frequently chid, and told their trumpeter is dead; and that it is unbecoming to sound their own praise, &c. But naturam expellas furcâ, tamen usque recurret. Being forbid to praise themselves, 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 particular, amounts to as much as saying, I 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 neighbours' 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 carry them to our grave, for who would offer physic to a man that seems to be in health? And the privilege of recounting freely our own good actions might be an inducement to the doing of them, that we might be enabled to speak of them without being subject to be justly contradicted 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. And I will endeavour to make you some amends for the trouble of reading this long scrawl, by telling you, that I have the

sincerest esteem for you, as an ingenious man and a good one, which together make the valuable member of society. As such, I am with great respect and affection, dear Sir, your obliged humble servant,

B. FRANKLIN.

TO MRS. JANE MECOM.

DEAR SISTER,

Philadelphia, 24 October, 1751.

My son waits upon you with this, whom I heartily recommend to your motherly care and advice. He is indeed a sober and discreet lad of his years, but he is young and unacquainted with the ways of your place. My compliments to my new niece, Miss Abiah, and pray her to accept the enclosed piece of gold, to cut her teeth; it may afterwards buy nuts for them to crack.

Some time since I sent a letter to your care for our cousin at Casco Bay. Have you had an opportunity to forward it? My love to brother Mecom and your children; and to brother and sister Davenport and children; and respects to Mrs. Billings and her daughter, and all other friends, from, dear sister, your affectionate brother, B. FRANKLIN.

TO JARED ELIOT.

John Bartram.-Importance of Instruction in Public

DEAR SIR,

Speaking.

Philadelphia, 24 December, 1751.

I wrote you at large by my son, in answer to your former favors, and sent you an extract from Mr. Collinson's letter, who much admires your Tracts on Husbandry. Herewith you will receive a manuscript of a

friend of Mr. Collinson's, and a printed book; which you may keep till spring, and then return it to me. I believe they will afford you pleasure.

I send you also enclosed a letter from my friend John Bartram, whose Journal you have read.* He corresponds with several of the greatest naturalists in Europe, and will be proud of an acquaintance with you. I make no apologies for introducing him to you; for, though a plain and illiterate man, you will find he has merit. And, since for want of skill in agriculture I cannot converse with you pertinently on that valuable subject, I am pleased that I have procured you two correspondents who can.

I am glad you have introduced English declamation into your College. It will be of great service to the youth, especially if care is taken to form their pronunciation on the best models. Mr. Whittlesey, who was lately here, will tell you, that we have little boys under seven, who can deliver an oration with more propriety than most preachers. It is a matter that has been too much neglected. I am, dear Sir, yours affectionately, B. FRANKLIN.

TO JARED ELIOT.

On his Agricultural Essays.

DEAR SIR,

Philadelphia, 11 February, 1752.

I received your favor by my son, and return my thanks for your kind entertainment of him at your house. I delivered yours to my friend Bartram, and enclose to

Mr. Bartram's "Observations made in his Travels from Pennsylvania to Canada" had lately been published in London.

f Yale College.

you his answer. He is much pleased with the prospect of a continued correspondence with you. He is a man of no letters, but a curious observer of nature. I like very well the paragraph you propose to insert, concerning Mr. Jackson's papers; except the last line, to wit, "The improvement of it must be deferred till another year;" instead of which I would say, It cannot now be inserted, but shall be in our next. My reasons are, that I think, in the first place, your ESSAYS ought to be more frequent than once a year; next, that it is pity, if Mr. Jackson's papers would be advantageous to the public, a whole year's benefit of them should be lost; thirdly, I think he will be at a loss to know why, since your Essay was not quite finished and published, his papers might not as well have been added now; and indeed I think you had best add them, unless you intend speedily another Essay. Lastly, I object to the word improvement, which, in the sense you use it, is peculiar to New England, and will not be understood elsewhere. It will look as if you proposed to alter it for the better, correct, or amend it, such being the common meaning of the word improve.

Every colony has some peculiar expressions, familiar to its own people, but strange and unintelligible to others. This is not to be wondered at, since the same may be observed in the different counties of England. I know you will excuse this freedom, and that I need make no apology for it. I am, with great respect, dear Sir, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

TO CADWALLADER COLDEN.

Intercession for a Printer, who had offended the Gov

ernor of New York.

Philadelphia, 14 May, 1752.

SIR, I find P has been indiscreet enough to print a piece in his paper, which has brought him into a great deal of trouble. I cannot conceive how he was prevailed on to do it, as I know him to be a thorough believer himself, and averse to every thing that is commonly called freethinking. He is now much in his penitentials, and requests me to intercede with you, to procure from the governor a Nol. Pros. in his favor, promising to be very circumspect and careful for the future, not to give offence either in religion or politics, to you or any of your friends, in which, I believe, he is very sincere.

I have let him know, that I pretend to no interest with you, and I fear he has behaved to the governor and to you in such a manner, as not to deserve your favor. Therefore I only beg leave to recommend the poor man's case to your consideration; and, if you could, without inconvenience to your own character, interest yourself a little in his behalf, I shall, as I am much concerned for him, esteem it a very great obligation.

As to the cause of religion, I really think it will be best served by stopping the prosecution; for, if there be any evil tendency apprehended from the publication of that piece, the trial and punishment of the printer will certainly make it a thousand times more public, such is the curiosity of mankind in these cases. It is, besides, an old thing, has been printed before both in England and by Andrew Bradford here; but, no public