havegivenyouofthislongletter，byshowingthatmyzealinthisbusinessispublic&pure。ThebestatonementforthetimeIhaveoccupiedyouwillbenottoaddtoitlongerthanwhileIassureyouofthesincerity&esteemwithwhichIhavethehonourtobeD’r。SirYourmostobedient&mosthumbleservt。
　　P。S。Thehurryoftimeinmyformerletterpreventedmythankingyouforyourpolite&friendlyinvitationtoMountVernon。
　　IshallcertainlypaymyrespectstheretoMrsWashington&yourselfwithgreatpleasurewheneveritshallbeinmypower。
　　THESOCIETYOFTHECINCINNATI
　　_ToGeorgeWashington_
　　_Annapolis，Apr。16，1784_
　　DEARSIR——IreceivedyourfavorofApr。8。byColo。Harrison。
　　Thesubjectofitisinteresting，and，sofarasyouhavestoodconnectedwithit，hasbeenmatterofanxietytome；becausewhatevermaybetheultimatefateoftheinstitutionoftheCincinnati，asinit’scourseitdrawstoitsomedegreeofdisapprobation，Ihavewishedtoseeyoustandingongroundseparatedfromit，andthatthecharacterwhichwillbehandedtofutureagesattheheadofourrevolutionmayinnoinstancebecompromittedinsubordinatealtercations。ThesubjecthasbeenatthepointofmypenineveryletterIhavewrittentoyou，buthasbeenstillrestrainedbythereflectionthatyouhadamongyourfriendsmoreablecounsellors，and，inyourself，oneablerthanthemall。Yourletterhasnowrenderedadutywhatwasbeforeadesire，andIcannotbettermerityourconfidencethanbyafullandfreecommunicationoffacts&
　　sentiments，asfarastheyhavecomewithinmyobservation。Whenthearmywasabouttobedisbanded，&theofficerstotakefinalleave，perhapsneveragaintomeet，itwasnaturalformenwhohadaccompaniedeachotherthro’somanyscenesofhardship，ofdifficultyanddanger，whoinavarietyofinstancesmusthavebeenrenderedmutuallydearbythoseaids&goodofficestowhichtheirsituationshadgivenoccasion；itwasnaturalIsayforthesetoseizewithfondnessanypropositionwhichpromisedtobringthemtogetheragainatcertain®ularperiods。AndthisItakeforgrantedwastheorigin&objectofthisinstitution；&Ihavenosuspicionthattheyforesaw，muchlessintended，thosemischiefs，whichexistperhapsintheforebodingsofpoliticiansonly。Idoubthoweverwhether，init’sexecution，itwouldbefoundtoanswerthewishesofthosewhoframedit，andtofosterthosefriendshipsitwasintendedtopreserve。Thememberswouldbebroughttogetherattheirannualassembliesnolongertoencounteracommonenemy，buttoencounteroneanotherindebate&sentiment。ForsomethingIsupposeistobedoneatthesemeetings，&howeverunimportant，itwillsufficetoproducedifferenceofopinion，contradiction&irritation。
　　Thewaytomakefriendsquarrelistoputthemindisputationunderthepubliceye。Anexperienceofneartwentyyearshastaughtmethatfewfriendshipsstandthistest，&thatpublicassemblies，whereeveryoneisfreetoact&speak，arethemostpowerfulloosenersofthebandsofprivatefriendship。Ithinkthereforethatthisinstitutionwouldfailinit’sprincipalobject，theperpetuationofthepersonalfriendshipscontractedthro’thewar。
　　Theobjectionsofthosewhoareopposedtotheinstitutionshallbebrieflysketched。Youwillreadilyfillthemup。Theyurgethatitisagainsttheconfederation——againsttheletterofsomeofourconstitutions；——againstthespiritofallofthem——thatthefoundationonwhichallthesearebuiltisthenaturalequalityofman，thedenialofeverypreeminencebutthatannexedtolegaloffice，&particularlythedenialofapreeminencebybirth；thathowever，intheirpresentdispositions，citizensmightdeclineacceptinghonoraryinstalmentsintotheorder，atimemaycomewhenachangeofdispositionswouldrendertheseflattering，whenawelldirecteddistributionofthemmightdrawintotheorderallthemenoftalents，ofoffice&wealth，andinthiscasewouldprobablyprocureaningraftmentintothegovernment；thatinthistheywillbesupportedbytheirforeignmembers，&thewishes&influenceofforeigncourts；thatexperiencehasshewnthatthehereditarybranchesofmoderngovernmentsarethepatronsofprivilege&
