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diff --git a/36376.txt b/36376.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e709c99 --- /dev/null +++ b/36376.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10589 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Life of Benjamin Franklin, by Mason Locke Weems + +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: The Life of Benjamin Franklin + With Many Choice Anecdotes and admirable sayings of this + great man never before published by any of his biographers + +Author: Mason Locke Weems + +Release Date: June 13, 2011 [EBook #36376] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN *** + + + + +Produced by Brett Fishburne, Nikolay Fishburne, Chuck Greif +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +HISTORICAL SERIES No. 14 + +THE LIFE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN + +BY +M. L. WEEMS + +STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + + + +THE LIFE OF + +Benjamin Franklin + +WITH MANY + +CHOICE ANECDOTES AND ADMIRABLE SAYINGS OF THIS GREAT MAN + +NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED BY ANY OF HIS BIOGRAPHERS + + + +BY + +M. L. WEEMS + +AUTHOR OF "THE LIFE OF WASHINGTON" + + + +"Sage Franklin next arose in cheerful mien, And smil'd, unruffled, o'er +the solemn scene; High on his locks of age a wreath was brac'd, Palm of +all arts that e'er a mortal grac'd; Beneath him lay the sceptre kings +had borne, And crowns and laurels from their temples torn." + + + +NEW YORK +STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS + +238 WILLIAM STREET + + + + +_To the Reader_ + + +We trust that you will be thoroughly satisfied with this book. During +the long period of time that the publications of Street & Smith have +been familiar to the reading classes (somewhat more than half a +century) it has always been our aim to give to the public the very best +literary products, regardless of the expenditure involved. Our books +and periodicals are today read and re-read in a majority of the homes +of America, while but few of our original competitors are even known by +name to the present generation. No special credit is due for antiquity, +but we hold it to be a self-evident fact that long experience, coupled +with enterprise and the ability to maintain the front rank for so many +years, proves our right to the title of leaders. We solicit your +further valued patronage. + +STREET & SMITH. + + + + +LIFE OF FRANKLIN. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL +SOCIETY; FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH, LONDON AND PARIS; +GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA; AND MINISTER PLENIPOTENTIARY +FROM THE UNITED STATES TO THE COURT OF FRANCE, was the son of an +obscure tallow-chandler and soap-boiler, of Boston, where he was born +on the 17th day of January, 1706. + +Some men carry letters of recommendation in their looks, and some in +their names. 'Tis the lot but of few to inherit both of these +advantages. The hero of this work was one of that favoured number. As +to his physiognomy, there was in it such an air of wisdom and +philanthropy, and consequently such an expression of majesty and +sweetness, as charms, even in the commonest pictures of him. And for +his name, every one acquainted with the old English history, must +know, that Franklin stands for what we now mean by "Gentleman," or +"CLEVER FELLOW." + +In the days of AULD LANG SYNE, their neighbours from the continent +made a descent "_on the fast anchored isle_," and compelled the hardy, +red-ochred natives to buckle to their yoke. Among the victors were +some regiments of Franks, who distinguished themselves by their valor, +and still more by their politeness to the vanquished, and especially +to the females. By this amiable gallantry the Franks acquired such +glory among the brave islanders, that whenever any of their own people +achieved any thing uncommonly handsome, he was called, by way of +compliment, FRANKLIN, _i.e._ a little Frank. As the living flame does +not more naturally tend upwards than does every virtue to exalt its +possessors, these little Franks were soon promoted to be great men, +such as justices of the peace, knights of the shire, and other such +names of high renown. Hence those pretty lines of the old poet +Chaucer-- + + "This worthy Franklin wore a purse of silk + Fix'd to his girdle, pure as morning milk; + Knight of the shire; first justice of th' assize, + To help the poor, the doubtful to advise. + In all employments, gen'rous just he prov'd; + Renown'd for courtesy; by all belov'd." + +But though, according to Dr. Franklin's own account of his family, +whose pedigree he looked into with great diligence while he was in +England, it appears that they were all of the "_well born_," or +gentlemen in the best sense of the word; yet they did not deem it +beneath them to continue the same useful courses which had at first +conferred their titles. On the contrary, the doctor owns, and indeed +glories in it, that for three hundred years the eldest son, or heir +apparent in this family of old British gentlemen, was invariably +brought up a blacksmith. Moreover, it appears from the same +indubitable authority, that the blacksmith succession was most +religiously continued in the family down to the days of the doctor's +father. How it has gone on since that time I have never heard; but +considering the salutary effects of such a fashion on the prosperity +of a young republic, it were most devoutly to be wished that it is +kept up: and that the family of one of the greatest men who ever lived +in this or any other country, still display in their coat of arms, not +the barren _gules_ and _garters_ of European folly, but those better +ensigns of American wisdom--the SLEDGE-HAMMER and ANVIL. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + "Were I so tall to reach the pole, + And grasp the ocean in my span, + I must be measur'd by my soul; + For 'tis the MIND that makes the man." + + +From the best accounts which I have been able to pick up, it would +appear that a passion for learning had a long run in the family of the +Franklins. Of the doctor's three uncles, the elder, whose name was +Thomas, though conscientiously brought up a blacksmith, and subsisting +his family by the din and sweat of his anvil, was still a great +reader. Instead of wasting his leisure hours, as too many of the trade +do, in tippling and tobacco, he acquired enough of the law to render +himself a very useful and leading man among the people of Northampton, +where his forefathers had lived in great comfort for three hundred +years, on thirty acres of land. + +His uncle Benjamin, too, another old _English gentleman_ of the right +stamp, though a very hard-working man at the silk-dying trade, was +equally devoted to the pleasures of the mind. He made it a rule +whenever he lighted on a copy of verses that pleased him, to +transcribe them into a large blank book which he kept for the purpose. +In this way he collected two quarto volumes of poems, written in short +hand of his own inventing. And, being a man of great piety, and fond +of attending the best preachers, whose sermons he always took down, he +collected in the course of his life, _eight_ volumes of sermons in +_folio_, besides near _thirty_ in quarto and octavo, and all in the +aforesaid short hand! Astonishing proof, what a banquet of elegant +pleasures even a poor mechanic may enjoy, who begins early to read and +think! 'Tis true, he was a long time about it. His piety afforded him +a constant cheerfulness. And deriving from the same source a regular +temperance, he attained to a great age. In his seventy-third year, +still fresh and strong, he left his native country, and came over to +America, to see his younger brother Josias, between whom and himself +there had always subsisted a more than ordinary friendship. On his +arrival in Boston, he was received with unbounded joy by Josias, who +pressed him to spend the residue of his days in his family. To this +proposition the old gentleman readily consented; and the more so as he +was then a widower, and his children, all married off, had left him. +He had the honor to give his name, and to stand godfather to our +little hero, for whom, on account of his vivacity and fondness for +learning, he conceived an extraordinary affection. And Ben always took +a great delight in talking of this uncle. Nor was it to be wondered +at; for he was an old man who wore his religion very much to win young +people--a pleasant countenance--a sweet speech--and a fund of +anecdotes always entertaining, and generally carrying some good moral +in the tail of them. His grandfather before him must have been a man +of rare humour, as appears from a world of droll stories which uncle +Benjamin used to tell after him, and which his New England descendants +to this day are wont to repeat with great glee. I must let the reader +hear