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Leon Reid. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + margin: 3em auto 3em auto; + height: 0px; + border-width: 1px 0 0 0; + border-style: solid; + border-color: #dcdcdc; + width: 500px; + clear: both; +} + +hr.hr2 { + width: 250px; + margin: 3em auto 3em auto; +} + +hr.hr3 { + width: 75px; + margin: 1em auto 1em auto; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + border-collapse:collapse; +} + +table.toc { + margin: auto; + width: 50%; + border-collapse:collapse; +} + + .d0 { background-color: #E0EAF8; } + .d1 { background-color: #EAF1FB; } + +td.c1 { + text-align: left; + vertical-align: top; + padding-left: 1em; +} + +td.c11 { + text-align: center; + vertical-align: top; +} + +td.c2 { + text-align: center; + vertical-align: top; +} + +td.c22 { + text-align: right; + vertical-align: top; +} + +td.c3 { + text-align: center; + vertical-align: top; +} + +td.c33 { + text-align: left; + vertical-align: top; +} + +td.c4 { + text-align: center; + vertical-align: top; +} + +td.c5 { + text-align: center; + vertical-align: top; +} + +td.c6 { + text-align: center; + vertical-align: top; +} + +td.c7 { + text-align: center; + vertical-align: top; +} + +td.c8 { + text-align: center; + vertical-align: top; +} + +td { padding: 0em 1em; } +th { padding: 0em 1em; } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + color: #999; +} /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .section {margin-top: 2em;} /* adds extra space at top of section */ + + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + +/* Images */ + .figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + + .bord img { + padding: 1px; + border: 1px solid black; +} + +/* Transcriber Notes */ +div.tn { + background-color: #EEE; + border: dashed 1px; + color: #000; + margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + margin-top: 5em; + margin-bottom: 5em; + padding: 1em; +} + +ul.corrections { + list-style-type: circle; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +div.fn { + background-color: #EEE; + border: dashed 1px; + color: #000; + margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + margin-top: 5em; + margin-bottom: 5em; + padding: 1em; +} + + .footnote { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + font-size: 0.9em; +} + + .footnote .label { + position: absolute; + right: 84%; + text-align: right; +} + + .fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none; +} + +/* Poetry */ + .poem { + margin-left: 38%; + margin-right: 10%; + text-align: left; +} + + .poem br { display: none; } + + .poem .stanza { margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em; } + + .poem span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + .poem span.i00 { + display: block; + margin-left: .35em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + .poem span.i1 { + display: block; + margin-left: 1em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; +} + + + .signature { + text-align: right; + margin-right: 5%; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Franklin's Autobiography, 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: Franklin's Autobiography + (Eclectic English Classics) + +Author: Benjamin Franklin + +Editor: O. Leon Reid + +Release Date: May 18, 2011 [EBook #36151] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY *** + + + + +Produced by Larry B. Harrison and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> + <a name="i0003-illus.jpg" id="i0003-illus.jpg"></a> + <img src="images/i0003-illus.jpg" width="500" height="740" alt="Likeness with autograph" title="" /> +</div> + +<h3>ECLECTIC ENGLISH CLASSICS</h3> + +<p> </p> + +<h2>FRANKLIN'S</h2> +<h1>AUTOBIOGRAPHY</h1> + +<p> </p> + +<h4>EDITED BY</h4> +<h3>O. LEON REID</h3> + +<h4>HEAD OF ENGLISH DEPARTMENT, LOUISVILLE MALE<br /> +HIGH SCHOOL, LOUISVILLE, KY.</h4> + +<p> </p> + +<h4>NEW YORK · CINCINNATI · CHICAGO</h4> +<h3>AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY</h3> + +<hr /> + +<h4>Copyright, 1896 and 1910, by<br /> +<span class="smcap">American Book Company</span></h4> + +<p> </p> + +<h5>BENJAMIN FRANKLIN<br /> +W. P. 12</h5> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> +<h2>INTRODUCTION.</h2> + +<p>When Franklin was born, in 1706, Queen Anne was on the +English throne, and Swift and Defoe were pamphleteering. The +one had not yet written "Gulliver's Travels," nor the other "Robinson +Crusoe;" neither had Addison and Steele and other wits of +Anne's reign begun the "Spectator." Pope was eighteen years +old.</p> + +<p>At that time ships bringing news, food and raiment, and laws +and governors to the ten colonies of America, ran grave chances +of falling into the hands of the pirates who infested the waters of +the shores. In Boston Cotton Mather was persecuting witches. +There were no stage coaches in the land,—merely a bridle path led +from New York to Philadelphia,—and a printing press throughout +the colonies was a raree-show.</p> + +<p>Only six years before Franklin's birth, the first newspaper report +for the first newspaper in the country was written on the death +of Captain Kidd and six of his companions near Boston, when +the editor of the "News-Letter" told the story of the hanging of +the pirates, detailing the exhortations and prayers and their taking-off. +Franklin links us to another world of action.</p> + +<p>His boyhood in Boston was a stern beginning of the habit of +hard work and rigid economy which marked the man. For a +year he went to the Latin Grammar School on School Street, but + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +left off at the age of ten to help his father in making soap and +candles. He persisted in showing such "bookish inclination," +however, that at twelve his father apprenticed him to learn the +printer's trade. At seventeen he ran off to Philadelphia and there +began his independent career.</p> + +<p>In the main he led such a life as the maxims of "Poor Richard" + <a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> +enjoin. The pages of the Autobiography show few deviations +from such a course. He felt the need of school training and +set to work to educate himself. He had an untiring industry, +and love of the approval of his neighbor; and he knew that more +things fail through want of care than want of knowledge. His +practical imagination was continually forming projects; and, fortunately +for the world, his great physical strength and activity were +always setting his ideas in motion. He was human-hearted, and +this strong sympathy of his, along with his strength and zeal and +"projecting head" (as Defoe calls such a spirit), devised much +that helped life to amenity and comfort. In politics he had +the outlook of the self-reliant colonist whose devotion to the +mother institutions of England was finally alienated by the excesses +of a power which thought itself all-powerful.</p> + +<p>In this Autobiography Franklin tells of his own life to the +year 1757, when he went to England to support the petition of +the legislature against Penn's sons. The grievance of the colonists +was a very considerable one, for the proprietaries claimed +that taxes should not be levied upon a tract greater than the +whole State of Pennsylvania.</p> + +<p>Franklin was received in England with applause. His experiments +in electricity and his inventions had made him known, and +the sayings of "Poor Richard" were already in the mouths of the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> +people. But he waited nearly three years before he could obtain +a hearing for the matter for which he had crossed the sea.</p> + +<p>During the delay he visited the ancient home of his family, +and made the acquaintance of men of mark, receiving also that +degree of Doctor of Civil Law by which he came to be known +as Dr. Franklin. In this time, too, he found how prejudiced was +the common English estimate of the value of the colonies. He +wrote Lord Kames in 1760, after the defeat of the French in +Canada: "No one can more sincerely rejoice than I do on the +reduction of Canada; and this is not merely as I am a colonist, +but as I am a Briton. I have long been of opinion that the <i>foundations +of the future grandeur and stability of the British empire lie +in America</i>; and though, like other foundations, they are low and +little now, they are, nevertheless, broad and strong enough to support +the greatest political structure that human wisdom ever yet +erected. I am, therefore, by no means for restoring Canada. If +we keep it all the country from the St. Lawrence to the Mississippi +will in another century be filled with British people. Britain +itself will become vastly more populous by the immense increase +of its commerce; the Atlantic sea will be covered with your trading +ships; and your naval power, thence continually increasing, +will extend your influence round the whole globe and awe the +world!... But I refrain, for I see you begin to think my +notions extravagant, and look upon them as the ravings of a +madman."</p> + +<p>At last Franklin won the king's signature to a bill by the terms +of which the surveyed lands of the proprietaries should be assessed, +and, his business accomplished, he returned to Philadelphia. +"You require my history," he wrote to Lord Kames, +"from the time I yet sail for America. I left England about the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +end of August, 1762, in company with ten sail of merchant ships, +under a convoy of a man-of-war. We had a pleasant passage +to Madeira.... Here we furnished ourselves with fresh provisions, +and refreshments of all kinds; and, after a few days, proceeded +on our voyage, running southward until we got into the +trade winds, and then with them westward till we drew near the +coast of America. The weather was so favorable that there were +few days in which we could not visit from ship to ship, dining +with each other and on board of the man-of-war; which made +the time pass agreeably, much more so than when one goes in a +single ship; for this was like traveling in a moving village, with +all one's neighbors about one.</p> + +<p>"On the 1st of November I arrived safe and well at my own +home, after an absence of near six years, found my wife and +daughter well,—the latter grown quite a woman, with many amiable +accomplishments acquired in my absence,—and my friends as +hearty and affectionate as ever, with whom my house was filled +for many days to congratulate me on my return. I had been +chosen yearly during my absence to represent the city of Philadelphia +in our Provincial Assembly; and on my appearance in +the House, they voted me three thousand pounds sterling for my +services in England, and their thanks, delivered by the Speaker. +In February following, my son arrived with my new daughter; +for, with my consent and approbation, he married, soon after I left +England, a very agreeable West India lady, with whom he is very +happy. I accompanied him to his government [New Jersey], +where he met with the kindest reception from the people of all +ranks, and has lived with them ever since in the greatest harmony. +A river only parts that province and ours, and his residence is +within seventeen miles of me, so that we frequently see each other.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> + "In the spring of 1763 I set out on a tour through all the northern +colonies to inspect and regulate the post offices in the several +provinces. In this journey I spent the summer, traveled about +sixteen hundred miles, and did not get home till the beginning of +November. The Assembly sitting through the following winter, +and warm disputes arising between them and the governor, I became +wholly engaged in public affairs; for, besides my duty as +an Assemblyman, I had another trust to execute, that of being +one of the commissioners appointed by law to dispose of the public +money appropriated to the raising and paying an army to act +against the Indians and defend the frontiers. And then, in December, +we had two insurrections of the back inhabitants of our +province.... Governor Penn made my house for some time +his headquarters, and did everything by my advice; so that for +about forty-eight hours I was a very great man, as I had been +once some years before, in a time of public danger. + <a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a></p> + +<p>"But the fighting face we put on and the reasoning we used +with the insurgents ... having turned them back and restored +quiet to the city, I became a less man than ever; for I had by +this transaction made myself many enemies among the populace; +and the governor, ... thinking it a favorable opportunity, joined +the whole weight of the proprietary interest to get me out of the +Assembly; which was accordingly effected at the last election by +a majority of about twenty-five in four thousand voters. The +House, however, when they met in October, approved of the resolutions +taken, while I was Speaker, of petitioning the Crown for +a change of government, and requested me to return to England +to prosecute that petition; which service I accordingly undertook, +and embarked at the beginning of November last, being accompanied + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +to the ship, sixteen miles, by a cavalcade of three hundred +of my friends, who filled our sails with their good wishes, and I +arrived in thirty days at London."</p> + +<p>Instead of giving his efforts to the proposed change of government +Franklin found greater duties. The debt which England +had incurred during the war with the French in Canada she now +looked to the colonists for aid in removing. At home taxes were +levied by every device. The whole country was in distress and +laborers starving. In the colonies there was the thrift that comes +from narrowest means; but the people refused to answer parliamentary +levies and claimed that they would lay their own taxes +through their own legislatures. They resisted so successfully the +enforcement of the Stamp Act that Parliament began to discuss +its repeal. At this juncture Franklin was examined before the +Commons in regard to the results of the act.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p><i>Q.</i> Do you not think the people of America would submit to pay the stamp +duty if it was moderated?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> No, never, unless compelled by force of arms....</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What was the temper of America toward Great Britain before the year +1763?<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> + +<p><i>A.</i> The best in the world. They submitted willingly to the government +of the Crown, and paid, in their courts, obedience to the acts of Parliament. +Numerous as the people are in the several old provinces, they cost you nothing +in forts, citadels, garrisons, or armies, to keep them in subjection. They +were governed by this country at the expense only of a little pen, ink, and +paper; they were led by a thread. They had not only a respect but an affection +for Great Britain, for its laws, its customs and manners, and even a +fondness for its fashions that greatly increased the commerce. Natives of +Britain were always treated with particular regard; to be an "Old England + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +man" was, of itself, a character of some respect, and gave a kind of rank +among us.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> And what is their temper now?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> Oh, very much altered....</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> If the Stamp Act should be repealed, would it induce the assemblies +of America to acknowledge the right of Parliament to tax them, and would +they erase their resolutions?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> No, never.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Are there no means of obliging them to erase those resolutions?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> None that I know of; they will never do it unless compelled by force +of arms.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> Is there a power on earth that can force them to erase them?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> No power, how great soever, can force men to change their opinions....</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What used to be the pride of the Americans?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> To indulge in the fashions and manufactures of Great Britain.</p> + +<p><i>Q.</i> What is now their pride?</p> + +<p><i>A.</i> To wear their old clothes over again, till they can make new ones.</p> +</div> + +<p>After the repeal of the act, Franklin wrote to his wife: "I am +willing you should have a new gown, which you may suppose I +did not send sooner as I knew you would not like to be finer than +your neighbors unless in a gown of your own spinning. Had the +trade between the two countries totally ceased, it was a comfort +to me to recollect that I had once been clothed from head to foot +in woolen and linen of my wife's manufacture, that I never was +prouder of any dress in my life, and that she and her daughter +might do it again if it was necessary."</p> + +<p>Franklin stayed ten years in England. In 1774 he presented +to the king the petition of the first Continental Congress, in +which the petitioners, who protested their loyalty to Great Britain, +claimed the right of taxing themselves. But, finding this and +other efforts at adjustment of little avail, he returned to Philadelphia + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +in May, 1775. On the 5th of July he wrote to Mr. Strahan, +an old friend in London: "You are a member of Parliament, +and one of that majority which has doomed my country to destruction. +You have begun to burn our towns and murder our +people. Look upon your hands; they are stained with the blood +of your relations! You and I were long friends; you are now +my enemy, and I am yours."</p> + +<p>After the Declaration of Independence and the establishment +of the States as a nation, Franklin was chosen as representative +to France. "I am old and good for nothing," he said, when +told of the choice, "but, as the storekeepers say of their remnants +of cloth, I am but a fag-end; you may have me for what +you please."</p> + +<p>It was a most important post. France was the ancient enemy +of England, and the contingent of men and aid of money which +Franklin gained served to the successful issue of the Revolution. +He lived while in France at Passy, near Paris, from which he +wrote to a friend in England: "You are too early ... in calling +me rebel; you should wait for the event which will determine +whether it is a rebellion or only a revolution.... I know you +wish you could see me; but, as you cannot, I will describe myself +to you. Figure me in your mind as jolly as formerly, and as +strong and hearty, only a few years older; very plainly dressed, +wearing my thin, gray, straight hair, that peeps out under my only +coiffure, a fine fur cap which comes down my forehead almost to +my spectacles. Think how this must appear among the powdered +heads of Paris! I wish every lady and gentleman in France +would only be so obliging as to follow my fashion, comb their +own heads as I do mine, dismiss their friseurs, and pay me half +the money they pay to them."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> + At last, in 1785, he came home, old and broken in health. He +was chosen president, or governor, of Pennsylvania, and the faith +of the people in his wisdom made him delegate to the convention +which framed the Constitution in 1787. He died in 1790, +and was buried by his wife in the graveyard of Christ Church, +Philadelphia.</p> + +<p>The epitaph which he had written when a printer was not put +upon his tomb:</p> + +<p class="center"><br />THE BODY<br /><br /> +OF<br /><br /> +BENJAMIN FRANKLIN,<br /><br /> +PRINTER<br /><br /> +(Like the cover of an old book,<br /> +Its contents torn out,<br /> +And stript of its lettering and gilding,)<br /> +Lies here, food for worms.<br /> +But the work shall not be lost,<br /> +For it will (as he believed) appear once more<br /> +In a new and elegant edition,<br /> +Revised and corrected<br /> +by<br /> +The Author.</p> + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<div class="fn"> +<h4>Footnotes</h4> +<p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> See pp. <a href="#When">198–206</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> The time of Braddock's defeat.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> When the old duties "upon all rum, spirits, molasses, syrups, sugar," +etc., were renewed, and extended to other articles.</p> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 14]<br />[Pg 15]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY</h2> +<h4>OF</h4> +<h1>BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.</h1> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<h2>§ 1. PARENTAGE AND BOYHOOD.</h2> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">Twyford</span>,<a name="FNanchor_4_5" id="FNanchor_4_5"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_4_5" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> <i>at the Bishop of St. Asaph's, 1771</i>. +</div> + +<p>Dear Son:<a name="FNanchor_5_6" id="FNanchor_5_6"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_5_6" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +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 +favorable. But though this were denied, I should still accept the +offer. Since such a repetition is not to be expected, the next +thing like living one's life over again seems to be a recollection +of that life, and to make that recollection as durable as possible +by putting it down in writing.</p> + +<p>Hereby, too, I shall indulge the inclination, so natural in old +men, to be talking of themselves and their own past actions; and +I shall indulge it without being tiresome to others,—who, through +respect to age, might conceive themselves obliged to give me a +hearing,—since this may be read or not as any one pleases. And, +lastly, (I may as well confess it, since my denial of it will be believed +by nobody,) perhaps I shall a good deal gratify my own +vanity. Indeed, I scarce ever heard or saw the introductory words, +"Without vanity, I may say," etc., but some vain thing immediately +followed. Most people dislike vanity in others, whatever +share they may have of it themselves; but I give it fair quarter +wherever I meet with it, being persuaded that it is often productive +of good to the possessor, and to others that are within his +sphere of action; and therefore, in many cases, it would not be +altogether absurd if a man were to thank God for his vanity +among the other comforts of life.</p> + +<p>And now I speak of thanking God, I desire with all humility +to acknowledge that I owe the mentioned happiness of my past +life to his kind providence, which led me to the means I used and +gave them success. My belief of this induces me to hope, though +I must not presume, that the same goodness will still be exercised +toward me in continuing that happiness, or enabling me to bear + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +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_N_1" id="FNanchor_N_1"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_1" class="fnanchor">[n]</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_7" id="FNanchor_6_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_7" 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, namely, Thomas, John, Benjamin, and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +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<a name="FNanchor_7_8" id="FNanchor_7_8"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_7_8" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> + Palmer, then the principal gentleman in that parish, he +qualified himself for the business of scrivener;<a name="FNanchor_8_9" id="FNanchor_8_9"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_8_9" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> 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, Jan. 6, old style,<a name="FNanchor_9_10" id="FNanchor_9_10"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_9_10" class="fnanchor">[9]</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."<a name="FNanchor_10_11" id="FNanchor_10_11"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_10_11" class="fnanchor">[10]</a></p> + +<p>John was bred a dyer, I believe, of woolens. Benjamin was +bred a silk dyer, serving an apprenticeship at London. He was +an ingenious man. I remember him well, for when I was a boy +he came over to my father in Boston, and lived in the house with +us some years. He lived to a great age. His grandson, Samuel +Franklin, now lives in Boston. He left behind him two quarto volumes, +in manuscript, 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_11_12" id="FNanchor_11_12"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_11_12" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> He had formed a shorthand of +his own, which he taught me, but, never practicing it, I have now + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +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 shorthand, 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 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 above 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, + <a name="FNanchor_12_13" id="FNanchor_12_13"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_12_13" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> when +they were sometimes in danger of trouble on account of their zeal +against the queen's religion. 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.<a name="FNanchor_13_14" id="FNanchor_13_14"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_13_14" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> 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.</p> + +<p>The family continued all of the Church of England till about +the end of Charles II.'s reign, when some of the ministers that +had been outed for <a name="noncon" id="noncon"></a>nonconformity,<a name="FNanchor_14_15" id="FNanchor_14_15"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_14_15" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> holding conventicles in + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +Northamptonshire, Benjamin and Josiah adhered to them, and so +continued all their lives; the rest of the family remained with the +Episcopal Church.</p> + +<p>Josiah, my father, married young, and carried his wife, with +three children, into New England, about 1682. The conventicles +having been forbidden by law, and frequently disturbed, induced +some considerable men of his acquaintance to remove to that country, +and he was prevailed with to accompany them thither, where +they expected to enjoy their mode of religion with freedom. By +the same wife he had four children more born there, and by a +second wife ten more,—in all seventeen, of which I remember thirteen +sitting at one time at his table, who all grew up to be men +and women and married. I was the youngest son, and the youngest +child but two, and was born in Boston, New England. + <a name="FNanchor_15_16" id="FNanchor_15_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_16" class="fnanchor">[15]</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, in his Church history of +that country entitled "Magnalia Christi Americana," as "a goodly +learned Englishman," 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 homespun verse of that time and people, +and addressed to those then concerned in the government there. +It was in favor of liberty of conscience, and in behalf of the Baptists, +Quakers, and other sectaries that had been under persecution, + <a name="FNanchor_16_17" id="FNanchor_16_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_17" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> +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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +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"> +<span class="i0">"Because to be a libeler [says he]<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I hate it with my heart;<br /></span> +<span class="i00">From Sherburne<a name="FNanchor_17_18" id="FNanchor_17_18"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_17_18" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> town, where now I dwell,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">My name I do put here;<br /></span> +<span class="i00">Without offense your real friend,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">It is Peter Folgier."<a name="FNanchor_18_19" id="FNanchor_18_19"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_18_19" class="fnanchor">[18]</a><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>My elder brothers were all put apprentices to different trades. +I was put to the grammar school<a name="FNanchor_19_20" id="FNanchor_19_20"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_19_20" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> at eight years of age, my father +intending to devote me, as the tithe of his sons, to the service of +the church. My early readiness in learning to read, (which must +have been very early, as I do not remember when I could not +read,) and the opinion of all his friends that I should certainly +make a good scholar, encouraged him in this purpose of his. My +uncle Benjamin, too, approved of it, and proposed to give me all +his shorthand volumes of sermons, I suppose as a stock to set up +with, if I would learn his character.<a name="FNanchor_20_21" id="FNanchor_20_21"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_20_21" class="fnanchor">[20]</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, further, was removed into the next class above + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +it in order to go with that into the third at the end of the year. +But my father in the mean time, 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 afterward +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 soap 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 mold and the molds for cast candles, + <a name="FNanchor_21_22" id="FNanchor_21_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_22" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> +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, learned 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, though 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +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,<a name="FNanchor_22_23" id="FNanchor_22_23"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_22_23" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> 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 public 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +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 brought 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. I never +knew either my father or mother to have any sickness but that +of which they died, he at eighty-nine and she at eighty-five years +of age. They lie buried together at Boston, where I some years +since placed a marble<a name="FNanchor_23_24" id="FNanchor_23_24"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_23_24" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> over their grave with this inscription:</p> + +<p class="center"><br /> +<span class="smcap">Josiah Franklin</span>,<br /> +and<br /> +<span class="smcap">Abiah</span> his wife,<br /> +lie here interred.<br /> +They lived lovingly together in wedlock<br /> +fifty-five years.<br /> +Without an estate, or any gainful employment,<br /> +By constant labor and industry,<br /> +with God's blessing,<br /> +They maintained a large family<br /> +comfortably,<br /> +and brought up thirteen children<br /> +and seven grandchildren<br /> +reputably.<br /> +From this instance, reader,<br /> +Be encouraged to diligence in thy calling,<br /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +And distrust not Providence.<br /> +He was a pious and prudent man;<br /> +She, a discreet and virtuous woman.<br /> +Their youngest son,<br /> +In filial regard to their memory,<br /> +Places this stone.<br /> +J. F. born 1655, died 1744, ætat<a name="FNanchor_24_25" id="FNanchor_24_25"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_24_25" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> 89.<br /> +A. F. born 1667, died 1752, —— 85.<br /> +</p> + +<p>By my rambling digressions I perceive myself to be grown old. +I used to write more methodically. But one does not dress for +private company as for a public 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, brasiers, + <a name="FNanchor_25_26" id="FNanchor_25_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_26" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> +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 learned 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> +of a fee with me displeasing my father, I was taken home +again.</p> + +<p>From a child I was fond of reading, and all the little money +that came into my hands was ever laid out in books. Pleased +with the "Pilgrim's Progress," my first collection was of John +Bunyan's works in separate little volumes. I afterward sold them +to enable me to buy R. Burton's "Historical Collections;" they +were small chapmen's<a name="FNanchor_26_27" id="FNanchor_26_27"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_26_27" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> books, and cheap, forty or fifty in all. My +father's little library consisted chiefly of books in polemic divinity, +most of which I read, and have since often regretted that, at +a time when I had such a thirst for knowledge, more proper books +had not fallen in my way, since it was now resolved I should not +be a clergyman. "Plutarch's Lives" there was, in which I read +abundantly, and I still think that time spent to great advantage. +There was also a book of Defoe's called an "Essay on Projects," +and another of Dr. Mather's called "Essays to Do Good," which +perhaps gave me a turn of thinking that had an influence on some +of the principal future events of my life.</p> + +<p>This bookish inclination at length determined my father to make +me a printer, though he had already one son (James) of that profession. +In 1717 my brother James returned from England with +a press and letters to set up his business in Boston. I liked it +much better than that of my father, but still had a hankering for +the sea. To prevent the apprehended effect of such an inclination, +my father was impatient to have me bound to my brother. +I stood out some time, but at last was persuaded and signed the +indentures<a name="FNanchor_27_28" id="FNanchor_27_28"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_27_28" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +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 "The Lighthouse +Tragedy," 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 Teach (or Blackbeard), the pirate. They +were wretched stuff, in the Grub Street<a name="FNanchor_28_29" id="FNanchor_28_29"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_28_29" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> ballad style; and when +they were printed he sent me about the town to sell them. The +first sold wonderfully, the event being recent, having made a great +noise. This flattered my vanity; but my father discouraged me +by ridiculing my performances and telling me verse makers were +generally beggars. So I escaped being a poet, most probably a +very bad one; but as prose writing 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 each other; which disputatious turn, by the way, is +apt to become a very bad habit,<a name="FNanchor_N_2" id="FNanchor_N_2"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_2" class="fnanchor">[n]</a> making people often extremely +disagreeable in company by the contradiction that is necessary to +bring it into practice; and thence, besides souring and spoiling + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +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 Edinburgh.</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 each other 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. He observed +that, though I had the advantage of my antagonist in correct +spelling and pointing (which I owed 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 "Spectator." + <a name="FNanchor_29_30" id="FNanchor_29_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_30" class="fnanchor">[29]</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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +of the sentiment in each sentence, laid them by a few days, and +then, without looking at the book, tried to complete 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 "Spectator" 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 complete the paper. This was to teach +me method in the arrangement of thoughts. By comparing my +work afterward with the original, I discovered many faults and +amended them; but I sometimes had the pleasure of fancying +that in certain particulars of small import I had been lucky +enough to improve the method or the language, and this encouraged +me to think I might possibly in time come to be a tolerable +English writer, of which I was extremely ambitious. My time +for these exercises and for reading was at night after work, or +before it began in the morning, or on Sundays, when I contrived +to be in the printing house alone, evading as much as I could the +common attendance on public worship, which my father used to +exact of me when I was under his care, and which indeed I still +thought a duty, though I could not, as it seemed to me, afford +time to practice it.</p> + +<p>When about sixteen years of age I happened to meet with a +book, written by one Tryon, recommending a vegetable diet. I + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +determined to go into it. My brother, being yet unmarried, did +not keep house, but boarded himself and his apprentices in another +family. My refusal 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 biscuit 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 ashamed +of my ignorance in figures, which I had twice failed in learning +when at school, I took Cocker's book of arithmetic, 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 "On the Human +Understanding," and the "Art of Thinking," by Messrs. du Port +Royal.<a name="FNanchor_30_31" id="FNanchor_30_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_31" class="fnanchor">[30]</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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +method;<a name="FNanchor_31_32" id="FNanchor_31_32"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_31_32" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> and soon after I procured Xenophon's "Memorable +Things of Socrates," wherein there are many instances of the same +method. I was charmed with it, adopted it, dropped 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, practiced 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.</p> + +<p>I continued 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 "certainly," "undoubtedly," or any +others that give the air of positiveness to an opinion; but rather +saying, "I conceive" or "apprehend" a thing to be so and so; +"it appears to me," or "I should think it so or so," for such and +such reasons; or "I imagine it to be so;" or "it is so, if I am +not mistaken." 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 inform or to be informed, to please or to persuade, I wish well-meaning, +sensible men would not lessen their power of doing good +by a positive, assuming manner, that seldom fails to disgust, tends +to create opposition, and to defeat every one of those purposes for +which speech was given to us,—to wit, giving or receiving information +or pleasure. For if you would inform, a positive and dogmatical + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +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 fixed 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 +pleasing your hearers, or to persuade those whose concurrence you +desire. Pope says judiciously:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Men must be taught as if you taught them not,<br /></span> +<span class="i00">And things unknown propos'd as things forgot;"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>further recommending to us to</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence."<br /></span> +</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"> +<span class="i0">"For want of modesty is want of sense."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>If you ask why less properly, I must repeat the lines:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Immodest words admit of no defense,<br /></span> +<span class="i00">For want of modesty is want of sense." + <a name="FNanchor_32_33" id="FNanchor_32_33"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_32_33" class="fnanchor">[32]</a><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Now, is not "want of sense" (where a man is so unfortunate as +to want it) some apology for his "want of modesty?" and would +not the lines stand more justly thus?</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Immodest words admit <i>but</i> this defense,<br /></span> +<span class="i00">That want of modesty is want of sense."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>This, however, I should submit to better judgments.<a name="FNanchor_N_3" id="FNanchor_N_3"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_3" class="fnanchor">[n]</a></p> + +<p>My brother had, in 1720 or 1721, begun to print a newspaper. +It was the second that appeared in America, and was called the +"New England Courant."<a name="FNanchor_33_34" id="FNanchor_33_34"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_33_34" class="fnanchor">[33]</a> The only one + before it was the "Boston<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +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 through the streets to the customers.</p> + +<p>He had some ingenious men among his friends, who amused +themselves by writing little pieces for this paper, which gained 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 called 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 esteemed +them.</p> + +<p>Encouraged, however, by this, I wrote and conveyed in the +same way to the press several more papers, which were equally +approved; 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_34_35" id="FNanchor_34_35"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_34_35" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +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 demeaned<a name="FNanchor_35_36" id="FNanchor_35_36"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_35_36" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> me too +much in some he required 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 extremely 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> + +<p>One of the pieces in our newspaper, on some political point +which I have now forgotten, gave offense to the Assembly. + <a name="FNanchor_36_37" id="FNanchor_36_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_37" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> He +was taken up, censured, and imprisoned for a month, by the +Speaker's warrant, I suppose, because he would not discover his +author. I, too, was taken up and examined before the council; +but, though 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 satire. My brother's discharge was accompanied +with an order of the House (a very odd one) that James +Franklin should no longer print the paper called the "New England +Courant."