756
HISTORY OF PRINTING.
Letter-writing was one of his favourite amuse- ments, and among his correspondents were men of such eminence and talents as well repaid his endeavours to entertain them. One of these was Dr. Franklin, who had been his fellow-workman iu a printing-house in London, whose friendship and correspondence be continued to enjoy, not- withstanding the difference of their sentiments in political matters, which often afforded plea- santry, but never mixed any thing acrimonious in their letters. One of the latest he received from his illustrious and venerable friend, con- tained a humorous allegory of the state of poli- tics in Britain, drawn from the profession of printing, of which, though the doctor had quitted the exercise, he had not forgotten the terms.* There are stations of acquired great- ness which make men proud to recal the lowness of that firom which they rose. The native emi- nence of Franklin's mind was above concealing the humbleness of his origin. Those only who possess no intrinsic elevation are afraid to sully the honours to which accident has raised them, by the recollection of that obscurity whence they sprung. Of this recollection Mr. Strahan was rather proud than ashamed; and many of those who were disposed to censure him, blame it as a kind of ostentation in which he was w eak enough to indulge. But we think " 'tis to con- sider too curiously, to consider it so." There is a kind of reputation which we may laudably desire, and justly enjoy; and he who is sincere enough to forego the pride of ancestry and of birth, may, without much imputation of vanity, assume the merit of his own elevation. In that elevation he neither triumphed overtheinferiority of those he had left below him, nor forgot the equality in which they had formerly stood. No one was more mindful of, or more solicitous to
- ** But let us leave these sexiooB refieotioDB, and convene
with our usual pleasantrjr. I remember your observtnr once to me in the house of commons, that no two Journey- men printers within your knowled^, had met vrith snch snccesa in the world as ourselves. You were thm at the head of your profession, and soon afterwards became a member of parliament. Iwssanagentforafewprorlnces, and now act for them all. But we have risen by diSierent modes, I, as arepnblican printer, always liked a form well plained down ; h&ng adverse to those overbearing letters that held their heads so high as to hinder their n^ghbours from appearinif. Yon, as a monarchist, chose to worit upon crown paper, and found it profitable ; whilst I work, ed upon propatria (often indeed caUeA/oolwap) with no less BdYsntBLge. Both our heap$ held out very well, and we seem likely to make a pretty c^ood day's work of it. With regard to public ailkirs (to cononue in the same style) It seems to me that the compositors in your chapel do not east of their copy well, nor perfectly understand imposing > their form* are continually pestered by the outt and dwi- blee that are not easy to be corrected. And I think they were wrong in laying aside some /aces, and particularly certain bead-pieces that would have been both useful and ornamental. But, courage! The business may still flourish with good management ; and the master become as rich as any of the company."
Passy, near Paris, Aug. 19, 1784. B. Fbanklin.
During nine years and a halt from the 7th January, 1777, Passy was the residence of Dr. Franklin j who, pos- sessing a printing-press in his own house, used to divert himself from, time to time by composing and printing for the amusement of his intimate friends several light essays andyettjr d^espriU^ such as the Supplement to Me fiodon Independent Chronicle^ and the Letter from the pirate Paul Jona, described in tlie " Memoirs nf B. Franklin, &c." 4to. 1818. Franklin quitted Passy in July, 1789.
oblige the acquainttmce or companions of his early days. The advice which his experience, or the assistance which his purse could afford, he was ready to communicate ; and at his table in Lon- don every Scotsman found an easy introduction, and every old acquaintance a cordial welcome. This was not merely a virtue of hospitality, or a duty of benevolence with him ; he felt it warmly as a sentiment: and that paper in the Mirror (the Letter from London, in the 94th number) was a genuine picture of his feelings, on the recollection of those scenes in which his youth had been spent, and of those companions with which it had been associated. If among the middling and busy ranLs of mankind this brief sketch can afford an encouragement to the industry of those who are beginning to climb into lite, or furnish a lesson of moderation to those who have attained its height; if to the first it may recommend honest industry and sober diligence; if to the latter it may suggest the ties of ancient fellowship and early con- nexion, which the pride of wealth or of station loses as much dignity as it foregoes satisfaction by refusing to acknowledge ; if it shall cheer one hour of despondency or discontent to the young} if it shall save one frown of disdain or of lera- sal to the unfortunate; the higher and more refined class will forgive the familiaritv of the example, and consider, that it is not from the biography of heroes or of statesmen that instan- ces can be drawn to prompt the conduct of the bulk of mankind, or to excite the useful thouefa less splendid virtues of private and domestic life. The following lines came from the heart of one who both loved and revered him :
If industry and knowledge of mankind.
Could prove that fortune is not always blind ;
If wnlth acquired could prompt a generoos heart.
To feel new Joys its blessings to impart ;
Lament with me snch worUi should be withdrawn.
And all who knew his worth most weep for Stra bah !
In business, which became hia plcasore keen,
Tlio* not enough the tradesman to be mean ;
Social and frank, a zealous fHendly guide.
With safe advice, and ready purse beside.
And far above the littleness of pride :
Pride that, exacting homage, meets. In place
Of true respect, contempt beneath grimace.
A breast thus warm could not with coldness bear
Those base returns the good most sometimes abate -,
Sincere himself, his feelings stood excus'd,
Never by one man to be twice abused ;
For nature alters not i the leopard's skin
Is stained wiUiont, as hearts are stained within ;
Numbers whose private sorrows he relieved.
Have felt a loss, alas I but ill conceived ;
He's gone < and those who miss him, never wiU
Find equal excellence his place to fill.
Thy darts, oh Death, that fly so thick around.
In such a victim many others wotmd.
Bernard's /m. i. NooaTHOoca.
Mr. Strahan had five children ; three sons and two daughters : William, the eldest, carried on the profession of a printer for some years on Snow hill ; but died in his father's life-time, April 19, 1781, and his business was taken by Mr. Spils- bury. — George, of university college, Oxford, M. A. 1771, and B. and D. D. 1807, was pre- bendary of Rochester, and upwards of fifty years vicar of St. Mary's, Islington. — Andrew, who, in due time succeeded his father. The daughters
VjOOQ IC
