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"Ben Franklin"
Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography: Page 61
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and farmers as intelligent as most gentlemen from other countries, and perhaps
have contributed in some degree to the stand so generally made throughout the
colonies in defense of their privileges.
Memo. Thus far was written with the intention express'd in the beginning and
therefore contains several little family anecdotes of no importance to others.
What follows was written many years after in compliance with the advice
contain'd in these letters, and accordingly intended for the public. The affairs
of the Revolution occasion'd the interruption.
Letter from Mr. Abel James, with Notes of my Life
(received in Paris).
"MY DEAR AND HONORED FRIEND: I have often been desirous of writing to thee,
but could not be reconciled to the thought that the letter might fall into the
hands of the British, lest some printer or busy-body should publish some part
of the contents, and give our friend pain, and myself censure.
"Some time since there fell into my hands, to my great joy, about twenty-three
sheets in thy own handwriting, containing an account of the parentage and life
of thyself, directed to thy son, ending in the year 1730, with which there
were notes, likewise in thy writing; a copy of which I inclose, in hopes it
may be a means, if thou continued it up to a later period, that the first and
latter part may be put together; and if it is not yet continued, I hope thee
will not delay it. Life is uncertain, as the preacher tells us; and what will
the world say if kind, humane, and benevolent Ben. Franklin should leave his
friends and the world deprived of so pleasing and profitable a work; a work
which would be useful and entertaining not only to a few, but to millions? The
influence writings under that class have on the minds of youth is very great,
and has nowhere appeared to me so plain, as in our public friend's journals.
It almost insensibly leads the youth into the resolution of endeavoring to
become as good and eminent as the journalist. Should thine, for instance, when
published (and I think it could not fail of it), lead the youth to equal the
industry and temperance of thy early youth, what a blessing with that class
would such a work be! I know of no character living, nor many of them put
together, who has so much in his power as thyself to promote a greater spirit
of industry and early attention to business, frugality, and temperance with
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