― [page break] ―My dear Friend
Your last very curious and interesting letter ought
to be answered. Your story is another proof (Supposing the
circumstances to be unquestionably true, and of that you
have assured me) of the influence of passions and the
occurrence of events which the bulk of mankind, the
various classes of the vulgar, are inclined to believe have
no existance, or at least none in the degree which dealers
in fiction are accustomed to describe them.
It is common to talk of excellence beauty deformity
and so forth “as are only to be found in books.”
I never ‸ met with, in books, what I do not believe frequently
to be discoverable in nature. Richardsons fictions have,
I doubt not, been, a thousand times paralleled or exceeded
by realities. It is no proof of the contrary that such
facts do not fall within the spere of our own immediate
observation, for how pregnant of strange events is our
own domestic occurances experience, and yet there are
no two families, in which the same characters are
displayed and the same incidents have happened
― [page break] ―I have already imagined the leading incidents and
general outlines of a tale, suited to my purpose.
In the execution of this design I have not the least doubt
that I should, for a moment, please myself, but how
long my complacency would last, and whether it
would be an equally acceptable performance to the
more and the less refined taste of others I am extreem=
=ly dubious. I have too much experience to imagine that
whatever is fortunate enough to obtain my own approba
=tion is of consequence secure of the applause of others
But these considerations do not interfere with
the prosecution of this task, for though no one but myself
should ever see it when completed, yet it would be
highly useful to me, as a delightful recreation and
a profitable exercise.
You highly flatter me by expressing your
wishes that this wonderful design should be compleated
but in my present situation it is absolutely impossible to
begin it. There is a certain tranquility of mind and disem
=barrassment of views which are absolutely necessary
to such employments, and there have doubtless been persons
who by violent efforts have disengaged themselves from
― [page break] ―
a certain degree of vexation and perplexity, but either
my fortitude is less or my vexations ‸ are greater than those
of such persons.
I cannot go with you to Woodbury this afternoon.
Do not ask me the reason. I cannot tell it, but believe
me it is sufficient. If You go, forget not to present my
best—but no matter. I will try to write. I received
from him last, a very strange rhapsodical Epistle. I
wish I could answer him in the same style but I am
too well
[gap]
convinced that I cannot. Adieu
Friday 16th Aug. 1793 ~ ~~~~
Franklin's Office ~