C018/Y01751.json

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{"created_timestamp": "01-01-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Adams/01-03-02-0016-0003", "content": "Title: [Harvard College, 1751\u20131755]\nFrom: Adams, John\nTo: \n      Continued November 30. 1804.\n      In my own class at Collidge, there were several others, for whom I had a strong affection\u2014Wentworth, Brown, Livingston, Sewall and Dalton all of whom have been eminent in Life, excepting Livingston an amiable and ingenious Youth who died within a Year or two after his first degree. In the Class before me I had several Friends, Treadwell the greatest Schollar, of my time, whose early death in the Professorship of Mathematicks and natural Phylosophy at New York American Science has still reason to deplore, West the eminent Divine of New Bedford, and Samuel Quincy, the easy, social and benevolent Companion, not without Genius, Elegance and Taste.\n      I soon perceived a growing Curiosity, a Love of Books and a fondness for Study, which dissipated all my Inclination for Sports, and even for the Society of the Ladies. I read forever, but without much method, and with very little Choice. I got my Lessons regularly and performed my recitations without Censure. Mathematicks and natural Phylosophy attracted the most of my Attention, which I have since regretted, because I was destined to a Course of Life, in which these Sciences have been of little Use, and the Classicks would have been of great Importance. I owe to this however perhaps some degree of Patience of Investigation, which I might not otherwise have obtained. Another Advantage ought not to be omitted. It is too near my heart. My Smattering of Mathematicks enabled me afterwards at Auteuil in France to go, with my eldest Son, through a Course of Geometry, Algebra and several Branches of the Sciences, with a degree of pleasure that amply rewarded me for all my time and pains.\n      Between the Years 1751 when I entered, and 1754 i.e. 1755 when I left Colledge a Controversy was carried on between Mr. Bryant the Minister of our Parish and some of his People, partly on Account of his Principles which were called Arminian and partly on Account of his Conduct, which was too gay and light if not immoral. Ecclesiastical Councils were called and sat at my Fathers House. Parties and their Accrimonies arose in the Church and Congregation, and Controversies from the Press between Mr. Bryant, Mr. Niles, Mr. Porter, Mr. Bass, concerning the five Points. I read all these Pamphlets and many other Writings on the same Subject and found myself involved in difficulties beyond my Powers of decision. At the same time, I saw such a Spirit of Dogmatism and Bigotry in Clergy and Laity, that if I should be a Priest I must take my side, and pronounce as positively as any of them, or never get a Parish, or getting it must soon leave it. Very strong doubts arose in my mind, whether I was made for a Pulpit in such times, and I began to think of other Professions. I perceived very clearly, as I thought, that the Study of Theology and the pursuit of it as a Profession would involve me in endless Altercations and make my Life miserable, without any prospect of doing any good to my fellow Men.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "01-01-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0029", "content": "Title: Poor Richard Improved, 1751\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: \nCourteous Reader,\nAstrology is one of the most ancient Sciences, had in high Esteem of old, by the Wise and Great. Formerly, no Prince would make War or Peace, nor any General fight a Battle, in short, no important Affair was undertaken without first consulting an Astrologer, who examined the Aspects and Configurations of the heavenly Bodies, and mark\u2019d the lucky Hour. Now the noble Art (more Shame to the Age we live in!) is dwindled into Contempt; the Great neglect us, Empires make Leagues, and Parliaments Laws, without advising with us; and scarce any other Use is made of our learned Labours, than to find the best Time of cutting Corns, or gelding Pigs. This Mischief we owe in a great Measure to ourselves: The Ignorant Herd of Mankind, had they not been encourag\u2019d to it by some of us, would never have dared to depreciate our sacred Dictates; but Urania has been betray\u2019d by her own Sons; those whom she had favour\u2019d with the greatest Skill in her divine Art, the most eminent Astronomers among the Moderns, the Newtons, Halleys, and Whistons, have wantonly contemn\u2019d and abus\u2019d her, contrary to the Light of their own Consciences. Of these, only the last nam\u2019d, Whiston, has liv\u2019d to repent, and speak his Mind honestly. In his former Works he had treated Judiciary Astrology as a Chimera, and asserted, That not only the fixed Stars, but the Planets (Sun and Moon excepted) were at so immense a Distance, as to be incapable of any Influence on this Earth, and consequently nothing could be foretold from their Positions: but now in the Memoirs of his Life, publish\u2019d 1749, in the 82d Year of his Age, he foretels, Page 607, the sudden Destruction of the Turkish Empire, and of the House of Austria, German Emperors, &c. and Popes of Rome; the Restoration of the Jews, and Commencement of the Millennium; all by the Year 1766; and this not only from Scripture Prophecies; but (take his own Words) \u201cFrom the remarkable astronomical Signals that are to alarm Mankind of what is coming, viz. The Northern Lights since 1715; the six Comets at the Protestant Reformation in four Years, 1530, 1531, 1533, 1534, compar\u2019d with the seven Comets already seen in these last eleven Years 1737, 1739, 1742, 1743, 1744, 1746, and 1748. From the great Annular Eclipse of the Sun, July 14, 1748, whose Center pass\u2019d through all the four Monarchies, from Scotland to the East-Indies. From the Occultation of the Pleiades by the Moon each periodical Month, after the Eclipse last July, for above three Years, visible to the whole Roman Empire; as there was a like Occultation of the Hyades from A. 590, to A. 595, for six Years foretold by Isaiah. From the Transit of Mercury over the Sun, April 25, 1753, which will be visible thro\u2019 that Empire. From the Comet of A.D. 1456, 1531, 1607, and 1682, which will appear again about 1757 ending, or 1758 beginning, and will also be visible thro\u2019 that Empire. From the Transit of Venus over the Sun, May 26, 1761, which will be visible over the same Empire: And lastly, from the annular Eclipse of the Sun, March 11, 1764, which will be visible over the same Empire.\u201d From these Astronomical Signs, he foretels those great Events, That within 16 Years from this Time, \u201cthe Millennium or 1000 Years Reign of Christ shall begin, there shall be a new Heavens, and a new Earth; there shall be no more an Infidel in Christendom, Page 398, nor a Gaming-Table at Tunbridge!\u201d When these Predictions are accomplished, what glorious Proofs they will be of the Truth of our Art? And if they happen to fail, there is no doubt but so profound an Astronomer as Mr. Whiston, will be able to see other Signs in the Heavens, foreshowing that the Conversion of Infidels was to be postponed, and the Millennium adjourn\u2019d. After these great Things can any Man doubt our being capable of predicting a little Rain or Sun-shine? Reader, Farewell, and make the best Use of your Years and your Almanacks, for you see, that according to Whiston, you may have at most, but sixteen more of them.\nR. Saunders\nPatowmack, July 30, 1750.\nWhen the young Trader, aided by your Loan,\nThrives in his Trade, a worthy Merchant grown;\nWhen, snatch\u2019d from Ruin\u2019s Jaws by your kind Hand,\nThe Farmer pays his Debts and saves his Land;\n  When Good like this is done, your Money lent\n  Brings you, besides your Interest, Cent. per Cent.\n  In pleasing Satisfaction and Content.\nJanuary. XI Month.\nWho rise to Glory, must by Virtue rise,\n\u2019Tis in the Mind all genuine Greatness lies:\nOn that eternal Base, on that alone,\nThe World\u2019s Esteem you build, and more\u2014your own.\nFor what avails Birth, Beauty, Fortune\u2019s Store,\nThe Plume of Title, and the Pride of Pow\u2019r,\nIf, deaf to Virtue, deaf to Honour\u2019s Call,\nTo Tyrant Vice a wretched Slave you fall?\nPray don\u2019t burn my House to roast your Eggs.\nSome Worth it argues, a Friend\u2019s Worth to know;\nVirtue to own the Virtue of a Foe.\n    Prosperity discovers Vice, Adversity Virtue.\n    The Romans were 477 Years, without so much as a Sun-dial to show the Time of Day: The first they had was brought from Sicily, by Valerius Messala: One hundred and eighteen Years afterwards, Scipio Nasica, produced to them an Invention for measuring the Hours in cloudy Weather, it was by the Dropping of Water out of one Vessel into another, somewhat like our Sand-Glasses. Clocks and Watches, to shew the Hour, are very modern Inventions. The Sub-dividing Hours into Minutes, and Minutes into Seconds, by those curious Machines, is not older than the Days of our Fathers, but now brought to a surprising Nicety.\nSince our Time is reduced to a Standard, and the Bullion of the Day minted out into Hours, the Industrious know how to employ every Piece of Time to a real Advantage in their different Professions: And he that is prodigal of his Hours, is, in Effect, a Squanderer of Money. I remember a notable Woman, who was fully sensible of the intrinsic Value of Time. Her Husband was a Shoemaker, and an excellent Craftsman, but never minded how the Minutes passed. In vain did she inculcate to him, That Time is Money. He had too much Wit to apprehend her, and it prov\u2019d his Ruin. When at the Alehouse among his idle Companions, if one remark\u2019d that the Clock struck Eleven, What is that, says he, among us all? If she sent him Word by the Boy, that it had struck Twelve; Tell her to be easy, it can never be more. If, that it had struck One, Bid her be comforted, for it can never be less.\nIf we lose our Money, it gives us some Concern. If we are cheated or robb\u2019d of it, we are angry: But Money lost may be found; what we are robb\u2019d of may be restored: The Treasure of Time once lost, can never be recovered; yet we squander it as tho\u2019 \u2019twere nothing worth, or we had no Use for it.\nThe Bell strikes One: We take no Note of Time,\nBut from its Loss. To give it then a Tongue\nIs wise in Man. If heard aright\nIt is the Knell of our departed Hours;\nWhere are they? With the Years beyond the Flood:\nIt is the Signal that demands Dispatch;\nHow much is to be done? \u2014\u2014\nBe wise To-day, \u2019tis Madness to defer;\nNext day the fatal Precedent will plead;\nThus on, till Wisdom is push\u2019d out of Life:\nProcrastination is the Thief of Time,\nYear after Year it steals till all are fled,\nAnd to the Mercies of a Moment leaves\nThe vast Concerns of an eternal Scene.\nIf not so frequent, would not this be strange?\nThat \u2019tis so frequent, This is stranger still.\nFebruary. XII Month.\nAffect not that vain Levity of Thought,\nWhich sets Religion, Virtue, all at nought.\nFor true Religion like the Sun\u2019s blest Beam,\nDarts thro\u2019 the conscious Mind a heav\u2019nly Gleam,\nIrradiates all the Soul, no Care allows,\nCalms the blest Heart, and smooths the easy Brows.\nYet think it not enough what\u2019s right to know,\nBut let your Practice that right Knowledge show.\nTo Christians bad rude Indians we prefer;\n\u2019Tis better not to know, than knowing err.\n    Many a Man would have been worse, if his Estate had been better.\n    We may give Advice, but we cannot give Conduct.\nMarch. I Month.\nSome sweet Employ for leisure Minutes chuse,\nAnd let your very Pleasures have their Use.\nBut if you read, your Books with Prudence chuse.\nOr Time mis-spent is worse than what you lose.\nBe fully e\u2019er you speak your Subject known,\nAnd let e\u2019en then some Diffidence be shown.\nKeep something silent, and we think you wise,\nBut when we see the Bottom, we despise.\n    He that is conscious of a Stink in his Breeches, is jealous of every Wrinkle in another\u2019s Nose.\n    Love and Tooth-ach have many Cures, but none infallible, except Possession and Dispossession.\n    On the 15th of this Month, Anno Romae 709, Julius Caesar was slain in the Senate-House: He fought! he conquer\u2019d! he triumph\u2019d! For what? For Fame.\nAnd with what rare Inventions do we strive\nOurselves then to survive.\nSome with vast costly Tombs would purchase it,\nAnd by the Proofs of Death pretend to live.\nHere lies the Great \u2014\u2014 False Marble, where?\nNothing but small and sordid Dust lies there.\n  Some build enormous Mountain Palaces\nThe Fools and Architects to please:\nA lasting Life in well hewn Stone they rear.\nCaesar an higher Place does claim,\nIn the Seraphic Entity of Fame:\nHe, since that Toy his Death,\nDoes fill all Mouths, and breathes in all Men\u2019s Breath;\n  \u2014\u2014The two immortal Syllables remain;\nBut O ye learned Men explain,\nWhat Essence, what Existence this\nIn six poor Letters is?\nIn those alone does the great Caesar live;\n\u2019Tis all the conquer\u2019d World could give,\nWe Poets madder yet than all,\nWith a refin\u2019d fantastick Vanity\nThink we not only have but give Eternity.\nFain would I see that Prodigal\nWho his To-morrow would bestow,\nFor all old Homer\u2019s Life, e\u2019er since he dy\u2019d till now. Cowley.\nApril. II Month.\nO barb\u2019rous Waggoners, your Wrath asswage,\nWhy vent you on the generous Steed your Rage?\nDoes not his Service earn you daily Bread?\nYour Wives, your Children by his Labour fed?\nIf, as the Samian taught, the Soul revives,\nAnd, shifting Seats, in other Bodies lives,\nSevere shall be the brutal Carter\u2019s Change,\nDoom\u2019d in a Thill-horse o\u2019er rough Roads to range;\nAmd while transform\u2019d the groaning Load he draws,\nSome Horse turn\u2019d Carter shall avenge the Cause.\n    There are lazy Minds as well as lazy Bodies.\n    Most People return small Favours, acknowledge middling ones, and repay great ones with Ingratitude.\nThat admirable Instrument the Microscope has opened to us of these latter Ages, a World utterly unknown to the Ancients. There are very few Substances, in which it does not shew something curious and unexpected; but for the Sake of such Readers as are unacquainted with that Instrument, I shall set down some of the most remarkably entertaining Objects, upon which actual Observations have been made.\n1. The Globules of the Blood, which are computed to be almost a two thousandth Part of an Inch in Diameter, each consisting of six small Globules, each of which again probably consists of six smaller, and so on. The Circulation of the Blood is to be seen very distinctly in the Tail of a small Fish, the Web of the Foot of a Frog, &c. and the Globules to split and divide, before they can enter the smallest Vessels.\n2. The Bones of all Creatures, sliced extremely thin, afford an entertaining Object for the Microscope, consisting of innumerable Perforations, and Ramifications, disposed in an endless Variety of Forms.\n3. The Flesh of all Land and Sea Animals dried, and cut into very thin Slices, gives a beautiful View of the various Fibres, and their Convolutions. The Brain, the spinal Marrow, and even the Hairs of Animals, exhibit different Curiosities.\n4. The human Skin, by the Help of the Microscope, is found to be covered over with an infinite Number of Scales lying over one another, as in fishes; and it is probably the same in other Animals. It has been computed that a Grain of Sand will cover two hundred of these Scales.\n5. All Sorts of Feathers, especially those of the Peacock, afford a surprizing View in the Microscope. It is supposed that a single Feather contains no less than a Million of different Parts.\n6. Flies are found by the Microscope to be produced from Eggs laid by the Mothers, from whence they are hatched in the Form of Maggots, or small Worms, which are afterwards transformed into Aurelias, and these into perfect Flies. This is the Process most of the winged Insects go through in their Production. They have a great Number of Eyes fixed to their Heads, so that they see on all Sides around them, without turning their Heads or Eyes. A common Fly is supposed to have eight thousand, and a great Drone Fly no less than fourteen thousand Eyes, with a distinct optic Nerve to each; and each Eye appears through the Microscope, tho\u2019 magnified many hundred thousand Times, more exactly shaped, and more curiously polished, than human Art could finish an Object as large as the whole Cluster, containing seven thousand distinct ones. The Wings of Flies, especially of the Moth and Butterfly Kind, are found to be contrived with admirable Art, to answer their Use, and with inimitable Beauty and Ornament. The Dust, which sticks to the Fingers, when we handle them, is found to be Feathers; each of which has its Quill and vane Parts as compleat as that of a Fowl or a Goose, and are inserted in the Film of the Wing, with the utmost Regularity of Arrangement. With the Microscope, the Stings of Moths and Bees appear to be Instruments finished to the highest Perfection; their Points, and saw-like Teeth, being perfectly polished and sharp; whereas the Edge of a Razor appears like that of a Butcher\u2019s Cleaver, and the Point of a Lancet like an iron Spike just come from the Anvil.\n7. By the Help of the Microscope the innumerable and inconceivably minute Animalcules in various Fluids are discovered, of the Existence of which we have no Reason to suppose any Mortal had the least Suspicion, till last Century. In the Melt of a single Cod-fish ten Times more living Creatures are contained, than the Inhabitants of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, taking it for granted, that all Parts of the World are as well peopled as Holland, which is very far from being the Case. Of a certain Species some are discovered so extremely minute, that it has been computed, three Millions of them, or three Times the Number of the Inhabitants of London and Westminster, would not equal the Bulk of a Grain of Sand. Of Animalcules, some Species resemble Tadpoles, Serpents or Eels, others are of a roundish or oval Form, others of very curiously turned and various Shapes; but in general they are extremely vigorous and lively, and almost constantly in Motion. Animalcules are to be found (besides those in the Bodies of Animals) in the Infusions of Pepper, Senna, Pinks, Roses, Jessamin, Tea, Rasberry Stalks, Fennel, Sage, Melons, sour Grapes, Wheat, Hay, Straw, and almost all vegetable Substances; in the Water, that is in the Shells of Oysters, Cockles, and other Shell-fish, in the Foulness upon our Teeth, and those of other Animals, in our Skins when affected with certain Diseases; in Vinegar, and Paste, and so on infinitely. In each of these Substances, when exposed to the Air some Time, Multitudes of living Creatures, beyond the Reach of Numbers, are discovered, of which many Hundreds of Species are already known, as different from one another as those of the largest Animals, and very probably there are many more yet unknown. As it is certain, that in the above mentioned Fluids few or no Animalcules are to be found, when covered from the Air, but when open to the Access of the Air, their Numbers are beyond reckoning; it is hardly to be doubted, but that either the Air is replete with infinite Multitudes of living Creatures too small for Sight, which come and deposite their Eggs in Places proper for the Nutrition of the Young, or that their Eggs are floating every where in the Air, and falling promiscuously every where, only those are hatched, or come to Perfection, which fall upon Places fitted for them, and the others perish. However it is, the countless Numbers of those living Creatures, the Profusion of Life every where to be observed, is above Measure astonishing, and shews the Maker to be an infinite Being.\n8. By the Help of the Microscope, we find that the Scales of almost every different Fish are different from those of others, in internal Texture; and that all of them are wrought with surprising Art and Beauty.\n9. By Means of this noble Instrument we find, that the Seeds of almost all Manner of Vegetables contain in them the Stamina of the future Plant or Tree, and that their Production from the Seed, and their Growth to Maturity is only the Swelling and Enlarging of the Stamina by the Addition of nutritious Juices. It is probable the Manner of Production and Growth of Animals is analogous to this. The Fertility of some Plants is almost beyond Belief. One particularly is said by Naturalists to produce annually a Million of Seeds from one. The Farina of Flowers is found by the help of the Microscope to be a regular organized Body, and not a meer Dust, as it appears to the naked Eye, and is reasonably supposed to be necessary to Fertility in Plants and Trees.\n10. By the Microscope have been discovered many singular Properties of that most unaccountable of all Creatures the Polype, which is found at the Bottom of Ditches, and standing Waters; whose Manner of Production, Feeding and Digestion, are different from those of all other Animals. The young ones come out of the Sides of the old, like Buds and Branches from Trees, and at length drop off perfect Polypes. They do not seem to be of different Sexes. They take in Worms, and other Sustenance, by Means of a Sett of long Arms or Antennae, which surround their Mouths, and after keeping them some Time in their Stomachs, throw them out again the same Way. The Animal\u2019s Body consists of a single Cavity, like a Tube or Gut, and what is wonderful, and almost beyond Belief, is, that it will live and feed after it is turned inside out, and even when cut into a great many Pieces, each several Piece becomes a compleat Polype. They are infested with a Kind of Vermin, as are almost all Animals from the largest down to Bees and other Insects. These Vermin sometimes in a long Time will eat up the Head and Part of the Body of a Polype, after which, if it be cleared of them, it shall have the devoured Parts grow up again, and become as compleat as ever. Some Polypes have around their Mouths a Sort of Plume, which they whirl round, and making with it an Eddy in the Water, draw in their Prey, and devour it.\n11. By the Microscope it is found, that neither the Wood, the Bark, the Root, the Leaves, the Fruit, nor even the Pith of the meanest Vegetable is a Mass of crude or indigested Matter; but that every different Species is different in its internal Structure, and all curiously and delicately wrought. A Bit of Cork, cut extremely thin, a Slice of Oak or Fir, or a Bit of Elder Pith, in the Microscope, are so many curious Pieces of Mosaic Work. Even a Bit of Charcoal or burnt Wood appears with the Microscope an admirable Object.\n12. By this Instrument it is found, that what we call Mouldiness upon Flesh, Leather, or other Substances, is no other than a great Number of extremely small, but perfect Plants, having Stalks and Tops like Mushrooms, and sometimes an Appearance of Leaves. The Seeds of these minute Plants must, in all Probability, be diffused universally through the Air, and falling upon Substances fit for their Growth, spring up in astonishing Profusion. There is, in short, no End of microscopic Objects. A Sprig of Moss, with the Help of that Instrument, is found to be a regular Plant, consisting of a Root, a Stock, Branches, Leaves, &c. and Naturalists tell us, there are some Hundreds of different Species of it. A Bit of Spunge before the Microscope is a curious Piece of Net-work. Every different chymical Salt has its parts differently figured. A Leaf of a common stinging Nettle, the Beard of a wild Oat, the Surfaces of some Pebble-stones, a Flake of Snow, a few Grains of Sand, or almost any natural Thing, with this Instrument, exhibit exquisite Beauties; while, on the contrary, the most delicate Works of Art, can by no Means bear its Examination; but degenerate before it into Masses of Irregularity, and Deformity.\nMay. III Month.\nWith ceaseless Streams a well-plac\u2019d Treasure flows,\nWhen spent increases, and by lessening grows.\nSarepta\u2019s Widow, hoping no Supply,\nThought, on her little Store, to eat and die:\nSoon as she welcom\u2019d her prophetic Guest,\nThe Cruse flow\u2019d liberal, and the Corn increas\u2019d,\nTh\u2019 Almighty Pow\u2019r unfailing Plenty sent,\nThe Oil unwasted, and the Meal unspent.\nFond Pride of Dress is sure an empty Curse;\nE\u2019re Fancy you consult, consult your Purse.\n    Youth is pert and positive, Age modest and doubting: So Ears of Corn when young and light, stand bolt upright, but hang their Heads when weighty, full, and ripe.\nJune. IV Month.\nWhat will not Lux\u2019ry taste? Earth, Sea, and Air,\nAre daily ransack\u2019d for the Bill of Fare.\nBlood stuff\u2019d in Guts is British Christian\u2019s Food,\nAnd France robs Marshes of the croaking Brood;\nBut he had sure a Palate cover\u2019d o\u2019er\nWith Brass or Steel, that on the rocky Shore,\nFirst broke the oozy Oister\u2019s pearly Coat,\nAnd risk\u2019d the living Morsel down his Throat.\n    \u2019Tis easier to suppress the first Desire, than to satisfy all that follow it.\n    Don\u2019t judge of Mens Wealth or Piety, by their Sunday Appearances.\n    Friendship increases by visiting Friends, but by visiting seldom.\nJuly. V Month.\nVice luring, in the Way of Virtue lies,\nGod suffers This; but tempts not; tho\u2019 He tries.\nGo wrong, go right, \u2019tis your own Action still;\nHe leaves you to your Choice, of Good, or Ill.\nThen chuse the Good! the Ill submisly bear!\nThe Man of Virtue is above Despair.\nSafe on this Maxim with the Writer rest,\nThat all that happens, happens for the best.\n    If your Riches are yours, why don\u2019t you take them with you to the t\u2019other World?\n    What more valuable than Gold? Diamonds. Than Diamonds? Virtue.\n    To-day is Yesterday\u2019s Pupil.\nAugust. VI Month.\nYe Party Zealots, thus it fares with you,\nWhen Party Rage too warmly you pursue;\nBoth Sides club Nonsense and impetuous Pride,\nAnd Folly joins whom Sentiments divide.