TO CHARLES THOMPSON.
Passy, May 10th, 1785.
Dear Sir,
An old gentleman in Switzerland, long of the Magistracy there, having written a book entitled Du Gouvernement des Mœurs, which is thought to contain many matters, that may be useful in America, desired to know of me how he could convey a number of the printed copies, to be distributed gratis among the members of Congress. I advised his addressing the package to you by way of Amsterdam, whence a friend of mine would forward it. It is accordingly shipped there on board the Van Berckel, Captain W. Campbell. There are good things in the work, but his chapter on the liberty of the press appears to me to contain more rhetoric than reason.
With great esteem I am, ever, &c.
B. FRANKLIN.