With us they are very scarce as yet; 
nay several kinds altogether lack- 
ing. 
Even in Turkey among Mahome- 
dans, it is deemed the duty of weal- 
thy inen to give a tithe or at least 
one-tenth of their income for use- 
ful purposes or good deeds: each 
being at liberty to apply it to what- 
ever they deem best; and they are 
allowed to leave by will one-third of 
their whole property in this way, 
which becomes forever free of taxes, 
and not liable to confiscation; as 
they can appoint their own trustees 
they commonly appoint their own 
posterity as trustees forever, who 
are thus provided for. They thus 
build free colleges, churches, libra- 
ries, roads, bridges, acqueducts, 
fountains, baths, bazars or stores, 
caravansaries or hotels, hospitals, 
chapels, monuments, &c. all free in- 
stitutions, besides periodical alms or 
distribution of food, &c. 
Open your hearts and your hands 
you wealthy men of this fruitful 
land of freedom! Follow the exam- 
ple of the Turks, and of all the 
Christians of Europe, who for a thou- 
sand years past have founded a mul- 
titude of free institutions of public 
benefit. Enquire into the wants of 
the needy and of society at large, 
and do the good you intend your- 
selves, and speedily. Life is short, 
time is swift. Build or found these 
institutions while you live and have 
health. See it done or appoint friends 
to the task if troublesome. And 
when it is done, rejoice in your 
hearts, and receive the thanks of 
thousands of your fellow men. Be- 
come public benefactors, let your 
names and good deeds be inscribed 
on stones, the tablets of history, and 
the memory of those vou will bene- 
fit. / 
The free Institutions wanted are 
chiefly the following. 
Hospitals for the sick, the disabled 
and cripples. 
Asylums for the blind, those with 
chronic diseases, for the poor orphans 
88 
and widows, for children abandoned 
by parents, for reclaiming vicious 
persons, &c. 
Free schools and colleges for the 
needy ignorant boys and girls. 
Schools of industry, agriculture 
and mechanics like the Fellenberg 
schools: they support themselves. 
Free colleges for all the arts, sci- 
ences and professions. Chairs and 
lectureships in colleges. 
Free public libraries in every city 
and town. 
Free museums of Natural Histo- 
ry and Fine Arts in every city and 
town. 
Free factories to give work and 
employment to all those who are 
willing to work and out of employ. 
Institutions to lend 1 money on 
pledges without interest, or at a 
small interest to the poor in all emer- 
gencies. These are found all over 
Europe and are called Pious Banks . 
Free halls and stores, to lend for 
exhibition or deposits of works done, 
without fee or entrance money. 
Botanical gardens and experimen- 
tal farms for the improvement and 
free teaching of horticulture and 
agriculture. 
Public baths either free or with a 
very small entrance fee, so as to en- 
able the poor to enjoy this healthy 
luxury. 
All these and many others to be 
as free as light, air and water, so as 
to be similar to divine gifts. Yet 
baths at six cents would be cheap 
enough for the purpose and pay the 
expeiice of attendance. 
Pious Banks might charge five or 
six per cent to pay expences, or 
might lend without pledges to honest 
sober mechanics or industrious men 
to buy tools, materials, &c. or fos- 
ter genius by lending on engravings, 
maps, books, &e. for a period. 
May this be done, may some of 
our readers do it, may we live to 
see it. Heaven and earth will smile 
on such deeds. 
Benj. Franklin, J une*. 