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> + 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 +Benjamin Franklin; 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 returned 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<a name="FNanchor_37_38" id="FNanchor_37_38"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_37_38" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> 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-natured 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 +refused 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 +inclined 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 stayed, soon bring myself into scrapes; +and, further, that my indiscreet disputations about religion began +to make me pointed at with horror by good people as an infidel + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +or atheist. I determined on the point, but, my father now siding +with my brother, I was sensible that, if I attempted to go openly, +means would be used to prevent me. My friend Collins, therefore, +undertook to manage a little for me. He agreed with the +captain of a New York sloop for my passage, under the notion of +my being a young acquaintance of his that had got into trouble, +and therefore I could not appear or come away publicly. So I +sold some of my books to raise a little money, was taken on board +privately, and, as we had a fair wind, in three days I found myself +in New York, near three hundred miles from home, a boy +of but seventeen, without the least recommendation to, or knowledge +of, any person in the place, and with very little money in +my pocket.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<div class="fn"> +<h4>Footnotes</h4> + +<p><a name="Footnote_4_5" id="Footnote_4_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_5"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> A village near Winchester, Hampshire, England, where Dr. Jonathan +Shipley had his country house. Dr. Shipley was Bishop of St. Asaph's in +Wales, and Franklin's friend.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_5_6" id="Footnote_5_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_6"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Franklin's only living son, William, who in 1762 had been made royal +governor of New Jersey, with the hope of detaching Franklin from the cause +of the colonists.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_6_7" id="Footnote_6_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_7"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> A franklin was a freeman, or freeholder, or owner of the land on which +he dwelt. The franklins were by their possessions fitted for becoming sheriffs, +knights, etc. After the Norman Conquest, men in England took, in addition +to the first name, another which was suggested by their condition in +life, their trade, or some personal peculiarity. See Note, p. <a href="#of">203</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_7_8" id="Footnote_7_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_8"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> A title given in England in Franklin's time to the descendants of knights +and noblemen.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_8_9" id="Footnote_8_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_9"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> A writer whose duties were similar to those of our notary.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_9_10" id="Footnote_9_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_10"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> "Old style," i.e., the method of reckoning time which formerly prevailed +and which had caused an error of eleven days. The new style of reckoning +was adopted in England in 1752.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_10_11" id="Footnote_10_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_11"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> The passage of the soul into another body; one might have supposed +that the soul of the uncle had taken up abode in Franklin's body.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_11_12" id="Footnote_11_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_12"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Franklin omitted the verses.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_12_13" id="Footnote_12_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_13"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> Who was queen from 1553 to 1558.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_13_14" id="Footnote_13_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_14"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> "Joint stool," i.e., a stool made of parts fitted together.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_14_15" id="Footnote_14_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_15"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> "Outed for nonconformity," i.e., turned out of the church for not conforming +to the usages of the Church of England and for holding meetings of +dissenters for public worship.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_15_16" id="Footnote_15_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_16"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> Franklin was born Sunday, Jan. 17, 1706 (Jan. 6, old style). The +family then lived in a small house on Milk Street, near the Old South Church, +where the Boston Post building now stands.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_16_17" id="Footnote_16_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_17"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> The persecution which the first settlers practiced against all who differed +with them in religious doctrines.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_17_18" id="Footnote_17_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_18"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> Sherburne is now called Nantucket.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_18_19" id="Footnote_18_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_19"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> The lines which Dr. Franklin had forgotten are these: +</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"I am for peace and not for war,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And that's the reason why<br /></span> +<span class="i00">I write more plain than some men do,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">That used to daub and lie.<br /></span> +<span class="i00">But I shall cease, and set my name<br /></span> +<span class="i1">To what I here insert,<br /></span> +<span class="i00">Because to be a libeler<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I hate it with my heart."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><a name="Footnote_19_20" id="Footnote_19_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_20"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> In Franklin's time the grammar school was a school for teaching Latin, +which was begun by committing the grammar to memory.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_20_21" id="Footnote_20_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_21"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> Characters, or method of writing shorthand.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_21_22" id="Footnote_21_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_22"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> Candles were made by dipping wicks in the fat a number of times, and +also by setting the wicks in a mold and pouring the fat round them.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_22_23" id="Footnote_22_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_23"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> Ants.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_23_24" id="Footnote_23_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_24"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> The marble having crumbled, a larger stone was placed over the grave +in 1827, and Franklin's inscription repeated. It stands in the Granary Burying +Ground.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_24_25" id="Footnote_24_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_25"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> Aged.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_25_26" id="Footnote_25_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_26"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> A joiner is a mechanic who does the woodwork of houses, etc.; a turner, +one who works with a lathe; a brasier, a worker in brass.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_26_27" id="Footnote_26_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_27"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> A chapman was a peddler.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_27_28" id="Footnote_27_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_28"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> Agreements written upon sheets, the edges of which were cut or indented +to match each other, for security and identification.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_28_29" id="Footnote_28_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_29"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> A street in London in which many writers of small ability or reputation, +or of unhappy fortune, had lodgings. "Grub Street style," therefore, means +poor or worthless in literary value. The term, which always implied a sneer, +was made current by Pope and Swift and their coterie.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_29_30" id="Footnote_29_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_30"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> A paper published in London every week day from the 1st of March, +1711, to the 6th of December, 1712, and made up for the most part of essays +by Addison, Steele, and their friends. It held aloof from politics, and dealt +with the manners of the time and with literature.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_30_31" id="Footnote_30_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_31"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> These gentlemen of Port Royal lived in the old convent of Port Royal +des Champs, near Paris. They were learned men who, with other works, +prepared schoolbooks, among which was the "Art of Thinking," a logic.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_31_32" id="Footnote_31_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_32"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> "The Socratic method," i.e., the method of modest questioning, which +Socrates used with pupils and opponents alike, and by which he led them to +concessions and unforeseen conclusions.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_32_33" id="Footnote_32_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_33"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> These lines are not Pope's, but Lord Roscommon's, slightly modified.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_33_34" id="Footnote_33_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_34"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> "The New England Courant was the fourth newspaper that appeared in +America. The first number of the Boston News-Letter was published April +24, 1704. This was the first newspaper in America. The Boston Gazette +commenced Dec. 21, 1719; the American Weekly Mercury, at Philadelphia, +Dec. 22, 1719; the New England Courant, Aug. 21, 1721. Dr. Franklin's +error of memory probably originated in the circumstance of his brother having +been the printer of the Boston Gazette when it was first established. This +was the second newspaper published in America."—<span class="smcap">Sparks.</span></p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_34_35" id="Footnote_34_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_35"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> Told.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_35_36" id="Footnote_35_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_36"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> Lowered; put down. +<a name="FNanchor_N_4" id="FNanchor_N_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_N_4" class="fnanchor">[n]</a></p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_36_37" id="Footnote_36_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_37"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> The legislature.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_37_38" id="Footnote_37_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_38"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> Errors; mistakes.</p> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<h2>§ 2. SEEKS HIS FORTUNE.</h2> + +<p>My inclinations for the sea were by this time worn out, or I +might now have gratified them. But, having a trade, and +supposing myself a pretty good workman, I offered my service to +the printer in the place, old Mr. William Bradford, who had been +the first printer in Pennsylvania, but removed from thence upon +the quarrel of George Keith. He could give me no employment, +having little to do and help enough already; but says he, "My +son at Philadelphia has lately lost his principal hand, Aquila +Rose, by death; if you go thither I believe he may employ you." +Philadelphia was a hundred miles farther; 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_38_39" id="FNanchor_38_39"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_38_39" class="fnanchor">[38]</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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +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 desired +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<a name="FNanchor_39_40" id="FNanchor_39_40"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_39_40" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> was the first that I know of who +mixed 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. +Defoe<a name="FNanchor_N_5" id="FNanchor_N_5"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_5" class="fnanchor">[n]</a> in his + "Crusoe," his "Moll Flanders," "Religious Courtship," +"Family Instructor," and other pieces, has imitated it with +success; and Richardson has done the same in his "Pamela," etc.</p> + +<p>When we drew near the island we found it was at a place where +there could be no landing, there being a great surf on the stony +beach. So we dropped anchor, and swung round toward the +shore. Some people came down to the water edge and hallooed +to us, as we did to them; but the wind was so high and the surf +so loud that we could not hear so as to understand each other. +There were canoes on the shore, and we made signs, and hallooed +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. +In the mean time, 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 +leaked through 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, the water we sailed on being salt.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> + In the evening I found myself very feverish, and went in to +bed; but, having read somewhere that cold water, drunk plentifully, +was good for a fever, I followed 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,<a name="FNanchor_40_41" id="FNanchor_40_41"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_40_41" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> where I was told I should find boats +that would carry me the rest of the way to Philadelphia.</p> + +<p>It rained very hard all the day. I was thoroughly soaked, and +by noon a good deal tired, so I stopped at a poor inn, where I +stayed 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 +asked 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 continued as long as he lived.<a name="FNanchor_N_6" id="FNanchor_N_6"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_6" class="fnanchor">[n]</a> 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,<a name="FNanchor_41_42" id="FNanchor_41_42"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_41_42" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> and was ingenious, but much +of an unbeliever, and wickedly undertook, some years after, to +travesty the Bible in doggerel 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 reached +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 asked 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +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 toward Philadelphia, with several +people in her. They took me in, and, as there was no wind, we +rowed 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, and 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 arrived 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 stuffed 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.<a name="FNanchor_42_43" id="FNanchor_42_43"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_42_43" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> The latter I gave the people of the boat for +my passage, who at first refused 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 through fear of being thought to have but little.</p> + +<p>Then I walked up the street, gazing about, till near the market + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +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 asked for biscuit, +intending such as we had in Boston; but they, it seems, were +not made in Philadelphia. Then I asked for a threepenny 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 threepenny worth of any +sort. He gave me, accordingly, three great puffy rolls. I was +surprised at the quantity, but took it, and, having no room in my +pockets, walked off with a roll under each arm, and eating the +other. Thus I went up Market Street as far as Fourth Street, +passing by the door of Mr. Read, my future wife's father; when +she, standing at the door, saw me, and thought I made, as I certainly +did, a most awkward, ridiculous appearance. Then I turned +and went down Chestnut Street and part of Walnut Street, eating +my roll all the way, and, coming round, found myself again +at Market Street wharf, near the boat I came in, to which I went +for a draught of the river water; and, being filled with one of my +rolls, gave the other two to a woman and her child that came +down the river in the boat with us, and were waiting to go farther.</p> + +<p>Thus refreshed, I walked again up the street, which by this +time had many clean-dressed people in it, who were all walking +the same way. I joined them, and thereby was led into the great +meetinghouse of the Quakers near the market.<a name="FNanchor_43_44" id="FNanchor_43_44"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_43_44" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> I sat down +among them, and, after looking round awhile and hearing nothing +said, being very drowsy through labor and want of rest the +preceding night, I fell fast asleep, and continued so till the meeting +broke up, when one was kind enough to rouse me. This was, +therefore, the first house I was in, or slept in, in Philadelphia.</p> + +<p>Walking down again toward the river, and looking in the faces +of people, I met a young Quaker man, whose countenance I liked, +and, accosting him, requested he would tell me where a stranger +could get lodging. We were then near the sign of the Three + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +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 returned; and, being shown to a +bed, I lay down without undressing and slept till six in the evening, +was called 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 introduced me to his son, who received me civilly, and +gave me a breakfast, but told me he did not at present want a +hand, being lately supplied with one; but there was another printer +in town, lately set up, one Keimer, who, perhaps, might employ +me; if not, I should be welcome to lodge at his house, and he +would give me a little work to do now and then till fuller business +should offer.</p> + +<p>The old gentleman said he would go with me to the new +printer; and when we found him, "Neighbor," says Bradford, "I +have brought to see you a young man of your business; perhaps +you may want such a one." He asked me a few questions, put +a composing stick<a name="FNanchor_44_45" id="FNanchor_44_45"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_44_45" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> in my hand to see how I worked, 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 townspeople that had a good will for him, +he entered 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +artful questions, and starting little doubts, to explain all his views, +what interest he relied 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,<a name="FNanchor_45_46" id="FNanchor_45_46"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_45_46" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> and the other a mere novice. +Bradford left me with Keimer, who was greatly surprised when I +told him who the old man was.</p> + +<p>Keimer's printing house, I found, consisted of an old shattered +press and one small, worn-out font of English,<a name="FNanchor_46_47" id="FNanchor_46_47"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_46_47" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> which he was +then using himself, composing an elegy on Aquila Rose, before +mentioned, an ingenious young man of excellent character, much +respected in the town, clerk of the Assembly, and a pretty poet. +Keimer made verses too, but very indifferently. He could not +be said to write them, for his manner was to compose them in the +types, directly out of his head. So, there being no copy, + <a name="FNanchor_47_48" id="FNanchor_47_48"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_47_48" class="fnanchor">[47]</a> but one +pair of cases, and the elegy likely to require all the letters, no one +could help him. I endeavored to put his press (which he had not +yet used and of which he understood nothing) into order fit to +be worked with; and, promising to come and print off his elegy +as soon as he should have got it ready, I returned to Bradford's, +who gave me a little job to do for the present, and there I lodged +and dieted.<a name="FNanchor_48_49" id="FNanchor_48_49"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_48_49" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> A few days after Keimer sent for me to print off +the elegy. And now he had got another pair of cases, and a +pamphlet to reprint, on which he set me to work.</p> + +<p>These two printers I found poorly qualified for their business. +Bradford had not been bred to it, and was very illiterate; and +Keimer, though something of a scholar, was a mere compositor, +knowing nothing of press work. He had been one of the French +prophets,<a name="FNanchor_49_50" id="FNanchor_49_50"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_49_50" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> and could + act their enthusiastic agitations. At this +time he did not profess any particular religion, but something of + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +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 worked 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 happened 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, +thanked him for his advice, but stated my reasons for quitting +Boston fully and in such a light as to convince him I was not so +wrong as he had apprehended.</p> + +<p>Sir William Keith, governor of the province, was then at Newcastle; +and Captain Holmes, happening to be in company with +him when my letter came to hand, spoke to him of me and showed +him the letter. The governor read it, and seemed surprised when +he was told my age. He said I appeared 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +me the public business, and do me every other service in his +power. This my brother-in-law afterward 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 dressed, 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 inquired for me, came up, and with a condescension +and politeness I had been quite unused to, made me many compliments, +desired to be acquainted with me, blamed 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 stared like a +pig poisoned. I went, however, with the governor and Colonel +French to a tavern at the corner of Third Street, and over the +Madeira he proposed my setting up my business, laid before me +the probabilities of success, and both he and Colonel French assured +me I should have their interest and influence in procuring +the public business of both governments.<a name="FNanchor_50_51" id="FNanchor_50_51"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_50_51" class="fnanchor">[50]</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 mean time the intention +was to be kept a secret, and I went on working with Keimer +as usual, the governor sending for me now and then to dine +with him, a very great honor I thought it, and conversing with +me in the most affable, familiar, and friendly manner imaginable.</p> + +<p>About the end of April, 1724, a little vessel offered 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +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 obliged to pump almost +continually, at which I took my turn. We arrived safe, however, +at Boston in about a fortnight. I had been absent seven months, +and my friends had heard nothing of me; for my brother Holmes +was not yet returned, and had not written about me. My unexpected +appearance surprised 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 dressed than +ever while in his service, having a genteel new suit from head to +foot, a watch, and my pockets lined with near five pounds sterling +in silver. He received me not very frankly, looked me all +over, and turned to his work again.</p> + +<p>The journeymen were inquisitive where I had been, what sort +of a country it was, and how I liked it. I praised 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 produced a handful of silver and spread it before them, +which was a kind of raree-show<a name="FNanchor_51_52" id="FNanchor_51_52"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_51_52" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> they had not been used to, paper +being the money of Boston. Then I took an opportunity of letting +them see my watch; and lastly (my brother still grum and sullen) +I gave them a piece of eight<a name="FNanchor_52_53" id="FNanchor_52_53"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_52_53" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> to drink, and took my leave. +This visit of mine offended him extremely; 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 several days, when, Captain + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +Holmes returning, he showed 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 favor of the project, but my father was clear in +the impropriety of it, and at last gave a flat denial to it. Then he +wrote a civil letter to Sir William, thanking him for the patronage +he had so kindly offered me, but declining to assist me as yet in +setting up, I being, in his opinion, too young to be trusted with +the management of a business so important, and for which the +preparation must be so expensive.</p> + +<p>My friend and companion, Collins, who was a clerk in the post +office, pleased 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 mathematics +and natural philosophy, to come with mine and me to New York, +where he proposed to wait for me.</p> + +<p>My father, though he did not approve Sir William's proposition, +was yet pleased 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, advised me to behave +respectfully to the people there, endeavor to obtain the general +esteem, and avoid lampooning and libeling, to which he thought +I had too much inclination; telling me that by steady industry +and a prudent parsimony I might save enough by the time I was +one and twenty to set me up; and that, if I came near the matter, +he would help me out with the rest. This was all I could +obtain, except some small gifts as tokens of his and my mother's +love, when I embarked again for New York, now with their approbation +and their blessing.</p> + +<p>The sloop putting in at Newport, Rhode Island, I visited my + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +brother John, who had been married and settled there some years. +He received me very affectionately, for he always loved 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 afterward +occasioned 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 +impressed 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 appeared to encourage, +she took me aside, and said, "Young man, I am concerned for +thee, as thou hast no friend with thee, and seems not to know +much of the world, or of the snares youth is exposed 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 seemed at first not to think so ill of them as +she did, she mentioned some things she had observed and heard +that had escaped my notice, but now convinced me she was right. +I thanked her for her kind advice, and promised to follow it. +When we arrived at New York, they told me where they lived, +and invited me to come and see them; but I avoided it, and it +was well I did; for the next day the captain missed a silver spoon +and some other things, that had been taken out of his cabin, and +he got a warrant to search their lodgings, found the stolen goods, +and had the thieves punished. So, though we had escaped a +sunken rock, which we scraped 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 arrived there +some time before me. We had been intimate from children, and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +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 outstripped me. While I +lived in Boston most of my hours of leisure for conversation were +spent with him, and he continued 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 acquired 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 behaved very oddly. He had gamed, +too, and lost his money, so that I was obliged to discharge his +lodgings, and defray his expenses to and at Philadelphia, which +proved 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, desired 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 governor treated +me with great civility, showed me his library, which was a very +large one, and we had a good deal of conversation about books +and authors. This was the second governor who had done me +the honor to take notice of me; which, to a poor boy like me, +was very pleasing.</p> + +<p>We proceeded to Philadelphia. I received on the way Vernon's +money, without which we could hardly have finished our journey. +Collins wished to be employed in some countinghouse; but, +whether they discovered his dramming by his breath or by his +behavior, though he had some recommendations he met with no +success in any application, and continued 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 distressed to think +what I should do in case of being called on to remit it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> + His drinking continued, about which we sometimes quarreled; +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 rowed 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 continued to refuse. So he swore he would make +me row, or throw me overboard; and coming along, stepping on +the thwarts,<a name="FNanchor_53_54" id="FNanchor_53_54"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_53_54" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> toward me, when he came up and struck at me I +clutched him, and, rising, pitched him headforemost 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 pulled her out of his reach; and ever +when he drew near the boat, we asked 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 exchanged +a civil word afterward, and a West India captain, who +had a commission to procure a tutor for the sons of a gentleman +at Barbadoes, happening to meet with him, agreed to carry him +thither. He left me then, promising to remit me the first money +he should receive in order to discharge the debt; but I never +heard of him after.</p> + +<p>The breaking into this money of Vernon's was one of the first +great errata of my life; and this affair showed that my father was +not much out in his judgment when he supposed 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. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +You shall repay me when you are able; I am resolved 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 advised +me not to rely on him, as I afterward 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 believed him one of the best men in the +world.<a name="FNanchor_54_55" id="FNanchor_54_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_55" class="fnanchor">[54]</a></p> + +<p>I presented him an inventory of a little printing house, amounting, +by my computation, to about one hundred pounds sterling. +He liked it, but asked me if my being on the spot in England to +choose 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,"<a name="FNanchor_55_56" id="FNanchor_55_56"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_55_56" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> 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 sailed, so I continued working +with Keimer, fretting about the money Collins had got from +me, and in daily apprehensions of being called 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 becalmed off Block Island, our people set +about catching cod, and hauled up a good many. Hitherto I had +stuck to my resolution of not eating animal food; and on this occasion +I considered, 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +seemed very reasonable; but I had formerly been a great lover +of fish, and when this came hot out of the frying pan it smelled +admirably well. I balanced 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 dined +upon cod very heartily, and continued to eat with other people, +returning only now and then occasionally to a vegetable diet. So +convenient a thing it is to be a "reasonable" creature, since it enables +one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind +to do.</p> + +<p>Keimer and I lived 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 loved argumentation. +We therefore had many disputations. I used to +work him so with my Socratic method, and had trepanned<a name="FNanchor_56_57" id="FNanchor_56_57"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_56_57" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> 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, "What do you intend to infer from +that?" 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, "Thou shalt not mar the corners of thy +beard."<a name="FNanchor_57_58" id="FNanchor_57_58"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_57_58" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> He likewise kept the seventh day Sabbath; and these +two points were essentials with him. I disliked 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +bear that." I assured him it would, and that he would be 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 dressed and brought to us +regularly by a woman in the neighborhood, who had from me a +list of forty dishes, to be prepared 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 eighteen pence 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, longed for the flesh pots of +Egypt, and ordered a roast pig. He invited me and two women +friends to dine with him; but, it being brought too soon upon +table, he could not resist the temptation, and ate the whole before +we came.</p> + +<p>I had made some courtship during this time to Miss Read. I +had a great respect and affection for her, and had some reason +to believe she had the same for me; but, as I was about to take +a long voyage, and we were both very young,—only a little above +eighteen,—it was thought most prudent by her mother to prevent +our going too far at present, as a marriage, if it was to take place, +would be more convenient after my return, when I should be, as +I expected, set up in my business. Perhaps, too, she thought my +expectations not so well founded as I imagined them to be.</p> + +<p>My chief acquaintances at this time were Charles Osborne, +Joseph Watson, and James Ralph, all lovers of reading. The two +first were clerks to an eminent scrivener or conveyancer in the +town, Charles Brogden; the other was clerk to a merchant. +Watson was a pious, sensible young man, of great integrity; the +others rather more lax in their principles of religion, particularly +Ralph, who, as well as Collins, had been unsettled by me, for which + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +they both made me suffer. Osborne was sensible, candid, frank; +sincere and affectionate to his friends, but, in literary matters, too +fond of criticising. Ralph was ingenious, genteel in his manners, +and extremely eloquent; I think I never knew a prettier talker. +Both of them 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 conferred on what we read.</p> + +<p>Ralph was inclined 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, assured +him he had no genius for poetry, and advised him to think of +nothing beyond the business he was bred to; that, in the mercantile +way, though he had no stock, he might, by his diligence and +punctuality, recommend himself to employment as a factor, + <a name="FNanchor_58_59" id="FNanchor_58_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_59" class="fnanchor">[58]</a> and +in time acquire wherewith to trade on his own account. I approved +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 proposed 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 +Deity. When the time of our meeting grew 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 showed me his piece for my opinion, and I much approved +it, as it appeared to me to have great merit. "Now," +says he, "Osborne never will allow the least merit in anything of +mine, but makes a thousand 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +so produce nothing. We shall then see what he will say to it." +It was agreed, and I immediately transcribed 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 would be admitted; produce +I must. It was read and repeated; Watson and Osborne gave +up the contest, and joined in applauding it. Ralph only made +some criticisms, and proposed some amendments; but I defended +my text. Osborne was against Ralph, and told him he was no +better a critic than poet, so he dropped the argument. As they +two went home together, Osborne expressed himself still more +strongly in favor of what he thought my production, having restrained +himself before, as he said, lest I should think it flattery. +"But who would have imagined," said he, "that Franklin had +been capable of such a performance; such painting, such force, +such fire! He has even improved the original. In his common +conversation he seems to have no choice of words; he hesitates +and blunders; and yet, good heavens! how he writes!" When +we next met, Ralph discovered the trick we had played 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 Pope cured him.<a name="FNanchor_59_60" id="FNanchor_59_60"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_59_60" class="fnanchor">[59]</a> He became, however, a +pretty good prose writer. More of him hereafter. But, as I may + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +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 happened 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 fulfilled his promise.</p> + +<p>The governor, seeming to like my company, had me frequently +to his house, and his setting me up was always mentioned 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 called to take my leave and receive the letters, his secretary, +Dr. Baird, 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 on this voyage. It was thought he intended to +establish a correspondence, and obtain goods to sell on commission; +but I found afterward that, through some discontent with +his wife's relations, he proposed to leave her on their hands, and +never return again. Having taken leave of my friends, and interchanged +some promises with Miss Read, I left Philadelphia in +the ship, which anchored at Newcastle. The governor was there; +but when I went to his lodging, the secretary came to me from +him with the civilest 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, and wished me heartily a +good voyage and a speedy return, etc. I returned on board a +little puzzled, but still not doubting.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<div class="fn"> +<h4>Footnotes</h4> +<p><a name="Footnote_38_39" id="Footnote_38_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_39"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> Kill von Kull, the strait between Staten Island and New Jersey.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_39_40" id="Footnote_39_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_40"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> That is, John Bunyan, the author of the book.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_40_41" id="Footnote_40_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_41"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> In New Jersey.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_41_42" id="Footnote_41_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_42"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> Learning.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_42_43" id="Footnote_42_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_43"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> English penny pieces. The coin money used by the colonists was at +this time of foreign make.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_43_44" id="Footnote_43_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_44"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> This market stood on the southwest corner of Second and Market Streets.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_44_45" id="Footnote_44_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_45"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> A composing stick is a small tray which the compositor holds in his left +hand and in which he arranges the type that he picks out of the cases with his +right hand.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_45_46" id="Footnote_45_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_46"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> A false reasoner, and hence a deceiver.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_46_47" id="Footnote_46_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_47"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> The name of a kind of type.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_47_48" id="Footnote_47_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_48"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> Manuscript or printing of original matter.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_48_49" id="Footnote_48_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_49"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> Boarded.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_49_50" id="Footnote_49_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_50"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> The Camisards, who broke away from the state religion of France, and +suffered persecution at the hands of Louis XIV. They showed their spiritual +zeal by the prophetic mania and by working miracles, as well as by a +stout attachment to their creed.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_50_51" id="Footnote_50_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_51"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> "Both governments," i.e., both Pennsylvania and Delaware.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_51_52" id="Footnote_51_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_52"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> Peep show.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_52_53" id="Footnote_52_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_53"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> "Piece of eight," i.e., the Spanish dollar, containing eight reals. The +present value of a real is about five cents.