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Letter regarding the poor by Ben Franklin... Engraving of the Corsican chief Pascal Paoli...

Item # 715671 THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, London, April, 1768

* Ben Franklin letter regarding the poor
* Engraving of Pascal Paoli of Corsica

Taking nearly two pages (156-157) is a letter: "Hardheartedness to the Poor Considered" which was written by Ben Franklin specifically for this publication. As was typical of Franklin, it was signed using one of his many pseudonyms: "Medius". This was one of the most detailed letters Franklin had written devoted to the care of the poor. Portions are quoted in Walter Isaacson's biography of Franklin: "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life".
Another prime feature is the full page engraving of "Pascal Paoli" and the accompanying article about a book titled: "An Account of Corsica, the Journal of a Tour to that Island, & Memoirs of Pascal Paoli, by James Boswell...".
The other fullpg. plate is present showing an ancient coin and the animal: "The Gerbua, or Yerboa".
Among other articles are: "An Account of a New Improvement in Fire Engines" which is very early for such; "American News" which includes datelines from Philadelphia, Juniata, and Charleston. The report from Phila. tells of troubles with Indians.
Complete in 56 pages, 5 1/4 by 8 1/4 inches, full title/contents page, great condition.

AI notes: Benjamin Franklin’s “On the Hard-Heartedness for the Poor Considered” (often attributed to his writings in The Gentleman’s Magazine during the 1760s) is a moral essay in the form of a letter arguing that dismissing or scorning the poor is both unchristian and socially destructive. Franklin criticizes those who treat poverty as a sign of laziness or moral failing, stressing instead that misfortune often comes through illness, accidents, or economic hardship beyond one’s control. He warns against the arrogance of prosperity, reminding readers that fortune can change quickly and that charity strengthens society by preventing desperation and disorder. The letter ultimately appeals to compassion, prudence, and civic duty, urging that kindness to the poor is not weakness but a foundation of moral and social health.