Like the proud and I must agree with you, that the fall my passions. gout is bad, and that the stone is girl in my country, who wished and worse. I am happy in not having resolved not to marrry a parson, nor them both together, and I join in a Presbyterian, nor an Irishman, your prayer, that you may live till at length found herself married to an you die without either. But I doubt Irish, Presbyterian parson! You see the author of the epitaph you sent I have some reason to wish that, in a me is a little mistaken, when, speak- future state, I may not only be as ing of the world, he says, that well as I was, but a little better. And I hope it: for I too, with your poet, He ne'er cared a pin What they said, or may say, of the mortal within. trust in God. And when I observe, that there is great frugality as well It is so natural to wish to be well as wisdom in his works, since he spoken of, whether alive or dead, that has been evidently sparing, both of I imagine he could not be quite ex- labour and materials; for, by the vaempt from that desire, and that, at rious wonderful inventions of propaleast, he wished to be thought a wit, gation, he has provided for the conor he would not have given himself tinual peopling his world with plants the trouble of writing so good an and animals without being at the trouepitaph to leave behind him. Was ble of repeated new creations; and by it not worthy of his care, that the the natural reduction of compound world should say he was an honest substances to their original elements, and a good man? I like better the capable of being employed in new concluding sentiment in the old song, compositions, he has prevented the called the Old Man's Wish, wherein, necessity of creating new matter; for after wishing for a warm house, in a that the earth, water, air, and percountry town, an easy horse, some haps fire, which being compounded, good old authors, ingenious and form wood, do, when the wood is cheerful companions, pudding on dissolved, return, and again become Sundays, with stout ale and a bottle air, earth, fire, and water:-I say, of Burgundy, &c. &c. in separate that when I see nothing annihilated, stanzas, each ending with this bur- and not even a drop of water wasted, den, I cannot suspect the annihilation of souls, or believe that he will suffer the daily waste of millions of minds ready made, that now exist, and put himself to the continual trouble of making new ones. Thus, finding myself to exist in the world, I believe I shall, in some shape or other, always exist. And, with all the inconveniences human life is liable to, I shall not object to a new edition of mine; hoping, however, that the What signifies our wishing! Things errata of the last may be corrected. happen, after all, as they will happen. I return your note of children reI have sung that wishing song a thou-ceived in the foundling hospital at sand times, when I was young; and Paris, from 1741 to 1755 inclusive, now find, at fourscore, that the and I have added the years preceding, three contraries have befallen me, as far back as 1710, together with being subject to the gout, and the the general christenings of the city; stone, and not being yet master of and the years succeeding down to May I govern my passions with absolute sway, away, Without gout or stone, by a gentle decay he adds, for the last stanza, With courage undaunted may I face my last day, He's gone-and not left behind him his fellow. 1770. Those since that period Ichildren; and we often meet trains have not been able to obtain. I have of them on the road, returning to noted in the margin the gradual in- the neighbouring villages with each a crease, viz. from every tenth child child in arms. But those who are so thrown upon the public, till it good enough to try this way of raiscomes to every third. Fifteen years ing their children, are often not able have passed since the last account, to pay the expense; so that the priand probably it may now amount to sons of Paris are crowded with one half. Is it right to encourage wretched fathers and mothers confinthis monstrous deficiency of natural ed pour mois de nourice; though it affection? A surgeon I met with is laudably a favourite charity to pay here excused the women of Paris, for them, and set such prisoners at by saying seriously, that they could liberty. I wish success to the new not give suck,-Car, dit-il, ils n'ont project of assisting the poor to keep point de tetons. He assured me it their children at home, because I was a fact, and bade me look at think there is no nurse like a mother them, and observe how flat they were (or not many ;) and that, if parents on the breast. They have nothing did not immediately send their inmore there, says he, than I have upon fants out of their sight, they would the back of my hand. I have since in a few days begin to love them, thought that there might be some truth and thence be spurred to greater inin his observation, and that possibly dustry for their maintenance. This Nature, finding they made no use of is a subject you understand better bubbies, has left off giving them any. than I, and therefore, having perYet, since Rousseau, with admirable haps said too much, I drop it. I eloquence, pleaded for the rights of only add to the notes a remark from children to their mother's milk, the the History of the Academy of Scimode has changed a little, and some ences, much in favour of the foundladies of quality now suckle their in- ling institution. fants, and find milk enough. May The Philadelphia bank goes on, as the mode descend to the lower ranks, I hear, very well. What you call the till it becomes no longer the custom Cincinnati institution is no instituto pack their infants away, as soon tion of our government, but a private as born, to the Enfans Trouvés, convention among the officers of our with the careless observation, that late