[i-179] For sketches of both magazines, see L. N. Richardson, _A History of Early American Magazines_, 17-35, and F. L. Mott, _A History of American Magazines_, 1741-1850, 71-7. See also Philip Biddison, "The Magazine Franklin Failed to Remember," _American Literature_, IV, 177 (June, 1932); the writer thinks certain accusations in the Bradford-Franklin controversy over the magazines discreditable to Franklin, so that the latter's lapse of memory saved him "embarrassment."
[i-180] See letter to John Wright, Nov. 4, 1789 (_Writings_, X, 60-3). For European backgrounds of Franklin's economic views see Gide and Rist, in Bibliography. On American backgrounds the standard work is E. A. J. Johnson's _American Economic Thought in the Seventeenth Century_ (London, 1932), which shows the intimate relation between economic and religious theories.
[i-181] Lewis J. Carey, _Franklin's Economic Views_ (Garden City, N. Y., 1928), 72.
[i-182] Cited in Carey, 73. He had used in this article facts lent by Benezet concerning the "detestable commerce" motivated in part by English "laws for promoting the Guinea trade" (_Writings_, V, 431-2).
[i-184] In 1779 he professed mortification that the King of France gave "freedom to Slaves, while a king of England is endeavouring to make Slaves of Freemen" (_ibid._, VII, 402).
[i-185] _Ibid._, IX, 404. See also _ibid._, 6.
[i-186] Suggestive notes on this point may be found in N. Foerster's article in the _American Review_, IV, 129-46 (Dec., 1934).
[i-187] _Writings_, VI, 102. See also VI, 39-40.
[i-194] That others in the colonies saw slavery as an economically unsound investment (without any reference to its being _malum in se_) may be witnessed in an article in the _Boston News-Letter_ (March 3, 1718): "In the previous year there had been eighty burials of Indians and negroes in Boston. The writer argued that the loss of £30 each amounted to £2,400. If white servants had been employed instead, at £15 for the time of each, the 'town had saved £1,200.' A man could procure £12 to £15 to purchase the time of a white servant that could not pay £30 to £50 for a negro or Indian. 'The Whites Strengthens [_sic_] and Peoples the Country, others do not'" (W. B. Weeden, _Economic and Social History of New England, 1620-1789_, Boston, 1891, II, 456). Congruent with Franklin's _Observations_ is John Adams's note that "Argument might have some weight in the abolition of slavery in Massachusetts, but the real cause was the multiplication of labouring white people, who would no longer suffer the rich to employ these sable rivals so much to their injury" (_ibid._, II, 453).