\nYou vent your Spleen as Monkeys when they pass,\nScratch at the mimic Monkey in the Glass,\nWhile both are one; and henceforth be it known,\nFools of both Sides shall stand as Fools alone.\n    If worldly Goods cannot save me from Death, they ought not to hinder me of eternal Life.\n    \u2019Tis great Confidence in a Friend to tell him your Faults, greater to tell him his.\nSeptember. VII Month.\nAh! What is Life? With Ills encompass\u2019d round,\nAmidst our Hopes, Fate strikes the sudden Wound;\nTo-day the Statesman of new Honour dreams,\nTo-morrow Death destroys his airy Schemes.\nIs mouldy Treasure in thy Chest confin\u2019d;\nThink, all that Treasure thou must leave behind;\nThy Heir with Smiles shall view thy blazon\u2019d Hearse,\nAnd all thy Hoards, with lavish Hand disperse.\n    Talking against Religion is unchaining a Tyger; The Beast let loose may worry his Deliverer.\n    Ambition often spends foolishly what Avarice had wickedly collected.\nOctober. VIII Month.\nShould certain Fate th\u2019impending Blow delay,\nThy Mirth will sicken, and thy Bloom decay;\nThen feeble Age will all thy Nerves disarm,\nNo more thy Blood its narrow Channels warm;\nWho then would wish to stretch this narrow Span,\nTo suffer Life beyond the Date of Man?\nThe virtuous Soul pursues a nobler Aim,\nAnd Life regards but as a fleeting Dream.\n    Pillgarlic was in the Accusative Case, and bespoke a Lawyer in the Vocative, who could not understand him till he made use of the Dative.\nGreat Estates may venture more;\nLittle Boats must keep near Shore.\n    Nice Eaters seldom meet with a good Dinner.\n    November. IX Month.\nShe longs to wake, and wishes to get free,\nTo launch from Earth into Eternity.\nFor while the boundless Theme extends our Thought,\nTen thousand thousand rolling Years are nought.\nO endless Thought! divine Eternity!\nTh\u2019immortal Soul shares but a Part of thee;\nFor thou wert present when our Life began,\nWhen the warm Dust shot up in breathing Man.\n    Not to oversee Workmen, is to leave them your Purse open.\n    The Wise and Brave dares own that he was wrong.\n    Cunning proceeds from Want of Capacity.\n    It is an amusing Speculation to look back, and compute what Numbers of Men and Women among the Ancients, clubb\u2019d their Endeavours to the Production of a single Modern. As you reckon backwards the Number encreases in the same Proportion as the Price of the Coat which was sold for a Half-penny a Button, continually doubled.\nThus, a present Nobleman (for Instance) is\nHis Father and Mother were\nHis Grandfathers and Grandmothers\nHis Great Grandfathers and Great Grandmothers,\n    And, supposing no Intermarriages among Relations, the next Predecessors will be\nThe next Ditto,\nThe next Ditto,\n  The next Ditto,\nThe next Ditto,\n  The next Ditto,\nThe next Ditto,\n  The next Ditto,\nThe next Ditto,\n  The next Ditto,\nThe next Ditto,\n  The next Ditto,\nThe next Ditto,\n  The next Ditto,\nThe next Ditto,\n  The next Ditto,\nThe next Ditto,\nHere are only computed 21 Generations, which, allowing 3 Generations to 100 Years, carry us back no farther than the Norman Conquest, at which Time each present Nobleman, to exclude all ignoble Blood from his Veins, ought to have had One Million, Forty-eight Thousand, Five Hundred and Seventy-six noble Ancestors. Carry the Reckoning back 300 Years farther, and the Number amounts to above 500 Millions; which are more than exist at any one Time upon Earth, and shews the Impossibility of preserving Blood free from such Mixtures, and that the Pretension of such Purity of Blood in ancient Families is a mere Joke. Hence we see how it happens that every Nation has a kind of general Cast of Feature, by which it may be distinguished; continual Intermarriages for a Course of Ages rendring all the People related by Blood, and, as it were, of one Family.\nDecember. X Month.\nEre the Foundations of the World were laid,\nEre kindling Light th\u2019Almighty Word obey\u2019d,\nThou wert; and when the subterraneous Flame,\nShall burst its Prison, and devour this Frame,\nFrom angry Heav\u2019n when the keen Lightning flies,\nWhen fervent Heat dissolves the melting Skies,\nThou still shalt be; still as thou wert before,\nAnd know no Change when Time shall be no more.\n    The Proud hate Pride\u2014in others.\n    Who judges best of a Man, his Enemies or himself?\n    Drunkenness, that worst of Evils, makes some Men Fools, some Beasts, some Devils.\n    \u2019Tis not a Holiday that\u2019s not kept holy.\n    On the 6th of this Month, 1711, died in England, Mrs. Jane Schrimshaw, aged 127 Years: But England boasts some much longer Livers. James Sands, of Horburn, in the County of Stafford, near Birmingham, lived 140 Years, and his Wife 120, in a perfect State of Health till the Day of their Deaths. He out-liv\u2019d 5 Leases of 21 Years each, all made after his Marriage. Thomas Parr, married his first Wife at 80 Years of Age, by whom he had two Children; his second Wife after he was 120 Years old, by whom he had one Child, and lived till he was something above 150. Henry Jenkins, of the Parish of Bolton, in Yorkshire, died the 8th of this same Month, 1670, aged 169 Years. In these American Parts we have no such very old Men; not that the Climate is unhealthy, but because the present Inhabitants were not born soon enough.\n    Of the Inequality of natural Time, and of the right adjusting and managing of Pendulum Clocks and Watches.\n    The Day is of two Sorts, Mean and Solar; the Mean or equal Day is always 24 Hours exactly, and is the Day which all good Pendulum Clocks and Watches should exactly measure. The Solar, apparent, or natural Day, is pointed out by a good Sun Dial; or is that Space of Time that intervenes between the Sun\u2019s leaving a given Meridian in the Heavens, and returning to it again; and does almost perpetually differ from the Mean or equal Day; as consequently a good Pendulum Clock, accurately adjusted, will almost perpetually differ from an exact Sun-Dial. In the preceding Table [see p. 100], you have the Quantity of this Difference in Minutes, for every Day in the Year; with the Titles Add. or Sub. which signifies thus much: If you can gain the exact apparent Time of the Day, either by the Sun\u2019s Rising, Setting, transiting the Meridian, or by a good Sun-Dial, and would set your Clock or Watch to go with the exact equal Time, as it always should do; then, in this Table, find the Number of Minutes standing against the Day of the Month propos\u2019d, and observe the Title above, if Add. or Sub. for according to the Title you must apply the said Minutes to the apparent Time, and the Sum or Difference will be the exact equal Time required; to which you must set your Clock or Watch.\nA Correct Table for Equating of Time, or of the Inequality of Solar Days, for the Regulating of Clocks and Watches; exactly calculated to every Minute of Variation, or Difference in Time.\nDays.\n   Jan.|Add.\n   Feb.|Add.\n   Mar.|Add.\n   April.|Add.\n   May.|Sub.\n   June|Sub.\n   July.|Add.\n   Aug.|Add.\n   Sept.|Sub.\n   Oct.|Sub.\n   Nov.|Sub.\n   Dec.|Sub.\nDays.\nsu.\nad\nad\nsu.\nExample I.\nSuppose February 5, I observe by a good Sun-dial when it is exactly 10 a Clock; then against the 5th of February, in this Table, I find 15 min. Add. which makes 10 Hours 15 Minutes, the exact equal Time, which should be shown by the Clock at the same Time the Dial shows exactly 10 Hours.\n    Example II.\nOn the 15th Day of October, Suppose I observe by a good Dial, when it is exactly 1 a Clock in the Afternoon; in this Table, against the 15th of October, stand 16 min. Sub. which leaves 44 Minutes after 12 for the Time to be shown by your Clock.\nNote, When the Title is Add. then Clocks or Watches go too fast; but when the Title is Sub. then Clocks or Watches go too slow.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "01-09-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0031", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 9 January 1751\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Johnson, Samuel\nDear Sir\nPhilada. Jan. 9. 1750, 1\nI receiv\u2019d your Favour of the 14th past, with the Noetica, which I shall immediately put to press, for I think it scarce necessary to ask Subscriptions for so small a Work; and believe we can not find a more suitable Piece of the kind to use in our Academy. Please to accept the enclos\u2019d (with my Compliments) for the New Year. The Assembly sitting hurries me so that I have not Time to give you an Account as I intended of the opening of the Academy. I am, with great Respect, Dear Sir, Your most obliged humble Servant\nB Franklin", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "01-23-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0032", "content": "Title: Petition for the Pennsylvania Hospital, 23 January 1751\nFrom: \nTo: \nJanuary 23, 1751\nThe founding of the Pennsylvania Hospital is one of the best-known episodes in Franklin\u2019s public career, for he related the history of it in his autobiography at length, if not accurately in all details, and he printed the relevant documents in Some Account of the Pennsylvania Hospital, 1754. Franklin\u2019s friend Dr. Thomas Bond was one of the first to realize that Philadelphia needed a hospital to supplement the limited provisions of the almshouse and lazaretto. In 1750 Bond began to solicit funds, but met with no success. Prospective donors almost invariably asked what Franklin thought of the undertaking, and when Bond confessed that he had not consulted him, they replied they would think about his scheme, but gave him nothing. At length Bond came to Franklin, who \u201cenquir\u2019d into the Nature, and probable Utility of his Scheme, and receiving from him a very satisfactory Explanation, I not only subscrib\u2019d to it myself, but engag\u2019d heartily in the Design of Procuring Subscriptions from others.\u201d Though the response was now more generous, it was still insufficient; and Franklin proposed to ask the Assembly for aid. A petition was accordingly drafted and submitted. The rural legislators, according to Franklin, objected that the institution would benefit only the city, and that therefore Philadelphia alone should be at the expense of it. Some charged that physicians\u2019 fees would consume all the money raised, until three physicians \u2014Thomas and Phineas Bond and Lloyd Zachary\u2014announced they would serve the hospital gratis for three years. Some critics even alleged that many of the city\u2019s residents did not favor the scheme. To this Franklin replied that the citizens were so strong in support that they would subscribe \u00a32000\u2014an assertion opponents of the petition \u201cconsidered as a most extravagant Supposition, and utterly impossible. On this,\u201d wrote Franklin, \u201cI form\u2019d my Plan.\u201d He obtained leave to bring in a bill to incorporate the contributors and grant them a blank sum of money, making the grant conditional on the contributors raising an equal sum by voluntary effort. \u201cThis Condition carried the Bill through; for the Members who had oppos\u2019d the Grant, and now conceiv\u2019d they might have the Credit of being charitable without the Expence, agreed to its Passage.\u201d The bill passed unanimously February 7, and on May 11, some amendments proposed by the governor having been adopted, it became law.\nThe sponsors of the hospital now had to raise \u00a32000 to get the \u00a32000 conditionally appropriated by the Assembly. \u201cIn soliciting Subscriptions among the People,\u201d Franklin continued, \u201cwe urg\u2019d the conditional Promise of the Law as an additional Motive to give, since every Man\u2019s Donation would be doubled. Thus the Clause work\u2019d both ways. \u2026 And I do not remember any of my political Manoeuvres, the Success of which gave me at the time more Pleasure. Or that in after-thinking of it, I more easily excus\u2019d my-self for having made some Use of Cunning.\u201d\nOn July 1, as the act provided, some of the contributors, to the number of thirty-six, met in the State House to elect twelve managers and a treasurer. These officers met next day to consider a site (they chose a lot belonging to the Proprietors), to raise money, and receive the Assembly grant. Though cash and pledges amounted to more than the required sum, the speaker refused to count the pledges unless the subscribers signed a penal bond. This they did; on August 16 contributions and subscriptions to the amount of \u00a32751 16s. 8d. were reported; and on October 3 the first half of the Assembly\u2019s grant was turned over to the managers.\nFranklin served as a hospital manager until he went to England in 1757; he was the board\u2019s first secretary, 1751\u201352, and their second president, 1755\u201357. He helped draft memorials, letters, by-laws, and regulations; with Thomas Bond he designed a seal and had James Turner in Boston make it; he even composed the inscription for the cornerstone of the hospital building. To the end of his life, as his letters show, he was helpful and interested; and he remembered the hospital in his will.\nThe following chronology of the principal events in the hospital\u2019s history to 1755 may be helpful:\nMay 11:\nGovernor Hamilton approves act of incorporation.\n  July 1:\nFirst meeting of the Contributors; Franklin elected a manager.\nFirst meeting of the Managers; Franklin chosen secretary. Managers ask the Proprietors for a city lot. See below, pp. 145, 326.\n  August 8\u201315:\nPublic appeal for the hospital made in the Pennsylvania Gazette. See below, p. 147.\n  January 17:\nBy-law on the election and duties of Managers and a treasurer adopted. See below, p. 255.\n  January 23:\nRegulations for the admission of patients adopted.\n  February 6:\nHospital opens in temporary quarters in the late Judge John Kinsey\u2019s Market Street residence; first patient admitted February 10.\n  April 13:\nRules for the choice of physicians and surgeons adopted.\nFirst regular annual meeting of the Contributors.\n1500 copies of Franklin\u2019s Account of the hospital ordered printed; completed July 27.\n  September 11:\nLot of ground at Eighth and Pine Streets purchased.\nCornerstone of hospital building laid.\n  October 27:\nHospital roof raised.\nSome of the memorials, by-laws, regulations, and other documents listed above were composed by Franklin, either individually or as a member of one of the managers\u2019 committees; and all were included in Some Account of the Pennsylvania Hospital. To print each document both in its chronological place and in the Account would be needlessly repetitious; but to omit them from the Account because they had been printed under their own dates would reduce that work to a tatter of transitional paragraphs and cross references. The editors\u2019 solution is to list under their respective dates the documents for which Franklin was responsible only as one of a committee (to indicate the times, amount, and quality of his work for the hospital), but to print them in full, annotated, as parts of his Account. The long, two-part essay on hospitals, which Franklin alone composed, published in the Pennsylvania Gazette in 1751, and reprinted in the Account, is, however, printed below (p. 147) in its chronological place.\nThus the text of the petition to the Assembly, though in Franklin\u2019s hand, is omitted here, but is printed and annotated in Some Account of the Pennsylvania Hospital in Volume v.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "02-04-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0033", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 4 February 1751\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Collinson, Peter\nDear Sir\nPhilada. Feb. 4. 1750, 1\nI receiv\u2019d yours of Oct. 4. via New England, with the Account of what you have laid out on Books and Mathematical Instruments for the Academy, by which I perceive there is but about \u00a320 in your Hands, much too little, I fear, for the Philosophical Apparatus! and the Misfortune is, that our other Expences in purchasing, Building, &c. are like to pinch us so in the Beginning, that we cannot soon afford an Addition to that Sum; so that if our good Proprietors do not see fit to help us, we must wait for those valuable Advantages till we are better able to afford them. The Academy was open\u2019d the Beginning of this Year and goes on well. Mr. Secretary Peters preach\u2019d an excellent Sermon on the Occasion, which he will not suffer to be printed. I long for the Letter you mention relating to the Academy Affairs, which you intended to send me by Reeves.\nBy Ouchterlony I sent you my last Piece on Electricity, and have nothing new to add, except that Mr. Kinnersley, an ingenious Gentleman of this Place has apply\u2019d my horizontal self-moving Wheel with Success, to the playing of Tunes on Chimes, which it does very prettily. I will get Mr. Evans to make a Draft of his Machine, and send it to you.\nMy Respects to Mr. Watson. He desir\u2019d you to enquire what Success we had in our Attempts to kill a Turkey by the Electrical Strokes. Please to acquaint him, that we made several Experiments on Fowls this Winter; That we found two large thin glass Jars, gilt (holding each about 6 Gallons, and taking 2000 Turns of a Globe of 9 Inches Diameter to charge them full, when the Globe works very well, and will charge a common half pint Vial with 50 Turns) were sufficient to kill common Hens outright; but the Turkies, tho\u2019 thrown into violent Convulsions, and then lying as dead for some Minutes, would recover in less than a quarter of an Hour. However, having added Mr. Kinnersley\u2019s Jarrs and mine together, in all 5, tho\u2019 not fully charg\u2019d, we kill\u2019d a Turky with them of about 10 lb.wt. and suppose they would have kill\u2019d a much larger. I conceit that the Birds kill\u2019d in this Manner eat uncommonly tender.\nIn making these Experiments, I found that a Man can without great Detriment bear a much greater Electrical Shock than I imagin\u2019d. For I inadvertently took the Stroke of two of those Jars thro\u2019 my Arms and Body, when they were very near full charg\u2019d. It seem\u2019d an universal Blow from head to foot throughout the Body, and was follow\u2019d by a violent quick Trembling in the Trunk, which wore gradually off in a few seconds. It was some Moments before I could collect my Thoughts so as to know what was the Matter; for I did not see the Flash tho\u2019 my Eye was on the Spot of the Prime Conductor from whence it struck the Back of my Hand, nor did I hear the Crack tho\u2019 the By-standers say it was a loud one; nor did I particularly feel the Stroke on my Hand, tho\u2019 I afterwards found it had rais\u2019d a Swelling there the bigness of half a Swan Shot or pistol Bullet. My Arms and Back of my Neck felt somewhat numb the remainder of the Evening, and my Breastbone was sore for a Week after, [as] if it had been bruiz\u2019d. What the Consequence would be, if such a Shock were taken thro\u2019 the Head, I know not.\nAll the Instruments by Shirley, &c. and Books for the Academy came safe. Also those for the Library mention\u2019d in your Letters.\nOur Friend Mr. Kalm, goes home in this Ship, with a great Cargo of Curious Things. I love the Man, and admire his indefatigable Industry. I shall do my best Endeavour to have [the] Study of Natural History establish\u2019d in the Academy, as what [I] am convinc\u2019d is a Science of more real Worth and Usefulness, [than] several of the others we propose to teach, put together.\nI am, with great Respect, Dear Sir Your obliged and most humble Servant\nB Franklin\nPlease to send for the Library\n  A large Glass Globe for an Electrical Machine\n  A large Glass Cylinder for Ditto.\nMy Respects to Dr. Fothergill, and to Dr. Mitchel to whom I purpose to write per next Ship.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "02-04-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0034", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 4 February 1751\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Strahan, William\nDear Sir\nPhilada. Feb. 4. 1750, 1\nI wrote you per Capt. Budden, who sail\u2019d the Beginning of December, and sent you a Bill of Exchange on Jonathan Gurnel & Co. for Fifty Pounds, and desired you to send me Viner\u2019s, Bacon\u2019s and Danvers\u2019s Abridgments of the Law, with Wood\u2019s and Coke\u2019s Institutes. I have no Copy of the Letter, and forget whether I added the Compleat Attorney in 6 or 8 Vols. 8vo. the Precedents in English; please to send that also. I likewise desired you to enter my Son\u2019s Name, William Franklin, in one of the Inns of Court, as a Student of Law, which I am told costs between \u00a34 and \u00a35 and to let me know what Time must expire before he can be called to the Bar after such Entry, because he intends to go to London a Year or two before, to finish his Studies. I hope that Letter got to hand. Enclos\u2019d I send you the second Bill. I see they have printed a new Translation of Tully on old Age; please to send me one of them. Mr. Hall continues well, and goes on perfectly to my Satisfaction. My Respects to Mrs. Strahan and Master Billy. I have not Time to add, but that I am, with great Esteem and Affection, Dear Sir Your most oblig\u2019d humble Servant\nB Franklin\nAddressed: To Mr Wm Strahan Printer London per Capt. Mitchell.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "03-18-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0036", "content": "Title: Subscription for Christ Church Steeple, 18 March 1751\nFrom: \nTo: \nThe vestry of Christ Church, Philadelphia, unanimously voted, March 11, 1751, to erect a steeple and hang a chime of bells. The next week the subscription book was opened, Governor James Hamilton\u2019s name leading the list of about three hundred signers with \u00a350. Though not members, Franklin and his son William made subscriptions. Construction began in May 1751, but more funds were needed, and two lotteries were held in the winter and spring of 1752\u201353, Franklin serving as one of the managers of both. Bells ordered from England in October 1753 were shipped from London in August 1754 and were hung that fall and winter. The total cost of steeple and bells was \u00a33162 9s. 11d.\nPhiladelphia, 18th March, 1750\u201351\nWhereas many well disposed inhabitants of this city have declared their desire that there might be a fit and commodious steeple built upon the foundation already laid some years ago, by the care and pious benevolence of the church at that time, and that a set of bells may be provided to be placed therein, which work will be an ornament, as well as a credit to the city,\nTherefore, in order to defray the charge of building said steeple and purchasing bells, we, whose names are underwritten, do promise to pay unto the church wardens of Christ Church in Philadelphia, for the time being, or to such other persons as the vestry of said church shall appoint to receive the same, such sums of money as shall be by us respectively subscribed. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our names the date above written.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "03-27-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0038", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Peter Collinson, 27 March 1751\nFrom: Collinson, Peter\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nLondn March 27 [1751]\nI am now so prodigiously Engagd as well in my publick business as on Account of our very great National loss the Death of the Prince of Wales that I can only acknowledge the Receipt of thy kind Letters with the Tracts Inclosed.\nI have sent per Capt. Richey in the Beulah the Magazins for Febuary.\nI am thy sincere friend\nP Collinson\nPrince of a short Illness an Inflammatory Fever Died the 20th Universally Lamented.\nI shall be much obliged at thy Leisure to give mee an account of the Numbers of People that annual come over for Tenn years past or more.\nI am Vex\u2019d to see J: Bartrams Journal printed with so many Faults. Whiston is greatly to Blame. My Friend would have Corrected the press, but to Save a little Trouble of sending It, He would do it himself.\nThy Experiments when Cave will think fitt to Deliver them will appear with More Advantage and Less Faults to the publick but there is no Excuseing his Delitoriness for all Has been ready for some time past only wants the small Engraving of the Instruments in thy first Letter which are but few.\nThere is a parcell for Jno. Bartram.\n Addressed: For \u2002Benn: Franklin Esqr \u2002in Philadelphia \u2002Per the Beulah", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "04-01-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0039", "content": "Title: Experiments and Observations, [April 1751]\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: \nFranklin\u2019s reports on electricity had an immediate and favorable reception in England. The first account of his experiments, which he sent to Collinson, May 25, 1747, though not read in the Royal Society, was shown to some of the members, particularly William Watson. Watson, who was the principal English electrician, warmly approved Franklin\u2019s ideas (which he mistakenly believed corresponded with his own), and in a paper presented to the Society, January 21, 1748, quoted three pages of Franklin\u2019s letter. Subsequent reports from Philadelphia Collinson communicated to the English philosophers in the same way. Franklin\u2019s letters of April 29, 1749, on electricity and thundergusts, addressed respectively to Collinson and Dr. John Mitchell, were read in the Society in the fall of 1749, and were \u201cDeservedly admired not only for the Clear Intelligent Stile, but also for the Novelty of the Subjects.