Useful hints for learning to SWIM. By BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, LL. D. In a letter to a friend.

Dear Friend,

Cannot be of opinion with you, that it is too late in life for you to learn to fwim. The river near the bottom of your garden affords a moft convenient place for the purpose. And as your new employment requires your being often on the water, of which you have fach a dread, I think you would do well to make the trial; nothing being fo likely to remove thofe apprehenfions, as the consciousness of an ability to swim to the fhore in cate of an accident, or of fupporting yourself in the water till a boat could come to take you up.

I do not know how far corks or bladders may be useful in learning to fwim, having never seen much trial of them. Poffibly they may be of service in fupporting the body while you are learning what is called the ftroke, or that manner of drawing in and striking out the hands and feet that is neceffary to produce progreffive motion. But you will be no fwimmer till you can place fome confidence in the power of the water to fupport you; I would therefore advife the acquiring that confidence in the firft place; efpecially as I have known feveral, who, by a little of the practice neceffary for that purpose, have infenfibly acquired the stroke, taught as it were by

nature.

The practice I mean is this: Chufing a place where the water deepens gradually, walk coolly into it till it is up to your breaft; then turn round your face to the thore, and throw an egg into the water, between you and the fhore: it will fink to the bottom, and be easily feen there, as your water is clear. It must lie in the water fo deep as that you cannot reach it to take it up but by diving for it. To encourage yourself in order to do this, refet that your progrefs will be from deeper to fhallower water; and that at any time you may, by bringing your legs under you, and ftanding on the bottom, raife your head far above the water. Then plunge under it with your eyes open, throwing yourself towards the egg, and endeavouring, by the action of your hands and feet againft the water, to get forward till within reach of it. In this attempt you will find, that the water buoys you up against your inclination; that it is not so easy a thing to fink as

you imagined; that you cannot, but by active force, get down to the egg. Thus you feel the power of the water to fupport you, and learn to confide in that power; while your endeavours to overcome it, and to reach the egg, teach you the manner of acting on the water with your feet and hands, which action is afterwards ufed in fwimming to fupport your head higher above water, or to go. forward through it.

I would the more earnestly prefs you to the trial of this method, because, tho' I think I fatisfied you that your body is lighter than water, and that you might float in it a long time with your mouth free for breathing, if you would put yourfelf in a proper posture, and would be still, and forbear ftruggling; yet, till you have obtained this experimental confidence in the water, I cannot depend on your having the neceffary prefence of mind to recollect that posture, and the directions I gave you relating to it. The furprife may put all out of your mind. For though we value ourselves on being reasonable knowing creatures, reafon and knowledge feem, on fuch occafions, to be of little ufe to us: and the brutes, to whom we allow scarce a glimmering of either, appear to have the advantage of us.

I will, however, take this opportunity of repeating thofe particulars to you, which I mentioned in our last converfation; as, by pursuing them at your leifure, you may poffibly imprint them fo in your memory, as on occafion to be of fome ufe to you.

1. That tho' the legs, arms, and head, of a human body, being folid parts, are fpecifically fomewhat heavier than fresh water; yet the trunk, particularly the upper part, from its hollowness, is so much lighter than water, as that the whole of the body, taken together, is too light to fink wholly under water, but fome part will remain above, until the lungs become filled with water; which happens from drawing water into them inftead of air, when a perfon in the fright attempts breathing while the mouth and noftrils are under water.

2. That the legs and arms are fpecifically lighter than falt-water, and will be fupported by it; fo that a human body would not fink in falt-water, though the lungs were filled as above, but from the greater fpecific gravity of the head.

3. That therefore a person throwing himself on his back in falt-water, and

extending

extending his arms, may eafily lie fo as to keep his mouth and noftrils free for breathing; and, by a small motion of his hands, may prevent turning, if he fhould perceive any tendency to it.

