what think you of the odd half of a pair of fciffars? it can't well cut any thing; it may poffibly serve to scrape a trencher.

Pray make my compliments and beft wishes acceptable to your bride. I am old and heavy, or I should ere this have presented them in perfon. I fhall make but fmall ufe of the old man's privilege, that of giving advice to younger friends. Treat your wife always with refpect; it will procure refpect to you, not only from her, but from all that observe it. Never use a flighting expreffion to her, even in jeft; for flights in jeft, after frequent bandyings, are apt to end in angry earneft. Be ftudious in your profeffion, and you will be learned. Be induftrious and frugal, and you will be rich. Be fober and temperate, and you will be healthy. Be in general virtuous, and you will be happy. At least, you will, by fuch conduct, ftand the beft chance for fuch confequences. I pray God to bless you both! being ever your affectionate friend,

B. FRANKLIN.

ON

ON THE DEATH OF HIS BROTHER,

Mr. JOHN FRANKLIN.

TO MISS HUBBARD.

.

I

CONDOLE with you. We have loft a moft dear and valuable relation. But it is the will of God and nature, that these mortal bodies be laid afide, when the foul is to enter into real life. This is rather an embryo ftate, a preparation for living. A man is not completely born until he be dead. Why then fhould we grieve that a new child is born among the immortals, a new member added to their happy fociety? We are fpirits. That bodies fhould be lent us, while they can afford us pleasure, affift us in acquiring knowledge, or doing good to our fellowcreatures, is a kind and benevolent act of God. When they become unfit for thefe purposes, and afford us pain inftead of pleasure, inftead of an aid become an incumbrance, and anfwer none of the intentions for which they were given, it is equally kind and benevolent that a way is provided by which we may get rid of them. Death is that way. We ourselves, in fome cafes, prudently choose a partial death. A mangled painful limb, which cannot be restored, we willingly cut off. He who plucks out a tooth, parts with it freely, fince the pain goes with it: and he who quits the whole body, parts at once with all pains, and poffibilities of pains and difeafes, it was liable to, or capable of making him fuffer.

Our

Our friend and we were invited abroad on a party of pleasure, which is to laft for ever. His chair was ready firft; and he is gone before us. We could not all conveniently start together: and why should you and I be grieved at this, fince we are foon to follow, and know where to find him?

ཨ1 |

TO THE LATE

DOCTOR MATHER OF BOSTON.

REV. SIR,

I RECEIVED your kind letter, with your excellent advice to the people of the United States, which I read with great pleasure, and hope it will be duly regarded. Such writings, though they may be lightly paffed over by many readers, yet, if they make a deep impreffion on one active mind in a hundred, the effects may be confiderable.

Permit me to mention one little inftance, which, though it relates to myself, will not be quite uninterefting to you. When I was a boy, I met with a book entitled " Effays to do good," which I think was written by your father. It had been fo little regarded by a former poffeffor, that feveral leaves of it were torn out; but the remainder gave me fuch a turn of thinking, as to have an influence on my conduct through life for I have always fet a-greater value on the character of a doer of good, than any other kind of reputation; and if I have been, as you feem to think, a useful citizen, the public owes the advantage of it to that book.

You mention your being in your feventyeighth year. I am in my feventy-ninth. We are grown old together. It is now more than fixty years fince I left Bofton; but I remember well both your father and grandfather, having heard them both in the pulpit, and feen them in their houses. The last time I faw your father

was

was in the beginning of 1724, when I vifited him after my first trip to Pennfylvania. He re ceived me in his library; and on my taking leave, fhewed me a fhorter way out of the houfe, through a narrow paffage, which was croffed by a beam overhead. We were ftill talking as I withdrew, he accompanying me be hind, and I turning partly towards him, when he faid haftily, Stoop, Stoop!" I did not understand him till I felt my head hit againft the beam. He was a man who never miffed any occafion of giving inftruction; and upon this he faid to me: "You are young, and have “the world before you : foop as you go through

it, and you will mifs many hard thumps." This advice, thus beat into my heart, has frequently been of use to me; and I often think of it, when I fee pride mortified, and misfortunes brought upon people by their carrying their heads too high.

I long much to fee again my native place; and once hoped to lay my bones there. I left it in 1723. I vifited it in 1733, 1743, 1753, and 1763; and in 1773 I was in England. In 1775 I had a fight of it, but could not enter, it being in poffeffion of the enemy, I did hope to have been there in 1783, but could not obtain my difmiflion from this employment here; and now I fear I fhall never have that happiness. My best wishes however attend my dear country, "efto perpetua." It is now bleffed with an excellent conftitution: may it laft for ever!

This powerful monarchy continues its friendfhip for the United States. It is a friendship of the utmost importance to our fecurity, and fhould be carefully cultivated. Britain has not yet well digefted the lofs of its dominion over us; and has ftill at times fome flattering hopes

of