12mo. (10l. 10s. 1110) and D. Hall. 36 pp: the 12th and the last leaf mutilated. 12mo. (2l. 2s. 1108) FRANKLIN (BENJAMIN). The Same, Poor Richard improved: etc. For the Year of our Lord 1757: etc. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, and D. Hall. 36 pp. Wants the last 3 leaves. (1l. 11s. 6d. 1109) FRANKLIN (BENJAMIN). The Same, Poor Richard improved: etc. For the Year of our Lord 1758: etc. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin and D. Hall. 36 pp. Fine and sound copy. 12mo. This is the most celebrated of all the Almanacs of the celebrated Poor Richard, and, as far as my experience goes, one of the rarest to be met with in a perfect state like the present copy. It is full of precious gems, but weighs, Troy weight, scarcely two sovereigns. I therefore mark it cheap enough at five times its weight in gold. In all the Almanacs previous to this from 1733, Franklin had dropped in to fill up the chinks between the remarkable days in the Calendar many proverbial sentences, designed to inculcate industry, frugality, and other virtues. In his Autobiography, written many years after, Franklin says," These Proverbs, which contained the wisdom of many ages and nations, I assembled and formed into a connected discourse, prefixed to the Almanac of 1758, as the harangue of a wise old man to the people attending an auction. The bringing all these scattered counsels thus into a focus, enabled them to make greater impression. The piece being universally approved, was copied in all the newspapers of the American Continent; reprinted in Britain on a large sheet of paper, to be stuck up in houses. Two translations were made of it in France, and great numbers bought by the clergy and gentry to distribute gratis among their poor parishioners and tenants. In Pennsylvania, as it discouraged useless expense in foreign superfluities, some thought it had its share of influence in producing that growing plenty of money, which was observable for several years after its publication.' Since Franklin wrote his autobiography, this summary has been many times reprinted, both in England and France, and in many languages, even in modern Greek by Didot; but such a chain of gems can never wear out or be lost, and therefore, at the risk of burying it, I insert it here in full, reprinted verbatim :COURTEOUS READER, I HAVE heard that nothing gives an Author fo great Pleasure, as to find his Works refpectfully quoted by other learned Authors. This Pleafure I have feldom enjoyed; for tho' I have been, if I may fay it without Vanity, an eminent Author of Almanacks annually now a full Quarter of a Century, my Brother Authors in the fame Way, for what Reafon 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. I concluded at length, that the People were the beft Judges of my Merit; for they buy my Works; and befides, in my Rambles, where I am not perfonally known, I have frequently heard one or other of my Adages repeated, with, as Poor Richard says, at the End on't; this gave me fome Satisfaction, as it showed 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 Sentences, I have fometimes quoted myself with great Gravity, Judge then how much I must have been gratified by an Incident I am going to relate to you. I ftopt my Horfe lately where a great Number of People were collected at a Vendue of Merchant Goods. The Hour of Sale not being come, they were converfing on the Badnefs of the Times, and one of the Company call'd 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 shall we be ever able to pay them? What would you advise us to?--Father Abraham ftood up, and reply'd, If you'd have my Advice, I'll give it you in fhort, for a Word to the Wise is enough, and many Words won't fill a Bushel, as Poor Richard says. They join'd in defiring him to fpeak his Mind, and gathering round him, he proceeded as follows; "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 eafily difcharge them; but we have many others, and much more grievous to fome of us. We are taxed twice as much by our Idleness, three times as much by our Pride, and four times as much by our Folly, and from thefe Taxes the Commiffioners cannot eafe 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 themselves, as Poor Richard fays, in his Almanack of 1733. It would be thought a hard Government that fhould tax its People one tenth Part of their Time, to be employed in its Service. But Idleness taxes many of us much more, if we reckon all that is fpent in abfolute Sloth, or doing of nothing, with that which is fpent in idle Employments or Amusements, that amount to nothing. Sloth, by bringing on Difeafes, abfolutely fhortens Life. Sloth, like Rust, consumes faster than Labour wears, while the used Key is always bright, as Poor Richard fays. But dost thou love Life, then do not squander Time, for that's the Stuff Life is made of, as Poor Richard says.