CN
^r o
•CD
THE
9F
BENJAMI^J FRANKLIN
presentee) to
library
of tbe
of Toronto
Bertram 1R. Davis
from tbe boohs ot
tbe late Xionel Davis, Ik.C.
The Wisdom of
Benjamin Franklin
.
EING REFLECTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS ON MEN AND EVENTS, NOT INCLUDED IN POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC
CHOSEN FROM HIS COLLECTED PAPERS WITH INTRODUCTION
BY JOHN J. MURPHY
NEW YORK
Brentano's, Union SquarV
MCMVI
Copyright^ ipo6^ by Erentano's
CONTENTS
PREFACE, xi
LETTERS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, 3
RELIGIOUS OPINIONS, 7-37 Franklin's prayer, 9 Need of toleration, 14 Efcfictcy of prayer, 1 7 Multiplication of churches, 1 9 Benevolence a duty, 21 His view of death, 25 Faith in God's love, 27 Ordinations, 28
Inspiration of the Scriptures, 30 Hope of universal salvation, 31 /i tale of tolerance, 32 Profession of faith, 34 Infallible churches, 36
POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS, 39—73 Ambition and avarice, 41 Wisdom and wealth, 46 Property qualifications for voting, 47 Office seeking, 50 Governing, the noblest amusement, 52
VI CONTENTS
POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS — Continued Thoughts on the Republic, 54 Liberty, 5 5
The future of America, 55 The treachery of princes, 59 Patronage, the root of evil, 61 Non-sustained officeholders, 62 "The faith of an Act of Parliament," 62 An argument for peace, 65 The cost of war, 66 The effect of printing, 67 Enemies, 68
The prospect of English success, 69 Plea for an armistice, 70 Justice, 71
"No good war or bad peace," 73 Letter to Mr. Strahan, 73
SOCIAL CUSTOMS, 75-92 Hereditary legislators, 77 On the Order of the Cincinnati, 77
ECONOMIC VIEWS, 93-121 Emigration, 95 Happy mediocrity, 96
CONTENTS vil
ECONOMIC VIEWS — Continued
European and American opinions, 102
Free trade, 104
Taxation, 105
Manufacturers, 1 06
Land owning and independence, 107
Legislative corruption, 108
Monarchy better than oligarchy, 109
Landlordism, 110
The standard of value, 1 1 1
Patent system, 1 1 2
Industry, 1 1 2
A satire on pro-slavery arguments, 1 1 3
DOMESTIC RELATIONS, ^3-135 Modesty, 125 Bachelors, 127 Choice of a wife, 1 2 8 Moravian marriages, 1 28 Boys and church-going, 130 Domestic circumstance, 132 How to grow young, 133 Infirmities of age, 134 Give the old their own way, 134
Vlll CONTENTS
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE, 137-173 The art of virtue, 139 Contrast between Cato and Cretico, 141 In public affairs, 1 49 Advice, 1 50
How to make up one's mind, 152 The malice of mankind, I 5 5 Optimism and pessimism, 158 The love of praise, 163 The philosophy of hats, 167 Social courage and cowardice, 169
MISCELLANEA, 175-193
In praise of wine, 177
Potts and Parsons, 182
What dishonors a family, 183
Simplified spelling, 184
Newspaper abuse, 186
On lending money, 187
The training of children, 189
The art of conversation, 190
Poetic fragment, 1 90
Happiness and wisdom, 191
Anecdotes, 192 SERVICES OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, 194-202
PREFACE
PREFACE
I
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN of
Philadelphia, PRINTER, late Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of America, to the Court of France, now President of the State of Pennsylvania " — these opening words from the preamble of Doctor Franklin's will are as characteristic of the man as any he ever wrote. To a proper pride in the dignities which at first a necessi- tous and later a grateful nation delighted to bestow on him, he added a cordial love of the craft of his earliest triumphs which gave him the financial independ- ence that so much benefited his country. Not unmindful of the privileges, which came to him in exceptional degree, of in- tercourse with the great, the learned and the wise, he ever retained his zest of association with the class from which he sprang, a zest unmingled with any trace of condescension, that virtue of the little
XI 1
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
great, for earlier than Burns he had recognized
The rank is but the guinea's stamp The man's the gowd for a' ///<//.
It is an interesting if profitless subject of speculation how many of the heroic figures whom genius, accident or oppor- tunity detached from the glorious back- ground of the Revolution, would have been known to us, had England been wiser or the Colonists weaker or had the inevitable conflict been postponed until the arrival of the Nineteenth Century. But of Franklin we can be sure. Alone of his great compatriots he had attained fame before the rupture and already oc- cupied a unique position in the minds of men of science the world over.
As an example of the typical Ameri- can (by which we mean the type of man
PREFACE
we would like the American to be) he alone contests the palm with Lincoln. Born amid the lowliest surroundings, early taking his place in the battle of life, winning by patience, ingenuity and courtesy the esteem of his associates, achieving an independence before his fortieth year, which enabled him to give practically his whole mature life to the public service, rising from compositor to Minister of the United States to the Court of France, and finally President of the State of Pennsylvania when he had passed by more than a decade the years of the psalmist, what romance can ap- peal to ambitious youth, like the bare story of Franklin's career? The mere recital of his employments is enough to awaken the smile of incredulity or to create the belief that he could not have filled them all with honor. Yet John- son's famous line in his Goldsmith epi-
XIV
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
Variety of his interests
taph, " nihil tetigit quod non ornavit " — " he touched nothing which he did not adorn " —applies with equal force to Franklin; printer, stationer and pub- lisher, philosopher, patriot and publicist, commissary, colonel and commander, sanitary engineer, statistician and satirist, philanthropist and abolitionist, electri- cian, legislator, diplomat, executive, in- ventor alike of musical instruments and stoves, Doctor of Laws, Fellow of the Royal Society, postmaster general of the Colonies, municipal reformer, author of Poor Richard's Almanac, founder of the Philadelphia Free Library and of the University of Philadelphia, the category of his avocations seems to leave no con- temporary branch of human effort un- touched. Not the least of his distinc- tions was that after his Poor Rich- ard's Almanac was named the " Bon- homme Richard " which floated Paul
PREFACE
XV
Jones long enough to win his fight with the Serapis, and then sank in glorious apotheosis.
Flattered, feted and cajoled as few men have been, he never lost his hold upon the realities of life but always saw the man beneath the robe of of- fice. His wigless head and simple garb amid the tawdry splendors of Versailles preached, in insistent tones, that re- publican simplicity which it has be- come the fashion in later days to make mock of.
The quality which distinguished Franklin in preeminent degree was that misnamed characteristic — common sense — so called perhaps for its extreme rarity or, was it that, in the man who first so designed it, the wish was father to the thought? Reverent without superstition he had only such respect for authority as experience showed it to deserve. In
His sim- plicity
His com-
"• •:
xvi THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
presenting this collection of excerpts from Franklin's writings to many who perhaps are unfamiliar with his work, it may be necessary to remark that Frank- lin did not regard himself, nor has he been regarded by his critics, as a literary man. He was always too much con- cerned for the success of the various causes which he undertook to trouble himself much as to methods of literary presentation. It is true that the few chapters of his autobiography which he found time to write have genuine liter- ary flavor and unrivalled charm. The great mass of his comment on men and events is however embedded in his po- litical and scientific papers and his corre- spondence, not easily accessible, from which the compiler has made his selec- tions.
If this book shall aid, in some small measure, the revival of public interest
PREFACE xvn
in one of the greatest, wisest and san- est citizens that the Republic has ever known, it will well repay the efforts of
THE EDITOR.
LETTERS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
LETTERS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON
DEAR SIR: Amid the public gratu- lations on your safe return to America, after a long absence and the many eminent services you have rendered it, for which as a benefited person I feel the obligation, permit an individual to join the public voice in expressing a sense of them; and to assure you, that, as no one entertains more respect for your character, so no one can salute you with more sincerity or with greater pleasure, than I do on the occasion. With the highest regard and greatest considera- tion, I am, dear Sir, &c.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
From George Washington to B. Franklin, Mount Vernon, Sept. 25, 1785.
DEAR SIR: The affectionate con- gratulations on the recovery of my health, and the warm expressions of personal friendship, which were con-
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
Washing- ton's eulogy */ Franklin
tained in your letter of the 6th instant, claim my gratitude. And the considera- tion, that it was written when you were afflicted with a painful malady, greatly increases my obligation for it.
Would to God, my dear Sir, that I could congratulate you upon the removal of that excruciating pain, under which you labor, and that your existence might close with as much ease to yourself, as its continuance has been beneficial to our country and useful to mankind; or, if the united wishes of a free people, joined with the earnest prayers of every friend to science and humanity, could relieve the body from pains and infirmities, that you could claim an exemption on this score. But this cannot be, and you have within yourself the only resource to which we can confidently apply for relief, a philo- sophic mind.
If to be venerated for benevolence,
LETTERS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON
if to be admired for talents, if to be esteemed for patriotism, if to be beloved for philanthropy, can gratify the human mind, you must have the pleasing conso- lation to know that you have not lived in vain. And I flatter myself that it will not be ranked among the least grate- ful occurrences of your life to be assured that, so long as I retain my memory, you will be recollected with respect, venera- tion and affection, by your sincere friend, GEORGE WASHINGTON.
From George Washington to B. Franklin. Sept. 23, 1789.
RELIGIOUS OPINIONS
RELIGIOUS OPINIONS
PETITION
INASMUCH as by reason of our ignorance we cannot be certain that many things, which we often hear men- tioned in the petitions of men to the Deity, would prove real goods, if they were in our possession, and as I have reason to hope and believe that the wisdom and goodness of my heavenly Father will not withhold from me a suitable share of temporal blessings, if by a virtuous and holy life I conciliate his favor and kindness; therefore I pre- sume not to ask such things; but rather, humbly, and with a sincere heart, express my earnest desire that he would gra- ciously assist my continual endeavours and resolutions of eschewing vice and embracing virtue; which kind of suppli- cations will at the same time remind me
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
in a solemn manner of my extensive duty.
That I may be preserved from athe- ism, impiety and profaneness; and, in my addresses to Thee, carefully avoid ir- reverence and ostentation, formality and odious hypocrisy, — Help me, O Father !
That I may be loyal to my prince, and faithful to my country, careful for its good, valiant in its defence, and obedient to its laws, abhorring treason as much as tyranny, — Help me, O Father!
That I may to those above me be dutiful, humble and submissive; avoid- ing pride, disrespect and contumacy,— Help me, O Father!
That I may to those below me be gracious, condescending, and forgiving, using clemency, protecting innocent dis- tress, avoiding cruelty, harshness, and oppression, insolence, and unreasonable seventy, — Help me, O Father!
RELIGIOUS OPINIONS
II
That I may refrain from calumny and detraction; that I may abhor and avoid deceit and envy, fraud, flattery, and hatred, malice, lying, and ingratitude — Help me, O Father!
That I may be sincere in friendship, faithful in trust, and impartial in judg- ment, watchful against pride, and against anger (that momentary madness), — Help me, O Father!
That I may be just in all my dealings, temperate in my pleasures, full of can- dor and ingenuousness, humanity and benevolence, — Help me, O Father!
That I may be grateful to my bene- factors, and generous to my friends, ex- ercising charity and liberality to the poor, and pity to the miserable, — Help me, O Father!
That I may possess integrity and evenness of mind, resolution in difficul- ties, and fortitude under affliction; that
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
I may be punctual in performing my promises, peaceable and prudent in my behaviour, — Help me, O Father!
That I may have tenderness for the weak, and reverent respect for the an- cient; that I may be kind to my neigh- bours, good-natured to my companions, and hospitable to strangers, — Help me, O Father!
That I may be honest and open- hearted, gentle, merciful, and good, cheerful in spirit, rejoicing in the good of others, — Help me, O Father !
That I may have a constant regard to honor and probity, that I may possess a perfect innocence and a good con- science, and at length become truly virtu- ous and magnanimous, — Help me, good God; help me, O Father!
And, forasmuch as ingratitude is one of the most odious of vices, let me not be unmindful gratefully to ac-
RELIGIOUS OPINIONS
knowledge the, favors I receive from Heaven.
THANKS
FR peace and liberty, for food and raiment, for corn, and wine, and
milk, and every kind of healthful nour- ishment,— Good God, I thank thee !
For the common benefits of air and light, for useful fire and delicious water, — Good God, I thank thee !
For knowledge and literature, and every useful art; for my friends and their prosperity, and for the fewness of my enemies, — Good God, I thank thee!
For all thy innumerable benefits; for life, and reason, and the use of speech; for health and joy, and every pleasant hour, — My good God, I thank thee!
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
The need oj toleration
HONORED FATHER: I have your favors of the 2ist of March, in which you both seem con- cerned lest I have imbibed some errone- ous opinions. Doubtless I have my share; and when the natural weakness and imperfection of human understand- ing is considered, the unavoidable influ- ence of education, custom, books, and company upon our ways of thinking, I imagine a man must have a good deal of vanity who believes, and a good deal of boldness who affirms, that all the doc- trines he holds are true, and all he re- jects are false. And perhaps the same may be justly said of every sect, church, and society of men, when they assume to themselves that infallibility, which they deny to the Pope and councils.
I think opinions should be judged of by their influence and effects; and, if a man holds none that tend to make him
RELIGIOUS OPINIONS
less virtuous or more vicious, it may be concluded he holds none that are danger- ous; which I hope is the case with me.
I am sorry you should have any un- easiness on my account; and, if it were a thing possible for one to alter his opin- ions in order to please another, I know none whom I ought more willingly to oblige in that respect than yourselves. But, since it is no more in a man's power to think than to look like another, me- thinks all that should be expected of me is, to keep my mind open to conviction, to hear patiently, and examine atten- tively, whatever is offered me for that end; and, if after all I continue in the same errors, I believe your usual charity will induce you to rather pity and ex- cuse, than blame me. In the meantime your care and concern for me is what I am very thankful for.
My mother grieves, that one of her
A mind open to conviction
i6
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
Deeds, not thoughts
sons is an Arian, another an Arminian. What an Arminian or an Arian is, I can- not say that I very well know. The truth is, I make such distinctions very little my study. I think vital religion has always suffered, when orthodoxy is more regarded than virtue; and the Scriptures assure me, that at the last day we shall not be examined what we thought, but what we did; and our rec- ommendation will not be, that we said,. Lord! Lord! but that we did good to our fellow creatures. (See Matt, xxv.) As to the freemasons, I know no way of giving my mother a better account of them than she seems to have at present, since it is not allowed that women should be admitted into that secret society. She has, I must confess, on that account, some reason to be displeased with it; but, for anything else, I must entreat her to suspend her judgment till she is better
RELIGIOUS OPINIONS
informed, unless she will believe me, when I assure her, that they are in gen- era^a very harmless sort of people, and have no principles or practices that are inconsistent with religion and good man- ners.
To Josiah Franklin. April 13, 1738.
OUR people are extremely impatient to hear of your success at Cape Breton. My shop is filled with thirty inquiries at the coming in of every post. Some wonder the place is not yet taken. I tell them I shall be glad to hear that news three months hence. Fortified towns are hard nuts to crack; and your teeth have not been accustomed to it. Taking strong places is a particular trade, which you have taken up without serving an apprenticeship to it. Armies and veterans need skilful engineers to direct them in their attack. Have you
i8
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
any? But some seem to think forts are Prayers as easy taken as snuff. Father Moody's prayers look tolerably modest. You have a fast and prayer day for that pur- pose; in which I compute five hundred thousand petitions were offered up to the same effect in New England, which added to the petitions of every family morning and evening, multiplied by the number of days since January 25th, make forty-five millions of prayers; which, set against the prayers of a few priests in the garrison, to the Virgin Mary, give a vast balance in your favor. If you do not succeed, 1 fear I shall have but an indifferent opinion of Pres- byterian prayers in such cases, as long as I live. Indeed, in attacking strong towns I should have more dependence on works, than on faith ; for, like the king- dom of heaven, they are to be taken by force and violence ; and in a French gar-
Works, not faith
RELIGIOUS OPINIONS
rison I suppose there are devils of that kind, that they are not to be cast out by prayers and fasting, unless it be by their own fasting for want of provisions. I believe there is Scripture in what I have wrote, but I cannot adorn the margin with quotations, having a bad memory, and no Concordance at hand; besides no more time than to subscribe myself, &c.
