Jan. 1777.

Parliament: On the revifion of fuch acts as were deemed grievances by the Americans than the prefent; that the queftion was not now, what fhould be altered, and what should remain in force? that those were confiderations to be agitated when they came into a committee; that he thought it was high time the legislature of G. Britain gave America reafon to fuppofe they would not always turn a deaf ear to her complaints; that it appeared by the declaration of Lord Howe, that he had promised, in the King's name, that fuch acts as they thought grievances fhould be revised; that the promise went to an affertion, that parliament as a branch of the legislature, would enable the King to keep his word; and that therefore parliament fhould fecond the King's endeavours to reftore peace, by beginning the good work with a revifal of the acts which oppreffed America, and a removal of every obftacle to a reconciliation. He faid, the remark of a learned gentleman (who had taken the other fide of the question) relative to the futulity of the House's taking into their confideration what they thought the grievances of America, because it might af. terwards appears they were not confidered by the Americans as grievances, was notoriously ill-founded: That the gentleman did himfelf and the Houfe much wrong, if, because parliament had collectively been blind to the feveral petitions and publications of America, he fupposed that the members, as individuals, had been equally blind, and neglected to peep into the petitions which had been prefented: That all the members had made themselves mafters of the fubject; and that the Houfe knew the grievances America had to complain of, was well aware what the felt as grievances, and might with great certainty proceed to redrefs them. He faid, the learned gentleman had given fome new ideas of liberty; he had declared, that America muft be fubdued, America must be conquered, in order to her deliver ance. This fort of deliverance was to him a new confequence of conqueft; from all that he had read or heard, he never knew that a conquered people were a free people; and he believed the Houfe would join with him in fuppofing, that from time immemorial the very reverfe of freedom had been the fate of the quered. As to the observation, that Howe's first proclamation was ne

pacific declaration.

21

ceffary to inform the public, that Lord
Howe was arrived in America, he said,
it might alfo have been proper to have
published the prefent proclamat on to
fhew that he was ftill there. The Noble
Lord [G. Germaine], he said, had ac-
commodated himfelf to all parties, in
his reafons for not publishing the decla-
ration in the gazette. To those who
thought it ought to have been made pu-
blic, he had declared, any man might
read it in the news papers; and to those
who wifhed and thought it ought to be
kept private, he had faid, none could
read it but those who chofe to take a
voyage to New York, where they would
find it pafted on the walls of the half-
burnt houses; and that he had not print-
ed it in the gazette, because Lord Chat-
ham's private negotiations with Monf.
de Buffy were not printed there. He
fhould give his vote for the motion, (al-
though, he faid, he knew it would not
be carried); and ended with declaring,
in reply to Lord G. Germaine's obferva-
tion about the faft-proclamation, that
he thought a church an improper place
to promulgate a court-creed in, and that
fo to act was to profane the place of
worship

47; against it, 109.
The Houfe divided: For the motion,

Preliminary Addrefs to the PENNSYLVANIA
ALMANACK, intitled, Poor Richard's
Almanack, for the year 1758. Printed
at Philadelphia.

[Said to be written by Dr Franklin.]

Have heard, that nothing gives an works refpectfully quoted by other learnauthor fo great pleasure as to find his ed authors. This pleasure I have feldom enjoyed; for though I have been, if I may say it without vanity, an eminent author (of Almanacks) annually ther-authors in the fame way (for what now a full quarter of a century, my broreason I know not) have ever been very fparing in their applaufes; and no other author has taken the leaft notice of me; fo that, did not my writings produce me fome folid Pudding, the great deficiency of Praise would have quite difcouraged me.

COURTEOUS READER,

I concluded, at length, that the people they buy my works; aud befides, in my were the best judges of my merit, for rambles, where I am not perfonally known, I have frequently heard one or

other

22

Preliminary Addrefs to Poor Richard's Almanack.

other of my adages repeated, with "As poor Richard fays" at the end on't. This gave me fome fatisfaction; as it fhewed not only that my inftructions were regarded, but difcovered likewife fome refpect for my authority: and I own, that, to encourage the practice of remembering and repeating thofe wife fentences, I have fometimes quoted my felf with great gravity.

