existence of laws, if one man gave another ill language, the affronted person would return it by a box on the ear, and, if repeated, by a good drubbing; and this without offending against any law. But now the right of making such returns is denied, and they are punished as breaches of the peace; while the right of abusing seems to remain in full force, the laws made against it being rendered ineffectual by the liberty of the press.

My proposal then is, to leave the liberty of the press untouched, to be exercised in its full extent, force, and vigor; but to permit the liberty of the cudgel to go with it pari passu. Thus, my fellow-citizens, if an impudent writer attacks your reputation, dearer to you perhaps than your life, and puts his name to the charge, you may go to him as openly and break his head. If he conceals himself behind the printer, and you can nevertheless discover who he is, you may in like manner way-lay him in the night, attack him behind, and give him a good drubbing. Thus far goes my project as to private resentment and retribution. But if the public should ever happen to be affronted, as it ought to be, with the conduct of such writers, I would not advise proceeding immediately to these extremities; but that we should in moderation content ourselves with tarring and feathering, and tossing them in a blanket.

If, however, it should be thought that this proposal of mine may disturb the public peace, I would then humbly recommend to our legislators to take up the consideration of both liberties, that of the press, and that of the cudgel, and by an explicit law mark their extent and limits; and, at the same time that they secure the person of a citizen from assaults, they would likewise provide for the security of his reputation.

1768. TO GEORGE WASHINGTON1 (L. C.)

DEAR SIR,

Philada, Sept. 16, 1789

My Malady renders my Sitting up to write rather painful to me; but I cannot let my Son-in-law Mr. Bache part for New York, without congratulating you by him on the Recovery of your Health, so precious to us all, and on the growing Strength of our New Government under your Administration. For my own personal Ease, I should have died two Years ago; but, tho' those Years have been spent in excruciating Pain, I am pleas'd that I have liv'd them, since they have brought me to see our present Situation. I am now finishing my 84th [year], and probably with it my Career in this Life; but in whatever State of Existence I am plac'd hereafter, if I retain any Memory of what has pass'd here, I shall with it retain the Esteem, Respect, and Affection, with which I have long been, my dear Friend, yours most sincerely, B. FRANKLIN.2

1 In Washington Papers, Vol. 74, p. 132. — ED. 2 Washington replied to this letter as follows:

"DEAR SIR,

"New York, September, 23, 1789. (A. P. S.)

"The affectionate congratulations on the recovery of my health, and the warm expressions of personal friendship, which were contained in your letter of the 16th instant, claim my gratitude. And the consideration, that it was written when you were afflicted with a painful malady, greatly increases my obligation for it.

"Would to God, my dear Sir, that I could congratulate you upon the removal of that excruciating pain, under which you labour, and that your existence might close with as much ease to yourself, as its continuance has been beneficial to our country and useful to mankind; or, if the united wishes of a free people, joined with the earnest prayers of every friend to science and humanity, could relieve the body from pains or infirmities, that you could

1769. TO COMTE DE MONTMORIN1 (L. C.) Philadelphia 21st Sept. 1789.

SIR: Tho' I have not the Vanity to suppose that I have any Influence with your Excellency, yet I cannot at the request of Mr. Le Ray de Chaumont, Jr., refuse him this Testimony of my Regard. He has resided in this Country near four Years, during which time he has constantly conducted himself with so much Probity and Discretion as to gain the esteem of all Ranks, and by his living in the House of M. de Marbois, Consul of France at this Port, who has occasionally employ'd him in the Duties of that office, he has thereby acquired a Knowledge of that Business, sufficient to enable him to execute it. Should it please your Excellency to appoint him in the Room of M. de Marbois, who, as I understand, is likely to be otherwise provided for. By M. de Chaumont's Knowledge of the Business, the Language of the Country, and the high Esteem in which he is held here, I am Confident that his appointment would be both useful to his Sovereign and agreable to the Government and Citizens of this State.

claim an exemption on this score. But this cannot be, and you have within yourself the only resource to which we can confidently apply for relief, a philosophic mind.

"If to be venerated for benevolence, if to be admired for talents, if to be esteemed for patriotism, if to be beloved for philanthropy, can gratify the human mind, you must have the pleasing consolation to know, that you have not lived in vain. And I flatter myself that it will not be ranked among the least grateful occurrences of your life to be assured, that, so long as I retain my memory, you will be recollected with respect, veneration, and affection by your sincere friend, "GEORGE WASHINGTON."-ED.

1 Armand-Marc, Comte de Montmorin— Saint-Hérem (1745–1792), was appointed in 1787 minister of foreign affairs. — ED.

I hope your Excellency will excuse the Liberty I have taken, and believe me, with great Respect, sir your Excellency, etc. B. FRANKLIN.

1770. TO MRS. JANE MECOM

(L. C.)

Philada., October 19, 1789.

DEAR SISTER:- I received your kind Letter of September the 10th, by Cousin John Williams. I have also received and paid your Bill, and am pleased that you added to it on Account of your Wood. As to my Health, it continues as usual, sometimes better, sometimes worse, and with respect to the Happiness hereafter which you mention, I have no Doubts about it, confiding as I do in the goodness of that Being who, thro' so long a Life, has conducted me with so many Instances of it. This Family joins in best wishes of Happiness to you and your's with your affectionate Brother, B. FRANKLIN.

1771. TO "SYLVANUS URBAN ESQ."

(L. C.)

New York, Oct. 20, 1789

In your valuable Magazine' for July, 1788, I find a review of Dr. Kippis' "Life of Cook," containing the following Remark, viz.: "The Protection afforded to this Discoverer by the Court of France redounds highly to Mr. Turgot's Honour, while the narrow-souled Americans did all they could to obstruct him." I think the Writer of this Remark will

1 The Gentleman's Magazine. It was edited in 1788 and 1789 by J. Nichols and D. Henry. The latter is to be understood as the "Sylvanus Urban" to whom the letter is addressed. — Ed.

find it difficult to produce a single Instance, well authenticated, of any such Endeavour, used by the Americans; but I happen to have it in my Power to produce a strong contrary Instance, which I send you enclosed, and doubt not of your doing so much Justice to the Americans as to make this Refutation of the Calumny equally public with the Calumny itself, by inserting it also in your Magazine. It is a true Copy of the circular-Letter sent by Dr. Franklin to all of the Commanders of the American Cruisers, then in the European Seas; which was so well known to and so well taken by the Government in England that when Cook's Voyage was printed the Admiralty sent to that Gentleman an elegant Copy of it, with a very polite Letter from Lord Howe, expressing that the Present was made with his Majesty's Approbation. The Royal Society also on the same Occasion presented him with one of the Gold Medals struck by them of that illustrious Navigator, accompanied by a Letter from Sir Joseph Banks, their President, expressing likewise that it was sent with the Approbation of his Majesty. These I have seen; and I wonder much that the Writer, who gives so particular an Account of the Distribution of those gold Medals, should be unacquainted with this Circumstance. I am etc.

AN AMERICAN.

1772. TO JONATHAN WILLIAMS1

(P. C.)

Philad Oct. 26, 1789

DEAR COUSIN

I received your Letter from Boston just as you were about to depart for Virginia together with your Father's Account

1 From the original in the possession of Mr. Louis A. Biddle.—ED.