FO-From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Banks, 27 July 1783.md

FO-From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Banks, 27 July 1783

21 reprints from 1783-07-27 to 1899-09-15

FO-From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Banks, 27 July 1783

by Franklin, Benjamin

From unknown source

1783-07-27

illed by wealthy patrons. Long before Etienne Montgolfier would stage his demonstration, Franklin would witness the spectacular ascension of a 12-foot-wide hydrogen balloon. Dear Sir, Passy, July 27. 1783. I received your very kind Letter by Dr Blagden, and esteem myself much honour’d by your Friendly Remembrance. I have been too much and too closely engag’d in public Affairs since his being here, to enjoy all the Benefit of his Conversation you were so good as to intend me. I hope soon to have more Leisure, and to spend a Part of it in those Studies that are much more agreable to me than political Operations.— I join with you most cordially in rejoicing at the Return of Peace. I hope it will be lasting, & that Mankind will at length, as they call themselves reasonable Creatures, have Reason and Sense enough to settle their Differences without cutting Throats: For in my Opinion there never was a good War, or a bad Peace.— What vast Additions to the Conveniences and Comforts of Living might Mankind have acquired, if the Money spent in Wars had been employ’d in Works of public Utility. What an Extention of Agriculture even to the Tops of our Mountains; What Rivers render’d navigable, or join’d by Canals; what Bridges, Acqueducts, new Roads & other public Works, Edifices & Improvements, rendering England a compleat Paradise, might not have been obtain’d by spending those Millions in doing Good which in the last War have been spent in doing Mischief! in bringing Misery into thousands of Families, and destroying the Lives of so many Thousands of working People who might have perform’d the useful Labour.— I am pleas’d with the late astronomical Discoveries made by our Society. Furnish’d as all Europe now is with Academies of Science, with nice Instruments and the Spirit of Experiment, the Progress of human Knowledge will be rapid, and Discoveries made of which we have at present no Conception. I begin to be almost sorry I was born so soon, since I cannot have the Happiness of knowing what will be known 100 Years hence.— I wish continu’d Success to the Labours of the Royal Society, and that you may long adorn their Chair, being with the highest Esteem, Dear Sir, Your most obedient & most humble Servant B Franklin

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FO-From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Banks, 27 July 1783

by Franklin, Benjamin

From unknown source

1783-07-27

you with the Experiment of a vast Globe sent up into the Air, much talk’d of here at present, & which if prosecuted may furnish Means of new Knowledge.

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REVIEW OF DR. FRANKLIN'S ACCOUNT OF WAR

From The Friend of Peace (1815-1827)

1815-01-12 · Cambridge

[This text is not available under an open license.]

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From The Analectic Magazine (1813-1820)

1817-05-01 · Philadelphia

Cor. p. 44,) I was born so soon, since I cannot have the hap- piness of knowing what will be known an hundred years hence.’ The same regret is expressed in other places;—bu

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From The Edinburgh Review, or Critical Journal 1802-1910

1817-08-01 · Edinburgh, Scotland

‘I hope soon to have more leisure, and to spend a part of it in those studies that are much more agreeable to me than political ope- rations. ‘ 1 join with you most cordially in rejoicing at the return of peace. I hope it will’ be lasting, and that mankind will at length, as they call themselves reasonable creatures, have reason and sense enough to séttle their differences without cutting throats; for in my opinion, there never was a@ good war or a bad peace. What vast additiens: to the conveniences and comforts of living might mankind have acquir- ed, if the money spent in'wars had been employed in works of pub- lic utility! What an extension of agriculture ‘even~ to the tops of our mountains ; what rivers tendered navigable, or joined by. canals; what bridges, aqueducts, new roads, and other public works, edifices and improvements, rendering England a complete paradise, might not kave been obtained by spending those millions in doing good, which in the last war have been spent in doing mischief; in bringing misery into thousands of families, and destroying the lives of so many thousands of working people, who might have performed the useful -la- bour!’ I. 129,

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From Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser.

1818-01-22 · Alexandria [Va.]

M-gHturien mote appropriate, tr.en wnen it was Mi^i.-allr written—“I join with you most co'dially, in rejoicing at tl.e return ol p<*acr. ‘ 1 I'Pj e it will be litslii c. & that man­ kind w ill at length, as they call them­ selves rcasnrable creatures, have rea-on and sense en -ugh to settle their differen­ ces without cuUl-sg throat/, for. in iny o­ ptnion, there never ires a putd u ar or a bad peace. What vest additions to the I'.nveiii.-nces and corn lot t s of living might mankind have acquired if the money rpent in wars, had b»en employed i.i works of public utility ; wl.at at: eife;;. sion til agrimltuie, even to ti e top cf our mr-unisins; what rivers rendered navigable or joined by rana,s ; went bridges, aqurdurt?, new roads amt pub- , lie work®, edifices and impmverai r:?f, rendering Fr.glaod a complete paradise, might not have been obtained by spon - ii»g tli«‘,e millions in doing good, u hicli in the la«t war, have boen spent in cl - ing mischief; in bringing misery into thousand of families, and destroyingti.e lives ' I so many thousands of working pe< p'e, who might have performed he useful labor.” From the Chester if l elaunre Feihraiist

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From the Leeds Mercury

From The Mississippi state gazette.

