fortable to be fick from home:-nor there neither, if it could be help'd.-I have now been in the Gout three Months, and have had it fome Days in the Heart and Stomach fo bad, I thought I could not live:-My Son been sick above three Months,—and he is but poorly yet, tho' he is mending, and likely to get well. On the Whole, this year past has been a diftreffed one with me.-But, God's Will be done.

Mr. Foxcroft is gone to Virginie, and I have not heard any thing from him fince his Departure:I wish I may hear from you, before the End of this Month, where I am to put the PrintingMaterials of B. Mecom's that are now at Burlington:-I have no body there at Work, all my Boys being gone to New York & Woodbridge: And indeed, I have no work there for them to do, if they were there:-I would immediately away to New York now, were I able to travel at any Rate, but I even fear, I fhall hardly be able to get back to Burlington only, as the Weather is uncomfortable: but I will go as foon as I can.-I think I wrote you before, I had fecured the Goods you fent to Mr. Hughes, but they are unopen'd, as I would be there myself. I wrote alfo to Balfour, which I inclosed to you, and hope you will have received it:-I don't know any thing further material about Affairs wherein I am concerned,-And thofe relating to the Publick you will doubtless have from abler and better Hands-I wrote to B. Mecom lately, but had but a short Answer, that he would foon fend me the Account &c.—I have wrote again-But, I fear nothing can quicken his Sluggishness.—I have told Holt I intend to come to New York, and take my Printing Office

again: I don't know what he defigns: he keeps it fecret from me:-I heard the Gentlemen of Virginia were trying to get a new Printer, in Opposition to Mr. Boyle, because he declined going on, or was too much under the Influence of the Governor there: and as Green and Rind are parted. I imagine Rind is the Man, and that they have bought the Office that was Stretch's, which by an Invoice I saw of it, was very compleat and good; fo that if it be fo, it will be bad for Billy Hunter whether Boyle lives or dies:-It was reported Boyle grew worse after his Return home but as we have not heard lately from thence, I can't fay no more about it, and Doubtless you will hear from thence from Mr. Foxcroft foon, who can give you a better Account of the Matter.

As I am neceffarily to send you two copies of the Accounts &c.-fo another to the same Purposes as this, I shall leave in Mr. Hall's Hands to be forwarded to you, with them, Therefore, I think I can add no more, than all Respects &c. from

Your most obliged Servt.
JAMES PARKER.

P. S. Mr. Hall made fome Demands for hiring a Clerk: He says he hired one at your Particular Requeft @one Time: that he had one constantly from 1753: and for 18 Months two of 'em: never lefs than 20/ a Week, and great Part of the Time 25.he also must keep one Still, to draw out Accounts and get in the Money due, and thinks part of the Expenfe should be yours:-As the Articles were filent on that Stead, and my Power did not extend fo far, I could only refer it to you:-Two Iron

Fire places of yours are left, and he having a year or two ago, purchafed two Cannon Stoves, he keeps them himself, as he bought them with his own Money.

Burlington, Feb. 10.-I got as well home here as I expected: the Gout not quite left me yet.-As soon as my Strength will admit, I fhall fet forward for New York: No Packet come in yet tho' momentarily expected:-I fhall send down B. Mecom's Printing Office to Philadelphia, immediately, as Mrs. Franklin fays fhe will fee Care taken of it.

Feb. 11.-I just now heard Mr. Holt has had an Execution levied on his Goods; he does not tell me fo himself, but I have heard it, and fear its too true: -I believe I fhall be a far greater lofer by him, than you were by B. Mecom:-Its an eafy Thing to behave with Fortitude, when all goes generally well: But I must expect it notwithstanding all may go aginft me: And indeed, I know I can't command Succefs in my Affairs, but as far as Refignation, and a Steady Diligence could deferve it, I have endeavoured it:-I have fupported others and almost Starv'd myself: but I am thankful its no worse, and will still fay, God's will be done.

Feb. 20. Last night heard the Packet was come in, but no Letter for me, fo I now attempt to Stop: -I am still poorly with this wretched Gout, or rather now a real Rheumatism, as it takes all my Bones.Hope only remains at the Bottom of Box. I long for my Health to go to New York, but I muft fubmit.

One thing I forgot to mention, I must now note— One box of goods fent to Mr. Hughes came by Capt. Tillet, this I fuppofe is the Stationary:-this I

have in my Store at New York, but I have Advice of another come in Capt. Berton,-which I suppose is the Electrical Machine, but as you have never fent a Bill of Lading for it either to Mr. Hughes or me, Capt. Berton won't deliver it without a Bill of Lading tho' I fent him word I would indemnify him fo he keeps it in his Poffeffion,-and I cannot demand it without a Bill &c.

All Mecom's materials are fent down to Philadelphia.

Adieu.

An interesting account of Franklin's last business relationship with a printer on a considerable scale is given by Livingston. It is that which relates to his dealings with Francis Childs, a young printer of New York, who had learned his trade in the shop of William Dunlap. Franklin, then in his seventysixth year, was in Paris as Minister to France when Childs first wrote to him to enlist his interest in the printing business which he had established on a frail basis in New York, and the relationship, which cannot certainly be called a partnership because no definite statement appears in the correspondence of Franklin's acceptance of Childs' proposals, continued until a few days before Franklin's death in April, 1790.

Franklin's experience with those who are known to have been his partners was almost entirely satisfactory to him, but that with Childs could hardly be so termed. Childs' letters are filled with

continual complaint of shortages in equipment of type sent to him from the foundry which Franklin had established for his grandson, Benjamin Franklin Bache, in Philadelphia, and with excuses for his failure to make payments as promised. A little less than a year before his death Franklin wrote to him as follows, giving a glimpse into his financial affairs at that late period of his life:

"You wrote to me in December last, that as foon as you return'd from attending the Affembly you would immediately set out for Philadelphia in order to make a final Settlement of our Accounts: This was a Promise very agreeable to me, as my late heavy Expense in building five Houses (which coft much more than I was made to expect) has fo exhausted my Finances, that I am now in real and great Want of Money."

Franklin was able to live comfortably upon the annual payments by Hall and the salary received from the various public offices he held, although when Hall's payments ceased Franklin felt himself, as he said and was, in reduced circumstances.

CHAP. XIV.

Typefounder.

IN FRONT of Bartholomew Close, near Palmer's printing office in London, was located a typefoundry conducted by Thomas James, and it was to