army, and so universally disliked the king is better able to maintain by the people, that it is supposed it them. I am credibly informed, will be dropped. It was considered that nine-tenths of them die there as an attempt to establish something pretty soon; which is said to be a like an hereditary rank or nobility. great relief to the institution, whose I hold with you, that it was wrong. funds would not otherwise be suffi- May I add, that all descending hocient to bring up the remainder. nours are wrong and absurd; that Except the few persons of quality the honour of virtuous actions apperabove-mentioned, and the multitude tains only to him that performs them, who send to the hospital, the prac- and is in its nature incommunicable. tice is to hire nurses in the country, If it were communicable by descent, to carry out the children, and take it must also be divisible among care of them there. Here is an of- descendants; and the more ancient fice for examining the health of nurses the family, the less would be found and giving them licenses. They existing in any one branch of it; to come to town on certain days of the say nothing of the greater chance of week, in companies, to receive the unlucky interruptions. the Our constitution seems not to be not choose to remain among uswell understood with you. If the their answer was, that they were congress were a permanent body, pleased with having had an opportuthere would be more reason in being nity of seeing many fine things, but jealous of giving it powers. But its they chose to live in their own counmembers are chosen annually, and try: which country, by the way, cannot be chosen more than three consisted of rock only; for the Morayears successively, nor more than vians were obliged to carry earth in three years in seven, and any of their ship from New York, for the them may be recalled at any time, purpose of making there a cabbage whenever their constituents shall garden! be dissatisfied with their conduct. By Mr. Dollond's saying that my They are of the people, and return double spectacles could only serve again to mix with the people, hav-particular eyes, I doubt he has not ing no more durable pre-eminence been rightly informed of their conthan the different grains of sand in struction. I imagine it will be found an hour-glass. Such an assem- pretty generally true, that the same bly cannot easily become danger-convexity of glass, through which a ous to liberty. They are the ser- man sees clearest and best at the disvants of the people, sent together to tance proper for reading, is not the do the people's business, and pro- best for greater distances. I theremote the public welfare: their pow-fore had formerly two pair of spectaers must be sufficient, or their duties cles, which I shifted occasionally; as cannot be performed. They have in travelling I sometimes read, and no profitable appointments, but a often want to regard the prospects. mere payment of daily wages, such Finding this change troublesome, and as are scarcely equivalent to their not always sufficiently ready, I had expenses; so that, having no chance the glasses cut out, and half of each for great places and enormous sala-kind associated in the same circle, ries or pensions, as in some coun- the least convex, for distant objects, tries, there is no briguing or bribing the upper half, and the most convex, for elections. I wish Old England for reading, the lower half. By this were as happy in its government; but means, as I wear my spectacles conI do not see it. Your people, how-stantly, I have only to move my ever, think their constitution the best eyes up or down, as I want to see in the world, and affect to despise distinctly far or near, the proper ours. It is comfortable to have a glasses being always ready. This I good opinion of one's self, and of find more particularly convenient every thing that belongs to us; to since my being in France; the glassthink one's own religion, king, and es that serve me best at table, to see wife, the best of all possible wives, what I eat, being the best to see the kings, and religions. I remember faces of those on the other side of three Greenlanders, who had travel- the table who speak to me; and, when led two years in Europe, under the one's ears are not well accustomed care of some Moravian missionaries, to the sounds of a language, a sight and had visited Germany, Denmark, of the movements in the features of Holland, and England, when I asked him that speaks helps to explain; so them at Philadelphia (when they that I understand French better by were in their way home) whether, the help of my spectacles. now they had seen how much more My intended translator of your commodiously the white people lived piece, the only one I know who unby the help of the arts, they would derstands the subject, as well as the two languages,-which a translator | well, notwithstanding the assembly ought to do, or he cannot make so repealed its charter; a new assembly good a translation,-is at present oc- has restored it; and the management cupied in an affair that prevents his is so prudent, that I have no doubt undertaking it; but that will soon of its continuing to go on well. The be over. I thank you for the notes. dividend has never been less than six I should be glad to have another of per cent., nor will that be augmentthe printed pamphlets. ed for some time, as the surplus profit We shall always be ready to take is reserved to face accidents. The your children, if you send them to us. dividend of eleven per cent., which I only wonder, that, since London was once made, was from a circumdraws to itself and consumes such stance scarce avoidable. A new numbers of your country people, company was proposed, and preventyour country should not, to supply ed only by admitting a number of their places, want, and willingly re- new partners. As many of the first