B. FRANKLIN.
To John Franklin at Boston. Philadelphia, 1745.
YOUR tenderness of the Church's peace is truly laudable; but, me- thinks, to build a new church in a grow- ing place, is not properly dividing but multiplying; and will really be the means of increasing the number of those, who worship God in that way. Many, who cannot now be accommodated in the church, go to other places, or stay at home; and, if we had another church,
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
many who go to other places or stay at home, would go to church. I suppose the interest of the church has been far from suffering in Boston by the building of two churches there in my memory. I had for several years nailed against the wall of my house a pigeon-box, that would hold six pair; and, though they bred as fast as my neighbour's pigeons, I never had more than six pair, the old and strong driving out the young and weak, and obliging them to seek new habitations. At length I put up an ad- ditional box with apartments for enter- taining twelve pair more; and it was soon filled with inhabitants, by the over- flowing of my first box, and of others in the neighborhood. This I take to be a parallel case with the building a new church here. To Samuel Johnson. Philadelphia, Aug. 23, 1 750.
RELIGIOUS OPINIONS
21
FOR my own part, when I am em- ployed in serving others, I do not look upon myself as conferring favors, but as paying debts. In my travels, and since my settlement, I have received much kindness from men, to whom I shall never have any opportunity of making the least direct return ; and num- berless mercies from God, who is infi- nitely above being benefited by our serv- ices. Those kindnesses from men, I can therefore only return on their fellow men, and I can only show my gratitude for these mercies from God, by a readi- ness to help his other children and my brethren. For I do not think, that thanks and compliments, though re- peated weekly, can discharge our real obligations to each other, and much less those to our Creator. You will see in this my notion of good works, that I am far from expecting to merit heaven
Benevo- lence not a favor but a duty
22
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
Virtue its own reward
by them. By heaven, we understand a state of happiness, infinite in degree and eternal in duration. I can do nothing to deserve such rewards. He that, for giving a draft of water to a thirsty per- son, should expect to be paid by a good plantation, would be modest in his de- mands, compared with those who think they deserve heaven for the little good they do on earth. Even the mixed, im- perfect pleasures we enjoy in this world, are rather from God's goodness than our merit; how much more such happiness of heaven ! For my part I have not the vanity to think I deserve it, the folly to expect it, nor the ambition to de- sire it; but content myself by submit- ting to the will and disposal of that God who made me, who has hitherto pre- served and blessed me, and in whose fatherly goodness I may well confide, that he will never make me miserable;
RELIGIOUS OPINIONS
and that even the afflictions I may at any time suffer shall tend to my benefit. The faith you mention has certainly its use in the world. I do not desire to see it diminished, nor would I endeavour to lessen it in any man. But I wish it were more productive of good works, than I have generally seen it; I mean real good works; works of kindness, charity, mercy, and public spirit; not holiday-keeping, sermon-reading or hear- ing; performing church ceremonies, or making long prayers, filled with flatter- ies and compliments, despised even by wise men, and much less capable of pleasing the Deity. The worship of God is a duty; the hearing and reading of sermons may be useful; but, if men rest in hearing and praying, as too many do, it is as if a tree should value itself on being watered and putting forth leaves, though it never produced any fruit.
IHi; WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
Christian
Your great master thought much less of these outward appearances and pro- fessions, than many of his modern disci- ples. He preferred the doers of the word, to the mere hearers] the son that seemingly refused to obey his father, and yet performed his commands, to him that professed his readiness, but neglected the work; the heretical but charitable Samaritan, to the uncharitable though orthodox priest and sanctified Levite; and those who gave food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, raiment to the naked, entertainment to the stranger, and relief to the sick, though they never heard of his name, he declares shall in the last day be accepted ; when those who cry Lord! Lord! who value themselves upon their faith, though great enough to perform miracles, but have neglected good works, shall be rejected. He pro- fessed, that he came not to call the right-
RELIGIOUS OPINIONS
eous, but sinners to repentance; which implied his modest opinion, that there were some in his time so good, that they need not hear even him for improve- ment; but now-a-days we have scarce a little parson, that does not think it the duty of every man within his reach to sit under his petty ministrations; and that whoever omits them offends God.
I wish to such more humility, and to you health and happiness, being your friend and servant.
B. FRANKLIN.
To George \\'h itc fit-Id. Ph iladrlph in , J nnc 6, 1 753.
WE are spirits. That bodies should be lent us, while they can afford us pleasure, assist us in acquiring knowl- edge, or in doing good to our fellow creatures, is a kind and benevolent act of God. When they become unfit for these purposes, and afford us pain in-
26
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
I Fix view o} death
stead of pleasure, instead of an aid be- come an incumb ranee, and answer none of the intentions for which they were given, it is equally kind and benevolent, that a way is provided by which we may get rid of them. Death is that way. We ourselves, in some cases, prudently choose a partial death. A mangled, painful limb, which cannot be restored we willingly cut off. He, who plucks out a tooth, parts with it freely, since the pain goes with it; and he, who quits the whole body, parts at once with all pains, and possibility of pains and dis- eases, which it was liable to, or capable of making him suffer.
Our friend and we were invited abroad on a party of pleasure, which is to last forever. His chair was ready first and he has gone before us. We could not all conveniently start together ; and why should you and I be grieved at
RELIGIOUS OPINIONS
27
this, since we are soon to follow, and know where to find him?
To Miss E. Hubbard. Philadelphia, Feb. 23, 1 756.
wishes as my
YOUR frequently repeated for my eternal, as well temporal happiness, are very obliging, and I can only thank you for them and offer you mine in return. I have myself no doubt, that I shall enjoy as much of both as is proper for me. That Being, who gave me existence, and through almost threescore years has been contin- ually showering his favors upon me, whose very chastisements have been blessings to me; can I doubt that he loves me? And, if he loves me, can I doubt that he will go on to take care of me, not only here but hereafter? This to some may seem presumption; to me it appears the best grounded hope; hope
His faith in the love of Cod
28
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
of the future built on experience of the past.
To George Whitefield. Philadelphia, June 19, 1764.
"A cross old gentle- man at
Canter- bury "
IF the British Islands were sunk in the sea (and the surface of the globe has suffered greater changes) , you would probably take some such method as this ; and, if they persist in denying your ordi- nation, it is the same thing. A hundred years hence, when people are more en- lightened, it will be wondered at, that men in America, qualified by their learn- ing and piety to pray for and instruct their neighbours, should not be permitted to do it until they had made a voyage of six thousand miles out and home, to ask leave of a cross old gentleman at Can- terbury; who seems, by your account, to have as little regard for the souls of the
RELIGIOUS OPINIONS
people of Maryland, as King William's Attorney General, Seymour, had for those of Virginia. The Reverend Com- missary Blair, who projected the Col- lege of that Province, and was in England to solicit benefactions and a charter, relates, that when the Queen, in the King's absence, ordered Seymour to draw up the charter, which was to be given, with two thousand pounds in money, he opposed the grant; saying that the nation was in an expensive war, that the money was wanted for better purposes, and he did not see the least occasion for a college in Virginia. Blair represented to him, that its intention was to educate and qualify young men to be ministers of the Gospel, much wanted there; and begged Mr. Attor- ney would consider, that the people of Virginia had souls to be saved, as well as the people of England. " Souls! "
3°
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
said he, " damn your souls. Make tobacco. "
To Messrs. Weems and Cant, citizens of the United States in London. July 18, 1784.
Opinion on the Bible
YOUR companions would be very acceptable to the Library, but I hoped you would long live to enjoy their company yourself. I agreed with you in sentiments concerning the Old Testa- ment, and thought the clause in our Con- stitution which required the members of Assembly to declare their belief, that the whole of it was given by divine inspira- tion, had better have been omitted. That I had opposed the clause; but, be- ing overpowered by numbers, and fear- ing more might in future times be grafted on it, I prevailed to have the additional clause, " that no further or more extended profession of faith should d-er be exacted." 1 observed to you
RELIGIOUS OPINIONS
too, that the evil of it was the less, as no inhabitant, nor any officer of govern- ment, except the members of Assembly, was obliged to make that declaration.
So much for that letter; to which I may now add, that there are several things in the Old Testament, impossible to be given by divine inspiration ; such as the approbation ascribed to the angel of the Lord, of that abominably wicked and detestable action of Jael, the wife of Heber, the Kenite.* If the rest of the book were like that, I should rather suppose it given by inspiration from an- other quarter, and renounce the whole.
To a friend in England. Supposed to be Dr. Priestley. Aug. 21, 1784.
YOU tell me our poor friend Ben Kent is gone; I hope to the re- gions of the blessed; or at least to some
* Judges, Chapter IV.
.' •
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
place where souls are prepared for those regions. I found my hope on this, that, though not so orthodox as you and I, he was an honest man, and had his virtues. If he had any hypocrisy it was of that inverted kind, with which a man is not so bad as he seems to be. And, with regard to future bliss, I cannot help im- agining, that multitudes of the zealously orthodox of different sects, who at the last day may flock together in hopes of seeing each other damned, will be disap- pointed, and obliged to rest content with their own salvation. To Mrs. Elizabeth Partridge. Nov. 25, 1788.
Story of a vision
A TALE
AN officer named Montresor, a worthy man, was very ill. The curate of his parish thinking him likely to die, advised him to make his peace
RELIGIOUS OPINIONS
with God, that he might be received into Paradise. u I have not much uneasi- ness on the subject," said Montresor, " for I had a vision last night which has perfectly tranquilized my mind." " What vision have you had? " said the good priest. " I was," replied Mon- tresor, " at the gate of Paradise, with a crowd of people who wished to enter, and St. Peter inquired of every one what religion he was of. One answered, l I am a Roman Catholic.' * Well/ said St. Peter, * enter, and take your place there among the Catholics.' Another said he was of the Church of England. ' Well,' said the Saint, * enter and place yourself there among the Anglicans.' A third said he was a Quaker. 4 Enter,' said St. Peter, ' and take your place among the Quakers.' At length my turn being come, he asked me of what religion I was. 'Alas!' said I, 'poor Jacques
34
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
Montresor has none.' 'Tis pity/ said the Saint; * I know not where to place you; but enter nevertheless, and place yourself where you can? '
Miscellaneous.
Franklin's crctd
YOU desire to know something of my religion. It is the first time I have been questioned upon it. But I cannot take your curiosity amiss, and shall endeavour in a few words to grat- ify it. Here is my creed. I believe in one God, the creator of the universe. That he governs it by his Providence. That he ought to be worshipped. That the most acceptable service we render to him is doing good to his other children. That the soul of man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting its conduct in this. These I take to be the fundamental points in all sound religion, and I regard them as
RELIGIOUS OPINIONS
you do, in whatever sect I meet with them.
As to Jesus of Nazareth, my opinion of whom you particularly desire, I think his system of morals and his religion as he left them to us, the best the world ever saw or is like to see; but I appre- hend it has received various corrupting changes, and I have, with most of the Dissenters in England, some doubts as to his divinity; though it is a question I do not dogmatize upon, having never studied it, and think it needless to busy myself with it now, when I expect soon an opportunity of knowing the truth with less trouble. I see no harm, how- ever, in its being believed, if that belief has the good consequence, as probably it has, of making his doctrines more re- spected and more observed; especially as I do not perceive, that the Supreme takes it amiss, by distinguishing the unbeliev-
36 THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
ers in his government of the world with any peculiar marks of his displeasure.
I shall only add, respecting myself, that, having experienced the goodness of that Being in conducting me prosper- ously through a long life, I have no doubt of its continuance in the next, though without the smallest conceit of meriting such goodness. To Ezra Stiles. March 9, 1790.
IN reading over my letter, I perceive an omission of my thanks for your kind assurances of never forsaking my defence, should there be need. I appre- hend that the violent antipathy of a cer- tain person to me may have produced some calumnies, which, what you have seen and heard here may enable you to refute. You will thereby exceedingly oblige one, who has lived beyond all other ambition, than that of dying with
RELIGIOUS OPINIONS
the fair character he has long endeav- oured to deserve. As to my infallibility, which you do not undertake to maintain, I am too modest myself to claim it, that is, in general', though when we come to particulars, I, like other people, give it up with difficulty. Steele says, that the difference between the Church of Rome and the Church of England on that point, is only this; that the one pretends to be infallible, and the other to be never in the wrong. In this latter sense, we are most of us Church of England men, though few of us confess it so naturally and frankly as a lady here, who said, " I do not know how it happens, but I meet with nobody, except myself, that is al- ways in the right; Je ne troircc qne moi (jiti a toujotirs raison" Postscript to Letter to Henry Laurens. March 12, 1784-
POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS
POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS
SIR: There are two passions which have a powerful influence in the affairs of men. These are ambition and avarice; the love of power and the love of money. Separately, each of these has great force in prompting men to action; but, when united in view of the same object, they have in many minds the most violent effects. Place before the eyes of such men a post of honor, that shall at the same time be a place of profit, and they will move heaven and earth to obtain it. The vast number of such places, it is, that renders the British government so tempestuous. The strug- gles for them are the true source of all those factions which are perpetually di- viding the nation, distracting its councils, hurrying it sometimes into fruitless and mischievous wars, and often compelling a submission to dishonorable terms of peace.
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
The char- acter oj politicians
And of what kind are the men that will strive for this profitable preemin- ence, through all the bustle of cabal, the heat of contention, the infinite mutual abuse of parties, tearing to pieces the best of characters? It will not be the wise and moderate, the lovers of peace and good order, the men fittest for the trust. It will be the bold and the vio- lent, the men of strong passions and in- defatigable activity in their selfish pur- suits. These will thrust themselves into your government, and be your rulers. And these, too, will be mistaken in the expected happiness of their situation; for their vanquished competitors, of the same spirit, and from the same motives, will perpetually be endeavouring to dis- tress their administration, thwart their measures, and render them odious to the people.
POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS
43
It may be imagined by some, that this is an Utopian idea, and that we can never find men to serve us in the execu- tive department, without paying them well for their services. I conceive this to be a mistake. Some existing facts present themselves to me, which incline me to a contrary opinion. The high sheriff of a county in England is an hon- orable office, but it is not a profitable one. It is rather expensive, and there- fore not sought for. But yet it is exe- cuted, and well executed, and usually by some of the principal gentlemen of the county. In France, the office of coun- sellor, or member of their judiciary par- liaments, is more honorable. It is there- fore purchased at a high price; there are indeed fees on the law proceedings, which are divided among them, but these fees do not amount to more than three per cent on the sum paid for the place.
Honor or profit
44
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
Therefore, as legal interest is there at five per cent, they in fact pay two per cent for being allowed to do the judi- ciary business of the nation, which is at the same time entirely exempt from the burthen of paying them any salaries for their services. I do not, however, mean to recommend this as an eligible mode for our judiciary department. I only bring the instance to show, that the pleasure of doing good and serving their country, and the respect such conduct en- titles them to, are sufficient motives with some minds, to give up a great portion of their time to the public, without the mean inducement of pecuniary satisfac- tion.
