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diff --git a/148-h/148-h.htm b/148-h/148-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..446a12e --- /dev/null +++ b/148-h/148-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7570 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin edited by Charles Eliot</title> +<link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> +<style type="text/css"> + +body { margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + text-align: justify; } + +h1 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; font-size:1.5em; } + +h2 { text-align: center; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; + font-size:medium; font-weight:bold; } + +h2.break { font-weight:normal; font-size:1em; + margin-left: 10%; margin-right:10%; 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width: 20em; + border-collapse: collapse; font-size:small;} +table.order_work tr:nth-child(odd) {background-color: #E0EAF8;} +table.order_work tr:nth-child(even) {background-color: #EAF1FB;} +table.order_work tr td {vertical-align: top;} +table.order_work tr td:first-child { + text-align: left; + padding-left:.5em; width:4.5em;} +td.c2 {text-align: right; + padding:0 .5em; width:1em;} +table.order_work tr td:last-child {text-align: left; padding-right:.5em;} + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 148 ***</div> + +<h1 class="quad-space-top">THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN</h1> + +<p class="book-subtitle"> +<i>The Harvard Classics</i><br/><br/> +WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES<br/><br/> +EDITED BY +</p> + +<p class="author"> +CHARLES W ELIOT LLD +</p> +<p class="book-subtitle small"> +P F COLLIER & SON COMPANY<br/> +NEW YORK<br/> +1909 +</p> + +<p class="author"> +<a name="contents"></a> +<b>Navigation</b> +</p> + +<ul style="width:14em;"> +<li><a href="#part2">Part II</a></li> +<li><a href="#part3">Part III</a></li> +<li><a href="#part4">Part IV</a></li> +<li><a href="#part5">Chief events in Franklin’s life.</a></li> +</ul> + +<div class="quad-space-top"> +<h2><a href="#contents">INTRODUCTORY NOTE</a></h2> +</div> + +<p class="double-space-top"> +<span class="smcap">Benjamin Franklin</span> was born in Milk Street, Boston, +on January 6, 1706. His father, Josiah Franklin, was a tallow chandler who +married twice, and of his seventeen children Benjamin was the youngest son. His +schooling ended at ten, and at twelve he was bound apprentice to his brother +James, a printer, who published the “New England Courant.” To this journal he +became a contributor, and later was for a time its nominal editor. But the +brothers quarreled, and Benjamin ran away, going first to New York, and thence +to Philadelphia, where he arrived in October, 1723. He soon obtained work as a +printer, but after a few months he was induced by Governor Keith to go to +London, where, finding Keith’s promises empty, he again worked as a compositor +till he was brought back to Philadelphia by a merchant named Denman, who gave +him a position in his business. On Denman’s death he returned to his former +trade, and shortly set up a printing house of his own from which he published +“The Pennsylvania Gazette,” to which he contributed many essays, and which he +made a medium for agitating a variety of local reforms. In 1732 he began to +issue his famous “Poor Richard’s Almanac” for the enrichment of which he +borrowed or composed those pithy utterances of worldly wisdom which are the +basis of a large part of his popular reputation. In 1758, the year in which he +ceased writing for the Almanac, he printed in it “Father Abraham’s Sermon,” now +regarded as the most famous piece of literature produced in Colonial America. +</p> + +<p> +Meantime Franklin was concerning himself more and more with public affairs. He +set forth a scheme for an Academy, which was taken up later and finally +developed into the University of Pennsylvania; and he founded an “American +Philosophical Society” for the purpose of enabling scientific men to +communicate their discoveries to one another. He himself had already begun his +electrical researches, which, with other scientific inquiries, he carried on in +the intervals of money-making and politics to the end of his life. In 1748 he +sold his business in order to get leisure for study, having now acquired +comparative wealth; and in a few years he had made discoveries that gave him a +reputation with the learned throughout Europe. In politics he proved very able +both as an administrator and as a controversialist; but his record as an +office-holder is stained by the use he made of his position to advance his +relatives. His most notable service in home politics was his reform of the +postal system; but his fame as a statesman rests chiefly on his services in +connection with the relations of the Colonies with Great Britain, and later +with France. In 1757 he was sent to England to protest against the influence of +the Penns in the government of the colony, and for five years he remained +there, striving to enlighten the people and the ministry of England as to +Colonial conditions. On his return to America he played an honorable part in +the Paxton affair, through which he lost his seat in the Assembly; but in 1764 +he was again despatched to England as agent for the colony, this time to +petition the King to resume the government from the hands of the proprietors. +In London he actively opposed the proposed Stamp Act, but lost the credit for +this and much of his popularity through his securing for a friend the office of +stamp agent in America. Even his effective work in helping to obtain the repeal +of the act left him still a suspect; but he continued his efforts to present +the case for the Colonies as the troubles thickened toward the crisis of the +Revolution. In 1767 he crossed to France, where he was received with honor; but +before his return home in 1775 he lost his position as postmaster through his +share in divulging to Massachusetts the famous letter of Hutchinson and Oliver. +On his arrival in Philadelphia he was chosen a member of the Continental +Congress, and in 1777 he was despatched to France as commissioner for the +United States. Here he remained till 1785, the favorite of French society; and +with such success did he conduct the affairs of his country that when he +finally returned he received a place only second to that of Washington as the +champion of American independence. He died on April 17, 1790. +</p> + +<p> +The first five chapters of the Autobiography were composed in England in 1771, +continued in 1784-5, and again in 1788, at which date he brought it down to +1757. After a most extraordinary series of adventures, the original form of the +manuscript was finally printed by Mr. John Bigelow, and is here reproduced in +recognition of its value as a picture of one of the most notable personalities +of Colonial times, and of its acknowledged rank as one of the great +autobiographies of the world. +</p> + +<hr class="break" /> + +<div class="start-of-book"> +BENJAMIN FRANKLIN<br/> +<br/> +HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY<br/> +<br/> +1706-1757 +</div> + +<p class="right small double-space-top"> +<span class="smcap">Twyford</span>, <i>at the Bishop of St. Asaph’s</i>, +<span class="superscript">[1]</span> 1771.</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Dear Son</span>: +I have ever had pleasure in obtaining any little anecdotes +of my ancestors. You may remember the inquiries I made among the +remains of my relations when you were with me in England, and the +journey I undertook for that purpose. Imagining it may be equally +agreeable to +<span class="superscript">[2]</span> +you to know the circumstances of my life, many of which +you are yet unacquainted with, and expecting the enjoyment of a week’s +uninterrupted leisure in my present country retirement, I sit down to +write them for you. To which I have besides some other inducements. +Having emerged from the poverty and obscurity in which I was born and +bred, to a state of affluence and some degree of reputation in the +world, and having gone so far through life with a considerable share of +felicity, the conducing means I made use of, which with the blessing of +God so well succeeded, my posterity may like to know, as they may find +some of them suitable to their own situations, and therefore fit to be +imitated.</p> + +<div class="footer"> +<p class="footer"> +<a name="footer_5-1"></a> +<span class="superscript">[1]</span> +The country-seat of Bishop Shipley, the good bishop, +as Dr. Franklin used to style him.—B. +</p> + +<p class="footer"> +<a name="footer_5-2"></a> +<span class="superscript">[2]</span> +After the words “agreeable to” the words “some of” were +interlined and afterward effaced.—B. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +That felicity, when I reflected on it, has induced me sometimes to say, +that were it offered to my choice, I should have no objection to a +repetition of the same life from its beginning, only asking the +advantages authors have in a second edition to correct some faults of +the first. So I might, +besides correcting the faults, change some +sinister accidents and events of it for others more favorable. But +though this were denied, I should still accept the offer. Since such a +repetition is not to be expected, the next thing most like living one’s +life over again seems to be a recollection of that life, and to make +that recollection as durable as possible by putting it down in writing.</p> + +<p> +Hereby, too, I shall indulge the inclination so natural in old men, +to be talking of themselves and their own past actions; and I shall +indulge it without being tiresome to others, who, through respect to +age, might conceive themselves obliged to give me a hearing, since +this may be read or not as any one pleases. And, lastly (I may as +well confess it, since my denial of it will be believed by nobody), +perhaps I shall a good deal gratify my own <i>vanity</i>. +Indeed, I scarce ever heard or saw the introductory words, +“<i>Without vanity I may say,</i>” &c., but some vain thing +immediately followed. Most people dislike vanity in others, +whatever share they have of it themselves; but I give it fair +quarter wherever I meet with it, being persuaded that it is often +productive of good to the possessor, and to others that are within +his sphere of action; and therefore, in many cases, it would not be +altogether absurd if a man were to thank God for his vanity among +the other comforts of life.</p> + +<p> +And now I speak of thanking God, I desire with all humility to +acknowledge that I owe the mentioned happiness of my past life to His +kind providence, which lead me to the means I used and gave them +success. My belief of this induces me to <i>hope</i>, though I must not +<i>presume</i>, that the same goodness will still be exercised toward me, in +continuing that happiness, or enabling me to bear a fatal reverse, +which I may experience as others have done: the complexion of my +future fortune being known to Him only in whose power it is to bless to +us even our afflictions.</p> + +<p> +The notes one of my uncles (who had the same kind of curiosity in +collecting family anecdotes) once put into my hands, furnished me with +several particulars relating to our ancestors. From these notes I +learned that the family had lived in the same village, Ecton, in +Northamptonshire, for +three hundred years, and how much longer he knew +not (perhaps from the time when the name of Franklin, that before was +the name of an order of people, was assumed by them as a surname when +others took surnames all over the kingdom), on a freehold of about +thirty acres, aided by the smith’s business, which had continued in the +family till his time, the eldest son being always bred to that +business; a custom which he and my father followed as to their eldest +sons. When I searched the registers at Ecton, I found an account of +their births, marriages and burials from the year 1555 only, there +being no registers kept in that parish at any time preceding. By that +register I perceived that I was the youngest son of the youngest son +for five generations back. My grandfather Thomas, who was born in +1598, lived at Ecton till he grew too old to follow business longer, +when he went to live with his son John, a dyer at Banbury, in +Oxfordshire, with whom my father served an apprenticeship. There my +grandfather died and lies buried. We saw his gravestone in 1758. His +eldest son Thomas lived in the house at Ecton, and left it with the +land to his only child, a daughter, who, with her husband, one Fisher, +of Wellingborough, sold it to Mr. Isted, now lord of the manor there. +My grandfather had four sons that grew up, viz.: Thomas, John, Benjamin +and Josiah. I will give you what account I can of them, at this +distance from my papers, and if these are not lost in my absence, you +will among them find many more particulars.</p> + +<p> +Thomas was bred a smith under his father; but, being ingenious, and +encouraged in learning (as all my brothers were) by an Esquire Palmer, +then the principal gentleman in that parish, he qualified himself for +the business of scrivener; became a considerable man in the county; was +a chief mover of all public-spirited undertakings for the county or +town of Northampton, and his own village, of which many instances were +related of him; and much taken notice of and patronized by the then +Lord Halifax. He died in 1702, January 6, old style, just four years +to a day before I was born. The account we received of his life and +character from some old people at Ecton, I remember, struck you as +something extraordinary, from its similarity to what you knew of mine. +“Had he died on the same day,” you said, “one might have supposed a +transmigration.”</p> + +<p> +John was bred a dyer, I believe of woolens. Benjamin was bred a silk +dyer, serving an apprenticeship at London. He was an ingenious man. I +remember him well, for when I was a boy he came over to my father in +Boston, and lived in the house with us some years. He lived to a great +age. His grandson, Samuel Franklin, now lives in Boston. He left +behind him two quarto volumes, MS., of his own poetry, consisting of +little occasional pieces addressed to his friends and relations, of +which the following, sent to me, is a specimen. ¹ He had formed a +short-hand of his own, which he taught me, but, never practising it, I +have now forgot it. I was named after this uncle, there being a +particular affection between him and my father. He was very pious, a +great attender of sermons of the best preachers, which he took down in +his short-hand, and had with him many volumes of them. He was also +much of a politician; too much, perhaps, for his station. There fell +lately into my hands, in London, a collection he had made of all the +principal pamphlets, relating to public affairs, from 1641 to 1717; +many of the volumes are wanting as appears by the numbering, but there +still remain eight volumes in folio, and twenty-four in quarto and in +octavo. A dealer in old books met with them, and knowing me by my +sometimes buying of him, he brought them to me. It seems my uncle must +have left them here, when he went to America, which was about fifty +years since. There are many of his notes in the margins.</p> + +<div class="footer"> +<p class="footer"> +<a name="footer_8-1"></a> +¹ Here follow in the margin the words, in brackets, “here +insert it,” but the poetry is not given. Mr. Sparks +informs us (Life of Franklin, p. 6) that these volumes +had been preserved, and were in possession of Mrs. Emmons, +of Boston, great-grandmother of their author. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +This obscure family of ours was early in the Reformation, and continued +Protestants through the reign of Queen Mary, when they were sometimes +in danger of trouble on account of their zeal against popery. They had +got an English Bible, and to conceal and secure it, it was fastened +open with tapes under and within the cover of a joint-stool. When my +great-great-grandfather read it to his family, he turned up the +joint-stool upon his knees, turning over the leaves then +under the +tapes. One of the children stood at the door to give notice if he saw +the apparitor coming, who was an officer of the spiritual court. In +that case the stool was turned down again upon its feet, when the Bible +remained concealed under it as before. This anecdote I had from my +uncle Benjamin. The family continued all of the Church of England till +about the end of Charles the Second’s reign, when some of the ministers +that had been outed for nonconformity holding conventicles in +Northamptonshire, Benjamin and Josiah adhered to them, and so continued +all their lives: the rest of the family remained with the Episcopal +Church.</p> + +<p> +Josiah, my father, married young, and carried his wife with three +children into New England, about 1682. The conventicles having been +forbidden by law, and frequently disturbed, induced some considerable +men of his acquaintance to remove to that country, and he was prevailed +with to accompany them thither, where they expected to enjoy their mode +of religion with freedom. By the same wife he had four children more +born there, and by a second wife ten more, in all seventeen; of which I +remember thirteen sitting at one time at his table, who all grew up to +be men and women, and married; I was the youngest son, and the youngest +child but two, and was born in Boston, New England. My mother, the +second wife, was Abiah Folger, daughter of Peter Folger, one of the +first settlers of New England, of whom honorable mention is made by +Cotton Mather, in his church history of that country, entitled Magnalia +Christi Americana, as “<i>a godly, learned Englishman</i>,” if I remember the +words rightly. I have heard that he wrote sundry small occasional +pieces, but only one of them was printed, which I saw now many years +since. It was written in 1675, in the home-spun verse of that time and +people, and addressed to those then concerned in the government there. +It was in favor of liberty of conscience, and in behalf of the +Baptists, Quakers, and other sectaries that had been under persecution, +ascribing the Indian wars, and other distresses that had befallen the +country, to that persecution, as so many judgments of God to punish so +heinous an offense, and exhorting a repeal of those uncharitable laws. +The whole appeared to me as written with a good deal of decent +plainness and manly freedom. The six concluding lines I remember, +though I have forgotten the two first of the stanza; but the purport of +them was, that his censures proceeded from good-will, and, therefore, +he would be known to be the author.</p> + +<div class="poem1"> +<p class="poem1 padding20">“Because to be a libeller (says he)</p> +<p class="poem2 padding20">I hate it with my heart;</p> +<p class="poem1 padding20">From Sherburne town, where now I dwell</p> +<p class="poem2 padding20">My name I do put here;</p> +<p class="poem1 padding20">Without offense your real friend,</p> +<p class="poem2 padding20">It is Peter Folgier.”</p> +</div> + +<p> +My elder brothers were all put apprentices to different trades. I was +put to the grammar-school at eight years of age, my father intending to +devote me, as the tithe of his sons, to the service of the Church. My +early readiness in learning to read (which must have been very early, +as I do not remember when I could not read), and the opinion of all his +friends, that I should certainly make a good scholar, encouraged him in +this purpose of his. My uncle Benjamin, too, approved of it, and +proposed to give me all his short-hand volumes of sermons, I suppose as +a stock to set up with, if I would learn his character. I continued, +however, at the grammar-school not quite one year, though in that time +I had risen gradually from the middle of the class of that year to be +the head of it, and farther was removed into the next class above it, +in order to go with that into the third at the end of the year. But my +father, in the meantime, from a view of the expense of a college +education, which having so large a family he could not well afford, and +the mean living many so educated were afterwards able to +obtain—reasons that he gave to his friends in my hearing—altered his +first intention, took me from the grammar-school, and sent me to a +school for writing and arithmetic, kept by a then famous man, Mr. +George Brownell, very successful in his profession generally, and that +by mild, encouraging methods. Under him I acquired fair writing pretty +soon, but I failed in the arithmetic, and made no progress in it. At +ten years old I was taken home to assist my father in his business, +which was that of a tallow-chandler and sope-boiler; a business +he was not bred to, +but had assumed on his arrival in New England, and on +finding his dying trade would not maintain his family, being in little +request. Accordingly, I was employed in cutting wick for the candles, +filling the dipping mold and the molds for cast candles, attending the +shop, going of errands, etc.</p> + +<p> +I disliked the trade, and had a strong inclination for the sea, but my +father declared against it; however, living near the water, I was much +in and about it, learnt early to swim well, and to manage boats; and +when in a boat or canoe with other boys, I was commonly allowed to +govern, especially in any case of difficulty; and upon other occasions +I was generally a leader among the boys, and sometimes led them into +scrapes, of which I will mention one instance, as it shows an early +projecting public spirit, tho’ not then justly conducted.</p> + +<p> +There was a salt-marsh that bounded part of the mill-pond, on the edge +of which, at high water, we used to stand to fish for minnows. By much +trampling, we had made it a mere quagmire. My proposal was to build a +wharff there fit for us to stand upon, and I showed my comrades a large +heap of stones, which were intended for a new house near the marsh, and +which would very well suit our purpose. Accordingly, in the evening, +when the workmen were gone, I assembled a number of my play-fellows, +and working with them diligently like so many emmets, sometimes two or +three to a stone, we brought them all away and built our little wharff. +The next morning the workmen were surprised at missing the stones, +which were found in our wharff. Inquiry was made after the removers; +we were discovered and complained of; several of us were corrected by +our fathers; and though I pleaded the usefulness of the work, mine +convinced me that nothing was useful which was not honest.</p> + +<p> +I think you may like to know something of his person and character. He +had an excellent constitution of body, was of middle stature, but well +set, and very strong; he was ingenious, could draw prettily, was +skilled a little in music, and had a clear pleasing voice, so that when +he played psalm tunes on his violin and sung withal, as he sometimes +did in an evening after the business of the day was over, it was +extremely agreeable to hear. He had a mechanical genius too, and, on +occasion, was very handy in the use of other tradesmen’s tools; but his +great excellence lay in a sound understanding and solid judgment in +prudential matters, both in private and publick affairs. In the +latter, indeed, he was never employed, the numerous family he had to +educate and the straitness of his circumstances keeping him close to +his trade; but I remember well his being frequently visited by leading +people, who consulted him for his opinion in affairs of the town or of +the church he belonged to, and showed a good deal of respect for his +judgment and advice: he was also much consulted by private persons +about their affairs when any difficulty occurred, and frequently chosen +an arbitrator between contending parties.</p> + +<p> +At his table he liked to have, as often as he could, some sensible +friend or neighbor to converse with, and always took care to start some +ingenious or useful topic for discourse, which might tend to improve +the minds of his children. By this means he turned our attention to +what was good, just, and prudent in the conduct of life; and little or +no notice was ever taken of what related to the victuals on the table, +whether it was well or ill dressed, in or out of season, of good or bad +flavor, preferable or inferior to this or that other thing of the kind, +so that I was bro’t up in such a perfect inattention to those matters +as to be quite indifferent what kind of food was set before me, and so +unobservant of it, that to this day if I am asked I can scarce tell a +few hours after dinner what I dined upon. This has been a convenience +to me in travelling, where my companions have been sometimes very +unhappy for want of a suitable gratification of their more delicate, +because better instructed, tastes and appetites.</p> + +<p> +My mother had likewise an excellent constitution: she suckled all her +ten children. I never knew either my father or mother to have any +sickness but that of which they dy’d, he at 89, and she at 85 years of +age. They lie buried together at Boston, where I some years since +placed a marble over their grave, with this inscription:</p> + +<p class="noindent center small"> +<span class="smcap">Josiah Franklin</span>,<br/> +and<br/> +<span class="smcap">Abiah</span> his wife,<br/> +lie here interred.<br/> +They lived lovingly together in wedlock<br/> +fifty-five years.<br/> +Without an estate, or any gainful employment,<br/> +By constant labor and industry,<br/> +with God’s blessing,<br/> +They maintained a large family<br/> +comfortably,<br/> +and brought up thirteen children<br/> +and seven grandchildren<br/> +reputably.<br/> +From this instance, reader,<br/> +Be encouraged to diligence in thy calling,<br/> +And distrust not Providence.<br/> +He was a pious and prudent man;<br/> +She, a discreet and virtuous woman.<br/> +Their youngest son,<br/> +In filial regard to their memory,<br/> +Places this stone.<br/> +J.F. born 1655, died 1744, Ætat 89.<br/> +A.F. born 1667, died 1752,———85.<br/> +</p> + +<p class="double-space-top"> +By my rambling digressions I perceive myself to be grown old. I us’d +to write more methodically. But one does not dress for private company +as for a publick ball. ’Tis perhaps only negligence.</p> + +<p> +To return: I continued thus employed in my father’s business for two +years, that is, till I was twelve years old; and my brother John, who +was bred to that business, having left my father, married, and set up +for himself at Rhode Island, there was all appearance that I was +destined to supply his place, and become a tallow-chandler. But my +dislike to the trade continuing, my father was under apprehensions that +if he did not find one for me more agreeable, I should break away and +get to sea, as his son Josiah had done, to his great vexation. He +therefore sometimes took me to walk with him, and see joiners, +bricklayers, turners, braziers, etc., at their work, that he might +observe my inclination, and endeavor to fix it on some trade or other +on land. It has ever since been a pleasure to me to see good workmen +handle their tools; and it has been useful to me, having learnt so much +by it as to be able to do little jobs myself +in my house when a workman +could not readily be got, and to construct little machines for my +experiments, while the intention of making the experiment was fresh and +warm in my mind. My father at last fixed upon the cutler’s trade, and +my uncle Benjamin’s son Samuel, who was bred to that business in +London, being about that time established in Boston, I was sent to be +with him some time on liking. But his expectations of a fee with me +displeasing my father, I was taken home again.</p> + +<p> +From a child I was fond of reading, and all the little money that came +into my hands was ever laid out in books. Pleased with the Pilgrim’s +Progress, my first collection was of John Bunyan’s works in separate +little volumes. I afterward sold them to enable me to buy R. Burton’s +Historical Collections; they were small chapmen’s books, and cheap, 40 +or 50 in all. My father’s little library consisted chiefly of books in +polemic divinity, most of which I read, and have since often regretted +that, at a time when I had such a thirst for knowledge, more proper +books had not fallen in my way since it was now resolved I should not +be a clergyman. Plutarch’s Lives there was in which I read abundantly, +and I still think that time spent to great advantage. There was also a +book of De Foe’s, called an Essay on Projects, and another of Dr. +Mather’s, called Essays to do Good, which perhaps gave me a turn of +thinking that had an influence on some of the principal future events +of my life.</p> + +<p> +This bookish inclination at length determined my father to make me a +printer, though he had already one son (James) of that profession. In +1717 my brother James returned from England with a press and letters to +set up his business in Boston. I liked it much better than that of my +father, but still had a hankering for the sea. To prevent the +apprehended effect of such an inclination, my father was impatient to +have me bound to my brother. I stood out some time, but at last was +persuaded, and signed the indentures when I was yet but twelve years +old. I was to serve as an apprentice till I was twenty-one years of +age, only I was to be allowed journeyman’s wages during the last year. +In a little time I made great proficiency in the +business, and became a +useful hand to my brother. I now had access to better books. An +acquaintance with the apprentices of booksellers enabled me sometimes +to borrow a small one, which I was careful to return soon and clean. +Often I sat up in my room reading the greatest part of the night, when +the book was borrowed in the evening and to be returned early in the +morning, lest it should be missed or wanted.</p> + +<p> +And after some time an ingenious tradesman, Mr. Matthew Adams, who had +a pretty collection of books, and who frequented our printing-house, +took notice of me, invited me to his library, and very kindly lent me +such books as I chose to read. I now took a fancy to poetry, and made +some little pieces; my brother, thinking it might turn to account, +encouraged me, and put me on composing occasional ballads. One was +called <i>The Lighthouse Tragedy</i>, and contained an account of the drowning +of Captain Worthilake, with his two daughters: the other was a sailor’s +song, on the taking of <i>Teach</i> (or Blackbeard) the pirate. They were +wretched stuff, in the Grub-street-ballad style; and when they were +printed he sent me about the town to sell them. The first sold +wonderfully, the event being recent, having made a great noise. This +flattered my vanity; but my father discouraged me by ridiculing my +performances, and telling me verse-makers were generally beggars. So I +escaped being a poet, most probably a very bad one; but as prose +writing had been of great use to me in the course of my life, and was a +principal means of my advancement, I shall tell you how, in such a +situation, I acquired what little ability I have in that way.</p> + +<p> +There was another bookish lad in the town, John Collins by name, with +whom I was intimately acquainted. We sometimes disputed, and very fond +we were of argument, and very desirous of confuting one another, which +disputatious turn, by the way, is apt to become a very bad habit, +making people often extremely disagreeable in company by the +contradiction that is necessary to bring it into practice; and thence, +besides souring and spoiling the conversation, is productive of +disgusts and, perhaps enmities where you may have occasion for +friendship. I had caught it by reading +my father’s books of dispute +about religion. Persons of good sense, I have since observed, seldom +fall into it, except lawyers, university men, and men of all sorts that +have been bred at Edinborough.</p> + +<p> +A question was once, somehow or other, started between Collins and me, +of the propriety of educating the female sex in learning, and their +abilities for study. He was of opinion that it was improper, and that +they were naturally unequal to it. I took the contrary side, perhaps a +little for dispute’s sake. He was naturally more eloquent, had a ready +plenty of words; and sometimes, as I thought, bore me down more by his +fluency than by the strength of his reasons. As we parted without +settling the point, and were not to see one another again for some +time, I sat down to put my arguments in writing, which I copied fair +and sent to him. He answered, and I replied. Three or four letters of +a side had passed, when my father happened to find my papers and read +them. Without entering into the discussion, he took occasion to talk +to me about the manner of my writing; observed that, though I had the +advantage of my antagonist in correct spelling and pointing (which I +ow’d to the printing-house), I fell far short in elegance of +expression, in method and in perspicuity, of which he convinced me by +several instances. I saw the justice of his remark, and thence grew +more attentive to the manner in writing, and determined to endeavor at +improvement.</p> + +<p> +About this time I met with an odd volume of the <i>Spectator</i>. It was the +third. I had never before seen any of them. I bought it, read it over +and over, and was much delighted with it. I thought the writing +excellent, and wished, if possible, to imitate it. With this view I +took some of the papers, and, making short hints of the sentiment in +each sentence, laid them by a few days, and then, without looking at +the book, try’d to compleat the papers again, by expressing each hinted +sentiment at length, and as fully as it had been expressed before, in +any suitable words that should come to hand. Then I compared my +<i>Spectator</i> with the original, discovered some of my faults, and +corrected them. But I found I wanted a stock of words, or a readiness +in recollecting and using them, which I thought I should have +acquired +before that time if I had gone on making verses; since the continual +occasion for words of the same import, but of different length, to suit +the measure, or of different sound for the rhyme, would have laid me +under a constant necessity of searching for variety, and also have +tended to fix that variety in my mind, and make me master of it. +Therefore I took some of the tales and turned them into verse; and, +after a time, when I had pretty well forgotten the prose, turned them +back again. I also sometimes jumbled my collections of hints into +confusion, and after some weeks endeavored to reduce them into the best +order, before I began to form the full sentences and compleat the +paper. This was to teach me method in the arrangement of thoughts. By +comparing my work afterwards with the original, I discovered many +faults and amended them; but I sometimes had the pleasure of fancying +that, in certain particulars of small import, I had been lucky enough +to improve the method or the language, and this encouraged me to think +I might possibly in time come to be a tolerable English writer, of +which I was extremely ambitious. My time for these exercises and for +reading was at night, after work or before it began in the morning, or +on Sundays, when I contrived to be in the printing-house alone, evading +as much as I could the common attendance on public worship which my +father used to exact on me when I was under his care, and which indeed +I still thought a duty, though I could not, as it seemed to me, afford +time to practise it.</p> + +<p> +When about 16 years of age I happened to meet with a book, written by +one Tryon, recommending a vegetable diet. I determined to go into it. +My brother, being yet unmarried, did not keep house, but boarded +himself and his apprentices in another family. My refusing to eat +flesh occasioned an inconveniency, and I was frequently chid for my +singularity. I made myself acquainted with Tryon’s manner of preparing +some of his dishes, such as boiling potatoes or rice, making hasty +pudding, and a few others, and then proposed to my brother, that if he +would give me, weekly, half the money he paid for my board, I would +board myself. He instantly agreed to it, and I presently found that I +could save half what he paid me. This was an additional fund for +buying +books. But I had another advantage in it. My brother and the +rest going from the printing-house to their meals, I remained there +alone, and, despatching presently my light repast, which often was no +more than a bisket or a slice of bread, a handful of raisins or a tart +from the pastry-cook’s, and a glass of water, had the rest of the time +till their return for study, in which I made the greater progress, from +that greater clearness of head and quicker apprehension which usually +attend temperance in eating and drinking.</p> + +<p> +And now it was that, being on some occasion made asham’d of my +ignorance in figures, which I had twice failed in learning when at +school, I took Cocker’s book of Arithmetick, and went through the whole +by myself with great ease. I also read Seller’s and Shermy’s books of +Navigation, and became acquainted with the little geometry they +contain; but never proceeded far in that science. And I read about +this time Locke <i>On Human Understanding</i>, and the <i>Art of +Thinking</i>, by Messrs. du Port Royal.</p> + +<p> +While I was intent on improving my language, I met with an English +grammar (I think it was Greenwood’s), at the end of which there were +two little sketches of the arts of rhetoric and logic, the latter +finishing with a specimen of a dispute in the Socratic method; and soon +after I procur’d Xenophon’s Memorable Things of Socrates, wherein there +are many instances of the same method. I was charm’d with it, adopted +it, dropt my abrupt contradiction and positive argumentation, and put +on the humble inquirer and doubter. And being then, from reading +Shaftesbury and Collins, become a real doubter in many points of our +religious doctrine, I found this method safest for myself and very +embarrassing to those against whom I used it; therefore I took a +delight in it, practis’d it continually, and grew very artful and +expert in drawing people, even of superior knowledge, into concessions, +the consequences of which they did not foresee, entangling them in +difficulties out of which they could not extricate themselves, and so +obtaining victories that neither myself nor my cause always deserved. +I continu’d this method some few years, but gradually left it, +retaining only the habit of expressing myself in terms of modest +diffidence; never using, when I advanced any thing +that may possibly be disputed, the words <i>certainly, undoubtedly</i>, +or any others that give the air of positiveness to an opinion; but rather say, +I conceive or apprehend a thing to be so and so; it appears to me, or <i>I +should think it so or so</i>, for such and such reasons; or <i>I imagine +it to be so</i>; or <i>it is so, if I am not mistaken</i>. This habit, +I believe, has been of great advantage to me when I have had occasion to +inculcate my opinions, and persuade men into measures that I have been from +time to time engag’d in promoting; and, as the chief ends of conversation +are to <i>inform</i> or to be <i>informed</i>, to <i>please</i> or to +<i>persuade</i>, I wish well-meaning, sensible men would not lessen their +power of doing good by a positive, assuming manner, that seldom fails to +disgust, tends to create opposition, and to defeat every one of those +purposes for which speech was given to us, to wit, giving or receiving +information or pleasure. For, if you would inform, a positive and dogmatical +manner in advancing your sentiments may provoke contradiction and prevent a +candid attention. If you wish information and improvement from the knowledge +of others, and yet at the same time express yourself as firmly fix’d in your +present opinions, modest, sensible men, who do not love disputation, will +probably leave you undisturbed in the possession of your error. And by +such a manner, you can seldom hope to recommend yourself in <i>pleasing</i> +your hearers, or to persuade those whose concurrence you desire. Pope +says, judiciously:</p> + +<div class="poem1 italic"> +<p class="poem1 padding5"> +“Men should be taught as if you taught them not,</p> +<p class="poem3 padding5"> +And things unknown propos’d as things forgot;”</p> +</div> + +<p class="noindent">farther recommending to us</p> + +<div class="poem1"> +<p class="poem1 padding10"> +“To speak, tho’ sure, with seeming diffidence.”</p> +</div> + +<p class="noindent"> +And he might have coupled with this line that which he has coupled with +another, I think, less properly,</p> + +<div class="poem1"> +<p class="poem1 padding10">“For want of modesty is want of sense.”</p> +</div> + +<p class="noindent">If you ask, Why less properly? I must repeat the lines,</p> + +<div class="poem1 padding10"> +<p class="poem1">“Immodest words admit of no defense,</p> +<p class="poem3">For want of modesty is want of sense.”</p> +</div> + +<p class="noindent"> +Now, is not <i>want of sense</i> +(where a man is so unfortunate as to want it) +some apology for his <i>want of modesty</i>? and would not the lines stand +more justly thus?</p> + +<div class="poem1"> +<p class="poem1 padding10">“Immodest words admit <i>but</i> this defense,</p> +<p class="poem3 padding10">That want of modesty is want of sense.”</p> +</div> + +<p class="noindent"> +This, however, I should submit to better judgments.</p> + +<p> +My brother had, in 1720 or 1721, begun to print a newspaper. It was +the second that appeared in America, and was called the New England +Courant. The only one before it was the Boston News-Letter. I remember +his being dissuaded by some of his friends from the undertaking, as not +likely to succeed, one newspaper being, in their judgment, enough for +America. At this time (1771) there are not less than five-and-twenty. +He went on, however, with the undertaking, and after having worked in +composing the types and printing off the sheets, I was employed to +carry the papers thro’ the streets to the customers.</p> + +<p> +He had some ingenious men among his friends, who amus’d themselves by +writing little pieces for this paper, which gain’d it credit and made +it more in demand, and these gentlemen often visited us. Hearing their +conversations, and their accounts of the approbation their papers were +received with, I was excited to try my hand among them; but, being +still a boy, and suspecting that my brother would object to printing +anything of mine in his paper if he knew it to be mine, I contrived to +disguise my hand, and, writing an anonymous paper, I put it in at night +under the door of the printing-house. It was found in the morning, and +communicated to his writing friends when they call’d in as usual. They +read it, commented on it in my hearing, and I had the exquisite +pleasure of finding it met with their approbation, and that, in their +different guesses at the author, none were named but men of some +character among us for learning and ingenuity. I suppose now that I +was rather lucky in my judges, and that perhaps they were not really so +very good ones as I then esteem’d them.</p> + +<p> +Encourag’d, however, by this, I wrote and convey’d in the same way to +the press several more papers which were equally approv’d; and I kept +my secret till my small fund of sense for such performances was pretty +well exhausted and then I discovered it, when I began to be considered +a little more by my brother’s acquaintance, and in a manner that did +not quite please him, as he thought, probably +with reason, that it +tended to make me too vain. And, perhaps, this might be one occasion +of the differences that we began to have about this time. Though a +brother, he considered himself as my master, and me as his apprentice, +and accordingly, expected the same services from me as he would from +another, while I thought he demean’d me too much in some he requir’d of +me, who from a brother expected more indulgence. Our disputes were +often brought before our father, and I fancy I was either generally in +the right, or else a better pleader, because the judgment was generally +in my favor. But my brother was passionate, and had often beaten me, +which I took extreamly amiss; and, thinking my apprenticeship very +tedious, I was continually wishing for some opportunity of shortening +it, which at length offered in a manner unexpected. +<span class="superscript">[3]</span></p> + +<div class="footer"> +<p class="footer"> +<a name="footer_21-3"></a> +<span class="superscript">[3]</span> +I fancy his harsh and tyrannical treatment of me +might be a means of impressing me with that aversion +to arbitrary power that has stuck to me through my +whole life. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +One of the pieces in our newspaper on some political point, which I +have now forgotten, gave offense to the Assembly. He was taken up, +censur’d, and imprison’d for a month, by the speaker’s warrant, I +suppose, because he would not discover his author. I too was taken up +and examin’d before the council; but, tho’ I did not give them any +satisfaction, they content’d themselves with admonishing me, and +dismissed me, considering me, perhaps, as an apprentice, who was bound +to keep his master’s secrets.</p> + +<p> +During my brother’s confinement, which I resented a good deal, +notwithstanding our private differences, I had the management of the +paper; and I made bold to give our rulers some rubs in it, which my +brother took very kindly, while others began to consider me in an +unfavorable light, as a young genius that had a turn for libelling and +satyr. My brother’s discharge was accompany’d with an order of the +House (a very odd one), that “<i>James Franklin should no longer print the +paper called the New England Courant</i>.”</p> + +<p> +There was a consultation held in our printing-house among his friends, +what he should do in this case. Some proposed to evade the order by +changing the name of the paper; but my brother, seeing inconveniences +in that, it was finally concluded on as a better way, to +let it be printed for the future under the name of +<span class="smcap">Benjamin Franklin</span>; and to +avoid the censure of the Assembly, that might fall on him as still +printing it by his apprentice, the contrivance was that my old +indenture should be return’d to me, with a full discharge on the back +of it, to be shown on occasion, but to secure to him the benefit of my +service, I was to sign new indentures for the remainder of the term, +which were to be kept private. A very flimsy scheme it was; however, +it was immediately executed, and the paper went on accordingly, under +my name for several months.</p> + +<p> +At length, a fresh difference arising between my brother and me, I took +upon me to assert my freedom, presuming that he would not venture to +produce the new indentures. It was not fair in me to take this +advantage, and this I therefore reckon one of the first errata of my +life; but the unfairness of it weighed little with me, when under the +impressions of resentment for the blows his passion too often urged him +to bestow upon me, though he was otherwise not an ill-natur’d man: +perhaps I was too saucy and provoking.</p> + +<p> +When he found I would leave him, he took care to prevent my getting +employment in any other printing-house of the town, by going round and +speaking to every master, who accordingly refus’d to give me work. I +then thought of going to New York, as the nearest place where there was +a printer; and I was rather inclin’d to leave Boston when I reflected +that I had already made myself a little obnoxious to the governing +party, and, from the arbitrary proceedings of the Assembly in my +brother’s case, it was likely I might, if I stay’d, soon bring myself +into scrapes; and farther, that my indiscrete disputations about +religion began to make me pointed at with horror by good people as an +infidel or atheist. I determin’d on the point, but my father now +siding with my brother, I was sensible that, if I attempted to go +openly, means would be used to prevent me. My friend Collins, +therefore, undertook to manage a little for me. He agreed with the +captain of a New York sloop for my passage, under the notion of my +being a young acquaintance of his, that had got a naughty girl with +child, whose friends would compel me to marry her, +and therefore I +could not appear or come away publicly. So I sold some of my books to +raise a little money, was taken on board privately, and as we had a +fair wind, in three days I found myself in New York, near 300 miles +from home, a boy of but 17, without the least recommendation to, or +knowledge of any person in the place, and with very little money in my +pocket.</p> + +<p> +My inclinations for the sea were by this time worne out, or I might now +have gratify’d them. But, having a trade, and supposing myself a +pretty good workman, I offer’d my service to the printer in the place, +old Mr. William Bradford, who had been the first printer in +Pennsylvania, but removed from thence upon the quarrel of George Keith. +He could give me no employment, having little to do, and help enough +already; but says he, “My son at Philadelphia has lately lost his +principal hand, Aquila Rose, by death; if you go thither, I believe he +may employ you.” Philadelphia was a hundred miles further; I set out, +however, in a boat for Amboy, leaving my chest and things to follow me +round by sea.