vania chose into all their Offices of Honour and Trust, the veriest Knaves, Fools and Rascals in the whole Province. The Time of Election used to be a busy Time with me, but this Year, with Concern I speak it, People are grown so good-natur'd, so intent upon mutual Feasting and friendly Entertainment, that I see no Prospect of much Employment from that Quarter.

I mention'd above, that without good Method I could not go thro' my Business. In my Father's Lifetime I had some Instruction in Accompts, which I now apply with Advantage to my own Affairs. I keep a regular Set of Books, and can tell, at an Hour's Warning, how it stands between me and the World. In my Daybook I enter every Article of Defamation as it is transacted; for Scandals receiv'd in I give Credit, and when I pay them out again I make the Persons to whom they respectively relate Debtor. In my Journal, I add to each Story, by way of Improvement, such probable Circumstances as I think it will bear; and in my Ledger the whole is regularly posted.

I suppose the Reader already condemns me in his Heart for this particular of adding Circumstances; but I justify that part of my Practice thus. 'Tis a Principle with me, that none ought to have a greater Share of Reputation, than they really deserve; if they have, 'tis an Imposition upon the Publick. I know it is every one's Interest, and therefore believe they endeavour to conceal all their Vices and Follies; and I hold that those People are extraordinary foolish or careless, who suffer a Fourth of their Failings to come to publick Knowledge. Taking then the common Prudence and Imprudence of Mankind in a Lump, I suppose none suffer above one Fifth to be discovered: Therefore, when

I hear of any person's Misdoing, I think I keep within Bounds if in relating it I only make it three times worse than it is; and I reserve to myself the Privilege of charging them with one Fault in four, which for aught I know, they may be entirely innocent of. You see there are but few so careWhat Reason then have

ful of doing Justice as myself.

Mankind to complain of Scandal? In a general way the worst that is said of us is only half what might be said, if all our Faults were seen.

But, alas! two great Evils have lately befaln me at the same time; an extream Cold, that I can scarce speak, and a most terrible Tooth-ach, that I dare hardly open my Mouth: For some Days past, I have receiv'd ten Stories for one I have paid; and I am not able to ballance my Accounts without your Assistance. I have long thought, that if you would make your Paper a Vehicle of Scandal, you would double the Number of your Subscribers. I send you herewith Account of four Knavish Tricks, two ***, 5 culd-ms, 3 drub'd Wives, and 4 henpeck'd Husbands, all within this Fortnight; which you may, as Articles of News, deliver to the Publick; and, if my Tooth-ach continues, shall send you more, being in the mean time your constant Reader, ALICE ADDERTONGUE.

I thank my Correspondent, Mrs. Addertongue, for her Good Will, but desire to be excus'd inserting the Articles of News she has sent me, such Things being in Reality no News at all.

20. PREFACE TO POOR RICHARD, 1733 (P. H. S.)

COURTEOUS READER,

I might in this place attempt to gain thy Favour, by declaring that I write Almanacks with no other View than that of the publick Good; but in this I should not be sincere; and Men are now adays too wise to be deceiv'd by Pretences how specious soever. The plain Truth of the Matter is, I am excessive poor, and my Wife, good Woman, is, I tell her, excessive proud; she cannot bear, she says, to sit spinning in her Shift of Tow, while I do nothing but gaze at the Stars; and has threatned more than once to burn all my Books and Rattling-Traps (as she calls my Instruments) if I do not make some profitable Use of them for the Good of my Family. The Printer has offer'd me some considerable share of the Profits, and I have thus begun to comply with my Dame's Desire.

Indeed this Motive would have had Force enough to have made me publish an Almanack many Years since, had it not been overpowered by my Regard for my good Friend and Fellow Student Mr. Titan Leeds, whose Interest I was extreamly unwilling to hurt: But this Obstacle (I am far from speaking it with Pleasure) is soon to be removed, since inexorable Death, who was never known to respect Merit, has already prepared the mortal Dart, the fatal Sister has already extended her destroying Shears, and that ingenious Man must soon be taken from us. He dies, by my Calculation made at his Request, on Oct. 17. 1733. h. 29 m. P. M. at the very instant of the 6 of O and ☀: By his own Calculation he will survive till the 26th of the

3

5494

Wherein is contained

The Lunations, Eclipfes, Judgment of the Weather, Spring Tides, Planets Motions & mutual Arpelis, Sun and Moon's Rifing and Setting, Length of Days, Time of High Water, Fairs. Courts, and obfervable Days. Fitted to the Latitude of Forty Degrees, and a Meridian of Five Hours Well from London, but may without fenfible Error, ferve all the adjacent Places, oven from Newfoumilaad to South. Carolina

By RICHARD SAUNDERS, Philom.

PHILADELPHIA Printed and fold by B. FRANKLIN, at the New. Printing Office near the Market