that the hands of Congress should be more effectually strengthened. If they are not, we shall appear ridiculous in the eyes of the world, notwithstanding all that we have done.

I communicated your observations upon the phenomena attending the Aurora Borealis to the Society, where they were agreeably received. The^ President asked me whether they were intended as a communication to the Society through me? I told him no, but were sent merely for my entertainment; but, as they related to a matter which might be a subject of future investigation, I thought it best to lodge them among the archives of the Society, that they might be useful in such case.

The Witch Law discovers a great deal of zeal and very little knowledge, and yet, no doubt, it was thought in its day the product of consummate wisdom. It is a great happiness to live in a day when such ignorance and delusion are unknown. The rage now seems to be to banish Tories; and, from the spirit which at present appears, it seems probable they will never be allowed to return. This ought to be the case. They chose their side, let them take the consequence.

Remember me affectionately to Mrs. B.

Adieu. Eben. Hazard.

Phlogisticated" Air is air impregnated with the inflammable principle.

Fixed Air is that kind which issues from fermenting substances. Inflammable Air is that which arises from stagnant waters.

It is probable that one of the great laboratories of Nature for cleansing and purifying the air of our atmosphere is placed in the substance of the leaves of trees and plants, and put in action by the influence of the light; and that the air thus purified (but in this state grown noxious or useless to the plant) is thrown out for the greatest part by the excretory ducts, placed chiefly, at least in far the most part of plants, on the under side of the leaf.

Dephlogisticated air is specifically heavier than common air, and is rather inclined to settle on the surface of the earth among the animal creation; and the air which is become hurtful to us by corruption, breathing, &c, rises soon up out of our reach.

Plants have a power to correct bad and to improve good air.

Winds will blow away the noxious particles of the air, and bring on air corrected by the waters of the seas, lakes, &c.

The shaking of foul air in water will, in a great measure, correct it.

The production of dephlogisticated air from the leaves of plants is not owing to the warmth of the sun, but chiefly, if not wholly, to the light

Dry plants have very little or no power to affect air j but, when moistened, they affect air.

All plants possess a power of correcting, in a few hours, foul air unfit for respiration; but only in a clear light or in the sunshine.

All plants yield a greater or less quantity of dephlogisticated air in the day-time, when growing in the open air and free from dark shade.

Plants evaporate by night bad air, and foul the common air which surrounds them; yet this is far overbalanced by their beneficial operation in the day.

All roots, few excepted, when left out of the ground, yield by day and by night foul air, and infect the surrounding air. Flowers ooze out (by day and night) an unwholesome air, and spoil at any time and in every place a considerable body of air in which they are placed.

All fruits in general exhale a deleterious air by day and by night, in the light and in the dark, and possess a remarkable power of spreading a poisonous quality through the surrounding air.

The power of plants in correcting bad air is greater than their faculty of improving good air.

Plants placed in a room so as to receive all the light of the sun possible contribute somewhat to purify the air of the room; the contrary, if placed in the most shady part.

At night they absolutely tend to foul the air. I should not suffer them to be kept in a room at night where a sick person is.

BELKNAP TO HAZAKD.

Dover, June 23, 1783.

My Dear Sir, — I got home the Saturday before last, after an absence of about three weeks, wrhich is a very long one for me. I find that Mr. Libbey # has distributed the papers you sent him, and that two of them have found their way to Dover. A difficulty has arisen here about the subscription, which would never have existed but in such a place. You must know, sir, that in this lumber country it is common to pay debts and give obligations to pay theni in boards. When the phrase "in boards" came to be read, which immediately follows the dollar and one-third in the conditions, they were at a loss where the boards should be delivered, and who should receive them. Accordingly, I was gravely made acquainted with the difficulty; and you may guess how I received their information. T was obliged to shew them a book stitched and covered in the form I expected this would be, and tell them, as I would a child, that the boards mentioned were pasteboard with which the book was to be covered, and not pine boards received for the pay. Thus you have a specimen of Dover. How it will be understood, or what effect it will have in other parts of this ignorant wooden world, I know not.

I mentioned to you, in one of my letters from Boston, that my brother Eliot desired to correspond with you, while in England, whither he will go in a few days, and I suppose will be absent near a twelvemonth. I now add that, since the very kind proposal you made to me about printing my book, he is earnestly desirous of being acquainted with you. It will not be improper that I should give you a short sketch of his character and connexions. He is a, merchant who thoroughly understands business, and has large connexions in England, where he was about twelve years ago. He is a man of good sense, quick perception, high sensibility, pretty largely acquainted with modern authors, among whom Dr. Johnson is a great favourite. He is a person of strict integrity, has acquired a pretty considerable fortune entirely by his own industry; but these late times have given a severe check to his pursuits, as he could never give into the arts of peddling, speculation, or monopoly. He is now a widower, has an only daughter of 7 years old, who is a sweet, engaging child, and in whom his whole soul is wrapped up, having lost two before her birth. He is a bitter enemy to all quackery in religion or politics, and zealously attached to the West Church, of which he is a member, being initiated by the late Dr. Mayhew. He has had a long and intimate connexion with your Gen. Mifflin. Lately Dr. Gordon has got into his good graces, being esteemed by him a consistent friend to liberty, and a man of an independent spirit. He is also warmly attached to Pater West, not only for his sterling good sense, but for his " simplicity and godly sincerity/' Our friend the Freemason is another of his intimates, so that you see you are like to be in good company, if you are numbered among his friends.*

I have given him a full power and particular directions respecting a London edition of my work, which he appears to be engaged in with his usual zeal. You must direct your letters to the care of Wright & Gill, in Ab-Chnrch Lane, London, and put them into the hands of the shipmaster, with orders to deliver them in person, either there or at the house of Harrison & Ansley. This is his particular direction.

Portsmouth, Monday, P.m.

Have received the other bundle of papers of Mr. Libbey. Hope I shall hear from you next week more particularly than this. Mrs. B. desires her respects, and hopes soon to be able to send the same to Mrs. H.

Your obliged and affectionate friend,

Jeeemy Belknap.