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Virginian, may not always arise from a difference in the languages; for strangers who learn the language of an Indian nation, finding no orthography, are at liberty in writing the language to use such compositions of letters as they think will best produce the sounds of the words. I have observed that our Europeans of different nations, who learn the same Indian language, form each his own orthography according to the usual sounds given to the letters in his own language. Thus the same words of the Mohock language written by an English, a French, and a German interpreter, often differ very much in the spelling; and without knowing the usual powers of the letters in the language of the interpreter, one cannot come at the pronunciation of the Indian words. The spelling book in question was, I think, written by a German.

You mention a Virginian Bible. Is it not the Bible of the Massachusetts language, translated by Elliot, and printed in New England, about the middle of the last century? I know this Bible, but have never heard of one in the Virginian language. Your observations of the similitude between many of the words, and those of the ancient world, are indeed very curious.

This inscription which you find to be Phenician, is, I think, near Taunton (not Jannston, as you write it.) There is some account of it in the old Philosophical Transactions; I have never been at the place, but shall be glad to see your remarks on it.'

This supposed Phanician Inscription-it has been asserted, consisted only of marks made in the hard clay of a very steep bank on which the native Indians used to sit waiting the approach of wild ducks; and in the meantime sharpening the points of

The compass appears to have been long known in China, before it was known in Europe; unless we suppose it known to Homer, who makes the Prince, that lent ships to Ulysses, boast that they had a spirit in them by whose directions they could find their way in a cloudy day, or the darkest night. If any Phenicians arrived in America, I should rather think it was not by the accident of a storm, but in the course of their long and adventurous voyages; and that they coasted from Denmark and Norway, over to Greenland, and down southward by Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, &c. to New England; as the Danes themselves certainly did some ages before Columbus.

Our new American society will be happy in the corres pondence you mention, and when it is possible for me, I shall be glad to attend the meetings of your society,' which I am sure must be very instructive. With great and sin cere esteem, I have the honour to be, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

TO THE REV. DR. COOPER, BOSTON.

New Constitution of Massachusetts Maintenance for the Clergy-Scripture phrases, &c.

DEAR SIR,

Passy, May 15, 1781. I received your kind letter of February 1st, by Colonel Johonnot. Your sentiments of the present state of our affairs appear to me very judicious,

their flint stone arrow-heads, by rubbing them in different directions; by which Indentures or Impressions were made, which had the appearance of an inscription.

1 L'Academie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres,

and I am much obliged by your free communication of them. They are often of use here; for you have a name and character among us, that give weight to your opinions.

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It gives me great pleasure to learn that your new constitution is at length settled with so great a degree of unanimity and general satisfaction. It seems to me upon the whole an excellent one; and that if there are some particulars that one might have wished a little different, they are such as could not in the present state of things have been well obtained otherwise than they are, and if by experience found inconvenient will probably be changed hereafter. I would only mention at present one article, that of maintenance for the Clergy. It seems to me that by the constitution the Quakers may be obliged to pay the tax for that purpose. But as the great end in imposing it is professedly the promotion of Piety, Religion, and Morality, and those people have found means of securing that end among themselves, without a regular Clergy, and their teachers are not allowed to receive money; I should think it not right to tax them, and give the money to the teacher of the parish; but I imagine that in the laws to be made for levying parish taxes, this matter may be regulated to their contentment.

I am very sensible of the honor done me by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in chusing me one of their members. I wish I could be of some utility in promoting the noble design of their institution. Perhaps I may, by sending them from time to time some of the best publications that appear here. I shall begin to make a collection for them.

Your excellent sermon gave me abundance of pleasure,

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and is much admired by several of my friends who understand English. I propose to get it translated and printed at Geneva, at the end of a translation of your new Constitution. Nothing could be happier than your choice of a text, and your application of it. It was not necessary in New England, where every body reads the Bible, and is acquainted with Scripture phrases, that you should note the texts from which you took them; but I have observed in England, as well as in France, that verses and expressions taken from the sacred writings, and not known to be such, appear very strange and awkward to some readers; and I shall therefore in my edition, take the liberty of marking the quoted texts in the margin.

"I know not whether a belly-full has been given to any body by the picking of my bones, but picked they now are, and I think it time they should be at rest. I am taking measures to obtain that rest for them; happy if before I die, I can find a few days absolutely at my own disposal. I often form pleasing imaginations of the pleasure I should enjoy as a private person among my friends and compatriots in my native Boston. God only knows whether this pleasure is reserved for me. est and most sincere esteem, I am, &c.

With the greatB. FRANKLIN.

To MESSRS. D. WENDORP AND THOMAS HOPE

HEYHGER.

Injustice of the English. New Law of Nations.

GENTLEMEN,'

Passy, June 8, 1781.

I received the letter you did me the honor of writing to me the 31st past, relating to your ship supposed to be retaken from the English by an American

Privateer and carried into Morlaix. I apprehend that you have been misinformed, as I do not know of any American Privateer at present in these seas. I have the same sentiments with you of the injustice of the English, in their treatment of your nation. They seem at present to have renounced all pretension to any other honor than that of being the first piratical state in the world. There are three employments which I wish the Law of Nations would protect, so that they should never be molested or interrupted by enemies even in time of war; I mean farmers, fishermen, and merchants; because their employments are not only innocent, but for the common subsistence and benefit of the human species in general. As men grow more enlightened, we may hope that this will in time be the case. Till then we must submit as well as we can to the evils we cannot remedy. I have the honor to be, Gentlemen, &c. &c. B. FRANKLIN.

To W. CARMICHAEL, ESQ. MADRID.

Dr. Franklin's Resignation refused by Congress-Va

DEAR SIR,

rious Matter.

Passy, Aug. 24, 1781. On looking over your letters I am ashamed

to find myself so much and so long in your debt.

I thank you for making me acquainted with Mr. Sonnerat. He appears a very amiable man, and is full of intelligence and information.

We are all much obliged to Count de Montmorin for his friendly assistance in our affairs. Please to present him my thankful acknowledgements.

Y

I thank you also for my being made known to Mr. Gi

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