</p> + +<p> +In crossing the bay, we met with a squall that tore our rotten sails to +pieces, prevented our getting into the Kill, and drove us upon Long +Island. In our way, a drunken Dutchman, who was a passenger too, fell +overboard; when he was sinking, I reached through the water to his +shock pate, and drew him up, so that we got him in again. His ducking +sobered him a little, and he went to sleep, taking first out of his +pocket a book, which he desir’d I would dry for him. It proved to be +my old favorite author, Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, in Dutch, finely +printed on good paper, with copper cuts, a dress better than I had ever +seen it wear in its own language. I have since found that it has been +translated into most of the languages of Europe, and suppose it has +been more generally read than any other book, except perhaps the Bible. +Honest John was the first that I know of who mix’d narration and +dialogue; a method of writing very engaging to the reader, who in the +most interesting parts finds himself, as it were, brought into the +company and present at the discourse. De Foe in his Cruso, his Moll +Flanders, Religious Courtship, Family +Instructor, and other pieces, has imitated it with success; and Richardson +has done the same in his Pamela, etc.</p> + +<p> +When we drew near the island, we found it was at a place where there +could be no landing, there being a great surff on the stony beach. So +we dropt anchor, and swung round towards the shore. Some people came +down to the water edge and hallow’d to us, as we did to them; but the +wind was so high, and the surff so loud, that we could not hear so as +to understand each other. There were canoes on the shore, and we made +signs, and hallow’d that they should fetch us; but they either did not +understand us, or thought it impracticable, so they went away, and +night coming on, we had no remedy but to wait till the wind should +abate; and, in the meantime, the boatman and I concluded to sleep, if +we could; and so crowded into the scuttle, with the Dutchman, who was +still wet, and the spray beating over the head of our boat, leak’d +thro’ to us, so that we were soon almost as wet as he. In this manner +we lay all night, with very little rest; but, the wind abating the next +day, we made a shift to reach Amboy before night, having been thirty +hours on the water, without victuals, or any drink but a bottle of +filthy rum, and the water we sail’d on being salt.</p> + +<p> +In the evening I found myself very feverish, and went in to bed; but, +having read somewhere that cold water drank plentifully was good for a +fever, I follow’d the prescription, sweat plentiful most of the night, +my fever left me, and in the morning, crossing the ferry, I proceeded +on my journey on foot, having fifty miles to Burlington, where I was +told I should find boats that would carry me the rest of the way to +Philadelphia.</p> + +<p> +It rained very hard all the day; I was thoroughly soak’d, and by noon a +good deal tired; so I stopt at a poor inn, where I staid all night, +beginning now to wish that I had never left home. I cut so miserable a +figure, too, that I found, by the questions ask’d me, I was suspected +to be some runaway servant, and in danger of being taken up on that +suspicion. However, I proceeded the next day, and got in the evening +to an inn, within eight or ten miles of Burlington, kept by one Dr. +Brown. He entered into +conversation with me while I took some +refreshment, and, finding I had read a little, became very sociable and +friendly. Our acquaintance continu’d as long as he liv’d. He had been, +I imagine, an itinerant doctor, for there was no town in England, or +country in Europe, of which he could not give a very particular +account. He had some letters, and was ingenious, but much of an +unbeliever, and wickedly undertook, some years after, to travestie the +Bible in doggrel verse, as Cotton had done Virgil. By this means he +set many of the facts in a very ridiculous light, and might have hurt +weak minds if his work had been published; but it never was.</p> + +<p> +At his house I lay that night, and the next morning reach’d Burlington, +but had the mortification to find that the regular boats were gone a +little before my coming, and no other expected to go before Tuesday, +this being Saturday; wherefore I returned to an old woman in the town, +of whom I had bought gingerbread to eat on the water, and ask’d her +advice. She invited me to lodge at her house till a passage by water +should offer; and being tired with my foot travelling, I accepted the +invitation. She understanding I was a printer, would have had me stay +at that town and follow my business, being ignorant of the stock +necessary to begin with. She was very hospitable, gave me a dinner of +ox-cheek with great good will, accepting only a pot of ale in return; +and I thought myself fixed till Tuesday should come. However, walking +in the evening by the side of the river, a boat came by, which I found +was going towards Philadelphia, with several people in her. They took +me in, and, as there was no wind, we row’d all the way; and about +midnight, not having yet seen the city, some of the company were +confident we must have passed it, and would row no farther; the others +knew not where we were; so we put toward the shore, got into a creek, +landed near an old fence, with the rails of which we made a fire, the +night being cold, in October, and there we remained till daylight. +Then one of the company knew the place to be Cooper’s Creek, a little +above Philadelphia, which we saw as soon as we got out of the creek, +and arriv’d there about eight or nine o’clock on the Sunday morning, +and landed at the Market-street wharf.</p> + +<p> +I have been the more particular in this description of my journey, and +shall be so of my first entry into that city, that you may in your mind +compare such unlikely beginnings with the figure I have since made +there. I was in my working dress, my best cloaths being to come round +by sea. I was dirty from my journey; my pockets were stuff’d out with +shirts and stockings, and I knew no soul nor where to look for lodging. +I was fatigued with travelling, rowing, and want of rest, I was very +hungry; and my whole stock of cash consisted of a Dutch dollar, and +about a shilling in copper. The latter I gave the people of the boat +for my passage, who at first refus’d it, on account of my rowing; but I +insisted on their taking it. A man being sometimes more generous when +he has but a little money than when he has plenty, perhaps thro’ fear +of being thought to have but little.</p> + +<p> +Then I walked up the street, gazing about till near the market-house I +met a boy with bread. I had made many a meal on bread, and, inquiring +where he got it, I went immediately to the baker’s he directed me to, +in Second-street, and ask’d for bisket, intending such as we had in +Boston; but they, it seems, were not made in Philadelphia. Then I +asked for a three-penny loaf, and was told they had none such. So not +considering or knowing the difference of money, and the greater +cheapness nor the names of his bread, I made him give me three-penny +worth of any sort. He gave me, accordingly, three great puffy rolls. +I was surpriz’d at the quantity, but took it, and, having no room in my +pockets, walk’d off with a roll under each arm, and eating the other. +Thus I went up Market-street as far as Fourth-street, passing by the +door of Mr. Read, my future wife’s father; when she, standing at the +door, saw me, and thought I made, as I certainly did, a most awkward, +ridiculous appearance. Then I turned and went down Chestnut-street and +part of Walnut-street, eating my roll all the way, and, coming round, +found myself again at Market-street wharf, near the boat I came in, to +which I went for a draught of the river water; and, being filled with +one of my rolls, gave the other two to a woman and her child that came +down the river in the boat with us, and were waiting to go farther.</p> + +<p> +Thus refreshed, I walked again up the street, which by this time had +many clean-dressed people in it, who were all walking the same way. I +joined them, and thereby was led into the great meeting-house of the +Quakers near the market. I sat down among them, and, after looking +round awhile and hearing nothing said, being very drowsy thro’ labor +and want of rest the preceding night, I fell fast asleep, and continued +so till the meeting broke up, when one was kind enough to rouse me. +This was, therefore, the first house I was in, or slept in, in +Philadelphia.</p> + +<p> +Walking down again toward the river, and, looking in the faces of +people, I met a young Quaker man, whose countenance I lik’d, and, +accosting him, requested he would tell me where a stranger could get +lodging. We were then near the sign of the Three Mariners. “Here,” +says he, “is one place that entertains strangers, but it is not a +reputable house; if thee wilt walk with me, I’ll show thee a better.” +He brought me to the Crooked Billet in Water-street. Here I got a +dinner; and, while I was eating it, several sly questions were asked +me, as it seemed to be suspected from my youth and appearance, that I +might be some runaway.</p> + +<p> +After dinner, my sleepiness return’d, and being shown to a bed, I lay +down without undressing, and slept till six in the evening, was call’d +to supper, went to bed again very early, and slept soundly till next +morning. Then I made myself as tidy as I could, and went to Andrew +Bradford the printer’s. I found in the shop the old man his father, +whom I had seen at New York, and who, travelling on horseback, had got +to Philadelphia before me. He introduc’d me to his son, who receiv’d +me civilly, gave me a breakfast, but told me he did not at present want +a hand, being lately suppli’d with one; but there was another printer +in town, lately set up, one Keimer, who, perhaps, might employ me; if +not, I should be welcome to lodge at his house, and he would give me a +little work to do now and then till fuller business should offer.</p> + +<p> +The old gentleman said he would go with me to the new printer; and when +we found him, “Neighbor,” says Bradford, “I have brought to see you a +young man of your business; perhaps you may want such a one.” He ask’d +me a few questions, put a composing stick in my hand to see how I +work’d, and then said he would employ me soon, though he had just then +nothing for me to do; and, taking old Bradford, whom he had never seen +before, to be one of the town’s people that had a good will for him, +enter’d into a conversation on his present undertaking and prospects; +while Bradford, not discovering that he was the other printer’s father, +on Keimer’s saying he expected soon to get the greatest part of the +business into his own hands, drew him on by artful questions, and +starting little doubts, to explain all his views, what interests he +reli’d on, and in what manner he intended to proceed. I, who stood by +and heard all, saw immediately that one of them was a crafty old +sophister, and the other a mere novice. Bradford left me with Keimer, +who was greatly surpris’d when I told him who the old man was.</p> + +<p> +Keimer’s printing-house, I found, consisted of an old shatter’d press, +and one small, worn-out font of English which he was then using +himself, composing an Elegy on Aquila Rose, before mentioned, an +ingenious young man, of excellent character, much respected in the +town, clerk of the Assembly, and a pretty poet. Keimer made verses +too, but very indifferently. He could not be said to write them, for +his manner was to compose them in the types directly out of his head. +So there being no copy, but one pair of cases, and the Elegy likely to +require all the letter, no one could help him. I endeavor’d to put his +press (which he had not yet us’d, and of which he understood nothing) +into order fit to be work’d with; and, promising to come and print off +his Elegy as soon as he should have got it ready, I return’d to +Bradford’s, who gave me a little job to do for the present, and there I +lodged and dieted. A few days after, Keimer sent for me to print off +the Elegy. And now he had got another pair of cases, and a pamphlet to +reprint, on which he set me to work.</p> + +<p> +These two printers I found poorly qualified for their business. +Bradford had not been bred to it, and was very illiterate; and Keimer, +tho’ something of a scholar, was a mere compositor, knowing nothing of +presswork. He had been one of the French prophets, and could act their +enthusiastic agitations. At this time he did not profess any +particular religion, but something of all on occasion; was very +ignorant of the world, and had, as I afterward found, a good deal of +the knave in his composition. He did not like my lodging at Bradford’s +while I work’d with him. He had a house, indeed, but without +furniture, so he could not lodge me; but he got me a lodging at Mr. +Read’s, before mentioned, who was the owner of his house; and, my chest +and clothes being come by this time, I made rather a more respectable +appearance in the eyes of Miss Read than I had done when she first +happen’d to see me eating my roll in the street.</p> + +<p> +I began now to have some acquaintance among the young people of the +town, that were lovers of reading, with whom I spent my evenings very +pleasantly; and gaining money by my industry and frugality, I lived +very agreeably, forgetting Boston as much as I could, and not desiring +that any there should know where I resided, except my friend Collins, +who was in my secret, and kept it when I wrote to him. At length, an +incident happened that sent me back again much sooner than I had +intended. I had a brother-in-law, Robert Holmes, master of a sloop +that traded between Boston and Delaware. He being at Newcastle, forty +miles below Philadelphia, heard there of me, and wrote me a letter +mentioning the concern of my friends in Boston at my abrupt departure, +assuring me of their good will to me, and that every thing would be +accommodated to my mind if I would return, to which he exhorted me very +earnestly. I wrote an answer to his letter, thank’d him for his +advice, but stated my reasons for quitting Boston fully and in such a +light as to convince him I was not so wrong as he had apprehended.</p> + +<p> +Sir William Keith, governor of the province, was then at Newcastle, and +Captain Holmes, happening to be in company with him when my letter came +to hand, spoke to him of me, and show’d him the letter. The governor +read it, and seem’d surpris’d when he was told my age. He said I +appear’d a young man of promising parts, and therefore should be +encouraged; the printers at Philadelphia were wretched ones; and, if I +would set up there, he made no +doubt I should succeed; for his part, he +would procure me the public business, and do me every other service in +his power. This my brother-in-law afterwards told me in Boston, but I +knew as yet nothing of it; when, one day, Keimer and I being at work +together near the window, we saw the governor and another gentleman +(which proved to be Colonel French, of Newcastle), finely dress’d, come +directly across the street to our house, and heard them at the door.</p> + +<p> +Keimer ran down immediately, thinking it a visit to him; but the +governor inquir’d for me, came up, and with a condescension of +politeness I had been quite unus’d to, made me many compliments, +desired to be acquainted with me, blam’d me kindly for not having made +myself known to him when I first came to the place, and would have me +away with him to the tavern, where he was going with Colonel French to +taste, as he said, some excellent Madeira. I was not a little +surprised, and Keimer star’d like a pig poison’d. I went, however, +with the governor and Colonel French to a tavern, at the corner of +Third-street, and over the Madeira he propos’d my setting up my +business, laid before me the probabilities of success, and both he and +Colonel French assur’d me I should have their interest and influence in +procuring the public business of both governments. On my doubting +whether my father would assist me in it, Sir William said he would give +me a letter to him, in which he would state the advantages, and he did +not doubt of prevailing with him. So it was concluded I should return +to Boston in the first vessel, with the governor’s letter recommending +me to my father. In the mean time the intention was to be kept a +secret, and I went on working with Keimer as usual, the governor +sending for me now and then to dine with him, a very great honor I +thought it, and conversing with me in the most affable, familiar, and +friendly manner imaginable.</p> + +<p> +About the end of April, 1724, a little vessel offer’d for Boston. I +took leave of Keimer as going to see my friends. The governor gave me +an ample letter, saying many flattering things of me to my father, and +strongly recommending the project of my setting up at Philadelphia as a +thing that must make my fortune. We struck on a shoal in +going down +the bay, and sprung a leak; we had a blustering time at sea, and were +oblig’d to pump almost continually, at which I took my turn. We +arriv’d safe, however, at Boston in about a fortnight. I had been +absent seven months, and my friends had heard nothing of me; for my br. +Holmes was not yet return’d, and had not written about me. My +unexpected appearance surpriz’d the family; all were, however, very +glad to see me, and made me welcome, except my brother. I went to see +him at his printing-house. I was better dress’d than ever while in his +service, having a genteel new suit from head to foot, a watch, and my +pockets lin’d with near five pounds sterling in silver. He receiv’d me +not very frankly, look’d me all over, and turn’d to his work again.</p> + +<p> +The journeymen were inquisitive where I had been, what sort of a +country it was, and how I lik’d it. I prais’d it much, the happy life +I led in it, expressing strongly my intention of returning to it; and, +one of them asking what kind of money we had there, I produc’d a +handful of silver, and spread it before them, which was a kind of +raree-show they had not been us’d to, paper being the money of Boston. +Then I took an opportunity of letting them see my watch; and, lastly +(my brother still grum and sullen), I gave them a piece of eight to +drink, and took my leave. This visit of mine offended him extreamly; +for, when my mother some time after spoke to him of a reconciliation, +and of her wishes to see us on good terms together, and that we might +live for the future as brothers, he said I had insulted him in such a +manner before his people that he could never forget or forgive it. In +this, however, he was mistaken.</p> + +<p> +My father received the governor’s letter with some apparent surprise, +but said little of it to me for some days, when Capt. Holmes returning +he showed it to him, ask’d him if he knew Keith, and what kind of man +he was; adding his opinion that he must be of small discretion to think +of setting a boy up in business who wanted yet three years of being at +man’s estate. Holmes said what he could in favor of the project, but +my father was clear in the impropriety of it, and at last gave a flat +denial to it. Then he wrote a civil letter to Sir William, thanking +him for the +patronage he had so kindly offered me, but declining to +assist me as yet in setting up, I being, in his opinion, too young to +be trusted with the management of a business so important, and for +which the preparation must be so expensive.</p> + +<p> +My friend and companion Collins, who was a clerk in the post-office, +pleas’d with the account I gave him of my new country, determined to go +thither also; and, while I waited for my father’s determination, he set +out before me by land to Rhode Island, leaving his books, which were a +pretty collection of mathematicks and natural philosophy, to come with +mine and me to New York, where he propos’d to wait for me.</p> + +<p> +My father, tho’ he did not approve Sir William’s proposition, was yet +pleas’d that I had been able to obtain so advantageous a character from +a person of such note where I had resided, and that I had been so +industrious and careful as to equip myself so handsomely in so short a +time; therefore, seeing no prospect of an accommodation between my +brother and me, he gave his consent to my returning again to +Philadelphia, advis’d me to behave respectfully to the people there, +endeavor to obtain the general esteem, and avoid lampooning and +libeling, to which he thought I had too much inclination; telling me, +that by steady industry and a prudent parsimony I might save enough by +the time I was one-and-twenty to set me up; and that, if I came near +the matter, he would help me out with the rest. This was all I could +obtain, except some small gifts as tokens of his and my mother’s love, +when I embark’d again for New York, now with their approbation and +their blessing.</p> + +<p> +The sloop putting in at Newport, Rhode Island, I visited my brother +John, who had been married and settled there some years. He received +me very affectionately, for he always lov’d me. A friend of his, one +Vernon, having some money due to him in Pensilvania, about thirty-five +pounds currency, desired I would receive it for him, and keep it till I +had his directions what to remit it in. Accordingly, he gave me an +order. This afterwards occasion’d me a good deal of uneasiness.</p> + +<p> +At Newport we took in a number of passengers for New +York, among which +were two young women, companions, and a grave, sensible, matron-like +Quaker woman, with her attendants. I had shown an obliging readiness +to do her some little services, which impress’d her I suppose with a +degree of good will toward me; therefore, when she saw a daily growing +familiarity between me and the two young women, which they appear’d to +encourage, she took me aside, and said: “Young man, I am concern’d for +thee, as thou has no friend with thee, and seems not to know much of +the world, or of the snares youth is expos’d to; depend upon it, those +are very bad women; I can see it in all their actions; and if thee art +not upon thy guard, they will draw thee into some danger; they are +strangers to thee, and I advise thee, in a friendly concern for thy +welfare, to have no acquaintance with them.” As I seem’d at first not +to think so ill of them as she did, she mentioned some things she had +observ’d and heard that had escap’d my notice, but now convinc’d me she +was right. I thank’d her for her kind advice, and promis’d to follow +it. When we arriv’d at New York, they told me where they liv’d, and +invited me to come and see them; but I avoided it, and it was well I +did; for the next day the captain miss’d a silver spoon and some other +things, that had been taken out of his cabbin, and, knowing that these +were a couple of strumpets, he got a warrant to search their lodgings, +found the stolen goods, and had the thieves punish’d. So, tho’ we had +escap’d a sunken rock, which we scrap’d upon in the passage, I thought +this escape of rather more importance to me.</p> + +<p> +At New York I found my friend Collins, who had arriv’d there some time +before me. We had been intimate from children, and had read the same +books together; but he had the advantage of more time for reading and +studying, and a wonderful genius for mathematical learning, in which he +far outstript me. While I liv’d in Boston most of my hours of leisure +for conversation were spent with him, and he continu’d a sober as well +as an industrious lad; was much respected for his learning by several +of the clergy and other gentlemen, and seemed to promise making a good +figure in life. But, during my absence, he had acquir’d a habit of +sotting with brandy; and I found by his own account, and +what I heard +from others, that he had been drunk every day since his arrival at New +York, and behav’d very oddly. He had gam’d, too, and lost his money, +so that I was oblig’d to discharge his lodgings, and defray his +expenses to and at Philadelphia, which prov’d extremely inconvenient to +me.</p> + +<p> +The then governor of New York, Burnet (son of Bishop Burnet), hearing +from the captain that a young man, one of his passengers, had a great +many books, desir’d he would bring me to see him. I waited upon him +accordingly, and should have taken Collins with me but that he was not +sober. The gov’r. treated me with great civility, show’d me his +library, which was a very large one, and we had a good deal of +conversation about books and authors. This was the second governor who +had done me the honor to take notice of me; which, to a poor boy like +me, was very pleasing.</p> + +<p> +We proceeded to Philadelphia. I received on the way Vernon’s money, +without which we could hardly have finish’d our journey. Collins +wished to be employ’d in some counting-house, but, whether they +discover’d his dramming by his breath, or by his behaviour, tho’ he had +some recommendations, he met with no success in any application, and +continu’d lodging and boarding at the same house with me, and at my +expense. Knowing I had that money of Vernon’s, he was continually +borrowing of me, still promising repayment as soon as he should be in +business. At length he had got so much of it that I was distress’d to +think what I should do in case of being call’d on to remit it.</p> + +<p> +His drinking continu’d, about which we sometimes quarrell’d; for, when +a little intoxicated, he was very fractious. Once, in a boat on the +Delaware with some other young men, he refused to row in his turn. “I +will be row’d home,” says he. “We will not row you,” says I. “You +must, or stay all night on the water,” says he, “just as you please.” +The others said, “Let us row; what signifies it?” But, my mind being +soured with his other conduct, I continu’d to refuse. So he swore he +would make me row, or throw me overboard; and coming along, stepping on +the thwarts, toward me, when he came up and struck at me, I clapped my +hand under his crutch, and, rising, pitched him head-foremost into the +river. I knew he was a good swimmer, +and so was under little concern +about him; but before he could get round to lay hold of the boat, we +had with a few strokes pull’d her out of his reach; and ever when he +drew near the boat, we ask’d if he would row, striking a few strokes to +slide her away from him. He was ready to die with vexation, and +obstinately would not promise to row. However, seeing him at last +beginning to tire, we lifted him in and brought him home dripping wet +in the evening. We hardly exchang’d a civil word afterwards, and a +West India captain, who had a commission to procure a tutor for the +sons of a gentleman at Barbadoes, happening to meet with him, agreed to +carry him thither. He left me then, promising to remit me the first +money he should receive in order to discharge the debt; but I never +heard of him after.</p> + +<p> +The breaking into this money of Vernon’s was one of the first great +errata of my life; and this affair show’d that my father was not much +out in his judgment when he suppos’d me too young to manage business of +importance. But Sir William, on reading his letter, said he was too +prudent. There was great difference in persons; and discretion did not +always accompany years, nor was youth always without it. “And since he +will not set you up,” says he, “I will do it myself. Give me an +inventory of the things necessary to be had from England, and I will +send for them. You shall repay me when you are able; I am resolv’d to +have a good printer here, and I am sure you must succeed.” This was +spoken with such an appearance of cordiality, that I had not the least +doubt of his meaning what he said. I had hitherto kept the proposition +of my setting up, a secret in Philadelphia, and I still kept it. Had +it been known that I depended on the governor, probably some friend, +that knew him better, would have advis’d me not to rely on him, as I +afterwards heard it as his known character to be liberal of promises +which he never meant to keep. Yet, unsolicited as he was by me, how +could I think his generous offers insincere? I believ’d him one of the +best men in the world.</p> + +<p> +I presented him an inventory of a little print’g-house, amounting by my +computation to about one hundred pounds sterling. He lik’d it, but +ask’d me if my being on the spot in England to chuse the types, and see +that every thing was +good of the kind, might not be of some advantage. +“Then,” says he, “when there, you may make acquaintances, and establish +correspondences in the bookselling and stationery way.” I agreed that +this might be advantageous. “Then,” says he, “get yourself ready to go +with Annis;” which was the annual ship, and the only one at that time +usually passing between London and Philadelphia. But it would be some +months before Annis sail’d, so I continu’d working with Keimer, +fretting about the money Collins had got from me, and in daily +apprehensions of being call’d upon by Vernon, which, however, did not +happen for some years after.</p> + +<p> +I believe I have omitted mentioning that, in my first voyage from +Boston, being becalm’d off Block Island, our people set about catching +cod, and hauled up a great many. Hitherto I had stuck to my resolution +of not eating animal food, and on this occasion consider’d, with my +master Tryon, the taking every fish as a kind of unprovoked murder, +since none of them had, or ever could do us any injury that might +justify the slaughter. All this seemed very reasonable. But I had +formerly been a great lover of fish, and, when this came hot out of the +frying-pan, it smelt admirably well. I balanc’d some time between +principle and inclination, till I recollected that, when the fish were +opened, I saw smaller fish taken out of their stomachs; then thought I, +“If you eat one another, I don’t see why we mayn’t eat you.” So I +din’d upon cod very heartily, and continued to eat with other people, +returning only now and then occasionally to a vegetable diet. So +convenient a thing it is to be a <i>reasonable creature</i>, since +it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a +mind to do.</p> + +<p> +Keimer and I liv’d on a pretty good familiar footing, and agreed +tolerably well, for he suspected nothing of my setting up. He retained +a great deal of his old enthusiasms and lov’d argumentation. We +therefore had many disputations. I used to work him so with my +Socratic method, and had trepann’d him so often by questions apparently +so distant from any point we had in hand, and yet by degrees lead to +the point, and brought him into difficulties and contradictions, that +at last he grew ridiculously cautious, and would hardly answer me the +most common question, without +asking first, “<i>What do you intend to +infer from that?</i>” However, it gave him so high an opinion of my +abilities in the confuting way, that he seriously proposed my being his +colleague in a project he had of setting up a new sect. He was to +preach the doctrines, and I was to confound all opponents. When he +came to explain with me upon the doctrines, I found several conundrums +which I objected to, unless I might have my way a little too, and +introduce some of mine.</p> + +<p> +Keimer wore his beard at full length, because somewhere in the Mosaic +law it is said, “<i>Thou shalt not mar the corners of thy beard</i>.” He +likewise kept the Seventh day, Sabbath; and these two points were +essentials with him. I dislik’d both; but agreed to admit them upon +condition of his adopting the doctrine of using no animal food. “I +doubt,” said he, “my constitution will not bear that.” I assur’d him +it would, and that he would be the better for it. He was usually a +great glutton, and I promised myself some diversion in half starving +him. He agreed to try the practice, if I would keep him company. I +did so, and we held it for three months. We had our victuals dress’d, +and brought to us regularly by a woman in the neighborhood, who had +from me a list of forty dishes to be prepar’d for us at different +times, in all which there was neither fish, flesh, nor fowl, and the +whim suited me the better at this time from the cheapness of it, not +costing us above eighteenpence sterling each per week. I have since +kept several Lents most strictly, leaving the common diet for that, and +that for the common, abruptly, without the least inconvenience, so that +I think there is little in the advice of making those changes by easy +gradations. I went on pleasantly, but poor Keimer suffered grievously, +tired of the project, long’d for the flesh-pots of Egypt, and order’d a +roast pig. He invited me and two women friends to dine with him; but, +it being brought too soon upon table, he could not resist the +temptation, and ate the whole before we came.</p> + +<p> +I had made some courtship during this time to Miss Read. I had a great +respect and affection for her, and had some reason to believe she had +the same for me; but, as I was about to take a long voyage, and we were +both very young, +only a little above eighteen, it was thought most +prudent by her mother to prevent our going too far at present, as a +marriage, if it was to take place, would be more convenient after my +return, when I should be, as I expected, set up in my business. +Perhaps, too, she thought my expectations not so well founded as I +imagined them to be.</p> + +<p> +My chief acquaintances at this time were Charles Osborne, Joseph +Watson, and James Ralph, all lovers of reading. The two first were +clerks to an eminent scrivener or conveyancer in the town, Charles +Brogden; the other was clerk to a merchant. Watson was a pious, +sensible young man, of great integrity; the others rather more lax in +their principles of religion, particularly Ralph, who, as well as +Collins, had been unsettled by me, for which they both made me suffer. +Osborne was sensible, candid, frank; sincere and affectionate to his +friends; but, in literary matters, too fond of criticising. Ralph was +ingenious, genteel in his manners, and extremely eloquent; I think I +never knew a prettier talker. Both of them great admirers of poetry, +and began to try their hands in little pieces. Many pleasant walks we +four had together on Sundays into the woods, near Schuylkill, where we +read to one another, and conferr’d on what we read.</p> + +<p> +Ralph was inclin’d to pursue the study of poetry, not doubting but he +might become eminent in it, and make his fortune by it, alleging that +the best poets must, when they first began to write, make as many +faults as he did. Osborne dissuaded him, assur’d him he had no genius +for poetry, and advis’d him to think of nothing beyond the business he +was bred to; that, in the mercantile way, tho’ he had no stock, he +might, by his diligence and punctuality, recommend himself to +employment as a factor, and in time acquire wherewith to trade on his +own account. I approv’d the amusing one’s self with poetry now and +then, so far as to improve one’s language, but no farther.</p> + +<p> +On this it was propos’d that we should each of us, at our next meeting, +produce a piece of our own composing, in order to improve by our mutual +observations, criticisms, and corrections. As language and expression +were what we had in view, we excluded all considerations of invention +by agreeing that the task should be a version of the eighteenth Psalm, +which describes the descent of a Deity. When the time of our meeting +drew nigh, Ralph called on me first, and let me know his piece was +ready. I told him I had been busy, and, having little inclination, had +done nothing. He then show’d me his piece for my opinion, and I much +approv’d it, as it appear’d to me to have great merit. “Now,” says he, +“Osborne never will allow the least merit in any thing of mine, but +makes 1000 criticisms out of mere envy. He is not so jealous of you; I +wish, therefore, you would take this piece, and produce it as yours; I +will pretend not to have had time, and so produce nothing. We shall +then see what he will say to it.” It was agreed, and I immediately +transcrib’d it, that it might appear in my own hand.</p> + +<p> +We met; Watson’s performance was read; there were some beauties in it, +but many defects. Osborne’s was read; it was much better; Ralph did it +justice; remarked some faults, but applauded the beauties. He himself +had nothing to produce. I was backward; seemed desirous of being +excused; had not had sufficient time to correct, etc.; but no excuse +could be admitted; produce I must. It was read and repeated; Watson +and Osborne gave up the contest, and join’d in applauding it. Ralph +only made some criticisms, and propos’d some amendments; but I defended +my text. Osborne was against Ralph, and told him he was no better a +critic than poet, so he dropt the argument. As they two went home +together, Osborne expressed himself still more strongly in favor of +what he thought my production; having restrain’d himself before, as he +said, lest I should think it flattery. “But who would have imagin’d,” +said he, “that Franklin had been capable of such a performance; such +painting, such force, such fire! He has even improv’d the original. +In his common conversation he seems to have no choice of words; he +hesitates and blunders; and yet, good God! how he writes!” When we next +met, Ralph discovered the trick we had plaid him, and Osborne was a +little laught at.</p> + +<p> +This transaction fixed Ralph in his resolution of becoming a poet. I +did all I could to dissuade him from it, but he +continued scribbling verses till <i>Pope</i> +cured him. He became, however, a pretty good prose +writer. More of him hereafter. But, as I may not have occasion again +to mention the other two, I shall just remark here, that Watson died in +my arms a few years after, much lamented, being the best of our set. +Osborne went to the West Indies, where he became an eminent lawyer and +made money, but died young. He and I had made a serious agreement, +that the one who happen’d first to die should, if possible, make a +friendly visit to the other, and acquaint him how he found things in +that separate state. But he never fulfill’d his promise.</p> + +<p> +The governor, seeming to like my company, had me frequently to his +house, and his setting me up was always mention’d as a fixed thing. I +was to take with me letters recommendatory to a number of his friends, +besides the letter of credit to furnish me with the necessary money for +purchasing the press and types, paper, etc. For these letters I was +appointed to call at different times, when they were to be ready, but a +future time was still named. Thus he went on till the ship, whose +departure too had been several times postponed, was on the point of +sailing. Then, when I call’d to take my leave and receive the letters, +his secretary, Dr. Bard, came out to me and said the governor was +extremely busy in writing, but would be down at Newcastle before the +ship, and there the letters would be delivered to me.</p> + +<p> +Ralph, though married, and having one child, had determined to +accompany me in this voyage. It was thought he intended to establish a +correspondence, and obtain goods to sell on commission; but I found +afterwards, that, thro’ some discontent with his wife’s relations, he +purposed to leave her on their hands, and never return again. Having +taken leave of my friends, and interchang’d some promises with Miss +Read, I left Philadelphia in the ship, which anchor’d at Newcastle. +The governor was there; but when I went to his lodging, the secretary +came to me from him with the civillest message in the world, that he +could not then see me, being engaged in business of the utmost +importance, but should send the letters to me on board, wish’d +me heartily a good voyage and a speedy return, etc. I returned on board a +little puzzled, but still not doubting.</p> + +<p> +Mr. Andrew Hamilton, a famous lawyer of Philadelphia, had taken passage +in the same ship for himself and son, and with Mr. Denham, a Quaker +merchant, and Messrs. Onion and Russel, masters of an iron work in +Maryland, had engag’d the great cabin; so that Ralph and I were forced +to take up with a berth in the steerage, and none on board knowing us, +were considered as ordinary persons. But Mr. Hamilton and his son (it +was James, since governor) return’d from Newcastle to Philadelphia, the +father being recall’d by a great fee to plead for a seized ship; and, +just before we sail’d, Colonel French coming on board, and showing me +great respect, I was more taken notice of, and, with my friend Ralph, +invited by the other gentlemen to come into the cabin, there being now +room. Accordingly, we remov’d thither.</p> + +<p> +Understanding that Colonel French had brought on board the governor’s +despatches, I ask’d the captain for those letters that were to be under +my care. He said all were put into the bag together and he could not +then come at them; but, before we landed in England, I should have an +opportunity of picking them out; so I was satisfied for the present, +and we proceeded on our voyage. We had a sociable company in the +cabin, and lived uncommonly well, having the addition of all Mr. +Hamilton’s stores, who had laid in plentifully. In this passage Mr. +Denham contracted a friendship for me that continued during his life. +The voyage was otherwise not a pleasant one, as we had a great deal of +bad weather.</p> + +<p> +When we came into the Channel, the captain kept his word with me, and +gave me an opportunity of examining the bag for the governor’s letters. +I found none upon which my name was put as under my care. I picked out +six or seven, that, by the handwriting, I thought might be the promised +letters, especially as one of them was directed to Basket, the king’s +printer, and another to some stationer. We arriv’d in London the 24th +of December, 1724. I waited upon the stationer, who came first in my +way, delivering the letter as from Governor Keith. “I don’t know such a +person,” says he; but, opening the letter, “O! this is from +Riddlesden. I have lately found him to be a compleat rascal, and I +will have nothing to do with him, nor receive any letters from him.” +So, putting the letter into my hand, he turn’d on his heel and left me +to serve some customer. I was surprized to find these were not the +governor’s letters; and, after recollecting and comparing +circumstances, I began to doubt his sincerity. I found my friend +Denham, and opened the whole affair to him. He let me into Keith’s +character; told me there was not the least probability that he had +written any letters for me; that no one, who knew him, had the smallest +dependence on him; and he laught at the notion of the governor’s giving +me a letter of credit, having, as he said, no credit to give. On my +expressing some concern about what I should do, he advised me to +endeavor getting some employment in the way of my business. “Among the +printers here,” said he, “you will improve yourself, and when you +return to America, you will set up to greater advantage.”</p> + +<p> +We both of us happen’d to know, as well as the stationer, that +Riddlesden, the attorney, was a very knave. He had half ruin’d Miss +Read’s father by persuading him to be bound for him. By this letter it +appear’d there was a secret scheme on foot to the prejudice of Hamilton +(suppos’d to be then coming over with us); and that Keith was concerned +in it with Riddlesden. Denham, who was a friend of Hamilton’s thought +he ought to be acquainted with it; so, when he arriv’d in England, +which was soon after, partly from resentment and ill-will to Keith and +Riddlesden, and partly from good-will to him, I waited on him, and gave +him the letter. He thank’d me cordially, the information being of +importance to him; and from that time he became my friend, greatly to +my advantage afterwards on many occasions.</p> + +<p> +But what shall we think of a governor’s playing such pitiful tricks, +and imposing so grossly on a poor ignorant boy! It was a habit he had +acquired. He wish’d to please everybody; and, having little to give, +he gave expectations. He was otherwise an ingenious, sensible man, a +pretty good writer, and a good governor for the people, tho’ not for his +constituents, the proprietaries, whose instructions he sometimes +disregarded. Several of our best laws were of his planning and passed +during his administration.</p> + +<p> +Ralph and I were inseparable companions. We took lodgings together in +Little Britain at three shillings and sixpence a week—as much as we +could then afford. He found some relations, but they were poor, and +unable to assist him. He now let me know his intentions of remaining +in London, and that he never meant to return to Philadelphia. He had +brought no money with him, the whole he could muster having been +expended in paying his passage. I had fifteen pistoles; so he borrowed +occasionally of me to subsist, while he was looking out for business. +He first endeavored to get into the playhouse, believing himself +qualify’d for an actor; but Wilkes, to whom he apply’d, advis’d him +candidly not to think of that employment, as it was impossible he +should succeed in it. Then he propos’d to Roberts, a publisher in +Paternoster Row, to write for him a weekly paper like the Spectator, on +certain conditions, which Roberts did not approve. Then he endeavored +to get employment as a hackney writer, to copy for the stationers and +lawyers about the Temple, but could find no vacancy.</p> + +<p> +I immediately got into work at Palmer’s, then a famous printing-house +in Bartholomew Close, and here I continu’d near a year. I was pretty +diligent, but spent with Ralph a good deal of my earnings in going to +plays and other places of amusement. We had together consumed all my +pistoles, and now just rubbed on from hand to mouth. He seem’d quite +to forget his wife and child, and I, by degrees, my engagements with +Miss Read, to whom I never wrote more than one letter, and that was to +let her know I was not likely soon to return. This was another of the +great errata of my life, which I should wish to correct if I were to +live it over again. In fact, by our expenses, I was constantly kept +unable to pay my passage.</p> + +<p> +At Palmer’s I was employed in composing for the second edition of +Wollaston’s “Religion of Nature.” Some of his reasonings not appearing +to me well founded, I wrote a little metaphysical piece in which I made +remarks on them. It was entitled “A Dissertation on Liberty and +Necessity, +Pleasure and Pain.” I inscribed it to my friend Ralph; I +printed a small number. It occasion’d my being more consider’d by Mr. +Palmer as a young man of some ingenuity, tho’ he seriously expostulated +with me upon the principles of my pamphlet, which to him appear’d +abominable. My printing this pamphlet was another erratum. While I +lodg’d in Little Britain, I made an acquaintance with one Wilcox, a +bookseller, whose shop was at the next door. He had an immense +collection of second-hand books. Circulating libraries were not then +in use; but we agreed that, on certain reasonable terms, which I have +now forgotten, I might take, read, and return any of his books. This I +esteem’d a great advantage, and I made as much use of it as I could.</p> + +<p> +My pamphlet by some means falling into the hands of one Lyons, a +surgeon, author of a book entitled “The Infallibility of Human +Judgment,” it occasioned an acquaintance between us. He took great +notice of me, called on me often to converse on those subjects, carried +me to the Horns, a pale alehouse in ——— Lane, Cheapside, and +introduced me to Dr. Mandeville, author of the “Fable of the Bees,” who +had a club there, of which he was the soul, being a most facetious, +entertaining companion. Lyons, too, introduced me to Dr. Pemberton, at +Batson’s Coffee-house, who promis’d to give me an opportunity, some +time or other, of seeing Sir Isaac Newton, of which I was extreamely +desirous; but this never happened.</p> + +<p> +I had brought over a few curiosities, among which the principal was a +purse made of the asbestos, which purifies by fire. Sir Hans Sloane +heard of it, came to see me, and invited me to his house in Bloomsbury +Square, where he show’d me all his curiosities, and persuaded me to let +him add that to the number, for which he paid me handsomely.</p> + +<p> +In our house there lodg’d a young woman, a milliner, who, I think, had +a shop in the Cloisters. She had been genteelly bred, was sensible and +lively, and of most pleasing conversation. Ralph read plays to her in +the evenings, they grew intimate, she took another lodging, and he +followed her. They liv’d together some time; but, he being still out +of business, and her income not sufficient to maintain them +with her +child, he took a resolution of going from London, to try for a country +school, which he thought himself well qualified to undertake, as he +wrote an excellent hand, and was a master of arithmetic and accounts. +This, however, he deemed a business below him, and confident of future +better fortune, when he should be unwilling to have it known that he +once was so meanly employed, he changed his name, and did me the honor +to assume mine; for I soon after had a letter from him, acquainting me +that he was settled in a small village (in Berkshire, I think it was, +where he taught reading and writing to ten or a dozen boys, at sixpence +each per week), recommending Mrs. T——— to my care, +and desiring me to write to him, directing for Mr. Franklin, schoolmaster, +at such a place.