Beschreibung:

FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706-1790). AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED ('B. FRANKLIN') TO LORD KAMES ('My dear Lord'), London, 2 June 1765 , describing at length his voyage back to America in 1762 and his arrival and reception in Philadelphia, 'I had been chosen yearly during my absence to represent the City of Philadelphia in our Provincial Assembly, and on my Appearance in the House they voted me ¨3000 Sterling for my Services in England and their Thanks delivered by the Speaker'. In 1763 he became 'one of the Commissioners appointed by Law to dispose of the publick Money appropriated to the Raising and Paying an Army to act against the Indians and defend the Frontiers'. He describes two insurrections by the 'back inhabitants' of Pennsylvania, after they had murdered '20 poor Indians' under the protection of the government and subsequently marched on Philadelphia 'with an avowed Resolution to put to death 140 Indian Converts'. To strengthen public resolve against the rebels, Franklin wrote a pamphlet entitled A Narrative of the late Massacre in Lancaster County , which encouraged near one thousand citizens to take up arms against the rebels, 'For about 48 Hours I was a very great Man ... but ... having turn'd them back, and restor'd Quiet to the City, I became a less Man than ever'. As Speaker of the House of Assembly Franklin was requested to go to London to petition the Crown for a new Governor, and thus returned to London at the end of 1763. He has 'ever since engag'd in that and other Public Affairs relating to America, which are likely to continue some time longer'. Having read Kames' excellent Elements of Criticism , he regrets that Music is not sufficiently considered there, and continues with a long disquisition on music, melody and harmony, describing Scottish tunes as the best traditional example. Subscribed 'With sincere Esteem ... Your Lordship's most obedient and most humble Servant', 7½ pages, folio (318 x 200mm) , (blank margins reinforced; folds of last sheet strengthened; some staining (tea?) on upper half of first page, but generally in good condition); with autograph wrapper and seal (torn and mounted on paper). A fascinating auto-biographical letter describing the events in Franklin's life between 1762 and 1764 and also allowing us glimpses of his family life. He describes his daughter's growing-up 'grown quite a woman with many amiable Accomplishments' and his son's marriage to 'a very agreeable West India Lady, with whom he is very happy'. The most interesting aspect of this letter however, is Franklin's long exposition of his theories of music and harmony. He seems to disdain 'modern' music and virtuoso performances. Writing that the 'Pleasure Artists feel in hearing much of that compos'd in the modern Taste, is not the natural Pleasure arising from Melody or Harmony of Sounds, but of the same kind with the Pleasure we feel on seeing the the surprizing Feats of Tumblers and Rope Dancers, who execute difficult Things'. He therefore believes that a 'common audience' would not appreciate or enjoy modern music 'while a plain old Scottish Tune', disdained by the performers, would give 'manifest and general Delight'. He gives as his opinion 'that the Reason why the Scotch Tunes have liv'd so long, and will probably live forever (if they escape being stifled in modern affected Ornament) is merely this, that they are really Compositions of Melody and Harmony united, or rather that their Melody is Harmony'. He then goes on at length discussing the composition of Scotch music (originally for the harp) and its minstrel origins. 'The Connoisseurs in modern Music will say I have no Taste, but I cannot help adding , that I believe our Ancestors in hearing a good Song, distinctly articulated ... felt more real Pleasure than is communicated by the generality of modern Operas'. In the course of his letter, Franklin promises also 'as soon as I have recover'd the Ease and Leisure I hope for, the Task you require of me, of finishing