[
{"created_timestamp": "01-26-1740", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-02-02-0054", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from William Dewees, Jr., 26 January 1740\nFrom: Dewees, William, Jr.\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nSir\nJanry. the 26th 1739/40\nI Sent you Last week 7\u00bd Reemes of Large Printing Paper and 8 Reemes of Brown Ditto and Now Send you by the Same Barrer 12 Ditto of Corse printing which I would have you Place to the Cr. of Yours\nWm. Dewees Jnr\nTo Mr. Benjn Franklin this", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1740},
{"created_timestamp": "05-08-1740", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-02-02-0055", "content": "Title: Note on Closing the Concert Room, 8 May 1740\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: \nDancing parties and concerts by a musical club, both taking place in a room kept by the dancing-master Robert Bolton, gave pleasure to some of Philadelphia\u2019s wealthier citizens. But to George Whitefield and his enthusiastic followers music and dancing were \u201cdevilish diversions\u201d and, as such, should be suppressed. Accordingly his traveling companion William Seward, with Bolton\u2019s assent, locked up the room and took away the key. The episode made \u201ca great Stir\u201d; the gentlemen who had rented the room for their entertainments broke in the door, accosted Seward \u201cvery roughly,\u201d and threatened him with a caning. \u201cWhat a Hurry Satan puts his Servants into,\u201d he wrote, \u201cwhen their darling Idols are opposed?\u201d On Tuesday, April 22, \u201cthe Company met to Dance as they used to do,\u201d their spokesman asserted. This was the last such weekly assembly scheduled for the season; there was no dance on April 29.\nSeward may or may not have known the reason for this omission, but he took the credit, and rejoiced that the forces of righteousness had \u201ctaken Satan\u2019s strongest Hold in this City.\u201d He sent the following note to the Pennsylvania Gazette, which Franklin printed on May 1: \u201cSince Mr. Whitefield\u2019s Preaching here, the Dancing School, Assembly and Concert Room have been shut up, as inconsistent with the Doctrine of the Gospel: And though the Gentlemen concern\u2019d caus\u2019d the Door to be broke open again, we are inform\u2019d that no Company came the last Assembly Night.\u201d\nThe \u201cgentlemen\u201d were angered by the note\u2019s implication that Bolton\u2019s patrons had given up their dancing party because of Whitefield\u2019s preaching, since nothing was further from the truth. In a sharply-worded protest and explanation, which they asked Franklin to print, they charged Seward with wilfully misrepresenting the facts \u201cin order to ... spread his Master\u2019s Fame, as tho\u2019 he had met with great Success among the better Sort of People in Pennsylvania....\u201d Though this protest seemed to Franklin to contain as much vilification as vindication, he printed it, with a short preface.\nIn my last, at the Request of Mr. Seward, I inserted an Article of News, relating to the shutting up of the Concert Room, &c. which it seems gives great Offence to the Gentlemen concern\u2019d in the Entertainments usually carry\u2019d on there; for tho\u2019 the Article is allow\u2019d to be literally true, yet by the Manner of Expression \u2019tis thought to insinuate something that is not true, viz. That the Gentlemen forbore meeting on the Night mentioned, as thinking such Entertainments inconsistent with the Doctrine of the Gospel. I have often said, that if any Person thinks himself injured in a Publick News-Paper, he has a Right to have his Vindication made as publick as the Aspersion. The Gentlemen above mentioned have brought me the following Letter to be inserted in my Paper, believing the Publication of it will be advantageous to their Reputation: And tho\u2019 I think there is a good deal of Difference between a Vindication and an Invective; and that, whatever Obligations a Printer may be under to publish Things of the former kind, he can be under none with Regard to the latter: Yet, as the publishing of this, will obviate a groundless Report (injurious to that Gentleman) that Mr. Whitefield had engag\u2019d all the Printers not to print any Thing against him, lest his Doctrine and Practice should be expos\u2019d, and the People undeceiv\u2019d; I shall therefore print it as I received it: And when the Publick has heard what may possibly be said in Reply, they will then judge for themselves.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1740},
