Extract from Thomas Jefferson to Rev. William Smith
Philadelphia Feb. 19. 1791. |
The succession to Dr Franklin at the court of France, was an excellent school of humility. on being presented to any one as the Minister of America, the common-place question, used in such cases, was ‘c’est vous, Monsieur, qui remplace le Docteur Franklin?’ ‘it is you, Sir, who replace Doctor Franklin?’ I generally answered ‘no one can replace him, Sir; I am only his successor.’
RC (PHi). Published in PTJ, 19:113.
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February 19, 1791
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