Mr. Andrew Bradford, I design this to acquaint you, that I, who have long been one of your Courteous Readers, have lately entertain’d some Thoughts of setting up for an Author my Self; not out of the least Vanity, I assure you, or Desire of showing my Parts, but purely for the Good of my…
All posts by Benjamin Franklin
I Concluded to Send You a Spinning Wheel
To Jane Franklin DEAR SISTER, Philadelphia, January 6, 1726-7. I am highly pleased with the account captain Freeman gives me of you. I always judged by your behaviour when a child that you would make a good, agreeable woman, and you know you were ever my peculiar favourite. I have been thinking what would be…
A Plan of Conduct
Those who write of the art of poetry teach us that if we would write what may be worth the reading, we ought always, before we begin, to form a regular plan and design of our piece: otherwise, we shall be in danger of incongruity. I am apt to think it is the same as…
A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain
Whatever is, is in its Causes just Since all Things are by Fate; but purblind Man Sees but a part o’ th’ Chain, the nearest Link, His Eyes not carrying to the equal Beam That poises all above. Dryd. To Mr. J. R. SIR, I have here, according to your Request, given you my present Thoughts of the general…
Abigail Twitterfield to Honest Doctor JANUS
To assert, That because Posterity is a Blessing, therefore those who want it are cursed, is a meer Platonick Dream. Honest Doctor JANUS, Seeing you have ever manifested a Readiness to assist the fair Sex as there has been Occasion, we flatter our selves that what we have now to offer, will by your next Paper be convey’d…