FO-From Benjamin Franklin to Georgiana Shipley, 26 September 1772.md

FO-From Benjamin Franklin to Georgiana Shipley, 26 September 1772

23 reprints from 1772-09-26 to 1886-09-01

FO-From Benjamin Franklin to Georgiana Shipley, 26 September 1772

by Franklin, Benjamin

From unknown source

1772-09-26

r Miss, London, Sept. 26. 1773 [1772] I lament with you most sincerely the unfortunate End of poor Mungo: Few Squirrels were better accomplish’d; for he had had a good Education, had travell’d far, and seen much of the World. As he had the Honour of being for his Virtues your Favourite, he should not go like common Skuggs without an Elegy or an Epitaph. Let us give him one in the monumental Stile and Measure, which being neither Prose nor Verse, is perhaps the properest for Grief; since to use common Language would look as if we were not affected, and to make Rhimes would seem Trifling in Sorrow. Alas! poor Mungo! Happy wert thou, hadst thou known Thy own Felicity! Remote from the fierce Bald-Eagle, Tyrant of thy native Woods, Thou hadst nought to fear from his piercing Talons; Nor from the murdering Gun Of the thoughtless Sportsman. Safe in thy wired Castle, Grimalkin never could annoy thee. Daily wert thou fed with the choicest Viands By the fair Hand Of an indulgent Mistress. But, discontented, thou wouldst have more Freedom. Too soon, alas! didst thou obtain it, And, wandering, Fell by the merciless Fangs, Of wanton, cruel Ranger. Learn hence, ye who blindly wish more Liberty, Whether Subjects, Sons, Squirrels or Daughters, That apparent Restraint may be real Protection, Yielding Peace, Plenty, and Security. You see how much more decent and proper this broken Stile, interrupted as it were with Sighs, is for the Occasion, than if one were to say, by way of Epitaph, Here Skugg Lies snug As a Bug In a Rug. And yet perhaps there are People in the World of so little Feeling as to think, that would be a good-enough Epitaph for our poor Mungo! If you wish it, I shall procure another to succeed him. But perhaps you will now chuse some other Amusement. Remember me respectfully to all the [torn] good Family; and believe me ever, Your affectionate Friend B Franklin

---

From The New Universal Magazine, or Miscellany of Historical, Philosophical, Political and Polite Literature 1747-1815

1784-09-01 · London, England

ALAS! poor Mungo! Happy waft thou, hadft thou known thy owa felicity ! Remote from the fierce, bold Eagle; Tyrant of thy native woods, Though hadf nought to fear From his piercing talons, Nor from the blundering gun of the thoughtlefs Sportfman, Safe in thy wired caftle, Grimalkin never could annoy thee : Daily waft thou fed with the choiceft viands, By the fair hands of an indulgent miftrefs, But, difcontented, Thou wouldeft have more liberty. Too foon, alas! didft thou obtain it; And, wandering, fell By the mercilefs fangs of wanton, cruel Ranger. Learn hence, ye Who blindly feek more Liberty, Whether fubjects, fons, fquirrels, or daughters, That apparent reftraint Is real Liberty,

---

From The Weekly Entertainer, and West of England Miscellany 1783-1824

1784-12-06 · Sherborne, England

ALAS ! poor Mungo! Happy was thou, hadft thou known thy own felicity ! Remote from the fierce, bold eagle, Tyrant of thy native wood, ~ Thou hadft nought to fear From his piercing talons, Nor from the blundering gun of the thoughtlefs fportfman. Safe in thy wired caftle, Grimalkin never could annoy thee: Daily waft thou fed with the choiceft viands, By the fair hands of an indulgent miftrefs ; But, difcontented, Thou wouldeft have more liberty : Too foon, alas! didf thou obtain it; And, wandering, fell By the mercilefs fangs of wanton, cruel Ranger. Learn hence, ye Who blindly feek more liberty, Whether fubjeéts, fons, fquirrels, or daughters, That apparent reftraint Is real liberty,

---

From The Gentleman's Magazine 1731-1907

1785-04-01 · London, England

BY DRe BENJAMIN FRANKEYN. ; ALAS; poor Mungo! Happy waft thou, hadft thou known thy: own félicity ! Remote from the fierce, bold eagley: TyrMit of thy native woods, Thou hadft nevght to fear From his‘piercing talons, Nor from the blundering gun of the thought- leis: fportfman. Safe in'thy wired caftle, Grimalkin never could annoy thee: ' Daily wait thou fed with the choiceft viands, By the fair hands of an indulgent Miftress - Bur, difcontented, Thou would’ft have more liberty, Too foon, alas! ‘didit thou obtain it; Aud, wandering, fell By the mercilefs fangs of wanton, creed Ranger, Learn hence, ye Who blindly feck more liberty,- Whether Subje4s, Sons, Squirrels, or Daughters, That apparent reftraint Is real liberty,

