FO-From Benjamin Franklin to James Read, 17 August 1745.md

FO-From Benjamin Franklin to James Read, 17 August 1745

7 reprints from 1745-08-17 to 1898-11-01

FO-From Benjamin Franklin to James Read, 17 August 1745

by Franklin, Benjamin

From unknown source

1745-08-17

Saturday morning, Aug. 17, ’45 I have been reading your letter over again, and since you desire an answer, I sit me down to write you one; yet, as I write in the market, [it] will, I believe, be but a short one, tho’ I may be long about it. I approve of your method of writing one’s mind, when one is too warm to speak it with temper: but being myself quite cool in this affair, I might as well speak as write, if I had an opportunity. Your copy of Kempis, must be a corrupt one, if it has that passage as you quote it, in omnibus requiem quaesivi, sed non inveni, nisi in angulo cum libello. The good father understood pleasure (requiem) better, and wrote, in angulo cum puella. Correct it thus, without hesitation. I know there is another reading, in angulo puellae; but this reject, tho’ more to the point, as an expression too indelicate. Are you an attorney by profession, and do you know no better, how to chuse a proper court in which to bring your action? Would you submit to the decision of a husband, a cause between you and his wife? Don’t you know, that all wives are in the right? It may be you don’t, for you are yet but a young husband. But see, on this head, the learned Coke, that oracle of the law, in his chapter De Jus Marit.Angl. I advise you not to bring it to trial; for if you do, you’ll certainly be cast. Frequent interruptions make it impossible for me to go thro’ all your letter. I have only time to remind you of the saying of that excellent old philosopher, Socrates, that in differences among friends, they that make the first concessions are the WISEST; and to hint to you, that you are in danger of losing that honour in the present case, if you are not very speedy in your acknowledgments; which I persuade myself you will be, when you consider the sex of your adversary. Your visits never had but one thing disagreeable in them, that is, they were always too short. I shall exceedingly regret the loss of them, unless you continue, as you have begun, to make it up to me by long letters. I am dear J[emmy], with sincerest love to our dearest Suky, Your very affectionate friend and cousin, B. Franklin

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From The Port folio /

1801-05-23 · Philadelphia [Pa.]

Saturday morning, Aug. 17. 745. Dear J ; I have been reading your letter over again, and since you desire an answer, I sit me down to write you one ; yet, as I write in the market, will, I believe, be but a short one, tho’ [ may be long I approve of your method of writing one’s mind,when one is too warm to speak it with temper: but being myself quite cool in this affair, tunity. Your copy of Kempis, must be a corrupt numberless etrors which writers are apt to com-| one, if it has that passage as you quote it, in om~= mit,—most useful those books must certainly be, ; to all who are applying themselves to the arts of] jp exyn Libello. nibus requiem quesivi, sed non invent, nisi in angu= The good father understood plea- sure (requiem) better, and wrote, zn angulo cum puella. Correct it thus, without hesitation, I know there is another reading, zn angulo puelle ; but this reject, tho’ more fo the port, as. an ex- “ POLITICS, a Farce intwo Acts,” is too de-| pression too indelicate. Are you anattorney by profession, and do you

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From The Port folio /

1801-05-23 · Philadelphia [Pa.]

characters are ill-drawn, and the vulgarity of|know no better, how to chuse a proper court in their language, though we believe it to be a very| which to bring your action? Would you submit faithful transcript of the diction of many of our|to the detision of a husband, a cause between you

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From The Port folio /

1801-05-23 · Philadelphia [Pa.]

in the right? It may be you don’t, for you are yet but a young husband. But see, on this head, the learned Coke, that oracle of the law, in his chap- ter De Jus Marit. Angl. ladvis ounot to bring it to trial; for if you do, you'll ertainly be cast. Frequent interruptions make it impossible for me to go thro’ all your letter. I have only time to remind you of the saying of that excellent old philosopher, Socrates, that in differences among friends, they that make the first concessions are the WISEST; and to hint to you, that you are in dan- ger of losing that honour in the present case, if you are not very speedy in your acknowledg- ments; which I persuade myself you will be, when you consider the sex of your adversary. Your visits never had but one thing disagreea- ble in them, that is, they were always too short. { shall exceedingly regret the loss of them, un- less you continue, as you have begun, to make it up to me by long letters. I am dear J » with sincerest love to our dearest Suky, Your very affectionate friend and cousin, B. FrRankiin.

