When the direct and immediate rays of majesty benignly and mildly shine on all around us, but are transmitted and thrown upon us through the burning-glass of proprietary government, can your sensibilities feel no difference?
Franklin uses a metaphor to illustrate the difference between benevolent governance and oppressive proprietary rule.
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An ancient sage valued himself upon this, that though he could not fiddle, he knew how to make a great city of a little one.
Believing therefore, that it is my duty, I shall honestly speak my mind in the following paper.
And as there are already in the old colonies many thousands of families that are ready to swarm, wanting more land; the richness and natural advantage of the Ohio country would draw most of them thither, were there but a tolerable prospect…
They have ever been applied with prudent frugality to the honour and advantage of the public, and the king's immediate service, to the general approbation of the people: the credit of the government has been preserved, and the debts of the…
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