FO-From Benjamin Franklin to Josiah Quincy, Sr., 11 September 1783.md

FO-From Benjamin Franklin to Josiah Quincy, Sr., 11 September 1783

21 reprints from 1783-09-11 to 1899-11-11

FO-From Benjamin Franklin to Josiah Quincy, Sr., 11 September 1783

by Franklin, Benjamin

From unknown source

1783-09-11

y dear Friend, Passy, Sept. 11. 1783.— Mr Storer told me not long since that you complain’d of my not writing to you. You had reason; for I find among your Letters to me two unanswered, viz. those of May 25, and Dec. 17. 1781. The Truth is, I have had too much Business to do for the Publick, and too little Help allow’d me; so that it became impossible for me to keep up my private Correspondencies. I promis’d myself more Leisure when the Definitive Treaty of Peace should be concluded: But that it seems is to be followed by a Treaty of Commerce, which will probably take up a good deal of Time & require much Attention. I seize this little Interim to sit down & have a little Chat with my Friends in America.— I lament with you the many Mischiefs, the Injustices, the Corruption of Manners, &c &c that attended a depreciating Currency. It is some Consolation to me that I wash’d my Hands of that Evil by predicting it in Congress, and proposing Means that would have been effectual to prevent it if they had been adopted. Subsequent Operations that I have executed, demonstrate that my Plan was practicable. But it was unfortunately rejected. Considering all our Mistakes and Mismanagements, it is wonderful we have finish’d our Affair so well, and so soon! Indeed I am wrong in using that Expression, We have finish’d our Affairs so well. Our Blunders have been many, and they serve to manifest the Hand of Providence more clearly in our Favour; so that we may much more properly say, These are THY Doings, O Lord, and they are marvellous in our Eyes!— Mr. Storer, whom you recommended to me is now in England. He needed none of the Advice you desired me to give him. His Behaviour here was unexceptionable, and he gain’d the Esteem of all that knew him.— The Epitaph on my dear and much esteemed young Friend, is too well written to be capable of Improvement by any Corrections of mine.— Your Moderation appears in it, since the natural Affection of a Parent has not induc’d you to exaggerate his Virtues. I shall always mourn his Loss with you; a Loss not easily made up to his Country. How differently constituted was his noble and generous Mind from that of the miserable Calumniators you mention! Having Plenty of Merit in himself, he was not jealous of the Appearance of Merit in others, but did Justice to their Characters with as much Pleasure as these People do Injury. It is now near two Years since your Friendship induc’d you to acquaint me with some of their Accusations. I guess’d easily at the Quarter from whence they came; but conscious of my Innocence, and unwilling to disturb public Operations by private Resentments or Contentions, I pass’d them over in Silence; and have not till within these few days taken the least Step towards my Vindication. Inform’d that the Practice of abusing me continues, and that some heavy Charges are lately made against me respecting my Conduct in the Treaty, written from Paris and propagated among you; I have demanded of all my Colleagues that they do me Justice, and I have no doubt of receiving it, from each of them.— I did not think it necessary to justify my self to you; by answering the Calumnies you mention’d. I knew you did not believe them. It was improbable that I should at this Distance combine with any body to urge the Redemption of the Paper on those unjust Terms, having no Interest in such Redemption. It was impossible that I should have traded with the Public Money, since I had not traded with any Money, either separately or jointly with any other Person, directly or indirectly to the Value of a Shilling, since my being in France. And the Fishery which it was said I had relinquished, had not then come in question, nor had I ever dropt a Syllable to that purpose in Word or Writing: but I was always firm in this Principle, that having had a common Right with the English to the Fisheries while connected with that Nation, and having contributed equally with our Blood and Treasure in conquering what had been gain’d from the French, we had an undoubted Right on breaking up our Partnership, to a fair Division.— As to the two Charges of Age and Weakness, I must confess the first; but I am not quite so clear in the latter; and perhaps my Adversaries may find that they presum’d a little too much upon it when they ventur’d to attack me. But enough of these petty Personalities. I quit them to rejoice with you in the Peace God has blest us with, and in the Prosperity it gives us a Prospect of. The Definitive Treaty was signed the third Instant. We are now Friends with England and with all Mankind. May we never see another War! for in my Opinion there never was a good War, or a bad Peace. Adieu, & believe me ever, my dear Friend, Yours most affectionately B Franklin Honble. Josiah Quincey Esqe— Notation: Dr. Franklin

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From Christian register.

1822-12-13 · Boston [Mass.]