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_53_54" id="Footnote_53_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_54"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> The seats across the boat on which the oarsmen sit.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_54_55" id="Footnote_54_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_55"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> For Governor Keith's character and popularity, see p. <a href="#my">58</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_55_56" id="Footnote_55_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_56"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> Captain Annis, commander of the ship, is here referred to.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_56_57" id="Footnote_56_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_57"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> Entrapped.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_57_58" id="Footnote_57_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_58"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> Lev. xix. 27.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_58_59" id="Footnote_58_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_59"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> An agent or commission merchant.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_59_60" id="Footnote_59_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_60"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> In 1728 Alexander Pope published his Dunciad, and in Book III. lines +165, 166, he refers to Ralph, who was then living in London: +</p> +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Silence, ye wolves! while Ralph to Cynthia howls.<br /></span> +<span class="i00">And makes night hideous—answer him, ye owls!"<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p> +Later, his History of England during the Reigns of King William, Queen +Anne, and King George I. was highly praised (see pp. <a href="#and">177</a>, <a href="#he">178</a>).</p> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> +<h2>§ 3. FIRST VISIT TO LONDON.</h2> + +<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) returned from Newcastle to Philadelphia, +the father being recalled by a great fee to plead for a +seized ship; and, just before we sailed, 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 +removed thither.</p> + +<p>Understanding that Colonel French had brought on board the +governor's dispatches, I asked the captain for those letters that +were to be put 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +of them was directed to Basket, the king's printer, and another to +some stationer.</p> + +<p>We arrived 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, "Oh! this is from Riddlesden. I +have lately found him to be a complete rascal, and I will have +nothing to do with him, nor receive any letters from him." So, +putting the letter into my hand, he turned 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 laughed at the notion +of the governor's giving me a letter of credit, having, as he said, +no credit to give. On my expressing some concern about what +I should do, he advised me to endeavor getting some employment +in the way of my business. "Among the printers here," said he, +"you will improve yourself, and when you return to America you +will set up to greater advantage."</p> + +<p>We both of us happened to know, as well as the stationer, that +Riddlesden, the attorney, was a very knave. He had half ruined +Miss Read's father by persuading him to be bound<a name="FNanchor_60_61" id="FNanchor_60_61"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_60_61" class="fnanchor">[60]</a> for him. By +this letter it appeared there was a secret scheme on foot to the +prejudice of Hamilton (supposed 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 arrived 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 thanked me cordially, the information +being of importance to him; and from that time he became + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +<a name="my" id="my"></a>my friend, greatly to my advantage afterward 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 wished 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, though not for his constituents, the proprietaries, + <a name="FNanchor_61_62" id="FNanchor_61_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_62" class="fnanchor">[61]</a> +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_62_63" id="FNanchor_62_63"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_62_63" class="fnanchor">[62]</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_63_64" id="FNanchor_63_64"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_63_64" class="fnanchor">[63]</a> so he borrowed occasionally +of me to subsist while he was looking out for business. He +first endeavored to get into the playhouse, believing himself qualified +for an actor; but Wilkes,<a name="FNanchor_64_65" id="FNanchor_64_65"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_64_65" class="fnanchor">[64]</a> to whom he applied, advised him +candidly not to think of that employment, as it was impossible +he should succeed in it. Then he proposed to Roberts, a publisher +in Paternoster Row, to write for him a weekly paper like +the "Spectator," on certain conditions which Roberts did not approve. +Then he endeavored to get employment as a hackney +writer,<a name="FNanchor_65_66" id="FNanchor_65_66"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_65_66" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> to copy for the stationers + and lawyers about the Temple,<a name="FNanchor_66_67" id="FNanchor_66_67"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_66_67" class="fnanchor">[66]</a> +but could find no vacancy.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> + I immediately got into work at Palmer's, then a famous printing +house in Bartholomew Close, and here I continued 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 seemed 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<a name="FNanchor_67_68" id="FNanchor_67_68"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_67_68" class="fnanchor">[67]</a> 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, +"Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain." I +inscribed it to my friend Ralph; I printed a small number. It +occasioned my being more considered by Mr. Palmer as a young +man of some ingenuity, though he seriously expostulated with +me upon the principles of my pamphlet, which to him appeared +abominable. My printing this pamphlet was another erratum.</p> + +<p>While I lodged 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 secondhand 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 esteemed a great advantage, +and I made as much use of it as I could.</p> + +<p>My pamphlet 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-ale house in —— Lane, Cheapside, and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +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 promised +to give me an opportunity, some time or other, of seeing Sir +Isaac Newton, of which I was extremely 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<a name="FNanchor_68_69" id="FNanchor_68_69"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_68_69" class="fnanchor">[68]</a> heard of it, came to see me, and invited me to his +house in Bloomsbury Square, where he showed 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 lodged 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 lived together some +time; but, he being still out of business, and her income not sufficient +to maintain them with her child, he took a resolution of +going from London to try for a country school, which he thought +himself well qualified to undertake, as he wrote an excellent hand, +and was a master of arithmetic and accounts. This, however, +he deemed a business below him; and, confident of future better +fortune, when he should be unwilling to have it known that he +once was so meanly employed, he changed his name, and did +me the honor to assume mine; for I soon after had a letter from +him, acquainting me that he was settled in a small village, (in + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +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 endeavored rather to discourage his proceeding. One of +Young's<a name="FNanchor_N_7" id="FNanchor_N_7"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_7" class="fnanchor">[n]</a> satires was then just published. I copied 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.</p> + +<p>A breach at last arose between us; and, when he returned again +to London, he let me know he thought I had canceled 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 advanced 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 burden. I now began to think of getting a little +money beforehand; and, expecting better work, I left Palmer's to +work at Watts's, near Lincoln's Inn Fields, a still greater printing +house. Here I continued all the rest of my stay in London.</p> + +<p>At my first admission into this printing house I took to working +at press,<a name="FNanchor_69_70" id="FNanchor_69_70"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_69_70" class="fnanchor">[69]</a> imagining I felt a want of the bodily exercise I had +been used to in America, where press work is mixed 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 "Water-American," as they called +me, was stronger than themselves, who drank strong 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +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 supposed, to drink strong beer that he might be +strong to labor. I endeavored to convince him that the bodily +strength afforded by beer could only be in proportion to the +grain or flour of the barley dissolved in the water of which it +was made; that there was more flour in a pennyworth of bread; +and therefore, if he would eat that with a pint of water, it would +give him more strength than a quart of beer. He drank on, however, +and had four or five shillings to pay out of his wages every +Saturday night for that muddling liquor—an expense I was free +from. And thus these poor devils keep themselves always under.</p> + +<p>Watts after some weeks desiring to have me in the composing +room, I left the pressmen; a new <i>bien venu</i>, + <a name="FNanchor_70_71" id="FNanchor_70_71"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_70_71" class="fnanchor">[70]</a> 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,<a name="FNanchor_71_72" id="FNanchor_71_72"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_71_72" class="fnanchor">[71]</a> transposing my pages, + breaking my matter, etc., if I were +ever so little out of the room, and all ascribed to the chapel + <a name="FNanchor_72_73" id="FNanchor_72_73"></a><a href="#Footnote_72_73" class="fnanchor">[72]</a> +ghost, which they said ever haunted those not regularly admitted, +that, notwithstanding the master's protection, I found myself +obliged to comply and pay the money, convinced 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 acquired considerable +influence. I proposed some reasonable alterations in +their chapel laws, and carried them against all opposition. From + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +my example, a great part of them left their muddling breakfast of +beer and bread and cheese, finding they could with me be supplied +from a neighboring house with a large porringer of hot +water gruel, sprinkled with pepper, crumbed with bread, and a bit +of butter in it, for the price of a pint of beer, namely, three halfpence. +This was a more comfortable as well as cheaper breakfast, +and kept their heads clearer. Those who continued sotting +with beer all day were often, by not paying, out of credit at the +alehouse, and used to make interest with me to get beer, their +"light," as they phrased it, "being out." I watched the pay table +on Saturday night, and collected what I stood engaged for them, +having to pay sometimes near thirty shillings a week on their accounts. +This, and my being esteemed a pretty good "riggite,"—that +is, a jocular verbal satirist,—supported my consequence in the society. +My constant attendance (I never making a Saint Monday + <a name="FNanchor_73_74" id="FNanchor_73_74"></a><a href="#Footnote_73_74" class="fnanchor">[73]</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 backward, at an Italian warehouse. A widow lady kept +the house; she had a daughter, and a maidservant, and a journeyman +who attended the warehouse, but lodged abroad. After +sending to inquire my character at the house where I last lodged, +she agreed to take me in at the same rate, three shillings and sixpence +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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +far back as the time of Charles II. 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 talked 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 stayed 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: she was a Roman Catholic, had been sent abroad when +young, and lodged 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 vowed 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 asked her," says my landlady, +"how she, as she lived, could possibly find so much employment +for a confessor." "Oh," said she, "it is impossible to avoid vain +thoughts." I was permitted once to visit her. She was cheerful +and polite, and conversed pleasantly. The room was clean, but +had no other furniture than a mattress, a table with a crucifix and +book, a stool which she gave me to sit on, and a picture over the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +chimney of St. Veronica<a name="FNanchor_74_75" id="FNanchor_74_75"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_74_75" class="fnanchor">[74]</a> displaying her handkerchief, with the +miraculous figure of Christ's bleeding face on it, which she explained +to me with great seriousness. She looked 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 loved reading. I taught him +and a friend of his to swim at twice going into the river, and they +soon became good swimmers. They introduced me to some gentlemen +from the country, who went to Chelsea<a name="FNanchor_75_76" id="FNanchor_75_76"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_75_76" class="fnanchor">[75]</a> by water to see +the college and Don Saltero's<a name="FNanchor_76_77" id="FNanchor_76_77"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_76_77" class="fnanchor">[76]</a> curiosities. In our return, at the +request of the company, whose curiosity Wygate had excited, I +stripped and leaped into the river, and swam from near Chelsea +to Blackfriar's,<a name="FNanchor_77_78" id="FNanchor_77_78"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_77_78" class="fnanchor">[77]</a> performing on the way many feats of activity, +both upon and under the water, that surprised and pleased those +to whom they were novelties.</p> + +<p>I had from a child been ever delighted with this exercise, had +studied and practiced all Thevenot's motions and positions, and +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 flattered by their admiration; and Wygate, +who was desirous of becoming a master, grew more and more attached +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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +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 +thanked them for the easy composition<a name="FNanchor_78_79" id="FNanchor_78_79"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_78_79" class="fnanchor">[78]</a> they had favored him +with, and, when they expected nothing but the treat, every man +at the first remove found under his plate an order on a banker +for the full amount of the unpaid remainder, with interest.</p> + +<p>He now told me he was about to return to Philadelphia, and +should carry over a great quantity of goods, in order to open a +store there. He proposed 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 managed well, would establish me handsomely. +The thing pleased me, for I was grown tired of London, remembered +with pleasure the happy months I had spent in Pennsylvania, +and wished again to see it; therefore I immediately agreed +on the terms of fifty pounds a year, Pennsylvania money; less, +indeed, than my present gettings as a compositor, but affording +a better prospect.</p> + +<p>I now took leave of printing, as I thought, forever, and was +daily employed in my new business, going about with Mr. Denham +among the tradesmen to purchase various articles, and seeing +them packed 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +a great man I knew only by name, a Sir William Wyndham, and +I waited upon him. He had heard by some means or other of +my swimming from Chelsea to Blackfriar's, and of my teaching +Wygate and another young man to swim in a few hours. He +had two sons about to set out on their travels; he wished to have +them first taught swimming, and proposed to gratify<a name="FNanchor_79_80" id="FNanchor_79_80"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_79_80" class="fnanchor">[79]</a> 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 worked 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 loved him, notwithstanding, for he had many +amiable qualities. I had by no means improved my fortune; +but I had picked up some very ingenious acquaintance, whose +conversation was of great advantage to me; and I had read considerably.</p> + +<p>We sailed from Gravesend on the 23d of July, 1726. For the +incidents of the voyage I refer you to my journal, where you will +find them all minutely related. Perhaps the most important part +of that journal is the plan<a name="FNanchor_80_81" id="FNanchor_80_81"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_80_81" class="fnanchor">[80]</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 through to old age.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<div class="fn"> +<h4>Footnotes</h4> +<p><a name="Footnote_60_61" id="Footnote_60_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_61"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> Responsible for the payment of a note.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_61_62" id="Footnote_61_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_62"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> The owners or proprietors of Pennsylvania, which Charles II. had given +William Penn, were Penn's sons. They lived in England.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_62_63" id="Footnote_62_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_63"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> A street in London.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_63_64" id="Footnote_63_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_64"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> A pistole was a Spanish gold coin worth about four dollars.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_64_65" id="Footnote_64_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_65"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> A comedian of some note.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_65_66" id="Footnote_65_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_66"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> A hackney writer, or hack writer, is one employed to write according to +direction.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_66_67" id="Footnote_66_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_67"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> Inns of Court in London, occupied by lawyers.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_67_68" id="Footnote_67_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_68"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> Setting type.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_68_69" id="Footnote_68_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68_69"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> A celebrated physician and naturalist. To him Franklin wrote:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +"<span class="smcap">Sir</span>: Having lately been in the northern parts of America, I have brought +from thence a purse made of the asbestos, ... called by the inhabitants 'salamander +cotton.' As you are noted to be a lover of curiosities, I have informed +you of this; and if you have any inclination to purchase or see it, let me know +your pleasure by a line for me at the Golden Fan, Little Britain, and I will +wait upon you with it. I am, sir, your most humble servant, + +<div class="signature">" +<span class="smcap">B. Franklin</span>." +</div></div> + +<p><a name="Footnote_69_70" id="Footnote_69_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_70"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> This press is now preserved at the Patent Office in Washington.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_70_71" id="Footnote_70_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70_71"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> A French expression meaning "welcome."</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_71_72" id="Footnote_71_72"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_72"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> Pieces in a font of type.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_72_73" id="Footnote_72_73"></a><a href="#FNanchor_72_73"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> "A printing house used to be called a chapel by the workmen, and a +journeyman, on entering a printing house, was accustomed to pay one or +more gallons of beer 'for the good of the chapel,'"—<span class="smcap">W. F. Franklin</span>, quoted +by Bigelow.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_73_74" id="Footnote_73_74"></a><a href="#FNanchor_73_74"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> "Never making," etc., i.e., never making a holiday of Monday. The +heavy drinkers of Saturday night and Sunday needed Monday to recover +from their excesses.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_74_75" id="Footnote_74_75"></a><a href="#FNanchor_74_75"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> The woman who, according to legend, wiped the face of Jesus on his +way to Calvary, and carried away the likeness of his face, which had been +miraculously printed on the cloth.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_75_76" id="Footnote_75_76"></a><a href="#FNanchor_75_76"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> A suburb of London, north of the Thames.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_76_77" id="Footnote_76_77"></a><a href="#FNanchor_76_77"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> Don Saltero had been a servant to Sir Hans Sloane, and had learned +from him to treasure curiosities. He now had a coffeehouse at Chelsea.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_77_78" id="Footnote_77_78"></a><a href="#FNanchor_77_78"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> A name given to a part of London. The distance Franklin swam was +about three miles.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_78_79" id="Footnote_78_79"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78_79"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> Settlement.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_79_80" id="Footnote_79_80"></a><a href="#FNanchor_79_80"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> Pay.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_80_81" id="Footnote_80_81"></a><a href="#FNanchor_80_81"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> This plan has never been found.</p> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> +<h2>§ 4. IN PHILADELPHIA AND IN BUSINESS FOR HIMSELF.</h2> + +<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 seemed a little ashamed at seeing me, +but passed without saying anything. I should have been as much +ashamed 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 bear his name, it being now +said that he had another wife. He was a worthless fellow, +though 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 supplied with stationery, plenty of new types, a +number of hands, though none good, and seemed to have a great +deal of business.</p> + +<p>Mr. Denham took a store in Water Street, where we opened +our goods; I attended the business diligently, studied accounts, +and grew, in a little time, expert at selling. We lodged and +boarded together; he counseled 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,<a name="FNanchor_81_82" id="FNanchor_81_82"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_81_82" class="fnanchor">[81]</a> when I had just passed my + twenty-first year, we were both +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, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +<a name="regret" id="regret"></a>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 + <a name="FNanchor_82_83" id="FNanchor_82_83"></a><a href="#Footnote_82_83" class="fnanchor">[82]</a> will, +as a token of his kindness for me, and he left me once more to +the wide world; for the store was taken into the care of his executors, +and my employment under him ended.</p> + +<p>My brother-in-law, Holmes, being now at Philadelphia, advised +my return to my business; and Keimer tempted me, with an offer +of large wages by the year, to come and take the management +of his printing house, that he might better attend his stationer's +shop. I had heard a bad character of him in London from his +wife and her friends, and was not fond of having any more to do +with him. I tried for further employment as a merchant's clerk; +but, not readily meeting with any, I closed 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 extremely low wages per week, to be raised 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 bookbinding, which he, by agreement, +was to teach them, though he knew neither one nor the other. +John ——, a wild Irishman, brought up to no business, whose +service, for four years, Keimer had purchased<a name="FNanchor_83_84" id="FNanchor_83_84"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_83_84" class="fnanchor">[83]</a> 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +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 perceived that the intention of engaging me at wages +so much higher than he had been used to give was to have these +raw, cheap hands formed through me; and, as soon as I had instructed +them, then they being all articled<a name="FNanchor_84_85" id="FNanchor_84_85"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_84_85" class="fnanchor">[84]</a> to him, he should be +able to do without me. I went on, however, very cheerfully, put +his printing house in order, which had been in great confusion, +and brought his hands by degrees to mind their business and to +do it better.</p> + +<p>It was an odd thing to find an Oxford scholar in the situation +of a bought servant. He was not more than eighteen years +of age, and gave me this account of himself: he was born in +Gloucester, educated at a grammar school there, and had been distinguished +among the scholars for some apparent superiority in +performing his part when they exhibited plays. He belonged 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 satisfied, wishing of all things to see London, and become a +player. At length, receiving his quarterly allowance of fifteen +guineas,<a name="FNanchor_85_86" id="FNanchor_85_86"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_85_86" class="fnanchor">[85]</a> instead of discharging his debts he walked out of town, +hid his gown in a furze bush, and footed it to London, where, +having no friends to advise him, he fell into bad company, soon +spent his guineas, found no means of being introduced among +the players, grew necessitous, pawned his clothes, and wanted +bread. Walking the street very hungry, and not knowing what +to do with himself, a crimp's<a name="FNanchor_86_87" id="FNanchor_86_87"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_86_87" class="fnanchor">[86]</a> bill was put into his hand, offering +immediate entertainment and encouragement to such as would +bind themselves to serve in America. He went directly, signed +the indentures, was put into the ship, and came over, never writing + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +a line to acquaint his friends what was become of him. He +was lively, witty, good-natured, 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 economist. +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 mold, made use of the letters we had as puncheons, +struck the matrices<a name="FNanchor_87_88" id="FNanchor_87_88"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_87_88" class="fnanchor">[87]</a> in lead, and thus supplied in a pretty +tolerable way all deficiencies. I also engraved several things on +occasion; I made the ink; I was warehouseman,<a name="FNanchor_88_89" id="FNanchor_88_89"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_88_89" class="fnanchor">[88]</a> and everything, +and, in short, quite a factotum.</p> + +<p>But, however serviceable I might be, I found that my services +became every day of less importance, as the other hands improved +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 +seemed ready for an outbreaking. I went on, nevertheless, with +a good deal of patience, thinking that his encumbered circumstances +were partly the cause. At length a trifle snapped our +connections; for, a great noise happening near the courthouse, +I put my head out of the window to see what was the matter. +Keimer, being in the street, looked up and saw me, and called out +to me in a loud voice and angry tone to mind my business, adding + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +some reproachful words that nettled me the more for their publicity, +all the neighbors, who were looking out on the same occasion, +being witnesses how I was treated. He came up immediately +into the printing house; continued the quarrel; high words +passed on both sides. He gave me the quarter's warning we had +stipulated, expressing a wish that he had not been obliged to so +long a warning. I told him that his wish was unnecessary, for +I would leave him that instant; and so, taking my hat, walked +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 conceived a great regard for me, and was +very unwilling that I should leave the house while he remained +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 possessed; 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 passed 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 approved 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 hoped might break him of that wretched +habit entirely when we came to be so closely connected. I gave +an inventory to the father, who carried it to a merchant; the +things were sent for, the secret was to be kept till they should + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +arrive, and in the mean time I was to get work, if I could, at +the other printing house. But I found no vacancy there, and so +remained idle a few days, when Keimer, on a prospect of being +employed 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 job 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 returned, and we went on more smoothly than for some time +before. The New Jersey job was obtained, I contrived a copperplate +press for it, the first that had been seen in the country; +I cut several ornaments and checks<a name="FNanchor_89_90" id="FNanchor_89_90"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_89_90" class="fnanchor">[89]</a> 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 improved by reading than Keimer's, I +suppose it was for that reason my conversation seemed to be +more valued. They had me to their houses, introduced me to +their friends, and showed me much civility; while he, though the +master, was a little neglected. In truth, he was an odd fish; ignorant +of common life, fond of rudely opposing received opinions, +slovenly to extreme dirtiness, enthusiastic in some points of religion, +and a little knavish withal.</p> + +<p>We continued 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +several of the Smiths, members of Assembly, and Isaac Decow, +the surveyor general. The latter was a shrewd, sagacious old +man, who told me that he began for himself, when young, by +wheeling clay for the brickmakers, learned to write after he was +of age, carried the chain for surveyors, who taught him surveying, +and he had now by his industry acquired 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 afterward 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 influenced +the future events of my life. My parents had early +given me religious impressions, and brought me through my +childhood piously in the Dissenting<a name="FNanchor_90_91" id="FNanchor_90_91"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_90_91" class="fnanchor">[90]</a> 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_91_92" id="FNanchor_91_92"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_91_92" class="fnanchor">[91]</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 afterward +wronged me greatly without the least compunction, and recollecting +Keith's conduct toward me (who was another freethinker), +and my own toward Vernon and Miss Read, which at times +gave me great trouble, I began to suspect that this doctrine, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +though it might be true, was not very useful. My London pamphlet, +which had for its motto these lines of Dryden:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Whatever is, is right. Though purblind man<br /></span> +<span class="i00">Sees but a part o' the chain, the nearest link:<br /></span> +<span class="i00">His eyes not carrying to the equal beam<br /></span> +<span class="i00">That poises all above;"<a name="FNanchor_92_93" id="FNanchor_92_93"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_92_93" class="fnanchor">[92]</a><br /></span> +</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, appeared now not so clever a performance +as I once thought it; and I doubted whether some error had not +insinuated itself unperceived into my argument, so as to infect all +that followed, as is common in metaphysical reasonings.</p> + +<p>I grew convinced that truth, sincerity, and integrity in dealings +between man and man were of the utmost importance to the felicity +of life; and I formed 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 entertained +an opinion that, though certain actions might not be bad because +they were forbidden by it, or good because it commanded them, +yet probably those actions might be forbidden because they were +bad for us, or commanded because they were beneficial to us, in +their own natures, all the circumstances of things considered. +And this persuasion, with the kind hand of Providence, or some +guardian angel, or accidental favorable circumstances and situations, +or all together,—preserved me, through 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +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 necessity 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 determined to preserve it.</p> + +<p>We had not been long returned to Philadelphia before the new +types arrived 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, though 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, stopped 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +that <a name="would" id="would"></a>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 formed most of my ingenious acquaintance +into a club of mutual improvement, which we called the +"Junto."<a name="FNanchor_93_94" id="FNanchor_93_94"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_93_94" class="fnanchor">[93]</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 discussed 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.<a name="FNanchor_N_8" id="FNanchor_N_8"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_8" class="fnanchor">[n]</a></p> + +<p>The first members were: Joseph Breintnal, a copier of deeds +for the scriveners, a good-natured, friendly, middle-aged man, a +great lover of poetry, reading all he could meet with, and writing +some that was tolerable; very ingenious in many little knick-knackeries, +and of sensible conversation. Thomas Godfrey, a +self-taught mathematician, great in his way, and afterward inventor +of what is now called Hadley's Quadrant.<a name="FNanchor_94_95" id="FNanchor_94_95"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_94_95" class="fnanchor">[94]</a> 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +universal precision in everything said, or was forever denying +or distinguishing upon trifles, to the disturbance of all conversation. +He soon left us. Nicholas Scull, a surveyor, afterward +surveyor general, who loved books, and sometimes made +a few verses. William Parsons, bred a shoemaker, but loving +reading, had acquired a considerable share of mathematics, +which he first studied with a view to astrology that he afterward +laughed at. He also became surveyor general. William +Maugridge, a joiner, a most exquisite mechanic, and a solid, +sensible man. Hugh Meredith, Stephen Potts, and George Webb +I have characterized before. Robert Grace, a young gentleman +of some fortune, generous, lively, and witty; a lover of punning +and of his friends. 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 afterward a merchant of great note, and one of our provincial +judges. Our friendship continued without interruption to +his death, upward of forty years; and the club continued almost +as long, and was the best school of philosophy, morality, and politics +that then existed in the province; for our queries, which were +read the week preceding their discussion, put us upon reading with +attention upon the several subjects, that we might speak more to +the purpose; and here, too, we acquired better habits of conversation, +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, every one of these exerting themselves in +recommending business to us. Breintnal particularly procured +us from the Quakers the printing forty sheets of their history, the +rest being to be done by Keimer; and upon this we worked exceedingly +hard, for the price was low. It was a folio, pro patria +size, in pica, with long primer notes. I composed of it a sheet a +day, and Meredith worked it off at press; it was often eleven at + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +night, and sometimes later, before I had finished my distribution + <a name="FNanchor_95_96" id="FNanchor_95_96"></a><a href="#Footnote_95_96" class="fnanchor">[95]</a> +for the next day's work, for the little jobs sent in by our other +friends now and then put us back. But so determined I was to +continue doing a sheet a day of the folio that one night, when, +having imposed<a name="FNanchor_96_97" id="FNanchor_96_97"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_96_97" class="fnanchor">[96]</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_97_98" id="FNanchor_97_98"></a><a href="#Footnote_97_98" class="fnanchor">[97]</a> +I immediately distributed 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 +choose to engage in shop business.</p> + +<p>I mention this industry the more particularly and the more +freely, though 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 favor 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 +managed, no way entertaining, and yet was profitable to him; I +therefore thought a good paper would scarcely fail of good encouragement. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +I requested Webb not to mention this; 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 employed. 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 "Busy +Body," which Breintnal continued some months. By this means +the attention of the public was fixed on that paper, and Keimer's +proposals, which were burlesqued and ridiculed, 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 proved in a few years +extremely profitable to me.<a name="FNanchor_98_99" id="FNanchor_98_99"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_98_99" class="fnanchor">[98]</a></p> + +<p>I perceive that I am apt to speak in the singular number, +though our partnership still continued; the reason may be that, +in fact, the whole management of the business lay upon me. +Meredith was no compositor, a poor pressman, and seldom sober. +My friends lamented my connection with him, but I was to make +the best of it.</p> + +<p>Our first papers made a quite different appearance from any +before in the province; a better type, and better printed; but +some spirited remarks of my writing, on the dispute + <a name="FNanchor_99_100" id="FNanchor_99_100"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_99_100" class="fnanchor">[99]</a> then going +on between Governor Burnet and the Massachusetts Assembly, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +struck the principal people, occasioned the paper and the manager +of it to be much talked of, and in a few weeks brought them all +to be our subscribers.</p> + +<p>Their example was followed by many, and our number went +on growing continually. This was one of the first good effects +of my having learned a little to scribble;<a name="FNanchor_N_9" id="FNanchor_N_9"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_9" class="fnanchor">[n]</a> 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 +public 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_100_101" id="FNanchor_100_101"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_100_101" class="fnanchor">[100]</a></p> + +<p>Mr. Vernon, about this time, put me in mind of the debt I owed +him, but did not press me. I wrote him an ingenuous letter of +acknowledgment, craved his forbearance a little longer, which +he allowed me, and as soon as I was able I paid the principle, +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 sued us all. We gave bail, +but saw that, if the money could not be raised in time, the suit + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +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 anything, +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 remained of the +Merediths' fulfilling their part of our agreement, because I thought +myself under great obligations to them for what they had done +and would do if they could; but, if they finally failed in their +performance, and our partnership must be dissolved, 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 further. +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 inclined 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +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, signed, and sealed 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 public.</p> + +<p>As soon as he was gone, I recurred to my two friends; and +because I would not give an unkind preference to either, I took +half of what each had offered and I wanted of one, and half of +the other, paid off the company's debts, and went on with the +business in my own name, advertising that the partnership was +dissolved. I think this was in or about the year 1729.</p> + +<p>About this time there was a cry among the people for more +paper money, only fifteen thousand pounds being extant in the +province, and that soon to be sunk. The wealthy inhabitants +opposed 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 discussed +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 walked about the streets of Philadelphia, +eating my roll, I saw most of the houses in Walnut Street, between +Second and Front Streets, with bills on their doors, "To +be Let;" and many likewise in Chestnut Street and other streets, +which made me then think the inhabitants of the city were deserting +it one after another.</p> + +<p>Our debates possessed me so fully of the subject that I wrote +and printed an anonymous pamphlet on it, entitled, "The Nature +and Necessity of a Paper Currency." It was well received by + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +the common people in general; but the rich men disliked it, for +it increased and strengthened the clamor for more money, and +they, happening to have no writers among them that were able to +answer it, their opposition slackened, and the point was carried +by a majority in the House. My friends there, who conceived I +had been of some service, thought fit to reward me by employing +me in printing the money,—a very profitable job and a great help +to me. This was another advantage gained by my being able to +write.