TO MRS. CATHERINE GREENE.

DEAR FRIEND,

Boston, 1 August, 1763.

I ought to acquaint you, that I feel myself growing daily firmer and freer from the effects of my fall, and hope a few days more will make me quite forget it. I shall, however, never forget the kindness I met with at your house on that occasion.

Make my compliments acceptable to your Mr. Greene, and let him know, that I acknowledge the receipt of his obliging letter, and thank him for it. It gave me great pleasure to hear you got home before the rain. My compliments, too, to Mr. Merchant and Miss Ward, if they are still with you; and kiss the ladies for me. Sally says, "And for me too." She adds her best respects to Mr. Greene and you, and that she could have spent a week with you with great pleasure, if I had not hurried her away.

My brother is returned to Rhode Island. Sister Mecom thanks you for your kind remembrance of her, and presents her respects. With perfect esteem and regard I am, dear Katy (I can't yet alter my style to "Madam"), your affectionate friend,

B. FRANKLIN.

TO MRS. CATHERINE GREENE.

DEAR FRIEND,

Boston, 5 September, 1763.

On my returning hither from Portsmouth, I find your obliging favor of the 18th past, for which I thank you. I am almost ashamed to tell you, that I have had another fall, and put my shoulder out. It

is well reduced again, but is still stant, though not very acute pain.

affected with con

I am not yet able

to travel rough roads, and must lie by awhile, as I can neither hold reins nor whip with my right hand till it grows stronger.

Do you think, after this, that even your kindest invitations and Mr. Greene's can prevail with me to venture myself again on such roads? And yet it would be a great pleasure to me to see you and yours once more. Sally and my sister Mecom thank you for your remembrance of them, and present their affectionate regards. My best respects to good Mr. Greene, Mrs. Ray, and love to your little ones. I am glad to hear they are well, and that your Celia goes alone. I am, dear friend, yours affectionately,

B. FRANKLIN.*

TO MRS. CATHERINE GREENE.

DEAR FRIEND,

Philadelphia, 15 February, 1764.

I have before me your most acceptable favor of December 24th. Public business and our public confusions have so taken up my attention, that I suspect I did not answer it when I received it, but am really

*He returned to Philadelphia, with his daughter, from this tour to New England, on the 5th of November. Soon afterwards he wrote to his sister; "I find myself at present quite clear from pain, and so have at length left off the cold bath. There is, however, still some weakness in my shoulder, though much stronger than when I left Boston, and mending. I am otherwise very happy in being at home, where I am allowed to know when I have eat enough and drunk enough, am warm enough, and sit in a place that I like, &c., and nobody pretends to know what I feel better than I do myself. Don't imagine that I am a whit the less sensible of the kindness I experienced among my friends in New England. I am very thankful for it, and shall always retain a grateful remembrance of it.”

VOL. VII.

33

*

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.