\u201d Franklin\u2019s conjectures that earthquakes are caused by electricity were studied when earthquakes shook London in the spring of 1750, and William Stukeley explained the phenomenon entirely in terms of Franklin\u2019s hypothesis. A wider audience learned something of the Philadelphians\u2019 work through the Gentleman\u2019s Magazine. A short r\u00e9sum\u00e9 of some of their experiments appeared in the January 1750 issue; in May the editor printed Franklin\u2019s letter to Collinson on pointed conductors, identifying the author only as \u201ca Gentleman in America, whose ingenious Letters on this Subject will soon be published in a separate Pamphlet.\u201d\nFor Franklin\u2019s experiments and observations, though not printed in the Philosophical Transactions, were about to receive wider circulation and, because collected, have a greater impact. In February 1750 Collinson had written that he was collecting Franklin\u2019s letters\u2014five in all\u2014\u201cwith Intention to putt them into some Printers Hand to be communicated to the Publick.\u201d In April he reported that they had been given to Edward Cave, publisher of the Gentleman\u2019s Magazine, and were \u201cnow on the Press under the Inspection and Correction of our Learned and Ingenious Friend Dr. Fothergill\u2014for Wee thought it a great Pitty that the Publick should be deprived the benefit of so many Curious Experiments.\u201d After the immemorial manner of printers, Cave was dilatory, and even Collinson grew impatient. In December 1750 Cave reported that the Experiments were in press; by February everything was ready except the engraved illustrations. The delay, however, gave Franklin time to make some additions and corrections and to send Collinson still another group of observations to include in the work. The pamphlet finally appeared in April 1751. It was entitled Experiments and Observations on Electricity, made at Philadelphia in America, and sold for 2s. 6d.\nEnclosing an unfinished copy to a rural physician in Dorset in March, Dr. Fothergill explained that the author was \u201ca Gentleman with whom I have corresponded, and who I think has said more sensible things on the subject, and let us see more into the nature of this delicate affair than all the other writers put together; \u2026 This little work \u2026 was published under my care, and so far as related to the press, my correction.\u201d Joseph Priestley, reviewing the history of electricity fifteen years later, asserted unequivocally, \u201cNothing was ever written upon the subject of electricity which was more generally read, and admired in all parts of Europe than these letters. There is hardly any European language into which they have not been translated; and, as if this were not sufficient to make them properly known, a translation of them has lately been made into Latin. It is not easy to say, whether we are most pleased with the simplicity and perspicuity with which these letters are written, the modesty with which the author proposes every hypothesis of his own, or the noble frankness with which he relates his mistakes, when they were corrected by subsequent experiments.\u201d\nFothergill\u2019s \u201cpretty preface,\u201d as Collinson called it, is printed herewith, and below it is a list of the contents of the 1751 edition. The title of each paper is followed in brackets by the pages in Volume iii or iv of the present edition where the text is reprinted, together with any other information required to correct or supplement the heading as first printed. The plate of illustrations included in the 1751 edition is reproduced, facing p. 130.\nThe Preface.\nIt may be necessary to acquaint the reader, that the following observations and experiments were not drawn up with a view to their being made publick, but were communicated at different times, and most of them in letters wrote on various topicks, as matters only of private amusement.\nBut some persons to whom they were read, and who had themselves been conversant in electrical disquisitions, were of opinion, they contain\u2019d so many curious and interesting particulars relative to this affair, that it would be doing a kind of injustice to the publick, to confine them solely to the limits of a private acquaintance.\nThe Editor was therefore prevailed upon to commit such extracts of letters, and other detach\u2019d pieces as were in his hands to the press, without waiting for the ingenious author\u2019s permission so to do; and this was done with the less hesitation, as it was apprehended the author\u2019s engagements in other affairs, would scarce afford him leisure to give the publick his reflections and experiments on the subject, finish\u2019d with that care and precision, of which the treatise before us shews he is alike studious and capable. He was only apprized of the step that had been thus taken, while the first sheets were in the press, and time enough for him to transmit some farther remarks, together with a few corrections and additions, which are placed at the end, and may be consulted in the perusal.\nThe experiments which our author relates are most of them peculiar to himself; they are conducted with judgment, and the inferences from them plain and conclusive; though sometimes proposed under the terms of suppositions and conjectures.\nAnd indeed the scene he opens, strikes us with a pleasing astonishment, whilst he conducts us by a train of facts and judicious reflections, to a probable cause of those phaenomena, which are at once the most awful, and, hitherto, accounted for with the least verisimilitude.\nHe exhibits to our consideration, an invisible, subtile matter, disseminated through all nature in various proportions, equally unobserved, and, whilst all those bodies to which it peculiarly adheres are alike charged with it, inoffensive.\nHe shews, however, that if an unequal distribution is by any means brought about; if there is a coacervation in one part of space, a less proportion, vacuity, or want, in another; by the near approach of a body capable of conducting the coacervated part to the emptier space, it becomes perhaps the most formidable and irresistible agent in the universe. Animals are in an Instant struck breathless, bodies almost impervious by any force yet known, are perforated, and metals fused by it, in a moment.\nFrom the similar effects of lightening and electricity our author has been led to make some probable conjectures on the cause of the former; and at the same time, to propose some rational experiments in order to secure ourselves, and those things on which its force is often directed, from its pernicious effects; a circumstance of no small importance to the publick, and therefore worthy of the utmost attention.\nIt has, indeed, been of late the fashion to ascribe every grand or unusual operation of nature, such as lightening and earthquakes, to electricity; not, as one would imagine, from the manner of reasoning on these occasions, that the authors of these schemes have, discovered any connection betwixt the cause and effect, or saw in what manner they were related; but, as it would seem, merely because they were unacquainted with any other agent, of which it could not positively be said the connection was impossible.\nBut of these, and many other interesting circumstances, the reader will be more satisfactorily informed in the following letters, to which he is therefore referred by\nThe Editor.\nContents\nLetter I. To Peter Collinson, July 28, 1747. pp. 1\u20139. [III, 156\u201364]\nLetter II. To Peter Collinson, Sept. 1, 1747. pp. 10\u201318. [May 25, 1747. III, 126\u201335]\nLetter III. To Peter Collinson. Farther Experiments and Observations in Electricity. 1748. pp. 19\u201335. [April 29, 1749. III, 352\u201365]\nLetter IV. Containing Observations and Suppositions, towards forming a new Hypothesis, for explaining the several Phaenomena of Thunder Gusts. [n.d.] pp. 36\u201349. [To John Mitchell, April 29, 1749. III, 365\u201377]\nAdditional Papers. To Peter Collinson, July 29, 1750. p. 50. [IV, 9]\nOpinions and Conjectures, Concerning the Properties and Effects of the electrical Matter, arising from Experiments and Observations, made in Philadelphia, 1749. pp. 51\u201382. [Enclosure in next above, July 29, 1750. IV, 9\u201334]\nAdditional Experiment, proving that the Leyden Bottle has no more electric Fire in it when charged, than before; nor less when discharged: \u2026 [n.d.] pp. 83\u20135. [c. Sept. 27, 1750. IV, 65\u20137]\nCorrections and Additions to the Preceding Papers. [n.d.] pp. 85\u20136. [Incorporated in annotation of the papers in the present edition and not separately reprinted.]", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "05-09-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0040", "content": "Title: Felons and Rattlesnakes, 9 May 1751\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: \nIn the eulogy which he delivered before the French Academy of Sciences on Nov. 13, 1790, the Marquis de Condorcet noted that Franklin sometimes made a point in conversation with a fable, tale, or anecdote. \u201cCharg\u00e9 de demander l\u2019abolition de l\u2019usage insultant d\u2019envoyer les malfaiteurs dans les Colonies, le Ministre lui all\u00e9gait la n\u00e9cessit\u00e9 d\u2019en d\u00e9livrer l\u2019Angleterre. Que diriez-vous, r\u00e9pondit-il, si nous ordonnions l\u2019exportation des serpens \u00e0 sonnette?\u201d Condorcet added in a footnote that he had often heard Franklin recount this witticism, and that some French newspapers had badly garbled it. Paul L. Ford first identified Franklin\u2019s essay in the Gazette as the probable original of this anecdote.\nTo the Printers of the Gazette.\nBy a Passage in one of your late Papers, I understand that the Government at home will not suffer our mistaken Assemblies to make any Law for preventing or discouraging the Importation of Convicts from Great Britain, for this kind Reason, \u201cThat such Laws are against the Publick Utility, as they tend to prevent the Improvement and Well Peopling of the Colonies.\u201d\nSuch a tender parental Concern in our Mother Country for the Welfare of her Children, calls aloud for the highest Returns of Gratitude and Duty. This every one must be sensible of: But \u2019tis said, that in our present Circumstances 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. \u2019Tis something to show a grateful Disposition.\nIn 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.\nIn 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\u2019d per Head, some Thousands might be collected annually, and transported to Britain. There I would propose to have them carefully distributed in St. James\u2019s Park, in the Spring-Gardens and other Places of Pleasure about London; in the Gardens of all the Nobility 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.\nThere is no human Scheme so perfect, but some Inconveniencies may be objected to it: Yet when the Conveniencies far exceed, the Scheme is judg\u2019d 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\u2019d 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\u2019d, a Daughter debauch\u2019d and pox\u2019d, a Wife stabb\u2019d, a Husband\u2019s Throat cut, or a Child\u2019s Brains beat out with an Axe, compar\u2019d with this \u201cImprovement and WELL PEOPLING of the Colonies!\u201d\nThus 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\u2019d 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 \u201cImprovement and Publick Utility,\u201d what is a Child now and then kill\u2019d by their venomous Bite,\u2014or even a favourite Lap-Dog?\nI would only add, That this Exporting of Felons to the Colonies, may be consider\u2019d 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.\nAmericanus", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "05-21-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0042", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 21 May 1751\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Collinson, Peter\nDear Sir\nPhilada. May 21. 1751\nBudden is arrived, and every thing you sent per him come safe to hand. Both the Library-Company and the Academy are exceedingly oblig\u2019d to you, and would be glad of any Opportunity of serving you or any of your Friends. The Academy goes on as one could wish: We have excellent Masters, and the Boys improve surprizingly: The Number now 70 and daily encreasing. I shall write more particularly per next Vessel. The Occasion of my writing this, vi\u00e2 Ireland, is, That I have just receiv\u2019d Advice that the Deputy-Postmaster General of America (Mr. Elliot Benger residing in Virginia) who has for some time been in a declining Way, is tho\u2019t to be near his End. My Friends advise me to apply for that Post, and Mr. Allen (our Chief Justice) has wrote the enclos\u2019d to his Correspondent Mr. Simpson in my favour, requesting his Interest and Application in the Affair, and impowering him to advance a considerable Sum if it should be necessary. I have not heretofore made much Scruple of giving you Trouble when the Publick Good was to be promoted by it; but \u2019tis with great Reluctance that I think of asking you to interest yourself in my private Concerns, as I know you have little Time to spare. The Place is in the Disposal of the Postmasters General of Britain, with some of whom or their Friends you may possibly have Acquaintance. Mr. Allen has desir\u2019d Mr. Simpson to confer with you on the Affair, and if you can, without much Inconvenience to your self, advise and assist in endeavouring to secure the Success of this Application, you will, whatever may be the Event, add greatly to the Obligations you have already confer\u2019d on me; and if it succeeds, I hope that as my Power of doing Good increases, my Inclination will always at least keep pace with it.\nI am quite a Stranger to the Manner of Managing these Applications, so can offer no particular Instructions. I enclose a Copy of the Commission of a former Dep. Postmaster General, which may be of some Use: The Articles of Agreement refer\u2019d to in the Commission I have never seen, but suppose they have always been nearly the same whoever is appointed, and have been usually sent over to America to be executed by the new Officer; for I know neither of the three last Officers went to England for the Commission. The Place has been commonly reputed worth about \u00a3150 a Year, but would be otherways very suitable to me, particularly as it would enable me to execute a Scheme long since form\u2019d, of which I send you enclos\u2019d a Copy, and which I hope would soon produce something agreable to you and to all Lovers of Useful Knowledge, for I have now a large Acquaintance among ingenious Men in America. I need not tell you, that Philadelphia being the Center of the Continent Colonies, and having constant Communication with the West India Islands, is by much a fitter Place for the Situation of a General Post Office than Virginia, and that it would be some Reputation to our Province, to have it establish\u2019d here. I would only add, that as I have a Respect for Mr. Benger, I should be glad the Application were so managed as not to give him any Offence, if he should recover. But I leave every thing to you and Mr. Simpson referring you to Mr. Allen\u2019s Letter to that Gentleman for farther particulars, and am, Dear Sir, Your affectionate humble Servant\nB Franklin\nP.S. I have heard \u00a3200 was given for this Office by Mr. Benger, and the same by his Predecessor; I know not whose Perquisite it was: But lest that should not be Sufficient, and there may be some contingent Fees and Charges, Mr. Allen has ordered \u00a3300. However, the less it costs the better, as \u2019tis an Office for Life only, which is a very uncertain Tenure.\n Endorsed: Recd July 10th \u2002answerd per Reeves 19 \u2002Colden", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "06-06-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0043", "content": "Title: William Watson: An Account of Franklin\u2019s Treatise, [6 June 1751]\nFrom: Watson, William\nTo: \nAn account of Mr. Benjamin Francklin\u2019s treatise lately published intitled, Experiments and observations on Electricity made at Philadelphia in America, by Wm. Watson, F. R. S.\nMr. Franklin\u2019s treatise, lately presented to the royal Society, consists of four letters to his correspondent in England, and of another part intitled \u201cOpinions and conjectures concerning the properties and effects of the electrical matter arising from experiments and observations.\u201d\nThe four letters, the last of which contains a new hypothesis for explaining the several phoenomena of thunder gusts, have either in the whole or in part been before communicated to the royal Society: it remains therefore that I now only lay before the Society an account of the latter part of this treatise, as well as that of a letter intended to be added thereto by the author; but which arrived too late for publication with it and was therefore communicated to the Society by our worthy brother Mr. Peter Collinson.\nThis ingenious author from a great variety of curious and well adapted experiments is of opinion that the electrical matter consists of particles extreamly subtile; Since it can permeate common matter, even the densest metals with such ease and freedom as not to receive any perceptible resistance: and that if any one should doubt, whether the electrical matter passes through the substance of bodies, or only over and along their surfaces, a shock from an electrified large glass jar, taken through his own body, will probably convince him.\nElectrical matter, according to our author, differs from common matter in this, that the parts of the latter mutually attract, and those of the former mutually repel, each other; Hence the divergency in a stream of electrified effluvia.\n   *As the electric stream is observed to diverge very little, when the experiment is made in vacuo; this appearance is more owing to the resistance of the atmosphere than to any natural tendency in the electricity itself. W.W. See the Subsequent volume of the Phil Trans.\n But that tho the particles of electrical matter do repel each other, they are strongly attracted by all other matter.\nFrom these three things, viz, the extreme Subtilty of the electrical matter, the mutual repulsion of its parts, and the strong attraction between them and other matter, arise this effect, that when a quantity of electrical matter is applied to a mass of common matter of any bigness or length within our observation (which has not already got its quantity) it is immediately and equally diffused through the whole.\nThus common matter is a kind of spunge to the electrical fluid; and as a spunge would receive no water, if the parts of water were not smaller than the pores of the spunge; and even then but slowly if there was not a mutual attraction between those parts and the parts of the spunge; and would still imbibe it faster, if the mutual attraction among the parts of the water did not impede, some force being required to separate them; and fastest if instead of attraction there were a mutual repulsion among those parts, which would act in conjunction with the attraction of the spunge: so is the case between the electrical and common matter. In common matter indeed there is generally as much of the electrical, as it will contain within its substance: if more is added it lies without upon the Surface,\n   \u2020The author of this account is of opinion, that, what is here added, lies not only without upon the surface, but penetrates with the same degree of density, the whole mass of common matter, upon which it is directed.\n and forms what we call an electrical atmosphere; and then the body is said to be electrified. Tis supposed, that all kinds of common matter do not attract and retain the electrical with equal force for reasons to be given hereafter; and that those called electrics per se, as glass &c. attract and retain it the strongest, and contain the greatest quantity.\nWe know that the electrical fluid is in common matter, because we can pump it out by the globe or tube; and that common matter has near as much as it can contain; because, when we add a little more to any portion of it, the additional quantity does not enter, but forms an electrical atmosphere: and we know that common matter has not (generally) more than it can contain; otherwise all loose portions of it would repel each other, as they constantly do when they have electric atmospheres.\nThe form of the electrical atmosphere is that of the body it surrounds: this shape may be rendered visible in a still air, by raising a smoke from dry resin dropt into a hot tea spoon under the electrised body, which will be attracted and spread itself equally on all sides, covering and concealing the body. And this form it takes, because it is attracted by all parts of the surface of the body, though it cannot enter the substance already replete. Without this attraction it would not remain round the body, but be dissipated in the air.\nThe atmosphere of electrical particles surrounding an electrified sphere is not more disposed to leave it, or more easily drawn off from any one part of the sphere than from another, because it is equally attracted by every part. But that is not the case with bodies of any other figure. From a cube it is more easily drawn at the corners than at the plane sides, and so from the angles of a body of any other form, and still most easily from the angle that is most acute; and for this reason points have a property of drawing on as well as throwing off the electrical fluid, at greater distances than blunt bodies can.\nFrom various experiments recited in our author\u2019s treatise, to which the curious may refer, the preceeding observations are deduced. You will observe how much they coincide with and support those I some time since communicated to the Society upon the same subject.\nTo give even the shortest account of all the experiments contained in Mr. Franklin\u2019s book, would exceed greatly the time allowed for these purposes by the royal Society; I shall content myself therefore with laying a few of the most singular ones before you.\nThe effects of lightning and those of electricity appear very similar. Lightning has often been known to strike people blind. A Pigeon struck dead to appearance by the electrical shock, recovering life, drooped several days, eat nothing tho\u2019 crumbs were thrown to it, but declined and died. Mr. Franklin did not think of it\u2019s being deprived of Sight; but afterwards a pullet struck dead in like manner, being recovered by repeatedly blowing into its lungs, when set down on the floor, ran headlong against the wall, and on examination appeared perfectly blind: hence he concluded that the pigeon also had been absolutely blinded by the shock. From this observation we should be extreamly cautious, how in electrising we draw the strokes, especially in making the experiment of Leyden, from the eyes or even from the parts near them. Some time since it was imagined, that deafness had been releived by electrising the patient, by drawing the snaps from the ears, and by making him undergo the electrical commotion in the same manner. If hereafter this remedy should be fantastically applied to the eyes in this manner to restore dimness of sight, I should not wonder if perfect blindness were the consequence of the experiment.\nBy a very ingenious experiment our author endeavours to evince the impossibility of success, in the experiments proposed by others of drawing forth the effluvia of non-electrics, cinnamon for instance, and by mixing them with the electrical fluid, to convey them with that into a person electrified: and our author thinks that though the effluvia of cinnamon and the electrical fluid should mix within the globe, they would never come out together through the pores of the glass, and thus be conveyed to the prime conductor; for he thinks that the electrical fluid itself cannot come through, and that the prime conductor is always supplied from the cushion, and this last from the floor. Besides, when the globe is filled with cinnamon, or other non-electrics, no electricity can be obtained from its outer surface, for the reasons before laid down. He has tried another way, which he thought more likely to obtain a mixture of the electrical and other effluvia together, if such a mixture had been possible. He placed a glass plate under his cushion, to cut off the communication between the cushion and the floor; he then brought a small chain from the cushion into a glass of oil of turpentine, and carried another chain from the oil of turpentine to the floor, taking care that the chain from the cushion to the glass touched no part of the frame of the machine. Another chain was fixed to the prime conductor, and held in the hand of a person to be electrified. The ends of the two chains in the glass were near an inch from each other, the oil of turpentine between. Now the globe being turned, could draw no fire from the floor through the machine, the communication that way being cut off by the thick glass plate under the cushion; it must then draw it through the chains, whose ends were dipt in the oil of turpentine. And as the oil of turpentine being in some degree an electric per se, would not conduct what came up from the floor, the electricity was obliged to jump from the end of one chain to the end of the other, which he could see in large sparks; and thus it had a fair opportunity of seizing some of the finest particles of the oil in its passage, and carrying them off with it: but no such effect followed, nor could he perceive the least difference in the smell of the electrical effluvia thus collected, from what it had when collected otherwise; nor does it otherwise affect the body of the person electrified. He likewise put into a phial, instead of water, a strong purging liquid, and then charged the phial, and took repeated shocks from it; in which case every particle of the electrical fluid must, before it went through his body, have first gone through the liquid when the phial is charging, and returned through it when discharging; yet no other effect followed than if the phial had been charged with water. He has also smelt the electrical fire when drawn through gold, silver, copper, lead, iron, wood, and the human body, and could perceive no difference; the odour being always the same, where the spark does not burn what it strikes; and therefore he imagines it does not take that smell from any quality of the bodies it passes through. There was no abridging this experiment, which I think very well conceived and as well conducted, in a manner to make it intelligible, and therefore I have laid the author\u2019s words nearly before you.