</p> + +<p>The utility of this currency became by time and experience so +evident as never afterward to be much disputed; so that it grew +soon to fifty-five thousand pounds, and in 1739 to eighty thousand +pounds, since which it rose during war to upward of three hundred +and fifty thousand pounds, trade, building, and inhabitants +all the while increasing, though I now think there are limits, beyond +which the quantity may be hurtful.<a name="FNanchor_101_102" id="FNanchor_101_102"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_101_102" class="fnanchor">[101]</a></p> + +<p>I soon after obtained, through my friend Hamilton, the printing +of the Newcastle paper money, another profitable job, 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, + <a name="FNanchor_102_103" id="FNanchor_102_103"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_102_103" class="fnanchor">[102]</a> which continued +in my hands as long as I followed the business.</p> + +<p>I now opened a little stationer's shop. I had in it blanks of all +sorts, the correctest that ever appeared 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 +worked with me constantly and diligently; and I took an apprentice, +the son of Aquila Rose.</p> + +<p>I began now gradually to pay off the debt I was under for the +printing house. In order to secure my credit and character as a +tradesman, I took care not only to be in reality industrious and + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +frugal, but to avoid all appearances to the contrary. I dressed +plainly; I was seen at no places of idle diversion; I never went +out a-fishing or shooting; a book, indeed, sometimes debauched +me from my work, but that was seldom, snug,<a name="FNanchor_103_104" id="FNanchor_103_104"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_103_104" class="fnanchor">[103]</a> and gave no scandal; +and, to show that I was not above my business, I sometimes +brought home the paper I purchased at the stores through the +streets on a wheelbarrow. Thus, being esteemed an industrious, +thriving young man, and paying duly for what I bought, the +merchants who imported stationery solicited my custom; others +proposed supplying me with books, and I went on swimmingly. +In the mean time, Keimer's credit and business declining daily, +he was at last forced to sell his printing house to satisfy his creditors. +He went to Barbadoes, and there lived some years in very +poor circumstances.</p> + +<p>His apprentice, David Harry, whom I had instructed while I +worked 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 proposed a partnership to him, which he, +fortunately for me, rejected with scorn. He was very proud, +dressed like a gentleman, lived 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 employed his former master as a +journeyman; they quarreled often; Harry went continually behindhand, +and at length was forced to sell his types and return +to his country work in Pennsylvania. The person that bought +them employed 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. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +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, though I did indeed receive +and send papers by post, yet the public opinion was otherwise, +for what I did send was by bribing the riders,<a name="FNanchor_104_105" id="FNanchor_104_105"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_104_105" class="fnanchor">[104]</a> who took +them privately, Bradford being unkind enough to forbid it, which +occasioned 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 continued 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, though he worked little, being +always absorbed in his mathematics. Mrs. Godfrey projected a +match for me with a relation's daughter, and took opportunities +of bringing us often together, till a serious courtship on my part +ensued, the girl being in herself very deserving. The old folks +encouraged me by continual invitations to supper, and by leaving +us together, till at length it was time to explain. Mrs. Godfrey +managed our little treaty. I let her know that I expected as +much money<a name="FNanchor_N_10" id="FNanchor_N_10"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_10" class="fnanchor">[n]</a> with their daughter as would pay off my remaining +debt for the printing house, which I believe was 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 pleased, I + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +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 looked +round me and made overtures of acquaintance in other places; +but soon found that, the business of a printer being generally +thought a poor one, I was not to expect money with a wife, unless +with such a one as I should not otherwise think agreeable. +In the mean time a friendly correspondence as neighbors and old +acquaintances had continued between me and Mr. 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 pitied poor Miss +Read's unfortunate situation, who was generally dejected, seldom +cheerful, and avoided company. I considered my giddiness and +inconstancy when in London as in a great degree the cause of +her unhappiness, though 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<a name="FNanchor_105_106" id="FNanchor_105_106"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_105_106" class="fnanchor">[105]</a> was indeed looked +upon as invalid, a preceding wife being said to be living in England; +but this could not easily be proved because of the distance; +and though there was a report of his death, it was not certain. +Then, though it should be true, he had left many debts, which his +successor might be called upon to pay. We ventured, however, +over all these difficulties, and I took her to wife Sept. 1, 1730. +None of the inconveniences happened that we had apprehended; +she proved a good and faithful helpmate, assisted me much by +attending shop, we throve together, and have ever mutually endeavored + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +to make each other happy. Thus I corrected that +great erratum as well as I could.<a name="FNanchor_106_107" id="FNanchor_106_107"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_106_107" class="fnanchor">[106]</a></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 referred +to in our disquisitions upon the queries, it might be convenient +to us to have them all together where we met, that upon occasion +they might be consulted; and by thus clubbing our books +to a common library, we should, while we liked 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 liked and agreed to, and we filled one +end of the room with such books as we could best spare. The +number was not so great as we expected; and though 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +for a subscription library.<a name="FNanchor_N_11" id="FNanchor_N_11"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_11" class="fnanchor">[n]</a> 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 afterward +obtained 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_107_108" id="FNanchor_107_108"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_107_108" class="fnanchor">[107]</a></p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<h3><span class="smcap">Continuation of the Account of my Life, Begun at<br /> +Passy, near Paris, 1784.</span></h3> + +<p>It is some time since I received the above letters, + <a name="FNanchor_108_109" id="FNanchor_108_109"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_108_109" class="fnanchor">[108]</a> but I have +been too busy till now to think of complying with the request +they contain. It might, too, be much better done if I were at +home among my papers, which would aid my memory, and help +to ascertain dates; but my return being uncertain, and having +just now a little leisure, I will endeavor to recollect and write +what I can; if I live to get home, it may there be corrected and +improved.</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, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +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 established 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 Philadelphia the printers were +indeed stationers; they sold only paper, etc., almanacs, ballads, +and a few common schoolbooks. Those who loved 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 proposed +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 wished to read at home. This was accordingly done, +and for some time contented us.</p> + +<p>Finding the advantage of this little collection, I proposed 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 skillful conveyancer, +Mr. Charles Brockden, to put the whole in form of articles of +agreement to be subscribed, by which each subscriber engaged 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.</p> + +<p>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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +our people, having no public amusements to divert their attention +from study, became better acquainted with books, and in a +few years were observed 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 fixed 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.<a name="FNanchor_109_110" id="FNanchor_109_110"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_109_110" class="fnanchor">[109]</a></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 +supposed to raise one's reputation in the smallest degree above +that of one's neighbors, when one has need of their assistance to +accomplish that project. I therefore put myself as much as I +could out of sight, and stated it as a scheme of a "number of + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +friends," 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 practiced it on such occasions, +and, from my frequent successes, can heartily recommend +it. The present little sacrifice of your vanity will afterward be +amply repaid. If it remains awhile uncertain to whom the merit +belongs, some one more vain than yourself will be encouraged +to claim it, and then even envy will be disposed to do you justice +by plucking those assumed feathers, and restoring them to their +right owner.</p> + +<p>This library afforded me the means of improvement by constant +study, for which I set apart an hour or two each day, and +thus repaired in some degree the loss of the learned education +my father once intended for me. Reading was the only amusement +I allowed myself. I spent no time in taverns, games, or +frolics of any kind; and my industry in my business continued +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 for business with 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 business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before +mean men,"<a name="FNanchor_110_111" id="FNanchor_110_111"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_110_111" class="fnanchor">[110]</a> I from thence considered industry as a means +of obtaining wealth and distinction, which encouraged me, though +I did not think that I should ever literally "stand before kings;" +which, however, has since happened, for I have stood before five, +and even had the honor of sitting down with one (the King of +Denmark) to dinner.<a name="FNanchor_N_12" id="FNanchor_N_12"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_12" class="fnanchor">[n]</a></p> + +<p>We have an English proverb that says, "He that would thrive +must ask his wife." It was lucky for me that I had one as much +disposed to industry and frugality as myself. She assisted me +cheerfully in my business, folding and stitching pamphlets, tending + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +shop, purchasing old linen rags for the paper makers, etc. +We kept no idle servants, our table was plain and simple, our +furniture of the cheapest. For instance, my breakfast was a +long time bread and milk (no tea), and I ate it out of a two-penny +earthen porringer, with a pewter spoon. But mark how +luxury will enter families and make a progress in spite of principle. +Being called 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 her husband deserved +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 increased, +augmented gradually to several hundred pounds in +value.</p> + +<p>I had been religiously educated as a Presbyterian; and, though +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 governed 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 esteemed the essentials of every religion; and +being to be found in all the religions we had in our country, I +respected them all, though with different degrees of respect as +I found them more or less mixed with other articles which, without +any tendency to inspire, promote, or confirm morality, served +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, induced me to avoid all discourse that might tend to +lessen the good opinion another might have of his own religion; +and as our province increased in people, and new places of worship +were continually wanted, and generally erected by voluntary + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +contribution, my mite for such purpose, whatever might be the +sect, was never refused.</p> + +<p>Though 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 used to visit me sometimes as a friend, and admonish +me to attend his administrations, and I was now and then prevailed +on to do so, once for five Sundays successively. Had he +been in my opinion a good preacher, perhaps I might have continued, +notwithstanding the occasion I had for the Sunday's leisure +in my course of study; but his discourses were chiefly either +polemic arguments or explications of the peculiar doctrines of +our sect, and were all to me very dry, uninteresting, and unedifying, +since not a single moral principle was inculcated or enforced, +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: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, +whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever +things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever +things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be +any praise, think on these things;" and I imagined, in a sermon +on such a text, we could not miss of having some morality. +But he confined himself to five points only, as meant by the +apostle: 1. Keeping holy the Sabbath day. 2. Being diligent in +reading the holy Scriptures. 3. Attending duly the public 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 composed a little liturgy, or form of prayer, for my own +private use (in 1728), entitled "Articles of Belief and Acts of +Religion." I returned to the use of this, and went no more to + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +the public assemblies. My conduct might be blamable, 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> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<div class="fn"> +<h4>Footnotes</h4> +<p><a name="Footnote_81_82" id="Footnote_81_82"></a><a href="#FNanchor_81_82"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> This method of expression was adopted on the reformation of the calendar +in England in 1752. It shows in this case that the February was of the +year 1726 according to the old style, and 1727 according to the new calendar. +The year 1751 began on the 25th of March, the former New-Year's Day, and +ended, by act of Parliament, at the 1st of January, 1752.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_82_83" id="Footnote_82_83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_82_83"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> Declared by word of mouth, not written.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_83_84" id="Footnote_83_84"></a><a href="#FNanchor_83_84"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> Those who were unable to pay for their passage by ship from one country +to another, sometimes sold their service for a term of years to the captain +who brought them over.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_84_85" id="Footnote_84_85"></a><a href="#FNanchor_84_85"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> Bound by articles of apprenticeship.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_85_86" id="Footnote_85_86"></a><a href="#FNanchor_85_86"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> The guinea contains twenty-one shillings, while the pound has twenty.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_86_87" id="Footnote_86_87"></a><a href="#FNanchor_86_87"><span class="label">[86]</span></a> A crimp is one who brings recruits to the army or sailors to ships by false +inducements.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_87_88" id="Footnote_87_88"></a><a href="#FNanchor_87_88"><span class="label">[87]</span></a> Molds.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_88_89" id="Footnote_88_89"></a><a href="#FNanchor_88_89"><span class="label">[88]</span></a> Here used for salesman.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_89_90" id="Footnote_89_90"></a><a href="#FNanchor_89_90"><span class="label">[89]</span></a> Marks or registers by which a bill may be identified.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_90_91" id="Footnote_90_91"></a><a href="#FNanchor_90_91"><span class="label">[90]</span></a> See Note 14, p. <a href="#noncon">19</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_91_92" id="Footnote_91_92"></a><a href="#FNanchor_91_92"><span class="label">[91]</span></a> Belief in the existence of a personal God, but denying revelation.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_92_93" id="Footnote_92_93"></a><a href="#FNanchor_92_93"><span class="label">[92]</span></a></p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Whatever is, is in its causes just,<br /></span> +<span class="i00">Since all things are by fate. But purblind man<br /></span> +<span class="i00">Sees but a part o' the chain, the nearest links;<br /></span> +<span class="i00">His eyes not carrying to the equal beam<br /></span> +<span class="i00">That poises all above."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">Dryden</span>, <i>[OE]dipus</i>, act iii. sc. <span class="smcap">I</span>. +</div> + +<p><a name="Footnote_93_94" id="Footnote_93_94"></a><a href="#FNanchor_93_94"><span class="label">[93]</span></a> The word means an assembly of persons engaged for a common purpose. +It is from the Spanish <i>junta</i> ("a council").</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_94_95" id="Footnote_94_95"></a><a href="#FNanchor_94_95"><span class="label">[94]</span></a> An instrument used in navigation for measuring the altitude of the sun.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_95_96" id="Footnote_95_96"></a><a href="#FNanchor_95_96"><span class="label">[95]</span></a> Putting the types no longer needed for printing into the proper boxes.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_96_97" id="Footnote_96_97"></a><a href="#FNanchor_96_97"><span class="label">[96]</span></a> Set up for printing.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_97_98" id="Footnote_97_98"></a><a href="#FNanchor_97_98"><span class="label">[97]</span></a> Type in a jumbled mass.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_98_99" id="Footnote_98_99"></a><a href="#FNanchor_98_99"><span class="label">[98]</span></a> "This paper was called The Universal Instructor in all Arts and Sciences +and Pennsylvania Gazette. Keimer printed his last number—the thirty-ninth—on +the twenty-fifth day of September, 1729."—<span class="smcap">Bigelow.</span></p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_99_100" id="Footnote_99_100"></a><a href="#FNanchor_99_100"><span class="label">[99]</span></a> The governor brought instructions from the king that his salary should +be one thousand pounds. The legislature claimed the liberty of fixing the +sum themselves. Franklin ended his article with this sentence: "Their happy +mother country will perhaps observe with pleasure that, though her gallant +cocks and matchless dogs abate their natural fire and intrepidity when transported +to a foreign clime (as this nation is), yet her sons in the remotest part +of the earth, and even to the third and fourth descent, still retain that ardent +spirit of liberty, and that undaunted courage, which has in every age so +gloriously distinguished Britons and Englishmen from the rest of mankind."</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_100_101" id="Footnote_100_101"></a><a href="#FNanchor_100_101"><span class="label">[100]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Franklin's Note.</span>—I got his son once five hundred pounds.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_101_102" id="Footnote_101_102"></a><a href="#FNanchor_101_102"><span class="label">[101]</span></a> This money had not the full value of the pound sterling.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_102_103" id="Footnote_102_103"></a><a href="#FNanchor_102_103"><span class="label">[102]</span></a> That is, the government of Delaware.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_103_104" id="Footnote_103_104"></a><a href="#FNanchor_103_104"><span class="label">[103]</span></a> In secret.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_104_105" id="Footnote_104_105"></a><a href="#FNanchor_104_105"><span class="label">[104]</span></a> Men on horseback who carried the mail.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_105_106" id="Footnote_105_106"></a><a href="#FNanchor_105_106"><span class="label">[105]</span></a> Miss Read's first marriage.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_106_107" id="Footnote_106_107"></a><a href="#FNanchor_106_107"><span class="label">[106]</span></a> Mrs. Franklin died Dec. 19, 1774. Franklin celebrated his wife in a +song, of which the following verses are a part:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Of their Chloes and Phyllises poets may prate,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I sing my plain country Joan,<br /></span> +<span class="i00">These twelve years my wife, still the joy of my life,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Blest day that I made her my own.<br /></span> +</div> +<hr class="hr3" /> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Am I loaded with care, she takes off a large share,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">That the burden ne'er makes me to reel;<br /></span> +<span class="i00">Does good fortune arrive, the joy of my wife<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Quite doubles the pleasure I feel.<br /></span> +</div> +<hr class="hr3" /> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Some faults have we all, and so has my Joan,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">But then they're exceedingly small;<br /></span> +<span class="i00">And, now I'm grown used to them, so like my own,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I scarcely can see them at all.<br /><br /></span> +</div> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Were the finest young princess with millions in purse,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">To be had in exchange for my Joan,<br /></span> +<span class="i00">I could not get better wife, might get a worse,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">So I'll stick to my dearest old Joan."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><a name="Footnote_107_108" id="Footnote_107_108"></a><a href="#FNanchor_107_108"><span class="label">[107]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Franklin's Memorandum.</span>—Thus far was written with the intention +expressed 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 contained in these letters (see p. <a href="#LETTERS">192</a>), +and accordingly intended for the public. The affairs of the Revolution +occasioned the interruption.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_108_109" id="Footnote_108_109"></a><a href="#FNanchor_108_109"><span class="label">[108]</span></a> See Note 1.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_109_110" id="Footnote_109_110"></a><a href="#FNanchor_109_110"><span class="label">[109]</span></a> The Philadelphia Library was incorporated in 1742. In its building is +a tablet which reads as follows:</p> +<p class="center"> +Be it remembered,<br /> +in honor of the Philadelphia youth<br /> +(then chiefly artificers),<br /> +that in MDCCXXXI.<br /> +they cheerfully,<br /> +at the instance of Benjamin Franklin,<br /> +one of their number,<br /> +instituted the Philadelphia Library,<br /> +which, though small at first,<br /> +is become highly valuable and extensively useful,<br /> +and which the walls of this edifice<br /> +are now destined to contain and preserve;<br /> +the first stone of whose foundation<br /> +was here placed<br /> +the thirty-first day of August, 1789.</p> +<p>The inscription, save the mention of himself, was prepared by Franklin.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_110_111" id="Footnote_110_111"></a><a href="#FNanchor_110_111"><span class="label">[110]</span></a> See Prov. xxii. 29.</p> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<h2>§ 5. CONTINUED SELF-EDUCATION.</h2> + +<p>It was about this time I conceived the bold and arduous project +of arriving at moral perfection. I wished to live without +committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that +either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me +into. As I knew, or thought I knew, what was right and wrong, +I did not see why I might not always do the one and avoid the +other. But I soon found I had undertaken a task of more difficulty +than I had imagined. While my care was employed 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 +proposed to myself, for the sake of clearness, to use rather more +names, with fewer ideas annexed to each, than a few names with + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +more ideas; and I included under thirteen names of virtues all +that at that time occurred to me as necessary or desirable, and +annexed to each a short precept, which fully expressed the extent +I gave to its meaning.</p> + +<p>These names of virtues, with their precepts, were:</p> + +<p class="center section">1. <span class="smcap">Temperance.</span></p> + +<p>Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.</p> + +<p class="center section">2. <span class="smcap">Silence.</span></p> + +<p>Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling +conversation.</p> + +<p class="center section">3. <span class="smcap">Order.</span></p> + +<p>Let all your things have their places; let each part of your +business have its time.</p> + +<p class="center section">4. <span class="smcap">Resolution.</span></p> + +<p>Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail +what you resolve.</p> + +<p class="center section">5. <span class="smcap">Frugality.</span></p> + +<p>Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., +waste nothing.</p> + +<p class="center section">6. <span class="smcap">Industry.</span></p> + +<p>Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut +off all unnecessary actions.</p> + +<p class="center section">7. <span class="smcap">Sincerity.</span></p> + +<p>Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly; and, if you +speak, speak accordingly.</p> + +<p class="center section">8. <span class="smcap">Justice.</span></p> + +<p>Wrong none by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are +your duty.</p> + +<p class="center section">9. <span class="smcap">Moderation.</span></p> + +<p>Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you +think they deserve.</p> + +<p class="center section"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> + 10. <span class="smcap">Cleanliness.</span></p> + +<p>Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.</p> + +<p class="center section">11. <span class="smcap">Tranquillity.</span></p> + +<p>Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.</p> + +<p class="center section">12. <span class="smcap">Chastity.</span></p> + +<p class="center section">13. <span class="smcap">Humility.</span></p> + +<p>Imitate Jesus and Socrates.</p> +<p> </p> + +<p>My intention being to acquire the habitude of all these virtues, +I judged 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 through the thirteen; and, as +the previous acquisition of some might facilitate the acquisition +of certain others, I arranged 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 acquired and established, Silence would be +more easy; and my desire being to gain knowledge at the same +time that I improved in virtue, and considering that in conversation +it was obtained 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 Silence the second place. This +and the next, Order, I expected would allow me more time for +attending to my project and my studies. Resolution, once become +habitual, would keep me firm in my endeavors to obtain all +the subsequent virtues; Frugality and Industry, freeing me from +my remaining debt, and producing affluence and independence, +would make more easy the practice of Sincerity and Justice, etc. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +Conceiving then that, agreeably to the advice of Pythagoras in +his "Golden Verses,"<a name="FNanchor_111_112" id="FNanchor_111_112"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_111_112" class="fnanchor">[111]</a> daily examination would be necessary, I +contrived the following method for conducting that examination.</p> + +<p>I made a little book,<a name="FNanchor_112_113" id="FNanchor_112_113"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_112_113" class="fnanchor">[112]</a> in which I allotted a page for each of +the virtues. I ruled 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 crossed these columns with thirteen +red lines, marking the beginning of each line with the first letter +of one of the virtues, on which line, and in its proper column, I +might mark, by a little black spot, every fault I found upon examination +to have been committed respecting that virtue upon that day.</p> + +<p>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 Temperance, 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 supposed the habit of +that virtue so much strengthened, and its opposite weakened, that + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +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 through a course complete 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</p> + +<p> </p> + +<table class="toc1" summary="Attention to the Virtues"> +<caption><i>FORM OF THE PAGES.</i></caption> + + <tr> + <td colspan="8" class="center"> </td> + </tr> + + <tr class="d1"> + <td colspan="8" class="center bl bb br bt">TEMPERANCE.</td> + </tr> + + <tr class="d1"> + <td colspan="8" class="center bl br bt">EAT NOT TO DULLNESS;<br /> + DRINK NOT TO ELEVATION. + </td> + </tr> + + <tr class="d1"> + <td class="c1 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="c2 bl bb br bt">S.</td> + <td class="c3 bl bb br bt">M.</td> + <td class="c4 bl bb br bt">T.</td> + <td class="c5 bl bb br bt">W.</td> + <td class="c6 bl bb br bt">T.</td> + <td class="c7 bl bb br bt">F.</td> + <td class="c8 bl bb br bt">S.</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="d1 c1 bl bb br bt">T[emperance</td> + <td class="d0 c2 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c3 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c4 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c5 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c6 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c7 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c8 bl bb br bt"> </td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="d1 c1 bl bb br bt">S[ilence]</td> + <td class="d0 c2 bl bb br bt">*</td> + <td class="d0 c3 bl bb br bt">*</td> + <td class="d0 c4 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c5 bl bb br bt">*</td> + <td class="d0 c6 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c7 bl bb br bt">*</td> + <td class="d0 c8 bl bb br bt"> </td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="d1 c1 bl bb br bt">O[rder</td> + <td class="d0 c2 bl bb br bt">**</td> + <td class="d0 c3 bl bb br bt">*</td> + <td class="d0 c4 bl bb br bt">*</td> + <td class="d0 c5 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c6 bl bb br bt">*</td> + <td class="d0 c7 bl bb br bt">*</td> + <td class="d0 c8 bl bb br bt">*</td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="d1 c1 bl bb br bt">R[esolution]</td> + <td class="d0 c2 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c3 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c4 bl bb br bt">*</td> + <td class="d0 c5 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c6 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c7 bl bb br bt">*</td> + <td class="d0 c8 bl bb br bt"> </td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="d1 c1 bl bb br bt">F[rugality]</td> + <td class="d0 c2 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c3 bl bb br bt">*</td> + <td class="d0 c4 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c5 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c6 bl bb br bt">*</td> + <td class="d0 c7 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c8 bl bb br bt"> </td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="d1 c1 bl bb br bt">I[ndustry]</td> + <td class="d0 c2 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c3 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c4 bl bb br bt">*</td> + <td class="d0 c5 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c6 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c7 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c8 bl bb br bt"> </td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="d1 c1 bl bb br bt">S[incerity]</td> + <td class="d0 c2 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c3 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c4 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c5 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c6 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c7 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c8 bl bb br bt"> </td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="d1 c1 bl bb br bt">J[ustice]</td> + <td class="d0 c2 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c3 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c4 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c5 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c6 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c7 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c8 bl bb br bt"> </td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="d1 c1 bl bb br bt">M[oderation]</td> + <td class="d0 c2 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c3 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c4 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c5 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c6 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c7 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c8 bl bb br bt"> </td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="d1 c1 bl bb br bt">C[leanliness]</td> + <td class="d0 c2 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c3 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c4 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c5 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c6 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c7 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c8 bl bb br bt"> </td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="d1 c1 bl bb br bt">T[ranquillity]</td> + <td class="d0 c2 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c3 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c4 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c5 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c6 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c7 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c8 bl bb br bt"> </td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="d1 c1 bl bb br bt">C[hastity]</td> + <td class="d0 c2 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c3 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c4 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c5 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c6 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c7 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c8 bl bb br bt"> </td> + </tr> + + <tr> + <td class="d1 c1 bl bb br bt">H[umility]</td> + <td class="d0 c2 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c3 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c4 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c5 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c6 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c7 bl bb br bt"> </td> + <td class="d0 c8 bl bb br bt"> </td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p>herbs at once, which would exceed his reach and his strength, but +works on one of the beds at a time, and, having accomplished +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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +clean book, after a thirteen-weeks' daily examination. My little +book had for its motto these lines from Addison's "Cato:"</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Here will I hold. If there's a power above us<br /></span> +<span class="i00">(And that there is, all Nature cries aloud<br /></span> +<span class="i00">Thro' all her works), He must delight in virtue;<br /></span> +<span class="i00">And that which He delights in must be happy."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Another from Cicero:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"O vitæ Philosophia dux! O virtutum indagatrix expultrixque +vitiorum! Unus dies, bene et ex præceptis tuis actus, peccanti immortalitati +est anteponendus."<a name="FNanchor_113_114" id="FNanchor_113_114"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_113_114" class="fnanchor">[113]</a></p> +</div> + +<p>Another from the Proverbs of Solomon, speaking of wisdom or +virtue:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches +and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are +peace." (iii. 16, 17.)</p> +</div> + +<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 prefixed +to my tables of examination, for daily use:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"O powerful Goodness! bountiful Father! merciful Guide! Increase +in me that wisdom which discovers my truest interest. Strengthen +my resolutions to perform what that wisdom dictates. Accept my +kind offices to thy other children as the only return in my power for +thy continual favors to me."</p> +</div> + +<p>I used also sometimes a little prayer which I took from Thomson's +Poems:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Father of light and life, thou Good Supreme!<br /></span> +<span class="i00">O teach me what is good; teach me Thyself!<br /></span> +<span class="i00">Save me from folly, vanity, and vice,<br /></span> +<span class="i00">From every low pursuit; and fill my soul<br /></span> +<span class="i00">With knowledge, conscious peace, and virtue pure;<br /></span> +<span class="i00">Sacred, substantial, never-fading bliss!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> + The precept of Order requiring that every part of my business +should have its allotted time, one page in my little book contained +the following scheme of employment for the twenty-four hours of +a natural day.</p> + +<table class="toc1" summary="The Order of Work"> + + <tr class="d1"> + <td class="c1"> </td> + <td class="c22"> </td> + <td class="c33"> </td> + </tr> + + <tr class="d0"> + <td class="c1"> <span class="smcap">The Morning.</span><br /> + <i>Question.</i> What good shall<br /> + I do this day?<br /> + <br /> + + </td> + <td class="c22">5<br />6<br /> <br />7<br /> </td> + <td class="c33"> Rise, wash, and address Powerful<br /> + Goodness!<a name="FNanchor_N_13" id="FNanchor_N_13"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_13" class="fnanchor">[n]</a>] Contrive day's<br /> + business, and take the resolution<br /> + of the day; prosecute the present<br /> + study, and breakfast. + </td> + </tr> + + <tr class="d1"> + <td class="c1"> </td> + <td class="c22"> </td> + <td class="c33"> </td> + </tr> + + <tr class="d0"> + <td class="c1"> <br /> <br /> <br /> </td> + <td class="c22">8<br />9<br />10<br />11</td> + <td class="c33"> <br /> <br /> Work.<br /> </td> + </tr> + + <tr class="d1"> + <td class="c1"> </td> + <td class="c22"> </td> + <td class="c33"> </td> + </tr> + + <tr class="d0"> + <td class="c1"> <span class="smcap">Noon.</span><br /> + + </td> + <td class="c22">12<br />1</td> + <td class="c33"> Read, or overlook my accounts,<br /> + and dine. + </td> + </tr> + + <tr class="d1"> + <td class="c1"> </td> + <td class="c22"> </td> + <td class="c33"> </td> + </tr> + + <tr class="d0"> + <td class="c1"> <br /> <br /> <br /> </td> + <td class="c22">2<br />3<br />4<br />5</td> + <td class="c33"> <br /> Work.<br /> <br /> </td> + </tr> + + <tr class="d1"> + <td class="c1"> </td> + <td class="c22"> </td> + <td class="c33"> </td> + </tr> + + <tr class="d0"> + <td class="c1"> <span class="smcap">Evening.</span><br /> + <i>Question.</i> What good have<br /> + I done to-day?<br /> + <br /> + </td> + + <td class="c22">6<br />7<br />8<br />9</td> + + <td class="c33"> Put things in their places.<br /> + Supper. Music or diversion, or<br /> + conversation. Examination of<br /> + the day. + </td> + </tr> + + <tr class="d1"> + <td class="c1"> </td> + <td class="c22"> </td> + <td class="c33"> </td> + </tr> + + <tr class="d0"> + <td class="c1"> <br /> + <br /> + <br /> + <span class="smcap">Night.</span><br /> + <br /> + <br /> + + </td> + + <td class="c22">10<br />11<br />12<br />1<br />2<br />3<br />4</td> + + <td class="c33"> <br /> + <br /> + <br /> + Sleep.<br /> + <br /> + <br /> + + </td> + </tr> + + <tr class="d1"> + <td class="c1"> </td> + <td class="c22"> </td> + <td class="c33"> </td> + </tr> + +</table> + +<p>I entered upon the execution of this plan for self-examination, +and continued it, with occasional intermissions, for some time. I +was surprised 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 +transferred my tables and precepts to the ivory leaves of a memorandum + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +book, on which the lines were drawn with red ink, that +made a durable stain, and on those lines I marked my faults with +a black lead pencil, which marks I could easily wipe out with a +wet sponge. After a while I went through one course only in a +year, and afterward only one in several years, till at length I +omitted them entirely, being employed 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 Order gave me the most trouble; and I found +that, though 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. Order, too, with +regard to places for things, papers, etc., I found extremely 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 neighbor, 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 turned, while the smith pressed 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, "but I think I like a +speckled ax best." And I believe this may have been the case +with many, who, having, for want of some such means as I employed, +found the difficulty of obtaining good and breaking bad + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +habits in other points of vice and virtue, have given up the struggle, +and concluded that a "speckled ax" was best. For something, +that pretended to be reason, was every now and then suggesting +to me that such extreme nicety as I exacted of myself might be a +kind of foppery in morals, which, if it were known, would make +me ridiculous; that a perfect character might be attended with +the inconvenience of being envied and hated; and that a benevolent +man should allow a few faults in himself, to keep his friends +in countenance.