Volume II Part 20 (1/2)
[Without date, but supposed to be in 1789]
”MY DEAR FRIEND,
”During our long acquaintance you have shown ard for me, yet I must now desire you to add one enious discourse on the _ant encoly in the unexpected hearing, and will mortify me beyond conception if it should appear fro in your compliance with this earnest request, I am ever, my dear friend, yours most affectionately,
B FRANKLIN”
_To Miss Catharine Louisa shi+pley_
”Philadelphia, April 27, 1789
”It is only a few days since the kind letter offriend, dated December 24, came to my hands I had before, in the public papers,news that letter contained That excellent man has then left us! his departure is a loss, not to his family and friends only, but to his nation and to the world: for he was intent on doing good, had wisdom to devise the means, and talents to pro the Gospel, and ”_his speech intended to be spoken_,” are proofs of his ability as well as his humanity Had his counsels in those pieces been attended to by the ht have been prevented, and how race to the nation avoided!
”Your reflections on the constant cal his death are very sensible Such instances see, a foretaste of the happy state they are about to enter
”According to the course of years, I should have quitted this world long before hi I ahty-fourth year, and the last year has considerably enfeebled me, so that I hardly expect to remain another You will then, my dear friend, consider this as probably the last line to be received fro leave
”Present ood mother, and love to the rest of the family, to whom I wish all happiness; and believe me to be, while I _do_ live, yours most affectionately,
”B FRANKLIN”
_To_
(Withoute date)
”DEAR SIR,
”I have read your uh you allow a general Providence, you strike at the foundations of all religion For without the belief of a Providence that takes cognizance of, guards and guides, and may favour particular persons, there is no motive to worshi+p a Deity, to fear its displeasure, or to pray for its protection I will not enter into any discussion of your principles, though you seeive you s are subtle, and may prevail with soeneral sentiments ofthis piece will be, a great deal of odium drawn upon yourself, ainst the wind, spits in his own face But were you to succeed, do you iood would be done by it? You yourself may find it easy to live a virtuous life without the assistance afforded by religion; you having a clear perception of the advantages of virtue and the disadvantages of vice, and possessing a strength of resolution sufficient to enable you to resist coreat a portion of norant men and women, and of inexperienced, inconsiderate youth of both sexes, who have need of the ion to restrain them from vice, to support their virtue, and retain them in the practice of it till it becoreat point of its security And perhaps you are indebted to her originally, that is, to your religious education, for the habits of virtue upon which you now justly value yourself Youupon a less hazardous subject, and thereby obtain a rank with ourus it is not necessary, as a the Hottentots, that a youth to be raised into the co his mother I would advise you, therefore, not to atteer, but to burn this piece before it is seen by any other person, whereby you will save yourself a great deal of ainst you, and, perhaps, a great deal of regret and repentance If ion_, ould they be if _without it_? I intend this letter itself as a _proof_ of my friendshi+p, and, therefore, add no _professions_ to it; but subscribe simply yours,
B FRANKLIN”
_Copy of the last Letter written by Dr Franklin_
”Philadelphia, April 8, 1790
”SIR,
”I received your letter of the 31st of last past relating to encroachments made on the eastern liovern that it is the _western_, and not the _eastern_ river of the Bay of Passanated by the name of St Croix, in the treaty of peace with that nation; and requesting of me to communicate any facts which my memory or papers may enable me to recollect, and which may indicate the true river which the commissioners on both sides had in their view to establish as the boundary between the two nations