Nations lately become Literary. 347 



began to distinguish himself by his exertions for 

 promoting useful knowledge. The original genius 

 of this celebrated man; his sound practical under- 

 standing ; his scientific discoveries ; and his zeal 

 and unwearied assiduity in forwarding every pur- 

 suit which had for its object the progress of lite- 

 rature, are w r ell known, and have been applaud- 

 ed not only by his countrymen, but also by the 

 learned of all nations/ North-America in general, 

 and in particular Pennsylvania, owes a large 

 debt of gratitude to this man. He had great in- 

 fluence in awakening and directing the attention 

 of those around him to literature, science, and use- 

 ful arts of every kind. He was one of the first 

 native Americans who succeeded in cultivating an 

 easy, unaffected and polished style of writing/ He 



was gradually rising in reputation and usefulness. His political charac- 

 ter and activity, besides being irrelative to the present subject, are too 

 •well known to render any attempt to detail them in this place either, 

 necessary or proper. 



g A late writer in the Monthly Magazine of London (see the Sup- 

 plement to vol. xiv), among other severe remarks on the state of American 

 literature, affects to speak with great contempt of the character and writ- 

 ings of Dr. Franklin. An essay which discovers so much ignorance, 

 weakness, and inconsistency would not be noticed in this place, did it not 

 afford an opportunity of doing justice to a man to whom our country 

 ewes much. That the character and opinions of Dr. Franklin were, 

 in all respects, faultless, is by no means contended. This was far from be- 

 ing the case. But that he had an original genius, a strong mind, and much 

 practical wisdom ; thathe made many valuable contributions to science and 

 the arts ; and that his writings have been much read, translated into vari- 

 ous languages, and quoted with respect by the learned of foreign countries, 

 can be questioned by no one who is not as ignorant as he is prejudiced. 



h The anonymous writer above mentioned, after bestowing a number of 

 severe epithets on the American style of writing, some of which are not 

 altogether unmerited, represents our writers as having generally formed 

 their manner after that of Dr. Franklin. It is scarcely possible to con- 

 ceive of a remark more unfounded, or that discovers a more entire unac- 

 quaintance with the subject which he undertakes to discuss. It is generally- 

 known to well informed persons, that Franklin, as he tells us himself in 

 his account of his own life, took the style of Mr. Addison for his model ; 

 and though he was far from attaining a style equal to that of the illustrious 

 British essayest, yet he certainly wrote with an ease, simplicity, spright- 

 liness, purity, and perspicuity, highly respectable, and very different from 

 the affectation, the bombast, and the perpetual use of unauthorized terms 

 and phrases, which characterize too many American writers in later times, 

 and from which some popular writers of Great-Britain arc by no means 

 exempted. 