</p> + +<p>In truth, I found myself incorrigible with respect to order; +and, now I am grown old and my memory bad, I feel very sensibly +the want of it. But on the whole, though I never arrived +at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell +far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavor, 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, though they never reach the wished-for excellence of +those copies, their hand is mended by the endeavor, and is tolerable +while it continues fair and legible.</p> + +<p>It may be well my posterity should be informed that to this little +artifice, with the blessing of God, their ancestor owed the constant +felicity of his life, down to his seventy-ninth 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 +enjoyed ought to help his bearing them with more resignation. +To temperance he ascribes his long-continued health, and what is +still left to him of a good constitution; to industry and frugality, +the early easiness of his circumstances and acquisition of his fortune, +with all that knowledge that enabled him to be a useful citizen, +and obtained for him some degree of reputation among the +learned; to sincerity and justice, the confidence of his country, +and the honorable employs it conferred upon him; and to the +joint influence of the whole mass of the virtues, even in the imperfect +state he was able to acquire them, all that evenness of temper +and that cheerfulness in conversation which makes his company + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +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 remarked that, though 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 any one, of any +sect, against it. I purposed writing a little comment on each virtue, +in which I would have shown the advantages of possessing +it, and the mischiefs attending its opposite vice; and I should +have called my book "The Art of Virtue,"<a name="FNanchor_114_115" id="FNanchor_114_115"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_114_115" class="fnanchor">[114]</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, has occasioned my postponing +it; for, it being connected in my mind with a great and extensive +project, that required the whole man to execute, and which +an unforeseen succession of employs prevented my attending to, +it has hitherto remained unfinished.</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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +alone considered; that it was, therefore, every one's interest to +be virtuous who wished to be happy even in this world; and I +should, from this circumstance, (there being always in the world a +number of rich merchants, nobility, states, and princes, who have +need of honest instruments for the management of their affairs, +and such being so rare,) have endeavored to convince young persons +that no qualities were so likely to make a poor man's fortune +as those of probity and integrity.</p> + +<p>My list of virtues contained at first but twelve; but a Quaker +friend having kindly informed me that I was generally thought +proud; that my pride showed 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 +convinced me by mentioning several instances,—I determined +endeavoring to cure myself, if I could, of this vice or folly among +the rest, and I added Humility to my list, giving an extensive meaning +to the word.</p> + +<p>I cannot boast of much success in acquiring the reality of this +virtue, but I had a good deal with regard to the appearance 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 forbade +myself, agreeably to the old laws of our Junto, the use of every +word or expression in the language that imported a fixed opinion, +such as "certainly," "undoubtedly," etc., and I adopted, instead of +them, "I conceive," "I apprehend," or "I imagine" a thing to be so +or so; or "it so appears to me at present." When another asserted +something that I thought an error, I denied 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 "appeared" or "seemed" to me some +difference, etc. I soon found the advantage of this change in my +manner: the conversations I engaged in went on more pleasantly; +the modest way in which I proposed my opinions procured them +a readier reception and less contradiction; I had less mortification<br /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +when I was found to be in the wrong; and I more easily +prevailed 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 pride. 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 completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my +humility.<a name="FNanchor_115_116" id="FNanchor_115_116"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_115_116" class="fnanchor">[115]</a></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>["<span class="smcap">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.<a name="FNanchor_116_117" id="FNanchor_116_117"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_116_117" class="fnanchor">[116]</a> I have, however, +found the following.</span>"]</p> +</div> + +<p>Having mentioned a great and extensive project which I had +conceived, 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 preserved:</p> + +<p class="center"><i>Observations on my Reading History, in Library, May 19, 1731.</i></p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<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><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> + "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 gained 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 though their actings bring +real good to their country, yet men primarily consider that their own +and their country's interest is united, and do 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 governed 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> + +<div class="signature"> +B. F." +</div></div> + +<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 occurred 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 expressed in these words:</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><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> + "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 before-mentioned +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 called +"The Society of the Free and Easy:" 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, induced 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 discouraged 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +off all amusements or other employments that would divert his +attention, makes the execution of that same plan his sole study +and business.</p> + +<p>In 1732 I first published my Almanac,<a name="FNanchor_117_118" id="FNanchor_117_118"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_117_118" class="fnanchor">[117]</a> under the name of +"Richard Saunders;" it was continued by me about twenty-five +years, and commonly called "Poor Richard's Almanac." I endeavored +to make it both entertaining and useful, and it accordingly +came to be in such demand that I reaped 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 considered 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 occurred +between the remarkable days in the calendar with proverbial +sentences,<a name="FNanchor_118_119" id="FNanchor_118_119"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_118_119" class="fnanchor">[118]</a> 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) "it is hard for an empty sack +to stand upright."</p> + +<p>These proverbs, which contained the wisdom of many ages and +nations, I assembled and formed into a connected discourse, + <a name="FNanchor_119_120" id="FNanchor_119_120"></a><a href="#Footnote_119_120" class="fnanchor">[119]</a> +prefixed to the Almanac of 1757 as the harangue of a wise old + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +man to the people attending an auction. The bringing all these +scattered counsels thus into a focus enabled them to make greater +impression. The piece, being universally approved, was copied +in all the newspapers of the Continent, reprinted in Britain on a +broadside,<a name="FNanchor_120_121" id="FNanchor_120_121"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_120_121" class="fnanchor">[120]</a> to + be stuck up in houses, two translations were made of +it in French, and great numbers bought by the clergy and gentry +to distribute gratis among their poor parishioners and tenants. +In Pennsylvania, as it discouraged useless expense in foreign superfluities, +some thought it had its share of influence in producing +that growing plenty of money which was observable for several +years after its publication.</p> + +<p>I considered my newspaper, also, as another means of communicating +instruction, and in that view frequently reprinted in +it extracts from the "Spectator," and other moral writers, and +sometimes published 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 is not +secure till its practice becomes a habitude, and is free from the +opposition of contrary inclinations. These may be found in the +papers about the beginning of 1735.</p> + +<p>In the conduct of my newspaper, I carefully excluded all 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 stagecoach, +in which any one who would pay had a right to a place, my answer +was that I would print the piece separately if desired, and +the author might have as many copies as he pleased to distribute +himself, but that I would not take upon me to spread his detraction; +and that, having contracted with my subscribers to furnish +them with what might be either useful or entertaining, I could +not fill their papers with private altercation, in which they had + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +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 furnished 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, though 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 informed, the knowledge +of accounts makes a part of female education,<a name="FNanchor_N_14" id="FNanchor_N_14"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_14" class="fnanchor">[n]</a> she not only sent +me as clear a state<a name="FNanchor_121_122" id="FNanchor_121_122"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_121_122" class="fnanchor">[121]</a> as she could find of the transactions past, +but continued to account with the greatest regularity and exactness +every quarter afterward, 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 women, 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +of crafty men, and enabling them to continue, perhaps, a profitable +mercantile house, with established 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 joined 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 style are called +"good works." Those, however, of our congregation who considered +themselves as orthodox Presbyterians, disapproved his doctrine, +and were joined by most of the old clergy, who arraigned +him of heterodoxy<a name="FNanchor_122_123" id="FNanchor_122_123"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_122_123" class="fnanchor">[122]</a> before the synod, in order to have him silenced. +I became his zealous partisan, and contributed all I could to raise +a party in his favor, and we combated for him awhile with some +hopes of success. There was much scribbling pro and con + <a name="FNanchor_123_124" id="FNanchor_123_124"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_123_124" class="fnanchor">[123]</a> upon +the occasion; and finding that, though 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, though eagerly read at the time, were soon out of +vogue, and I question whether a single copy of them now exists.</p> + +<p>During the contest an unlucky occurrence hurt his cause exceedingly. +One of our adversaries having heard him preach a sermon +that was much admired, thought he had somewhere read the sermon +before, or at least a part of it. On search, he found that +part quoted at length in one of the British Reviews, from a discourse +of Dr. Foster's. This detection gave many of our party +disgust, who accordingly abandoned his cause, and occasioned +our more speedy discomfiture in the synod. I stuck by him, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +however, as I rather approved his giving us good sermons composed +by others than bad ones of his own manufacture, though +the latter was the practice of our common teachers. He afterward +acknowledged to me that none of those he preached 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, though I continued 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, used 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 refused 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 task the vanquished was to perform +on honor before our next meeting. As we played pretty equally, +we thus beat one another into that language. I afterward, with +a little painstaking, acquired as much of the Spanish as to read +their books also.</p> + +<p>I have already mentioned 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 surprised +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 +smoothed my way.</p> + +<p>From these circumstances, I have thought that there is some +inconsistency in our common mode of teaching languages.<a name="FNanchor_N_15" id="FNanchor_N_15"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_15" class="fnanchor">[n]</a> We +are told that it is proper to begin first with the Latin, and, having +acquired that, it will be more easy to attain those modern + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +languages which are derived 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 the 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 learned 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, though, after spending the same time, they should quit +the study of languages and never arrive at the Latin, they would, +however, have acquired another tongue or two, that, being in +modern use, might be serviceable to them in common life.</p> + +<p>After ten years' absence from Boston, and having become easy +in my circumstances, I made a journey thither to visit my relations, +which I could not sooner well afford. In returning, I +called 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 performed, 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 deprived him of by leaving him +so early.</p> + +<p>In 1736 I lost one of my sons, a fine boy of four years old, by +the smallpox, taken in the common way. I long regretted bitterly, +and still regret, that I had not given it to him by inoculation. + <a name="FNanchor_124_125" id="FNanchor_124_125"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_124_125" class="fnanchor">[124]</a> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +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, namely, twelve. +We had from the beginning made it a rule to keep our institution +a secret, which was pretty well observed. The intention was to +avoid applications of improper persons for admittance, some of +whom, perhaps, we might find it difficult to refuse. I was one of +those who were against any addition to our number, but, instead +of it, made in writing a proposal that every member separately +should endeavor to form a subordinate club, with the same rules +respecting queries, etc., and without informing them of the connection +with the Junto. The advantages proposed were the improvement +of so many more young citizens by the use of our institutions; +our better acquaintance with the general sentiments of +the inhabitants on any occasion, as the Junto member might propose +what queries we should desire, and was to report to the +Junto what passed 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 through the several clubs the +sentiments of the Junto.</p> + +<p>The project was approved, and every member undertook to form +his club, but they did not all succeed. Five or six only were +completed, 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, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +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> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<div class="fn"> +<h4>Footnotes</h4> +<p><a name="Footnote_111_112" id="Footnote_111_112"></a><a href="#FNanchor_111_112"><span class="label">[111]</span></a> The following is taken from the commentary of Hierocles upon the +Golden Verses of Pythagoras. The English version is given by Bigelow in +his edition of the Autobiography: +</p> + +<p> +"He [Pythagoras, who lived in the sixth century B.C.] requires also +that this examination be daily repeated. The time which he recommends for +this work is about even or bedtime, 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. Wherein have I transgressed? What have I +done? What duty have I omitted? So shall we measure our lives by rules. +</p> + +<p> +"We should have our parents and relations in high esteem, love and embrace +good men, raise ourselves above corporeal affections, everywhere stand +in awe of ourselves, carefully observe justice, consider the frailty of riches and +momentary life, embrace the lot which falls to us by divine judgment, delight +in a divine frame of spirit, convert our mind to what is most excellent, love +good discourses, not lie open to impostures, not be servilely affected in the +possession of virtue, advise before action to prevent repentance, free ourselves +from uncertain opinions, live with knowledge, and lastly, that we should +adapt our bodies and the things without to the exercise of virtue. These are +the things which the lawgiving mind has implanted in the souls of men."</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_112_113" id="Footnote_112_113"></a><a href="#FNanchor_112_113"><span class="label">[112]</span></a> It is dated July 1, 1733.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_113_114" id="Footnote_113_114"></a><a href="#FNanchor_113_114"><span class="label">[113]</span></a> "O philosophy, thou guide of life! O thou searcher after virtue and banisher +of vice! One day lived well and in obedience to thy precepts should be +preferred to an eternity of sin."</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_114_115" id="Footnote_114_115"></a><a href="#FNanchor_114_115"><span class="label">[114]</span></a> <span class="smcap">Franklin's Note.</span>—Nothing so likely to make a man's fortune as +virtue.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_115_116" id="Footnote_115_116"></a><a href="#FNanchor_115_116"><span class="label">[115]</span></a> Thus far written at Passy, 1784.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_116_117" id="Footnote_116_117"></a><a href="#FNanchor_116_117"><span class="label">[116]</span></a> The Revolution.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_117_118" id="Footnote_117_118"></a><a href="#FNanchor_117_118"><span class="label">[117]</span></a> Almanacs were the first issues of the American press. It is not easy in +our day to understand their importance to the early colonists, and their consequent +popularity. The makers, philomaths ("lovers of learning") as Franklin +called them, set out their wares in every attractive form the taste and ingenuity +of the age could devise. They made them a diary, a receipt book, a +jest book, and a weather prophet, as well as a calendar book of dates. The +household was poor indeed which could not scrape up a twopence or a sixpence +for the annual copy. Once bought, it hung by the big chimney-piece, +or lay upon the clock shelf with the Bible and a theological tract or two. It +was read by the light that shone from the blazing logs of the fireplace or the +homemade tallow dip. Its recipes helped the mother in her dyeing or weaving +or cooking. Its warnings of "cold storms," "flurries of snow," cautioned +the farmer against too early planting of corn; and its perennial jokes +flavored the mirth of many a corn husking or apple paring.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_118_119" id="Footnote_118_119"></a><a href="#FNanchor_118_119"><span class="label">[118]</span></a> See p. <a href="#PROVERBS">201</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_119_120" id="Footnote_119_120"></a><a href="#FNanchor_119_120"><span class="label">[119]</span></a> See pp. <a href="#THE">193–200</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_120_121" id="Footnote_120_121"></a><a href="#FNanchor_120_121"><span class="label">[120]</span></a> A sheet printed on one side only and without arrangement in columns.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_121_122" id="Footnote_121_122"></a><a href="#FNanchor_121_122"><span class="label">[121]</span></a> Statement.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_122_123" id="Footnote_122_123"></a><a href="#FNanchor_122_123"><span class="label">[122]</span></a> Departure from the faith held by the members of the synod or assembly.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_123_124" id="Footnote_123_124"></a><a href="#FNanchor_123_124"><span class="label">[123]</span></a> "Pro and con," i.e., for and against.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_124_125" id="Footnote_124_125"></a><a href="#FNanchor_124_125"><span class="label">[124]</span></a> Vaccination was not at this time known. By inoculation the smallpox +poison was introduced into the arm, and produced a milder form of the disease.<a name="FNanchor_N_16" id="FNanchor_N_16"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_16" class="fnanchor">[n]</a></p> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<h2>§ 6. ENTERS PUBLIC LIFE.</h2> + +<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 proposed, (the +choice, like that of the members, being annual,) a new member +made a long speech against me, in order to favor 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 secured to me the business of printing +the votes, laws, paper money, and other occasional jobs 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, afterward happened. I did not, however, aim at gaining +his favor 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 favor of lending it to me for a few days. +He sent it immediately, and I returned it in about a week with another +note, expressing strongly my sense of the favor. 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +says: "He that has once done you a kindness will be more ready +to do you another than he whom you yourself have obliged." 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, though the salary was small, it facilitated the correspondence +that improved my newspaper and increased 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 declined proportionably, and I was satisfied without +retaliating his refusal, while postmaster, to permit my papers being +carried by the riders. Thus he suffered greatly from his neglect +in due accounting; and I mention it as a lesson to those young +men who may be employed in managing affairs for others, that +they should always render accounts and make remittances with +great clearness and punctuality. The character of observing such +a conduct is the most powerful of all recommendations to new +employments and increase of business.</p> + +<p>I began now to turn my thoughts a little to public affairs, beginning, +however, with small matters. The city watch was one +of the first things that I conceived 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 excused, which was supposed 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 them.<a name="FNanchor_N_17" id="FNanchor_N_17"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_17" class="fnanchor">[n]</a> Walking the rounds, too, was often neglected, and +most of the nights spent in tippling. I thereupon wrote a paper to + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +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 proportioned to the property. This idea, being approved +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 published,) 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 obliged +every member to keep always in good order, and fit for use, a +certain number of leather buckets, with strong bags and baskets +(for packing and transporting of goods), which were to be brought +to every fire; and we agreed to meet once a month and spend a +social evening together, in discoursing and communicating such +ideas as occurred to us upon the subject of fires as might be useful +in our conduct on such occasions.</p> + +<p>The utility of this institution soon appeared,<a name="FNanchor_N_18" id="FNanchor_N_18"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_18" class="fnanchor">[n]</a>] and many more +desiring to be admitted than we thought convenient for one company, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +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, though upward of fifty years since its establishment, +that which I first formed, called the "Union Fire Company," +still subsists and flourishes, though the first members are all deceased +but myself and one who is older by a year than I am. +The small fines that have been paid by members for absence from +the monthly meetings have been applied to the purchase of fire +engines, ladders, fire hooks, and other useful implements for each +company, so that I question whether there is a city in the world +better provided with the means of putting a stop to beginning +conflagrations; and, in fact, since these institutions, the city has +never lost by fire more than one or two houses at a time, and the +flames have often been extinguished before the house in which +they began, has been half consumed.</p> + +<p>In 1739 arrived among us from Ireland the Rev. Mr. Whitefield, + <a name="FNanchor_125_126" id="FNanchor_125_126"></a><a href="#Footnote_125_126" class="fnanchor">[125]</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 refused +him their pulpits, and he was obliged 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 admired and +respected him, notwithstanding his common abuse of them by assuring +them they were naturally "half beasts and half devils." It +was wonderful to see the change soon made in the manners of +our inhabitants. From being thoughtless or indifferent about religion, +it seemed as if all the world were growing religious, so that +one could not walk through the town in an evening without +hearing psalms sung in different families of every street.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> + 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 proposed, and persons appointed to receive contributions, +but sufficient sums were soon received 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_126_127" id="FNanchor_126_127"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_126_127" class="fnanchor">[126]</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 of 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 +through the colonies to Georgia. The settlement of that province +had lately been begun, but, instead of being made with hardy, +industrious husbandmen, accustomed to labor,—the only people fit +for such an enterprise,—it was with families of broken shopkeepers +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.<a name="FNanchor_127_128" id="FNanchor_127_128"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_127_128" class="fnanchor">[127]</a> The sight of their miserable situation inspired +the benevolent heart of Mr. Whitefield with the idea of +building an orphan house<a name="FNanchor_128_129" id="FNanchor_128_129"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_128_129" class="fnanchor">[128]</a> there, in which they might be supported +and educated. Returning northward, he preached up this charity, +and made large collections, for his eloquence had a wonderful + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> +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 advised; but he was resolute in his first +project, rejected my counsel, and I therefore refused 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 ashamed of that, and determined me to give +the silver; and he finished so admirably that I emptied 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. Toward the conclusion of the discourse, however, +he felt a strong desire to give, and applied to a neighbor who stood +near him, to borrow some money for the purpose. The application +was unfortunately to perhaps the only man in the company who +had the firmness not to be affected by the preacher. His answer +was: "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."</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 honest man; and methinks +my testimony in his favor ought to have the more weight + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +as we had no religious connection. He used, indeed, sometimes +to pray for my conversion, but he 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 replied that if I made that kind offer for Christ's +sake I should not miss of a reward; and I returned: "Don't let +me be mistaken; it was not for Christ's sake, but for your own +sake." One of our common acquaintance remarked that, knowing +it to be the custom of the saints, when they received any +favor, to shift the burden of the obligation from off their own +shoulders and place it in heaven, I had contrived 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 auditors, however numerous, +observed the most exact silence. He preached 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 filled 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 +backward down the street toward the river; and I found +his voice distinct till I came near Front Street, when some noise +in that street obscured it. Imagining then a semicircle, of which +my distance should be the radius, and that it were filled with + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +auditors, to each of whom I allowed two square feet, I computed +that he might well be heard by more than thirty thousand. This +reconciled me to the newspaper accounts of his having preached +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 could distinguish easily between sermons +newly composed and those which he had often preached in +the course of his travels. His delivery of the latter was so improved +by frequent repetitions that every accent, every emphasis, +every modulation of voice, was so perfectly well turned and well +placed that, without being interested in the subject, one could +not help being pleased with the discourse; a pleasure of much the +same kind with that received from an excellent piece of music. +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 afterward explained +or qualified by supposing others that might have accompanied +them, or they might have been denied; but <i>litera scripta +manet</i>.<a name="FNanchor_129_130" id="FNanchor_129_130"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_129_130" class="fnanchor">[129]</a> Critics + attacked 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +profitable, as being for a time almost the only one in this and the +neighboring provinces. I experienced, too, the truth of the observation +that "after getting the first hundred pounds it is more +easy to get the second," money itself being of a prolific nature.</p> + +<p>The partnership at Carolina having succeeded, I was encouraged +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 as 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 partnership; +for, whatever esteem partners may have for and confidence in +each other at the time of the contract, little jealousies and disgusts +may arise, with ideas of inequality in the care and burden +of the business, etc., which are attended often with breach of +friendship and of the connection, perhaps with lawsuits and other +disagreeable consequences.</p> + +<p>I had, on the whole, abundant reason to be satisfied with my +being established in Pennsylvania. There were, however, two +things which I regretted,—there being no provision for defense, nor +for a complete 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 Rev. 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, declined +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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +a philosophical society.<a name="FNanchor_130_131" id="FNanchor_130_131"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_130_131" class="fnanchor">[130]</a> 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 joined by France, +which brought us into great danger, and the labored and long-continued +endeavor of our governor, Thomas, to prevail with our +Quaker Assembly<a name="FNanchor_131_132" id="FNanchor_131_132"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_131_132" class="fnanchor">[131]</a> 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 "Plain Truth," in which I stated our defenseless +situation in strong lights, with the necessity of union and discipline +for our defense, and promised 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 called 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 dispersed 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +upward of ten thousand. These all furnished themselves as soon +as they could with arms, formed themselves into companies and +regiments, chose their own officers, and met every week to be instructed +in the manual exercise and other parts of military discipline. +The women, by subscriptions among themselves, provided +silk colors, which they presented to the companies, painted with +different devices and mottoes which I supplied.</p> + +<p>The officers of the companies composing the Philadelphia regiment, +being met, chose me for their colonel; but, conceiving +myself unfit, I declined that station, and recommended Mr. Lawrence, +a fine person and man of influence, who was accordingly +appointed. I then proposed a lottery<a name="FNanchor_132_133" id="FNanchor_132_133"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_132_133" class="fnanchor">[132]</a> 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 + <a name="FNanchor_133_134" id="FNanchor_133_134"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_133_134" class="fnanchor">[133]</a> +being framed of logs and filled 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, though without much expectation +of obtaining it.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Colonel Lawrence, William Allen, Abram Taylor, +Esq., and myself were sent to New York by the associators, commissioned +to borrow some cannon of Governor Clinton. He at +first refused 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 advanced to ten, and at +length he very good-naturedly conceded eighteen. They were +fine cannon, eighteen-pounders, with their carriages, which we +soon transported and mounted on our battery, where the associators +kept a nightly guard while the war lasted, and among the +rest I regularly took my turn of duty there as a common soldier.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> + 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 proposed +to them the proclaiming a fast, to promote reformation +and implore the blessing of Heaven on our undertaking. They +embraced 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 style. It was translated into German, +printed in both languages, and divulged through 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 intervened.</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, advised me to resign, as more consistent +with my honor than being turned 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 +offered to him. "I approve," says I, "of his rule, and will practice +it with a small addition: I shall never ask, never refuse, nor +ever resign 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 + <a name="FNanchor_134_135" id="FNanchor_134_135"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_134_135" class="fnanchor">[134]</a> +on my adversaries." I heard, however, no more of this; I was +chosen again unanimously, as usual, at the next election. Possibly, +as they disliked my late intimacy with the members of council, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +who had joined the governors in all the disputes about military +preparations with which the House had long been harassed, they +might have been pleased 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 required to assist in it. And I found that a much greater +number of them than I could have imagined, though against +offensive war, were clearly for the defensive. Many pamphlets +pro and con were published on the subject, and some by good +Quakers in favor of defense, which I believe convinced most of +their younger people.</p> + +<p>A transaction in our fire company gave me some insight into +their prevailing sentiments. It had been proposed 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 disposed 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 though +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, appeared to oppose the measure. He expressed much +sorrow that it had ever been proposed, as he said Friends 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 Friends were against the measure, and +outvoted us, we must and should, agreeably to the usage of all societies, +submit. When the hour for business arrived it was moved +to put the vote. He allowed 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><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> + While we were disputing this a waiter came to tell me two gentlemen +below desired to speak with me. I went down and found +they were two of our Quaker members. They told me that there +were eight of them assembled at a tavern just by; that they were +determined to come and vote with us if there should be occasion, +which they hoped would not be the case, and desired 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 allowed to be extremely fair. Not one of his opposing +friends appeared, at which he expressed great surprise, and +at the expiration of the hour we carried 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 inclined 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 proposed +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 chased by an armed vessel, supposed to be an +enemy. Their captain prepared for defense, but told William +Penn and his company of Quakers that he did not expect their +assistance, and they might retire into the cabin; which they did, +except James Logan, who chose to stay upon deck, and was quartered +to a gun. The supposed enemy proved a friend, so there + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +was no fighting; but when the secretary went down to communicate +the intelligence, William Penn rebuked him severely for staying +upon deck and undertaking to assist in defending the vessel, +contrary to the principles of Friends, especially as it had not been +required by the captain. This reproof, being before all the company, +piqued the secretary, who answered: "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."</p> + +<p>My being many years in the Assembly, the majority of which +were constantly Quakers, gave me frequent opportunities of seeing +the embarrassment given them by their principle against war +whenever application was made to them, by order of the Crown, +to grant aids for military purposes. They were unwilling to +offend government, on the one hand, by a direct refusal, and their +friends, the body of the Quakers, on the other, by a compliance +contrary to their principles; hence a variety of evasions to avoid +complying, and modes of disguising the compliance when it became +unavoidable. The common mode at last was to grant +money under the phrase of its being "for the King's use," 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<a name="FNanchor_135_136" id="FNanchor_135_136"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_135_136" class="fnanchor">[135]</a>), and the government of New England solicited a +grant of some from Pennsylvania, which was much urged 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 other grain. Some of the council, desirous +of giving the House still further embarrassment, advised +the governor not to accept provision, as not being the thing he +had demanded; but he replied: "I shall take the money, for I + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +understand very well their meaning; 'other grain' is gunpowder," +which he accordingly bought, and they never objected to it.</p> + +<p>It was in allusion to this fact that, when in our fire company +we feared the success of our proposal in favor 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 fire engine,"—"I see," says he, +"you have improved by being so long in the Assembly; your +equivocal project would be just a match for their 'wheat or other +grain.'"</p> + +<p>These embarrassments that the Quakers suffered from having +established and published it as one of their principles that no kind +of war was lawful, and which, being once published, they could +not afterward, 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.<a name="FNanchor_136_137" id="FNanchor_136_137"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_136_137" class="fnanchor">[136]</a> I was acquainted +with one of its founders, Michael Welfare, soon after it appeared. +He complained to me that they were grievously calumniated by +the zealots of other persuasions, and charged 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 imagined it might be well to publish +the articles of their belief and the rules of their discipline. +He said that it had been proposed 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 have esteemed errors, were +real truths. From time to time He has been pleased to afford us +further light, and our principles have been improving and our errors +diminishing. Now we are not sure that we are arrived at the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +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 confined +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, though 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_137_138" id="FNanchor_137_138"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_137_138" class="fnanchor">[137]</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, +found the casting of the plates for these stoves a profitable thing, +as they were growing in demand.<a name="FNanchor_N_20" id="FNanchor_N_20"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_20" class="fnanchor">[n]</a>] To promote that demand I +wrote and published a pamphlet entitled, "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," etc. This pamphlet had a good +effect. Governor Thomas was so pleased 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 declined + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +it from a principle which has ever weighed with me on such +occasions; namely, 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.</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,—though 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 neighboring colonies, has +been and is a great saving of wood to the inhabitants.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<div class="fn"> +<h4>Footnotes</h4> +<p><a name="Footnote_125_126" id="Footnote_125_126"></a><a href="#FNanchor_125_126"><span class="label">[125]</span></a> George Whitefield, one of the founders of Methodism, who was born in +Gloucester, England, in 1714, and died in Newburyport, Mass., in 1770.<a name="FNanchor_N_19" id="FNanchor_N_19"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_19" class="fnanchor">[n]</a></p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_126_127" id="Footnote_126_127"></a><a href="#FNanchor_126_127"><span class="label">[126]</span></a> In London.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_127_128" id="Footnote_127_128"></a><a href="#FNanchor_127_128"><span class="label">[127]</span></a> General Oglethorpe founded an English colony in Georgia in 1732. He +wished to make an asylum to which debtors, whose liberty the laws of England +put into the hands of the creditor, (see Way to Wealth, p. <a href="#Years">204</a>,) might +escape, and where those fleeing from religious persecution might be safe from +their pursuers.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_128_129" id="Footnote_128_129"></a><a href="#FNanchor_128_129"><span class="label">[128]</span></a> This institution was established in Savannah, and called Bethesda.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_129_130" id="Footnote_129_130"></a><a href="#FNanchor_129_130"><span class="label">[129]</span></a> Written words endure.