To the Honorable Doctor Benjamin Franklin Esqr. L. L. D.

The members of the Constitutional Society of the City and Liberties of Philadelphia, beg Leave to Congratulate You on your Return to you Native Country after having finished with so much Glory to yourself and Advantage to the People of America the important Task assigned You of representing the United States at the Court of France and of conducting the great Variety of our Foreign Concerns throughout Europe.

In the Course of a Long and Bloody War we have been deeply indebted to your Wisdom and Vigilance for the frequent Support we have received from the Friendly Powers in Europe and especially from our great and good Allies; your Aid in bringing that War to a Happy Conclusion by the late Honorable Peace has entitled You to the Gratitude of every American; and we doubt not these important Services will be remembred and Acknowledged as long as Time shall endure.

You must not think Yourself flattered when we add that Your personal Character as a Philosopher and a Citizen has given weight to your Negociations and Enhanced the Reputation of your Country throughout the World.

It were endless to enumerate the great Variety of Instances in which You have benefitted the State of Pennsylvania in particular, in former Times and of Late; before the late Glorious Revolution and Since.

We cannot however omitt to express the high Veneration with which we view You as the Father of our free and excellent Constitution. In this great Work we perswade Ourselves that You, in Conjunction with the other Patriots of the Convention; over which You presided, have erected a Strong-hold to the sacred Cause of Liberty which will long continue as it has hitherto done to resist the Assaults of all its Enemies; and if any thing of Human Contrivance could attain to Immortality we would fondly flatter ourselves that it might remain forever.

Accept our Thanks for the multiplied Benefitts which You have rendered to this Country in General, to this State in particular; to the Friends of Liberty throughout the World, to the Cause of Science and to the Happiness of Human Nature.

We again Congratulate you on the Success of Your arduous and usefull Undertakings; that Your advanced Years are Crowned with that Glory which arises from the Lustre of a long Course of Honorable and Successfull pursuits, and that we see you once more amongst us an Example of Virtue, an Honour to your Country.

May you Long enjoy the Peacefull Reflections of a Life well Spent: may You long contribute, as you have done, to the Good of Your Country and of Mankind. And may we long continue to profitt by your Salutary Councills and publick Services.

By Order of the Constitutional Society