are able to work, as the want of this would occasion
poverty, idleness, and many vicious habits. The entire plan may be
seen in Dr. Franklin's Works, ii, pp. 513, 514. Immediately following,
in the same volume, is "An Address to the Public," from the
Pennsylvania Society, also written by Dr. Franklin in aid of raising
funds for carrying out the purposes of the society.

M. Brissot de Warville, who visited the New York and Philadelphia
Societies in 1788, says: "It is certainly a misfortune that such
societies do not exist in Virginia and Maryland, for it is to the
persevering zeal of those of Philadelphia and New York, that we owe
the progress of this [anti-slavery] revolution in America, and the
formation of the Society in London." He speaks of the impressions he
received in attending the meetings of these societies. "What serenity
in the countenances of the members! What simplicity in their
discourses; candor in their discussions; beneficence and energy in
their decisions! With what joy they learned that a like Society was
formed in Paris! They hastened to publish it in their gazettes, and
likewise a translation of the first discourse [his own] pronounced in
that society. These beneficent societies are at present contemplating
new projects for the completion of their work of justice and humanity.
They are endeavoring to form similar institutions in other states, and
have succeeded in the state of Delaware. The business of these
societies is not only to extend light and information to legislatures
and to the people at large, and to form the blacks by early
instruction in the duties of citizens; but they extend gratuitous
protection to them in all cases of individual oppression, and make it
their duty to watch over the execution of the laws, which have been
obtained in their favor. Mr. Myers Fisher, one of the first lawyers of
Philadelphia, is always ready to lend them his assistance, which he
generally does with success, and always without reward. These
societies have committees in different parts of the country to take
notice of any infractions of these laws of liberty, and to propose to
the legislature such amendments as experience may require"--pp.
291-294.

In an appendix, written in 1791, he says: "My wishes have not been
disappointed. The progress of these societies is rapid in the United
States; there is one already formed even in Virginia." His English
translator adds, that there has also one been formed in th