Another instance is that of a respect- able society, who have made the experi- ment, and practiced it with success, now more than a hundred years. I mean the Quakers. It is an established rule with
Practice of the Quakers
POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS
45
them that they are not to go to law, but in their controversies they must apply to their monthly, quarterly, and yearly meetings. Committees of these sit with patience to hear the parties, and spend much time in composing their differ- ences. In doing this, they are sup- ported by a sense of duty, and the respect paid to usefulness. It is honorable to be so employed, but it was never made profitable by salaries, fees or perquisites. And, indeed, in all cases of public service, the less the profit the greater the honor. To bring the matter nearer home, have we not seen the greatest and most important of our offices, that of general of our armies, executed for eight years together, without the smallest salary, by a patriot whom I will not now offend by any other praise; and this, through fa- tigues and distresses, in common with the other brave men, his military friends
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
and companions, and the constant anxi- eties peculiar to his station ? And shall we doubt finding three or four men in all the United States, with public spirit enough to bear sitting in peaceful coun- cil, for perhaps an equal term, merely to preside over our civil concerns, and see that our laws are duly executed? Sir, I have a better opinion of our country. I think we shall never be without a suffi- cient number of wise and good men to undertake, and execute well and faith- fully, the office in question. Speech in the Convention. On the subject of salaries.
Wisdom and wealth
IS it supposed that wisdom is the neces- sary concomitant of riches, and that one man worth a thousand pounds must have as much wisdom as twenty who have each only nine hundred and ninety- nine; and why is property to be repre-
POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS
sented at all? Suppose one of our In- dian nations should now agree to form a civil society; each individual would bring into the stock of the society little more property than his gun and his blanket, for at present he has no other. We know, that, when one of them has at- tempted to keep a few swine, he has not been able to maintain a property in them, his neighbours thinking they have a right to kill and eat them whenever they want provision, it being one of their maxims that hunting is free for all; the accumu- lation therefore of property in such a society, and its security to individuals in every society, must be an effect of the protection afforded to it by the joint strength of the society, in the execution of its laws. Private property therefore is a creature of society, and is subject to the calls of that society, whenever its ne- cessities shall require it, even to its last
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
farthing; its contributions to the public exigencies are not to be considered as conferring a benefit on the public, enti- tling the contributors to the distinctions of honor and power, but as the return of an obligation previously received, or the payment of a just debt. The combina- tions of civil society are not like those of a set of merchants, who club their property in different proportions for building and freighting a ship, and may therefore have some right to vote in the disposition of the voyage in a greater or less degree according to their respective contributions; but the important ends of civil society, and the personal securities of life and liberty there, remain the same in every member of the society; and the poorest continues to have an equal claim to them with the most opulent, whatever difference time, chance, or industry may occasion in their circumstances. On
POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS
these considerations, I am sorry to see the signs this paper I have been consider- ing affords, of a disposition among some of our people to commence an aristoc- racy, by giving the rich a predominancy in government, a choice peculiar to them- selves in one half the legislature to be proudly called the UPPER House, and the other branch, chosen by the majority of the people, degraded by the denom- ination of the LOWER; and giving to this upper House a permanency of four years, and but two to the lower. I hope, therefore, that our Representatives in the convention will not hastily go into these innovations, but take the advice of the Prophet, " Stand in the old ways, the ancient paths, consider them «;£//, and be not among those that are given to change"
From Queries and Remarks. Respecting altera- tions in the Constitution oj Pennsylvania.
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
Office seeking
THESE applications are my per- petual torment. People will be- lieve, notwithstanding my repeated dec- larations to the contrary, that I am sent hither to engage officers. In truth, I never had any such orders. It was never so much as intimated to me, that it would be agreeable to my constituents. I have even received for what I have done of the kind, not indeed an absolute rebuke, but some pretty strong hints of disapprobation. Not a day passes in which I have not a number of soliciting visits, besides letters. If I could gratify all, or any of them, it would be a pleasure. I might, indeed, give them the recommendation and the promises they desire, and thereby please them for the present; but, when the certain disap- pointment of the expectations with which they will so obstinately flatter themselves shall arrive, they must curse me for com-
POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS
plying with their mad requests, and not undeceiving them; and will become so many enemies to our cause and country.
You can have no conception how I am harassed. All my friends are sought out and teazed to teaze me. Great officers of all ranks, in all departments; ladies great and small, besides professed solicitors, worry me from morning to night. The noise of every coach now that enters my court terrifies me. I am afraid to accept an invitation to dine abroad, being almost sure of meeting with some officer or officer's friend, who, as soon as I am put in good humor by a glass or two of champagne, begins his attack upon me. Luckily I do not often in my sleep dream of these vexatious situations, or I should be afraid of what are now my only hours of comfort. If, therefore, you have the least remaining
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
Governing
kindness for me, if you would not help to drive me out of France, for God's sake, my dear friend, let this, your twenty-third, application be your last. Yours, &c.,
B. FRANKLIN.
To a friend. Passy, (date uncertain).
YOU do not " approve the annihila- tion of profitable places; for you do not see why a statesman, who does his business well, should not be paid for his labor as well as any other workman." Agreed. But why more than any other workman? The less the salary the greater the honor. In so great a nation there are many rich enough to afford giv- ing their time to the public; and there are, I make no doubt, many wise and able men, who would take as much pleas- ure in governing for nothing, as they do in playing chess for nothing. It would
POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS 53
be one of the noblest amusements. That this opinion is not chimerical, the coun- try I now live in affords a proof; its whole civil and criminal law administra- tion being done for nothing, or in some sense, for less than nothing; since the members of their judiciary parliaments buy their places, and do not make more than three per cent for their money by their fees and emoluments, while the legal interest is five; so that in fact they give two per cent to be allowed to gov- ern, and all their time and trouble into the bargain. Thus profit, one motive for desiring place, being abolished, there remains only ambition ; and that being in some degree balanced by loss, you may easily conceive, that there will not be very violent factions and contentions for such places, nor much of the mischief to the country, that attends your fac- tions, which have often occasioned wars,
54
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
and overloaded you with debts impay- able.
To William Strahan. Aug. 19, 1784.
Thoughts
on thf Republic
I AM glad to see by the papers that our grand machine has at length begun to work. I pray God to bless and guide its operations. If any form of government is capable of making a nation happy, ours I think bids fair now for producing that effect. But, after all, much depends upon the people who are to be governed. We have been guarding against an evil that old States are most liable to, excess of power in the rulers; but our present danger seems to be de- fect of obedience in the subjects. There is hope, however, from the enlightened state of this age and country, we may guard effectually against that evil as well as the rest. To Charles Carroll May 25, 1789.
POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS
55
I HOPE the fire of liberty, which you mention as spreading itself over Europe, will act upon the inestimable rights of man, as common fire does upon gold; purify without destroying them; so that a lover of liberty may find a country in any part of Christendom. To Samuel Moore. Nov. 5, 1789.
OUR expectations of the future grandeur of America are not so magnificent, and therefore not so vain or visionary, as you represent them to be. The body of our people are not merchants, but humble husbandmen, who delight in the cultivation of their lands, which, from their fertility and the variety of our climates, are capable of furnishing all the necessaries and con- veniences of life without external com- merce; and we have too much land to have the least temptation to extend our
Libtrty
Future grandeur of At>:
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
territory by conquest from peaceable neighbours, as well as too much justice to think of it. Our militia, you find by experience, are sufficient to defend our lands from invasion; and the commerce with us will be defended by all the na- tions who find an advantage in it. We, therefore, have not the occasion you im- agine, of fleets or standing armies, but may leave those expensive machines to be maintained for the pomp of princes, and the wealth of ancient states. We propose, if possible, to live in peace with all mankind; and after you have been convinced, to your cost, that there is nothing to be got by attacking us, we have reason to hope, that no other power will judge it prudent to quarrel with us, lest they divert us from our own quiet in- dustry, and turn us into corsairs preying upon theirs. The weight therefore of an independent empire, which you seem
The hope of peace
POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS
57
certain of our inability to bear, will not be so great as you imagine. The ex- pense of our civil government we have always borne, and can easily bear, be- cause it is small. A virtuous and labori- ous people may be cheaply governed. Determining, as we do, to have no offices of profit, nor any sinecures or useless ap- pointments, so common in ancient or cor- rupted states, we can govern ourselves for a year, for the sum you pay in a sin- gle department, or for what one jobbing contractor, by the favor of a minister, can cheat you out of in a single article. You think we flatter ourselves, and are deceived into an opinion that England must acknowledge our independency. We, on the other hand, think you flatter yourselves in imagining such an acknowl- edgment a vast boon, which we strongly desire, and which you may gain some great advantage by granting or with-
•
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
holding. We have never asked it of you ; we only tell you, that you can have no treaty with us but as an independent state; and you may please yourselves and your children with the rattle of your right to govern us, as long as you have done with your King's being King of France, without giving us the least concern, if you do not attempt to exercise it. That this pretended right is indisputable, as you say, we utterly deny. Your Parlia- ment never had a right to govern us, and your King has forfeited it by his bloody tyranny. But I thank you for letting me know a little of your mind, that, even if the Parliament should acknowledge our independency, the act would not be binding to posterity, and that your na- tion would resume and prosecute the claim as soon as they found it conven- ient from the influence of your passions, and your present malice against us. We
POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS
suspected before, that you would not be actually bound by your conciliatory acts, longer than till they had served their purpose of inducing us to disband our forces ; but we were not certain that you were knaves by principle, and that we ought not to have the least confidence in your offers, promises, or treaties, though confirmed by Parliament.
I now indeed recollect my being in- formed, long since, when in England, that a certain very great personage, then young, studied much a certain book, called Arcana Imperil. I had the curi- osity to procure the book and read it. There are sensible and good things in it, but some bad ones; for, if I remember rightly, a particular king is applauded for his politically exciting a rebellion among his subjects, at a time when they had not strength to support it, that he might, in subduing them, take away their
60 THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
privileges, which were troublesome to him; and a question is formally stated and discussed, " Whether a prince, who, to appease a revolt, makes promise of indemnity to the revolt ers, is obliged to fulfil those promises." Honest and good men would say, Ay; but this politi- cian says, as you say, No. And he gives this petty reason, that, though it was right to make the promises, because otherwise the revolt would not be sup- pressed, yet it would be wrong to keep them, because revolters ought to be pun- ished to deter from future revolts.
If these are the principles of your na- tion, no confidence can be placed in you ; it is in vain to treat with you; and the wars can only end in being reduced to an utter inability of continuing them.
POLITICAL OHSKKVATIONS
6l
YOUR papers are full of strange ac- counts of anarchy and confusion in America, of which we know nothing, while your own affairs are really in a deplorable situation. In my humble opinion, the root of the evil lies not so much in too long, or too unequally chosen Parliaments, as in the enormous salaries, emoluments, and patronage of your great offices; and that you will never be at rest until they are all abol- ished, and every place of honor made at the same time, instead of a place of profit, a place of expense and burden.
Ambition and avarice are each of them strong passions, and when they are united in the same person, and have the same objects in view for their gratifica- tion, they are too strong for public spirit and love of country, and are apt to pro- duce the most violent factions and con- tentions. They should therefore be
62
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
separated, and made to act one against the other. To William Strahan. Feb. 16, 1784.
Non-sus- tained office- holders
faith of an act of
1'iirl .
•
TO me, then, there seems to be but one effectual remedy, and that not likely to be adopted by so corrupt a nation; which is, to abolish these profits, and make every place of honor a place of burden. By that means the effect of one of the passions above mentioned would be taken away, and something would be added to counteract the other. Thus the number of competitors for great offices would be diminished, and the efforts of those, who still would ob- tain them, moderated.
To Henry Laurens. Feb. 12, 1784.
THIS proposition of delivering ourselves bound and gagged, ready for hanging, without even a right
POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS
to complain, and without a friend to be found afterwards among all mankind, you would have us embrace upon the faith of an act of Parliament! Good God ! an act of your Parliament ! This demonstrates that you do not yet know us, and that you fancy we do not know you; but it is not merely this flimsy faith, that we are to act upon; you offer us hope, the hope of PLACES, PENSIONS, and PEERAGES. These, judging from yourselves, you think are motives irre- sistible. This offer to corrupt us, Sir, is with me your credential, and convinces me that you are not a private volunteer in your application. It bears the stamp of British court character. It is even the signature of your King. But think for a moment in what light it must be viewed in America. By PLACES, you mean places among us, for you take care by a special article to secure your own to
64
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
A tar-and-
fcather honor
yourselves. We must then pay the sal- aries in order to enrich ourselves with these places. But you will give us PENSIONS, probably to be paid too out of your expected American revenue, and which none of us can accept without de- serving, and perhaps obtaining, a sus- pension. PEERAGES ! alas ! Sir, our long observation of the vast servile majority of your peers, voting constantly for every measure proposed by a minister, however weak or wicked, leaves us small respect for that title. We consider it as a sort of tar-and- feather honor, or a mixture of foulness and folly, which every man among us, who should accept it from your King, wrould be obliged to renounce, or exchange for that conferred by the mobs of their own country, or wear it with everlasting infamy. I am, Sir, your humble servant, B. FRANKLIN.
To Ctiarles De Weisscnstcin. Passy, July i, 1778.
POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS
WE make daily great improvements in natural, there is one I wish to see in moral philosophy; the discovery of a plan, that would induce and oblige nations to settle their disputes with- out first cutting one another's throats. When will human reason be sufficiently improved to see the advantage of this? When will men be convinced, that even successful wars become misfortunes, who unjustly commenced them, and who tri- umphed blindly in their success, not see- ing all its consequences. Your great comfort and mine in this war is, that we honestly and faithfully did everything in our power to prevent it. Adieu, and be- lieve me ever, my dear friend, yours, &c. B. FRANKLIN.
To Richard Price. Passy, Feb. 6, 1780.
I
|( )I\ with you most cordially in re- joicing at the return of peace. I
66
1 UK WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
The cost of war
hope it will be lasting, and that mankind will at length, as they call themselves reasonable creatures, have reason and sense enough to settle their differences without cutting throats; for, in my opin- ion, there never 'was a good war, or a bad peace. What vast additions to the convenience and comfort of living might mankind have acquired, if the money spent in wars had been employed in works of public utility! What an ex- tension of agriculture, even to the tops of our mountains; what rivers rendered navigable, or joined by canals; what bridges, aqueducts, new roads, and other public works, edifices and improvements, rendering England a complete Paradise, might have been obtained by spending those millions in doing good, which in the last war have been spent in doing mis- chief; in bringing misery into thousands of families, and destroying the lives of so
POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS
many thousands of working people, who
might have performed the useful labor!
Letter to Sir Joseph Banks. Passy, July 2 7, 1 783.
IT is a pleasing reflection, arising from the contemplation of our successful struggle, and the manly, spirited, and unanimous resolves at Dungannon, that liberty, which some years since appeared in danger of extinction, is now regaining the ground she had lost, that arbitrary governments are likely to become more mild and reasonable, and to expire by degrees, giving place to more equitable forms; one of the effects this of the art of printing, which diffuses so general a light, augmenting with the growing day, and of so penetrating a nature, that all the window shutters, which despotism and priestcraft can oppose to keep it out, prove insufficient. Letter /.» Sir Edward Newenham. Oct. 2, 1783.
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
1HAVE, as you observe, some ene- mies in England, but they are my enemies as an American-, I have also two or three in America, who are my enemies as a minister; but I thank God there are not in the whole world any wrho are my enemies as a man\ for by his grace, through a long life, I have been enabled so to conduct myself, that there does not exist a human being who can justly say, " Ben. Franklin has wronged me." This, my friend, is in old age, a comfort- able reflection. You too have, or may have, your enemies; but let not that ren- der you unhappy. If you make a right use of them they will do you more good than harm. They point out to us our faults; they put us upon our guard, and help us to live more correctly. To John Jay. Jan. 6, 1784.
POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS
69
DEAR SIR: I am to set out to-mor- row for the camp, and having but just heard of this opportunity, can only write a line to say that I am well and hearty. Tell our dear good friend, Dr. Price, who sometimes has his doubts and despondencies about our firmness, that America is determined and unanimous ; a very few Tories and placemen excepted, who will probably soon export them- selves. Britain, at the expense of three millions, has killed one hundred and fifty Yankees this campaign, which is twenty thousand pounds a head; and at Blinker's Hill she gained a mile of ground, half of which she lost again by our taking post on Ploughed Hill. During the same time sixty thousand children have been born in America. From these data his mathematical head will easily calculate the time and expense necessary to kill us all, and conquer our
The
English prospect of
7°
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
Plea for an armis- tice
whole territory. My sincere respects to . . . and to the club of honest Whigs at . . . Adieu. I am ever yours most affectionately.
To Joseph Priestley. 1775-
B. FRANKLIN.
Philadelphia, Oct. 3,
DEAR SIR: With respect to Lord North's plan of peace, much of course will be debated, of the sincerity or insincerity, and whether it be practica- ble or admissible; to all which I say, that the great object with me is a cessation of arms. I admire much the spirit of your sentiments to Lord Howe. Trade, and revenue, and supremacy are not objects for which men may justly spill each other's blood. I think if we can obtain a cessation of arms, that
once
POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS
the two parties will not go to blood again.
From David Hartley to B. Franklin. London, Feb. 20, 1778.
JUSTICE is as strictly due between neighbour nations as between neighbour citizens. A highwayman is as much a robber when he plunders in a gang, as when single; and a nation that makes an unjust war is only a great gang. After employing your people in robbing the Dutch, strange is it, that be- ing put out of that employ by peace, they still continue robbing, and rob one an- other! Piraterie, as the French call it, or privateering, is the universal bent of the English nation, at home and abroad, wherever settled. No less than seven hundred privateers were, it is said, com- missioned in the last war! These were
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
fitted out by merchants, to prey upon other merchants, who had never done Piracy them any injury. Is there probably any one of those privateering merchants of London, who were so ready to rob the merchants of Amsterdam, that would not readily plunder another London mer- chant of the next street, if he could do it with impunity? The avidity, the aliem appetens, is the same ; it is the fear alone of the gallows that makes the difference. How then can a nation, which, among the honestest of its people, has so many thieves by inclination, and whose govern- ment encouraged and commissioned no less than seven hundred gangs of rob- bers; how can such a nation have the face to condemn the crime in individ- uals, and hang up twenty of them in a morning? It naturally puts one in mind of a Newgate anecdote. One of the prisoners complained, that in the night
POLITICAL OBSERVATIONS
somebody had taken his buckles out of his shoes; " What, the devil! " says an- other, " have we then thieves among us? It must not be suffered; let us search out the rogue, and pump him to death." On the Criminal Laws. And the Practice of Privateering.
Tl[ 7E are now friends with England V V and with all mankind. May
we never see another war, for in my
opinion, there never was a good war, or
a bad peace. Letter to Josiah Quincy. Sept. u, 1783.
MR. STRAHAN : You are a Mem- ber of Parliament, and one of that Majority which has doomed my Country to Destruction, — You have be- gun to burn our Towns, and murder our People, — Look upon your Hands! —
74 THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
They are stained with the Blood of your Relations! — You and I were long Friends: — You are now my Enemy,— and I am,
Yours,
B. FRANKLIN.
Philadelphia, July 5, 1775.
SOCIAL CUSTOMS
SOCIAL CUSTOMS
77
JTEREDITART LEGISLATORS! J~j[ thought I. There would be more propriety, because less hazard of mischief, in having (as in some univer- sity of Germany) hereditary professors of mathematics \
From Negotiations in London.
MY DEAR CHILD: Your care in sending me the newspapers is very agreeable to me. I received by Captain Barney those relating to the Cin- cinnati. My opinion of the institution cannot be of much importance; I only wonder that, when the united wisdom of our nation had, in the articles of confed- eration, manifested their dislike of estab- lishing ranks of nobility, by authority either of the Congress or of any particu- lar State, a number of private persons should think proper to distinguish them- selves ami their posterity, from their tcl-
A rebuke to snobbish-
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
low citizens, and from an order of hered- itary knights, in direct opposition to the solemnly declared sense of their country! I imagine it must be likewise contrary to the good sense of most of those drawn into it by the persuasion of its projectors, who have been too much struck with the ribands and crosses they have seen hang- ing to the buttonholes of foreign officers. And I suppose those, who disapprove of it, have not hitherto given it much op- position, from a principle somewhat like that of your good mother, relating to punctilious persons, who are always ex- acting little observances of respect; that, " /'/ people can be pleased with small matters, it is a pity but they should have them."
In this view, perhaps, I should not myself, if my advice had been asked, have objected to their wearing their riband and badge themselves according
SOCIAL CUSTOMS
79
Honor should ascend, not descend
to their fancy, though I certainly should to the entailing it as an honor on their posterity. For honor, worthily ob- tained (as that for example of our offi- cers), is in its nature a personal thing, and incommunicable to any but those who had some share in obtaining it. Thus, among the Chinese, the most an- cient, and from long experience the wis- est of nations, honor does not descend, but ascends. If a man from his learn- ing, his wisdom, or his valor, is pro- moted by the Emperor to the rank of Mandarin, his parents are immediately entitled to all the same ceremonies of respect from the people, that are estab- lished as due to the Mandarin himself; on the supposition that it must have been owing to the education, instruction, and good example afforded him by his pa- rents, that he was rendered capable of serving the public.
8o
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
An injury to posttrily
This ascending honor is therefore use- ful to the state, as it encourages parents to give their children a good and vir- tuous education. But the descending honor, to a posterity who could have no share in obtaining it, is not only ground- less and absurd, but often hurtful to that posterity, since it is apt to make them proud, disdaining to be employed in use- ful arts, and thence falling into poverty, and all the meannesses, servility, and wretchedness attending it; which is the present case with much of what is called the noblesse in Europe. Or if, to keep up the dignity of the family, estates are entailed entire on the eldest male heir, another pest to industry and improvement of the country is introduced, which will be followed by all the odious mixture of pride, and beggary, and idleness, that have half depopulated and decultivated Spain; occasioning continual extinction
SOCIAL CUSTOMS
of families by the discouragements of marriage, and neglect in the improve- ment of estates.
I wish, therefore, that the Cincinnati, if they must go on with their project, would direct the badges of their order to be worn by their fathers and mothers, in- stead of handing them down to their chil- dren. It would be a good precedent, and might have good effects. It would also be a kind of obedience to the fourth commandment, in which God enjoins us to honor our father and mother, but has nowhere directed us to honor our chil- dren. And certainly no mode of honor- ing those immediate authors of our being can be more effectual, than that of doing praiseworthy actions, which reflect honor on those who gave us our education; or more becoming, than that of mani- festing, by some public expression or token, that it is to their instruction and
82
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
A humor- ous calcic lotion
example, we ascribe the merit of those actions.
But the absurdity of descending hon- ors is not a mere matter of philosophical opinion; it is capable of mathematical demonstration. A man's son, for in- stance, is but half of his family, the other half belonging to the family of his wife. His son, too, marrying into another family, his share in the grandson is but a fourth; in the great grandson, by the same process, it is but an eighth; in the next generation a sixteenth; the next a thirty-second; the next a sixty- f ou rth ; the next an hundred and twenty-eighth; the next a two hundred and fifty-sixth; and the next a five hundred and twelfth ; thus in nine generations, which will not require more than three hundred years (no very great antiquity for a family), our present Chevalier of the Order of Cincinnati's share in the then existing
SOCIAL CUSTOMS
knight, will be but a five hundred and twelfth part; which, allowing the present certain fidelity of American wives to be insured down through all those nine gen- erations, is so small a consideration, that methinks no reasonable man would haz- ard for the sake of it the disagreeable consequences of the jealousy, envy, and ill will of his countrymen.
Let us go back with our calculation from this young noble, the five hundred and twelfth part of the present knight, through his nine generations, till we re- turn to the year of the institution. He must have had a father and mother, they are two ; each of them had a father and mother, they are four. Those of the next preceding generation will be eight, the next sixteen, the next thirty-two, the next sixty-four, the next one hundred and twenty-eight, the next two hundred and fifty-six, and the ninth in this retro-
84 THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
cession five hundred and twelve, who must be now existing, and all contribute their proportion of this future Chevalier de Cincinnatus. These, with the rest, make together as follows :
2
4 8
16 32 64 128 256 512
Total, 1,022
One thousand and twenty-two men and women, contributors to the formation of one knight. And, if we are to have a thousand of these future knights, there must be now and hereafter existing one
SOCIAL CUSTOMS
million and twenty-two thousand fathers and mothers, who are to contribute to their production, unless a part of the number are employed in making more knights than one. Let us strike off then the twenty-two thousand, on the supposi- tion of this double employ, and then con- sider whether, after a reasonable estima- tion of the number of rogues, and fools, and scoundrels, and prostitutes, that are mixed with, and help to make up neces- sarily their million of predecessors, pos- terity will have much reason to boast of the noble blood of the then existing set of Chevaliers of Cincinnatus. The fu- ture genealogists, too, of these Cheva- liers, in proving the lineal descent of their honor through so many genera- tions (even supposing honor capable in its nature of descending), will only prove the small share of this honor, which can be justly claimed by any one
86 THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
of them; since the above simple process in arithmetic makes it quite plain an-1 clear, that, in proportion as the antiquity of the family shall augment the right to the honor of the ancestor will diminish; and a few generations more would re- duce it to something so small as to be very near an absolute nullity. I hope, therefore, that the Order will drop this part of their project, and content them- selves, as the Knights of the Garter, Bath, Thistle, St. Louis, and other Or- ders of Europe do, with a life enjoyment of their little badge and riband, and let the distinction die with those who have merited it. This I imagine will give no offence. For my own part, I shall think it a convenience, when I go into a com- pany where there may be faces unknown to me, if I discover, by this badge, the persons who merit some particular ex- pression of my respect; and it will save
SOCIAL CUSTOMS
modest virtue the trouble of calling for our regard, by awkward, roundabout in- timations of having been heretofore em- ployed as officers in the Continental service.
The gentleman, who made the voyage to France to provide the ribands and medals, has executed his commission. To me they seem tolerably done ; but all such things are criticised. Some find fault with the Latin, as wanting classical elegance and correctness; and, since our nine universities were not able to furnish better Latin, it was a pity, they say, that the mottos had not been in English. Others object to the title, as not properly assumable by any but General Washing- ton, and a few others, who served with- out pay. Others object to the bald eagle as looking too much like a dindon, or turkey. For my own part I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
representative of our country; he is a bird of bad moral character; he does not get his living honestly; you may have seen him perched on some dead tree, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the labor of the fishing hawk; and, when that diligent bird has at length taken a fish, and is bearing it to his nest for the support of his mate and young ones, the bald eagle pursues him, and takes it from him. With all this injustice he is never in good case; but, like those among men who live by sharp- ing and robbing, he is generally poor, and often very lousy. Besides, he is a rank coward ; the little kingbird, not big- ger than a sparrow, attacks him boldly and drives him out of the district. He is therefore by no means a proper em- blem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America, who have driven all the kingbirds from our country; though ex-
SOCIAL CUSTOMS
«9
* A learned friend of the Editor's has observed to him, that this is a mistake, as turkeys were found in great plenty by Cortes, when he invaded and conquered Mexico, before the time of Charles the Twelfth; that this, and their being brought to old Spain, is mentioned by Peter Martyr of Anghiera, who was Secretary to the Council of the Indies, established immediately after the discovery of America, and personally acquainted with Columbus.— W. T. F.
The bald eagle
actly fit for that order of knights, which the French call Chevaliers d Industrie.
I am, on this account, not displeased that the figure is not known as a bald eagle, but looks more like a turkey. For in truth, the turkey is in comparison a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America. Eagles have been found in all countries, but the turkey was peculiar to ours; the first of the species seen in Europe, being brought to France by the Jesuits from Canada, and served up at the wedding table of Charles the Ninth.* He is, be- sides, (though a little vain and silly, it
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
is true, but not the worse emblem for that,) a bird of courage, and would not hesitate to attack a grenadier of the British guards, who should presume to invade his farmyard with a red coat on. I shall not enter into the criticisms made upon their Latin. The gallant officers of America may not have the merit of being great scholars, but they undoubtedly merit much, as brave sol- diers, from their country, which should therefore not leave them merely to fame for their u virtu tis premium" which is The motto one of ^gjj. Latm mottos. Their " esto perpetua" another, is an excellent wish, if they meant it for their country; bad, if intended for their Order. The States should not only restore to them the omnia of their first motto,* which many of them have left and lost, but pay them justly, and reward them generously.
* Omnia reliquit servare rempublicam.
SOCIAL CUSTOMS
91
They should not be suffered to remain, with all their new created chivalry, en- tirely in the situation of the gentleman in the story, which their omnia reliquit re- minds me of. You know everything makes me recollect some story. He had built a very fine house, and thereby much impaired his fortune. He had a pride, however, in showing it to his acquaint- ance. One of them, after viewing it all, remarked a motto over the door " OIA VANITAS." "What/' says he, " is the meaning of this OIA? It is a word I don't understand." " I will tell you," said the gentleman; u I had a mind to have the motto cut on a piece of smooth marble, but there was not room for it be- tween the ornaments, to be put in charac- ters large enough to be read. I there- fore made use of a contraction anciently very common in Latin manuscripts, whereby the m's and n's in words are
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
omitted, and the omission noted by a lit- tle dash above, which you may see there ; so that the word is omnia, OMNIA VANITAS." " Oh," said his friend, u I now comprehend the meaning of your motto, it relates to your edifice ; and signifies, that, if you have abridged your omnia, you have, nevertheless, left your VANITAS legible at full length." I am, as ever, your affectionate father,
B. FRANKLIN
To Mrs. Sarah Bache. Jan. 26, 1784.
ECONOMIC VIEWS
ECONOMIC VIEWS 95
THE subject, however, leads me to EmiKra- another thought, which is, that you do wrong to discourage the emigra- tion of Englishmen to America. In my piece on population, I have proved, I think, that emigration does not diminish but multiplies a nation. You will not have fewer at home for those that go abroad; and as every man who comes among us, and takes up a piece of land, becomes a citizen, and by our constitu- tion has a voice in elections, and a share in the government of the country, why should you be against acquiring by this fair means a repossession of it, and leave it to be taken by foreigners of all na- tions and languages, who by their num- bers may drown and stifle the English, which otherwise would probably become in the course of two centuries the most extensive language in the world, the Spanish only excepted. It is a fact, that
96
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
the Irish emigrants and their children are now in possession of the government of Pennsylvania, by their majority in the Assembly, as well as of a great part of the territory; and I remember well the first ship that brought any of them over. I am ever, my dear friend, yours most affectionately. To William Strahan. Aug. 19, 1784.
