think you will scarce know how to work it; the several contrivances to carry off steam, smell, and smoke not being fully explained to you. The oven I suppose was put up by the written directions in my former letter. You mention nothing of the furnace. If that iron one is not set, let it alone till my return, when I shall bring a more convenient copper one.

You wonder how I did to travel seventy-two miles in a short winter day, on my landing in England, and think I must have practised flying. But the roads here are so good, with postchaises and fresh horses every ten or twelve miles, that it is no difficult matter. A lady, that I know, has come from Edinburgh to London, being four hundred miles, in three days and a half. You mention the payment of the £500, but do not say, that you have got the deeds executed. I pose, however, that it was done. I received the two postoffice letters you sent me. It was not letters of that sort alone that I wanted, but all such as were sent to me from any one whomsoever.

I sup

I cannot but complain in my mind of Mr. Smith, that the house is so long unfit for you to get into, the fences not put up, nor the other necessary articles ready. The well I expected would have been dug in the winter, or early in the spring, but I hear nothing of it. You should have gardened long before the date of your last, but it seems the rubbish was not removed. I am much obliged to my good old friends, that did me the honor to remember me in the unfinished kitchen. I hope soon to drink with them in the parlour.

I am very thankful to the good ladies you mention for their friendly wishes. Present my best respects to Mrs. Grace, and dear, precious Mrs. Shewell, Mrs. Masters, Mrs. and Miss Galloway, Mrs. Redman, Mrs.

Graeme, Mrs. Thomson, Mrs. Story, Mrs. Bartram, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Hilborne, and all the others you have named to me. My love also to our brothers and sisters, and cousins, as if particularly mentioned. I have delivered yours to Mrs. and Miss Stevenson, Mr. and Mrs. Strahan and their family, Mrs. Empson, Mrs. West, and our country cousins. Miss Graham has not come to town, as I have heard.

It rejoices me to learn, that you are more free than you used to be from the headache, and that pain in your side. I am likewise in perfect health. God is very good to us both in many respects. Let us enjoy his favors with a thankful and cheerful heart; and, as we can make no direct return to him, show our sense of his goodness to us by continuing to do good to our fellow creatures, without regarding the returns they make us, whether good or bad. For they are all his children, though they may sometimes be our enemies. The friendships of this world are changeable, uncertain, transitory things; but his favor, if we can secure it, is an inheritance for ever. I am, my dear Debby, your ever loving husband,

B. FRANKLIN.

FROM THOMAS WHARTON TO B. FRANKLIN.

Dissatisfaction in Pennsylvania respecting the Stamp Act.-A Congress at New York proposed.

ginia Resolutions.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

Vir

Philadelphia, 24 June, 1765.

I doubt not that several of thy friends have informed thee of the uneasiness which the act of Parliament, relative to the stamp duties, creates, not only on

account of the mode pursued, whereby our Assemblies are rendered little better than corporations, but that part whereby the Judge of the Admiralty is capable of determining a matter of property, heretofore only to be ascertained by a trial by jury, and thereby depriving us of one of the most essential privileges of an Englishman.

I yesterday read a letter sent by the Speaker of the House of Assembly for the Boston government to the Speaker of our House, wherein are directly intimated their sentiments of the act, and they propose a meeting of a committee from each Assembly on the continent, on the 3d of October, at New York, in order jointly to draw up an address to his Majesty, in dutiful and loyal terms, setting the matter forth in its proper light, as well as to represent to the Parliament the state of our colonies and trade, which, we hope, will have a proper effect, as it is much more consistent than the method pursued by Virginia.*