one or two of them. They will amuse him, by showing what strange +things were done in days of yore by kings and priests in the land of +our venerable forefathers. + +It was his grandfather's fortune to live in the reign of Queen Mary, +whom her _friends_ called _holy_ Mary, but her enemies _bloody_ Mary. +In the grand struggle for power between those humble followers of the +cross, the catholics and the protestants, the former gained the +victory, for which 'Te Deums' in abundance were sung throughout the +land. And having been sadly rib-roasted by the protestants when in +power, they determined, like good christians, now that the tables were +turned, to try on them the virtues of fire and faggot. The Franklin +family having ever been sturdy protestants, began now to be in great +tribulation. "What shall we do to save our Bible?" was the question. +After serious consultation in a family caucus, it was resolved to hide +it in the close-stool; which was accordingly done, by fastening it, +open, on the under side of the lid by twine threads drawn strongly +across the leaves. When the grandfather read to the family, he turned +up the aforesaid lid on his knees, passing the leaves of his Bible, as +he read, from one side to the other. One of the children was carefully +stationed at the door, to give notice if he saw the priest, or any of +his frowning tribe, draw near. In that event, the lid with the Bible +lashed beneath it, was instantly clapped down again on its old place. + +These things may appear strange to us, who live under a wise republic, +which will not suffer the black gowns of one church to persecute those +of another. But they were common in those dark and dismal days, when +the clergy thought more of creeds than of Christ, and of learning +Latin than of learning love. Queen Mary was one of this gnostic +generation, (who place their religion in the _head_, though Christ +places it in the HEART,) and finding it much easier to her _unloving_ +spirit, to burn human beings called heretics, than to mortify her own +lust of popularity, she suffered her catholic to fly upon and worry +her protestant subjects at a shameful rate. Good old uncle Benjamin +used to divert his friends with another story, which happened in the +family of his own aunt, who kept an inn at Eaton, Northamptonshire. + +A most violent priest, of the name of Asquith, who thought, like Saul, +that he should be doing "_God service_" by killing the heretics, had +obtained letters patent from queen Mary against those people in the +county of Warwick. On his way he called to dine at Eaton, where he was +quickly waited on by the mayor, a strong catholic, to ask how the +_good work went on_. Asquith, leaping to his saddle-bags, drew forth a +little box, that contained his commission, which he flourished before +the mayor, exclaiming with high glee, "_Aye! there's that that will +scorch the rogues!_" Old Mrs. Franklin, under the rose a sturdy +protestant, overhearing this, was exceedingly troubled; and watching +her opportunity when the priest had stepped out with the mayor, +slipped the commission out of the box, and put in its place a pack of +cards, wrapped in the same paper. The priest returning in haste, and +suspecting no trick, huddled up his box, and posted off for Coventry. +A grand council of the saints was speedily convoked to meet him. He +arose, and having with great vehemence delivered a set speech against +the heretics, threw his commission on the table for the secretary to +read aloud. With the eyes of the whole council on him, the eager +secretary opened the package, when in place of the flaming commission, +behold a pack of cards with the knave of clubs turned uppermost! A +sudden stupefaction seized the spectators. In silence they stared at +the priest and stared at one another. Some looking as though they +suspected treachery: others as dreading a judgment in the case. Soon +as the dumb-founded priest could recover speech, he swore by the HOLY +MARY, that he once had a commission; that he had received it from the +queen's own hand. And he also swore that he would get another +commission. Accordingly he hurried back to London, and having procured +another, set off again for Coventry. But alas! before he got down, +poor queen Mary had turned the corner, and the protestants under +Elizabeth got the rule again. Having nothing now to dread, our +quizzing old hostess, Mrs. Franklin, came out with the knavish trick +she had played the priest, which so pleased the protestants of +Coventry that they presented her a piece of plate, that cost fifty +pounds sterling, equal, as money now goes, to a thousand dollars. + +From an affair which soon after this took place there, it appears that +Coventry, however famous for saints, had no great cause to brag of her +poets.--When queen Elizabeth, to gratify her subjects, made the tour +of her island, she passed through Coventry. The mayor, aldermen, and +company hearing of her approach, went out in great state to meet her. +The queen being notified that they wished to address her, made a full +stop right opposite to a stage erected for the purpose, and covered +with embroidered cloth, from which a ready orator, after much bowing +and arms full extended, made this wondrous speech--"We men of Coventry +are glad to see your royal highness--Lord how _fair_ you be!" + +To this the maiden queen, equal famed for fat and fun, rising in her +carriage, and waving her lily white hand, made this prompt reply--"Our +royal highness is glad to see you men of Coventry--Lord what FOOLS you +be!" + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +_Our hero, little Ben, coming on the carpet--Put to school very +young--Learns prodigiously--Taken home and set to candle-making-- +Curious capers, all proclaiming "the Achilles in petticoats."_ + + +Dr. Franklin's father married early in his own country, and would +probably have lived and died there, but for the persecutions against +his friends the Presbyterians, which so disgusted him, that he came +over to New England, and settled in Boston about the year 1682. He +brought with him his English wife and three children. By the same wife +he had four children more in America; and ten others afterwards by an +American wife. The doctor speaks with pleasure of having seen thirteen +sitting together very lovingly at his father's table, and all married. +Our little hero, who was the fifteenth child, and last of the sons, +was born at Boston the 17th day of January, 1706, old style. + +That famous Italian proverb, "_The Devil tempts every man, but the +Idler tempts the Devil_," was a favourite canto with wise old Josias; +for which reason, soon as their little lips could well lisp letters +and syllables, he had them all to school. + +Nor was this the only instance with regard to them, wherein good +Josias "_sham'd the Devil_;" for as soon as their education was +finished, they were put to useful trades. Thus no leisure was allowed +for bad company and habits. Little Ben, neatly clad and comb'd, was +pack'd off to school with the rest; and as would seem, at a very early +age, for he says himself that, "_he could not recollect any time in +his life when he did not know how to read_," whence we may infer that +he hardly ever knew any thing more of childhood than its innocency and +playfulness. At the age of eight he was sent to a grammar school, +where he made such a figure in learning, that his good old father set +him down at once for the church, and used constantly to call him his +"_little chaplain_." He was confirmed in this design, not only by the +extraordinary readiness with which he learned, but also by the praises +of his friends, who all agreed that he would certainly one day or +other become a mighty scholar. His uncle Benjamin too, greatly +approved the idea of making a preacher of him; and by way of +encouragement, promised to him all his volumes of sermons, written, as +before said, in his own short hand. + +This his rapid progress in learning he ascribed very much to an +amiable teacher who used gentle means only, to encourage his scholars, +and make them fond of their books. + +But in the midst of this gay career in his learning, when in the +course of the first year only, he had risen from the middle of his +class to the head of it; thence to the class immediately above it; and +was rapidly overtaking the third class, he was taken from school! His +father, having a large family, with but a small income, and thinking +himself unable consistently with what he owed the rest of his +children, to give him a collegiate education, took Ben home to assist +him in his own humble occupation, which was that of a SOAP-BOILER and +TALLOW-CHANDLER; a trade he had taken up of his own head after +settling in Boston; his original one of a DYER being in too little +request to maintain his family. + +I have never heard how Ben took this sudden reverse in his prospects. +No doubt it put his little stock of philosophy to the stretch. To have +seen himself, one day, on the high road to literary fame, flying from +class to class, the admiration and envy of a numerous school; and the +next day, to have found himself in a filthy soap-shop; clad in a +greasy apron, twisting cotton wicks!