Mr. Storer told me not long since that you complained of my not writing to you. You had reason ; for | find among your letters, two un- answered. ‘The truth is, 1 have had too much business to do for the public, and too little help allowed me; so that it became impossible for me to keep up my private correspondences. [| promised myself more leisure when the defini- tive treaty of peace should be concluded. But that, it seems, is to be followed by a treaty of commerce, which will probably take up a good deal of time, and require much attention. I seize this little interim to sit down, and have a chat with my friends in America. I lament with you, the many mischiefs, the injustices, the corruption of manners, &c. &c. that attend a depreciating currency. It is some consolation to me, that I washed my hands of that evil, by predicting it in Congress, and pro- posing means that would have been effectual to prevent it, if they had been adopted. Subse- quent operations that I have executed, demon- strate that my plan was practicable. But it was unfortunately rejected. Considering all our mistakes and mismanagements, it is wonder- ful we have finished an affair so well and so soon! Indeed, I am wrong in using that éx- pression. We have finished our affairs so well— our blunders have been many, and they serve to manifest the hand of Providence more clear- ly in our favour, so that we may much more properly say, “ These are thy doing, O Lord, and they are marvellous in our eyes !” Mr. Storer, whom you mention to me, is now in England. He needed none of the advice you de- sired me to give him. His behaviour here was unexceptionable, and he gained the esteem of all that knew him. The epitaph on my dear and much esteemed young friend, is too *-ell written, to be capable of improvement by any corrections of mine ;—

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From Christian register.

1822-12-13 · Boston [Mass.]

your moderation appears in it, since the nat- ural affectiqn ofa parent has not induced you to exaggerate his virtues. I shall always mourn his loss with you, a loss not easily made up to his country. How differently constituted was his noble and generous mind from that of the miserable cal- umniators you mention ! merit in himself, he was not jealous of the ap- pearance of merit in others, but did justice to their characters with as much pleasure, as these people do injury : It is now near two years since your friendship induced you to acquaint me with some of their accusations. 1 guessed easily at the quarter from whence they came : to disturb public operations, by private resent- ment or contentions, | passed them over in si- lence, and have not till within these few days Informed that the practice of abusing me con- tinues, and that some heavy charges are lately made against me, respecting my conduct in the treaty, written from Paris, and propagated a- mongst you, | have demanded of all my col- leagues that they do me justice, and I have no doubt of receiving it from each of them. I did not think it necessary to justify myself to you, by answering the calumnies you mentioned. 1 knew you did not believe them. It was impos- sible that I should, at this distance, combine with any body to urge the redemption of the paper on those unjust terms, having no interest in such redemption. It was impossible that I should have traded with the public money, since | have not traded with any money, either separately or jointly with any other person, di- rectly or indirectly, to the value oi a shilling, since my being in France. And the Fishery, which it was said I had relinquished, had not then come in question, nor had I ever dropped a syllable to that purpose, in word or writing ; but was always firm in this principle, that hav- ing had a common right with the English to the Fisheries, while connected with that nation, and having contributed equally with our blood and treasure, in conquering what had been gained from the French, we had an undoubted right, in breaking up our partnership, to a fair division. As to the two charges of age and weakness, | must confess the first ; but I am not quite so clear in the latter; and perhaps my adversaries may find that they presumed a little too much upon it when they ventured to attack me. But enough of these petty personalities—I quit them to rejoice witb you in the peace God has blessed us with, and in the prosperity it gives us a prospect of. The definitive treaty was signed the 3d inst. We are now friends with England, and with all mankind. May we never see another war! for, in my opinion, there nev- er was a good war or a bad peace. Adieu, and believe me ever, My dear friend, Yours most affectionately, B. FRANKLIN.

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From Christian register.

1822-12-13 · Boston [Mass.]

the magnificence which constituted this city the wonder of the world. A branch of the Euphra- tes flowed through the city from the north to but conscious of my innocence, and unwilling taken the least step towards my vindication.—

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DR. FRANKLIN TO JOSIAH QUINCY, BRAINTREE.

From The Worcester Magazine and Historical Journal (1825-1826)

1825-10-01 · Worcester

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

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LETTER FROM DR. FRANKLIN TO JOSIAH QUINCY

From The Friend of Peace (1815-1827)

1827-01-10 · Cambridge

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

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From The American Quarterly Review (1827-1837)

1837-09-01 · Philadelphia

was signed, he wrote thus—“ May we never see another war, for, in my opinion, there never was a good war, nor a bad peace.”

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From The weekly mountain Democrat.

1862-07-04 · Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.

