A Publishing Project of Anthony Benezet

DOCUMENTS65 pushed Frenchmen and the plainest Quakers met indiscriminately upon this familiar ground." No less after her marriage was Deborah Logan likely to be known to French diplomats. Her husband, Dr. George Logan (1753-1821), before his return to America in the autumn of 1780 had been in France in the circles in which Franklin moved. In later years also he was engaged in a mission to that country. To his home at Stenton (see above, p. 36) were welcomed the leading statesmen of America and Europe. See Memoir of Dr. George Logan of Stenton by his widow, Deborah Norris Logan, Philadelphia, 1899. Our author, Barbé-Marbois, who apparently was stationed at Philadelphia until 1785, could have described Mademoiselle Norris without depending merely on the memory of a single chance encounter. A PUBLISHING PROJECT OF ANTHONY BENEZET The following letter from Anthony Benezet to John Smith of Burlington is published from the original in the Gulielma M. Howland Collection in Haverford College. After indicating how far he had been able to fulfil his friend's request for certain back numbers of two English magazines (possibly for the library at Burlington in which John Smith was interested), the writer broaches his desire for some financial assistance in an enterprise that was near his own heart. This was the printing and distribution of religious literature suitable for religiously minded persons in certain other parts of the American colonies. The literature which he describes as unsuitable because it " pointed at ye Clergy " was partisan literature of Anglican origin and distributed by the Society for Propagating the Gospel. The pieces whose publication Benezet was promoting were in any case, all except his own brief tract against Negro slavery, written by churchmen in good standing and yet quite satisfactory to Friends in their emphasis on inward and spiritual religion. It could be wished that by the publication of this letter attention could be drawn to the interest and importance of Anthony Benezet. Born like Stephen Grellet in France—at St. Quentin, Picardy, in 1713—he made his home in or near Philadelphia where he died in 1784. His life is well worthy of a good biography. Many of his letters still exist, many of them, like this one, hitherto unpublished. The editor wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to Amelia M. Gummere for bringing this letter to his attention as well as for certain items of interest concerning its contents. In the appendix of her Rancocas Edition of the Journal and Essays of John Woolman will be found convenient brief biographical notes on all the Friends named in the letter, viz.: James Pemberton (1723-1809), p. 513; Benezet, p. 513; Samuel Emlen (1730-1799), p. 515; John Pemberton (1727-1795), p. 516; John Smith (1722-1771), p. 526. The letter is endorsed, " For John Smith at Burlington, with two Bundles of Papers." 66 BULLETIN OF FRIENDS' HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION Text Philada. ye 8th 2nd Mon. We are already got to ye year 60. It's unaccountable how swiftly time appears to pass away wt. me. It was not so formerly. O Tempora! O Mores. Dear Friend Agréable to thy desire I have purchased the followg. Magazines, being all that David Hall1 can furnish me with, viz*. 13 London Magazines, being ye whole Sett for ___ 1758 @ Is. pe £-13— 1 do for March .................................. 1749 1 do for March .................................. 1750 5 do for July, Octor., Sepr. March & Append1....... 1754 5 do March, April, Sepr., Decemr. & Appd1......... 1755 6 do Augt., Sepr., Oct., Novr., Decemr. & Appd*— 1756 6 do Jany., June, Octr., Novr., Decemr. & Appd*..... 1757 1 Gentleman's Magazine viz. Supplement to ye 16th vol. 2 do—April & June .............................. 1755 2 do—July & Sept................................ 1756 2 do—Jany. & Supplem ........................... 1757 31 at 8d pee...................................... 1.-8 10 quires thick Post ............................ 1.2.6 Which I now send by the Bearer .................. ¿2.16.4 I have inquired of Dunlap 2 & at Bradford's 3 but can get none there so that we must rest so far satisfied for the present: I will keep thy list & as Occasion offers inquire if any more can be met with to compleat the volumes. I have understood at diff\ times from Friends & others who have travelled in ye back...