--and in place of snuffing the +sacred lamps of the Muses, to be bending over pots of fetid tallow, +dipping and moulding candles for the dirty cook wenches! Oh, it must +have seem'd a sad falling off! Indeed, it appears from his own account +that he was so disgusted with it that he had serious thoughts of going +to sea. But his father objecting to it, and Ben having virtue enough +to be dutiful, the notion was given up for that time. But the ambition +which had made him the first at his school, and which now would have +hurried him to sea, was not to be extinguished. Though diverted from +its favourite course, it still burned for distinction, and rendered +him the leader of the juvenile band in every enterprize where danger +was to be confronted, or glory to be won. In the neighbouring +mill-pond, he was the foremost to lead the boys to plunge and swim; +thus teaching them an early mastery over that dangerous element. And +when the ticklish mill-boat was launching from the shore laden with +his timid playmates, the paddle that served as rudder, was always put +into his hands, as the fittest to steer her course over the dark +waters of the pond. This ascendancy which nature had given him over +the companions of his youth, was not always so well used as it might +have been. He honestly confesses that, once at least, he made such an +unlucky use of it as drew them into a scrape that cost them dear. +Their favourite fishing shore on that pond was, it seems, very miry. +To remedy so great an inconvenience he proposed to the boys to make a +wharf. Their assent was quickly obtained: but what shall we make it +of? was the question. Ben pointed their attention to a heap of stones, +hard by, of which certain honest masons were building a house. The +proposition was hailed by the boys, as a grand discovery; and soon as +night had spread her dark curtains around them, they fell to work with +the activity of young beavers, and by midnight had completed their +wharf. The next morning the masons came to work, but, behold! not a +stone was to be found! The young rogues, however, detected by the +track of their feet in the mud, were quickly summoned before their +parents, who not being so partial to Ben as they had been, chastised +their folly with a severe flogging. Good old Josias pursued a +different course with his son. To deter him from such an act in +future, he endeavoured to reason him into a sense of its immorality. +Ben, on the other hand, just fresh and confident from his school, took +the field of argument against his father, and smartly attempted to +defend what he had done, on the principle of its _utility_. But the +old gentleman, who was a great adept in moral philosophy, calmly +observed to him, that if one boy were to make use of this plea to take +away his fellow's goods, another might; and thus contests would arise, +filling the world with blood and murder without end. Convinced, in +this simple way, of the fatal consequences of "_doing evil that good +may come_," Ben let drop the weapons of his rebellion, and candidly +agreed with his father that what was not _strictly honest_ could never +be _truly useful_. This discovery he made at the tender age of _nine_. +Some never make it in the course of their lives. The grand angler, +Satan, throws out his bait of _immediate gain_; and they, like silly +Jacks, snap at it at once; and in the moment of running off, fancy +they have got a delicious morsel. But alas! the fatal hook soon +convinces them of their mistake, though sometimes too late. And then +the lamentation of the prophet serves as the epilogue of their +tragedy--"_'Twas honey in the mouth, but gall in the bowels._" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_Picture of a wise father--To which is added a famous receipt for +health and long life._ + + +The reader must already have discovered that Ben was uncommonly blest +in a father. Indeed from the portrait of him drawn by this grateful +son, full fifty years afterwards, he must have been an enviable old +man. + +As to his person, though that is but of minor consideration in a +rational creature--I say, as to his person, it was of the right +standard, _i.e._ medium size and finely formed--his complexion fair +and ruddy--black, intelligent eyes--and an air uncommonly graceful and +spirited. In respect of _mind_, which is the true jewel of our nature, +he was a man of the purest piety and morals, and consequently cheerful +and amiable in a high degree. Added to this, he possessed a +considerable taste for the fine arts, particularly drawing and music; +and having a voice remarkably sonorous and sweet, whenever he sung a +hymn accompanied with his violin, which he usually did at the close of +his day's labours, it was delightful to hear him. He possessed also an +extraordinary sagacity in things relating both to public and private +life, insomuch that not only individuals were constantly consulting +him about their affairs, and calling him in as an arbiter in their +disputes; but even the leading men of Boston would often come and ask +his advice in their most important concerns, as well of the town as of +the church. + +For his slender means he was a man of extraordinary hospitality, which +caused his friends to wonder how he made out to entertain so many. But +whenever this was mentioned to him, he used to laugh and say, that the +world was good natured and gave him credit for much more than he +deserved; for that, in fact, others entertained ten times as many as +he did. By this, 'tis thought he alluded to the ostentatious practice +common with some, of pointing their hungry visitant to their grand +buildings, and boasting how many thousands this or that bauble cost; +as if their ridiculous vanity would pass with them for a good dinner. +For his part, he said, he preferred setting before his visitors a +plenty of wholesome fare, with a hearty welcome. Though to do this he +was fain to work hard, and content himself with a small house and +plain furniture. But it was always his opinion that a little laid out +in this way, went farther both with God and man too, than great +treasures lavished on pride and ostentation. + +But though he delighted in hospitality as a great virtue, yet he +always made choice of such friends at his table as were fond of +rational conversation. And he took great care to introduce such topics +as would, in a pleasant manner, lead to ideas useful to his family, +both in temporal and eternal things. As to the dishes that were served +up, he never talked of them; never discussed whether they were well or +ill dressed; of a good or bad flavour, high seasoned or otherwise. + +For this manly kind of education at his table, Dr. Franklin always +spoke as under great obligations to his father's judgment and taste. +Thus accustomed, from infancy, to a generous inattention to the +palate, he became so perfectly indifferent about what was set before +him, that he hardly ever remembered, ten minutes after dinner, what he +had dined on. In travelling, particularly, he found his account in +this. For while those who had been more nice in their diet could enjoy +nothing they met with; this one growling over the daintiest breakfast +of new laid eggs and toast floated in butter, because his _coffee was +not half strong enough!_--that wondering what people can mean by +serving up a round of beef when they have _no mustard!_--and a third +cursing like a trooper, though the finest rock-fish or sheep's-head be +smoking on the table--because there is no _walnut pickle or ketchup!