* The allusion here is to the celebrated Resolutions, brought before the Virginia House of Burgesses by Patrick Henry, and passed, May 29th, 1765. See the Resolutions in ALMON's Prior Documents, p. 6; and also in WIRT's Life of Patrick Henry. In writing on this subject to Dr. Franklin, June 18th, Joseph Galloway said; "Permit me to present you with the enclosed resolves of the Lower House of Assembly of Virginia, on the Stamp Act, and the right of the British legislature in forming that law. After they were passed, the governor, by some means, procured from the clerk the original minutes of the House, tore them out, and instantly dissolved the Assembly. They were, however, published in the Maryland Gazette, from which this copy is taken, as I could not procure one of them to send you. I cannot describe to you the indefatigable industry, that has been, and is constantly taking, by the Proprietary party and men in power here to prevail on the people to give every kind of opposition to the execution of this law; to incense their minds against the King, Lords, and Commons; and to alienate their affections from the mother country. It is no uncommon thing to hear the judges of the courts of justice, from the first to the most inferior, in the presence of the attending populace, treat the whole Parliament with the most irreverent abuse. Scarcely any thing is too bad

Our House being adjourned to September, they cannot meet till that time, unless the governor sees cause to call them; wherefore, it is intended to summon the members, who reside in Philadelphia, Bucks, and Chester counties, in a few days, that they may give their sentiments relative to the measure; from whence an answer may be formed and sent to the Boston Assembly. For, although the members cannot form themselves into a House, yet, if those of three counties shall conclude on any step, it can scarce be doubted but the Assembly in their September sitting will confirm it. I remain thy assured friend,

THOMAS WHARTON.

to be said of the ministry; and that worthy nobleman, Lord Bute, is openly cursed, whenever his name is mentioned. These things are truly alarming to our friends, and the discreet and sensible part of the people; as it is evident, they tend with great rapidity to create in the minds of the populace and weaker part of mankind a spirit of riot and rebellion, which will be hereafter quelled with great difficulty, if ever quelled at all. It is already become dangerous to espouse the conduct of the Parliament in some parts of America in any degree, as the Resolves before mentioned prove, and I fear it will in a very short time become so in this province. For almost every pen and tongue are employed against them, while not a word scarcely is offered on their side; and yet I have thoughts of endeavouring to state the conduct of the mother country, with regard to her colonies, in a new light, and endeavour, if possible, to check the growing mischiefs."

As suggested at the close of Mr. Wharton's letter, several members of the Assembly came together informally, and unanimously approved the proposition of Massachusetts, for a Congress to be held at New York, consisting of deputies, or committees as they were called, from the Assemblies of all the colonies. When the Pennsylvania Assembly met, the subject was considered, and, on the 11th of September, the Speaker and three other members, that is, John Dickinson, John Morton, and George Bryan, were appointed for the purpose.

TO HUGH ROBERTS.

Political Adversaries. The Old Junto.

DEAR FRIEND,

London, 7 July, 1765.

Your kind favor of May 20th, by the hand of our good friend Mr. Neave, gave me great pleasure. I find on those occasions, that expressions of steady, continued friendship, such as are contained in your letter, though but from one or a few honest and sensible men, who have long known us, afford a satisfaction that far outweighs the clamorous abuse of a thousand knaves and fools. While I enjoy the share I have so long had in the esteem of my old friends, the birdand-beast people you mention may peck, and snarl, and bark at me as much as they think proper. There is only some danger, that I should grow too vain on their disapprobation.

I am pleased with your punning, not merely because I like punning in general, but because I learn from your using it, that you are in good health and spirits, which I pray may long continue. Our affairs are at a total stop here, by the present unsettled state of the ministry, but will go forward again as soon as that is fixed. Nothing yet appears that is discouraging.

I have not yet found an engraver that will do our seal well and reasonably. Kirk asked me twenty guineas, and some others a little less. I think we had better content ourselves with the old one; but shall inquire further.* Remember me respectfully and af

On the 20th of August he wrote; "I informed you lately, that twenty guineas were demanded by Kirk for engraving the Hospital seal. I have since found a man that will do it for ten, but I suppose will hardly do it so well. Let me know your sentiments of this expense."