Baltimore commercial journal, and Lyford's price-current. [volume] (Baltimore, Md) 1840-1849, 1848-02-26
ONE OF FRANKLIN's LETTERS.

We make no apology for publishing the following
letter long as the period has been since its date.
There is much in it worthy OF being remembered and
initiated even by our modern political economists,
with all their improvements We may occasionally,
,chcn cc hare nothing better TO offer, fill what would
otherwise be an unntcrcstng space, with another
Dr. Franklin to B Youghan, Esq.
PAssY, July %, 1854.
Dear Friend-I have rccci, ed several letters from
YOU lately, dated June 10, June 30, and July 10.
thank you for the information respecting the pro-
ceedings of your West India merchants, rather
planters. The restraints, whatever they may be,
upon our commerce with your islands, will prejudice
their inhabitants apprehend, more than us. IT IS
wonderful how prcpoSterously the affairs OF this
world are managed. Naturally, one would imagine,
that the interests of a few particulars should give
way TO general interest. But particulars manage
their affairs with so much more application, industry,
and addr, S. than the public do theirs, that general
interest most commonly gives way TO particular We
assemble parlamcntS and councils TO have the bcne'
fit of their collected wisdom; but we necessarily
have at the same time, the Inconvenience OF their
collected passions, prcludccS, and private interests
By the help of these, artul men oycrpower the wis
dom, and dupc its posscssors; and, II we may Judge
by the acts DEGREES and edcts, all the world over,
tor regulating commerce, an assembly OF wise men
is the greatest fool upon earth
DR.. Prices pamphlet of Advice TO America is
good one, and will do good. You ask what remedy
| have for the growing luxury OF my country, which
gives so much offence all English travellers with
5ut rxcention;'' | answer, that think it cxaggcr
atrd and that travellers are no good Judges, whether
our luxury is growing or diminishing. Our people
are hospitablc, and have, indeed too much pride III
disnap mo upon their tables before strangers the
plenty and variety that our country Affords lhey
have the vanity too of sometimes borrowing one an
others plate, entertain more splcndldly. Stran-
gers being invited from house to house, and meeting
every day with feast, imagine what they see IS the
ordinary way of living Of all the families where they
dine; when perhaps eacl, family hN'' W''H a..r'
n folly in orr proplc 10 rive such offence to Eugih
trgrciIers The first part of the provcrb is thereby
verified that tDOIS make trusts. wish in this
tho other wrrr ns true and iriSc url eat them.
These travellers MIGHT one would think find some
f,ult they could more lcccnIv rcproach us with,
,han tot of our excessive ciyIy 10 them rs strau-
,r,r.
have not. indeed. vet thought of remedy for
I,r. I nm, nor srr, tL,t in \ Grrat state il is cana
LI ~ remedy. nor that thr evil j., in itself always
50 treat as il is represented Suppose we include
in the definition Of luxury all unnecessary expense,
and then I.t Ms consider whether laws 10 prevent
such cxpensc are possible to be executed in great
country; and whether, if they could be executed,
our nr0pl, generally would be happier, or even
richer Is not The, hone Of one dav being able to
purchase and cniov Injuries great spur to labor and
ministry, Nav not luxury therefore, produce more
than if consumes, if, without such spur, people
would be- rs they are naturally enough inclined TO
he law and INDECENT TO this purpose | remember
n circunstanrr The skinner of a shaop. employ
ed between Cape Nav and Philadelphia, had done
,s some small service for hich he refused paw NV
wifi understanding that he had daughter sent her
as n present a 1ew-flshioncd cap. Three years
after this skippcr being at nv house with an old
farmer of Cape Nav, his passenger, he mentioned
The can and how much his daughter had been pleas
ed with liz but said he IT proved a dear cap TO our
CONGREGATION How so2 When my daughter appear
ed IN if a meeting it was so much admired that all
the girls resolved TO get such caps from Philadcl.
phia: and nv wife and ] computed that the whole
could moi hare cost less than one hundred pounds.
True said The farmer but YOU do not tell all the
story think :hc cap was nevertheless an adv antagc
TO u.s. for il was the first thing that set our girls upon
knitting u,orstcd mittepS for sale at Philadelphia,
that they supht have whcrcWithal TO buy caps and
ribands there: and Won know that that industry has
continued and is likely 10 coutinme and increase TO
much greater value, aud better purposes.
Upon the whole, rcconciled TO this little
piece of luxury, since not only the gnls were made
happier by having fine caps, but the Phlladclphlans
by the supply of warm mittens.
In our commercial towns upon the coast, for
fumes will occasionally be made Some of those who
grow rich will be prudent live within bounds and
preserve what they have gained for their postcrity.
Others fond of showing their wealth will be extra
VACANT and ruin themselves Laws cannot prevent
this and perhaps it is not always an evil to the pub
lie, 4 shilling spent idly bv a fool, NAV be picked
up by wiser person, who knows better what TO DO
with IT. IT Is, therefore, not lost Valn slly rel
low builds hne house, furnishes II richly llVe IN IL
cXpenslTcly, and IN few years runs himself; but
the masonS, carpenters, smiths, and other honest
tradcsmcn, have been, by his employ, assisted IN
maintaining and raising their families: the farmer
has been paid for his labor, and encouraged, and the
estate is now in better hands In some cases, in
deed, certain modes OF luxury may be public EVIL,
in the same manner as it is private one. If there
he nation, for instance, that exports its beef and
linen TO pay for It's mportations OF claret and porter
while great part of It's people live upon potatoes
and wear shirts, wherein does II differ from the
sot, who lets his family starvc, and sells his clothes
TO buy drink: Our American commerce IS, / con
TESS, little IN this way. We sell our vIctuals 10
your islands for and sugar; the substantial ne
cesSarics of life for It's supertultes But we have
plenty. and live well, nevertheless; though, by be-