_ +He for his part, happily engaged in a pleasant train of thinking or +conversation, never attended to such trifles, but dined heartily on +whatever was set before him. In short, there is no greater kindness +that a young man can do himself than to learn the art of feasting on +fish, flesh, or fowl as they come, without ever troubling his head +about any other sauce than what the rich hand of nature has given; let +him but bring to these dishes that good appetite which always springs +from exercise and cheerfulness, and he will be an epicure indeed. + +He would often repeat in the company of young people, the following +anecdote which he had picked up some where or other in his extensive +reading. "A wealthy citizen of Athens, who had nearly ruined his +constitution by gluttony and sloth, was advised by Hippocrates to +visit a certain medicinal spring in Sparta; not that Hippocrates +believed that spring to be better than some nearer home; but exercise +was the object--" "_Visit the springs of Sparta_," said the great +physician. As the young debauchee, pale and bloated, travelled among +the simple and hardy Spartans, he called one day at the house of a +countryman on the road to get something to eat. A young woman was just +serving up dinner--a nice barn-door fowl boiled with a piece of fat +bacon. "You have got rather a plain dinner there madam," growled the +Athenian. "_Yes, sir_," replied the young woman blushing, "_but my +husband will be here directly, and he always brings the sauce with +him_." Presently the young husband stepped in, and after welcoming his +guest, invited him to dinner. "I can't dream of dining, sir, _without +sauce_," said the Athenian, "and your wife promised you would bring +it." "_O, sir, my wife is a wit_," cried the Spartan; "_she only meant +the good appetite which I always bring with me from the barn, where I +have been threshing_." + +And here I beg leave to wind up this chapter with the following +beautiful lines from Dryden, which I trust my young reader will commit +to memory. They may save him many a sick stomach and headache, besides +many a good dollar in doctor's fees. + + "The first physicians by debauch were made; + Excess began and sloth sustains the trade. + By chace, our long liv'd fathers earn'd their bread; + Toil strung their nerves and purified their blood: + But we, their sons, a pamper'd race of men, + Are dwindled down to threescore years and ten. + Better hunt in fields for health unbought, + Than fee the doctor for a nauseous draught. + The wise for health on exercise depend; + God never made his works for man to mend." + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +Ben continued with his father, assisting him in his humble toils, till +his twelfth year; and had he possessed a mind less active might have +remained a candle-maker all the days of his life. But born to diffuse +a light beyond that of tallow or spermaceti, he could never reconcile +himself to this inferior employment, and in spite of his wishes to +conceal it from his father, discontent would still lower on his brow, +and the half-suppressed sigh steal in secret from his bosom. + +With equal grief his father beheld the deep-seated disquietude of his +son. He loved all his children; but he loved this young one above all +the rest. Ben was the child of his old age. The smile that dimpled his +tender cheeks reminded him of his mother when he first saw her, lovely +in the rosy freshness of youth. And then his intellect was so far +beyond his years; his questions so shrewd; so strong in reasoning; so +witty in remark, that his father would often forget his violin of +nights for the higher pleasure of holding an argument with him. This +was a great trial to his sisters, who would often intreat their mother +to make Ben hold his tongue, that their father might take down his +fiddle, and play and sing hymns with them: for they took after him in +his passion for music, and sung divinely. No wonder that such a child +should be dear to such a father. Indeed old Josias' affection for Ben +was so intimately interwoven with every fibre of his heart, that he +could not bear the idea of separation from him; and various were the +stratagems which he employed to keep this dear child at home. One +while, to frighten his youthful fancy from the sea, for that was the +old man's dread, he would paint the horrors of the watery world, where +the maddening billows, lashed into mountains by the storm, would lift +the trembling ship to the skies; then hurl her down, headlong plunging +into the yawning gulphs, never to rise again. At another time he would +describe the wearisomeness of beating the gloomy wave for joyless +months, pent up in a small ship, with no prospects but barren sea and +skies--no smells but tar and bilge water--no society but men of +uncultivated minds, and their constant conversation nothing but +ribaldry and oaths. And then again he would take him to visit the +masons, coopers, joiners, and other mechanics, at work: in hopes that +his genius might be caught, and a stop put to his passion for +wandering. But greatly to his sorrow, none of these things held out +the attractions that his son seemed to want. His visits among these +tradesmen were not, however, without their advantage. He caught from +them, as he somewhere says, such an insight into mechanic arts and the +use of tools, as enabled him afterwards when there was no artist at +hand, to make for himself suitable machines for the illustration of +his philosophical experiments. + +But it was not long before this obstinate dislike of Ben's to all +ordinary pursuits was found out; it was found out by his mother. +"Bless me," said she one night to her husband, as he lay sleepless and +sighing on his son's account, "why do we make ourselves so unhappy +about Ben for fear he should go to _sea!_ let him but go to _school_, +and I'll engage we hear no more about his running to sea. Don't you +see the child is never happy but when he has a book in his hand? Other +boys when they get a little money never think of any thing better to +lay it out on than their backs or their bellies; but he, poor fellow, +the moment that he gets a shilling, runs and gives it for a book; and +then, you know, there is no getting him to his meals until he has read +it through, and told us all about it." + +Good old Josias listened very devoutly to his wife, while she uttered +this oration on his youngest son. Then with looks as of a heart +suddenly relieved from a heavy burden, and his eyes lifted to heaven, +he fervently exclaimed--"O that my son, even my little son Benjamin, +may live before God, and that the days of his usefulness and glory may +be many!" + +How far the effectual fervent prayer of this righteous father found +acceptance in heaven, the reader will find perhaps by the time he has +gone through our little book. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_Ben taken from school, turns his own teacher--History of the books +which he first read--Is bound to the printing trade._ + + +At a learned table in Paris, where Dr. Franklin happened to dine, it +was asked by the abbe Raynal, _What description of men most deserves +pity?_ + +Some mentioned one character, and some another. When it came to +Franklin's turn, he replied, _A lonesome man in a rainy day, who does +not know how to read._ + +As every thing is interesting that relates to one who made such a +figure in the world, it may gratify our readers to be told what were +the books that first regaled the youthful appetite of the great Dr. +Franklin. The state of literature in Boston at that time, being like +himself, only in its infancy, it is not to be supposed that Ben had +any very great choice of books. Books, however, there always were in +Boston.[1] Among these was Bunyan's Voyages, which appears to have +been the first he ever read, and of which he speaks with great +pleasure. But there is reason to fear that Bunyan did no good: for, as +it was the reading of the life of Alexander the Great that first set +Charles the Twelfth in such a fever to be running over the world +killing every body he met; so, in all probability, it was Bunyan's +Voyages that fired Ben's fancy with that passion for travelling, which +gave his father so much uneasiness. Having read over old Bunyan so +often as to have him almost by heart, Ben added a little boot, and +made a _swap_ of him for _Burton's Historical Miscellanies_. This, +consisting of forty or fifty volumes, held him a good long tug: for he +had no time to read but on Sundays, and early in the morning or late +at night. After this he fell upon his father's library. This being +made up principally of old puritanical divinity, would to most boys +have appeared like the pillars of Hercules to travellers of old--a +bound not to be passed. But so keen was Ben's appetite for any thing +in the shape of a book, that he fell upon it with his usual voracity, +and soon devoured every thing in it, especially of the lighter sort. +Seeing a little bundle of something crammed away very snugly upon an +upper shelf, his curiosity led him to take it down: and lo! what +should it be but "_Plutarch's Lives_." Ben was a stranger to the work; +but the title alone was enough for him; he instantly gave it one +reading; and then a second, and a third, and so on until he had almost +committed it to memory; and to his dying day he never mentioned the +name of Plutarch without acknowledging how much pleasure and profit he +had derived from that divine old writer. And there was another book, +by Defoe, a small affair, entitled "_An Essay on Projects_," to which +he pays the very high compliment of saying, that "_from it he received +impressions which influenced some of the principal events of his +life_." + + [1] You never find presbyterians without books. + +Happy now to find that books had the charm to keep his darling boy at +home, and thinking that if he were put into a printing office he would +be sure to get books enough, his father determined to make a printer +of him, though he already had a son in that business. Exactly to his +wishes, that son, whose name was James, had just returned from London +with a new press and types. Accordingly, without loss of time, Ben, +now in his twelfth year, was bound apprentice to him. By the +indentures Ben was to serve his brother till twenty-one, _i.e._ _nine_ +full years, without receiving one penny of wages save for the last +twelve months! How a man pretending to religion could reconcile it to +himself to make so hard a bargain with a younger brother, is strange. +But perhaps it was permitted of God, that Ben should learn his ideas +of oppression, not from reading but from suffering. The deliverers of +mankind have all been made perfect through suffering. And to the +galling sense of this villanous oppression, which never ceased to +rankle on the mind of Franklin, the American people owe much of that +spirited resistance to British injustice, which eventuated in their +liberties. But Master James had no great cause to boast of this +selfish treatment of his younger brother Benjamin; for the old adage +"foul play never thrives," was hardly ever more remarkably illustrated +than in this affair, as the reader will in due season be brought to +understand. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_Ben in clover--Turns a Rhymer--Makes a prodigious noise in Boston +--Bit by the Poetic Tarantula--Luckily cured by his father._ + + +Ben is now happy. He is placed by the side of the press, the very mint +and coining place of his beloved _books_; and animated by that delight +which he takes in his business, he makes a proficiency equally +surprising and profitable to his brother. The field of his reading too +is now greatly enlarged. From the booksellers' boys he makes shift, +every now and then, to borrow a book, which he _never fails to return_ +at the promised time: though to accomplish this he was often obliged +to sit up till midnight, reading by his bed side, that he might be as +good as his word. + +Such an extraordinary passion for learning soon commended him to the +notice of his neighbours, among whom was an ingenious young man, a +tradesman, named Matthew Adams, who invited him to his house, showed +him all his books, and offered to lend him any that he wished to read. + +About this time, which was somewhere in his thirteenth year, Ben took +it into his head that he could write poetry: and actually composed +several little pieces. These, after some hesitation, he showed to his +brother, who pronounced them _excellent_; and thinking that money +might be made by Ben's poetry, pressed him to cultivate his _wonderful +talent_, as he called it; and even gave him a couple of subjects to +write on. The one, which was to be called the LIGHT-HOUSE TRAGEDY, was +to narrate the late shipwreck of a sea captain and his two daughters: +and the other was to be a sailor's song on the noted pirate +Blackbeard, who had been recently killed on the coast of North +Carolina, by Captain Maynard, of a British sloop of war. + +Ben accordingly fell to work, and after burning out several candles, +for his brother could not afford to let him write poetry by daylight, +he produced his two poems. His brother extolled them to the skies, and +in all haste had them put to the type and struck off; to expedite +matters, fast as the sheets could be snatched from the press, all +hands were set to work, folding and stitching them ready for market; +while nothing was to be heard throughout the office but constant calls +on the boys at press--"_more sheets ho! more Light-house tragedy! more +Blackbeard!_" But who can tell what Ben felt when he saw his brother +and all his journeymen in such a bustle on his account--and when he +saw, wherever he cast his eyes, the splendid trophies of his genius +scattered on the floor and tables; some in common paper for the +multitude; and others in snow-white foolscap, for presents to the +GREAT PEOPLE, such as "HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR."--"The HON. THE +SECRETARY OF STATE."--"The WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR."--"The ALDERMEN, and +GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL."--"The reverend the _clergy_, &c." Ben could +never tire of gazing at them; and as he gazed, his heart would leap +for joy--"_O you precious little verses_," he would say to himself, +"_Ye first warblings of my youthful harp! I'll soon have you abroad, +delighting every company, and filling all mouths with my name!_" +Accordingly, his _two poems_ being ready, Ben, who had been both poet +and printer, with a basket full of each on his arm, set out in high +spirits to sell them through the town, which he did by singing out as +he went, after, the manner of the London cries-- + + "Choice Poetry! Choice Po-e-try! + Come BUY my choice Po-e-try!" + +The people of Boston having never heard any such cry as that before, +were prodigiously at a loss to know what he was selling. But still Ben +went on singing out as before, + + "Choice Poetry! Choice Poetry! + Come, buy my choice Poetry!" + +I wonder now, said one with a stare, if it is not _poultry_ that that +little boy is singing out so stoutly yonder. + +O no, I guess not, said a second. + +Well then, cried a third, I vow but it must be _pastry_. + +At length Ben was called up and interrogated. + +"_Pray, my little man, and what's that that you are crying there so +bravely?_" + +Ben told them it was poetry. + +"_O!--aye! poetry!_" said they; "_poetry! that's a sort of something +or other in metre--like the old version, isn't it?_" + +"_O yes, to be sure_," said they all, "_it must be like the old +version, if it is poetry_;" and thereupon they stared at him, +marvelling hugely that a "_little curly headed boy like him should be +selling such a wonderful thing_!" This made Ben hug himself still more +on account of his poetry. + +I have never been able to get a sight of the ballad of the Light-house +Tragedy, which must no doubt have been a great curiosity: but the +sailor's song on Blackbeard runs thus-- + + "Come all you jolly Sailors, + You all so stout and brave; + Come hearken and I'll tell you + What happen'd on the wave. + Oh! 'tis of that bloody Blackbeard + I'm going now for to tell; + And as how by gallant Maynard + He soon was sent to hell-- + With a down, down, down derry down." + +The reader will, I suppose, agree with Ben in his criticism, many +years afterwards, on this poetry, that it was "wretched stuff; mere +blind men's ditties." But fortunately for Ben, the poor people of +Boston were at that time no judges of poetry. The silver-tongued Watts +had not, as yet, snatched the harp of Zion, and poured his divine +songs over New-England. And having never been accustomed to any thing +better than an old version of David's Psalms, running in this way-- + + "Ye monsters of the bubbling deep, + Your Maker's praises spout! + Up from your sands ye codlings peep, + And wag your tails about."-- + +The people of Boston pronounced Ben's poetry _mighty fine_, and bought +them up at a prodigious rate; especially the LIGHT-HOUSE TRAGEDY. + +A flood of success so sudden and unexpected, would in all probability +have turned Ben's brain and run him stark mad with vanity, had not his +wise old father timely stepped in and checked the rising fever. But +highly as Ben honoured his father, and respected his judgment, he +could hardly brook to hear him attack his beloved poetry, as he did, +calling it "_mere Grub-street_." And he even held a stiff argument in +defence of it. But on reading a volume of Pope, which his father, who +well knew the force of contrast, put into his hand for that purpose, +he never again opened his mouth in behalf of his "_blind men's +ditties_." He used to laugh and say, that after reading Pope, he was +so mortified with his _Light-house Tragedy, and Sailor's Song_, which +he had once thought so fine, that he could not bear the sight of them, +but constantly threw into the fire every copy that fell in his way. +Thus was he timely saved, as he ingenuously confesses, from the very +great misfortune of being, perhaps, a miserable jingler for life. + +But I cannot let fall the curtain on this curious chapter, without +once more feasting my eyes on Ben, as, with a little basket on his +arm, he trudged along the streets of Boston crying his poetry. + +Who that saw the youthful David coming up fresh from his father's +sheep cots, with his locks wet with the dews of the morning, and his +cheeks ruddy as the opening rose-buds, would have dreamed that this +was he who should one day, single handed, meet the giant Goliah, in +the war-darkened valley of Elah, and wipe off reproach from Israel. In +like manner, who that saw this "_curly headed child_," at the tender +age of thirteen, selling his "_blind men's ditties_," among the +wonder-struck Jonathans and Jemimas of Boston, would have thought that +this was he, who, single handed, was to meet the British ministry at +the bar of their own house of Commons, and by the solar blaze of his +wisdom, utterly disperse all their dark designs against their +countrymen, thus gaining for himself a name lasting as time, and dear +to liberty as the name of Washington. + +O you time-wasting, brain-starving young men, who can never be at ease +unless you have a cigar or a plug of tobacco in your mouths, go on +with your puffing and champing--go on with your filthy smoking, and +your still more filthy spitting, keeping the cleanly house-wives in +constant terror for their nicely waxed floors, and their shining +carpets--go on I say; but remember it was not in this way that our +little Ben became the GREAT DR. FRANKLIN. