1744. TO JEAN-BAPTISTE LE ROY (L. c.) Philada, Oct. 25, 1788 MY DEAR FRIEND:- Your kind Letter of the 6th of May, after some Delay by the Way, is come safe to Hand, with the Memoirs, and elegant Prints of your projected Hospital, which I shall dispose of as you direct. It may in time to come be useful here. I receiv'd, also, the Volume of Academy Memoirs, and thank you for your Care in sending them. I am now in Possession of the Repose I have so long wish'd for, having finish'd the third Year of the Presidentship, the Term limited by our Constitution, and resolving to engage no more in public Business; my Enjoyment of that Repose can, however, be but short, as I am now near 83. We have no philosophical News here at present, except that a large Boat row'd by the force of Steam is now exercis'd upon our River, stems the Current, and seems to promise being useful when the Machinery can be more simplified and the Expence reduced. I am ever, my dear Friend, yours most affectionately, B. FRANKLIN. 1745. TO DON DIEGO GARDOQUI1 (L. C.) Philada, Oct. 26, 1788. SIR: Messrs. Henry Pawling and Greenberry Dawson one of whom will have the honour of presenting this to the hand of your Excellency, are projecting a Voyage from the 1 Minister from the Court of Spain. — ED. Ohio Settlements with the Produce of that Country, to be sold at New Orleans. I know not how far the Laws existing there admit of such Commerce; But if it is allowable, I would then beg leave to request that your Excell would be so good as to give them your Counsels with a Line of Protection. And as they are here esteemed Persons of honest Principles, who have good Characters, I am persuaded they will not forfeit them and show themselves unworthy of your Excellency's Favour by any contraband or illegal Practices. With great and sincere Esteem and Respect, I am, Sir, your Excellency's most obedient and most humble Servant, B. FRANKLIN. 1746. TO JOSEPH ELAM1 (A. P. S.) Philada, Nov. 10, 1788. SIRI received your note of the 8th instant, and being now, as you observe, retired to a private station, I hope to enjoy the repose appertaining to it. I cannot think, therefore of calling, as you propose, you and your accusers before me, to discuss differences which I have no authority to judge of or to determine. I can only give you my friendly advice, which is to behave peaceable and respectfully to the religious society you profess to be connected with, especially in their public assemblies; in which case I am persuaded you may quietly enjoy "that liberty of a freeholder and citizen" which you desire, without receiving from them the smallest interruption. By giving me no further trouble with your quarrels, you will oblige your well-wisher, B. FRANKLIN. 1 A Virginian, mentally unbalanced, who from eccentric behaviour in Philadelphia was placed by the Quakers in a hospital. — ED. 1747. TO THE DUC DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD DEAR FRIEND, (L. C.) Philadelphia, Nov. 13, 1788. As the Bearer Mr. Sentris is not acquainted with our Friend Mr. Le Veillard, I take the Liberty of enclosing for him, under your Cover, the Memoirs which he has so long & earnestly demanded of me. I think your Character will be a Protection to them, and that under it they will be more likely of getting safe to hand. I send also my Paper on the American Debts, which, if I am not mistaken, you desired to see. I am not without my Doubts concerning the Memoirs, whether it would be proper to publish them, or not, at least during my Life time. And I am persuaded there are many Things that would, in Case of Publication, be best omitted; I therefore request it most earnestly of you, my dear Friend, that you would examine them carefully & critically, with Mr. Le Veillard, and give me your candid & friendly Advice thereupon, as soon as you can conveniently. I should not venture to make this Request but that I hope your public Affairs, which must have taken up much of your Time, are now settled I sincerely hope to the mutual Advantage of both King and Nation. My best Wishes attend you and your amiable Family, and I beg you to believe that I am ever, with sincere Respect & Affection, Dear Sir, Your most obed and humb Servt. B. FRANKLIN. 1748. TO FRANCIS CHILDS (L. C.) Philada, Nov. 19. 1788. SIR: When you were here in April last you promis'd me the Payment of one hundred Dollars in June following, which has not been sent to me, and therefore I have now drawn upon you for the same, and having present Occasion for Money, I depend on your honouring my Draft. I am sir your humble Servant, B. FRANKLIN. 1749. TO MRS. ELIZABETH PARTRIDGE (L. C.) Philada, Nov. 25, 1788. MY DEAR CHILD: - I received your kind Letter of the 12th Inst. inclosing one for Mr. Philip Vanhorn, Physician in Philadelphia, which you desire me to deliver, and to solicit the Forgiveness of his Daughter. I immediately made Enquiry for him, as to be instrumental in so charitable a Work, and in concurrence with you, would have given me great Pleasure, but I am assured by our oldest Inhabitants, who have had most Acquaintance and best Opportunities of knowing their fellow-Citizens, particularly some of our Physicians, that no Physician or other Person of that Name has ever been a Resident here; so that there must have been some Mistake in the Information that has been given you, if, indeed the whole Story is not an Imposition. You kindly enquire after my Health. I have not, of late, much reason to boast of it. People that will live a long Life and drink to the Bottom of the Cup must expect to meet some of the Dregs. However, when I consider how many more terrible Maladies the human Body is liable to, I think myself well off that I have only three incurable ones: the Gout, the Stone, and Old Age; and, those notwithstanding, I enjoy many comfortable Intervals, in which I forget all my Ills, and amuse myself in Reading or Writing, or in Conversation with Friends, joking, laughing, and telling merry Stories, as when you first knew me, a young Man about Fifty. My Children and Grand Children, the Baches, are all well, and pleased with your Remembrance of them. They are my Family, living in my House. And we have lately the Addition of a little good-natured Girl, whom I begin to love as well as the rest. You tell me our poor Friend Ben Kent is gone;1 I hope to the Regions of the Blessed, or at least to some Place where Souls are prepared for those Regions. I found my Hope on this, that tho' not so orthodox as you and I, he was an honest Man, and had his Virtues. If he had any Hypocrisy it was of that inverted kind, with which a Man is not so bad as he seems to be. And with regard to future Bliss I cannot help imagining, that Multitudes of the zealously Orthodox of different Sects, who at the last Day may flock together, in hopes of seeing [mutilated] damn'd, will be disappointed, and oblig'd to rest content with their own Salvation. You have no Occasion to apoligize for your former Letter. It was, as all 1 "Our Friend Mr Benjamin Kent has taken His departure but for what Land is uncertain He thought He should be one of the Happy Few that escaped Stoping at Purgatory I wish he may not be Mistaken but have arrived safe at the Elisian Fields." Elizabeth Partridge to Franklin, November 12, 1788. Ed. |