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_130_131" id="Footnote_130_131"></a><a href="#FNanchor_130_131"><span class="label">[130]</span></a> This society continues. The plan of it was discussed by the Junto, from +which came six of the nine original members. Its investigations were to be +in botany, medicine, mineralogy and mining, mathematics, chemistry, mechanics, +arts, trades and manufactures, geography, topography, agriculture, +and "all philosophical experiments that let light into the nature of things, +tend to increase the power of man over matter, and multiply the conveniences +and pleasures of life." "Benjamin Franklin, the writer of this proposal, +offers himself to serve the society as their secretary till they shall be provided +with one more capable."</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_131_132" id="Footnote_131_132"></a><a href="#FNanchor_131_132"><span class="label">[131]</span></a> The Pennsylvania legislature.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_132_133" id="Footnote_132_133"></a><a href="#FNanchor_132_133"><span class="label">[132]</span></a> At this time lotteries were used for raising money to support the government, +to carry on wars, and to build churches, colleges, roads, etc. They +were not then looked upon as fostering gambling.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_133_134" id="Footnote_133_134"></a><a href="#FNanchor_133_134"><span class="label">[133]</span></a> The walls of defense between the openings for the cannon.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_134_135" id="Footnote_134_135"></a><a href="#FNanchor_134_135"><span class="label">[134]</span></a> Retaliation.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_135_136" id="Footnote_135_136"></a><a href="#FNanchor_135_136"><span class="label">[135]</span></a> See Note 194, p. <a href="#in">181</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_136_137" id="Footnote_136_137"></a><a href="#FNanchor_136_137"><span class="label">[136]</span></a> A sect of German-American Baptists, whose name comes from the German +<i>tunken</i> ("to immerse").</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_137_138" id="Footnote_137_138"></a><a href="#FNanchor_137_138"><span class="label">[137]</span></a> It is still used, and called the "Franklin stove."</p> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<h2>§ 7. PROJECTS FOR THE PUBLIC GOOD.</h2> + +<p>Peace being concluded, and the association business therefore +at an end, I turned 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 "Proposals relating to the Education of Youth +in Pennsylvania." 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 judged 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 "public-spirited gentlemen," + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +avoiding as much as I could, according to my usual rule, the presenting +myself to the public as the author of any scheme for their +benefit.</p> + +<p>The subscribers, to carry the project into immediate execution, +chose out of their number twenty-four trustees, and appointed +Mr. Francis, then attorney-general, and myself to draw up constitutions +for the government of the academy; which being done +and signed, a house was hired, masters engaged, 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,<a name="FNanchor_138_139" id="FNanchor_138_139"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_138_139" class="fnanchor">[138]</a> 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; namely, +one Church of England man, one Presbyterian, one Baptist, one +Moravian,<a name="FNanchor_139_140" id="FNanchor_139_140"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_139_140" class="fnanchor">[139]</a> etc.; those, + in case of vacancy by death, were to fill +it by election from among the contributors. The Moravian happened +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 mentioned me, with the observation that I was + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +merely an honest man and of no sect at all, which prevailed with +them to choose me. The enthusiasm which existed when the +house was built had long since abated, and its trustees had not +been able to procure fresh contributions for paying the ground +rent and discharging some other debts the building had occasioned, +which embarrassed 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 removed into the +building. The care and trouble of agreeing with the workmen, +purchasing materials, and superintending the work, fell upon me; +and I went through 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 worked for me +four years. He took off my hands all care of the printing office, +paying me punctually my share of the profits. This partnership +continued eighteen years, successfully for us both.</p> + +<p>The trustees of the academy after a while were incorporated +by a charter from the government; their funds were increased by +contributions in Britain and grants of land from the proprietaries, +to which the Assembly has since made considerable addition; and +thus was established the present University of Philadelphia. I +have been continued one of its trustees from the beginning, now +near forty years, and have had the very great pleasure of seeing + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +a number of the youth who have received their education in it +distinguished by their improved abilities, serviceable in public +stations, and ornaments to their country.</p> + +<p>When I disengaged myself as above mentioned from private +business, I flattered myself that, by the sufficient though moderate +fortune I had acquired, 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 public, 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 + <a name="FNanchor_140_141" id="FNanchor_140_141"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_140_141" class="fnanchor">[140]</a> +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 induced to amuse myself with +making magic squares<a name="FNanchor_141_142" id="FNanchor_141_142"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_141_142" class="fnanchor">[141]</a> or circles, or anything to avoid weariness; +and I conceived my becoming a member would enlarge my power +of doing good. I would not, however, insinuate that my ambition +was not flattered 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 tried a little by attending a +few courts and sitting on the bench to hear causes; but finding + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +that more knowledge of the common law than I possessed was +necessary to act in that station with credit, I gradually withdrew +from it, excusing myself by my being obliged 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 joined +with some members of council, as commissioners for that purpose. +The House named the speaker (Mr. Norris) and myself; +and, being commissioned, we went to Carlisle and met the Indians +accordingly.</p> + +<p>As those people are extremely apt to get drunk, and when so +are very quarrelsome and disorderly, we strictly forbade the selling +any liquor to them; and when they complained 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 promised 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 claimed and +received the rum.</p> + +<p>This was in the afternoon; they were near one hundred men, +women, and children, and were lodged 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 walked 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 colored 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, formed a scene the most resembling our +ideas of hell that could well be imagined, There was no appeasing + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +the tumult, and we retired to our lodging. At midnight a +number of them came thundering to our door, demanding more +rum, of which we took no notice.</p> + +<p>The next day, sensible they had misbehaved in giving us that +disturbance, they sent three of their old counselors to make their +apology. The orator acknowledged the fault, but laid it upon +the rum; and then endeavored to excuse the rum by saying: "The +Great Spirit, who made all things, made everything for some use, +and whatever use he designed 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." 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 seacoast.</p> + +<p>In 1751 Dr. Thomas Bond, a particular friend of mine, conceived +the idea of establishing a hospital in Philadelphia (a very +beneficent design which has been ascribed 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 endeavoring to procure subscriptions for it, but the proposal +being a novelty in America, and at first not well understood, +he met with but 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 concerned in it. "For," says he, "I +am often asked 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 inquired into the nature and probable +utility of his scheme, and receiving from him a very satisfactory +explanation, I not only subscribed to it myself, but engaged heartily +in the design of procuring subscriptions from others. Previously, +however, to the solicitation, I endeavored to prepare the + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +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 afterward were more free and generous; but, +beginning to flag, I saw they would be insufficient without some +assistance from the Assembly, and therefore proposed 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 approved 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 formed my plan; and, asking leave to bring in a bill + <a name="FNanchor_142_143" id="FNanchor_142_143"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_142_143" class="fnanchor">[142]</a> +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, namely: "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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +had opposed the grant, and now conceived they might have the +credit of being charitable without the expense, agreed to its passage; +and then, in soliciting subscriptions among the people, we +urged the conditional promise of the law as an additional motive +to give, since every man's donation would be doubled; thus the +clause worked both ways. The subscriptions accordingly soon +exceeded the requisite sum, and we claimed and received 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 +maneuvers the success of which gave me at the time more pleasure, +or wherein, after thinking of it, I more easily excused myself +for having made some use of cunning.</p> + +<p>It was about this time that another projector, the Rev. Gilbert +Tennent, came to me with a request that I would assist him in +procuring a subscription for erecting a new meetinghouse. 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 refused. +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 refused also to give such +a list. He then desired 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 laughed and thanked +me, and said he would take my advice. He did so, for he asked of +everybody, and he obtained a much larger sum than he expected, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +with which he erected the capacious and very elegant meetinghouse +that stands in Arch Street.<a name="FNanchor_143_144" id="FNanchor_143_144"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_143_144" class="fnanchor">[143]</a></p> + +<p>Our city, though 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 unpaved, and in +wet weather the wheels of heavy carriages plowed them into a +quagmire, so that it was difficult to cross them, and in dry weather +the dust was offensive. I had lived near what was called 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 paved 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 paved +with stone between the market and the bricked 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 paved, whenever a carriage came out of the mud upon this +pavement, it shook off and left its dirt upon it, and it was soon +covered with mire, which was not removed, 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 neighbors' +doors for the sum of sixpence per month to be paid by each +house.<a name="FNanchor_N_21" id="FNanchor_N_21"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_21" class="fnanchor">[n]</a> I then wrote and + printed a paper setting forth the advantages +to the neighborhood that might be obtained 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., as buyers could more easily +get at them, and by not having, in windy weather, the dust +blown in upon their goods, etc. I sent one of these papers to +each house, and in a day or two went round to see who would + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +subscribe an agreement to pay these sixpences. It was unanimously +signed, 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 raised 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, 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 impressed with the idea of enlighting all the city. The +honor of this public benefit has also been ascribed 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 supplied +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, lodged 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 continued +bright till morning, and an accidental stroke would generally +break but a single pane, easily repaired.</p> + +<p>I have sometimes wondered that the Londoners did not, from +the effect holes in the bottom of the globe lamps used at Vauxhall + <a name="FNanchor_144_145" id="FNanchor_144_145"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_144_145" class="fnanchor">[144]</a> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +have in keeping them clean, learn to have such holes in their +street lamps. But, these holes being made for another purpose, +namely, to communicate flame more suddenly to the wick by a +little flax hanging down through 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 +proposed, when in London, to Dr. Fothergill, who was among the +best men I have known, and a great promoter of useful projects. +I had observed that the streets, when dry, were never swept, and +the light dust carried away; but it was suffered to accumulate till +wet weather reduced 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 labor +raked 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> + +<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_145_146" id="FNanchor_145_146"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_145_146" class="fnanchor">[145]</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 asked who employed her to sweep +there. She said, "Nobody; but I am very poor and in distress, +and I sweeps before gentlefolkses doors, and hopes they will give +me something." I bid her sweep the whole street clean, and I +would give her a shilling. This was at nine o'clock; at twelve 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 placed in the +gutter, which was in the middle; and the next rain washed it + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span> +quite away, so that the pavement, and even the kennel, + <a name="FNanchor_146_147" id="FNanchor_146_147"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_146_147" class="fnanchor">[146]</a> were +perfectly clean.</p> + +<p>I then judged 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<a name="FNanchor_147_148" id="FNanchor_147_148"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_147_148" class="fnanchor">[147]</a> it is proposed that the several watchmen +be contracted with to have the dust swept up in dry seasons, +and the mud raked up at other times, each in the several streets +and lanes of his round; that they be furnished 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 raked 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 placed high upon wheels, but low upon sliders, with lattice +bottoms, which, being covered with straw, will retain the mud + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +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 placed at convenient distances, +and the mud brought to them in wheelbarrows, they remaining +where placed till the mud is drained, 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 carried away before the +shops are open, is very practicable in summer, when the days are +long; for, in walking through the Strand and Fleet Street one +morning at seven o'clock, I observed there was not one shop open, +though it had been daylight and the sun up above three hours, +the inhabitants of London choosing voluntarily to live much by +candlelight and sleep by sunshine; and yet they 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 though 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +most convenient to him, and enjoys daily the pleasure of its being +done with a good instrument.<a name="FNanchor_148_149" id="FNanchor_148_149"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_148_149" class="fnanchor">[148]</a> 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<a name="FNanchor_149_150" id="FNanchor_149_150"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_149_150" class="fnanchor">[149]</a> 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 +Great 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +<a name="debt" id="debt"></a>debt to us; but it soon after began to repay us, and before I +was displaced by a freak of the ministers,<a name="FNanchor_150_151" id="FNanchor_150_151"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_150_151" class="fnanchor">[150]</a> of which I shall speak +hereafter, we had brought it to yield three times as much clear +revenue to the Crown as the post office of Ireland. Since that +imprudent transaction they have received from it—not one +farthing!</p> + +<p>The business of the post office occasioned my taking a journey +this year to New England, where the College of Cambridge, + <a name="FNanchor_151_152" id="FNanchor_151_152"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_151_152" class="fnanchor">[151]</a> 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 honors. They were conferred in consideration of +my improvements and discoveries in the electric branch of natural +philosophy.</p> + +<p>In 1754, war with France being again apprehended, a congress +of commissioners from the different colonies was, by an order of +the Lords of Trade,<a name="FNanchor_152_153" id="FNanchor_152_153"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_152_153" class="fnanchor">[152]</a> to be assembled at Albany, there to confer +with the chiefs of the Six Nations<a name="FNanchor_153_154" id="FNanchor_153_154"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_153_154" class="fnanchor">[153]</a> concerning the means of defending +both their country and ours. Governor Hamilton, having +received 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 approved the nomination, +and provided the goods for the present, though 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +necessary for defense and other important general purposes. As +we passed through 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 ventured to lay it before the congress. It then appeared +that several of the commissioners had formed plans of the same +kind. A previous question was first taken, whether a union +should be established, which passed in the affirmative unanimously. +A committee was then appointed, one member from +each colony, to consider the several plans and report. Mine +happened to be preferred, and, with a few amendments, was +accordingly reported.</p> + +<p>By this plan the general government was to be administered by +a president-general, appointed and supported by the Crown, and +a grand council was to be chosen by the representatives of the +people of the several colonies, met in their respective assemblies. +The debates upon it in congress went on daily, hand in hand with +the Indian business. Many objections and difficulties were started, +but at length they were all overcome, and the plan was unanimously +agreed to, and copies ordered to be transmitted to the +Board of Trade and to the assemblies of the several provinces. +Its fate was singular; the assemblies did not adopt it, as they all +thought there was too much prerogative<a name="FNanchor_154_155" id="FNanchor_154_155"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_154_155" class="fnanchor">[154]</a> in it, and in England it +was judged to have too much of the democratic. + <a name="FNanchor_155_156" id="FNanchor_155_156"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_155_156" class="fnanchor">[155]</a> The Board of +Trade, therefore, did not approve of it nor recommend it for the +approbation of his Majesty; but another scheme was formed, 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 afterward 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><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> + 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 make +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 defend themselves; there would then have +been no need of troops from England. Of course the subsequent +pretense for taxing America, and the bloody contest it occasioned, +would have been avoided. But such mistakes are not new; history +is full of the errors of states and princes.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Look round the habitable world, how few<br /></span> +<span class="i00">Know their own good, or, knowing it, pursue!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Those who govern, having much business on their hands, do +not generally like to take the trouble of considering and carrying +into execution new projects. The best public measures are +therefore seldom adopted from previous wisdom, but forced by +the occasion.</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 happened to +be absent, which I thought not very fair, and reprobated it without +paying any attention to it at all, to my no small mortification.</p> + +<p>In my journey to Boston this year I met at New York with our +new governor, Mr. Morris, just arrived there from England, with +whom I had been before intimately acquainted. He brought a +commission to supersede Mr. Hamilton, who, tired with the disputes +his proprietary instructions subjected him to, had resigned. +Mr. Morris asked me if I thought he must expect as uncomfortable +an administration. I said, "No; you may, on the contrary, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +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 appeared 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 retained the +government.</p> + +<p>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-natured +a man that no personal difference between him and me +was occasioned by the contest, and we often dined together.</p> + +<p>One afternoon, in the height of this public quarrel, we met in +the street. "Franklin," says he, "you must go home with me +and spend the evening; I am to have some company that you +will like;" and, taking me by the arm, he led me to his house. In +gay conversation over our wine after supper, he told us jokingly + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +<a name="that" id="that"></a>that he much admired the idea of Sancho Panza, + <a name="FNanchor_156_157" id="FNanchor_156_157"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_156_157" class="fnanchor">[156]</a> who, when it +was proposed to give him a government, requested it might be a +government of blacks, 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 +Quakers? Had not you better sell them? The proprietor would +give you a good price." "The governor," says I, "has not yet +blacked them enough." He, indeed, had labored hard to blacken +the Assembly in all his messages, but they wiped off his coloring +as fast as he laid it on, and placed 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 tired of the contest, and quitted the +government.</p> + +<p>These public quarrels were all at bottom owing to the proprietaries, +our hereditary governors, who, when any expense was to +be incurred for the defense of their province, with incredible +meanness instructed their deputies<a name="FNanchor_157_158" id="FNanchor_157_158"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_157_158" class="fnanchor">[157]</a> 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, though 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 will show hereafter.</p> + +<p>But I am got forward too fast with my story. There are still +some transactions to be mentioned that happened during the administration +of Governor Morris.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<div class="fn"> +<h4>Footnotes</h4> +<p><a name="Footnote_138_139" id="Footnote_138_139"></a><a href="#FNanchor_138_139"><span class="label">[138]</span></a> It stood on Fourth Street, below Arch.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_139_140" id="Footnote_139_140"></a><a href="#FNanchor_139_140"><span class="label">[139]</span></a> A member of a denomination which has its name from Moravia, a division +of Austria-Hungary. For an account of their home and practices, see +pp. <a href="#were">168–170</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_140_141" id="Footnote_140_141"></a><a href="#FNanchor_140_141"><span class="label">[140]</span></a> A representative in the lower house of the legislature.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_141_142" id="Footnote_141_142"></a><a href="#FNanchor_141_142"><span class="label">[141]</span></a> "Magic squares," i.e., square figures of a series of numbers so disposed +that the sums of each row or line, taken in any direction, are equal. Magic +squares are also formed of words or phrases so arranged as to read the same +in all directions. The magic circle is a modification of the magic square, one +form of which was devised by Franklin.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_142_143" id="Footnote_142_143"></a><a href="#FNanchor_142_143"><span class="label">[142]</span></a> A form or draft of the law, presented to the legislature for adoption.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_143_144" id="Footnote_143_144"></a><a href="#FNanchor_143_144"><span class="label">[143]</span></a> The church of this society is now on the corner of Walnut and Twenty-first +Streets.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_144_145" id="Footnote_144_145"></a><a href="#FNanchor_144_145"><span class="label">[144]</span></a> Pleasure gardens in the London of Franklin's day.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_145_146" id="Footnote_145_146"></a><a href="#FNanchor_145_146"><span class="label">[145]</span></a> A street in London in which Franklin had apartments.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_146_147" id="Footnote_146_147"></a><a href="#FNanchor_146_147"><span class="label">[146]</span></a> Little channel or gutter.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_147_148" id="Footnote_147_148"></a><a href="#FNanchor_147_148"><span class="label">[147]</span></a> Now a part of London, but formerly a separate corporation.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_148_149" id="Footnote_148_149"></a><a href="#FNanchor_148_149"><span class="label">[148]</span></a> "From the manuscript journal of Mr. Andrew Ellicott," says Mr. John +Bigelow in one of his editions of the Autobiography, "I have been kindly +favored by Mr. J. C. G. Kennedy, of Washington, one of his descendants, +with the following extract, which was written three years before the preceding +paragraph in the Autobiography: +</p> + +<p> +"'I found him [Franklin] in his little room among his papers. He received +me very politely, and immediately entered into conversation about the western +country. His room makes a singular appearance, being filled with old +philosophical instruments, papers, boxes, tables, and stools. About ten +o'clock he placed some water on the fire, but not being expert through his +great age, I desired him to give me the pleasure of assisting him. He thanked +me, and replied that he ever made it a point to wait upon himself, and, although +he began to find himself infirm, he was determined not to increase his +infirmities by giving way to them. After the water was hot, I observed his +object was to shave himself, which operation he performed without a glass +and with great expedition. I asked him if he ever employed a barber; he +answered: "No; I think happiness does not consist so much in particular +pieces of good fortune, which perhaps occasionally fall to a man's lot, as to +be able in his old age to do those little things which, being unable to perform +himself, would be done by others with a sparing hand."'"</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_149_150" id="Footnote_149_150"></a><a href="#FNanchor_149_150"><span class="label">[149]</span></a> That is, he examined the accounts and managed the financial affairs.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_150_151" id="Footnote_150_151"></a><a href="#FNanchor_150_151"><span class="label">[150]</span></a> The ministers of the Crown in London.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_151_152" id="Footnote_151_152"></a><a href="#FNanchor_151_152"><span class="label">[151]</span></a> The college in Cambridge, Harvard College.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_152_153" id="Footnote_152_153"></a><a href="#FNanchor_152_153"><span class="label">[152]</span></a> The commissioners of trade, who lived in England, and to whom the colonial +governors made their reports and returns. Their duty was "to put +things into a form and order of government that should always preserve these +countries in obedience to the Crown."</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_153_154" id="Footnote_153_154"></a><a href="#FNanchor_153_154"><span class="label">[153]</span></a> A union of six of the more considerable Indian tribes.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_154_155" id="Footnote_154_155"></a><a href="#FNanchor_154_155"><span class="label">[154]</span></a> The power of the king.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_155_156" id="Footnote_155_156"></a><a href="#FNanchor_155_156"><span class="label">[155]</span></a> The government of the people.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_156_157" id="Footnote_156_157"></a><a href="#FNanchor_156_157"><span class="label">[156]</span></a> The squire of Don Quixote, to whom a duke jokingly granted the +government of an island for a few days. This is one of the best-known +episodes in that amusing history.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_157_158" id="Footnote_157_158"></a><a href="#FNanchor_157_158"><span class="label">[157]</span></a> The governors of the provinces, who were appointed by the proprietaries +(see Note 61, p. <a href="#my">58</a>).</p> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p> +<h2>§ 8. FRANKLIN ACTS IN CONCERT WITH BRADDOCK'S ARMY.<br /> +ORGANIZATION OF MILITIA.</h2> + +<p>War being in a manner commenced with France, + <a name="FNanchor_158_159" id="FNanchor_158_159"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_158_159" class="fnanchor">[158]</a> the government +of Massachusetts Bay projected an attack upon +Crown Point,<a name="FNanchor_159_160" id="FNanchor_159_160"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_159_160" class="fnanchor">[159]</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,<a name="FNanchor_160_161" id="FNanchor_160_161"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_160_161" class="fnanchor">[160]</a> he applied 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<a name="FNanchor_161_162" id="FNanchor_161_162"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_161_162" class="fnanchor">[161]</a> from bearing + any part of the tax that would be necessary, +the Assembly, though 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, + <a name="FNanchor_162_163" id="FNanchor_162_163"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_162_163" class="fnanchor">[162]</a> 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 proposed that the orders should be payable in a year, and to +bear an interest of five per cent. With these orders I supposed +the provisions might easily be purchased. The Assembly, with +very little hesitation, adopted the proposal. The orders were + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +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, + <a name="FNanchor_163_164" id="FNanchor_163_164"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_163_164" class="fnanchor">[163]</a> which +being known to be more than sufficient, they obtained instant +credit, and were not only received in payment for the provisions, +but many moneyed people who had cash lying by them invested +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 returned thanks to +the Assembly in a handsome memorial, went home highly pleased +with the success of his embassy, and ever after bore for me the +most cordial and affecting friendship.</p> + +<p>The British government, not choosing to permit the union of +the colonies as proposed 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 +entertained of them, sent over General Braddock with two regiments +of regular English troops for that purpose. He landed at +Alexandria, in Virginia, and thence marched to Fredericktown, in +Maryland, where he halted for carriages.<a name="FNanchor_164_165" id="FNanchor_164_165"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_164_165" class="fnanchor">[164]</a> Our Assembly, apprehending +from some information that he had conceived violent +prejudices against them as averse to the service, wished 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 dispatches between +him and the governors of the several provinces, with whom he +must necessarily have continual correspondence, and of which +they proposed to pay the expense. My son accompanied me on +this journey.</p> + +<p>We found the general at Fredericktown, waiting impatiently for + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +the return of those he had sent through the back parts of Maryland +and Virginia to collect wagons. I stayed with him several +days, dined 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 wagons to be obtained were brought in, by which it appeared +that they amounted only to twenty-five, and not all of those were +in serviceable condition. The general and all the officers were +surprised, declared the expedition was then at an end, being impossible, +and exclaimed against the ministers<a name="FNanchor_165_166" id="FNanchor_165_166"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_165_166" class="fnanchor">[165]</a> for ignorantly +landing them in a country destitute of the means of conveying +their stores, baggage, etc., not less than one hundred and fifty +wagons being necessary.</p> + +<p>I happened to say I thought it was pity they had not been +landed rather in Pennsylvania, as in that country almost every +farmer had his wagon. 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 asked what terms were to be offered the owners of the +wagons, and I was desired 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 prepared immediately. +What those terms were will appear in the advertisement +I published as soon as I arrived at Lancaster, which being, from +the great and sudden effect it produced, a piece of some curiosity, +I shall insert it at length as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Advertisement.</span></p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">Lancaster</span>, April 26, 1755. +</div> + +<p>Whereas, one hundred and fifty wagons, with four horses to each wagon, +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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +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 +wagons and teams, or single horses, on the following terms, viz.: 1. That +there shall be paid for each wagon, with four good horses and a driver, fifteen +shillings per diem;<a name="FNanchor_166_167" id="FNanchor_166_167"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_166_167" class="fnanchor">[166]</a> 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, eighteenpence 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 traveling to Will's Creek and home again after +their discharge. 3. Each wagon and team, and every saddle or pack horse, +is to be valued by indifferent<a name="FNanchor_167_168" id="FNanchor_167_168"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_167_168" class="fnanchor">[167]</a> persons chosen between me and the owner; and +in case of the loss of any wagon, 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 wagon 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 +wagons, 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 wagons 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><span class="smcap">Note.</span>—My son, William Franklin, is empowered to enter into like contracts +with any person in Cumberland County.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">B. Franklin.</span> +</div></div> + +<p> </p> + +<div class="blockquot"> + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">To the Inhabitants of the Counties of Lancaster, York, and<br /> +Cumberland.</span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Friends and Countrymen</span>: Being occasionally at the camp at Frederick, +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><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> + 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 wagons 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 wagons 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 wagon and four horses and a driver, may do it together, one +furnishing the wagon, 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; wagons and horses must be had; violent measures will +probably be used, and you will be left to seek for a recompense where you can +find it, and your case, perhaps, be little pitied or regarded.</p> + +<p>I have no particular interest in this affair, as, except the satisfaction of endeavoring +to do good, I shall have only my labor for my pains. If this +method of obtaining the wagons 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,<a name="FNanchor_168_169" id="FNanchor_168_169"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_168_169" class="fnanchor">[168]</a> 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 wellwisher,</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">B. Franklin.</span> +</div></div> + +<p>I received of the general about eight hundred pounds, to be +disbursed in advance money to the wagon owners, etc.; but that + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +sum being insufficient, I advanced upward of two hundred pounds +more, and in two weeks the one hundred and fifty wagons, with +two hundred and fifty-nine carrying horses,<a name="FNanchor_169_170" id="FNanchor_169_170"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_169_170" class="fnanchor">[169]</a> were on their march +for the camp. The advertisement promised payment according +to the valuation, in case any wagon 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,<a name="FNanchor_170_171" id="FNanchor_170_171"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_170_171" class="fnanchor">[170]</a> 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 through a wilderness, +where nothing was to be purchased. I commiserated their case, +and resolved to endeavor procuring them some relief. I said +nothing, however, to him of my intention, but wrote the next +morning to the committee of the Assembly who had the disposition +of some public money, warmly recommending the case of +these officers to their consideration, and proposing that a present +should be sent them of necessaries and refreshments. My son, +who had some experience of a camp life and of its wants, drew +up a list for me, which I inclosed in my letter. The committee +approved, and used such diligence that, conducted by my son, the +stores arrived at the camp as soon as the wagons. They consisted +of twenty parcels, each containing</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>6 lbs. loaf sugar,<br /> +6 lbs. good Muscovado<a name="FNanchor_171_172" id="FNanchor_171_172"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_171_172" class="fnanchor">[171]</a> do.,<br /> +1 lb. good green tea,<br /> +1 lb. good bohea do.,<br /> +6 lbs. good ground coffee,<br /> +6 lbs. chocolate,<br /> +½ cwt. best white biscuit,<br /> +½ lb. pepper,<br /> +1 quart best white wine vinegar,<br /> +1 Gloucester cheese,<br /> +1 keg containing 20 lbs. good butter,<br /> +2 doz. old Madeira wine,<br /> +2 gals. Jamaica spirits,<br /> +1 bottle flour of mustard,<br /> +2 well-cured hams,<br /> +½ doz. dried tongues,<br /> +6 lbs. rice,<br /> +6 lbs. raisins.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> + These twenty parcels, well packed, were placed on as many +horses, each parcel, with the horse, being intended as a present +for one officer. They were very thankfully received, and the kindness +acknowledged 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 wagons, +etc., and readily paid my account of disbursements, thanking me +repeatedly, and requesting my further assistance in sending provisions +after him. I undertook this also, and was busily employed +in it till we heard of his defeat, advancing for the service, of my +own money, upward 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 returned 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, joined 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_172_173" id="FNanchor_172_173"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_172_173" class="fnanchor">[172]</a> +says he, "I am to proceed to Niagara; and, having taken that, +to Frontenac, if the season will allow time, and I suppose it will, +for Duquesne can hardly detain me above three or four days; +and then I see nothing that can obstruct my march to Niagara." +Having before revolved in my mind the long line his army must + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> +make in their march by a very narrow road, to be cut for them +through 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 conceived some doubts and some fears for the +event of the campaign. But I ventured 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 attacked 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 smiled at my ignorance, and replied: "These savages may, +indeed, be a formidable enemy to your raw American militia, but +upon the king's regular and disciplined 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 exposed 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 +had come over), and in a more open part of the woods than any +it had passed, attacked its advance guard by a heavy fire from +behind trees and bushes, which was the first intelligence the general +had of an enemy's being near him. This guard being disordered, +the general hurried the troops up to their assistance, +which was done in great confusion, through wagons, baggage, and +cattle; and presently the fire came upon their flank. The officers, +being on horseback, were more easily distinguished, picked 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +at till two thirds of them were killed; and then, being seized with +a panic, the whole fled with precipitation.</p> + +<p>The wagoners took each a horse out of his team, and scampered; +their example was immediately followed by others, so that +all the wagons, 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 pursued, arrived at Dunbar's camp, and the panic +they brought with them instantly seized him and all his people; +and though he had now above one thousand men, and the enemy +who had beaten Braddock did not at most exceed four hundred +Indians and French together, instead of proceeding and endeavoring +to recover some of the lost honor, he ordered all the stores, +ammunition, etc., to be destroyed, that he might have more horses +to assist his flight toward the settlements and less lumber to remove. +He was there met with requests from the governors of +Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, that he would post his +troops on the frontiers so as to afford some protection to the inhabitants; +but he continued his hasty march through 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.