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +'Tis the character of a great mind never to despair. Though glory may +not be gained in one way, it may in another. As a river, if it meet a +mountain in its course, does not halt and poison all the country by +stagnation, but rolls its gathering forces around the obstacle, urging +its precious tides and treasures through distant lands. So it was with +the restless genius of young Franklin. Finding that nature had never +cut him out for a poet, he determined to take revenge on her by making +himself a good prose writer. As it is in this way that his pen has +conferred great obligations on the world, it must be gratifying to +learn by what means, humbly circumstanced as he was, he acquired that +perspicuity and ease so remarkable in his writings. This information +must be peculiarly acceptable to such youth as are apt to despair of +becoming good writers, because they have never been taught the +languages. Ben's example will soon convince them that Latin and Greek +are not necessary to make English scholars. Let them but commence with +_his_ passion for knowledge; with _his_ firm persuasion, that wisdom +is the glory and happiness of man, and the work is more than half +done. + +Honest Ben never courted a young man because he was rich, or the son +of the rich--No. His favourites were of the youth fond of reading and +of rational conversation, no matter how poor they were. "_Birds of a +feather do not more naturally flock together_," than do young men of +this high character. This was what first attracted to him that +ingenious young carpenter, Matthew Adams: as also John Collins, the +tanner's boy. These three spirited youth, after finding each other +out, became as fond as brothers. And often as possible, when the +labours of the day were ended, they would meet at a little +school-house in the neighbourhood, and argue on some given subject +till midnight. The advantages of this as a grand mean of exercising +memory, strengthening the reasoning faculty, disciplining the +thoughts, and improving a correct and graceful elocution, became daily +more obvious and important in their view, and consequently increased +their mutual attachment. But from his own observation of what passed +in this curious little society, Ben cautions young men against that +_war of words_, which the vain are too apt to fall into, and which +tends not only to make them insupportably disagreeable through a +disputatious spirit, but is apt also to betray into a fondness for +_quizzing_, _i.e._ for asserting and supporting opinions which they do +not themselves believe. He gives the following as a case in point. + +One night, Adams being absent, and only himself and Collins together +in the old school-house, Ben observed that he thought it a great pity +that the young ladies were not more attended to, as to the improvement +of their minds by education. He said, that with their advantages of +sweet voices and beautiful faces, they could give tenfold charms to +wit and sensible conversation, making heavenly truths to appear, as he +had somewhere read in his father's old Bible, "like apples of gold set +in pictures of silver." + +Collins blowed upon the idea. He said, it was all _stuff_, and no pity +at all, that the girls were so neglected in their education, as they +were naturally incapable of it. And here he repeated, laughing, that +infamous slur on the ladies, + + "Substance too soft a lasting mind to bear, + And best distinguish'd by black, brown, or fair." + +At this, Ben, who was already getting to be a great admirer of the +ladies, reddened up against Collins; and to it they fell, at once, in +a stiff argument on the education of women--as whether they were +capable of studying the sciences or not. Collins, as we have seen, led +off against the ladies. Being much of an infidel, he took the Turkish +ground altogether, and argued like one just soured and sullen from the +seraglio. _Women study the sciences indeed!_ said he, with a sneer; _a +pretty story truly! no sir, they have nothing to do with the sciences. +They were not born for any such thing._ + +Ben wanted to know what they _were_ born for? + +Born for! retorted Collins, why to _dress_ and _dance_; to _sing_ and +_play_; and, like pretty triflers, to divert the lords of the +creation, after their toils and studies. This is all they were born +for, or ever intended of nature, who has given them capacities for +nothing higher. Sometimes, indeed, they look grave, and fall into such +brown studies as would lead one to suppose they meant to go deep; but +it is all _fudge_. They are only trying in this new character to play +themselves off to a better effect on their lovers. And if you could +but penetrate the bosoms of these fair Penserosoes; you would find +that under all this affectation of study they were only fatiguing +their childish brains about what dress they should wear to the next +ball: or what coloured ribands would best suit their new lutestrings. + +To this Ben replied with warmth, that it was extremely unphilosophical +in Mr. Collins to argue in that way against the MIND--that in fixing +their destination he had by no means given them that high ground to +which they were entitled. You say, sir, continued Ben, that the ladies +were created to amuse the men by the charm of their vivacity and +accomplishments. This to be sure was saying something. But you might, +I think, have said a great deal more; at least the Bible says a great +deal more for them. The Bible, sir, tells us that God created woman to +be the helpmate of man. Now if man were devoid of reason he might be +well enough matched by such a monkey-like helpmate as you have +described woman. But, sir, since man is a noble God-like creature, +endued with the sublime capacities of _reason_, how could woman ever +make a helpmate to him, unless she were rational like himself, and +thus capable of being the companion of his thoughts and conversation +through all the pleasant fields of knowledge? + +Here Collins interrupted him, asking very sarcastically, if in this +fine flourish in favour of the ladies he was really _in earnest_. + +Never more so in all my life, replied Ben, rather nettled. + +What, that the women are as capable of studying the sciences as the +men? + +Yes, that the women are as capable of studying the sciences as the +men. + +And pray, sir, continued Collins, tauntingly, do you know of any +_young woman_ of your acquaintance that would make a Newton? + +And pray, sir, answered Ben, do you know any young man of your +acquaintance that would? But these are no arguments, sir,--because it +is not every young man or woman that can carry the science of +astronomy so high as Newton, it does not follow that they are +incapable of the science altogether. God sees fit in every age to +appoint certain persons to kindle new lights among men.--And Newton +was appointed greatly to enlarge our views of celestial objects. But +we are not thence to infer that he was in all respects superior to +other men, for we are told that in some instances he was far inferior +to other men. Collins denied that Newton had ever shown himself, in +any point of wit inferior to other men. + +No, indeed, replied Ben; well what do you think of that anecdote of +him, lately published in the New England Courant from a London paper? + +And pray what is the anecdote? asked Collins. + +Why it is to this effect, said Ben.--Newton, mounted on the wings of +astronomy, and gazing at the mighty orbs of fire above, had entirely +forgotten the poor little fire that slumbered on his own hearth below, +which presently forgot him, that is in plain English, went out. The +frost piercing his nerves, called his thoughts home, when lo! in place +of the spacious skies, the gorgeous antichamber of the Almighty, he +found himself in his own little nut-shell apartment, cold and dark, +comparatively, as the dwelling of the winter screech-owl. He rung the +bell for his servant, who after making a rousing fire, went out again. +But scarcely had the servant recovered his warm corner in the kitchen, +before the vile bell, with a most furious ring, summoned him the +second time. The servant flew into his master's presence. _Monster!