</p> + +<p> +He continued to write frequently, sending me large specimens of an epic +poem which he was then composing, and desiring my remarks and +corrections. These I gave him from time to time, but endeavor’d rather +to discourage his proceeding. One of Young’s Satires was then just +published. I copy’d and sent him a great part of it, which set in a +strong light the folly of pursuing the Muses with any hope of +advancement by them. All was in vain; sheets of the poem continued to +come by every post. In the mean time, Mrs. T———, +having on his account lost her friends and business, was often in distresses, +and us’d to send for me, and borrow what I could spare to help her out of +them. I grew fond of her company, and, being at that time under no +religious restraint, and presuming upon my importance to her, I +attempted familiarities (another erratum) which she repuls’d with a +proper resentment, and acquainted him with my behaviour. This made a +breach between us; and, when he returned again to London, he let me +know he thought I had cancell’d all the obligations he had been under +to me. So I found I was never to expect his repaying me what I lent to +him, or advanc’d for him. This, however, was not then of much +consequence, as he was totally unable; and in the loss of his +friendship I found myself relieved from a burthen. I now began to +think of getting a little money beforehand, and, expecting better work, +I left Palmer’s to work at Watts’s, near Lincoln’s Inn Fields, a still +greater +printing-house. Here I continued all the rest of my stay in +London.</p> + +<p> +At my first admission into this printing-house I took to working at +press, imagining I felt a want of the bodily exercise I had been us’d +to in America, where presswork is mix’d with composing. I drank only +water; the other workmen, near fifty in number, were great guzzlers of +beer. On occasion, I carried up and down stairs a large form of types +in each hand, when others carried but one in both hands. They wondered +to see, from this and several instances, that the <i>Water-American</i>, as +they called me, was <i>stronger</i> than themselves, who drank +<i>strong</i> beer! We had an alehouse boy who attended always +in the house to supply the workmen. My companion at the press +drank every day a pint before breakfast, a pint at breakfast with +his bread and cheese, a pint between breakfast and dinner, a pint +at dinner, a pint in the afternoon about six o’clock, and another +when he had done his day’s work. I thought it a detestable custom; +but it was necessary, he suppos’d, to drink <i>strong</i> beer, +that he might be <i>strong</i> to labor. I endeavored to +convince him that the bodily strength afforded by beer could only be in +proportion to the grain or flour of the barley dissolved in the water +of which it was made; that there was more flour in a pennyworth of +bread; and therefore, if he would eat that with a pint of water, it +would give him more strength than a quart of beer. He drank on, +however, and had four or five shillings to pay out of his wages every +Saturday night for that muddling liquor; an expense I was free from. +And thus these poor devils keep themselves always under.</p> + +<p> +Watts, after some weeks, desiring to have me in the composing-room, I +left the pressmen; a new bien venu or sum for drink, being five +shillings, was demanded of me by the compositors. I thought it an +imposition, as I had paid below; the master thought so too, and forbad +my paying it. I stood out two or three weeks, was accordingly +considered as an excommunicate, and had so many little pieces of +private mischief done me, by mixing my sorts, transposing my pages, +breaking my matter, etc., etc., if I were ever so little out of the +room, and all ascribed to the chappel ghost, which they +said ever +haunted those not regularly admitted, that, notwithstanding the +master’s protection, I found myself oblig’d to comply and pay the +money, convinc’d of the folly of being on ill terms with those one is +to live with continually.</p> + +<p> +I was now on a fair footing with them, and soon acquir’d considerable +influence. I propos’d some reasonable alterations in their chappel +<a href="#note4"><span class="superscript">[4]</span></a> +laws, and carried them against all opposition. From my example, a +great part of them left their muddling breakfast of beer, and bread, +and cheese, finding they could with me be suppli’d from a neighboring +house with a large porringer of hot water-gruel, sprinkled with pepper, +crumbl’d with bread, and a bit of butter in it, for the price of a pint +of beer, viz., three half-pence. This was a more comfortable as well as +cheaper breakfast, and kept their heads clearer. Those who continued +sotting with beer all day, were often, by not paying, out of credit at +the alehouse, and us’d to make interest with me to get beer; their +<i>light</i>, as they phrased it, <i>being out</i>. I watch’d the pay-table on +Saturday night, and collected what I stood engag’d for them, having to +pay sometimes near thirty shillings a week on their account. This, and +my being esteem’d a pretty good <i>riggite</i>, that is, a jocular verbal +satirist, supported my consequence in the society. My constant +attendance (I never making a St. Monday) recommended me to the master; +and my uncommon quickness at composing occasioned my being put upon all +work of dispatch, which was generally better paid. So I went on now +very agreeably. +</p> + +<div class="footer"> +<p class="footer"> +<a name="note4"></a> +<span class="superscript">[4]</span> +“A printing-house is always called a chapel by the +workmen, the origin of which appears to have been that +printing was first carried on in England in an ancient +chapel converted into a printing-house, and the title +has been preserved by tradition. The bien venu among +the printers answers to the terms entrance and footing +among mechanics; thus a journeyman, on entering a +printing-house, was accustomed to pay one or more gallons +of beer for the good of the chapel; this custom was +falling into disuse thirty years ago; it is very properly +rejected entirely in the United States.”—W. T. F. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +My lodging in Little Britain being too remote, I found another in +Duke-street, opposite to the Romish Chapel. It was two pair of stairs +backwards, at an Italian warehouse. A widow lady kept the house; she +had a daughter, and a maid servant, and a journeyman who attended the +warehouse, but lodg’d abroad. After sending to inquire my character at +the house where I last lodg’d she agreed to take me in at the same +rate, 3s. 6d. per week; cheaper, as she +said, from the protection she +expected in having a man lodge in the house. She was a widow, an +elderly woman; had been bred a Protestant, being a clergyman’s +daughter, but was converted to the Catholic religion by her husband, +whose memory she much revered; had lived much among people of +distinction, and knew a thousand anecdotes of them as far back as the +times of Charles the Second. She was lame in her knees with the gout, +and, therefore, seldom stirred out of her room, so sometimes wanted +company; and hers was so highly amusing to me, that I was sure to spend +an evening with her whenever she desired it. Our supper was only half +an anchovy each, on a very little strip of bread and butter, and half a +pint of ale between us; but the entertainment was in her conversation. +My always keeping good hours, and giving little trouble in the family, +made her unwilling to part with me; so that, when I talk’d of a lodging +I had heard of, nearer my business, for two shillings a week, which, +intent as I now was on saving money, made some difference, she bid me +not think of it, for she would abate me two shillings a week for the +future; so I remained with her at one shilling and sixpence as long as +I staid in London.</p> + +<p> +In a garret of her house there lived a maiden lady of seventy, in the +most retired manner, of whom my landlady gave me this account: that she +was a Roman Catholic, had been sent abroad when young, and lodg’d in a +nunnery with an intent of becoming a nun; but, the country not agreeing +with her, she returned to England, where, there being no nunnery, she +had vow’d to lead the life of a nun, as near as might be done in those +circumstances. Accordingly, she had given all her estate to charitable +uses, reserving only twelve pounds a year to live on, and out of this +sum she still gave a great deal in charity, living herself on +water-gruel only, and using no fire but to boil it. She had lived many +years in that garret, being permitted to remain there gratis by +successive Catholic tenants of the house below, as they deemed it a +blessing to have her there. A priest visited her to confess her every +day. “I have ask’d her,” says my landlady, “how she, as she liv’d, +could possibly find so much employment for a confessor?” “Oh,” said +she, “it is impossible to avoid <i>vain thoughts</i>.” +I was permitted once to visit +her. She was chearful and polite, and convers’d pleasantly. +The room was clean, but had no other furniture than a matras, a table +with a crucifix and book, a stool which she gave me to sit on, and a +picture over the chimney of Saint Veronica displaying her handkerchief, +with the miraculous figure of Christ’s bleeding face on it, which she +explained to me with great seriousness. She look’d pale, but was never +sick; and I give it as another instance on how small an income life and +health may be supported.</p> + +<p> +At Watts’s printing-house I contracted an acquaintance with an +ingenious young man, one Wygate, who, having wealthy relations, had +been better educated than most printers; was a tolerable Latinist, +spoke French, and lov’d reading. I taught him and a friend of his to +swim at twice going into the river, and they soon became good swimmers. +They introduc’d me to some gentlemen from the country, who went to +Chelsea by water to see the College and Don Saltero’s curiosities. In +our return, at the request of the company, whose curiosity Wygate had +excited, I stripped and leaped into the river, and swam from near +Chelsea to Blackfryar’s, performing on the way many feats of activity, +both upon and under water, that surpris’d and pleas’d those to whom +they were novelties.</p> + +<p> +I had from a child been ever delighted with this exercise, had studied +and practis’d all Thevenot’s motions and positions, added some of my +own, aiming at the graceful and easy as well as the useful. All these +I took this occasion of exhibiting to the company, and was much +flatter’d by their admiration; and Wygate, who was desirous of becoming +a master, grew more and more attach’d to me on that account, as well as +from the similarity of our studies. He at length proposed to me +travelling all over Europe together, supporting ourselves everywhere by +working at our business. I was once inclined to it; but, mentioning it +to my good friend Mr. Denham, with whom I often spent an hour when I +had leisure, he dissuaded me from it, advising me to think only of +returning to Pennsilvania, which he was now about to do.</p> + +<p> +I must record one trait of this good man’s character. He had formerly +been in business at Bristol, but failed in debt to a number of people, +compounded and went to America. +There, by a close application to +business as a merchant, he acquir’d a plentiful fortune in a few years. +Returning to England in the ship with me, he invited his old creditors +to an entertainment, at which he thank’d them for the easy composition +they had favored him with, and, when they expected nothing but the +treat, every man at the first remove found under his plate an order on +a banker for the full amount of the unpaid remainder with interest.</p> + +<p> +He now told me he was about to return to Philadelphia, and should carry +over a great quantity of goods in order to open a store there. He +propos’d to take me over as his clerk, to keep his books, in which he +would instruct me, copy his letters, and attend the store. He added +that, as soon as I should be acquainted with mercantile business, he +would promote me by sending me with a cargo of flour and bread, etc., +to the West Indies, and procure me commissions from others which would +be profitable; and, if I manag’d well, would establish me handsomely. +The thing pleas’d me; for I was grown tired of London, remembered with +pleasure the happy months I had spent in Pennsylvania, and wish’d again +to see it; therefore I immediately agreed on the terms of fifty pounds +a year, Pennsylvania money; less, indeed, than my present gettings as a +compositor, but affording a better prospect.</p> + +<p> +I now took leave of printing, as I thought, for ever, and was daily +employed in my new business, going about with Mr. Denham among the +tradesmen to purchase various articles, and seeing them pack’d up, +doing errands, calling upon workmen to dispatch, etc.; and, when all +was on board, I had a few days’ leisure. On one of these days, I was, +to my surprise, sent for by a great man I knew only by name, a Sir +William Wyndham, and I waited upon him. He had heard by some means or +other of my swimming from Chelsea to Blackfriar’s, and of my teaching +Wygate and another young man to swim in a few hours. He had two sons, +about to set out on their travels; he wish’d to have them first taught +swimming, and proposed to gratify me handsomely if I would teach them. +They were not yet come to town, and my stay was uncertain, so I could +not undertake it; but, from this incident, I thought it likely that, if +I were to +remain in England and open a +<ins title="Changed schoool to school.">swimming-school,</ins> +I might get a +good deal of money; and it struck me so strongly, that, had the +overture been sooner made me, probably I should not so soon have +returned to America. After many years, you and I had something of more +importance to do with one of these sons of Sir William Wyndham, become +Earl of Egremont, which I shall mention in its place.</p> + +<p> +Thus I spent about eighteen months in London; most part of the time I +work’d hard at my business, and spent but little upon myself except in +seeing plays and in books. My friend Ralph had kept me poor; he owed +me about twenty-seven pounds, which I was now never likely to receive; +a great sum out of my small earnings! I lov’d him, notwithstanding, +for he had many amiable qualities. I had by no means improv’d my +fortune; but I had picked up some very ingenious acquaintance, whose +conversation was of great advantage to me; and I had read considerably.</p> + +<p> +We sail’d from Gravesend on the 23d of July, 1726. For the incidents +of the voyage, I refer you to my Journal, where you will find them all +minutely related. Perhaps the most important part of that journal is +the <i>plan</i> <a href="#note5"><span class="superscript">[5]</span></a> +to be found in it, which I formed at sea, for regulating my +future conduct in life. It is the more remarkable, as being formed +when I was so young, and yet being pretty faithfully adhered to quite +thro’ to old age.</p> + +<div class="footer"> +<p class="footer"> +<a name="note5"></a> +<span class="superscript">[5]</span> +The “Journal” was printed by Sparks, from a copy made +at Reading in 1787. But it does not contain the +<i>Plan</i>.—<span class="smcap">Ed</span>. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +We landed in Philadelphia on the 11th of October, where I found sundry +alterations. Keith was no longer governor, being superseded by Major +Gordon. I met him walking the streets as a common citizen. He seem’d +a little asham’d at seeing me, but pass’d without saying anything. I +should have been as much asham’d at seeing Miss Read, had not her +friends, despairing with reason of my return after the receipt of my +letter, persuaded her to marry another, one Rogers, a potter, which was +done in my absence. With him, however, she was never happy, and soon +parted from him, refusing to cohabit with him or bear his name, it +being now said that he had another wife. He was a worthless fellow, +tho’ an excellent workman, which was the temptation +to her friends. He +got into debt, ran away in 1727 or 1728, went to the West Indies, and +died there. Keimer had got a better house, a shop well supply’d with +stationery, plenty of new types, a number of hands, tho’ none good, and +seem’d to have a great deal of business.</p> + +<p> +Mr. Denham took a store in Water-street, where we open’d our goods; I +attended the business diligently, studied accounts, and grew, in a +little time, expert at selling. We lodg’d and boarded together; he +counsell’d me as a father, having a sincere regard for me. I respected +and lov’d him, and we might have gone on together very happy; but, in +the beginning of February, 1726-7, when I had just pass’d my +twenty-first year, we both were taken ill. My distemper was a +pleurisy, which very nearly carried me off. I suffered a good deal, +gave up the point in my own mind, and was rather disappointed when I +found myself recovering, regretting, in some degree, that I must now, +some time or other, have all that disagreeable work to do over again. +I forget what his distemper was; it held him a long time, and at length +carried him off. He left me a small legacy in a nuncupative will, as a +token of his kindness for me, and he left me once more to the wide +world; for the store was taken into the care of his executors, and my +employment under him ended.</p> + +<p> +My brother-in-law, Holmes, being now at Philadelphia, advised my return +to my business; and Keimer tempted me, with an offer of large wages by +the year, to come and take the management of his printing-house, that +he might better attend his stationer’s shop. I had heard a bad +character of him in London from his wife and her friends, and was not +fond of having any more to do with him. I tri’d for farther employment +as a merchant’s clerk; but, not readily meeting with any, I clos’d +again with Keimer. I found in his house these hands: Hugh Meredith, a +Welsh Pensilvanian, thirty years of age, bred to country work; honest, +sensible, had a great deal of solid observation, was something of a +reader, but given to drink. Stephen Potts, a young countryman of full +age, bred to the same, of uncommon natural parts, and great wit and +humor, but a little idle. These he had agreed with at extream low +wages per week, to be rais’d a shilling every three months, as they +would deserve by improving in +their business; and the expectation of these high wages, to come on +hereafter, was what he had drawn them in with. Meredith was to work +at press, Potts at book-binding, which he, by agreement, was to teach +them, though he knew neither one nor t’other. John ———, +a wild Irishman, brought up to no business, whose service, for four years, +Keimer had purchased from the captain of a ship; he, too, was to be made +a pressman. George Webb, an Oxford scholar, whose time for four years +he had likewise bought, intending him for a compositor, of whom more +presently; and David Harry, a country boy, whom he had taken apprentice.</p> + +<p> +I soon perceiv’d that the intention of engaging me at wages so much +higher than he had been us’d to give, was, to have these raw, cheap +hands form’d thro’ me; and, as soon as I had instructed them, then they +being all articled to him, he should be able to do without me. I went +on, however, very cheerfully, put his printing-house in order, which +had been in great confusion, and brought his hands by degrees to mind +their business and to do it better.</p> + +<p> +It was an odd thing to find an Oxford scholar in the situation of a +bought servant. He was not more than eighteen years of age, and gave +me this account of himself; that he was born in Gloucester, educated at +a grammar-school there, had been distinguish’d among the scholars for +some apparent superiority in performing his part, when they exhibited +plays; belong’d to the Witty Club there, and had written some pieces in +prose and verse, which were printed in the Gloucester newspapers; +thence he was sent to Oxford; where he continued about a year, but not +well satisfi’d, wishing of all things to see London, and become a +player. At length, receiving his quarterly allowance of fifteen +guineas, instead of discharging his debts he walk’d out of town, hid +his gown in a furze bush, and footed it to London, where, having no +friend to advise him, he fell into bad company, soon spent his guineas, +found no means of being introduc’d among the players, grew necessitous, +pawn’d his cloaths, and wanted bread. Walking the street very hungry, +and not knowing what to do with himself, a crimp’s bill was put into +his hand, offering immediate entertainment and encouragement to such as +would bind themselves to serve in America. +He went directly, sign’d the indentures, was put into the ship, and +came over, never writing a line to acquaint his friends what was become +of him. He was lively, witty, good-natur’d, and a pleasant companion, +but idle, thoughtless, and imprudent to the last degree.</p> + +<p> +John, the Irishman, soon ran away; with the rest I began to live very +agreeably, for they all respected me the more, as they found Keimer +incapable of instructing them, and that from me they learned something +daily. We never worked on Saturday, that being Keimer’s Sabbath, so I +had two days for reading. My acquaintance with ingenious people in the +town increased. Keimer himself treated me with great civility and +apparent regard, and nothing now made me uneasy but my debt to Vernon, +which I was yet unable to pay, being hitherto but a poor œconomist. +He, however, kindly made no demand of it.</p> + +<p> +Our printing-house often wanted sorts, and there was no letter-founder +in America; I had seen types cast at James’s in London, but without +much attention to the manner; however, I now contrived a mould, made +use of the letters we had as puncheons, struck the matrices in lead, +and thus supply’d in a pretty tolerable way all deficiencies. I also +engrav’d several things on occasion; I made the ink; I was +warehouseman, and everything, and, in short, quite a factotum.</p> + +<p> +But, however serviceable I might be, I found that my services became +every day of less importance, as the other hands improv’d in the +business; and, when Keimer paid my second quarter’s wages, he let me +know that he felt them too heavy, and thought I should make an +abatement. He grew by degrees less civil, put on more of the master, +frequently found fault, was captious, and seem’d ready for an +outbreaking. I went on, nevertheless, with a good deal of patience, +thinking that his encumber’d circumstances were partly the cause. At +length a trifle snapt our connections; for, a great noise happening +near the court-house, I put my head out of the window to see what was +the matter. Keimer, being in the street, look’d up and saw me, call’d +out to me in a loud voice and angry tone to mind my business, adding +some reproachful words, that nettled me the +more for their publicity, +all the neighbors who were looking out on the same occasion being +witnesses how I was treated. He came up immediately into the +printing-house, continu’d the quarrel, high words pass’d on both sides, +he gave me the quarter’s warning we had stipulated, expressing a wish +that he had not been oblig’d to so long a warning. I told him his wish +was unnecessary, for I would leave him that instant; and so, taking my +hat, walk’d out of doors, desiring Meredith, whom I saw below, to take +care of some things I left, and bring them to my lodgings.</p> + +<p> +Meredith came accordingly in the evening, when we talked my affair +over. He had conceiv’d a great regard for me, and was very unwilling +that I should leave the house while he remain’d in it. He dissuaded me +from returning to my native country, which I began to think of; he +reminded me that Keimer was in debt for all he possess’d; that his +creditors began to be uneasy; that he kept his shop miserably, sold +often without profit for ready money, and often trusted without keeping +accounts; that he must therefore fall, which would make a vacancy I +might profit of. I objected my want of money. He then let me know +that his father had a high opinion of me, and, from some discourse that +had pass’d between them, he was sure would advance money to set us up, +if I would enter into partnership with him. “My time,” says he, “will +be out with Keimer in the spring; by that time we may have our press +and types in from London. I am sensible I am no workman; if you like +it, your skill in the business shall be set against the stock I +furnish, and we will share the profits equally.”</p> + +<p> +The proposal was agreeable, and I consented; his father was in town and +approv’d of it; the more as he saw I had great influence with his son, +had prevail’d on him to abstain long from dram-drinking, and he hop’d +might break him off that wretched habit entirely, when we came to be so +closely connected. I gave an inventory to the father, who carry’d it +to a merchant; the things were sent for, the secret was to be kept till +they should arrive, and in the mean time I was to get work, if I could, +at the other printing-house. But I found no vacancy there, and so +remain’d idle a few days, when Keimer, on a prospect of being employ’d +to print +some paper money in New Jersey, which would require cuts and +various types that I only could supply, and apprehending Bradford might +engage me and get the jobb from him, sent me a very civil message, that +old friends should not part for a few words, the effect of sudden +passion, and wishing me to return. Meredith persuaded me to comply, as +it would give more opportunity for his improvement under my daily +instructions; so I return’d, and we went on more smoothly than for some +time before. The New Jersey jobb was obtain’d, I contriv’d a +copperplate press for it, the first that had been seen in the country; +I cut several ornaments and checks for the bills. We went together to +Burlington, where I executed the whole to satisfaction; and he received +so large a sum for the work as to be enabled thereby to keep his head +much longer above water.</p> + +<p> +At Burlington I made an acquaintance with many principal people of the +province. Several of them had been appointed by the Assembly a +committee to attend the press, and take care that no more bills were +printed than the law directed. They were therefore, by turns, +constantly with us, and generally he who attended, brought with him a +friend or two for company. My mind having been much more improv’d by +reading than Keimer’s, I suppose it was for that reason my conversation +seem’d to be more valu’d. They had me to their houses, introduced me to +their friends, and show’d me much civility; while he, tho’ the master, +was a little neglected. In truth, he was an odd fish; ignorant of +common life, fond of rudely opposing receiv’d opinions, slovenly to +extream dirtiness, enthusiastic in some points of religion, and a +little knavish withal.</p> + +<p> +We continu’d there near three months; and by that time I could reckon +among my acquired friends, Judge Allen, Samuel Bustill, the secretary +of the Province, Isaac Pearson, Joseph Cooper, and several of the +Smiths, members of Assembly, and Isaac Decow, the surveyor-general. The +latter was a shrewd, sagacious old man, who told me that he began for +himself, when young, by wheeling clay for the brick-makers, learned to +write after he was of age, carri’d the chain for surveyors, who taught +him surveying, and he had now by his industry, acquir’d a good estate; +and says +he, “I foresee that you will soon work this man out of +business, and make a fortune in it at Philadelphia.” He had not then +the least intimation of my intention to set up there or anywhere. +These friends were afterwards of great use to me, as I occasionally was +to some of them. They all continued their regard for me as long as +they lived.</p> + +<p> +Before I enter upon my public appearance in business, it may be well to +let you know the then state of my mind with regard to my principles and +morals, that you may see how far those influenc’d the future events of +my life. My parents had early given me religious impressions, and +brought me through my childhood piously in the Dissenting way. But I +was scarce fifteen, when, after doubting by turns of several points, as +I found them disputed in the different books I read, I began to doubt +of Revelation itself. Some books against Deism fell into my hands; +they were said to be the substance of sermons preached at Boyle’s +Lectures. It happened that they wrought an effect on me quite contrary +to what was intended by them; for the arguments of the Deists, which +were quoted to be refuted, appeared to me much stronger than the +refutations; in short, I soon became a thorough Deist. My arguments +perverted some others, particularly Collins and Ralph; but, each of +them having afterwards wrong’d me greatly without the least +compunction, and recollecting Keith’s conduct towards me (who was +another freethinker), and my own towards Vernon and Miss Read, which at +times gave me great trouble, I began to suspect that this doctrine, +tho’ it might be true, was not very useful. My London pamphlet, which +had for its motto these lines of Dryden:</p> + +<div class="poem1"> +<p class="poem1 padding5">“Whatever is, is right. Though purblind man</p> +<p class="poem3 padding5">Sees but a part o’ the chain, the nearest link:</p> +<p class="poem3 padding5">His eyes not carrying to the equal beam,</p> +<p class="poem3 padding5">That poises all above;”</p> +</div> + +<p class="noindent"> +and from the attributes of God, his infinite wisdom, goodness and +power, concluded that nothing could possibly be wrong in the world, and +that vice and virtue were empty distinctions, no such things existing, +appear’d now not so clever a performance as I once thought it; and I +doubted whether some +error had not insinuated itself unperceiv’d into +my argument, so as to infect all that follow’d, as is common in +metaphysical reasonings.</p> + +<p> +I grew convinc’d that <i>truth</i>, <i>sincerity</i> +and <i>integrity</i> in dealings between man and man were of the utmost +importance to the felicity of life; and I form’d written resolutions, +which still remain in my journal book, to practice them ever while I +lived. Revelation had indeed no weight with me, as such; but I +entertain’d an opinion that, though certain actions might not be bad +<i>because</i> they were forbidden by it, or good <i>because</i> +it commanded them, yet probably these actions might be forbidden +<i>because</i> they were bad for us, or commanded <i>because</i> +they were beneficial to us, in their own natures, all the circumstances +of things considered. And this persuasion, with the kind hand of +Providence, or some guardian angel, or accidental favorable +circumstances and situations, or all together, preserved me, thro’ this +dangerous time of youth, and the hazardous situations I was sometimes +in among strangers, remote from the eye and advice of my father, +without any willful gross immorality or injustice, that might have been +expected from my want of religion. I say willful, because the +instances I have mentioned had something of <i>necessity</i> in them, +from my youth, inexperience, and the knavery of others. I had therefore +a tolerable character to begin the world with; I valued it properly, +and determin’d to preserve it.</p> + +<p> +We had not been long return’d to Philadelphia before the new types +arriv’d from London. We settled with Keimer, and left him by his +consent before he heard of it. We found a house to hire near the +market, and took it. To lessen the rent, which was then but +twenty-four pounds a year, tho’ I have since known it to let for +seventy, we took in Thomas Godfrey, a glazier, and his family, who were +to pay a considerable part of it to us, and we to board with them. We +had scarce opened our letters and put our press in order, before George +House, an acquaintance of mine, brought a countryman to us, whom he had +met in the street inquiring for a printer. All our cash was now +expended in the variety of particulars we had been obliged to procure, +and this countryman’s five shillings, being our first-fruits, +and +coming so seasonably, gave me more pleasure than any crown I have since +earned; and the gratitude I felt toward House has made me often more +ready than perhaps I should otherwise have been to assist young +beginners.</p> + +<p> +There are croakers in every country, always boding its ruin. Such a +one then lived in Philadelphia; a person of note, an elderly man, with +a wise look and a very grave manner of speaking; his name was Samuel +Mickle. This gentleman, a stranger to me, stopt one day at my door, +and asked me if I was the young man who had lately opened a new +printing-house. Being answered in the affirmative, he said he was sorry +for me, because it was an expensive undertaking, and the expense would +be lost; for Philadelphia was a sinking place, the people already +half-bankrupts, or near being so; all appearances to the contrary, such +as new buildings and the rise of rents, being to his certain knowledge +fallacious; for they were, in fact, among the things that would soon +ruin us. And he gave me such a detail of misfortunes now existing, or +that were soon to exist, that he left me half melancholy. Had I known +him before I engaged in this business, probably I never should have +done it. This man continued to live in this decaying place, and to +declaim in the same strain, refusing for many years to buy a house +there, because all was going to destruction; and at last I had the +pleasure of seeing him give five times as much for one as he might have +bought it for when he first began his croaking.</p> + +<p> +I should have mentioned before, that, in the autumn of the preceding +year, I had form’d most of my ingenious acquaintance into a club of +mutual improvement, which we called the <span class="smcap">Junto</span>; +we met on Friday evenings. The rules that I drew up required that +every member, in his turn, should produce one or more queries on any +point of Morals, Politics, or Natural Philosophy, to be discuss’d by +the company; and once in three months produce and read an essay of his +own writing, on any subject he pleased. Our debates were to be under +the direction of a president, and to be conducted in the sincere spirit +of inquiry after truth, without fondness for dispute, or desire of +victory; and, to prevent warmth, all expressions of positiveness in +opinions, +or direct contradiction, were after some time made contraband, +and prohibited under small pecuniary penalties.</p> + +<p> +The first members were Joseph Breintnal, a copyer of deeds for the +scriveners, a good-natur’d, friendly, middle-ag’d man, a great lover of +poetry, reading all he could meet with, and writing some that was +tolerable; very ingenious in many little Nicknackeries, and of sensible +conversation.</p> + +<p> +Thomas Godfrey, a self-taught mathematician, great in his way, and +afterward inventor of what is now called Hadley’s Quadrant. But he +knew little out of his way, and was not a pleasing companion; as, like +most great mathematicians I have met with, he expected universal +precision in everything said, or was for ever denying or distinguishing +upon trifles, to the disturbance of all conversation. He soon left us.</p> + +<p> +Nicholas Scull, a surveyor, afterwards surveyor-general, who lov’d +books, and sometimes made a few verses.</p> + +<p> +William Parsons, bred a shoemaker, but loving reading, had acquir’d a +considerable share of mathematics, which he first studied with a view +to astrology, that he afterwards laught at it. He also became +surveyor-general.</p> + +<p> +William Maugridge, a joiner, a most exquisite mechanic, and a solid, +sensible man.</p> + +<p> +Hugh Meredith, Stephen Potts, and George Webb I have characteriz’d +before.</p> + +<p> +Robert Grace, a young gentleman of some fortune, generous, lively, and +witty; a lover of punning and of his friends.</p> + +<p> +And William Coleman, then a merchant’s clerk, about my age, who had the +coolest, clearest head, the best heart, and the exactest morals of +almost any man I ever met with. He became afterwards a merchant of +great note, and one of our provincial judges. Our friendship continued +without interruption to his death, upward of forty years; and the club +continued almost as long, and was the best school of philosophy, +morality, and politics that then existed in the province; for our +queries, which were read the week preceding their discussion, put us +upon reading with attention upon the several subjects, that we might +speak more to the purpose; and here, too, we acquired better habits of +conversation, every thing being studied in our rules which might +prevent our disgusting each other. From hence the long continuance of +the club, which I shall have frequent occasion to speak further of +hereafter.</p> + +<p> +But my giving this account of it here is to show something of the +interest I had, every one of these exerting themselves in recommending +business to us. Breintnal particularly procur’d us from the Quakers +the printing forty sheets of their history, the rest being to be done +by Keimer; and upon this we work’d exceedingly hard, for the price was +low. It was a folio, pro patria size, in pica, with long primer notes. +I compos’d of it a sheet a day, and Meredith worked it off at press; it +was often eleven at night, and sometimes later, before I had finished +my distribution for the next day’s work, for the little jobbs sent in +by our other friends now and then put us back. But so determin’d I was +to continue doing a sheet a day of the folio, that one night, when, +having impos’d my forms, I thought my day’s work over, one of them by +accident was broken, and two pages reduced to pi, I immediately +distributed and compos’d it over again before I went to bed; and this +industry, visible to our neighbors, began to give us character and +credit; particularly, I was told, that mention being made of the new +printing-office at the merchants’ Every-night club, the general opinion +was that it must fail, there being already two printers in the place, +Keimer and Bradford; but Dr. Baird (whom you and I saw many years after +at his native place, St. Andrew’s in Scotland) gave a contrary opinion: +“For the industry of that Franklin,” says he, “is superior to any thing +I ever saw of the kind; I see him still at work when I go home from +club, and he is at work again before his neighbors are out of bed.” +This struck the rest, and we soon after had offers from one of them to +supply us with stationery; but as yet we did not chuse to engage in +shop business.</p> + +<p> +I mention this industry the more particularly and the more freely, tho’ +it seems to be talking in my own praise, that those of my posterity, +who shall read it, may know the use of that virtue, when they see its +effects in my favour throughout this relation.</p> + +<p> +George Webb, who had found a female friend that lent him wherewith to +purchase his time of Keimer, now came to offer himself as a journeyman +to us. We could not then imploy him; but I foolishly let him know as a +secret that I soon intended to begin a newspaper, and might then have +work for him. My hopes of success, as I told him, were founded on +this, that the then only newspaper, printed by Bradford, was a paltry +thing, wretchedly manag’d, no way entertaining, and yet was profitable +to him; I therefore thought a good paper would scarcely fail of good +encouragement. I requested Webb not to mention it; but he told it to +Keimer, who immediately, to be beforehand with me, published proposals +for printing one himself, on which Webb was to be employ’d. I resented +this; and, to counteract them, as I could not yet begin our paper, I +wrote several pieces of entertainment for Bradford’s paper, under the +title of the <span class="smcap">Busy Body</span>, which Breintnal +continu’d some months. By this means the attention of the publick was +fixed on that paper, and Keimer’s proposals, which we burlesqu’d and +ridicul’d, were disregarded. He began his paper, however, and, after +carrying it on three quarters of a year, with at most only ninety +subscribers, he offered it to me for a trifle; and I, having been ready +some time to go on with it, took it in hand directly; and it prov’d in +a few years extremely profitable to me.</p> + +<p> +I perceive that I am apt to speak in the singular number, though our +partnership still continu’d; the reason may be that, in fact, the whole +management of the business lay upon me. Meredith was no compositor, a +poor pressman, and seldom sober. My friends lamented my connection +with him, but I was to make the best of it.</p> + +<p>Our first papers made a quite different appearance from any before in +the province; a better type, and better printed; but some spirited +remarks of my writing, on the dispute then going on between Governor +Burnet and the Massachusetts Assembly, struck the principal people, +occasioned the paper and the manager of it to be much talk’d of, and in +a few weeks brought them all to be our subscribers.</p> + +<p> +Their example was follow’d by many, and our number went on growing +continually. This was one of the first +good effects of my having +learnt a little to scribble; another was, that the leading men, seeing +a newspaper now in the hands of one who could also handle a pen, +thought it convenient to oblige and encourage me. Bradford still +printed the votes, and laws, and other publick business. He had +printed an address of the House to the governor, in a coarse, +blundering manner, we reprinted it elegantly and correctly, and sent +one to every member. They were sensible of the difference: it +strengthened the hands of our friends in the House, and they voted us +their printers for the year ensuing.</p> + +<p> +Among my friends in the House I must not forget Mr. Hamilton, before +mentioned, who was then returned from England, and had a seat in it. +He interested himself for me strongly in that instance, as he did in +many others afterward, continuing his patronage till his death. +<span class="superscript">[6]</span> </p> + +<div class="footer"> +<p class="footer"> +<a name="footer_63-6"></a> +<span class="superscript">[6]</span> +I got his son once £500.—[<i>Marg. note.</i>] +</p> +</div> + +<p> +Mr. Vernon, about this time, put me in mind of the debt I ow’d him, but +did not press me. I wrote him an ingenuous letter of acknowledgment, +crav’d his forbearance a little longer, which he allow’d me, and as +soon as I was able, I paid the principal with interest, and many +thanks; so that erratum was in some degree corrected.</p> + +<p> +But now another difficulty came upon me which I had never the least +reason to expect. Mr. Meredith’s father, who was to have paid for our +printing-house, according to the expectations given me, was able to +advance only one hundred pounds currency, which had been paid; and a +hundred more was due to the merchant, who grew impatient, and su’d us +all. We gave bail, but saw that, if the money could not be rais’d in +time, the suit must soon come to a judgment and execution, and our +hopeful prospects must, with us, be ruined, as the press and letters +must be sold for payment, perhaps at half price.</p> + +<p> +In this distress two true friends, whose kindness I have never +forgotten, nor ever shall forget while I can remember any thing, came +to me separately, unknown to each other, and, without any application +from me, offering each of them to advance me all the money that should +be necessary to enable me to take the whole business upon myself, if +that should be practicable; but they did not like my continuing +the +partnership with Meredith, who, as they said, was often seen drunk in +the streets, and playing at low games in alehouses, much to our +discredit. These two friends were William Coleman and Robert Grace. I +told them I could not propose a separation while any prospect remain’d +of the Merediths’ fulfilling their part of our agreement, because I +thought myself under great obligations to them for what they had done, +and would do if they could; but, if they finally fail’d in their +performance, and our partnership must be dissolv’d, I should then think +myself at liberty to accept the assistance of my friends.</p> + +<p> +Thus the matter rested for some time, when I said to my partner, +“Perhaps your father is dissatisfied at the part you have undertaken in +this affair of ours, and is unwilling to advance for you and me what he +would for you alone. If that is the case, tell me, and I will resign +the whole to you, and go about my business.” “No,” said he, “my father +has really been disappointed, and is really unable; and I am unwilling +to distress him farther. I see this is a business I am not fit for. I +was bred a farmer, and it was a folly in me to come to town, and put +myself, at thirty years of age, an apprentice to learn a new trade. +Many of our Welsh people are going to settle in North Carolina, where +land is cheap. I am inclin’d to go with them, and follow my old +employment. You may find friends to assist you. If you will take the +debts of the company upon you; return to my father the hundred pound he +has advanced; pay my little personal debts, and give me thirty pounds +and a new saddle, I will relinquish the partnership, and leave the +whole in your hands.” I agreed to this proposal: it was drawn up in +writing, sign’d, and seal’d immediately. I gave him what he demanded, +and he went soon after to Carolina, from whence he sent me next year +two long letters, containing the best account that had been given of +that country, the climate, the soil, husbandry, etc., for in those +matters he was very judicious. I printed them in the papers, and they +gave great satisfaction to the publick.</p> + +<p> +As soon as he was gone, I recurr’d to my two friends; and because I +would not give an unkind preference to either, I took half of what each +had offered and I wanted of one, +and half of the other; paid off the +company’s debts, and went on with the business in my own name, +advertising that the partnership was dissolved. I think this was in or +about the year 1729.</p> + +<p> +About this time there was a cry among the people for more paper money, +only fifteen thousand pounds being extant in the province, and that +soon to be sunk. The wealthy inhabitants oppos’d any addition, being +against all paper currency, from an apprehension that it would +depreciate, as it had done in New England, to the prejudice of all +creditors. We had discuss’d this point in our Junto, where I was on +the side of an addition, being persuaded that the first small sum +struck in 1723 had done much good by increasing the trade, employment, +and number of inhabitants in the province, since I now saw all the old +houses inhabited, and many new ones building: whereas I remembered +well, that when I first walk’d about the streets of Philadelphia, +eating my roll, I saw most of the houses in Walnut-street, between +Second and Front streets, with bills on their doors, “To be let”; and +many likewise in Chestnut-street and other streets, which made me then +think the inhabitants of the city were deserting it one after another.</p> + +<p> +Our debates possess’d me so fully of the subject, that I wrote and +printed an anonymous pamphlet on it, entitled “<i>The Nature and Necessity +of a Paper Currency</i>.” It was well receiv’d by the common people in +general; but the rich men dislik’d it, for it increas’d and +strengthen’d the clamor for more money, and they happening to have no +writers among them that were able to answer it, their opposition +slacken’d, and the point was carried by a majority in the House. My +friends there, who conceiv’d I had been of some service, thought fit to +reward me by employing me in printing the money; a very profitable jobb +and a great help to me. This was another advantage gain’d by my being +able to write.</p> + +<p> +The utility of this currency became by time and experience so evident +as never afterwards to be much disputed; so that it grew soon to +fifty-five thousand pounds, and in 1739 to eighty thousand pounds, +since which it arose during war to upwards of three hundred and fifty +thousand pounds, +trade, building, and inhabitants all the while +increasing, tho’ I now think there are limits beyond which the quantity +may be hurtful.</p> + +<p> +I soon after obtain’d, thro’ my friend Hamilton, the printing of the +Newcastle paper money, another profitable jobb as I then thought it; +small things appearing great to those in small circumstances; and +these, to me, were really great advantages, as they were great +encouragements. He procured for me, also, the printing of the laws and +votes of that government, which continu’d in my hands as long as I +follow’d the business.</p> + +<p> +I now open’d a little stationer’s shop. I had in it blanks of all +sorts, the correctest that ever appear’d among us, being assisted in +that by my friend Breintnal. I had also paper, parchment, chapmen’s +books, etc. One Whitemash, a compositor I had known in London, an +excellent workman, now came to me, and work’d with me constantly and +diligently; and I took an apprentice, the son of Aquila Rose.</p> + +<p> +I began now gradually to pay off the debt I was under for the +printing-house. In order to secure my credit and character as a +tradesman, I took care not only to be in <i>reality</i> industrious and +frugal, but to avoid all appearances to the contrary. I drest plainly; +I was seen at no places of idle diversion. I never went out a fishing +or shooting; a book, indeed, sometimes debauch’d me from my work, but +that was seldom, snug, and gave no scandal; and, to show that I was not +above my business, I sometimes brought home the paper I purchas’d at +the stores thro’ the streets on a wheelbarrow. Thus being esteem’d an +industrious, thriving young man, and paying duly for what I bought, the +merchants who imported stationery solicited my custom; others proposed +supplying me with books, and I went on swimmingly. In the mean time, +Keimer’s credit and business declining daily, he was at last forc’d to +sell his printing-house to satisfy his creditors. He went to +Barbadoes, and there lived some years in very poor circumstances.