\nAs Mr. Franklin, in a letter to Mr. Collinson some time since, mentioned his intending to try the power of a very strong electrical shock upon a turkey, I desired of Mr. Collinson to let Mr. Franklin know, that I should be glad to be acquainted with the result of that experiment. He accordingly has been so very obliging as to send this account, which is to the following purpose. He made first several experiments on fowls, and found that two large thin glass jars gilt, holding each about 6 gallons, and such as I mentioned I had employed in the last paper I laid before you upon this subject, were sufficient when fully charged to kill common hens outright; but the turkies, though thrown into violent convulsions and then lying as dead for some minutes, would recover in less than a quarter of an hour. However, having added three other such to the former two, though not fully charged, he killed a turkey of about ten pounds weight, and believes they would have killed a much larger. He conceited, as himself says, that the birds killed in this manner eat uncommonly tender.\nIn making these experiments, he found that a man could, without great detriment, bear a much greater shock than he imagined: for he inadvertently received the stroke of two of these jars through his arms and body, when they were very near fully charged. It seemed to him an universal blow throughout the body from head to foot, and was followed by a violent quick trembling in the trunk, which went gradually off in a few seconds. It was some minutes before he could recollect his thoughts so as to know what was the matter; for he did not see the flash, tho\u2019 his eye was on the spot of the prime conductor, from whence it struck the back of his hand; nor did he hear the crack, though the bystanders said it was a loud one; nor did he particularly feel the stroke on his hand, tho\u2019 he afterwards found it had raised a swelling there of the bigness of half a swan shot, or pistol bullet. His arms and the back of his neck felt somewhat numbed the remainder of the evening, and his breast was sore for a week after, as if it had been bruised. From this experiment may be seen the danger, even under the greatest caution, to the operator, when making these experiments with large jars; for it is not to be doubted but that several of these fully charged, would as certainly, by increasing them, in proportion to the size, kill a man as they before did the turkey.\nUpon the whole, Mr. Franklin appears in the work before us to be a very able and ingenious man; that he has a head to conceive and a hand to carry into execution, whatever he thinks may conduce to enlighten the subject matter of which he is treating; and although there are in this work some few opinions in which I cannot perfectly agree with him, I think scarce any body is better acquainted with the subject of electricity than himself.\n Endorsed: Mr. Franklin\u2019s treatise of Electricity. Read at R.S. June 6. 1751. pr. Vol. XLVII. p. 202.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "06-29-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0045", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Peter Collinson, 29 June 1751\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Collinson, Peter\nSir\nPhiladelphia June 29: 1751\nIn Capt. Waddels Account\n of the Effects of Lightning on his Ship, I could not but take Notice of the large Comazants (as he Calls them,) that settled on the Spintles at the Topmast-Heads, and burnt like very large Torches before the Stroke.\nAccording to my Opinion, the Electrical Fire was then drawing off, as by Points, from the Cloud, the largeness of the Flame, betokening the great quantity of Electricity in the Clouds\u2014and had there been a good Wire communication from the Spintle Heads to the Sea, that could have conducted more freely than Tarred Ropes, or Masts of Turpintine Wood, I Imagine, there would either have been no Stroke, or, if a Stroke, the Wire would have conducted it all into the Sea without Damage to the Ship.\nHis compasses Lost the Vertue of the Load Stone or the Poles [were] reversed, the North point turning to the South. By Electricity wee have Here frequently given polarity to Needles, and reversed It at pleasure. Mr. Wilson tryed it with too small a force. A Shock from four large Glass Jarrs, sent thro a fine Sewing Needle, gives it polarity; and it will traverse when laid on Water.\nIf the Needle, when Struck, lies East and West, the End entred by the Electric Blast points North.\nIf it lies north and South, the End that lay towards the North, will continue to point North when placed on Water, whether the fire Entred at that End, or the Contrary End.\nThe Polarity is given strongest when the Needle [is] Struck lying N. and S, Weakest when lying E and W.\nPerhaps if the Force was still Greater, the S. End, Entred by the Fire, when the Needle lies N and S, might become the North.\nOtherwise it puzzles us to account for the Inverting of Compasses by Lightning, since their Needles must always be found in that Situation, and by our little Experiment, whether the Blast entred the North, and went out at the South End of the Needle, or the Contrary, the End, that lay to the North, still should continue to point North. I have not yet had Time to read and Consider Dr. Knight\u2019s Essay\u2019s just now received from you, which possibly may Explain this.\nIn these Experiments the Ends of the Needles are sometimes finely blew\u2019d, like a Watch Spring, by the Electric Flame. This colour given by the Flash from Two Jars only will Wipe off but Four will fix It and frequently Melt the Needles. I send you some that have had their Heads and points melted off by our Mimic Lightning, and a pin, that had its point melted off, and some part of its head and Neck run.\nSometimes the surface on the, Body of the Needles is also Run, and appears blisterd, when examined by a magnifying Glass. The Jarrs I make Use of hold 7 or 8 Gallons, and are Coated and Lined with Tin foil. Each of them takes 1000 Turns of a Globe 9 Inchs Diameter to Charge It. I send you Two specimens of Tinfoil melted between Glass, by the Force of Two Jarrs only.\nI have not hear\u2019d, that any of your European Electricians have heitherto been able to fire Gunpowder by the Electric Flame. Wee do it here in this Manner.\nA small Cartridge is filled with Dry powder, hard rammed, so as to bruise some of the Grains. Two pointed Wires are then thrust In, one at Each End, the points approaching Each other in the Middle of the Cartridge, till within the distance of half an Inch: Then the Cartridge being placed in the Circle, when the Four Jarrs are discharged, the Electric Flame leaping from the point of one Wire to the point of the other, within the Cartridge, among the powder, fires It, and the Explosion of the powder is at the same Instant with the Crack of the Discharge. I am Sir your Humble Servant\nB Franklin\nTo: P. Collinson\n Endorsed: No. 3. Mr. Franklin Letter Mr. Peter Collinson F.R.S. concerning the Effects of Lightning. Read at R S. Novr. 14. 1751 Pr. Vol. XLVII. p. 289.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "07-06-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0046", "content": "Title: Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital: Memorial to the Proprietors, 6 July 1751\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin,Pemberton, Israel\nTo: Proprietors\nThis document, drafted by Franklin and Israel Pemberton, is omitted here for the reason stated above, p. 111; but is printed, with editorial annotation, in Some Account of the Pennsylvania Hospital, May 1754, in the next volume.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "07-19-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0048", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 19 July 1751\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Strahan, William\nDear Sir,\nPhiladelphia, July 19, 1751\nThis serves to cover the enclosed and recommend the affair to your care. I have assured the gentlemen concerned that you will serve them as well and cheap as any bookseller in London. They are men of ability, and will be constant customers.\nWe are all well, and join in the most cordial salutations to you, Mrs. Strahan, and your children. I am, dear sir, yours affectionately,\nB Franklin", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "08-08-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0049", "content": "Title: Appeal for the Hospital, 8 and 15 August 1751\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: \nPos obitum benefacta manent, aeternaque Virtus\nNon metuit Stygiis, nec rapiatur Aquis.\nI was sick, and ye visited me. Matth.XXV.\nAmong all the innumerable Species of Animals which inhabit the Air, Earth and Water, so exceedingly different in their Production, their Properties, and the Manner of their Existence, and so varied in Form, that even of the same Kind, it can scarce be said there are two Individuals in all Respects alike; it is remarkable, there are none within our Observation, distinguish\u2019d from the rest by this Particular, that they are by Nature incapable of Diseases. The old Poets, how extravagant soever in their Fictions, durst never offend so far against Nature and Probability, as even to feign such a Thing; and therefore, tho\u2019 they made their Achilles invulnerable from Head to Foot, and clad him beside in impenetrable Armour, forg\u2019d by the Immortals, they were obliged to leave one soft unguarded Place in his Heel, how small soever, for Destruction to enter at. But tho\u2019 every Animal that hath Life is liable to Death, Man, of all other Creatures, has the greatest Number of Diseases to his Share; whether they are the Effects of our Intemperance and Vice, or are given us, that we may have a greater Opportunity of exercising towards each other that Virtue, which most of all recommends us to the Deity, I mean Charity.\nThe great Author of our Faith, whose Life should be the constant Object of our Imitation, as far as it is not inimitable, always shew\u2019d the greatest Compassion and Regard for the Sick; he disdain\u2019d not to visit and minister Comfort and Health to the meanest of the People; and he frequently inculcated the same Disposition in his Doctrine and Precepts to his Disciples. For this one Thing, (in that beautiful Parable of the Traveller wounded by Thieves) the Samaritan (who was esteemed no better than a Heretick, or an Infidel by the Orthodox of those Times) is preferred to the Priest and the Levite; because he did not, like them, pass by, regardless of the Distress of his Brother Mortal; but when he came to the Place where the half-dead Traveller lay, he had Compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his Wounds, pouring in Oil and Wine, and set him on his own Beast, and brought him to an Inn, and took Care of him. Dives, also, the rich Man, is represented as being excluded from the Happiness of Heaven, because he fared sumptuously every Day, and had Plenty of all Things, and yet neglected to comfort and assist his poor Neighbour, who was helpless and full of Sores, and might perhaps have been revived and restored with small care, by the Crumbs that fell from his Table, or, as we say, with his loose Corns.\u2014I was Sick, and ye Visited me, is one of the Terms of Admission into Bliss, and the Contrary, a Cause of Exclusion: That is, as our Saviour himself explains it, Ye have visited, or ye have not visited, assisted and comforted those who stood in need of it, even tho\u2019 they were the least, or meanest of Mankind. This Branch of Charity seems essential to the true Spirit of Christianity; and should be extended to all in general, whether Deserving or Undeserving, as far as our Power reaches. Of the ten Lepers who were cleansed, nine seem to have been much more unworthy than the tenth, yet in respect to the Cure of their Disease, they equally shared the Goodness of God. And the great Physician in sending forth his Disciples, always gave them a particular Charge, that into whatsoever City they entered, they should heal All the Sick, without Distinction.\n  When the good Samaritan left his Patient at the Inn, he gave Money to the Host, and said, Take Care of Him, and what thou spendest more, I will repay thee. We are in this World mutual Hosts to each other; the Circumstances and Fortunes of Men and Families are continually changing; in the Course of a few Years we have seen the Rich become Poor, and the Poor Rich; the Children of the Wealthy languishing in Want and Misery, and those of their Servants lifted into Estates, and abounding in the good Things of this Life. Since then, our present State, how prosperous soever, hath no Stability, but what depends on the good Providence of God, how careful should we be not to harden our Hearts against the Distresses of our Fellow Creatures, lest He who owns and governs all, should punish our Inhumanity, deprive us of a Stewardship in which we have so unworthily behaved, laugh at our Calamity, and mock when our Fear cometh. Methinks when Objects of Charity, and Opportunities of relieving them, present themselves, we should hear the Voice of this Samaritan, as if it were  the Voice of God sounding in our Ears, Take Care of them, and whatsoever thou spendest, I will repay thee.\nBut the Good particular Men may do separately, in relieving the Sick, is small, compared with what they may do collectively, or by a joint Endeavour and Interest. Hence the Erecting of Hospitals or Infirmaries by Subscription, for the Reception, Entertainment, and Cure of the Sick Poor, has been found by Experience exceedingly beneficial, as they turn out annually great Numbers of Patients perfectly cured, who might otherwise have been lost to their Families, and to Society. Hence Infirmaries spread more and more in Europe, new Ones being continually erected in large Cities and populous Towns, where generally the most skilful Physicians and Surgeons inhabit. And the Subscribers have had the Satisfaction in a few Years of seeing the Good they proposed to do, become much more extensive than was at first expected; for the Multitude and Variety of Cases continually treated in those Infirmaries, not only render the Physicians and Surgeons who attend them, still more expert and skilful, for the Benefit of others, but afford such speedy and effectual Instruction to the young Students of both Professions, who come from different and remote Parts of the Country for Improvement, that they return with a more ample Stock of Knowledge in their Art, and become Blessings to the Neighbourhoods in which they fix their Residence.\nIt is therefore a great Pleasure to all the Benevolent and Charitable, who have been acquainted with these Things in other Countries, to observe, that an Institution of the same Kind has met with such Encouragement in Pensilvania, and is in such Forwardness, that there is reason to expect it may be carried into Execution the ensuing Year. May the Father of Mercies grant it his Blessing, and Thousands of our unhappy Fellow Creatures, yet unborn, will have Cause to bless him, for putting it into the Hearts of the generous Contributors, and enabling them thus to provide for their Relief.\n   II\nHomines ad Deos, nulla re propius accedunt, quam Salutem Hominibus dando. \u2003Cicer. Orat.\nThis Motto, taken from a Pagan Author, expresses the general Sense of Mankind, even in the earliest Ages, concerning that great Duty and extensive Charity, the administring Comfort and Relief to the Sick. If Men without any other Assistance than the Dictates of natural Reason, had so high an Opinion of it, what may be expected from Christians, to whom it has been so warmly recommended by the best Example of human Conduct. To visit the Sick, to feed the Hungry, to clothe the Naked, and comfort the Afflicted, are the inseparable Duties of a christian Life.\nAccordingly \u2019tis observable, that the Christian Doctrine hath had a real Effect on the Conduct of Mankind, which the mere Knowledge of Duty without the Sanctions Revelation affords, never produc\u2019d among the Heathens: For History shows, that from the earliest Times of Christianity, in all well-regulated States where Christians obtain\u2019d sufficient Influence, publick Funds and private Charities have been appropriated to the building of Hospitals, for receiving, supporting and curing those unhappy Creatures, whose Poverty is aggravated by the additional Load of bodily Pain. But of these Kind of Institutions among the Pagans, there is no Trace in the History of their Times.\nThat good Prince Edward VI. was so affected at the Miseries of his poor diseas\u2019d Subjects, represented in a charity Sermon preach\u2019d to him on the Occasion, that he soon after laid the Foundation of four of the largest Hospitals now in London, which the Citizens finished, and have ever since maintain\u2019d.\n  In Hidepark, at Bath, in Edinburgh, Liverpool, Winchester, and in the County of Devon, and sundry other Places in Great-Britain, large and commodious Infirmaries have been lately erected, from trifling Beginnings of private Charities: And so wonderfully does Providence favour these pious Institutions, that there is not an Instance of any One\u2019s failing for want of necessary charitable Contributions.\n   \u2003 *Extract from the Tour thro\u2019 Great Britain, Vol. III. Pag. 293. In the Year 1740, on the Promotion of Dr. Gilbert, Dean of this Church, to the Bishoprick of Landaff, his Majesty was pleas\u2019d to confer the Deanery on Dr. Alured Clarke, who was installed in the Month of January, in that Year; and if we may be allowed to judge from the pious Acts be began with in that Station, a more worthy Man could not have been preferr\u2019d thereto.\n   \u2003 The House, an antient Building, belonging to that Dignity, had, thro\u2019 the Remissness of its former Possessors, been too long neglected; wherefore his First Work was to set about altering and repairing that, which he did within Nine Months of his Instalment, at an Expence of about \u00a3800.\n   \u2003 Before this was perfected, viz. in the Spring 1741, he drew up and published Proposals for founding an Hospital in this City, for Lodging, Dieting, and Curing the Sick and Lame Poor thereof, and of the County of Devon, on the like Plan of that which he had before founded at Winchester, for the Benefit of that City, and County of Hants. A Design so good, recommended by the pious Eloquence of a Divine so learned and judicious, on Views so visibly disinterested, and so clearly abstracted from all Party Schemes or Intentions, met with the general Applause and Assistance of the Gentry and Clergy of all Parties, Sects and Denominations; who, however different in Religion and Politicks, unanimously join\u2019d in this pious Undertaking: And a Subscription being opened in March, hath already (November 1741) brought in about \u00a32000 of which near \u00a31500 are annual Engagements, which, \u2019tis highly probable, will be not only continued, but much augmented, so that \u2019tis hoped, that 200 Patients at a Time may be provided for. John Tuckfield, of Raddon, Esq.; was pleased to accommodate the Governors with a Plot of Ground near Southernhay, without the City-walls, at a very moderate Price, and to give \u00a3100 towards carrying on the Building for the intended Hospital, the Plan of which was commodiously designed by the Direction of the Dean, and the first Stone thereof laid by him, assisted by the Bishop of Exon, Sir William Courtenay, Knight of the Shire, Sir Henry Northcote and Humphry Sydenham, Esquires, the Citizens in Parliament, the Honourable Henry Rolle, and John Tuckfield Esq.; attended by a great Number of Clergy and Gentry, that are Subscribers, and Thousands of joyful Spectators, on the 27th of August 1741. The Building contains upwards of 300 Feet in Length, and is already in a good Forwardness.\nThe Increase of poor diseas\u2019d Foreigners and others, settled in the distant Parts of this Province, where regular Advice and Assistance cannot be procured, but at an Expence that neither they nor their Townships can afford, has awaken\u2019d the Attention of sundry humane and well dispos\u2019d Minds, to procure some more certain, effectual and easy Methods for their Relief than have hitherto been provided, and having represented the Affair to the Assembly, a Law was pass\u2019d, without one dissenting Voice, giving Two Thousand Pounds for building and furnishing a Provincial Hospital, on Condition that Two Thousand Pounds more should be rais\u2019d by private Donations, to be put out to Interest as Part of a perpetual Fund for supporting it; and the Contributors were made a Body Corporate, with all the Powers necessary on the Occasion. Since which, People of all Ranks in this City have united zealously and heartily in promoting this pious and excellent Design, and more than the Sum stipulated was subscribed in a few Days only, and a much larger Sum will probably be rais\u2019d here if the Country chearfully contributes to the capital Stock, which \u2019tis not to be doubted they will do, when they consider how much they are interested in it.\nThe Difference between nursing and curing the Sick in an Hospital, and separately in private Lodgings, with Regard to the Expence, is at least as ten to one. For Instance, suppose a Person under the Necessity of having a Limb amputated, he must have the constant Attendance of a Nurse, a Room, Fire, &c. which cannot for the first three or four Weeks be procured at less Expence than Fifteen Shillings a Week, and never after at less than Ten. If he continues two Months his Nursing will be Five Pounds, his Surgeons Fee, and other accidental Charges, commonly amounts to Three Pounds, in the whole near Ten Pounds; whereas in an Hospital, one Nurse, one Fire, &c. will be sufficient for ten Patients, the extra Expences will be inconsiderable, and the Surgeon\u2019s Fees taken off, which will bring the above Calculation within the Limits of Truth.\nBut the Difference with Regard to the unhappy Sufferer is still greater. In an Hospital his Case will be treated according to the best Rules of Art, by Men of Experience and known Abilities in their Profession. His Lodgings will be commodious, clean and neat, in an healthy and open Situation, his Diet will be well chosen, and properly administred: He will have many other necessary Conveniencies for his Relief, such as hot and cold Baths, sweating Rooms, chirurgic Machines, Bandage, &c. which can rarely be procured in the best private Lodgings, much less in those miserable loathsome Holes, which are the common Receptacles of the diseas\u2019d Poor that are brought to this City. In short a Beggar in a well regulated Hospital, stands an equal Chance with a Prince in his Palace, for a comfortable Subsistence, and an expeditious and effectual Cure of his Diseases.\nIt is hoped therefore, that whoever will maturely consider the inestimable Blessings that are connected to a proper Execution of the present Hospital Scheme in this City, can never be so void of Humanity and the essential Duties of Religion, as to turn a deaf Ear to the numberless Cries of the Poor and Needy, and refuse for their Assistance, a little of that Superfluity, which a bountiful Providence has so liberally bestowed on them.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "08-13-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0050", "content": "Title: Record of Service in the Assembly, 1751\u201364\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: \nNear the end of his life, probably after his return from France, to judge by handwriting, Franklin began to prepare a record of his service in the Pennsylvania Assembly. He compiled it simply by turning the pages of the printed Votes and Proceedings and noting his various assignments. In the process he overlooked a few; these have been inserted between brackets. In addition the manuscript is mutilated, but missing words and lines can be supplied by reference to the official record, and have accordingly been inserted between brackets. From January 11, 1763, through April 2, 1763, where the surviving manuscript breaks off, the entries are in William Temple Franklin\u2019s hand. There must, however, have been several more pages in the original, carrying the record of Franklin\u2019s service through 1764. This missing record has been supplied by the editors from the Votes and Proceedings of the Assembly.\nBecause Franklin\u2019s record can serve as a brief introduction and r\u00e9sum\u00e9 of his legislative service between 1751 and 1764, it is printed here, rather than under a presumed date of composition (1785\u201390). Many of the documents Franklin helped to draft are printed under their respective dates in this and succeeding volumes; the fact is indicated in each case. Citations are made to the Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania for bills which Franklin helped draft that became laws.\n[August 13, 1751, to September 22, 1764]\nB. Franklin\u2019s Services in the General Assembly.\nAug.\n    Takes his Seat in Assembly.\nPut on a Committee to prepare a Bill, same Day.\nSent up with a Message to the Governor James Hamilton.\nOn a Committee to prepare an Answer to Governors Messages.\nReports on the Subject of a Bridge over Skuylkill.\nReports on the Subject of Indian Expences.\nSeven Resolutions N.C.D. of his Drawing, upon that Report.\nAppointed on a Committee to draw an Address to the Proprietaries in pursuance of these Resolves.\nReported the same.\nIt was approved but not put in the Minutes.\nOct.\nReturn\u2019d a Member for Philadelphia.\nSent on a Message to the Governor.\nOn the Committee of Accounts and Committee of Grievances, and Committee to revise the Minutes.\nOn Committee of Correspondence.\nFeb.\nOn a Message to the Governor.