formidable naval force established at the public charge?" I can only answer at present, that nothing seems wanting but that "general consent." The novelty of the thing deters some, the doubt of success, others, the vain hope of reconciliation, many. But our enemies take continually every proper measure to remove these obstacles, and their endeavours are attended with success, since every day furnishes us with new causes of increasing enmity, and new reasons for wishing an eternal separation; so that there is a rapid increase of the formerly small party, who were for an independent government. Your epigram on Lord Chatham's remark has amply repaid me for the song. Accept my thanks for it, and for the charming extract of a lady's letter, contained in your favor of January 22d. I thought, when I sat down, to have written by this opportunity to Dr. Cooper, Mr. Bowdoin, and Dr. Winthrop, but I am interrupted. Be so good as to present my affectionate respects to them, and to your family. Adieu, my dear friend, and believe me ever yours most affectionately. Το Philip ted New We arrived here safe yesterday evening, in your postchaise driven by Lewis. I was unwilling to give so much trouble, and would have borrowed your sulkey, and driven myself; but good Mrs. Schuyler insisted on a full compliance with your pleasure, as signified in your letter, and I was obliged to submit, which I was afterwards very glad of, part of the road being very stony and much gullied, where I should, probably, have overset and broken my own bones, all the skill and dexterity of Lewis being no more than sufficient. Through the influence of your kind recommendation to the innkeepers on the road, we found a great readiness to supply us with a change of horses. Accept our thankful acknowledgments; they are all we can at present make. We congratulate you on the very valuable prize made at Boston. They threaten us with a mighty force from England and Germany. I trust that, before the end of the campaign, its inefficacy will be apparent to all the world, our enemies become sick of their projects, and the freedom of America be established on the surest foundation, its own ability to defend it. May God bless, and preserve you, for all our sakes as well as for that of your dear family. Mr. Carroll joins me in every hearty wish for prosperity and felicity to you and yours. To the Commissioners in Canada, da ted New We arrived here safe yesterday evening, having left Mrs. Walker with her husband at Albany, from whence we came down by land. York, 27 May, 1776. We passed him on Lake Champlain; but he returning overtook us at Saratoga, where they both took such liberties, in taunting at our conduct in Canada, that it came almost to a quarrel. We continued our care of her, however, and landed her safe in Albany with her three wagon loads of baggage, brought thither without putting her to any expense, and parted civilly, though coldly. I think they both have an excellent talent at making themselves enemies, and, I believe, live where they will, they will never be long without them. We met yesterday two officers from Philadelphia, with a letter from the Congress to the Commissioners, and a sum of hard money. I opened the letter, and sealed it again, directing them to carry it forward to you. I congratulate you on the great prize carried into Boston. Seventy-five tons of gunpowder are an excellent supply, and the thousand carbines with bayonets, another fine article. The German auxiliaries are certainly coming. It is our business to prevent their returning. The Congress have advised the erecting new governments, which has occasioned some dissension in Philadelphia, but I hope it will soon be composed. I shall be glad to hear of your welfare. As to myself, I find I grow daily more feeble, and think I could hardly have got along so far, but for Mr. Carroll's friendly assistance and tender care of me. Some symptoms of the gout now appear, which makes me think my indisposition has been a smothered fit of that disorder, which my constitution wanted strength to form completely. I have had several fits of it formerly.* *The Doctor's health was always a convenient excuse when he did not wish to give a better. It is not likely, however, that he would have returned so abruptly if he had not found a state of feeling on that border which was fatal to any co-operation of the Canadians with the revolting colonies. A printing press and printing apparatus, with hands competent to print in French and English, accompanied this mission. Two papers were issued, when it was ascertained that only one Canadian in five hundred could read. The Doctor very wisely suggested, when he returned, that if another mission was to be sent to Canada it should consist of schoolmasters. The arrival of a messenger at Montreal with the news that a British fleet with troops on board had reached Quebec, and had attacked the small and disheartened army of the colonists and put it to flight, was the immediate cause of his prompt return. He was charged to go back with Mr. John Carroll, report the state of affairs to Congress, and expedite the measures necessary to protect and reinforce the congressional troops in Canada, so as to delay as much as possible the progress of the British troops southward. The Doctor reached Philadelphia early in June, after an absence of about ten weeks, and in time to take part in that memorable proceeding which was destined to render the fourth day of July one of the most memorable anniversaries in history. Dr. Franklin's name is imperishably associated with the Declaration of American Independence by two specimens of his wit, the rare excellence of which has given them a currency which has long since worn off all their novelty. Mr. Jefferson, who drafted the Declaration, has preserved one of them. The delegates found a great many things to criticise and to alter in the document. "I was sitting by Dr. Franklin," says Jefferson, "who perceived that I was writhing under these mutilations. "I have made it a rule,' said he, 'whenever in my power, to avoid becoming the draftsman of papers to be reviewed by a public body. I took my lesson from an incident which I will relate to you. "When I was a journeyman printer, one of my companions, an apprenticed hatter, having served out his time, was about to open shop for himself. His first concern was to have a handsome signboard with a proper inscription. He composed it in these words: John Thompson, Hatter, makes and sells Hats for ready Money, with a figure of a hat subjoined. But he thought he would submit it to his friends for their amendments. The first he showed it to thought the word hatter tautologous, because followed by the words makes hats, which showed he was a hatter. It was struck out. The next observed that the word makes might as well be omitted, because his customers would not care who made the hats; if good and to their mind they would buy, by whomsoever made. He struck it out. A third said he thought the words for ready money were useless, as it was not the custom of the place to sell on credit. Every one who purchased expected to pay. They were parted with, and the inscription now stood, John Thompson sells hats. "Sells hats," says his next friend; "why, nobody will expect you to give them away. What, then, is the use of that word?" It was stricken out, and hats followed, the rather as there was one painted on the board. So his inscription was ultimately reduced to John Thompson, with the figure of a hat subjoined."" When the members were about to sign the document, Mr. Hancock is reported to have said, "We must be unanimous; there must be no pulling different ways; we must all hang together." "Yes," replied Franklin, "we must indeed all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." Four days after the 4th of July, delegates were elected to a Constitutional Convention for Pennsylvania, of which Franklin was afterwards chosen president. On the 20th this body chose Franklin a member of Congress by the highest number of votes cast for any candidate. The last act of the Constitutional Convention was to adopt the following resolution unanimously: "Resolved, That the thanks of this Convention be given to the President for the honor he has done it by filling the chair during the debates on the most important parts of the bill of rights and frame of government, and for his able and disinterested advice thereon."-ED. CHAPTER XII. Negotiations with Lord Howe for a Reconciliation with the ColoniesFranklin's Curtain Lecture to John Adams. To Lord Howe,* dated 1776. I RECEIVED safe, the letters your Lordship so kindly forwarded to me, and beg you to accept my thanks. The official despatches, to which you refer me, contain nothing more than what we had seen in the * Lord Howe, the commander of the British fleet of one hundred and twenty sail which arrived in the waters of New York in the early part of July, 1776, was appointed with his brother, General William Howe, joint commissioner to try to negotiate a reconciliation with the colonies. Franklin's English friends had profited by the opportunity of Lord Howe's appointment to send over to him various parcels, which his lordship sent to Franklin with the following polite communication: LORD HOWE TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. "Eagle, June 20th, 1776. "I cannot, my worthy friend, permit the letters and parcels, which I have sent in the state I received them, to be landed, without adding a word upon the subject of the injurious extremities in which our unhappy differences have engaged us. You will learn the nature of my mission, from the official despatches, which I have recommended to be forwarded by the same conveyance. Re VOL. II.-31 Q 361 |