-How much more than is neceflary do we fpend in Sleep! forgetting that The sleeping Fox catches no Poultry, and that there will be sleeping enough in the Grave, as Poor Richard favs. If Time be of afl Things the moft precious, wasting of Time must be, as Poor Richard fays, the greatest Prodigality, fince, as he elfewhere tells us, Lost 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 Purpofe; fo by Diligence hall we do more with lefs Perplexity. Sloth makes all Things difficult, but Industry all things easy, as Poor Richard fays; and He that riseth late, must trot all Day, and shall scarce overtake his Business at Night. While Laziness travels so slowly, that Poverty soon 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 rise, makes a Man healthy, wealthy and wise. So what fignifies wishing and hoping for better Times. We may make these Times better if we beftir ourfelves. Industry need not wish, as Poor Richard fays, and He that lives upon Hope will die fasting. There are no Gains, without Pains; then Help Hands, for I have no Lands, or if I have, they are fmartly taxed. And as Poor Richard likewife obferves, He that hath a Trade hath an Estate, and He that hath a Calling hath an Office of Profit and Honour; but then the Trade must be worked at, and the Calling well followed, or neither the Estate, nor the Office, will enable us to pay our Taxes.-Ifwe are induftrious we shall never starve; for, as Poor Richard fays, At the working Man's House Hunger looks in, but dares not enter. Nor will the Bailiff or the Constable enter, for Industry pays Debts, while Despair encreaseth them, fays Poor Richard.-What though you have found no Treafure, nor has any rich Relation left you a Legacy, Diligence is the mother of Good-luch, as Poor Richard fays, and God gives all Things to Industry. Then plough deep, while Sluggard's sleep, and you shall have Corn to sell and to keep, fays Poor Dick. Work while it is called To-day, for you know not how much you may be hindered To-Morrow, which makes Poor Richard fay, One To-day is worth two Tomorrows; and farther, Have you somewhat to do To-morrow, do it to To-day. If you were a Servant, would you not be ashamed that a good Mafter should 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 yourfelf, your Family, your Country, and your gracious King, he up by Peep of Day; Let not the Sun look down and say, Inglorious here he lies. Handle your Tools without Mittens; remember that the Cat in Gloves catches no Mice, as Poor Richard fays. "Tis 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 constant Dropping wears away Stones, and by Diligence and Patience, the Mouse ate in two the Cable; and little Strokes fell great Oaks, as Poor Richard fays in his Almanack, the Year I cannot just now remember. Methinks I hear fome of you fay, Must a Man afford himself no Leisure?-I will tell thee, My Friend, what Poor Richard fays, Employ thy Time well if thou meanest to gain Leisure; and, since thou art not sure 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 Leisure and a Life of Laziness are two Things. Do you imagine that Sloth will afford you more Comfort than Labour! No, for as Poor Richard fays, Trouble springs from Idleness, and grievous Toil from needless Ease. Many without Labour, would live by their WITS only, but they break for want of stock. Whereas Industry gives Comfort, and Plenty and Respect: Fly Pleasures, and they'll follow you. The diligent Spinner 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 muft likewife be steady, settled and careful, and overfee our own Affairs with our own Eyes, and not truft too much to others; for, as Poor Richard fays, I never saw an oft removed Tree, Nor yet an oft removed Family, That throve so well as those that settled be. And again, Three Removes is as bad as a Fire; and again, Keep thy Shop, and thy Shop will keep thee; and again, If you would have your Business done, go; If not, send. And again, He