\nOn Committee to inspect Accounts.\nOn Ditto to consider a Petition of Bakers.\nOn a committee to consider a petition concerning attachment for debts under 40s.]\nOn a committee to prepare a currency bill.]\nOn Ditto for examining the Laws relating to Fees.\nOn Ditto for a Bill relating to Dogs.\nOn a committee to amend the bill on vendues.]\nMar.\nOn Ditto to answer a Message.\nOn Ditto to see the Great Seal affixed to Laws.\nOn Ditto to enquire into the State of our Paper Currency, Trade, Numbers of People &c.\nAug.\nOn a Message to the Governor with the Bill of Fees.\nOn a Committee for Conference with the Governor on that Bill.\nMakes Report in Writing on the State of Currency, &c.\nOrdered to meet some of the Council &c.\nOn a Message to the Governor.\nOct.\nReturn\u2019d a Member for Philadelphia.\nSent on a Message to the Governor.\nAppointed on 4 [sic] Committees, viz. Grievances: Revisal of Minutes, Accounts: Correspondence; Laws.\n[Jan.\nWith] the Speaker to procure Books and Maps.\nOn a] Committee to bring in a Bill.\nSent to] the Governor with the Money Bill.\n[May\nOn a] Committee to prepare a Message.\nReport] of the Committee of Grievances.\nOn a Committee to consider the Representation to the Proprietaries of 1751. And the Answer thereto.\nOn Ditto to prepare an Answer to Governors Message.\nSept.\nOn a Committee to consider Governors propos\u2019d Amendments to a Money Bill.\nOn a Committee to answer the Governors Message.\nOn Ditto to report on a Message from the Governor.\n[Oct.]\nReturn\u2019d again for Philadelphia.\nSent on a Message to the Governor.\nAppointed on 4 Committees viz. Correspondence, Grievances, Accounts, Revisal of Minutes.\nOn two more Committees viz. to inspect the Laws; and the State of Trade, Currency &c.\nFeb.\nReports thereupon.\nTranslates a French Letter to Governor Dinwiddie.\nReports on the Laws.\nOn a Committee for Indian Trade.\n[March\nOn a committee to reply to the governor\u2019s message of this date.]\nMar.\nOn Ditto for considering a Petition for laying out Townships.\nOn Ditto for bringing in a Bill respecting the holding of Courts.\nOn Ditto to consider the Western Bounds.\nReports on Ditto.\nApril\nOn a Committee to bring in a Money Bill.\nGovernor appoints him a Commissioner for the Albany Treaty.\nOn a committee to answer the Governor\u2019s message of April 3.]\nApproved by the Assembly.\nOn a Committee to enquire into the Facts of a Petition.\n[May]\nOn Ditto to answer a Message from the Governor.\nA Number of Resolves drawn up by him and agreed to.\nAug.\nOn a Committee to bring in a Money Bill.\nOct.\nReturn\u2019d for Philadelphia.\nAppointed on Committees of Grievances, and Revisal of Minutes, and Correspondence.\nDec.\nRepresentation to the Proprietaries, drawn [up in] August [1753] now put on the Votes.\nMar.\nTakes his Seat in [the] House.\nOn a Committee to answer [the Messages of the Governor] and to [report] the Answers.\nOn a Committee to answer an[other] Message.\nLays before the House a Letter receiv\u2019d from the Governor.\nOn a Committee to bring in a Bill relating to Provisions exported.\nRequested to consider of establishing a Post for General Braddock.\nOn a committee to prepare a money bill.]\nApril\nMemorial from Josiah Quincy drawn by him.\nSundry Orders of his proposing and drawing to supply N England with Provisions &c.\nOn a committee to answer the Governor\u2019s message of April 1.]\nGives his Proposal to the House about the Post, which was agreed to.\nMay\nReceives the Thanks of the House for his great Services in his late Journey to the Back Country &c.\nOn a Committee to prepare a State of the Bills.\nOn Ditto to prepare a Message to the Governor.\nOn Ditto to answer another Message, and he draws the Answer.\nJune\nCommunicates to the House the Letters of Thanks he had received from Gen. Sir Peter Halket and Col. Dunbar.\nOn a Committee to answer a Message of the Governor.\nOn Ditto to prepare a Bill.\nOn Ditto to prepare another Bill.\nOn Ditto to answer a Message.\nJuly\nOn Ditto to Ditto.\nOn Ditto to prepare a Bill for granting \u00a350000 to the King\u2019s Use.\nSent with it to the Governor.\nAug.\nOn Ditto to answer his Message of Amendments.\nOn Ditto to answer a Message, and draws it\u2014a long one.\nOn Ditto for a Bill to provide Quarters for the King\u2019s Troops.\nOn Ditto to answer a long Message.\nOn a committee to answer the Governor\u2019s message of August 16.]\nOn Ditto to answer a Message.\nOn Ditto to dispose of Money for the Defence of the Frontiers.\nSept.\nOn Ditto to prepare a Bill for regulating Inspectors.\nRequested by the House to endeavour to prevail with Col. Dunbar to discharge Servants and Apprentices.\nOn a Committee to answer a Message.\nProduces to the House a Letter to himself from T. Hutchinson which induces the Grant of \u00a310,000 to Massachusets.\n[Oct.\nReturn\u2019d for Philadelphia.\nSent with a verbal Message to Governor.\nOn 4 Committees. Correspondence, Grievances, Minutes, Laws.\n[Nov.\nDitto to bring in a Money Bill \u00a360,000.\nDitto to prepare a Bill for supplying our Indian [Allies].\nDitto to [prepare a Message to the Governor.]\nOn a [committee to] answer a Message.\nOn Ditto [to consider] two Applications to the House from Quakers, and from the Mayor of Philadelphia &c.\nOn Ditto to answer a Message.\nBy Leave brings in a Militia Bill.\nOn a Committee to answer a Message.\nOn a Committee to amend the Militia Bill.\nOn Ditto to consider Governors Message.\nOn Ditto to bring in a Money Bill exempting the Proprietary Estate in Consideration of their Gift of \u00a35000.\nOn Ditto to answer a Message.\nDecember\nOn Ditto to answer a Message.\nFeb.\nIs still on the Frontiers building Forts.\nFeb.\nOn Committee to prepare an Address to Governor respecting the Enlistment of Servants, and draws it.\nLays before the House Letters to him from Gen. Shirley.\nOn a Committee to answer a Message.\nMar.\nBrings in a Bill by Leave of the House to regulate Soldiers &c.\nWatch and Lamp Bill brought in.\nOn Committee to amend Soldiers Bill.\nMoves the House again on that Bill.\nOn Committee for that purpose.\nSent with the Bill to the Governor.\nGoes to Virginia.\nMay\nOn Committee to answer a Message.\n[On a committee to draft a bill laying an embargo on provisions and naval stores in Pennsylvania.]\nOn a committee to prepare a money bill.]\nJune\nOn Ditto to Ditto.\nJuly\nThen at N York, charg\u2019d with an Address to Gen. Shirley, going to England.\nAug.\nOn Committee to bring in a Bill granting \u00a340,-000.\n[On a committee to answer the governor\u2019s message of August 16.]\nWm. Denny Governor.\nOn Committee to prepare address to the Governor.\nOn Ditto to prepare Answer to Governors Speech and Message.\nSept.\nOn a Message to the Governor.\nAppointed a Commissioner in the Act appropriating] \u00a360,000.\nOn a Committee to prepare Reasons in Answer to [Governors Objections to] the Bill.\nOn a committee to consider the Proprietary instructions on money bills.]\nDraws Resolutions relating to [the Governor\u2019s verbal message.]\nOn Committee to prepare a new [bill for \u00a330,-000.]\nDitto to Ditto [for Indian trade.]\nSent] up with the \u00a330,000 [bill to the Governor.]\nDraws a long Paper of Remarks on Proprietary Instructions.\nOct.\nReturn\u2019d for Philadelphia.\nOrder\u2019d on 3 Committees, Correspondence, Grievances, Minutes.\nOn Ditto for preparing a Bill to regulate the Hire of Carriages.\nOn Ditto for Ditto Billeting of Soldiers.\nOn Ditto to confer with Governor about Indians.\nWith Leave brings in a Bill to regulate Forces of this Province.\nAs President of the Hospital lays before the House the Accounts thereof.\nOn a Committee to prepare another Militia Bill.\nOn Ditto to answer Governors Message.\nNov.\nOn Ditto to compare Bills.\nOn Ditto to accompany the Governor to treat with Indians [at] Easton.\nOn Ditto to prepare a Message to the Governor.\nDec.\nOn Ditto to examine Journals of House of Commons concerning Elections.\nReports on the same.\nOn a Committee to prepare Answer to Governors Message.\nOn Ditto to Ditto Message concerning Quarters.\nOn Ditto to Ditto.\nOn Ditto to confer with the Governor.\nOn Ditto to answer a Message about Quarters.\nn Ditto to prepare a Bill for granting \u00a3100,000 by Tax.\nJan.\nOn Ditto to prepare a Bill to relieve Innkeepers.\nOn Ditto to prepare a Bill to strike a Sum of Paper Money.\nOn Ditto to wait on the Governor with a Message.\nReports concerning the Treaty at Easton.\nIs nominated to go to England.\nFeb.\nOn a Committee to prepare a new Bill for granting \u00a3100,000.\nAccepts the Appointment to England.\nAppointed Agent.\nOn a Committee to answer a Message.\nOn Ditto to Ditto.\n[March\nOn a committee to present the address of the Assembly to Lord Loudoun.]\nGovernor agrees to pass the Bill for \u00a3100,000. This was after B.F.\u2019s Conference with him and Lord Loudoun.\n[Oct.\nReturned for Philadelphia.]\nReappointed agent.]\n[Oct.\nReturned for Philadelphia.]\nReappointed agent.]\nFeb.\nProprietaries Message to the Assembly representing Mr. F. as not a Person of Candour &c.\nHis Heads of Complaint.\nAnswer thereto by Paris.\n[April]\nSupply Bill for \u00a3100,000 taxing the Proprietary Estate passed by Gov. Denny.\n[Oct.\nReturn\u2019d for Philadelphia.\nReappointed agent.]\nOct.\nReturned for Philadelphia.\nContinu\u2019d Agent with R. Charles.\nGovernor Hamilton refuses to certify the Assembly\u2019s Appointment of Franklin and Charles as Agents, &c.\nThe Assembly orders a Certificate from a Notary, and appoint a Committee to consider the Governor\u2019s Refusal &c. and order the Grant of the Crown to be receiv\u2019d by B.F. and lodg\u2019d in the Bank in several Names.\nSept.\nBills ordered to be drawn on B.F. for the Amount of the Parliamentary Grant.\n[Oct.\nReturned for Philadelphia.]\nReappointed agent.]\nMay\nSeveral Letters of different Dates receiv\u2019d from him.\nSept.\nDitto. Informing that he had taken his Passage, and left the Affairs of the Province with Mr. Jackson.\nOct.\nReturn\u2019d again as in all the preceding Years, a Member for Philadelphia.\nJan.\nIn the House again, and on a Committee.\nOn another.\nOn another and another.\nEngagement of B.F. and R.C. recited.\nOn a Committee to prepare a Bill.\nOn ditto for another Bill. And another.\n[Feb.\nOn a committee to consider a petition.]\nOn a committee for another Bill.\nReport on his Accounts and Thanks order\u2019d.\nMarch\nBallance of his Account order\u2019d to be paid \u00a32214 10s. 0d.\nOn a Committee for a Bill.\nThanks given him by the Speaker in form, and Answer.\n[April\nAdded to the committee of correspondence.]\nOn a Committee to answer [the Governor\u2019s message of this date and to draft a new bill for regulating inns and taverns.]\n[Continuation by the Editors]\nOct.\nReturned for Philadelphia.\nDec.\nTakes his seat.\nJan.\nOn a committee to draft a bill for trial of capital offenses between whites and Indians.\nOn a committee to draft a bill for payment of sums from the Parliamentary grant of 1760.\nOn a committee to answer the governor\u2019s message of January 16.\nFeb.\nOn a committee to draft a bill on Thomas and Charles Willing\u2019s petition and to amend the laws on the partition and distribution of estates.\nOn a committee to draft a bill to erect a workhouse in Philadelphia; on another to consider the laws for the settlement and support of the poor and reduce them to a single general act.\nOn a committee to answer the governor\u2019s message of February 4, sent down this day.\nOn a committee to draft a militia bill.\nOn a committee to confer with the governor on the remonstrance of Matthew Smith and James Gibson.\nOn a committee to examine the journals of the House of Commons and inquire into the practice of other colonies, on the privilege of hearing debates.\nOn a committee to draft a bill for the relief of Samuel Wallis.\nMarch\nOn a committee to draft resolutions on the present circumstances of the province.\nOn a committee to draft a message to the governor to accompany the supply bill for \u00a355,000.\nOn a committee to answer the governor\u2019s message of March 23.\nMay\nOn a committee to answer the governor\u2019s message of May 17.\nOn a committee to draft a new supply bill.\nOn a committee to draft a petition to the King to take over the government of the province.\nOn a committee to consider and report on sundry petitions and remonstrances.\nChosen Speaker.\nSigns the Assembly\u2019s reply to the governor\u2019s message of May 26.\nSigns the Assembly\u2019s reply to the governor\u2019s message of May 17.\nSept.\nPresents a letter from a committee of the Massachusetts House.\nSigns instructions to Richard Jackson.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "08-20-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0051", "content": "Title: Pennsylvania Assembly Committee: Report on a Schuylkill Bridge, 20 August 1751\nFrom: Pennsylvania Assembly Committee\nTo: \nIn Obedience to the Order of the House, we have view\u2019d the River Schuylkill, and sounded the Depths, and try\u2019d the Bottom in several Places from Peters\u2019s Island, near the Ford, down to John Bartram\u2019s, below the Lower Ferry, and are of Opinion, that the most convenient Place for a Bridge in all Respects is against or near the End of Market-street, where Capt. Coultas now keeps the Ferry. We have also had under our Consideration sundry Plans of Bridges, and Computations of the Expence of building them, but not being yet prepared to compleat our Report thereon, crave further Time for that Purpose.\nThomas Leech,\nBenjamin Franklin,\nPeter Dicks,\nIsrael Pemberton,\nEdmund Woolley,\nSamuel Rhoads,\nCaspar Wistar,\nJacob Lewis.\nHugh roberts,", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "08-21-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0052", "content": "Title: Pennsylvania Assembly: Reply to the Governor, 21 August 1751\nFrom: Pennsylvania Assembly\nTo: \nThe Pennsylvania Assembly on October 19, 1750, asked that the Proprietors share the charges arising from Indian treaties. On August 16, 1751, Governor Hamilton reported their refusal. The next day a committee which included Franklin was named to prepare an answer to the governor\u2019s message and to examine the records \u201cand report what they find of the Sentiments of former Assemblies concerning the Expences of Indian Affairs, and in what Manner those Expences have been usually defrayed, and what Sums they find have been expended by this Province in those Affairs for Twenty Years past.\u201d The committee presented the draft of a reply to the governor on August 21; it was read, amended, approved, and ordered sent to him. On the next day the committee presented the result of its search of the records; this report was \u201cunanimously approved of\u201d (below, p. 184). On this day also a series of resolutions, of Franklin\u2019s drawing, on Indian expenses was presented and approved (see below, p. 186), and Franklin was named to a committee to draft an address to the Proprietors pursuant to them: this address was presented and approved on August 23 and signed by the speaker August 24.\nMay it please the Governor,\nWe have a grateful Sense of the Governor\u2019s Care and Concern in Indian Affairs; the prudent Management of which, is of great Importance to the Peace and Safety of these Colonies, but if it should be agreeable with the Governor\u2019s Sentiments, we would wish, that such as may hereafter be employed on Business with the Indians, might be cautioned against charging themselves with Letters from every inferior French Officer, who shall presume to send down his Threats or pretended Claims to our Governor, in order to give himself an Air of Authority among our Indian Allies.\nThe Informations of Conrad Weiser, and Andrew Montour, on their Arrival in Town, since the Governor\u2019s Message of the Thirteenth Instant, we suppose have given the Governor, as well as the House, Reason to believe that the Request inserted in George Croghan\u2019s Journal, which the Governor was pleased to lay before the House, as made by the Indians at Ohio to this Government, to erect a strong Trading House in their Country, as well as the Danger \u2019tis there said, they apprehended from the Attempts of the French, have been misunderstood or misrepresented by the Person in whom the Governor confided for the Management of that Treaty.\nWe have seriously considered the Offer made by our Proprietaries, of contributing towards building such a House; but as we have always found that sincere, upright Dealing with the Indians, a friendly Treatment of them on all Occasions, and particularly in relieving their Necessities at proper Times by suitable Presents, have been the best Means of securing their Friendship, we could wish our Proprietaries had rather thought fit to join with us in the Expence of those Presents, the Effects of which have at all Times so manifestly advanced their Interest with the Security of our Frontier Settlements.\nAs it appears from the late notorious Disorders among the Indian Traders, as well as from the Representation of the Magistrates of Cumberland, that some very unfit Persons are at present employed in that Business, we hope the Governor will enjoin the Justices of the County Courts to be more careful for the future whom they recommend for Licences; and whatever is thought further necessary to enforce or amend the Laws now in being, for regulating the Indian Trade and Traders, may be considered by the ensuing Assembly, in the Winter Sitting, when the Members are generally most at Leisure to attend closely to publick Business.\nWe have paid the Accounts of our Interpreters, as we hope, to their full Satisfaction, and have the other Accounts mentioned by the Governor under our Consideration.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "08-22-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0053", "content": "Title: Pennsylvania Assembly Committee: Report on Expenses for Indian Affairs, 22 August 1751\nFrom: Pennsylvania Assembly Committee\nTo: \nIn Pursuance of the Order of the House, we have examined the Journals of the Proceedings of the Assemblies of this Province, on what relates to the Charges of Treaties and other Affairs with the Indians, by which we find,\nThat the Expences on these Occasions were very inconsiderable, till the Year 1722, there being a Provision made by Law to limit them to \u00a350 per Annum; and when Accounts were exhibited to the House of a larger Charge on these Occasions, great Caution was used in allowing them.\nIn the Year 1722, a general Treaty was held at Albany with the Indians of the Six Nations, by the Governors of New-York and Virginia, at which Sir William Keith, then Governor of this Province, with several of his Council, was desired by the Assembly to attend (in order to satisfy the Indians of the Care and Justice of this Government, to punish some Persons, by whom one of them had been lately killed) and the Assembly agreed to advance \u00a3230 to defray the Governor\u2019s Expences, and the Cost of Presents made to the Indians on that Occasion.\nFrom that Time till the Year 1727, there does not appear to have been any Expences on these Affairs paid by the Publick, but in that Year an Account amounting to about \u00a370 being exhibited, the Assembly allowed one Half of it, and left the rest to be paid by the Proprietary.\nIn the Year 1728, some unusual Apprehensions of Danger from the Indians appeared, and the Province being at that Time under great Difficulties in other Respects (from some Party Disputes then subsisting) the Assembly requested Governor Gordon to hold a Treaty with the Indians, and promised to pay the Expences of it: And this is the first Instance we find of a general Engagement made by any Assembly of this Kind; and we apprehend, the Circumstances of the Proprietary Family at that Time, induced the Representatives of the People freely to contribute more of the Publick Money than usual, to answer the pressing Exigencies of that Occasion.\nAfter which, the first Article of Expence is in 1733, the Year after the Arrival of our Proprietary Thomas Penn, in this Province, at which Time the People paid the Expence of a Treaty with the Indians, being desirous of demonstrating their Respect to the Proprietary Family, and of preserving the Memory of our first worthy Proprietary in the Minds of the Indians, with that Reverence and Respect they have ever professed for him.\nAnd the same Considerations, we believe, induced the Assembly, on the Arrival of our Proprietary John Penn, to defray the Expence of a Treaty with some Indians, who came down to pay him a Visit.\nThese, we apprehend, were the Reasons, by which the People were first induced to bear so large a Part of the Expences on Indian Affairs; yet constantly there appear Proofs of the People considering these Contributions as their free Gift: And in several instances we find they refused to pay more than Half of the Charge on these Occasions, leaving the rest to be paid by the Proprietary.\nAfter the Commencement of the late War, the Assembly thought it proper to demonstrate, that they were not induced by mercenary Motives, to refuse joining in the making any Military Preparations, and therefore contributed towards cultivating our Friendship with the Indians, and on several other Occasions, more largely, than before that Time had ever been done by their Predecessors.\nBut the Danger of introducing Precedents of this Kind seems to us very manifest in this Instance; their Liberality in granting these large Supplies being now interpreted to authorize the fixing the whole Charge of Indian Affairs on the Publick. And as the generous Allowances lately made (amounting within four Years past, to near \u00a35000) have had the desired good Effect, of confirming our Alliances with the Indians, the present Opportunity seems to us very proper to enter into the Consideration of the Proportion the People should pay of such Charges as may hereafter arise on the like Occasions; which is nevertheless submitted to the House.\nIsrael Pemberton, junior,\nThomas Cummings,\nJohn Smith,\nCalvin Cooper,\nBenjamin Franklin,\nHarmanus Alrichs.\nMahlon Kirkbride,\nAccount of Expences on Indian Affairs paid out of the Provincial Stock by the Treasurer and Trustees of the Loan-Office, viz.\nAnno\n1751 (besides several Accounts not yet adjusted)", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "08-22-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0054", "content": "Title: Pennsylvania Assembly: Resolutions on Expenses for Indian Affairs, 22 August 1751\nFrom: Pennsylvania Assembly\nTo: \nResolved, N. C.D. That it is the Opinion of this House, that the Proprietaries Interest will be so greatly advanc\u2019d by keeping up a firm Peace and friendly Correspondence with the Indians, that they ought to bear a proportionable Part of the Charges expended upon all such Treaties as tend to those good Purposes.\nResolved, N.C.D. That altho\u2019 Provincial Taxes have not been laid here for some Time past in a formal Manner, for the Support of the Proprietaries Lieutenant Governor, and defraying the Charges of Indian Treaties, yet our Excise is really a Tax upon the Province, yielding about Three Thousand Pounds per Annum, which is principally appropriated to those Purposes, besides the Sums arising upon Licences, &c. throughout the Province, amounting to very considerable Sums yearly.\nResolved, N.C.D. That the Assemblies of this Province have always paid the Accounts of our Indian Interpreters for their publick Services, to their full Satisfaction. And we hope that all such Charges as the Proprietaries may pay at this, or any future Time, for maintaining the Son of our Provincial Interpreter in the Indian Country (should it please God to bless their good Intentions) will be gratefully repaid by his future Services.\nResolved, N.C.D. That the Proprietaries by the royal Charter, are obliged to have an Agent to represent them at the Court of Great-Britain, and this Province have thought fit to appoint an Agent there also at a great Expence. Nevertheless, if any Expences properly chargeable upon this Province have been paid by the Proprietaries, we make no Doubt our future Assemblies will chearfully discharge all their just Debts, whenever such Accounts are exhibited.\nResolved, N. C.D. That the Proprietaries being Lords of the Soil, as well as Governors in Chief of this Province, are more nearly interested in the Prosperity of this Colony, than any other Governors in America, not so circumstanced, are or can be.\nResolved, N. C.D. That the Law of this Province passed in the twelfth Year of the late King William, entituled, An Act against buying Land of the Natives, is for the sole Benefit of the Proprietaries; therefore they ought to bear the whole Expences of all Treaties with the Indians for Lands only; and that Law we conceive cannot in Justice be alledged as any Reason for not bearing a Part of such other Treaties with the Indians, as tend to the Welfare and Peace of this Province.\nResolved, N.C.D. That the Proprietaries Interests are so constantly intermixt with those of the Province in all Treaties with our Indian Allies, that we apprehend the surest Way to prevent Dissatisfactions on all Sides, will be to request the Proprietaries in the most reasonable, and in the most respectful Manner, to agree upon a proportionable Part of all such Charges on Account of Indian Treaties, as may hereafter accrue, to be paid by the Proprietaries and Province, respectively, as in Justice they ought to do.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "08-23-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0055", "content": "Title: Pennsylvania Assembly: Representation to the Proprietors, 23 August 1751\nFrom: Pennsylvania Assembly\nTo: \nTo the Honourable Thomas Penn, and Richard Penn, Proprietaries of the Province of Pennsylvania, &c.\nThe Representation of the General-Assembly of the said Province, met at Philadelphia, the Twenty-third Day of the Sixth Month, 1751.