Part 46 (1/2)

[Philadelphia] 1751.

SIR,

I inclose you answers, such as my present hurry of business will permit me to make, to the princ.i.p.al queries contained in yours of the 28th instant, and beg leave to refer you to the latter piece in the printed collection of my papers, for farther explanation of the difference between what are called _electrics per se_, and _non-electrics_. When you have had time to read and consider these papers, I will endeavour to make any new experiments you shall propose, that you think may afford farther light or satisfaction to either of us; and shall be much obliged to you for such remarks, objections, &c., as may occur to you.

I forget whether I wrote you that I have melted bra.s.s pins and steel needles, inverted the poles of the magnetic needle, given a magnetism and polarity to needles that had none, and fired dry gunpowder by the electric spark. I have five bottles that contain 8 or 9 gallons each, two of which charg'd, are sufficient for those purposes: but I can charge and discharge them altogether. There are no bounds (but what expence and labour give) to the force man may raise and use in the electrical way: for bottle may be added to bottle _in infinitum_, and all united and discharged together as one, the force and effect proportioned to their number and size. The greatest known effects of common lightning may, I think, without much difficulty, be exceeded in this way, which a few years since could not have been believed, and even now may seem to many a little extravagant to suppose. So we are got beyond the skill of _Rabelais's_ devils of two years old, who, he humorously says, had only learnt to thunder and lighten a little round the head of a cabbage.[38]

I am, with sincere respect, Your most obliged humble servant, B. FRANKLIN.

EXPORTING OF FELONS TO THE COLONIES

[From the _Pennsylvania Gazette_, May 9, 1751.]

TO THE PRINTERS OF THE GAZETTE

By a Pa.s.sage in one of your late Papers, I understand that the Government at home will not suffer our mistaken a.s.semblies to make any Law for preventing or discouraging the Importation of Convicts from Great Britain, for this kind Reason, '_That such Laws are against the Publick Utility, as they tend to prevent the_ IMPROVEMENT _and_ WELL PEOPLING _of the Colonies_.'

Such a tender _parental_ Concern in our _Mother Country_ for the _Welfare_ of her _Children_, calls aloud for the highest _Returns_ of Grat.i.tude and Duty. This every one must be sensible of: But 'tis said, that in our present Circ.u.mstances it is absolutely impossible for us to make _such_ as are adequate to the Favour. I own it; but nevertheless let us do our Endeavour. 'Tis something to show a grateful Disposition.

In some of the uninhabited Parts of these Provinces, there are Numbers of these venomous Reptiles we call RATTLE-SNAKES; Felons-convict from the Beginning of the World: These, whenever we meet with them, we put to Death, by Virtue of an old Law, _Thou shalt bruise his Head_. But as this is a sanguinary Law, and may seem too cruel; and as however mischievous those Creatures are with us, they may possibly change their Natures, if they were to change the Climate; I would humbly propose, that this general Sentence of _Death_ be changed for _Transportation_.

In the Spring of the Year, when they first creep out of their Holes, they are feeble, heavy, slow, and easily taken; and if a small Bounty were allow'd _per_ Head, some Thousands might be collected annually, and _transported_ to _Britain_. There I would propose to have them carefully distributed in _St. James's Park_, in the _Spring-Gardens_ and other Places of Pleasure about _London_; in the Gardens of all the n.o.bility and Gentry throughout the Nation; but particularly in the Gardens of the _Prime Ministers_, the _Lords of Trade_ and _Members of Parliament_; for to them we are _most particularly_ obliged.

There is no human Scheme so perfect, but some Inconveniencies may be objected to it: Yet when the Conveniencies far exceed, the Scheme is judg'd rational, and fit to be executed. Thus Inconveniencies have been objected to that _good_ and _wise_ Act of Parliament, by virtue of which all the _Newgates_ and _Dungeons_ in _Britain_ are emptied into the Colonies. It has been said, that these Thieves and Villains introduc'd among us, spoil the Morals of Youth in the Neighbourhoods that entertain them, and perpetrate many horrid Crimes: But let not _private Interests_ obstruct _publick_ Utility. Our _Mother_ knows what is best for us. What is a little _Housebreaking_, _Shoplifting_, or _Highway Robbing_; what is a _Son_ now and then _corrupted_ and _hang'd_, a Daughter _debauch'd_ and _pox'd_, a Wife _stabb'd_, a Husband's _Throat cut_, or a Child's _Brains beat out_ with an Axe, compar'd with this 'IMPROVEMENT and WELL PEOPLING of the Colonies!'

Thus it may perhaps be objected to my Scheme, that the _Rattle-Snake_ is a mischievous Creature, and that his changing his Nature with the Clime is a mere Supposition, not yet confirm'd by sufficient Facts. What then?

Is not Example more prevalent than Precept? And may not the honest rough British Gentry, by a Familiarity with these Reptiles, learn to _creep_, and to _insinuate_, and to _slaver_, and to _wriggle_ into Place (and perhaps to _poison_ such as stand in their Way) Qualities of no small Advantage to Courtiers! In comparison of which 'IMPROVEMENT and PUBLICK UTILITY,' what is a _Child_ now and then kill'd by their venomous Bite, ... or even a favourite _Lap Dog_?

I would only add, that this exporting of Felons to the Colonies, may be consider'd as a _Trade_, as well as in the Light of a _Favour_. Now all Commerce implies Returns: Justice requires them: There can be no Trade without them. And _Rattle-Snakes_ seem the most _suitable Returns_ for the _Human Serpents_ sent us by our _Mother_ Country. In this, however, as in every other Branch of Trade, she will have the Advantage of us.

She will reap _equal_ Benefits without equal Risque of the Inconveniencies and Dangers. For the _Rattle-Snake_ gives Warning before he attempts his Mischief; which the Convict does not. I am

_Yours_, &c.

AMERICa.n.u.s.

OBSERVATIONS

CONCERNING THE INCREASE OF MANKIND, PEOPLING OF COUNTRIES, ETC.

Written in Pensilvania, 1751[39]

1. Tables of the Proportion of Marriages to Births, of Deaths to Births, of Marriages to the Numbers of Inhabitants, &c., form'd on Observaions [_sic_] made upon the Bills of Mortality, Christnings, &c., of populous Cities, will not suit Countries; nor will Tables form'd on Observations made on full-settled old Countries, as _Europe_, suit new Countries, as _America_.

2. For People increase in Proportion to the Number of Marriages, and that is greater in Proportion to the Ease and Convenience of supporting a Family. When families can be easily supported, more Persons marry, and earlier in Life.

3. In Cities, where all Trades, Occupations, and Offices are full, many delay marrying till they can see how to bear the Charges of a Family; which Charges are greater in Cities, as Luxury is more common: many live single during Life, and continue Servants to Families, Journeymen to Trades; &c. hence Cities do not by natural Generation supply themselves with Inhabitants; the Deaths are more than the Births.