that by the Plough would thrive, Himself must 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 oversee Workmen, is to leave them your Purse open. Trufting too much to others Care is the Ruin of many; for, as the Almanack fays, In the Affairs of this World, Men are saved, not by Faith, but by the Want of it; but a Man's own Care is profitable; for, faith Poor Dick, Learning is to the Studious, and Riches to the Careful, as well as Power to the Bold, and Heaven to the Virtuous. And farther, If you would have a faithful Servant, and one that you like, serve yourself. And again, he advifeth to Circumfpection and Care, even in the fmalleft Matters, becaufe fometimes a little Neglect may breed great Mischief; adding For want of a Nail the Shoe was lost; for want of a Shoe the Horse was lost; and for want of a Horse the Rider was lost, being overtaken and flain by the Enemy, all for want of Care about a Horfe-fhoe Nail. So much for Induftry, my Friends, aud Attention to one's own Bufinefs; but to thefe we muft add Frugality, if we would make our Industry more certainly fuccefstal. A Man may, if he knows not how to fave as he gets, keep his Nose all his Life to the Grindstone, and die not worth a Groat at last. A fat Kitchen makes a lean Will, as Poor Richard fays; and, Many Estates are spent in the Getting, Since Women for Tea forsook Spinning and Knitting, And Men for Punch forsook Hewing and Splitting. If you would be wealthy, fays he, in another Almanack, think of Saving as well as of Getting: The Indies have not made Spain rich, because her Outgoes are greater than her Incomes. Away then with your expenfive Follies, and you will not have fo mnch Caufe to 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 Wants great. 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, Clothes 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 Leuk will sink a great Ship; and again, Who Dainties love, shall Beggars prove; and moreover, Fools make Feasts, and wise Men eat them. Here you are all got together at this Vendue of Fineries and Knicknacks. 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 lefs 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 hast no Need of, and ere long thou shalt sell thy Necessaries. And again, At a great Pennyworth panse a while: He means, that perhaps the Cheapnefs is apparent only, and not real; or the Bargain, by ftraitning thee in thy Bufin f, 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, 'Tis foolish to lay out Money in a Purchase of Repentance; and yet this Folly is practifed every Day at Vendues, for want of minding the Almanack. Wise men, as Poor Dick fays, learn by others Harms, Fools scarcely by their own; but, Felix quem faciunt aliena Pericula cautum. Many a one, for the Sake of Finery on the Back, have gone with a hungry Belly, and half ftarved their Families; Silks and Sattins, Scarlet and Velvets, as Poor Richard fys, put out the Kitchen Fire. These are not the Necessaries of Life; they can foarcely be called the Conveniences, and yet only because they look pretty, how many want to have them. The artificial Wants of Maukind thus become more numerous than the natural; and, as Poor Dick fays, For one poor Person, 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 Industry and Frugality have maintained their Standing; in which Cafe it appears plainly, that a Ploughman on his Legs is higher than a Gentleman on his Knees, as Poor Richard fays. Perhaps they have had a fmall Eftate left them, which they knew not the Getting of; they think 'tis Day, and will never be Night; that a little to be fent out of so much, is not worth minding; (a Child and a Fool, as Poor Richard fays, imagine Twenty Shillings and Twenty Years can never be spent) but, always taking out of the Meal-inb, and never putting in, soon comes to the Bottom; then, as Poor Dick fays, When the Well's 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 some; for. he that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing; and indeed fo does he that lends to fuch People, when he goes to get it in again.-Poor Dick farther advifes, and fays, Fond Pride of Drefs, is sure a very Curse; F'er Fancy you consult, consult your Purse. And again, Pride is as loud a Beggar as Want, and a great deal more sancy. When you have bought one fine Thing you muft buy ten more, that your Appearance may be all of a Piece; but Poor Dick fays, 'Tis easier to fupprefs the first Desire, than to fatisfy all that follow it. And 'tis as truly Folly for the Poor to ape the Rich, as for the Frog to fwell, in order to equal the Ox. Great Estates may venture more. But little Boats should keep near Shore. 