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rations) speak with sincere approbation and great applause of your conduct; and join in giving you the character of one of the greatest captains of the age.

I must soon quit the scene, but you may live to see our country florish; as it will amazingly and rapidly after the war is over; like a field of young Indian corn, which long fair weather and sunshine had enfeebled and discolored, and which in that weak state, by a thunder gust of violent wind, hail, and rain, seemed to be threatened with absolute destruction; yet the storm being past, it recovers fresh verdure, shoots up with double vigor, and delights the eye not of its owner only, but of every observing traveller.

The best wishes that can be formed for your health, honor, and happiness, ever attend you, from

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To MR.LE CHEVALIER DE LA LUZERNE,

Minister from France to the United States.

SIR,

Various matter,

Passy, March, 5, 1780. I received with great pleasure the letter you did me the honor of writing to me from Boston. I rejoiced to hear of your safe arrival, and that the reception you met with in my country, had been agreeable to you. I hope its air will suit you, and that while you reside in it you will enjoy constant health and happiness.

Your good brother does me sometimes the honor of calling on me, and we converse in English, which he speaks very intelligibly. I suppose that by this time you do the same. Mr. De Malesherbes did me lately the same

honor. That great man seems to have no wish of returning into public employment, but amuses himself with planting, and is desirous of obtaining all those trees of North America that have not yet been introduced into France. Your sending him a box of the seeds, would, I am persuaded, much oblige him. They may be obtained of my young friend Bartram, living near Philadelphia.

You will have heard that Spain has lately met with a little misfortune at sea, but the bravery with which her ships fought a vastly superior force, have gained her great honor. We are anxious here for farther news from that coast, which is daily expected. Great preparations are making here for the ensuing campaign, and we flatter ourselves that it will be more active and successful in Europe than the last.

One of the advantages of great states, is, that the calamity occasioned by a foreign war falls only on a very small part of the community, who happen from their situation and particular circumstances to be exposed to it. Thus as it is always fair weather in our parlours, it is at Paris always peace. The people pursue their respective occupations, the playhouses, the opera, and other public diversions, are as regularly and fully attended, as in times of profoundest tranquillity, and the same small concerns divide us into parties. Within these few weeks we are for or against Jeannot, a new actor. This man's performance, and the marriage of the Duke de Richelieu, fills up much more of our present conversation, than any thing that relates to the war, A demonstration this of the public felicity. - My grandson joins with me in best wishes for your health and prosperity. He is much flattered by your kind

remembrance of him. We desire also that Mr. De Mar

bois' would accept our assurances of esteem.

I have the honor to be with the greatest respect, Sir,
Yours, &c.
B. FRANKLIN.

F. HOPKINSON, Esq. Philadelphia.

Political Squibs.-Dr. Ingenhausz's Experiments on the leaves of trees.-A new telescope for ascertaining dis

tances.

DEAR SIR,

Passy, March 16, 1780. I thank you for your political Squibs, they are well made. I am glad to find you have such plenty of good powder.

You propose that Kill-pig, the butcher, should operate upon himself. You will find some thoughts on that subject in a little piece called " A merry Song about Murder," in a London newspaper I send herewith.

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The greatest discovery made in Europe for some time past is that of Dr. Ingenhausz's relating to the great use of the leaves of trees in producing wholesome air; I would send you his book if I had it. A new instrument is lately invented here, a kind of telescope, which by means of Iceland chrystal occasions the double appearance of an object, and the two appearances being farther distant from each other in proportion to the distance of the object from the eye, by moving an index on a graduated line till the two appearances coincide, you find on the line the

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Secretary of the French Legation in the United States.

By the Abbé Rochon, of the French Academy of Sciences.

real distance of the object. I am not enough master of this instrument to describe it accurately, having seen it but once; but it is very ingeniously contrived.

Remember me respectfully to your mother and sisters, and believe me ever, my dear friend,

Yours most affectionately,

B. FRANKLIN.

To DR. BOND, Philadelphia.

DEAR SIR,

Letter of Friendship.

Pàssy, March 16, 1780. I received your kind letter of September the 22d, and I thank you for the pleasing account you give me of the health and welfare of my old friends, Hugh Roberts, Luke Morris, Philip Syng, Samuel Rhoades, &c. with the same of yourself and family. Shake the old ones by the hand for me, and give the young ones my blessing. For my own part, I do not find that I grow any older. Being arrived at 70, and considering that by travelling further in the same road I should probably be led to the grave, I stopped short, turned about and walked back again; which having done these four years, you may now call me 66. Advise those old friends of ours to follow my example, keep up your spirits and that, will keep up your bodies, you will no more stoop under the weight of age than if you had swallowed a handspike. But it is right to abate a little in the article of labour; and therefore as your demonstrations of midwifery " are useful, and it is a pity you should give them up, for want of subjects in the lying-in wards," I advise you to get some of your young pupils to help you.

I am glad the Philosophical Society made that compliment

to Mr. Gerard. I wish they would do the same to Mr. Feutry, a worthy gentleman here; and to Dr. Ingenhausz, who has made some great discoveries lately respecting the leaves of trees in improving air for the use of animals: he will send you his book. He is physician to the Empress Queen. I have not yet seen your piece on inoculation.

Remember me respectfully and affectionately to Mrs. Bond, your children, and all friends. I am ever,

Yours,

B. FRANKLIN.

P.S. I have bought some valuable books which I intend to present to the society; but shall not send them till safer times.

To DR. COOPER, Boston.

Relative to his Grandson-the alliance with France, &c. Passy, March 16, 1780.

DEAR SIR,

I received your kind favor by Captain Chavagnes, which I communicated to the Minister of Marine, who was much pleased with the character you give of the captain, I have also yours of Nov, 12, by your grandson, who appears a very promising lad, in whom I think you will have much satisfaction. He is in a boarding school just by me, and was well last Sunday, when I had the pleasure of his company to dinner with Mr.. Adam's sons and some other young Americans. He will soon acquire the language; and if God spares his life may make a very serviceable man to his country,

It gives me infinite satisfaction to find that with you the wisest and best among our people, are so hearty in endea

1 Formerly Minister from France to the United States.

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