Franklin had doubtless heard of the publisher in St. Paul’s Churchyard through Mr. Strahan, his correspondent, who filled orders for him from London booksellers; but the omission of the customary announcement of special books as “to be had of the Printer hereof” points to Newbery’s enterprise in seeking a wider market for his wares, and Franklin’s business ability in securing the advertisement, as it is not repeated in the “Journal.”
This “Museum” was probably a newer book than the “Royal Primer,” “Battledore,” and “Pretty Book,” and consequently was more fully described; and oddly enough, all of these books are of earlier editions than Mr. Welsh, Newbery’s biographer, was able to trace in England.
“The Museum” still clings to the same idea which pervaded “The Play-thing.” Its second title reads: “A private Tutor for little Masters and Misses.” The contents show that this purpose was carried out. It tutored them by giving directions for reading with eloquence and propriety; by presenting “the antient and present State of Great Britain with a compendious History of England;” by instructing them in “the Solar System, geography, Arts and Sciences” and the inevitable “Rules for Behaviour, Religion and Morality;” and it admonished them by giving the “Dying Words of Great Men when just quitting the Stage of Life.” As a museum it included descriptions of the Seven Wonders of the World, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Churchyard, and the Tower of London, with an ethnological section in the geographical department! All of this amusement was to be had for the price of “One Shilling,” neatly bound, with, thrown in as good measure, “Letters, Tales and Fables illustrated with Cuts.” Such a library, complete in itself, was a fine and most welcome reward for scholarship, when prizes were awarded at the end of the school session.
Importations of “Parcels of entertaining books for children” had earlier in the year been announced through the columns of the “Gazette;” but these importations, though they show familiarity with Newbery’s quaint phraseology in advertising, probably also included an assortment of such little chap-books as “Tom Thumb,” “Cinderella” (from the French of Monsieur Perrault), and some few other old stories which the children had long since appropriated as their own property.
In 1751 we find New York waking up to the appreciation of children’s books. There J. Waddell and James Parker were apparently the pioneers in bringing to public notice the fact that they had for sale little novel-books in addition to horn-books and primers; and moreover the “Weekly Post-Boy” advertised that these booksellers had “Pretty Books for little Masters and Misses” (clearly a Newbery imitation), “with Blank Flourished Christmas pieces for Scholars.”
But as yet even Franklin had hardly been convinced that the old way of imparting knowledge was not superior to the then modern combination of amusement and instruction; therefore, although with his partner, David Hall, he without doubt sold such children’s books as were available, for his daughter Sally, aged seven, he had other views. At his request his wife, in December, 1751, wrote the following letter to William Strahan:
Madam,—I am ordered by my Master to write for him Books for Sally Franklin. I am in Hopes She will be abel to write for herself by the Spring.
8 Sets of the Perceptor best Edit.
8 Doz. of Croxall’s Fables.
3 Doz. of Bishop Kenns Manual for Winchester School.
1 Doz. Familiar Forms, Latin and Eng.
Ainsworth’s Dictionaries, 4 best Edit.
2 Doz. Select Tales and Fables.
2 Doz. Costalio’s Test.
Cole’s Dictionarys Latin and Eng. 6 a half doz.
3 Doz. of Clarke’s Cordery. 1 Boyle’s Pliny 2 vols. 8vo.
6 Sets of Nature displayed in 7 vols. 12mo.
One good Quarto Bibel with Cudes bound in calfe.
1 Penrilla. 1 Art of making Common Salt. By Browning.
My Dafter gives her duty to Mr. Stroyhan and his Lady, and her compliments to Master Billy and all his brothers and Sisters....
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