---

From Pic Nic 1803

1803-02-12

London, Sept. 25, 1772. DEAR FRIEND, I lament with you most. sincerely, the un- fortunate end of poor Mungo. Few squirrels were better accomplished ; tor he had had a good education, had travelled far, and seen | much of the world. ote 224 THE PIC NIC. As he had the honour of being, for his vir- tues, your favourite, he should not go, like - common Skugs, without an elegy or an epi- taph.—Let us give him one, in the monu- mental style and measure, which, being nei- ther prose nor verse, is, perhaps the properest for grief; since, to use common language would look as-if we were not affe&ted, and to make rhymes would seem trifling’ in sorrow. . Alas! poor Mungo! Happy wert thou hadst tliou known Fhine own felicity ! Remote from the fierce bald-eagle, Tyrant of thy. native woods, Thou hadst nought to fear-from his piercing talons, Nor from the murdering gun Of the thoughtless sportsman. Safe in thy wired castle, Grimalkin never. could annoy thee. Daily wert thou fed with the choicest.viands, By the fair hand Of an indulgent mistress; But, discontented; thou would’st have more freedom, Too soon, alas! didst thou obtain it, And ‘wandering, Fell by:the merciless fangs Of wanton, crue! Ranger. Learn hence, ye who blindly wish more liberty, Whether subjeéts, sons, squirrels, or daughters, That apparent restraint may be read protection, Yaelding peace; plenty, and security. ¥ou see how much more decent and proper this broken style, interrupted as it were with THE PIC NIC, 225 sighs, is for the occasion, than if one were to say, by way of epitaph, Here Skugg Lies snug, As a bug In a rug. And yet, perhaps, there are people in the world of so little feeling, as to think that would be a good-enough epitaph for poor Mungo. If you wish it, I shall procure another to succeed him

---

From The Pastime; a Literary Paper (1807-1808)

1808-01-16 · Schenectady

London, Sept. 25, 1772. Dear FriEnp, I lament with you most sincerely, the unfortunate end of poor Mungo. Few squirrels were better accomplished ; for he had had a good education, had travelled far, and seen much of the world. he should not go, like common Skugs, without an elegy or an epitaph—Let us give him one, in the monumental style and measure, which, being neither prose nor verse, is, perhaps the properest for grief; since, to use common language would look as if we were not affected, and so make rhymes would seem trif- ling in sorrow. Alas! poor Mungo! Happy wert thou hadst thou known Thine own felicity ! Remote from the fierce bald eagle, Tyrant of thy native woods, ‘Thou hadst not to feaz from his piercing talons, Nor from the murdermg gun Of the thoughtless sportsman. Safe in thy wired castle, Grimalkin never could annoy thee. Daily wert thou fed with the choicest viands, By the fair hand Of zn indulgent mistress : But, discontented, thou would’st have more freedom. Too soon, alas! didst thou obtain it, And wandering, Fell by the merciless fangs Of wanton, cruel Ranger. Learn hence, ve who blindly wish more liberty, Whether subjects, sons, squirrels, or daughters, That apparent restraint may be rea/ protection, Yielding peace, plenty, and security. You see how much more decent and proper this broken sty le interrupted as it were with sighs, is for the occasion, than if one were to say, by way of epitaph, : ‘Here Skugg Lies snug, As a bug In a rug, And yet, perhaps, there are people in the world of so little feel- ing, as to think that would be a good-enough epitaph for poor Mungo. If you wish it, I shall procure another to succeed him

---

From The Port folio /

1812-05-01 · Philadelphia [Pa.]

London, September, 26th, 1775. DEAR MISS, I lament with you most sincerely the unfortunate end of poor Mungo. Few squirrels were better accomplished; for he had had a good education, had travelled far, and seen much of the world. As he had the honour of being for his virtues your fa- vourite, he should not go like common skuggs without an elegy or an epitaph. Let us give him one in the monumental style and measure, which being neither prose nor verse, is perhaps the properest for grief, since, to use common language, would look as if we were not affected, and to make rhymes would seem tri- fling in sorrow.

---

From The Port folio /

1812-05-01 · Philadelphia [Pa.]