{"created_timestamp": "07-24-1740", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-02-02-0056", "content": "Title: Statement of Editorial Policy, 24 July 1740\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: \nGeorge Whitefield\u2019s doctrine and eloquence had sensational effects throughout the colonies. One of those who resisted him, strongly disapproving his excessive religious emotionalism, was Ebenezer Kinnersley, a Baptist lay preacher in Philadelphia. In a sermon on July 6, 1740, Kinnersley expressed abhorrence of \u201cEnthusiastick Ravings ... that ... proceed not from the Spirit of God; for our God is a God of Order, and not of such Confusion....\u201d These sentiments gave great offense, some of the congregation stormed out of the meeting-house \u201cin a most disorderly and tumultuous Manner,\u201d and Kinnersley was denounced as an enemy of the Reformation, a tool of Satan, and an opposer of the doctrine of Christ. He refused to recant and apologize, and on July 12 the church forbade him to preach again. On July 15 he wrote a strongly-worded defense and justification that concluded with a savage attack on Jenkin Jones, the regular minister of the Philadelphia Baptists. Franklin printed this defense, entitled \u201cA Letter ... to a Friend in the Country,\u201d as a Postscript to the Gazette, July 24, prefacing it with his own justification for doing so.\nIt is a Principle among Printers, that when Truth has fair Play, it will always prevail over Falshood; therefore, though they have an undoubted Property in their own Press, yet they willingly allow, that any one is entitled to the Use of it, who thinks it necessary to offer his Sentiments on disputable Points to the Publick, and will be at the Expence of it. If what is thus publish\u2019d be good, Mankind has the Benefit of it: If it be bad (I speak now in general without any design\u2019d Application to any particular Piece whatever) the more \u2019tis made publick, the more its Weakness is expos\u2019d, and the greater Disgrace falls upon the Author, whoever he be; who is at the same Time depriv\u2019d of an Advantage he would otherwise without fail make use of, viz. of Complaining, that Truth is suppress\u2019d, and that he could say MIGHTY Matters, had he but the Opportunity of being heard.\nThe Printers of this City have been unjustly reflected on, as if they were under some undue Influence, and guilty of great Partiality in favour of the Preaching lately admir\u2019d among us, so as to refuse Printing any Thing in Opposition to it, how just or necessary soever. A Reflection entirely false and groundless, and without the least Colour of Fact to support it; which all will be convinc\u2019d of when they see the following Piece from one Press, and the Rev. Mr. Cummings\u2019s Sermons against the Doctrines themselves, from the other.\nEnglishmen thought it an intolerable Hardship, when (tho\u2019 by an Act of their own Parliament) Thoughts, which should be free, were fetter\u2019d and confin\u2019d, and an Officer was erected over the Nation, call\u2019d a Licenser of the Press, without whose Consent no Writing could be publish\u2019d. Care might indeed be taken in the Choice of this Officer, that he should be a Man of great Understanding, profound Learning, and extraordinary Piety; yet, as the greatest and best of Men may have some Errors, and have been often found averse to some Truths, it was justly esteem\u2019d a National Grievance, that the People should have Nothing to read but the Opinions, or what was agreeable to the Opinions of ONE Man. But should every petty Printer (who, if he can read his Hornbook, may be thought to have Learning enough to qualify him for his own Sphere) presume to erect himself into an Officer of this kind, and arbitrarily decide what ought and what ought not to be published, much more justly might the World complain. \u2019Tis true, where Invectives are contain\u2019d in any Piece, there is no good-natur\u2019d Printer but had much rather be employ\u2019d in Work of another kind: However, tho\u2019 many personal Reflections be interwoven in the following Performance, yet as the Author (who has subscrib\u2019d his Name) thought them necessary, to vindicate his own Conduct and Character, it is therefore hoped, on that Consideration, the Reader will excuse the Printer in publishing them.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1740},
{"created_timestamp": "11-05-1740", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-02-02-0057", "content": "Title: James Franklin: Indenture of Apprenticeship, 5 November 1740\nFrom: Franklin, James\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\n[November 5, 1740]\nThis Indenture Witnesseth, That James Franklin late of Newport in Rhodeisland, but now of Philadelphia in Pennsilvania Hath put himself, and by these Presents, doth voluntarily, and of his own free Will and Accord, put himself Apprentice to Benjamin Franklin of the City of Philadelphia, Printer to learn his Art, Trade, and Mystery, and after the Manner of an Apprentice to serve the said Benjamin Franklin from the Day of the Date hereof, for, and during, and unto the full End and Term of Seven Years next ensuing. During all which Term, the said Apprentice his said Master faithfully shall serve, his Secrets keep, his lawful Commands everywhere readily obey. He shall do no Damage to his said Master, nor see it to be done by others without letting or giving Notice thereof to his said Master. He shall not waste his said Master\u2019s Goods, nor lend them unlawfully to any. He shall not commit Fornication, nor contract Matrimony within the said Term. At Cards, Dice, or any other unlawful Game, he shall not play, whereby his said Master may have Damage. With his own Goods, nor the Goods of others, without Licence from his said Master, he shall