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margin-left: 6em; font-size: 1em} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, by Benjamin Franklin + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin + +Author: Benjamin Franklin + +Editor: Frank Woodworth Pine + +Illustrator: E. Boyd Smith + +Release Date: December 28, 2006 [EBook #20203] +[Last updated: October 19, 2022] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN *** + + + + +Produced by Turgut Dincer, Brian Sogard and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="50%" src= +"images/imgcover.jpg" alt="Cover" /></div> +<p><br /><br /></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img width="50%" src= +"images/img001.jpg" alt="FRANKLIN ARMS" /></div> + + +<h4>FRANKLIN ARMS</h4> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="25%" src= +"images/img002.jpg" alt="FRANKLIN SEAL" title= +"FRANKLIN SEAL" /></div> + +<h4>FRANKLIN SEAL</h4> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="FRONTISPIECE" id="FRONTISPIECE" /> +<a href="images/illus-003-red.jpg"><img src= +"images/illus-003thumb.jpg" alt="FRONTISPIECE" title= +"FRONTISPIECE" /></a></div> + +<p class="two_small">"He was therefore, feasted and invited to all the +court parties. At these he sometimes met the old Duchess of +Bourbon, who, being a chess player of about his force, they very +generally played together. Happening once to put her king into +prize, the Doctor took it. 'Ah,' says she, 'we do not take kings +so.' 'We do in America,' said the Doctor."—<span class= +"smcap">Thomas Jefferson</span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3> +A U T O B I O G R A P H Y</h3> + +<h3>OF</h3> + +<h1>B E N J A M I N</h1> + +<h1>F R A N K L I N</h1> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center">WITH ILLUSTRATIONS</div> + +<div class="center"><i>by</i></div> + +<div class="center_big">E. BOYD SMITH,<br /> + </div> + +<div class="center">EDITED</div> + +<div class="center"><i>by</i></div> + +<div class="center_medium">FRANK WOODWORTH PINE</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figcenter"><img width="15%" src= +"images/illus-004-red.jpg" alt="Printers Mark" title= +"Printers Mark" /></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"><i>New York</i></div> + +<div class="center">HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY</div> + +<div class="center">1916<br /> + </div> + +<div class="center_small"><span class="smcap">Copyright, +1916,</span></div> + +<div class="center_small">BY</div> + +<div class="center_small">HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY</div> + +<div class="center_small">June, 1922<br /> + </div> + +<div class="center_small">THE QUINN & BODEN CO. PRESS</div> + +<div class="center_small">RAHWAY, N. J.</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> + +<table summary="Page" width="90%" border="0" cellpadding="2" +cellspacing="2"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt" colspan="2"></td> +<td class="cell_rt"><span class="smcap">Page</span></td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<table width="90%" summary="Introduction" border="0" cellpadding= +"2" cellspacing="2"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1" colspan="2"><span class="smcap">Introduction</span></td> +<td class="cell_rt"><p class="new2"><a href="#INTRODUCTION">vii</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1" colspan="2"><span class="smcap">The +Autobiography</span></td> +<td class="cell_rt"><p class="new2"><a href="#AUTOBIOGRAPHY">1</a></p></td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<table width="90%" summary="TOC" border="0" cellpadding="2" +cellspacing="2"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0">I.</td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">Ancestry and Early Life in Boston</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#I">3</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0">II.</td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">Beginning Life as a Printer</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#II">21</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0">III.</td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">Arrival in Philadelphia</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#III">41</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0">IV.</td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">First Visit to Boston</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#III">55</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0">V.</td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">Early Friends in Philadelphia</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#V">69</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0">VI.</td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">First Visit to London</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#VI">77</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0">VII.</td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">Beginning Business in Philadelphia</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#VII">99</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0">VIII.</td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">Business Success and First Public Service</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#VIII">126</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0">IX.</td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">Plan for Attaining Moral Perfection</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#IX">146</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0">X.</td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new"><i>Poor Richard's Almanac</i> and Other +Activities</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#X">169</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0">XI.</td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">Interest in Public Affairs</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#XI">188</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0">XII.</td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">Defense of the Province</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#XII">201</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0">XIII.</td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">Public Services and Duties</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#XIII">217</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0">XIV.</td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">Albany Plan of Union</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#XIV">241</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0">XV.</td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">Quarrels with the Proprietary Governors</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#XV">246</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0">XVI.</td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">Braddock's Expedition</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#XVI">253</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0">XVII.</td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">Franklin's Defense of the Frontier</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#XVII">274</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0">XVIII.</td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">Scientific Experiments</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#XVIII">289</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0">XIX.</td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">Agent of Pennsylvania in London</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#XIX">296</a></p></td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<table width="90%" summary="Appendix" border="0" cellpadding="2" +cellspacing="2"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"><span class="smcap">Appendix</span></td> +<td class="cell_rt1"></td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<table width="90%" summary="Appendix2" border="0" cellpadding="2" +cellspacing="2"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0"></td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">Electrical Kite</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#ELECTRICAL_KITE">327</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0"></td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">The Way to Wealth</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#THE_WAY_TO_WEALTH">331</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0"></td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">The Whistle</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href="#THE_WHISTLE">336</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0"></td> +<td class="cell_mid0"> +<p class="new">A Letter to Samuel Mather</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt0"><p class="new2"><a href= +"#A_LETTER_TO_SAMUEL_MATHER">340</a></p></td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<table width="90%" summary="Bibliography" border="0" cellpadding= +"2" cellspacing="2"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"><span class="smcap">Bibliography</span></td> +<td class="cell_mid"></td> +<td class="cell_rt"><p class="new2"><a href="#BIBLIOGRAPHY">343</a></p></td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<h3>ILLUSTRATIONS</h3> + +<table style="width: 90%;" summary="Frontispiece" border="0" +cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><span class="smcap">Franklin at the Court of Louis +XVI</span></p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt"><p class="new2"><a href="#FRONTISPIECE">Frontispiece</a></p></td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<div class="blockquot"><p class="two">"He was therefore, feasted and invited to +all the court parties. At these he sometimes met the old Duchess of +Bourbon, who, being a chess player of about his force, they very +generally played together. Happening once to put her king into +prize, the Doctor took it. 'Ah,' says she, 'we do not take kings +so.' 'We do in America,' said the Doctor."—<span class= +"smcap">Thomas Jefferson</span></p></div> + +<table style="width: 90%;" summary="Page" border="0" cellpadding= +"2" cellspacing="2"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> </td> +<td class="cell_rt"><p class="new2"><span class="smcap">Page</span></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new">Portrait of Franklin</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt"><p class="new2"><a href="#vii">vii</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new">Pages 1 and 4 of <i>The Pennsylvania Gazette</i>, +Number XL, the first number after Franklin took control</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt"><p class="new2"><a href="#xxi">xxi</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new">First page of <i>The New England Courant</i> of +December 4-11, 1721</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt"><p class="new2"><a href="#p33">33</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new">"I was employed to carry the papers thro' the +streets to the customers"</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt"><p class="new2"><a href="#p36">36</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new">"She, standing at the door, saw me, and thought I +made, as I certainly did, a most awkward, ridiculous +appearance"</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt"><p class="new2"><a href="#p48">48</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new">"I took to working at press"</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt"><p class="new2"><a href="#p88">88</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new">"I see him still at work when I go home from +club"</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt"><p class="new2"><a href="#p120">120</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new">Two pages from <i>Poor Richard's Almanac</i> for +1736</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt"><p class="new2"><a href="#p171">171</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new">"I regularly took my turn of duty there as a common +soldier"</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt"><p class="new2"><a href="#p204">204</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new">"In the evening, hearing a great noise among them, +the commissioners walk'd out to see what was the matter"</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt"><p class="new2"><a href="#p224">224</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new">"Our axes ... were immediately set to work to cut +down trees"</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt"><p class="new2"><a href="#p278">278</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new">"We now appeared very wide, and so far from each +other in our opinions as to discourage all hope of agreement"</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt"><p class="new2"><a href="#p318">318</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new">"You will find it stream out plentifully from the +key on the approach of your knuckle"</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt"><p class="new2"><a href="#p328">328</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new">Father Abraham in his study</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_rt"><p class="new2"><a href="#p330">330</a></p></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"><p class="new">The end papers show, at the front, the +Franklin arms and the Franklin seal; at the back, the medal given +by the Boston public schools from the fund left by Franklin for +that purpose as provided in the following extract from his +will:</p> +<p class="new3"> </p> +<p class="new3">"I was born in Boston, New England, and owe my +first instructions in literature to the free grammar-schools +established there. I therefore give one hundred pounds sterling to +my executors, to be by them ... paid over to the managers or +directors of the free schools in my native town of Boston, to be by +them ... put out to interest, and so continued at interest forever, +which interest annually shall be laid out in silver medals, and +given as honorary rewards annually by the directors of the said +free schools belonging to the said town, in such manner as to the +discretion of the selectmen of the said town shall seem meet."</p> +</td> +<td class="cell_mid"></td> +<td class="cell_rt"></td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> +<p class="new"> </p> +<div class="figcenter"><a name="vii" id="vii" /> <a href= +"images/illus-005-red.jpg"><img width="50%" src="images/illus-005thumb.jpg" +alt="B. FRANKLIN" title="B. FRANKLIN" /></a></div> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="30%" src="images/signature.jpg" +alt="B. Franklin's signature" title= +"B. Franklin's signature" /></div> + +<div class="center_caption"><small>From an engraving by J. Thomson +from the original picture by J. A. Duplessis.</small></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="INTRODUCTION" id="INTRODUCTION" />INTRODUCTION</h3> + +<p><img src="images/block-w.jpg" class="floatLeft" alt="block-W" /> +E Americans devour eagerly any piece of writing that purports to +tell us the secret of success in life; yet how often we are +disappointed to find nothing but commonplace statements, or +receipts that we know by heart but never follow. Most of the life +stories of our famous and successful men fail to inspire because +they lack the human element that makes the record real and brings +the story within our grasp. While we are searching far and near for +some Aladdin's Lamp to give coveted fortune, there is ready at our +hand if we will only reach out and take it, like the charm in +Milton's <i>Comus</i>,</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="i0">"Unknown, and like esteemed, and the dull +swain</div> + +<div class="i0"> Treads on it daily with his clouted +shoon;"</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>the interesting, human, and vividly told story of one of the +wisest and most useful lives in our own history, and perhaps in any +history. In Franklin's <i>Autobiography</i> is offered not so much +a ready-made formula for success, as the companionship of a real +flesh and blood man of extraordinary mind and quality, whose daily +walk and conversation will help us to meet our own difficulties, +much as does the example of a wise and strong friend. While we are +fascinated by the story, we absorb the human experience through +which a strong and helpful character is building.</p> + +<p>The thing that makes Franklin's <i>Autobiography</i> different +from every other life story of a great and successful man is just +this human aspect of the account. Franklin told the story of his +life, as he himself says, for the benefit of his posterity. He +wanted to help them by the relation of his own rise from obscurity +and poverty to eminence and wealth. He is not unmindful of the +importance of his public services and their recognition, yet his +accounts of these achievements are given only as a part of the +story, and the vanity displayed is incidental and in keeping with +the honesty of the recital. There is nothing of the impossible in +the method and practice of Franklin as he sets them forth. The +youth who reads the fascinating story is astonished to find that +Franklin in his early years struggled with the same everyday +passions and difficulties that he himself experiences, and he loses +the sense of discouragement that comes from a realization of his +own shortcomings and inability to attain.</p> + +<p>There are other reasons why the <i>Autobiography</i> should be +an intimate friend of American young people. Here they may +establish a close relationship with one of the foremost Americans +as well as one of the wisest men of his age.</p> + +<p>The life of Benjamin Franklin is of importance to every American +primarily because of the part he played in securing the +independence of the United States and in establishing it as a +nation. Franklin shares with Washington the honors of the +Revolution, and of the events leading to the birth of the new +nation. While Washington was the animating spirit of the struggle +in the colonies, Franklin was its ablest champion abroad. To +Franklin's cogent reasoning and keen satire, we owe the clear and +forcible presentation of the American case in England and France; +while to his personality and diplomacy as well as to his facile +pen, we are indebted for the foreign alliance and the funds without +which Washington's work must have failed. His patience, fortitude, +and practical wisdom, coupled with self-sacrificing devotion to the +cause of his country, are hardly less noticeable than similar +qualities displayed by Washington. In fact, Franklin as a public +man was much like Washington, especially in the entire +disinterestedness of his public service.</p> + +<p>Franklin is also interesting to us because by his life and +teachings he has done more than any other American to advance the +material prosperity of his countrymen. It is said that his widely +and faithfully read maxims made Philadelphia and Pennsylvania +wealthy, while Poor Richard's pithy sayings, translated into many +languages, have had a world-wide influence.</p> + +<p>Franklin is a good type of our American manhood. Although not +the wealthiest or the most powerful, he is undoubtedly, in the +versatility of his genius and achievements, the greatest of our +self-made men. The simple yet graphic story in the +<i>Autobiography</i> of his steady rise from humble boyhood in a +tallow-chandler shop, by industry, economy, and perseverance in +self-improvement, to eminence, is the most remarkable of all the +remarkable histories of our self-made men. It is in itself a +wonderful illustration of the results possible to be attained in a +land of unequaled opportunity by following Franklin's maxims.</p> + +<p>Franklin's fame, however, was not confined to his own country. +Although he lived in a century notable for the rapid evolution of +scientific and political thought and activity, yet no less a keen +judge and critic than Lord Jeffrey, the famous editor of the +<i>Edinburgh Review</i>, a century ago said that "in one point of +view the name of Franklin must be considered as standing higher +than any of the others which illustrated the eighteenth century. +Distinguished as a statesman, he was equally great as a +philosopher, thus uniting in himself a rare degree of excellence in +both these pursuits, to excel in either of which is deemed the +highest praise."</p> + +<p>Franklin has indeed been aptly called "many-sided." He was +eminent in science and public service, in diplomacy and in +literature. He was the Edison of his day, turning his scientific +discoveries to the benefit of his fellow-men. He perceived the +identity of lightning and electricity and set up the lightning rod. +He invented the Franklin stove, still widely used, and refused to +patent it. He possessed a masterly shrewdness in business and +practical affairs. Carlyle called him the father of all the +Yankees. He founded a fire company, assisted in founding a +hospital, and improved the cleaning and lighting of streets. He +developed journalism, established the American Philosophical +Society, the public library in Philadelphia, and the University of +Pennsylvania. He organized a postal system for the colonies, which +was the basis of the present United States Post Office. Bancroft, +the eminent historian, called him "the greatest diplomatist of his +century." He perfected the Albany Plan of Union for the colonies. +He is the only statesman who signed the Declaration of +Independence, the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of +Peace with England, and the Constitution. As a writer, he has +produced, in his <i>Autobiography</i> and in <i>Poor Richard's +Almanac</i>, two works that are not surpassed by similar writing. +He received honorary degrees from Harvard and Yale, from Oxford and +St. Andrews, and was made a fellow of the Royal Society, which +awarded him the Copley gold medal for improving natural knowledge. +He was one of the eight foreign associates of the French Academy of +Science.