pose; it was a matter not only of religious bearing but of political, as it was then feared that the ignorance of the German emigrants in regard to our language and laws made them easy prey to the designs of French emissaries who sought all means to weaken British interests in the Middle Colonies. He formed some design of remaining at Oxford for further study. Dr. Seeker, then Bishop of Oxford, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, in a letter of 19 March to Dr. Johnson already quoted thanked him " for his favors by Mr. Smith. He is, indeed, a very ingenious and able, and seems a very well-disposed young man, and if he had pursued his intention of residing awhile at Oxford, I should have hoped for more of his company and acquaintance."
Franklin again writes him, apparently uncertain of his plans and intentions, which were doubtless unformed at the time, and which accounts for the infrequency of his letters to Philadelphia, but the letter did not reach him as he had already sailed from England: K Philadelphia April 18 1754. Dear Sir: I have had but one letter from you since your arrival in England, which was but a short one, via Boston, dated Oct. 18 [?] acquainting me that you had written largely by Captain Davis. Davis was lost and with him your letters, to my great disappointment. Mesnard and Gibbon have since arrived here, and I hear nothing from you. My comfort is, in imagination that you only omit writing because you are coming, and propose to tell me everything viva voce. So not knowing whether this letter will reach you, and hoping either to see or hear from you by the Myrtilla, Capt Sudden's ship, which is daily expected, I only add, that I am, with great esteem and affection, Yours etc B. Franklin. On 22 May, Mr. Smith landed in Philadelphia, from the Falcon, having sailed from London 5 April. His biographer tells us, " during the voyage he wrote several essays on education, which were afterwards published in the Antigua Gazette" w He was now at the threshold of his life's best work, and with 28 Smith, i. 44. This letter is not found in either Sparks or Bigelow, nor reference thereto. There is an error in the date of the letter named, for Mr. Smith was then on the ocean, having sailed, it is said, on 13 October. See ante. 19 Smith, i. 44.
