Beschreibung:

FRANKLIN, Benjamin (1706-1790). AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED ('B. FRANKLIN') TO LORD KAMES ('My dear Lord'), London, 3 May 1760 , sending Kames a copy of his pamphlet 'on the present Situation of our Affairs in America in order to give more correct Notions of the British Interest with regard to the Colonies, than those I found many sensible Men possess'd of'. He has read Kames' Principles of Equity 'with great pleasure and improvement'. He writes at length about his own little work for the benefit of youth to be called The Art of Virtue . Subscribed 'With the sincerest Esteem & Attachment', 4 pages, folio (322 x 205mm) , (outer blank margins reinforced, also the folds in second sheet, with three small holes along folds very slightly affecting letters); with autograph wrapper and seal (laid down on paper). Franklin complains that during this last winter he had been indisposed with 'obstinate Cold and Cough accompany'd with Feverish Complaints and Headachs', but that in the intervals of cupping, bleeding, etc. he wrote at Kames' request a pamphlet 'on the present Situation of our Affairs in America', a copy of which he encloses. He is obviously referring to the famous 'Canada Pamphlet' The Interest of Great Britain Considered , published in April 1760, 'I wish it may in any degree be of Service to the Publick ... accept its Length as some Excuse for its being so long acoming'. He believes that Kames' Principles of Equity , will prove to be of the greatest advantage to judges in the Colonies 'as few of them have been bred to the Law'. He will send Kames a copy of a chapter from his book The Art of Virtue , explaining the purpose of such a book, 'Many People lead bad Lives that would gladly lead good ones, but know not how to make the change. They have frequently resolv'd and endeavour'd it; but in vain, because their Endeavours have not been properly conducted'. He refers here to the chapter 'Parable against Persecution', which was subsequently printed in Kames' Introduction to the Art of Thinking , published in 1761. Franklin explains at length how The Art of Virtue will be a practical guide to aid people to acquire virtues, in the same way as they acquire other skills, such as painting or navigation, 'it is in short, to be adapted for universal use'. 'If a man would become a Painter, Navigator or Architect, it is not enough that he is advised to be one ... he must also be taught the Principles of the Art ... and thus regularly and gradually he arrives by Practice at some Perfection in the Art'. This project had occupied Franklin since he first planned the book in 1732. However he never completed or published the work, but did incorporate parts in his Autobiography, written in 1784. There he describes his system of concentrating for one week on each of thirteen virtues, keeping a record of his lapses, and setting down his daily schedule of activity as an aid to observing the virtues of order. Published in The Papers of Benjamin Franklin , ed. L.W.Labaree, vol.9 pp.103-106. (2)