neither buy nor sell. He shall not absent himself Day nor Night from his said Master\u2019s Service, without his Leave: Nor haunt Ale-houses, Taverns, or Play-houses; but in all Things behave himself as a faithful Apprentice ought to do, during the said Term. And the said Master shall use the utmost of his Endeavour to teach or cause to be taught or instructed the said Apprentice in the Trade or Mystery of Printing and procure and provide for him sufficient Meat, Drink, Cloaths Lodging and Washing fitting for an Apprentice, during the said Term of Seven Years, and at the Expiration thereof shall give him one good new Suit of Cloaths, besides his common Apparel And for the true Performance of all and singular the Covenants and Agreements aforesaid, the said Parties bind themselves each unto the other firmly by these Presents. In Witness whereof, the said Parties have interchangeably set their Hands and Seals hereunto. Dated the Fifth Day of November in the Fourteenth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the second King of Great-Britain, &c. Annoque Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty.\nJames Franklin\nSealed and delivered in\u2003 the Presence of usChristopher ThompsonRichard Verguson [sic]\nPhiladelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin, at the New Printing-Office, near the Market\n Endorsed: Jemmy\u2019s Indenture", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1740},
{"created_timestamp": "11-13-1740", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-02-02-0058", "content": "Title: Advertisement of the General Magazine, 13 November 1740\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: \nThe American Weekly Mercury, November 6, 1740, printed a long, ambitious \u201cPlan of an Intended Magazine,\u201d to be called The American Magazine, or A Monthly View of The Political State of the British Colonies. John Webbe, who was to be the editor, probably composed it, though it was signed by Andrew Bradford. Each issue would contain four sheets, or equivalent, of the size the Mercury was printed on; the price was 12s. a year Pennsylvania currency; and the first number would appear in March, if enough subscriptions were received. A week later Franklin announced his plan to publish The General Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, for all the British Plantations in America. It would be the same size as the American Magazine, but cost only 9d. a copy; and the first issue would appear in January. There was, however, much more to the rivalry than this indicates, as is shown by Franklin\u2019s advertisement and the replies it called forth.\nIn January next will be published, (To be continued Monthly) The General Magazine, and Historicle Chronical, For all the British Plantations in America: Containing,\n  I. Extracts from the Votes, and Debates of the Parliament of Great Britain.\nII. The Proclamations and Speeches of Governors; Addresses, Votes, Resolutions, &c. of Assemblies, in each Colony.\nIII. Accounts of, and Extracts from, all new Books, Pamphlets, &c. published in the Plantations.\nIV. Essays, controversial, humorous, philosophical, religious, moral or political.\nV. Select Pieces of Poetry.\nVI. A concise CHRONICLE of the most remarkable Transactions, as well in Europe as America.\nVII. Births, Marriages, Deaths, and Promotions, of eminent Persons in the several Colonies.\nVIII. Course of Exchange between the several Colonies, and London; Prices of Goods, &c.\n  This Magazine, in Imitation of those in England, was long since projected; a Correspondence is settled with Intelligent Men in most of the Colonies, and small Types are procured, for carrying it on in the best Manner. It would not, indeed, have been published quite so soon, were it not that a Person, to whom the Scheme was communicated in Confidence, has thought fit to advertise it in the last Mercury, without our Participation; and, probably, with a View, by Starting before us, to discourage us from prosecuting our first Design, and reap the Advantage of it wholly to himself. We shall endeavour, however, by executing our Plan with Care, Diligence and Impartiality, and by Printing the Work neatly and correctly, to deserve a Share of the Publick Favour: But we desire no Subscriptions. We shall publish the Books at our own Expence, and risque the Sale of them; which Method, we suppose, will be most agreeable to our Readers, as they will then be at Liberty to buy only what they like; and we shall be under a constant Necessity of endeavouring to make every particular Pamphlet worth their Money. Each Magazine shall contain four Sheets, of common sized Paper, in a small Character: Price Six Pence Sterling, or Nine Pence Pennsylvania Money; with considerable Allowance to Chapmen who take Quantities. To be printed and Sold by B. Franklin in Philadelphia.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1740},
