While reading part 2 of Benjamin Franklin's autobiography, I became curious as to why he chose to include the two letters at the beginning, and more specifically why he included the Benjamin Vaughan letter. The letter seemed to have no other purpose then to glorify and pay homage to Benjamin Franklin. Vaughan's letter wrote about how Franklin needed to write an autobiography because of "the chance which your life will give for the forming of future great men..." and that "the wisest man will receive lights and improve his progress, by seeing detailed the conduct of another wise man..." These types of comments are very, very complimentary things that are being said about Franklin and it seems as though the letter was possibly used as a way for Franklin to "blow his own horn" if you will, without directly talking about how great he may think himself to be.
In an effort to sort of make it seem like he is really just doing a favor and kindly writing an autobiography as suggested by the letters, Franklin states that "I have been too busy till now to think of complying with the request they contain..." I hardly think that it took alot of convincing for a man like Franklin, who clearly has a passion for composition, to write his autobiography. With that said, I really think that Franklin siezed these letters (Vaughan's in particular) as a chance to really help convince people how smart and amzazing he is. Franklin was a very intelligent man and he was cunning enough to realize he could introduce his "greatness" into his autobiograpy as someone else's opinion and not his own, thus still maintaining his apperance as a very modest man.
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I agree with Remy that Benjamin Franklin blatantly inserted this letter by Mr. Benjamin Vaughan. Franklin purposefully published this letter by Vaughan and the one prior to it received from Mr. Abel James. Both of these men hole heartedly praise Franklin for the work that he has done and the generation of youth that he could potentially lead to greatness. Throughout both of the letters there is discussion of Franklin being such an experienced and wise man who could help troubled young men who have not been privileged enough to learn basic etiquette and ways of the world. I am surprised though that Franklin is not more stealth when inserting these letters of praise. Remy mentions that the letters were “possibly used to blow his own horn”, they were definitely used to blow his own horn. Franklin didn’t care how pompous he sounded, and he knew exactly what he was doing when adding these letters into his autobiography. The passage that I chose that agrees with Remy’ argument is as follows:
“Your Quaker correspondent, sir, praised your frugality, diligence and temperance, which he considered as a pattern for all youth; but it is singular that he should have forgotten your modesty and you disinterestedness, without which you never could have waited for your advancement, or ground your situation the mean time comfortable; which is a string lesson to show the poverty of glory and the importance of regulating our minds.”
This passage clearly shows the praise that he has been given and the consistent mention of Franklin adding and nurturing the minds of the under privileged.
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