Judge then how much I have been gratified by an incident I am going to relate to you. I ftopped my horfe lately where a great number of people were an auction of merchants collected at goods. The hour of fale not being come, they were converfing on the badnefs of the times, and one of the company called to a plain, clean, old man, with white locks, Pray, Father Abraham, what think you of the times? Won't these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How fhall we be ever able to pay them? What would you advife us to?" Father Abraham stood up, and replied,-"If you'd have my advice, I'll give it you in hort: Fora word to the wife is enough; and many words won't fill a bufhel," as poor Richard fays." They joined in defiring him to fpeak his mind; and gathering round him, he proceeded as follows.

to fome of us.

"Friends, (fays he), and neighbours, the taxes are, indeed, very heavy; and if thofe laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we might more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous We are taxed twice as much by our Idlenefs, three times as much by our Pride, and four times as much by our Folly; and from these taxes the commiflioners cannot cafe or deliver us, by allowing an abatement. However, let us hearken to good advice, and fomething may be done for us; "God helps them that help themfelves," as poor Richard fays, in his Almanack.

It would be thought a hard government that thould tax its people one tenth part of their time, to be employed in its fervice; but Idlenefs taxes many of us much more, if we reckon all that is fpent in abfolute floth, or doing of nothing, with that which is fpent in idle employments, or amufements that a mount to nothing. Sloth, by bringing on diseases, abfolutely fhortens life. "Sloth, like ruft, confumes fafter than Labour wears, while the key ufed is al

Vol. xxxix.

ways bright," as poor Richard fays.
"But doft thou love life? then do not
fquander time, for that's the stuff life is
made of," as poor Richard fays. How
much more than is neceffary do we spend
in fleep! forgetting that "the fleeping
fox catches no poultry, and that there
"If time be of all
will be fleeping enough in the grave," as
poor Richard fays.
things the most precious, wafting time
must be (as poor Richard fays) the
greatest prodigality;" fince, as he elfe-
where tells, "Loft time is never found
again; and what we call time enough,
always proves little enough." Let us
then up, and be doing, and doing to the
"Sloth makes all
purpofe; fo by diligence fhall we do more
with lefs perplexity.
things difficult, but Industry all eafy,"
as poor Richard fays; and,
rifeth late, muft trot all day, and fhall
fcarce overtake his bulinefs at night;
while Laziness travels fo flowly, that Po-
verty foon overtakes him," as we read in
poor Richard; who adds, "Drive thy
business, let not that drive thee;" and,
"Early to bed, and early to rife, makes
a man healthy, wealthy, and wife,”

64

"He that

So what fignifies withing and hoping “Industry for better times? We make thefe times better if we beftir ourselves. need need not wish," as poor Richard He that lives upon Hope, There are no gains fays; and, will die fatting." have, they are without pains; then help hands, for I have no lands; or, if "He that hath a fmartly taxed;" and, (as poor Richard likewife obferves), trade hath an eftate; and he that hath = calling hath an office of profit and honour:" but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling well followed, or nei If we are induftri ther the estate nor the office will enabl us to pay our taxes. ous, we fhall never ftarve; for, as poo Richard fays, "At the working-man' houfe Hunger looks in, but dares not em ter." Nor will the bailiff or the conftab enter; for "Induftry pays debts, whi Despair increaseth them," fays poor R chard. What though you have foundr treasure, nor has any rich relation left ye Diligence is the mother a legacy? Good-luck," as poor Richard fays; an "God gives all things to Industry; th plough deep while Aluggards fleep, a you fhall have corn to fell and to keep fays poor Dick. Work while it is call to-day; for you know not how mu you may be hindered to-morrow; whi

