290 Letters to Benjamin Franklin 



From [Louis Guillaume] Le Veillard. 1785. December 19. Passy. 



Thanking him for the good news and rejoicing with him on his 

 improved state of health. Congratulates Franklin's countrymen on his 

 acceptance of the Presidency of Pennsylvania. Cardinal de Rohan still 

 in prison; arrest of the Comte de Cagliostro, M. and Mme. de La 

 Motte [Valois] and a certain Mile. Oliva said to have impersonated 

 the Queen ; history of Mme. de La Motte [Valois] ; righteous indigna- 

 tion of the Queen ; general opinion of Cagliostro. Mesmer's loss of 

 prestige in Paris ; his failure to excite any interest in England ; his present 

 sojourn in Italy. Arrest of the Chief Secretary of Council for secretly 

 printing attacks on the Ministers. Messages from many of Franklin's 

 friends. A. L. 3 p. (In French.) XXXIII, 258. 



From Isaac Croker. 1785. December 23. Philadelphia. 



Is the son of Richard Croker, late of Guildford, in Surrey; informed 

 that his uncle John Croker came to America many years before and that 

 his children are nephews of Franklin; desires information concerning 

 them. A. L. S. i p. XXXIII, 259. 



From Gaetano Filangieri. 1785. December 24. Delia Cava. 



Sending Franklin three more volumes of his work.^ A. L. S. 3 p. 

 (In Italian.) XXXIII, 260. 



^ [Scienza della Legislazione.] 



Printed in Works (Sparks, X, 233; Bigelow, IX, 273). 



From Jona[than] Williams, Jr. 1785. December 26. Boston. 



Settlement of his affairs likely to take some time. Receipt for making 

 Crown soap. Mr. [James] Bowdoin's desire to read, before their Acad- 

 emy [of Arts and Sciences], Franklin's [Sundry] Marine [Observations]. 

 Sends an account of a dissolvent for the stone. Claim of a Mr. Allen, 

 of Bedford, to make salt water fresh in any quantity, with the aid of 

 machinery. Desires Dr. [John] Jeffries 's memoirs and also the papers 

 relative to stoves and smoking chimneys. No word from Mr. Benjamin 

 Vaughan concerning the books for the Franklin Library. A. L. S. 4 p. 



XXXVIII, 165. 



From M. Brillon. 1785. December 30. Paris. 



Inquires about his health. Quotes some verses on human misery 

 and the ills man has to suiter in old age. Hopes he will live long to 



