William James to Benjamin Franklin, June 7, 1783

Grand Hotel de Russie Rue Richlieu Sunday Morning. [after June 7, 1783] 9

Sr—

I meant soon after I had the Honor of dining with you at passy, to have Returned to
England, but meeting with an English Phyzician, he has made Paris so agreable to me,
that I think of Staying Until the Middle of September, without I Can gain An
Establishment in France Or America.—

Having taken, in my leisure Hours, An Active part in the Improvements in England, I was
equally desirous of not being Idle in Paris.— My Communicant has been daily surveying
this great City, And Communicating by Letters my Remarks to Monsr Le Roy.— A few weeks
ago, I made a Tour with my Friend into Normandy, And sent him likewise my Observations
on what I thought most Momentous.— I discover many Things Right in France.— Their Roads
Are Magnificent, And well Conducted— The Arts flourish in Architecture, Ship building,
painting, sculpture &ca yet I think them deficient in many Essential Circumstances.—
Their Modern Bridges Are fine, but Unhappily Are Over Uncorrected Rivers— There is not a
City Or Town in France Conducted on a Regular survey like London And Windsor. Neither is
there One Carriage of Any Sort Upon a Mechanic principle.— Paris is Unreformed— It wants
a better supply of water, And Oval sewers to Carry off the Filth.—The English seldom
Revisit paris— The Reason is they Can neither Ride, drive Or walk About the City.— The
plantations without Are however Very grand, pleasant, And Agreable.— If Rome, by the
Remains of its Ancient Magnificence, brings in by the Resort of Foreigners more than
London gains by its Trade, what would not France do, if all the Cities, And Towns, were Conducted upon the principle of London And
Westminster?— I have but poor Abilities, And yet I think the Hints I have given Mr Le
Roy, would Advantage France many Million a year.— 1 I Judge Improved Carriages would save nearly
half the draft Horses.— That Roads, And pavements, in their Repairs, might be decreased
One half, by a proportional Broad wheel— The same in the wear and Tear of Carriages of
Every denomination.— In the preservation of Goods 10 per Ct.— Hoop Fellies would save
4/5ths of the Timber now wasted, And last as long again.— In Barge work 100 per Ct may
be gained, by Creating deeper upper Levels.— The Ingenious Mr Peronetts Books being
published, his Art of Bridge Building is now Universally Known.— 2 If in the Reform of Rivers, Any Even of his Own
Bridges Should prove Unsafe, they may be Rebuilt On the same Construction.— The present
structures of that sort Are not Equal to a deepened Navigation.— I have walked under An
Intire dry Arch of pont Neuilly— This proves the River defective, not the Bridge.— The
navigation of the Thames is Ruined. The Corporation of London want to Regain it by Lock
work.— I Recommend Improved Ballast work.

Although I Intend to Return to England in a few Days, yet I had Rather spend the
Remainder of my Days in France, Or America.— I was used Ill by the Bank Directors in the
year 1772, Or Rather by Mr Payne the Governor 3 who Ruined me to save himself.— After I had paid
Away Twenty thousand pounds in supporting a Million of Stock against Sr George
Colebrooke, 4 who gave false Dividends
On India stock, they Supported him, And Others in July 1772 to the Amount of 8 Millions
of Money—by which Means, Instead of Recovering £50,000 which I Should have done, I was
forced to pay £10,000 More.— I was then a Tenant of the Bank— I Resented their
treatment, but they were too powerfull to Contend with.— I then took up the American
Cause very Warmly, And Sent them Letters to the proprietors, which they Smuggled, that
if Ever America was lost to England, it would be thro’ the Bank parlor, And that [ torn: all(?)] their political Discounts were paper swords
Issued to destroy the Innocent Americans, but that they would not succeed, for the
Inglorious Conduct of England would End in a happy Independency to America.— 5 Now sir, As you have done Numberless great
Things in your Life, I Should not be Ungratefull, if through your Consequence, you Could
Establish me in France, Or America, in any Employ I am Equal to.— I had Rather Remain
Abroad On 200 per Annum, than Return to England on £500.—

I am, Sr, your Most, Obedt And Obliged Hum Servt.—

Wm James.

P.S. — If it is Necessarry for
Me to quit France I intend taking the Liberty of waiting upon your Excellency to take
my Leave, And to thank you for the several Civilities
I have Received.— 6

To his Excellency Dr Franklin