Benjamin Franklin Papers

To Benjamin Franklin from Samuel Vaughan, 3 May 1784

From Samuel Vaughan

ALS: American Philosophical Society

Philadelphia 3d. May 1783 [i.e., 1784]

Dear Sir,

Shortly after my last, the foregoing petition was presented to the Assembly;7 it was referred to the Committee of ways & means, who made a favorable Report, the day before their adjournment; therefore not time to have procured leave to bring in a Bill, which have good reason to believe, would then have been readily granted. But some persons are now making interest against the prayer, saying it would be injurious to the proposed plan of making shady walks, by avenues of Trees. Pity it is that another year has passed without planting them, to bring them the sooner to maturity.

I conceive the Buildings would not only be very ornamental, but contribute to the encrease of cool agreeable shade; should You be of the same opinion, the writing Your sentiments thereon, may have great effect & arrive before the motion is made; as the House has adjourned until the 16th. of August.

I well know this Business is less important than such in which You are generally engaged, nor should I have troubled You with this application, but under a persuasion it will have a tendancy to the advancement of knowledge & Sience, as well as contribute to the health & pleasure of the Citizens at large. The family all join in most affectionate regard, with, Dear Sir, Your assured & mo: obedt. hble Servt

Saml Vaughan

Addressed: To His Excellency / Benjn. Franklin / Passy / near Paris

[Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]

7See Vaughan’s letter of March 8, above, describing the initiative to obtain building sites within State House Square for the APS and the Library Company of Philadelphia. The petition Vaughan copied above the present letter was dated March 12 and prepared by a committee of three representatives from each institution, including Vaughan. Although it specified that the APS would be located along the west side of the square (6th Street) and the Library Company along the east side (5th Street), there appears to have been some disagreement about this decision. On Dec. 9 the APS discussed the draft of an amended joint petition for the two lots that left the assignment of the properties to the Assembly. The Library Company refused to endorse it, however, and, as Vaughan reported to the APS on Dec. 17, he had therefore presented a petition in the name of the APS alone. The Assembly granted a lot along the east side of State House Square to the APS on March 28, 1785: Early Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society (Philadelphia, 1884), pp. 128, 130; James T. Mitchell and Henry Flanders, comps., The Statutes at Large of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1801 (16 vols., Harrisburg, 1896–1911), XI, 527–8.

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