Sect. III.] United States of America. 207 



suit which had for its object the progress of lite- 

 rature, are well known, and have been applauded 

 not only ])y his countrymen, but also by the 

 learned of all nations *. North America in gene- 

 ral, 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 

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

 native Americans who succeeded in cultivating 

 an easy, unafifected, and polished style of writing-j-. 



* A late writer in the Monthly Magazine (see the Supplement 

 to vol. xiv), among other severe remarks on the state of Ame- 

 rican literature, afiects to speak with great contempt of the 

 character and writings of Dr. Franklin, An essay which dis- 

 covers so much ignorance, weakness, and inconsistency would 

 liot be noticed in this place, did it not ail'ord an opportunity of 

 doing justice to a man to whom his country owes much. That 

 the character and opinions of Dr. Franklin were, in all respects, 

 faultless, is by no means contended. This was far from being 

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

 much practical wisdom ; that he made many valuable contribu- 

 tions to science and the arts; and that his writings have been 

 much read, translated into various 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. 



f 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 its writers as 

 having generally formed their manner after that of Dr. Franklin. 

 It is scarcely possible to conceive of a remark more unfounded, 

 or that discovers a more entire unacquaintance witli the subject 

 which he undertakes to discuss. It is generally known to well 

 informed persons, that Franklin, as he tells us himself in his ac- 

 count of his own life, took the style of Mr. Addison for his mo- 

 del ; and though he was far from attaining a style equal to that 

 of the illustrious British essayist, yet he certainly wrote with an 

 f^ase, simplicity, sprightliness, purity, and perspicuity, highl}- 