Happy mediocrity
^TAHE truth is, that though there are in that country few people so miserable as the poor of Europe, there are also very few that in Europe would be called rich ; it is rather a general happy mediocrity that prevails. There are few great proprietors of the soil, and few tenants; most people cultivate their own lands, or follow some handicraft or merchandise; very few rich enough to live idly upon their rents or incomes, or to pay the highest prices given in Europe
ECONOMIC VIEWS
for painting, statues, architecture, and the other works of art, that are more curious than useful. Hence the natural geniuses, that have arisen in America with such talents, have uniformly quitted that country for Europe, where they can be more suitably rewarded. It is true that letters and mathematical knowledge are in esteem there, but they are at the same time more common than is appre- hended; there being already existing nine colleges or universities, viz., four in New England, and one in each of the prov- inces of New York, New Jersey, Penn- sylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, all furnished with learned professors; be- sides a number of smaller academies; these educate many of their youth in the languages, and those sciences that qual- ify men for the professions of divinity, law, or physics. Strangers indeed are by no means excluded from exercising
98
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
those professions; and the quick increase of inhabitants everywhere gives them a chance of employ, which they have in common with the natives. Of civil offices, or employments, there are few; no superfluous ones, as in Europe; and it is a rule established in some of the States, that no office should be so profit- able as to make it desirable. The thirty- sixth article of the Constitution of Penn- sylvania, runs expressly in these words; " As every freeman, to preserve his in- dependence, (if he has not a sufficient estate) ought to have some profession, calling, trade, or farm, whereby he may honestly subsist, there can be no neces- sity for, nor use in, establishing offices of profit; the usual effects of which are de- pendence and servility, unbecoming free- men, in the possessors and expectants; faction, contention, corruption, and dis- order among the people. Wherefore,
No offices of pro fit
ECONOMIC VIKWS 99
whenever an office, through increase of fees or otherwise, becomes so profitable, as to occasion many to apply for it, the profits ought to be lessened by the legis- lature."
These ideas prevailing more or less in all the United States, it cannot be worth any man's while, who has a means of Jiving at home, to expatriate himself, in hopes of obtaining a profitable civil office in America ; and, as to military offices, they are at an end with the war, the armies being disbanded. Much less is it advisable for a person to go thither, who has no other quality to recommend him than his birth. In Europe it has indeed its value; but it is a commodity that cannot be carried to a worse market than that of America, where people do not inquire of a stranger, JJ'hat is kef but, JJ'hat can he do? If he has any useful art, he is welcome; and if he exer-
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
cises it, and behaves well, he will be re- spected by all that know him ; but a mere man of quality, who, on that account, wants to live upon the public, by some office or salary, will be despised and dis- regarded. The husbandman is in honor there, and even the mechanic, because their employments are useful. The peo- ple have a saying that God Almighty is himself a mechanic, the greatest in the universe; and he is respected and ad- mired more for the variety, ingenuity, and utility of his handiworks, than for the antiquity of his family. They are pleased with the observation of a negro, and frequently mention it, that Bocca- rora (meaning the white man) make de black man workee, make de horse workee, make de ox workee, make ebery ting workee; only de hog. He, de hog, no workee; he eat, he drink, he walk about, he go to sleep when he please, he
ECONOMIC VIEWS
live like a gempleman. According to these opinions of the Americans, one of them would think himself more obliged to a genealogist, who could prove for him that his ancestors and relations for ten generations had been ploughmen, smiths, carpenters, turners, weavers, tan- ners, or even shoemakers, and conse- quently that they were useful members of society; that if he could only prove that they were gentlemen, doing nothing of value, but living idly on the labor of others, mere fruges consumer e nati* and
*" born
Merely to eat up the com."— Watts.
otherwise good for nothing, till by their death their estates, like the carcass of the negro's gentleman-hog, come to be cut up.
Information to those who would renurce to America.
IO2
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
YOU are engaged in a great work, reforming the ancient habitudes, removing the prejudices, and promoting the industry of your nation. You have in the Spanish people good stuff to work upon, and by a steady perseverance you will obtain perhaps a success beyond your expectation ; for it is incredible the quan- tity of good that may be done in a coun- try by a single man, who will make a business of it, and not suffer himself to be diverted from that purpose by different avocations, studies, or amuse- ments.
There are two opinions prevalent in Europe, which have mischievous effects in diminishing national felicity; the one, that useful labor is dishonorable; the other, that families may be perpetu- ated with estates. In America we have neither of these prejudices, which is a great advantage to us. You will see our
European and A mcr- ican opin- ions
ECONOMIC VIEWS
ideas respecting the first, in a little piece I send you, called Information to those icho. would remove to America. The second is mathematically demonstrable to be an impossibility under the present rules of law and religion. Since, though the estate may remain entire, the family is continually dividing. For a man's son is but half of his family, his grand- son but a fourth, his great grandson but an eighth, the next but a sixteenth of his family; and, by the same progression, in only nine generations the present propri- etor's part in the then possessor of the estate will be but a five hundred and twelfth, supposing the fidelity of all the succeeding wives equally certain with that of those now existing; too small a portion, methinks, to be anx- ious about, so as to oppose a legal liberty of breaking entails and divid- ing estates, which would contribute so
104
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
much to the prosperity of the coun- try.
To the Count de Campomanes. June 5, 1784.
Free trade
I FEEL myself strongly inclined to believe, that a State, which leaves all her ports open to all the world upon equal terms, will, by that means, have foreign commodities cheaper, sell its own productions dearer, and be on the whole, the most prosperous. I have heard some merchants say, that there is ten per cent difference between Will you buy? and Will you sell? When for- eigners bring us their goods, they want to part with them speedily, that they may purchase their cargoes and despatch their ships, which are at constant charges with our ports; we have then the advantage of their Will you buy? And when they demand our produce, we have the advan- tage of their Will you sell? And the
ECONOMIC VIEWS
concurring demands of a number also contribute to raise our prices. Thus both those questions are in our favor at home, against us abroad.
To Robert R. Livingston. Passy, July 22, 1783.
WE are not ignorant that the duties paid at the custom house on the importation of foreign goods are finally reimbursed by the consumer, but we impose them as the easiest way of levy- ing a tax from those consumers. If our new country was as closely inhabited as your old one, we might without much difficulty collect a land tax, that would be sufficient for all purposes; but where farms are at five or six miles' distance from each other, the going of the col- lectors from house to house to demand the taxes, and being obliged to call more than once for the same tax, makes the trouble of collecting* in many cases ex-
io6
IIIi; WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
ceed the value of the sum collected. Things that are practicable in one coun- try are not always so in another, where circumstances differ. Our duties are, however, generally so small, as to give little temptation to smuggling. Believe me ever, my dear friend, yours most affectionately,
B. FRANKLIN.
To M. Le Veillard. April 22, 1788.
Manu- facturers
rNPREJUDICED men well know \^J that all the penal and prohibi- tory laws that were ever thought on will not be sufficient to prevent manufactur- ers in a country, whose inhabitants sur- pass the number that can subsist by the husbandry of it. That this will be the case in America soon, if our people re- main confined within the mountains, and almost as soon should it be unsafe for them to live beyond, though the country
ECONOMIC VIEWS
be ceded to us, no man acquainted with political and commercial history can doubt. Manufactures are founded in poverty. It is the multitude of poor without land in a country, and who must work for others at low wages, or starve, that enables undertakers to carry on a manufacture, and afford it cheap enough to prevent the importation of the same kind from abroad, and to bear the ex- pense of its own exportation.
But no man who can have a piece of land of his own, sufficient by his labor to subsist his family in plenty, is poor enough to be a manufacturer, and work for a master. Hence, while there is land enough in America for our people, there can never be manufacturers to any amount or value. It is a striking ob- servation of a very able pen, that the natural livelihood of the thin inhabitants of a forest country is hunting; that of a
io8
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
greater number, pasturage; and that of the greatest, manufactures; which last must subsist the bulk of a people in a full country, or they must be subsisted by charity, or perish. From Canada Pamphlet.
Legislative corruption
D
O not, my courteous reader, take pet at our proprietory constitu- tion for these our bargain and sale pro- ceedings in legislation. It is a happy country where justice and what was your own before, can be had for ready money. It is another addition to the value of money, and of course another spur to industry. Every land is not so blessed. There are countries where the princely proprietor claims to be lord of all prop- erty, where what is your own shall not only be wrested from you, but the money you give to have it restored shall be kept with it; and your offering so much,
ECONOMIC VI I.NYS
I09
being a sign that you are too rich, you shall be plundered of everything that remained. These times are not come here yet. Your present proprietors have never been more unreasonable hitherto than barely to insist on your fighting in defence of their property, and paying the expense yourselves; or, if their es- tates must, ah! must, be taxed, towards it, that the best of their lands shall be taxed no higher than the worst of yours. Preface to a speech.
THE arbitrary government of a sin- gle person is more eligible, than the arbitrary government of a body of men. A single man may be afraid or ashamed of doing injustice; a body is never either one or the other, if it is strong enough. It cannot apprehend as- sassination, and by dividing the shame
Monarchy than oligarchy
no
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
among them, it is so little apiece that no one minds it. Political Observations.
Land- lordism
A TURNPIKE tax is no burden, as the turnpike gives more benefit than it takes. And ought the rich in Britain, who have made such numbers poor by engrossing all the small divisions of land, and who keep the laborers and working people poor by limiting their wages, — ought these gentry to complain of the burden of maintaining the poor that have worked for them at unreason- ably low rates all their lives? As well might the planter complain of his being obliged to maintain his poor negroes, when they grow old, are sick, or lame, and unable to provide for themselves. Political Observations.
ECONOMIC VIEWS
ITMDOD is always necessary to all, and much the greatest part of the la- bor of mankind is employed in raising provisions for the mouth. Is not this kind of labor, then, the fittest to be the standard by which to measure the values of all other labor, and consequently of all other things whose value depends on the labor of making or procuring them? May not even gold and silver be thus valued? If the labor of the farmer, in producing a bushel of wheat, be equal to the labor of the miner in producing an ounce of silver, will not the bushel of wheat just measure the value of the ounce of silver? The miner must eat; the farmer indeed can live without the ounce of silver, and so perhaps will have some advantage in settling the price. But these discussions I leave to you, as being more able to manage them; only, I will send you a little scrap I wrote
112
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
some time since on the laws prohibiting foreign commodities. To Lord Kames. London, Feb. 21, 1769.
Patent system
THIS pamphlet had a good effect; Governor Thomas was so pleased with the construction of this stove, as described in it, that he offered to give me a patent for the sole vending of them for a term of years; but I declined it from a principle which has ever weighed with me on such occasions, viz., That, as we enjoy great advantages from the in- ventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours; and this we should do freely and generously. Lije of Franklin.
Industry
'T^HIS gave me occasion to observe, that when men are employed,
ECONOMIC VIKWS
they are best contented; for on the days they worked they were good-natured and cheerful, and, with the consciousness of having done a good day's work, they spent the evening jollily; but on our idle days they were mutinous and quarrel- some, finding fault with the pork, the bread, etc., and were continually in bad humor; which put me in mind of a sea captain, whose rule it was to keep his men constantly at work, and, when his mate once told him that they had done everything, and there was nothing fur- ther to employ them about: " O," said he, " make them scour the anchor." Life of Franklin.
SIR: Reading last night in your ex- cellent paper the speech of Mr. Jackson in Congress against their med- dling with the affair of slavery, or at-
A satire on pro-slavery arguments
H4 THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
tempting to mend the condition of the slaves, it put me in mind of a similar one made about one hundred years since by Sidi Mehemet Ibrahim, a member of the Divan of Algiers, which may be seen in Martin's account of his consulship, anno 1687. It was against granting the peti- tion of the sect called Erika, or Purists, who prayed for the abolition of piracy and slavery as being unjust. Mr. Jack- son does not quote it; perhaps he has not seen it. If, therefore, some of its rea- sonings are to be found in his eloquent speech, it may only show that men's interests and intellects operate and are operated on with surprising similarity in all countries and climates, whenever they are under similar circumstances. The African's speech, as translated, is as fol- lows:
" Allah Bismillah, &c. God is Great, and Mahomet is his Prophet.
ECONOMIC VIEWS
" Have these Erika considered the consequences of granting their petition? If we cease our cruises against the Chris- tians, how shall we be furnished with the commodities their countries produce, and which are so necessary for us? If we forbear to make slaves of their peo- ple, who in this hot climate are to culti- vate our lands? Who are to perform the common labors of our city, and in our families? Must we not then be our own slaves? And is there not more compassion and more favor due to us as Mussulmen, than to these Christian dogs? We have now above fifty thou- sand slaves in and near Algiers. This number, if not kept up by fresh supplies, will soon diminish, and be gradually an- nihilated. If we then cease taking and plundering the infidel ships, and making slaves of the seamen and passengers, our lands will become of no value for want
n6
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
of cultivation; the rents of houses in the city will sink one-half; and the revenue of government arising from its share of prizes be totally destroyed ! And for what? To gratify the whims of a whimsical sect, who would have us, not only forbear making more slaves, but even manumit those we have.
" But who is to indemnify their mas- ters for the loss ? Will the state do it ? Is our treasury sufficient? Will the Erika do it? Can they do it? Or would they, to do what they think jus- tice to the slaves, do a greater injustice to the owners? And if we set our slaves free, what is to be done with them ? Few of them will return to their countries ; they know too well the greater hardships they must there be subject to; they will not embrace our holy religion; they will not adopt our manners; our people will not pollute themselves by
ECONOMIC VIEWS
intermarrying with them. Must we maintain them as beggars in our streets, or suffer our properties to be the prey of their pillage? For men accustomed to slavery will not work for a livelihood when not compelled. And what is there so pitiable in their present condition? Were they not slaves in their own coun- tries?
" Are not Spain, Portugal, France, and the Italian states governed by des- pots, who hold all their subjects in slavery, without exception ? Even Eng- land treats its sailors as slaves; for they are, whenever the government pleases, seized, and confined in ships of war, con- demned not only to work, but to fight, for small wages, or a mere subsistence, not better than our slaves are allowed by us. Is their condition then made worse by their falling into our hands? No; they have only exchanged one slavery
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
for another, and I may say a better; for here they are brought into a land where the sun of Islamism gives forth its light, and shines in full splendor, and they have an opportunity of making them- selves acquainted with the true doctrine, and thereby saving their immortal souls. Those who remain at home have not that happiness. Sending the slaves home then would be sending them out of light into darkness.
u I repeat the question, What is to be done with them? I have heard it sug- gested that they may be planted in the wilderness, where there is plenty of land for them to subsist on, and where they may flourish as a free state; but they are, I doubt, too little disposed to labor with- out compulsion, as well as too ignorant to establish a good government, and the wild Arabs would soon molest and de- stroy or again enslave them. While
ECONOMIC VIEWS IJ9
serving us we take care to provide them with everything, and they are treated with humanity. The laborers in their own country are, as I am well informed, worse fed, lodged, and clothed. The condition of most of them is therefore already mended, and requires no further improvement. Here their lives are in safety. They are not liable to be im- pressed for soldiers, and cut one an- other's Christian throats, as in the wars of their own countries. If some of the religious mad bigots, who now tease us with their silly petitions, have in a fit of blind zeal freed their slaves, it was not generosity, it was not humanity, that moved them to the action; it was from the constant burthen of a load of sins, and a hope, from the supposed merits of so good a work, to be excused from damnation.
" How grossly are they mistaken to
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
suppose slavery to be disallowed by the Alcoran ! Are not the two precepts, to quote no more, * Masters, treat your slaves with kindness; Slaves, serve your masters with cheerfulness and fidelity/ clear proofs to the contrary? • Nor can the plundering of infidels be in that sacred book forbidden, since it is well known from it, that God has given the world, and all that it contains, to his faithful Mussulmen, who are to enjoy it of right as fast as they conquer it. Let us then hear no more of this detestable proposition, the manumission of Chris- tian slaves, the adoption of which would, by depreciating our lands and houses, and thereby depriving so many good citi- zens of their properties, create universal discontent, and provoke insurrections, to the endangering of government and pro- ducing general confusion. I have there- fore no doubt, but this wise council will
ECONOMIC VIEWS
prefer the comfort and happiness of a whole nation of true believers to the whim of a few Erika, and dismiss their petition."