\nMay it please the Proprietaries,\nThe first Settlers of this Province unanimously concurred with your worthy Father, to lay the Foundation of their Settlements, in doing Justice to the Native Indians, by coming among them as Friends, upon an equitable Purchase only: This soon appeared to be the best and safest Way to begin the Infant Settlement, by the Veneration and Love it procured from those People, who kindly supplied the Wants of many, then destitute of the Necessaries of Life; and, as the Settlements increased, retired to make Room for their new Guests, still preserving that Esteem and Veneration which had been so strongly impressed upon their Minds. By this voluntary Retreat, all were satisfied, for there was Room enough for all; and the good Faith so carefully kept with those who were nearest, gave the more distant Indian Nations that favourable Opinion of us, which our continuing to act on the same Principles of Justice hath supported to this Day: They entered freely into our Alliance; they became the Guards of our Frontiers against the French, and French Indians, by obliging them to observe a Neutrality towards us, as we experienced during the Course of the last War; and we have Reason to think we now share largely in their Affections. But this beneficial Friendship hath neither been procured nor continued without a very great Expence to the People of this Province, especially for some Years past, wherein we find the Assemblies (demonstrating that their Unwillingness to contribute to military Preparations, was neither from Want of Publick Spirit, nor through unseasonable Parsimony, but from the Motives of Conscience only) opened their Hands liberally to all the Purposes of Peace, among those who could best, under God, preserve our distant Settlements against the Depredations of an active and powerful Enemy; without strictly enquiring at that Time, how far the People alone ought to bear the Burden of those Expences. But as that Burden became yearly more and more heavy, the Assemblies were naturally led to request the Assistance of the Proprietaries, and we hoped an Application so apparently reasonable might have their Approbation. We are therefore much concern\u2019d to receive an Answer so different from our Expectations, in which the Proprietaries are pleased to say, \u201cThat they do not conceive themselves under any Obligation to contribute to Indian or any other publick Expences, even tho\u2019 Taxes were laid on the People for the Charges of Government: But as there is not One Shilling levied on the People for that Service, there is the less Reason for asking any Thing of them. Notwithstanding which, they have charged themselves with paying to the Interpreter, much more than could be due to him on any Treaties for Land, and are at this Time at the Expence of maintaining his Son, with a Tutor, in the Indian Country, to learn their Language and Customs for the Service of the Province, as well as of sundry other Charges on Indian Affairs. That they have been at considerable Expence for the Service of the Province both in England and here; that they purchase the Land from the Indians, and pay them for it; and that they are under no greater Obligation to contribute to the Publick Charges than any other Chief Governor of any of the other Colonies.\u201d\nUpon which we beg Leave respectfully to represent to our Proprietaries, That the Preserving a good Understanding with the Indians, more particularly advances the Interest and Value of the Proprietary Estate than that of any other Estate in the Province, as it gives the Proprietaries an Opportunity of purchasing at a low Price, and selling at high Rates, great Tracts of Land on the Frontiers, which would otherwise be impracticable. That therefore, tho\u2019 they may conceive themselves under no Obligation by Law, they are under the much stronger Obligations of natural Equity and Justice, to contribute to the Expence of those Indian Treaties and Presents, by which that good Understanding, so beneficial to them, is maintained. That altho\u2019 formal Taxes have not been laid in this Province during some Years past, for the Support of the Proprietaries Lieutenant-Governor, and defraying the Charges of Indian Treaties, yet the Interest of our Paper Money is a virtual Tax on the People, as it arises out of, and is paid by, their Labour, and our Excise is a real Tax, yielding about Three Thousand Pounds per Annum, which is principally expended in those Services, besides the Tax of Licences of various Kinds, amounting to considerable Sums yearly, which have been appropriated wholly to the Support of the Governor. That the Assemblies of this Province have always paid the Accounts of our Indian Interpreter for his Publick Services to his full Satisfaction; and we believe future Assemblies will not fail to do, in that Respect, what may reasonably be expected from them, when his Son shall be thought qualified to succeed him. Nor do we doubt their Discharging all just Debts for Expences properly chargeable to the Province, whether made here or in England, whenever the Accounts are exhibited. We are nevertheless thankful to our Proprietaries for their Care in our Affairs, and their Endeavours to provide a well qualified Successor to our present Interpreter, as such a One may be of Service to the Publick, as well as to the private Interests of their Family.\nWe would farther entreat our Proprietaries to consider, That their great Estate not lying in Britain, is happily exempt from the Burthens borne by their Fellow Subjects there, and cannot, by any Law of ours, now in Being, be taxed here. That therefore, as they are not obliged, on Account of that Estate, to bear any Part of the Charge of any War the British Nation may be involv\u2019d in, they may with us more freely contribute to the Expence of preserving Peace, especially on the Borders of their own Lands, as the Value of those Lands so much depends upon it.\nWe beg Leave further to observe to our Proprietaries, that the Act forbidding all others to purchase Lands of the Natives, establishes a Monopoly solely in their Favour; that therefore they ought to bear the whole Charge of Treaties with the Indians for Land only, as they reap the whole Benefit. And that their paying for Land (bought, as we conceive, much the cheaper for the Provincial Presents accompanying those Treaties) which Land they sell again to vast Advantage, is not a satisfactory Reason why they should not bear a Part of the Charge of such other Treaties, as tend to the common Welfare and Peace of the Province.\nUpon the whole, since the Proprietaries Interests are so constantly intermixed, more or less, with those of the Province, in all Treaties with our Indian Allies; and since it appears that the Proprietaries think they already pay more than their Share, and the People (who have disbursed near Five Thousand Pounds within these Four Years, on those Occasions) think they pay abundantly too much, we apprehend that the surest Way to prevent Dissatisfaction on all Sides, will be, to fix a certain Proportion of the Charge of all future Provincial Treaties with the Indians, to be paid by the Proprietaries and Province respectively; and this, we hope, they will on further Consideration agree to, not only as it is in itself an equitable Proposal, but as it may tend to preserve that Union and Harmony between the Proprietaries and People, so evidently advantageous to both.\nSign\u2019d, by Order of the House,\nIsaac Norris, Speaker.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "09-12-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0057", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Jared Eliot, 12 September 1751\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Eliot, Jared\nDear Sir,\nPhilada. Sept. 12. 1751\nI receiv\u2019d your Favour of last Month, with the 12 Essays. Sometime since, I mention\u2019d to you a Method of increasing Dung by Leaves; did you receive that Letter?\nThe Collinson you mention is the same Gentleman I correspond with; he is a most benevolent worthy Man, very curious in Botany and other Branches of Natural History, and fond of Improvements in Agriculture, &c. He will be pleas\u2019d with your Acquaintance. In the late Phil. Transactions, you may see frequently Papers of his, or Letters that were directed to him, on various Subjects. He is a Member of the R. Society.\nAn ingenious Acquaintance of mine here, Mr. Hugh Roberts, one of our most curious Farmers, tells me that it appears by your Writings your People are yet far behind us in the Improvement of Swamps and Meadows; I am persuading him to send you such Hints as he thinks may give you farther Insight into that Matter. But in other Respects, he greatly esteems your Pieces: He says they are preferable to any thing of late Years publish\u2019d on that Subject in England. The late Writers there, chiefly copy from one another, and afford very little new or useful; but you have collected Experiences, and Facts, and make Propositions, that are reasonable and serviceable. You have taught him (he says) to clear his Meadows of Elder, (a Thing very pernicious to Banks,) which was before beyond the Art of all our Farmers; and given him several other useful Informations.\nI am exceedingly obliged to you for the Plan and Directions concerning Ditching. It is very satisfactory, and I hope will be useful here.\nOur Academy flourishes beyond Expectation. We have now above 100 Scholars, and the Number daily encreasing. We have excellent Masters at present; and as we give pretty good Salaries, I hope we shall always be able to procure such. We pay the Rector, who teaches Latin and Greek, &c. per Annum \u00a3200.\nThe English Master\nThe Mathematical Professor\nThree Assistant Tutors each \u00a360\nTotal per Annum\nOur Currency is something better than that of N York. The Scholars pay each \u00a34 per annum.\nThe Changes of the Barometer are most sensible in high Latitudes. In the W. India Islands, the \u263f [mercury] continues at the same height with very little variation the Year round. In these Latitudes, the Alterations are not frequently so great as in England. Thermometers are often badly made: I had three that differ\u2019d widely from each other, tho\u2019 hung in the same Place. As to Hygrometers, there is no good one yet invented. The Cord is as good as any, but like the rest it grows continually less sensible by Time, so that the Observations of one Year cannot be compared with those of another by the same Instrument. I will think of what you hint concerning the Hydrostatic Ballance.\nWhat you mention concerning the Love of Praise is indeed very true; it reigns more or less in every Heart; tho\u2019 we are generally Hypocrites, in that respect, and pretend to disregard Praise, and that our nice modest Ears are offended, forsooth, with what one of the Antients calls the Sweetest kind of Musick. This Hypocrisy, is only a Sacrifice to the Pride of others, or to their Envy; both which I think, ought rather to be mortify\u2019d. The same Sacrifice we make, when we forbear to praise ourselves, which naturally we are all enclin\u2019d to; and I suppose it was formerly the Fashion, or Virgil, that Courtly Writer, would not have put a Speech into the Mouth of his Hero, which now-a-days we should esteem so great an Indecency, Sum pius \u00c6neas, fama super aethera notus: One of the Romans, I forget who, justify\u2019d speaking in his own Praise, by saying, Every Freeman had a Right to speak what he thought, of himself as well as of others. That this is a natural Inclination, appears, in that all Children show it, and say freely, I am a good Boy; Am I not a good Girl? and the like; \u2019till they have been frequently chid, and told their Trumpeter is dead; and that \u2019tis unbecoming to sound their own Praise, &c. But Naturam expellas furca licet, usque recurret; being forbid to praise themselves, they learn instead of it to censure others; which is only a roundabout Way of praising themselves; for condemning the Conduct of another in any particular, amounts to as much as saying, I am so honest, or wise, or good or prudent, that I could not do or approve of such an Action. This Fondness for ourselves, rather than Malevolence to others, I take to be the general Source of Censure and Backbiting; and I wish Men had not been taught to dam up natural Currents, to the overflowing and Damage of their Neighbour\u2019s Grounds. Another Advantage, methinks, would arise from freely speaking our good Thoughts of our selves, viz. if we were wrong in them, somebody or other would readily set us right; but now, while we conceal so carefully our vain erroneous Self-Opinions, we may carry them to our Grave for who would offer Physic to a Man that seems to be in Health? And the Privilege of recounting freely our own good Actions, might be an Inducement to the Doing of them, that we might be enabled to speak of them without being subject to be justly contradicted or charged with Falshood: whereas now, as we are not allow\u2019d to mention \u2019em, and \u2019tis an Uncertainty whether others will take due Notice of them or not, we are perhaps the more indifferent about them: So that upon the whole, I wish the out-of-Fashion Practice of praising our selves, would, like other old Fashions, come round into Fashion again. But this I fear will not be in our Time, so we must e\u2019en be contented with what little Praise we can get from one another. And I will endeavour to make you some Amends for the Trouble of reading this long Scrawl, by telling you, that I have the sincerest Esteem for you, as an ingenious Man, and a good one, which together make the valuable Member of Society; as such, I am with great Respect and Affection, Dear Sir, Your obliged humble Servant\nB Franklin", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "09-22-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0058", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to William Strahan, 22 September 1751\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Strahan, William\nDear Sir\nPhilada. Sept. 22. 1751\nMy Daughter receiv\u2019d her Books all in good Order, and thanks you for your kind Care in sending them. Enclos\u2019d is a second Bill for \u00a320 Sterling. The first went per Mesnard.\nThere is a little Book on the Game of Chess, by Philip Stamma, printed for J. Brindley, 1745. If to be had, please to send it me; with the Remaining Vols. of Viner as fast as they are publish\u2019d.\nWe are all well, and join in affectionate Regards to you, Mrs. Strahan and your Children. I am, Dear Sir, Your obliged humble Servant\nB Franklin\n Addressed: To \u2002Mr Wm Strahan \u2002Printer \u2002London \u2002per the Whiteoak \u2002Capt. Lyon", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "10-05-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0059", "content": "Title: Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital to Matthias Koplin, 5 October 1751\nFrom: Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital\nTo: Koplin, Matthias\nThe first real estate the Pennsylvania Hospital owned was a lot in the Northern Liberties given by Matthias Koplin. A generous-spirited German, Koplin offered the land through Christopher Saur, being assured, he explained, that the Managers, unlike those of hospitals he knew in Germany, would manage the funds wisely and impartially. His letter was in German; a translation was copied into the minutes by Franklin as secretary; and Franklin drafted a reply for Joshua Crosby to sign as president of the Managers. Koplin\u2019s gift was valued at \u00a324. The Managers leased the property for some years, but sold it in 1776.\nRespected Friend Matthias Koplin\nPhilada. Oct. 5. 1751\nThy Friend Christopher Saur hath communicated to the Managers of the Pennsylvania Hospital thy Letter to him, expressing thy Intention of making a free Gift to the said Hospital of a valuable Lot of Ground situate between Germantown and Philadelphia; for which the Managers, in Behalf of the Poor, return thee sincere Thanks; and hope thy charitable and generous Donation, and those made by other well-disposed People to this Hospital, will never be misapplyed in the Manner mentioned in thy Letter, as hath been usual in some Hospitals in Germany. As a Caution to future Managers against such Misapplications, they have order\u2019d thy Letter to be copied in their Book of Minutes or Records of their Proceedings, that it may be preserved to Posterity, as a Testimony of the original Intention of the Founders of this pious Institution. The Managers salute thee respectfully, by Thy Friend\nJ. C. President\nRough Draft, to be corrected by the Managers.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "10-07-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0060", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Belcher, 7 October 1751\nFrom: Belcher, Jonathan\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nMr. Franklin\nBurlington (NJ) Octr. 7: 1751\nMr. Warrell on his return from Philadelphia about 3 months ago acquainted me that in Answer to my request He had had a full talk with you on the matter of Electrification and that you are clear in it I may make the Experiment in moderation without any fear of Injury and that you was so kind as to offer to come hither and make the Operation on me your self which I very gratefully acknowledge.\nThe inclosed is my second Letter to Dr. Cadwalader on this head which he will read to you and you will discourse [with] him fully about it and upon your and his answer I will write you when it will be most Convenient to me for you to come and make the Tryal. I am Sir Your ready Friend and Servant.\nBy Cha: Gandowen [?]", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "10-24-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0062", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 24 October 1751\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Mecom, Jane\nDear Sister,\nPhiladelphia, October 24, 1751\nMy son waits upon you with this, whom I heartily recommend to your motherly care and advice. He is indeed a sober and discreet lad of his years, but he is young and unacquainted with the ways of your place.\nMy compliments to my new niece, Miss Abiah, and pray her to accept the enclosed piece of gold, to cut her teeth; it may afterwards buy nuts for them to crack.\nSome time since I sent a letter to your care for our cousin at Casco Bay. Have you had an opportunity to forward it?\nMy love to brother Mecom and your children; and to brother and sister Davenport and children; and respects to Mrs. Billings and her daughter, and all other friends, from, dear sister, Your affectionate brother,\nB. Franklin", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "10-28-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0063", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Cadwallader Colden, 28 October 1751\nFrom: Colden, Cadwallader\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nSir\nNew York Octr 28th 1751\nI had the pleasure of receiving yours with the favour of a copy of your Electrical experiments. My being in this place prevents my reading them with that attention which they deserve and which I intend to do assoon as I shall return home. My Notions on Electricity are confused and indigested. I know not wherein consists the difference between an Electric body per se and a non-electric or why one is an Electric and the other a Non electric. Without knowing this it will be very difficult if not impossible to account for the Phoenomena or to understand any reasoning on the Phoenomena. In the time I have been allowed amidst perpetual avocations to think on your experiments they seem to me to lead more directly to the discovery of the cause than any set of experiments which I have seen. But I suspect that the air surrounding Electrics and Non electrics has not been sufficiently considered. May not many of the Phoenomena arise from the air on the opposite surfaces of electric and non electric bodies. I suspect that the Phoenomena of angular and pointed bodies arise likewise from the air which surrounds them. I am apt to conclude that electrical experiments made in Vacuo may be of use not only for discovering the true cause of Electricity but likewise the cause of the elasticity of the Air. For example what are the Phoenomena when the air is exhausted from the Water contained in the phial before it is charged. Whether the electrical atmosphere extends farther or less in Vacuo than in the air. Whether a point will draw it off at a greater distance or otherwise. Whether the electrical atmosphere extend in proportion to the density of the surrounding air or reciprocally to the density. I fancy that if experiments of this kind were well contrived they may lead us a great deal farther in discovering the cause of electricity and the laws of its action than we have as yet got. But it is probable you have allready made experiments of this sort and that I only discover my ignorance in proposing them. However I shall be much obliged to you by your giving me your Sentiments on what I write that I may not indulge my self in a vain and fruitless speculation. We have no means in this place of making the experiments which I propose. If such have not been allready made I am perswaded no man is more capable of contriving and executing proper experiments than your self to discover whether a thin plane or surface of air lying between an electric and Non electric or contained in them be not differently affected on the one side and the other. It is evident that the success of electrical experiments is different in different dispositions of the air and therefor it may be concluded that the air acts a considerable part in produceing the Phoenomena.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "10-31-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0064", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Cadwallader Colden, 31 October 1751\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Colden, Cadwallader\nDear Sir\nPhilada. Oct. 31. 1751\nI enclose you Answers, such as my present Hurry of Business will permit me to make, to the principal Queries contain\u2019d in your Favour 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 those Papers, I will endeavour to make any other new Experiments you shall propose, that you think may afford farther Light or Satisfaction to either of us, and shall be thankful for such Remarks, Objections, &c. as may occur to you. I forget whether I wrote you, that I have melted brass Pins and Steel Needles, inverted the Poles of the magnetic Needle, given Magnetism and Polarity to Needles that had none, and fired dry Gunpowder, by the Electric Stroke. I have five Bottles that contain 8 or 9 Gallons each, two of which charg\u2019d, are sufficient for the above purposes; but I can charge and discharge them all together. There are no Bounds (but what Expence and Labour give) to the Force Man may raise and use in the Electric Way: For Bottle may be added to Bottle in infinitum, and all united and discharg\u2019d together as One, the Force and Effect proportion\u2019d 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\u2019s Devils of two Year old, who, he humourously says, had only learnt to thunder and lighten a little round the Head of a Cabbage. I am, with sincere respect, Dear Sir, Your most obliged humble Servant\nB Franklin\n Addressed: To The honble. Cadwalader Colden Esquire at New York Free B Franklin\n[Enclosure]\nQuery 1. Wherein consists the Difference between an Electric, and a Non electric Body.\nAnsw. The Terms Electric per se and Non Electric were first used to distinguish Bodies, on a mistaken Supposition that those alone, called Electric per se, contained electric Matter in their Substance which was capable of being excited by Friction and of being produc\u2019d or drawn from them and communicated to those called Non Electrics suppos\u2019d to be destitute of it: For Glass, &c. being rubbed discover\u2019d Signs of having it, by snapping to the Finger, attracting, repelling, &c. and could communicate those Signs to Metals and Water. Afterwards it was found, that rubbing of Glass would not produce the Electric Matter, unless a Communication was preserv\u2019d between the Rubber and the Floor; and subsequent Experiments prov\u2019d that the Electric Matter was really drawn from those Bodies that at first were thought to have none in them. Then it was doubted whether Glass and other Bodies called Electrics per se had really any Electric Matter in them, since they apparently afforded none but what they first extracted from those which had been called Non Electrics. But some of my Experiments show that Glass contains it in great Quantity; and I now suspect it to be pretty equally diffus\u2019d in all the Matter of this terraqueous Globe. If so, the Terms Electric per se and Non Electric should be laid aside as improper; and (the only Difference being this, that some Bodies will conduct Electric Matter, and others will not) the Terms Conductors and Non Conductors may supply their Place. If any Portion of Electric Matter is apply\u2019d to a Piece of Conducting Matter, it penetrates and flows thro\u2019 it, or spreads equally on its Surface according as situated or circumstanc\u2019d; if apply\u2019d to a Piece of Non Conducting Matter, it will do neither. Perfect Conductors of Electric Matter are only Metals and Water; other Bodies conducting only as they contain a Mixture of those, without more or less of which they will not conduct at all. This (by the way) shows a new Relation between Metals and Water heretofore unknown; and seems to favour some [torn] Opinions of the Formation [torn] Water.\nTo illustrate this by a Comparison, which however, can [give?] but a faint Resemblance; Electric Matter passes thro\u2019 Conductors as Water passes thro\u2019 a porous Stone; or spreads on their Surfaces as Water spreads on a wet Stone: But when apply\u2019d to Non Conductors \u2019tis like Water dropt on a greasy Stone, it neither penetrates, passes thro\u2019, nor spreads on the Surface, but remains in Drops where it falls. See farther on this Head in my last printed Piece.\nQuery 2. What are the Effects of Air in Electric Experiments?