</p> + +<p> +His apprentice, David Harry, whom I had instructed while I work’d with +him, set up in his place at Philadelphia, having bought his materials. +I was at first apprehensive of a powerful rival in Harry, as his +friends were very able, +and had a good deal of interest. I therefore +propos’d a partnership to him which he, fortunately for me, rejected +with scorn. He was very proud, dress’d like a gentleman, liv’d +expensively, took much diversion and pleasure abroad, ran in debt, and +neglected his business; upon which, all business left him; and, finding +nothing to do, he followed Keimer to Barbadoes, taking the +printing-house with him. There this apprentice employ’d his former +master as a journeyman; they quarrel’d often; Harry went continually +behindhand, and at length was forc’d to sell his types and return to +his country work in Pensilvania. The person that bought them employ’d +Keimer to use them, but in a few years he died.</p> + +<p> +There remained now no competitor with me at Philadelphia but the old +one, Bradford; who was rich and easy, did a little printing now and +then by straggling hands, but was not very anxious about the business. +However, as he kept the post-office, it was imagined he had better +opportunities of obtaining news; his paper was thought a better +distributer of advertisements than mine, and therefore had many more, +which was a profitable thing to him, and a disadvantage to me; for, +tho’ I did indeed receive and send papers by the post, yet the publick +opinion was otherwise, for what I did send was by bribing the riders, +who took them privately, Bradford being unkind enough to forbid it, +which occasion’d some resentment on my part; and I thought so meanly of +him for it, that, when I afterward came into his situation, I took care +never to imitate it.</p> + +<p> +I had hitherto continu’d to board with Godfrey, who lived in part of my +house with his wife and children, and had one side of the shop for his +glazier’s business, tho’ he worked little, being always absorbed in his +mathematics. Mrs. Godfrey projected a match for me with a relation’s +daughter, took opportunities of bringing us often together, till a +serious courtship on my part ensu’d, the girl being in herself very +deserving. The old folks encourag’d me by continual invitations to +supper, and by leaving us together, till at length it was time to +explain. Mrs. Godfrey manag’d our little treaty. I let her know that +I expected as much money with their daughter as would pay off my +remaining debt for the printing-house, which I believe was not then +above a +hundred pounds. She brought me word they had no such sum to +spare; I said they might mortgage their house in the loan-office. The +answer to this, after some days, was, that they did not approve the +match; that, on inquiry of Bradford, they had been inform’d the +printing business was not a profitable one; the types would soon be +worn out, and more wanted; that S. Keimer and D. Harry had failed one +after the other, and I should probably soon follow them; and, +therefore, I was forbidden the house, and the daughter shut up.</p> + +<p> +Whether this was a real change of sentiment or only artifice, on a +supposition of our being too far engaged in affection to retract, and +therefore that we should steal a marriage, which would leave them at +liberty to give or withhold what they pleas’d, I know not; but I +suspected the latter, resented it, and went no more. Mrs. Godfrey +brought me afterward some more favorable accounts of their disposition, +and would have drawn me on again; but I declared absolutely my +resolution to have nothing more to do with that family. This was +resented by the Godfreys; we differ’d, and they removed, leaving me the +whole house, and I resolved to take no more inmates.</p> + +<p> +But this affair having turned my thoughts to marriage, I look’d round +me and made overtures of acquaintance in other places; but soon found +that, the business of a printer being generally thought a poor one, I +was not to expect money with a wife, unless with such a one as I should +not otherwise think agreeable. In the mean time, that +hard-to-be-governed passion of youth hurried me frequently into +intrigues with low women that fell in my way, which were attended with +some expense and great inconvenience, besides a continual risque to my +health by a distemper which of all things I dreaded, though by great +good luck I escaped it. A friendly correspondence as neighbors and old +acquaintances had continued between me and Mrs. Read’s family, who all +had a regard for me from the time of my first lodging in their house. +I was often invited there and consulted in their affairs, wherein I +sometimes was of service. I piti’d poor Miss Read’s unfortunate +situation, who was generally dejected, seldom cheerful, and avoided +company. +I considered my giddiness and inconstancy when in London as +in a great degree the cause of her unhappiness, tho’ the mother was +good enough to think the fault more her own than mine, as she had +prevented our marrying before I went thither, and persuaded the other +match in my absence. Our mutual affection was revived, but there were +now great objections to our union. The match was indeed looked upon as +invalid, a preceding wife being said to be living in England; but this +could not easily be prov’d, because of the distance; and, tho’ there +was a report of his death, it was not certain. Then, tho’ it should be +true, he had left many debts, which his successor might be call’d upon +to pay. We ventured, however, over all these difficulties, and I took +her to wife, September 1st, 1730. None of the inconveniences happened +that we had apprehended; she proved a good and faithful helpmate, +assisted me much by attending the shop; we throve together, and have +ever mutually endeavored to make each other happy. Thus I corrected +that great <i>erratum</i> as well as I could.</p> + +<p> +About this time, our club meeting, not at a tavern, but in a little +room of Mr. Grace’s, set apart for that purpose, a proposition was made +by me, that, since our books were often referr’d to in our +disquisitions upon the queries, it might be convenient to us to have +them altogether where we met, that upon occasion they might be +consulted; and by thus clubbing our books to a common library, we +should, while we lik’d to keep them together, have each of us the +advantage of using the books of all the other members, which would be +nearly as beneficial as if each owned the whole. It was lik’d and +agreed to, and we fill’d one end of the room with such books as we +could best spare. The number was not so great as we expected; and tho’ +they had been of great use, yet some inconveniences occurring for want +of due care of them, the collection, after about a year, was separated, +and each took his books home again.</p> + +<p> +And now I set on foot my first project of a public nature, that for a +subscription library. I drew up the proposals, got them put into form +by our great scrivener, Brockden, and, by the help of my friends in the +Junto, procured fifty subscribers of forty shillings each to begin +with, and ten +shillings a year for fifty years, the term our company +was to continue. We afterwards obtain’d a charter, the company being +increased to one hundred: this was the mother of all the North +American subscription libraries, now so numerous. It is become a great +thing itself, and continually increasing. These libraries have +improved the general conversation of the Americans, made the common +tradesmen and farmers as intelligent as most gentlemen from other +countries, and perhaps have contributed in some degree to the stand so +generally made throughout the colonies in defense of their privileges.</p> + +<p> +<i>Memo</i>. Thus far was written with the intention express’d in the +beginning and therefore contains several little family anecdotes of no +importance to others. What follows was written many years after in +compliance with the advice contain’d in these letters, and accordingly +intended for the public. The affairs of the Revolution occasion’d the +interruption.</p> + +<hr class="break" /> + +<h2 class="break"> +<a name="part2"></a> +<a href="#contents">Letter from Mr. Abel James,</a></h2> +<p class="letter_greeting center italic" style="margin-top:0;"> +with Notes of my Life (received in Paris).</p> + +<p> +“<span class="smcap">My Dear and Honored Friend</span>: +I have often been desirous of writing to +thee, but could not be reconciled to the thought that the letter might +fall into the hands of the British, lest some printer or busy-body +should publish some part of the contents, and give our friend pain, and +myself censure.</p> + +<p>“Some time since there fell into my hands, to my great joy, about +twenty-three sheets in thy own handwriting, containing an account of +the parentage and life of thyself, directed to thy son, ending in the +year 1730, with which there were notes, likewise in thy writing; a copy +of which I inclose, in hopes it may be a means, if thou continued it up +to a later period, that the first and latter part may be put together; +and if it is not yet continued, I hope thee will not delay it. Life is +uncertain, as the preacher tells us; and what will the world say if +kind, humane, and benevolent Ben. Franklin should leave his friends +and the world deprived of so pleasing and profitable a work; a work +which would be useful and entertaining not only to a few, but to +millions? The influence writings under that class have on the minds of +youth is very great, and has nowhere appeared to me so plain, as in our +public friend’s journals. It almost insensibly leads the youth into +the resolution of endeavoring to become as good and eminent as the +journalist. Should thine, for instance, when published (and I think it +could not fail of it), lead the youth to equal the industry and +temperance of thy early youth, what a blessing with that class would +such a work be! I know of no character living, nor many of them put +together, who has so much in his power as thyself to promote a greater +spirit of industry +and early attention to business, frugality, and +temperance with the American youth. Not that I think the work would +have no other merit and use in the world, far from it; but the first is +of such vast importance that I know nothing that can equal it.”</p> + +<p class="double-space-top"> +The foregoing letter and the minutes accompanying it being shown to a +friend, I received from him the following:</p> + +<p class="letter_greeting center italic"> +Letter from Mr. Benjamin Vaughan.</p> + +<p class="right small"> +<span class="smcap">“Paris</span>, <i>January 31</i>, 1783.</p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">“My Dearest Sir</span>: +When I had read over your sheets of minutes of the +principal incidents of your life, recovered for you by your Quaker +acquaintance, I told you I would send you a letter expressing my +reasons why I thought it would be useful to complete and publish it as +he desired. Various concerns have for some time past prevented this +letter being written, and I do not know whether it was worth any +expectation; happening to be at leisure, however, at present, I shall +by writing, at least interest and instruct myself; but as the terms I +am inclined to use may tend to offend a person of your manners, I shall +only tell you how I would address any other person, who was as good and +as great as yourself, but less diffident. I would say to him, Sir, I +solicit the history of your life from the following motives: Your +history is so remarkable, that if you do not give it, somebody else +will certainly give it; and perhaps so as nearly to do as much harm, as +your own management of the thing might do good. It will moreover +present a table of the internal circumstances of your country, which +will very much tend to invite to it settlers of virtuous and manly +minds. And considering the eagerness with which such information is +sought by them, and the extent of your reputation, I do not know of a +more efficacious advertisement than your biography would give. All +that has happened to you is also connected with the detail of the +manners and situation of a rising people; and in this respect I do not +think that the writings of Cæsar and Tacitus can be more interesting +to a true judge of human nature and +society. But these, sir, are small +reasons, in my opinion, compared with the chance which your life will +give for the forming of future great men; and in conjunction with your +Art of Virtue (which you design to publish) of improving the features +of private character, and consequently of aiding all happiness, both +public and domestic. The two works I allude to, sir, will in +particular give a noble rule and example of self-education. School and +other education constantly proceed upon false principles, and show a +clumsy apparatus pointed at a false mark; but your apparatus is simple, +and the mark a true one; and while parents and young persons are left +destitute of other just means of estimating and becoming prepared for a +reasonable course in life, your discovery that the thing is in many a +man’s private power, will be invaluable! Influence upon the private +character, late in life, is not only an influence late in life, but a +weak influence. It is in youth that we plant our chief habits and +prejudices; it is in youth that we take our party as to profession, +pursuits and matrimony. In youth, therefore, the turn is given; in +youth the education even of the next generation is given; in youth the +private and public character is determined; and the term of life +extending but from youth to age, life ought to begin well from youth, +and more especially before we take our party as to our principal +objects. But your biography will not merely teach self-education, but +the education of a wise man; and the wisest man will receive lights and +improve his progress, by seeing detailed the conduct of another wise +man. And why are weaker men to be deprived of such helps, when we see +our race has been blundering on in the dark, almost without a guide in +this particular, from the farthest trace of time? Show then, sir, how +much is to be done, both to sons and fathers; and invite all wise men +to become like yourself, and other men to become wise. When we see how +cruel statesmen and warriors can be to the human race, and how absurd +distinguished men can be to their acquaintance, it will be instructive +to observe the instances multiply of pacific, acquiescing manners; and +to find how compatible it is to be great and domestic, enviable and yet +good-humored.</p> + +<p> +“The little private incidents which you will also have to relate, will +have considerable use, as we want, above all things, rules of prudence +in ordinary affairs; and it will be curious to see how you have acted +in these. It will be so far a sort of key to life, and explain many +things that all men ought to have once explained to them, to give them +a chance of becoming wise by foresight. The nearest thing to having +experience of one’s own, is to have other people’s affairs brought +before us in a shape that is interesting; this is sure to happen from +your pen; our affairs and management will have an air of simplicity or +importance that will not fail to strike; and I am convinced you have +conducted them with as much originality as if you had been conducting +discussions in politics or philosophy; and what more worthy of +experiments and system (its importance and its errors considered) than +human life?</p> + +<p> +“Some men have been virtuous blindly, others have speculated +fantastically, and others have been shrewd to bad purposes; but you, +sir, I am sure, will give under your hand, nothing but what is at the +same moment, wise, practical and good. Your account of yourself (for I +suppose the parallel I am drawing for Dr. Franklin, will hold not only +in point of character, but of private history) will show that you are +ashamed of no origin; a thing the more important, as you prove how +little necessary all origin is to happiness, virtue, or greatness. As +no end likewise happens without a means, so we shall find, sir, that +even you yourself framed a plan by which you became considerable; but +at the same time we may see that though the event is flattering, the +means are as simple as wisdom could make them; that is, depending upon +nature, virtue, thought and habit. Another thing demonstrated will be +the propriety of every man’s waiting for his time for appearing upon the +stage of the world. Our sensations being very much fixed to the +moment, we are apt to forget that more moments are to follow the first, +and consequently that man should arrange his conduct so as to suit the +whole of a life. Your attribution appears to have been applied to your +life, and the passing moments of it have been enlivened with content +and enjoyment, instead of being tormented with foolish +impatience or +regrets. Such a conduct is easy for those who make virtue and +themselves in countenance by examples of other truly great men, of whom +patience is so often the characteristic. Your Quaker correspondent, +sir (for here again I will suppose the subject of my letter resembling +Dr. Franklin), praised your frugality, diligence and temperance, which +he considered as a pattern for all youth; but it is singular that he +should have forgotten your modesty and your disinterestedness, without +which you never could have waited for your advancement, or found your +situation in the mean time comfortable; which is a strong lesson to +show the poverty of glory and the importance of regulating our minds. +If this correspondent had known the nature of your reputation as well +as I do, he would have said, Your former writings and measures would +secure attention to your Biography, and Art of Virtue; and your +Biography and Art of Virtue, in return, would secure attention to them. +This is an advantage attendant upon a various character, and which +brings all that belongs to it into greater play; and it is the more +useful, as perhaps more persons are at a loss for the means of +improving their minds and characters, than they are for the time or the +inclination to do it. But there is one concluding reflection, sir, +that will shew the use of your life as a mere piece of biography. This +style of writing seems a little gone out of vogue, and yet it is a very +useful one; and your specimen of it may be particularly serviceable, as +it will make a subject of comparison with the lives of various public +cutthroats and intriguers, and with absurd monastic self-tormentors or +vain literary triflers. If it encourages more writings of the same +kind with your own, and induces more men to spend lives fit to be +written, it will be worth all Plutarch’s Lives put together. But being +tired of figuring to myself a character of which every feature suits +only one man in the world, without giving him the praise of it, I shall +end my letter, my dear Dr. Franklin, with a personal application to +your proper self. I am earnestly desirous, then, my dear sir, that you +should let the world into the traits of your genuine character, as +civil broils may otherwise tend to disguise or traduce it. Considering +your great age, the +caution of your character, and your peculiar style +of thinking, it is not likely that any one besides yourself can be +sufficiently master of the facts of your life, or the intentions of +your mind. Besides all this, the immense revolution of the present +period, will necessarily turn our attention towards the author of it, +and when virtuous principles have been pretended in it, it will be +highly important to shew that such have really influenced; and, as your +own character will be the principal one to receive a scrutiny, it is +proper (even for its effects upon your vast and rising country, as well +as upon England and upon Europe) that it should stand respectable and +eternal. For the furtherance of human happiness, I have always +maintained that it is necessary to prove that man is not even at +present a vicious and detestable animal; and still more to prove that +good management may greatly amend him; and it is for much the same +reason, that I am anxious to see the opinion established, that there +are fair characters existing among the individuals of the race; for the +moment that all men, without exception, shall be conceived abandoned, +good people will cease efforts deemed to be hopeless, and perhaps think +of taking their share in the scramble of life, or at least of making it +comfortable principally for themselves. Take then, my dear sir, this +work most speedily into hand: shew yourself good as you are good; +temperate as you are temperate; and above all things, prove yourself as +one, who from your infancy have loved justice, liberty and concord, in +a way that has made it natural and consistent for you to have acted, as +we have seen you act in the last seventeen years of your life. Let +Englishmen be made not only to respect, but even to love you. When +they think well of individuals in your native country, they will go +nearer to thinking well of your country; and when your countrymen see +themselves well thought of by Englishmen, they will go nearer to +thinking well of England. Extend your views even further; do not stop +at those who speak the English tongue, but after having settled so many +points in nature and politics, think of bettering the whole race of +men. As I have not read any part of the life in question, but know +only the character that lived it, I write somewhat at hazard. +I am +sure, however, that the life and the treatise I allude to (on the Art +of Virtue) will necessarily fulfil the chief of my expectations; and +still more so if you take up the measure of suiting these performances +to the several views above stated. Should they even prove unsuccessful +in all that a sanguine admirer of yours hopes from them, you will at +least have framed pieces to interest the human mind; and whoever gives +a feeling of pleasure that is innocent to man, has added so much to the +fair side of a life otherwise too much darkened by anxiety and too much +injured by pain. In the hope, therefore, that you will listen to the +prayer addressed to you in this letter, I beg to subscribe myself, my +dearest sir, etc., etc.,</p> + +<p class="right">“Signed, +<span class="smcap">Benj. Vaughan</span>.”</p> + +<p class="letter_greeting center italic"> +Continuation of the Account of my Life, begun at Passy, near Paris, 1784.</p> + +<p> +It is some time since I receiv’d the above letters, but I have been too +busy till now to think of complying with the request they contain. It +might, too, be much better done if I were at home among my papers, +which would aid my memory, and help to ascertain dates; but my return +being uncertain and having just now a little leisure, I will endeavor +to recollect and write what I can; if I live to get home, it may there +be corrected and improv’d.</p> + +<p>Not having any copy here of what is already written, I know not whether +an account is given of the means I used to establish the Philadelphia +public library, which, from a small beginning, is now become so +considerable, though I remember to have come down to near the time of +that transaction (1730). I will therefore begin here with an account of +it, which may be struck out if found to have been already given.</p> + +<p>At the time I establish’d myself in Pennsylvania, there was not a good +bookseller’s shop in any of the colonies to the southward of Boston. +In New York and Philad’a the printers were indeed stationers; they sold +only paper, etc., almanacs, ballads, and a few common school-books. +Those +who lov’d reading were oblig’d to send for their books from +England; the members of the Junto had each a few. We had left the +alehouse, where we first met, and hired a room to hold our club in. I +propos’d that we should all of us bring our books to that room, where +they would not only be ready to consult in our conferences, but become +a common benefit, each of us being at liberty to borrow such as he +wish’d to read at home. This was accordingly done, and for some time +contented us.</p> + +<p> +Finding the advantage of this little collection, I propos’d to render +the benefit from books more common, by commencing a public subscription +library. I drew a sketch of the plan and rules that would be +necessary, and got a skilful conveyancer, Mr. Charles Brockden, to put +the whole in form of articles of agreement to be subscribed, by which +each subscriber engag’d to pay a certain sum down for the first +purchase of books, and an annual contribution for increasing them. So +few were the readers at that time in Philadelphia, and the majority of +us so poor, that I was not able, with great industry; to find more than +fifty persons, mostly young tradesmen, willing to pay down for this +purpose forty shillings each, and ten shillings per annum. On this +little fund we began. The books were imported; the library was opened +one day in the week for lending to the subscribers, on their promissory +notes to pay double the value if not duly returned. The institution +soon manifested its utility, was imitated by other towns, and in other +provinces. The libraries were augmented by donations; reading became +fashionable; and our people, having no publick amusements to divert +their attention from study, became better acquainted with books, and in +a few years were observ’d by strangers to be better instructed and more +intelligent than people of the same rank generally are in other +countries.</p> + +<p> +When we were about to sign the above-mentioned articles, which were to +be binding upon us, our heirs, etc., for fifty years, Mr. Brockden, the +scrivener, said to us, “You are young men, but it is scarcely probable +that any of you will live to see the expiration of the term fix’d in +the instrument.” A number of us, however, are yet +living; but the +instrument was after a few years rendered null by a charter that +incorporated and gave perpetuity to the company.</p> + +<p> +The objections and reluctances I met with in soliciting the +subscriptions, made me soon feel the impropriety of presenting one’s +self as the proposer of any useful project, that might be suppos’d to +raise one’s reputation in the smallest degree above that of one’s +neighbors, when one has need of their assistance to accomplish that +project. I therefore put myself as much as I could out of sight, and +stated it as a scheme of a <i>number of friends</i>, who had requested me to +go about and propose it to such as they thought lovers of reading. In +this way my affair went on more smoothly, and I ever after practis’d it +on such occasions; and, from my frequent successes, can heartily +recommend it. The present little sacrifice of your vanity will +afterwards be amply repaid. If it remains a while uncertain to whom +the merit belongs, some one more vain than yourself will be encouraged +to claim it, and then even envy will be disposed to do you justice by +plucking those assumed feathers, and restoring them to their right +owner.</p> + +<p> +This library afforded me the means of improvement by constant study, +for which I set apart an hour or two each day, and thus repair’d in +some degree the loss of the learned education my father once intended +for me. Reading was the only amusement I allow’d myself. I spent no +time in taverns, games, or frolicks of any kind; and my industry in my +business continu’d as indefatigable as it was necessary. I was +indebted for my printing-house; I had a young family coming on to be +educated, and I had to contend with for business two printers, who were +established in the place before me. My circumstances, however, grew +daily easier. My original habits of frugality continuing, and my +father having, among his instructions to me when a boy, frequently +repeated a proverb of Solomon, “Seest thou a man diligent in his +calling, he shall stand before kings, he shall not stand before mean +men,” I from thence considered industry as a means of obtaining wealth +and distinction, which encourag’d me, tho’ I did not think that I +should ever literally <i>stand before kings</i>, which, however, +has since happened; for I have +stood before <i>five</i>, and even had the honor of +sitting down with one, the King of Denmark, to dinner.</p> + +<p> +We have an English proverb that says, “<i>He that would thrive, must ask +his wife</i>.” It was lucky for me that I had one as much dispos’d to +industry and frugality as myself. She assisted me cheerfully in my +business, folding and stitching pamphlets, tending shop, purchasing old +linen rags for the papermakers, etc., etc. We kept no idle servants, +our table was plain and simple, our furniture of the cheapest. For +instance, my breakfast was a long time bread and milk (no tea), and I +ate it out of a twopenny earthen porringer, with a pewter spoon. But +mark how luxury will enter families, and make a progress, in spite of +principle: being call’d one morning to breakfast, I found it in a +China bowl, with a spoon of silver! They had been bought for me +without my knowledge by my wife, and had cost her the enormous sum of +three-and-twenty shillings, for which she had no other excuse or +apology to make, but that she thought <i>her</i> husband deserv’d a silver +spoon and China bowl as well as any of his neighbors. This was the +first appearance of plate and China in our house, which afterward, in a +course of years, as our wealth increas’d, augmented gradually to +several hundred pounds in value.</p> + +<p> +I had been religiously educated as a Presbyterian; and tho’ some of the +dogmas of that persuasion, such as the <i>eternal decrees of God, +election, reprobation, etc.</i>, appeared to me unintelligible, others +doubtful, and I early absented myself from the public assemblies of the +sect, Sunday being my studying day, I never was without some religious +principles. I never doubted, for instance, the existence of the Deity; +that he made the world, and govern’d it by his Providence; that the +most acceptable service of God was the doing good to man; that our +souls are immortal; and that all crime will be punished, and virtue +rewarded, either here or hereafter. These I esteem’d the essentials of +every religion; and, being to be found in all the religions we had in +our country, I respected them all, tho’ with different degrees of +respect, as I found them more or less mix’d with other articles, which, +without any tendency to inspire, promote, or confirm morality, serv’d +principally to divide us, +and make us unfriendly to one another. This +respect to all, with an opinion that the worst had some good effects, +induc’d me to avoid all discourse that might tend to lessen the good +opinion another might have of his own religion; and as our province +increas’d in people, and new places of worship were continually wanted, +and generally erected by voluntary contributions, my mite for such +purpose, whatever might be the sect, was never refused.</p> + +<p> +Tho’ I seldom attended any public worship, I had still an opinion of +its propriety, and of its utility when rightly conducted, and I +regularly paid my annual subscription for the support of the only +Presbyterian minister or meeting we had in Philadelphia. He us’d to +visit me sometimes as a friend, and admonish me to attend his +administrations, and I was now and then prevail’d on to do so, once for +five Sundays successively. Had he been in my opinion a good preacher, +perhaps I might have continued, notwithstanding the occasion I had for +the Sunday’s leisure in my course of study; but his discourses were +chiefly either polemic arguments, or explications of the peculiar +doctrines of our sect, and were all to me very dry, uninteresting, and +unedifying, since not a single moral principle was inculcated or +enforc’d, their aim seeming to be rather to make us Presbyterians than +good citizens.</p> + +<p> +At length he took for his text that verse of the fourth chapter of +Philippians, “<i>Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, honest, +just, pure, lovely, or of good report, if there be any virtue, or any +praise, think on these things</i>.” And I imagin’d, in a sermon on such a +text, we could not miss of having some morality. But he confin’d +himself to five points only, as meant by the apostle, viz.: 1. Keeping +holy the Sabbath day. 2. Being diligent in reading the holy +Scriptures. 3. Attending duly the publick worship. 4. Partaking of +the Sacrament. 5. Paying a due respect to God’s ministers. These +might be all good things; but, as they were not the kind of good things +that I expected from that text, I despaired of ever meeting with them +from any other, was disgusted, and attended his preaching no more. I +had some years before compos’d a little Liturgy, or form of prayer, for +my own private use (viz., in 1728), entitled, +<i>Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion</i>. I return’d to the use +of this, and went no more to the public assemblies. My conduct might +be blameable, but I leave it, without attempting further to excuse it; +my present purpose being to relate facts, and not to make apologies +for them.</p> + +<p> +It was about this time I conceiv’d the bold and arduous project of +arriving at moral perfection. I wish’d to live without committing any +fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclination, +custom, or company might lead me into. As I knew, or thought I knew, +what was right and wrong, I did not see why I might not always do the +one and avoid the other. But I soon found I had undertaken a task of +more difficulty than I had imagined. While my care was employ’d in +guarding against one fault, I was often surprised by another; habit +took the advantage of inattention; inclination was sometimes too strong +for reason. I concluded, at length, that the mere speculative +conviction that it was our interest to be completely virtuous, was not +sufficient to prevent our slipping; and that the contrary habits must +be broken, and good ones acquired and established, before we can have +any dependence on a steady, uniform rectitude of conduct. For this +purpose I therefore contrived the following method.</p> + +<p> +In the various enumerations of the moral virtues I had met with in my +reading, I found the catalogue more or less numerous, as different +writers included more or fewer ideas under the same name. Temperance, +for example, was by some confined to eating and drinking, while by +others it was extended to mean the moderating every other pleasure, +appetite, inclination, or passion, bodily or mental, even to our +avarice and ambition. I propos’d to myself, for the sake of clearness, +to use rather more names, with fewer ideas annex’d to each, than a few +names with more ideas; and I included under thirteen names of virtues +all that at that time occurr’d to me as necessary or desirable, and +annexed to each a short precept, which fully express’d the extent I +gave to its meaning.</p> + +<p> +These names of virtues, with their precepts, were:</p> + +<dl> +<dt>1. Temperance. </dt> +<dd>Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.</dd> +<dt>2. Silence. </dt> +<dd>Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid +trifling conversation.</dd> +<dt>3. Order.</dt> +<dd>Let all your things have their places; let each part of +your business have its time.</dd> +<dt>4. Resolution.</dt> +<dd>Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without +fail what you resolve.</dd> +<dt>5. Frugality.</dt> +<dd>Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; +<i>i.e.</i>, waste nothing.</dd> +<dt>6. Industry.</dt> +<dd>Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; +cut off all unnecessary actions.</dd> +<dt>7. Sincerity.</dt> +<dd>Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, +and, if you speak, speak accordingly.</dd> +<dt>8. Justice.</dt> +<dd>Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits +that are your duty.</dd> +<dt>9. Moderation.</dt> +<dd>Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as +you think they deserve.</dd> +<dt>10. Cleanliness. +</dt> +<dd>Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or +habitation. +</dd> +<dt>11. Tranquillity.</dt> +<dd>Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common +or unavoidable.</dd> +<dt>12. Chastity.</dt> +<dd>Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to +dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or +reputation.</dd> +<dt>13. Humility.</dt> +<dd>Imitate Jesus and Socrates.</dd> +</dl> + +<p> +My intention being to acquire the <i>habitude</i> of all these virtues, I +judg’d it would be well not to distract my attention by attempting the +whole at once, but to fix it on one of them at a time; and, when I +should be master of that, then to proceed to another, and so on, till I +should have gone thro’ the thirteen; and, as the previous acquisition +of some might facilitate the acquisition of certain others, I arrang’d +them with that view, as they stand above. Temperance first, as it +tends to procure that coolness and clearness of head, which is so +necessary where constant vigilance was to be kept up, and guard +maintained against the unremitting attraction of ancient habits, and +the force of perpetual temptations. This being acquir’d and +establish’d, Silence would be more easy; and my desire being to gain +knowledge at the same time that I improv’d in virtue, and considering +that in conversation it was obtain’d rather by the use of the ears than +of the tongue, and therefore wishing to break a habit I was getting +into of prattling, punning, and joking, which only made me acceptable +to trifling company, I gave <i>Silence</i> the second place. This and the +next, <i>Order</i>, I expected would allow me more time for attending to my +project and my studies. <i>Resolution</i>, once become habitual, would keep +me firm in my endeavors to obtain all the subsequent +virtues; <i>Frugality</i> and Industry freeing me from my remaining debt, +and producing affluence and independence, would make more easy the practice +of Sincerity and Justice, etc., etc. Conceiving then, that, agreeably to +the advice of Pythagoras in his Golden Verses, daily examination would be +necessary, I contrived the following method for conducting that +examination.</p> + +<p>I made a little book, in which I allotted a page for each of the +virtues. I rul’d each page with red ink, so as to have seven columns, +one for each day of the week, marking each column with a letter for the +day. I cross’d these columns with thirteen red lines, marking the +beginning of each line with the first letter of one of the virtues, on +which line, and in its proper column, I might mark, by a little black +spot, every fault I found upon examination to have been committed +respecting that virtue upon that day.</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Form of the pages.</i></p> +<table class="morality" summary="Morality"> + +<tr> +<td class="subheader" colspan="8">TEMPERANCE.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="subheader" colspan="8"><small>eat not to dulness;<br/> +drink not to elevation.</small></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<th> </th> +<th>S.</th> +<th>M.</th> +<th>T.</th> +<th>W.</th> +<th>T.</th> +<th>F.</th> +<th>S.</th> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>T.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>S.</td> +<td>•</td> +<td>•</td> +<td> </td> +<td>•</td> +<td> </td> +<td>•</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>O.</td> +<td>••</td> +<td>•</td> +<td>•</td> +<td> </td> +<td>•</td> +<td>•</td> +<td>•</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>R.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td>•</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td>•</td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>F.</td> +<td> </td> +<td>•</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td>•</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>I.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td>•</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>S.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>J.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>M.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>C.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>T.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>C.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>H.</td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<p> +I determined to give a week’s strict attention to each of the virtues +successively. Thus, in the first week, my great guard was to avoid +every the least offence against <i>Temperance</i>, leaving the other virtues +to their ordinary chance, only marking every evening the faults of the +day. Thus, if in the first week I could keep my first line, marked T, +clear of spots, I suppos’d the habit of that virtue so much +strengthen’d, and its opposite weaken’d, that I might venture extending +my attention to include the next, and for the following week keep both +lines clear of spots. Proceeding thus to the last, I could go thro’ a +course compleat in thirteen weeks, and four courses in a year. And +like him who, having a garden to weed, does not attempt to eradicate +all the bad herbs at once, which would exceed his reach and his +strength, but works on one of the beds at a time, and, having +accomplish’d the first, proceeds to a second, so I should have, I +hoped, the encouraging pleasure of seeing on my pages the progress I +made in virtue, by clearing successively my lines of their spots, till +in the end, by a number of courses, I should be happy in viewing a +clean book, after a thirteen weeks’ daily examination.</p> + +<p> +This my little book had for its motto these lines from Addison’s <i>Cato</i>:</p> + +<div class="poem1"> +<p class="poem1 padding10">“Here will I hold. If there’s a power above us</p> +<p class="poem3 padding10">(And that there is, all nature cries aloud</p> +<p class="poem3 padding10">Thro’ all her works), He must delight in virtue;</p> +<p class="poem3 padding10">And that which he delights in must be happy.”</p> +</div> + +<p>Another from Cicero,</p> + +<p class="small"> +“O vitæ Philosophia dux! O virtutum indagatrix expultrixque vitiorum! +Unus dies, bene et ex præceptis tuis actus, peccanti immortalitati +est anteponendus.”</p> + +<p>Another from the Proverbs of Solomon, speaking of wisdom or virtue:</p> + +<p class="small"> +“Length of days is in her right hand, and in her +left hand riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her +paths are peace.” iii. 16, 17.</p> + +<p> +And conceiving God to be the fountain of wisdom, I thought it right and +necessary to solicit his assistance for obtaining it; to this end I +formed the following little prayer, +which was prefix’d to my tables of +examination, for daily use.</p> + +<p class="small italic"> +“O powerful Goodness! bountiful Father! merciful Guide! Increase in me +that wisdom which discovers my truest interest. Strengthen my +resolutions to perform what that wisdom dictates. Accept my kind +offices to thy other children as the only return in my power for thy +continual favors to me.”</p> + +<p> +I used also sometimes a little prayer which I took from Thomson’s +Poems, viz.:<br/> +</p> + +<div class="poem1"> +<p class="poem1 padding10">“Father of light and life, thou Good Supreme!</p> +<p class="poem3 padding10">O teach me what is good; teach me Thyself!</p> +<p class="poem3 padding10">Save me from folly, vanity, and vice,</p> +<p class="poem3 padding10">From every low pursuit; and fill my soul</p> +<p class="poem3 padding10">With knowledge, conscious peace, and virtue pure;</p> +<p class="poem3 padding10">Sacred, substantial, never-fading bliss!”</p> +</div> + +<p> +The precept of <i>Order</i> requiring that +<i>every part of my business should have its allotted time</i>, +one page in my little book contain’d the following scheme of +employment for the twenty-four hours of a natural day:</p> + +<table class="order_work" summary="The Order of Work"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="c2"> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> +<span class="smcap">The Morning.</span><br/> +<i>Question.</i><br/> +What good shall I do this day? +</td> +<td class="c2">5<br/>6<br/><br/>7<br/> +</td> +<td>Rise, wash, and address <i>Powerful +Goodness!</i> Contrive day’s business, and take the +resolution of the day; prosecute the present study, +and breakfast.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="c2"> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><br/><br/><br/> +</td> +<td class="c2">8<br/>9<br/>10<br/>11</td> +<td> <br/><br/>Work.<br/> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="c2"> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><span class="smcap">Noon.</span><br/> +</td> +<td class="c2">12<br/>1</td> +<td>Read, or overlook my accounts, and dine. +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="c2"> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> <br/><br/><br/> +</td> +<td class="c2">2<br/>3<br/>4<br/>5 +</td> +<td><br/>Work.<br/><br/> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="c2"> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td><span class="smcap">Evening.</span> +<br/><i>Question.</i><br/> +What good have I done to-day? +</td> +<td class="c2">6<br/>7<br/>8<br/>9</td> +<td>Put things in their places. +Supper. Music or diversion, or conversation. +Examination of the day.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="c2"> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="c1"> <br/><br/><br/> +<span class="smcap">Night.</span><br/><br/><br/> +</td> +<td class="c2">10<br/>11<br/>12<br/>1<br/>2<br/>3<br/>4 +</td> +<td> <br/><br/><br/>Sleep.<br/><br/><br/> +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td> </td> +<td class="c2"> </td> +<td> </td> +</tr> +</tbody></table> + +<p> +I enter’d upon the execution of this plan for self-examination, and +continu’d it with occasional intermissions for some time. I was +surpris’d to find myself so much fuller of faults than I had imagined; +but I had the satisfaction of seeing them diminish. To avoid the +trouble of renewing now and then my little book, which, by scraping out +the marks on the paper of old faults to make room for new ones in a new +course, became full of holes, I transferr’d my tables and precepts to +the ivory leaves of a memorandum book, on which the lines were drawn +with red ink, that made a durable stain, and on those lines I mark’d my +faults with a black-lead pencil, which marks I could easily wipe out +with a wet sponge. After a while I went thro’ one course only in a +year, and afterward only one in several years, till at length I omitted +them entirely, being employ’d in voyages and business abroad, with a +multiplicity of affairs that interfered; but I always carried my little +book with me.</p> + +<p> +My scheme of <span class="smcap">Order</span> gave me +the most trouble; and I found that, tho’ it might be practicable where +a man’s business was such as to leave him the disposition of his time, +that of a journeyman printer, for instance, it was not possible to be +exactly observed by a master, who must mix with the world, and often +receive people of business at their own hours. <i>Order</i>, too, +with regard to places for things, papers, etc., I found extreamly +difficult to acquire. I had not been early accustomed to it, and, +having an exceeding good memory, I was not so sensible of the +inconvenience attending want of method. This article, therefore, +cost me so much painful attention, and my faults in it vexed +me so much, and I made so little progress in amendment, and had such +frequent relapses, that I was almost ready to give up the attempt, and +content myself with a faulty character in that respect, like the man +who, in buying an ax of a smith, my neighbour, desired to have the +whole of its surface as bright as the edge. The smith consented to +grind it bright for him if he would turn the wheel; he turn’d, while +the smith press’d the broad face of the ax hard and heavily on the +stone, which made the turning of it very fatiguing. The man came every +now and then from the wheel to see how the work went on, and at length +would take his ax as +it was, without farther grinding. “No,” said the smith, “turn on, +turn on; we shall have it bright by-and-by; as yet, it is only speckled.” +“Yes,” said the man, “<i>but I think I like a speckled ax best</i>.” And I +believe this may have been the case with many, who, having, for want of +some such means as I employ’d, found the difficulty of obtaining good and +breaking bad habits in other points of vice and virtue, have given up the +struggle, and concluded that “<i>a speckled ax was best</i>”; for +something, that pretended to be reason, was every now and then suggesting +to me that such extream nicety as I exacted of myself might be a kind of +foppery in morals, which, if it were known, would make me ridiculous; +that a perfect character might be attended with the inconvenience of +being envied and hated; and that a benevolent man should allow a few +faults in himself, to keep his friends in countenance.