From Francis Hopkinson (unpublished)
Philade. Octr. 18th. 1782
My dear Sir.

It is very long since I have had the satisfaction of a Line from you. This I attribute to the great uncertainty of opportunities. The last Letter I received from you mentioned an Electrical Battery which you said was in the Hands of Mr Coombe?. I have at last got the Battery you mention and found five of the Bottles broke. The Rest are in good order. All your Philosophical apparatus in my hands have been carefully preserved, and shall at any Time be delivered in good Condition to yours or Mr. Baches order, to whom I have given a Receipt for every article I have Borrowed. The use of them has afforded much amusement and some Instruction to me for which I heartily thank you. I wrote to you some Time ago requesting you would enter me as a subscriber to an Encyclopedia now publishing at Paris; as I understand the Price will not be very great I am desirous of having it. I leave this to your Discretion.

I enclose for your amusement a Piece I wrote to save the Trees of this City from being all cut down agreeably to a Law passed for that Purpose. This together with some Petitions, saved the Trees and the Law was repealed. I thought a Piece like this a more rational Trifle than abusive paragraphs which fill our Papers—in which I assure you I have no Part.

I have only Room to request my respectful Regards to Mr Jay if yet in Paris, and also to Mr. Adams, and to assure you (for which I have always Room in my Heart be the paper as scanty as it may) that I am ever your affectionate friend and very humble servant

F. Hopkinson

Addressed: Honourable / Doctor Franklin / at Passy / near Paris
Endorsed: Mr Hopkinson Oct. 18. 1782 With a Paper in favour of the Trees. Hopkinson, Phila. Octr. 18. 1782.
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