitants, when any of them are so good as to visit me; for, besides their general good sense, which I value, the Boston manner, turn of phrase, and even tone of voice, and accent in pronunciation, all please, and seem to refresh and revive me.

'I have been long impressed with the same sentiments you so well express, of the growing felicity of mankind, from the improvements in philosophy, morals, politics, and even the conveniences of common living, by the invention and acquisition of new and useful utensils and instruments, that I have sometimes almost wished it had been my destiny to be born two or three centuries hence. For invention and improvement are prolific, and beget more of their kind. The present progress is rapid. Many of great importance, now unthought of, will before that period be produced; and then I might not only enjoy their advantages, but have my curiosity gratified in knowing what they are to be. I see a little absurdity in what I have just written, but it is to a friend, who will wink and let it pass, while I mention one reason more for such a wish, which is, that, if the art of physic shall be improved in proportion with other arts, we may then be able to avoid diseases, and live as long as the patriarchs in Genesis; to which I suppose we should make little objection.

I am glad my dear sister has so good and kind a neighbour. I sometimes suspect she may be backward in acquainting me with circumstances in which I might be more useful to her. If any such should occur to your observation, your mentioning them to me will be a favour I shall be thankful

1 The conclusion of this letter is quoted in a letter from Lathrop to Dr. Lettsom. See "Life of Lettsom," Vol. II, p. 450. — Ev.

for. With great esteem, I have the honour to be, Reverend Sir, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

1726. TO JAMES BOWDOIN 1

(L. C.)

Queries and Conjectures relating to Magnetism and the Theory of the Earth

DEAR SIR,

Philada May 31, 1788.

I received your Favours by Messrs. Gore, Hilliard, and Lee, with whose Conversation I was much pleased, and wished for more of it; but their stay with us was too short. Whenever you recommend any of your Friends to me, you oblige

me.

I want to know whether your Philosophical Society? receiv'd the second Volume of our Transactions. I sent it, but never heard of its arriving. If it miscarried, I will send another. Has your Society among its Books the French work Sur les Arts et les Métiers? It is voluminous, well executed, and may be useful in our country. I have bequeath'd it them in my will; but if they have it already, I will substitute something else.

Our ancient Correspondence used to have something Philosophical in it. As you are now more free from public Cares, and I expect to be so in a few Months, why may we not resume that kind of Correspondence? Our much regretted Friend Winthrop once made me the Compliment, that I was good at starting Game for Philosophers; let me try if I can start a little for you.

1 Read at a meeting of The American Philosophical Society, January 15, 1790.- ED.

2 The American Academy of Arts and Sciences, - ED.

Has the question, how came the Earth by its Magnetism, ever been consider'd?

Is it likely that Iron Ore immediately existed when this globe was first form'd; or may it not rather be suppos'd a gradual Production of Time?

If the Earth is at present magnetical in virtue of the Masses of Iron Ore contain'd in it, might not some Ages pass before it had magnetic polarity?

Since Iron Ore may exist without that Polarity, and by being plac'd in certain Circumstances may obtain it from an external Cause, is it not possible that the Earth received its Magnetism from some such Cause?

In short, may not a magnetic Power exist throughout our System, perhaps thro' all Systems, so that if Men could make a Voyage in the Starry Regions, a Compass might be of Use? And may not such universal Magnetism, with its uniform Direction be serviceable in keeping the diurnal Revolution of a Planet more steady to the same Axis?

Lastly, as the Poles of Magnets may be changed by the Presence of stronger Magnets, might not, in ancient Times, the near Passing of some large Comet, of greater magnetic Power than this Globe of ours, have been a means of changing its Poles, and thereby wrecking and deranging its Surface, placing in different Regions the Effect of centrifugal Force, so as to raise the Waters of the Sea in some, while they were depress'd in others?

Let me add another Question or two, not relating indeed to Magnetism, but, however, to the Theory of the Earth.

Is not the finding of great Quantities of Shells and Bones of Animals (natural to hot Climates) in the cold ones of our present World, some proof that its Poles have been changed?