</p> + +<p> +In truth, I found myself incorrigible with respect to Order; and now I +am grown old, and my memory bad, I feel very sensibly the want of it. +But, on the whole, tho’ I never arrived at the perfection I had been so +ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet I was, by the +endeavour, a better and a happier man than I otherwise should have been +if I had not attempted it; as those who aim at perfect writing by +imitating the engraved copies, tho’ they never reach the wish’d-for +excellence of those copies, their hand is mended by the endeavor, and +is tolerable while it continues fair and legible.</p> + +<p> +It may be well my posterity should be informed that to this little +artifice, with the blessing of God, their ancestor ow’d the constant +felicity of his life, down to his 79th year, in which this is written. +What reverses may attend the remainder is in the hand of Providence; +but, if they arrive, the reflection on past happiness enjoy’d ought to +help his bearing them with more resignation. To Temperance he ascribes +his long-continued health, and what is still left to him of a good +constitution; to Industry and Frugality, the early easiness of his +circumstances and acquisition of his fortune, with all that knowledge +that enabled him to be a useful citizen, and obtained for him some +degree of reputation among the learned; to Sincerity and Justice, the +confidence +of his country, and the honorable employs it conferred upon +him; and to the joint influence of the whole mass of the virtues, even +in the imperfect state he was able to acquire them, all that evenness +of temper, and that cheerfulness in conversation, which makes his +company still sought for, and agreeable even to his younger +acquaintance. I hope, therefore, that some of my descendants may +follow the example and reap the benefit.</p> + +<p> +It will be remark’d that, tho’ my scheme was not wholly without +religion, there was in it no mark of any of the distinguishing tenets +of any particular sect. I had purposely avoided them; for, being fully +persuaded of the utility and excellency of my method, and that it might +be serviceable to people in all religions, and intending some time or +other to publish it, I would not have any thing in it that should +prejudice any one, of any sect, against it. I purposed writing a +little comment on each virtue, in which I would have shown the +advantages of possessing it, and the mischiefs attending its opposite +vice; and I should have called my book <span class="smcap">The Art of +Virtue</span>, <span class="superscript">[7]</span> because it +would have shown the means and manner of obtaining virtue, which would +have distinguished it from the mere exhortation to be good, that does +not instruct and indicate the means, but is like the apostle’s man of +verbal charity, who only without showing to the naked and hungry how or +where they might get clothes or victuals, exhorted them to be fed and +clothed.—James ii. 15, 16.</p> + +<div class="footer"> +<p class="footer"> +<a name="footer_90-1"></a> +<span class="superscript">[7]</span> +Nothing so likely to make a man’s fortune as +virtue.—[<i>Marg. note</i>.] +</p> +</div> + +<p> +But it so happened that my intention of writing and publishing this +comment was never fulfilled. I did, indeed, from time to time, put +down short hints of the sentiments, reasonings, etc., to be made use of +in it, some of which I have still by me; but the necessary close +attention to private business in the earlier part of my life, and +public business since, have occasioned my postponing it; for, it being +connected in my mind with a <i>great and extensive project</i>, that required +the whole man to execute, and which an unforeseen succession of employs +prevented my attending to, it has hitherto remain’d unfinish’d.</p> + +<p> +In this piece it was my design to explain and enforce this +doctrine, +that vicious actions are not hurtful because they are forbidden, but +forbidden because they are hurtful, the nature of man alone considered; +that it was, therefore, every one’s interest to be virtuous who wish’d +to be happy even in this world; and I should, from this circumstance +(there being always in the world a number of rich merchants, nobility, +states, and princes, who have need of honest instruments for the +management of their affairs, and such being so rare), have endeavored +to convince young persons that no qualities were so likely to make a +poor man’s fortune as those of probity and integrity.</p> + +<p> +My list of virtues contain’d at first but twelve; but a Quaker friend +having kindly informed me that I was generally thought proud; that my +pride show’d itself frequently in conversation; that I was not content +with being in the right when discussing any point, but was overbearing, +and rather insolent, of which he convinc’d me by mentioning several +instances; I determined endeavouring to cure myself, if I could, of +this vice or folly among the rest, and I added <i>Humility</i> to my list, +giving an extensive meaning to the word.</p> + +<p> +I cannot boast of much success in acquiring the <i>reality</i> of this virtue, +but I had a good deal with regard to the <i>appearance</i> of it. I made it a +rule to forbear all direct contradiction to the sentiments of others, +and all positive assertion of my own. I even forbid myself, agreeably +to the old laws of our Junto, the use of every word or expression in +the language that imported a fix’d opinion, such as <i>certainly, +undoubtedly</i>, etc., and I adopted, instead of them, <i>I conceive, I +apprehend</i>, or <i>I imagine</i> a thing to be so or so; or +it <i>so appears to me at present</i>. When another asserted something +that I thought an error, I deny’d myself the pleasure of contradicting +him abruptly, and of showing immediately some absurdity in his proposition; +and in answering I began by observing that in certain cases or +circumstances his opinion would be right, but in the present case there +<i>appear’d</i> or <i>seem’d</i> to me +some difference, etc. I soon found the advantage of this change in my +manner; the conversations I engag’d in went on more pleasantly. The +modest way in which I propos’d my opinions procur’d them a readier +reception +and less contradiction; I had less mortification when I was +found to be in the wrong, and I more easily prevail’d with others to +give up their mistakes and join with me when I happened to be in the +right.</p> + +<p> +And this mode, which I at first put on with some violence to natural +inclination, became at length so easy, and so habitual to me, that +perhaps for these fifty years past no one has ever heard a dogmatical +expression escape me. And to this habit (after my character of +integrity) I think it principally owing that I had early so much weight +with my fellow-citizens when I +<ins title="Changed propesed to proposed.">proposed</ins> +new institutions, or alterations in the old, and so much influence in +public councils when I became a member; for I was but a bad speaker, +never eloquent, subject to much hesitation in my choice of words, +hardly correct in language, and yet I generally carried my points.</p> + +<p> +In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our natural passions so hard +to subdue as <i>pride</i>. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, +stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and +will every now and then peep out and show itself; you will see it, +perhaps, often in this history; for, even if I could conceive that I +had compleatly overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.</p> + +<p> +[Thus far written at Passy, 1784.]</p> + +<hr class="break" /> + +<p class="hanging"> +<a name="part3"></a> +[“I am now about to write at home, August, 1788, but can not have the +help expected from my papers, many of them being lost in the war. I +have, however, found the following.”] <span class="superscript">[8]</span> </p> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">Having</span> mentioned <i>a great and +extensive project</i> which I had conceiv’d, it seems +proper that some account should be here given of that +project and its object. Its first rise in my mind appears +in the following little paper, accidentally preserv’d, viz.: +</p> + +<div class="footer"> +<p class="footer"> +<a name="footer_93-8"></a> +<span class="superscript">[8]</span> +This is a marginal memorandum.—B. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +<i>Observations</i> on my reading history, in Library, May 19th, 1731.</p> + +<p> +“That the great affairs of the world, the wars, revolutions, etc., are +carried on and affected by parties.</p> + +<p> +“That the view of these parties is their present general interest, or +what they take to be such.</p> + +<p> +“That the different views of these different parties occasion all +confusion.</p> + +<p> +“That while a party is carrying on a general design, each man has his +particular private interest in view.</p> + +<p> +“That as soon as a party has gain’d its general point, each member +becomes intent upon his particular interest; which, thwarting others, +breaks that party into divisions, and occasions more confusion.</p> + +<p> +“That few in public affairs act from a meer view of the good of their +country, whatever they may pretend; and, tho’ their actings bring real +good to their country, yet men primarily considered that their own and +their country’s interest was united, and did not act from a principle +of benevolence.</p> + +<p> +“That fewer still, in public affairs, act with a view to the good of +mankind.</p> + +<p> +“There seems to me at present to be great occasion for raising a United +Party for Virtue, by forming the virtuous and good men of all nations +into a regular body, to be govern’d by suitable good and wise rules, +which good and wise men may probably be more unanimous in their +obedience to, than common people are to common laws.</p> + +<p> +“I at present think that whoever attempts this aright, and is well +qualified, can not fail of pleasing God, and of meeting with success.</p> +<p class="right"> +B. F.”</p> + +<p> +Revolving this project in my mind, as to be undertaken hereafter, when +my circumstances should afford me the necessary leisure, I put down +from time to time, on pieces of paper, such thoughts as occurr’d to me +respecting it. Most of these are lost; but I find one purporting to be +the substance of an intended creed, containing, as I thought, the +essentials of every known religion, and being free of every thing that +might shock the professors of any religion. It is express’d in these +words, viz.:</p> + +<p> +“That there is one God, who made all things.</p> + +<p> +“That he governs the world by his providence.</p> + +<p> +“That he ought to be worshiped by adoration, prayer, and thanksgiving.</p> + +<p> +“But that the most acceptable service of God is doing good to man.</p> + +<p> +“That the soul is immortal.</p> + +<p> +“And that God will certainly reward virtue and punish vice, +either here or hereafter.” <span class="superscript">[9]</span> </p> + +<div class="footer"> +<p class="footer"> +<a name="footer_94-9"></a> +<span class="superscript">[9]</span> +In the Middle Ages, Franklin, if such a phenomenon as +Franklin were possible in the Middle Ages, would +probably have been the founder of a monastic order.—B. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +My ideas at that time were, that the sect should be begun and spread at +first among young and single men only; that each person to be initiated +should not only declare his assent to such creed, but should have +exercised himself with the thirteen weeks’ examination and practice of +the virtues, as in the before-mention’d model; that the existence of +such a society should be kept a secret, till it was become +considerable, to prevent solicitations for the admission of improper +persons, but that the members should each of them search among his +acquaintance for ingenuous, well-disposed youths, to whom, with prudent +caution, the scheme should be gradually +communicated; that the members +should engage to afford their advice, assistance, and support to each +other in promoting one another’s interests, business, and advancement +in life; that, for distinction, we should be call’d <i>The Society of the +Free and Easy</i>: free, as being, by the general practice and habit of +the virtues, free from the dominion of vice; and particularly by the +practice of industry and frugality, free from debt, which exposes a man +to confinement, and a species of slavery to his creditors.</p> + +<p> +This is as much as I can now recollect of the project, except that I +communicated it in part to two young men, who adopted it with some +enthusiasm; but my then narrow circumstances, and the necessity I was +under of sticking close to my business, occasion’d my postponing the +further prosecution of it at that time; and my multifarious +occupations, public and private, induc’d me to continue postponing, so +that it has been omitted till I have no longer strength or activity +left sufficient for such an enterprise; tho’ I am still of opinion that +it was a practicable scheme, and might have been very useful, by +forming a great number of good citizens; and I was not discourag’d by +the seeming magnitude of the undertaking, as I have always thought that +one man of tolerable abilities may work great changes, and accomplish +great affairs among mankind, if he first forms a good plan, and, +cutting off all amusements or other employments that would divert his +attention, makes the execution of that same plan his sole study and +business.</p> + +<p> +In 1732 I first publish’d my Almanack, under the name of +<i>Richard Saunders</i>; it was continu’d by me about twenty-five years, +commonly call’d <i>Poor Richard’s Almanac</i>. I endeavor’d to make it +both entertaining and useful, and it accordingly came to be in such demand, +that I reap’d considerable profit from it, vending annually near ten +thousand. And observing that it was generally read, scarce any +neighborhood in the province being without it, I consider’d it as a +proper vehicle for conveying instruction among the common people, who +bought scarcely any other books; I therefore filled all the little +spaces that occurr’d between the remarkable days in the calendar with +proverbial sentences, chiefly such as inculcated industry and +frugality, as the +means of procuring wealth, and thereby securing +virtue; it being more difficult for a man in want, to act always +honestly, as, to use here one of those proverbs, <i>it is hard for an +empty sack to stand upright</i>.</p> + +<p> +These proverbs, which contained the wisdom of many ages and nations, I +assembled and form’d into a connected discourse prefix’d to the +Almanack of 1757, as the harangue of a wise old man to the people +attending an auction. The bringing all these scatter’d counsels thus +into a focus enabled them to make greater impression. The piece, being +universally approved, was copied in all the newspapers of the +Continent; reprinted in Britain on a broad side, to be stuck up in +houses; two translations were made of it in French, and great numbers +bought by the clergy and gentry, to distribute gratis among their poor +parishioners and tenants. In Pennsylvania, as it discouraged useless +expense in foreign superfluities, some thought it had its share of +influence in producing that growing plenty of money which was +observable for several years after its publication.</p> + +<p> +I considered my newspaper, also, as another means of communicating +instruction, and in that view frequently reprinted in it extracts from +the Spectator, and other moral writers; and sometimes publish’d little +pieces of my own, which had been first compos’d for reading in our +Junto. Of these are a Socratic dialogue, tending to prove that, +whatever might be his parts and abilities, a vicious man could not +properly be called a man of sense; and a discourse on self-denial, +showing that virtue was not secure till its practice became a habitude, +and was free from the opposition of contrary inclinations. These may +be found in the papers about the beginning of 1735.</p> + +<p> +In the conduct of my newspaper, I carefully excluded all libelling and +personal abuse, which is of late years become so disgraceful to our +country. Whenever I was solicited to insert anything of that kind, and +the writers pleaded, as they generally did, the liberty of the press, +and that a newspaper was like a stage-coach, in which any one who would +pay had a right to a place, my answer was, that I would print the piece +separately if desired, and the author might have as many copies as he +pleased to distribute himself, +but that I would not take upon me to +spread his detraction; and that, having contracted with my subscribers +to furnish them with what might be either useful or entertaining, I +could not fill their papers with private altercation, in which they had +no concern, without doing them manifest injustice. Now, many of our +printers make no scruple of gratifying the malice of individuals by +false accusations of the fairest characters among ourselves, augmenting +animosity even to the producing of duels; and are, moreover, so +indiscreet as to print scurrilous reflections on the government of +neighboring states, and even on the conduct of our best national +allies, which may be attended with the most pernicious consequences. +These things I mention as a caution to young printers, and that they +may be encouraged not to pollute their presses and disgrace their +profession by such infamous practices, but refuse steadily, as they may +see by my example that such a course of conduct will not, on the whole, +be injurious to their interests.</p> + +<p> +In 1733 I sent one of my journeymen to Charleston, South Carolina, +where a printer was wanting. I furnish’d him with a press and letters, +on an agreement of partnership, by which I was to receive one-third of +the profits of the business, paying one-third of the expense. He was a +man of learning, and honest but ignorant in matters of account; and, +tho’ he sometimes made me remittances, I could get no account from him, +nor any satisfactory state of our partnership while he lived. On his +decease, the business was continued by his widow, who, being born and +bred in Holland, where, as I have been inform’d, the knowledge of +accounts makes a part of female education, she not only sent me as +clear a state as she could find of the transactions past, but continued +to account with the greatest regularity and exactness every quarter +afterwards, and managed the business with such success, that she not +only brought up reputably a family of children, but, at the expiration +of the term, was able to purchase of me the printing-house, and +establish her son in it.</p> + +<p> +I mention this affair chiefly for the sake of recommending that branch +of education for our young females, as likely to be of more use to them +and their children, in case of +widowhood, than either music or dancing, +by preserving them from losses by imposition of crafty men, and +enabling them to continue, perhaps, a profitable mercantile house, with +establish’d correspondence, till a son is grown up fit to undertake and +go on with it, to the lasting advantage and enriching of the family.</p> + +<p> +About the year 1734 there arrived among us from Ireland a young +Presbyterian preacher, named Hemphill, who delivered with a good voice, +and apparently extempore, most excellent discourses, which drew +together considerable numbers of different persuasion, who join’d in +admiring them. Among the rest, I became one of his constant hearers, +his sermons pleasing me, as they had little of the dogmatical kind, but +inculcated strongly the practice of virtue, or what in the religious +stile are called good works. Those, however, of our congregation, who +considered themselves as orthodox Presbyterians, disapprov’d his +doctrine, and were join’d by most of the old clergy, who arraign’d him +of heterodoxy before the synod, in order to have him silenc’d. I became +his zealous partisan, and contributed all I could to raise a party in +his favour, and we combated for him a while with some hopes of success. +There was much scribbling pro and con upon the occasion; and finding +that, tho’ an elegant preacher, he was but a poor writer, I lent him my +pen and wrote for him two or three pamphlets, and one piece in the +Gazette of April, 1735. Those pamphlets, as is generally the case with +controversial writings, tho’ eagerly read at the time, were soon out of +vogue, and I question whether a single copy of them now exists.</p> + +<p> +During the contest an unlucky occurrence hurt his cause exceedingly. +One of our adversaries having heard him preach a sermon that was much +admired, thought he had somewhere read the sermon before, or at least a +part of it. On search he found that part quoted at length, in one of +the British Reviews, from a discourse of Dr. Foster’s. This detection +gave many of our party disgust, who accordingly abandoned his cause, +and occasion’d our more speedy discomfiture in the synod. I stuck by +him, however, as I rather approv’d his giving us good sermons compos’d +by others, than bad ones of his own manufacture, tho’ the latter was +the practice of our common teachers. He afterward acknowledg’d to me +that none of those he preach’d were his own; adding, that his memory +was such as enabled him to retain and repeat any sermon after one +reading only. On our defeat, he left us in search elsewhere of better +fortune, and I quitted the congregation, never joining it after, tho’ I +continu’d many years my subscription for the support of its ministers.</p> + +<p> +I had begun in 1733 to study languages; I soon made myself so much a +master of the French as to be able to read the books with ease. I then +undertook the Italian. An acquaintance, who was also learning it, us’d +often to tempt me to play chess with him. Finding this took up too +much of the time I had to spare for study, I at length refus’d to play +any more, unless on this condition, that the victor in every game +should have a right to impose a task, either in parts of the grammar to +be got by heart, or in translations, etc., which tasks the vanquish’d +was to perform upon honour, before our next meeting. As we play’d +pretty equally, we thus beat one another into that language. I +afterwards with a little painstaking, acquir’d as much of the Spanish +as to read their books also.</p> + +<p> +I have already mention’d that I had only one year’s instruction in a +Latin school, and that when very young, after which I neglected that +language entirely. But, when I had attained an acquaintance with the +French, Italian, and Spanish, I was surpriz’d to find, on looking over +a Latin Testament, that I understood so much more of that language than +I had imagined, which encouraged me to apply myself again to the study +of it, and I met with more success, as those preceding languages had +greatly smooth’d my way.</p> + +<p> +From these circumstances, I have thought that there is some +inconsistency in our common mode of teaching languages. We are told +that it is proper to begin first with the Latin, and, having acquir’d +that, it will be more easy to attain those modern languages which are +deriv’d from it; and yet we do not begin with the Greek, in order more +easily to acquire the Latin. It is true that, if you can clamber and +get to the top of a staircase without using the steps, you will more +easily gain them in descending; but +certainly, if you begin with the +lowest you will with more ease ascend to the top; and I would therefore +offer it to the consideration of those who superintend the education of +our youth, whether, since many of those who begin with the Latin quit +the same after spending some years without having made any great +proficiency, and what they have learnt becomes almost useless, so that +their time has been lost, it would not have been better to have begun +with the French, proceeding to the Italian, etc.; for, tho’, after +spending the same time, they should quit the study of languages and +never arrive at the Latin, they would, however, have acquired another +tongue or two, that, being in modern use, might be serviceable to them +in common life.</p> + +<p> +After ten years’ absence from Boston, and having become easy in my +circumstances, I made a journey thither to visit my relations, which I +could not sooner well afford. In returning, I call’d at Newport to see +my brother, then settled there with his printing-house. Our former +differences were forgotten, and our meeting was very cordial and +affectionate. He was fast declining in his health, and requested of me +that, in case of his death, which he apprehended not far distant, I +would take home his son, then but ten years of age, and bring him up to +the printing business. This I accordingly perform’d, sending him a few +years to school before I took him into the office. His mother carried +on the business till he was grown up, when I assisted him with an +assortment of new types, those of his father being in a manner worn +out. Thus it was that I made my brother ample amends for the service I +had depriv’d him of by leaving him so early.</p> + +<p> +In 1736 I lost one of my sons, a fine boy of four years old, by the +small-pox, taken in the common way. I long regretted bitterly, and +still regret that I had not given it to him by inoculation. This I +mention for the sake of parents who omit that operation, on the +supposition that they should never forgive themselves if a child died +under it; my example showing that the regret may be the same either +way, and that, therefore, the safer should be chosen.</p> + +<p> +Our club, the Junto, was found so useful, and afforded such +satisfaction to the members, that several were desirous +of introducing +their friends, which could not well be done without exceeding what we +had settled as a convenient number, viz., twelve. We had from the +beginning made it a rule to keep our institution a secret, which was +pretty well observ’d; the intention was to avoid applications of +improper persons for admittance, some of whom, perhaps, we might find +it difficult to refuse. I was one of those who were against any +addition to our number, but, instead of it, made in writing a proposal, +that every member separately should endeavor to form a subordinate +club, with the same rules respecting queries, etc., and without +informing them of the connection with the Junto. The advantages +proposed were, the improvement of so many more young citizens by the +use of our institutions; our better acquaintance with the general +sentiments of the inhabitants on any occasion, as the Junto member +might propose what queries we should desire, and was to report to the +Junto what pass’d in his separate club; the promotion of our particular +interests in business by more extensive recommendation, and the +increase of our influence in public affairs, and our power of doing +good by spreading thro’ the several clubs the sentiments of the Junto.</p> + +<p> +The project was approv’d, and every member undertook to form his club, +but they did not all succeed. Five or six only were compleated, which +were called by different names, as the Vine, the Union, the Band, etc. +They were useful to themselves, and afforded us a good deal of +amusement, information, and instruction, besides answering, in some +considerable degree, our views of influencing the public opinion on +particular occasions, of which I shall give some instances in course of +time as they happened.</p> + +<p> +My first promotion was my being chosen, in 1736, clerk of the General +Assembly. The choice was made that year without opposition; but the +year following, when I was again propos’d (the choice, like that of the +members, being annual), a new member made a long speech against me, in +order to favour some other candidate. I was, however, chosen, which +was the more agreeable to me, as, besides the pay for the immediate +service as clerk, the place gave me a better opportunity of keeping up +an interest among the members, which secur’d to me the business of +printing the +votes, laws, paper money, and other occasional jobbs for +the public, that, on the whole, were very profitable.</p> + +<p> +I therefore did not like the opposition of this new member, who was a +gentleman of fortune and education, with talents that were likely to +give him, in time, great influence in the House, which, indeed, +afterwards happened. I did not, however, aim at gaining his favour by +paying any servile respect to him, but, after some time, took this +other method. Having heard that he had in his library a certain very +scarce and curious book, I wrote a note to him, expressing my desire of +perusing that book, and requesting he would do me the favour of lending +it to me for a few days. He sent it immediately, and I return’d it in +about a week with another note, expressing strongly my sense of the +favour. When we next met in the House, he spoke to me (which he had +never done before), and with great civility; and he ever after +manifested a readiness to serve me on all occasions, so that we became +great friends, and our friendship continued to his death. This is +another instance of the truth of an old maxim I had learned, which +says, “<i>He that has once done you a kindness will be more ready to do +you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged.</i>” And it shows how +much more profitable it is prudently to remove, than to resent, return, +and continue inimical proceedings.</p> + +<p> +In 1737, Colonel Spotswood, late governor of Virginia, and then +postmaster-general, being dissatisfied with the conduct of his deputy +at Philadelphia, respecting some negligence in rendering, and +inexactitude of his accounts, took from him the commission and offered +it to me. I accepted it readily, and found it of great advantage; for, +tho’ the salary was small, it facilitated the correspondence that +improv’d my newspaper, increas’d the number demanded, as well as the +advertisements to be inserted, so that it came to afford me a +considerable income. My old competitor’s newspaper declin’d +proportionably, and I was satisfy’d without retaliating his refusal, +while postmaster, to permit my papers being carried by the riders. +Thus he suffer’d greatly from his neglect in due accounting; and I +mention it as a lesson to those young men who may be employ’d in +managing affairs for others, that they should always render accounts, +and make remittances, with great clearness and punctuality. The +character of observing such a conduct is the most powerful of all +recommendations to new employments and increase of business.</p> + +<p> +I began now to turn my thoughts a little to public affairs, beginning, +however, with small matters. The city watch was one of the first +things that I conceiv’d to want regulation. It was managed by the +constables of the respective wards in turn; the constable warned a +number of housekeepers to attend him for the night. Those who chose +never to attend paid him six shillings a year to be excus’d, which was +suppos’d to be for hiring substitutes, but was, in reality, much more +than was necessary for that purpose, and made the constableship a place +of profit; and the constable, for a little drink, often got such +ragamuffins about him as a watch, that respectable housekeepers did not +choose to mix with. Walking the rounds, too, was often neglected, and +most of the nights spent in tippling. I thereupon wrote a paper to be +read in Junto, representing these irregularities, but insisting more +particularly on the inequality of this six-shilling tax of the +constables, respecting the circumstances of those who paid it, since a +poor widow housekeeper, all whose property to be guarded by the watch +did not perhaps exceed the value of fifty pounds, paid as much as the +wealthiest merchant, who had thousands of pounds’ worth of goods in his +stores.</p> + +<p> +On the whole, I proposed as a more effectual watch, the hiring of +proper men to serve constantly in that business; and as a more +equitable way of supporting the charge the levying a tax that should be +proportion’d to the property. This idea, being approv’d by the Junto, +was communicated to the other clubs, but as arising in each of them; +and though the plan was not immediately carried into execution, yet, by +preparing the minds of people for the change, it paved the way for the +law obtained a few years after, when the members of our clubs were +grown into more influence.</p> + +<p> +About this time I wrote a paper (first to be read in Junto, but it was +afterward publish’d) on the different accidents and carelessnesses by +which houses were set on fire, with cautions against them, and means +proposed of avoiding +them. This was much spoken of as a useful piece, +and gave rise to a project, which soon followed it, of forming a +company for the more ready extinguishing of fires, and mutual +assistance in removing and securing the goods when in danger. +Associates in this scheme were presently found, amounting to thirty. +Our articles of agreement oblig’d every member to keep always in good +order, and fit for use, a certain number of leather buckets, with +strong bags and baskets (for packing and transporting of goods), which +were to be brought to every fire; and we agreed to meet once a month +and spend a social evening together, in discoursing and communicating +such ideas as occurred to us upon the subject of fires, as might be +useful in our conduct on such occasions.</p> + +<p> +The utility of this institution soon appeared, and many more desiring +to be admitted than we thought convenient for one company, they were +advised to form another, which was accordingly done; and this went on, +one new company being formed after another, till they became so +numerous as to include most of the inhabitants who were men of +property; and now, at the time of my writing this, tho’ upward of fifty +years since its establishment, that which I first formed, called the +Union Fire Company, still subsists and flourishes, tho’ the first +members are all deceas’d but myself and one, who is older by a year +than I am. The small fines that have been paid by members for absence +at the monthly meetings have been apply’d to the purchase of +fire-engines, ladders, fire-hooks, and other useful implements for each +company, so that I question whether there is a city in the world better +provided with the means of putting a stop to beginning conflagrations; +and, in fact, since these institutions, the city has never lost by fire +more than one or two houses at a time, and the flames have often been +extinguished before the house in which they began has been half +consumed.</p> + +<p> +In 1739 arrived among us from Ireland the Reverend Mr. Whitefield, who +had made himself remarkable there as an itinerant preacher. He was at +first permitted to preach in some of our churches; but the clergy, +taking a dislike to him, soon refus’d him their pulpits, and he was +oblig’d to preach in the fields. The multitudes of all sects and +denominations +that attended his sermons were enormous, and it was +matter of speculation to me, who was one of the number, to observe the +extraordinary influence of his oratory on his hearers, and how much +they admir’d and respected him, notwithstanding his common abuse of +them, by assuring them that they were naturally <i>half beasts and half +devils</i>. It was wonderful to see the change soon made in the manners of +our inhabitants. From being thoughtless or indifferent about religion, +it seem’d as if all the world were growing religious, so that one could +not walk thro’ the town in an evening without hearing psalms sung in +different families of every street.</p> + +<p> +And it being found inconvenient to assemble in the open air, subject to +its inclemencies, the building of a house to meet in was no sooner +propos’d, and persons appointed to receive contributions, but +sufficient sums were soon receiv’d to procure the ground and erect the +building, which was one hundred feet long and seventy broad, about the +size of Westminster Hall; and the work was carried on with such spirit +as to be finished in a much shorter time than could have been expected. +Both house and ground were vested in trustees, expressly for the use of +any preacher of any religious persuasion who might desire to say +something to the people at Philadelphia; the design in building not +being to accommodate any particular sect, but the inhabitants in +general; so that even if the Mufti of Constantinople were to send a +missionary to preach Mohammedanism to us, he would find a pulpit at his +service.</p> + +<p> +Mr. Whitefield, in leaving us, went preaching all the way thro’ the +colonies to Georgia. The settlement of that province had lately been +begun, but, instead of being made with hardy, industrious husbandmen, +accustomed to labor, the only people fit for such an enterprise, it was +with families of broken shop-keepers and other insolvent debtors, many +of indolent and idle habits, taken out of the jails, who, being set +down in the woods, unqualified for clearing land, and unable to endure +the hardships of a new settlement, perished in numbers, leaving many +helpless children unprovided for. The sight of their miserable +situation inspir’d the benevolent heart of Mr. Whitefield with the idea +of building an Orphan +House there, in which they might be supported and +educated. Returning northward, he preach’d up this charity, and made +large collections, for his eloquence had a wonderful power over the +hearts and purses of his hearers, of which I myself was an instance.</p> + +<p> +I did not disapprove of the design, but, as Georgia was then destitute +of materials and workmen, and it was proposed to send them from +Philadelphia at a great expense, I thought it would have been better to +have built the house here, and brought the children to it. This I +advis’d; but he was resolute in his first project, rejected my counsel, +and I therefore refus’d to contribute. I happened soon after to attend +one of his sermons, in the course of which I perceived he intended to +finish with a collection, and I silently resolved he should get nothing +from me. I had in my pocket a handful of copper money, three or four +silver dollars, and five pistoles in gold. As he proceeded I began to +soften, and concluded to give the coppers. Another stroke of his +oratory made me asham’d of that, and determin’d me to give the silver; +and he finish’d so admirably, that I empty’d my pocket wholly into the +collector’s dish, gold and all. At this sermon there was also one of +our club, who, being of my sentiments respecting the building in +Georgia, and suspecting a collection might be intended, had, by +precaution, emptied his pockets before he came from home. Towards the +conclusion of the discourse, however, he felt a strong desire to give, +and apply’d to a neighbour, who stood near him, to borrow some money +for the purpose. The application was unfortunately [made] to perhaps +the only man in the company who had the firmness not to be affected by +the preacher. His answer was, “<i>At any other time, Friend Hopkinson, I +would lend to thee freely; but not now, for thee seems to be out of thy +right senses.</i>”</p> + +<p> +Some of Mr. Whitefield’s enemies affected to suppose that he would +apply these collections to his own private emolument; but I who was +intimately acquainted with him (being employed in printing his Sermons +and Journals, etc.), never had the least suspicion of his integrity, +but am to this day decidedly of opinion that he was in all his conduct +a perfectly <i>honest man</i>, and methinks my testimony in his favour +ought +to have the more weight, as we had no religious connection. He us’d, +indeed, sometimes to pray for my conversion, but never had the +satisfaction of believing that his prayers were heard. Ours was a mere +civil friendship, sincere on both sides, and lasted to his death.</p> + +<p> +The following instance will show something of the terms on which we +stood. Upon one of his arrivals from England at Boston, he wrote to me +that he should come soon to Philadelphia, but knew not where he could +lodge when there, as he understood his old friend and host, Mr. +Benezet, was removed to Germantown. My answer was, “You know my house; +if you can make shift with its scanty accommodations, you will be most +heartily welcome.” He reply’d, that if I made that kind offer for +Christ’s sake, I should not miss of a reward. And I returned, “<i>Don’t +let me be mistaken; it was not for Christ’s sake, but for your sake.</i>” +One of our common acquaintance jocosely remark’d, that, knowing it to +be the custom of the saints, when they received any favour, to shift +the burden of the obligation from off their own shoulders, and place it +in heaven, I had contriv’d to fix it on earth.</p> + +<p> +The last time I saw Mr. Whitefield was in London, when he consulted me +about his Orphan House concern, and his purpose of appropriating it to +the establishment of a college.</p> + +<p> +He had a loud and clear voice, and articulated his words and sentences +so perfectly, that he might be heard and understood at a great +distance, especially as his auditories, however numerous, observ’d the +most exact silence. He preach’d one evening from the top of the +Court-house steps, which are in the middle of Market-street, and on the +west side of Second-street, which crosses it at right angles. Both +streets were fill’d with his hearers to a considerable distance. Being +among the hindmost in Market-street, I had the curiosity to learn how +far he could be heard, by retiring backwards down the street towards +the river; and I found his voice distinct till I came near +Front-street, when some noise in that street obscur’d it. Imagining +then a semi-circle, of which my distance should be the radius, and that +it were fill’d with auditors, to each of whom I allow’d two square +feet, I computed that he might well be heard by +more than thirty thousand. This reconcil’d me to the newspaper accounts +of his having preach’d to twenty-five thousand people in the fields, and +to the ancient histories of generals haranguing whole armies, of which I +had sometimes doubted.</p> + +<p> +By hearing him often, I came to distinguish easily between sermons +newly compos’d, and those which he had often preach’d in the course of +his travels. His delivery of the latter was so improv’d by frequent +repetitions that every accent, every emphasis, every modulation of +voice, was so perfectly well turn’d and well plac’d, that, without +being interested in the subject, one could not help being pleas’d with +the discourse; a pleasure of much the same kind with that receiv’d from +an excellent piece of musick. This is an advantage itinerant preachers +have over those who are stationary, as the latter can not well improve +their delivery of a sermon by so many rehearsals.</p> + +<p> +His writing and printing from time to time gave great advantage to his +enemies; unguarded expressions, and even erroneous opinions, delivered +in preaching, might have been afterwards explain’d or qualifi’d by +supposing others that might have accompani’d them, or they might have +been deny’d; but <i>litera scripta manet</i>. Critics attack’d his writings +violently, and with so much appearance of reason as to diminish the +number of his votaries and prevent their encrease; so that I am of +opinion if he had never written any thing, he would have left behind +him a much more numerous and important sect, and his reputation might +in that case have been still growing, even after his death, as there +being nothing of his writing on which to found a censure and give him a +lower character, his proselytes would be left at liberty to feign for +him as great a variety of excellence as their enthusiastic admiration +might wish him to have possessed.</p> + +<p> +My business was now continually augmenting, and my circumstances +growing daily easier, my newspaper having become very profitable, as +being for a time almost the only one in this and the neighbouring +provinces. I experienced, too, the truth of the observation, “<i>that +after getting the first hundred pound, it is more easy to get the +second,</i>” money itself being of a prolific nature.</p> + +<p> +The partnership at Carolina having succeeded, I was encourag’d +to engage in others, and to promote several of my workmen, who had behaved +well, by establishing them with printing-houses in different colonies, +on the same terms with that in Carolina. Most of them did well, being +enabled at the end of our term, six years, to purchase the types of me +and go on working for themselves, by which means several families were +raised. Partnerships often finish in quarrels; but I was happy in +this, that mine were all carried on and ended amicably, owing, I think, +a good deal to the precaution of having very explicitly settled, in our +articles, every thing to be done by or expected from each partner, so +that there was nothing to dispute, which precaution I would therefore +recommend to all who enter into partnerships; for, whatever esteem +partners may have for, and confidence in each other at the time of the +contract, little jealousies and disgusts may arise, with ideas of +inequality in the care and burden of the business, etc., which are +attended often with breach of friendship and of the connection, perhaps +with lawsuits and other disagreeable consequences.</p> + +<p> +I had, on the whole, abundant reason to be satisfied with my being +established in Pennsylvania. There were, however, two things that I +regretted, there being no provision for defense, nor for a compleat +education of youth; no militia, nor any college. I therefore, in 1743, +drew up a proposal for establishing an academy; and at that time, +thinking the Reverend Mr. Peters, who was out of employ, a fit person +to superintend such an institution, I communicated the project to him; +but he, having more profitable views in the service of the +proprietaries, which succeeded, declin’d the undertaking; and, not +knowing another at that time suitable for such a trust, I let the +scheme lie a while dormant. I succeeded better the next year, 1744, in +proposing and establishing a Philosophical Society. The paper I wrote +for that purpose will be found among my writings, when collected.</p> + +<p> +With respect to defense, Spain having been several years at war against +Great Britain, and being at length join’d by France, which brought us +into great danger; and the laboured and long-continued endeavour of our +governor, Thomas, to prevail with our Quaker Assembly to pass a militia +law, and make other provisions for the security of +the province, having proved abortive, I determined to try what might be +done by a voluntary association of the people. To promote this, I first +wrote and published a pamphlet, entitled <span class="smcap">Plain +Truth</span>, in which I stated our defenceless situation in strong +lights, with the necessity of union and discipline for our defense, +and promis’d to propose in a few days an association, to be generally +signed for that purpose. The pamphlet had a sudden and surprising +effect. I was call’d upon for the instrument of association, and +having settled the draft of it with a few friends, I appointed a +meeting of the citizens in the large building before mentioned. +The house was pretty full; I had prepared a number of printed copies, +and provided pens and ink dispers’d all over the room. I harangued +them a little on the subject, read the paper, and explained it, and +then distributed the copies, which were eagerly signed, not the +least objection being made.</p> + +<p> +When the company separated, and the papers were collected, we found +above twelve hundred hands; and, other copies being dispersed in the +country, the subscribers amounted at length to upward of ten thousand. +These all furnished themselves as soon as they could with arms, formed +themselves into companies and regiments, chose their own officers, and +met every week to be instructed in the manual exercise, and other parts +of military discipline. The women, by subscriptions among themselves, +provided silk colors, which they presented to the companies, painted +with different devices and mottos, which I supplied.</p> + +<p> +The officers of the companies composing the Philadelphia regiment, +being met, chose me for their colonel; but, conceiving myself unfit, I +declin’d that station, and recommended Mr. Lawrence, a fine person, and +man of influence, who was accordingly appointed. I then propos’d a +lottery to defray the expense of building a battery below the town, and +furnishing it with cannon. It filled expeditiously, and the battery +was soon erected, the merlons being fram’d of logs and fill’d with +earth. We bought some old cannon from Boston, but, these not being +sufficient, we wrote to England for more, soliciting, at the same time, +our proprietaries for some assistance, tho’ without much expectation of +obtaining it.</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile, Colonel Lawrence, William Allen, Abram Taylor, Esqr., and +myself were sent to New York by the associators, commission’d to borrow +some cannon of Governor Clinton. He at first refus’d us peremptorily; +but at dinner with his council, where there was great drinking of +Madeira wine, as the custom of that place then was, he softened by +degrees, and said he would lend us six. After a few more bumpers he +advanc’d to ten; and at length he very good-naturedly conceded +eighteen. They were fine cannon, eighteen-pounders, with their +carriages, which we soon transported and mounted on our battery, where +the associators kept a nightly guard while the war lasted, and among +the rest I regularly took my turn of duty there as a common soldier.