　　prerogative，¬ofthenaturalrightsofthepeoplewhoseoppressorstheygenerallyare：thatbesidestheseevils，whichareremote，othersmaytakeplacemoreimmediately；thatadistinctioniskeptupbetweenthecivil&military，whichitisforthehappinessofbothtoobliterate；thatwhenthemembersassembletheywillbeproposingtodosomething，&whatthatsomethingmaybewilldependonactualcircumstances；thatbeinganorganizedbodyunderhabitsofsubordination，thefirstobstructionstoenterprizewillbealreadysurmounted；thatthemoderation&virtueofasinglecharacterhasprobablypreventedthisrevolutionfrombeingclosedasmostothershavebeen，byasubversionofthatlibertyitwasintendedtoestablish；thatheisnotimmortal，&hissuccessor，orsomeofhissuccessors，maybeledbyfalsecalculationintoalesscertainroadtoglory：
　　WhatarethesentimentsofCongressonthissubject，&whatlinetheywillpursue，canonlybestatedconjecturally。Congress，asabody，iflefttothemselves，willinmyopinionsaynothingonthesubject。Theymayhoweverbeforcedintoadeclarationbyinstructionsfromsomeofthestates，orbyotherincidents。Theirsentiments，ifforcedfromthem，willbeunfriendlytotheinstitution。Ifpermittedtopursuetheirownpath，theywillcheckitbysideblowswheneveritcomesintheirway，&——，incompetitionsforoffice，onequalornearlyequalground，willgivesilentpreferencestothosewhoarenotofthefraternity。Myreasonsforthinkingthisare1。Thegroundsonwhichtheylatelydeclinedtheforeignorderproposedtobeconferredonsomeofourcitizens。2。Thefourthofthefundamentalarticlesofconstitutionforthenewstates。Iincloseyouthereport。IthasbeenconsideredbyCongress，recommitted&reformedbyacommitteeaccordingtosentimentsexpressedonotherpartsofit，buttheprinciplereferredto，havingnotbeencontrovertedatall，standsinthisasintheoriginalreport。ItisnotyetconfirmedbyCongress。
　　3。Privateconversationsonthissubjectwiththemembers。SincethereceiptofyourletterIhavetakenoccasiontoextendthese；notindeedtothemilitarymembers，because，beingoftheorder，delicacyforbadeit；buttotheothersprettygenerally；andamongtheseI
　　haveasyetfoundbutonewhoisnotopposedtotheinstitution，&
　　thatwithananguishofmind，tho’coveredunderaguardedsilence，whichIhavenotseenproducedbyanycircumstancebefore。IarrivedatPhiladelphiabeforetheseparationofthelastCongress，&sawthere&atPrincetownsomeofitsmembersnotnowindelegation。
　　Burke’spiecehappenedtocomeoutatthattime，whichoccasionedthisinstitutiontobethesubjectofconversation。Ifoundthesameimpressionsmadeonthemwhichtheirsuccessorshavereceived。I
　　hearfromotherquartersthatitisdisagreeablegenerallytosuchcitizensashaveattendedtoit，&thereforewillprobablybesotoallwhenanycircumstanceshallpresentittothenoticeofall。
　　This，Sir，isasfaithfulanaccountofsentiments&factsasI
　　amabletogiveyou。Youknowtheextentofthecirclewithinwhichmyobservationsareatpresentcircumscribed，&canestimatehowfar，asformingapartofthegeneralopinion，itmaymeritnotice，oroughttoinfluenceyourparticularconduct。
　　Itremainsnowtopayobediencetothatpartofyourletterwhichrequestssentimentsonthemosteligiblemeasurestobepursuedbythesocietyattheirnextmeeting。Imustbefarfrompretendingtobeajudgeofwhatwouldinfactbethemosteligiblemeasuresforthesociety。IcanonlygiveyoutheopinionsofthosewithwhomI
　　haveconversed，&who，asIhavebeforeobserved，areunfriendlytoit。Theyleadtotheseconclusions。1。Ifthesocietyproceedsaccordingtoit’sinstitution，itwillbebettertomakenoapplicationstoCongressonthatsubjectoranyotherintheirassociatedcharacter。2。Iftheyshouldproposetomodifyit，soastorenderitunobjectionable，Ithinkthiswouldnotbeeffectedwithoutsuchamodificationaswouldamountalmosttoannihilation；
