“ had heard while in Europe.) ‘not exactly so, said he, but I will let you see the manner in which I do these things.’ he then desired one of his small grandchildren who happened to be in the room, to bring him such a paper from a table. it was brought, and he put it into my hands and said ‘there, put that into your pocket & you will see the manner of my writing.’ I thanked him and said ‘I should read it with great pleasure, & return it to him safely.’ ‘no, said he, keep it.’ not satisfied of his meaning, after looking over it a little, I repeated that ‘I would carefully return it,’ ‘No, no, said he, keep it.’ I took it with me to New York. it was, as well as I recollect, about a quire of paper, in which he had given, with great minuteness, all the details of his negotiations (informal) in England to prevent their pushing us to Extremities. these were chiefly through L ^d. Howe, and a lady, I think the sister of L ^d. Howe, but of this I am not certain: but I remember noting the perticulars of her conversation as marking her as a woman of very superior understanding. he gave all the conversations with her & L ^d. Howe, and all the propositions he passed through them to the minister, the answers & conversations with the minister reported through them, his endeavors used with other characters, whether with the ministers directly I do not recollect: but I remember well that it appeared distinctly from what was brought to him from the ministers, that the real obstacle to their meeting the various overtures he made, was the prospect of great confiscations to provide for their friends, and that this was the real cause of the various shiftings & shufflings they used to evade his propositions. learning on his death, which happened soon after, that he had bequeathed all his unpublished writings to his grandson W. T. Franklin with a view to the emolument he might derive from their publication. I thought this writing was fairly his property and notified to him my possession of it, & that I would deliver it to his order. he soon afterwards called on me at N. York, & I delivered it to him. he accepted it; & while putting it into his pocket, observed that his grandfather had retained another copy which he had found among his papers. I did not reflect on this till suspicions were circulated that W. T. F. had sold these writings to the British minister. I then formed the belief that D ^r. Franklin had meant to deposit this spare copy with me in confidence that it would be properly taken care of, & sincerely repented the having given it up; & I have little doubt that this identical paper was the principal object of the purchase by the British government, & the unfortunate cause of the suppression of all the rest.--I do not think I have any interesting papers or facts from D ^r. Franklin, should any occur at any time, I will communicate them freely, no body wishing more ardently that the public could be possessed of every thing that was his or respected him, believing that a greater or better character has rarely existed. I am happy to learn that his blood shews itself in the veins of the two of his great grandchildren whom you mention. but I should think medicine the best profession for a genius resembling his, as that of the elder is supposed to do . . . ”

On March 15, 1811, Duane wrote to Jefferson: “. . . I was looking forward to an active Spring and Summer--to the completion of the life of Franklin which I flattered myself would do me no discredit, and be not unworthy of the Subject. But I had offended by the sincerity and the Severity of my animadversions upon the conduct of Mr. John Randolph, and I am brought to the verge of a precipice, from which it is not possible to Say whether I shall escape being dashed to pieces . . . The four volumes of Franklins works with plates are all printed and at two and a half dollar a volume, these alone are worth 20,000 dollars--I have even offered these at a reduced price engaging or forfeit the whole to have the Memoirs written & printed by the 4th of July next . . .”

In a letter to Duane written on July 25, 1811, concerning the shipment by water, as vessels depart almost daily from Philadelphia for Richmond, of a copy of the translation of Destutt de Tracy’s Commentary of Montesquieu [no. 2327], Jefferson wrote: “ . . . add to it if you please a copy of Franklin’s works, bound, and send me by post a note of the amount of the whole . . . ”

As early as 1790 Jefferson had been in communication with William Temple Franklin concerning the publica-