I love that dear good girl myself, and I love her other friends. I am, therefore, made happy by what must contribute so much to the happiness of them all. Remember me to her, and to every one of that worthy and amiable family, most affectionately.

Remember me in the same manner to your and my good Dr. and Mrs. Hawkesworth. You have lately, you tell me, had the pleasure of spending three days with them at Mrs. Stanley's. It was a sweet society. I, too, once partook of that same pleasure, and can therefore feel what you must have felt. Remember me also to Mr. and Mrs. Stanley, and to Miss Arlond.

Of all the enviable things England has, I envy it most its people. Why should that petty Island, which, compared to America, is but like a stepping-stone in a brook, scarce enough of it above water to keep one's shoes dry; why, I say, should that little Island enjoy, in almost every neighbourhood, more sensible, virtuous, and elegant minds, than we can collect in ranging a hundred leagues of it is said the Arts delight to have effectually defended us in in time you will improve us. for the necessaries of life are think of the embellishments. young geniuses begin to lisp attempts at painting, poWe have a young painter now stu

our vast forests? But travel westward. You this glorious war, and After the first cares over, we shall come to Already, some of our

etry, and music. dying at Rome. send you, which, if Dr. Hawkesworth's fine taste cannot approve, his good heart will at least excuse. The manuscript piece is by a young friend of mine, and was occasioned by the loss of one of his friends, who lately made a voyage to Antigua to settle some affairs, previous to an intended marriage with an amiable young lady here, but unfortunately died there. I

Some specimens of our poetry I

send it to you, because the author is a great admirer of Mr. Stanley's musical compositions, and has adapted this piece to an air in the sixth Concerto of that gentleman, the sweetly solemn movement of which he is quite in raptures with. He has attempted to compose a recitativo for it, but, not being able to satisfy himself in the bass, wishes I could get it supplied. If Mr. Stanley would condescend to do that for him, he would esteem it as one of the highest honors, and it would make him excessively happy. You will say that a recitativo can be but a poor specimen of our music. It is the best and all I have at present, but you may see better hereafter.

I hope Mr. Ralph's affairs are mended since you wrote. I know he had some expectations, when I came away, from a hand that would help him. He has merit, and one would think ought not to be so unfortunate.

I do not wonder at the behaviour you mention of Dr. S towards me, for I have long since known him thoroughly. I made that man my enemy by doing him too much kindness. It is the honestest way of acquiring an enemy. And, since it is convenient to have at least one enemy, who, by his readiness to revile one on all occasions, may make one careful of one's conduct, I shall keep him an enemy for that purpose; and shall observe your good mother's advice, never again to receive him as a friend. She once admired the benevolent spirit breathed in his sermons. She will now see the justness of the lines your laureate Whitehead addressed to his poets, and which I now address to her.

"Full many a peevish, envious, slanderous elf

Is, in his works, benevolence itself.

For all mankind, unknown, his bosom heaves;
He only injures those, with whom he lives.

Read, then, the man; - does truth his actions guide,
Exempt from petulance, exempt from pride?
To social duties does his heart attend,

As son, as father, husband, brother, friend?
Do those, who know him, love him? If they do,
You've my permission, you may love him too."

Nothing can please me more, than to see your philosophical improvements, when you have leisure to communicate them to me. I still owe you a long letter on that subject, which I shall pay. I am vexed with Mr. James, that he has been so dilatory in Mr. Madison's Armonica. I was unlucky in both the workmen, that I permitted to undertake making those instruments. The first was fanciful, and never could work to the purpose, because he was ever conceiving some new improvement, that answered no end. The other I doubt is absolutely idle. I have recommended a number to him from hence, but must stop my hand.

Adieu, my dear Polly, and believe me, as ever, with the sincerest esteem and regard, your truly affectionate friend and humble servant,

B. FRANKLIN.

P. S. My love to Mrs. Tickell and Mrs. Rooke, and to Pitty, when you write to her. Mrs. Franklin and Sally desire to be affectionately remembered to you. I find the printed poetry I intended to enclose will be too bulky to send. I shall send it by a ship, that goes shortly from hence.

FROM RICHARD JACKSON TO B. FRANKLIN.

Congratulation on his Arrival in America. - Pennsylvania Affairs.

DEAR SIR,

London, 4 April, 1763.

I received your favors by the packet, as well as those by the Carolina. I had before the pleasure to hear of your safe arrival from Mr. Strahan, which was the more acceptable, because the time that had elapsed since your sailing was rather too long, and gave your friends room for apprehensions. I have before wished you joy on Mr. Franklin's promotion. I doubt not it will give as much pleasure to the Province of New Jersey, as to him and your friends. I saw him a day or two before he left London, and acquainted him with my situation, as to a seat in Parliament. I was then pretty secure; but I shall never be sanguine again as long as I live, though I was not disappointed on this occasion. In fact I was chosen for Wymouth the week in which the Parliament met in November, and have made as prudent a use of my seat since that time as I have been able. A seat in Parliament, in this kingdom, is, you know, usually built on negotiation, and those negotiations, in the course of which I met with some traverses, took up most of my last summer, so that I could complete but the skeleton of my work. I think, however, the most difficult part is finished; perhaps I might have said so, if I had only begun it. I shall certainly complete it this summer, though I do not mean to publish it as complete as I make it. It will be necessary that it should not be too long. after you in

The Speaker has frequently inquired after

a very particular manner. He did so when I dined with him yesterday, expressing great pleasure in knowing of your safe arrival, and insisted on my remembering to send his compliments. I think I collect from Mr. Charles, who you see is now comptroller at the post-office, that his discontent conceived against the Assembly of Pennsylvania was upon their refusal to abide by his and your opinion at the Council, upon the Supply Bill.* I met Mr. Penn yesterday, who was very civil to me. Though nothing could give me more pleasure than to hear of your safe arrival and health, I had less pleasure in hearing of the joy universally expressed at Philadelphia on the occasion. In truth, this was nothing but what I well knew before

* The legislation of Pennsylvania was, at this period, subject to extraordinary embarrassments. In the first place, the Proprietors, Thomas Penn and Richard Penn, possessed the same rights and property in the province, that had belonged to their father, William Penn; but they resided in England, and governed the province by a deputy, whom they bound by inflexible instructions, from which he had no discretion to deviate. It was necessary, that all bills passed by the Assembly, before they could become laws, should be approved by the governor. It was further necessary, that these laws should then be sent over to England, examined by the Board of Trade, reported to the King's Council, and at last receive the royal sanction. Notwithstanding the instructions of the Proprietors to their deputy-governor, laws would sometimes receive his signature, which they did not approve; and, in such cases, when the laws came before the Board of Trade and the Council, they would use their interest to defeat them and procure their repeal. In 1760, seven laws were sent over, which the Proprietors disliked, and opposed before the Board. They succeeded in obtaining the repeal of six of them. The seventh, being an act for raising one hundred thousand pounds for the public service, chiefly to aid in carrying on the war, though it was declared objectionable, was nevertheless allowed to stand, against the wish of the Proprietors, in consideration of engagements entered into at the time by Dr. Franklin and Mr. Charles, agents for the province, that the Assembly should remove certain objections by a supplementary act.

The objections will be understood by a brief recital of the proposed amendments; namely, "That all money raised shall be disposed of by the joint consent of the governor and Assembly; that it shall be clear