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will soon be your way, as he intends for Canada. Mr. Collinson and Dr. Mitchell recommend him to me as an ingenious man. Perhaps the enclosed (left at the post-office for you) may be from him. I have not seen him since the first day he came. I delivered yours to Mr. Evans; and, when I next see Mr. Bartram, I shall acquaint him with what you say.

I am, with great esteem and respect, dear Sir, &c.

Sir

B. FRANKLIN.

79. TO PETER COLLINSON 1 (P. C.) Philad Oct. 18, 1748.

I have receiv'd your several Favours of April 1. June 2. June 14, and Augt 20. and some others, with all the Books and Pamphlets you have sent at Sundry Times for the Library Company: We wish it were in our Power to do you or any Friend of yours some Service in Return for your long-continued Kindness to us.

I am pleas'd to hear that my Electrical Experim" were acceptable to the Society, and I shall be glad to see the ingenious Mr. Watson's new Piece on that Subject, when he thinks fit to publish it. Of late we have done but little here in that Way; but possibly we may resume those Enquiries this coming Winter as the approaching Peace gives us a Prospect of being more at Ease in our Minds: If anything new arises among us, I shall not fail to communicate it to you.

time in America making researches in Natural History, and afterwards published an account of his travels in the Swedish language. The work was translated into English. - ED.

1 The original of this letter is in the possession of Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan.

Our Friend Bartram show'd me some Queries you sent him relating to the Country back of us. My Son is just return'd from a Journey to Ohio with Conrad Weiser; from their Journals etc. he may collect Answers to most of them; if John has not done it by this Vessel, I will by the next. Mr. Kalm has been much out of Town since his Arrival, and is now gone to New York. I hear he proposes to Winter here; no Service I can do him shall be wanting; but hitherto we have but little Acquaintance.

The Library Company will shortly send you a Bill. I am with great Esteem and Respect, Sir

B. FRANKLIN.

1 80. TO WILLIAM STRAHAN

(P. C.)

Philada Oct. 19, 1748.

Dear Sir

I receiv'd your Favour of April 25. with the Maps, etc. I am glad the Polybius did not come, and hope you will not have sent it when this reaches your Hands; it was intended for my Son who was then in the Army and seemed bent on a military Life, but as Peace cuts off his Prospect of Advancem' in that Way, he will apply himself to other Business. Enclos'd I send you his Certificate from the Governor of New York, by which he is entitled to £98. 16. 4 being his Pay; with a Letter of Attorney impowering you to receive it; I know not what the Deductions will be at the Pay Office, but desire you will give my Acc' Credit for the net Proceeds. I am in daily Expectation of a Bill from Virginia of £50 which I shall remit you towards the ballance, and Mr. Hall

1 From the original in the possession of Hon: Samuel W. Pennypacker.

will acct with you for those things you have sent me that are put in his Invoice. Our acc's agree except that I have charg'd you £1. 9. 7. for the Ainsworth s James Read the 6/7 being the Proportion of Charges on that Book, and the Bill on Geo. Rigge my acct calls £15. 7. 11., yours £15. 7. 1., which is but a small variation; and I know not but yours may be right.

I have lately sent a Printing-house to Antigua, by a very sober, honest and diligent young Man, who has already (as I am inform'd by divers Hands) gain'd the Friendship of the Principal People, and is like to get into good Business. This will open another Market for your Books if you think fit to use it, for I am persuaded that if you shall send him a Parcel with any Quantity of Stationery he may write to you for, he will make you good and punctual Returns. His Name is Thomas Smith; he is the only Printer on that Island: had work'd with me here, and at my Printinghouse in New York 3 or 4 Years, and always behaved extreamly well.

Mr. Thomas Osborne, Bookseller, of London, is endeavouring to open a Correspondence in the Plantations. for the Sale of his Books. He has accordingly sent several Parcels, I to Mr. Parker of N. York, I to Mr. Read here, and I to Mr. Parks in Virginia. I have seen the Invoices to Parker and Read, and observe the Books to be very high charg'd, so that I believe they will not sell. I recommend Parker to you for Books, but he tells me he has wrote you several Letters, and in two of them sent a Guinea to purchase some small Things, but never receiv'd any Answer. Perhaps the Guineas made the Letters miscarry. He is a very honest, punctual Man, and will be in the Way of sell

ing a great many Books: I think you might find your Acct in Writing to him: Mr. Read having left off Bookselling, Osborne has wrote to me and desired me to take those Books into my hands, proposing a Correspondence etc. but I have declin'd it in a Letter per this Ship.

My Spouse will write to Mrs. Strahan, to whom my best Respects. By this time twelvemonth, if nothing extraordinary happens to prevent it, I hope to have the Pleasure of seeing you both in London; being, with great Esteem and Affection, dr Sir,

Your obliged Friend and Servt.

B. FRANKLIN.

P. S. You will find Mr. Geo. Smith, one of the Witnesses to the Power of Attorney, at the Pensilvania coffee-house. He goes over in this ship.

SIR,

81. TO JAMES LOGAN

Philadelphia, October 30, 1748.

I received your favour of the 28th, with the piece on the Generation of Plants, for which I thank you. Mr. Sandin, the Swedish missionary, who gave me Wahlboom's Oration to send you (as he passed through this town from New York, where he just arrived, to Racoon Creek, where he was to be settled), I have never seen since. Mr. Kalm came to see me the day he arrived, and brought me letters from Mr. Collinson and Dr. Mitchell, both recommending him. I invited him to lodge at my house, and offered him any service in my power; but I never saw him afterwards till yes

terday, when he told me that he had been much in the country, and at New York, since his arrival, but was now come to settle in town for the winter. To-day he dined with me; and, as I had received yours in the morning, I took occasion to ask him if he had not yet seen Mr. Logan. He said, no; that he had once been out with his countryman, Mr. Kock, proposing to wait on you as they returned; but it proved later in the evening than they had expected, and he thought a visit then would be unseasonable, but proposed soon to pay his respects to you. Possibly he might at that time have the packet for you at Naglee's. I did not ask him about that. Inquiring of him what was become of Mr. Sandin, he told me that soon after he got to Racoon Creek, he was taken with the fever and ague, which was followed by several other disorders, that constantly harassed him, and at length carried him off, just as Kalm arrived here, who, hearing that he was dangerously ill, hurried down to see him, but found him dead.

Sandin had a family with him, and, when here, was in haste to get to his settlement, but might intend to wait on you when he should come again to Philadelphia. Kalm, I suppose, might be in haste to see as much of the country as he could, and make his journey to New York, before cold weather came on. I mention these things so particularly, that you may see you have not been purposely avoided by both these gentlemen, as you seem to imagine. I did not let Kalm know that you had mentioned him to me in your letter. I shall write to Mr. Hugh Jones, as you desire. I am, Sir, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

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