hem as a
preparation for citizenship.

His first effort to promote the education of the Negroes was the
assistance he gave the work established by Dr. Thomas Bray, who passed
a large part of his life in performing deeds of benevolence and
charity. This philanthropist became acquainted at the Hague with M.
D'Allone, who approved and promoted his schemes. M. D'Allone, during
his lifetime, gave to Dr. Bray a considerable sum of money, which was
to be applied to the conversion of Negroes in America. At his death he
left an additional sum of nine hundred pounds for the same object. Dr.
Bray formed an association for the management and proper disposal of
these funds. He died in 1730, and the same trust continued to be
executed by a company of gentlemen, called "Dr. Bray's Associates."
Franklin was for several years one of these workers.

Writing about this work, he said to a friend:

I have not yet seen Mr. Beatty, nor do I know where to write to
him. He forwarded your letter to me from Ireland. The paragraph
of your letter, inserted in the papers, related to the negro
school. I gave it to the gentlemen concerned, as it was a
testimony in favor of their pious design. But I did not expect
they would print it with your name. They have since chosen me one
of the Society, and I am at present chairman for the current
year. I enclose you an account of their proceedings.[1]

Franklin's argument against slavery was economic as well as moral. He
said:

It is an ill-grounded opinion that, by the labor of slaves,
America may possibly vie in cheapness of manufactures with
Britain. The labor of slaves can never be so cheap here as the
labor of working men is in Britain. Any one may compute it.
Interest of money is in the colonies from six to ten per cent.
Slaves, one with another, cost thirty pounds sterling per head.
Reckon then the interest of the first purchase of a slave, the
insurance or risk on his life, his clothing and diet, expenses in
his sickness and loss of time, loss by his neglect of business
(neglect is natural to the man who is not to be benefited by his
own care or diligence), expense of a driver to keep him at work,
and his pilfering from time to time, almost every slave being by
nature a thief, and compare the whole amount with the wages of a
manufacturer of iron or wool in England, you will see that labor