402 DOCTOR FRANKLIN [1769. 



keep the chain of friendship bright. While thee art diverting 

 thyself "with the generous conversation of our worthy friends in 

 Europe, and adding daily new acquisitions to thy former extensive 

 stock of knowledge, by their free communications of their experi- 

 mental improvements, thy poor, yet honest friend Baktram, is 

 daily in mourning for the calamities of our provinces. Vast sums 

 spent, and nothing done to the advantage of the King or country. 

 How should I leap for joy, to see or hear that the British officers 

 would prove by their actions, the zeal and duty to their prince and 

 nation, they so much pretend in words. 



I am not insensible of the burden thee art charged with ; and 

 perhaps thee may meet with some that are not so sincere as our 

 dear Peter, who. Captain Lyon told me, in a grateful zeal, was, 

 he believed, one of the best men in London. 



Pray, my dear friend, bestow a few lines upon thy old friend, 

 such-like as those sent from Woodbridge. They have a magical 

 power of dispelling melancholy fumes, and cheering up my spirits, 

 they are so like thy facetious discourse, in thy southern chamber, 

 when we used to be together. 



We have had this summer abundance of thunder, which hath 

 done much damage. Several houses have been much shattered. 

 In one house, two young women were killed, one of which had a 

 child in her lap two weeks old, which was found on the floor, and 

 still liveth. All in the room were so stupified, that they can't 

 give any account how they were hurt. One saith, he saw a ball of 

 fire break into the room, and spread about. Several were singed, 

 as with fire. 



DOCTOR FRANKLIN TO JOHN BARTRAM. 



London, January 9, 1769. 



My dear old Friend : 



I received your kind letter of November 5, and the box directed 

 to the King is since come to hand. I have written a line to our 

 late dear friend's son, (who must be best acquainted with the usual 

 manner of transacting your affairs here,) to know whether he will 

 take charge of the delivery of it; if not, to request he would inform 

 me how, or to whom, it is to be sent for the King. I expect his 

 answer in a day or two, and I shall when I see him, inquire how 