\nAnsw. All I have hitherto observ\u2019d are these. Moist Air receives and conducts the electric Matter in proportion to its Moisture; quite dry Air not at all. Air is therefore to be rank\u2019d with the Non Conductors. Dry Air assists in confining the Electrical Atmosphere to the Body it surrounds, and prevents its dissipating; for in Vacuo it quits easily, and Points operate stronger, i.e. they throw off or attract the Electrical Matter more freely and at greater Distances; so that Air intervening obstructs its passing from Body to Body in some Degree. A clean Electric Phial and Wire containing dry Air instead of Water, will not be charg\u2019d nor give a Shock, no more than if it was fill\u2019d with Powder of Glass: But exhausted of Air it operates as well as if fill\u2019d with Water. Yet an Electric Atmosphere and Air do not seem to exclude each other; for we breathe freely in such an Atmosphere; and dry Air will blow through it without displacing or driving it away. I question whether the Strongest dry Northwester would dissipate it. I once electrify\u2019d a large Cork Ball at the End of a Silk Thread 3 feet long, the other End of which I held in my Fingers, and whirl\u2019d it round like a Sling 100 Times in the Air, with the swiftest Motion I could possibly give it, yet it retain\u2019d its Electrical Atmosphere, tho\u2019 it must have pass\u2019d thro\u2019 800 Yards of Air, allowing my Arm in giving the Motion to add a foot to the Semidiameter of the Circle. By quite dry Air, I mean the driest we have, perhaps we never have any perfectly free from Moisture. An Electric Atmosphere rais\u2019d round a thick Wire inserted in a Phial of Air, drives out none of the Air, nor on withdrawing that Atmosphere will any Air rush in, as I have found by a very curious Experiment accurately made; whence one would think the Air\u2019s Elasticity not affected thereby.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "11-04-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0065", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Belcher, 4 November 1751\nFrom: Belcher, Jonathan\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nSir\nElizabeth Town (NJ) Novr 4: 1751\nI have received yours of the 31: of Octr. by which I find my Self obliged for your kind Intention to have made an Electrical Operation upon me at Burlington had your Affairs allowd your coming thither which I am sorry they did not for I had concieved much Satisfaction in the Experiment being made by a Gentleman of so much knowledge and practice in the Affair.\nAnd I take a thankfull notice of your readiness to send me an Electrical Apparatus with the particular directions how to use it which I shall be glad off as soon as you can conveniently send it.\nI ask pardon for the Trouble I give you of the Inclosed which I desire you will let your Servant deliver to Capt. Child.\nAnd if I can render you any Acceptable service in this Government you may with freedom ask it of Sir Your ready Friend and Servant.\nMr. Franklin (post)", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "11-04-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0066", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from John Franklin, 4 November 1751\nFrom: Franklin, John\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nDear Brother\nBoston Nov 4th 1751\nI have spoke with Turner about your seal. He thinks he cant git the Designe Compleated before the post going but will have it Ready against the next.\nRogers & Foule to whoom I Red the parigraph of your Letter Relateing to your Ballence and Foul Tole me he [would] Take Care that it be paid when Billey Comes who is not yet arriv\u2019d but suppose he will be hear the first southerly wind. When he Comes shall be Right Glad to see him and hope the small Time you allow him will be agreeably spent boath to him and his frind Swan.\nI have not Time to Enlarge being Just going on bord the Germin ship with Messrs. Hutchinson, Oliver and Wendell a Committee of Council. With Love to all I am your affectionate Brother\nJohn Franklin\nAddressed: To Benjamin Franklin Esqr Postmr Philada", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "11-07-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0067", "content": "Title: Obituary of James Logan, 7 November 1751\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: \nThursday last, after a long Indisposition, died the honourable James Logan, Esq; in the 77th Year of his Age; and on Saturday his Remains were decently interr\u2019d in the Friends Burying Ground, in this City, the Funeral being respectfully attended by the principal Gentlemen and Inhabitants of Philadelphia and the neighbouring Country. His Life was for the most Part a Life of Business, tho\u2019 he had always been passionately fond of Study: He had borne the several Offices of Provincial Secretary, Commissioner of Property, Chief Judge of the Supreme Court, and for near two Years govern\u2019d the Province as President of the Council, in all which publick Stations, as well as in private Life, he behav\u2019d with unblemish\u2019d Integrity: But some Years before his Death he retir\u2019d from publick Affairs to Stenton, his Country Seat, where he enjoy\u2019d among his Books that Leisure which Men of Letters so earnestly desire. He was thoroughly versed both in ancient and modern Learning, acquainted with the Oriental Tongues, a Master of the Greek and Latin, French and Italian Languages, deeply skilled in the Mathematical Sciences, and in Natural and Moral Philosophy, as several Pieces of his Writing witness, which have been repeatedly printed in divers Parts of Europe, and are highly esteemed by the Learned. But the most noble Monument of his Wisdom, Publick Spirit, Benevolence, and affectionate Regard to the People of Pennsylvania, is his Library; which he has been collecting these 50 Years past, with the greatest Care and Judgment, intending it a Benefaction to the Publick for the Increase of Knowledge, and for the common Use and Benefit of all Lovers of Learning. It contains the best Editions of the best Books in various Languages, Arts and Sciences, and is without Doubt the largest, and by far the most valuable Collection of the Kind in this Part of the World, and will convey the Name of Logan thro\u2019 Ages, with Honour, to the latest Posterity.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "11-14-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0068", "content": "Title: Obituary of Thomas Hopkinson, 14 November 1751\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: \nLast Week died here the honourable Thomas Hopkinson, Esq; Judge of the Admiralty for this Province, one of the Governor\u2019s Council, and Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Philadelphia, &c. A Gentleman possessed of many Virtues, without the Alloy of one single Vice; and distinguish\u2019d for his Attachment to the Cause of Justice and Honesty; which he practised in private Life with a scrupulous Exactness, and in publick Affairs, with an Intrepidity and Firmness of Mind that was not to be shaken; an excellent Ingredient in his Character, where a quick Conception, a clear Discernment, and a solid Judgment, were happily united: In Matters of Trust so faithful, that the nearest Concerns of his own Interest had not a greater Share of his Application. His Benevolence was as extensive as the proper Object of it, the whole human Race; but his great Modesty, and his not seeking to be known, caused the Number of his intimate Friends to be but small: Among those, in the Hours of Recreation, he had the particular Faculty of tempering the Facetious with the Grave, in so agreeable a Manner, as made his Conversation both delightful and instructive. He was reserved in Professions of Religion; but the Spirit of Christianity actuated the whole Conduct of his Life. Not conscious of any Guilt or Neglect of any Social Duty, he beheld the slow Approaches of Death with an amazing Chearfulness, without any Mixture of Anxiety or Fear; and at last bid adieu to the World with all the Serenity of Mind that could flow from the Wisdom of a Philosopher joined to the Innocence of a Child.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "11-15-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0069", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from John and Martha Read: Deed, 15 November 1751\nFrom: Read, John, Jr.,Read, Martha\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nNovember 15, 1751\n   Abstract: Sarah Read, by indenture of April 10, 1734, granted to her son John Read a messuage and lot on the south side of High Street, Philadelphia, 16\u00bd ft. broad by 306 ft. long, bounded north by High Street, east by a messuage and lot then or lately belonging to the said Sarah Read, south by the ends of Chestnut Street lots, and west by a lot formerly granted to Samuel Carpenter and others in right of George Fox. John Read, by indenture of [date left blank], granted to Sarah Read a lifetime lease of the premises. Now, John Read, of the town of York, Pa., formerly of Philadelphia, carpenter, and Martha his wife, in consideration of \u00a3390, lawful money of Pennsylvania, hereby grant and sell this messuage and lot to Benjamin Franklin, his heirs and assigns, under the proportionable part of the quitrent due to the chief lord or lords of the fee. John Read warrants a clear title excepting only the above lease to Sarah Read, and upon its expiration Franklin may have full use and possession of the premises. Signed by John Read and (by her mark) Martha Read, his sealing and delivery witnessed by Mary Tonge and Paul Isaac Voto, and hers by Wm. Freeman and John Croker. Acknowledged by John Read, Nov. 20, 1751, before Benjamin Shoemaker. Recorded in the Philadelphia Office for Recording Deeds, Feb. 22, 1757, Book H, vol. 7, p. 440 &c. by C. Brockden, Recorder. On the back is John and Martha Read\u2019s receipt for \u00a3390 in full.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "11-18-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0070", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Belcher, 18 November 1751\nFrom: Belcher, Jonathan\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nSir\nElizabeth Town (NJ) Novr 18: 1751\nI duly received your favour of the 14: Instant.\nIn mine of 4: Current I inclosed you a packet to go by Capt. Child and in mine of the 11: to Mrs. Franklin another to go by Capt. Shirley and I hope they were forwarded according to their several directions.\nIf this comes to hand time enough I shou\u2019d be glad the Electrical Apparatus might be forwarded to Mr. Sam: Smith of Burlington and to desire he wou\u2019d send it by the Waggon to Mr. Jno. Deare at Amboy.\nSince I have been here I have received none of the Pennsylvania Gazettes which I desire may be duly sent me. I know I am in Arrears with you upon that Account and will soon Order my Friend at Philadelphia to pay you.\nI am sorry to give you so much Trouble and shall be glad when you can find out Opportunities for me to Retaliate it. I am Sir Your Friend and Countryman.\nMr. Franklin (post)", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "11-21-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0071", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Susanna Wright, 21 November 1751\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Wright, Susanna\nMadam\nPhilada. Nov. 21. 1751\nYour Guests all got well home to their Families, highly pleas\u2019d with their Journey, and with the Hospitality of Hempfield.\nWhen I had the Pleasure of seeing you, I mention\u2019d a new [kind of Candles very convenient] to read by, which I think you said you had not seen: I take the Freedom to send you a Specimen of them. You will find that they afford a clear white Light; may be held in the Hand, even in hot Weather, without softning; that their Drops do not make Grease Spots like those from common Candles; that they last much longer, and need little or no Snuffing. I may add, what will be another Recommendation of them to you, that they are the Manufacture of our own Country, being wrought at Marcushook.\nIn the Magazine of August, I find that the magnificent King of Portugal has rais\u2019d his Marble Aqueduct near 100 Foot higher than your Chicaselungo. It must be a most stupendous Work. I send you the Prospect of it.\nAccept an Almanack for the New Year, with my hearty Wishes that it may prove a happy one to you and your Friends. I am Madam Your obliged humble Servant\nB Franklin", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "11-25-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0072", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Belcher, 25 November 1751\nFrom: Belcher, Jonathan\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nSir\nEliz: Town (NJ) Novr. 25: 1751\nI am obliged to you for yours of the 21: present and for your good Care of my Packets sent to London and that the Electrical Apparatus shall be sent forward as I have requested.\nI thank you Sir, for Mr. Peters\u2019 ingenious Sermon upon the Education of Youth which I have re\u2019d with much pleasure, the Christian, the Divine and the Polite Gentleman being coucht thro\u2019 the whole discourse in an easy handsome manner. Pray give him my best Compliments and thanks for Communicating this discourse to the publick which I think will stimulate the present and future generations to Countenance and Encourage Religion and Learning.\nI also thank you Sir for your Idea of the English School so well and Justly Calculated for the Service of your Accademy and which I am sure the Honourable The Trustees will gratefully acknowledge.\nI heartily wish your publick Schools may greatly flourish as a substantial basis of prosperity and happiness of Mankind now and of their posterity unborn. I remain Sir Your ready Friend and Servant.\nI shou\u2019d be glad your Gazette might be duly sent me hither.\nMr. Franklin (post)", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "11-28-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0073", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Clap, 28 November 1751\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Clap, Thomas\nSir\nPhilada. Nov. 28. 1751\nI am heartily sorry for your Disappointment in Letort; I could not have imagin\u2019d he would have behav\u2019d so imprudently, and let so very profitable a Jobb slip thro\u2019 his Fingers. I have done with him.\nI hope you will be able to procure a Subscription to furnish your College with a compleat Apparatus for Natural Philosophy. If you are like to succeed I will contribute the Electrical Part.\nBower has lain ever since in Mr. Parker\u2019s Hands at New York. He desires you would order one of your Boatmen to call for it.\nWe had the Pleasure of a little of Mr. Whittelsey\u2019s Company a few Days since. I hope he will get well home.\nMy Respects to all Friends. Please to accept the enclos\u2019d from, Dear Sir, Your obliged humble Servant\nB Franklin\n Endorsed: B Franklins to President Clap. Novr. 28. 1751.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "12-10-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0074", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Jared Eliot, 10 December 1751\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Eliot, Jared\nDear Sir\nPhilada. Dec. 10. 1751\nThe Rector of our Academy Mr. Martin, came over into this Country on a Scheme for making Potash in the Russian Method: He promis\u2019d me some written Directions for you, which expecting daily I delay\u2019d writing, and now he lies dangerously ill of a kind of Quinsey: The Surgeons have been oblig\u2019d to open his Windpipe, and introduce a leaden Pipe for him to breathe thro\u2019. I fear he will not recover.\nI thank you for the marine Wooll; \u2019tis a Curiosity. Mr. Roberts promises me some Observations in Husbandry for you. It is one Mr. Masters that makes Dung of Leaves, and not Mr. Roberts: I hope to get the Particulars from him soon.\nI have a Letter from Mr. Collinson of July 19. in which he writes, \u201cPray has Mr. Elliot published any Addition to his Work; I have No. 1, and 2. If I can get ready I will send some Improvements made in the sandy Parts of the County of Norfolk; by the Way it is a great Secret, but it is Mr. Jackson\u2019s own Drawing up, being Experiments made on some of his Father\u2019s Estates in that County: but his Name must not be mentioned. I thank you for the Fowl Meadow Grass. I sowed it June 7 as soon as I received it, but none is yet come up. I dont know how it is, but I never could raise any of your Native Grasses; and I have had Variety per J. Bartram of curious Species.\u201d\nIn another of Sept. 26. he says, \u201cI am much obliged to thee for Mr. Elliot\u2019s third Essay. I have sent Maxwell\u2019s select Transactions in Husbandry: If Mr. Elliot has not seen them, they may be very useful to him. I have prevail\u2019d on our worthy, learned and ingenious Friend Mr. Jackson to give some Dissertations on the Husbandry of Norfolk, believing it may be very serviceable to the Colonies: He has great Opportunities of doing this, being a Gentleman of Leisure and Fortune, being the only Son whose Father has great Riches and Possessions, and resides every Year all the long Vacation at his Father\u2019s Seat in Norfolk. After J. Bartram has perused it, I shall submit how it may be further disposed of, only our Friend Elliot should see it soon; for Mr. Jackson admires his little Tracts of Husbandry as well as myself, and it may be of greater Service to him and his Colony, than to yours. The Fowl Meadow Grass has at last made its Appearance. Another Year we shall judge better of it.\u201d\u2014Thus far Friend Collinson. You may expect the Papers in a Post or two. If you make any Use of them, you will take Care not to mention any thing of the Author.\nThe Bearer is my Son, who desir\u2019d an Opportunity of paying his Respects to you in his Return from Boston. He went by Sea.\nThey have printed all my electrical essays in England, and sent me a few copies, of which I design to send you one per next post, after having corrected a few errata. I am, dear Sir, Your most humble servant,\nB. Franklin\nMr. Martin is dead!\n Addressed: To The Revd Mr Jared Elliot at Killingworth", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "12-18-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0075", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Belcher, 18 December 1751\nFrom: Belcher, Jonathan\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nSir\nEliz: Town (NJ) December 18: 1751\nI duly received your kind Letter of 28: of Novr. with the Directions about the Electrical Operation and the box with the Electrical Apparatus came to my hands the 16: Currant and I am sorry to Inform you that when I came to open it the Glass Globe was broke all to pieces I suppose by the rough Conveyance of it (in a Waggon) from Burlington hither. This is a great misfortune to me in the delay of what I desired to be done. I have tryed to get another at New York without Success. Can you Sir, put me into any method to repair it?\nI give you a great many thanks for your kindness in this matter while I am Ashamed to give you so much trouble and remain with my best respects to yourself and Mrs. Franklin Sir Your Assured Friend and Servant.\nMr. Franklin", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "12-21-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0076", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 21 December 1751\nFrom: Bowdoin, James\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nSir\nBoston December 21. 1751\nThe Experiments Mr. Kennersley has exhibited here, have been greatly pleasing to all sorts of people, that have seen them; and I hope by the time he returns to Philadelphia, his Tour this way will turn to good account. His Experiments are very curious, and I think, prove most effectually your doctrine of Electricity: that it is a real Element annexed to, and diffused among all bodies we are acquainted with; that it differs in nothing from Lightning, the Effects of both being Similar, and their properties, so far as they are known, the same &c. The remarkable Effect of Lightning on Iron lately discovered in giving it the magnetic virtue, and the same Effect produced on small needles by the electrical Fire is a further and convincing proof that they are both the same Element; but, which is very unaccountable, Mr. K\u2014 tells me it is necessary, to produce this effect, that the direction of the needle and the electrical Fire should be North and South, from either to the other; and that just so far as they deviate therefrom, the magnetic power in the needle is less; till their direction being at right angles with North and South, the effect intirely ceases. We made at Fanieul Hall, where Mr. K\u2014\u2019s apparatus is, several Experiments to give some small Needles the magnetic virtue, previously examining by putting them in water, on which they will be supported, whether or not they had any of that virtue; and I think we found all of them to have some small degree of it, their points turning to the north: we had nothing to do then but to invert the poles, which accordingly was done by sending thro\u2019 them the charge of two large glass Jars; the Eye of the needle turning to the North, as the point before had done. That End of the Needle which the Fire is thrown upon, Mr. K. tells me, always points to the North. The electrical Fire passing thro\u2019 the Air, has the same crooked direction as Lightning. This appearance I endeavour to account for thus. Air is an electric per se; therefore there must be a mutual repulsion between air, and the electrical Fire.\nA Column or cylinder of Air having the diameter of it\u2019s base equal to the diameter of the electrical spark, intervenes that part of the body which the spark is drawn from, and of the body it aims at. The Spark acts upon this column and is acted upon by it, more strongly than any other neighbouring portion of air. The column being thus acted upon, becomes more dense, and being more dense, repels the spark more strongly: its repellency being in proportion to its density. Having acquired, by being condensed, a degree of repellency greater than it\u2019s natural it turns the spark out of it\u2019s streight course; the neighbouring air, which must be less dense, and therefore has a smaller degree of repellency, giving it a more ready passage. The Spark having taken a new direction must now act on, or most strongly repel the column of air which lies in that direction, and consequently must condense that column in the same manner as the former, when the spark must again change it\u2019s Course, which course will be repeatedly changed till the Spark reaches the body that attracted it.\nTo this account one objection occurs: that as air is very fluid and elastic, and so endeavours to diffuse itself equally, the supposed accumulated air within the column aforesaid would be immediately diffused among the contiguous air, and circulate to fill the space it was driven from, and consequently that the said column, on the greater density of which the phaenomenon is supposed to depend, would not repel the Spark more strongly than the neighbouring air.\nThis might be an objection; if the electrical Fire was as sluggish and inactive as air. Air takes a sensible time to diffuse itself equally, as is manifest from winds which often blow for a considerable time together, from the same point, and with a velocity, even in the greatest Storms, not exceeding, as it is said, sixty miles an hour: but the electrical Fire seems propagated instantaneously taking up no perceptible time in going very great distances: it must be then an inconceivably short time in it\u2019s progress from an electrified to an unelectrified body, which, in the present case can be but a few inches apart: but this small portion of time is not sufficient for the elasticity of the air to exert itself, and therefore the column aforesaid must be in a denser state than it\u2019s neighbouring air.\nAbout the velocity of the electrical Fire more is said below, which perhaps may more fully obviate this objection. But, Let us have recourse to Experiments. Experiments will obviate all objections, or confound the Hypothesis. The electrical spark, if the foregoing be true, will pass thro\u2019 a vacuum in a right line.\nTo try this, let a wire be fixed perpendicular on the plate of an air-pump, having a leaden ball on it\u2019s upper end; let another wire passing thro\u2019 the top of a receiver, have on each end a leaden ball; let the leaden balls within the receiver when put on the air-pump, be within two or three inches of each other; the receiver being exhausted, the spark given from a charged Phial to the upper wire, will pass thro\u2019 rarified air nearly approaching to a vacuum, to the lower wire, and I suppose in a right line or nearly so: the small portion of air remaining in the Receiver which cannot be intirely exhausted may possibly cause it to deviate a little, but perhaps not sensibly, from a right line. The spark also might be made to pass thro\u2019 air greatly condensed, which perhaps would give it a still more crooked direction. I have not had opportunity to make any Experiments of this Sort, not knowing of an air-pump nearer than Cambridge, but you can easily make them at your State House where there is one. If these Experiments answer I think the crooked direction of Lightning will be also accounted for.