Page:Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin (1793).djvu/108

98, the beſt practical ſyſtem of œconomy that ever has appeared. It is written in a manner intelligible to every one, and which cannot fail of convincing every reader of the juſtice and propriety of the remarks and advice which it contains. The demand for this almanack was ſo great, that ten thouſand have been ſold in one year; which muſt be conſidered as a very large number, eſpecially when we reflect, that this country was, at that time, but thinly peopled. It cannot be doubted that the ſalutary maxims contained in theſe almanacks muſt have made a favourable impreſſion upon many of the readers of them.

It was not long before Franklin entered upon his political career. In the year 1736, he was appointed clerk to the general aſſembly of Pennſylvania; and was re-elected by ſucceeding aſſemblies for ſeveral years, until he was choſen a repreſentative for the city of Philadelphia.

Bradford was poſſeſſed of ſome advantages over Franklin, by being poſt-maſter, thereby having an opportunity of circulating his paper more extenſively, and thus rendering it a better vehicle for advertiſements, &c. Franklin, in his turn, enjoyed theſe advantages, by being appointed poſt-maſter of Philadelphia in 1757. Bradford, while in office, had acted ungenerouſly towards Franklin, preventing as much as poſſible the circulation of his paper. He had now an opportunity of retaliating; but his nobleneſs of ſoul prevented him from making uſe of it.

The police of Philadelphia had early appointed watchmen, whoſe duty it was to guard the citizens againſt the midnight robber, and to give an immediate alarm in cafe of fire. This duty is, perhaps, one of the moſt important that can be committed to any ſet of men. The