Benjamin Franklin's Winter of Discontent in Passy, 1784–1785 Carla J. Mulford (bio) Ellen R. Cohn, et al., eds. The Papers of Benjamin Franklin, Volume 43, August 16, 1784, through March 15, 1785. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2018. lix + 564 pp. Illustrations, short title bibliography, chronology, texts, notes, and index. $125.00. As his grandson, William Temple Franklin, was preparing for a long-sought trip from Passy, France, to see his father in England, Benjamin Franklin sat down to write to his old friend, Richard Price, August 16, 1784. He began happily enough, listing letters written and received and reporting on the new "Art of Flying," clear proof that they had indeed entered "a new Epoch" (p. 12). "It will be well for your Philosophers," he said, to obtain from the French balloonists then heading over to England "what they know, or you will be behind-hand; which in mechanic Operations is unusual for Englishmen" (pp. 12–13). Franklin missed his friends in England. He was prevented from travelling anywhere—even outside his home for short rides—because the motion of carriages brought him tremendous pain and difficulty from "my Malady," his bladder and kidney stones. "I had indeed Thoughts of visiting England once more, and of enjoying the great Pleasure of seeing again my Friends there," he said. "I often think of the agreeable Evenings I used to pass with that excellent Collection of good Men" at the Club of Honest Whigs, he wrote, adding a "wish to be again among them. Perhaps I may pop in, some Thursday Evening when they least expect me" (p. 13). But Franklin was in a dark mood, one that lasted during the period covered by this volume of his papers. His mood spilled over into the letter to Price, where he expressed disdain for Britain's "present crazy Constitution, & its Diseases." He viewed the "enormous Emoluments of Place" to be "among the greatest" of Britain's diseases: "while they exist I doubt whether even the Reform of your Representation will cure the Evils constantly arising from your perpetual Factions" (p. 13). Parliament had become "a very expensive Machine for Government" in Britain (p. 13). Disgruntled with the British government's impasse regarding trade with North America, its radically partisan understanding of the situation in America, and its obstruction of any olive branches the [End Page 553]American commissioners might have offered, Franklin felt trapped by the political chicaneries and economic contraction taking place in both countries. Volume 43 of The Papers of Benjamin Franklinpicks up some of the threads of the previous volume, including issues related to the commission to examine claims about animal magnetism and mesmerism, Franklin's interest in balloon travel by air, his fascination with Julien-David Le Roy's experiments with ship design, and his effort to gain clarifications about several points in the definitive peace treaty of 1783. This volume includes a significant number of letters and documents importuning Franklin's assistance. Indeed, the number of requests Franklin received is simply overwhelming to read, even in an astutely and efficiently edited volume. No wonder Franklin was somewhat gloomy during this fall and winter of 1784 to 1785. He was unable to travel even to the homes of his close friends—Abigail Adams took "the Liberty of recommending a Sedan Chair" (p. 332)—and he was pestered by a significant number of often ridiculous requests. He was troubled by what he perceived to be the slights of Congress and the lack of the representatives' understanding about international diplomacy. He was having difficulty negotiating with Charles Gravier, comte de Vergennes, and a significant number of additional people about wartime assistance and repayments of loans. And he was unable to take part in scientific and social events to which he was invited. Worse, having decided that William Temple Franklin might go to visit with his father William in England, Franklin grew unhappy when Temple did not return during the summer, as anticipated. The range and complexity of the materials in this volume suggest it will be useful to summarize its contents under two general groupings, materials related to Franklin's political endeavors and those related...