Chapter XXIII: Preface: To Poor Richard, 1747

COURTEOUS READER,

This is the 15th Time I have entertain'd thee with my annual Productions; I hope to thy Profit as well as mine. For besides the astronomical Calculations, and other Things usually contain'd in Almanacks, which have their daily Use indeed while the Year continues, but then become of no Value, I have constantly interspers'd _moral_ Sentences, _prudent_ Maxims, and _wise_ Sayings, many of them containing _much good Sense_ in _very few_ Words, and therefore apt to leave _strong_ and _lasting_ Impressions on the Memory of young Persons, whereby they may receive Benefit as long as they live, when both Almanack and Almanack-maker have been long thrown by and forgotten. If I now and then insert a Joke or two, that seem to have little in them, my Apology _is_ that such may have their Use, since perhaps for their Sake light airy Minds peruse the rest, and so are struck by somewhat of more Weight and Moment. The Verses on the Heads of the Months are also generally design'd to have the same Tendency. I need not tell thee that not many of them are of my own Making. If thou hast any Judgment in Poetry, thou wilt easily discern the Workman from the Bungler. I know as well as thee, that I am no _Poet born_; and it is a Trade I never learnt, nor indeed could learn. _If I make Verses, 'tis in Spight--of Nature and my Stars, I write._ Why then should I give my Readers _bad Lines_ of my own, when _good Ones_ of other People's are so plenty? 'Tis methinks a poor Excuse for the bad Entertainment of Guests, that the Food we set before them, tho' coarse and ordinary, _is of one's own Raising, off one's own Plantation_, &c. when there is Plenty of what is ten times better, to be had in the Market.--On the contrary, I assure ye, my Friends, that I have procur'd the best I could for ye, and _much Good may't do ye...._

_I am thy poor Friend, to serve thee,_
R. SAUNDERS.

TO PETER COLLINSON

Philad^a Aug^t 14, 1747.

SIR

I have lately written two long Letters to you on the Subject of Electricity, one by the Governor's Vessel, the other per Mesnard. On some further Experiments since I have observ'd a Phenomenon or two, that I cannot at present account for on the Principle laid down in those Letters, and am therefore become a little diffident of my Hypothesis, and asham'd that I have express'd myself in so positive a manner. In going on with these Experiments how many pretty Systems do we build which we soon find ourselves oblig'd to destroy! If there is no other Use discover'd of Electricity this however is something considerable, that it may _help to make a vain man humble_.

I must now request that you would not Expose those Letters; or if you communicate them to any Friends you would at least conceal my Name. I have not Time to add but that I am, Sir,

Your obliged and most hum^e Serv^t
B. FRANKLIN.