_ +cried Newton with a face inflamed as if it had been toasting at the +tail of one of his comets, _did you mean to burn me alive? push back +the fire! for God's sake push back the fire, or I shall be a cinder in +an instant!_ + +Push back the fire! replied the servant with a growl, zounds, sir, I +thought you might have had sense enough to push back your chair! + +Collins swore that it was only a libel against Sir Isaac. + +Ben contended that he had seen it in so many different publications, +that he had no sort of doubt of its truth; especially as Sir Hans +Sloan had backed it with another anecdote of Newton, in the same +style; and to which he avers he was both eye and ear witness. + +And pray what has that butterfly philosopher to say against the +immortal Newton? asked Collins, quite angrily. + +Why, replied Ben, it is this: Sloan, stepping in one day, to see Sir +Isaac, was told by his servant that he was up in his study, but would +be down immediately; _for there, sir, you see is his dinner, which I +have just set on the table_.--It was a pheasant so neatly browned in +the roasting, and withal so plump and inviting to the eye, that Sloan +could not resist the temptation; but venturing on his great intimacy +with the knight, sat down and picked the delicious bird to the bone; +having desired the cook in all haste to clap another to the spit. +Presently down came Sir Isaac--was very glad to see his friend +Sloan--how had he been all this time? and how did he leave his good +lady and family? you have not dined? + +No. + +Very glad of it indeed; very glad. Well then, come dine with +me.--Turning to the table, he sees the dish empty, and his plate +strewed with the bones of his favourite pheasant.--_Lord bless me!_ he +exclaimed, clasping his forehead, and looking betwixt laughing and +blushing, at Sloan--_what am I good for? I have dined, as you see, my +dear friend, and yet I had entirely forgot it!_ + +I don't believe a syllable of it, said Collins; not one syllable of +it, sir. + +No, replied Ben; nor one syllable, I suppose, of his famous courtship, +when sitting by an elegant young lady, whom his friends wished him to +make love to, he seized her lily white hand. But instead of pressing +it with rapture to his bosom, he thrust it into the bowl of his pipe +that he was smoking; thus making a tobacco stopper of one of the +loveliest fingers in England; to the inexpressible mortification of +the company, and to the most dismal scolding and screaming of the dear +creature! + +'Tis all a lie, sir, said Collins, getting quite mad, all a confounded +lie. The immortal Newton, sir, was never capable of acting so much +like a blockhead. But supposing all this slang to be true, what would +you infer from it, against that prince of philosophy?--Why I would +infer from it, replied Ben, that though a great man, he was but a man. +And I would also infer from it in favour of my fair clients, that +though they did not make Sir Isaac's discoveries in astronomy, they +are yet very capable of comprehending them. And besides, I am +astonished, Mr. Collins, how any gentleman that loves himself, as I +know you do, can thus traduce the ladies. Don't you consider, sir, +that in proportion as you lessen the dignity of the ladies, you lessen +the dignity of your affections for them, and consequently, your own +happiness in them, which must for ever keep pace with your ideas of +their excellence.--This was certainly a home thrust; and most readers +would suppose, that Ben was in a fair way to crow over his antagonist; +but, Collins was a young man of too much pride and talents to give up +so easily. A spirited retort, of course, was made; a rejoinder +followed, and thus the controversy was kept up until the watchman +bawling twelve o'clock, reminded our stripling orators that it was +time for them to quit the old school-house; which with great +reluctance they did, but without being any nearer the end of their +argument than when they began. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +The shades of midnight had parted our young combatants, and silent and +alone, Ben had trotted home to his printing-office; but still in his +restless thoughts the combat raged in all its fury: still burning for +victory, where truth and the ladies were at stake, he fell to +mustering his arguments again, which now at the drum-beat of +recollection came crowding on him so thick and strong that he felt +equally ashamed and astonished that he had not utterly crushed his +antagonist at once. He could see no reason on earth why Collins had +made a drawn battle of it, but by his vastly superior eloquence. To +deprive him of this advantage, Ben determined to attack him with his +pen. And to this he felt the greater inclination, as they were not to +meet again for several nights. So, committing his thoughts to paper, +and taking a fair copy, he sent it to him. Collins, who, "was not born +in the woods to be scared by an owl," quickly answered, and Ben +rejoined. In this way several vollies had passed on both sides, when +good old Josias chanced to light upon them all; both the copies of +Ben's letters to Collins, and the answers. He read them with a deep +interest, and that very night sent for Ben that he might talk with him +on their contents. "_So Ben!_" said he to him as he pressed his +beloved hand, "_you have got into a paper war already, have you?_" + +Ben blushed. + +I don't mean to blame you, my son, continued the old gentleman. I +don't blame you; on the contrary I am delighted to see you taking such +pains to improve your mind. Go on, my dear boy, go on; for your mind +is the only part that is worth your care: and the more you accustom +yourself to find your happiness in _that_, the better. The body, as I +have a thousand times told you, is but nicely organized earth, that in +spite of the daintiest meats and clothes, will soon grow old and +withered, and then die and rot back to earth again. But the MIND, Ben, +is the HEAVENLY part, the IMMORTAL inhabitant, who, if early nursed +with proper thoughts and affections, is capable of a feast that will +endure for ever. + +This your little controversy with your friend Collins is praiseworthy, +because it has a bearing on that grand point, the improvement of your +mind. + +But let me suggest a hint or two, my son, for your better conduct of +it. You have greatly the advantage of Mr. Collins in correctness of +spelling and pointing; which you owe entirely to your profession as a +printer; but then he is as far superior to you in other respects. He +certainly has not so good a cause as you have, but, he manages it +better. He clothes his ideas with such elegance of expression, and +arranges his arguments with so much perspicuity and art, as will +captivate all readers in his favour, and snatch the victory from you, +notwithstanding your better cause. In confirmation of these remarks, +the old gentleman drew from his pocket the letters of their +correspondence, and read to him several passages, as strong cases in +point. + +Ben sensibly felt the justice of these criticisms, and after thanking +his father for his goodness in making them, assured him, that as he +delighted above all things in reading books of a beautiful style, so +he was resolved to spare no pains to acquire so divine an art. + +The next day, going into a fresh part of the town, with a paper to a +new subscriber, he saw, on the side of the street, a little table +spread out and covered with a parcel of toys, among which lay an odd +volume, with a neat old woman sitting by. As he approached the table +to look at the book, the old lady lifting on him a most pleasant +countenance, said, "_well my little man do you ever dream dreams?_" + +Ben rather startled at so strange a salutation, replied, that he had +_dream't_ in his time.--_Well_, continued the old woman, _and what do +you think of dreams; do you put any faith in 'em?