To Benjamin Franklin from Francis Childs, 12 June 1784
From Francis Childs
ALS: American Philosophical Society
New York, June 12th. 1784—
Honored Sir,
Pardon the Assurance I possess, in supposing, that while I take the Liberty of troubling you with a few Lines, your generosity will admit it.— I have wrote you not long since, but, Doubtful whether they have come safe to hand,2 I feel constrained here to make a repetition;—to express in terms the most grateful, the Singular & consequential services you have rendered, & the many Obligations I am under for them; to attempt to render praise would be to offend; but, it is my duty to thank you; and my ambition is to convince you that I wish to merit it.— While some are afflicted with the harsh & unpleasing Stings of Poverty, the Just & Allwise being places others in the Circles of affluence & ease to answer his Charitable Designs in administering comfort to the Distressed—
I feel rather unhappy, that, conscious of the want of Ability, my Spirits are damped & the ardor with which Gratitude inspires me, is extinguished, in the thought of the appearance my Lines may make in the sight of one of your unrivalled abilities,—But I veil these reflexions with the hope of your generous mind burying in oblivion every thing either insignificant or offensive—
With true Respect, I have the Honor to be, Worthy Sir, Your Most Obliged & Obedient Servant,
Francis Child—
Benj. Franklin, Esqr.
2. The most recent extant letter from Childs dates from the previous October: XLI, 126–8.