Benjamin Franklin In Dublin
Benjamin Franklin In Dublin Benjamin Franklin, in a letter written in January, 1772, to Thomas Cushing, gave the following account of a visit to t...
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Benjamin Franklin In Dublin Benjamin Franklin, in a letter written in January, 1772, to Thomas Cushing, gave the following account of a visit to t...
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Benjamin Franklin In Dublin
Benjamin Franklin, in a letter written in January, 1772, to Thomas Cushing, gave the following account of a visit to the Parliament House, Dublin, in the preceding year:
“Their Parliament makes a most respectable figure, with a number of very good speakers in both parties and able men of business. And I ought not to omit acquainting you, that it being a standing rule to admit members of the English Parliament to sit (though they do not vote in the House among the members), while others are only admitted into the gallery, my fellow-traveller, being an English member, was accordingly admitted as such, but. I supposed I must have gone to the gallery, when the Speaker [Pery] having been spoken to by some of the members, stood up and acquainted the members that there was in town an American gentleman of character, a member or delegate of some of the Parliaments of that country, who was desirous of being present at the debates of this House; that there was a standing rule of the House for admitting members of the English Parliament; that he did suppose the House would consider the American Assemblies as English Parliaments, but this being the first instance, he had chosen not to give any order without receiving their directions.
On the question, the whole House gave a loud unanimous Aye, when two members came to me without the bar where I was standing, led me in and placed me very honorably. This, I am the more particular in to you, as I esteemed it a mark of respect for our country and a piece of politeness, in which I hope our Parliament will not fall behind theirs whenever an occasion shall -offer.
Ireland is itself a poor country, and Dublin a magnificent city; but the appearances of general extreme poverty among the lower people are amazing. They live in wretched hovels of mud and straw, are clothed in rags, and subsist chiefly on potatoes. Our New England farmers, of the poorest sort, in regard to the enjoyment of all the comforts of life are princes when compared to them.
Such is the effect of the discouragement of industry, the non-residence not only of pensioners, but of many original landlords, who lease their lands in grass to undertakers that rack the tenants, and fleece them skin and all to make estates to themselves, while the first rents, as well as most of the pensions, are spent out of the country.”