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ESSAYS.
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of recovering it. Accidents may increaſe thoſe, hopes, and encourage dangerous attempts. A breach between us and France would infallibly bring the Engliſh again upon our backs: and yet we have ſome wild beaſts among our countrymen, who are endeavouring to weaken that connexion.

Let us preſerve our reputation, by performing our engagements; our credit, by fulfilling our contracts; and our friends, by gratitude and kindneſs: for we know not how ſoon we may have occaſion for all of them.

With great and ſincere eſteem,

I have the honour to be,

Reverend Sir,

Your moſt obedient and

moſt humble ſervant,

Passy, May 12,
1784.
B. FRANKLIN.