Page images
PDF
EPUB

53. TO WILLIAM STRAHAN

PHILADELPHIA, December 11, 1745.

Sir: While the war continues, I find it will not answer to send for any considerable quantity of books, for that business, as well as others, grows duller daily, and people are unwilling to give the advanced price we are now obliged to put on books, by the excessive charges of insurance, etc. So at present I only send for a few school books, and books of navigation, which they cannot do without.

I sent you, some time since, a bill for fifteen pounds and part of Mr. Hall's bill, ten pounds, which I hope will come to hand and be readily paid. I purpose to send you another soon, and am, sir, your most humble servant,

B. FRANKLIN.

P. S.- Our Library Company sends for about twenty pounds sterling worth of books yearly. Mr. Collinson does us the favour to buy them for us. Perhaps on your speaking to that gentleman, he would take them of you.

54. TO WILLIAM STRAHAN

December 22, 1745.

SIR: The above is a copy of what I wrote you, per Mesnard, who sailed about ten days ago from this port. This goes per Capt. Hargrave, who is soon to sail from Maryland. Enclosed I send you a bill for £15 7s. 1d., which I hope will be readily paid. Enclosed is also a letter to Mr. Collinson, containing an order for books for the library,

which, when you deliver, you will have an opportunity of proposing to furnish them. Please to add to the enclosed list the following books for me, viz.: Starkey's Pyrotechny Assorted, an old book; 6 Echard's Gazetteer, 6 Watts' Lyric Poems, 6 Watts' Logic, with Supplement; 1 Watts' Essays; also 5 or 6 lbs. of long-primer fractions, i.e., to use with long primer in arithmetic work. Mr. Hall and all your friends here are well, as I hope this will find you [indistinct]

55. TO WILLIAM STRAHAN

PHILADELPHIA, May 22, 1746.

SIR: This is only to enclose a third bill for £15 sterling, the second and first of which went from this port and Annapolis; and to desire you to send me two sets of Popple's maps of North America, one bound, the other in sheets. They are for our Assembly, who also want the statutes at large; but as I hear they are risen to an extravagant price I would have you send me word what they will cost before you send them. We are all well. Mr. Hall has not time to write, the post just going. I am, sir, your humble servant,

[ocr errors]

B. FRANKLIN.

56. TO WILLIAM STRAHAN

PHILADELPHIA, September 25, 1746.

SIR: Your favours of February 11th and May 1st are come to hand. Mesnard arrived safe this morning, and I suppose I shall have the trunks out in a day or two. Our other ships, Lisle and Houston, not yet come, but daily expected. I am much obliged to you for your ready compli

ance with my requests. I sent you in the spring a bill on Messrs. Hoare and Arnold for £15, which I hope came to hand and was readily paid as that on Geo. Rigge for £15 75. Id. I now send you the following bills, viz.:

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

I wish the sum had been all in one bill, as the trouble to you would be less; but bills have been scarce lately, and we were glad to get any. I think, however, to send you no more such small ones.

I shall, as you desire, deliver one of Ainsworth's Dictionaries to Mr. Read. You will take the charge of it from my account and add it to his in your book.

Please to send me, per next vessel, 6 doz. of Dyche's and as many of Owen's Spelling Books, with a dozen of post horns of different sizes. I shall speedily send you another bill.

My wife joins with me in thanks to you and good Mrs. Strahan and young master, for your kindness to our daughter. She shall make her acknowledgments herself as soon as she is able.

I congratulate you on the defeat of Jacobitism by your glorious Duke,' and the restoration of peace and good order within the kingdom. We have just now an account that a

1 At Culloden. - ED.

French fleet of thirty sail were lately seen off Cape Sable. They are supposed to be that from Brest. I hope they are followed by one of superior force from England, otherwise a great deal of mischief may be done in North America. Our friends, Messrs. Hall and Read continue well. I am, sir, your most obliged humble servant,

P. S.

[ocr errors]

B. FRANKLIN.

I am sorry it so happened that Mr. Collinson had bespoke the books. The next catalogue sent to him will be accompanied with a request from the directors that he purchase them of you only.

57. PREFACE TO POOR RICHARD, 1747 (P. H. S.)

Courteous Reader,

This is the 15th Time I have entertain'd thee with my annual Productions; I hope to thy Profit as well as mine. For besides the astronomical Calculations, and other Things usually contain'd in Almanacks, which have their daily Use indeed while the Year continues, but then become of no Value, I have constantly interspers'd moral Sentences, prudent Maxims, and wise Sayings, many of them containing much good Sense in very few Words, and therefore apt to leave strong and lasting Impressions on the Memory of young Persons, whereby they may receive Benefit as long as they live, when both Almanack and Almanack-maker have been long thrown by and forgotten. If I now and then insert a Joke or two, that seem to have little in them, my Apology is that such may have their Use, since perhaps for their Sake

light airy Minds peruse the rest, and so are struck by somewhat of more Weight and Moment. The Verses on the Heads of the Months are also generally design'd to have the same Tendency. I need not tell thee that not many of them are of my own Making. If thou hast any Judgment in Poetry, thou wilt easily discern the Workman from the Bungler. I know as well as thee, that I am no Poet born; and it is a Trade I never learnt, nor indeed could learn. If I make Verses, 'tis in Spight — of Nature and my Stars, I write. Why then should I give my Readers bad Lines of my own, when good Ones of other People's are so plenty? 'Tis methinks a poor Excuse for the bad Entertainment of Guests, that the Food we set before them, tho' coarse and ordinary, is of one's own Raising, off one's own Plantation, &c. when there is Plenty of what is ten times better, to be had in the Market. On the contrary, I assure ye, my Friends, that I have procur'd the best I could for ye, and much Good may 't do ye.

I cannot omit this Opportunity of making honourable Mention of the late deceased Ornament and Head of our Profession, Mr. Jacob Taylor, who for upwards of 40 Years (with some few Intermissions only) supply'd the good People of this and the neighbouring Colonies, with the most compleat Ephemeris and most accurate Calculations that have hitherto appear'd in America. . . . He was an ingenious Mathematician, as well as an expert and skilful Astronomer; and moreover, no mean Philosopher, but what is more than all, He was a PIOUS and an HONEST Man. Requiescat in pace.

I am thy poor Friend, to serve thee,

R. SAUNDERS.

« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »