162 Original Letters of Dr. Franklin. 



upwards of 300 scholars in all the schools. Our Hospital 

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

 day been opening our cargo of choice Drugs and 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 obtained there, that such a passage 

 there probably is, wrote to me from Maryland, requesting 

 I would endeavor to procure subscriptions here for another 

 attempt. It is accordingly done; ]000£ is raised for the 

 pm-pose, and a vessel is actually fitting for him to proceed 

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

 concerning that Country, its Productions, &;c. 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 me 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 Philadelphia, April 12, 1753. 



Dear Str, 



I received your favor of March 26, and thank you for 

 comunicating 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. 



