MR. FRANKLIN TO DR. JOHNSON.
DEAR SIR, I am sorry to hear of your illness. If you have not been used to the fever-and-ague let me give you one caution. Don't imagine yourself thoroughly cured, and so omit the use of the bark too soon. Remember to take the preventing doses faithfully. If you were to continue taking a dose or two every day for two or three weeks after the fits have left you, 'twould not be amiss. If you take the powder mixed quick in a tea-cup of milk, 'tis no way disagreeable, but looks and even tastes like chocolate. 'Tis an old saying: That an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and certainly a true one, with regard to the bark; a little of which will do more in preventing the fits than a great deal in removing them.
But if your health would permit I should not expect the pleasure of seeing you soon. The small-pox spreads apace, and is now in all quarters; yet as we have only children to have it, and the Doctors inoculate apace, I believe they will soon drive it through the town; so that you may possibly visit us with safety in the spring. In the meantime we should be glad to know the result you came to after consulting your brethren at the Commencement Messrs. Peters and Francis have directed me on all occasions to present their compliments to you. Please to acquaint me if you propose to make any considerable additions to the "Ethics," that I may be able in the proposals to compute the bigness of the book.
I am, with sincere esteem and respect, dear Sir,
Your most obliged humble servant,
B. FRANKLIN.
Philadelphia, September 13, 1750.
Inclosed I return the good Bishop's letter with thanks.
MR. FRANKLIN TO DR. JOHNSON.
Philadelphia, December 24, 1751.
DEAR SIR, I received your favor of the I ith insL and thank you for the hint you give of the omission in the ' ' Idea. ' ' The ' ' Sacred Classics ' ' are read in the English school, though I forgot to mention them . And I shall propose at the meeting of the Schools, after the Holidays, that the English master begin and continue to read select portions of them daily with the prayers as you advise.
But if you can be thus useful to us at this distance, how much more might you be so if you were present with us, and had the immediate inspection and government of the schools. I wrote to you in my last that Mr Martin our Rector died suddenly of a quinsy. His body was carried to the Church, respectfully attended by the trustees, all the masters and scholars in their order, and a great number of the citizens. Mr. Peters preached his funeral sermon, and gave him the just and honorable character he deserved. The schools are now broke up for Christmas, and will