</p> + +<p>The careful study of the <i>Autobiography</i> is also valuable +because of the style in which it is written. If Robert Louis +Stevenson is right in believing that his remarkable style was +acquired by imitation then the youth who would gain the power to +express his ideas clearly, forcibly, and interestingly cannot do +better than to study Franklin's method. Franklin's fame in the +scientific world was due almost as much to his modest, simple, and +sincere manner of presenting his discoveries and to the precision +and clearness of the style in which he described his experiments, +as to the results he was able to announce. Sir Humphry Davy, the +celebrated English chemist, himself an excellent literary critic as +well as a great scientist, said: "A singular felicity guided all +Franklin's researches, and by very small means he established very +grand truths. The style and manner of his publication on +electricity are almost as worthy of admiration as the doctrine it +contains."</p> + +<p>Franklin's place in literature is hard to determine because he +was not primarily a literary man. His aim in his writings as in his +life work was to be helpful to his fellow-men. For him writing was +never an end in itself, but always a means to an end. Yet his +success as a scientist, a statesman, and a diplomat, as well as +socially, was in no little part due to his ability as a writer. +"His letters charmed all, and made his correspondence eagerly +sought. His political arguments were the joy of his party and the +dread of his opponents. His scientific discoveries were explained +in language at once so simple and so clear that plow-boy and +exquisite could follow his thought or his experiment to its +conclusion." <a name="FNanchor_1" id="FNanchor_1" /><a href= +"#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<p>As far as American literature is concerned, Franklin has no +contemporaries. Before the <i>Autobiography</i> only one literary +work of importance had been produced in this country—Cotton +Mather's <i>Magnalia</i>, a church history of New England in a +ponderous, stiff style. Franklin was the first American author to +gain a wide and permanent reputation in Europe. The +<i>Autobiography</i>, <i>Poor Richard</i>, <i>Father Abraham's +Speech</i> or <i>The Way to Wealth</i>, as well as some of the +<i>Bagatelles</i>, are as widely known abroad as any American +writings. Franklin must also be classed as the first American +humorist.</p> + +<p>English literature of the eighteenth century was characterized +by the development of prose. Periodical literature reached its +perfection early in the century in <i>The Tatler</i> and <i>The +Spectator</i> of Addison and Steele. Pamphleteers flourished +throughout the period. The homelier prose of Bunyan and Defoe +gradually gave place to the more elegant and artificial language of +Samuel Johnson, who set the standard for prose writing from 1745 +onward. This century saw the beginnings of the modern novel, in +Fielding's <i>Tom Jones</i>, Richardson's <i>Clarissa Harlowe</i>, +Sterne's <i>Tristram Shandy</i>, and Goldsmith's <i>Vicar of +Wakefield</i>. Gibbon wrote <i>The Decline and Fall of the Roman +Empire</i>, Hume his <i>History of England</i>, and Adam Smith the +<i>Wealth of Nations</i>.</p> + +<p>In the simplicity and vigor of his style Franklin more nearly +resembles the earlier group of writers. In his first essays he was +not an inferior imitator of Addison. In his numerous parables, +moral allegories, and apologues he showed Bunyan's influence. But +Franklin was essentially a journalist. In his swift, terse style, +he is most like Defoe, who was the first great English journalist +and master of the newspaper narrative. The style of both writers is +marked by homely, vigorous expression, satire, burlesque, repartee. +Here the comparison must end. Defoe and his contemporaries were +authors. Their vocation was writing and their success rests on the +imaginative or creative power they displayed. To authorship +Franklin laid no claim. He wrote no work of the imagination. He +developed only incidentally a style in many respects as remarkable +as that of his English contemporaries. He wrote the best +autobiography in existence, one of the most widely known +collections of maxims, and an unsurpassed series of political and +social satires, because he was a man of unusual scope of power and +usefulness, who knew how to tell his fellow-men the secrets of that +power and that usefulness.</p> + +<h4><span class="smcap">The Story of the Autobiography</span></h4> + +<p>The account of how Franklin's <i>Autobiography</i> came to be +written and of the adventures of the original manuscript forms in +itself an interesting story. The <i>Autobiography</i> is Franklin's +longest work, and yet it is only a fragment. The first part, +written as a letter to his son, William Franklin, was not intended +for publication; and the composition is more informal and the +narrative more personal than in the second part, from 1730 on, +which was written with a view to publication. The entire manuscript +shows little evidence of revision. In fact, the expression is so +homely and natural that his grandson, William Temple Franklin, in +editing the work changed some of the phrases because he thought +them inelegant and vulgar.</p> + +<p>Franklin began the story of his life while on a visit to his +friend, Bishop Shipley, at Twyford, in Hampshire, southern England, +in 1771. He took the manuscript, completed to 1731, with him when +he returned to Philadelphia in 1775. It was left there with his +other papers when he went to France in the following year, and +disappeared during the confusion incident to the Revolution. +Twenty-three pages of closely written manuscript fell into the +hands of Abel James, an old friend, who sent a copy to Franklin at +Passy, near Paris, urging him to complete the story. Franklin took +up the work at Passy in 1784 and carried the narrative forward a +few months. He changed the plan to meet his new purpose of writing +to benefit the young reader. His work was soon interrupted and was +not resumed until 1788, when he was at home in Philadelphia. He was +now old, infirm, and suffering, and was still engaged in public +service. Under these discouraging conditions the work progressed +slowly. It finally stopped when the narrative reached the year +1757. Copies of the manuscript were sent to friends of Franklin in +England and France, among others to Monsieur Le Veillard at +Paris.</p> + +<p>The first edition of the <i>Autobiography</i> was published in +French at Paris in 1791. It was clumsily and carelessly translated, +and was imperfect and unfinished. Where the translator got the +manuscript is not known. Le Veillard disclaimed any knowledge of +the publication. From this faulty French edition many others were +printed, some in Germany, two in England, and another in France, so +great was the demand for the work.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the original manuscript of the +<i>Autobiography</i> had started on a varied and adventurous +career. It was left by Franklin with his other works to his +grandson, William Temple Franklin, whom Franklin designated as his +literary executor. When Temple Franklin came to publish his +grandfather's works in 1817, he sent the original manuscript of the +<i>Autobiography</i> to the daughter of Le Veillard in exchange for +her father's copy, probably thinking the clearer transcript would +make better printer's copy. The original manuscript thus found its +way to the Le Veillard family and connections, where it remained +until sold in 1867 to Mr. John Bigelow, United States Minister to +France. By him it was later sold to Mr. E. Dwight Church of New +York, and passed with the rest of Mr. Church's library into the +possession of Mr. Henry E. Huntington. The original manuscript of +Franklin's <i>Autobiography</i> now rests in the vault in Mr. +Huntington's residence at Fifth Avenue and Fifty-seventh Street, +New York City.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Bigelow came to examine his purchase, he was astonished +to find that what people had been reading for years as the +authentic <i>Life of Benjamin Franklin by Himself</i>, was only a +garbled and incomplete version of the real <i>Autobiography</i>. +Temple Franklin had taken unwarranted liberties with the original. +Mr. Bigelow says he found more than twelve hundred changes in the +text. In 1868, therefore, Mr. Bigelow published the standard +edition of Franklin's <i>Autobiography</i>. It corrected errors in +the previous editions and was the first English edition to contain +the short fourth part, comprising the last few pages of the +manuscript, written during the last year of Franklin's life. Mr. +Bigelow republished the <i>Autobiography</i>, with additional +interesting matter, in three volumes in 1875, in 1905, and in 1910. +The text in this volume is that of Mr. Bigelow's editions.<a name= +"FNanchor_2" id="FNanchor_2" /><a href="#Footnote_2" class= +"fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<p>The <i>Autobiography</i> has been reprinted in the United States +many scores of times and translated into all the languages of +Europe. It has never lost its popularity and is still in constant +demand at circulating libraries. The reason for this popularity is +not far to seek. For in this work Franklin told in a remarkable +manner the story of a remarkable life. He displayed hard common +sense and a practical knowledge of the art of living. He selected +and arranged his material, perhaps unconsciously, with the unerring +instinct of the journalist for the best effects. His success is not +a little due to his plain, clear, vigorous English. He used short +sentences and words, homely expressions, apt illustrations, and +pointed allusions. Franklin had a most interesting, varied, and +unusual life. He was one of the greatest conversationalists of his +time.</p> + +<p>His book is the record of that unusual life told in Franklin's +own unexcelled conversational style. It is said that the best parts +of Boswell's famous biography of Samuel Johnson are those parts +where Boswell permits Johnson to tell his own story. In the +<i>Autobiography</i> a no less remarkable man and talker than +Samuel Johnson is telling his own story throughout.</p> + +<p class="right">F. W. P.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap2"> The Gilman Country +School</span>,<br /> +<small> Baltimore, September, +1916.</small></p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="center"> +<table width="70%" summary="The Pennsylvania GAZETTE" border="1" cellpadding= +"2"> +<tr> +<td class="cell_poor"><a name="xxi" id="xxi" /> <a href= +"images/028-red.jpg"><img src="images/028thumb.jpg" alt= +"The Pennsylvania GAZETTE Page 1" title= +"The Pennsylvania GAZETTE Page 1" /></a></td> +<td class="cell_poor"><a href="images/029-red.jpg"><img src= +"images/029thumb.jpg" alt="The Pennsylvania GAZETTE Page 4" title= +"The Pennsylvania GAZETTE Page 4" /></a></td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> +<p class="four">Pages 1 and 4 of <i>The Pennsylvania Gazette</i>, +the first number after Franklin took control. Reduced nearly +one-half. Reproduced from a copy at the New York Public +Library.</p> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_1" id="Footnote_1" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> <i>The Many-Sided +Franklin.</i> Paul L. Ford.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_2" id="Footnote_2" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> For the division +into chapters and the chapter titles, however, the present editor +is responsible.</p> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="AUTOBIOGRAPHY" id="AUTOBIOGRAPHY" />AUTOBIOGRAPHY</h3> + +<h3>OF</h3> + +<h3>BENJAMIN FRANKLIN</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="I" id="I" />I</h4> + +<h4>ANCESTRY AND EARLY YOUTH IN BOSTON</h4> + +<p class="right"><b><small><span class="smcap">Twyford</span>,<a +name="FNanchor_3" id="FNanchor_3" /><a href="#Footnote_3" class= +"fnanchor">[3]</a> <i>at the Bishop of St. Asaph's</i>, +1771.</small></b></p> + +<p><img src="images/block-d.jpg" class="floatLeft" alt="block-d" /> +EAR SON: 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 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> + +<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 favourable. 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 anyone 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>.<a name="FNanchor_4" id="FNanchor_4" /><a href= +"#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> Indeed, I scarce ever heard +or saw the introductory words, "<i>Without vanity I may say</i>," +etc., 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>Gibbon and Hume, the great British historians, who were +contemporaries of Franklin, express in their autobiographies the +same feeling about the propriety of just self-praise.</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,<a name="FNanchor_5" id= +"FNanchor_5" /><a href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> 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,<a name="FNanchor_6" id="FNanchor_6" /><a href= +"#Footnote_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> 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,<a name="FNanchor_7" id="FNanchor_7" /><a href= +"#Footnote_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> 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 woollens, 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.<a name="FNanchor_8" id="FNanchor_8" /><a href= +"#Footnote_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> 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> + +<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 non-conformity, holding conventicles<a name= +"FNanchor_9" id="FNanchor_9" /><a href="#Footnote_9" class= +"fnanchor">[9]</a> 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> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="80%" src= +"images/illus-006-red.jpg" alt= +"Birthplace of Franklin. Milk Street, Boston" title= +"Birthplace of Franklin. Milk Street, Boston" /></div> + +<div class="center_caption">Birthplace of Franklin. Milk Street, +Boston.</div> + +<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.<a name="FNanchor_10" +id="FNanchor_10" /><a href="#Footnote_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> +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,<a name="FNanchor_11" id= +"FNanchor_11" /><a href="#Footnote_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> in +his church history of that country, entitled <i>Magnalia Christi +Americana</i>, 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 favour 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="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="i2">"Because to be a libeller (says he)</div> + +<div class="i2b">I hate it with my heart;</div> + +<div class="i2">From Sherburne town,<a name="FNanchor_12" id= +"FNanchor_12" /><a href="#Footnote_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> +where now I dwell</div> + +<div class="i2b">My name I do put here;</div> + +<div class="i2">Without offense your real friend,</div> + +<div class="i2b">It is Peter Folgier."</div> +</div> +</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<a name="FNanchor_13" id= +"FNanchor_13" /><a href="#Footnote_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> 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.<a name="FNanchor_14" id="FNanchor_14" /><a href= +"#Footnote_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> 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 +dyeing trade would not maintain his family, being in little +request. Accordingly, I was employed in cutting wick for the +candles, filling the dipping mould and the moulds 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 wharf 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 playfellows, 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 wharf. The next +morning the workmen were surprised at missing the stones, which +were found in our wharf. 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. 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 traveling, 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,<a name="FNanchor_15" +id="FNanchor_15" /><a href="#Footnote_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> +with this inscription:</p> + +<div class="center"><span class="smcap2">Josiah +Franklin</span>,</div> + +<div class="center_small2">and</div> + +<div class="center_small2"><span class="smcap2">Abiah</span> his +wife,</div> + +<div class="center_small2">lie here interred.</div> + +<div class="center_small2">They lived lovingly together in +wedlock</div> + +<div class="center_small2">fifty-five years.</div> + +<div class="center_small2">Without an estate, or any gainful +employment,</div> + +<div class="center_small2">By constant labor and industry,</div> + +<div class="center_small2">with God's blessing,</div> + +<div class="center_small2">They maintained a large family</div> + +<div class="center_small2">comfortably,</div> + +<div class="center_small2">and brought up thirteen children</div> + +<div class="center_small2">and seven grandchildren</div> + +<div class="center_small2">reputably.</div> + +<div class="center_small2">From this instance, reader,</div> + +<div class="center_small2">Be encouraged to diligence in thy +calling,</div> + +<div class="center_small2">And distrust not Providence.</div> + +<div class="center_small2">He was a pious and prudent man;</div> + +<div class="center_small2">She, a discreet and virtuous +woman.</div> + +<div class="center_small2">Their youngest son,</div> + +<div class="center_small2">In filial regard to their memory,</div> + +<div class="center_small2">Places this stone.</div> + +<div class="center_small2">J. F. born 1655, died 1744, Ætat +89.</div> + +<div class="center_small2">A. F. born 1667, died 1752, +—— 85.</div> + +<p>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> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_3" id="Footnote_3" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> A small village +not far from Winchester in Hampshire, southern England. Here was +the country seat of the Bishop of St. Asaph, Dr. Jonathan Shipley, +the "good Bishop," as Dr. Franklin used to style him. Their +relations were intimate and confidential. In his pulpit, and in the +House of Lords, as well as in society, the bishop always opposed +the harsh measures of the Crown toward the +Colonies.—Bigelow.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_4" id="Footnote_4" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> In this connection +Woodrow Wilson says, "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> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_5" id="Footnote_5" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> See <a href= +"#INTRODUCTION"><i>Introduction</i></a>.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_6" id="Footnote_6" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> A small +landowner.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_7" id="Footnote_7" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> January 17, new +style. This change in the calendar was made in 1582 by Pope Gregory +XIII, and adopted in England in 1752. Every year whose number in +the common reckoning since Christ is not divisible by 4, as well as +every year whose number is divisible by 100 but not by 400, shall +have 365 days, and all other years shall have 366 days. In the +eighteenth century there was a difference of eleven days between +the old and the new style of reckoning, which the English +Parliament canceled by making the 3rd of September, 1752, the 14th. +The Julian calendar, or "old style," is still retained in Russia +and Greece, whose dates consequently are now 13 days behind those +of other Christian countries.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_8" id="Footnote_8" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> The specimen is +not in the manuscript of the <i>Autobiography</i>.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_9" id="Footnote_9" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Secret gatherings +of dissenters from the established Church.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_10" id="Footnote_10" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Franklin was +born on Sunday, January 6, old style, 1706, in a house on Milk +Street, opposite the Old South Meeting House, where he was baptized +on the day of his birth, during a snowstorm. The house where he was +born was burned in 1810.—Griffin.