them, I employ them, some in spin-French hair dressers), would hardly ning, others in hewing timber and brighten a spot big enough to be visawing boards, others in making sible from the moon (unless with bricks, &c. for building, the value Herschell's telescope), so vast are of my corn will be arrested, and re- the regions still in the world unimmain with me; and, at the end of the proved. year, we may all be better clothed 'Tis however some comfort to reand better lodged. And if, instead flect, that, upon the whole, the quantity of employing a man I feed in mak- of industry and prudence among maning bricks, I employ him in fiddling kind exceeds the quantity of idleness for me, the corn he eats is gone, and and folly. Hence the increase of no part of his manufacture remains good buildings, farms cultivated, and to augment the wealth and the con- populous cities filled with wealth all veniences of the family. I shall over Europe, which, a few ages since, therefore be the poorer for this fid- were only to be found on the coasts dling man, unless the rest of my fa- of the Mediterranean. And this, mily work more or eat less to make notwithstanding the mad wars contiup the deficiency he occasions. nually raging, by which are often Look round the world, and see the destroyed in one year the works of millions employed in doing nothing, many years' peace. So that we may or in something that amounts to no- hope the luxury of a few merchants thing, when the necessaries and con- on the sea coast, will not be the ruin veniences of life are in question. of America. What is the bulk of commerce, for One reflection more, and I will which we fight and destroy each end this long, rambling letter. Alother, but the toil of millions for su- most all parts of our bodies require perfluities, to the great hazard and some expense. The feet demand loss of many lives by the constant shoes, the legs stockings, the rest of dangers of the sea? How much la- the body clothing, and the belly a bour spent in building and fitting good deal of victuals. Our eyes, great ships to go to China and Ara- though exceedingly useful, ask, when bia for tea and for coffee, to the West reasonable, only the cheap assistance Indies for sugar, to America for to- of spectacles, which could not much bacco! These things cannot be impair our finances. But THE EYES called the necessaries of life, for our oF OTHER PEOPLE are the eyes that ancestors lived very comfortably with- ruin us. If all but myself were out them. should want neither fine blind, I A question may be asked: Could clothes, fine houses, nor fine furniall these people, now employed in ture. Adieu, my dear friend. I am raising, making, or carrying superflu- yours ever. ities, be subsisted by raising neces saries? I think they might. The P. S. This will be delivered to world is large, and a great part of it you by my grandson. I am persuadstill uncultivated. Many hundred ed you will afford him your civilities millions of acres in Asia, Africa, and and counsels. Please to accept a America, are still forest, and a great little present of books I send by him, deal even in Europe. On one hun- curious for the beauty of the impresdred acres of this forest a man might sion. become a substantial farmer; and one hundred thousand men employed in clearing each his one hundred acres (instead of being, as they are, LETTER XV. I Iphlets, that few now-a-days venture to Dr. Franklin to David Hartley, Esq. have admired to see, that, in the last attempt reading a quarto volume. M. P. century, a folio, Burton on MelanchoPassy, July 5, 1785. ly, went through six editions in I CANNOT quit the coasts of Eu- about forty years. We have, I berope without taking leave of my ever lieve, more readers now, but not of dear friend Mr. Hartley. We were such large books. long fellow labourers in the best of You seem desirous of knowing all works, the work of peace. I leave what progress we make here in imyou still in the field; but, having fi-proving our governments. We are, nished my day's task, I am going I think, in the right road of improvehome to go to bed! Wish me a ment, for we are making experiments. good night's rest, as I do you a plea- I do not oppose all that seem wrong, sant evening. Adieu! And believe for the multitude are more effectually me ever yours most affectionately.* LETTER XVI. set right by experience, than kept from going wrong by reasoning with them and I think we are daily more and more enlightened; so that I have no doubt of our obtaining, in a Dr. Franklin to Dr. Shipley, Bishop few years, as much public felicity as of St. Asaph. good government is capable of afPhiladelphia, Feb. 24, 1786. fording. Your newspapers are filled with fictitious accounts of anarchy, Dear friend, I RECEIVED lately your kind letter confusion, distresses, and miseries, we of November 27. My reception here are supposed to be involved in, as was, as you have heard, very honour-consequences of the revolution; and able indeed; but I was betrayed by the few remaining friends of the old it, and by some remains of ambition, government among us take pains to from which I had imagined myself magnify every little inconvenience a free, to accept of the chair of govern- change in the course of commerce ment for the state of Pennsylvania, may have occasioned. To obviate when the proper thing for me was the complaints they endeavour to exrepose and a private life. I hope, cite, was written the enclosed little however, to be able to bear the fa- piece,* from