Page:Works of the Late Doctor Benjamin Franklin (1793).djvu/210

200 make candles much cheaper for the enſuing winter, and continue cheaper as long as the propoſed reformation ſhall be ſupported. For the great benefit of this diſcovery, thus freely communicated and beſtowed by me on the public, I demand neither place, penſion, excluſive privilege, or any other reward whatever. I expect only to have the honour of it. And yet I know there are little envious minds who will, as uſual, deny me this, and ſay that my invention was known to the ancients, and perhaps they may bring paſſages out of the old books in proof of it. I will not diſpute with theſe people that the ancients knew not the ſun would riſe at certain hours; they poſſibly had, as we have, almanacks that predicted it: but it does not follow from thence that they knew he gave light as ſoon as he roſe. This is what I claim as my diſcovery. If the ancient knew it, it muſt have been long ſince forgotten, for it certainly was unknown to the moderns, at leaſt to the Pariſians; which to prove, I need uſe but one plain ſimple argument. They are as well inſtructed, judicious, and prudent a people as exiſt any where in the world, all profeſing, like myſelf, to be lovers of ceconomy; and, from the many heavy taxes required from them by the neceſſities of the ſtate, have ſurely reaſon to be ceconomical. I ſay it is impoſſible that ſo ſenſible a people, under ſuch circumſtances, ſhould have lived ſo long by the ſmoky, unwholſome, and enormouſly expenſive light of candles, if they had really known that they might have had as much pure light of the ſun for nothing. I am, &c. ABONNE.