</p> + +<p> +My activity in these operations was agreeable to the governor and +council; they took me into confidence, and I was consulted by them in +every measure wherein their concurrence was thought useful to the +association. Calling in the aid of religion, I propos’d to them the +proclaiming a fast, to promote reformation, and implore the blessing of +Heaven on our undertaking. They embrac’d the motion; but, as it was +the first fast ever thought of in the province, the secretary had no +precedent from which to draw the proclamation. My education in New +England, where a fast is proclaimed every year, was here of some +advantage: I drew it in the accustomed stile, it was translated into +German, printed in both languages, and divulg’d thro’ the province. +This gave the clergy of the different sects an opportunity of +influencing their congregations to join in the association, and it +would probably have been general among all but Quakers if the peace had +not soon interven’d.</p> + +<p> +It was thought by some of my friends that, by my activity in these +affairs, I should offend that sect, and thereby lose my interest in the +Assembly of the province, where they formed a great majority. A young +gentleman who had likewise some friends in the House, and wished to +succeed me as their clerk, acquainted me that it was decided to +displace me at the next election; and he, therefore, in good will, +advis’d me to resign, as more consistent with my honour than being +turn’d out. My answer to him was, that I had read or +heard of some public man who made it a rule never to ask for an office, +and never to refuse one when offer’d to him. “I approve,” says I, “of +his rule, and will practice it with a small addition; I shall never +<i>ask</i>, never <i>refuse</i>, nor ever <i>resign</i> an office. +If they will have my office of clerk to dispose of to another, they shall +take it from me. I will not, by giving it up, lose my right of some time +or other making reprisals on my adversaries.” I heard, however, no more +of this; I was chosen again unanimously as usual at the next election. +Possibly, as they dislik’d my late intimacy with the members of council, +who had join’d the governors in all the disputes about military preparations, +with which the House had long been harass’d, they might have been +pleas’d if I would voluntarily have left them; but they did not care to +displace me on account merely of my zeal for the association, and they +could not well give another reason.</p> + +<p> +Indeed I had some cause to believe that the defense of +the country was not disagreeable to any of them, provided they were not +requir’d to assist in it. And I found that a much greater number of them +than I could have imagined, tho’ against offensive war, were clearly for +the defensive. Many pamphlets <i>pro</i> and <i>con</i> were publish’d +on the subject, and some by good Quakers, in favour of defense, which I +believe convinc’d most of their younger people.</p> + +<p> +A transaction in our fire company gave me some insight into their +prevailing sentiments. It had been propos’d that we should encourage +the scheme for building a battery by laying out the present stock, then +about sixty pounds, in tickets of the lottery. By our rules, no money +could be dispos’d of till the next meeting after the proposal. The +company consisted of thirty members, of which twenty-two were Quakers, +and eight only of other persuasions. We eight punctually attended the +meeting; but, tho’ we thought that some of the Quakers would join us, +we were by no means sure of a majority. Only one Quaker, Mr. James +Morris, appear’d to oppose the measure. He expressed much sorrow that +it had ever been propos’d, as he said <i>Friends</i> were all against it, +and it would create such discord as might break up the company. We told +him that we saw no reason for that; we were the minority, and if +<i>Friends</i> were against +the measure, and outvoted us, we must and should, +agreeably to the usage of all societies, submit. When the hour for +business arriv’d it was mov’d to put the vote; he allow’d we might then +do it by the rules, but, as he could assure us that a number of members +intended to be present for the purpose of opposing it, it would be but +candid to allow a little time for their appearing.</p> + +<p> +While we were disputing this, a waiter came to tell me two gentlemen +below desir’d to speak with me. I went down, and found they were two +of our Quaker members. They told me there were eight of them assembled +at a tavern just by; that they were determin’d to come and vote with us +if there should be occasion, which they hop’d would not be the case, +and desir’d we would not call for their assistance if we could do +without it, as their voting for such a measure might embroil them with +their elders and friends. Being thus secure of a majority, I went up, +and after a little seeming hesitation, agreed to a delay of another +hour. This Mr. Morris allow’d to be extreamly fair. Not one of his +opposing friends appear’d, at which he express’d great surprize; and, +at the expiration of the hour, we carry’d the resolution eight to one; +and as, of the twenty-two Quakers, eight were ready to vote with us, +and thirteen, by their absence, manifested that they were not inclin’d +to oppose the measure, I afterward estimated the proportion of Quakers +sincerely against defense as one to twenty-one only; for these were all +regular members of that society, and in good reputation among them, and +had due notice of what was propos’d at that meeting.</p> + +<p> +The honorable and learned Mr. Logan, who had always been of that sect, +was one who wrote an address to them, declaring his approbation of +defensive war, and supporting his opinion by many strong arguments. He +put into my hands sixty pounds to be laid out in lottery tickets for +the battery, with directions to apply what prizes might be drawn wholly +to that service. He told me the following anecdote of his old master, +William Penn, respecting defense. He came over from England, when a +young man, with that proprietary, and as his secretary. It was +war-time, and their ship was chas’d by an armed vessel, suppos’d to be +an enemy. +Their captain prepar’d for defense; but told William Penn, +and his company of Quakers, that he did not expect their assistance, +and they might retire into the cabin, which they did, except James +Logan, who chose to stay upon deck, and was quarter’d to a gun. The +suppos’d enemy prov’d a friend, so there was no fighting; but when the +secretary went down to communicate the intelligence, William Penn +rebuk’d him severely for staying upon deck, and undertaking to assist +in defending the vessel, contrary to the principles of <i>Friends</i>, +especially as it had not been required by the captain. This reproof, +being before all the company, piqu’d the secretary, who answer’d, “<i>I +being thy servant, why did thee not order me to come down? But thee +was willing enough that I should stay and help to fight the ship when +thee thought there was danger.</i>”</p> + +<p> +My being many years in the Assembly, the majority of which were +constantly Quakers, gave me frequent opportunities of seeing the +embarrassment given them by their principle against war, whenever +application was made to them, by order of the crown, to grant aids for +military purposes. They were unwilling to offend government, on the +one hand, by a direct refusal; and their friends, the body of the +Quakers, on the other, by a compliance contrary to their principles; +hence a variety of evasions to avoid complying, and modes of disguising +the compliance when it became unavoidable. The common mode at last +was, to grant money under the phrase of its being “<i>for the king’s +use</i>,” and never to inquire how it was applied.</p> + +<p> +But, if the demand was not directly from the crown, that phrase was +found not so proper, and some other was to be invented. As, when +powder was wanting (I think it was for the garrison at Louisburg), and +the government of New England solicited a grant of some from +Pennsilvania, which was much urg’d on the House by Governor Thomas, +they could not grant money to buy powder, because that was an +ingredient of war; but they voted an aid to New England of three +thousand pounds, to be put into the hands of the governor, and +appropriated it for the purchasing of bread, flour, wheat, or <i>other +grain</i>. Some of the council, desirous of giving the House still further +embarrassment, advis’d +the governor not to accept provision, as not +being the thing he had demanded; but be reply’d, “I shall take the +money, for I understand very well their meaning; other grain is +gunpowder,” which he accordingly bought, and they never objected to +it. <span class="superscript">[10]</span> </p> + +<div class="footer"> +<p class="footer"> +<a name="footer_115-10"></a> +<span class="superscript">[10]</span> +See the votes.—[<i>Marg. note</i>.] +</p> +</div> + +<p> +It was in allusion to this fact that, when in our fire company we +feared the success of our proposal in favour of the lottery, and I had +said to my friend Mr. Syng, one of our members, “If we fail, let us +move the purchase of a fire-engine with the money; the Quakers can have +no objection to that; and then, if you nominate me and I you as a +committee for that purpose, we will buy a great gun, which is certainly +a <i>fire-engine</i>.” “I see,” says he, “you have improv’d by being so long +in the Assembly; your equivocal project would be just a match for their +wheat or <i>other grain</i>.”</p> + +<p> +These embarrassments that the Quakers suffer’d from having establish’d +and published it as one of their principles that no kind of war was +lawful, and which, being once published, they could not afterwards, +however they might change their minds, easily get rid of, reminds me of +what I think a more prudent conduct in another sect among us, that of +the Dunkers. I was acquainted with one of its founders, Michael +Welfare, soon after it appear’d. He complain’d to me that they were +grievously calumniated by the zealots of other persuasions, and charg’d +with abominable principles and practices, to which they were utter +strangers. I told him this had always been the case with new sects, +and that, to put a stop to such abuse, I imagin’d it might be well to +publish the articles of their belief, and the rules of their +discipline. He said that it had been propos’d among them, but not +agreed to, for this reason: “When we were first drawn together as a +society,” says he, “it had pleased God to enlighten our minds so far as +to see that some doctrines, which we once esteemed truths, were errors; +and that others, which we had esteemed errors, were real truths. From +time to time He has been pleased to afford us farther light, and our +principles have been improving, and our errors diminishing. Now we are +not sure that we are arrived at the end of this progression, and at the +perfection of spiritual +or theological knowledge; and we fear that, if +we should once print our confession of faith, we should feel ourselves +as if bound and confin’d by it, and perhaps be unwilling to receive +farther improvement, and our successors still more so, as conceiving +what we their elders and founders had done, to be something sacred, +never to be departed from.”</p> + +<p> +This modesty in a sect is perhaps a singular instance in the history of +mankind, every other sect supposing itself in possession of all truth, +and that those who differ are so far in the wrong; like a man traveling +in foggy weather, those at some distance before him on the road he sees +wrapped up in the fog, as well as those behind him, and also the people +in the fields on each side, but near him all appears clear, tho’ in +truth he is as much in the fog as any of them. To avoid this kind of +embarrassment, the Quakers have of late years been gradually declining +the public service in the Assembly and in the magistracy, choosing +rather to quit their power than their principle.</p> + +<p> +In order of time, I should have mentioned before, that having, in 1742, +invented an open stove for the better warming of rooms, and at the same +time saving fuel, as the fresh air admitted was warmed in entering, I +made a present of the model to Mr. Robert Grace, one of my early +friends, who, having an iron-furnace, found the casting of the plates +for these stoves a profitable thing, as they were growing in demand. +To promote that demand, I wrote and published a pamphlet, entitled “<i>An +Account of the new-invented Pennsylvania Fireplaces; wherein their +Construction and Manner of Operation is particularly explained; their +Advantages above every other Method of warming Rooms demonstrated; and +all Objections that have been raised against the Use of them answered +and obviated</i>,” etc. This pamphlet had a good effect. Gov’r. Thomas +was so pleas’d with the construction of this stove, as described in it, +that he offered to give me a patent for the sole vending of them for a +term of years; but I declin’d it from a principle which has ever +weighed with me on such occasions, viz., <i>That, as we enjoy great +advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an +opportunity to serve others by any +invention of ours; and this we should do freely and generously</i>.</p> + +<p> +An ironmonger in London however, assuming a good deal of my pamphlet, +and working it up into his own, and making some small changes in the +machine, which rather hurt its operation, got a patent for it there, +and made, as I was told, a little fortune by it. And this is not the +only instance of patents taken out for my inventions by others, tho’ +not always with the same success, which I never contested, as having no +desire of profiting by patents myself, and hating disputes. The use of +these fireplaces in very many houses, both of this and the neighbouring +colonies, has been, and is, a great saving of wood to the inhabitants.</p> + +<p> +Peace being concluded, and the association business therefore at an +end, I turn’d my thoughts again to the affair of establishing an +academy. The first step I took was to associate in the design a number +of active friends, of whom the Junto furnished a good part; the next +was to write and publish a pamphlet, entitled <i>Proposals Relating to the +Education of Youth in Pennsylvania</i>. This I distributed among the +principal inhabitants gratis; and as soon as I could suppose their +minds a little prepared by the perusal of it, I set on foot a +subscription for opening and supporting an academy; it was to be paid +in quotas yearly for five years; by so dividing it, I judg’d the +subscription might be larger, and I believe it was so, amounting to no +less, if I remember right, than five thousand pounds.</p> + +<p> +In the introduction to these proposals, I stated their +publication, not as an act of mine, but of some <i>publick-spirited +gentlemen</i>, avoiding as much as I could, according to my usual rule, +the presenting myself to the publick as the author of any scheme for +their benefit.</p> + +<p> +The subscribers, to carry the project into immediate execution, chose +out of their number twenty-four trustees, and appointed Mr. Francis, +then attorney-general, and myself to draw up constitutions for the +government of the academy; which being done and signed, a house was +hired, masters engag’d, and the schools opened, I think, in the same +year, 1749.</p> + +<p> +The scholars increasing fast, the house was soon found +too small, and +we were looking out for a piece of ground, properly situated, with +intention to build, when Providence threw into our way a large house +ready built, which, with a few alterations, might well serve our +purpose. This was the building before mentioned, erected by the +hearers of Mr. Whitefield, and was obtained for us in the following +manner.</p> + +<p> +It is to be noted that the contributions to this building being made by +people of different sects, care was taken in the nomination of +trustees, in whom the building and ground was to be vested, that a +predominancy should not be given to any sect, lest in time that +predominancy might be a means of appropriating the whole to the use of +such sect, contrary to the original intention. It was therefore that +one of each sect was appointed, viz., one Church-of-England man, one +Presbyterian, one Baptist, one Moravian, etc., those, in case of +vacancy by death, were to fill it by election from among the +contributors. The Moravian happen’d not to please his colleagues, and +on his death they resolved to have no other of that sect. The +difficulty then was, how to avoid having two of some other sect, by +means of the new choice.</p> + +<p> +Several persons were named, and for that reason not agreed to. At +length one mention’d me, with the observation that I was merely an +honest man, and of no sect at all, which prevail’d with them to chuse +me. The enthusiasm which existed when the house was built had long +since abated, and its trustees had not been able to procure fresh +contributions for paying the ground-rent, and discharging some other +debts the building had occasion’d, which embarrass’d them greatly. +Being now a member of both setts of trustees, that for the building and +that for the Academy, I had a good opportunity of negotiating with +both, and brought them finally to an agreement, by which the trustees +for the building were to cede it to those of the academy, the latter +undertaking to discharge the debt, to keep for ever open in the +building a large hall for occasional preachers, according to the +original intention, and maintain a free-school for the instruction of +poor children. Writings were accordingly drawn, and on paying the +debts the trustees of the academy were put in possession of the +premises; and by dividing the great and lofty hall into stories, and +different +rooms above and below for the several schools, and purchasing +some additional ground, the whole was soon made fit for our purpose, +and the scholars remov’d into the building. The care and trouble of +agreeing with the workmen, purchasing materials, and superintending the +work, fell upon me; and I went thro’ it the more cheerfully, as it did +not then interfere with my private business, having the year before +taken a very able, industrious, and honest partner, Mr. David Hall, +with whose character I was well acquainted, as he had work’d for me +four years. He took off my hands all care of the printing-office, +paying me punctually my share of the profits. This partnership +continued eighteen years, successfully for us both.</p> + +<p> +The trustees of the academy, after a while, were incorporated by a +charter from the governor; their funds were increas’d by contributions +in Britain and grants of land from the proprietaries, to which the +Assembly has since made considerable addition; and thus was established +the present University of Philadelphia. I have been continued one of +its trustees from the beginning, now near forty years, and have had the +very great pleasure of seeing a number of the youth who have receiv’d +their education in it, distinguish’d by their improv’d abilities, +serviceable in public stations, and ornaments to their country.</p> + +<p> +When I disengaged myself, as above mentioned, from private business, I +flatter’d myself that, by the sufficient tho’ moderate fortune I had +acquir’d, I had secured leisure during the rest of my life for +philosophical studies and amusements. I purchased all Dr. Spence’s +apparatus, who had come from England to lecture here, and I proceeded +in my electrical experiments with great alacrity; but the publick, now +considering me as a man of leisure, laid hold of me for their purposes, +every part of our civil government, and almost at the same time, +imposing some duty upon me. The governor put me into the commission of +the peace; the corporation of the city chose me of the common council, +and soon after an alderman; and the citizens at large chose me a +burgess to represent them in Assembly. This latter station was the +more agreeable to me, as I was at length tired with sitting there to +hear debates, in which, as clerk, +I could take no part, and which were +often so unentertaining that I was induc’d to amuse myself with making +magic squares or circles, or any thing to avoid weariness; and I +conceiv’d my becoming a member would enlarge my power of doing good. I +would not, however, insinuate that my ambition was not flatter’d by all +these promotions; it certainly was; for, considering my low beginning, +they were great things to me; and they were still more pleasing, as +being so many spontaneous testimonies of the public good opinion, and +by me entirely unsolicited.</p> + +<p> +The office of justice of the peace I try’d a little, by attending a few +courts, and sitting on the bench to hear causes; but finding that more +knowledge of the common law than I possess’d was necessary to act in +that station with credit, I gradually withdrew from it, excusing myself +by my being oblig’d to attend the higher duties of a legislator in the +Assembly. My election to this trust was repeated every year for ten +years, without my ever asking any elector for his vote, or signifying, +either directly or indirectly, any desire of being chosen. On taking +my seat in the House, my son was appointed their clerk.</p> + +<p> +The year following, a treaty being to be held with the Indians at +Carlisle, the governor sent a message to the House, proposing that they +should nominate some of their members, to be join’d with some members +of council, as commissioners for that purpose. +<span class="superscript">[11]</span> The House named the +speaker (Mr. Norris) and myself; and, being commission’d, we went to +Carlisle, and met the Indians accordingly.</p> + +<div class="footer"> +<p class="footer"> +<a name="footer_120-11"></a> +<span class="superscript">[11]</span> +See the votes to have this more +correctly.—[<i>Marg. note</i>.] +</p> +</div> + +<p> +As those people are extreamly apt to get drunk, and, when so, are very +quarrelsome and disorderly, we strictly forbad the selling any liquor +to them; and when they complain’d of this restriction, we told them +that if they would continue sober during the treaty, we would give them +plenty of rum when business was over. They promis’d this, and they +kept their promise, because they could get no liquor, and the treaty +was conducted very orderly, and concluded to mutual satisfaction. They +then claim’d and receiv’d the rum; this was in the afternoon; they were +near one hundred men, women, and children, and were lodg’d in temporary +cabins, built in the form of a square, just without the town. In the +evening, hearing a great noise among them, the commissioners walk’d out +to see what was the matter. We found they had made a great bonfire in +the middle of the square; they were all drunk, men and women, +quarreling and fighting. Their dark-colour’d bodies, half naked, seen +only by the gloomy light of the bonfire, running after and beating one +another with firebrands, accompanied by their horrid yellings, form’d a +scene the most resembling our ideas of hell that could well be +imagin’d; there was no appeasing the tumult, and we retired to our +lodging. At midnight a number of them came thundering at our door, +demanding more rum, of which we took no notice.</p> + +<p> +The next day, sensible they had misbehav’d in giving us that +disturbance, they sent three of their old counselors to make their +apology. The orator acknowledg’d the fault, but laid it upon the rum; +and then endeavored to excuse the rum by saying, “<i>The Great Spirit, who +made all things, made every thing for some use, and whatever use he +design’d any thing for, that use it should always be put to. Now, when +he made rum, he said ‘Let this be for the Indians to get drunk with,’ +and it must be so.</i>” And, indeed, if it be the design of Providence to +extirpate these savages in order to make room for cultivators of the +earth, it seems not improbable that rum may be the appointed means. It +has already annihilated all the tribes who formerly inhabited the +sea-coast.</p> + +<p> +In 1751, Dr. Thomas Bond, a particular friend of mine, conceived the +idea of establishing a hospital in Philadelphia (a very beneficent +design, which has been ascrib’d to me, but was originally his), for the +reception and cure of poor sick persons, whether inhabitants of the +province or strangers. He was zealous and active in endeavouring to +procure subscriptions for it, but the proposal being a novelty in +America, and at first not well understood, he met but with small +success.</p> + +<p> +At length he came to me with the compliment that he found there was no +such thing as carrying a public-spirited project through without my +being concern’d in it. “For,” says he, “I am often ask’d by those to +whom I propose +subscribing, Have you consulted Franklin upon this +business? And what does he think of it? And when I tell them that I +have not (supposing it rather out of your line), they do not subscribe, +but say they will consider of it.” I enquired into the nature and +probable utility of his scheme, and receiving from him a very +satisfactory explanation, I not only subscrib’d to it myself, but +engag’d heartily in the design of procuring subscriptions from others. +Previously, however, to the solicitation, I endeavoured to prepare the +minds of the people by writing on the subject in the newspapers, which +was my usual custom in such cases, but which he had omitted.</p> + +<p> +The subscriptions afterwards were more free and generous; but, +beginning to flag, I saw they would be insufficient without some +assistance from the Assembly, and therefore propos’d to petition for +it, which was done. The country members did not at first relish the +project; they objected that it could only be serviceable to the city, +and therefore the citizens alone should be at the expense of it; and +they doubted whether the citizens themselves generally approv’d of it. +My allegation on the contrary, that it met with such approbation as to +leave no doubt of our being able to raise two thousand pounds by +voluntary donations, they considered as a most extravagant supposition, +and utterly impossible.</p> + +<p> +On this I form’d my plan; and asking leave to bring in a bill for +incorporating the contributors according to the prayer of their +petition, and granting them a blank sum of money, which leave was +obtained chiefly on the consideration that the House could throw the +bill out if they did not like it, I drew it so as to make the important +clause a conditional one, viz., “And be it enacted, by the authority +aforesaid, that when the said contributors shall have met and chosen +their managers and treasurer, <i>and shall have raised by their +contributions a capital stock of ——— value</i> +(the yearly interest of which is to be applied to the accommodating +of the sick poor in the said hospital, free of charge for diet, +attendance, advice, and medicines), <i>and shall make the same appear +to the satisfaction of the speaker of the Assembly for the time being</i>, +that <i>then</i> it shall and may be +lawful for the said speaker, and he is hereby required, to sign an +order on the provincial treasurer for the payment of two thousand +pounds, in two yearly payments, to the treasurer of the said hospital, +to be applied to the founding, building, and finishing of the same.”</p> + +<p> +This condition carried the bill through; for the members, who had +oppos’d the grant, and now conceiv’d they might have the credit of +being charitable without the expence, agreed to its passage; and then, +in soliciting subscriptions among the people, we urg’d the conditional +promise of the law as an additional motive to give, since every man’s +donation would be doubled; thus the clause work’d both ways. The +subscriptions accordingly soon exceeded the requisite sum, and we +claim’d and receiv’d the public gift, which enabled us to carry the +design into execution. A convenient and handsome building was soon +erected; the institution has by constant experience been found useful, +and flourishes to this day; and I do not remember any of my political +manœuvres, the success of which gave me at the time more pleasure, or +wherein, after thinking of it, I more easily excus’d myself for having +made some use of cunning.</p> + +<p> +It was about this time that another projector, the Rev. Gilbert +Tennent, came to me with a request that I would assist him in procuring +a subscription for erecting a new meeting-house. It was to be for the +use of a congregation he had gathered among the Presbyterians, who were +originally disciples of Mr. Whitefield. Unwilling to make myself +disagreeable to my fellow-citizens by too frequently soliciting their +contributions, I absolutely refus’d. He then desired I would furnish +him with a list of the names of persons I knew by experience to be +generous and public-spirited. I thought it would be unbecoming in me, +after their kind compliance with my solicitations, to mark them out to +be worried by other beggars, and therefore refus’d also to give such a +list. He then desir’d I would at least give him my advice. “That I +will readily do,” said I; “and, in the first place, I advise you to +apply to all those whom you know will give something; next, to those +whom you are uncertain whether they will give any thing or not, and +show them the list of those who have given; and, lastly, do not neglect +those who you are sure will give nothing, for in some of them you may +be mistaken.” He laugh’d and thank’d me, and said he would take my +advice. He did so, for he ask’d of <i>everybody</i>, and he obtained a much +larger sum than he expected, with which he erected the capacious and +very elegant meeting-house that stands in Arch-street.</p> + +<p> +Our city, tho’ laid out with a beautiful regularity, the streets large, +strait, and crossing each other at right angles, had the disgrace of +suffering those streets to remain long unpav’d, and in wet weather the +wheels of heavy carriages plough’d them into a quagmire, so that it was +difficult to cross them; and in dry weather the dust was offensive. I +had liv’d near what was call’d the Jersey Market, and saw with pain the +inhabitants wading in mud while purchasing their provisions. A strip +of ground down the middle of that market was at length pav’d with +brick, so that, being once in the market, they had firm footing, but +were often over shoes in dirt to get there. By talking and writing on +the subject, I was at length instrumental in getting the street pav’d +with stone between the market and the brick’d foot-pavement, that was +on each side next the houses. This, for some time, gave an easy access +to the market dry-shod; but, the rest of the street not being pav’d, +whenever a carriage came out of the mud upon this pavement, it shook +off and left its dirt upon it, and it was soon cover’d with mire, which +was not remov’d, the city as yet having no scavengers.</p> + +<p> +After some inquiry I found a poor industrious man, who was willing to +undertake keeping the pavement clean, by sweeping it twice a week, +carrying off the dirt from before all the neighbours’ doors, for the +sum of sixpence per month, to be paid by each house. I then wrote and +printed a paper setting forth the advantages to the neighbourhood that +might be obtain’d by this small expense; the greater ease in keeping +our houses clean, so much dirt not being brought in by people’s feet; +the benefit to the shops by more custom, etc., etc., as buyers could +more easily get at them; and by not having, in windy weather, the dust +blown in upon their goods, etc., etc. I sent one of these papers to +each house, and in a day or two went round to see who would subscribe +an agreement to pay these sixpences; it was unanimously sign’d, and for +a time well executed. All the inhabitants of the city were delighted +with the cleanliness of the pavement that surrounded the market, it +being a convenience to all, and this rais’d a general desire to have +all the streets paved, and made the people more willing to submit to a +tax for that purpose.</p> + +<p> +After some time I drew a bill for paving the city, and brought it into +the Assembly. It was just before I went to England, in 1757, and did +not pass till I was gone, <span class="superscript">[12]</span> +and then with an alteration in the mode +of assessment, which I thought not for the better, but with an +additional provision for lighting as well as paving the streets, which +was a great improvement. It was by a private person, the late Mr. John +Clifton, his giving a sample of the utility of lamps, by placing one at +his door, that the people were first impress’d with the idea of +enlighting all the city. The honour of this public benefit has also +been ascrib’d to me, but it belongs truly to that gentleman. I did but +follow his example, and have only some merit to claim respecting the +form of our lamps, as differing from the globe lamps we were at first +supply’d with from London. Those we found inconvenient in these +respects: they admitted no air below; the smoke, therefore, did not +readily go out above, but circulated in the globe, lodg’d on its +inside, and soon obstructed the light they were intended to afford; +giving, besides, the daily trouble of wiping them clean; and an +accidental stroke on one of them would demolish it, and render it +totally useless. I therefore suggested the composing them of four flat +panes, with a long funnel above to draw up the smoke, and crevices +admitting air below, to facilitate the ascent of the smoke; by this +means they were kept clean, and did not grow dark in a few hours, as +the London lamps do, but continu’d bright till morning, and an +accidental stroke would generally break but a single pane, easily +repair’d.</p> + +<div class="footer"> +<p class="footer"> +<a name="footer_125-12"></a> +<span class="superscript">[12]</span> +See votes. +</p> +</div> + +<p> +I have sometimes wonder’d that the Londoners did not, from the effect +holes in the bottom of the globe lamps us’d at Vauxhall have in keeping +them clean, learn to have such +holes in their street lamps. But, these +holes being made for another purpose, viz., to communicate flame more +suddenly to the wick by a little flax hanging down thro’ them, the +other use, of letting in air, seems not to have been thought of; and +therefore, after the lamps have been lit a few hours, the streets of +London are very poorly illuminated.</p> + +<p> +The mention of these improvements puts me in mind of one I propos’d, +when in London, to Dr. Fothergill, who was among the best men I have +known, and a great promoter of useful projects. I had observ’d that +the streets, when dry, were never swept, and the light dust carried +away; but it was suffer’d to accumulate till wet weather reduc’d it to +mud, and then, after lying some days so deep on the pavement that there +was no crossing but in paths kept clean by poor people with brooms, it +was with great labour rak’d together and thrown up into carts open +above, the sides of which suffer’d some of the slush at every jolt on +the pavement to shake out and fall, sometimes to the annoyance of +foot-passengers. The reason given for not sweeping the dusty streets +was, that the dust would fly into the windows of shops and houses.</p> + +<p> +An accidental occurrence had instructed me how much sweeping might be +done in a little time. I found at my door in Craven-street, one +morning, a poor woman sweeping my pavement with a birch broom; she +appeared very pale and feeble, as just come out of a fit of sickness. +I ask’d who employ’d her to sweep there; she said, “Nobody, but I am +very poor and in distress, and I sweeps before gentlefolkses doors, and +hopes they will give me something.” I bid her sweep the whole street +clean, and I would give her a shilling; this was at nine o’clock; at 12 +she came for the shilling. From the slowness I saw at first in her +working, I could scarce believe that the work was done so soon, and +sent my servant to examine it, who reported that the whole street was +swept perfectly clean, and all the dust plac’d in the gutter, which was +in the middle; and the next rain wash’d it quite away, so that the +pavement and even the kennel were perfectly clean.</p> + +<p> +I then judg’d that, if that feeble woman could sweep +such a street in +three hours, a strong, active man might have done it in half the time. +And here let me remark the convenience of having but one gutter in such +a narrow street, running down its middle, instead of two, one on each +side, near the footway; for where all the rain that falls on a street +runs from the sides and meets in the middle, it forms there a current +strong enough to wash away all the mud it meets with; but when divided +into two channels, it is often too weak to cleanse either, and only +makes the mud it finds more fluid, so that the wheels of carriages and +feet of horses throw and dash it upon the foot-pavement, which is +thereby rendered foul and slippery, and sometimes splash it upon those +who are walking. My proposal, communicated to the good doctor, was as +follows:</p> + +<p> +“For the more effectual cleaning and keeping clean the streets of +London and Westminster, it is proposed that the several watchmen be +contracted with to have the dust swept up in dry seasons, and the mud +rak’d up at other times, each in the several streets and lanes of his +round; that they be furnish’d with brooms and other proper instruments +for these purposes, to be kept at their respective stands, ready to +furnish the poor people they may employ in the service.</p> + +<p> +“That in the dry summer months the dust be all swept up into heaps at +proper distances, before the shops and windows of houses are usually +opened, when the scavengers, with close-covered carts, shall also carry +it all away.</p> + +<p> +“That the mud, when rak’d up, be not left in heaps to be spread abroad +again by the wheels of carriages and trampling of horses, but that the +scavengers be provided with bodies of carts, not plac’d high upon +wheels, but low upon sliders, with lattice bottoms, which, being +cover’d with straw, will retain the mud thrown into them, and permit +the water to drain from it, whereby it will become much lighter, water +making the greatest part of its weight; these bodies of carts to be +plac’d at convenient distances, and the mud brought to them in +wheel-barrows; they remaining where plac’d till the mud is drain’d, and +then horses brought to draw them away.”</p> + +<p> +I have since had doubts of the practicability of the latter part of +this proposal, on account of the narrowness of some +streets, and the +difficulty of placing the draining-sleds so as not to encumber too much +the passage; but I am still of opinion that the former, requiring the +dust to be swept up and carry’d away before the shops are open, is very +practicable in the summer, when the days are long; for, in walking +thro’ the Strand and Fleet-street one morning at seven o’clock, I +observ’d there was not one shop open, tho’ it had been daylight and the +sun up above three hours; the inhabitants of London chusing voluntarily +to live much by candle-light, and sleep by sunshine, and yet often +complain, a little absurdly, of the duty on candles and the high price +of tallow.</p> + +<p> +Some may think these trifling matters not worth minding or relating; +but when they consider that tho’ dust blown into the eyes of a single +person, or into a single shop on a windy day, is but of small +importance, yet the great number of the instances in a populous city, +and its frequent repetitions give it weight and consequence, perhaps +they will not censure very severely those who bestow some attention to +affairs of this seemingly low nature. Human felicity is produc’d not +so much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen, as by +little advantages that occur every day. Thus, if you teach a poor +young man to shave himself, and keep his razor in order, you may +contribute more to the happiness of his life than in giving him a +thousand guineas. The money may be soon spent, the regret only +remaining of having foolishly consumed it; but in the other case, he +escapes the frequent vexation of waiting for barbers, and of their +sometimes dirty fingers, offensive breaths, and dull razors; he shaves +when most convenient to him, and enjoys daily the pleasure of its being +done with a good instrument. With these sentiments I have hazarded the +few preceding pages, hoping they may afford hints which some time or +other may be useful to a city I love, having lived many years in it +very happily, and perhaps to some of our towns in America.</p> + +<p> +Having been for some time employed by the postmaster-general of America +as his comptroller in regulating several offices, and bringing the +officers to account, I was, upon his death in 1753, appointed, jointly +with Mr. William Hunter, +to succeed him, by a commission from the +postmaster-general in England. The American office never had hitherto +paid any thing to that of Britain. We were to have six hundred pounds +a year between us, if we could make that sum out of the profits of the +office. To do this, a variety of improvements were necessary; some of +these were inevitably at first expensive, so that in the first four +years the office became above nine hundred pounds in debt to us. But +it soon after began to repay us; and before I was displac’d by a freak +of the ministers, of which I shall speak hereafter, we had brought it +to yield <i>three times</i> as much clear revenue to the crown as the +postoffice of Ireland. Since that imprudent transaction, they have +receiv’d from it—not one farthing!</p> + +<p> +The business of the postoffice occasion’d my taking a journey this year +to New England, where the College of Cambridge, of their own motion, +presented me with the degree of Master of Arts. Yale College, in +Connecticut, had before made me a similar compliment. Thus, without +studying in any college, I came to partake of their honours. They were +conferr’d in consideration of my improvements and discoveries in the +electric branch of natural philosophy.</p> + +<p> +In 1754, war with France being again apprehended, a congress of +commissioners from the different colonies was, by an order of the Lords +of Trade, to be assembled at Albany, there to confer with the chiefs of +the Six Nations concerning the means of defending both their country +and ours. Governor Hamilton, having receiv’d this order, acquainted +the House with it, requesting they would furnish proper presents for +the Indians, to be given on this occasion; and naming the speaker (Mr. +Norris) and myself to join Mr. Thomas Penn and Mr. Secretary Peters as +commissioners to act for Pennsylvania. The House approv’d the +nomination, and provided the goods for the present, and tho’ they did +not much like treating out of the provinces; and we met the other +commissioners at Albany about the middle of June.</p> + +<p> +In our way thither, I projected and drew a plan for the union of all +the colonies under one government, so far as might be necessary for +defense, and other important general +purposes. As we pass’d thro’ New +York, I had there shown my project to Mr. James Alexander and Mr. +Kennedy, two gentlemen of great knowledge in public affairs, and, being +fortified by their approbation, I ventur’d to lay it before the +Congress. It then appeared that several of the commissioners had +form’d plans of the same kind. A previous question was first taken, +whether a union should be established, which pass’d in the affirmative +unanimously. A committee was then appointed, one member from each +colony, to consider the several plans and report. Mine happen’d to be +preferr’d, and, with a few amendments, was accordingly reported.</p> + +<p> +By this plan the general government was to be administered by a +president-general, appointed and supported by the crown, and a grand +council was to be chosen by the representatives of the people of the +several colonies, met in their respective assemblies. The debates upon +it in Congress went on daily, hand in hand with the Indian business. +Many objections and difficulties were started, but at length they were +all overcome, and the plan was unanimously agreed to, and copies +ordered to be transmitted to the Board of Trade and to the assemblies +of the several provinces. Its fate was singular: the assemblies did +not adopt it, as they all thought there was too much <i>prerogative</i> in it, +and in England it was judg’d to have too much of the <i>democratic</i>.</p> + +<p> +The Board of Trade therefore did not approve of it, nor recommend it +for the approbation of his majesty; but another scheme was form’d, +supposed to answer the same purpose better, whereby the governors of +the provinces, with some members of their respective councils, were to +meet and order the raising of troops, building of forts, etc., and to +draw on the treasury of Great Britain for the expense, which was +afterwards to be refunded by an act of Parliament laying a tax on +America. My plan, with my reasons in support of it, is to be found +among my political papers that are printed.</p> + +<p> +Being the winter following in Boston, I had much conversation with +Governor Shirley upon both the plans. Part of what passed between us +on the occasion may also be seen among those papers. The different and +contrary reasons +of dislike to my plan makes me suspect that it was +really the true medium; and I am still of opinion it would have been +happy for both sides the water if it had been adopted. The colonies, +so united, would have been sufficiently strong to have defended +themselves; there would then have been no need of troops from England; +of course, the subsequent pretence for taxing America, and the bloody +contest it occasioned, would have been avoided. But such mistakes are +not new; history is full of the errors of states and princes.</p> + +<div class="poem1"> +<p class="poem1 padding10">Look round the habitable world, how few</p> +<p class="poem1 padding10">Know their own good, or, knowing it, pursue!</p> +</div> + +<p> +Those who govern, having much business on their hands, do not generally +like to take the trouble of considering and carrying into execution new +projects. The best public measures are therefore seldom <i>adopted from +previous wisdom, but forc’d by the occasion</i>.</p> + +<p> +The Governor of Pennsylvania, in sending it down to the Assembly, +express’d his approbation of the plan, “as appearing to him to be drawn +up with great clearness and strength of judgment, and therefore +recommended it as well worthy of their closest and most serious +attention.” The House, however, by the management of a certain member, +took it up when I happen’d to be absent, which I thought not very fair, +and reprobated it without paying any attention to it at all, to my no +small mortification.</p> + +<p> +In my journey to Boston this year, I met at New York with our new +governor, Mr. Morris, just arriv’d there from England, with whom I had +been before intimately acquainted. He brought a commission to +supersede Mr. Hamilton, who, tir’d with the disputes his proprietary +instructions subjected him to, had resign’d. Mr. Morris ask’d me if I +thought he must expect as uncomfortable an administration. I said, +“No; you may, on the contrary, have a very comfortable one, if you will +only take care not to enter into any dispute with the Assembly.” “My +dear friend,” says he, pleasantly, “how can you advise my avoiding +disputes? You know I love disputing; it is one of my greatest +pleasures; however, to show the regard I have for your counsel, I +promise you I will, if possible, avoid them.” He had some reason for +loving to dispute, being eloquent, an acute sophister, and, +therefore, +generally successful in argumentative conversation. He had been +brought up to it from a boy, his father, as I have heard, accustoming +his children to dispute with one another for his diversion, while +sitting at table after dinner; but I think the practice was not wise; +for, in the course of my observation, these disputing, contradicting, +and confuting people are generally unfortunate in their affairs. They +get victory sometimes, but they never get good will, which would be of +more use to them. We parted, he going to Philadelphia, and I to Boston.</p> + +<p> +In returning, I met at New York with the votes of the Assembly, by +which it appear’d that, notwithstanding his promise to me, he and the +House were already in high contention; and it was a continual battle +between them as long as he retain’d the government. I had my share of +it; for, as soon as I got back to my seat in the Assembly, I was put on +every committee for answering his speeches and messages, and by the +committees always desired to make the drafts. Our answers, as well as +his messages, were often tart, and sometimes indecently abusive; and, +as he knew I wrote for the Assembly, one might have imagined that, when +we met, we could hardly avoid cutting throats; but he was so +good-natur’d a man that no personal difference between him and me was +occasion’d by the contest, and we often din’d together.</p> + +<p> +One afternoon, in the height of this public quarrel, we met in the +street. “Franklin,” says he, “you must go home with me and spend the +evening; I am to have some company that you will like;” and, taking me +by the arm, he led me to his house. In gay conversation over our wine, +after supper, he told us, jokingly, that he much admir’d the idea of +Sancho Panza, who, when it was proposed to give him a government, +requested it might be a government of <i>blacks</i>, as then, if he could not +agree with his people, he might sell them. One of his friends, who sat +next to me, says, “Franklin, why do you continue to side with these +damn’d Quakers? Had not you better sell them? The proprietor would +give you a good price.” “The governor,” says I, “has not yet <i>blacked</i> +them enough.” He, indeed, had labored hard to blacken the Assembly in +all his messages, +but they wip’d off his coloring as fast as he laid it +on, and plac’d it, in return, thick upon his own face; so that, finding +he was likely to be negrofied himself, he, as well as Mr. Hamilton, +grew tir’d of the contest, and quitted the government.