The result was, as Martin tells us, that the Divan came to this resolution : * The doctrine, that plundering and en- slaving the Christians is unjust, is at best problematical; but that it is the interest of this state to continue the practice, is clear; therefore let the petition be re- jected."
And it was rejected accordingly.
And since like motives are apt to pro- duce in the minds of men like opinions and resolutions, may we not, Mr. Brown, venture to predict, from this account, that the petitions to the Parliament of England for abolishing the slave- trade, to say nothing of other legis- latures, and the debates upon them, will have a similar conclusion? I am,
122
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
Sir, your constant reader and humble servant,
HISTORICUS.
On the Slave Trade. To the Editor of the Federal Gazette. March 23, 1790.*
* This paper is dated only twenty-four days before the author's death, which happened on the iyth of April following.
DOMESTIC RELATIONS
DOMESTIC RELATIONS
DEAR SISTER : I am highly pleased with the account Captain Free- man gives me of you. I always judged by your behaviour when a child, that you would make a good, agreeable woman, and you know you were ever my peculiar favorite. I have been thinking what would be a suitable present for me to make, and for you to receive, as I hear you are grown a celebrated beauty. I had almost determined on a tea-table; but when I considered, that the character of a good housewife was far preferable to that of being only a pretty gentle- woman, I concluded to send you a spin- ning wheel, which I hope you will accept as a small token of my sincere love and affection.
Sister, farewell, and remember that modesty, as it makes the most homely virgin amiable and charming, so the want of it infallibly renders the most
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
perfect beauty disagreeable and odious. But, when that brightest of female vir- tues shines among other perfections of body and mind in the same person, it makes the woman more lovely than an angel. Excuse this freedom and use the same with me. I am, dear Jenny, your loving brother,
B. FRANKLIN.
To Miss Jane Franklin* Jan. 6, 1726-7.
1 THINK if politeness is necessary to make letters between brothers and sisters agreeable, there must be very lit- tle love among them. You give me joy in telling me that you are " on the pin- nacle of content" Without it no situa- tion can be happy; with it, any. One means of becoming content with one's situation is the comparing it with a
* His youngest sister, at this time nearly fifteen years old.
DOMESTIC RELATIONS
127
worse. Thus, when I consider how many terrible diseases the human body is liable to, I comfort myself that only three incurable ones have fallen to my share, viz., the gout, the stone, and old age ; and that these have not yet deprived me of my natural cheerfulness, my de- light in books, and enjoyment of social conversation.
I am glad to hear that Mr. Fitzmau- rice is married, and has an amiable lady and children. It is a better plan than he once proposed, of getting Mrs. Wright to make him a wax-work wife to sit at the head of his table. For after all, wedlock is the natural state of man. A bachelor is not a complete human be- ing. He is like the odd half of a pair of scissors, which has not yet found its tellow, and is therefore not even half so useful as they might be together.
To Thomas Jordan, London. May 18, 1787.
Only three
incurable
diseases
hall of a pair oj scissors
128
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
The choice of a wift
DEAR COUSIN: I received your kind letter of November 8th, and rejoice to hear of the continued welfare of you and your good wife and four daughters. I hope they will all get good husbands. I dare say they will be educated so as to deserve them.
I knew a wise old man, who used to advise his young friends to choose wives out of a bunch; for where there were many daughters, he said, they improved each other, and from emulation acquired more accomplishments, knew more, could do more, and were not spoiled by pa- rental fondness, as single children often are. Yours have my best wishes, and blessing, if that can be of any value.
To Samuel Franklin. London, Jan. 13, 1772.
Moravian marriages
I
INQUIRED concerning the Mora- vian marriages, whether the re-
DOMESTIC RELATIONS I29
port was true that they were made by lot. I was told, that lots were used only in particular cases; that generally when a young man found himself disposed to marry, he informed the elders of his class, who consulted the elder ladies, that governed the young women. As these elders of the different sexes were well ac- quainted with the tempers and disposi- tions of their respective pupils, they could best judge what matches were suitable, and their judgments were generally ac- quiesced in. But if, for example, it should happen, that two or three young women were found to be equally prop- er for the young man, the lot was then recurred to. I objected, if the matches are not made by the mutual choice of the parties, some of them may chance to be very unhappy. " And so they may," answered my informer, "if you let the parties choose for them-
i3o
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
selves." Which indeed I could not deny. Life of Franklin.
Boys and
church
going
I DID not think it anything extraor- dinary, that he should be some- times willing to evade going to meeting; for I believe it is the case with all boys, or almost all. I have brought up four or five myself, and have frequently ob- served, that if their shoes were bad, they would say nothing of a new pair till Sun- day morning, just as the bell rung, when, if you asked them why they did not get ready, the answer was prepared, u I have no shoes," and so of other things, hats and the like; or, if they knew of any thing that wanted mending, it was a secret till Sunday morning, and some- times I believe they would rather tear a little, than be without the excuse.
DOMESTIC RELATIONS
I have a very good opinion of Benny in the main, and have great hopes of his becoming a worthy man, his faults being only such as are commonly incident to boys of his years, and he has many good qualities, for which I love him. I never knew an apprentice contented with the clothes allowed him by his master, let them be what they would. Jemmy Franklin when with me, was always dis- satisfied and grumbling. When I was last in Boston, his aunt bid him go to a shop and please himself, which the gen- tleman did, and bought a suit of clothes on my account dearer by one-half, than any I ever afforded myself, one suit ex- cepted; which I don't mention by way of complaint of Jemmy, for he and I are good friends, but only to show you the nature of boys.
To Mrs. Jane Mecom. Philadelphia, (date un- certain).
Boyish extrava- gance
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
AS to my domestic circumstances, of which you kindly desire to hear something, they are at present as happy as I could wish them. I am surrounded by my offspring, a dutiful and affection- ate daughter in my house, with six grand- children, the eldest of which you have seen, who is now at College in the next street, finishing the learned part of his education; the others promising, both for parts and good dispositions. What their conduct may be when they grow up and enter the important scenes of life, I shall not live to see, and I cannot fore- see. I therefore enjoy among them the present hour, and leave the future to Providence.
He that raises a large family does, in- deed, while he lives to observe them, stand, as Watts says, a broader mark for sorrow, but then he stands a broader mark for pleasure too. When we launch
A broader mark for pleasure
DOMESTIC RELATIONS
our little fleet of barks into the ocean, bound to different ports, we hope for each a prosperous voyage; but contrary winds, hidden shoals, storms, and ene- mies come in for a share in the disposi- tion of events; and though these occasion a mixture of disappointment, yet, con- sidering the risk where we can make no insurance, we should consider ourselves happy if some return with success. To Johnathan Shipley. Feb. 24, 1786.
EING arrived at seventy, and con- Ha» h
U sidering that by traveling further in the same road, I should probably be led to the grave, I stopped short, turned about, and walked back again; which having done these four years, you may now call me sixty-six. Advise those old friends of ours to follow my example; keep up your spirits, and that will keep up your bodies; you will no more stoop
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
under the weight of age, than if you had swallowed a handspike. To Thomas Bond. Passy, March 16, 1780.
Infirmities of age
Give the old their oicn 'tun v
I STILL exist, and still enjoy some pleasure in that existence, though now in my seventy-ninth year. Yet I feel the infirmities of age come on so fast, and the building to need so many repairs, that in a little time the owner will find it cheaper to pull it down and build a new one. I wish, however, to see you first, but I begin to doubt the possibility. To Mrs. Mary Hewson. March 19, 1784.
AS having their own way is one of the greatest comforts of life to old people, I think their friends should endeavour to accommodate them in that, as well as in anything else. When they have long lived in a house, it becomes
DOMESTIC RELATIONS *35
natural to them; they are almost as closely connected with it, as the tortoise with his shell; they die, if you tear them out of it; old folks and old trees, if you remove them, it is ten to one that you kill them; so let our good old sister be no more importuned on that head. We are growing old fast ourselves, and shall expect the same kind of indulgences; if we give them, we shall have a right to receive them in our turn. To Mrs. Jane Mecom. New York, April 19, 1 75 7.
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE
I WILL shortly send you a copy of the " Chapter " you are pleased to mention in so obliging a manner; and shall be extremely obliged in receiving a copy of the collection of Maxims for the Conduct of Life, which you are prepar- ing for the use of your children. I pur- pose likewise a little work for the benefit of youth, to be called The Art of Virtue. From the title I think you will hardly conjecture what the nature of such a book may be. I must therefore explain it a little. Many people lead bad lives that would gladly lead good ones, but do not know how to make the change. They have frequently resolved and en- deavoured it; but in vain, because their endeavours have not been properly con- ducted. To expect people to be good, to be just, to be temperate, &c., without showing them how they should become so, seems like the ineffectual charity men-
J4° THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
tioned by the Apostle, which consists in saying to the hungry, the cold, and the naked, " Be ye fed, be ye warmed, be ye clothed," without showing them how they should get food, fire, or clothing.
Most people have naturally some vir- tues, but none have naturally all the vir- tues. To acquire those that are want- ing, and secure what we acquire, as well as those we have naturally, is the subject of an art. It is as properly an art as painting, navigation, or architecture. If a man would become a painter, navi- gator, or architect, it is not enough that he is advised to be one, that he is con- vinced by the arguments of his adviser, that it would be for his advantage to be one, and that he resolves to be one, but he must also be taught the principles of the art, be shown all the methods of working, and how to acquire the habits of using properly all the instruments;
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE
and thus regularly and gradually he ar- rives, by practice, at some perfection in the art. If he does not proceed thus, he is apt to meet with difficulties that dis- courage him, and make him drop the pursuit. To Lord Kames. London, May 3, 1760.
IT is said that the Persians, in their ancient constitution, had public schools in which virtue was taught as a liberal art or science; and it is certainly of more consequence to a man, that he has learned to govern his passions in spite of temptation, to be just in his deal- ings, to be temperate in his pleasures, to support himself with fortitude under his misfortunes, to behave with prudence in all his affairs, and in every circumstance of life; I say,. it is of much more real advantage to him to be thus qualified,
I42
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
A contrast between Cato and Cretico
than to be a master of all the arts and sciences in the world beside.
Virtue alone is sufficient to make a man great, glorious and happy. He that is acquainted with Cato, as I am, cannot help thinking, as I do now, and will acknowledge he deserves the name, without being honored by it. Cato is a man whom fortune has placed in the most obscure part of the country. His circumstances are such, as only put him above necessity, without affording him many superfluities; yet who is greater than Cato? I happened but the other day to be at a house in town, where, among others, were met men of the most note in this place. Cato had business with some of them, and knocked at the door. The most trifling actions of a man, in my opinion, as well as the small- est features and lineaments of the face, give a nice observer some notion of his
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE H3
mind. Methought he rapped in such a peculiar manner, as seemed of itself to express there was one, who deserved as well as desired admission. He ap- peared in the plainest country garb; his great coat was coarse, and looked old and threadbare; his linen was home- spun; his beard, perhaps of seven days' growth; his shoes thick and heavy; and every part of his dress corresponding. Why was this man received with such concurring respect from every person in the room, even from those who had never known him or seen him before? It was not an exquisite form of person, or grandeur of dress, that struck us with admiration.
I believe long habits of virtue have a sensible effect on the countenance. There was something in the air of his face, that manifested the true greatness of mind, which likewise appeared in all he said,
144 THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
and in every part of his behaviour, oblig- ing us to regard him with a sort of ven- eration. His aspect is sweetened with humanity and benevolence, and at the same time emboldened with resolution, equally free from diffident bashfulness and an unbecoming assurance. The consciousness of his own innate worth and unshaken integrity renders him calm and undaunted in the presence of the most great and powerful, and upon the most extraordinary occasions. His strict justice and known impartiality make him the arbitrator and decider of all differences, that arise for many miles around him, without putting his neigh- bors to the charge, perplexity and uncer- tainty of lawsuits. He always speaks the thing he means, which he is never afraid or ashamed to do, because he knows he always means well, and there- fore is never obliged to blush, and feel
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE H5
the confusion of finding himself detected in the meanness of a falsehood. He never contrives ill against his neighbors, and therefore is never seen with a lower- ing, suspicious aspect. A mixture of in- nocence and wisdom makes him ever seriously cheerful. His generous hospi- tality to strangers, according to his abil- ity; his goodness, his charity, his courage in the cause of the oppressed, his fidelity in friendship, his humility, his honesty and sincerity, his moderation, and his loyalty to the government; his piety, his temperance, his love to mankind, his magnanimity, his public-spiritedness, and, in fine, his consummate virtue, make him justly deserve to be esteemed the glory of his country.
" The brave do never shun the light; Just are their thoughts, and open are their tempers;
146
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
Freely without disguise they love and hate; Still are they found in the fair face of day, And Heaven and men are judges of their actions."
— ROWE.
Who would not rather choose, if it were in his choice, to merit the above character, than be the richest, the most learned, or the most powerful man in the province without it?
Almost every man has a strong nat- ural desire of being valued and esteemed by the rest of his species, but I am con- cerned and grieved to see how few fall into the right and only infallible method of becoming so. That laudable ambi- tion is too commonly misapplied, and often ill employed. Some, to make themselves considerable, pursue learn- ing; others grasp at wealth; some aim at being thought witty ; and others are only
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE
careful to make the most of a handsome person; but what is wit, or wealth, or form, or learning, when compared with virtue? It is true, we love the hand- some, we applaud the learned, and we fear the rich and powerful ; but we even worship and adore the virtuous. Nor is it strange; since men of virtue are so rare, so very rare to be found. If we were as industrious to become good as to make ourselves great, we should be- come really great by being good, and the number of valuable men would be much increased; but it is a grand mistake to think of being great without goodness; and I pronounce it as certain, that there was never yet a truly great man, that was not at the same time truly vir- tuous.
O Cretico! thou sour philosopher! thou cunning statesman! thou art crafty, but far from being wise. When wilt
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
thou be esteemed, regarded and beloved like Cato. When wilt thou, among thy creatures, meet with that unfeigned re- spect and warm good-will, that all good men have for him? Wilt thou never understand, that the cringing, mean, submissive deportment of thy depend- ents, is (like the worship paid by Indians to the Devil) rather through fear of the harm thou mayest do them, than out of gratitude for the favors they have re- ceived of thee? Thou art not wholly void of virtue; there are many good things in thee, and many good actions reported of thee. Be advised by thy friend. Neglect those musty authors; let them be covered with dust, and moulder on their proper shelves; and do thou apply thyself to a study much more profitable, the study of mankind and thyself. Miscellaneous.
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE
MY rule in which I have always found satisfaction, is, never to turn aside in public affairs, through views of private interest; but to go straight forward in doing what appears to me right at the time, leaving the conse- quences with Providence. What in my younger days enabled me more easily to walk upright, was, that I had a trade, and that I knew I could live upon little; and thence (never having had views of making a fortune) I was free from ava- rice, and contented with the plentiful supplies my business afforded me. And now it is still more easy to preserve my freedom and integrity, when I consider that I am almost at the end of my jour- ney, and therefore need less to complete the expense of it; and that what I now possess, through the blessing of God, may, with tolerable economy, be suffi- cient for me (great misfortunes except-
150
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
ed), though I should add nothing more to it by any office or employment what- soever. To Mrs. Jane Mecom. London, Dec. 30, 1770.
