They are as well-instructed, judicious and prudent a people as exist any where in the world, all professing, like myself, to be lovers of economy; and, from the many heavy taxes required from them by the necessities of the state, have surely an abundant reason to be economical.
Franklin praises the economic sensibility of a particular group of people, acknowledging their heavy tax burdens.
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I wish old England were as happy in its government, but I do not see it.
They have no profitable appointments, but a mere payment of daily wages, such as are scarcely equivalent to their expences, so that having no chance for great places and enormous salaries or pensions, as in some countries, there is no…
Few of their Children in the Country learn English . . . The Signs in our Streets have Inscriptions in both Languages, and in some places only [their language] . . . In short, unless the Stream of their Importation could be turned…
As it is in my power, as far as my testimony will be regarded, to refute this charge, I think it due to our friendship to do it.
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