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with iron rails, grow more and more into fashion here. But stone steps cannot, in some circumstances, be fixed; and there, methinks, oak is safer than pine and I assure you, that in many genteel houses here, both old and new, the stairs and floors are.oak, and look extremely well. Perhaps solid oak for the steps would be still safer than boards; and two steps might be cut diagonally out of one piece. Excuse my talking to you on a subject with which you must be so much better acquainted than I am. It is partly to make out a letter, and partly in hope that by turning your attention to the point, some methods of greater security in our future building may be thought of and promoted by you, whose judgment I know has deservedly great weight with our fellowcitizens. For though our town has not hitherto suffered very greatly by fire, yet I am apprehensive that some time or other, by a concurrence of unlucky circumstances, such as dry weather, hard frost, and high winds, a fire then happening may suddenly spread far and wide over our cedar roofs, and do us immense mischief. I am yours, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

TO GOVERNOR FRANKLIN, NEW JERSEY.
On Exercise of the Body.

London, August 19, 1772. **** In yours of May 14th, you acquaint me with your indisposition, which gave me great concern. The resolution you have taken to use more exercise is extremely proper; and I hope you will steadily perform it. It is of the greatest importance to prevent diseases, since the cure of them by physic is so very precarious. In considering the different

Dr. Franklin's son, to whom the first part of the MEMOIRS OF HIS LIFE is addressed.

kinds of exercise, I have thought that the quantum of each is to be judged of, not by time or by distance, but by the degree of warmth it produces in the body: thus, when I observe if I am cold when I get into a carriage in a morning, I may ride all day without being warmed by it; that if on horseback my feet are cold, I may ride some hours before they become warm; but if I am ever so cold on foot, I cannot walk an hour briskly, without glowing from head to foot by the quickened circulation: I have been ready to say, (using round numbers without regard to exactness, but merely to make a great difference) that there is more exercise in one mile's riding on horseback, than in five in a coach; and more in one mile's walking on foot, than in five on horseback; to which I may add, that there is more in walking one mile up and down stairs, than in five on a level floor.-The two latter exercises may be had within doors, when the weather discourages going abroad; and the last may be had when one is pinched for time, as containing a great quantity of exercise in a handful of minutes. The dumb bell is another exercise of the latter compendious kind; by the use of it I have in forty swings quickened my pulse from sixty to one hundred beats in a minute, counted by a second watch; and I suppose the warmth generally increases with quickness of pulse. B. FRANKLIN,

TO MR. ANTHONY BENEZET,' PHILADELPHIA.

DEAR FRIEND,

On the Slave Trade.

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London, August 22, 1772. I made a little extract from yours of April 27, of the number of slaves imported and perishing, with some

'An American philanthropist. In 1767, he wrote a Caution to Great Britain and her Colonies, in a short representation of the cala

close remarks on the bypocrisy of this country, which encourages such a detestable commerce by laws for promoting the Guinea trade; while it piqued itself on its virtue, love of liberty, and the equity of its courts in setting free a single negro. This was inserted in the London Chronicle of the 20th of June last.-I thank you for the Virginia address, which I shall also publish with some remarks. I am glad to hear that the disposition against keeping negroes grows more general in North America, Several pieces have been lately printed here against the practice, and I hope in time it will be taken into consideration and suppressed by the legislature. Your labors have already been attended with great effects: I hope therefore you and your friends will be encouraged to proceed: my hearty wishes of success attend you, being ever, my dear friend,

Yours affectionately,

To DR. PRIESTLEY.

B. FRANKLIN.

Moral Algebra, or Method of deciding doubtful Matters

DEAR SIR,

with oneself.

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London, September 19, 1772. In the affair of so much importance to you, wherein you ask my advice, I cannot, for want of sufficient premises, counsel you what to determine; but if you please, I will tell you how. When those difficult cases occur, they are difficult chiefly because, while we have them under consideration, all the reasons pro and con are not present to the

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mitous state of the enslaved negroes in the British dominions. In 1772, he published Historical Accounts of Guinea; with an Inquiry into the Rise and Progress of the Slave-Trade, its nature and lamentable effects. This amiable man seemed to have nothing else at heart but the good of his fellow-creatures; and the last act of his life was to take from his desk six dollars for a poor widow.

VOL. I.

B

Dr. Franklin to Monsieur Dupont de Nemours, June 9, 1788.
New Constitution of the United States-Principles
of trade, &c..

to the Printer of the Evening Herald. Justification
of the State of Massachusetts against certain cen-
sures in the British papers

PAGE

465

467

PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE

OF

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

PART I.

LETTERS ON MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS.

SIR,

TO GEORGE WHITFIELD. (The Preacher.)

On Faith and Good Works.

Philadelphia, June 6, 1753. I RECEIVED your kind letter of the 2d instant, and am glad to hear that you increase in strength: I hope you will continue mending till you recover your former health and firmness. Let me know whether you still use the cold bath, and what effect it has.

As to the kindness you mention, I wish it could have been of more service to you. But if it had, the only thanks I

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1 One of the founders of the Methodists; born at Glocester, 1714, died in New England, 1770. See a full account of him in MEMOIRS OF THE LIFE, Part ii. p. 84., 4to. ed.-P. 161., 8vo. Vol. 1.

2 Dr. Franklin had relieved Mr. Whitfield in a paralytic case, by the application of electricity.

VOL. 1.

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