Advice
regarding
composition
YOU request advice from me respect- ing your conduct and writings, and desire me to tell their faults. As to your conduct, I know of nothing that looks like a fault, except your declining to act in any public station, although you are certainly qualified to do much public good in many you must have had it in your power to occupy. In respect to your writings, your language seems to me to be good and pure, and your state- ments generally just; but your style of composition wants perspicuity, and this I think owing principally to a neglect of method. What I would therefore rec- ommend to you is, that, before you sit down to write on any subject, you would
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE I5I
spend some days in considering it, put- ting down at the same time in short hints, every thought which occurs to you as proper to make a part of your intended piece. When you have thus obtained a collection of the thoughts, examine them carefully with this view, to find which of them is properest to be presented first to the mind of the reader, that he, being possessed of that, may the more easily understand it, and be better disposed to receive what you intend for the second; and thus I would have you put a figure before each thought, to mark its future place in your composi- tion. For so, every preceding proposi- tion preparing the mind for that which is to follow, and the reader often antici- pating it, he proceeds with ease, and pleasure, and approbation, as seem- ing continually to meet with his own thoughts. In this mode you have a bet-
I52
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
How to make up one's tntnd
ter chance for a perfect production; be- cause, the mind attending first to the sentiments alone, next to the method alone, each part is likely to be better performed, and I think too in less time. You see I give my counsel rather bluntly, without attempting to soften my manner of finding fault by any apology, which would give some people great offence; but in the present situation of affairs between us, when I am soliciting the advantage of your criticisms on a work of mine, it is perhaps my interest that you should be a little offended, in order to produce a greater degree of wholesome severity. To Benjamin Vaughan. Nov. 2, 1789.
DEAR SIR : In the affair of so much importance to you, wherein you ask my advice, I cannot, for want of sufficient premises, counsel you what to
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE
determine; but, if you please, I will tell you hoiv. When those difficult cases occur, they are difficult, chiefly because, while we have them under consideration, all the reasons pro and con are not pres- ent to the mind at the same time; but sometimes one set present themselves, and at other times another, the first be- ing out of sight. Hence the various purposes or inclinations that alternately prevail, and the uncertainty that per- plexes us.
To get over this, my way is, to divide half a sheet of paper by a line into two columns; writing over the one pro and the other con ; then during three or four days' consideration, I put down under the different heads short hints of the different motives, that at different times occur to me, for or against the measure. When I have thus got them all together in one view, I endeavour to estimate
154 THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
their respective weights; and, where I find two (one on each side) that seem equal, I strike them both out. If I find a reason pro equal to some two reasons con, I strike out the three. If I judge some two reasons con, equal to some three reasons pro, I strike out the five; and thus proceeding I find at length where the balance lies; and if, after a day or two of further consideration, nothing new that is of importance occurs on either side, I come to a determination accordingly. And, though the weight of reasons cannot be taken with the pre- cision of algebraic quantities, yet, when each is thus considered separately and comparatively, and the whole lies before me, I think I can judge better, and am less liable to make a rash step; and in fact I have found great value from this kind of equation, in what may be called moral or prudential algebra.
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE
'55
Wishing sincerely that you may deter- mine for the best, I am ever, my dear friend, yours most affectionately,
B. FRANKLIN.
To Joseph Priestley. London, Sept. 19, 1772.
MEN I find to be a sort of beings very badly constructed, as they are generally more easily provoked than reconciled, more disposed to do mischief to each other than to make reparation, much more easily deceived than unde- ceived, and having more pride and even pleasure in killing than in begetting one another; for without a blush they assem- ble in great armies at noonday to de- stroy, and when they have killed as many as they can, they exaggerate the number to augment the fancied glory; but they creep into corners, or cover themselves with the darkness of night,
The malice of mankind
i56
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
when they mean to beget, as being ashamed of a virtuous action. A virtu- ous action it would be, and a vicious one the killing of them, if the species were really worth producing or preserving; but of this I begin to doubt.
I know you have no such doubts, be- cause, in your zeal for their welfare, you are taking a great deal of pains to save their souls. Perhaps as you grow older, you may look upon this as a hopeless project, or an idle amusement, repent of having murdered in mephitic air so many honest, harmless mice, and wish, that, to prevent mischief, you had used boys and girls instead of them. In what light we are viewed by superior beings may be gathered from a piece of late West India news, which possibly has not yet reached you. A young angel of distinction be- ing sent down to this world on some business, for the first time, had an old
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE 157
courier-spirit assigned him as a guide. They arrived over the seas of Martinico, in the middle of the long day of obsti- nate fight between the fleets of Rodney and De Grasse. When, through the clouds of smoke, he saw the fire of the guns, the decks covered with mangled limbs, and bodies dead or dying; the ships sinking, burning, or blown into the air; and the quantity of pain, misery, and destruction, the crews yet alive were thus with so much eagerness dealing round to one another; he turned angrily to his guide, and said: " You blundering blockhead, you are ignorant of your business; you undertook to conduct me to the earth, and you have brought me into hell ! " " No, Sir," says the guide, " I have made no mistake; this is really the earth, and these are men. Devils never treat one another in this cruel manner; they have more sense,
i58
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
and more of what men (vainly) call humanity." Letter to Joseph Priestley, Passy, June 7, 1782.
Optimism
and
Pessimism
THERE are two sorts of people in the world, who, with equal de- grees of health and wealth, and the other comforts of life, become, the one hap- py, and the other miserable. This arises very much from the different views in which they consider things, persons, and events; and the effect of those different views upon their own minds.
In whatever situation men can be placed, they may find conveniences and inconveniences; in whatever company, they may find persons and conversation more or less pleasing; at whatever table, they may meet with meats and drinks of better and worse taste, dishes better and worse dressed; in whatever climate, they
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE
159
will find good and bad weather; under whatever government, they may find good and bad laws, and good and bad administration of those laws; in what- ever poem, or work of genius, they may see faults and beauties; in almost every face, and every person, they may dis- cover fine features and defects, good and bad qualities.
Under these circumstances, the two sorts of people above mentioned fix their attention; those who are disposed to be happy, on the convenience of things, the pleasant parts of conversation, the well-dressed dishes, the goodness of the wines, the fine weather, &c., and enjoy all with cheerfulness. Those who are to be unhappy think and speak only of the contraries. Hence they are continu- ally discontented themselves, and, by their remarks, sour the pleasures of so- ciety, offend personally many people, and
i6o
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
make themselves everywhere disagree- able. If this turn of mind was founded in nature, such unhappy persons would be the more to be pitied. But as the dis- position to criticise, and to be disgusted, is perhaps taken up originally by imita- tion, and is unawares grown into a habit, which, though at present strong, may nevertheless be cured, when those who have it are convinced of its bad effects on their felicity, I hope this little ad- monition may be of service to them, and put them on changing a habit, which, though in the exercise it is chiefly an act of imagination, yet has serious conse- quences in life, as it brings on real griefs and misfortunes. For, as many are of- fended by it, and nobody loves this sort of people, no one shows them more than the most common civility and respect, and scarcely that; and this frequently puts them out of humor, and draws them
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE
161
into disputes and contentions. If they aim at obtaining some advantage in rank or fortune, nobody wishes them success, or will stir a step, or speak a word, to favor their pretensions. If they incur public censure or disgrace, no one will defend or excuse, and many join to ag- gravate their misconduct, and render them completely odious. If these peo- ple will not change this bad habit, and i condescend to be pleased with what is pleasing, without fretting themselves and others about the contraries, it is good for others to avoid an acquaint- ance with them; which is always dis- agreeable, and sometimes very inconven- ient, especially when one finds one's self entangled in their quarrels.
An old philosophical friend of mine was grown, from experience, very cau- tious in this particular, and carefully avoided any intimacy with such people.
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
He had, like other philosophers, a ther- mometer to show him the heat of the weather, and a barometer to mark when it was likely to prove good or bad; but, there being no instrument invented to discover, at first sight, this unpleasing disposition in a person, he for that pur- pose made use of his legs; one of which was remarkably handsome, the other, by some accident, crooked and deformed. If a stranger, at the first interview, re- garded his ugly leg more than his hand- some one, he doubted him. If he spoke of it, and took no notice of the hand- some leg, that was sufficient to determine my philosopher to have no further ac- quaintance with him. Everybody has not this two-legged instrument; but every one, with a little attention, may observe signs of that carping, fault-finding dis- position, and take the same resolution of avoiding the acquaintance of those in-
THE (OMH'CT OF LIFE
•63
fected with it. I therefore advise those critical, querulous, discontented, unhappy people, that, if they wish to be respected and beloved by others, and happy in themselves, they should leave off looking at the ugly leg. Miscellaneous.
WHAT you mention concerning the love of praise is indeed very true; it reigns more or less in every heart; though we are generally hypo- crites, in that respect, and pretend to disregard praise, and our nice, modest ears are offended, forsooth, with what one of the ancients calls the sweetest kind of music. This hypocrisy is only a sacrifice to the pride of others, or to their envy; both which, I think, ought rather to be mortified. The same sac- rifice we make, when we forbear to
The love of praise
164
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
praise ourselves, which naturally we are all inclined to ; and I suppose it was for- merly the fashion, or Virgil, that courtly writer, would not have put a speech into the mouth of his hero, which now-a-days we should esteem so great an indecency :
" Sum pius Mneas ....
. . . . lama super athera notus."
One of the Romans, I forget who, justi- fied speaking in his own praise by say- ing, Every freeman had a right to speak what he thought of himself, as well as of others. That this is a natural inclina- tion appears in that all children show it, and say freely, / am a good boy; Am I not a good girl? and the like, till they have been frequently chid, and told their trumpeter is dead; and that it is unbe- coming to sound their own praise; &c. But naturam expellas furca, tamen usque
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE
rccurret. Being forbid to praise them- selves, they learn instead of it to censure others; which is only a roundabout way of praising themselves; for condemning the conduct of another, in any particu- lar, amounts to as much as saying, / am so honest, or wise, or good, or prudent, that I could not do or approve of such an action. This fondness for ourselves, rather than malevolence to others, I take to be the general source of censure and backbiting; and I wish men had not been taught to dam up natural currents, to the overflowing and damage of their neigh- bours* grounds.
Another advantage, methinks, would arise from freely speaking our good thoughts of ourselves, viz., if we were wrong in them, somebody or other would readily set us right; but now, while we conceal so carefully our vain, erroneous self-opinions, we may earn' them to our
i66
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
grave, for who would offer physic to a man who seems to be in health? And the privilege of recounting freely our own good actions might be an induce- ment to the doing of them, that we might be enabled to speak of them without being subject to be justly con- tradicted or charged with falsehood; whereas now, as we are not allowed to mention them, and it is an uncertainty whether others will take due notice of them or not, we are perhaps the more indifferent about them; so that, upon the whole, I wish the out-of-fashion practice of praising ourselves would, like other old fashions, come round into fashion again. But this I fear will not be in our time, so we must even be contented with what little praise we can get from one another. To Jared Eliot. Philadelphia, Sept. 12, 1751.
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE
I67
BUT there is in mankind an unac- countable prejudice in favor of ancient customs and habitudes, which in- clines to a continuance of them after the circumstances, which formerly made them useful, cease to exist. A multitude of instances might be given, but it may suf- fice to mention one. Hats were once thought an useful part of dress; they kept the head warm and screened it from the violent impression of the sun's rays, and from the rain, snow, hail, &c. Though, by the way, this was not the more ancient opinion or practice; for among all the remains of antiquity, the bustos, statues, basso-rilievos, medals, &c., which are infinite, there is no repre- sentation of a human figure with a cap or hat on, nor any covering for the head, unless it be the head of a sol- dier, who has a helmet; but that is evidently not a part of dress for health,
The phi- losophy of hats
i68
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
but as a protection from the strokes of a weapon.
At what time hats were first intro- duced we know not, but in the last cen- tury they were universally worn through- out Europe. Gradually, however, as the wearing of wigs, and hair nicely dressed prevailed, the putting on of hats was disused by genteel people, lest the curious arrangement of the curls and powdering should be disordered; and umbrellas began to supply their place; yet still our considering the hat as a part of dress continues to prevail, that a man of fashion is not thought dressed with- out having one, or something like one, about him, which he carries under his arm. So that there are a multitude of the politer people in all the courts and capital cities of Europe, who have never, nor their fathers before them, worn a hat otherwise than as a chapeau bras.
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE
169
though the utility of such a mode of wearing it is by no means apparent, and it is attended not only with some ex- pense, but with a degree of constant trouble. Miscellaneous.
MEN are subject to various incon- veniences merely through lack of a small share of courage, which is a quality very necessary in the common occurrences of life, as well as in a battle. How many impertinences do we daily suffer with great uneasiness, because we have not courage enough to discover our dislike? And why may not a man use the boldness and freedom of telling his friends, that their long visits sometimes discommode him? On this occasion, it may be entertaining to some of my read- ers, if I acquaint them with the Turkish manner of entertaining visitors, which I
Social cffwar and courage
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
The
Turkish
method
have from an author of unquestionable veracity; who assures us, that even the Turks are not so ignorant of civility and the arts of endearment, but that they can practise them with as much exact- ness as any other nation, whenever they have a mind to show themselves oblig- ing.
' When you visit a person of quality," says he, u and have talked over your business, or the compliments, or what- ever concern brought you thither, he makes a sign to have things served in for the entertainment, which is generally a little sweetmeat, a dish of sherbet, and another of coffee; all which are imme- diately brought in by the servants, and tendered to all the guests in order, with the greatest care and awfulness imagin- able. At last comes the finishing part of your entertainment, which is, perfum- ing the beards of the company; a cere-
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE
mony which is performed in this man- ner. They have for the purpose a small silver chafing-dish, covered with a lid full of holes, and fixed upon a handsome plate. In this they put some fresh coals, and upon them a piece of lignum aloes\ shutting it up, the smoke imme- diately ascends with a grateful odor through the holes of the cover. This smoke is held under every one's chin, and offered as it were a sacrifice to his beard. The bristly idol soon receives the rever- ence done to it, and so greedily takes in and incorporates the gummy steam, that it retains the savour of it, and may serve as a nosegay a good while after.
' This ceremony may perhaps seem ridiculous at first hearing, but it passes among the Turks for a high gratifica- tion. And I will say this in its vindica- tion, that its design is very wise and use- ful. For it is understood to give a civil
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
dismission to the visitants, intimating to them that the master of the house has business to do, or some other avocations, that permits them to go away as soon as they please, and the sooner after this ceremony the better. By this means, you may, at any time, without offence, deliver yourself from being detained from your affairs by tedious and un- reasonable visits; and from being con- strained to use that piece of hypocrisy, so common in the world, of pressing those to stay longer with you, whom perhaps in your heart you wish a great way off for having troubled you so long already."
Thus far my author. For my own part, I have taken such a fancy to this Turkish custom, that for the future I shall put something like it in practice. I have provided a bottle of right French brandy for the men, and citron-water
THE CONDUCT OF LIFE
for the ladies. After I have treated with a dram, and presented a pinch of my best snuff, I expect all company will retire, and leave me to pursue my studies for the good of the public. Miscellaneous.
MISCELLANEA
MISCELLANEA
YOU have often enlivened me, my dear friend, by your excellent drinking songs; in return, I beg to edify you by some Christian, moral, and philo- sophical reflections upon the same sub- ject.
/// iino veritas, says the wise man, — Truth is in wine. Before the days of Noah then, men, having nothing but water to drink, could not discover the truth. Thus they went astray, became abominably wicked, and were justly ex- terminated by water, which they loved to drink.
The good man Noah, seeing that through this pernicious beverage all his cotemporaries had perished, took it in aversion; and, to quench his thirst, God created the vine, and revealed to him the means of converting its fruit into wine. By means of this liquor he discovered numberless important truths; so that ever
I?8 THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
since his time the word to divine has been in common use, signifying origin- ally to discover by means of WINE. Thus the patriarch Joseph took upon himself to divine by means of a cup or glass of WINE * ; a liquor which ob- tained this name to show that it was not of human but divine invention (another proof of the antiquity of the French lan- guage, in opposition to M. Gebelin) ; nay, since that time, all things of pe- culiar excellence, even the Deities them- selves, have been called Divine or Di- vinities.
