a 
1903.] ROSENGARTEN— FRANKLIN PAPERS.” 167 
put upon him to undertake the reduction of the whole Continent of 
North America to unconditional submission.’’ His friend Hartley 
sent it to him in 1786, when the prophecy had been fully realized. 
Again in 1778 he received a full report of the famous dying speech 
of Chatham, and of that of Lord Shelburne in his defense of the 
American cause. 
During these eventful years, his correspondents in England and 
in the Colonies kept him well informed both of the actions and 
plans of the Government and of the Opposition. Some of these 
may be of interest as showing how earnestly both sides were pre- 
sented to him that he might use his influence to maintain peace. 
Priestley, who was then the Secretary of Lord Shelburne, writes 
from London, in February, 1776, with a due report of political and 
scientific information, and Lee and Wayne write to him during the 
campaign which was to end in Burgoyne’s surrender, and thus 
contribute largely to the alliance with France, which owed so 
much to Franklin’s influence not only with the French Court and 
French statesmen, but with the philosophers and the people. 
His correspondence in Paris is a perfect picture of the time. 
One day he gets an invitation to attend experiments in electricity 
from a correspondent, Brogniart, who reports the successful treat- 
ment of sick people by electric fluid, in 1778, and soon after the 
Curé of Damvillers asks him for a. cure for dropsy for one of his 
parishioners. One writer submits a plan for eliminating poverty in 
the United States, and Turgot asks what method Franklin advises 
for burning smoke and thus diminishing the consumption of wood, 
which was steadily getting dearer. Then comes from London an 
offer to disclose a method of refining common salt and using it to - 
cure and preserve flesh and fish, for the modest fee of 2000 
guineas. Genet, afterwards so well known from his troublesome 
career as French Minister in this country, reports progress made in 
August, 1778, in translation of the Pennsylvania Gazette accounts 
of battles for the French papers, and the same mail brings a letter 
asking Franklin’s approval of mechanical and mathematical prob- 
lems, and for news of Fouquet, Master Gunpowder Maker at York, 
Pa. Brogniart invites him to witness new experiments in elec- 
tricity, and soon after he is told of a plan of six or eight Germans, 
men of letters and prominent position, to go to America to found a 
college, where the instruction can be given in Latin until the 
‘teachers have mastered English. He receives poems and eulogies 
PROC, AMER. PHILOS. SOc. XLII. 178. L. PRINTED JUNE 26, 1903. 