4. That, in fresh water, if a man throws himself on his back, near the furface, he cannot long continue in that fituation, but by a proper action of his hands on the water. If he uses no fuch action, the legs and lower part of the body will gradually fink till he comes into an upright pofition; in which he will continue fufpended, the hollow of the breaft keeping the head uppermoft.

5. But if in this erect pofition the head is kept upright above the shoulders, as when we ftand on the ground, the immerfion will, by the weight of that part of the head that is out of water, reach above the mouth and noftrils, perhaps a little above the eyes, fo that a man cannot long remain fufpended in water with his head in that pofition.

6. The body continued fufpended as before,, and upright, if the head be lean ed quite back, fo that the face looks up. wards, all the back part of the head being then under water, and its weight confequently in a great measure fupported by it, the face will remain above water quite free for breathing, will rife an inch higher every inspiration, and fink as much every expiration, but never fo low as that the water may come over the mouth.

7. If therefore a perfon unacquainted with fwimming, and falling accidentally into the water, could have prefence of mind fufficient to avoid ftruggling and plunging, and to let the body take this natural pofition, he might continue long fafe from drowning, till perhaps help would come. For, as to the cloaths, their additional weight, while immerfed, is very inconfiderable, the water supporting it; though, when he comes out of the water, he would find them very heavy indeed.

But, as I faid before, I would not advife you or any one to depend on having this prefence of mind on fuch an occafion, but learn fairly to swim, as I wish all men were taught to do in their youth. They would, on many occurrences, be the fafer for having that skill; and on many more the happier, as freer from painful apprehenfions of danger, to fay nothing of the enjoyment in fo delightful and wholesome an exercise. Soldiers particularly should, methinks, all be

taught to fwim: it might be of frequent ufe either in furprising an enemy, or faving themselves. And if I had now boys to educate, I should prefer those fchools (other things being equal) where an opportunity was afforded for acquiring fo advantageous an art, which, once learnt, is never forgotten.-I am, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

From Sadi, a Perfian Hiftorian. Ofroes, King of Perfia, had a minifter,

whofe character was so amiable, that it was difficult to determine by whom he was most beloved, by the King, or by the people. At length this able minister demanded his dismission; but Cofroes, unwilling to lofe fuch a faithful and wife ftatefman, defired an explanation. "Why would you desert me? faid the afflicted monarch; have you any caufe of complaint? Has not the dew of my benevolence fallen upon thee? Have not all my flaves been ordered to make no distinction between thy orders and mine? Are not you next my heart? Have you any thing to afk that I can grant? Speak, and you shall be fatisfied; only do not think of leaving me." Mitranes, the minifter, made this reply: "O King, I have ferved thee with zeal and fidelity, and thou haft most am. ply rewarded me; but nature now requires from me one of the most facred of all du ties.-I have a fon, who can only learn from me how to ferve thee or thy fucceffors hereafter, as I have done; let me purfue this private duty, after all my care for the public." Cofroes granted his requeft, but upon this condition, that he fhould take the young prince his fon along with him into his retreat, and edu cate both the youths together. Mitranes fet out for his rural retreat; and after five or fix years abfence he returned, and carried his pupils to court. Cofroes was overjoyed to see his son again; but upon examination he was greatly chagrined to find that he had not made the fame progrefs in his ftudies as the fon of Mitranes; in fhort he was greatly inferior to him in point of real merit. The King complained to the minifter of this ftriking difference; and his reply fhould be a leffon to all young men of good difpofitions. “O King, my fon has made a better use than yours of the inftructions I gave to both;my attention has been equally divided be-a tween them; but my fon knows that his dependence must be on mankind, while I could never conceal from yours, that men would be dependent upon him."

AME

to the redoubt, which was accordingly done. On the 12th of September the redoubt was invefted, and early in the morning of the 21ft a battery of heavy cannon was opened against it; and, af. ter an inceffant fire on both fides for more than three hours, I found myself obliged to yield to the great fuperiority of his artillery, and to furrender the redoubt to Don Bernardo de Galvez, who commanded the troops of his Catholic Majesty.