{"created_timestamp": "11-17-1740", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-02-02-0059", "content": "Title: John Webbe: The Detection, 17 November 1740\nFrom: Webbe, John\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nFranklin\u2019s advertisement of the General Magazine, November 13, accused John Webbe, to whom as prospective editor he had revealed his scheme in confidence, of carrying the idea to Bradford in order to get ahead of Franklin and reap the advantage personally. Webbe responded immediately with this defense and countercharge. The second part of \u201cThe Detection,\u201d promised for the Mercury\u2019s issue of November 27, never appeared, because Webbe substituted a discussion of his own literary competence (see below, p. 270) in answer to charges which must have been circulated by word of mouth, for they do not appear in the Gazette. On December 4 Webbe renewed his defense, though not by a continuation of \u201cThe Detection,\u201d and this time accused Franklin of unfair use of his office as postmaster to deny free circulation to the Mercury (see below, p. 273). This charge shifted the grounds of controversy and ended the public discussion of the proposed agreement for the production of Franklin\u2019s magazine.\nThe Detection.\nPhiladelphia Nov. 17. 1740\nTho\u2019 Nothing could be more imprudent in Mr. Franklin than to thrust me into his Advertisement, in any Shape whatsoever; yet he has not only thought fit to introduce me there, but has at the same Time accused me, of such Practices, which if I were guilty of, I should not deserve to breath in any Society.\nHowever highly impertinent it may be deemed in Mr. Franklin, to have troubled the Public with any private Difference between him and my self, yet my appearing at this Time, in my own Vindication, cannot be looked upon in the same Light, for as much as it is an absolute Necessity that constrains me to it.\nAs Mr. Franklin has now professedly applied his News Paper to the gratifying his own particular Malice by blackening the Reputation of a private Person; it is reasonable to believe that, without a proper Animadversion on such a Proceedure, he will not stop at this single Instance of spitting his Malignity from his Press, but be incouraged to proceed in making use of it as an Engine to bespatter the Characters of every other Person he may happen to dislike.\nMy endeavouring, then, to expose the Iniquity of this his first Attempt, by detecting the Falshoods insinuated in his Advertisement, does not only concern me in particular, but is the Cause of every Man in general.\nThese Falshoods are not directly asserted, and therefore I said they were insinuated, which is by far the most mischievous Kind of Lying; for the Strokes being oblique and indirect, a Man cannot so easily defend himself against them, as he might do, if they were straight and peremtory. There is something too more mean and dastardly in the Character of an indirect Lyar than a direct one. This has the Audacity of a Highwayman, That the Slyness of a Pickpocket. Both indeed rob you of your Purse, and both deserve a Gibbet; but, were I obliged to pardon either, I could sooner forgive the bold Wickedness of the one, than the sneaking Villainy of the other.\nThe first Falshood, which I shall take Notice of as insinuated by the Gazetteer, is couched in Expressions that at first sight may seem to admit of several Meanings. He says I advertised his Scheme, or as he calls it afterwards, his Plan, in the Mercury, without his Participation tho\u2019 it had been communicated to me in Confidence. He indeed communicated to me his Desire of printing a Magazine or a monthly Pamphlet, if I would undertake to compose one. But surely his making the Proposal neither obliged me to the writing of one for him to print, nor restrained me from the printing of it at any other Press without his Leave or Participation. If that were a Consequence, then Mr. Franklin has only to offer himself as a Printer of Books or Pamphlets to every Man that he thinks has a Talent for Writing, and they shall from thenceforth be restrained from publishing any Thing without his Consent. The Consequence would be equally ridiculous, if on the publishing the Plan of a monthly Pamphlet Mr. Franklin should call it his Scheme, because he happened to mention the Word Pamphlet to the Writer: Nor would the Absurdity be at all lessened, if instead of Pamphlet Mr. Franklin had dropped the Word Magazine. Again, one applies to a Person, that he believes has some Skill in Architecture, for the Draft of an Edifice. Shall he, because of his Application, be entitled to the Merit of the Draft? Suppose his Request was to build him a House, and the Architect in the first Place draws the Plan of it. Shall the other, because he barely proposed a Building in general, be intitled to call the Plan his, when he never dreamt that it was a previous Requisite to the Building?\nTho\u2019 Mr. Franklin mentioned to me the composing a Magazine, yet he never once hinted at any Plan to be wrote on which the Work was to proceed. The Absurdity therefore in claiming it for his, on such Grounds, is too evident to be farther insisted on. He must therefore insinuate that it was wholly his Scheme, or at least drawn with his Assistance, and that I afterwards clandestinely published it as mine.