\nWith respect to your Letters on Electricity, it will be no new thing to you to be told, that they are very curious and entertaining; and by far the best and most rational that have been written on that subject. Your hypothesis in particular for explaining the phaenomena of Lightning, is very ingenious. That some clouds are highly charged with electrical Fire, and that their communicating it to those that have less, to Mountains and other Eminences, makes it visible and audible, when it is denominated Lightning and Thunder, is highly probable: but that the Sea, which you suppose the grand source of it, can collect it, I think admits of a doubt: for tho\u2019 the sea be composed of salt and water, an electric per se, and non-electric; and tho\u2019 the friction of electrics per se, and non-electrics will collect that Fire; yet it is only under certain circumstances, which water will not admit: for it seems necessary that the electrics per se and non-electrics rubbing one another, should be of such substances as will not adhere to, or incorporate with each other. Thus a glass or sulphur sphere turned in water, and so a friction between them, will not collect any fire; nor I suppose would a sphere of salt revolving in water; the water adhering to, or incorporating with those electrics per se, but granting that the friction between salt and water would collect the electric fire, that fire being so extremely subtil and active, would be immediately communicated either to those lower parts of the sea, from which it was drawn, and so only perform quick revolutions, or be communicated to the adjacent islands or continent, and so be diffused instantaneously thro\u2019 the general mass of the Earth. I say instantaneously, for the greatest distances we can conceive within the limits of our globe, even that of the two most opposite points, it will take no sensible time in passing thro\u2019 and therefore it seems a little difficult to conceive how there can be any accumulation of the electric fire upon the surface of the sea, or how the vapours arising from the sea should have a greater share of that fire than other vapours.\nThat the progress of the electrical fire is so amazingly swift, seems evident from an Experiment you yourself (not out of choice) made when two or three large glass jars were discharged thro\u2019 your body. You neither heard the Crack, was sensible of the stroke, nor, which is more extraordinary, saw the light: which gave you just reason to conclude that it was swifter than sound, than animal sensation, and even light itself. Now light, as astronomers have demonstrated, is about six minutes passing from the Sun to the earth; a distance they say of more than eighty million miles. The greatest rectilinear distance within the compass of the Earth is about eight thousand miles, equal to it\u2019s diameter. Supposing then that the velocity of the electrical Fire be the same as that of light, it will go thro\u2019 a space equal to the Earth\u2019s diameter in about 2/60 of one second of a minute. It seems inconceivable then that it should be accumulated upon the Sea in it\u2019s present state, which, as it is a non electric, must give the fire an instantaneous passage to the neighbouring shores, and they convey it to the general mass of the earth. But such accumulation seems still more inconceivable when the electrical fire has but a few feet depth of water to penetrate, to return to the place from whence it is supposed to be collected. Your tho\u2019ts on these remarks I shall receive with a great deal of pleasure. I take notice that in the printed copies of your Letters several things are wanting which are in the manuscript you sent me, particularly what relates to Mr. Watson.\nI understand by your Son (whose good sense, and Gentlemanly Behaviour have recommended him to a considerable acquaintance) that you had writ, or was writing a paper on the Effects of the electrical fire on Loadstones, needles &c. which I would ask the favour of a copy of, as well as of any other papers on Electricity, written since I had the manuscript; for which I repeat my Obligations to you. I shall desire Mr. Mifflin (to whom please to make my Compliments) to pay the person you employ for transcribing them; who I presume has paid for the transcribing the former. I am with great Esteem Sir Your most obedient humble Servant\nJames Bowdoin\nTo Benjamin Franklin Esqr.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "12-24-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0078", "content": "Title: From Benjamin Franklin to Samuel Johnson, 24 December 1751\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: Johnson, Samuel\nDear Sir\nPhilada. Dec. 24. 1751\nI received your Favour of the 11th Inst. and thank you for the Hint you give of the Omission in the Idea. The Sacred Classics are read in the English School, tho\u2019 I forgot to mention them: And I shall propose at the Meeting of the Schools after the Holidays, that the English Master begin and continue to read select Portions of them daily with the Prayers, as you advise.\nBut if you can be thus useful to us at this Distance, how much more might you be so if you were present with us, and had the immediate Inspection and Government of the Schools. I wrote to you in my last that Mr. Martin our Rector died suddenly of a Quinsey. His Body was carried to the Church, respectfully attended by the Trustees, all the Masters and Scholars in their Order, and a great Number of the Citizens. Mr. Peters preach\u2019d his Funeral Sermon, and gave him the just and honourable Character he deserved. The Schools are now broke up for Christmass, and will not meet again \u2019till the 7th of January. Mr. Peters took Care of the Latin and Greek School after Mr. Martin\u2019s Death \u2019till the Breaking-up. And Mr. Allison, a Dissenting Minister, has promis\u2019d to continue that Care for a Month after their next Meeting. Is it impossible for you to make us a Visit in that Time? I hope by the next Post to know something of your Sentiments, that I may be able to speak more positively to the Trustees concerning the Probability of your being prevail\u2019d with to remove hither.\nThe English Master is Mr. Dove, a Gentleman about your Age, who formerly taught Grammar 16 Years at Chichester in England. He is an excellent Master, and his Scholars have made a surprizing Progress.\nI shall send some of the Oeconomies to Mr. Havens per next Post. If you have a spare One of your Essays on the Method of Study, the English Edition, please to send it me.\nMy Wife joins in the Compliments of the Season to you and Mrs. Johnson, with Dear Sir, Your affectionate humble Servant\nB Franklin\n Addressed: To \u2002The Revd Dr Johnson \u2002at \u2002Stratford Connecticut \u2002Free \u2002B Franklin", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "01-01-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-04-02-0081", "content": "Title: Physical and Meteorological Observations, Conjectures, and Suppositions, 1751\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: \nThis paper, read in the Royal Society on December 23, 1756, though not printed until 1765, is quite likely the one Franklin told James Bowdoin on January 24, 1752, he was about to copy for Dr. John Perkins. Although he did not get around to doing so for some months, the editors have tentatively assigned it to the end of the year 1751.\nOnly four pages of Franklin\u2019s fair copy survive. It appears to be the manuscript actually submitted to the Royal Society for printing in the Philosophical Transactions in 1765, though not the one read in the Society in 1756. It may well have been used also for printing the paper in Experiments and Observations in 1769, since it survives among Franklin\u2019s own papers rather than among those of the Society. The editors have followed this manuscript as far as it goes and have taken the remainder from Experiments and Observations, because this text is closer in several minor respects to Franklin\u2019s draft than is the one in the Transactions. There are, however, no major differences among the manuscript and printed versions listed above.\nPhysical and Meteorological Observations,Conjectures and Suppositions\nThe Particles of Air are kept at a Distance from each other by their mutual Repulsion.\nEvery three Particles mutually and equally repelling each other, must form an equilateral Triangle.\nAll the Particles of Air gravitate towards the Earth, which Gravitation compresses them, and shortens the Sides of the Triangles, otherwise their mutual Repellency would force them to greater Distances from each other.\nWhatever Particles of other Matter (not endued with that Repellency) are supported in Air, must adhere to the Particles of Air, and be supported by them: for in the Vacancies there is nothing they can rest on.\nAir and Water mutually attract each other. Hence Water will dissolve in Air, as Salt in Water.\nThe Specific Gravity of Matter is not alter\u2019d by dividing the Matter, tho\u2019 the Superficies be increas\u2019d. Sixteen leaden Bullets of an Ounce each, weigh as much in Water, as one of a Pound, whose Superficies is less.\nTherefore the Supporting of Salt in Water is not owing to its Superficies being encreas\u2019d.\nA Lump of Salt, tho\u2019 laid at rest at the Bottom of a Vessel of Water, will dissolve therein, and its Parts move every Way till equally diffus\u2019d in the Water; therefore there is a mutual Attraction between Water and Salt. Every Particle of Water assumes as many of Salt as can adhere to it; when more is added, it precipitates, and will not remain suspended.\nWater in the same Manner will dissolve in Air, every Particle of Air assuming one or more Particles of Water; when too much is added, it precipitates in Rain.\nBut there not being the same Contiguity between the Particles of Air as of Water, the Solution of Water in Air is not carried on without a Motion of the Air, so as to cause a fresh Accession of dry Particles.\nPart of a Fluid having more of what it dissolves, will communicate to other Parts that have less. Thus very salt Water coming in contact with fresh, communicates its Saltness till all is equal, and the sooner if there is a little Motion of the Water.\nEven Earth will dissolve or mix with Air. A Stroke of a Horse\u2019s Hoof on the Ground in a hot dusty Road, will raise a Cloud of Dust, that shall, if there be a light Breeze, expand every way till perhaps near as big as a common House. \u2019Tis not by mechanical Motion communicated to the Particles of Dust by the Hoof, that they fly so far, nor by the Wind that they spread so wide; But the Air near the Ground, more heated by the hot Dust struck into it, is rarified and rises, and in rising mixes with the cooler Air, and communicates of its Dust to it, and it is at length so diffus\u2019d as to become invisible. Quantities of Dust are thus carried up in dry Seasons: Showers wash it from the Air and bring it down again. For Water attracting it stronger, it quits the Air and adheres to the Water.\nAir suffering continual Changes in the Degrees of its Heat, from various Causes and Circumstances, and consequently Changes in its Specific Gravity, must therefore be in continual Motion.\nA small Quantity of Fire mix\u2019d with Water, (or Degree of Heat therein) so weakens the Cohesion of its Particles, that those on the Surface easily quit it, and adhere to the Particles of Air.\nA greater Degree of Heat is required to break the Cohesion between Water and Air.\nAir moderately heated will support a greater Quantity of Water invisibly than cold Air; for its Particles being by Heat repell\u2019d to a greater Distance from each other, thereby more easily keep the Particles of Water that are annex\u2019d to them from running into Cohesions that would obstruct, refract, or reflect the Light.\nHence when we breathe in warm Air, tho\u2019 the same Quantity of Moisture may be taken up from the Lungs as when we breathe in cold Air, yet that Moisture is not so visible.\nWater being extreamly heated, i.e. to the degree of Boiling, its Particles, in quitting it, so repel each other, as to take up vastly more Space than before, and by that Repellency support themselves, expelling the Air from the Space they occupy. That Degree of Heat being lessen\u2019d, they again mutually attract, and having no Air Particles mixed, to adhere to, by which they might be supported and kept at a Distance, they instantly fall, coalesce, and become Water again.\nThe Water commonly diffus\u2019d in our Atmosphere never receives such a Degree of Heat from the Sun, or other Cause, as Water has when boiling; it is not therefore supported by such Heat, but by adhering to Air.\nWater being dissolv\u2019d in and adhering to Air, that Air will not readily take up Oil, because of the natural Repellency between Water and Oil.\nHence cold Oils evaporate but slowly, the Air having generally a Quantity of dissolv\u2019d Water.\nOil being heated extreamly, the Air that approaches its Surface will be also heated extreamly; the Water then quitting it, it will attract and carry off Oil, which can now adhere to it. Hence the quick Evaporation of Oil heated to a great degree.\nOil being dissolv\u2019d in Air, the Particles to which it adheres will not take up Water.\nHence the suffocating Nature of Air impregnated with burnt Grease, as from Snuffs of Candles and the like. A certain Quantity of Moisture should be every Moment discharg\u2019d and taken away from the Lungs. Air that has been frequently breath\u2019d is already overloaded, and for that Reason can take no more, so will not answer the End. Greasy Air refuses to touch it. In both cases Suffocation for want of the Discharge.\nAir will attract and support many other Substances.\nA Particle of Air loaded with adhering Water, or any other Matter, is heavier than before, and would descend.\nThe Atmosphere suppos\u2019d at rest, a loaded descending Particle must act with a Force on the Particles it passes between, or meets with, sufficient to overcome in some degree their mutual Repellency, and push them nearer to each other.\n   Thus supposing the Particles A B C D and the others near them, to be at the Distance caus\u2019d by their mutual Repellency (confin\u2019d by their common Gravity) if A would descend to E it must pass between B and C. When it comes between B and C it will be nearer to them than before, and must either have pushed them nearer to F and G, contrary to their mutual Repellency, or pass through by a Force exceeding its Repellency with them. It then approaches D, and, to move it out of the way, must act on it with a Force sufficient to overcome its Repellency with the two next lower Particles by which it is kept in its present Situation.\nEvery Particle of Air therefore will bear any Load inferior to the Force of these Repulsions.\nHence the Support of Fogs, Mists, Clouds.\nVery warm Air, clear tho\u2019 supporting a very great Quantity of Moisture, will grow turbid and cloudy on the Mixture of a colder Air: As foggy turbid Air will grow clear by warming.\nThus the Sun shining on a Morning fog, dissipates it. Clouds are seen to waste in a Sunshiny Day.\nBut Cold condenses and renders visible the Vapour. A Tankard, or Decanter, fill\u2019d with cold Water, will condense the Moisture of warm clear Air, on its Outside, where it becomes visible as Dew, coalesces into Drops, descends in little Streams.\nThe Sun heats the Air of our Atmosphere most near the Surface of the Earth; for there, besides the direct Rays, there are many Reflections. Moreover, the earth itself being heated, communicates of its heat to the neighbouring air.\nThe higher regions having only the direct rays of the sun passing through them, are comparatively very cold. Hence the cold air on the tops of mountains, and snow on some of them all the year, even in the Torrid zone. Hence hail in summer.\nIf the atmosphere were, all of it (both above and below) always of the same temper as to cold or heat, then the upper air would always be rarer than the lower, because the pressure on it is less; consequently lighter, and therefore would keep its place.\nBut the upper air may be more condensed by cold than the lower air by pressure; the lower more expanded by heat, than the upper for want of pressure. In such case the upper air will become the heavier, the lower the lighter.\nThe lower region of air being heated and expanded, heaves up, and supports for some time the colder heavier air above, and will continue to support it while the equilibrium is kept. Thus water is supported in an inverted open glass, while the equilibrium is maintained by the equal pressure upwards of the air below; but the equilibrium by any means breaking, the water descends on the heavier side, and the air rises into its place.\nThe lifted heavy cold air over a heated country, becoming by any means unequally supported, or unequal in its weight, the heaviest part descends first, and the rest follows impetuously. Hence gusts after heats, and hurricanes in hot climates. Hence the air of gusts and hurricanes cold, though in hot climes and seasons; it coming from above.\nThe cold air descending from above, as it penetrates our warm region full of watry particles, condenses them, renders them visible, forms a cloud thick and dark, overcasting sometimes, at once, large and extensive; sometimes, when seen at a distance, small at first, gradually increasing; the cold edge, or surface, of the cloud, condensing the vapours next it, which form smaller clouds that join it, increase its bulk, it descends with the wind and its acquired weight, draws nearer the earth, grows denser with continual additions of water, and discharges heavy showers.\nSmall black clouds thus appearing in a clear sky, in hot climates, portend storms, and warn seamen to hand their sails.\nThe earth turning on its axis in about twenty-four hours, the equatorial parts must move about fifteen miles in each minute. In Northern and Southern latitudes this motion is gradually less to the Poles, and there nothing.\nIf there was a general calm over the face of the globe, it must be by the air\u2019s moving in every part as fast as the earth or sea it covers.\nHe that sails, or rides, has insensibly the same degree of motion as the ship or coach with which he is connected. If the ship strikes the shore, or the coach stops suddenly, the motion continuing in the man, he is thrown forward. If a man were to jump from the land into a swift sailing ship, he would be thrown backward (or towards the stern) not having at first the motion of the ship.\nHe that travels, by sea or land, towards the equinoctial, gradually acquires motion; from it, loses.\nBut if a man were taken up from latitude 40 (where suppose the earth\u2019s surface to move twelve miles per minute) and immediately set down at the equinoctial, without changing the motion he had, his heels would be struck up, he would fall westward. If taken up from the equinoctial, and set down in latitude 40, he would fall eastward.\nThe air under the equator, and between the tropics, being constantly heated and rarified by the sun, rises. Its place is supplied by air from Northern and Southern latitudes, which coming from parts where the earth and air had less motion, and not suddenly acquiring the quicker motion of the equatorial earth, appears an East wind blowing Westward; the earth moving from West to East, and slipping under the air.\nThus, when we ride in a calm, it seems a wind against us: If we ride with the wind, and faster, even that will seem a small wind against us.\nThe air rarified between the Tropics, and rising, must flow in the higher region North and South. Before it rose, it had acquired the greatest motion the earth\u2019s rotation could give it. It retains some degree of this motion, and descending in higher latitudes, where the earth\u2019s motion is less, will appear a Westerly wind, yet tending towards the equatorial parts, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the air of the lower regions flowing thitherwards.\nHence our general cold winds are about North-West, our summer cold gusts the same.\nThe air in sultry weather, though not cloudy, has a kind of haziness in it, which makes objects at a distance appear dull and indistinct. This haziness is occasioned by the great quantity of moisture equally diffused in that air. When, by the cold wind blowing down among it, it is condensed into clouds, and falls in rain, the air becomes purer and clearer. Hence, after gusts, distant objects appear distinct, their figures sharply terminated.\nExtream cold winds congeal the surface of the earth; by carrying off its fire. Warm winds afterwards blowing over that frozen surface, will be chilled by it. Could that frozen surface be turned under, and a warmer turned up from beneath it, those warm winds would not be chilled so much.\nThe surface of the earth is also sometimes much heated by the sun; and such heated surface not being changed, heats the air that moves over it.\nSeas, lakes, and great bodies of water, agitated by the winds, continually change surfaces; the cold surface in winter is turned under, by the rolling of the waves, and a warmer turned up; in summer, the warm is turned under, and colder turned up. Hence the more equal temper of sea-water, and the air over it. Hence, in winter, winds from the sea seem warm, winds from the land cold. In summer the contrary.\nTherefore the lakes North-West of us, as they are not so much frozen, nor so apt to freeze as the earth, rather moderate than increase the coldness of our winter winds.\nThe air over the sea being warmer, and therefore lighter in winter than the air over the frozen land, may be another cause of our general N.W. winds, which blow off to sea at right angles from our North-American coast. The warm light sea air rising, the heavy cold land air pressing into its place.\nHeavy fluids descending, frequently form eddies, or whirlpools, as is seen in a funnel, where the water acquires a circular motion, receding every way from a center, and leaving a vacancy in the middle, greatest above, and lessening downwards, like a speaking trumpet, its big end upwards.\nAir descending, or ascending, may form the same kind of eddies, or whirlings, the parts of air acquiring a circular motion, and receding from the middle of the circle by a centrifugal force, and leaving there a vacancy; if descending, greatest above, and lessening downwards; if ascending, greatest below, and lessening upwards; like a speaking trumpet standing its big end on the ground.\nWhen the air descends with violence in some places, it may rise with equal violence in others, and form both kinds of whirlwinds.\nThe air in its whirling motion receding every way from the center or axis of the trumpet, leaves there a vacuum; which cannot be filled through the sides, the whirling air, as an arch, preventing; it must then press in at the open ends.\nThe greatest pressure inwards must be at the lower end, the greatest weight of the surrounding atmosphere being there. The air entering, rises within, and carries up dust, leaves, and even heavier bodies that happen in its way, as the eddy, or whirl, passes over land.\nIf it passes over water, the weight of the surrounding atmosphere forces up the water into the vacuity, part of which, by degrees, joins with the whirling air, and adding weight, and receiving accelerated motion, recedes still farther from the center or axis of the trump, as the pressure lessens; and at last, as the trump widens, is broken into small particles, and so united with air as to be supported by it, and become black clouds at the top of the trump.\nThus these eddies may be whirlwinds at land, waterspouts at sea. A body of water so raised may be suddenly let fall, when the motion, &c. has not strength to support it, or the whirling arch is broken so as to let in the air; falling in the sea, it is harmless, unless ships happen under it. But if in the progressive motion of the whirl, it has moved from the sea, over the land, and there breaks, sudden, violent, and mischievous torrents are the consequences.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "11-05-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/01-01-02-0002-0006-0002", "content": "Title: [Diary entry: 5 November 1751]\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: \n5th.\u2014Early this morning came Dr. Hilary, an eminent physician recommended by Major Clarke, to pass his opinion on my brother\u2019s disorder, which he did in a favorable light, giving great assurances that it was not so fixed but that a cure might be effectually made. In the cool of the evening we rode out accompanied by Mr. Carter to seek lodgings in the country, as the Doctor advised, and were perfectly enraptured with the beautiful prospects, which every side presented to our view,\u2014the fields of cane, corn, fruit-trees, &c. in a delightful green. We returned without accomplishing our intentions.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "12-03-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Washington/02-01-02-0019", "content": "Title: Court Case, 3 December 1751\nFrom: Washington, George\nTo: \n 3 Dec. 1751. \u201cAnn Carrol and Mary McDaniel Servts of Fredericksburgh, being Committed to the Goal of this County by William Hunter Gent., on Suspicion of Felony, & Charged with robing the Cloaths of Mr George Washington when he was washing in the River some time\nlast Summer, the Court having heard Severall Evidences Are of Oppinion that the said Ann Carroll be discharged, & Admitted an Evidence for our Lord the King Against the said Mary McDaniel.\nAnd Upon Considering the whole in Evidence, & the prisoners defense, the Court are of Oppinion that the said Mary McDaniel is Guilty of petty Larceny, whereupon the said Mary desired Immediate punishment for the sd Crime & relied on the Mercy of the Court, therefore it is ordered that the Sheriff carry her to the Whipping post & Inflict fifteen lashes on her bare back, And then she be discharged &.\u201d", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751},
{"created_timestamp": "03-16-1751", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-19-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Madison/01-01-02-0001", "content": "Title: Record of Birth and Baptism of James Madison, Jr., [16 March] 1751\nFrom: \nTo: \nJames Madison junr. was born on Tuesday Night at 12 o\u2019Clock it being the last of the 5th. & begining of the 6th. day of March 1750\u20131 & was Baptized by the Revd. Mr. Wm. Davis, Mar. 31. 1751 and had for God-Fathers Mr. John Moore & Mr. Jonatn. Gibson & for God-Mothers Mrs. Rebecca Moore, Miss Judith Catlett and Miss Elizabeth Catlett.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1751}
]