: Essays 
Q. What used to be the pride of the Americans? 
A. To indulge in the fashions and manufactures 
of Great Britain. 
Q. What is now their pride? 
A. To wear their old clothes over again, till they 
can make new ones. 
[Withdrew.] 
This examination was published in 1767, without the 
name of printer or of publisher, and the following remarks 
upon it are contained in the Gentleman's Magazine for 
July of that year: 
“From this examination of Dr. Franklin, the reader 
may form a clearer and more comprehensive idea of the 
state and disposition in America, of the expediency or 
inexpediency of the measure in question, and of the char- 
acter and conduct of the minister who proposed it, than 
from all that has been written upon the subject in news- 
papers and pamphlets, under the titles of essays, letters, 
speeches, and considerations, from the first moment of 
its becoming the subject of public attention till now. 
The questions in general are put with great subtlety 
and judgment, and they are answered with such deep 
and familiar knowledge of the subject, such precision and 
perspicuity, such temper and yet such spirit, as do the 
greatest honor to Dr. Franklin, and justify the general 
opinion of his character and abilities.” 
Mr. Sparks very justly says that there was no event in 
Franklins life more creditable to his talents and char- 
acter, or which gave him so much celebrity, as this ex- 
amination before the House of Commons. His further 
statement, however, that Franklin's answers were given 
without premeditation and without knowing beforehand 
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