\nWhat I have asserted, concerning his Share in it, would have entirely rested on the Credit of my own Testimony, which on Mr. Franklin\u2019s Denial would have been left at large for every one to believe as they pleased, had I not accidentally preserved my rough Draughts contrary to my usual Custom of destroying them the Moment I make a fair Copy, which Custom Mr. Franklin was well acquainted with. The various Alterations and progressive Improvements made in them will evidently demonstrate I could have no Assistance in drawing the Plan but from my own Judgment. Moreover, by a singular Piece of good Fortune, I found, among my neglected Papers, some Minutes of Proposals made to me by Mr. Franklin in his own Hand-writing, a litteral Copy of which immediately follows, which will show that his long projected Scheme was never intended to be carried on by him in any other Capacity than that of a meer Printer.\nMagazine to consist of 3 Sheets 1000 to be printed at first. Price 15s. a Year, or 15d. a piece single. 12s. a Doz. to those that sell again.\nB.F. to be at all Expence of Paper, Printing, Correspondence for procuring Materials &c. vending, keeping Accounts &c.\nJ.W. to dispose the Materials, make Abstracts, and write what shall be necessary for promoting the Thing &c.\nThe Money received to be divided thus\u2014B.F. for and towards defraying the Expence above mentioned to take first one half, the Remainder to be equally shared between him and J.W: Bad Debts if any to be divided in the same Manner.\nTo agree for a Term of 7 Years. The above Agreement to be for all under 2000; all above 2000 sold the Money to be equally divided; B.F. to be at all Expence.\nOn the Delivery of these Proposals he told me he thought himself intitled to the half of the Profits of the Work, besides his Gain as a Printer, for two Reasons. First, for that he had a small Letter that no other Printer in America had besides himself. 2dly the Privilege which he had from his being Post-Master. Either of these advantages being wanting, he affirmed the Work could not possibly go on. Tho\u2019 I was then utterly ignorant of the Nature of those several Matters, yet, having an entire Confidence in his Sincerity, I did not at all doubt of the Truth of any Thing he told me, and therefore I frankly agreed to his Proposals. But afterwards finding that every Moment of my Time would be necessarily ingrossed in the Execution of the Undertaking, tho\u2019 Mr. Franklin who had it long under his Consideration, had told me, that it would only require about 3 or 4 Days in a month; and having also discovered that his Reasons for claiming half the Profits, over and above the Gain accruing to him as a Printer, were groundless and ridiculous: I thought my self, on these Discoveries, even supposing there were no grosser Frauds yet behind to mention, acquitted from my Engagement, tho\u2019 it was ingrossed and ready for Execution. But if I had perfected it, yet being drawn in upon such Circumstances, I should have been relieved from such a Contract, in any Country in the World, by a universal Maxim in Equity.\nTho\u2019 what I have alledged is strictly Truth, yet I will acknowledge every Particular to be false, If Mr. Franklin can produce any one Instance of my acting an insincere or dishonest Part in the Course of this Transaction, or on any other Occasion whatsoever, either in Respect to him or any one else, except my not suffering my self to be made his Bubble shall be deemed so.\nOf what Composition, then, is the Soul of that Man, who, having contrived to make a Property of his Friend, will afterwards charge him with a Violation of Trust, and coolly and deliberately endeavour to murder his Reputation in the most publick Manner, on which his Livelihood, tho\u2019 not in the Capacity of a Magazine-Writer, entirely depends.\nJohn Webbe\n(The Remainder of the Detection in the next)", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1740},
{"created_timestamp": "11-26-1740", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-02-02-0060", "content": "Title: To Benjamin Franklin from George Whitefield, 26 November 1740\nFrom: Whitefield, George\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nDear Mr. F[ranklin],\nReedy-Island, Nov. 26, 1740\nI thank you for your letter. You may print my life, as you desire. God willing, I shall correct my two volumes of sermons, and send them the very first opportunity. Pray write to me by every ship, that goes shortly to Charles-Town.\nI shall embark for England, God willing, about February. I desire I may hear from you there also, as often as possible. I have prefaced Jenks, and Presumptuous sinners detected. Mr. Bradford has the last, because he said he was to print it. You may have it of him. The Ornaments of the daughter of Sion, you may have hereafter. Dear Sir, Adieu. I do not despair of your seeing the reasonableness of Christianity. Apply to God; be willing to do the divine will, and you shall know it. I have heard from Mr. S-----; all is well. To-day several friends have taken leave of me at this place, waiting for a fair wind in order to embark for Georgia. I think I have been on shore 73 days, and have been enabled to travel upwards of 800 miles, and to preach 170 times, besides very frequent exhortations at private houses. I have collected, in goods and money, upwards of \u00a3700 sterling, for the Orphan-house; blessed be God! Great and visible are the fruits of my late, as well as former feeble labours, and people in general seem more eager after the word than ever. O the love of God to Your unworthy friend,\nG. W.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1740},