I am confident I fhould not have been able to have made fo good a defence at Manchac, and of courfe to have procured fuch favourable terms for the troops under my command, and the country I was fent to protect."

The Colonel fays, "All the officers and men under my command behaved exceedingly well, and did every duty they were ordered with great chearfulnefs and exactness;”—“ adding, I must, in juftice to his Excellency Don Bernardo de Galvez, fay, that the officers and foldiers who are prifoners of war at this place, are treated with the greatest generofity and attention, not only by the officers, but even the Spanish foldiers feem to take pleasure in being civil and kind to the prifoners in general.”

By the capitulation, which was figned at Baton Rouge, Sept. 21. all the British troops in the fort of Baton Rouge were to march out with drums beating, pieces charged, and colours flying, 500 paces from the fort, where they fhould deliver their arms and colours to the troops under the command of Don Bernardo de Galvez, and furrender themselves prifoners of war, the field officers to have liberty to wear their fwords.-The fort at the Natchez, as depending on Baton Rouge, to be evacuated, and delivered up to his Excellency; the garrifon to have liberty of retiring to Penfacola, Jamaica, or fuch other place under the government of Britain as they fhould chufe. The effects of the officers and foldiers to remain their property, and be fent with them.-All negroes found in the garrison, and all flaves taken or reta ken in these environs fince the commencement of hoftilities, to be delivered to their mafters.--The inhabitants of the district to be under the fame laws, enjoy the fame privileges and immunities of religion and judicature, and have the fame magiftrates as they had under the English government, till peace be re-established;

this granted in every point that shall not be contrary to the Spanish laws, until his Catholic Majefty's pleasure be known. -The inhabitants to be kept in full pof. feflion of all their effects and flaves, and every thing belonging to them.-The cattle and provifions taken from the inhabitants for the Spanish troops to be paid for according to the established prices, on fufficient proofs being produced.-The inhabitants who chufe to quit the country, in order to fettle in fome part of the British dominions, to be provided with paffports for their perfons, families, and effects; to take the oath of fidelity, however, during their refidence in the jurifdiction of his Catholic Majefty, but to be exempted from bearing arms againft his Britannic Majefty.-No papers, public or private, to be feized, fearched, or examined.

A return is fubjoined of the different detachments of troops under the command of Col. Dickson, and of the poftsTM where they were made prifoners.The detachments were, Royal artillery, the 16th regiment, Waldeck regiment, corps 60th regiment, and an independent com pany.-The pofts were, Baton Rouge, Manchac, Thompson's Creek, river Amit, river Miffifippi, and the Lakes.The number of prifoners amounted to about 480; of whom upwards of twenty were officers, viz. 1 lieutenant-colonel, 5 captains, 8 lieutenants, 1 fecond lieu tenant, 2 enfigns, 1 adjutant, 1 quarter mafter, I commiffary, I furgeon, 2 affift ant furgeons, and 3 furgeons mates.

There is likewife fubjoined a return o the killed and wounded, viz. Killed: Ent Brock, of the 60th, 3d batt. Enf. Nolt ing, of Waldeck's, 2 rank and file; be fides, Lieut. Leonardi, 1 furgeon's mate 2 ferjeants, and 19 rank and file, of Wal deck's, and 7 rank and file of the 60th who died after being prifoners. Wound ed, 2 rank and file.

The Spaniards accused the British com manders of infincerity, in forming a d fign of falling upon them unawares b fore notice should arrive of the brea between the two courts. But by Ge Campbell's letter, this charge, whi was not known to his Excellency, clearly refuted, and indeed retorted; the attentive reader will readily fee, comparing the dates in the charge [21 with thofe in Gen. Campbell's letter Ld G. Germain." I cannot help ferving," fays Gen. Campbell,

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