but one room, and that quite public; so I can only add, that I have just received yours, Sally's, and Grace's letters, of the 25th, with one from Mr. Hughes, and one from Mr. Thomson. Present my respects to those gentlemen (and excuse my not writing, as I have nothing material, and am much hurried), and love to all our friends and neighbours. Billy presents his duty to you, and love to his sister; all the gentlemen their compliments; they drink your health at every meal, having always something on the table to put them in mind of you.

I found, among the newspapers, Mr. Shoen's bills of exchange, which should not have been sent up here; I suppose it was by mistake, and mention it, that you need not be troubled to look more for them. I am, dear girl, your loving husband,

B. FRANKLIN.

ons and baggage, which Captain Foulke, with forty-seven men, followed; and the rear guard was brought up by Ensign Sterling, who had besides scouts out, on each flank, and spies on every hill. In this manner our line of march extended a full mile, and made a pretty appearance from the hills. In the night we were alarmed by two sentinels firing at two Indians, who escaped and appeared no more.

Sunday, 18th. Part of our route, this day, was through the worst country I ever saw. Hills, like Alps, on each side, and a long narrow defile, where the road scarcely admitted a single wagon. At the bottom of it a rapid creek with steep banks, and a bridge made of a single log, so situated that the Indians might with safety to themselves, from the caverns in the rocks, have cut us all off notwithstanding all human precaution. Yet we arrived safe at Gnadenhutten about twelve o'clock, and immediately employed our men in forming a camp, and raising a breast work to defend it. Here all round appears nothing but one continued scene of horror and destruction. Where lately flourished a happy and peaceful village, it is now all silent and desolate; the houses burnt; the inhabitants butchered in the most shocking manner; their mangled bodies, for want of funerals, exposed to birds and beasts of prey; and all kinds of mischief perpetrated, that wanton cruelty can invent. We have omitted nothing, since our arrival, that can contribute to the happiness and security of the country in general. Mr. Franklin will, at least, deserve a statue for his prudence, justice, humanity, and, above all, for his patience."

TO MRS. DEBORAH FRANKLIN.

MY DEAR,

Fort Allen, 31 January, 1756.

I wrote a line to you yesterday, and, having this opportunity, write another, just to let you know, that we all continue well, and much the better for the refreshments you have sent us; in short, we do very well; for, though there are a great number of things, besides what we have, that used to seem necessary to comfortable living, yet we have learned to do without them.

Mr. Beatty is a very useful man here, and the Doctor another. Besides their services to the public, they are very agreeable companions to me. They, with Captain Clapham, Mr. Edmond, and the rest of our company, present their hearty respects to you for the goodies. Billy presents his duty to you and his grandmother, and love to his sister. Distribute my compliments among our acquaintance, and hearty love to all friends. The bearer waits, so that I cannot write to my dear Sally. I am, dear girl, your loving husband, B. FRANKLIN.

TO MRS. JANE MECOM.

Philadelphia, 12 February, 1756.

DEAR SISTER,

I condole with you on the loss of our dear brother.* As our number grows less, let us love one another proportionably more.

I am just returned from my military expedition, and

* John Franklin, who died at Boston, in January, 1756, at the age of sixty-five.

now my time is taken up in the Assembly. Providence seems to require various duties of me. I know not what will be next; but I find, the more I seek for leisure and retirement from business, the more I am engaged in it. Benny, I understand, inclines to leave Antigua. He may be in the right. I have no objection. My love to brother and to your children. I am, dearest sister, your affectionate brother,

B. FRANKLIN.

TO MISS E. HUBBARD.*

On the Death of his Brother, John Franklin.

Philadelphia, 23 February, 1756.

A man is not Why then should among the immor

-I condole with you. We have lost a most dear and valuable relation. But it is the will of God and nature, that these mortal bodies be laid aside, when the soul is to enter into real life. This is rather an embryo state, a preparation for living. completely born until he be dead. we grieve, that a new child is born tals, a new member added to their happy society? We are spirits. That bodies should be lent us, while they can afford us pleasure, assist us in acquiring knowledge, or in doing good to our fellow creatures, is a kind and benevolent act of God. When they become unfit for these purposes, and afford us pain instead of pleasure, instead of an aid become an incumbrance, and answer none of the intentions for which they were given, it is equally kind and benevolent, that a way is provided by which we may get

John Franklin married a second wife, by the name of Hubbard, a widow. Miss E. Hubbard, to whom this letter was addressed, was her daughter by a former marriage.

rid of them. Death is that way. We ourselves, in some cases, prudently choose a partial death. A mangled painful limb, which cannot be restored, we willingly cut off. He, who plucks out a tooth, parts with it freely, since the pain goes with it; and he, who quits the whole body, parts at once with all pains, and possibilities of pains and diseases, which it was liable to, or capable of making him suffer.

Our friend and we were invited abroad on a party of pleasure, which is to last for ever.

ready first, and he is gone before us.

His chair was

We could not

all conveniently start together; and why should you and I be grieved at this, since we are soon to follow, and know where to find him? Adieu.

B. FRANKLIN.*

On a similar occasion he wrote to his sister, a few years afterwards, as follows. "It is remarkable, that so many breaches by death should be made in our family in so short a space. Out of seventeen children, that our father had, thirteen lived to grow up and settle in the world. I remember these thirteen (some of us then very young) all at one table, when an entertainment was made at our house, on occasion of the return of our brother Josiah, who had been absent in the East Indies, and unheard of for nine years. Of these thirteen, there now remain but three. As our number diminishes, let our affection to each other rather increase; for, besides its being our duty, it is our interest; since the more affectionate relations are to each other, the more they are respected by the rest of the world."

Again, speaking of the death of an acquaintance, he wrote; "Your neighbour must have been pretty well advanced in years when he died. I remember him a young man, when I was a very young boy. In looking back, how short the time seems! I suppose that all the passages of our lives, that we have forgotten, being so many links taken out of the chain, give the more distant parts leave, as it were, to come apparently nearer together."

TO MRS. DEBORAH FRANKLIN.

Fredericktown, Virginia, 21 March, 1756.

MY DEAR CHILD,

We got here yesterday afternoon, and purpose sailing to-day if the wind be fair. Peter was taken ill with a fever and pain in his side before I got to Newcastle. I had him bled there, and put him into the chair wrapped up warm, as he could not bear the motion of the horse, and got him here pretty comfortably. He went immediately to bed, and took some camomile tea, and this morning is about again and almost well. I leave my horses at Mr. Milliken's, a gentleman that lives on Bohemia River.

Among the government orders I left with you, are two written ones drawn on Mr. Charles Norris for considerable sums. You did not tell me, when I asked you, what money you had in hand. If you want before my return, present one of those orders to Mr. Norris, and he will pay the whole or a part, as you have occasion. Billy will also pay you some money, which I did not care to take with me from Newcastle. Be careful of your accounts, particularly about the lottery affairs. My duty to mother, and love to Sally, Debby, Gracy, &c., not forgetting the Goody. Desire Dr. Bond to send me some of those pills by post. I forgot to take any with me. Let Mr. Parker know I received the money he sent me on the post-office and money-paper accounts. I forgot to write it to him, though I fully intended it. If there is peace I shall probably not come home so soon as I purposed to do, in case the ships from England bring a declaration of war, or in case the uncertainty continues. I am, my dear child, your loving husband, B. FRANKLIN.