[4:04] The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin: A Mobilizing Letter to Colonial Citizens

Learning English is not just about mastering grammar and vocabulary; more importantly, it's about applying it naturally in real-life scenarios. However, textbook sentences are often too formal and differ greatly from actual spoken language. To speak authentic and natural English, one must engage with conversations from real contexts. Here, we’ve selected high-frequency everyday English expressions covering social, work, and travel situations to help you break away from 'textbook English' and learn what native speakers really say. Below is the content of this episode, 'Episode 3, Part 21: A Letter from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.' Keep learning consistently, and let your English become more connected to real life!

To the inhabitants of the counties of Lancaster, York and Cumberland, friends and countrymen. Being occasionally at the camp at Frederick a few days since, I found the general and officers extremely exasperated on the count of their not being supplied with horses and carriages, which had been expected from this province as most able to furnish them. But through the dissensions between our governor and assembly, money had not been provided, nor any steps taken for that purpose. It was proposed to send an armed force immediately into these counties to seize as many of the best carriages and horses as should be wanted and compel as many persons into the service as would be necessary to drive and take care of them.

I apprehended that the progress of British soldiers through these counties on such occasion, especially considering the temper they are in and their resentment against us, would be attended with many and great inconveniences to the inhabitants, and therefore more willingly took the trouble of trying first what might be done by fair and equitable means. The people of these back counties have lately complained to the assembly that a sufficient currency was wanting. You have an opportunity of receiving and dividing among you a very considerable sum, for if the service of this expedition should continue, as it is more than probable it will, for 120 days, the hire of these wagons and horses will amount to upward of thirty thousand pounds, which will be paid to you in silver and gold of the king's money.

The service will be light and easy, for the army will scarcely march above twelve miles per day, and the wagons and baggage horses, as they carry those things that are absolutely necessary to the welfare of the army, must march with the army and no faster. For the army’s sake, they will always be placed where they can be most secure, whether in a march or in a camp. If you are really, as I believe, good and loyal subjects to his majesty, you may now do a most acceptable service and make it easy to yourselves.

For three or four of such as cannot separately spare from the business of their plantations a wagon and four horses and a driver may do it together, one furnishing the wagon, another one or two horses and another the driver, and divide the pay proportionably between you. But if you do not this service to your king and country voluntarily, when such good pay and reasonable terms are offered to you, your loyalty will be strongly suspected. The king's business must be done.

So many brave troops come so far for your defense must not stand idle through your backwardness to do what may be reasonably expected from you. Wagons and horses must be had. Violent measures will probably be used, and you'll be left to seek for a recompense where you can find it, and your fate perhaps be little pityed or regarded.

I have no particular interest in this affair, as, except the satisfaction of endeavoring to do good, I shall have only my labor for my pains. If this method of obtaining the wagons and horses is not likely to succeed, I'm obliged to send word to the general in fourteen days. Now I suppose Sir John’s and Clare the Hussar, or the body of soldiers, will immediately enter the province for the purpose, which I shall be sorry to hear, because I am very sincerely and truly your friend and well-wisher, B. Franklin.

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