It almost insensibly leads the youth into the resolution of endeavoring to become as good and eminent as the journalist. 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. Life is uncertain, as the preacher tells us and what will the world say if kind, humane, and benevolent Ben. “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. “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. Abel James, with Notes of my Life (received in Paris). 75 From The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin Part II
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |