that they could understand without learning the ancient Languages, nor then without Money to purchase the Manuscripts. And so few were the learned Readers 60 Years after the Invention of Printing, that it appears by Letters still extant between the Printers in 1499, that they could not throughout Europe find Purchasers for more than 300 Copies of any ancient Authors. But Printing beginning now to make Books cheap, the Readers increas'd so much as to make it worth while to write and print Books in the Vulgar Tongues. At first these were chiefly Books of Devotion and little Histories; gradually several Branches of Science began to appear in the common Languages, and at this Day the whole Body of Science, consisting not only of Translations, from all the valuable ancients, but of all the new modern Discoveries, is to be met with in those Languages, so that learning the ancient for the purpose of acquiring Knowledge is become absolutely unnecessary.

But there is in Mankind an unaccountable Prejudice in favour of ancient Customs and Habitudes, which inclines to a Continuance of them after the Circumstances, which formerly made them useful, cease to exist. A Multitude of Instances might be given, but it may suffice to mention one. Hats were once thought an useful Part of Dress; it was said they kept the Head warm and screen'd it from the violent Impression of the sun's Rays, and from the Rain, Snow, Hail, &c. Tho' by the Way, this was not the more ancient Opinion or Practice; for among all the Remains of Antiquity, the Bustos, Statues, Coins, medals, &c., which are infinite, there is no Representation of a human Figure with a Cap or Hat on, nor any Covering for the Head, unless it be the Head of a Soldier, who has a Helmet; but that is evidently not a

Part of Dress for Health, but as a Protection from the Strokes of a Weapon.

At what Time Hats were first introduced we know not, but in the last Century they were universally worn thro'out Europe. Gradually, however, as the Wearing of Wigs, and Hair nicely dress'd prevailed, the putting on of Hats was disused by genteel People, lest the curious Arrangements of the Curls and Powdering should be disordered; and Umbrellas began to supply their Place; yet still our Considering the Hat as a part of Dress continues so far to prevail, that a Man of fashion is not thought dress'd without having one, or something like one, about him, which he carries under his Arm. So that there are a multitude of the politer people in all the courts and capital cities of Europe, who have never, nor their fathers before them, worn a hat otherwise than as a chapeau bras, though the utility of such a mode of wearing it is by no means apparent, and it is attended not only with some expense, but with a degree of constant trouble.

The still prevailing custom of having schools for teaching generally our children, in these days, the Latin and Greek languages, I consider therefore, in no other light than as the Chapeau bras of modern Literature.

Thus the Time spent in that Study might, it seems, be much better employ'd in the Education for such a Country as ours; and this was indeed the Opinion of most of the original Trustees.1

1 Mr. Robert Hare wrote to the executors of Benjamin Franklin, Philadelphia, May 21, 1790: "This manuscript was put into my hands by Dr. Franklin for my inspection, in the last summer, at which time some alterations in the System of Education pursued in the English school at the College were under consideration. It was at that time the intention of the Doctor that the Contents should be submitted to the Trustees. He afterward told me, his ill

1764. TO BENJAMIN VAUGHAN 1

1

MY DEAREST FRIEND,

Philadelphia, June 3, 1789.

I received your kind letter of March 4th, and wish I may be able to complete what you so earnestly desire, the Memoirs of my Life. But of late I am so interrupted by extreme pain, which obliges me to have recourse to opium, that, between the effects of both, I have but little time in which I can write any thing. My grandson, however, is copying what is done, which will be sent to you for your opinion by the next vessel; and not merely for your opinion, but for your advice; for I find it a difficult task to speak decently and properly of one's own conduct; and I feel the want of a judicious friend to encourage me in scratching out.

I have condoled sincerely with the Bishop of St. Asaph's family. He was an excellent man. Losing our friends thus one by one, is the tax we pay for long living; and it is indeed a heavy one.

I have not seen the King of Prussia's posthumous works; what you mention makes me desirous to have them. Please to mention it to your brother William, and that I request him to add them to the books I have desired him to buy for me.

Health would not permit him to engage personally in these pursuits but that these papers would afford Testimony of his Sentiments. In the mean time he wish'd them to remain in my hands to furnish information in support of the Changes in view. As these changes are no longer in contemplation I have not thought myself at liberty to detain the papers. I have not permitted them to be inspected by other persons nor have taken any copy.

"R. Hare."— Ed.

1 From "The Private Correspondence of Benjamin Franklin" (1818), Vol. I, p. 251. — ED.

Our new government is now in train, and seems to promise well.

But events are in the hand of God. I am ever, my dear friend, yours most affectionately,

B FRANKLIN.

1765. TO MRS. JANE MECOM

DEAR SISTER,

(L. C.)

Philada, Augt 3, 1789.

I have receiv'd your kind Letter of the 23d past and am glad to learn, that you have at length got some of the letters I so long since wrote to you. I think your Post Office is very badly managed. I expect your Bill, and shall pay it when it appears. I would have you put the Books into cousin Jonathan's Hands, who will dispose of them for you, if he can, or return them hither. I am very much pleased to hear, that you have had no Misunderstanding with his father. Indeed, if there had been any such, I should have concluded, it was your fault; for I think our Family were always subject to being a little Miffy.

By the way, is our Relationship in Nantucket quite wornout? I have met with none from thence of late years, who were disposed to be acquainted with me, except Captain Timothy Foulger. They are wonderfully shy. But I admire their honest plainness of Speech. About a year ago I invited two of them to dine with me. Their answer was, that they would, if they could not do better. I suppose they did better; for I never saw them afterwards, and so had no Opportunity of showing my Miff, if I had one.

Give [mutilated] to Cousin Williams's and thank them from me for all their Kindnesses to you which I have always

VOL. XD

been acquainted with by you, and take as if done by myself. I am sorry to learn from his Son that his Health is not so firm as formerly. A Journey hither by Land might do him good, and I should be happy to see him.

I shall make the Addition you desire to my Superscriptions, desiring in return that you would make a subtraction from yours. The Word Excellency does not belong to me, and Doctor will be sufficient to distinguish me from my grandson. This family joins in love to you and yours.

Your affectionate Brother

B. FRANKLIN.

1766. TO M. LE VEILLARD

(L. C.)

Philadelphia, Sepr 5, 1789.

DEAR FRIEND:-I have had Notice of sundry Books sent out by you, but none of them are come to hand except the "Dictionnaire d'Agriculture," by l'Abbé Rozier. My Grandson also complains of not receiving a Package or Case sent by you to him, he knows not by what Conveyance, nor where to enquire for it.

It is long since I have had the Pleasure of hearing from you, the last Letter I have received being dated the 21st of February, but when I have no new Letter from you, I console myself by reading over some of the old ones, as I have lately done those of the 1st April, '88, and the 10th of Oct! and 27th

1 On this point his sister replied: "I was a little suspicious whether Excellency was according to rule in addressing my brother at this time; but I did not write the address; and of late, because he lives nearer than cousin Williams, I have sent my letters to Dr. Lathrop, who is very obliging to me, and I thought he must know what is right, and I gave no directions about it. But I shall do it another time."— August 23d. — S.