ceive, the children you have to dis- set were averse to this, and chose to pose of. That circumstance, toge- withdraw, it was necessary to settle ther with the multitude who volun- their accounts; so all were adjusted, tarily part with their freedom as men, the profits shared that had been accuto serve for a time as lackeys, or for mulated, and the new and old proprielife as soldiers, in consideration of tors jointly began on a new and equal small wages, seems to me a proof footing. Their notes are always inthat your island is over-peopled; and stantly paid on demand, and pass on yet it is afraid of emigrations! Adieu, all occasions as readily as silver, bemy dear friend; and believe me, ever, cause they will always produce silver. yours very affectionately, B. FRANKLIN. LETTER XXVIII. Esq. Your medallion is in good company; it is placed with those of lord Chatham, lord Camden, Marquis of Rockingham, sir George Savil, and some others, who honoured me with a share of friendly regard when in Dr. Franklin to George Whatley, England. I believe I have thanked you for it, but I thank you again. I believe, with you, that if our plePhiladelphia, May 18, 1787. nipotentiary is desirous of concludI RECEIVED duly my good old ing a treaty of commerce, he may friend's letter of the 19th of Februa- need patience. But, if I were in his ry, with a copy of one from Mr. Wil- place, and not otherwise instructed, liams, to whom I shall communicate I should be apt to say, Take your it when I see him, which I expect own time, gentlemen. If the treaty soon to do. He is generally a punc- cannot be made as much to your adtual correspondent, and I am sur-vantage as to ours, don't make it. I prised you have not heard from him. am sure the want of it is not more to I thank you much for your notes our disadvantage than to yours. Let on banks; they are just and solid, the merchants on both sides treat as far as I can judge of them. Our with one another. Laissez les faire. bank here has met with great oppo- I have never considered attentively sition, partly from envy, and partly the congress scheme for coining, and from those who wish an emission of I have it not now at hand; so that more paper-money, which they think at present I can say nothing to it. the bank influence prevents. But it The chief uses of coining seem to has stood all attacks, and went on be, ascertaining the fineness of the metals, and saving the time that would otherwise be spent in weighing to as LETTER XXIX. Dear sir, Hackney, June 19, 1790. certain the quantity. But the conve- Dr. Price to a Gentleman in America. nience of fixed values to pieces is so great as to force the currency of some whose stamp is worn off, that should have assured their fineness, and I AM hardly able to tell you how which are evidently not of half their kindly I take the letters with which due weight: this is the case at pre- you favour me. Your last, containsent with the sixpences in England, ing an account of the death of our which, one with another, do not weigh excellent friend, Dr. Franklin, and three-pence. the circumstances attending it, de You are now 78, and I am 82. serves my particular gratitude. The You tread fast upon my heels: but, account which he has left of his life though you have more strength and will show, in a striking example, how spirit, you cannot come up with me a man, by talents, industry, and intill I stop; which must now be soon; tegrity, may rise from obscurity to for I am grown so old as to have bu- the first eminence and consequence ried most of the friends of my youth; in the world; but it brings his histoand I now often hear persons, whom ry no lower than the year 1757, and I knew when children, called old Mr. I understand, that since he sent over such a one, to distinguish them from the copy, which I have read, he has their sons, now men grown, and in been able to make no additions to it. business; so that, by living twelve It is with a melancholy regret I think years beyond David's period, I seem of his death; but to death we are all to have intruded myself into the com- bound by the irreversible order of pany of posterity, when I ought to nature; and in looking forward to it, have been a-bed and asleep. Yet, there is comfort in being able to rehad I gone at 70, it would have cut off flect, that we have not lived in vain, twelve of the most active years of my and that all the useful and virtuous life, employed, too, in matters of the shall meet in a better country beyond greatest importance: but whether I the grave. have been doing good or mischief, is for time to discover: I only know that I intended well, and I hope all will end well. Dr. Franklin, in the last letter I received from him, after mentioning his age and infirmities, observes, that it has been kindly ordered by the Be so good as to present my affec- Author of nature, that, as we draw tionate respects to Dr. Rowley. I nearer the conclusion of life, we are am under great obligations to him, furnished with more helps to wean and shall write to him shortly. It us from it, among which one of the will be a pleasure to him to hear that strongest is the loss of dear friends.. my malady does not grow sensibly I was delighted with the account worse; and that is a great point: for you gave in your letter of the honour it has always been so tolerable, as not shown to his memory at Philadelphia, to prevent my enjoying the pleasures and by congress; and yesterday I of society, and being cheerful in con- received a high additional pleasure, versation. I owe this, in a great by being informed, that the national measure, to his good counsels. Adieu, assembly of France had determined my dear friend; and believe me, ever, to go into mourning for him.-What yours most affectionately, a glorious scene is opened there! B. FRANKLIN. The annals of the world furnish no parallel to it. One of the honours |