which you may form a tigue for one year, and then to retire. truer idea of our situation than your I have much regretted our having own public prints would give you: so little opportunity for conversation and I can assure you, that the great when we last met. You could have body of our nation find themselves given me informations and counsels happy in the change, and have not that I wanted; but we were scarce the smallest inclination to return to a minute together without being the domination of Britain. There broken in upon. I am to thank you, could not be a stronger proof of the however, for the pleasure I had after general approbation of the measures our parting, in reading the new book that promoted the change, and of the you gave me, which I think general-change itself, than has been given ly well written and likely to do good; by the assembly and council of this though the reading time of most peo-state, in the nearly unanimous choice ple is of late so taken up with news- for their governor, of one, who had papers and little periodical pam-been so much concerned in those * Written in his eightieth year. * Uncertain what piece is alluded to. measures; the assembly being them-Jagreeable to me, who esteem it the selves the unbribed choice of the most useful, the most independent, people, and therefore may be truly and, therefore, the noblest of emsupposed of the same sentiments. Iployments. His lands are on navisay nearly unanimous, because, of gable water, communicating with the between seventy and eighty votes, Delaware, and but about sixteen miles there were only my own and one from this city. He has associated other in the negative. to himself a very skilful English As to my domestic circumstances, farmer, lately arrived here, who is to of which you kindly desire to hear instruct him in the business, and something, they are at present as partakes for a term of the profits; so happy as I could wish them. I am that there is a great apparent proba surrounded by my offspring, a duti- bility of their success. You will kindful and affectionate daughter in my ly expect a word or two concerning house, with six grandchildren, the myself. My health and spirits coneldest of which you have seen, who tinue, thanks to God, as when you is now at college in the next street, saw me. The only complaint I then finishing the learned part of his edu- had, does not grow worse, and is tocation; the others promising, both lerable. I still have enjoyment in for parts and good dispositions. What the company of my friends; and, their conduct may be when they grow being easy in my circumstances, have up, and enter the important scenes of many reasons to like living. But life, I shall not live to see, and I can- the course of nature must soon put a not foresee. I therefore enjoy among period to my present mode of existthem the present hour, and leave the ence. This I shall submit to with future to Providence. less regret, as, having seen, during a He that raises a large family does long life, a good deal of this world, I indeed, while he lives to observe feel a growing curiosity to be acthem, stand, as Watts says, a broad- quainted with some other; and can er mark for sorrow; but then he cheerfully, with filial confidence, restands a broader mark for pleasure sign my spirit to the conduct of that too. When we launch our little fleet great and good Parent of mankind of barks into the ocean, bound to who created it, and who has so gradifferent ports, we hope for each a ciously protected and prospered me prosperous voyage; but contrary from my birth to the present hour. winds, hidden shoals, storms, and Wherever I am, I hope always to reenemies, come in for a share in the tain the pleasing remembrance of disposition of events; and, though your friendship; being, with sincere these occasion a mixture of disap- and great esteem, my dear friend, pointment, yet, considering the risk yours most affectionately. where we can make no insurance, we should think ourselves happy if some return with success. My son's son (Temple Franklin), whom you have also seen, having had a fine farm of six hundred acres conveyed to him by his father when we were Dr. Franklin to M. le Marquis de la We all join in respects to Mrs. Shipley, and best wishes for the whole amiable family. at Southampton, has dropped, for the present, his views of acting in the political line, and applies himself ardently to the study and practice of I agriculture. This is much more did LETTER XVII. Fayette. -Philadelphia, April 17, 1787. Dear friend, February, 1786. The indolence of |neral confederating articles are now old age, and the perpetual teasing of about to be considered in a conventoo much business, have made me so tion called for that express purpose; bad a correspondent, that I have these will indeed be the most diffihardly written a letter to any fiiend cult to rectify. Those of particular in Europe during the last twelve- states will undoubtedly be rectified, month: but, as I have always a as their inconveniences shall by expleasure in hearing from them, which perience be made manifest. And, I cannot expect will be continued if whatever difference of sentiment I do not write to them, I again take there may be among us respecting up my pen, and begin with those particular regulations, the enthusiaswhose correspondence is of the great- tic rejoicings, with which the day of est value; among which I reckon declared independence is annually that of the Marquis de la