From Benjamin Franklin to Mary Hewson, 29 April 1784
To Mary Hewson
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Passy, April 29. 1784
Dear Friend,
I receiv’d yours of the 2d Inst. dated at Blackfriars. I had but just receiv’d the Wheels you mention. The Ice had prevented their coming up the River. I shall write to Mr Viney as soon as I can. In the mean time please to acquaint him that they came to hand well and that I like them.—2 I enclose a Specimen of a new Work by the Author of L’Ami des Enfans, which I shall continue to send if you like it.3 I have now only time to add what is indeed needless to add, that I am as ever Yours most affectionately
B Franklin
Mrs Hewson
2. Rather than summarize BF’s message, Hewson sent Viny the letter itself, writing a letter of her own on the inside leaf. She insisted that Viny return it to her in person. Moreover, now that summer had come, she hoped that his wife would begin to return her visits to Blackfriars as well. Her letter to Viny is dated May 10.
3. Berquin had just announced the first of three volumes that would be distributed gratis to subscribers of L’Ami des enfans who would subscribe to the sequel, L’Ami de l’adolescence, scheduled for launch in July. The bonus publication, published in the same format as the Ami series, was Introduction familière à la connoissance de la Nature; Traduction libre de l’anglois, de Mistriss Trimmer, Berquin’s translation and adaptation of Sarah Kirby Trimmer, Easy Introduction to the Knowledge of Nature (London, 1780): Affiches, annonces, et avis divers, ou Journal général de France, April 29, 1784; Angus Martin, “Notes sur L’Ami des enfants de Berquin et la littérature enfantine en France aux alentours de 1780,” Dix-huitième siècle, VI (1974), 304–6.