Benjamin Franklin to William Temple Franklin, August 25, 1784

Passy, Augt. 25. 1784 Wednesday.—

My dear Child,

Nothing very material has happen’d since you left us. 7 The D. [Duke] of Dorset call’d yesterday, and enquir’d if I had heard from you, supposing you had been gone a Week. Mr Adams & Family, Made D’andelot and other Friends have visited me, & Made Saurin who is return’d from England. 8 We din’d with her yesterday. She says Made. D’hauteville will be glad to see you in England, wishes you would call upon her, and has given me her Address, which I enclose.— 9 We dine, Ben & I, today with M. de Chaumont, & Saturday with Mr Adams.

The Report is publish’d 1 and makes a great deal of Talk. Every body agrees that it is well written; but many wonder at the Force of Imagination describ’d in it, as occasioning Convulsions, &c. and some fear that Consequences may be drawn from it by Infidels to weaken our Faith in some of the Miracles of the New Testament. I send you two more Copies. You would do well to give one to the French Ambassador, 2 if he has not had it.— Some think it will put an End to Mesmerism. But there is a wonderful deal of Credulity in the World, and Deceptions as absurd, have supported themselves for Ages.

I send you a few more Letters, 3 and am Your affectionate Grandfather

B. Franklin

P.S. Mrs Holt, Printer to the State in N York, is punctual since her Husband’s Death, 4 in sending me News Papers by every Packet. At the Entrance of the Exchange is a little Shop where they sell all the London Newspapers. I would have you buy a few of the latest and send to her, and let her know it is by my Order. You will find a Bag up in the New York Coffee-House, in which you can put the Packet directed to her.

W. T. Franklin