　　forsuchwoulditbetopartwithit’sinheritability，it’sorganization，&it’sassemblies。3。Iftheyshallbedisposedtodiscontinuethewhole，itwouldremainwiththemtodeterminewhethertheywouldchuseittobedonebytheirownactonly，orbyareferenceofthemattertoCongresswhichwouldinfalliblyproducearecommendationoftotaldiscontinuance。
　　Youwillbesensible，Sir，thatthesecommunicationsarewithoutallreserve。Isupposedsuchtobeyourwish，&meanthembutasmaterialswithsuchothersasyoumaycollect，foryourbetterjudgmenttoworkon。Iconsiderthewholematterasbetweenourselvesalone，havingdeterminedtotakenoactivepartinthisoranythingelse，whichmayleadtoaltercation，ordisturbthatquiet&
　　tranquillityofmindtowhichIconsigntheremainingportionofmylife。IhavebeenthrownbackbyeventsonastagewhereIhadnevermorethoughttoappear。Itisbutforatimehowever，&asadaylabourer，freetowithdraw，orbewithdrawnatwill。WhileIremainIshallpursueinsilencethepathofright，butineverysituation，publicorprivate，Ishallbegratifiedbyalloccasionsofrenderingyouservice，&ofconvincingyouthereisnoonetowhomyourreputation&happinessaredearer。
　　HOT-AIRBALLOONS
　　_ToDr。PhilipTurpin_
　　_Annapolis，Apr。28，1784_
　　DEARSIR——Supposingyoumaynothavereceivedintelligencetobereliedonastothereality&extentofthelatediscoveryoftraversingtheairinballons，&havinglatelyperusedabookinwhicheverythingisbroughttogetheronthatsubjectaslowdownasDecemb。last，Iwillgiveyouadetailofit。Iwillstatetheseveralexperiments，withthemostinterestingcircumstancesattendingthem，bywayoftable，whichwillgiveyouaclearerview&
　　inlesscompass。
　　Theysupposetheminimumoftheseballonstobeof6inchesdiameter：theseareconstructedofgold-beaters’skin&filledwithinflammeableair。thisairproducedfromiron-filings，thevitriolicacid&distilledwateris，inweight，toAtmosphericairas7。to43。
　　onanaverageofthetrials：&whenproducedfromthefilingsofZinc，theMarineacid&distilledwater，istotheAtmosphericairas5。to53。or1。to101/2。butMontgolfier’sairishalftheweightofAtmospheric。thisisproducedbyburningstraw&wool。thestrawmustbedry&open，&thewoolshredveryfine，sothattheymaymakeaclearflame，withaslittlesmokeaspossible。50lb。ofstraw&5
　　lb。ofwoolfilledtheballonsofOct。19。&Nov。21。infiveminutes。theseballonscontained60，000cubicfeet。noanalysisofthisairisgivenus。Mons’rdeSaintfordtheauthorofthebook，givesusaverygreat&uselessdisplayofMathematicallearning，whichcertainlyhasasyethadverylittletodowiththisdiscovery：
　　&whenhecomestothechemicalinvestigations，whichareinteresting，hesaislittle。theballonssometimesweretornbythepressureoftheinternalairbeinginsufficientlycounteractedinthehigherregionsoftheAtmosphere。theserentswereof6。or7。f。
　　length，yetthemachinedescendedwithagentleequablemotion¬withanacceleratedone。bythetrialsatVersailles&ChampdeMarsitappearsthattheywillgowithamoderatewind150。leaguesin24
　　hours。thereareyettwoprincipaldesiderata。1。thecheapest&
　　easiestprocessofmakingthelightestinflammableair。2。anenvelopmentwhichwillbelight，strong，impervioustotheair&
　　proofagainstrain。suppliesofgasaredesireabletoo，withoutbeingoblirryfirewiththemachine：forinthoseinwhichmenascendedtherewasastoreofstraw&woollaidinthegallerywhichsurroundedthebottomoftheballon&inwhichthemenstood，&achaffingdishof3。feetcubeinwhichtheyburntthematerialstosupplyair。itisconjecturedthatthesemachinesmaybeguidedbyoars&raised&depressedbyhavingvesselswherein，bytheaidofpumps，theycanproduceavacuumorcondensationofatmosphericairatwill。theyare，fromsomenewcircumstances，strengthenedintheopinionthattherearegenerallyoppositeordifferentcurrentsintheatmosphere：&thatifthecurrentnexttheearthisnotinthedirectionwhichsuitsyou，byascendinghigheryoumayfindonethatdoes。betweenthesethereisprobablyaregionofeddywhereyoumaybestationaryifphilosophicalexperimentsbeyourobject。theusesofthisdiscoveryaresuggestedtobe1。
　　transportationofcommoditiesundersomecircumstances。2。
