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but fmall use 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 obferve 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 best chance for fuch confequences. I pray God to bless you both! being ever your affectionate friend,

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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 thefe 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 pleafure, affift us in acquiring knowledge,

or

or doing good to our fellow-creatures, is a kind and benevolent act of God. When they become unfit for these purpofes, and afford us pain inftead of pleasure, instead of an aid become an incumbrance, and answer 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 diseases, it was liable to, or capable of making him fuffer.

Our friend and we were invited · abroad on a party of pleasure, which is B 4

to

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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?

Adieu.

B. FRANKLIN.

ΤΟ

TO THE LATE

DOCTOR MATHER OF BOSTON.

I

REV. SIR,

RECEIVED your kind letter, with your excellent advice to the people of the United States, which I read with.

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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 uninteresting 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,

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