Dr. Franklin

In this letter John writes to Abigail speaking mainly of Benjamin Franklin. He states many things about Ben, he says that Ben has very good ideas and is very usefull in Congress. Franklin has many good ideas for the well of the American people, states that even if they were to go into full Independance, that they could do well by themselves. It seems that John really admires Ben saying he is a great and good man. In the end he says that the letter should be kept a secret between themselves.

"He thinks us at present in an odd State, neither in Peace nor at War, neither dependant nor independant" (Adams, 680) This quote is an example of Parallelism. This is very important to the letter as a whole because he is stating that the Colonies are in a very risky position, they are at the verge of war, or at the verge of peace. They are not depedant or independant, they are just about to find out their future outcome. These words are from Benjamin Franklin, not from John.

"There is a young Gentleman from Pensylvania whose Name is Wilson, whose Fortitude, Rectitude, and Abilities too, greatly outshine his Masters, Mr.Biddle, the Speaker, has been taken off, by Sickness" (Adams, 680) This quote is an example of a Red Herring. This is important to the letter as a whole because most of the letter is about Benjamin Franklin, but then he switches to a man named Wilson, stating that he also is a good man in Congress, not just Benjamin Franklin.