cessary expences excepted), will certainly become rich—if that Being who governs the world, to whom all should look for a blessing on their honest endeavors, doth not, in his wise providence, otherwise determine.

NECESSARY HINTS TO THOSE THAT WOULD BE RICH.

Written Anno 1736.

THE use of money is all the advantage there is in having money.

For six pounds a year you may have the use of one hundred pounds, provided you are a man of known prudence and honesty.

He, that spends a groat a day idly, spends idly above six pounds a year, which is the price for the use of one hundred pounds.

He, that wastes idly a groat's worth of his time per day, one day with another, wastes the privilege of using one hundred pounds each day.

He, that idly loses five shillings worth of time, loses five shillings, and might as prudently throw five shillings into the sea.

He, that loses five shillings, not only loses that sum, but all the advantage that might be made by turning it in dealing, which, by the time that a young man becomes old, will amount to a considerable sum of money.

Again: he, that sells upon credit, asks a price for what he sells equivalent to the principal and interest of his money for the time he is to be kept out of it; therefore, he, that buys upon credit, pays interest for what he buys, and he, that pays ready money, might let that money out to use: so that he, that possesses any thing he has bought, pays interest for the use of it..

Yet, in buying goods, it is best to pay ready money, because he, that sells upon credit, expects to lose five per cent. by bad debts; therefore he charges, on all he sells upon credit, an advance, that sha"! make up that deficiency.

Those, who pay for what they buy upon credit, pay their share of this advance.

He, that pays ready money, escapes, or may escape, that charge.

A penny sav'd is two-pence clear,

A pin a day's a groat a year.

The way to make Money Plenty in every Man's Pocket.

AT this time, when the general complaint is, that "money is scarce, it will be an act of kindness to inform the moneyless how they may reinforce their pockets. I will acquaint them with the true secret of money-catching, the certain way to fill empty purses, and how to keep them always full. Two simple rules, well observed, will do the business. First, let honesty and industry be thy constant companions; and

Secondly, spend one penny less than thy clear gains.

Then shall thy hide-bound pocket soon begin to thrive, and will never again cry with the empty belly-ache: neither will creditors insult thee, nor want oppress, nor hunger bite, nor nakedness freeze thee. The whole hemisphere will shine brighter, and pleasure spring up in every corner of thy heart. Now, therefore, embrace these rules and be happy. Banish the bleak winds of sorrow from thy mind, and live independent. Then shalt thou be a man, and not hide thy face at the approach of the rich, nor suffer the pain of feeling little when the sons of fortune walk at thy right hand for independency, whether with little or much, is good fortune, and placeth thee on even ground with the proudest of the golden fleece. Oh, then, be wise, and let industry walk with thee in the morning, and attend thee until thou reachest the evening hour for rest. Let honesty be as the breath of thy soul, and never forget to have a penny when all thy expences are enumerated and paid: then shalt thou reach the point of happiness, and independence shall

:

be thy shield and buckler, thy helmet and crown; then shall thy soul walk upright, nor stoop to the silken wretch because he hath riches, nor pocket an abuse because the hand which offers it wears a ring set with diamonds.

Plan for improving the Condition of the Free Blacks. THE business relative to free blacks shall be transacted by a committee of twenty-four persons, annually elected by ballot, at the meeting of this society, in the month called April; and in order to perform the different services with expedition, regularity, and energy, this committee shall resolve itself into the following sub-committees, viz :

I

A committee of inspection, shall superintend the morals, general conduct, and ordinary situation of the free negroes, and afford them advice and instruction, protection from wrongs, and other friendly offices.

II

A committee of guardians, who shall place out children and young people with suitable persons, that they may (during a moderate time of apprenticeship, or servitude) learn some trade or other business of subsistence. The committee may effect this partly by a persuasive influence on parents and the persons concerned; and partly by co-operating with the laws, which are, or may be enacted for this, and similar purposes: in forming contracts on these occasions, the committee shall secure to the society, as far as may be practicable, the right of guardianship over the persons so bound.

III.

A committee of education, who shall superintend the school-instruction of the children and youth of the free blacks; they may either influence them to attend regularly the schools, already established in this city, or form others

with this view; they shall, in either case, provide, that the pupils may receive such learning, as is necessary for their future situation in life; and especially a deep impression of the most important, and generally acknowleged moral and religious principles. They shall also procure and preserve a regular record of the marriages, births, and manumissions of all free blacks.

IV.

A committee of employ, who shall endeavor to procure constant employment for those free negroes who are able to work as the want of this would occasion poverty, idleness, and many vicious habits. This committee will, by sedulous enquiry, be enabled to find common labor for a great number; they will also provide, that such, as indicate proper talents, may learn various trades, which may be done by prevailing upon them to bind themselves for such a term of years, as shall compensate their masters for the expence and trouble of instruction and maintenance. The committee may attempt the institution of some useful and simpie manufactures, which require but little skill, and also may. assist, in commencing business, such as appear to be qualified for it.

Whenever the committee of inspection shall find persons of any particular description requiring attention, they shall immediately direct them to the committee, of whose care they are the proper objects.

In matters of a mixed nature, the committees shall confer, and, if necessary, act in concert. Affairs of great im

portance shall be referred to the whole committee.

The expence, incurred by the prosecution of this plan, shall be defrayed by a fund, to be formed by donations, or subscriptions, for these particular purposes, and to be kept separate from the other funds of this society.

The committee shall make a report of their proceedings, and of the state of their stock, to the society, at their quar terly meetings, in the months called April and October.

Philadelphia, 26th October, 1789.

K k

MARCUS TULLIUS CICERO'S CATO MAJOR,

OR A DISCOURSE ON OLD AGE.

Addressed to Titus Pomponius Atticus. With explanatory notes.

BY BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, L. L. D.

INTRODUCTION.

THIS translation of Cicero's tract De Senectute, was made several years since, partly for the translator's own amusement, but principally for the entertainment of a neighbour then in his grand climacteric; and the notes were added solely on that gentleman's account, who was not well acquainted with the Roman history and language. Copies in Mss. having been obtained by many, their recommendation and approbation of it, induced the original publication; as they thought it to be in itself at least equal to any translation of the same piece extant in the English language, besides the advantage it has received of so many notes, which at the same time clear up the text, and are highly instructive and entertaining.

In the Philadelphia edition the introduction to the reader closes with, "I shall add to these few lines my hearty wish, that this first translation of a Classic in this Western World, may be followed with many others, and be a happy omen, that Philadelphia shall become the seat of the American B. FRANKLIN.

muses.

Philadelphia.

This Essay was first translated and published in Philadelphia, when Dr Franklin carried on the printing business in this city; and exhibits strong marks of that character which distinguished his own subsequent life-that strict public virtue, that economy and frugality united with temperance,-that love of utility and wisdom, that thirst for knowlege and invincible integrity, which is drawn with so many charms by Cicero, were realized by the American sage.-An edition of this essay was published in London, in 1778, with some alterations; this edition is published from the London edition, and from the copy preserved in Dr. Franklin's library.

The notes are subjoined as an appendix, with which the numerical references correspond.