　　traversingdeserts，countriespossessedbyanenemy，orravagedbyinfectiousdisorders，pathless&inaccessiblemountains。3。
　　conveyingintelligenceintoabeseigedplace，orperhapsenterprisingonit，reconnoitringanarmy&c。4。throwingnewlightsonthethermometer，barometer，hygrometer，rain，snow，hail，wind&otherphenomenaofwhichtheAtmosphereisthetheatre。5。thediscoveryofthepolewhichisbutoneday’sjourneyinabaloon。fromwheretheicehashithertostoppedadventurers。6。raisingweights；
　　lighteningshipsoverbars。7。housebreaking，smuggling&c。someoftheseobjectsareludicrous，othersserious，important&probable。I
　　willgiveyouthefiguresofthebaloonsonthelastpage。
　　Congresshasdeterminedtoadjournonthe3dofJunetomeetinNovemberatTrenton。avesselarrivedhereyesterdaywhichleftLondonthe25thofMarch。shebringspaperstothe20thofthatmonth。mr。Pittwasstillinplace，supportedbythecityofLondon，thenationingeneral，&theHouseofLords。stillhoweverthemajorityintheH。ofcommonswasagainsthim，thoreducedto12。itwasthoughttheparliamentwouldbedissolved。
　　Besogoodastopresentmydutifulrespectstomyuncle&aunt&tobeassuredoftheesteemwithwhichIamDr。Siryourfriend&serv’t”NILDESPERANDUM”
　　_ToRichardPrice_
　　_Paris，Feb。1，1785_
　　SIR，——ThecopyofyourObservationsontheAmericanRevolutionwhichyouweresokindastodirecttomecamedulytohand，andIshouldsoonerhaveacknowledgedthereceiptofitbutthatIawaitedaprivateconveianceformyletter，havingexperiencedmuchdelayanduncertaintyinthepostsbetweenthisplaceandLondon。Ihavereaditwithverygreatpleasure，ashavedonemanyotherstowhomIhavecommunicatedit。Thespiritwhichitbreathesisasaffectionateastheobservationsthemselvesarewiseandjust。
　　IhavenodoubtitwillbereprintedinAmericaandproducemuchgoodthere。Thewantofpowerinthefederalheadwasearlyperceived，andforeseentobetheflawinourconstitutionwhichmightendangeritsdestruction。IhavethepleasuretoinformyouthatwhenIleftAmericainJulythepeoplewerebecominguniversallysensibleofthis，andaspirittoenlargethepowersofCongresswasbecominggeneral。Lettersandotherinformationrecentlyreceivedshewthatthishascontinuedtoincrease，andthattheyarelikelytoremedythisevileffectually。Thehappinessofgovernmentslikeours，whereinthepeoplearetrulythemainspring，isthattheyarenevertobedespairedof。Whenanevilbecomessoglaringastostrikethemgenerally，theyarrousethemselves，anditisredressed。Heonlyisthenthepopularmanandcangetintoofficewhoshewsthebestdispositionstoreformtheevil。Thistruthwasobviousonseveraloccasionsduringthelatewar，andthischaracterinourgovernmentssavedus。Calamitywasourbestphysician。SincethepeaceitwasobservedthatsomenationsofEurope，countingontheweaknessofCongressandthelittleprobabilityofaunioninmeasureamongtheStates，wereproposingtograspatunequaladvantagesinourcommerce。Thepeoplearebecomesensibleofthis，andyoumaybeassuredthatthisevilwillbeimmediatelyredressed，andredressedradically。IdoubtstillwhetherinthismomenttheywillenlargethosepowersinCongresswhicharenecessarytokeepthepeaceamongtheStates。IthinkitpossiblethatthismaybesufferedtolietillsometwoStatescommithostilitiesoneachother，butinthatmomentthehandoftheunionwillbeliftedupandinterposed，andthepeoplewillthemselvesdemandageneralconcessiontoCongressofmeanstopreventsimilarmischeifs。Ourmottoistruly”nildesperandum。”TheapprehensionsyouexpressofdangerfromthewantofpowersinCongress，ledmetonotetoyouthischaracterinourgovernments，which，sincetheretreatbehindtheDelaware，andthecaptureofCharlestown，haskeptmymindinperfectquietastotheultimatefateofourunion；andIamsure，fromthespiritwhichbreathesthroyourbook，thatwhateverpromisespermanencetothatwillbeacomforttoyourmind。Ihavethehonourtobe，withverysincereesteemandrespect，Sir，Yourmostobedientandmosthumbleserv’t。