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"Ben Franklin"
Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography: Page 62
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the American youth. Not that I think the work would have no other merit and
use in the world, far from it; but the first is of such vast importance that I
know nothing that can equal it."
The foregoing letter and the minutes accompanying it being shown to a friend, I
received from him the following:
Letter from Mr. Benjamin Vaughan.
"PARIS, January 31, 1783.
"My DEAREST SIR: When I had read over your sheets of minutes of the principal
incidents of your life, recovered for you by your Quaker acquaintance, I told
you I would send you a letter expressing my reasons why I thought it would be
useful to complete and publish it as he desired. Various concerns have for
some time past prevented this letter being written, and I do not know whether
it was worth any expectation; happening to be at leisure, however, at present,
I shall by writing, at least interest and instruct myself; but as the terms I
am inclined to use may tend to offend a person of your manners, I shall only
tell you how I would address any other person, who was as good and as great as
yourself, but less diffident. I would say to him, Sir, I solicit the history
of your life from the following motives: Your history is so remarkable, that
if you do not give it, somebody else will certainly give it; and perhaps so as
nearly to do as much harm, as your own management of the thing might do good.
It will moreover present a table of the internal circumstances of your
country, which will very much tend to invite to it settlers of virtuous and
manly minds. And considering the eagerness with which such information is
sought by them, and the extent of your reputation, I do not know of a more
efficacious advertisement than your biography would give. All that has
happened to you is also connected with the detail of the manners and situation
of a rising people; and in this respect I do not think that the writings of
Caesar and Tacitus can be more interesting to a true judge of human nature and
society. But these, sir, are small reasons, in my opinion, compared with the
chance which your life will give for the forming of future great men; and in
conjunction with your Art of Virtue (which you design to publish) of improving
the features of private character, and consequently of aiding all happiness,
both public and domestic. The two works I allude to, sir, will in particular
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