Volcano weekly ledger., 1857-02-21

Benjamin Franklin, the Printer.

Benjamin Franklin, the Printer.
The following extract is from Hon. r. @.
Winthrop's address delivered at the inaugur-
alton Of the great statue Of Franklin in
Boston. 1t comprises that part of the ad
dress in which he does honor to Frunklin as
PRINTER, and it is indeed an elegant ex-
tract"
If Franklin had never been anything else
than printer, if he had rendered no servi-
ces to his country or to mankind but those
which may fairly be cassed under this de-
partment of his career; he would still have
left mark upon his age which could not have
been mistaken or overlooked
1t was as printer tb Ne set such an ex-
ample to his fellow mecl } of all ages, Of
industry, temperance and Irugality-of truth,
sincerity and integrity. "The industry of
that Franklin" said an eye witness of his
early habits, DR.. Baird, is superior to any
thing ever saw of the kind; see him still
at work when | go home from the club, and
he is at work again before his neighbors are
out Of bed. And you all remember how the
ale-drinkng apprentices of London sneered
at him as the water American" and won
dered how one WHO drank no strong beer
could be so much stronger than themselves.
1t was as printer that he instituted those
clubs for discussion and mutual improvement
which elevated the character and Importance
Of the working classes wherever they were
introduced 1t was as printer that he dis
played such extraordinary mechanical inge-
nuity, in making for himself whatever article
he needed in his own profession, founding let
tiers of lead carving ornaments and cuts Of
wood, engraving vignettes on copper, mixing
his own printers ink, and manufacturing his
own plate press.
1t was as printer that he set on foot the
first subscription circulating library, the
mother of all in North America" 1t was as
a printer that he did so much to improve the
character of the newspaper press of the
American colonies, asserting its liberty, dis
couragng its licentiousness, protesting against
its being employed as an instrument of scan
dial, defamation and detraction, and exhibit
ing it as the worthy and chosen vehicle Of in
formation, entertainment and instruction.
1t was as printer that he commenced and
continued that series of delightful ESSAYS,
sometimes political, sometimes historical, some
times moral, sometimes satirical or playful
which are hardly inferior in wit and wisdom
to the best papers of johnson or of Addison,
of the witty dean of St. Patrick's or the
genial canon of st. Pauls-and which would
have secured and established the permanent
literary reputation of their author, we're there
no other monument of his labors in exis-
tence.
1t was as printer, above all, that be pre-
pared and published for SO many year his i'm
mortal almanac, under the name of Richard
Saunders, with those inimitable proverbs,
only second to those of Solomon, of which
many millions of copies, in almost every Ian
guage and tongue known beneath the sun,
have been scattered broadcast throughout
the world, for the entertainment and instruc-
tion of old and young, rich and poor, wise
and simple. When will Poor Richard" be
forgotten ?-or when will he ever be remenl-
bered without fresh admiration for the shrewd,
sagacious common sense, which he poured
forth with such charming good humor and in
such exhaustless profusion2
Well may the mechanics Of Boston take
the lead in every commemoration of Benja-
min Franklin-as they have done in that OF
which this day witnesses the completion--for
it was as Boston mechanic that he laid the
foundation, strong and deep, of character
which no temptations or trials could shake,
and of a fame which will know no limits but
those of civilization, and no termination but
that of timel