of it (a catty is near our pound) for about an ounce of silver. They did not drink it themselves, but said it was not unwholesome, if drunk moderately.

That after some time he set out in the train of seven merchants for Canton, with a passport from the mandarin, going partly by land, but chiefly by water in canals. That they stopt a week in a part of the country where a great deal of China ware is made; that many farmers had little furnaces in some out-house, where they worked at leisure times, and made, some nothing but tea-cups, others nothing but saucers, &c., which they sold to country shopkeepers, who collected quantities for the merchants. The ware is there very cheap. He could have bought a dozen pretty cups and saucers for as much silver as is in an English half-crown.

He says it is not true, that they have large wheel carriages in China, driven by the wind; at least he never saw or heard of any such; but that the wheelbarrow porters indeed, when passing some great open countries, do sometimes, if the wind is fair, spread a thin cotton sail, supported by a light bamboo mast, which they stick up on their wheelbarrows, and it helps them along. That he once saw a fleet of near three hundred sail of those wheelbarrows, each with a double wheel. That, when he arrived at Canton, he did not make himself known to the English there, but got down as soon as he could to Macao, hoping to meet with his Portuguese captain; but he had never returned. That he worked there in rigging of vessels, till he had an opportunity of coming home to Europe; and, hearing on his arrival here, from an old comrade in the packet, that his sweetheart is married, and that the Resolution and Endeavour got home, he shall decline going to England yet a while, fearing he may be punished for carrying off the

boat; therefore he has shipped himself, as I wrote you before, on a voyage to America. He was between three and four years in China. This is the substance of what I got from him, and nearly as he related it. He gave me the names of some places, but I found them hard to remember, and cannot recollect them.

1502. TO SAMUEL MATHER'

REVA SIR,

(L. C.)

Passy, May 12, 1784.

I received your kind letter, with your excellent advice to the people of the United States, which I read with great pleasure, and hope it will be duly regarded. Such writings, though they may be lightly passed over by many readers, yet, if they make a deep impression on one active mind in a hundred, the effects may be considerable. Permit me to mention one little instance, which, though it relates to myself, will not be quite uninteresting to you. When I was a boy, I met with a book, entitled "Essays to do Good," which I think was written by your father. It had been so little regarded by a former possessor, that several leaves of it were torn out; but the remainder gave me such a turn of thinking, as to have an influence on my conduct through life; for I have always set a greater value on the character of a doer of good, than on any other kind of reputation; and if I have been, as you seem to think, a useful citizen, the public owes the advantage of it to that book.

2

1 Samuel Mather was colleague pastor of the same church to which his father and grandfather had ministered. He died June 27, 1785.—ED. 2 Cotton Mather. - ED.

You mention your being in your 78th year; I am in my 79th: we are grown old together. It is now more than 60 years since I left Boston, but I remember well both your father and grandfather, having heard them both in the pulpit, and seen them in their houses. The last time I saw your father was in the beginning of 1724, when I visited him after my first trip to Pennsylvania. He received me in his library, and on my taking leave showed me a shorter way out of the house through a narrow passage, which was crossed by a beam over head. We were still talking as I withdrew, he accompanying me behind, and I turning partly towards him, when he said hastily, "Stoop, stoop!" I did not understand him, till I felt my head hit against the beam. He was a man that never missed any occasion of giving instruction, and upon this he said to me, "You are young, and have the world before you; STOOP as you go through it, and you will miss many hard thumps." This advice, thus beat into my head, has frequently been of use to me; and I often think of it, when I see pride mortified, and misfortunes brought upon people by their carrying their heads too high.

I long much to see again my native place, and to lay my bones there. I left it in 1723; I visited it in 1733, 1743, 1753, and 1763. In 1773 I was in England; in 1775 I had a sight of it, but could not enter, it being in possession of the enemy.1 I did hope to have been there in 1783, but could not obtain my dismission from this employment here; and now I fear I shall never have that happiness. My best wishes however attend my dear country. Esto perpetua.

1 In October, 1775, he went to the camp at Cambridge, as one of a committee from Congress to consult with General Washington respecting the affairs of the army then besieging Boston.-S.

VOL. IX-P

It is now blest with an excellent constitution; may it last for ever!

This powerful monarchy continues its friendship for the United States. It is a friendship of the utmost importance to our security, and should be carefully cultivated. Britain has not yet well digested the loss of its dominion over us, and has still at times some flattering hopes of recovering it. Accidents may increase those hopes, and encourage dangerous attempts. A breach between us and France would infallibly bring the English again upon our backs; and yet we have some wild heads among our countrymen, who are endeavouring to weaken that connexion! Let us preserve our reputation by performing our engagements; our credit by fulfilling our contracts; and friends by gratitude and kindness; for we know not how soon we may again have occasion for all of them. With great and sincere esteem, I have the honour to be, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

SIR,

1503. TO THOMAS MIFFLIN

(L. C.)

Passy, May 12, 1784.

In my last I acquainted your Excellency, that Mr. Hartley was soon expected here to exchange Ratifications of the definitive Treaty. He is now arriv'd, and proposes to make the Exchange this Afternoon. I shall then be enabled to send a Copy. Enclosed is the new British Proclamation respecting our Trade with their Colonies. It is said to be only a temporary Provision, till Parliament can assemble and make some proper regulating Law, or till a commercial Treaty shall be framed and agreed to. Mr. Hartley expects Instructions

for planning with us such a Treaty. The Ministry are suppos'd to have been too busy with the new Elections, when he left London, to think of those Matters.

This Court has not compleated its intended new System for the Trade of their Colonies, so that I cannot yet give a certain Account of the Advantages, that will in fine be allow'd us. At present it is said we are to have two Free Ports, Tobago and the Mole, and that we may carry Lumber and all sorts of Provisions to the rest, except Flour, which is reserv'd in favour of Bordeaux, and that we shall be permitted to export Coffee, Rum, Mollasses, and some Sugar, for our own Consumption.

We have had under Consideration a commercial Treaty propos'd to us by the King of Prussia, and have sent it back with our Remarks to Mr. Adams, who will, I suppose, transmit it immediately to Congress. Those plann'd with Denmark and Portugal wait its Determination.

Be pleased to present my dutiful Respects to the Congress, and believe me to be, with sincere and great Esteem, Sir, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

1504. TO HENRY LAURENS

DEAR SIR,

(L. C.)

Passy, May 13, 1784.

I am sorry for the numerous Disappointments you have lately met with. The World, it's true, is full of Disappointments, but they are not equally divided, and you have had more than your Share.

The Ratifications of the definitive Treaty are now exchang'd; but Mr. Hartley waits for Instructions respecting