ture for themselves, or use colony manufactures only, be the means, under God, of recovering and establishing the freedom of our country entire, and of handing it down complete to posterity.

And in the mean time the country will be enriched by its industry and frugality. These virtues will become habitual. Farms will be more improved, better stocked, and rendered more productive by the money that used to be spent in superfluities. Our artificers of every kind will be enabled to carry on their business to more advantage; gold and silver will become more plenty among us, and trade will revive, after things shall be well settled, and become better and safer than it has lately been; for an industrious, frugal people are best able to buy, and pay best for what they purchase. With great regard, I have the honor to be, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

TO JOHN BARTRAM.

Recommends to him to publish an Account of his Travels and Observations.

DEAR FRIEND,

London, 9 July, 1769.

It is with great pleasure I understand by your favor of April 10th, that you continue to enjoy so good a share of health. I hope it will long continue. And, although it may not now be suitable for you to make such wide excursions as heretofore, you may yet be very useful to your country and to mankind, if you sit down quietly at home, digest the knowledge you have acquired, and compile and publish the many observations you have made, and point out the advan

tages that may be drawn from the whole, in public undertakings or particular private practice. It is true, many people are fond of accounts of old buildings, and monuments; but there is a number, who would be much better pleased with such accounts as you could afford them. And, for one, I confess, that if I could find in any Italian travels a receipt for making Parmesan cheese, it would give me more satisfaction than a transcript of any inscription from any old stone whatever.

I suppose Mr. Michael Collinson, or Dr. Fothergill, has written to you what may be necessary for your information relating to your affairs here. I imagine there is no doubt but the King's bounty to you will be continued; and that it will be proper for you to continue sending now and then a few such curious seeds, as you can procure, to keep up your claim. And now I mention seeds, I wish you would send me a few of such as are least common, to the value of a guinea, which Mr. Foxcroft will pay you for me. They are for a particular friend, who is very curious. If in any thing I can serve you here, command freely. Your affectionate friend,

B. FRANKLIN.

TO JAMES BOWDOIN.

London, 13 July, 1769.

DEAR SIR,

I am honored with yours of May 10th, and agree with you perfectly in your sentiments of public affairs. Government here seems now to be growing more moderate with regard to America, and I am persuaded, that, by a steady, prudent conduct, we shall finally obtain all our important points, and establish American

liberty on a clearer and firmer foundation. The folly of the late measures begins to be seen and understood at court; their promoters grow out of credit, and the trading part of the nation, with the manufacturers, are become sensible how necessary it is for their welfare to be on good terms with us. The petitioners of Middlesex and of London have numbered among their grievances the unconstitutional taxes on America, and similar petitions are expected from all quarters. So that I think we need only be quiet, and persevere in our schemes of frugality and industry, and the rest will do itself.

*

Your governor is recalled, and it is said the commissioners † will follow soon, or be new modelled with some more men of discretion among them. I am just setting out on a journey of five or six weeks, and have now only time to add, that I am, with the greatest esteem and regard, dear Sir, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

FROM SAMUEL COOPER TO B. FRANKLIN.

Non-importation Agreement adhered to.— Progress of Manufactures in Massachusetts.

DEAR SIR,

Boston, 3 August, 1769.

I am now to acknowledge the repeated favors of your letters, with the notes of Mr. Pownall's speech in Parliament, the arguments on the Dissenting cause, and the political pamphlet, in which you have given me no small entertainment. I could not forbear communicating what you wrote to some particular friends,

* Sir Francis Bernard, Governor of Massachusetts. He embarked at Boston on the 1st of August.

+ Commissioners of the Customs in Boston.

to whom I knew it would give great pleasure, and to allow some extracts to be circulated among the merchants, which were of great service in confirming their present truly public spirit, though I did not think myself at liberty to give the sanction of your name.

I am persuaded, that the prudent and legal measure of non-importation would have had an earlier and greater effect, but for the hopes given to administration from this side of the water, that it would not be adhered to. These steps have hitherto been delusive; the agreement is still persisted in with great spirit; and the vague, indeterminate promise of a kind of repeal, which is generally regarded here as a design to divide us, and break this salutary measure, has, as you will see by the papers, only served to strengthen and support it. In the mean time, industry and manufactures are daily increasing among us; many, even in our trading towns, are fond of being clad in homespun, and, in the country, people are ambitious to fabricate for themselves what they formerly bought from the shops.

Britain is not sensible what she has already lost by the late impolitic and severe measures. Those, that take only a superficial view of things, imagine the country is safe, because they do not see large quantities of American manufactures stand for sale. They do not consider how greatly the demand for British goods is diminished, through the industry of families privately supplying themselves, from what this demand would have been from our increasing numbers, had mild and prudent methods been pursued. I can however give a striking instance, that may be depended on, of a manufacture, that was almost wholly imported, and now furnishes no inconsiderable article of our exportation. The single town of Lynn makes yearly

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57

LL*

not less than eighty thousand pairs of women's shoes, better and cheaper than any that we can import, and not only supplies the maritime towns around it with this article, but sends large quantities of it to the southern colonies and the West Indies. I could not believe this, till, upon particular inquiry, I found it to be undoubtedly true.

What you predicted in your letter is already in part verified. The greater part of the military has lately been withdrawn from this town, and it is said the remainder will not tarry long among us. What ground there is for this, and whether any effectual measures will be taken to remove the ground of our uneasiness, and reduce things to their old channel, time will discover. I doubt, from what is past, whether there is yet wisdom and moderation enough in the British councils to produce an event so happy to both countries.

This letter will be delivered to you by Mr. William Gray, a young gentleman, who goes to London for the prosecution of medical studies. He is of a reputable family among us. His father was a worthy clergyman of this town; one of his uncles is of the first character among our merchants, and another the treasurer of the province; and the young gentleman himself has acquired a good reputation. I am told you design to return to America this year. Nothing could give greater pleasure to me and many friends, than to see you again in Boston. I am, my dear Sir, &c. SAMUEL COOPER.