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_11" id="Footnote_11" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Cotton Mather +(1663-1728), clergyman, author, and scholar. Pastor of the North +Church, Boston. He took an active part in the persecution of +witchcraft.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_12" id="Footnote_12" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> Nantucket.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_13" id="Footnote_13" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> Tenth.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_14" id="Footnote_14" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> System of +short-hand.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_15" id="Footnote_15" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> This marble +having decayed, the citizens of Boston in 1827 erected in its place +a granite obelisk, twenty-one feet high, bearing the original +inscription quoted in the text and another explaining the erection +of the monument.</p> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="II" id="II" />II</h4> + +<h4>BEGINNING LIFE AS A PRINTER</h4> + +<p><img src="images/block-f.jpg" class="floatLeft" alt="block-F" /> +ROM 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 +<i>Pilgrim's Progress</i>, 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 <i>Historical Collections</i>; they were +small chapmen's books, <a name="FNanchor_16" id="FNanchor_16" /><a +href="#Footnote_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> 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 <i>Lives</i> there +was in which I read abundantly, and I still think that time spent +to great advantage. There was also a book of DeFoe's, called an +<i>Essay on Projects</i>, and another of Dr. Mather's, called +<i>Essays to do Good</i>, 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;<a name= +"FNanchor_17" id="FNanchor_17" /><a href="#Footnote_17" class= +"fnanchor">[17]</a> 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 has 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 remarks, 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>.<a name="FNanchor_18" id="FNanchor_18" /><a href= +"#Footnote_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> 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 of 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 of me +when I was under his care, and which indeed I still thought a duty, +thought 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, +dispatching 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>,<a name= +"FNanchor_19" id="FNanchor_19" /><a href="#Footnote_19" class= +"fnanchor">[19]</a> and the <i>Art of Thinking</i>, by Messrs. du +Port Royal.<a name="FNanchor_20" id="FNanchor_20" /><a href= +"#Footnote_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a></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<a +name="FNanchor_21" id="FNanchor_21" /><a href="#Footnote_21" class= +"fnanchor">[21]</a> 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 anything that may possibly be disputed, the words +<i>certainly</i>, <i>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 engaged 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 everyone 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<a name="FNanchor_22" id= +"FNanchor_22" /><a href="#Footnote_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> +says, judiciously:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="i0"><i>"Men should be taught as if you taught them +not,</i></div> + +<div class="i0b"><i>And things unknown propos'd as things +forgot;"</i></div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>farther recommending to us</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="i0">"To speak, tho' sure, with seeming +diffidence."</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>And he might have coupled with this line that which he has +coupled with another, I think, less properly,</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="i2">"For want of modesty is want of sense."</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>If you ask, Why less properly? I must repeat the lines,</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="i2">"Immodest words admit of no defense,</div> + +<div class="i2a">For want of modesty is want of sense."</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>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="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="i2">"Immodest words admit <i>but</i> this +defense,</div> + +<div class="i2a">That want of modesty is want of sense."</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>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,<a name="FNanchor_23" id= +"FNanchor_23" /><a href="#Footnote_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> +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> + +<div class="center"> +<table width="40%" summary="The New England Courant" border="1" cellpadding= +"2"> +<tr> +<td><a name="p33" id="p33" /> <a href= +"images/062-red.jpg"><img src="images/062thumb.jpg" alt= +"First page of The New England Courant of Dec. 4-11, 1721." title= +"First page of The New England Courant of Dec. 4-11, 1721." /></a></td> +</tr> +</table> +</div> + +<div class="center_caption">First page of <i>The New England +Courant</i> of Dec. 4-11, 1721. Reduced about one-third. From a +copy in the Library of the Massachusetts Historical Society</div> + +<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 conveyed 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<a +name="FNanchor_24" id="FNanchor_24" /><a href="#Footnote_24" class= +"fnanchor">[24]</a> 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.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="p36" id="p36" /> <a href= +"images/illus-007-red.jpg"><img src="images/illus-007thumb.jpg" +alt= +"I was employed to carry the papers thro' the streets to the customers" + title= +"I was employed to carry the papers thro' the streets to the customers" /></a></div> + +<div class="center_caption">"I was employed to carry the papers +thro' the streets to the customers"</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 contented 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 +libeling 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 indiscreet 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. 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> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_16" id="Footnote_16" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> Small books, +sold by chapmen or peddlers.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_17" id="Footnote_17" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> Grub-street: +famous in English literature as the home of poor writers.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_18" id="Footnote_18" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> A daily London +journal, comprising satirical essays on social subjects, published +by Addison and Steele in 1711-1712. The <i>Spectator</i> and its +predecessor, the <i>Tatler</i> (1709), marked the beginning of +periodical literature.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_19" id="Footnote_19" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> John Locke +(1632-1704), a celebrated English philosopher, founder of the +so-called "common-sense" school of philosophers. He drew up a +constitution for the colonists of Carolina.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_20" id="Footnote_20" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> A noted society +of scholarly and devout men occupying the abbey of Port Royal near +Paris, who published learned works, among them the one here +referred to, better known as the <i>Port Royal Logic</i>.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_21" id="Footnote_21" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> Socrates +confuted his opponents in argument by asking questions so +skillfully devised that the answers would confirm the questioner's +position or show the error of the opponent.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_22" id="Footnote_22" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> Alexander Pope +(1688-1744), the greatest English poet of the first half of the +eighteenth century.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_23" id="Footnote_23" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> Franklin's +memory does not serve him correctly here. The <i>Courant</i> was +really the fifth newspaper established in America, although +generally called the fourth, because the first, <i>Public +Occurrences</i>, published in Boston in 1690, was suppressed after +the first issue. Following is the order in which the other four +papers were published: <i>Boston News Letter</i>, 1704; <i>Boston +Gazette</i>, December 21, 1719; <i>The American Weekly Mercury</i>, +Philadelphia, December 22, 1719; <i>The New England Courant</i>, +1721.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_24" id="Footnote_24" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> Disclosed.</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="60%" src= +"images/illus-008-red.jpg" alt="Sailboat" title="Sailboat" /></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="III" id="III" />III</h4> + +<h4>ARRIVAL IN PHILADELPHIA</h4> + +<p><img src="images/block-m.jpg" class="floatLeft" alt="block-M" /> +Y 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, Aquilla 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,<a name= +"FNanchor_25" id="FNanchor_25" /><a href="#Footnote_25" class= +"fnanchor">[25]</a> 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<a name="FNanchor_26" id="FNanchor_26" /><a href= +"#Footnote_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> 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 plentifully +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> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="70%" src= +"images/illus-009-red.jpg" alt="It rained very hard all the day" +title="It rained very hard all the day" /></div> + +<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 travesty 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 traveling, 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 of 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 clothes +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 traveling, 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 bade him give me three-penny worth of any sort. He gave +me, accordingly, three great puffy rolls. I was surpris'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> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="p48" id="p48" /> <a href= +"images/illus-010-red.jpg"><img src="images/illus-010thumb.jpg" +alt= +"She, standing at the door, saw me, and thought I made, as I certainly did, a most awkward, ridiculous appearance" + title= +"She, standing at the door, saw me, and thought I made, as I certainly did, a most awkward, ridiculous appearance" /></a></div> + +<div class="center_caption">"She, standing at the door, saw me, and +thought I made, as I certainly did, a most awkward, ridiculous +appearance"</div> + +<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' labour and want of rest the preceding +night, I fell fast asleep, and continu'd 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, traveling +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, "Neighbour," 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 interest 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 Aquilla 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,<a name= +"FNanchor_27" id="FNanchor_27" /><a href="#Footnote_27" class= +"fnanchor">[27]</a> but one pair of cases, and the Elegy likely to +require all the letter, no one could help him. I endeavour'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,<a name="FNanchor_28" id="FNanchor_28" /><a href= +"#Footnote_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> 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,<a +name="FNanchor_29" id="FNanchor_29" /><a href="#Footnote_29" class= +"fnanchor">[29]</a> 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 everything 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> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_25" id="Footnote_25" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> Kill van Kull, +the channel separating Staten Island from New Jersey on the +north.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_26" id="Footnote_26" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> Samuel +Richardson, the father of the English novel, wrote <i>Pamela</i>, +<i>Clarissa Harlowe</i>, and the <i>History of Sir Charles +Grandison</i>, novels published in the form of letters.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_27" id="Footnote_27" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> Manuscript.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_28" id="Footnote_28" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> The frames for +holding type are in two sections, the upper for capitals and the +lower for small letters.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_29" id="Footnote_29" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> Protestants of +the South of France, who became fanatical under the persecutions of +Louis XIV, and thought they had the gift of prophecy. They had as +mottoes "No Taxes" and "Liberty of Conscience."</p> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="IV" id="IV" />IV</h4> + +<h4>FIRST VISIT TO BOSTON</h4> + +<p><img src="images/block-s.jpg" class="floatLeft" alt= +"block-S" />IR 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 and +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.<a +name="FNanchor_30" id="FNanchor_30" /><a href="#Footnote_30" class= +"fnanchor">[30]</a> 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.<a name="FNanchor_31" id= +"FNanchor_31" /><a href="#Footnote_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> 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 meantime 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 honour 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 +surpris'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> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="70%" src= +"images/illus-011-red.jpg" alt="The journeymen were inquisitive" +title="The journeymen were inquisitive" /></div> + +<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, and 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<a name="FNanchor_32" id= +"FNanchor_32" /><a href="#Footnote_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> +they had not been us'd to, paper being the money of Boston.<a name= +"FNanchor_33" id="FNanchor_33" /><a href="#Footnote_33" class= +"fnanchor">[33]</a> 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<a name="FNanchor_34" id="FNanchor_34" /><a +href="#Footnote_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> 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 show'd it to him, asked 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 favour 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, endeavour 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 Pennsylvania, +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, +matronlike 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 hast 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 cabin, +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 honour 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 quarrel'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 Barbados, 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'-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 everything 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 continued 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 I +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 is it 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> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_30" id="Footnote_30" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> Temple Franklin +considered this specific figure vulgar and changed it to "stared +with astonishment."</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_31" id="Footnote_31" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> Pennsylvania and +Delaware.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_32" id="Footnote_32" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> A peep-show in a +box.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_33" id="Footnote_33" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> There were no +mints in the colonies, so the metal money was of foreign coinage +and not nearly so common as paper money, which was printed in large +quantities in America, even in small denominations.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_34" id="Footnote_34" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> Spanish dollar +about equivalent to our dollar.</p> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="V" id="V" />V</h4> + +<h4>EARLY FRIENDS IN PHILADELPHIA</h4> + +<p><img src="images/block-k.jpg" class="floatLeft" alt="block-K" /> +EIMER 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 led 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 +Brockden; 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 +criticizing. Ralph was ingenious, genteel in his manners, and +extremely eloquent; I think I never knew a prettier talker. Both of +them were 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> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="70%" src= +"images/illus-012-red.jpg" alt= +"Many pleasant walks we four had together" title= +"Many pleasant walks we four had together" /></div> + +<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 anything 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 laughed 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.<a name="FNanchor_35" +id="FNanchor_35" /><a href="#Footnote_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> +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> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_35" id="Footnote_35" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> "In one of the +later editions of the <i>Dunciad</i> occur the following lines:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="i2">'Silence, ye wolves! while Ralph to Cynthia +howls,</div> + +<div class="i2">And makes night hideous—answer him, ye +owls.'</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>To this the poet adds the following note:</p> + +<p>'James Ralph, a name inserted after the first editions, not +known till he writ a swearing-piece called <i>Sawney</i>, very +abusive of Dr. Swift, Mr. Gay, and myself.'"</p> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="VI" id="VI" />VI</h4> + +<h4>FIRST VISIT TO LONDON</h4> + +<p><img src="images/block-t.jpg" class="floatLeft" alt= +"block-T" />HE 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, wished 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 engaged 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 surprised 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 endeavour 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> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="70%" src= +"images/illus-013-red.jpg" alt= +"So, putting the letter into my hand" title= +"So, putting the letter into my hand" /></div> + +<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<a name="FNanchor_36" id= +"FNanchor_36" /><a href="#Footnote_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> 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;<a name= +"FNanchor_37" id="FNanchor_37" /><a href="#Footnote_37" class= +"fnanchor">[37]</a> so he borrowed occasionally of me to subsist, +while he was looking out for business. He first endeavoured to get +into the play-house, believing himself qualify'd for an actor; but +Wilkes,<a name="FNanchor_38" id="FNanchor_38" /><a href= +"#Footnote_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> 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,<a name="FNanchor_39" id= +"FNanchor_39" /><a href="#Footnote_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> to +write for him a weekly paper like the Spectator, on certain +conditions, which Roberts did not approve. Then he endeavoured to +get employment as a hackney writer, to copy for the stationers and +lawyers about the Temple,<a name="FNanchor_40" id= +"FNanchor_40" /><a href="#Footnote_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> +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.</p> + +<p>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, sometime or other, of seeing +Sir Isaac Newton, of which I was extreamly 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 honour +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 +endeavour'd rather to discourage his proceeding. One of Young's +Satires<a name="FNanchor_41" id="FNanchor_41" /><a href= +"#Footnote_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> 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 meantime, 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.