Sir,
It may perhaps be wonder’d at, that a Woman of my Age should be so much delighted in reading of News-Papers; but I beg leave to assure you, that I take it to be one of the chief Pleasures of my Life. I read them always with great Satisfaction, and with a serious Regard to the Welfare of my Country; and I think it an indispensible Duty upon all such as are blessed with any Share of Understanding, to employ the same for the common Good.
I am a Gentlewoman, and a Stranger in this Country; but my near Relation to many Persons of good Figure in it, and my sincere Love to the Place, have made me very inquisitive into its Affairs. I am one of those Women who think themselves qualified to judge of the Affairs of their Country; and if I may be allowed to speak freely, I think there are many Faults in our Education, which if timely remedy’d, would in a great Measure contribute to the Advantage of the Province.
I shall not trouble you at present with any further Remarks; but if you think fit to allow me a little Room in your Paper, I shall from time to time communicate my Thoughts to the Publick, which, I hope, will be taken in good Part by all well-meaning Persons.
I am, Sir,
Your humble Servant,
Silence Dogood
Silence Dogood Letter No. 2 — Full Text (Corrected Replacement)
Sir,
It is a common Thing to find People of small Abilities, and little Knowledge, extremely fond of Power; and such Persons are generally the most severe in the Exercise of it. Authority is very apt to intoxicate weak Minds, and make them forget that they are Men; and it is seldom trusted in such Hands without being abused.
There are some among us, who seem to imagine that the End of all Government is to give them an Opportunity of shewing their Importance, and of making others sensible of their Dependence. These Men take a Pride in being obey’d, not because Obedience is useful, but because it flatters their Vanity; and they often exercise their Authority with so much Rigour, as renders it more grievous than beneficial.
For my own Part, I have always thought that the surest Way of gaining Respect, is to deserve it; and that he who governs with Mildness and Justice, will be more readily obey’d, than he who endeavours to support his Power by Terror and Severity. Force may compel an outward Compliance, but it can never produce a sincere Regard.
I cannot but think it highly necessary, that those who are entrusted with Authority should frequently examine their own Conduct, and consider whether they use their Power for the Good of others, or merely for the Gratification of their own Passions. Such a Reflection would, I believe, prevent many Abuses, and render Government more easy to the Governed.
I am, Sir,
Your humble Servant,
Silence Dogood
Notes on the Text
- This letter was published anonymously under a pseudonym.
- The author was later revealed to be Benjamin Franklin, who was a teenager at the time.
- Spelling, capitalization, and punctuation reflect early eighteenth-century print conventions.
- Minor variations appear across historical transcriptions.