From Benjamin Franklin to Leopold Caldani, 26 April 1782
To Leopold Caldani6
Facsimile of ALS in Heinrich Lempertz, comp., Bilder-Hefte zur Geschichte des Bücherhandels und der mit demselben verwandten Künste und Gewerbe (Cologne, 1853–65), p. 46; AL (draft):7 University of Pennsylvania Library
Passy, April 26. 1782
Sir
I am extreamly sensible of the Honour done my [me] by your Academy, in admitting me one of its Foreign Members, and I beg they would accept my thankful Acknowledgements: Your City has been famous many Ages for its successful Cultivation of the Sciences, & for the Number of Great Men it has produced. This augments the Honour of being associated to its Academy. I wish it may be in my Power to promote in any degree the Design of their very laudable Institution. I shall be able however to communicate to the new World the Lights they may furnish by the Publication of their Memoirs;— and if when I return thither I can be useful to any of the Members by Informations relating to our Natural History, or by sending Specimens, Seeds, &c. or in any other manner, it will give me infinite Pleasure.
With great Respect, I have the honour of being, Sir, Your most obedient and most humble Servant
B Franklin
6. President of the Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts of Padua: XXXVI, 273. See Delfino’s letter of April 6, and BF’s reply which immediately follows it.
7. BF used the same draft as the basis for his acceptance to the Société royale de physique, d’histoire naturelle et des arts d’Orléans on July 9, 1785. He interlined changes and in the margin wrote “Change for Answer to Orleans.”