<a name="FNanchor_42" id= +"FNanchor_42" /><a href="#Footnote_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> +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 labour. I endeavoured 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> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="p88" id="p88" /> <a href= +"images/illus-014-red.jpg"><img src="images/illus-014thumb.jpg" +alt="I took to working at press" title= +"I took to working at press" /></a></div> + +<div class="center_caption">"I took to working at press"</div> + +<p>Watts, after some weeks, desiring to have me in the +composing-room,<a name="FNanchor_43" id="FNanchor_43" /><a href= +"#Footnote_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> 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 forbade 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 laws,<a name="FNanchor_44" id="FNanchor_44" /><a +href="#Footnote_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> 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 supply'd from a neighbouring house with a +large porringer of hot water-gruel, sprinkled with pepper, crumb'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 keep 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 accounts. 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)<a name="FNanchor_45" id="FNanchor_45" /><a href= +"#Footnote_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> 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> + +<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 cheerful 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,<a name="FNanchor_46" id="FNanchor_46" /><a +href="#Footnote_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> 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.<a name="FNanchor_47" id="FNanchor_47" /><a href= +"#Footnote_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> 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 +Blackfriar's,<a name="FNanchor_48" id="FNanchor_48" /><a href= +"#Footnote_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> 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 traveling 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 Pennsylvania, 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 acquired 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 favoured 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,<a name="FNanchor_49" id="FNanchor_49" /><a href= +"#Footnote_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> 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, forever, 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 +Blackfriars, 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 swimming-school, 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> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_36" id="Footnote_36" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> One of the +oldest parts of London, north of St. Paul's Cathedral, called +"Little Britain" because the Dukes of Brittany used to live there. +See the essay entitled "Little Britain" in Washington Irving's +<i>Sketch Book</i>.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_37" id="Footnote_37" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> A gold coin +worth about four dollars in our money.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_38" id="Footnote_38" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> A popular +comedian, manager of Drury Lane Theater.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_39" id="Footnote_39" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> Street north of +St. Paul's, occupied by publishing houses.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_40" id="Footnote_40" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> Law schools and +lawyers' residences situated southwest of St. Paul's, between Fleet +Street and the Thames.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_41" id="Footnote_41" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> Edward Young +(1681-1765), an English poet. See his satires, Vol. III, Epist. ii, +page 70.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_42" id="Footnote_42" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> The printing +press at which Franklin worked is preserved in the Patent Office at +Washington.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_43" id="Footnote_43" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> Franklin now +left the work of operating the printing presses, which was largely +a matter of manual labor, and began setting type, which required +more skill and intelligence.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_44" id="Footnote_44" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> A printing house +is called a chapel because Caxton, the first English printer, did +his printing in a chapel connected with Westminster Abbey.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_45" id="Footnote_45" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> A holiday taken +to prolong the dissipation of Saturday's wages.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_46" id="Footnote_46" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> The story is +that she met Christ on His way to crucifixion and offered Him her +handkerchief to wipe the blood from His face, after which the +handkerchief always bore the image of Christ's bleeding face.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_47" id="Footnote_47" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> James Salter, a +former servant of Hans Sloane, lived in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea. "His +house, a barber-shop, was known as 'Don Saltero's Coffee-House.' +The curiosities were in glass cases and constituted an amazing and +motley collection—a petrified crab from China, a 'lignified +hog,' Job's tears, Madagascar lances, William the Conqueror's +flaming sword, and Henry the Eighth's coat of +mail."—Smyth.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_48" id="Footnote_48" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> About three +miles.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_49" id="Footnote_49" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> About $167.</p> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="VII" id="VII" />VII</h4> + +<h4>BEGINNING BUSINESS IN PHILADELPHIA</h4> + +<p><img src="images/block-w.jpg" class="floatLeft" alt= +"block-W" />E sail'd from Gravesend on the 23rd 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 name="FNanchor_50" id= +"FNanchor_50" /><a href="#Footnote_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</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> + +<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 loved 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> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="60%" src= +"images/illus-015-red.jpg" alt= +"Mr. Denham took a store in Water-street" title= +"Mr. Denham took a store in Water-street" /></div> + +<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 Pennsylvanian, 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 chearfully, 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<a name="FNanchor_51" id="FNanchor_51" /><a href= +"#Footnote_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> 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 æconomist. 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 mattrices 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 fac-totum.</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 neighbours 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 +fail, 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 prevailed on him to abstain long from +dram-drinking, and he hop'd might break him of 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 meantime I was to get work, if I could, at the other +printing-house. But I found no vacancy there, and so remained 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 +obtained, 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 +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 his 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<a name="FNanchor_52" id="FNanchor_52" /><a +href="#Footnote_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> 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 free-thinker), 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:<a name="FNanchor_53" id="FNanchor_53" /><a href= +"#Footnote_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a></p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="i2">"Whatever is, is right. Though purblind man</div> + +<div class="i2a">Sees but a part o' the chain, the nearest +link:</div> + +<div class="i2a">His eyes not carrying to the equal beam,</div> + +<div class="i2a">That poises all above;"</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>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 favourable 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 was called the <span class= +"smcap">Junto</span>;<a name="FNanchor_54" id="FNanchor_54" /><a +href="#Footnote_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> 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 forever 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, upwards 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, everything +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, everyone 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.<a name="FNanchor_55" id= +"FNanchor_55" /><a href="#Footnote_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> 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<a name="FNanchor_56" id= +"FNanchor_56" /><a href="#Footnote_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> my +forms, I thought my day's work over, one of them by accident was +broken, and two pages reduced to pi,<a name="FNanchor_57" id= +"FNanchor_57" /><a href="#Footnote_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> I +immediately distribut'd and composed 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 anything 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 employ 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> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="p120" id="p120" /> <a href= +"images/illus-016-red.jpg"><img src="images/illus-016thumb.jpg" +alt="I see him still at work when I go home from club" /></a></div> + +<div class="center_caption">"I see him still at work when I go home +from club"</div> + +<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.<a name="FNanchor_58" id="FNanchor_58" /><a href= +"#Footnote_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a></p> + +<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 Meredith's 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 pounds 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> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_50" id="Footnote_50" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> "Not found in +the manuscript journal, which was left among Franklin's +papers."—Bigelow.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_51" id="Footnote_51" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> A crimp was the +agent of a shipping company. Crimps were sometimes employed to +decoy men into such service as is here mentioned.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_52" id="Footnote_52" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> The creed of an +eighteenth century theological sect which, while believing in God, +refused to credit the possibility of miracles and to acknowledge +the validity of revelation.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_53" id="Footnote_53" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> A great English +poet, dramatist, and critic (1631-1700). The lines are inaccurately +quoted from Dryden's Œdipus, Act III, Scene I, line 293.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_54" id="Footnote_54" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> A Spanish term +meaning a combination for political intrigue; here a club or +society.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_55" id="Footnote_55" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> A sheet 8-1/2 by +13-1/2 inches, having the words <i>pro patria</i> in translucent +letters in the body of the paper. Pica—a size of type; as, +<big><big>A B C D</big></big>: Long Primer—a +smaller size of type; as, <big>A B C D.</big></p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_56" id="Footnote_56" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> To arrange and +lock up pages or columns of type in a rectangular iron frame, ready +for printing.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_57" id="Footnote_57" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> Reduced to +complete disorder.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_58" id="Footnote_58" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> I got his son +once £500.—<i>Marg. note</i>.</p> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="VIII" id="VIII" />VIII</h4> + +<h4>BUSINESS SUCCESS AND FIRST PUBLIC SERVICE</h4> + +<p><img src="images/block-a.jpg" class="floatLeft" alt= +"block-a" />BOUT 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.<a name="FNanchor_59" id= +"FNanchor_59" /><a href="#Footnote_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a> +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,<a name="FNanchor_60" id= +"FNanchor_60" /><a href="#Footnote_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a> +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.<a name="FNanchor_61" id= +"FNanchor_61" /><a href="#Footnote_61" class= +"fnanchor">[61]</a></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 Aquilla Rose.</p> + +<p>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 +meantime, 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> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="50%" src= +"images/illus-018-red.jpg" alt= +"I sometimes brought home the paper I purchas'd at the stores thro' the streets on a wheelbarrow" + title= +"I sometimes brought home the paper I purchas'd at the stores thro' the streets on a wheelbarrow" /></div> + +<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 quarrell'd often; Harry went continually behindhand, and at +length was forc'd to sell his types and return to his country work +in Pennsylvania. 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 informed 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 differed, 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. A friendly +correspondence as neighbours 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 chearful, 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,<a name= +"FNanchor_62" id="FNanchor_62" /><a href="#Footnote_62" class= +"fnanchor">[62]</a> assisted me much by attending the shop; we +throve together, and have ever mutually endeavour'd 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.<a name="FNanchor_63" id= +"FNanchor_63" /><a href="#Footnote_63" class= +"fnanchor">[63]</a></p> + +<p><i>Mem°.</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.<a name="FNanchor_64" +id="FNanchor_64" /><a href="#Footnote_64" class= +"fnanchor">[64]</a></p> + +<p>[<i>Continuation of the Account of my Life, begun at Passy, near +Paris, 1784.</i>]</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 endeavour 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 obliged 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 on 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 neighbours, 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, +someone 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 +chearfully in my business, folding and stitching pamphlets, tending +shop, purchasing old linen rags for the paper-makers, 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 break 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 though +some of the dogmas of that persuasion, such as the <i>eternal +decrees of God</i>, <i>election</i>, <i>reprobation</i>, +<i>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 contribution, 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 +admonished 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,<a name="FNanchor_65" id="FNanchor_65" /><a href= +"#Footnote_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> 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> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_59" id="Footnote_59" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> Recalled to be +redeemed.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_60" id="Footnote_60" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> This part of +Philadelphia is now the center of the wholesale business +district.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_61" id="Footnote_61" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> Paper money is a +promise to pay its face value in gold or silver. When a state or +nation issues more such promises than there is a likelihood of its +being able to redeem, the paper representing the promises +depreciates in value. Before the success of the Colonies in the +Revolution was assured, it took hundreds of dollars of their paper +money to buy a pair of boots.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_62" id="Footnote_62" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> Mrs. Franklin +survived her marriage over forty years. Franklin's correspondence +abounds with evidence that their union was a happy one. "We are +grown old together, and if she has any faults, I am so used to them +that I don't perceive them." The following is a stanza from one of +Franklin's own songs written for the Junto:</p> + +<div class="poem2"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="i2">"Of their Chloes and Phyllises poets may +prate,</div> + +<div class="i2b">I sing my plain country Joan,</div> + +<div class="i2">These twelve years my wife, still the joy of my +life,</div> + +<div class="i2b">Blest day that I made her my own."</div> +</div> +</div> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_63" id="Footnote_63" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> Here the first +part of the <i>Autobiography</i>, written at Twyford in 1771, ends. +The second part, which follows, was written at Passy in 1784.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_64" id="Footnote_64" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> After this +memorandum, Franklin inserted letters from Abel James and Benjamin +Vaughan, urging him to continue his <i>Autobiography</i>.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_65" id="Footnote_65" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> Franklin +expressed a different view about the duty of attending church +later.</p> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="IX" id="IX" />IX</h4> + +<h4>PLAN FOR ATTAINING MORAL PERFECTION</h4> + +<p><img src="images/block-i.jpg" class="floatLeft" alt= +"block-I" />T was about this time I conceived 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.<a name="FNanchor_66" id="FNanchor_66" /><a href= +"#Footnote_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a> 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> + +<p class="three"><span class="smcap">1. Temperance</span></p> + +<p>Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.</p> + +<p class="three"><span class="smcap">2. Silence.</span></p> + +<p>Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid +trifling conversation.</p> + +<p class="three"><span class="smcap">3. Order.</span></p> + +<p>Let all your things have their places; let each part of your +business have its time.</p> + +<p class="three"><span class="smcap">4. Resolution.</span></p> + +<p>Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you +resolve.</p> + +<p class="three"><span class="smcap">5. Frugality.</span></p> + +<p>Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; <i>i. +e.</i>, waste nothing.</p> + +<p class="three"><span class="smcap">6. Industry.</span></p> + +<p>Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off +all unnecessary actions.</p> + +<p class="three"><span class="smcap">7. Sincerity.</span></p> + +<p>Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly; and, if you +speak, speak accordingly.</p> + +<p class="three"><span class="smcap">8. Justice.</span></p> + +<p>Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are +your duty.</p> + +<p class="three"><span class="smcap">9. Moderation.</span></p> + +<p>Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think +they deserve.</p> + +<p class="three"><span class="smcap">10. Cleanliness.</span></p> + +<p>Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.</p> + +<p class="three"><span class="smcap">11. Tranquillity.</span></p> + +<p>Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or +unavoidable.</p> + +<p class="three"><span class="smcap">12. Chastity.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Rarely use venery but for Health or Offspring; Never to Dulness, Weakness, or the Injury of your own or another's Peace or Reputation.</p> + +<p class="three"><span class="smcap">13. Humility.</span></p> + +<p>Imitate Jesus and Socrates.</p> + +<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 +endeavours 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<a name="FNanchor_67" id= +"FNanchor_67" /><a href="#Footnote_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a> 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.