ma

makes poor Richard fay, " One to-day a fire ;" and again, "Keep thy fhop, and is worth two to-morrows ;" and farther, thy fhop will keep thee;" and again, “If "Have you fomewhat to do to-morrow, you would have your bufinefs done, go; do it to-day." If you were a fervant, if not, fend." And again, would you not be ashamed that a good mafter thould catch you idle? Are you then your own mafter? "Be ashamed to catch yourself idle," as poor Dick fays. When there is fo much to be done for yourself, your family, your country, and your gracious King, be up by peep of day; Let not the fun look down, and fay, Inglorious here he lies!" Handle your tools without mittens; remember, that The cat in gloves catches no mice," as poor Richard fays. It is true, there is much to be done, and perhaps you are weak-handed; but stick to it fteadily, and you will fee great effects; for,Conftant dropping wears away ftones, and, By diligence and patience the mouse ate into the cable; and, Little ftrokes fell great oaks," as poor Richard fays in his Almanack, the year I cannot juft now remember,

Methinks I hear fome of you fay, "Muft a man afford himself no leisure !" I will tell thee, my friend, what poor Richard fays: 66 Employ thy time well, if thou meaneft to gain leifure; and fince thou art not fure of a minute, throw not away an hour." Leifure is time for doing fomething ufeful; this leifure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never; fo that, as poor Richard fays, "A life of leifure, and a life of lazinefs, are two things." Do you imagine that floth will afford you more comfort than labour? No: for, as poor Richard fays, "Troubles fpring from idleness, and grievous toil from needlefs ease. Many without labour would live by their wits only, but they break for want of ftock." Whereas Industry gives comfort, and plenty, and refpect. "Fiy pleasure, and they'll follow you; The diligent fpinner has a large shift; and, Now I have a sheep and a cow, every body bids me good morrow;" all which is well faid by poor Richard,

But with our induftry, we must like wife be fteady, fettled, and careful, and oversee our own affairs with our own

eyes, and not truft too much to others;
for, as poor Richard fays,

"I never faw an oft-removed tree,
Nor yet an oft-removed family,
That throve fo well as those that set-
tied be."

And again, "Three removes is as bad as

"He that by the plough would thrive, Himfelf muft either hold or drive." And again, "The eye of a master will do more work than both his hands;" and again, "Want of care does us more damage than want of knowledge;" and again," Not to overfee workmen, is to leave them your purfe open.' Trufting too much to others care is the ruin of the affairs of the world, men are faved, many: for, as the Almanack fays, “ In not by faith, but by the want of it:" but a man's own care is profitable; for, faith and riches to the careful, as well as power poor Dick, "Learning is to the ftudious, to the bold, and heaven to the virtuous." And farther, "If you would have a faithful fervant, and one that you like, ferve

yourself." And again, he advifeth to
circumfpection and care, even in the
fmalleft matters, because sometimes "A

little neglect may breed great mifchief;"
was loft; for want of a fhoe the horse
"For want of a nail the shoe
adding,
was loft; and for want of a horse the
flain by the enemy, all for want of care
rider was loft;" being overtaken and
about a horfe-fhoe nail.

attention to one's own business; but to
So much for Industry, my friends, and
thefe we muft add Frugality, if we would
make our Induftry more certainly fuc-
cefsful. A man may, if he knows not
how to fave as he gets, "keep his nofe
all his life to the grindstone, and die not
worth a groat at laft." "A fat kitchen
makes a lean will,” as poor Richard fays;
and,

Many eftates are spent in the getting, Since women for tea forsook spinning and knitting,

And men for punch forfook hewing and splitting."

in another Almanack), think of faving as "If you would be wealthy, (fays he, made Spain rich, because her out-goes well as of getting: The Indies have not

are greater than her in-comes."

and you will not have much caufe to Away then with your expensive follies, complain of hard times, heavy taxes, and chargeable families; for, as poor Dick fays,

"Women and wine, game and deceit, Make the wealth small, and the want great."

And

24

Preliminary Addrefs to Poor Richard's Almanack.

