to hi difikylti cav lyrniy and iuzing it. And it uuld alredi hev bin syth, if ui had kantinud hi Saksyn spelin and ryitiŋ, iuzed byi our forfahers. yi am, myi diir frind, Lyndyn, iurs afekĥynetli, B. FRANKLIN. Kreven-striit, Sept. 28, 1768. Rules for a Club formerly established in Philadelphia*. Previous question, to be answered at every meeting. HAVE you read over these queries this morning, inorder to consider what you might have to offer the Junto [touching] any one of them? viz. 1. Have you met with any thing, in the author you last read, remarkable, or suitable to be communicated to the Junto? particularly in history, morality, poetry, physic, travels, mechanic arts, or other parts of knowledge. *This was an early performance, and carries along with it an air of singularity, accompanied with such operative good sense and philanthropy, as characterizes it for Dr. Franklin's. The club, for which it was written, was held at Philadelphia; and, if I am well informed, was composed of men considerable for their influence and discretion; for though the chief measures of Pensylvania usually received their first formation in this club, it existed for thirty years without the nature of its institution being publicly known. B. V. 2. What 2. What new story have you lately heard agreeable for telling in conversation? 3. Hath any citizen in your knowledge failed in his business lately, and what have you heard of the cause? 4. Have you lately heard of any citizen's thriving well, and by what means? 5. Have you lately heard how any present rich man, here or elsewhere, got his estate? 6. Do you know of any fellow citizen, who has lately done a worthy action, deserving praise and imitation? or who has lately committed an error, proper for us to be warned against and avoid? [7. What unhappy effects of intemperance have you lately observed or heard? of imprudence? of passion? or of any other vice or folly? 8. What happy effects of temperance? of prudence? of moderation? or of any other virtue?] 9. Have you or any of your acquaintance been lately sick or wounded? If so, what remedies were used, and what were their effects? 10. Who do you know that are shortly going voyages or journies, if one should have occasion to send by them? 11. Do you think of any thing at present, in which the Junto may be serviceable to mankind? to their country, to their friends, or to themselves? 12. Hath any deserving stranger arrived in town since last meeting, that you heard of? and what have you heard or observed of his character or merits? and whether think you, it lies in the power of the Junto to oblige him, or encourage him as he deserves? 13. Do you know of any deserving young beginner lately lately set up, whom it lies in the power of the Junto any way to encourage? 14. Have you lately observed any defect in the laws of your country, [of] which it would be proper to move the legislature for an amendment? or do you know of any beneficial law that is wanting? 15. Have you lately observed any encroachment on the just liberties of the people? 16. Hath any body attacked your reputation lately? and what can the Junto do towards securing it? 17. Is their any man whose friendship you want, and which the Junto, or any of them, can procure for you? 18. Have you lately heard any member's character attacked, and how have you defended it? 19. Hath any man injured you, from whom it is in the power of the Junto to procure redress? 20. In what manner can the Junto, or any of them, assist you in any of your honourable designs? 21. Have you any weighty affair in hand, in which you think the advice of the Junto may be of service*? 22. What benefits have you lately received from any man not present? 23. Is there any difficulty in matters of opinion, of justice, and injustice, which you would gladly have discussed at this time? 24. Do you see any thing amiss in the present customs or proceedings of the Junto, which might be amended? Queries No. 7 and 8 follow here, in the original. B. V. Any Any person to be qualified, to stand up, and lay his hand on his breast, and be asked these questions; viz. 1. Have you any particular disrespect to any present members?-Answer. I have not. 2. Do you sincerely declare, that you love mankind in general; of what profession or religion soever? Ans. I do. 3. Do you think any person ought to be harmed in his body, name or goods, for mere speculative opinions, or his external way of worship?--- Ans. No. 4. Do you love truth for truth's sake, and will you endeavour impartially to find and receive it yourself and communicate it to others?---Ans. Yes. Questions discussed by the Junto forming the preceding Club*. Is sound an entity or body? How may the phenomena of vapours be explained? Is self-interest the rudder that steers mankind, the universal monarch to whom all are tributaries? Which is the best form of government, and what was that form which first prevailed among mankind? Can any one particular form of government suit all mankind? *These questions are from the Eulogium of Dr. Franklin, delivered before the American Philosophical Society, in 1791, of which the Junto was the foundation. On the formation of that society, a book, containing many of the questions discussed by the Junto, was delivered into Dr. Smith's hands, for the purpose of being digested, and in due time published among the transactions of that body. Many of the questions Dr. Smith ob serves are curious and curiously handled, and he selects the above as answering the description. Editor. VOL. II. 2 B What What is the reason that the tides rise higher in the Bay of Fundy than the Bay of Delaware ? Is the emission of paper-money safe? What is the reason that men of the greatest knowledge are not the most happy? How may the possession of the Lakes be improved to our advantage? Why are tumultuous, uneasy sensations, united with our desires? Whether it ought to be the aim of philosophy to eradicate the passions? How may smoaky chimneys be best cured? Why does the flame of a candle tend upwards in a spire? Which is least criminal, a bad action joined with a good intention, or a good action with a bad intention? Is it consistent with the principles of liberty in a free government, to punish a man as a libeller, when he speaks the truth? Sketch of an English School; for the Consideration of the Trustees of the Philadelphia Academy*. IT is expected that every scholar, to be admitted into this school, be at least able to pronounce, and divide the syllables in reading, and to write a legible hand. None to be received, that are under years of age. First, or lowest Class. Let the first class learn the English Grammar rules, and at the same time let particular care be taken to *This piece, which we believe to be an early production of our author, taken from the American Museum, Vol. V. p. 473. Editor. improve |