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From European Magazine and London Review 1782-1826

1804-08-01 · London, England

fe omrrhus r/qui: n: ftJ non iuvrni, ttyt infin%ulo cum Itodto. Ihe K<>‘>d father linderHocd pic^furc (rt(juieni) belter, anrl wrote, in nnt'uiocum f ueila, C'oncft it thii*, without iuiitiiion. 1 know theic i< another trading, in ciK^nlo f uel- l.t \ but this reject, tlumgh mocc to tbe jcintt as an expiellion too indelicate. Aie you an’ attornev by pr iedion, and d*> you know no Ircrter how to chufc a i*roner court in vvhii^li to bring youi aOion f Would you (ubtnit to the dteihon of a huiiMnd a taule between you and his wile? Don’t you know, that all wives are in the right ? It may Vv you don’t, for you are yet but a ymii'g bulhand. Lur (te, on this lurid, the learned Coke, that oracle « I the law, in his chapter Dc Jus Merit. An^l. 1 .idvi e you not to btin^' it to trial ; lor if you do, yo'i'll ccitamly he tilt. Frequent interruptions make it im- poiriblc for me to gi» thro' ail your letter, I have only time to remind you c>t the faying of that excellent old }>iiiff>lopher Socrates, that in lufferenccs fiminii Jf inuis. thtv thot make thejirjl con eejhens are the w is ts r ; and to hint to yon, that you arc in danger of lofing that honour in the prefcni cafe, if you »re not very Ipeedy in your acknow¬ ledgments { which I pei fiiade my('i*lf you will be, when you conlidcr the lex of vour advcriai y. Vour vifiis never had but one tl log difapteeabie in them ^ that it, they were always too Oioit. I ih.dl excctd- ingly icgrct the lofs of them, unlcl's you continue, as you have begun, to Buke it up to me by long Icticis. 1 am, dear J-, with fincercll love our dearelt Suky, Vour very afiecVionate friend and couiiii, B. Franklin.

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From The Historical Magazine, and Notes and Queries Concerning the Antiquities, History, and Biography of America (1857-1875)

1858-04-01 · Boston

Saturday Morning, Aug. 17, °45. Dear J I have been reading your letter over again; and since you desire an answer, I | sit me down to write you one; yet, as I write in the market, will, I believe, be but a short one, though I may be long about it. I approve of your method of writing one’s mind, when one | is too warm to speak it with temper; but being myself quite cool in this affair, I might as well speak as write, if I had an opportunity. Your | copy of Aempis must be a corrupt one if it has that passage as you quote it, in omnibus | requiem quesivi, sed non inveni, nisi in angulo | cum libello. The good father understood plea- sure (requiem) better, and wrote in angulo cum puella. Correct it thus without hesitation. I 120 HISTORICAL know there is another reading, in angulo puelle ; but this reject, though more to the point, as an expression too indelicate. Are you an attorney by profession, and do you know no better how to choose a proper court in which to bring your action? Would you submit to the decision of a husband a cause between you and his wife? Don’t you know that all wives are in the right? It may be you don’t, for you are yet but a young husband? But see, on this head, the learned Coke, that eracle of the law, in his chapter De Jus [sic] Marit. Angl. I advise you not to bring it to trial; for if you do, you'll certainly be cast. Frequent interruptions make it impossible for me to go through all your letter. I have only time to remind you of the saying of that excel- lent old philosopher, Socrates, that in differences among friends, they that make the first conces- sions are the wisest; and to hint to you, that you are in danger of losing that honor in the present case, if you are not very speedy in your acknowledgments; which I persuade myself you will be, when you consider the sex of your adversary. Your visits never had but one thing disagree- able in them; that is, they were always too short. I shall exceedingly regret the loss of them, unless you continue as you have begun, to make it up to me by long letters. I am, dear J—, with sincerest love to our dearest Suky, Your very affectionate friend and cousin, B. Franxin.

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From Century Illustrated Magazine (1881-1906)

1898-11-01 · New York

that his “visits never had but one thing dis- agreeable in them; that is they are always too short”; but presently “Jemmy” Rea

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