{"created_timestamp": "12-11-1740", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-02-02-0063", "content": "Title: The Postmaster and the Mercury, 11 December 1740\nFrom: Franklin, Benjamin\nTo: \nThe Publick has been entertain\u2019d for these three Weeks past, with angry Papers, written expressly against me, and publish\u2019d in the Mercury. The two first I utterly neglected, as believing that both the Facts therein stated, and the extraordinary Reasonings upon them, might be safely enough left to themselves, without any Animadversion; and I have the Satisfaction to find, that the Event has answered my Expectation: But the last, my Friends think \u2019tis necessary I should take some Notice of, as it contains an Accusation that has at least a Shew of Probability, being printed by a Person to whom it particularly relates, who could not but know whether it was true or false; and who, having still some Reputation to guard, it may be presum\u2019d, could by no Means be prevail\u2019d on to publish a Thing as Truth, which was contrary to his own Knowledge.\n\u201cMr. Franklin (says the Writer in the Mercury) has, since my first Letter, in Quality of Post-Master, taken upon him to deprive the Mercury of the Benefit of the Post, and will not permit it to travel with his Gazette which charges me with the most infamous Practices. His Resentment against his Brother Printer is altogether unreasonable; for a Printer should always be acquitted from being a Party to any Writing, when he discovers the Author, or when the Author subscribes his Name; except the other KNOWS he publishes a Falshood at the Time; which cannot be supposed to be the Case in respect to what Mr. Bradford printed for me.\u201d\nIt unluckily happens, that this not only may be supposed to be the Case, but really is the Case, in respect to this very Paragraph.\nFor the Truth is, that \u2019tis now upwards of a Twelvemonth since I refus\u2019d to forward Mr. Bradford\u2019s Papers free by the Post, in Obedience to a positive Order from the Hon. Col. Spotswood, then Post-Master General.\nTo prevent any Suspicion of the Reality of such an Order, or that I obtain\u2019d it by some Misrepresentations of Mr. Bradford, or that it was given hastily, thro\u2019 Caprice, or without just Reason, I am sorry I am oblig\u2019d to mention, That his Detaining the Ballance of his Accounts, and his Neglecting to render any Account for a long time, while he held the Post-Office himself, as they were the Occasion of his Removal, so they drew upon him, after long Patience and Forbearance, the Resentment of the Post-Master General, express\u2019d in the following Letter.\n[Here Franklin incorporated the text of the letter from Alexander  Spotswood, October 12, 1739, printed above, pp. 235\u20136.]\nUpon the Receipt of this Letter it was, that I absolutely refus\u2019d to forward any more of Mr. Bradford\u2019s Papers free by Post; and from that time to this, he has never offered me any to forward. This he cannot but KNOW to be true.\nI must however do Mr. Bradford the Justice, to vindicate him from an injurious Suspicion which I apprehend may arise on this Occasion, to wit, That he has impos\u2019d that Story on his unhappy Writer, and misled him by a wrong Account of Facts he might be ignorant of. For this, in my Opinion, cannot possibly be: Inasmuch as that Person is thoroughly acquainted with the Affair, was employ\u2019d as Attorney in the Action against Bradford, and had, at the very Time he was writing the Paragraph in Question, the Original Letter from Col. Spotswood, in his own Possession.\nB. Franklin", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1740},
{"created_timestamp": "12-18-1740", "downloaded_timestamp": "10-18-2021", "url": "https://founders.archives.gov/API/docdata/Franklin/01-02-02-0064", "content": "Title: John Webbe: The Postmaster and the Mercury, 18 December 1740\nFrom: Webbe, John\nTo: Franklin, Benjamin\nA Particular must imagine himself to be of mighty Consequence, when he thinks his private Differences deserve to be decided at the public Tribunal. But when he is dragged there against his Inclination, every one must acknowledge that he has a Right to be heard in his Turn. This was my Case in Respect to the Scandalous Accusation, which without the least Provocation on my Part Mr. Franklin brought against me.\n\u201cThere is something very terrible (to use the words of Sir Richard Steel) in attacking a Man in a Way that may prejudice his Character or Fortune.\u201d I thought all in general as much concerned in discouraging, as I in particular was in vindicating my self from the unjust Calumny endeavoured to be propagated in the Gazette. I therefore warmly, yet I hope justly, resented the undeserved Injury, which every Man, in my humble Apprehension of Things, would, nay should do, in like Circumstances.\nThe Advertisement that gave Occasion to those Reflections is lately dropped; and Nothing could compensate the Reader for the Loss of so ingenious a Performance, which the Gazetteer, as a Sample of his Abilities for carrying on a Magazine, favoured us with for four Weeks successively, but the wonderful Letter substituted in the Place of it.