'Tis however a Folly foon punished; for Pride that dines on Vanity suns on Contemt, as Poor Richard fays. And in another Place, Pride breakfasted with Plenty, dined with Poverty, and supped with Infamy. And after all, of what Ufe is this Pride of Appearance, for which fo much is rifked, fo much is fuffered! It cannot promote Health, or eafe 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 drest. The gaudy Fop's his picture just, as Poor Richard fays. But what Maduef, muft it be to run in Debt for thefe Superfluities! We are offered, by the Terms of this Vendue, Six Months Credit; and that perhaps has induced fome of us to attend it, becaufe we cannot fpare the ready Money, and hope now to be fine without it. But, ah, think what you do when you run in Debt; You give to another Power over your Liberty. If you cannot pay at the Time, you will be ashamed to fee your Creditor; you will be in Fear when you fpeak to him; you will make poor pitiful fueaking Excufes, and by Degrees come to lofe your Veracity, and fink into bafe downright lying; for, as Poor Richard fays, The second Vice is Lying, the first is running in Debt. And again, to the fame Purpose, Lying rides upon Debt's Back. Whereas a freeborn Englishman ought not to be ashamed or afraid to fee or fpeak to any Man living. But Poverty often deprives a Man of all Spirit and Virtue; 'Tis hard for an empty Bag to stand upright, as l'oor Richard truly fays. What would you think of that Prince, or that Government, who fhould iffue an Edict forbidding you to drefs like a Gentleman or a Gentlewomen, on Pain of Imprifonment or Servitude? Would you not fay, that you are free, have a Right to dre's as you pleafe, and that fuch an Edi&t would be a Breach of your Privileges, and fuch a Government tyrannical? And yet you are about to put yourself under that Tyranny when you run in Debt for fach Drefs! Your Creditor has Authority at his Pleafare to deprive you of your Liberty, by confining you in Goal for Life, or to fell you for a Servant, if you should not be able to pay him! When you have got your Bargain, you may, perhaps, think little of Payment; but Creditors, Poor Richard tells us, have better Memories than Debtors; and in another Place fays, Creditors are a superstitious Sect, great Observers of set Days and Times. The Day comes round before you are aware, and the Demand is made before you are prepared to fitisfy it. Or if you bear your Debt in Mind, the Term which at firft feemed fo long, will, as it leffens, appear extreamly fhort. Time will seem to have added Wings to his Heels as well as Shoulders. Those have a short Lent, faith Poor Richard, who owe Money to be paid at Easter. Then fince, as he fays, The Borrower is a Slave to the Lender, and the Debtor to the Creditor, difdain the Chain, preferve your Freedom; and maintain your Independency: Be industrious and free; be frugal and free. At present, perhaps, you may think yourself in thriving Circumstances, and that you can bear a little Extravagance without lujury; but, For Age and Want, save while you may; as Poor Richard fys.--Gain may be temporary and uncertain, but ever while you live, Expence is conft int and certain; and 'tis easier to build two Chimnies than to keep one in Fuel, as Poor Richard fays. So rather go to Bed supperless than rise in Debt. Get what you can, and what you get hold; 'Tis the Stone that will turn all your Lead into Gold, as Poor Richard fays. And when you have got the Philofopher's Stone, fure you will no longer complain of bad Times, or the Difficulty of paying Taxes. This Doctrine, my Friends, is Reason and Wisdom; but after all, do not depend too much upon your own Industry, and Frugality, and Prudence, though excellent Things, for they may all be blafted without the Bleffing of Heaven; and therefore afk that Bleffing humbly, and be not uncharitable to thofe that at prefent feem to want it, but comfort and help them. Remember Job fuffered, and was afterwards profperous. And now to conclude, Experience keeps a dear School, but Fools will learn in no other, and scarce in that; for it is true, we may give Advice, but we cannot give Conduct, as Poor Richard fays: |