<a name="FNanchor_68" id="FNanchor_68" /><a href= +"#Footnote_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a> 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> + +<div class="center"><i>Form of the pages.</i></div> + +<table width="80%" summary="Morality" border="2" cellpadding="2" +cellspacing="2"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td colspan="8" align="center">TEMPERANCE.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td colspan="8" align="center"><small>EAT NOT TO DULLNESS<br /> +DRINK NOT TO ELEVATION</small>.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">S.</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">M.</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">T.</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">W.</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">T.</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">F.</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">S.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_ltc8">T.</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_ltc8">S.</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">*</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">*</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">*</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">*</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_ltc8">O.</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">* *</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">*</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">*</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">*</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">*</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">*</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_ltc8">R.</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">*</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">*</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_ltc8">F.</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">*</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">*</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_ltc8">I.</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8">*</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_ltc8">S.</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_ltc8">J.</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_ltc8">M.</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_ltc8">C.</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_ltc8">T.</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_ltc8">C.</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_ltc8">H.</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_ltc8">J.</td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +<td class="cell_ltc8"> </td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</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 offense 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="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="i2">"Here will I hold. If there's a power above +us</div> + +<div class="i2a">(And that there is, all nature cries aloud</div> + +<div class="i2a">Thro' all her works), He must delight in +virtue;</div> + +<div class="i2a">And that which he delights in must be +happy."</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>Another from Cicero,</p> + +<p class="one">"O vitæ Philosophia dux! O virtutum indagatrix +expultrixque vitiorum! Unus dies, bene et ex præceptis tuis +actus, peccanti immortalitati est anteponendus."<a name= +"FNanchor_69" id="FNanchor_69" /><a href="#Footnote_69" class= +"fnanchor">[69]</a></p> + +<p>Another from the Proverbs of Solomon, speaking of wisdom or +virtue:</p> + +<p class="one">"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="one">"<i>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 favours to me</i>."</p> + +<p>I used also sometimes a little prayer which I took from +Thomson's Poems, viz.:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="i0">"Father of light and life, thou Good Supreme!</div> + +<div class="i0b">O teach me what is good; teach me Thyself!</div> + +<div class="i0b">Save me from folly, vanity, and vice,</div> + +<div class="i0b">From every low pursuit; and fill my soul</div> + +<div class="i0b">With knowledge, conscious peace, and virtue +pure;</div> + +<div class="i0b">Sacred, substantial, never-fading bliss!"</div> +</div> +</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="inline" summary="schedule"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td class="cell_para1" rowspan="7"> +<div class="smcapi">The Morning.</div> + +<br /> +<i>Question</i> What good shall I do this day?</td> +<td class="cell_para2" rowspan="7"><img src="images/para.jpg" +height="100%" alt="para" /></td> +<td class="cell_para3">5</td> +<td class="cell_para2" rowspan="7"><img src="images/para2.jpg" +height="100%" alt="para" /></td> +<td class="cell_para4" rowspan="7"> Rise, wash, and +address <i>Powerfull Goodness!</i> Contrive day's business, and +take the resolution of the day: prosecute the present study, and +breakfast.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3">6</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3"> </td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3">7</td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<table class="inline" summary="schedule"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td class="cell_para1" rowspan="4"> +<div class="smcapi"> </div> +</td> +<td class="cell_para2" rowspan="4"> </td> +<td class="cell_para3">8</td> +<td class="cell_para2" rowspan="4"><img src="images/para3.jpg" +height="100%" alt="para" /></td> +<td class="cell_para4" rowspan="4"> Work.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3">9</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3">10</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3">11</td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<table class="inline" summary="schedule"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td class="cell_para1" rowspan="2"> +<div class="smcapi">Noon.</div> +</td> +<td class="cell_para2" rowspan="2"><img src="images/para4l.jpg" +height="100%" alt="para" /></td> +<td class="cell_para3">12</td> +<td class="cell_para2" rowspan="2"><img src="images/para4.jpg" +height="100%" alt="para" /></td> +<td class="cell_para4" rowspan="2"> Read, or overlook my +accounts, and dine.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3">1</td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<table class="inline" summary="schedule"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td class="cell_para1" rowspan="4"> +<div class="smcapi"> </div> +</td> +<td class="cell_para2" rowspan="4"> </td> +<td class="cell_para3">2</td> +<td class="cell_para2" rowspan="4"><img src="images/para3.jpg" +height="100%" alt="para" /></td> +<td class="cell_para4" rowspan="4"> Work.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3">3</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3">4</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3">5</td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<table class="inline" summary="schedule"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td class="cell_para1" rowspan="4"> +<div class="smcapi">Evening</div> + +<br /> +<i>Question.</i> What good have I done to-day?</td> +<td class="cell_para2" rowspan="4"><img src="images/para3l.jpg" +height="100%" alt="para" /></td> +<td class="cell_para3">6</td> +<td class="cell_para2" rowspan="4"><img src="images/para3.jpg" +height="100%" alt="para" /></td> +<td class="cell_para4" rowspan="4"> Put things in their +places. Supper. Music or diversion, or conversation.Examination of +the day.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3">7</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3">8</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3">9</td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<table class="inline" summary="schedule"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td class="cell_para1" rowspan="7"> +<div class="smcapi">Night</div> +</td> +<td class="cell_para2" rowspan="7"><img src="images/para.jpg" +height="100%" alt="para" /></td> +<td class="cell_para3">10</td> +<td class="cell_para2" rowspan="7"><img src="images/para2.jpg" +height="100%" alt="para" /></td> +<td class="cell_para4" rowspan="7"> Sleep.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3">11</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3">12</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3">1</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3">2</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3">3</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_para3">4</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;<a name="FNanchor_70" id="FNanchor_70" /><a href= +"#Footnote_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a> 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," says 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> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="50%" src= +"images/illus-020-red.jpg" alt= +"The smith consented to grind it bright for him if he would turn the wheel" + title= +"The smith consented to grind it bright for him if he would turn the wheel" /></div> + +<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 endeavour, 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,<a name="FNanchor_71" id="FNanchor_71" /><a href= +"#Footnote_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a> 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 +anything in it that should prejudice anyone, 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>,<a name="FNanchor_72" id= +"FNanchor_72" /><a href="#Footnote_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a> +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> + +<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 <i>a 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, everyone'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 endeavoured 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 proposed 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> + +<p>[<i>"I am now about to write at home, August, 1788, but cannot +have the help expected from my papers, many of them being lost in +the war. I have, however, found the following."</i>]<a name= +"FNanchor_73" id="FNanchor_73" /><a href="#Footnote_73" class= +"fnanchor">[73]</a></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> + +<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 effected 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 mere 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, cannot 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 everything 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."</p> + +<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 beforemention'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, occasioned +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; +though 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> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_66" id="Footnote_66" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> Compare +Philippians iv, 8.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_67" id="Footnote_67" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> A famous Greek +philosopher, who lived about 582-500 <span class="smcap">B. +C.</span> The <i>Golden Verses</i> here ascribed to him are +probably of later origin. "The time which he recommends for this +work is about even or bed-time, that we may conclude the action of +the day with the judgment of conscience, making the examination of +our conversation an evening song to God."</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_68" id="Footnote_68" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_68"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> This "little +book" is dated July 1, 1733.—W. T. F.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_69" id="Footnote_69" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_69"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> "O philosophy, +guide of life! O searcher out of virtue and exterminator of vice! +One day spent well and in accordance with thy precepts is worth an +immortality of sin."—<i>Tusculan Inquiries</i>, Book V.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_70" id="Footnote_70" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_70"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> Professor +McMaster tells us that when Franklin was American Agent in France, +his lack of business order was a source of annoyance to his +colleagues and friends. "Strangers who came to see him were amazed +to behold papers of the greatest importance scattered in the most +careless way over the table and floor."</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_71" id="Footnote_71" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_71"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> While there can +be no question that Franklin's moral improvement and happiness were +due to the practice of these virtues, yet most people will agree +that we shall have to go back of his plan for the impelling motive +to a virtuous life. Franklin's own suggestion that the scheme +smacks of "foppery in morals" seems justified. Woodrow Wilson well +puts it: "Men do not take fire from such thoughts, unless something +deeper, which is missing here, shine through them. What may have +seemed to the eighteenth century a system of morals seems to us +nothing more vital than a collection of the precepts of good sense +and sound conduct. What redeems it from pettiness in this book is +the scope of power and of usefulness to be seen in Franklin +himself, who set these standards up in all seriousness and candor +for his own life." See <i>Galatians</i>, chapter V, for the +Christian plan of moral perfection.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_72" id="Footnote_72" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_72"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> Nothing so +likely to make a man's fortune as virtue.—<i>Marg. +note</i>.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_73" id="Footnote_73" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_73"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> This is a +marginal memorandum.—B.</p> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="X" id="X" />X</h4> + +<h4>POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC AND OTHER ACTIVITIES</h4> + +<p><img src="images/block-i.jpg" class="floatLeft" alt= +"block-I" />N 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>.<a name= +"FNanchor_74" id="FNanchor_74" /><a href="#Footnote_74" class= +"fnanchor">[74]</a> I endeavour'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 +councils 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 broadside, +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> + +<div class="center_caption">Two pages from <i>Poor Richard's +Almanac</i> for 1736. Size of original. Reproduced from a copy at +the New York Public Library.<br /> + </div> + +<table border="0" width="80%" summary="Poor Richard's Almanac" cellpadding="0"> +<tr> +<td class="cell_poor"><a name="p171" id="p171" /> <a href= +"images/209-june.jpg"><img src="images/209-junethumb.jpg" alt= +"June page from Poor Richard's Almanac for 1736" title= +"June page from Poor Richard's Almanac for 1736" /></a> </td> +<td class="cell_poor"><a href="images/210-july.jpg"><img src= +"images/210-julythumb.jpg" alt= +"July page from Poor Richard's Almanac for 1736" title= +"July page from Poor Richard's Almanac for 1736" /></a> </td> +</tr> +</table> + +<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 +composed 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.<a name="FNanchor_75" id= +"FNanchor_75" /><a href="#Footnote_75" class= +"fnanchor">[75]</a></p> + +<p>In the conduct of my newspaper, I carefully excluded all +libeling 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 anyone 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 persuasions, 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 awhile 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.<a name="FNanchor_76" id= +"FNanchor_76" /><a href="#Footnote_76" class= +"fnanchor">[76]</a></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.<a name="FNanchor_77" id= +"FNanchor_77" /><a href="#Footnote_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a> +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 composed 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 surpris'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.<a name="FNanchor_78" id= +"FNanchor_78" /><a href="#Footnote_78" class= +"fnanchor">[78]</a></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> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="60%" src= +"images/illus-021-red.jpg" alt= +"Our former differences were forgotten, and our meeting was very cordial and affectionate" + title= +"Our former differences were forgotten, and our meeting was very cordial and affectionate" /></div> + +<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 +endeavour 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 proportionately, 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> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_74" id="Footnote_74" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_74"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> The almanac at +that time was a kind of periodical as well as a guide to natural +phenomena and the weather. Franklin took his title from <i>Poor +Robin</i>, a famous English almanac, and from Richard Saunders, a +well-known almanac publisher. For the maxims of Poor Richard, see +pages <a href="#THE_WAY_TO_WEALTH">331</a>-335.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_75" id="Footnote_75" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_75"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> June 23 and July +7, 1730.—Smyth.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_76" id="Footnote_76" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_76"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> See "A List of +Books written by, or relating to Benjamin Franklin," by Paul +Leicester Ford. 1889. p. 15.—Smyth.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_77" id="Footnote_77" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_77"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> Dr. James Foster +(1697-1753):—</p> + +<div class="poem2"> +<div class="stanza"> +<div class="i2">"Let modest Foster, if he will excel</div> + +<div class="i2">Ten metropolitans in preaching well."</div> +</div> +</div> + +<p class="three">—Pope (Epilogue to the Satires, I, 132).</p> + +<p>"Those who had not heard Farinelli sing and Foster preach were +not qualified to appear in genteel company," Hawkins. "History of +Music."—Smyth.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_78" id="Footnote_78" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_78"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> "The authority +of Franklin, the most eminently practical man of his age, in favor +of reserving the study of the dead languages until the mind has +reached a certain maturity, is confirmed by the confession of one +of the most eminent scholars of any age.</p> + +<p>"'Our seminaries of learning,' says Gibbon, 'do not exactly +correspond with the precept of a Spartan king, that the child +should be instructed in the arts which will be useful to the man; +since a finished scholar may emerge from the head of Westminster or +Eton, in total ignorance of the business and conversation of +English gentlemen in the latter end of the eighteenth century. But +these schools may assume the merit of teaching all that they +pretend to teach, the Latin and Greek +languages.'"—Bigelow.</p> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="XI" id="XI" />XI</h4> + +<h4>INTEREST IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS</h4> + +<p><img src="images/block-i.jpg" class="floatLeft" alt= +"block-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 of 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 subjects 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> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="70%" src= +"images/illus-022-red.jpg" alt= +"the flames have often been extinguished" title= +"the flames have often been extinguished" /></div> + +<p>In 1739 arrived among us from Ireland the Reverend Mr. +Whitefield,<a name="FNanchor_79" id="FNanchor_79" /><a href= +"#Footnote_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a> 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 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;<a name="FNanchor_80" id= +"FNanchor_80" /><a href="#Footnote_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a> +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 labour, 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 Courthouse 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 semicircle, 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 cannot 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 increase; so that I am of opinion if he had never +written anything, 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 excellences 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, everything 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> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_79" id="Footnote_79" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_79"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> George +Whitefield, pronounced Hwit'field (1714-1770), a celebrated English +clergyman and pulpit orator, one of the founders of Methodism.