Benjamin Franklin: “It cannot promote health, nor ease pain; it makes no increase of merit in the person; it creates envy, it hastens…”

Yet had I gone at 70, it would have cut off 12 of the most active years of my life, employed too in matters of the greatest importance; but whether I have been doing good or mischief, is for time to discover.

Franklin's hand, in conjunction with his brethren of the learned committee, that compound of fraud and folly was unveiled, and received its death-wound.

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.

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…