1818-02-28 · Natchez [Miss.]

[This text is not available under an open license.]

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From Christian Watchman (1819-1848)

1835-04-17 · Boston

sentiments on this subject will meet with but a faint fellowship with some of the wordy patriot of the day. “I join with you most cordially in rejoicing at the return of peace. I hope it will be lasting, and that mankind will at length, as they cail themselves rensonable creatures, have reason enough to settle their differences without cutting one another’s throats ; for, in my opinion, there never was a good war or a bad peace

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From Christian register and Boston observer.

1840-02-15 · Boston [Mass.]

I close with the words of Franklin. ‘I hope | that mankind will at length, as they call them- selves reasonable creatures, have reason, and | reason enough to settle their differences without | cutting throats; for, in my opinion, their nev- | er was a good war, or a bad peace.

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From The Athenaeum 1828-1920

1843-09-30 · London, England

of the first balloon—*“ An experiment of a vast globe sent up into the air, much talk’d of at pre- sent, and which, if prosecuted, may furnish means of new coatelinn”

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From The Anglo American, a Journal of Literature, News, Politics, the Drama, Fine Arts, Etc. (1843-1847)

1843-10-28 · New York

| Passy, July 27, 1783. | Dear Sir,—I received your very kind letter by Dr. Blagden, and esteem my- jself much honoured by your friendly rememorance. | bave been too much and | tov closely engaged in public affairs since bis being here, to enjoy all the benetit \jot hs conversation you were so good as to intend me. | hope soon to have | more leisure, and to spend a part of it in those stodies that ere much more agree- |jable to me than political operations. |} T yoin with you most cordially in rejoicing at the retura of peace. 1 hope it iwill be lasting ; and tuat mankind wil! at length, as they cali themselves rea- ‘sunable creatures, have reason and sense enough to settle their differences with- |\sut cutti-g throets. For, in my opiniou, there never was a good war or a bad \ipeace. What vact addivions to the conveniences and comforts of living might {\mankind have acquired, ifthe money spent in wars had been employed in works of public utility ; what extension of agriculture, even to the tops of our moun - \tains; what rivers rendered navigable, or joined by canals ; what bridges? aque- iducts, uew roads, and other public works, edifices, and improvements, render- jind England a complete paradise, might not have been obtained by spending those millions in domg good, which in the last war, have been spent in doing mischief; in bringing misery into thousands of families, and destroying the lives of so many thousands of working people, whe might have performed the juseful lebour. I am pleased with the late astronomical discoveries made by our socicty. \Furnished, as all Europe vow is, with academies of science, with nice metra- jments, and the spirit of experiment, the progress of humir knowledge will be apd, and discoveries made of which we have at pre:ent no conception. I be- |gin to be almost sorry | was born so soon, since | cannot heve the heppiness of |knowing what will be known ahundred years hence. 1 wish continued success jw the labours of the Royal Society, and that you msy long adorn their chair ; ‘betmg with the highest esteem, dear sir, your mest obedient and most humble servan’, B. Franky.

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From Boston recorder.

1843-11-09 · Boston [Mass.]

mankind, as they call themselves reason-| enough to settle their diflerences without cutting one another's throats ; for, tamy opinion, the re never was a good war, ora bad peace.” question another tine, those netions to think there never has been, nor ever wil

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From Christian reflector.

1843-11-15 · Worcester, Mass.

abroad, * in rejoicing at the return of peace. I hope it will be lasting, and that mankind, as they call themselves reason- able creatures, will at length have reason enough to settle their diflerences without cutting one another’s throats; for, in my opinion, there never was a good war, or a bad peace.”

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From Boston recorder.

1843-12-28 · Boston [Mass.]

What might be done with the money was- tedin war.—** What vast additions to the | conveniences afd comforts of life might | mankind have acquired, if the money | spentin wars had been employed in works | | of public utility ! , What an extension of | | tains; what rivers rendered navigable, or joined by canals; what bridges, nque- ducts, new roads, and other public works, edifices, and improvements, rendering England a complete paradise, might have been obtained by spending those millions in doing good which in the last war have been spentin dome miseluet 1’ To such calculations there is no end. With the forty or fifty millions engulph- ed inthe Florida war, with the fitiy mil- hons a year spentin our last war; with the five or six thousand millions that her wars with Nap leon cost Engl tnd alone: with the thousand mitlious wasted ever

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From Christian Watchman (1819-1848)

1843-12-29 · Boston

_ What might done with the wasted in war. “What vast additions to the con- veniences and comforts of life might mankind have acquired, if the moncy spent in wars had been employed in works of public utility ! What an extension of agriculture even to the tops of the mountains; what rivers rendered navigable, or joined by cauals; what bridges, aqueducts, new roads, and other public works, edifices, and improvements, rendering Eng- land a complete paradise, might have been obtained by spending those millions in doing good which in the last war have been spent in doing mischief!” To such calculations there is noend. With the forty or fifty millions engulphed in th

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Anti-Slavery Selections

From Emancipator and free American.