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_80" id="Footnote_80" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_80"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> A part of the +palace of Westminster, now forming the vestibule to the Houses of +Parliament in London.</p> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="XII" id="XII" />XII</h4> + +<h4>DEFENSE OF THE PROVINCE</h4> + +<p><img src="images/block-i.jpg" class="floatLeft" alt= +"block-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 awhile 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 colours, which they +presented to the companies, painted with different devices and +mottos, which I supplied.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="50%" src= +"images/illus-023-red.jpg" alt= +"One of the flags of the Pennsylvania Association, 1747. Designed by Franklin and made by the women of Philadelphia." + title= +"One of the flags of the Pennsylvania Association, 1747. Designed by Franklin and made by the women of Philadelphia." /></div> + +<div class="center_caption">One of the flags of the Pennsylvania +Association, 1747. Designed by Franklin and made by the women of +Philadelphia.</div> + +<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> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="p204" id="p204" /> <a href= +"images/illus-024-red.jpg"><img src="images/illus-024thumb.jpg" +alt="I regularly took my turn of duty there as a common soldier" +title= +"I regularly took my turn of duty there as a common soldier" /></a></div> + +<div class="center_caption">"I regularly took my turn of duty there +as a common soldier"</div> + +<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,<a name= +"FNanchor_81" id="FNanchor_81" /><a href="#Footnote_81" class= +"fnanchor">[81]</a> 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 and 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 carri'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,<a name="FNanchor_82" id="FNanchor_82" /><a href= +"#Footnote_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a> 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 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 Pennsylvania, 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 he +repli'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.<a name="FNanchor_83" id= +"FNanchor_83" /><a href="#Footnote_83" class= +"fnanchor">[83]</a></p> + +<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 further 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<a name="FNanchor_84" id= +"FNanchor_84" /><a href="#Footnote_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a> +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,<a name="FNanchor_85" id="FNanchor_85" /><a +href="#Footnote_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a> 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> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_81" id="Footnote_81" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_81"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> Wm. Penn's +agents sought recruits for the colony of Pennsylvania in the low +countries of Germany, and there are still in eastern Pennsylvania +many Germans, inaccurately called Pennsylvania Dutch. Many of them +use a Germanized English.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_82" id="Footnote_82" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_82"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> James Logan +(1674-1751) came to America with William Penn in 1699, and was the +business agent for the Penn family. He bequeathed his valuable +library, preserved at his country seat, "Senton," to the city of +Philadelphia.—Smyth.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_83" id="Footnote_83" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_83"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> See the +votes.—<i>Marg. note</i>.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_84" id="Footnote_84" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_84"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> The Franklin +stove is still in use.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_85" id="Footnote_85" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_85"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> Warwick Furnace, +Chester County, Pennsylvania, across the Schuylkill River from +Pottstown.</p> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="XIII" id="XIII" />XIII</h4> + +<div class="center_medium1"><b>PUBLIC SERVICES AND DUTIES</b></div> + +<div class="center_medium1"><b>(1749-1753)</b></div> + +<p><img src="images/block-p.jpg" class="floatLeft" alt= +"block-P" />EACE 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,<a name="FNanchor_86" id="FNanchor_86" /><a href= +"#Footnote_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a> 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 prevailed with them to +chuse me. The enthusiasm which existed when the house was built had +long since abat'd, 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 sets 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 +forever 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. The 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.<a +name="FNanchor_87" id="FNanchor_87" /><a href="#Footnote_87" class= +"fnanchor">[87]</a> 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 anything 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.<a name= +"FNanchor_88" id="FNanchor_88" /><a href="#Footnote_88" class= +"fnanchor">[88]</a> The House named the speaker (Mr. Norris) and +myself; and, being commission'd, we went to Carlisle, and met the +Indians accordingly.</p> + +<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 received 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 endeavoured to excuse the rum by saying, "<i>The +Great Spirit, who made all things, made everything for some use, +and whatever use he design'd anything 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> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="p224" id="p224" /> <a href= +"images/illus-025-red.jpg"><img src="images/illus-025thumb.jpg" +alt= +"In the evening, hearing a great noise among them, the commissioners walk'd out to see what was the matter" + title= +"In the evening, hearing a great noise among them, the commissioners walk'd out to see what was the matter" /></a></div> + +<div class="center_caption">"In the evening, hearing a great noise +among them, the commissioners walk'd out to see what was the +matter"</div> + +<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 expense, 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 manoeuvers, 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<a name="FNanchor_89" id="FNanchor_89" /><a href= +"#Footnote_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a>, 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 anything 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 obtain'd 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, straight, 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,<a name="FNanchor_90" id= +"FNanchor_90" /><a href="#Footnote_90" class="fnanchor">[90]</a> +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> + +<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<a +name="FNanchor_91" id="FNanchor_91" /><a href="#Footnote_91" class= +"fnanchor">[91]</a> 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 suffered +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> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="60%" src= +"images/illus-026-red.jpg" alt= +"a poor woman sweeping my pavement with a birch broom" title= +"a poor woman sweeping my pavement with a birch broom" /></div> + +<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,<a name="FNanchor_92" id="FNanchor_92" /><a href= +"#Footnote_92" class="fnanchor">[92]</a> 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 gentle-folkses 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 wheelbarrows; 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 produced 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 anything 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 post-office of +Ireland. Since that imprudent transaction, they have receiv'd from +it—not one farthing!</p> + +<p>The business of the post-office 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> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_86" id="Footnote_86" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_86"><span class="label">[86]</span></a> Tench Francis, +uncle of Sir Philip Francis, emigrated from England to Maryland, +and became attorney for Lord Baltimore. He removed to Philadelphia +and was attorney-general of Pennsylvania from 1741 to 1755. He died +in Philadelphia August 16, 1758.—Smyth.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_87" id="Footnote_87" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_87"><span class="label">[87]</span></a> Later called the +University of Pennsylvania.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_88" id="Footnote_88" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_88"><span class="label">[88]</span></a> See the votes to +have this more correctly.—<i>Marg. note.</i></p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_89" id="Footnote_89" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_89"><span class="label">[89]</span></a> Gilbert Tennent +(1703-1764) came to America with his father, Rev. William Tennent, +and taught for a time in the "Log College," from which sprang the +College of New Jersey.—Smyth.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_90" id="Footnote_90" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_90"><span class="label">[90]</span></a> See votes.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_91" id="Footnote_91" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_91"><span class="label">[91]</span></a> Vauxhall +Gardens, once a popular and fashionable London resort, situated on +the Thames above Lambeth. The Gardens were closed in 1859, but they +will always be remembered because of Sir Roger de Coverley's visit +to them in the <i>Spectator</i> and from the descriptions in +Smollett's <i>Humphry Clinker</i> and Thackeray's <i>Vanity +Fair</i>.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_92" id="Footnote_92" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_92"><span class="label">[92]</span></a> A short street +near Charing Cross, London.</p> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="XIV" id="XIV" />XIV</h4> + +<h4>ALBANY PLAN OF UNION</h4> + +<p><img src="images/block-i.jpg" class="floatLeft" alt= +"block-I" />N 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> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="50%" src= +"images/illus-027-red.jpg" alt="JOIN or DIE." title= +"JOIN or DIE." /></div> + +<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>. 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> + +<p>"Look round the habitable world, how few<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Know their own good, or, knowing +it, pursue!"</span><br /> +</p> + +<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, expressed 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> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="XV" id="XV" />XV</h4> + +<h4>QUARRELS WITH THE PROPRIETARY GOVERNORS</h4> + +<p><img src="images/block-i.jpg" class="floatLeft" alt= +"block-I" />N 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> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="50%" src= +"images/illus-028-red.jpg" alt= +"One afternoon, in the height of this public quarrel, we met in the street" + title= +"One afternoon, in the height of this public quarrel, we met in the street" /></div> + +<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,<a name="FNanchor_93" +id="FNanchor_93" /><a href="#Footnote_93" class="fnanchor">[93]</a> +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 laboured hard to +blacken the Assembly in all his messages, but they wip'd off his +colouring 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>These public quarrels<a name="FNanchor_94" id="FNanchor_94" /><a +href="#Footnote_94" class="fnanchor">[94]</a> 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> + +<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,<a name= +"FNanchor_95" id="FNanchor_95" /><a href="#Footnote_95" class= +"fnanchor">[95]</a> 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 +received. 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 completed. Mr. +Quincy return'd thanks to the Assembly in a handsome memorial, went +home highly pleas'd with this success of his embassy, and ever +after bore for me the most cordial and affectionate friendship.</p> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_93" id="Footnote_93" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_93"><span class="label">[93]</span></a> The "round, +selfish, and self-important" squire of Don Quixote in Cervantes' +romance of that name.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_94" id="Footnote_94" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_94"><span class="label">[94]</span></a> My acts in +Morris's time, military, etc.—<i>Marg. note</i>.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_95" id="Footnote_95" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_95"><span class="label">[95]</span></a> On Lake +Champlain, ninety miles north of Albany. It was captured by the +French in 1731, attacked by the English in 1755 and 1756, and +abandoned by the French in 1759. It was finally captured from the +English by the Americans in 1775.</p> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="XVI" id="XVI" />XVI</h4> + +<h4>BRADDOCK'S EXPEDITION</h4> + +<p><img src="images/block-t.jpg" class="floatLeft" alt= +"block-T" />HE 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 happen'd to say I thought it was 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> + +<div class="center">"<span class= +"smcap">Advertisement</span>.</div> + +<p class="right">"<span class="smcap">Lancaster</span>, +<i>April</i> 26, 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">"<span class="smcap">B. Franklin</span>."</p> + +<div class="center_caption"><i>"To the inhabitants of the Counties +of Lancaster, York, and Cumberland.</i></div> + +<p>"Friends and Countrymen,</p> + +<p>"Being occasionally<a name="FNanchor_96" id="FNanchor_96" /><a +href="#Footnote_96" class="fnanchor">[96]</a> 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 cannot +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 endeavouring 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">"<span class="smcap">B. Franklin</span>."</p> + +<p>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 endeavour 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 width="100%" summary="Food_stuff" border="0" cellpadding="5" +cellspacing="2"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td class="cell_si">6 lbs. loaf sugar.</td> +<td class="cell_si">1 Gloucester cheese.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_si">6 lbs. good Muscovado do.</td> +<td class="cell_si">1 kegg containing 20 lbs. good butter.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_si">1 lb. good green tea.</td> +<td class="cell_si">2 doz. old Madeira wine.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_si">1 lb. good bohea do.</td> +<td class="cell_si">2 gallons Jamaica spirits.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_si">6 lbs. good ground coffee.</td> +<td class="cell_si">1 bottle flour of mustard.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_si">6 lbs. chocolate.</td> +<td class="cell_si">2 well-cur'd hams.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_si">1-2 cwt. best white biscuit.</td> +<td class="cell_si">1-2 dozen dry'd tongues.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_si">1-2 lb. pepper.</td> +<td class="cell_si">6 lbs. rice.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_si">1 quart best white wine</td> +<td class="cell_si">6 lbs. raisins.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_si">1 quart best white wine vinegar.</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> </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,"<a name= +"FNanchor_97" id="FNanchor_97" /><a href="#Footnote_97" class= +"fnanchor">[97]</a> says he, "I am to proceed to Niagara; and, +having taken that, to Frontenac,<a name="FNanchor_98" id= +"FNanchor_98" /><a href="#Footnote_98" class="fnanchor">[98]</a> 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 completely 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, cannot 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 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> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="70%" src= +"images/illus-029-red.jpg" alt= +"The only danger I apprehend of obstruction to your march is from ambuscades of Indians" + title= +"The only danger I apprehend of obstruction to your march is from ambuscades of Indians" /></div> + +<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 endeavouring 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 frontier, so as +to afford some protection to the inhabitants; but he continued his +hasty march thro' all the country, not thinking himself safe till +he arrived 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.<a name="FNanchor_99" id="FNanchor_99" /><a href= +"#Footnote_99" class="fnanchor">[99]</a></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,<a name="FNanchor_100" id="FNanchor_100" /><a +href="#Footnote_100" class="fnanchor">[100]</a> 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,<a name="FNanchor_101" id="FNanchor_101" /><a href= +"#Footnote_101" class="fnanchor">[101]</a> 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 express'd "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 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,<a name= +"FNanchor_102" id="FNanchor_102" /><a href="#Footnote_102" class= +"fnanchor">[102]</a> 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="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_96" id="Footnote_96" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_96"><span class="label">[96]</span></a> By chance.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_97" id="Footnote_97" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_97"><span class="label">[97]</span></a> Pittsburg.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_98" id="Footnote_98" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_98"><span class="label">[98]</span></a> Kingston, at the +eastern end of Lake Ontario.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_99" id="Footnote_99" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_99"><span class="label">[99]</span></a> Other accounts +of this expedition and defeat may be found in Fiske's <i>Washington +and his Country</i>, or Lodge's <i>George Washington</i>, +Vol. 1.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_100" id="Footnote_100" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_100"><span class="label">[100]</span></a> A famous +Scotch philosopher and historian (1711-1776).</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_101" id="Footnote_101" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_101"><span class="label">[101]</span></a> Governor of +Massachusetts and commander of the British forces in America.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_102" id="Footnote_102" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_102"><span class="label">[102]</span></a> This dialogue +and the militia act are in the Gentleman's Magazine for February +and March, 1756.—<i>Marg. note.</i></p> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="XVII" id="XVII" />XVII</h4> + +<h4>FRANKLIN'S DEFENSE OF THE FRONTIER</h4> + +<p><img src="images/block-w.jpg" class="floatLeft" alt= +"block-W" />HILE 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 name="FNanchor_103" id="FNanchor_103" /><a href= +"#Footnote_103" class="fnanchor">[103]</a> 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<a name="FNanchor_104" id="FNanchor_104" /><a href= +"#Footnote_104" class="fnanchor">[104]</a> dry. The Indians are +dexterous 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> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="70%" src= +"images/illus-030-red.jpg" alt= +"We had not march'd many miles before it began to rain" title= +"We had not march'd many miles before it began to rain" /></div> + +<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 dexterous 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,<a name="FNanchor_105" id= +"FNanchor_105" /><a href="#Footnote_105" class="fnanchor">[105]</a> +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> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="p278" id="p278" /> <a href= +"images/illus-031-red.jpg"><img src="images/illus-031thumb.jpg" +alt="Our axes ... were immediately set to work to cut down trees" +title= +"Our axes ... were immediately set to work to cut down trees" /></a></div> + +<div class="center_caption">"Our axes ... were immediately set to +work to cut down trees"</div> + +<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-humour, 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 everything, 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 neighbouring 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 discover'd 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 observed 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, ate 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 +delivered 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 endeavours. 