富兰克林自传
I have ever had a pleasure in obtaining any little anecdotes of my ancestors.
You may remember the inquiries I made among the remains of my relations
when you were with me in England,
and the journey I undertook for for that pursose.
Imagining it may be equally agreeable to you know the circumstances of my life,
many of which you are yet unacquainted with,
and expecting the enjoyment of a week.s
uninterrupted leisure in my present country rertirement.
I sit down to write them for you, to which I have besides some other inducements.
Having emerged from the poverty and obscurity in which I was born and bred,
to a state of affluence and some degree of reputation in the world,
and having gone so far through life with a considerrable share of felicity,
the conducing means I made use of ,which with the blessing of God so well succeeded,
my posterity may like to know,
as they may find some of them suitable to their own situations,
and therefore fit to be imitated.