\nPrevious to the Remarks I intend to make on it I would premise, That it is true that after the Orders mentioned by the Gazetteer, Mr. Bradford never sent him any of his Papers to be forwarded in the Mail. But it is as true, that, as they were made up in unsealed Packets, he sent them to the Riders who used to distribute them on their several Routs. This Method, which Mr. Bradford was obliged to have Recourse to a considerable Time past for the Conveyance of his News-Papers, was NO Secret; and consequently could not be unknown to Mr. Franklin; and therefore it must be presumed to have had his Approbation. Moreover, I was well assured that He had declared, some Time before he laid me under the Necessity of writing against him in my own Defence, that as he favoured Mr. Bradford by permitting the Postman to distribute his Papers, he had him therefore under his Thumb; and was confident, in Regard he could at any Time deprive him of that Privilege, that he would not, if he understood his own Interest, be prevaild upon to publish any Thing against him the Gazetteer.\nOf this incontestable Proof can be brought, if it should be denied; for untill it be, as the Fact lies within his own Knowledge it would be idle to produce it.\nAgain, Mr. Bradford, on whom I ought to relie, informed me before I wrote my last, that the Postman who generally carried his News-Papers lately mentioned he was apprehensive it wou\u2019d be displeasing to Mr. Franklin, were he to know he distributed them. Now such Apprehensions which could only be judged to arise from some Declaration of Mr. Franklin; (whether directly or indirectly is left to his Choice to say; for either is equal for our Purpose) being considered with the Information I had of his previous Resolution to stop the Passage of the Mercury, whenever he should think himself disobliged by it: I therefore, and justly therefore, inferred, That he had already begun to put his Threats against the Mercury in Execution.\nTho\u2019 I think this Inference can be maintained upon the strictest Rules of Reasoning; yet, admitting it to be only a very probable Conjecture, the Event has shown it was made on the justest Grounds, if it be true, and Mr. Franklin can best tell whether it be so or no, that he has as well before as after the Publication of his Letter affirmed, That, supposing the Postmen had distributed the Mercury, since Mr. Spotswood\u2019s Orders above mentioned, They did it by Corruption, and without our Post-Master\u2019s Approbation. This surely was a Prohibition to them not to receive it any more. Now, as it sprung from what I wrote in my own Defence, it will be incumbent on Mr. Franklin to show, what I defy him to show, that he had greater Reason to forbid the Passage of the Mercury on the Publication of my last Letter than on that of my first; or he must allow us to date this same Edict of his something higher than 2 Weeks ago, which puts the Point out of Dispute.\nThis Edict in Regard to the Postman was what I meant by depriving the Mercury of the Benefit of the Post. And I expressly charge it on Mr. Franklin that he was sensible I so meant before he wrote his abusive Letter, which I call upon him to deny if he can. If I had thought the general Expression had been less favourable to him than this particular Explanation of it, I should not have left it at large as I did.\nHe NOTWITHSTANDING, partly with a View, as I am apt to imagine, to convince the World of his great Address in Argument, undertook to prove, and did most elaborately and UNDENIABLY prove (what he was sure no Body would deny) the Receipt of Mr. Spotswood\u2019s Orders: I say he well knew those Orders would not be denied; for it was commonly known he had such; besides the Letter in which they were contained, being in my own Custody, I readily delivered up on his sending for it, without once pretending it was mislaid, a few Days before the publishing of it in the Gazette.\nSuch an Absurdity would be pardonable, if it only arose from his natural Fondness of being thought a man of Sagacity. But because he could not in one Respect be said to deprive the Mercury of the Advantage of the Post, in as much as he had Orders so to do, that Therefore he did not in any other Respect; and from thence in express Terms peremptorily to charge me with writing and Mr. Bradford with publishing a wilful Falsehood, tho\u2019 the Gazetteer was thro\u2019ly Sensible at the Time it was not one, is such a flagrant Evidence of his great Candour and Sincerity, as well as of a violent inclination to defame, that I think it may be safely left to it self without any farther Animadversion.