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 honour 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 reinforcements 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> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_103" id="Footnote_103" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_103"><span class="label">[103]</span></a> Pronounced +Gna´-den-hoot.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_104" id="Footnote_104" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_104"><span class="label">[104]</span></a> Flint-lock +guns, discharged by means of a spark struck from flint and steel +into powder (priming) in an open pan.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_105" id="Footnote_105" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_105"><span class="label">[105]</span></a> Here the pole +connecting the front and rear wheels of a wagon.</p> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="XVIII" id="XVIII" />XVIII</h4> + +<h4>SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS</h4> + +<p><img src="images/block-b.jpg" class="floatLeft" alt= +"block-b" />EFORE 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<a name="FNanchor_106" id="FNanchor_106" /><a href= +"#Footnote_106" class="fnanchor">[106]</a> 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, acquired 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 neighbour, 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,<a name="FNanchor_107" id= +"FNanchor_107" /><a href="#Footnote_107" class="fnanchor">[107]</a> +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 afterward, 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 name="FNanchor_108" id= +"FNanchor_108" /><a href="#Footnote_108" class="fnanchor">[108]</a> +a philosopher deservedly of great reputation in France, and, +indeed, all over Europe, he prevailed with M. Dalibard<a name= +"FNanchor_109" id="FNanchor_109" /><a href="#Footnote_109" class= +"fnanchor">[109]</a> 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 contained a +description of experiments which anyone 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 everywhere. 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 honour, 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<a name="FNanchor_110" id="FNanchor_110" /><a +href="#Footnote_110" class="fnanchor">[110]</a> 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> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_106" id="Footnote_106" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_106"><span class="label">[106]</span></a> The Royal +Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge was founded in +1660 and holds the foremost place among English societies for the +advancement of science.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_107" id="Footnote_107" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_107"><span class="label">[107]</span></a>See page <a +href="#ELECTRICAL_KITE">327.</a></p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_108" id="Footnote_108" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_108"><span class="label">[108]</span></a> A celebrated +French naturalist (1707-1788).</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_109" id="Footnote_109" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_109"><span class="label">[109]</span></a> Dalibard, who +had translated Franklin's letters to Collinson into French, was the +first to demonstrate, in a practical application of Franklin's +experiment, that lightning and electricity are the same. "This was +May 10th, 1752, one month before Franklin flew his famous kite at +Philadelphia and proved the fact himself."—McMaster.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_110" id="Footnote_110" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_110"><span class="label">[110]</span></a> An English +baronet (died in 1709), donator of a fund of £100, "in trust +for the Royal Society of London for improving natural +knowledge."</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="50%" src= +"images/illus-032-red.jpg" alt= +"the gold medal of Sir Godfrey Copley" title= +"the gold medal of Sir Godfrey Copley" /></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="XIX" id="XIX" />XIX</h4> + +<h4>AGENT OF PENNSYLVANIA IN LONDON</h4> + +<p><img src="images/block-o.jpg" class="floatLeft" alt= +"block-O" />UR 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 begged me to be assured +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 everything 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 hampered 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 employed in the +dispute<a name="FNanchor_111" id="FNanchor_111" /><a href= +"#Footnote_111" class="fnanchor">[111]</a> 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 <i>Dunciad</i>,<a name="FNanchor_112" id= +"FNanchor_112" /><a href="#Footnote_112" class="fnanchor">[112]</a> +but his prose was thought as good as any man's.</p> + +<p>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> + +<p>I had agreed with Captain Morris, of the packet 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 endeavour 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 discussed the +business. In behalf of the Assembly, I urged 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 packet +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 packet-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 hindrance 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 packet-boats, which had been long in +port, but were detained for the general's letters, which were +always to be ready to-morrow. Another packet 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 engaged 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 packet 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>Return'd</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<a name="FNanchor_113" id= +"FNanchor_113" /><a href="#Footnote_113" class="fnanchor">[113]</a> +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 packets +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 the intent to besiege and +take that fortress; all the packet-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 packets 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 altered his mind as to +besieging Louisburg, and returned to New York, with all his troops, +together with the two packets 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 packets. 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 packet-boat, and requested an allowance of time +to heave her down and clean her bottom. He was asked how long time +that would require. He answered, 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 him 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<a name="FNanchor_114" id="FNanchor_114" /><a href= +"#Footnote_114" class="fnanchor">[114]</a> 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 favour 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 <i>a low seat</i> the easiest."</p> + +<p><a name="pg308" id="pg308" />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 balance. 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 balance, I am not paid it to this day, of +which more hereafter.</p> + +<p>Our captain of the packet 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 best 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 name="FNanchor_115" id= +"FNanchor_115" /><a href="#Footnote_115" class="fnanchor">[115]</a> +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 packet, 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, cannot +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> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="60%" src= +"images/illus-034-red.jpg" alt="Sailboat" title="Sailing ship" /></div> + +<p>We were several times chas'd in our passage, but out-sail'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 +cruis'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 studding-sails 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 cartwheel. 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 lighthouse was erected. This deliverance +impressed me strongly with the utility of lighthouses, 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<a name="FNanchor_116" +id="FNanchor_116" /><a href="#Footnote_116" class= +"fnanchor">[116]</a> 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.<a name="FNanchor_117" id= +"FNanchor_117" /><a href="#Footnote_117" class= +"fnanchor">[117]</a></p> + +<p>As soon 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,<a name= +"FNanchor_118" id="FNanchor_118" /><a href="#Footnote_118" class= +"fnanchor">[118]</a> 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>,"<a name="FNanchor_119" id="FNanchor_119" /><a +href="#Footnote_119" class="fnanchor">[119]</a> 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>With his keen insight into human nature and his consequent +knowledge of American character, he foresaw the inevitable result +of such an attitude on the part of England. This conversation with +Grenville makes these last pages of the <i>Autobiography</i> one of +its most important parts.</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 anyone 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> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="p318" id="p318" /> <a href= +"images/illus-035-red.jpg"><img src="images/illus-035thumb.jpg" +alt= +"We now appeared very wide, and so far from each other in our opinions as to discourage all hope of agreement" + title= +"We now appeared very wide, and so far from each other in our opinions as to discourage all hope of agreement" /></a></div> + +<div class="center_caption">"We now appeared very wide, and so far +from each other in our opinions as to discourage all hope of +agreement"</div> + +<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 petitioned 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 interest at court, +despis'd the threats and they were never put in execution.... +[unfinished]</p> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_111" id="Footnote_111" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_111"><span class="label">[111]</span></a> Quarrel +between George II and his son, Frederick, Prince of Wales, who died +before his father.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_112" id="Footnote_112" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_112"><span class="label">[112]</span></a> A satirical +poem by Alexander Pope directed against various contemporary +writers.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_113" id="Footnote_113" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_113"><span class="label">[113]</span></a> William Pitt, +first Earl of Chatham (1708-1778), a great English statesman and +orator. Under his able administration, England won Canada from +France. He was a friend of America at the time of our +Revolution.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_114" id="Footnote_114" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_114"><span class="label">[114]</span></a> This relation +illustrates the corruption that characterized English public life +in the eighteenth century. (See page <a href="#pg308">308</a>). It +was gradually overcome in the early part of the next century.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_115" id="Footnote_115" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_115"><span class="label">[115]</span></a> A piece of +wood shaped and weighted so as to keep it stable when in the water. +To this is attached a line knotted at regular distances. By these +devices it is possible to tell the speed of a ship.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_116" id="Footnote_116" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_116"><span class="label">[116]</span></a> A celebrated +prehistoric ruin, probably of a temple built by the early Britons, +near Salisbury, England. It consists of inner and outer circles of +enormous stones, some of which are connected by stone slabs.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_117" id="Footnote_117" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_117"><span class="label">[117]</span></a> "Here +terminates the <i>Autobiography</i>, as published by Wm. Temple +Franklin and his successors. What follows was written in the last +year of Dr. Franklin's life, and was never before printed in +English."—Mr. Bigelow's note in his edition of 1868.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_118" id="Footnote_118" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_118"><span class="label">[118]</span></a> George +Granville or Grenville (1712-1770). As English premier from 1763 to +1765, he introduced the direct taxation of the American Colonies +and has sometimes been called the immediate cause of the +Revolution.</p> +</div> + +<div class="footnote"> +<p><a name="Footnote_119" id="Footnote_119" /><a href= +"#FNanchor_119"><span class="label">[119]</span></a> This whole +passage shows how hopelessly divergent were the English and +American views on the relations between the mother country and her +colonies. Grenville here made clear that the Americans were to have +no voice in making or amending their laws. Parliament and the king +were to have absolute power over the colonies. No wonder Franklin +was alarmed by this new doctrine.</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter"><img width="25%" src= +"images/illus-036-red.jpg" alt= +"Medal with inscription: BENJ. FRANLIN NATUS BOSTON XVII, JAN. MDCCVI." + title= +"Medal with inscription: BENJ. FRANLIN NATUS BOSTON XVII, JAN. MDCCVI." /></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>APPENDIX</h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="ELECTRICAL_KITE" id="ELECTRICAL_KITE" />ELECTRICAL +KITE</h4> + +<div class="center"><span class="smcap">To Peter +Collinson</span></div> + +<p class="right">[Philadelphia], Oct. 19, 1752.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir,</span></p> + +<p>As frequent mention is made in public papers from Europe of the +success of the <i>Philadelphia</i> experiment for drawing the +electric fire from clouds by means of pointed rods of iron erected +on high buildings, &c., it may be agreeable to the curious to +be informed, that the same experiment has succeeded in +<i>Philadelphia</i>, though made in a different and more easy +manner, which is as follows:</p> + +<p>Make a small cross of two light strips of cedar, the arms so +long as to reach to the four corners of a large, thin silk +handkerchief when extended; tie the corners of the handkerchief to +the extremities of the cross, so you have the body of a kite; which +being properly accommodated with a tail, loop, and string, will +rise in the air, like those made of paper; but this being of silk, +is fitter to bear the wet and wind of a thunder-gust without +tearing. To the top of the upright stick of the cross is to be +fixed a very sharp-pointed wire, rising a foot or more above the +wood. To the end of the twine, next the hand, is to be tied a silk +ribbon, and where the silk and twine join, a key may be fastened. +This kite is to be raised when a thunder-gust appears to be coming +on, and the person who holds the string must stand within a door or +window, or under some cover, so that the silk ribbon may not be +wet; and care must be taken that the twine does not touch the frame +of the door or window. As soon as any of the thunder clouds come +over the kite, the pointed wire will draw the electric fire from +them, and the kite, with all the twine will be electrified, and the +loose filaments of the twine will stand out every way and be +attracted by an approaching finger. And when the rain has wet the +kite and twine, so that it can conduct the electric fire freely, +you will find it stream out plentifully from the key on the +approach of your knuckle. At this key the phial may be charged; and +from electric fire thus obtained, spirits may be kindled, and all +the electric experiments be performed, which are usually done by +the help of a rubbed glass globe or tube, and thereby the sameness +of the electric matter with that of lightning completely +demonstrated.</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">B. Franklin.</span></p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="p328" id="p328" /> <a href="images/illus-037-red.jpg"><img src="images/illus-037thumb.jpg" +alt= +"You will find it stream out plentifully from the key on the approach of your knuckle" + title= +"You will find it stream out plentifully from the key on the approach of your knuckle" /></a></div> + +<div class="center_caption">"You will find it stream out +plentifully from the key on the approach of your knuckle"</div> + +<p class="new"> </p> + +<div class="figcenter"><a name="p330" id="p330" /> +<a href="images/img038.jpg"><img src= +"images/img038tb.jpg" alt="Father Abraham in his Study" title="" /></a></div> + +<div class="center_caption">Father <i>Abraham</i> in his <span +class="smcap">Study.</span></div> + +<p>From "Father Abraham's Speech," 1760. Reproduced from a copy at +the New York Public Library.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="THE_WAY_TO_WEALTH" id="THE_WAY_TO_WEALTH" />THE WAY TO +WEALTH</h4> + +<p>(From "Father Abraham's Speech," forming the preface to Poor +<i>Richard's Almanac</i> for 1758.)</p> + +<p>It would be thought a hard Government that should tax its People +one-tenth Part of their <i>Time</i>, to be employed in its Service. +But <i>Idleness</i> taxes many of us much more, if we reckon all +that is spent in absolute <i>Sloth</i>, or doing of nothing, with +that which is spent in idle Employments or Amusements, that amount +to nothing. <i>Sloth</i>, by bringing on Diseases, absolutely +shortens Life. <i>Sloth, like Rust, consumes faster than Labor +wears; while the used key is always bright, as Poor Richard says. +But dost thou love Life, then do not squander Time, for that's the +stuff Life is made of, as Poor Richard</i> says. How much more than +is necessary do we spend in sleep, forgetting that <i>The sleeping +Fox catches no Poultry</i>, and that <i>There will be sleeping +enough in the Grave</i>, as <i>Poor Richard</i> says.</p> + +<p><i>If Time be of all Things the most precious, wasting Time must +be, as Poor Richard</i> says, <i>the</i> <i>greatest +Prodigality</i>; since, as he elsewhere tells us, <i>Lost Time is +never found again; and what we call Time enough, always proves +little enough</i>: Let us then up and be doing, and doing to the +Purpose; so by Diligence shall we do more with less Perplexity. +<i>Sloth makes all Things difficult, but Industry all easy</i>, as +<i>Poor Richard</i> says; and <i>He that riseth late must trot all +Day, and shall scarce overtake his Business at Night; while +Laziness travels so slowly, that Poverty soon overtakes him</i>, as +we read in <i>Poor Richard</i>, who adds, <i>Drive thy Business, +let not that drive thee</i>; and <i>Early to Bed, and early to +rise, makes a Man healthy, wealthy, and wise.</i></p> + +<p><i>Industry need not wish, and he that lives upon Hope will die +fasting.</i></p> + +<p><i>There are no Gains without Pains.</i></p> + +<p><i>He that hath a Trade hath an Estate; and he that hath a +Calling, hath an Office of Profit and Honor</i>; but then the +<i>Trade</i> must be worked at, and the <i>Calling</i> well +followed, or neither the <i>Estate</i> nor the <i>Office</i> will +enable us to pay our Taxes.</p> + +<p>What though you have found no Treasure, nor has any rich +Relation left you a Legacy, <i>Diligence is the Mother of +Good-luck</i>, as <i>Poor Richard</i> says, <i>and God gives all +Things to Industry</i>.</p> + +<p><i>One To-day is worth two To-morrows</i>, and farther, <i>Have +you somewhat to do To-morrow, do it To-day</i>.</p> + +<p>If you were a Servant, would you not be ashamed that a good +Master should catch you idle? Are you then your own Master, <i>be +ashamed to catch yourself idle</i>.</p> + +<p>Stick to it steadily; and you will see great Effects, for +<i>Constant Dropping wears away Stones</i>, and by <i>Diligence and +Patience the Mouse ate in two the Cable</i>; and <i>Little Strokes +fell great Oaks</i>.</p> + +<p>Methinks I hear some of you say, <i>Must a Man afford himself no +Leisure</i>? I will tell thee, my friend, what <i>Poor Richard</i> +says, <i>Employ thy Time well, if thou meanest to gain Leisure; +and, since thou art not sure of a Minute, throw not away an +Hour</i>. Leisure, is Time for doing something useful; this Leisure +the diligent Man will obtain, but the lazy Man never; so that, as +<i>Poor Richard</i> says, <i>A Life of Leisure and a Life of +Laziness are two things</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Keep thy Shop, and thy Shop will keep thee</i>; and again, +<i>If you would have your business done, go; if not, send.</i></p> + +<p>If you would have a faithful Servant, and one that you like, +serve yourself.