SIR,

As you first put us on electrical experiments, by sending to our

Library Company a tube, with directions how to use it; and as our

honorable Proprietary enabled us to carry those experiments to a

greater height, by his generous present of a complete electrical

apparatus; it is fit that both should know, from time to time, what

progress we make. It was in this view I wrote and sent you my former

papers on this subject, desiring, that as I had not the honour of a

direct correspondence with that bountiful benefactor to our library,

they might be communicated to him through your hands. In the same

view I write and send you this additional paper. If it happens to

bring you nothing new, (which may well be, considering the number of

ingenious men in Europe, continually engaged in the same researches)

at least it will shew, that the instruments put into our hands are

not neglected; and that if no valuable discoveries are made by us,

whatever the cause may be, it is not want of industry and application.

The Complete Works in Philosophy, Politics and Morals of the late Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Vol. 1 [of 3] · 第 101 / 291 题