Ezra Stiles to Benjamin Franklin, March 12, 1755

Y.C. [Yale College] Mar. 12. 1755

Sir

This accompanies your Letters and Manuscript, 2 which I have perused with very great Pleasure and Admiration. Please to accept my grateful Acknowledgments for them. Must ask your Pardon for not Returning them sooner — but as sundry Gentlemen here were desirous to read them, I hoped your Benevolence and Love of Communicating ingenious Discoveries to Mankind, would forgive me. Without Adulation, am extremely charmed with them; they read with the highest philosophic Delight. I have, with a great deal of Pleasure, read over and explained the Substance of them to my Pupils, 3 and thank you for this Opportunity of Openning them to an Acquaintance with what, will doubtless soon become the most considerable Branch of Natural Philosophy. I much want to have the negative State of Electricity in the Clouds confirmed, by the Experiment you conceived at Dr. Eliots. 4 Please to give my Compliments to Mr. Alison and Mr. Kennersly of whose Humanity I retain a grateful Remembrance. 5 I wish Prosperity to your Academy, and am, Sir, With Gratitude and Honour Your most Obedient Servant

Ezra Stiles

To B Franklin Esqr.

[ In the margin: ] I should be glad to peruse the 2d part of your Letters, and your Extracts from Bishop Wilkins philosophic Language. 6