We hear of the conversion of water into wine at the marriage of Cana, as of a miracle. But this conversion is, by the goodness of God, made every day before our eyes. Behold the rain,
* The Roman orator, who is well known by his bad poetry to have been a water drinker, frankly acknowl- edges in his book De Divinatione, that he did not know how to divine. " Quid futurum sit non divino."
MISCELLANEA
which descends from heaven upon our vineyards, and which incorporates it- self with the grapes to be changed into wine; a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy. The miracle in question was only performed to hasten the operation, under circum- stances of present necessity, which re- quired it.
It is true that God has also instructed man to reduce wine into water. But into what sort of water? — Water of Life.* And this, that man may be able upon occasion to perform the miracle of Cana, and convert common water into that excellent species of wine which -we call punch.
My Christian brother, be kind and benevolent like God, and do not spoil his good work. He made wine to glad-
* Eau-de-vie, that is, brandy.
i8o
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
den the heart of man; — do not, there- fore, when at table you see your neigh- bour pour wine into his glass, be eager to mingle water with it. Why would you drown truthl It is probable that your neighbour knows better than you can, what suits him. Perhaps he does not like water; perhaps he would only put in a few drops for fashion's sake; perhaps he does not wish any one to observe how much he puts in his glass. Do not then offer water except to chil- dren; 'tis a mistaken piece of politeness, and often very inconvenient. I give you this hint as a man of the world; and I will finish as I began, like a good Christian, in making a religious observa- tion of high importance, taken from the Holy Scriptures; I mean that the apostle Paul counselled Timothy very seriously to put wine into his water for the sake of his health; but that not one of the
MISCELLANEA
181
apostles or holy fathers ever recom- mended putting water to wine.
B. F.
P. S. — To confirm still more your piety and gratitude to Divine Provi- dence, reflect upon the situation which it has given to the elbow. You see in ani- mals who are intended to drink the waters that flow upon the earth, that if they have long legs, they have also a long neck, so that they can get at their drink without kneeling down. But man, who was destined to drink wine, is framed in a manner that he may raise the glass to his mouth. If the elbow had been placed nearer the hand, the part in advance would have been too short to bring the glass up to the mouth; and if it had been nearer the shoulder, that part would have been so long, that when it attempted to carry the wine to
The utility of the
eibcnu
182
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
the mouth it would have overshot the mark, and gone beyond the head; thus, either way, we should have been in the case of Tantalus. But from the actual situation of the elbow we are enabled to drink at our ease, the glass going directly to the mouth. Let us, then, with glass in hand, adore this benevolent wisdom; —let us adore and drink ! Translation, To the Abbe Morellet.
Potts and Parsons
TWO of the former members of the Junto you tell me are departed this life, Potts and Parsons. Odd char- acters both of them. Parsons a wise man, that often acted foolishly; Potts a wit, that seldom acted wisely. If enough were the means to make a man happy, one had always the means of happiness, without ever enjoying the thing; the other had always the thing, without ever possessing the means. Par-
MISCELLANEA
sons, even in his prosperity, always fret- ting; Potts, in the midst of his pov- erty, ever laughing. It seems, then, that happiness in this life rather depends on internals than externals; and that, be- sides the natural effects of wisdom and virtue, vice and folly, there is such a thing as a happy or an unhappy consti- tution. They were both our friends, and loved us. So, peace to their shades, They had their virtues as well as their foibles; they were both honest men, and that alone, as the world goes, is one of the greatest of characters. They were old acquaintances, in whose company I formerly enjoyed a great deal of pleas- ure, and I cannot think of losing them, without concern and regret.
To Hugh Roberts. London, Sept. 16, 1758.
Y
OU were right in conjecturing that I wrote the remarks on the
i84
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
* Thoughts Concerning Executive Jus- tice.11 I have no copy of those remarks at hand, and forget how the saying was introduced, that it is better a thousand guilty persons should escape, than one innocent suffer. Your criticisms thereon appear to be just, and I imagine you may have misapprehended my intention in mentioning it. I always thought, with you, that the prejudice in Europe, which supposes a family dishonored by the pun- ishment of one of its members, was very absurd; it being on the contrary my opinion, that a rogue hanged out of a family does it more honor than ten that live in it. To M. Le VeUlard. April 15, 1787.
Simplified spelling
YOU need not be concerned, in writ- ing to me, about your bad spell- ing; for, in my opinion, as our alphabet now stands, the bad spelling, or what is
MISCELLANEA
called so, is generally the best, as con- forming to the sound of the letters and of the words. To give you an instance. A gentleman received a letter, in which were these words, — Not finding Brown at horn, I delivered your meseg to his yf. The gentleman finding it bad spelling, and therefore not very intelligible, called his lady to help him read it. Between them they picked out the meaning of all but the yf, which they could not under- stand. The lady proposed calling her chambermaid, because Betty, says she, has the best knack of reading bad spell- ing of any one I know. Betty came, and was surprised, that neither Sir nor Madam could tell what yf was. " Why," says she, " y f spells wife; what else can it spell? " And, indeed, it is a much better, as well as shorter method of spelling wife, than donbleyoii, I, f, e, which in reality spells doublc-icifcy.
i86
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
There is much rejoicing in town to- day, it being the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which we signed this day, ten years, and thereby hazarded lives and fortunes. God was pleased to put a favorable end to the contest much sooner than we had reason to expect. His name be praised. Adieu. To Mrs. Jane Mecom. July 4, 1786.
News- paper
: ' •
YOU do well to avoid being con- cerned in the pieces of personal abuse, so scandalously common in our newspapers, that I am afraid to lend any of them here, until I have examined and laid aside such as would disgrace us, and subject us among strangers to a reflec- tion like that used by a gentleman in a coffee-house to two quarrellers, who, af- ter a mutually free use of the words, rogue, villain, rascal, scoundrel, etc.,
MISCELLANEA
187
seemed as if they would refer their dis- pute to him; " I know nothing of you or your affairs," said he; "I only per- ceive that you know one another"
The conductor of a newspaper should, methinks, consider himself as in some degree the guardian of his country's reputation, and refuse to insert such writings as may hurt it. If people will print their abuses of one another, let them do it in little pamphlets, and dis- tribute them where they think proper. It is absurd to trouble all the world wi-h them; and unjust to subscribers in distant places, to stuff their papers with matters so unprofitable and so disagreeable. To Framis Hopkinson. Passy, Dec. 24, 1782.
Dl \R SIR: I received yours of the 1 5th instant, and the memorial it enclosed. This account they give of your situation grieves me. I send you
On lending money
1 88 THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
herewith a bill for ten louis d'ors. I do not pretend to give such a sum; I only lend it to you. When you shall return to your country with a good character, you cannot fail of getting into some busi- ness, that will in time enable you to pay all your debts. In that case, when you meet with another honest man in similar distress, you must pay me by lending this sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with such another opportunity. I hope it may thus go through many hands, before it meets with a knave that will stop its progress. This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money. I am not rich enough to afford much in good works, and so am obliged to be cunning and make the most of a little. With best wishes for the success of your memorial, and your future prosperity, I
MISCELLANEA
am, dear Sir, your most obedient ser- vant,
B. FRANKLIN.
Letter to Benjamin Webb. April 22, 1784.
IF a sound body and a sound mind, which is as much as to say, health and virtue, are to be preferred before all other considerations, ought not men, in choosing a business either for themselves or children, to refuse such as are un- wholesome for the body, and such as make a man too dependent, too much obliged to please others, and too much subjected to their humors in order to be recommended and get a livelihood?
I am about courting a girl I have had but little acquaintance with. How shall I come to a knowledge of her faults, and whether she has the virtues I imagine she has? dns'-cer. Commend her among her female acquaintance.
190
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
The art of conversa- tion
The great secret of succeeding in con- versation is, to admire little, to hear much ; always to distrust our own reason, and sometimes that of our friends; never to pretend to wit, but to make that of others appear as much as possibly we can; to hearken to what is said, and to answer to the purpose.
In vain are musty morals taught in
schools,
By rigid teachers and as rigid rules, Where virtue with a frowning aspect
stands, And frights the pupils with her rough
commands. But woman . . . Charming woman can true converts
make, We love the precepts for the teacher's
sake.
MISCELLANEA I9l
Virtue in her appears so bright and gay We hear with pleasure and with pride obey.
Miscellaneous observations.
QUESTION. Wherein consists the ^^ happiness of a rational creature ?
Answer. In having a sound mind and a healthy body, a sufficiency of the neces- saries and conveniences of life, together with the favor of God and the love of mankind.
Q. What do you mean by a sound mind?
A. A faculty of reasoning justly and truly in searching after such truths as relate to my happiness. This faculty is the gift of God, capable of being im- proved by experience and instruction into wisdom.
Q. What is wisdom?
A. The knowledge of what will be
192 THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
best for us on all occasions, and the best ways of attaining it.
Q. Is any man wise at all times and in all things?
A. No, but some are more frequently wise than others.
Q. What do you mean by the neces- saries of life?
A. Having wholesome food and drink wherewith to satisfy hunger and thirst, clothing, and a place of habitation fit to secure against the inclemencies of the weather.
THERE is also another anecdote related of Franklin, respect- ing an incident which took place when the members were about to sign the Declaration. '* We must be unani- mous," said Hancock; "there must be no pulling different ways; we must all hang together." " Yes," replied Frank-
MISCELLANEA X93
lin, u we must indeed, all hang togethei, or most assuredly, we shall hang sepa- rately." Life of Franklin.
I THANK you for your kind cau- tion," said Franklin in reply ; " but having nearly finished a long life, I set but little value upon what remains of it. Like a draper, when one chaffers with him for a remnant, I am ready to say: * As it is only a fag end, I will not differ with you about it; take it for what you please/ Perhaps the best use such an old fellow can be put to, is to make a martyr of him."
194 THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
The Services of Benjamin Franklin to the United States of America, as reported by himself in his eightieth year.
IN England, he combated the Stamp Act, and his writings in the papers against it, with his examination in Par- liament, were thought to have contrib- uted much to its repeal.
He opposed the Duty Act; and, though he could not prevent its pass- ing, he obtained of Mr. Townshend an omission of several articles, particularly salt.
In the subsequent difference he wrote and published many papers, refuting the claim of Parliament to tax the colonies.
He opposed all the oppressive acts.
He had two secret negotiations with the ministers for their repeal, of which
SERVICES OF FRANKLIN
he has written a narrative. In this he offered payment for the destroyed tea, at his own risk, in case they were repealed. He was joined with Messrs. Bollan and Lee in all the applications to gov- ernment for that purpose. Printed sev- eral pamphlets at his own considerable expense against the then measures of government, whereby he rendered him- self obnoxious, was disgraced before the privy council, deprived of a place in the post-office of £300 sterling a year, and obliged to resign his agencies, viz. :
Of Pennsylvania £500
Of Massachusetts 400
Of New Jersey 100
Of Georgia 200
£1,200
In the whole £1,500 sterling per an- num.
196 THK WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
Orders were sent to the King's gov- ernors not to sign any warrants on the treasury for the orders of his salaries; and, though he was not actually dis- missed by the colonies that employed him, yet, thinking the known malice of the court against him rendered him less likely than others to manage their af- fairs to their advantage, he judged it to be his duty to withdraw from their serv- ice, and leave it open for less exceptional persons, which saved them the necessity of removing him.
Returning to America, he encouraged the Revolution. Was appointed Chair- man of the Committee of Safety, where he projected the chevaux de frlse for se- curing Philadelphia, then the residence of Congress.
Was sent by Congress to headquarters near Boston with Messrs. Harrison and Lynch, in 1775, to settle some affairs
SERVICES OF FRANKLIN 197
with the northern governments and Gen- eral Washington.
In the spring of 1776, was sent to Canada with Messrs. Chase and Carroll, passing the Lakes while they were not yet free from ice. In Canada, was, with his colleagues, instrumental in redress- ing sundry grievances, and thereby recon- ciling the people more to our cause. He there advanced to General Arnold and other servants of Congress, then in ex- treme necessity, £353 in gold, out of his own pocket, on the credit of Congress, which was of great service at that junc- ture, in procuring provisions for our army.
Being at the time he was ordered on this service upwards of seventy years of age, he suffered in his health by the hard- ships of this journey; lodging in the woods, £c., in so inclement a season; but, being recovered, the Congress in the
I98 THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
same year ordered him to France. Be- fore his departure he put all the money he could raise, between three and four thousand pounds, into their hands; which, demonstrating his confidence, en- couraged others to lend their money in support of the cause.
He made no bargain for appoint- ments, but was promised by a vote, the net salary of £500 sterling per annum, his expenses paid, and to be assisted by a secretary, who was to have £1,000 per annum, to include all contingencies.
When the Pennsylvania Assembly sent him to England in 1764, on the same salary, they allowed him one year's advance for his passage, and in consid- eration of the prejudice to his private affairs that must be occasioned by his sudden departure and absence. He has had no such allowance from Congress, was badly accommodated in a miserable
SERVICES OF FRANKLIN
vessel, improper for those northern seas, (and which actually foundered in her return), was badly fed, so that on his arrival he had scarce strength to stand. His services to the States as commis- sioner, and afterwards as minister pleni- potentiary are known to Congress, as may appear in his correspondence. His extra services may not be so well known, and therefore may be here mentioned. No secretary ever arriving, the business was in part before, and entirely when the other commissioners left him, executed by himself, with the help of his grand- son, who at first was only allowed clothes, board and lodging, and after- wards a salary, never exceeding £300 a year (except while he served as secre- tary to the Commissioners for peace), by which difference in salary, continued many years, the Congress saved, /'/ tiny accept it, £700 sterling a year.
2OO
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
He served as consul entirely several years, till the arrival of Mr. Barclay, and even after, as that gentleman was obliged to be much and long absent in Holland, Flanders, and England; dur- ing which absence, what business of the kind occurred, still came to Mr. Frank- lin.
He served, though without any spe- cial commission for the purpose, as a judge of admiralty; for, the Congress having sent him a quantity of blank com- missions for privateers, he granted them to cruisers fitted out in the ports of France, some of them manned by old smugglers, who knew every creek on the coast of England, and, running all around the island, distressed the British coasting trade exceedingly, and raised their general insurance. One of those privateers alone, the Black Prince, took in the course of a year seventy-five sail !
SERVICES OF FRANKLIN 2OI
All the papers taken in each prize brought in, were in virtue of an order of council, sent up to Mr. Franklin, who was to examine them, judge of the legality of the capture, and write to the admiralty of the port, that he found the prize good, and that the sale might be permitted. These papers, which are very voluminous, he has to produce.
He served also as merchant, to make purchases, and direct the shipping of stores to a very great value, for which he has charged no commission.
But the part of his service which was the most fatiguing and confining, was that of receiving and accepting, after a due and necessary examination, the bills of exchange drawn by Congress for in- terest money, to the amount of two mill- ions and a half of litres annually ; multi- tudes of the bills very small, each of which, the smallest, gave as much trouble
THE WISDOM OF FRANKLIN
in examining, as the largest. And this careful examination was found absolutely necessary, from the constant frauds attempted by presenting seconds and thirds for payment after the firsts had been discharged. As these bills were arriving more or less by every ship and every post, they required constant attendance. Mr. Franklin could make no journey for exercise, as had been an- nually his custom, and the confinement brought on a malady that is likely to afflict him while he lives.
In short, though he has always been an active man, he never went through so much business during eight years, in any part of his life, as during those of his residence in France; which, however, he did not decline till he saw peace hap- pily made, and found himself in the eightieth year of his age; when, if ever, a man has some right to expect repose.
Franklin Benjamin
74-6 The wisdom of Benjamin
K8 Franklin
PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE CARDS OR SLIPS FROM THIS POCKET
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO LIBRARY