ALAS! POOR MUNGO! Happy wert thou hadst thou known Thy own felicity! Remote from the fierce Bald-Eagle, Tyrant of thy native woods, Thou hadst nought to fear from his piercing talons; Nor from the murdering gun Of the thoughtless sportsman. Safe in the wired castle, rumalkin never could annoy thee. Daily wert thou fed with the choicest viands By the fair hand Of an indulgent mistress; But discontented thou wouldst have more freedom Too soon alas! didst thou obtain it: And wandering, Fell by the merciless fangs Of wanton cruel Ranger. Learn here ye who blindly wish more liberty, Whether subjects, sons, squirrels, or daughters, That apparent restraint may be real protection Yielding peace, plenty, and security. You see how much more decent and proper this broken style, interrupted as it were with sighs, is for the occasion, than if one were to say, by way of epitaph, Here skugg Lies snug As a bug in a rug. And yet there are people in the world of so little feeling, as te think that would be a good enough epitaph for our poor Mungo! If you wish it I shall procure another to succeed him; but per- haps you will now choose some other amusement. Remernber me respectfully to all the good family; and believe me ever Your affectionate friend, B. FRANKLIN

---

Dear Miss—I lament with you most sincerely the unfortunate end of poor Mungo

From Daily national intelligencer.

1817-05-06 · Washington City [D.C.]

[This text is not available under an open license.]

---

Poem 1 -- No Title

From Bowen's Boston News - Letter, and City Record (1825-1827)

1826-01-01 · Boston

[This text is not available under an open license.]

---

From Bowen's Boston News - Letter, and City Record (1825-1827)

1826-06-10 · Boston

Alns ! poor Bun ! Happy wast thou, haiist thou kHown thy own felicity! Remote from the bold Eaple, Tyrant of thy native woods, Thou hadst nou|?bt to fear From his piercing talons, Nor from the blundering gun of the Thoughtless Spor'SLian- Safe iu thy wirea castle. Grimalkin never could ornoy thee. Daily wast ihoa fed with choicest viands, By the fair hand:* of an indulgent mistress; ! But, dbcontented. Thou wouldst have more lilierty. Too soon, alas! didst thou obtain it; And wandering, fell By the nierciltss fangs of wanton, cruel Ranger, Learn hence, ye Who blindly seek more liberty. Whether subjects, sons, squirrels, or Daughters, That apparent restraint Is real liberty.

---

From The Greenbrier era.

1854-07-22 · Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]

Remote frem the bold E Tyrant of thy native woods, Thou hadst nought to fear From his picreing talons, Nor from the blundering gan of the Thoughtless Sportsman. Safe in the wired castle, Grimalkin never could anney thee. Daily wast thou fed with choicest viands, By the fair hands of an indulgent mivtress; But, discontented, Thou wouldst have more liberty. reon elas! didst thou obtain it; By the morciless langs of a aiiton cruel Hanger, Learn hence, ye Who blindly seck more literty, Whether rubject, sons, squirrels o Daughters, That apparent restrain

---

From Forrester's Boys' and Girls' Magazine, and Fireside Companion (1851-1857)

1857-01-01 · Boston

London, 26th September, 1772. Dear Miss :—I lament with you most sincerely, the unfortunate end of poor MUNGO. Few squirrels were better accomplished ; for he had had a good education, had travelled far, and seen much of tbe world. As he had the honor of being, for his virtues, your favorite, he should not go, like common skuggs, without an elegy or an epitaph. Let us give him one in the monumental style and measure, which, being neither prose nor verse, is perhaps the properest for grief; since, to use common language wou'd look as if we were not affected, and to make rhymes would seem trifling in sorrow.

---

From Forrester's Boys' and Girls' Magazine, and Fireside Companion (1851-1857)

1857-01-01 · Boston

Alas! poor MUNGO! Happy wert thou, hadst thou known Thy own felicity. Remote from the fierce bald eagle, Tyrant of thy native woods, Thou hadst nought to fear from his piercing talons, Nor from the murdering gun Of the thoughtless sportsman. Safe in thy wired castle, GRIMALKIN never could annoy thee. Daily wert thou fed with the choicest viands, By the fair hand of an indulgent mistress ; But, discontented, Thou wouldst have more freedom. Too soon, alas! didst thou obtain it; And wandering, Thou art fallen by the fangs of wanton, cruel RANGER Learn hence, Ye, who blindly seek more liberty, Whether subjects, sons, squirrels, or daughters, That apparent restraint may be real protection. Yielding peace and plenty With security. You see, my dear Miss, how much more decent and proper this broken style is, than if we were to say, by way of epitaph — Here SKUGG Lies snug, As a bug In a rug. And yet, perhaps, there are people in the world of so little feeling as to think that this would be a good enough epitaph for poor Mungo. If you wish it, I shall procure another to succeed him ; but perhaps you will now choose some other amusement. Remember me affectionately to all the good family, and believe me ever your affectionate friend, B. FRANKLIN.