</p> + +<p> +<span class="superscript">[13]</span> +These public quarrels were all at bottom owing to the +proprietaries, our hereditary governors, who, when any expense was to +be incurred for the defense of their province, with incredible meanness +instructed their deputies to pass no act for levying the necessary +taxes, unless their vast estates were in the same act expressly +excused; and they had even taken bonds of these deputies to observe +such instructions. The Assemblies for three years held out against +this injustice, tho’ constrained to bend at last. At length Captain +Denny, who was Governor Morris’s successor, ventured to disobey those +instructions; how that was brought about I shall show hereafter.</p> + +<div class="footer"> +<p class="footer"> +<a name="footer_133-13"></a> +<span class="superscript">[13]</span> +My acts in Morris’s time, military, etc.—[<i>Marg. note.</i>] +</p> +</div> + +<p> +But I am got forward too fast with my story: there are still some +transactions to be mention’d that happened during the administration of +Governor Morris.</p> + +<p> +War being in a manner commenced with France, the government of +Massachusetts Bay projected an attack upon Crown Point, and sent Mr. +Quincy to Pennsylvania, and Mr. Pownall, afterward Governor Pownall, to +New York, to solicit assistance. As I was in the Assembly, knew its +temper, and was Mr. Quincy’s countryman, he appli’d to me for my +influence and assistance. I dictated his address to them, which was +well receiv’d. They voted an aid of ten thousand pounds, to be laid out +in provisions. But the governor refusing his assent to their bill +(which included this with other sums granted for the use of the crown), +unless a clause were inserted exempting the proprietary estate from +bearing any part of the tax that would be necessary, the Assembly, tho’ +very desirous of making their grant to New England effectual, were at a +loss how to accomplish it. Mr. Quincy labored hard with the governor +to obtain his assent, but he was obstinate.</p> + +<p> +I then suggested a method of doing the business without the governor, +by orders on the trustees of the Loan Office, +which, by law, the +Assembly had the right of drawing. There was, indeed, little or no +money at that time in the office, and therefore I propos’d that the +orders should be payable in a year, and to bear an interest of five per +cent. With these orders I suppos’d the provisions might easily be +purchas’d. The Assembly, with very little hesitation, adopted the +proposal. The orders were immediately printed, and I was one of the +committee directed to sign and dispose of them. The fund for paying +them was the interest of all the paper currency then extant in the +province upon loan, together with the revenue arising from the excise, +which being known to be more than sufficient, they obtain’d instant +credit, and were not only receiv’d in payment for the provisions, but +many money’d people, who had cash lying by them, vested it in those +orders, which they found advantageous, as they bore interest while upon +hand, and might on any occasion be used as money; so that they were +eagerly all bought up, and in a few weeks none of them were to be seen. +Thus this important affair was by my means compleated. My Quincy +return’d thanks to the Assembly in a handsome memorial, went home +highly pleas’d with the success of his embassy, and ever after bore for +me the most cordial and affectionate friendship.</p> + +<p> +The British government, not chusing to permit the union of the colonies +as propos’d at Albany, and to trust that union with their defense, lest +they should thereby grow too military, and feel their own strength, +suspicions and jealousies at this time being entertain’d of them, sent +over General Braddock with two regiments of regular English troops for +that purpose. He landed at Alexandria, in Virginia, and thence march’d +to Frederictown, in Maryland, where he halted for carriages. Our +Assembly apprehending, from some information, that he had conceived +violent prejudices against them, as averse to the service, wish’d me to +wait upon him, not as from them, but as postmaster-general, under the +guise of proposing to settle with him the mode of conducting with most +celerity and certainty the despatches between him and the governors of +the several provinces, with whom he must necessarily have continual +correspondence, and of which +they propos’d to pay the expense. My son +accompanied me on this journey.</p> + +<p> +We found the general at Frederictown, waiting impatiently for the +return of those he had sent thro’ the back parts of Maryland and +Virginia to collect waggons. I stayed with him several days, din’d +with him daily, and had full opportunity of removing all his +prejudices, by the information of what the Assembly had before his +arrival actually done, and were still willing to do, to facilitate his +operations. When I was about to depart, the returns of waggons to be +obtained were brought in, by which it appear’d that they amounted only +to twenty-five, and not all of those were in serviceable condition. +The general and all the officers were surpris’d, declar’d the +expedition was then at an end, being impossible, and exclaim’d against +the ministers for ignorantly landing them in a country destitute of the +means of conveying their stores, baggage, etc., not less than one +hundred and fifty waggons being necessary.</p> + +<p> +I happened to say I thought it was a pity they had not been landed +rather in Pennsylvania, as in that country almost every farmer had his +waggon. The general eagerly laid hold of my words, and said, “Then +you, sir, who are a man of interest there, can probably procure them +for us; and I beg you will undertake it.” I ask’d what terms were to +be offer’d the owners of the waggons; and I was desir’d to put on paper +the terms that appeared to me necessary. This I did, and they were +agreed to, and a commission and instructions accordingly prepar’d +immediately. What those terms were will appear in the advertisement I +publish’d as soon as I arriv’d at Lancaster, which being, from the +great and sudden effect it produc’d, a piece of some curiosity, I shall +insert it at length, as follows:</p> + +<p class="smcap center">“Advertisement.</p> +<p class="right small"> +<span class="smcap">“LANCASTER</span>, <i>April 26</i>, 1755. +</p> + +<p> +“Whereas, one hundred and fifty waggons, with four horses to each +waggon, and fifteen hundred saddle or pack horses, are wanted for the +service of his majesty’s forces now about to rendezvous at Will’s +Creek, and his excellency +General Braddock having been pleased to +empower me to contract for the hire of the same, I hereby give notice +that I shall attend for that purpose at Lancaster from this day to next +Wednesday evening, and at York from next Thursday morning till Friday +evening, where I shall be ready to agree for waggons and teams, or +single horses, on the following terms, viz.: 1. That there shall be +paid for each waggon, with four good horses and a driver, fifteen +shillings per diem; and for each able horse with a pack-saddle, or +other saddle and furniture, two shillings per diem; and for each able +horse without a saddle, eighteen pence per diem. 2. That the pay +commence from the time of their joining the forces at Will’s Creek, +which must be on or before the 20th of May ensuing, and that a +reasonable allowance be paid over and above for the time necessary for +their travelling to Will’s Creek and home again after their discharge. +3. Each waggon and team, and every saddle or pack horse, is to be +valued by indifferent persons chosen between me and the owner; and in +case of the loss of any waggon, team, or other horse in the service, +the price according to such valuation is to be allowed and paid. 4. +Seven days’ pay is to be advanced and paid in hand by me to the owner +of each waggon and team, or horse, at the time of contracting, if +required, and the remainder to be paid by General Braddock, or by the +paymaster of the army, at the time of their discharge, or from time to +time, as it shall be demanded. 5. No drivers of waggons, or persons +taking care of the hired horses, are on any account to be called upon +to do the duty of soldiers, or be otherwise employed than in conducting +or taking care of their carriages or horses. 6. All oats, Indian +corn, or other forage that waggons or horses bring to the camp, more +than is necessary for the subsistence of the horses, is to be taken for +the use of the army, and a reasonable price paid for the same.</p> + +<p> +“Note.—My son, William Franklin, is empowered to enter into like +contracts with any person in Cumberland county.</p> +<p class="right smcap">“B. Franklin.”</p> + +<p class="letter_greeting center italic"> +“To the inhabitants of the Counties of Lancaster, York and Cumberland.</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +“Friends and Countrymen,</p> + +<p> +“Being occasionally at the camp at Frederic a few days since, I found +the general and officers extremely exasperated on account 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.</p> + +<p> +“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.</p> + +<p> +“I apprehended that the progress of British soldiers through these +counties on such an 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 one hundred and +twenty days, the hire of these waggons and horses will amount to upward +of thirty thousand pounds, which will be paid you in silver and gold of +the king’s money.</p> + +<p> +“The service will be light and easy, for the army will scarce march +above twelve miles per day, and the waggons 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; and are, for the army’s +sake, always placed where they can be most secure, whether in a march +or in a camp.</p> + +<p> +“If you are really, as I believe you are, 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 can not separately spare +from the business of their plantations a waggon and four horses and a +driver, may do it together, one furnishing the waggon, another one or +two horses, and another the driver, and divide the pay proportionately +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; waggons and horses must be had; violent measures +will probably be used, and you will be left to seek for a recompense +where you can find it, and your case, perhaps, be little pitied or +regarded.</p> + +<p> +“I have no particular interest in this affair, as, except the +satisfaction of endeavoring to do good, I shall have only my labour for +my pains. If this method of obtaining the waggons and horses is not +likely to succeed, I am obliged to send word to the general in fourteen +days; and I suppose Sir John St. Clair, the hussar, with a 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, </p> +<p class="right smcap">B. Franklin.”</p> + +<p class="double-space-top"> +I received of the general about eight hundred pounds, to be disbursed +in advance-money to the waggon owners, etc.; but that sum being +insufficient, I advanc’d upward of two hundred pounds more, and in two +weeks the one hundred and fifty waggons, with two hundred and +fifty-nine carrying horses, were on their march for the camp. The +advertisement promised payment according to the valuation, in case any +waggon or horse should be lost. The owners, however, alleging they did +not know General Braddock, or what dependence might be had on his +promise, insisted on my bond for the performance, which I accordingly +gave them.</p> + +<p> +While I was at the camp, supping one evening with the officers of +Colonel Dunbar’s regiment, he represented to me his concern for the +subalterns, who, he said, were generally +not in affluence, and could +ill afford, in this dear country, to lay in the stores that might be +necessary in so long a march, thro’ a wilderness, where nothing was to +be purchas’d. I commiserated their case, and resolved to endeavor +procuring them some relief. I said nothing, however, to him of my +intention, but wrote the next morning to the committee of the Assembly, +who had the disposition of some public money, warmly recommending the +case of these officers to their consideration, and proposing that a +present should be sent them of necessaries and refreshments. My son, +who had some experience of a camp life, and of its wants, drew up a +list for me, which I enclos’d in my letter. The committee approv’d, +and used such diligence that, conducted by my son, the stores arrived +at the camp as soon as the waggons. They consisted of twenty parcels, +each containing</p> + +<table class="life little" summary="Provisions ordered by Franklin for Braddock’s campaign"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td>6 lbs. loaf sugar.</td> +<td>1 Gloucester cheese.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>6 lbs. good Muscovado do.</td> +<td>1 kegg containing 20 lbs. good butter.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1 lb. good green tea.</td> +<td>2 doz. old Madeira wine.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1 lb. good bohea do.</td> +<td>2 gallons Jamaica spirits.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>6 lbs. good ground coffee.</td> +<td>1 bottle flour of mustard.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>6 lbs. chocolate.</td> +<td>2 well-cur’d hams.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1-2 cwt. best white biscuit.</td> +<td>1-2 dozen dry’d tongues.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1-2 lb. pepper.</td> +<td>6 lbs. rice.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1 quart best white wine vinegar.</td> +<td>6 lbs. raisins.</td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<p> +These twenty parcels, well pack’d, were placed on as many horses, each +parcel, with the horse, being intended as a present for one officer. +They were very thankfully receiv’d, and the kindness acknowledg’d by +letters to me from the colonels of both regiments, in the most grateful +terms. The general, too, was highly satisfied with my conduct in +procuring him the waggons, etc., and readily paid my account of +disbursements, thanking me repeatedly, and requesting my farther +assistance in sending provisions after him. I undertook this also, and +was busily employ’d in it till we heard of his defeat, advancing for +the service of my own money, upwards of one thousand pounds sterling, +of which I sent him an account. It came to his hands, luckily for me, +a few days before the battle, and he return’d me immediately an order +on the paymaster for the round sum of one thousand pounds, leaving the +remainder to the next account. I consider +this payment as good luck, +having never been able to obtain that remainder, of which more +hereafter.</p> + +<p> +This general was, I think, a brave man, and might probably have made a +figure as a good officer in some European war. But he had too much +self-confidence, too high an opinion of the validity of regular troops, +and too mean a one of both Americans and Indians. George Croghan, our +Indian interpreter, join’d him on his march with one hundred of those +people, who might have been of great use to his army as guides, scouts, +etc., if he had treated them kindly; but he slighted and neglected +them, and they gradually left him.</p> + +<p> +In conversation with him one day, he was giving me some account of his +intended progress. “After taking Fort Duquesne,” says he, “I am to +proceed to Niagara; and, having taken that, to Frontenac, if the season +will allow time; and I suppose it will, for Duquesne can hardly detain +me above three or four days; and then I see nothing that can obstruct +my march to Niagara.” Having before revolv’d in my mind the long line +his army must make in their march by a very narrow road, to be cut for +them thro’ the woods and bushes, and also what I had read of a former +defeat of fifteen hundred French, who invaded the Iroquois country, I +had conceiv’d some doubts and some fears for the event of the campaign. +But I ventur’d only to say, “To be sure, sir, if you arrive well before +Duquesne, with these fine troops, so well provided with artillery, that +place not yet compleatly fortified, and as we hear with no very strong +garrison, can probably make but a short resistance. The only danger I +apprehend of obstruction to your march is from ambuscades of Indians, +who, by constant practice, are dexterous in laying and executing them; +and the slender line, near four miles long, which your army must make, +may expose it to be attack’d by surprise in its flanks, and to be cut +like a thread into several pieces, which, from their distance, can not +come up in time to support each other.”</p> + +<p> +He smil’d at my ignorance, and reply’d, “These savages may, indeed, be +a formidable enemy to your raw American militia, but upon the king’s +regular and disciplin’d troops, sir, it is impossible they should make +any impression.” I +was conscious of an impropriety in my disputing +with a military man in matters of his profession, and said no more. +The enemy, however, did not take the advantage of his army which I +apprehended its long line of march expos’d it to, but let it advance +without interruption till within nine miles of the place; and then, +when more in a body (for it had just passed a river, where the front +had halted till all were come over), and in a more open part of the +woods than any it had pass’d, attack’d its advanced guard by a heavy +fire from behind trees and bushes, which was the first intelligence the +general had of an enemy’s being near him. This guard being disordered, +the general hurried the troops up to their assistance, which was done +in great confusion, thro’ waggons, baggage, and cattle; and presently +the fire came upon their flank: the officers, being on horseback, were +more easily distinguish’d, pick’d out as marks, and fell very fast; and +the soldiers were crowded together in a huddle, having or hearing no +orders, and standing to be shot at till two-thirds of them were killed; +and then, being seiz’d with a panick, the whole fled with precipitation.</p> + +<p> +The waggoners took each a horse out of his team and scamper’d; their +example was immediately followed by others; so that all the waggons, +provisions, artillery, and stores were left to the enemy. The general, +being wounded, was brought off with difficulty; his secretary, Mr. +Shirley, was killed by his side; and out of eighty-six officers, +sixty-three were killed or wounded, and seven hundred and fourteen men +killed out of eleven hundred. These eleven hundred had been picked men +from the whole army; the rest had been left behind with Colonel Dunbar, +who was to follow with the heavier part of the stores, provisions, and +baggage. The flyers, not being pursu’d, arriv’d at Dunbar’s camp, and +the panick they brought with them instantly seiz’d him and all his +people; and, tho’ he had now above one thousand men, and the enemy who +had beaten Braddock did not at most exceed four hundred Indians and +French together, instead of proceeding, and endeavoring to recover some +of the lost honour, he ordered all the stores, ammunition, etc., to be +destroy’d, that he might have more horses to assist his flight towards +the settlements, and less lumber +to remove. He was there met with +requests from the governors of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, +that he would post his troops on the frontiers, so as to afford some +protection to the inhabitants; but he continu’d his hasty march thro’ +all the country, not thinking himself safe till he arriv’d at +Philadelphia, where the inhabitants could protect him. This whole +transaction gave us Americans the first suspicion that our exalted +ideas of the prowess of British regulars had not been well founded.</p> + +<p> +In their first march, too, from their landing till they got beyond the +settlements, they had plundered and stripped the inhabitants, totally +ruining some poor families, besides insulting, abusing, and confining +the people if they remonstrated. This was enough to put us out of +conceit of such defenders, if we had really wanted any. How different +was the conduct of our French friends in 1781, who, during a march +thro’ the most inhabited part of our country from Rhode Island to +Virginia, near seven hundred miles, occasioned not the smallest +complaint for the loss of a pig, a chicken, or even an apple.</p> + +<p> +Captain Orme, who was one of the general’s aids-de-camp, and, being +grievously wounded, was brought off with him, and continu’d with him to +his death, which happen’d in a few days, told me that he was totally +silent all the first day, and at night only said, “<i>Who would have +thought it?</i>” That he was silent again the following day, saying only +at last, “<i>We shall better know how to deal with them another time;</i>” +and dy’d in a few minutes after.</p> + +<p> +The secretary’s papers, with all the general’s orders, instructions, +and correspondence, falling into the enemy’s hands, they selected and +translated into French a number of the articles, which they printed, to +prove the hostile intentions of the British court before the +declaration of war. Among these I saw some letters of the general to +the ministry, speaking highly of the great service I had rendered the +army, and recommending me to their notice. David Hume, too, who was +some years after secretary to Lord Hertford, when minister in France, +and afterward to General Conway, when secretary of state, told me he +had seen among the papers in that office, letters from Braddock +highly recommending me. But, the expedition having been unfortunate, my +service, it seems, was not thought of much value, for those +recommendations were never of any use to me.</p> + +<p> +As to rewards from himself, I ask’d only one, which was, that he would +give orders to his officers not to enlist any more of our bought +servants, and that he would discharge such as had been already +enlisted. This he readily granted, and several were accordingly +return’d to their masters, on my application. Dunbar, when the command +devolv’d on him, was not so generous. He being at Philadelphia, on his +retreat, or rather flight, I apply’d to him for the discharge of the +servants of three poor farmers of Lancaster county that he had +enlisted, reminding him of the late general’s orders on that head. He +promised me that, if the masters would come to him at Trenton, where he +should be in a few days on his march to New York, he would there +deliver their men to them. They accordingly were at the expense and +trouble of going to Trenton, and there he refus’d to perform his +promise, to their great loss and disappointment.</p> + +<p> +As soon as the loss of the waggons and horses was generally known, all +the owners came upon me for the valuation which I had given bond to +pay. Their demands gave me a great deal of trouble, my acquainting +them that the money was ready in the paymaster’s hands, but that orders +for paying it must first be obtained from General Shirley, and my +assuring them that I had apply’d to that general by letter; but, he +being at a distance, an answer could not soon be receiv’d, and they +must have patience, all this was not sufficient to satisfy, and some +began to sue me. General Shirley at length relieved me from this +terrible situation by appointing commissioners to examine the claims, +and ordering payment. They amounted to near twenty thousand pound, +which to pay would have ruined me.</p> + +<p> +Before we had the news of this defeat, the two Doctors Bond came to me +with a subscription paper for raising money to defray the expense of a +grand firework, which it was intended to exhibit at a rejoicing on +receipt of the news of our taking Fort Duquesne. I looked grave, and +said it would, I thought, be time enough to prepare for the rejoicing +when we knew we should have occasion to rejoice. They seem’d surpris’d +that I did not immediately comply with their proposal. “Why the d—l!” +says one of them, “you surely don’t suppose that the fort will not be +taken?” “I don’t know that it will not be taken, but I know that the +events of war are subject to great uncertainty.” I gave them the +reasons of my doubting; the subscription was dropt, and the projectors +thereby missed the mortification they would have undergone if the +firework had been prepared. Dr. Bond, on some other occasion +afterward, said that he did not like Franklin’s forebodings.</p> + +<p> +Governor Morris, who had continually worried the Assembly with message +after message before the defeat of Braddock, to beat them into the +making of acts to raise money for the defense of the province, without +taxing, among others, the proprietary estates, and had rejected all +their bills for not having such an exempting clause, now redoubled his +attacks with more hope of success, the danger and necessity being +greater. The Assembly, however, continu’d firm, believing they had +justice on their side, and that it would be giving up an essential +right if they suffered the governor to amend their money-bills. In one +of the last, indeed, which was for granting fifty thousand pounds, his +propos’d amendment was only of a single word. The bill expressed “that +all estates, real and personal, were to be taxed, those of the +proprietaries <i>not</i> excepted.” His amendment was, for <i>not</i> +read <i>only</i>: a small, but very material alteration. However, +when the news of this disaster reached England, our friends there, +whom we had taken care to furnish with all the Assembly’s answers to +the governor’s messages, rais’d a clamor against the proprietaries +for their meanness and injustice in giving their governor such +instructions; some going so far as to say that, by obstructing the +defense of their province, they forfeited their right to it. They +were intimidated by this, and sent orders to their receiver-general +to add five thousand pounds of their money to whatever sum might be +given by the Assembly for such purpose.</p> + +<p> +This, being notified to the House, was accepted in lieu of their share +of a general tax, and a new bill was form’d, +with an exempting clause, +which passed accordingly. By this act I was appointed one of the +commissioners for disposing of the money, sixty thousand pounds. I had +been active in modelling the bill and procuring its passage, and had, +at the same time, drawn a bill for establishing and disciplining of a +voluntary militia, which I carried thro’ the House without much +difficulty, as care was taken in it to leave the Quakers at their +liberty. To promote the association necessary to form the militia, I +wrote a dialogue, <span class="superscript">[14]</span> +stating and answering all the objections I could +think of to such a militia, which was printed, and had, as I thought, +great effect.</p> + +<div class="footer"> +<p class="footer"> +<a name="footer_145-14"></a> +<span class="superscript">[14]</span> +This dialogue and the militia act are in the +“Gentleman’s Magazine” for February and March, +1756.—[<i>Marg. note.</i>] +</p> +</div> + +<p> +While the several companies in the city and country were forming and +learning their exercise, the governor prevail’d with me to take charge +of our North-western frontier, which was infested by the enemy, and +provide for the defense of the inhabitants by raising troops and +building a line of forts. I undertook this military business, tho’ I +did not conceive myself well qualified for it. He gave me a commission +with full powers, and a parcel of blank commissions for officers, to be +given to whom I thought fit. I had but little difficulty in raising +men, having soon five hundred and sixty under my command. My son, who +had in the preceding war been an officer in the army rais’d against +Canada, was my aid-de-camp, and of great use to me. The Indians had +burned Gnadenhut, a village settled by the Moravians, and massacred the +inhabitants; but the place was thought a good situation for one of the +forts.</p> + +<p> +In order to march thither, I assembled the companies at Bethlehem, the +chief establishment of those people. I was surprised to find it in so +good a posture of defense; the destruction of Gnadenhut had made them +apprehend danger. The principal buildings were defended by a stockade; +they had purchased a quantity of arms and ammunition from New York, and +had even plac’d quantities of small paving stones between the windows +of their high stone houses, for their women to throw down upon the +heads of any Indians that should attempt to force into them. The armed +brethren, +too, kept watch, and reliev’d as methodically as in any +garrison town. In conversation with the bishop, Spangenberg, I +mention’d this my surprise; for, knowing they had obtained an act of +Parliament exempting them from military duties in the colonies, I had +suppos’d they were conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms. He +answer’d me that it was not one of their established principles, but +that, at the time of their obtaining that act, it was thought to be a +principle with many of their people. On this occasion, however, they, +to their surprise, found it adopted by but a few. It seems they were +either deceiv’d in themselves, or deceiv’d the Parliament; but common +sense, aided by present danger, will sometimes be too strong for +whimsical opinions.</p> + +<p> +It was the beginning of January when we set out upon this business of +building forts. I sent one detachment toward the Minisink, with +instructions to erect one for the security of that upper part of the +country, and another to the lower part, with similar instructions; and +I concluded to go myself with the rest of my force to Gnadenhut, where +a fort was tho’t more immediately necessary. The Moravians procur’d me +five waggons for our tools, stores, baggage, etc.</p> + +<p> +Just before we left Bethlehem, eleven farmers, who had been driven from +their plantations by the Indians, came to me requesting a supply of +firearms, that they might go back and fetch off their cattle. I gave +them each a gun with suitable ammunition. We had not march’d many +miles before it began to rain, and it continued raining all day; there +were no habitations on the road to shelter us, till we arriv’d near +night at the house of a German, where, and in his barn, we were all +huddled together, as wet as water could make us. It was well we were +not attack’d in our march, for our arms were of the most ordinary sort, +and our men could not keep their gun locks dry. The Indians are +dextrous in contrivances for that purpose, which we had not. They met +that day the eleven poor farmers above mentioned, and killed ten of +them. The one who escap’d inform’d that his and his companions’ guns +would not go off, the priming being wet with the rain.</p> + +<p> +The next day being fair, we continu’d our march, and arriv’d at the +desolated Gnadenhut. There was a saw-mill +near, round which were left +several piles of boards, with which we soon hutted ourselves; an +operation the more necessary at that inclement season, as we had no +tents. Our first work was to bury more effectually the dead we found +there, who had been half interr’d by the country people.</p> + +<p> +The next morning our fort was plann’d and mark’d out, the circumference +measuring four hundred and fifty-five feet, which would require as many +palisades to be made of trees, one with another, of a foot diameter +each. Our axes, of which we had seventy, were immediately set to work +to cut down trees, and, our men being dextrous in the use of them, +great despatch was made. Seeing the trees fall so fast, I had the +curiosity to look at my watch when two men began to cut at a pine; in +six minutes they had it upon the ground, and I found it of fourteen +inches diameter. Each pine made three palisades of eighteen feet long, +pointed at one end. While these were preparing, our other men dug a +trench all round, of three feet deep, in which the palisades were to be +planted; and, our waggons, the bodys being taken off, and the fore and +hind wheels separated by taking out the pin which united the two parts +of the perch, we had ten carriages, with two horses each, to bring the +palisades from the woods to the spot. When they were set up, our +carpenters built a stage of boards all round within, about six feet +high, for the men to stand on when to fire thro’ the loopholes. We had +one swivel gun, which we mounted on one of the angles, and fir’d it as +soon as fix’d, to let the Indians know, if any were within hearing, +that we had such pieces; and thus our fort, if such a magnificent name +may be given to so miserable a stockade, was finish’d in a week, though +it rain’d so hard every other day that the men could not work.</p> + +<p> +This gave me occasion to observe, that, when men are employ’d, they are +best content’d; for on the days they worked they were good-natur’d and +cheerful, and, with the consciousness of having done a good day’s work, +they spent the evening jollily; but on our idle days they were mutinous +and quarrelsome, finding fault with their pork, the bread, etc., and in +continual ill-humor, which put me in mind of a sea-captain, whose rule +it was to keep his men +constantly at work; and, when his mate once told +him that they had done every thing, and there was nothing further to +employ them about, “<i>Oh,” says he, “Make them scour the anchor.</i>” +</p> + +<p> +This kind of fort, however contemptible, is a sufficient defense +against Indians, who have no cannon. Finding ourselves now posted +securely, and having a place to retreat to on occasion, we ventur’d out +in parties to scour the adjacent country. We met with no Indians, but +we found the places on the neighboring hills where they had lain to +watch our proceedings. There was an art in their contrivance of those +places, that seems worth mention. It being winter, a fire was +necessary for them; but a common fire on the surface of the ground +would by its light have discovered their position at a distance. They +had therefore dug holes in the ground about three feet diameter, and +somewhat deeper; we saw where they had with their hatchets cut off the +charcoal from the sides of burnt logs lying in the woods. With these +coals they had made small fires in the bottom of the holes, and we +observ’d among the weeds and grass the prints of their bodies, made by +their laying all round, with their legs hanging down in the holes to +keep their feet warm, which, with them, is an essential point. This +kind of fire, so manag’d, could not discover them, either by its light, +flame, sparks, or even smoke: it appear’d that their number was not +great, and it seems they saw we were too many to be attacked by them +with prospect of advantage.</p> + +<p> +We had for our chaplain a zealous Presbyterian minister, Mr. Beatty, +who complained to me that the men did not generally attend his prayers +and exhortations. When they enlisted, they were promised, besides pay +and provisions, a gill of rum a day, which was punctually serv’d out to +them, half in the morning, and the other half in the evening; and I +observ’d they were as punctual in attending to receive it; upon which I +said to Mr. Beatty, “It is, perhaps, below the dignity of your +profession to act as steward of the rum, but if you were to deal it out +and only just after prayers, you would have them all about you.” He +liked the tho’t, undertook the office, and, with the help of a few +hands to measure out the liquor, executed it to satisfaction, and +never were prayers more generally and more punctually attended; so that I +thought this method preferable to the punishment inflicted by some +military laws for non-attendance on divine service.</p> + +<p> +I had hardly finish’d this business, and got my fort well stor’d with +provisions, when I receiv’d a letter from the governor, acquainting me +that he had call’d the Assembly, and wished my attendance there, if the +posture of affairs on the frontiers was such that my remaining there +was no longer necessary. My friends, too, of the Assembly, pressing me +by their letters to be, if possible, at the meeting, and my three +intended forts being now compleated, and the inhabitants contented to +remain on their farms under that protection, I resolved to return; the +more willingly, as a New England officer, Colonel Clapham, experienced +in Indian war, being on a visit to our establishment, consented to +accept the command. I gave him a commission, and, parading the +garrison, had it read before them, and introduc’d him to them as an +officer who, from his skill in military affairs, was much more fit to +command them than myself; and, giving them a little exhortation, took +my leave. I was escorted as far as Bethlehem, where I rested a few +days to recover from the fatigue I had undergone. The first night, +being in a good bed, I could hardly sleep, it was so different from my +hard lodging on the floor of our hut at Gnaden wrapt only in a blanket +or two.</p> + +<p> +While at Bethlehem, I inquir’d a little into the practice of the +Moravians: some of them had accompanied me, and all were very kind to +me. I found they work’d for a common stock, eat at common tables, and +slept in common dormitories, great numbers together. In the +dormitories I observed loopholes, at certain distances all along just +under the ceiling, which I thought judiciously placed for change of +air. I was at their church, where I was entertain’d with good musick, +the organ being accompanied with violins, hautboys, flutes, clarinets, +etc. I understood that their sermons were not usually preached to +mixed congregations of men, women, and children, as is our common +practice, but that they assembled sometimes the married men, at other +times their wives, then the young men, the young women, +and the little +children, each division by itself. The sermon I heard was to the +latter, who came in and were plac’d in rows on benches; the boys under +the conduct of a young man, their tutor, and the girls conducted by a +young woman. The discourse seem’d well adapted to their capacities, +and was deliver’d in a pleasing, familiar manner, coaxing them, as it +were, to be good. They behav’d very orderly, but looked pale and +unhealthy, which made me suspect they were kept too much within doors, +or not allow’d sufficient exercise.</p> + +<p> +I inquir’d concerning the Moravian marriages, whether the report was +true that they were by lot. I was told that lots were us’d only in +particular cases; that generally, when a young man found himself +dispos’d to marry, he inform’d the elders of his class, who consulted +the elder ladies that govern’d the young women. As these elders of the +different sexes were well acquainted with the tempers and dispositions +of their respective pupils, they could best judge what matches were +suitable, and their judgments were generally acquiesc’d in; but if, for +example, it should happen that two or three young women were found to +be equally proper for the young man, the lot was then recurred to. I +objected, if the matches are not made by the mutual choice of the +parties, some of them may chance to be very unhappy. “And so they +may,” answer’d my informer, “if you let the parties chuse for +themselves;” which, indeed, I could not deny.</p> + +<p> +Being returned to Philadelphia, I found the association went on +swimmingly, the inhabitants that were not Quakers having pretty +generally come into it, formed themselves into companies, and chose +their captains, lieutenants, and ensigns, according to the new law. +Dr. B. visited me, and gave me an account of the pains he had taken to +spread a general good liking to the law, and ascribed much to those +endeavors. I had had the vanity to ascribe all to my <i>Dialogue</i>; +however, not knowing but that he might be in the right, I let him enjoy +his opinion, which I take to be generally the best way in such cases. +The officers, meeting, chose me to be colonel of the regiment, which I +this time accepted. I forget how many companies we had, but we paraded +about twelve hundred well-looking men, with a company of artillery, who +had been furnished with six brass field-pieces, which they +had become +so expert in the use of as to fire twelve times in a minute. The first +time I reviewed my regiment they accompanied me to my house, and would +salute me with some rounds fired before my door, which shook down and +broke several glasses of my electrical apparatus. And my new honour +proved not much less brittle; for all our commissions were soon after +broken by a repeal of the law in England.</p> + +<p> +During this short time of my colonelship, being about to set out on a +journey to Virginia, the officers of my regiment took it into their +heads that it would be proper for them to escort me out of town, as far +as the Lower Ferry. Just as I was getting on horseback they came to my +door, between thirty and forty, mounted, and all in their uniforms. I +had not been previously acquainted with the project, or I should have +prevented it, being naturally averse to the assuming of state on any +occasion; and I was a good deal chagrin’d at their appearance, as I +could not avoid their accompanying me. What made it worse was, that, +as soon as we began to move, they drew their swords and rode with them +naked all the way. Somebody wrote an account of this to the +proprietor, and it gave him great offense. No such honor had been paid +him when in the province, nor to any of his governors; and he said it +was only proper to princes of the blood royal, which may be true for +aught I know, who was, and still am, ignorant of the etiquette in such +cases.</p> + +<p> +This silly affair, however, greatly increased his rancour against me, +which was before not a little, on account of my conduct in the Assembly +respecting the exemption of his estate from taxation, which I had +always oppos’d very warmly, and not without severe reflections on his +meanness and injustice of contending for it. He accused me to the +ministry as being the great obstacle to the king’s service, preventing, +by my influence in the House, the proper form of the bills for raising +money, and he instanced this parade with my officers as a proof of my +having an intention to take the government of the province out of his +hands by force. He also applied to Sir Everard Fawkener, the +postmaster-general, to deprive me of my office; but it had no other +effect than to procure from Sir Everard a gentle admonition.</p> + +<p> +Notwithstanding the continual wrangle between the governor and the +House, in which I, as a member, had so large a share, there still +subsisted a civil intercourse between that gentleman and myself, and we +never had any personal difference. I have sometimes since thought that +his little or no resentment against me, for the answers it was known I +drew up to his messages, might be the effect of professional habit, and +that, being bred a lawyer, he might consider us both as merely +advocates for contending clients in a suit, he for the proprietaries +and I for the Assembly. He would, therefore, sometimes call in a +friendly way to advise with me on difficult points, and sometimes, tho’ +not often, take my advice.</p> + +<p> +We acted in concert to supply Braddock’s army with provisions; and, +when the shocking news arrived of his defeat, the governor sent in +haste for me, to consult with him on measures for preventing the +desertion of the back counties. I forget now the advice I gave; but I +think it was, that Dunbar should be written to, and prevail’d with, if +possible, to post his troops on the frontiers for their protection, +till, by re-enforcements from the colonies, he might be able to proceed +on the expedition. And, after my return from the frontier, he would +have had me undertake the conduct of such an expedition with provincial +troops, for the reduction of Fort Duquesne, Dunbar and his men being +otherwise employed; and he proposed to commission me as general. I had +not so good an opinion of my military abilities as he profess’d to +have, and I believe his professions must have exceeded his real +sentiments; but probably he might think that my popularity would +facilitate the raising of the men, and my influence in Assembly, the +grant of money to pay them, and that, perhaps, without taxing the +proprietary estate. Finding me not so forward to engage as he +expected, the project was dropt, and he soon after left the government, +being superseded by Captain Denny.</p> + +<p> +Before I proceed in relating the part I had in public affairs under +this new governor’s administration, it may not be amiss here to give +some account of the rise and progress of my philosophical reputation.</p> + +<p> +In 1746, being at Boston, I met there with a Dr. Spence, +who was lately +arrived from Scotland, and show’d me some electric experiments. They +were imperfectly perform’d, as he was not very expert; but, being on a +subject quite new to me, they equally surpris’d and pleased me. Soon +after my return to Philadelphia, our library company receiv’d from Mr. +P. Collinson, Fellow of the Royal Society of London, a present of a +glass tube, with some account of the use of it in making such +experiments. I eagerly seized the opportunity of repeating what I had +seen at Boston; and, by much practice, acquir’d great readiness in +performing those, also, which we had an account of from England, adding +a number of new ones. I say much practice, for my house was +continually full, for some time, with people who came to see these new +wonders.</p> + +<p> +To divide a little this incumbrance among my friends, I caused a number +of similar tubes to be blown at our glass-house, with which they +furnish’d themselves, so that we had at length several performers. +Among these, the principal was Mr. Kinnersley, an ingenious neighbor, +who, being out of business, I encouraged to undertake showing the +experiments for money, and drew up for him two lectures, in which the +experiments were rang’d in such order, and accompanied with such +explanations in such method, as that the foregoing should assist in +comprehending the following. He procur’d an elegant apparatus for the +purpose, in which all the little machines that I had roughly made for +myself were nicely form’d by instrument-makers. His lectures were well +attended, and gave great satisfaction; and after some time he went +thro’ the colonies, exhibiting them in every capital town, and pick’d +up some money. In the West India islands, indeed, it was with +difficulty the experiments could be made, from the general moisture of +the air.</p> + +<p> +Oblig’d as we were to Mr. Collinson for his present of the tube, etc., +I thought it right he should be inform’d of our success in using it, +and wrote him several letters containing accounts of our experiments. +He got them read in the Royal Society, where they were not at first +thought worth so much notice as to be printed in their Transactions. +One paper, which I wrote for Mr. Kinnersley, on the sameness of +lightning with electricity, I sent to Dr. Mitchel, an +acquaintance of mine, and one of the members also of that society, +who wrote me word that it had been read, but was laughed at by the +connoisseurs. The papers, however, being shown to Dr. Fothergill, +he thought them of too much value to be stifled, and advis’d the +printing of them. Mr. Collinson then gave them to <i>Cave</i> for +publication in his Gentleman’s Magazine; but he chose to print them +separately in a pamphlet, and Dr. Fothergill wrote the preface. +Cave, it seems, judged rightly for his profit, for by the additions +that arrived after they swell’d to a quarto volume, which has had +five editions, and cost him nothing for copy-money.</p> + +<p> +It was, however, some time before those papers were much taken notice +of in England. A copy of them happening to fall into the hands of the +Count de Buffon, a philosopher deservedly of great reputation in +France, and, indeed, all over Europe, he prevailed with M. Dalibard to +translate them into French, and they were printed at Paris. The +publication offended the Abbé Nollet, preceptor in Natural Philosophy +to the royal family, and an able experimenter, who had form’d and +publish’d a theory of electricity, which then had the general vogue. +He could not at first believe that such a work came from America, and +said it must have been fabricated by his enemies at Paris, to decry his +system. Afterwards, having been assur’d that there really existed such +a person as Franklin at Philadelphia, which he had doubted, he wrote +and published a volume of Letters, chiefly address’d to me, defending +his theory, and denying the verity of my experiments, and of the +positions deduc’d from them.</p> + +<p> +I once purpos’d answering the abbé, and actually began the +answer; but, on consideration that my writings contain’d a description of +experiments which any one might repeat and verify, and if not to be +verifi’d, could not be defended; or of observations offer’d as +conjectures, and not delivered dogmatically, therefore not laying me +under any obligation to defend them; and reflecting that a dispute +between two persons, writing in different languages, might be +lengthened greatly by mistranslations, and thence misconceptions of one +another’s meaning, much of one of the abbé’s letters being founded on +an error in the translation, +I concluded to let my papers shift for +themselves, believing it was better to spend what time I could spare +from public business in making new experiments, than in disputing about +those already made. I therefore never answered M. Nollet, and the +event gave me no cause to repent my silence; for my friend M. le Roy, +of the Royal Academy of Sciences, took up my cause and refuted him; my +book was translated into the Italian, German, and Latin languages; and +the doctrine it contain’d was by degrees universally adopted by the +philosophers of Europe, in preference to that of the abbé; so +that he lived to see himself the last of his sect, except Monsieur +B———, of Paris, his <i>élève</i> and +immediate disciple.