</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 through the most inhabited part of + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +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 +continued with him to his death, which happened in a few days, +told me that he was totally silent all the first day, and at night +only said: "Who would have thought it?" that he was silent +again the following day, saying only at last: "We shall better +know how to deal with them another time," and died 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_173_174" id="FNanchor_173_174"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_173_174" class="fnanchor">[173]</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 asked only one, which was that +he would give orders to his officers not to enlist any more of our +bought servants,<a name="FNanchor_174_175" id="FNanchor_174_175"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_174_175" class="fnanchor">[174]</a> and that he would discharge such as had been +already enlisted. This he readily granted, and several were accordingly +returned to their masters on my application. Dunbar, +when the command devolved on him, was not so generous. He +being at Philadelphia, on his retreat, or rather flight, I applied + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +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 refused to perform his +promise, to their great loss and disappointment.</p> + +<p>As soon as the loss of the wagons and horses was generally +known, all the owners came upon me for the valuation which I +had given bond to pay. Their demands gave me a great deal of +trouble. My acquainting them that the money was ready in the +paymaster's hands, but that orders for paying it must first be obtained +from General Shirley, and my assuring them that I had +applied to that general by letter, but, he being at a distance, an answer +could not soon be received, 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 pounds, +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 seemed surprised that I +did not immediately comply with their proposal. "Why," 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 dropped, +and the projectors thereby missed the mortification they would +have undergone if the firework had been prepared. Dr. Bond, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +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, continued 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 proposed +amendment was only of a single word. The bill expressed +that all estates, real and personal, were to be taxed, those of the +proprietaries not excepted. His amendment was, "for <i>not</i> read +<i>only</i>"—a small, but very material, alteration.</p> + +<p>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, raised 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 formed, 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 modeling 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 through the House without much difficulty, as care was +taken in it to leave the Quakers at their liberty. To promote + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> +the association necessary to form the militia, I wrote a dialogue, + <a name="FNanchor_175_176" id="FNanchor_175_176"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_175_176" class="fnanchor">[175]</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> + +<p>While the several companies in the city and country were +forming, and learning their exercise, the governor prevailed with +me to take charge of our northwestern 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, though 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 +raised against Canada, was my aid-de-camp, and of great use to +me. The Indians had burned Gnadenhut, a village settled by +the Moravians, and massacred the inhabitants; but the place was +thought a good situation for one of the forts.</p> + +<p>In order to march thither, I assembled the companies at Bethlehem, + <a name="FNanchor_176_177" id="FNanchor_176_177"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_176_177" class="fnanchor">[176]</a> +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 +placed 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 relieved + <a name="FNanchor_177_178" id="FNanchor_177_178"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_177_178" class="fnanchor">[177]</a> as methodically +as in any garrison town. In conversation with the bishop, +Spangenberg, I mentioned this my surprise; for, knowing they +had obtained an act of Parliament exempting them from military + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +duties in the colonies, I had supposed they were conscientiously +scrupulous of bearing arms. He answered 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 deceived +in themselves or deceived 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,<a name="FNanchor_178_179" id="FNanchor_178_179"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_178_179" class="fnanchor">[178]</a> 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 thought more immediately +necessary. The Moravians procured me five wagons +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 marched 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 arrived, 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 attacked in our +march, for our arms were of the most ordinary sort, and our men +could not keep their gunlocks 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 escaped informed us that his and his companions' +guns would not go off, the priming<a name="FNanchor_179_180" id="FNanchor_179_180"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_179_180" class="fnanchor">[179]</a> being wet with the rain.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> + The next day being fair, we continued our march, and arrived +at the desolated Gnadenhut. There was a sawmill 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 interred +by the country people.</p> + +<p>The next morning our fort was planned and marked 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 dispatch 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 wagons, the bodies +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_180_181" id="FNanchor_180_181"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_180_181" class="fnanchor">[180]</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 through the loopholes. We had +one swivel gun,<a name="FNanchor_181_182" id="FNanchor_181_182"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_181_182" class="fnanchor">[181]</a> which we mounted on one of the angles, and +fired it as soon as fixed, 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 finished in a week, though it rained so hard every other +day that the men could not work.</p> + +<p>This gave me occasion to observe that, when men are employed, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +they are best contented; for on the days they worked +they were good-natured and cheerful, and, with the consciousness +of having done a good day's work, they spent the evening +jollily; but on our idle days they were mutinous and quarrelsome, +finding fault with their pork, the bread, etc., and in continual +ill humor, which put me in mind of a sea captain, whose +rule it was to keep his men constantly at work; and, when his +mate once told him that they had done everything, and there +was nothing further to employ them about, "Oh," says he, "make +them scour the anchor."</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 +ventured out in parties to scour the adjacent country. We met +with no Indians, but we found the places on the neighboring +hills where they had lain to watch our proceedings. There was +an art in their contrivance of those places that seems worth mention. +It being winter, a fire was necessary for them; but a common +fire on the surface of the ground would, by its light, have +discovered their position at a distance. They had therefore dug +holes in the ground about three feet in 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 observed among the weeds and grass the prints of their +bodies, made by their lying 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 managed, could not +discover them, either by its light, flame, sparks, or even smoke. +It appeared 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +<a name="were" id="were"></a>were promised, besides pay and provisions, a gill of rum a day, +which was punctually served 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 thought, 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 nonattendance on +divine service.</p> + +<p>I had hardly finished this business, and got my fort well stored +with provisions, when I received a letter from the governor, +acquainting me that he had called 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 +completed, 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 introduced 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, wrapped only in a blanket or two.</p> + +<p>While at Bethlehem, I inquired a little into the practice of the +Moravians; some of them had accompanied me, and all were + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> +very kind to me. I found they worked for a common stock, + <a name="FNanchor_182_183" id="FNanchor_182_183"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_182_183" class="fnanchor">[182]</a> +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 entertained with good music, 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 placed 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 +seemed well adapted to their capacities, and was delivered +in a pleasing, familiar manner, coaxing them, as it were, to be +good. They behaved very orderly, but looked pale and unhealthy, +which made me suspect they were kept too much within +doors, or not allowed sufficient exercise.</p> + +<p>I inquired concerning the Moravian marriages, whether the +report was true that they were by lot. I was told that lots were +used only in particular cases; that generally, when a young man +found himself disposed to marry, he informed the elders of his +class, who consulted the elder ladies that governed 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 acquiesced 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," answered my informer, "if you let + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +the parties choose 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 chosen their captains, lieutenants, and ensigns, according to +the new law. Dr. B. visited me, and gave me an account of the +pains he had taken to spread a general good liking to the law, +and ascribed much to those endeavors. I had had the vanity to +ascribe all to my "Dialogue;" 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 fieldpieces, + <a name="FNanchor_183_184" id="FNanchor_183_184"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_183_184" class="fnanchor">[183]</a> 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 honor 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 chagrined 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +with them naked all the way. Somebody wrote an account of +this to the proprietor, and it gave him great offense. No such +honor had been paid him when in the province, nor to any of his +governors, and he said it was only proper to princes of the blood +royal; which may be true for aught I know, who was, and still +am, ignorant of the etiquette in such cases.</p> + +<p>This silly affair, however, greatly increased his rancor 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 opposed 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, though +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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +the advice I gave; but I think it was that Dunbar should be +written to, and prevailed with, if possible, to post his troops on +the frontiers for their protection, till, by reënforcements 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 professed 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 dropped, +and he soon after left the government, being superseded by Captain +Denny.</p> + +<p>Before I proceed in relating the part I had in public affairs +under this new governor's administration, it may not be amiss +here to give some account of the rise and progress of my philosophical +reputation.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<div class="fn"> +<h4>Footnotes</h4> +<p><a name="Footnote_158_159" id="Footnote_158_159"></a><a href="#FNanchor_158_159"><span class="label">[158]</span></a> In 1752 the French began connecting their settlements on the Lakes +and on the Mississippi by a chain of forts on the Ohio. The English warned +off the intruders upon what they deemed their territory, and sent General +Braddock to the colonists' aid. War was declared in 1756.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_159_160" id="Footnote_159_160"></a><a href="#FNanchor_159_160"><span class="label">[159]</span></a> A French fort upon the west side of Lake Champlain.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_160_161" id="Footnote_160_161"></a><a href="#FNanchor_160_161"><span class="label">[160]</span></a> That is, he was born in Boston.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_161_162" id="Footnote_161_162"></a><a href="#FNanchor_161_162"><span class="label">[161]</span></a> The estate of the Penn family.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_162_163" id="Footnote_162_163"></a><a href="#FNanchor_162_163"><span class="label">[162]</span></a> Through which the people loaned money to the government.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_163_164" id="Footnote_163_164"></a><a href="#FNanchor_163_164"><span class="label">[163]</span></a> A tax or duty on certain home productions.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_164_165" id="Footnote_164_165"></a><a href="#FNanchor_164_165"><span class="label">[164]</span></a> Gun carriages, transport wagons, etc.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_165_166" id="Footnote_165_166"></a><a href="#FNanchor_165_166"><span class="label">[165]</span></a> Of the government at London, as on p. <a href="#debt">147</a>.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_166_167" id="Footnote_166_167"></a><a href="#FNanchor_166_167"><span class="label">[166]</span></a> "Per diem," i.e., a day, or per day.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_167_168" id="Footnote_167_168"></a><a href="#FNanchor_167_168"><span class="label">[167]</span></a> Disinterested.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_168_169" id="Footnote_168_169"></a><a href="#FNanchor_168_169"><span class="label">[168]</span></a> A member of the light cavalry.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_169_170" id="Footnote_169_170"></a><a href="#FNanchor_169_170"><span class="label">[169]</span></a> "Carrying horses," i.e., carrying packs or burdens upon the back.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_170_171" id="Footnote_170_171"></a><a href="#FNanchor_170_171"><span class="label">[170]</span></a> Junior and subordinate officers.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_171_172" id="Footnote_171_172"></a><a href="#FNanchor_171_172"><span class="label">[171]</span></a> Muscovado sugar is brown sugar.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_172_173" id="Footnote_172_173"></a><a href="#FNanchor_172_173"><span class="label">[172]</span></a> Upon the site of this fort Pittsburg is built. The French were also fortified +at Niagara and at Frontenac on Lake Ontario.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_173_174" id="Footnote_173_174"></a><a href="#FNanchor_173_174"><span class="label">[173]</span></a> The historian and philosopher. He was born in 1711 and died in 1776.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_174_175" id="Footnote_174_175"></a><a href="#FNanchor_174_175"><span class="label">[174]</span></a> "Bought servants," i.e., those whose service had been bought for a +term of years (see Note 83, p. <a href="#regret">69</a>).</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_175_176" id="Footnote_175_176"></a><a href="#FNanchor_175_176"><span class="label">[175]</span></a> This dialogue and the militia act are in the Gentleman's Magazine for +February and March, 1756.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_176_177" id="Footnote_176_177"></a><a href="#FNanchor_176_177"><span class="label">[176]</span></a> Fifty-five miles north of Philadelphia.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_177_178" id="Footnote_177_178"></a><a href="#FNanchor_177_178"><span class="label">[177]</span></a> Relieved one another in military duty.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_178_179" id="Footnote_178_179"></a><a href="#FNanchor_178_179"><span class="label">[178]</span></a> The exact location is not known.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_179_180" id="Footnote_179_180"></a><a href="#FNanchor_179_180"><span class="label">[179]</span></a> The powder used to fire the charge. It was ignited by a spark from the +flintlock.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_180_181" id="Footnote_180_181"></a><a href="#FNanchor_180_181"><span class="label">[180]</span></a> Pole.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_181_182" id="Footnote_181_182"></a><a href="#FNanchor_181_182"><span class="label">[181]</span></a> "Swivel gun," i.e., a gun turning upon a swivel or pivot in any direction.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_182_183" id="Footnote_182_183"></a><a href="#FNanchor_182_183"><span class="label">[182]</span></a> Fund.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_183_184" id="Footnote_183_184"></a><a href="#FNanchor_183_184"><span class="label">[183]</span></a> Light cannon mounted on carriages.</p> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<h2>§ 9. THE PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENTS.</h2> + +<p>In 1746, being at Boston, I met there with a Dr. Spence, who +was lately arrived from Scotland, and showed me some electric +experiments. They were imperfectly performed, as he was +not very expert; but, being on a subject quite new to me, they +equally surprised and pleased me. Soon after my return to Philadelphia, +our library company received from Mr. Collinson, +Fellow of the Royal Society of London, a present of a glass tube, +with some account of the use of it in making such experiments. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +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 glasshouse, with +which they furnished themselves, so that we had at length several +performers. Among these, the principal was Mr. Kinnersley, an +ingenious neighbor, who, being out of business, I encouraged to +undertake showing the experiments for money, and drew up for +him two lectures, in which the experiments were ranged in such +order, and accompanied with such explanations in such method, +as that the foregoing should assist in comprehending the following. +He procured an elegant apparatus for the purpose, in which +all the little machines that I had roughly made for myself were +nicely formed by instrument makers. His lectures were well +attended, and gave great satisfaction; and after some time he +went through the colonies, exhibiting them in every capital town, +and picked 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>Obliged as we were to Mr. Collinson for his present of the +tube, etc., I thought it right he should be informed of our success +in using it, and wrote him several letters containing accounts +of our experiments. He got them read in the Royal Society, +where they were not at first thought worth so much notice as to +be printed in their "Transactions." One paper, which I wrote +for Mr. Kinnersley, on the sameness of lightning with electricity, +I sent to Dr. Mitchel, an acquaintance of mine, and one of the +members also of that society, who wrote me word that it had +been read, but was laughed at by the connoisseurs. The papers, +however, being shown to Dr. Fothergill, he thought them of too +much value to be stifled, and advised the printing of them. Mr. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +Collinson then gave them to Cave<a name="FNanchor_184_185" id="FNanchor_184_185"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_184_185" class="fnanchor">[184]</a> 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 swelled to a quarto volume, which has had five +editions, and cost him nothing for copy money.<a name="FNanchor_185_186" id="FNanchor_185_186"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_185_186" class="fnanchor">[185]</a></p> + +<p>It was, however, some time before those papers were much +taken notice of in England. A copy of them happening to fall +into the hands of the Count de Buffon, a philosopher deservedly +of great reputation in France, and, indeed, all over Europe, he +prevailed with M.<a name="FNanchor_186_187" id="FNanchor_186_187"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_186_187" class="fnanchor">[186]</a> Dalibard to translate them into French, and +they were printed at Paris. The publication offended the Abbé + <a name="FNanchor_187_188" id="FNanchor_187_188"></a><a href="#Footnote_187_188" class="fnanchor">[187]</a> +Nollet, preceptor in natural philosophy to the royal family and +an able experimenter, who had formed and published 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. Afterward, having been assured that there really existed +such a person as Franklin at Philadelphia, which he had doubted, +he wrote and published a volume of "Letters," chiefly addressed +to me, defending his theory, and denying the verity of my experiments, +and of the positions deduced from them.</p> + +<p>I once purposed answering the abbé, and actually began the +answer; but, on consideration that my writings contained a description +of experiments which any one might repeat and verify, +and if not to be verified, could not be defended; or of observations +offered as conjectures, and not delivered dogmatically, +therefore not laying me under any obligation to defend them; + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +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 contained 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> + <a name="FNanchor_188_189" id="FNanchor_188_189"></a><a href="#Footnote_188_189" class="fnanchor">[188]</a> +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 engaged the public attention everywhere. +M. de Lor, who had an apparatus for experimental philosophy, +and lectured in that branch of science, undertook to repeat what +he called the "Philadelphia experiments," 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 received 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<a name="FNanchor_N_22" id="FNanchor_N_22"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_22" class="fnanchor">[n]</a> were in among the learned abroad, and +of their wonder that my writings had been so little noticed in +England. The society, on this, resumed the consideration of the +letters that had been read to them; and the celebrated Dr. Watson + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +drew up a summary account of them, and of all I had afterward +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,<a name="FNanchor_189_190" id="FNanchor_189_190"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_189_190" class="fnanchor">[189]</a> and acquainting them with the success, they soon +made me more than amends for the slight with which they had +before treated me. Without my having made any application +for that honor, they chose me a member, and voted that I should +be excused the customary payments, which would have amounted +to twenty-five guineas, and ever since have given me their "Transactions" +gratis. They also presented me with the gold medal +of Sir Godfrey Copley for the year 1753, the delivery of which +was accompanied by a very handsome speech of the president, +Lord Macclesfield, wherein I was highly honored.</p> + +<p>Our new governor, Captain Denny, brought over for me the +before-mentioned medal from the Royal Society, which he presented +to me at an entertainment given him by the city. He +accompanied it with very polite expressions of his esteem for +me, having, as he said, been long acquainted with my character. +After dinner, when the company, as was customary at that time, +were engaged in drinking, he took me aside into another room, +and acquainted me that he had been advised 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 toward the province, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +<a name="and" id="and"></a>and of the advantage it might be to us all, and to me in particular, +if the opposition that had been so long continued to his measures +was dropped, and harmony restored 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. 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 favors 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 proposed 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 +instructions his predecessor had been hampered with.</p> + +<p>On this he did not then explain himself; but when he afterward +came to do business with the Assembly, they appeared +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 published. 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 James Ralph was still alive; that + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +<a name="he" id="he"></a>he was esteemed one of the best political writers in England; had +been employed in the dispute between Prince Frederic and the +king, and had obtained a pension of three hundred a year; that +his reputation was indeed small as a poet, Pope having damned +his poetry in the "Dunciad," but his prose was thought as good +as any man's.</p> + +<p>The Assembly, finally finding the proprietary obstinately persisted +in manacling their deputies<a name="FNanchor_190_191" id="FNanchor_190_191"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_190_191" class="fnanchor">[190]</a> with instructions inconsistent +not only with the privileges of the people but with the service of +the Crown, resolved 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 refused +to pass, in compliance with his instructions.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<div class="fn"> +<h4>Footnotes</h4> +<p><a name="Footnote_184_185" id="Footnote_184_185"></a><a href="#FNanchor_184_185"><span class="label">[184]</span></a> The publisher, Edward Cave (1691–1754), was the founder of the Gentleman's +Magazine, the earliest literary journal of the kind.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_185_186" id="Footnote_185_186"></a><a href="#FNanchor_185_186"><span class="label">[185]</span></a> "Copy money," i.e., money paid for the copy or article.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_186_187" id="Footnote_186_187"></a><a href="#FNanchor_186_187"><span class="label">[186]</span></a> Monsieur.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_187_188" id="Footnote_187_188"></a><a href="#FNanchor_187_188"><span class="label">[187]</span></a> A title formerly assumed in France by a class of men who had slight connections +with the church, and were employed as teachers or engaged in some +literary pursuit.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_188_189" id="Footnote_188_189"></a><a href="#FNanchor_188_189"><span class="label">[188]</span></a> Pupil.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_189_190" id="Footnote_189_190"></a><a href="#FNanchor_189_190"><span class="label">[189]</span></a> The iron rod was on the kite which Franklin flew in a thunderstorm in +1752. A hemp cord conducted the electricity to a key near his hand, and from +this he received the shock which proved the truth of his theory that lightning +and electricity are one and the same.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_190_191" id="Footnote_190_191"></a><a href="#FNanchor_190_191"><span class="label">[190]</span></a> See Note 157, p. <a href="#that">151</a>.</p> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<h2>§ 10. MISSION TO ENGLAND.</h2> + +<p>I had agreed with Captain Morris, of the packet + <a name="FNanchor_191_192" id="FNanchor_191_192"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_191_192" class="fnanchor">[191]</a> at New +York, for my passage, and my stores were put on board, when +Lord Loudoun arrived at Philadelphia, expressly, as he told me, +to endeavor an accommodation between the governor and Assembly, +that his Majesty's service might not be obstructed by their +dissensions. Accordingly, he desired 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +instructions, the bond he had given to observe them, and his ruin +if he disobeyed, yet seemed not unwilling to hazard himself if +Lord Loudoun would advise it. This his lordship did not choose +to do, though I once thought I had nearly prevailed with him to +do it; but finally he rather chose to urge the compliance of the +Assembly, and he entreated me to use my endeavors 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 +exposed to the enemy.</p> + +<p>I acquainted the House with what had passed, and, presenting +them with a set of resolutions I had drawn up, declaring our +rights, and that we did not relinquish our claims to those rights, +but only suspended the exercise of them on this occasion through +force, 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 passed, and I was then +at liberty to proceed on my voyage. But, in the mean time, 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>,<a name="FNanchor_192_193" id="FNanchor_192_193"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_192_193" class="fnanchor">[192]</a> 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.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> + 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 indecision +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 sailed. 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 arrived; she too was +detained; and, before we sailed, a fourth was expected. Ours +was the first to be dispatched, 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 availed 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 occasioned my inquiry when he was to return, and +where he lodged, that I might send some letters by him. He +told me he was ordered 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 returned, Innis?" +"Returned! no, I am not gone 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, always on horseback, and never rides on." This observation +of the messenger was, it seems, well founded; for, when + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +<a name="in" id="in"></a>in England, I understood that Mr. Pitt<a name="FNanchor_193_194" id="FNanchor_193_194"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_193_194" class="fnanchor">[193]</a> gave it as one reason +for removing this general, and sending Generals Amherst and +Wolfe, that the minister never heard from him, and could not know +what he was doing.</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 obliged +to procure more. At length the fleet sailed, the general and all +his army on board, bound to Louisburg,<a name="FNanchor_194_195" id="FNanchor_194_195"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_194_195" class="fnanchor">[194]</a> with 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 afterward in London Captain Bonnell, who commanded +one of those packets. He told me that, when he had been detained +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, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +"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 obtained leave, though detained +afterward from day to day during full three months.</p> + +<p>I saw also in London one of Bonnell's passengers, who was so +enraged 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 wondered much how such a man came to be +intrusted with so important a business as the conduct of a great +army; but, having since seen more of the great world, and the +means of obtaining and motives for giving places, my wonder is +diminished. General Shirley, on whom the command of the army +devolved upon the death of Braddock, would, in my opinion, if +continued in place, have made a much better campaign than that +of Loudoun in 1757, which was frivolous, expensive, and disgraceful +to our nation beyond conception; for, though 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 exposed, while he paraded idly at +Halifax, by which means Fort George was lost. Besides, he deranged +all our mercantile operations, and distressed our trade, by +a long embargo<a name="FNanchor_195_196" id="FNanchor_195_196"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_195_196" class="fnanchor">[195]</a> on the exportation of provisions, on pretense of +keeping supplies from being obtained by the enemy, but in reality +for beating down their price in favor of the contractors, in whose +profits, it was said, perhaps from suspicion only, he had a share. +And when at length the embargo was taken off by neglecting to +send notice of it to Charleston, the Carolina fleet was detained +near three months longer, whereby their bottoms were so much + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +damaged by the worm<a name="FNanchor_196_197" id="FNanchor_196_197"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_196_197" class="fnanchor">[196]</a> 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, though thereby superseded, +was present also. There was a great company of officers, +citizens, and strangers, and, some chairs having been borrowed +in the neighborhood, there was one among them very low, which +fell to the lot of Mr. Shirley. Perceiving it as I sat by him, I +said, "They have given you, sir, too low a seat." "No matter," +says he, "Mr. Franklin, I find a <i>low seat</i> the easiest."</p> + +<p>While I was, as afore mentioned, detained at New York, I +received all the accounts of the provisions, etc., that I had furnished +to Braddock, some of which accounts could not sooner +be obtained from the different persons I had employed to assist +in the business. I presented them to Lord Loudoun, desiring to +be paid the balance. He caused 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 promised to give me an order on the paymaster. +This was, however, put off from time to time; and, though +I called 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 mentioned, but without effect, the great and unexpected expense +I had been put to by being detained 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 advanced, as I charged + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +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 assured him that was not my case, and that I had not pocketed +a farthing, but he appeared clearly not to believe me; and, indeed, +I have since learned 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, +gained upon us, the captain ordered all hands to come aft, and +stand as near the ensign staff<a name="FNanchor_197_198" id="FNanchor_197_198"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_197_198" class="fnanchor">[197]</a> as possible. We were, passengers +included, about forty persons. While we stood there, the ship +mended her pace, and soon left her neighbor far behind, which +proved clearly what our captain suspected, that she was loaded +too much by the head. The casks of water, it seems, had been +all placed forward; these he therefore ordered to be moved farther +aft, on which the ship recovered 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, that no ship ever sailed so fast, +and that there must have been some error in the division of the +log line,<a name="FNanchor_198_199" id="FNanchor_198_199"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_198_199" class="fnanchor">[198]</a> or some mistake + in heaving the log. A wager ensued +between the two captains, to be decided when there should be +sufficient wind. Kennedy thereupon examined rigorously the +log line, and, being satisfied with that, he determined to throw + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +the log himself. Accordingly, some days after, when the wind +blew very fair and fresh, and the captain of the packet, Lutwidge, +said he believed she then went at the rate of thirteen knots, Kennedy +made the experiment, and owned his wager lost.</p> + +<p>The above fact I give for the sake of the following observation. +It has been remarked, 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 followed in a new one, which +has proved, on the contrary, remarkably dull. I apprehend that +this may partly be occasioned 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 formed, fitted for the sea, and sailed 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 observed different judgments in the officers who commanded +the successive watches,<a name="FNanchor_199_200" id="FNanchor_199_200"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_199_200" class="fnanchor">[199]</a> the wind being the same. One +would have the sails trimmed sharper or flatter than another, so +that they seemed to have no certain rule to govern by. Yet I +think a set of experiments might be instituted,<a name="FNanchor_N_23" id="FNanchor_N_23"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_N_23" class="fnanchor">[n]</a> 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 combined would +be of great use. I am persuaded, therefore, that ere long some +ingenious philosopher will undertake it, to whom I wish success.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> + We were several times chased<a name="FNanchor_200_201" id="FNanchor_200_201"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_200_201" class="fnanchor">[200]</a> in our passage, but outsailed +everything, and in thirty days had soundings. + <a name="FNanchor_201_202" id="FNanchor_201_202"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_201_202" class="fnanchor">[201]</a> We had a good +observation,<a name="FNanchor_202_203" id="FNanchor_202_203"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_202_203" class="fnanchor">[202]</a> and the captain judged 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, + <a name="FNanchor_203_204" id="FNanchor_203_204"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_203_204" class="fnanchor">[203]</a> who +often cruised 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, shaped his course, as he +thought, so as to pass wide of the Scilly Isles; but it seems there +is sometimes a strong indraught<a name="FNanchor_204_205" id="FNanchor_204_205"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_204_205" class="fnanchor">[204]</a> 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 placed in the bow, to whom they often +called, "Look well out before there," and he as often answered, +"Ay, ay;" but perhaps he 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<a name="FNanchor_205_206" id="FNanchor_205_206"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_205_206" class="fnanchor">[205]</a> from the man at the helm, and from the rest of +the watch, but by an accidental yaw of the ship was discovered +and occasioned a great alarm, we being very near it, the light appearing +to me as big as a cart wheel. It was midnight, and our +captain fast asleep; but Captain Kennedy, jumping upon deck, +and seeing the danger, ordered the ship to wear round, all sails +standing—an operation dangerous to the masts; but it carried us + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +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 of 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 seemed to be lifted +up from the water like the curtain at a playhouse, 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 occasioned.</p> + +<p>I set out immediately, with my son, for London, and we only +stopped a little by the way to view Stonehenge on Salisbury +Plain, and Lord Pembroke's house and gardens, with his very +curious antiquities at Wilton. We arrived in London the 27th of +July, 1757.<a name="FNanchor_206_207" id="FNanchor_206_207"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_206_207" class="fnanchor">[206]</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 advised to obtain. He was against an immediate complaint +to government, and thought the proprietaries should first be +personally applied to, who might possibly be induced 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, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +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 received 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 law of the land, for the king is the legislator of +the colonies."</p> + +<p>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 assured me I was totally +mistaken. I did not think so, however, and his lordship's +conversation having a little alarmed me as to what might be the +sentiments of the court concerning us, I wrote it down as soon +as I returned to my lodgings. I recollected that about twenty +years before, a clause in a bill brought into Parliament by the +ministry had proposed 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 toward us in 1765 it seemed that they had +refused that point of sovereignty to the king only that they might +reserve it for themselves.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> + 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 "reasonable." We then went into consideration of our several +points of complaint, which I enumerated. The proprietaries justified +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 promised 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 neighboring proprietary +of Maryland, Lord Baltimore, which had subsisted seventy years, +and who 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 declined +the proprietaries' proposal that he and I should discuss the +heads of complaint between our two selves, and refused treating +with any one but them. They then by his advice put the paper +into the hands of the attorney and solicitor-general, for their +opinion and counsel upon it, where it lay unanswered a year +wanting eight days, during which time I made frequent demands +of an answer from the proprietaries, but without obtaining any +other than that they had not yet received the opinion of the attorney +and solicitor-general. What it was when they did receive +it I never learned, 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, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +adding that they should be willing to accommodate matters if +the Assembly would send out "some person of candor" to treat +with them for that purpose, intimating thereby that I was not such.</p> + +<p>The want of formality, or rudeness, was, probably, my not having +addressed the paper to them with their assumed 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>. + <a name="FNanchor_207_208" id="FNanchor_207_208"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_207_208" class="fnanchor">[207]</a></p> + +<p>But during this delay, the Assembly having prevailed with +Governor 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, counseled +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 employed by +them against the act, and two by me in support of it. They +alleged that the act was intended to load the proprietary estate +in order to spare those of the people, and that if it were suffered +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 replied 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.</p> + +<p>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, one hundred thousand +pounds, 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 + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +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.</p> + +<p>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 answered, "None at all." He then called 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 signed 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 inquiry, they unanimously +signed a report that they found the tax had been assessed +with perfect equity.</p> + +<p>The Assembly looked upon 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 returned. +But the proprietaries were enraged at Governor Denny for having +passed the act, and turned 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, despised the threats, and they were never put in execution.