Fayette. celebrated, demonstrate the universal I was glad to hear of your safe re- satisfaction of the people with the return to Paris, after so long and fa- volution and its grand principles. tiguing a journey. That is the I enclose the vocabulary you sent place where your enlightened zeal me, with the words of the Shawanese for the welfare of our country can and Delaware languages, which Coloemploy itself most to our advantage; nel Harmar has procured for me. and I know it is always at work, and He is promised one more complete, indefatigable. Our enemies are, as which I shall send you as soon as it you observe, very industrious in de- comes to my hands. preciating our national character. My grandson, whom you so kindTheir abuse sometimes provokes me, ly inquire after, is at his estate in and I am almost ready to retaliate; the Jerseys, and amuses himself but I have held my hand, though there with cultivating his lands. I wish is abundant room for recrimination; he would seriously make a business because I would do nothing that of it, and renounce all thoughts of might hasten another quarrel, by ex-public employment; for I think agriasperating those who are still sore culture the most honourable, because from their late disgraces. Perhaps the most independent, of all profesit may be best that they should please sions. But I believe he hankers a themselves with fancying us weak, little after Paris, or some other of and poor, and divided, and friend- the polished cities of Europe, thinkless; they may then not be jealous ing the society there preferable to of our growing strength (which, since what he meets with in the woods of the peace, does really make rapid Ancocas; as it certainly is. If he progress), and may be less intent on was now here, he would undoubtedinterrupting it. ly join with me and the rest of my I do not wonder that the Ger- family (who are much flattered by mans, who know little of free con- your remembrance of them) in best stitutions, should be ready to sup-wishes for your health and prospepose that such cannot support them-rity, and that of your whole amiselves. We think they may, and we able fireside. You will allow an old hope to prove it. That there should friend of fourscore to say he loves be faults in our first sketches or plans your wife, when he adds, and chilof government is not surprising; ra- dren, and prays God to bless them ther, considering the times and the all. Adieu! and believe me, ever, circumstances under which they yours most affectionately. were formed, it is surprising that the faults are so few. Those in the ge Philadelphia (without date, but My dear friend, I AM honoured by your letter desiring to know by what means I am you have shewn many instances of relieved in a disorder, with which your regard for me; yet I must now you are also unfortunately afflicted. desire you to add one more to the I have tried all the noted prescrip- number, which is, that, if you pubtions for diminishing the stone, with- lish your ingenious discourse on the out perceiving any good effect. But, moral sense, you will totally omit and observing temperance in eating, suppress that most extravagant encoavoiding wine and cider, and using mium on your friend Franklin, which daily the dumb-bell, which exercises hurt me exceedingly in the unexpectthe upper part of the body without ed hearing, and will mortify me bemuch moving the parts in contact yond conception, if it should appear with the stone, I think I have pre- from the press. Confiding in your vented its increase. As the rough- compliance with this earnest request, ness of the stone lacerates a little I am ever, my dear friend, yours the neck of the bladder, I find, that, most affectionately. when the urine happens to be sharp, I have much pain in making water, and frequent urgencies. For relief under this circumstance I take, go LETTER XX. Philadelphia, Dec. 4, 1789. My very dear friend, ing to bed, the bigness of a pigeon's Dr. Franklin to David Hartley, Esq. egg of jelly of blackberries: the receipt for making it is enclosed. While I continue to do this every night, I am generally easy the day I RECEIVED your favour of August following, making water pretty free- last. Your kind condolences, on the ly, and with long intervals. I wish painful state of my health, are very most sincerely that this simple re-obliging. I am thankful to God, medy may have the same happy ef- however, that, among the numerous fect with you. Perhaps currant jel-ills human life is subject to, one only ly, or the jelly of apples, or of rasp- of any importance is fallen to my lot; berries, may be equally serviceable; and that so late as almost to insure for I suspect the virtue of the jelly that it can be but of short duration. may lie principally in the boiled su- The convulsions in France are atgar, which is in some degree candi- tended with some disagreeable cired by the boiling of the jelly. Wish- cumstances; but, if by the struggle ing you, for your own sake, much she obtains, and secures for the namore ease, and, for the sake of man- tion, its future liberty, and a good conkind, many more years, I remain, stitution, a few years' enjoyment of with the greatest esteem and respect, those blessings will amply repair all dear sir, your most obedient and af- the damages their acquisition may fectionate servant. VOL. IV. Nos. 65 & 66, have occasioned. God grant, that not only the love of liberty, but a thorough knowledge of the rights of man, may pervade all the nations of 2 A |