And farther, "What maintains one vice, would bring up two children." You may think, perhaps, that a little tea, or a little punch now and then, diet a little more coftly, cloaths a little finer, and a little entertainment now and then, can be no great matter; but remember what Poor Richard fays, "Many a little makes a mickle;" and farther," Beware of little expences; a small leak will fink a great fhip;" and again, "Who dainties loves, fhall beggars prove; and more over, "Fools make feasts, and wife men eat them."

Here you are all got together at this fale of fineries and nicknacks. You call them goods, but if you do not take care, they will prove evils to fome of you. You expect they will be fold cheap, and perhaps they may for less than they coft; but if you have no occafion for them, they must be dear to you. Remember what poor Richard fays, " Buy what thou haft no need of, and ere long thou fhalt fell thy neceffaries." And again, "At a great pennyworth pause a while:" He means, that perhaps the cheapnefs is apparent only, and not real; or the bargain, by ftraitening thee in thy bufinefs, may do thee more harm than good. For in another place he fays, Many have been ruined by buying good pennyworths." Again, poor Richard fays, "It is foolish to lay out money in a purchase of repentance;" and yet this folly is practifed every day at auctions, for want of minding the Almanack: "Wife men (as poor Dick fays) learn by others harms, fools fcarcely by their own; but, Felix quem faciunt aliena Many a one, for the pericula cantum.' fake of finery on the back, have gone with a hungry belly, and half-ftarved their families: "Silk and fattins, fcarlet and velvets, (as poor Richard fays), put out the kitchen fire." Thefe are not the neceffaries of life; they can scarcely be called the conveniencies; and yet, only because they look pretty, how many The artificial want to have them? wants of mankind thus become more numerous than the natural; and, as poor Dick fays, "For one poor perfon, there are an hundred indigent." By thefe, and other extravagancies, the genteel are reduced to poverty, and forced to borrow of those whom they formerly defpifed, but who through induftry and frugality have maintained their standing; in which cafe "A Ploughman on it appears plainly,

Vol. xxxix.

his legs is higher than a Gentleman on
his knees," as poor Richard fays. Per-
haps they have had a small eftate left
them, which they knew not the getting
of; they think " It is day, and will never
be night;" that a little to be spent out of
fo much is not worth minding: "A child
and a fool (as poor Richard fays) ima-
gine twenty fhillings and twenty years
can never be spent, but always be taking
out of the meal-tub, and never putting
in, foon comes to the bottom;" then,
as poor Dick fays, "When the well is
dry, they know the worth of water."
But this they might have known before,
if they had taken his advice: "If you
would know the value of money, go and
try to borrow fome; for he that knows
a borrowing goes a forrowing; and, in-
deed, fo does he that lends to fuch peo-
ple when he goes to get it in again."
Poor Dick farther advises, and fays,
"Fond pride of dress, is sure a very
curfe;

Ere fancy you confult, confult your
purfe."

And again, "Pride is as loud a beggar
as Want, and a great deal more faucy."
When you have bought one fine thing,
you must buy ten more, that your ap.
"It is easier to fupprefs the
pearance may be all of a piece; but poor
Dick fays,
firft defire, than to fatisfy all that follow
it." And it is as truly folly for the poor
to ape the rich, as the frog to fwell, in
order to equal the ox.

"Veffels large may venture more,
But little boats thould keep near
fhore."

"Tis however a folly foon punished; for "Pride that dines on Vanity, fups on Contempt," as poor Richard fays, And in another place, "Pride breakfafted with Plenty, dined with Poverty, and fupped with Infamy." And after all, of what ufe is this pride of appear. ance for which fo much is rifked, fo much is fuffered? It cannot promote health, nor ease pain; it makes no increafe of merit in the perfon, it creates Envy, it haftens Misfortune.

"What is a butterfly? At best
He's but a caterpillar dreft,
The gaudy fop's his picture juft."
as poor Richard fays.

But what madness muft it be to run in debt for these fuperfluities! We are of fered, by the terms of this fale, fix months credit; and that perhaps has induced fome of us to attend it, because

W