Fourth of July. Eight days after the treaty of peace was signed at the close of our Revolution, one of the wisest statesman and purest patri­ ots of our country, Benjamin Franklin, said : “ May we never see another war! for, in my opinion, there never was a good war or a had peace.” On this day we

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From The Independent ... Devoted to the Consideration of Politics, Social and Economic Tendencies, History, Literature, and the Arts (1848-1921)

1866-08-16 · New York

Braintree, in 1783; “for, in my opinion, there never was a good war or a bad peace.

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From The New York herald.

1874-04-06 · New York [N.Y.]

to me that I washed my hands of that evil by pre-­ dicting it in Congress and proposing means that would have been effectual in preventing it, if they had been adopted. Subsequent operations that I have executed demonstrate that my plan was practicable, but it was, unfortunately, rejected

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From The true northerner.

1874-07-31 · Paw Paw, Mich.

this, undoubtedly, is the work of" some of j "jico. the corruption of manners, etc.. that rum's devotees. The perpetrator is not known. 1 & deprecating currency. It is some consolation to me that I washed my bands of Fisher A: Bell, of Schoolcraft, butchers, killed i that evil by predicting it in Congress, and pro

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From The Independent ... Devoted to the Consideration of Politics, Social and Economic Tendencies, History, Literature, and the Arts (1848-1921)

1875-07-08 · New York

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. “T lament with you the many mischiefs, | the injustice, the corruption of manners, etc., that attended a depreciating currency. It is some consolation ‘to me that I washed | my hands of that evil by predicting it in | Congress and proposing meats that would have been effectual to prevent it if they had | been adopted.”

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From Atlantic Monthly

1876-02-01 · Boston

‘I lament with you the many mis- chiefs, the injustice, the corruption of manners, ete., that attend a depreci- ated currency. It is some consolation to me that I washed my hands of that evil by predicting it in Congress, and proposing means that would have been effectual to prevent it if they had been adopted. Subsequent operations that I have executed demonstrate that my plan was practicable; but it was unfortunate- (Works, x. 9.) ly rejected “ig

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From The Bankers' Magazine and Statistical Register (1849-1894)

1876-03-01 · New York

long experience wrote, in 1783, these memorable words: “I lament with you the many mischiefs, the injustice, the corruption of manners, etc., that attend a depreciated currency. It is some consolation to me that I washed my hands of that evil by pre- dicting it in Congress, and proposing means that would have been effectual to prevent it if they had been adopted. Subsequent operations that I have executed demonstrate that my plan was practicable; but it was unfortunately rejected.” (Works, x. 9.)

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From The Hillsdale standard.

1878-05-28 · Hillsdale, Mich.

t al. "I lament with you the many mis- chiefs, the injustice, the corruption of manners, eto., that attend a depreciat­ ed currency. It is some consolation to me that I washed my hands of tha evil by predicting it in Congress, and pro- posing means that would have been ef­ jectual to prevent it if they had been adopted. Subsequent operations that I have executed demonstrate that my plan was practicable; but it was unfor­ tunately rejected." (Works, . 9

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Paper Money

From Lowell daily citizen.

1878-10-05 · Lowell, Mass.

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

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From The Portland daily press.

1879-08-07 · Portland, Me.

“I lament with you the many mischiefs, the injustice, the corruption of manners &c., that attend a depreciated currency. It is some con­ solation to me that I washed my hands of that evil by predicting it in Congress, and proposing meaus that would have been effectual to pre­ vent if they had been adopted.

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From Friends' Intelligencer (1853-1910)

1898-06-18 · Philadelphia

‘ But enough of these petty personalities. I quit them to rejoice with you in the peace God has blest us with, and in the prosperity it gives us a prospect of. The definitive treaty was signed the 3d instant. We are now friends with England and with all mankind. May we never see another war, for in my opinion there never was a good war or a bad peace.”’

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From Century Illustrated Magazine (1881-1906)

1899-10-01 · New York

with you,” he told a friend, in speaking of the Continental cur- rency, “the many mis- chiefs, the injustice, the corruption of man- ners, etc., that at- tended a depreciating currency. It is some consolation to me, that I washed my hands of that evil by predicting it in Congress, and proposing means that would have been effec- tual to prevent it, if they had been adopted.

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From Century Illustrated Magazine (1881-1906)

1899-10-01 · New York

Subsequentoperations, that I have executed, demonstrate that my plan was practicable; but it was unfortunate

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From Friends' Intelligencer (1853-1910)

1899-11-11 · Philadelphia

‘* But enough of these petty personalities. I quit them to rejoice with you in the peace God has blest us with. ; We are now friends with England and with all mankind. May we never see another war, for in my opinion there never was a good war or a bad peace.”’

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