</p> + +<p><i>A little Neglect may breed great Mischief:</i> adding, <i>for +want of a Nail the Shoe was lost; for want of a Shoe the Horse was +lost; and for want of a Horse the Rider was lost, being overtaken +and slain by the Enemy; all for the want of Care about a Horse-shoe +Nail</i>.</p> + +<p>So much for Industry, my Friends, and Attention to one's own +Business; but to these we must add <i>Frugality</i>.</p> + +<p><i>What maintains one Vice, would bring up two Children</i>. You +may think perhaps, that a <i>little</i> Tea, or a <i>little</i> +Punch now and then, Diet a <i>little</i> more costly, Clothes a +<i>little</i> finer, and a <i>little</i> Entertainment now and +then, can be no <i>great</i> Matter; but remember what <i>Poor +Richard</i> says, <i>Many a Little makes a Mickle.</i></p> + +<p><i>Beware of little expenses; A small Leak will sink a great +Ship</i>; and again, <i>Who Dainties love, shall Beggars prove</i>; +and moreover, <i>Fools make Feasts, and wise Men eat them.</i></p> + +<p>Buy what thou hast no Need of, and ere long thou shalt sell thy +Necessaries.</p> + +<p>If you would know the Value of Money, go and try to borrow some; +for, he that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing.</p> + +<p>The second Vice is Lying, the first is running in Debt.</p> + +<p><i>Lying rides upon Debt's Back</i>.</p> + +<p>Poverty often deprives a Man of all Spirit and Virtue: '<i>Tis +hard for an empty Bag to stand upright</i>.</p> + +<p>And now to conclude, <i>Experience keeps a dear School, but +Fools will learn in no other, and scarce in that</i>; for it is +true, <i>we may give Advice, but we cannot give Conduct</i>, as +<i>Poor Richard</i> says: However, remember this, <i>They that +won't be counseled, can't be helped</i>, as <i>Poor Richard</i> +says: and farther, That <i>if you will not hear Reason, she'll +surely rap your Knuckles</i>.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="THE_WHISTLE" id="THE_WHISTLE" />THE WHISTLE</h4> + +<div class="center"><span class="smcap">To Madame +Brillon</span></div> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Passy</span>, November 10, +1779.</p> + +<p>I am charmed with your description of Paradise, and with your +plan of living there; and I approve much of your conclusion, that, +in the meantime, we should draw all the good we can from this +world. In my opinion, we might all draw more good from it than we +do, and suffer less evil, if we would take care not to give too +much for whistles. For to me it seems, that most of the unhappy +people we meet with, are become so by neglect of that caution.</p> + +<p>You ask what I mean? You love stories, and will excuse my +telling one of myself.</p> + +<p>When I was a child of seven year old, my friends, on a holiday, +filled my pocket with coppers. I went directly to a shop where they +sold toys for children; and being charmed with the sound of a +<i>whistle</i>, that I met by the way in the hands of another boy, +I voluntarily offered and gave all my money for one. I then came +home, and went whistling all over the house, much pleased with my +<i>whistle</i>, but disturbing all the family. My brothers, and +sisters, and cousins, understanding the bargain I had made, told me +I had given four times as much for it as it was worth; put me in +mind what good things I might have bought with the rest of the +money; and laughed at me so much for my folly, that I cried with +vexation; and the reflection gave me more chagrin than the +<i>whistle</i> gave me pleasure.</p> + +<p>This, however, was afterwards of use to me, the impression +continuing on my mind; so that often, when I was tempted to buy +some unnecessary thing, I said to myself, <i>Don't give too much +for the whistle</i>; and I saved my money.</p> + +<p>As I grew up, came into the world, and observed the actions of +men, I thought I met with many, very many, who <i>gave too much for +the whistle</i>.</p> + +<p>When I saw one too ambitious of court favor, sacrificing his +time in attendance on levees, his repose, his liberty, his virtue, +and perhaps his friends, to attain it, I have said to myself, +<i>This man gives too much for his whistle</i>.</p> + +<p>When I saw another fond of popularity, constantly employing +himself in political bustles, neglecting his own affairs, and +ruining them by neglect, <i>He pays, indeed</i>, said I, <i>too +much for his whistle</i>.</p> + +<p>If I knew a miser who gave up every kind of comfortable living, +all the pleasure of doing good to others, all the esteem of his +fellow citizens, and the joys of benevolent friendship, for the +sake of accumulating wealth, <i>Poor man</i>, said I, <i>you pay +too much for your whistle</i>.</p> + +<p>When I met with a man of pleasure, sacrificing every laudable +improvement of the mind, or of his fortune, to mere corporeal +sensations, and ruining his health in their pursuit, <i>Mistaken +man</i>, said I, <i>you are providing pain for yourself, instead of +pleasure; you give too much for your whistle</i>.</p> + +<p>If I see one fond of appearance, or fine clothes, fine houses, +fine furniture, fine equipages, all above his fortune, for which he +contracts debts, and ends his career in a prison, <i>Alas</i>! say +I, <i>he has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle</i>.</p> + +<p>When I see a beautiful, sweet-tempered girl married to an +ill-natured brute of a husband, <i>What a pity</i>, say I, <i>that +she should pay so much for a whistle</i>!</p> + +<p>In short, I conceive that great part of the miseries of mankind +are brought upon them by the false estimates they have made of the +value of things, and by their <i>giving too much for their +whistles</i>.</p> + +<p>Yet I ought to have charity for these unhappy people, when I +consider, that, with all this wisdom of which I am boasting, there +are certain things in the world so tempting, for example, the +apples of King John, which happily are not to be bought; for if +they were put to sale by auction, I might very easily be led to +ruin myself in the purchase, and find that I had once more given +too much for the <i>whistle</i>.</p> + +<p>Adieu, my dear friend, and believe me ever yours very sincerely +and with unalterable affection,</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">B. Franklin.</span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h4><a name="A_LETTER_TO_SAMUEL_MATHER" id= +"A_LETTER_TO_SAMUEL_MATHER" />A LETTER TO SAMUEL MATHER</h4> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">Passy</span>, May 12, +1784.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Revd Sir,</span></p> + +<p>It is now more than 60 years since I left Boston, but I remember +well both your father and grandfather, having heard them both in +the pulpit, and seen them in their houses. The last time I saw your +father was in the beginning of 1724, when I visited him after my +first trip to Pennsylvania. He received me in his library, and on +my taking leave showed me a shorter way out of the house through a +narrow passage, which was crossed by a beam overhead. We were still +talking as I withdrew, he accompanying me behind, and I turning +partly towards him, when he said hastily, "<i>Stoop, stoop!</i>" I +did not understand him, till I felt my head hit against the beam. +He was a man that never missed any occasion of giving instruction, +and upon this he said to me, "<i>You are young, and have the world +before you; stoop as you go through it, and you will miss many hard +thumps</i>." This advice, thus beat into my head, has frequently +been of use to me; and I often think of it, when I see pride +mortified, and misfortunes brought upon people by their carrying +their heads too high.</p> + +<p class="right"><span class="smcap">B. Franklin.</span></p> + +<div class="center">THE END</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="BIBLIOGRAPHY" id="BIBLIOGRAPHY" />BIBLIOGRAPHY</h3> + +<p>The last and most complete edition of Franklin's works is that +by the late Professor Albert H. Smyth, published in ten volumes by +the Macmillan Company, New York, under the title, <i>The Writings +of Benjamin Franklin</i>. The other standard edition is the +<i>Works of Benjamin Franklin</i> by John Bigelow (New York, 1887). +Mr. Bigelow's first edition of the <i>Autobiography</i> in one +volume was published by the J. B. Lippincott Company of +Philadelphia in 1868. The life of Franklin as a writer is well +treated by J. B. McMaster in a volume of <i>The American Men of +Letters Series</i>; his life as a statesman and diplomat, by J. T. +Morse, <i>American Statesmen Series</i>, one volume; Houghton, +Mifflin Company publish both books. A more exhaustive account of +the life and times of Franklin may be found in James Parton's +<i>Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin</i> (2 vols., New York, +1864). Paul Leicester Ford's <i>The Many-Sided Franklin</i> is a +most chatty and readable book, replete with anecdotes and +excellently and fully illustrated. An excellent criticism by +Woodrow Wilson introduces an edition of the <i>Autobiography</i> in +<i>The Century Classics</i> (Century Co., New York, 1901). +Interesting magazine articles are those of E. E. Hale, <i>Christian +Examiner</i>, lxxi, 447; W. P. Trent, <i>McClure's Magazine</i>, +viii, 273; John Hay, <i>The Century Magazine</i>, lxxi, 447.</p> + +<p>See also the histories of American literature by C. F. +Richardson, Moses Coit Tyler, Brander Matthews, John Nichol, and +Barrett Wendell, as well as the various encyclopedias. An excellent +bibliography of Franklin is that of Paul Leicester Ford, entitled +<i>A List of Books Written by, or Relating to Benjamin Franklin</i> +(New York, 1889).</p> + +<p>The following list of Franklin's works contains the more +interesting publications, together with the dates of first +issue.</p> + +<table width="100%" summary="Publications" border="0" cellpadding= +"0" cellspacing="0"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2">1722.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>Dogood Papers.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new1">Letters in the style of Addison's <i>Spectator</i>, +contributed to James Franklin's newspaper and signed "Silence +Dogood."</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2">1729.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>The Busybody.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new1">A series of essays published in Bradford's +Philadelphia <i>Weekly Mercury</i>, six of which only are ascribed +to Franklin. They are essays on morality, philosophy and politics, +similar to the <i>Dogood Papers</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a">1729.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>A Modest Enquiry into the Nature and Necessity of +a Paper Currency.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2">1732.<br /> +to<br /> +1757.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>Prefaces to Poor Richard's Almanac.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new1">Among these are <i>Hints for those that would be +Rich</i>, 1737; and <i>Plan for saving one hundred thousand pounds +to New Jersey, 1756</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2">1743.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>A Proposal for Promoting Useful Knowledge Among +the British Plantations in America.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new1">"This paper appears to contain the first +suggestion, in any public form, for an <i>American Philosophical +Society</i>." Sparks.</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a">1744.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>An Account of the New Invented Pennsylvania +Fire-Places.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2">1749.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in +Pennsylvania.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new1">Contains the plan for the school which later became +the University of Pennsylvania.</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2">1752.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>Electrical Kite.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new1">A description of the famous kite experiment, first +written in a letter to Peter Collinson, dated Oct. 19, 1752, which +was published later in the same year in <i>The Gentleman's +Magazine</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2">1754.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>Plan of Union.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new1">A plan for the union of the colonies presented to +the colonial convention at Albany.</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2">1755.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>A Dialogue Between X, Y and Z.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new1">An appeal to enlist in the provincial army for the +defense of Pennsylvania.</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2">1758.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>Father Abraham's Speech.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new1">Published as a preface to Poor Richard's Almanac +and gathering into one writing the maxims of Poor Richard, which +had already appeared in previous numbers of the Almanac. <i>The +Speech</i> was afterwards published in pamphlet form as the <i>Way +to Wealth</i>.</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2">1760.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>Of the Means of disposing the enemy to +Peace.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new1">A satirical plea for procecution of the war against +France,</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a">1760.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>The Interest of Great Britain Considered, with +regard to her Colonies, and the Acquisitions of Canada and +Guadaloupe.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2">1764.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>Cool Thoughts on the Present Situation of our +Public Affairs.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new1">A pamphlet favoring a Royal Government for +Pennsylvania in exchange for that of the Proprietors.</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a">1766.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>The Examination of Doctor Benjamin Franklin, +etc., in The British House of Commons, Relative to The Repeal of +The American Stamp Act.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2">1766.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>Rules by which A Great Empire May Be Reduced to a +Small One.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new1">Some twenty satirical rules embodying the line of +conduct England was pursuing with America.</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2">1773.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>An Edict of The King of Prussia.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new1">A satire in which the King of Prussia was made to +treat England as England was treating America because England was +originally settled by Germans.</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2">1777.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>Comparison of Great Britain and the United States +in Regard to the Basis of Credit in The Two Countries.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new1">One of several similar pamphlets written to effect +loans for the American cause.</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2">1782.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>On the Theory of the Earth.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new1">The best of Franklin's papers on geology.</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a">1782.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>Letter purporting to emanate from a petty German +Prince and to be addressed to his officer in Command in +America.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a">1785.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>On the Causes and Cure of Smoky Chimneys.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a">1786.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>Retort Courteous.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2"> </td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>Sending Felons to America.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new1">Answers to the British clamor for the payment of +American debts.</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a">1789.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>Address to the Public from the Pennsylvania +Society for Promoting Abolition of Slavery.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a">1789.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>An Account of the Supremest Court of Judicature +in Pennsylvania, viz. The Court of the Press.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2">1790.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>Martin's Account of his Consulship.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new1">A parody of a pro-slavery speech in Congress.</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2">1791.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"><i>Autobiography.</i></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new1">The first edition.</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2">1818.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>Bagatelles.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new1">The Bagatelles were first published in 1818 in +William Temple Franklin's edition of his grandfather's works. The +following are the most famous of these essays and the dates when +they were written:</p> +</td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<table width="100%" summary="Publications" border="0" cellpadding= +"0" cellspacing="0"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td class="cell_empty"> </td> +<td class="cell_lt1a">1774?</td> +<td class="cell_lt10"> +<p class="new"><i>A Parable Against Persecution.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_empty"> </td> +<td class="cell_lt1a"> </td> +<td class="cell_lt10"> +<p class="new1">Franklin called this the LI Chapter of Genesis.</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_empty"> </td> +<td class="cell_lt1a">1774?</td> +<td class="cell_lt10"> +<p class="new"><i>A Parable on Brotherly Love.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_empty" rowspan="2"> </td> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2">1778</td> +<td class="cell_lt10"> +<p class="new"><i>The Ephemera, an Emblem of Human Life.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt10"> +<p class="new1">A new rendition of an earlier essay on Human +Vanity.</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_empty"> </td> +<td class="cell_lt1a">1779</td> +<td class="cell_lt10"> +<p class="new"><i>The Story of the Whistle.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_empty"> </td> +<td class="cell_lt1a">1779?</td> +<td class="cell_lt10"> +<p class="new"><i>The Levee.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_empty" rowspan="2"> </td> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2">1779?</td> +<td class="cell_lt10"> +<p class="new"><i>Proposed New Version of the Bible.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt0"> +<p class="new1">Part of the first chapter of <i>Job</i> +modernized.</p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_empty"> </td> +<td class="cell_lt1a">(1779</td> +<td class="cell_lt10"> +<p class="new">Published) <i>The Morals of Chess.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_empty"> </td> +<td class="cell_lt1a">1780?</td> +<td class="cell_lt10"> +<p class="new"><i>The Handsome and Deformed Leg.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_empty" rowspan="2"> </td> +<td class="cell_lt1a" rowspan="2">1780</td> +<td class="cell_lt10"> +<p class="new"><i>Dialogue between Franklin and the Gout.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new1">(Published in 1802.)</p> +</td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<table width="100%" summary="Publications" border="0" cellpadding= +"0" cellspacing="0"> +<tbody> +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a">1802.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>A Petition of the Left Hand.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="cell_lt1a">1806.</td> +<td class="cell_lt1"> +<p class="new"><i>The Art of Procuring Pleasant Dreams.</i></p> +</td> +</tr> +</tbody> +</table> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src= +"images/img039.jpg" alt= +"MEDAL GIVEN BY THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM THE FRANKLIN FUND" +title= +"" /></div> +<div class="figright"><img src= +"images/img040.jpg" alt= +"MEDAL GIVEN BY THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM THE FRANKLIN FUND" +title= +"" /></div> + +<div class="center"><br />MEDAL GIVEN BY THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS FROM +THE FRANKLIN FUND</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, by +Benjamin Franklin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN *** + +***** This file should be named 20203-h.htm or 20203-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/2/0/20203/ + +Produced by Turgut Dincer, Brian Sogard and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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