The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

Extract of a letter from Dr. Franklin, to the President of Congress, dated Passy, January 25, 1784.

"With respect to the British Court, we should, I think, be constantly on our guard, and impress strongly on our minds, that though it has made peace with us, it is not in truth reconciled to us, but still flatters itself with hopes, that some change in the affairs of Europe or some disunion amongst ourselves, may afford them an opportunity of recovering their dominion, punishing those who have most offended, and securing our future dependence. It is easy to see by the general terms of the ministerial news papers, (light things indeed, as straw or feathers, but like them they show which way the wind blows) and by the malignant improvement their Ministers make, in all the foreign Courts, of every little accident or dissention among us; the riot of a few soldiers in Philadelphia, the resolves of some town meetings, the reluctance to pay taxes, &c. all which are exaggerated, to represent our governments as so many anarchies, of which the people themselves are weary; the Congress as having lost its influence, being no longer respected--I say, it is easy from this conduct to see that they bear us no good will, and they wish the reality of which they are pleased to imagine.

They have too numerous a royal progeny to provide for, some of whom are educated in the military line; in these circumstances we cannot be too careful to preserve the friendship we have acquired abroad, and the union we have established at home, to secure our liberty by a punctual discharge of our obligations of every kind, and our reputation by the wisdom of our councils, since we know not how soon we may have fresh occasion for friends, for credit, and for reputation."