\nWe have already examined into our Gentlemans Pretensions to Candour and Veracity. We would now most humbly crave his gracious Permission to consider him in the Capacity of a Writer. Tho\u2019 I had wrote much, too much, in his Gazette, yet he never favoured me with a Specimen of his Skill that Way, so as to form any certain Judgment of it, before his late Advertisement. I have already pointed out some of the Nonsense of that laboured Piece, which it seems was the Scheme that, to the great Credit of his Learning, he boasts he had been hatching for several Years. I hope he will not insult the Understanding of the Public so much, as to endeavour to palm it upon them again without Correction. For that Reason I would put him in mind of another egregious Blunder, which I desire he will expunge; I mean that Part where he says, That my declaring an Intention of beginning a Magazine, tho\u2019 above 4 Months after such Notice, was probably with a View to get the Start of him. Now this is highly improbable, except waiting so long behind and Starting before signify one and the same Thing.\nThe Letter now under Consideration is the second Specimen he ever favoured me with of his Abilities as a Writer. I frankly own that I think it far beneath a Criticism. But as he has introduced it with much Solemnity, telling us he undertook it by the Advice of his Friends, I shall therefore animadvert on some Passages in it. It would swell my Paper too much to observe on all the Absurdities contained in that Epistle, for it has not one Line of accurate Sense, except what is comprized in the late General\u2019s Letter, which, after his Decease, the Gazetteer, contrary to all Rules of Honour, and the Laws of Humanity, has taken the modest Freedom to Print.\nIt will be evident to every Man of Attention, That the true Design of publishing it was to defame Mr. Bradford. But the Gazetteer being obliged to conceal that Design and to devise some plausible Reasons for covering it, therefore says, To prevent any Suspicion of the Reality of such an order, [This was needless for he knew no one would call the Reality of such an order in Question] or that I obtained it by some Misrepresentation of Mr. Bradford, [the Gazetteer has here, instead of laying a Suspicion raised one, by going about to obviate Misrepresentations before he was called upon] or that it was given hastily, thro\u2019 Caprice, or without just Reason, [if the honourable Person was alive, I believe he would not think himself much obliged to this Advocate, for endeavouring to vindicate him from Hastiness, Caprice, or Unreasonableness; since the very Suspicion, which the Printer undertakes to clear the General from, of any one of those Failings, in so great a Character, must be highly injurious to it] I am sorry I am obliged to mention, [Absurd again, to express a Concern for being obliged to mention, what he was not under the least Obligation to mention] That the detaining the Ballance of his accounts and his neglecting to render any account for a long Time, while he held the Post-Office himself, as they were the Occasion of his Removal, [The Letter no where says so, and Mr. Bradford says he was removed by the false Representations, and private Sollicitations of the Gazetteer] so they drew upon him the Resentment of the Post-Master General expressed in the following Letter, which afterwards ensues. But the Post-Master General on the contrary, plainly declares, that for as much as on Inquiry he found, That the Sickness pleaded by Mr. Bradford was only pretended, he therefore thought that such an Imposition should not be passed over, without some Mark of his Resentment. If Mr. Bradford can prove, as he says he can, that his Sickness was not imaginary, no Body can be Suspected of giving that false Information of his State of Health to the Post-Master General but his Deputy here. It appears from the Scope of the Letter to which I refer, that the honourable Person who wrote it, designed it should be communicated to Mr. Bradford, which he declares never was done. Perhaps the Reason of concealing it from him, \u2019till after the Post-Master General\u2019s Death, was an Apprehension he might be convinced that the Order in it was obtained upon a Misrepresentation of Mr. Bradford, the Suspicion of which Mr. Franklin, tho\u2019 not charged with it, thought himself under a Necessity, even of going out of his Way, to clear himself from. I leave the Paragraph with this farther Observation on it, that I never met with so many Blunders and Inconsistencies crowded together in so small a Compass.\nI should not discharge the Part of a just Critic, if, in animadverting on the Faults, I should pass over any Excellency in this inimitable Writer. I cannot therefore but highly applaud the ingenious and concise Method he has invented for refuting Facts, i.e. Truths, tho\u2019 they manifestly prove him to be false and treacherous, by only telling you that he utterly neglects them. But as very few can be supposed [to] have a Taste for relishing a Delicacy in Writing so perfectly new, I am therefore of Opinion, that the Expression which imediately follows, to wit, that the Event has answered his Expectation, or in other Words, that his Method has been generally admired, ought rather to be taken in a hyperbolical than in a litteral Sense; and that, for the true Construction of it, we ought to have Recourse to a certain Figure in Speech, which the French generally call a Gasconade.\nJ. W.", "culture": "English", "source_dataset": "Pile_of_Law", "source_dataset_detailed": "Pile_of_Law_founding_docs", "source_dataset_detailed_explanation": "Letters from U.S. founders.", "creation_year": 1740}
]