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[99] [This Venerable Nestor of America, 1785] Andrew Ellicott december 1st 1785. . . . spent the evening with my Friend David Rittenhouse at the celebrated Dr. Benjamin Franklins the present Governour of this State—the old Gentleman tho infirm in body possesses the former Vigour of his mind— 2. This Evening attended the Meeting of our Philosophical Society we had a proposal of Dr. Magellans laid before us; it was a donation of 200 Guineas with a condition that 10£ yearly should be paid as a prize to the person who should make the best Improvement in Natural Philosophy or Navigation (Natural History excepted) we had likewise a long Paper of Dr. Franklins read proposing some improvements in Navigation— Like many ambitious scientific men who established their careers in the 1780s, Andrew Ellicott (1754–1820) was eager to meet Benjamin Franklin. Though nearly a half century younger than the old sage, Ellicott had much in common with him. Ellicott excelled at mathematics and astronomy, talents that helped him edit The United States Almanack. An excellent surveyor, Ellicott surveyed the boundary between Virginia and Pennsylvania west of the unfinished Mason and Dixon Line in 1784. In the coming years, he was commissioned to make several other important surveys. He surveyed Pennsylvania ’s western boundary in 1785, its northern boundary in 1786, and the islands in the Ohio and Allegheny rivers in 1788. Ellicott’s friendship with Philadelphia’s most famous astronomermathematician , David Rittenhouse, gave him a way to make Franklin’s acquaintance . Rittenhouse escorted Ellicott to Franklin Court the evening of Thursday, December 1, 1785. The next night, Ellicott attended a meeting of the American Philosophical Society, where he heard a paper Franklin wrote and a proposal submitted by Jean-Hyacinthe de Magellan. Franklin apparently enjoyed the young man’s company well enough to invite him back to Franklin Court on Sunday to spend the day. Ellicott arrived Sunday morning soon after breakfast and stayed until nine that night, obviously thrilled with the opportunity to get to know Benjamin Franklin. franklin in his own time [100] 3. Rainy continued at my Friend D. Rittenhouses— 4. Immediately after brakefast I went by perticular Invitation to spend the Day with Dr. Franklin—I found him in his little Room Among his Papers—he received me very politely and immediately entered into conversation about the Western Country—his Room makes a Singular Appearance , being filled with old philosophical Instruments, Papers, Boxes, Tables, and Stools—About 10 O Clock he sat some water on the fire and not being expert through his great age I desired him to give me the pleasure of assisting him, he thanked me and replied that he ever made it a point to wait upon himself and although he began to find himself infirm he was determined not to encrease his Infirmities by giving way to them—After his water was hot I observed his Object was to shave himself which Operation he performed without a Glass and with great expedition—I Asked him if he never employed a Barber he answered, “no” and continued nearly in the following words “I think happiness does not consist so much in perticular pieces of good fortune that perhaps accidentally fall to a Mans Lot as to be able in his old age to do those little things which was he unable to perform himself would be done by others with a sparing hand—” Several Foreigners of Distinction dined with us—About 9 O Clock in the Evening I took my leave of this Venerable Nestor of America. From Andrew Ellicott: His Life and Letters, ed. Catharine Van Cortlandt Mathews (New York: Grafton Press, 1908), pp. 50–51. ...

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