Ben Franklin's world is a production of the

O'Mohandro Institute.

Philadelphia, April 6, 1796.

Dear Sir, this is indeed, as you say, the age of experiments in government.

One trial has been fairly made in America and France of Nedham's perfect Commonwealth and at length given up.

Holland is trying it again and if Britain should have a revolution, she will try it too.

Corruption in elections has heretofore destroyed all elective governments.

What regulations or precautions may be devised to prevent it in future, I am content with

you to leave to posterity to consider.

You and I shall go to the kingdom of the Just, or at least shall be released from the Republic

of the unjust, with hearts pure and hands clean of all corruption and elections, so much I firmly believe.

With great esteem and regard, I am, sir, your most obedient, 1796.

Dear Sir, the public and the public papers have been much occupied lately in placing us in a point

of opposition to each other.

I trust with confidence that less of it has been felt by ourselves personally.

In the retired Canton where I am, I learn little of what is passing.

Pamphlets, I see never.

Papers but a few, and the fewer the happier.

Our latest intelligence from Philadelphia at present

is of the 16th instant.

But though at that date, your election to the first majesty seems not to be known as a fact,

yet with me it has never been doubted.

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