---

MUNGO.

From Forrester's Boys' and Girls' Magazine, and Fireside Companion (1851-1857)

1857-03-01 · Boston

[This text is not available under an open license.]

---

MUNGO.

From Forrester's Boys' and Girls' Magazine, and Fireside Companion (1851-1857)

1857-03-01 · Boston

[This text is not available under an open license.]

---

MUNGO.

From Forrester's Boys' and Girls' Magazine, and Fireside Companion (1851-1857)

1857-03-01 · Boston

[This text is not available under an open license.]

---

From Green-Mountain freeman.

1881-06-15 · Montpelier, Vt.

friend, Miss Shipley, remarking: "Few squirrels were better accomplished, for he had received a good education, traveled far and seen much of the world, and as he had the honor of being, for his virtues, your favorite, he shall not go, like a vnl gar skuggs, to the grave without an epi­ taph." Less interesting things tha

---

From Century Illustrated Magazine (1881-1906)

1886-06-01 · New York

“T lament with you most sincerely the unfortunate | of poor Mungo. Few squirrels were better ac- iplished; for he had had a good education, had As he had en con travelled far, and seen much of the world. the honor of being, for his virtues, your favorite, he should not go, like common skuggs, without an elegy or ggs, an epitaph. Let us give him one in the monumental and measure, which, being neither prose nor verse, is perhaps the properest for grief; since to use common language would look as if we were not af- fected, and to make rhymes would seem trifling in sorrow.

---

From Century Illustrated Magazine (1881-1906)

1886-06-01 · New York

Alas! poor Mungo! Happy wert thou, hadst thou Thy own felicity. Remote from the fierce bald eagle, Tyrant of thy native woods,

---

From Century Illustrated Magazine (1881-1906)

1886-06-01 · New York

Thou hadst nought to fear from his pier Nor from the murdering gur Of the thoughtless sportsman. Safe in thy wired castle, Grimalkin never could annoy th Daily wert thou fed with the ch By the fair hand of an indulgent But, discontented, Thou wouldst have more fre« Too soon, alas! thou obt And wandering, Thou art fallen by the fangs of wanton, cruel I Learn hence, Ye who blindly seek more liberty, Whether r tht That apparent restraint may be real pr Yielding peace and plenty With UC st mustr« didst subjects, sons, squirrels, « security dear Miss, hov n thar “You see, my and proper this broken style is, by way of epitaph,— In a rug. rid of rood- z And yet, perhaps, there are people in the we so little feeling as to think that this would be enough epitaph for poor Mungo.”

---

From Animals 1868-2003

1886-09-01 · Boston, Massachusetts

Sept. 26, 1772. I lament with you most sincerely the unfortu- nate end of poor Mungo. Few squirrels were better accomplished ; for he had had a _ good education, had travelled far, and seen much of the world. As he had the honor of being, for his virtues, your favorite, he should not go, like com- mon skuggs, without an elegy or an epitaph. Let us give him one in the monumental style and measure, which being neither prose nor verse, is perhaps the properest for grief; since to use com- mon language would look as if we were not affected, and to make rhymes would seem trifling in sorrow.

---

From Animals 1868-2003

1886-09-01 · Boston, Massachusetts

dog. Alas! poor Munco ! Happy wert thou, hadst thou known ; Thy own felicity. Remote from the fierce bald eagle, Tyrant of thy native woods, Thou hadst nought to fear from his piercing talons, Nor from the murdering gun Of the thoughtless sportsman. Safe in thy wired castle, GRIMALKIN never could annoy thee. Daily wert thou fed with the choice viands, By the fair hand of an indulgent mistress ; But, discontented, Thou wouldst have more freedom. Too soon, alas ! didst thou obtain it; And wandering, Thou art fallen by the fangs of wanton cruel RANGER ! Learn hence, Ye who blindly seek more liberty, Whether subjects, sons, squirrels, or daughters, That apparent restraint may be real protection, Yielding peace and plenty With security. You see, my dear Miss, how much more decent and proper this broken style is, than if we were to say, by way of epitaph,— Here Skvce Lies snug, As a bug In arug. And yet, perhaps, there are people in the world of so little feeling as to think that this would be a good-enough epitaph for poor Mungo.

---