Beschreibung:

FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706-1790). LETTER SIGNED ('B. FRANKLIN') TO LORD KAMES, the body of the letter in the hand of his son William, London, 21 October 1761 , complimenting Kames on his 'truly valuable Art of Thinking', stressing its importance for the betterment of the nation. He has been 'dealing in Smoke' and offers his help in dealing with Kames' smoky chimneys. Finally he recommends a young man, Mr. Morgan to Lord Kames' protection. Subscribed 'with the sincerest Esteem and Regard ... Yours most affectionately', 3 pages, folio (317 x 200mm) , (inner blank margin of both sheets and folds of second sheet reinforced, one small hole in each sheet, with loss of one letter in the first) Probably dictated by Franklin to his son William. Kames published his Introduction to the Art of Thinking in January 1761 and had sent a copy to Franklin, who is most enthusiastic, 'Permit me to say, that I never saw more solid useful Matter contain'd in in so small a Compass and yet the Method & Expression so clear, that the Brevity occasions no Obscurity'. He is now awaiting Kames' Elements of Criticism , which was not published until March 1762. He mentions his own work 'Art of Virtue', first planned in 1732, but never completed. He is awaiting publication of Dr. William Cullen's paper on Fire , as 'I have, as you have heard, been dealing in Smoke : and I think it not difficult to manage, when one is once acquainted thoroughly with the Principles. But as the Causes are so various so must be the Remedies'. He offers to help cure the 'smoaky Chimnies' of which Kames complains, if he were to know more of the circumstances. He encloses two letters from a a friend, one of the judges of the Supreme court in Philadelphia, critical of Kames' Principles of Equity . (These are not present). Finally he recommends John Morgan the son of a friend in Philadelphia, 'to you Lordship's protection', while he is studying medicine in Edinburgh. Published in The Papers of Benjamin Franklin , ed. L.W.Labaree, vol.9, pp.374-377.