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16S Original Letters of Dr. FranhVou 



upwards of 300 scholars in all the schools,* Our Hosplta! 

 too, goes on very well, and does much good. We have this 

 day been opening our cargo of choice Dnigsand Medicines 

 from London, that cost us 112£ sterling; and find all in ^ 

 good order. I must not omit to acquaint you with one oth- 

 er instance of the public spirit of this people. A person 

 who had been in the last expedition to discover a north-west 

 passage, being fully persuaded from some observations he 

 made, and notices he obtairied there, that such a passage 

 there probably is, wrote to me from Maryland, requestin 

 I would endeavor to procure subscriptions here for another 

 attempt. It is accordingly done; lOOOJC is raised for the 

 purpose, and a vessel is actually fitting for him to proceed 

 in early in the Spring. If you have any queries to make f^ 

 concerning that Country, its Froductions, &ic. or would have 

 any particular observations made there; write them, and I 

 will send them by our captain who is an ingenious and ob- 

 serving man. 



Did you receive the votes of our last years Assembly, 

 which I sent you, as I think ; but am not very certain. I 

 know I intended it. 



And now my paper will only afford tne room to add, 

 that I have not received more pleasure and satisfaction from 

 any correspondence I maintain, than from that you have 

 favoured me with; which I hope will never again meet such « 

 interruption, as I am, with sincere esteem and affection, 

 dear Sir, your obliged friend and servant, 



B. FRANKLIN. 



10 Philabelvhia, April 12, 1753. 



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26 



coraunicating to me the very ingenious letter from your 

 friend Mr. Todd, with whom, if it may be agreeable to him, 

 I would gladly entertain a correspondence. I shall consider 

 his objections till next post. ^ 



I thank you also for the hint concerning the word adhe- 

 sion^ which should be defined. When I speak of particles 

 of water adhering to particles of air, I mean not a firm ad- 

 hesion, but a loose one, like that of a drop of water to the 

 end of an icicle before freezing. The firm adhesion is af- 

 ter it is frozen. 



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