</p> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<div class="fn"> +<h4>Footnotes</h4> +<p><a name="Footnote_191_192" id="Footnote_191_192"></a><a href="#FNanchor_191_192"><span class="label">[191]</span></a> A vessel starting at some set time and conveying letters and passengers +from country to country.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_192_193" id="Footnote_192_193"></a><a href="#FNanchor_192_193"><span class="label">[192]</span></a> Between ourselves.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_193_194" id="Footnote_193_194"></a><a href="#FNanchor_193_194"><span class="label">[193]</span></a> William Pitt (1708–78). See Macaulay's Essay on the Earl of Chatham +(Eclectic English Classics, American Book Company).</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_194_195" id="Footnote_194_195"></a><a href="#FNanchor_194_195"><span class="label">[194]</span></a> A possession of the French in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. It was taken +by the English in 1758.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_195_196" id="Footnote_195_196"></a><a href="#FNanchor_195_196"><span class="label">[195]</span></a> A prohibition to prevent ships leaving port.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_196_197" id="Footnote_196_197"></a><a href="#FNanchor_196_197"><span class="label">[196]</span></a> The worm which eats into the wood bottoms of ships.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_197_198" id="Footnote_197_198"></a><a href="#FNanchor_197_198"><span class="label">[197]</span></a> "Ensign staff," i.e., flagstaff.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_198_199" id="Footnote_198_199"></a><a href="#FNanchor_198_199"><span class="label">[198]</span></a> The log line is a line fastened to the log-chip, by which, when it is +thrown over the side of a vessel, the rate of speed is found.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_199_200" id="Footnote_199_200"></a><a href="#FNanchor_199_200"><span class="label">[199]</span></a> A watch is a certain part of a vessel's officers and crew who have the +care and working of her for a period of time, commonly for four hours.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_200_201" id="Footnote_200_201"></a><a href="#FNanchor_200_201"><span class="label">[200]</span></a> By French vessels.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_201_202" id="Footnote_201_202"></a><a href="#FNanchor_201_202"><span class="label">[201]</span></a> Measurements of the depth of the water with a plummet and line.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_202_203" id="Footnote_202_203"></a><a href="#FNanchor_202_203"><span class="label">[202]</span></a> Of the sun's altitude in order to calculate the latitude (see Note 94, p. +<a href="#would">77</a>).</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_203_204" id="Footnote_203_204"></a><a href="#FNanchor_203_204"><span class="label">[203]</span></a> Vessels armed and officered by private persons, but acting under a commission +from government.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_204_205" id="Footnote_204_205"></a><a href="#FNanchor_204_205"><span class="label">[204]</span></a> An inward current.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_205_206" id="Footnote_205_206"></a><a href="#FNanchor_205_206"><span class="label">[205]</span></a> Studding sails are sails set between the edges of the chief square sails +during a fair wind.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_206_207" id="Footnote_206_207"></a><a href="#FNanchor_206_207"><span class="label">[206]</span></a> "Here terminates the Autobiography, as published by William Temple +Franklin and his successors. What follows was written the last year of Dr. +Franklin's life, and was never before printed in English."—<span class="smcap">Bigelow's</span> <i>Autobiography +of Franklin</i>, 1868, p. 350, note.</p> + +<p><a name="Footnote_207_208" id="Footnote_207_208"></a><a href="#FNanchor_207_208"><span class="label">[207]</span></a> By word of mouth.</p> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="LETTERS" id="LETTERS"></a>LETTERS REFERRED TO ON PAGE 89.<br /> +<span class="smcap">From Mr. Abel James (Received in Paris).</span></h2> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"<span class="smcap">My Dear and Honored Friend</span>: I have often been desirous +of writing to thee, but could not be reconciled to the thought that +the letter might fall into the hands of the British, lest some printer or +busybody should publish some part of the contents, and give our +friend pain, and myself censure.</p> + +<p>"Some time since there fell into my hands, to my great joy, about +twenty-three sheets in thy own handwriting, containing an account of +the parentage and life of thyself, directed to thy son, ending in the +year 1730; with which there were notes, likewise in thy writing; a +copy of which I inclose, in hopes it may be a means, if thou continued +it up to a later period, that the first and latter part may be put together; +and if it is not yet continued, I hope thee will not delay it. +Life is uncertain, as the preacher tells us; and what will the world say +if kind, humane, and benevolent Ben. Franklin should leave his friends +and the world deprived of so pleasing and profitable a work; a work +which would be useful and entertaining not only to a few, but to millions? +The influence writings under that class have on the minds of +youth is very great, and has nowhere appeared to me so plain as +in our public friend's journals. It almost insensibly leads the youth +into the resolution of endeavoring to become as good and eminent as +the journalist. Should thine, for instance, when published (and I +think it could not fail of it), lead the youth to equal the industry and +temperance of thy early youth, what a blessing with that class would +such a work be! I know of no character living, nor many of them +put together, who has so much in his power as thyself to promote a +greater spirit of industry and early attention to business, frugality, and +temperance with the American youth. Not that I think the work +would have no other merit and use in the world—far from it; but the +first is of such vast importance that I know nothing that can equal it."</p> +</div> + +<p>The other letter, from Mr. Benjamin Vaughan, gave similar advice.</p> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="THE" id="THE"></a>THE WAY TO WEALTH,</h2> + +<h3>AS CLEARLY SHOWN IN THE PREFACE OF AN OLD PENNSYLVANIA<br /> +ALMANAC ENTITLED "POOR RICHARD IMPROVED."</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Courteous Reader</span>: I have heard that nothing gives an author so +great pleasure as to find his works respectfully quoted by other learned +authors. This pleasure I have seldom enjoyed; for, though I have been, +if I may say it without vanity, an eminent author (of almanacs) annually, +now a full quarter of a century, my brother authors in the same way, for +what reason I know not, have ever been very sparing in their applauses +and no other author has taken the least notice of me; so that, did not +my writings produce me some solid pudding, the great deficiency of +praise would have quite discouraged me.</p> + +<p>I concluded at length that the people were the best judges of +my merit, for they buy my works; and, besides, in my rambles where +I am not personally known, I have frequently heard one or other +of my adages repeated with "As Poor Richard says" at the end of +it. This gave me some satisfaction, as it showed not only that my +instructions were regarded, but discovered likewise some respect for +my authority; and I own that, to encourage the practice of remembering +and reading those wise sentences, I have sometimes quoted myself +with great gravity.</p> + +<p>Judge, then, how much I must have been gratified by an incident I +am going to relate to you. I stopped my horse lately where a great +number of people were collected at an auction of merchants' goods. +The hour of the sale not being come, they were conversing on the +badness of the times; and one of the company called to a plain, clean +old man with white locks, "Pray, Father Abraham, what think you +of the times? Will not these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? +How shall we ever be able to pay them? What would you advise us +to do?" Father Abraham stood up and replied, "If you would have +my advice, I will give it to you in short; for A word to the wise is +enough, as Poor Richard says." They joined in desiring him to speak +his mind, and gathering round him, he proceeded as follows:</p> + +<p>"Friends," said he, "the taxes are indeed very heavy, and if those +laid on by the government were the only ones we had to pay, we +might more easily discharge them; but we have many others, and +much more grievous to some of us. We are taxed twice as much by + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> +our idleness, three times as much by our pride, and four times as much +by our folly; and from these taxes the commissioners cannot ease +or deliver us by allowing an abatement. However, let us hearken to +good advice, and something may be done for us; God helps them +that help themselves, as Poor Richard says.</p> + +<p>I. "It would be thought a hard government that should tax its +people one tenth part of their time, to be employed in its service; but +idleness taxes many of us much more; sloth, by bringing on diseases, +absolutely shortens life. 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 is the stuff +life is made of, as Poor Richard says. How much more than is necessary +do we spend in sleep, forgetting that the sleeping fox catches no +poultry, and that there will be sleeping enough in the grave, as Poor +Richard says. If time be of all things the most precious, wasting +time must be, as Poor Richard says, the greatest prodigality; since, +as he elsewhere tells us, Lost time is never found again, and what we +call time enough always proves little enough. Let us, then, be up and +be doing, and doing to the purpose; so by diligence shall we do more +with less perplexity. Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry, all +easy; and, 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. Drive thy business, let not that drive thee; and, +Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and +wise, as Poor Richard says.</p> + +<p>"So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times? We +make these times better if we bestir ourselves. Industry need not +wish, and he that lives upon hopes will die fasting. There are no gains +without pains; then help, hands, for I have no lands; or, if I have, +they are smartly taxed. He that hath a trade hath an estate; and he +that hath a calling, hath an office of profit and honor, as Poor Richard +says; but then the trade must be worked at and the calling followed, +or neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay our taxes. If +we are industrious, we shall never starve; for, At the workingman's +house hunger looks in, but dares not enter. Nor will the bailiff or +the constable enter; for Industry pays debts, while Despair increaseth +them. What though you have found no treasure, nor has any rich +relation left you a legacy; Diligence is the mother of good luck, and +God gives all things to Industry. Then plow deep while sluggards + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep. Work while it is +called to-day, for you know not how much you may be hindered to-morrow. +One to-day is worth two to-morrows, as Poor Richard says; +and, further, Never leave that till to-morrow which you can do to-day. +If you were a good servant, would you not be ashamed that a good +master should catch you idle? Are you, then, your own master? Be +ashamed to catch yourself idle, when there is so much to be done for +yourself, your family, your country, your kin. Handle your tools without +mittens; remember that The cat in gloves catches no mice, as Poor +Richard says. It is true there is much to be done, and perhaps you +are weak-handed; but stick to it steadily, and you will see great effects; +for, Constant dropping wears away stones; and, By diligence and +patience the mouse ate in two the cable; and, Little strokes fell great +oaks.</p> + +<p>"Methinks I hear some of you say, Must a man afford himself no +leisure? I will tell thee, my friend, what Poor Richard says: Employ +thy time well, if thou meanest to gain leisure; and since thou art +not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour. Leisure is time for +doing something useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but +the lazy man never; for, A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two +things. Many, without labor, would live by their wits only, but they +break for want of stock; whereas industry gives comfort and plenty +and respect. Fly pleasures and they will follow you. The diligent +spinner has a large shift; and now I have a sheep and a cow, every +one bids me good morrow.</p> + +<p>II. "But with our industry we must likewise be steady and careful, +and oversee our own affairs with our own eyes, and not trust too much +to others; for, as Poor Richard says:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I never saw an oft-removed tree,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor yet an oft-removed family,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That throve so well as those that settled be.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>And again, Three removes are as bad as a fire; and again, Keep thy +shop, and thy shop will keep thee; and again, If you would have your +business done, go; if not, send; and again:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">He that by the plow would thrive,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Himself must either hold or drive.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> + And again, The eye of the master will do more work than both his +hands; and again, Want of care does us more damage than want of +knowledge; and again, Not to oversee workmen is to leave them your +purse open. Trusting too much to others' care is the ruin of many; +for, In the affairs of this world men are saved, not by faith, but by the +want of it. But a man's own care is profitable; for, If you would have a +faithful servant and one that you like, serve yourself. A little neglect +may breed great mischief; 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 want of a +little care about a horseshoe nail.</p> + +<p>III. "So much for industry, my friends, and attention to one's own +business; but to these we must add frugality, if we would make our industry +more certainly successful. A man may, if he knows not how +to save as he gets, keep his nose all his life to the grindstone, and die +not worth a groat at last. A fat kitchen makes a lean will; and</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Many estates are spent in the getting,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Since women forsook spinning and knitting,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And men for punch forsook hewing and splitting.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as of getting. The +Indies have not made Spain rich, because her outgoes are greater than +her incomes.</p> + +<p>"Away, then, with your expensive follies, and you will not then +have so much cause to complain of hard times, heavy taxes, and chargeable +families; for</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Pleasure and wine, game and deceit,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Make the wealth small, and the want great.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>And further, What maintains one vice would bring up two children. +You may think, perhaps, that a little tea or a little punch now and +then, diet a little more costly, clothes a little finer, and a little entertainment +now and then, can be no great matter; but remember, Many +a little makes a mickle. Beware of little expenses; A small leak will +sink a great ship, as Poor Richard says; and again, Who dainties love +shall beggars prove; and moreover, Fools make feasts and wise men +eat them.</p> + +<p>"Here you are all got together at this sale of fineries and knick-knacks. + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +You call them goods; but, if you do not take care, they +will prove evils to some of you. You expect they will be sold cheap, +and perhaps they may for less than they cost; but, if you have no occasion +for them, they must be dear to you. Remember what Poor +Richard says: Buy what thou hast no need of, and ere long thou shalt +sell thy necessaries. And again, At a great pennyworth pause awhile. +He means that perhaps the cheapness is apparent only, and not +real; or, the bargain, by straitening thee in thy business, may do +thee more harm than good. For in another place he says, Many +have been ruined by buying good pennyworths. Again, It is foolish +to lay out money in a purchase of repentance; and yet this folly is +practiced every day at auctions for want of minding the Almanac. + <a name="FNanchor_208_209" id="FNanchor_208_209"></a> + <a href="#Footnote_208_209" class="fnanchor">[208]</a> +Many for the sake of finery on the back have gone hungry and half-starved +their families. Silks and satins, scarlet and velvets, put out +the kitchen fire, as Poor Richard says.</p> + +<p>"These are not the necessaries of life; they can scarcely be called +the conveniences; and yet, only because they look pretty, how many +want to have them. By these and other extravagances the genteel +are reduced to poverty, and forced to borrow of those whom they formerly +despised, but who, through industry and frugality, have maintained +their standing; in which case it appears plainly that, A plowman +on his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees, as Poor +Richard says. Perhaps they have a small estate left them which they +knew not the getting of; they think, It is day and it never will +be night; that a little to be spent out of so much is not worth minding; +but, Always taking out of the meal tub and never putting in, soon +comes to the bottom, as Poor Richard says; and then, When the +well is dry, they know the worth of water. But this they might have +known before, if they had taken his advice. If you would know the +value of money, go and try to borrow some; for, He that goes a-borrowing +goes a-sorrowing, as Poor Richard says; and, indeed, so does +he that lends to such people, when he goes to get it in again. Poor +Dick further advises and says:</p> + +<div class="poem"> + <div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Fond pride of dress is sure a very curse;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ere fancy you consult, consult your purse.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>And again, Pride is as loud a beggar as Want, and a great deal more + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +saucy. <a name="When" id="When"></a>When you have bought one fine thing, you must buy ten +more, that your appearance may be all of a piece; but Poor Dick says, +It is easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it. +And it is as truly folly for the poor to ape the rich, as for the frog to +swell in order to equal the ox.</p> + + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Vessels large may venture more,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But little boats should keep near shore.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>It is, however, a folly soon punished; for, as Poor Richard says, Pride +that dines on vanity, sups on contempt. Pride breakfasted with +Plenty, dined with Poverty, and supped with Infamy. And, after all, +of what use is this pride of appearance, for which so much is risked, +so much is suffered? It cannot promote health nor ease pain; it +makes no increase of merit in the person; it creates envy; it hastens +misfortune.</p> + +<p>"But what madness must it be to run in debt for these superfluities? +We are offered by the terms of this sale six months' credit; and +that, perhaps, has induced some of us to attend it, because we cannot +spare the ready money, and hope now to be fine without it. But +ah! think what you do when you run in debt; you give to another +power over your liberty. If you cannot pay at the time, you will be +ashamed to see your creditor; you will be in fear when you speak to +him; you will make poor, pitiful, sneaking excuses, and by degrees +come to lose your veracity, and sink into base, downright lying; for, +The second vice is lying, the first is running in debt, as Poor +Richard says; and again to the same purpose, Lying rides upon debt's +back; whereas a freeborn Englishman ought not to be ashamed nor +afraid to see or speak to any man living. But poverty often deprives +a man of all spirit and virtue. It is hard for an empty bag to stand +upright.</p> + +<p>"What would you think of that prince, or of that government, who +should issue an edict forbidding you to dress like a gentleman or gentlewoman, +on pain of imprisonment or servitude? Would you not +say that you are free, have a right to dress as you please, and that +such an edict would be a breach of your privileges and such a government +tyrannical? And yet you are about to put yourself under such +tyranny, when you run in debt for such dress. Your creditor has +authority, at his pleasure, to deprive you of your liberty by confining +you in jail till you shall be able to pay him. When you have + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +got your bargain, you may, perhaps, think little of payment; but, as +Poor Richard says, Creditors have better memories than debtors; +creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times. +The day comes round before you are aware, and the demand is made +before you are prepared to satisfy it; or, if you bear your debt in +mind, the term, which at first seemed so long, will, as it lessens, appear +extremely short. Time will seem to have added wings to his +heels as well as his shoulders. Those have a short Lent who owe +money to be paid at Easter. At present, perhaps, you may think +yourselves in thriving circumstances, and that you can bear a little +extravagance without injury; but</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">For age and want save while you may;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No morning sun lasts a whole day.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Gain may be temporary and uncertain, but ever, while you live, expense +is constant and certain; and, It is easier to build two chimneys +than to keep one in fuel, as Poor Richard says; so, Rather go to bed +supperless than rise in debt.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Get what you can, and what you get, hold,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Tis the stone that will turn all your lead into gold.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>And when you have got the philosopher's stone, be sure you will no +longer complain of bad times or the difficulty of paying taxes.</p> + +<p>IV. "This doctrine, my friends, is reason and wisdom; but, after +all, do not depend too much upon your own industry and frugality +and prudence, though excellent things; for they may all be blasted, +without the blessing of Heaven; and, therefore, ask that blessing humbly, +and be not uncharitable to those that at present seem to want it, +but comfort and help them. Remember Job suffered, and was afterward +prosperous.</p> + +<p>"And now, to conclude, Experience keeps a dear school, but fools +will learn in no other, as Poor Richard says, and scarce in that; for, +it is true, we may give advice, but we cannot give conduct. However, +remember this: They that will not be counseled cannot be +helped; and further that, If you will not hear Reason, she will surely +rap your knuckles, as Poor Richard says."</p> + +<p>Thus the old gentleman ended his harangue. The people heard it, +and approved the doctrine, and immediately practiced the contrary, + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +just as if it had been a common sermon; for the auction opened and +they began to buy extravagantly. I found the good man had thoroughly +studied my almanacs, and digested all I had dropped on these +topics during the course of twenty-five years. The frequent mention +he made of me must have tired any one else; but my vanity was wonderfully +delighted with it, though I was conscious that not a tenth +part of the wisdom was my own which he ascribed to me, but rather +the gleanings that I had made of the sense of all ages and nations. +However, I resolved to be the better for the echo of it; and, though I +had at first determined to buy stuff for a new coat, I went away resolved +to wear my old one a little longer. Reader, if thou wilt do the +same, thy profit will be as great as mine. I am, as ever, thine to +serve thee,</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">Richard Saunders</span>. +</div> + + +<hr class="hr2" /> +<div class="fn"> +<h4>Footnote</h4> +<p><a name="Footnote_208_209" id="Footnote_208_209"></a><a href="#FNanchor_208_209"><span class="label">[208]</span></a> Poor Richard's maxims in the Almanac.</p> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="PROVERBS" id="PROVERBS"></a>PROVERBS FROM POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC.</h2> + +<p>The noblest question in the world is, What good may I do in it?</p> + +<p>The masterpiece of man is to live to the purpose.</p> + +<p>The nearest way to come at glory is to do that for conscience which +we do for glory.</p> + +<p>Do not do that which you would not have known.</p> + +<p>Well done is better than well said.</p> + +<p>Who has deceived thee so oft as thyself?</p> + +<p>Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices.</p> + +<p>He that can have patience, can have what he will.</p> + +<p>After crosses and losses men grow humbler and wiser.</p> + +<p>In a discreet man's mouth a public thing is private.</p> + +<p>Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it.</p> + +<p>No better relation than a prudent and faithful friend.</p> + +<p>He that can compose himself is wiser than he that composes books.</p> + +<p>He that can take rest is greater than he that can take cities.</p> + +<p>None but the well-bred man knows how to confess a fault, or acknowledge +himself in error.</p> + +<p>Read much, but not too many books.</p> + +<p>None preaches better than the ant, and she says nothing.</p> + +<p>Forewarned, forearmed.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">To whom thy secret thou dost tell,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To him thy freedom thou dost sell.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Don't misinform your doctor or your lawyer.</p> + +<p>He that pursues two hens at once, does not catch one and lets the +other go.</p> + +<p>The worst wheel of the cart makes the most noise.</p> + +<p>There are no gains without pains.</p> + +<p>If you know how to spend less than you get, you have the philosopher's +stone.</p> + +<p>Every little makes a mickle.</p> + +<p>He that can travel well a-foot keeps a good horse.</p> + +<p>He is no clown that drives the plow, but he that doth clownish +things.</p> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span></p> +<h2>NOTES AND SUGGESTIONS</h2> + +<p>Though he did not consider himself a man of letters, Franklin +was throughout his long life a writer. His writing was incidental to +his business as a journalist and statesman. He also corresponded +widely with various classes of people. Fortunately many of these +writings have been preserved, and from these and the <i>Autobiography</i> +a number of valuable lives have been written. The student will find +pleasure in referring to the Franklin volumes of the American Statesmen +Series and of the American Men of Letters Series. The three +volume life by Mr. John Bigelow and the one volume, <i>The Many-sided +Franklin</i>, by Paul Leicester Ford, will supply the years of +Franklin's life not included in his autobiography, the writing of +which was several times interrupted by public business of the greatest +importance, and finally cut short by the long illness that preceded +his death.</p> + +<p>Read the pages devoted to Franklin in Brander Matthews' <i>Introduction +to American Literature</i>. Matthews says of him, "He was the +first great American—for Washington was twenty-six years younger." +"He was the only man who signed the Declaration of Independence, +the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of Peace with England, +and the Constitution under which we still live."</p> + +<p>As you read Franklin's pages be on the alert for material to support +Mr. Matthews' statement, "Franklin was the first of American +humorists, and to this day he has not been surpassed in his own +line." Will one of you report to the class on "Franklin's Humor"?</p> + +<p>Franklin was far in advance of his times on many questions. In +1783, when concluding the Treaty of Peace with England, he tried +to secure the adoption of a clause protecting the property of non-belligerents +in subsequent wars. England would not accept this +advanced idea, but Frederick II of Prussia agreed to it, and since +that time all civilized governments have united in embodying it in +the Law of Nations.</p> + +<p>Franklin was one of the first and, in proportion to his means, one + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +<a name="of" id="of"></a>of the greatest of American philanthropists. He said that he had +"a trick for doing a deal of good with a little money." In lending +some money to one who had applied to him for assistance, he instructed +the borrower to pass it on to some one else in distress as +soon as he could afford to repay it. "I hope it may thus go through +many hands, before it meets with a knave that will stop its progress."</p> + +<p>Mr. Bigelow's Life of Franklin reproduces the philosopher's exact +spelling. He was one of the early spelling reformers. See his "Petition +of the Letter Z," p. 116, <i>The Many-sided Franklin</i>.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>(<i>In the following notes the numerals refer to the pages of the text.</i>)</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_1" id="Footnote_N_1"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_1"><span class="label">Page 17.</span></a></b> "Ecton, + in Northamptonshire." In 1657 George Washington's +grandfather emigrated to Virginia from this same English +county.</p> + +<p>"Franklin, ... an order of people." Do you recall one of the +titles of Cedric, the Saxon, in Scott's <i>Ivanhoe</i>?</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_2" id="Footnote_N_2"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_2"><span class="label">27.</span></a></b> Notice + his judgment regarding controversy. It will be profitable, +from time to time, to consider his remarks as throwing light +on the subject, "Franklin, a Manager of Men."</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_3" id="Footnote_N_3"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_3"><span class="label">28.</span></a></b> Read + carefully the paragraph opening with a reference to +<i>The Spectator</i>, and using Franklin's method, reproduce that paragraph. +Apply this method to other good English selections and try +to adapt it to your translations from other languages.</p> + +<p>As you read Franklin's account of his self-education, ask yourself +what quality it is in the student that gives best assurance of final +success in securing a real education.</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_4" id="Footnote_N_4"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_4"><span class="label">34.</span></a></b> Is + Franklin's use of the word "demeaned" good?</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_5" id="Footnote_N_5"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_5"><span class="label">37.</span></a></b> In + his reference to Bunyan and Defoe, Franklin proves himself +one of the first critics to recognize those writers as the fathers +of the modern novel.</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_6" id="Footnote_N_6"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_6"><span class="label">38.</span></a></b> "Our + acquaintance continued as long as he lived." Few men +have placed a higher value on friends than did Franklin. He took +the trouble necessary to make friends and to keep them.</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_7" id="Footnote_N_7"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_7"><span class="label">61.</span></a></b> Read + parts of Young's <i>Night Thoughts</i>.</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_8" id="Footnote_N_8"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_8"><span class="label">77.</span></a></b> Carefully + observe the plan of the Junto and its subordinate +branches, and consider the value of such organizations for yourself +and friends. By referring to Bigelow's Life of Franklin, Vol. I, p, 185, +you will find detailed information concerning the rules of the Junto.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> + <b><a name="Footnote_N_9" id="Footnote_N_9"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_9"><span class="label">81.</span></a></b> <a name="Years" id="Years"></a>Years later, + while in London in 1773, Franklin showed his +ability with his pen and put through a successful journalistic hoax. +He published in <i>The Public Advertiser</i> what was for a time accepted +by many as an authentic edict of the King of Prussia. In this the +king held that the English were German colonists settled in Britain, +and that they should be taxed for the benefit of the Prussian coffers.</p> + +<p>What claims were the English making in 1773? By looking through +other lives of Franklin, you may find an account of another literary +hoax by which he helped the American cause.</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_10" id="Footnote_N_10"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_10"><span class="label">86.</span></a></b> Franklin's + original determination to secure money with his +wife should be judged by the standards of his time.</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_11" id="Footnote_N_11"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_11"><span class="label">89.</span></a></b> Beginning + with the establishment of the Philadelphia public +library, keep a list of Franklin's plans and achievements for the +public good.</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_12" id="Footnote_N_12"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_12"><span class="label">92.</span></a></b> The high + honors accorded to Franklin by foreign nations have +never been extended to any other American, with the possible exception +of Theodore Roosevelt.</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_13" id="Footnote_N_13"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_13"><span class="label">101.</span></a></b> "Address Powerful + Goodness." Thomas Paine submitted +the manuscript of his <i>Age of Reason</i> to Franklin for criticism. Franklin +advised him to burn it and concluded, "If men are so wicked with +religion, what would they be <i>without it</i>?"</p> + +<p>A facsimile of Franklin's motion for prayers in the Federal Convention +of 1787, when agreement on the Constitution seemed hopeless, +will be found on page 168 of <i>The Many-sided Franklin</i>. The +convention, though much given to acting on Franklin's advice, was +all but unanimous in defeating this motion.</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_14" id="Footnote_N_14"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_14"><span class="label">111.</span></a></b> Franklin's + boyhood debate on the subject of the education +of young women is reflected here as a settled conviction.</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_15" id="Footnote_N_15"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_15"><span class="label">113.</span></a></b> The great + scholar and historian, Gibbon, agreed with Franklin +concerning the languages.</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_16" id="Footnote_N_16"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_16"><span class="label">115.</span></a></b> "Inoculation." + Will you volunteer to make a report to the +class on inoculation and vaccination? The two combine in making +one of the most interesting chapters in the history of medical science.</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_17" id="Footnote_N_17"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_17"><span class="label">117.</span></a></b> You will be + interested in comparing the constable's watch +of ragamuffins with the watch in Shakespeare's <i>Much Ado About +Nothing</i>.</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_18" id="Footnote_N_18"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_18"><span class="label">118.</span></a></b> In many towns + and cities there is much of interest connected +with the fire department. "The History of Our Fire Department," + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> +"Fire Fighting," and many other subjects may suggest +themselves to you for written or oral reports. Possibly some one +in the class may be able to tell in this connection how Crassus, the +friend of Julius Cæsar, gained a great part of his wealth.</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_19" id="Footnote_N_19"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_19"><span class="label">119.</span></a></b> Have you read + of the work of Whitefield and his associates +in England? See "The Methodist Movement" in Halleck's <i>History +of English Literature</i>, or in some good English history.</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_20" id="Footnote_N_20"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_20"><span class="label">132.</span></a></b> Your classmates + will be interested in a report on the Franklin +stove. Make some simple drawings to illustrate its principles.</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_21" id="Footnote_N_21"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_21"><span class="label">141.</span></a></b> Find out definitely + what system of street cleaning prevails +in your home town. Write a feature article on that system, as if +for a magazine. Some member of the class who has a camera will +secure illustrations for you. Also write an editorial for a newspaper, +an editorial inspired by the disclosures of the feature article.</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_22" id="Footnote_N_22"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_22"><span class="label">175.</span></a></b> Will several of you + take up the subject of "Franklin's Electrical +Experiments" and make reports to the class?</p> + +<p><b><a name="Footnote_N_23" id="Footnote_N_23"></a> + <a href="#FNanchor_N_23"><span class="label">185.</span></a></b> Notice Franklin's + alertness in suggesting the application of +scientific methods to practical affairs. Do you think that Emerson's +definition of "genius" as given in the first paragraph of his essay on +"Self-Reliance" can be justly applied to Franklin?</p> + +<p>You will be interested in following Franklin's experiments in +determining the value of oil in stilling the waves, and also his investigations +of the Gulf Stream and of the nature of storms. He +asked, "What signifies philosophy that does not apply to some +use?" Yet he had a wonderful imagination back of his practical +nature.</p> + +<p>Emerson says that the chief use of a book is to inspire. On this +basis how do you rank the <i>Autobiography</i> in usefulness?</p> + + +<hr /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 206<br />[Pg 207]</a></span></p> +<h2>ECLECTIC ENGLISH CLASSICS</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"> + <p><b>Addison's</b> Sir Roger de Coverley Papers (Underwood)</p> + + <p><b>Arnold's</b> Sohrab and Rustum (Tanner)</p> + + <p><b>Bunyan's</b> Pilgrim's Progress (Jones and Arnold)</p> + + <p><b>Burke's</b> Conciliation with America (Clark)<br /> + Speeches at Bristol (Bergin)</p> + + <p><b>Burns's</b> Poems—Selections (Venable)</p> + + <p><b>Byron's</b> Childe Harold (Canto IV), Prisoner of Chillon, Mazeppa, + and other Selections (Venable)</p> + + <p><b>Carlyle's</b> Essay on Burns (Miller)</p> + + <p><b>Chaucer's</b> Prologue and Knighte's Tale (Van Dyke)</p> + + <p><b>Coleridge's</b> Rime of the Ancient Mariner (Garrigues)</p> + + <p><b>Cooper's</b> Pilot (Watrous)<br /> + The Spy (Barnes)</p> + + <p><b>Defoe's</b> History of the Plague in London (Syle)<br /> + Robinson Crusoe (Stephens)</p> + + <p><b>De Quincey's</b> Revolt of the Tartars</p> + + <p><b>Dickens's</b> Christmas Carol and Cricket on the Hearth (Wannamaker)<br /> + Tale of Two Cities (Pearce)</p> + + <p><b>Dryden's</b> Palamon and Arcite (Bates)</p> + + <p><b>Eliot's</b> Silas Marner (McKitrick)</p> + + <p><b>Emerson's</b> American Scholar, Self-Reliance, Compensation + (Smith)</p> + + <p><b>Franklin's</b> Autobiography (Reid)</p> + + <p><b>Goldsmith's</b> Vicar of Wakefield (Hansen)<br /> + Deserted Village (See Gray's Elegy)</p> + + <p><b>Gray's</b> Elegy in a Country Churchyard, and <b>Goldsmith's</b> Deserted + Village (Van Dyke)</p> + + <p><b>Hughes's</b> Tom Brown's School Days (Gosling).</p> + + <p><b>Irving's</b> Sketch Book—Selections (St. John)<br /> + Tales of a Traveler (Rutland)</p> + + <p><b>Lincoln's</b> Addresses and Letters (Moores)<br /> + Address at Cooper Union (See <b>Macaulay's</b> Speeches on Copyright)</p> + + <p><b>Macaulay's</b> Essay on Addison (Matthews)<br /> + Essay on Milton (Mead)<br /> + <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> + Essays on Lord Clive and Warren Hastings (Holmes)<br /> + Lays of Ancient Rome and other Poems (Atkinson)<br /> + Life of Johnson (Lucas)<br /> + Speeches on Copyright, and Lincoln's Address at Cooper + Union (Pittenger)</p> + + <p><b>Milton's</b> L'Allegro, Il Penseroso, Comus, Lycidas (Buck)<br /> + Paradise Lost. Books I and II (Stephens)</p> + + <p><b>Old Ballads</b> (Morton).</p> + + <p><b>Old Testament Narratives</b> (Baldwin)</p> + + <p><b>Poe's</b> Selected Poems and Tales (Stott)</p> + + <p><b>Pope's</b> Homer's Iliad. Books I, VI, XXII, and XXIV + Rape of the Lock and Essay on Man (Van Dyke)</p> + + <p><b>Ruskin's</b> Sesame and Lilies (Rounds)</p> + + <p><b>Scott's</b> Abbot<br /> + Ivanhoe (Schreiber)<br /> + Lady of the Lake (Bacon)<br /> + Marmion (Coblentz)<br /> + Quentin Durward (Norris)<br /> + Woodstock</p> + + <p><b>Shakespeare's</b> As You Like It (North)<br /> + Hamlet (Shower)<br /> + Henry V (Law)<br /> + Julius Cæsar (Baker)<br /> + Macbeth (Livengood)<br /> + Merchant of Venice (Blakely)<br /> + Midsummer Night's Bream (Haney)<br /> + The Tempest (Barley)<br /> + Twelfth Night (Weld)</p> + + <p><b>Southey's</b> Life of Nelson</p> + + <p><b>Stevenson's</b> Inland Voyage and Travels with a Donkey (Armstrong)<br /> + Treasure Island (Fairley)</p> + + <p><b>Swift's</b> Gulliver's Travels (Gaston)</p> + + <p><b>Tennyson's</b> Idylls of the King—Selections (Willard)<br /> + Princess (Shryock)</p> + + <p><b>Thackeray's</b> Henry Esmond (Bissell)</p> + + <p><b>Washington's</b> Farewell Address, and <b>Webster's</b> First Bunker + Hill Oration (Lewis)</p> + + <p><b>Webster's</b> Bunker Hill Orations (See also Washington's + Farewell Address)</p> + + <p><b>Wordsworth's</b> Poems—Selections (Venable)</p> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<div class="tn"> +<h4>Transcriber's Note</h4> +<ul class="corrections"> + <li>Obvious punctuation and spelling errors repaired.</li> + <li>Footnotes moved to the end of the appropriate chapter.</li> + <li>Notes [n] are at the end of the book as originally published.</li> + <li>Some notes link directly to footnotes moved to the end of the appropriate chapter.</li> +</ul> +</div> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Franklin's Autobiography, by Benjamin Franklin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY *** + +***** This file should be named 36151-h.htm or 36151-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/1/5/36151/ + +Produced by Larry B. 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