not certain; so, to make sure, I write this line to acknowledge the receiving of it, and to thank you for it. I condole with you on the death of the good old lady, your mother. Separations of this kind from those we love are grievous; but it is the will of God, that such should be the nature of things in this world. All that ever were born are either dead, or must die. It becomes us to submit, and to comfort ourselves with the hope of a better life and more happy meeting hereafter.

Sally kept to her horse the greatest part of the journey, and was much pleased with the tour. She often remembers, with pleasure and gratitude, the kindnesses she met with, and received from our friends everywhere, and particularly at your house. She talks of writing by this post; and my dame sends her love to you, and thanks for the care you took of her old man, but, having bad spectacles, cannot write at present.

Mr. Kent's compliment is a very extraordinary one, as he was obliged to kill himself and two others in order to make it; but, being killed in imagination only, they and he are all yet alive and well, thanks to God, and I hope will continue so as long as, dear Katy, your affectionate friend,

B. FRANKLIN.

P. S. My best respects to Mr. Greene, and love to "the little dear creatures." I believe the instruc

tions relating to the post-office have been sent to Mr. Rufus Greene.

TO MISS MARY STEVENSON.

DEAR POLLY,

Philadelphia, 14 March, 1764.

I have received your kind letters of August 30th and November 16th. Please to return my thanks, with those of my friend, to Mr. Stanley for his favor in the music, which gives great satisfaction. I am glad to hear of the welfare of the Blount family, and the addition it has lately received; and particularly that your Dolly's health is mended. Present my best respects to them, and to the good Dr. and Mrs. Hawkesworth, when you see them.

I believe you were right in dissuading your good mother from coming hither. The proposal was a hasty thought of mine, in which I considered only some profit she might make by the adventure, and the pleasure to me and my family from the visit; but forgot poor Polly, and what her feelings must be on the occasion, and perhaps did not sufficiently reflect, that the inconveniences of such a voyage, to a person of her years and sex, must be more than the advantages could compensate.

I am sincerely concerned to hear of Mrs. Rooke's long-continued affliction with that cruel gout. My best wishes attend her and good Mrs. Tickell. Let me hear from you as often as you can afford it. You can scarce conceive the pleasure your letters give me. Blessings on his soul, that first invented writing, without which, I should, at this distance, be as effectually cut off from my friends in England, as the dead are from the living. But I write so little, that I can have no claim to much from you. Business, public and private, devours all my time. I must return to England for repose. With such thoughts I flatter myself,

and need some kind friend to put me often in mind, that old trees cannot safely be transplanted.

Adieu, my amiable friend, and believe me ever yours most affectionately,

B. FRANKLIN.

TO JONATHAN WILLIAMS.

Philadelphia, 24 May, 1764.

DEAR KINSMAN,

The bearer is the Reverend Mr. Rothenbuler, minister of a new Calvinist German Church lately erected in this city. The congregation is but poor at present, being many of them new comers, and (like other builders) deceived in their previous calculations, they have distressed themselves by the expense of their building; but, as they are an industrious, sober people, they will be able in time to afford that assistance to others, which they now humbly crave for themselves.

His business in Boston is, to petition the generous and charitable among his Presbyterian brethren for their kind benefactions. As he will be a stranger in New England, and I know you are ready to do every good work, I take the freedom to recommend him and his business to you for your friendly advice and countenance. The civilities you show him shall be acknowledged as done to your affectionate uncle,

B. FRANKLIN.

TO GEORGE WHITEFIELD.

Confidence in the Divine Goodness.

DEAR FRIEND,

Philadelphia, 19 June, 1764.

I received your favors of the 21st past, and of the 3d instant, and immediately sent the enclosed as directed.

Your frequently repeated wishes for my eternal, as well as my temporal happiness, are very obliging, and I can only thank you for them and offer you mine in return. I have myself no doubt, that I shall enjoy as much of both as is proper for me. That Being, who gave me existence, and through almost threescore years has been continually showering his favors upon me, whose very chastisements have been blessings to me; can I doubt that he loves me? And, if he loves me, can I doubt that he will go on to take care of me, not only here but hereafter? This to some may seem presumption; to me it appears the best grounded hope; hope of the future built on experience of the past.

By the accounts I have of your late labors, I conclude your health is mended by your journey, which gives me pleasure. Mrs. Franklin presents her cordial respects, with, dear Sir, your affectionate humble servant, B. FRANKLIN.

P. S. We hope you will not be deterred from visiting your friends here, by the bugbear Boston account of the unhealthiness of Philadelphia.

FROM HENRY BOUQUET TO B. FRANKLIN.

Services rendered by Franklin in forwarding the Operations of the late War.

DEAR SIR,

Fort Loudoun, 22 August, 1764.

I received yesterday your obliging letter of the 16th instant, with the welcome account, that my request to the governor and commissioners (to enable me to recruit the number of men wanted to replace the deserters of the Pennsylvania troops) was granted. Ar application of this nature being unusual, I doubted of its success, and nothing but the necessity of completing those two battalions, would have induced me to make an attempt liable to so many objections from the known economy of the Board of Commissioners in the disposal of public money. My dependence was as usual upon you; and indeed, had you not supported my request in the warmest manner, it must have miscarried, and left me exposed to many inconveniences.

Your conduct on this occasion does not surprise me, as I have not alone experienced the favorable effects of your readiness to promote the service. I know that General Shirley owed to you the considerable supply of provisions this government voted for his troops, besides warm clothing; that you alone could and did procure for General Braddock the carriages, without which he could not have proceeded on his expedition; that you had a road opened through this province to supply more easily his army with provisions, and spent a summer in those different services without any other reward, than the satisfaction of serving the public. And I am not unacquainted with the share