1844-01-25 · New-York [N.Y.]

[This text is not available under an open license.]

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From New-York daily tribune.

1847-08-24 · New-York [N.Y.]

autiful precepts of the New Testament, is waly, in this Christian age, something to be thankful for in looking over the correspondence of Dr. Franklin, I met with a letter, from which I send you the following extract. The letter was written in France, soon after the conclusion of the Peace of 1789, to Sir Joseph Sanks, in which that truly great man declares, as he aid on other occasions, his abhorrence of War. Not having seen it in any of the public prints of the day, and thinking you might see proper to give it an in sertion, are the reasons for my sending it to you from Mississippl. He aays: Ijoin with you most cordially in rejoleing at the re sace. I hope it will be lasting, and that man at length as they call themselves reasonable a have reason and sense enough to settle their is without cutting throats for, in my opinion, sge nevg was a good W'ar or a bad Peace­ What vast additions to the conveniences and com iving might mankind have acquired, if the moe nay spent in wars had been employed in works of pube­ ty. What an extension of Agriculture, even to the tope of our mountained what rivers rendered nasl rable, or joined by cannled what bridges, acqueducts, new roads and other public works, edifices and improve, ments rendering England a complete paradise, might not have been obtained by spending those millions in oing good, which in the last war have been spent of do ing michle? in bringine misery into thousande in fam, is and destroyingo lives of so many thonsands of worling people, who might have performed the usefu

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From Dayton daily empire.

1864-06-15 · Dayton [Ohio]

ever a Good war. Never a 1id Peace The following is the letter written by the illustrious Dr. Franklin, alluded to by Mr. Long in his late speech in Congress. It was written to Sir Joseph Banks 1783, after the termination of the war of the Revolution: "DeAr SIR:--I join with you most cordially in rejoicing at the return of peace. I hope it I will be lasting and that mankind will at length, as they call themselvas reasonable creatures, have reason and sense enough to settle their differences without cutting throats, for in my opinion there never was a good war or a bad peace. What vast additions to the conveniences and comforts of the living might mankind have acquired, if the money spent in wars had been employed on works of pub­ lic untility! What an extension of agricul­ ture, even to the tops of our mountains, what rivers rendered navigable or joined by canals; what bridges, acqueducts, new roads, and other public works, edifices, and improvements rendering England a complete paradise might have been obtained by spending those millions in doing good, which in the last war have been spent in doing mischiet, in bringings misery nto thousands of families, and destroying the lives of so many thousands of working people who might have performed this useful labor

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PEACE BETWEEN JAPAN AND CHINA.

From South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900)

1895-04-16 · Adelaide, South Australia

desperation she strangles tho children one by one, and hangs herself on the nearest tree, are amply justified in thinking that for China the only thing now left is peace on any terms. ' In my opinion, 'said Benjamin Franklin, 'there never was a good war or a bad peace.'1 Without endor-ing this declaration absolutely, we can at leaet fully re- echo his sentiment when ho says that 'in every war millions of money are spent in bringing misery into thousands of families and destroying the lives of many thousands of working people who might) have performed useful labour.' The immediate outsido effect of th

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PEACE BETWEEN JAPAN AND CHINA.

From Adelaide Observer (SA : 1843 - 1904)

1895-04-20 · Adelaide, South Australia

Franklin, "there never was a good war or a bad peace." Without endorsing this declaration absolutely, we can at least fully re-echo his sentiment when ho says that "in every war millions of money are spent in bringing misery into thousands of families and destroying the liveB of many thousands of working people who might have performed useful labour." The immediate outside effect of the peace a

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From The Portland daily press.

1899-09-15 · Portland, Me.

e profit of no trade can ever be tqual to the expense of compelling it and of bolding It, by fleets and armies. If Franklin was right Senator Carter might just as well abandon the Philip­ pines now for according to Franklin the •'profits of no trade oan equal the oost of oompellmg and maintaining it with fleets and armies." There Is an Idea abroad In the com­ munity, which frequently tinrfs expres­ sion, that some wurs are prolltable, that they conduce to the prosperity of the oountry. This la what Dr. Franklin had to say on that subject: In my opinion there never was a good war or a bad peace. What vast additions to the conveniences and oomfort* of living might mankind have acquired, If the money spent on wars had been employed in works of publio utility 1 Again an idea seems to be prevalent, that the same rules of moral­ ity do not apply to nations as to Individ­

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