</p> + +<p> +What gave my book the more sudden and general celebrity, was the +success of one of its proposed experiments, made by Messrs. Dalibard +and De Lor at Marly, for drawing lightning from the clouds. This +engag’d the public attention every where. M. de Lor, who had an +apparatus for experimental philosophy, and lectur’d in that branch of +science, undertook to repeat what he called the <i>Philadelphia +Experiments</i>; and, after they were performed before the king and court, +all the curious of Paris flocked to see them. I will not swell this +narrative with an account of that capital experiment, nor of the +infinite pleasure I receiv’d in the success of a similar one I made +soon after with a kite at Philadelphia, as both are to be found in the +histories of electricity.</p> + +<p> +Dr. Wright, an English physician, when at Paris, wrote to a friend, who +was of the Royal Society, an account of the high esteem my experiments +were in among the learned abroad, and of their wonder that my writings +had been so little noticed in England. The society, on this, resum’d +the consideration of the letters that had been read to them; and the +celebrated Dr. Watson drew up a summary account of them, and of all I +had afterwards sent to England on the subject, which he accompanied +with some praise of the writer. This summary was then printed in their +Transactions; and some members of the society in London, particularly +the very ingenious Mr. Canton, having verified the experiment of +procuring lightning from the clouds by a +pointed rod, and acquainting +them with the success, they soon made me more than amends for the +slight with which they had before treated me. Without my having made +any application for that honor, they chose me a member, and voted that +I should be excus’d the customary payments, which would have amounted +to twenty-five guineas; and ever since have given me their Transactions +gratis. They also presented me with the gold medal of Sir Godfrey +Copley for the year 1753, the delivery of which was accompanied by a +very handsome speech of the president, Lord Macclesfield, wherein I was +highly honoured.</p> + +<p> +Our new governor, Captain Denny, brought over for me the +before-mentioned medal from the Royal Society, which he presented to me +at an entertainment given him by the city. He accompanied it with very +polite expressions of his esteem for me, having, as he said, been long +acquainted with my character. After dinner, when the company, as was +customary at that time, were engag’d in drinking, he took me aside into +another room, and acquainted me that he had been advis’d by his friends +in England to cultivate a friendship with me, as one who was capable of +giving him the best advice, and of contributing most effectually to the +making his administration easy; that he therefore desired of all things +to have a good understanding with me, and he begg’d me to be assur’d of +his readiness on all occasions to render me every service that might be +in his power. He said much to me, also, of the proprietor’s good +disposition towards the province, and of the advantage it might be to +us all, and to me in particular, if the opposition that had been so +long continu’d to his measures was dropt, and harmony restor’d between +him and the people; in effecting which, it was thought no one could be +more serviceable than myself; and I might depend on adequate +acknowledgments and recompenses, etc., etc. The drinkers, finding we +did not return immediately to the table, sent us a decanter of Madeira, +which the governor made liberal use of, and in proportion became more +profuse of his solicitations and promises.</p> + +<p> +My answers were to this purpose: that my circumstances, thanks to God, +were such as to make proprietary favours +unnecessary to me; and that, +being a member of the Assembly, I could not possibly accept of any; +that, however, I had no personal enmity to the proprietary, and that, +whenever the public measures he propos’d should appear to be for the +good of the people, no one should espouse and forward them more +zealously than myself; my past opposition having been founded on this, +that the measures which had been urged were evidently intended to serve +the proprietary interest, with great prejudice to that of the people; +that I was much obliged to him (the governor) for his professions of +regard to me, and that he might rely on every thing in my power to make +his administration as easy as possible, hoping at the same time that he +had not brought with him the same unfortunate instruction his +predecessor had been hamper’d with.</p> + +<p> +On this he did not then explain himself; but when he afterwards came to +do business with the Assembly, they appear’d again, the disputes were +renewed, and I was as active as ever in the opposition, being the +penman, first, of the request to have a communication of the +instructions, and then of the remarks upon them, which may be found in +the votes of the time, and in the Historical Review I afterward +publish’d. But between us personally no enmity arose; we were often +together; he was a man of letters, had seen much of the world, and was +very entertaining and pleasing in conversation. He gave me the first +information that my old friend Jas. Ralph was still alive; that he was +esteem’d one of the best political writers in England; had been +employ’d in the dispute between Prince Frederic and the king, and had +obtain’d a pension of three hundred a year; that his reputation was +indeed small as a poet, Pope having damned his poetry in the Dunciad; +but his prose was thought as good as any man’s.</p> + +<p> +<span class="superscript">[15]</span> +The Assembly finally finding the proprietary obstinately persisted +in manacling their deputies with instructions inconsistent not only +with the privileges of the people, but with the service of the crown, +resolv’d to petition the king against them, and appointed me their +agent to go over to +England, to present and support the petition. The +House had sent up a bill to the governor, granting a sum of sixty +thousand pounds for the king’s use (ten thousand pounds of which was +subjected to the orders of the then general, Lord Loudoun), which the +governor absolutely refus’d to pass, in compliance with his +instructions.</p> + +<div class="footer"> +<p class="footer"> +<a name="footer_158-15"></a> +<span class="superscript">[15]</span> +The many unanimous resolves of the +Assembly—what date?—[<i>Marg. note</i>.] +</p> +</div> + +<p> +I had agreed with Captain Morris, of the paquet at New York, for my +passage, and my stores were put on board, when Lord Loudoun arriv’d at +Philadelphia, expressly, as he told me, to endeavor an accommodation +between the governor and Assembly, that his majesty’s service might not +be obstructed by their dissensions. Accordingly, he desir’d the +governor and myself to meet him, that he might hear what was to be said +on both sides. We met and discuss’d the business. In behalf of the +Assembly, I urg’d all the various arguments that may be found in the +public papers of that time, which were of my writing, and are printed +with the minutes of the Assembly; and the governor pleaded his +instructions; the bond he had given to observe them, and his ruin if he +disobey’d, yet seemed not unwilling to hazard himself if Lord Loudoun +would advise it. This his lordship did not chuse to do, though I once +thought I had nearly prevail’d with him to do it; but finally he rather +chose to urge the compliance of the Assembly; and he entreated me to +use my endeavours with them for that purpose, declaring that he would +spare none of the king’s troops for the defense of our frontiers, and +that, if we did not continue to provide for that defense ourselves, +they must remain expos’d to the enemy.</p> + +<p> +I acquainted the House with what had pass’d, and, presenting them with +a set of resolutions I had drawn up, declaring our rights, and that we +did not relinquish our claim to those rights, but only suspended the +exercise of them on this occasion thro’ <i>force</i>, against which we +protested, they at length agreed to drop that bill, and frame another +conformable to the proprietary instructions. This of course the +governor pass’d, and I was then at liberty to proceed on my voyage. +But, in the meantime, the paquet had sailed with my sea-stores, which +was some loss to me, and my only recompense was his lordship’s thanks +for my service, +all the credit of obtaining the accommodation falling +to his share.</p> + +<p> +He set out for New York before me; and, as the time for dispatching the +paquet-boats was at his disposition, and there were two then remaining +there, one of which, he said, was to sail very soon, I requested to +know the precise time, that I might not miss her by any delay of mine. +His answer was, “I have given out that she is to sail on Saturday next; +but I may let you know, <i>entre nous</i>, that if you are there by Monday +morning, you will be in time, but do not delay longer.” By some +accidental hinderance at a ferry, it was Monday noon before I arrived, +and I was much afraid she might have sailed, as the wind was fair; but +I was soon made easy by the information that she was still in the +harbor, and would not move till the next day. One would imagine that I +was now on the very point of departing for Europe. I thought so; but I +was not then so well acquainted with his lordship’s character, of which +<i>indecision</i> was one of the strongest features. I shall give some +instances. It was about the beginning of April that I came to New +York, and I think it was near the end of June before we sail’d. There +were then two of the paquet-boats, which had been long in port, but +were detained for the general’s letters, which were always to be ready +to-morrow. Another paquet arriv’d; she too was detain’d; and, before we +sail’d, a fourth was expected. Ours was the first to be dispatch’d, as +having been there longest. Passengers were engag’d in all, and some +extremely impatient to be gone, and the merchants uneasy about their +letters, and the orders they had given for insurance (it being war +time) for fall goods! but their anxiety avail’d nothing; his lordship’s +letters were not ready; and yet whoever waited on him found him always +at his desk, pen in hand, and concluded he must needs write abundantly.</p> + +<p> +Going myself one morning to pay my respects, I found in his antechamber +one Innis, a messenger of Philadelphia, who had come from thence +express with a paquet from Governor Denny for the General. He +delivered to me some letters from my friends there, which occasion’d my +inquiring when he was to return, and where he lodg’d, that I might send +some letters by him. He told me he was order’d to +call to-morrow at +nine for the general’s answer to the governor, and should set off +immediately. I put my letters into his hands the same day. A +fortnight after I met him again in the same place. “So, you are soon +return’d, Innis?” “<i>Returned</i>! no, I am not <i>gone</i> yet.” +“How so?” “I have called here by order every morning these two weeks +past for his lordship’s letter, and it is not yet ready.” “Is it possible, +when he is so great a writer? for I see him constantly at his escritoire.” +“Yes,” says Innis, “but he is like St. George on the signs, <i>always on +horseback, and never rides on.</i>” This observation of the messenger was, +it seems, well founded; for, when in England, I understood that Mr. +Pitt gave it as one reason for removing this general, and sending +Generals Amherst and Wolfe, <i>that the minister never heard from him, and +could not know what he was doing</i>.</p> + +<p> +This daily expectation of sailing, and all the three paquets going down +to Sandy Hook, to join the fleet there, the passengers thought it best +to be on board, lest by a sudden order the ships should sail, and they +be left behind. There, if I remember right, we were about six weeks, +consuming our sea-stores, and oblig’d to procure more. At length the +fleet sail’d, the General and all his army on board, bound to +Louisburg, with intent to besiege and take that fortress; all the +paquet-boats in company ordered to attend the General’s ship, ready to +receive his dispatches when they should be ready. We were out five +days before we got a letter with leave to part, and then our ship +quitted the fleet and steered for England. The other two paquets he +still detained, carried them with him to Halifax, where he stayed some +time to exercise the men in sham attacks upon sham forts, then alter’d +his mind as to besieging Louisburg, and return’d to New York, with all +his troops, together with the two paquets above mentioned, and all +their passengers! During his absence the French and savages had taken +Fort George, on the frontier of that province, and the savages had +massacred many of the garrison after capitulation.</p> + +<p> +I saw afterwards in London Captain Bonnell, who commanded one of those +paquets. He told me that, when he had been detain’d a month, he +acquainted his lordship that his ship was grown foul, to a degree that +must necessarily +hinder her fast sailing, a point of consequence for a +paquet-boat, and requested an allowance of time to heave her down and +clean her bottom. He was asked how long that would require. He +answer’d, three days. The general replied, “If you can do it in one +day, I give leave; otherwise not; for you must certainly sail the day +after to-morrow.” So he never obtain’d leave, though detained +afterwards from day to day during full three months.</p> + +<p> +I saw also in London one of Bonnell’s passengers, who was so enrag’d +against his lordship for deceiving and detaining him so long at New +York, and then carrying him to Halifax and back again, that he swore he +would sue for damages. Whether he did or not, I never heard; but, as +he represented the injury to his affairs, it was very considerable.</p> + +<p> +On the whole, I wonder’d much how such a man came to be intrusted with +so important a business as the conduct of a great army; but, having +since seen more of the great world, and the means of obtaining, and +motives for giving places, my wonder is diminished. General Shirley, +on whom the command of the army devolved upon the death of Braddock, +would, in my opinion, if continued in place, have made a much better +campaign than that of Loudoun in 1757, which was frivolous, expensive, +and disgraceful to our nation beyond conception; for, tho’ Shirley was +not a bred soldier, he was sensible and sagacious in himself, and +attentive to good advice from others, capable of forming judicious +plans, and quick and active in carrying them into execution. Loudoun, +instead of defending the colonies with his great army, left them +totally expos’d while he paraded idly at Halifax, by which means Fort +George was lost, besides, he derang’d all our mercantile operations, +and distress’d our trade, by a long embargo on the exportation of +provisions, on pretence of keeping supplies from being obtain’d by the +enemy, but in reality for beating down their price in favor of the +contractors, in whose profits, it was said, perhaps from suspicion +only, he had a share. And, when at length the embargo was taken off, +by neglecting to send notice of it to Charlestown, the Carolina fleet +was detain’d near three months longer, whereby their bottoms were so +much damaged by the worm that a great part of them foundered in their +passage home.</p> + +<p> +Shirley was, I believe, sincerely glad of being relieved from so +burdensome a charge as the conduct of an army must be to a man +unacquainted with military business. I was at the entertainment given +by the city of New York to Lord Loudoun, on his taking upon him the +command. Shirley, tho’ thereby superseded, was present also. There +was a great company of officers, citizens, and strangers, and, some +chairs having been borrowed in the neighborhood, there was one among +them very low, which fell to the lot of Mr. Shirley. Perceiving it as +I sat by him, I said, “They have given you, sir, too low a seat.” “No +matter,” says he, “Mr. Franklin, I find a <i>low seat</i> the easiest.”</p> + +<p> +While I was, as afore mention’d, detain’d at New York, I receiv’d all +the accounts of the provisions, etc., that I had furnish’d to Braddock, +some of which accounts could not sooner be obtain’d from the different +persons I had employ’d to assist in the business. I presented them to +Lord Loudoun, desiring to be paid the ballance. He caus’d them to be +regularly examined by the proper officer, who, after comparing every +article with its voucher, certified them to be right; and the balance +due for which his lordship promis’d to give me an order on the +paymaster. This was, however, put off from time to time; and, tho’ I +call’d often for it by appointment, I did not get it. At length, just +before my departure, he told me he had, on better consideration, +concluded not to mix his accounts with those of his predecessors. “And +you,” says he, “when in England, have only to exhibit your accounts at +the treasury, and you will be paid immediately.”</p> + +<p> +I mention’d, but without effect, the great and unexpected expense I had +been put to by being detain’d so long at New York, as a reason for my +desiring to be presently paid; and on my observing that it was not +right I should be put to any further trouble or delay in obtaining the +money I had advanc’d, as I charged no commission for my service, “O, +sir,” says he, “you must not think of persuading us that you are no +gainer; we understand better those affairs, and know that every one +concerned in supplying the army finds means, in the doing it, to fill +his own pockets.” I assur’d him that was not my case, and that I had +not pocketed a farthing; but he appear’d clearly not to believe me; +and, indeed, I +have since learnt that immense fortunes are often made +in such employments. As to my ballance, I am not paid it to this day, +of which more hereafter.</p> + +<p> +Our captain of the paquet had boasted much, before we sailed, of the +swiftness of his ship; unfortunately, when we came to sea, she proved +the dullest of ninety-six sail, to his no small mortification. After +many conjectures respecting the cause, when we were near another ship +almost as dull as ours, which, however, gain’d upon us, the captain +ordered all hands to come aft, and stand as near the ensign staff as +possible. We were, passengers included, about forty persons. While we +stood there, the ship mended her pace, and soon left her neighbour far +behind, which prov’d clearly what our captain suspected, that she was +loaded too much by the head. The casks of water, it seems, had been +all plac’d forward; these he therefore order’d to be mov’d further aft, +on which the ship recover’d her character, and proved the sailer in the +fleet.</p> + +<p> +The captain said she had once gone at the rate of thirteen knots, which +is accounted thirteen miles per hour. We had on board, as a passenger, +Captain Kennedy, of the Navy, who contended that it was impossible, and +that no ship ever sailed so fast, and that there must have been some +error in the division of the log-line, or some mistake in heaving the +log. A wager ensu’d between the two captains, to be decided when there +should be sufficient wind. Kennedy thereupon examin’d rigorously the +log-line, and, being satisfi’d with that, he determin’d to throw the +log himself. Accordingly some days after, when the wind blew very fair +and fresh, and the captain of the paquet, Lutwidge, said he believ’d +she then went at the rate of thirteen knots, Kennedy made the +experiment, and own’d his wager lost.</p> + +<p> +The above fact I give for the sake of the following observation. It +has been remark’d, as an imperfection in the art of ship-building, that +it can never be known, till she is tried, whether a new ship will or +will not be a good sailer; for that the model of a good-sailing ship +has been exactly follow’d in a new one, which has prov’d, on the +contrary, remarkably dull. I apprehend that this may partly be +occasion’d by the different opinions of seamen respecting the +modes of +lading, rigging, and sailing of a ship; each has his system; and the +same vessel, laden by the judgment and orders of one captain, shall +sail better or worse than when by the orders of another. Besides, it +scarce ever happens that a ship is form’d, fitted for the sea, and +sail’d by the same person. One man builds the hull, another rigs her, +a third lades and sails her. No one of these has the advantage of +knowing all the ideas and experience of the others, and, therefore, can +not draw just conclusions from a combination of the whole.</p> + +<p> +Even in the simple operation of sailing when at sea, I have often +observ’d different judgments in the officers who commanded the +successive watches, the wind being the same. One would have the sails +trimm’d sharper or flatter than another, so that they seem’d to have no +certain rule to govern by. Yet I think a set of experiments might be +instituted, first, to determine the most proper form of the hull for +swift sailing; next, the best dimensions and properest place for the +masts: then the form and quantity of sails, and their position, as the +wind may be; and, lastly, the disposition of the lading. This is an +age of experiments, and I think a set accurately made and combin’d +would be of great use. I am persuaded, therefore, that ere long some +ingenious philosopher will undertake it, to whom I wish success.</p> + +<p> +We were several times chas’d in our passage, but outsail’d every thing, +and in thirty days had soundings. We had a good observation, and the +captain judg’d himself so near our port, Falmouth, that, if we made a +good run in the night, we might be off the mouth of that harbor in the +morning, and by running in the night might escape the notice of the +enemy’s privateers, who often crus’d near the entrance of the channel. +Accordingly, all the sail was set that we could possibly make, and the +wind being very fresh and fair, we went right before it, and made great +way. The captain, after his observation, shap’d his course, as he +thought, so as to pass wide of the Scilly Isles; but it seems there is +sometimes a strong indraught setting up St. George’s Channel, which +deceives seamen and caused the loss of Sir Cloudesley Shovel’s +squadron. This indraught was probably the cause of what happened to us.</p> + +<p> +We had a watchman plac’d in the bow, to whom they often called, “<i>Look +well out before there</i>,” and he as often answered, “<i>Ay ay</i>;” +but perhaps had his eyes shut, and was half asleep at the time, they sometimes +answering, as is said, mechanically; for he did not see a light just +before us, which had been hid by the studdingsails from the man at the +helm, and from the rest of the watch, but by an accidental yaw of the +ship was discover’d, and occasion’d a great alarm, we being very near +it, the light appearing to me as big as a cart-wheel. It was midnight, +and our captain fast asleep; but Captain Kennedy, jumping upon deck, +and seeing the danger, ordered the ship to wear round, all sails +standing; an operation dangerous to the masts, but it carried us clear, +and we escaped shipwreck, for we were running right upon the rocks on +which the light-house was erected. This deliverance impressed me +strongly with the utility of light-houses, and made me resolve to +encourage the building more of them in America, if I should live to +return there.</p> + +<p> +In the morning it was found by the soundings, etc., that we were near +our port, but a thick fog hid the land from our sight. About nine +o’clock the fog began to rise, and seem’d to be lifted up from the +water like the curtain at a play-house, discovering underneath, the +town of Falmouth, the vessels in its harbor, and the fields that +surrounded it. This was a most pleasing spectacle to those who had +been so long without any other prospects than the uniform view of a +vacant ocean, and it gave us the more pleasure as we were now free from +the anxieties which the state of war occasion’d.</p> + +<p> +I set out immediately, with my son, for London, and we only stopt a +little by the way to view Stonehenge on Salisbury Plain, and Lord +Pembroke’s house and gardens, with his very curious antiquities at +Wilton. We arrived in London the 27th of July, 1757. +<span class="superscript">[16]</span> +</p> + +<div class="footer"> +<p class="footer"> +<a name="footer_165-16"></a> +<span class="superscript">[16]</span> +Here terminates the Autobiography, as published by +Wm. Temple Franklin and his successors. What follows +was written in the last year of Dr. Franklin’s life, +and was first printed (in English) in Mr. Bigelow’s +edition of 1868.—<span class="smcap">Ed</span>. +</p> +</div> + +<hr class="break" /> + +<p> +<a name="part4"></a> +<span class="smcap">As soon</span> as I was settled in a lodging Mr. +Charles had provided for me, I went to visit Dr. Fothergill, to whom +I was strongly recommended, and whose counsel respecting my +proceedings I was advis’d to obtain. He was against an immediate +complaint to government, and thought the proprietaries should first +be personally appli’d to, who might possibly be induc’d by the +interposition and persuasion of some private friends, to +accommodate matters amicably. I then waited on my old friend and +correspondent, Mr. Peter Collinson, who told me that John Hanbury, the +great Virginia merchant, had requested to be informed when I should +arrive, that he might carry me to Lord Granville’s, who was then +President of the Council and wished to see me as soon as possible. I +agreed to go with him the next morning. Accordingly Mr. Hanbury called +for me and took me in his carriage to that nobleman’s, who receiv’d me +with great civility; and after some questions respecting the present +state of affairs in America and discourse thereupon, he said to me: +“You Americans have wrong ideas of the nature of your constitution; you +contend that the king’s instructions to his governors are not laws, and +think yourselves at liberty to regard or disregard them at your own +discretion. But those instructions are not like the pocket +instructions given to a minister going abroad, for regulating his +conduct in some trifling point of ceremony. They are first drawn up by +judges learned in the laws; they are then considered, debated, and +perhaps amended in Council, after which they are signed by the king. +They are then, so far as they relate to you, the <i>law of the land</i>, +for the king is the <span class="smcap">Legislator of the +Colonies</span>.” I told his lordship this was new doctrine to me. +I had always understood from our charters that our laws were to be made +by our Assemblies, to be presented indeed to the king for his royal +assent, but that being +once given the king could +not repeal or alter them. And as the Assemblies could not make +permanent laws without his assent, so neither could he make a law for +them without theirs. He assur’d me I was totally mistaken. I did not +think so, however, and his lordship’s conversation having a little +alarm’d me as to what might be the sentiments of the court concerning +us, I wrote it down as soon as I return’d to my lodgings. I +recollected that about 20 years before, a clause in a bill brought into +Parliament by the ministry had propos’d to make the king’s instructions +laws in the colonies, but the clause was thrown out by the Commons, for +which we adored them as our friends and friends of liberty, till by +their conduct towards us in 1765 it seem’d that they had refus’d that +point of sovereignty to the king only that they might reserve it for +themselves.</p> + +<p> +After some days, Dr. Fothergill having spoken to the proprietaries, +they agreed to a meeting with me at Mr. T. Penn’s house in Spring +Garden. The conversation at first consisted of mutual declarations of +disposition to reasonable accommodations, but I suppose each party had +its own ideas of what should be meant by <i>reasonable</i>. We then went into +consideration of our several points of complaint, which I enumerated. +The proprietaries justify’d their conduct as well as they could, and I +the Assembly’s. We now appeared very wide, and so far from each other +in our opinions as to discourage all hope of agreement. However, it +was concluded that I should give them the heads of our complaints in +writing, and they promis’d then to consider them. I did so soon after, +but they put the paper into the hands of their solicitor, Ferdinand +John Paris, who managed for them all their law business in their great +suit with the neighbouring proprietary of Maryland, Lord Baltimore, +which had subsisted 70 years, and wrote for them all their papers and +messages in their dispute with the Assembly. He was a proud, angry +man, and as I had occasionally in the answers of the Assembly treated +his papers with some severity, they being really weak in point of +argument and haughty in expression, he had conceived a mortal enmity to +me, which discovering itself whenever we met, I declin’d the +proprietary’s proposal that he and I should discuss the heads of +complaint +between our two selves, and refus’d treating with any one but +them. They then by his advice put the paper into the hands of the +Attorney and Solicitor-General for their opinion and counsel upon it, +where it lay unanswered a year wanting eight days, during which time I +made frequent demands of an answer from the proprietaries, but without +obtaining any other than that they had not yet received the opinion of +the Attorney and Solicitor-General. What it was when they did receive +it I never learnt, for they did not communicate it to me, but sent a +long message to the Assembly drawn and signed by Paris, reciting my +paper, complaining of its want of formality, as a rudeness on my part, +and giving a flimsy justification of their conduct, adding that they +should be willing to accommodate matters if the Assembly would send out +<i>some person of candour</i> to treat with them for that purpose, +intimating thereby that I was not such.</p> + +<p> +The want of formality or rudeness was, probably, my not having +address’d the paper to them with their assum’d titles of True and +Absolute Proprietaries of the Province of Pennsylvania, which I omitted +as not thinking it necessary in a paper, the intention of which was +only to reduce to a certainty by writing, what in conversation I had +delivered <i>viva voce</i>.</p> + +<p> +But during this delay, the Assembly having prevailed with Gov’r Denny +to pass an act taxing the proprietary estate in common with the estates +of the people, which was the grand point in dispute, they omitted +answering the message.</p> + +<p> +When this act however came over, the proprietaries, counselled by +Paris, determined to oppose its receiving the royal assent. +Accordingly they petition’d the king in Council, and a hearing was +appointed in which two lawyers were employ’d by them against the act, +and two by me in support of it. They alledg’d that the act was +intended to load the proprietary estate in order to spare those of the +people, and that if it were suffer’d to continue in force, and the +proprietaries who were in odium with the people, left to their mercy in +proportioning the taxes, they would inevitably be ruined. We reply’d +that the act had no such intention, and would have no such effect. +That the assessors were honest +and discreet men under an oath to assess +fairly and equitably, and that any advantage each of them might expect +in lessening his own tax by augmenting that of the proprietaries was +too trifling to induce them to perjure themselves. This is the purport +of what I remember as urged by both sides, except that we insisted +strongly on the mischievous consequences that must attend a repeal, for +that the money, £100,000, being printed and given to the king’s use, +expended in his service, and now spread among the people, the repeal +would strike it dead in their hands to the ruin of many, and the total +discouragement of future grants, and the selfishness of the proprietors +in soliciting such a general catastrophe, merely from a groundless fear +of their estate being taxed too highly, was insisted on in the +strongest terms. On this, Lord Mansfield, one of the counsel rose, and +beckoning me took me into the clerk’s chamber, while the lawyers were +pleading, and asked me if I was really of opinion that no injury would +be done the proprietary estate in the execution of the act. I said +certainly. “Then,” says he, “you can have little objection to enter +into an engagement to assure that point.” I answer’d, “None at all.” +He then call’d in Paris, and after some discourse, his lordship’s +proposition was accepted on both sides; a paper to the purpose was +drawn up by the Clerk of the Council, which I sign’d with Mr. Charles, +who was also an Agent of the Province for their ordinary affairs, when +Lord Mansfield returned to the Council Chamber, where finally the law +was allowed to pass. Some changes were however recommended and we also +engaged they should be made by a subsequent law, but the Assembly did +not think them necessary; for one year’s tax having been levied by the +act before the order of Council arrived, they appointed a committee to +examine the proceedings of the assessors, and on this committee they +put several particular friends of the proprietaries. After a full +enquiry, they unanimously sign’d a report that they found the tax had +been assess’d with perfect equity.</p> + +<p> +The Assembly looked into my entering into the first part of the engagement, as +an essential service to the Province, since it secured the credit of the paper +money then spread over all the country. They gave me their thanks in form when +I return’d. But the proprietaries were enraged at Governor Denny for having +pass’d the act, and turn’d him out with threats of suing him for breach of +instructions which he had given bond to observe. He, however, having done it at +the instance of the General, and for His Majesty’s service, and having some +powerful interests at court, despis’d the threats and they were never put in +execution.… [<i>Unfinished</i>]. +</p> + +<hr class="break" /> + +<h2> +<a name="part5"></a> +<a href="#contents">CHIEF EVENTS IN FRANKLIN’S LIFE.</a></h2> + +<p class="italic"> +[Ending, as it does, with the year 1757, the autobiography leaves +important facts unrecorded. It has seemed advisable, therefore, to +detail the chief events in Franklin’s life, from the beginning, in the +following list:</p> + +<table class="life" +summary="The chief events in Franklin’s life."> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td>1706</td> +<td>He is born, in Boston, and baptized in the Old South Church.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1714</td> +<td>At the age of eight, enters the Grammar School.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1716</td> +<td>Becomes his father’s assistant in the tallow-chandlery business.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1718</td> +<td>Apprenticed to his brother James, printer.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1721</td> +<td>Writes ballads and peddles them, in printed form, in the +streets; contributes, anonymously, to the “New England +Courant,” and temporarily edits that paper; becomes a +free-thinker, and a vegetarian.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1723</td> +<td>Breaks his indenture and removes to Philadelphia; obtains +employment in Keimer’s printing-office; abandons vegetarianism.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1724</td> +<td>Is persuaded by Governor Keith to establish himself +independently, and goes to London to buy type; works at his trade +there, and publishes “Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, +Pleasure and Pain.”</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1726</td> +<td>Returns to Philadelphia; after serving as clerk in a dry-goods +store, becomes manager of Keimer’s printing-house.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1727</td> +<td>Founds the Junto, or “Leathern Apron” Club.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1728</td> +<td>With Hugh Meredith, opens a printing-office.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1729</td> +<td>Becomes proprietor and editor of the “Pennsylvania Gazette”; +prints, anonymously, “Nature and Necessity of a Paper Currency”; +opens a stationer’s shop. </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1730</td> +<td>Marries Deborah Read.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1731</td> +<td>Founds the Philadelphia Library.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1732</td> +<td> +Publishes the first number of “Poor Richard’s Almanac” under +the pseudonym of “Richard Saunders.” The Almanac, which +continued for twenty-five years to contain his witty, +worldly-wise sayings, played a very large part in bringing +together and molding the American character which was at +that time made up of so many diverse and scattered types.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1733</td> +<td>Begins to study French, Italian, Spanish, and Latin.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1736</td> +<td>Chosen clerk of the General Assembly; forms the Union Fire +Company of Philadelphia.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1737</td> +<td>Elected to the Assembly; appointed Deputy Postmaster-General; +plans a city police. </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1742</td> +<td>Invents the open, or “Franklin,” stove.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1743</td> +<td>Proposes a plan for an Academy, which is adopted 1749 and +develops into the University of Pennsylvania.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1744</td> +<td>Establishes the American Philosophical Society.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1746</td> +<td>Publishes a pamphlet, “Plain Truth,” on the necessity for +disciplined defense, and forms a military company; begins +electrical experiments. </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1748</td> +<td>Sells out his printing business; is appointed on the +Commission of the Peace, chosen to the Common Council, +and to the Assembly. </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1749</td> +<td>Appointed a Commissioner to trade with the Indians.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1751</td> +<td>Aids in founding a hospital.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1752</td> +<td>Experiments with a kite and discovers that lightning is an +electrical discharge.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1753</td> +<td>Awarded the Copley medal for this discovery, and elected a +member of the Royal Society; receives the degree of M.A. +from Yale and Harvard. Appointed joint Postmaster-General. </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1754</td> +<td>Appointed one of the Commissioners from Pennsylvania to the +Colonial Congress at Albany; proposes a plan for the union +of the colonies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1755</td> +<td> Pledges his personal property in order that supplies may be +raised for Braddock’s army; obtains a grant from the Assembly +in aid of the Crown Point expedition; carries through a bill +establishing a voluntary militia; is appointed Colonel, +and takes the field.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1757</td> +<td> +Introduces a bill in the Assembly for paving the streets of +Philadelphia; publishes his famous “Way to Wealth”; goes to +England to plead the cause of the Assembly against the +Proprietaries; remains as agent for Pennsylvania; enjoys the +friendship of the scientific and literary men of the kingdom. +</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="breakoff" colspan="2">[HERE THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY BREAKS OFF]</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1760</td> +<td>Secures from the Privy Council, by a compromise, a decision +obliging the Proprietary estates to contribute to the public +revenue.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1762</td> +<td>Receives the degree of LL.D. from Oxford and Edinburgh; +returns to America.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1763</td> +<td>Makes a five months’ tour of the northern colonies for the +purpose of inspecting the post-offices. </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1764</td> +<td>Defeated by the Penn faction for reelection to the Assembly; +sent to England as agent for Pennsylvania.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1765</td> +<td>Endeavors to prevent the passage of the Stamp Act.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1766</td> +<td>Examined before the House of Commons relative to the +passage of the Stamp Act; appointed agent of Massachusetts, +New Jersey, and Georgia; visits Göttingen University.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1767</td> +<td>Travels in France and is presented at court.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1769</td> +<td>Procures a telescope for Harvard College.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1772</td> +<td>Elected Associé Etranger of the French Academy.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1774</td> +<td>Dismissed from the office of Postmaster-General; influences +Thomas Paine to emigrate to America.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1775</td> +<td>Returns to America; chosen a delegate to the Second Continental +Congress; placed on the committee of secret correspondence; +appointed one of the commissioners to secure the cooperation +of Canada.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1776</td> +<td>Placed on the committee to draft a Declaration of Independence; +chosen president of the Constitutional Committee of Pennsylvania; +sent to France as agent of the colonies.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1778</td> +<td>Concludes treaties of defensive alliance, and of amity and +commerce; is received at court.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1779</td> +<td>Appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to France.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1780</td> +<td>Appoints Paul Jones commander of the “Alliance.”</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1782</td> +<td>Signs the preliminary articles of peace.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1783</td> +<td>Signs the definite treaty of peace.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1785</td> +<td>Returns to America; is chosen President of Pennsylvania; +reelected 1786.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1787</td> +<td>Reelected President; sent as delegate to the convention for +framing a Federal Constitution. </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1788</td> +<td>Retires from public life.</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td>1790</td> +<td>April 17, dies. His grave is in the churchyard at Fifth and +Arch streets, Philadelphia. </td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td></td> +<td class="right">Editor.]</td> +</tr> + +</tbody> +</table> + +<hr class="break" /> + +<h2><a href="#contents">On Franklin’s Autobiography</a></h2> + +<blockquote> +<p>And yet the surprising and delightful thing about this book +(the <i>Autobiography</i>) is that, take it all in all, it has +not the low tone of conceit, but is a staunch man’s sober and +unaffected assessment of himself and the circumstances of his career.</p> +<p class="right"><i>Woodrow Wilson</i></p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote> +<p> +Such, for example, was Benjamin Franklin, whose charming autobiography, +in addition to being an American classic, is a fine record of self-education. +</p> +<p class="right"><i>Charles A. Beard & Mary Ritter Beard</i></p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote> +<p>For understanding the temper and ideals of America in the eighteenth century, +no writings are of equal importance with those of John Adams and Benjamin +Franklin, especially the Diary of the former (Works of John Adams, 10 vols. +Boston, 1856) and the Autobiography of the latter, in his collected works and +separately printed in many editions.</p> +<p class="right"><i>Carl Lotus Becker</i></p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote> +<p>No man has shed such copious good influence on America; none added so +much new truth to the popular knowledge; none has so skillfully organized +its ideas into institutions; none has so powerfully and wisely directed +the nation’s conduct, and advanced its welfare in so many respects. No +man now has so strong a hold on the habits and manners of the people. +Franklin comes home to the individual business of practical men in their +daily life. +</p> +<p class="right"><i>Theodore Parker</i></p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote> +<p>The Autobiography is also a uniquely American book. After a life like +Franklin’s had become possible and could be described matter-of-factly, +the Declaration of Independence seems understandable and much less +revolutionary.… There was in America a society which valued the +things Franklin could do well: work hard, write effectively, plan +improvements, conciliate differences, and conduct public affairs with +popular needs and interests in view. His Autobiography records these +achievements and values and habits which made them possible, and tells +how a remarkable human being used his heritage and created a life on a +new, revolutionary model. +</p> +<p class="right"><i>Leonard W. Labaree, Ralph L. Ketcham, +Helen C. Boatfield, and Helene H. Fineman</i></p> +</blockquote> + +<blockquote> +<p> +[T]hose who know Franklin only in his Autobiography, charming as that +classic production is, have made but an imperfect acquaintance with the +range, the vitality, the vigor of this admirable craftsman who chose a +style “smooth, clear, and short,” and made it serve every purpose of his +versatile and beneficent mind. +</p> +<p class="right"><i>Bliss Perry</i></p> +</blockquote> + +<hr class="break" /> + +<div class="quad-space-top"> +<h2><a href="#contents">Transcriber’s Notes</a></h2> +<p><br/></p> +<h3>Introduction:</h3> +</div> + +<p> +This version of the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin was part of +<i>The Harvard Classics</i> edition published by G. P. Putnam & +Sons in 1909. The physical book also included the Journal of John Woolman +and Fruits of Solitude by William Penn. This document only contains the +Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. A scanned version of the physical +book owned by the Library of Congress is available through Hathitrust. +</p> + +<p> +Scores of different editions of Franklin’s Autobiography exist. +<span class="smcap">Project Gutenberg</span> has the Pine edition, +published by Henry Holt and Company in 1916. Frank Woodworth Pine edited +the Holt book and F. Boyd Smith illustrated the edition. Also available +through PG is the Eclectic English Classics version published in 1910. +All three editions of Franklin’s Autobiography in the PG collection +are based on the Bigelow edition. See the section <i>About the +Autobiography</i> in the Introduction of the Pine edition for more +background about the Bigelow edition. +</p> + +<ol> +<li><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20203"> +Pine edition</a> (1916)</li> +<li><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/36151"> +Eclectic English Classics </a> (1910)</li> +<li><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/148"> +Harvard Classics Edition</a> (1909) </li> +</ol> + +<p> +We have retained the original punctuation and spelling in the book, but +there are a few exceptions. See the <i>Detailed Notes Section</i> of +these notes for a list of changes. There are many misspelled words in +this <i>Autobiography</i>, but we made three changes, which we +believe were made by the editor or publisher. After the three +changes that we made, those sentences match the same sentence from the +other two transcriptions of the book in <span class="smcap">Project +Gutenberg</span>. The <i>Detailed Notes Section</i> also includes +issues that have come up during transcription. +</p> +<p><br/></p> +<h3>Production Notes Section:</h3> +<p> +This book contained no chapters and no table of contents. +</p> +<p> +The navigation tools on page 2 of this book were added by the +transcriber, in the hope of providing a better reading experience. +The four parts of this book correspond to the four parts of the +<i>Autobiography</i> described in Wikipedia. Luckily, those four +parts were the same breaks that Mr. Eliot added in <i>The +Harvard Classics Edition</i>. +</p> +<p> +The quotations of <i>On Franklin’s Autobiography</i> were added by +the transcriber. +</p> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 148 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/148-h/images/cover.jpg b/148-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e55c722 --- /dev/null +++ b/148-h/images/cover.jpg |
