To Richard Wells (unpublished)
Answer Saturday Pitt. Aug. 29. 89.

Dr. Franklin presents his Respects to Mr. Wells; He did not intend any Mention of himself in the proposed Inscription; and even wrote it at first without the Words “(chearfully, at the Instance of one of their Number)” But, in compliance with Mr. Wells’ Idea, has added them; tho’ he still thinks it would be better without them. He cannot however but be pleas’d with every Mark of the kind Regard of his Fellow Citizens towards him. It is his own being concern’d in promoting such Testimonies that he thinks improper; and as that drawn by Mr. Wells may be understood as proceeding from him, he wishes it may be so consider’d.

Be it remembred,
In honour of the Philadelphian Youth,
[Then chiefly Artificers]
That in mdccxxxii,
They chearfully, at the Instance of one of their Number,
Instituted the Philadelphia Library,
Which tho’ small at first
Is become highly valuable,
And extensively useful;
And which the Walls of this Edifice
Are now destined to contain and preserve
The first Stone of whose Foundation
Was here placed
The 31st Day of August,
mdcclxxxix.
then being Directors

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