[Footnote 202: Of the sun's altitude in order to calculate the latitude (see Note 2, p. 77).] [Footnote 203: Vessels armed and officered by private persons, but acting under a commission from government.] [Footnote 204: An inward current.] [Footnote 205: Studding sails are sails set between the edges of the chief square sails during a fair wind.] [Footnote 206: "Here terminates the Autobiography, as published by William Temple Franklin and his successors. What follows was written the last year of Dr. Franklin's life, and was never before printed in English."--BIGELOW'S _Autobiography of Franklin_, 1868, p. 350, note.] [Footnote 207: By word of mouth.] LETTERS REFERRED TO ON PAGE 89. FROM MR. ABEL JAMES (RECEIVED IN PARIS). "MY DEAR AND HONORED FRIEND: I have often been desirous of writing to thee, but could not be reconciled to the thought that the letter might fall into the hands of the British, lest some printer or busybody should publish some part of the contents, and give our friend pain, and myself censure. "Some time since there fell into my hands, to my great joy, about twenty-three sheets in thy own handwriting, containing an account of the parentage and life of thyself, directed to thy son, ending in the year 1730; with which there were notes, likewise in thy writing; a copy of which I inclose, in hopes it may be a means, if thou continued it up to a later period, that the first and latter part may be put together; and if it is not yet continued, I hope thee will not delay it. Life is uncertain, as the preacher tells us; and what will the world say if kind, humane, and benevolent Ben. Franklin should leave his friends and the world deprived of so pleasing and profitable a work; a work which would be useful and entertaining not only to a few, but to millions? The influence writings under that class have on the minds of youth is very great, and has nowhere appeared to me so plain as in our public friend's journals. It almost insensibly leads the youth into the resolution of endeavoring to become as good and eminent as the journalist. Should thine, for instance, when published (and I think it could not fail of it), lead the youth to equal the industry and temperance of thy early youth, what a blessing with that class would such a work be! I know of no character living, nor many of them put together, who has so much in his power as thyself to promote a greater spirit of industry and early attention to business, frugality, and temperance with the American youth. Not that I think the work would have no other merit and use in the world--far from it; but the first is of such vast importance that I know nothing that can equal it." The other letter, from Mr. Benjamin Vaughan, gave similar advice. THE WAY TO WEALTH,