_ + +Why, no, madam, answered Ben; as I have seldom had dreams except after +taking too hearty a supper, I have always looked on 'em as a mere +matter of indigestion, and so have never troubled my head much about +'em. + +_Well now_, replied the old lady, laughing, _there's just the +difference between you and me. I, for my part, always takes great +notice of dreams, they generally turn out so true._ And now can you +tell what a droll dream I had last night? + +Ben answered that he was no Daniel to interpret dreams. + +Well, said the old lady, I dreamed last night, that a little man just +like you, came along here and bought that old book of me. + +Aye! why that's a droll dream sure enough, replied Ben; and pray, +Madam, what do you ask for your old book? + +_Only four pence halfpenny_, said the old lady. + +Well, Madam, continued Ben, as your dreaming has generally, as you +say, turned out true, it shall not be otherwise now; _there's your +money_--so now as you have another reason for putting faith in dreams, +you can dream again. + +As Ben took up his book to go away, the old lady said, stop a minute, +my son, stop a minute. I have not told you the whole of my dream yet. +Then looking very gravely at him, she said, But though my dream showed +that the book was to be bought by a _little_ man, it did not say he +was always to be little. No; for I saw, in my dream, that he grew up +to be a GREAT man; the lightnings of heaven played around his head, +and the shape of a kingly crown was beneath his feet. I heard his name +as a pleasant sound from distant lands, and I saw it through clouds of +smoke and flame, among the tall victor ships that strove in the last +battle for the freedom of the seas. She uttered this with a raised +voice and glowing cheek, as though the years to come, with all their +mighty deeds, were passing before her. + +Ben was too young yet to suspect who this old woman was, though he +felt as he had read the youthful Telemachus did, when the fire-eyed +Minerva, in the shape of Mentor, roused his soul to virtue. + +Farewell, Madam, said Ben with a deep sigh, as he went away; you might +have spared that part of your dream, for I am sure there is very +little chance of its ever coming to pass. + +But though Ben went away to attend to his brother's business, yet the +old woman's looks made such an impression on his mind, that he could +not help going the next day to see her again; but she was not there +any more. + +On leaving the old woman, he opened his book, when, behold, what +should it be but an odd volume of the Spectator, a book which he had +not seen before. The number which he chanced to open was the vision of +Mirzah; which so caught his attention that he could not take it off +until he had got through. What the people thought of him for reading +in that manner as he walked along the street, he knew not; nor did he +once think, he was so taken up with his book. He felt as though he +would give the world to write in so enchanting a style; and to that +end he carried his old volume constantly in his pocket, that by +committing, as it were, to memory, those sweetly flowing lines, he +might stand a chance to fall into the imitation of them. He took +another curious method to catch Addison's charming style; he would +select some favourite chapter out of the Spectator, make short +summaries of the sense of each period, and put them for a few days +aside; then without looking at the book, he would endeavour to restore +the chapter to its first form, by expressing each thought at full +length. + +These exercises soon convinced him that he greatly lacked a fund of +words, and a facility of employing them; both of which he thought +would have been abundantly supplied, had he but continued his old +trade of _making verses_. The continual need of words of the same +_meaning_, but of different _lengths_, for the _measure_; or of +different sounds, for the _rhyme_, would have obliged him to seek a +variety of _synonymes_. From this belief he took some of the papers +and turned them into verse; and after he had sufficiently forgotten +them, he again converted them into prose. + +On comparing _his_ Spectator with the original, he discovered many +faults; but panting, as he did, for perfection in this noble art, +nothing could discourage him. He bravely persevered in his +experiments, and though he lamented that in most instances he still +fell short of the charming original, yet in some he thought he had +clearly improved the order and style. And when this happened, it gave +him unspeakable satisfaction, as it sprung the dear hope that in time +he should succeed in writing the English language in the same +enchanting manner. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +About this time, which was somewhere in his sixteenth year, Ben +lighted on a very curious work, by one _Tryon_, recommending vegetable +diet altogether, and condemning "_animal food as a great crime_." He +read it with all the avidity of a young and honest mind that wished to +renounce error and embrace truth. "_From start to pole_," as the +racers say, his conscience was under the lash, pointing at him as the +dreadful SARCOPHAGIST, or MEAT-EATER alluded to by this severe writer. +He could not, without horror reflect, that, young as he was, his +stomach had yet been the grave of hundreds of lambs, pigs, birds, and +other little animals, "_who had never injured him_." And when he +extended the dismal idea over the vast surface of the globe, and saw +the whole human race pursuing and butchering the poor brute creation, +filling the sea and land with cries and blood and slaughter, he felt a +depression of spirits with an anguish of mind that strongly tempted +him, not only to detest man, but even to charge God himself with +cruelty. But this distress did not continue long. Impatient of such +wretchedness, he set all the powers of his mind to work, to discover +designs in all this, worthy of the Creator. To his unspeakable +satisfaction he soon made these important discoveries. 'Tis true, said +he, man is constantly butchering the inferior creatures. And it is +also true that they are constantly devouring one another. But after +all, shocking as this may seem, it is but _dying_: it is but giving up +life, or returning a something which was not their own; which for the +honour of his goodness in their enjoyment, was only lent them for a +season; and which, therefore, they ought not to think hard to return. + +Now certainly, continued Ben, all this is very clear and easy to be +understood. Well then, since all life, whether of man or beast, or +vegetables, is a kind loan of God, and to be taken back again, the +question is whether the way in which we see it is taken back is not +the _best way_. It is true, life being the season of enjoyment, is so +dear to us that there is no way of giving it up which is not shocking. +And this horror which we feel at the thought of having our own lives +taken from us we extend to the brutes. We cannot help feeling shocked +at the butcher killing a lamb, or one animal killing another. Nay, +tell even a child who is looking with smiles on a good old family +horse that has just brought a bag of flour from the mill, or a load of +wood from the forest, that this his beloved horse will by and by be +eaten up of the buzzards, and instantly his looks will manifest +extreme distress. And if his mother, to whom he turns for +contradiction of this horrid prophecy, should confirm it, he is struck +dumb with horror, or bursts into strong cries as if his little heart +would break at thought of the dismal end to which his horse is coming. +These, though very amiable, are yet the amiable weaknesses of the +child, which, it is the duty of man to overcome. This animal was +created of his God for the double purpose of doing service to man, and +of enjoying comfort himself. And when these are accomplished, and that +life which was only lent him is recalled, is it not better that +nature's scavengers, the buzzards, should take up his flesh and keep +the elements sweet, than that it should lie on the fields to shock the +sight and smell of all who pass by? The fact is, continued Ben, I see +that all creatures that live, whether men or beasts, or vegetables, +are doomed to die. Now were it not a greater happiness that this +universal calamity, as it appears, should be converted into an +universal blessing, and this _dying_ of all be made the _living_ of +all? Well, through the admirable wisdom and goodness of the Creator, +this is exactly the case. The vegetables all die to sustain animals; +and animals, whether birds, beasts, or fishes, all die to sustain man, +or one another. Now, is it not far better for them that they should be +thus continually changing into each other's substance, and existing in +the wholesome shapes of life and vigour, than to be scattered about +dying and dead, shocking all eyes with their ghastly forms, and +poisoning both sea and air with the stench of their corruption? + +This scrutiny into the economy of nature in this matter, gave him such +an exalted sense of nature's Great Author, that in a letter to his +father, to whom he made a point of writing every week for the benefit +of his corrections, he says, though I was at first greatly angered +with Tryon, yet afterwards I felt myself much obliged to him for +giving me such a hard nut to crack, for I have picked out of it one of +the sweetest kernels I ever tasted. In truth, father, continues he, +although I do not make much noise or show about religion, yet I +entertain a most adoring sense of the GREAT FIRST CAUSE; insomuch that +I had rather cease to exist than cease to believe him ALL WISE AND +BENEVOLENT. + +In the midst, however, of these pleasing speculations, another +disquieting idea was suggested.--Is it not cruel, after giving life to +take it away again so soon? The tender grass has hardly risen above +the earth, in all its spring-tide green and sweetness, before its +beauty is all cropped by the lamb; and the playful lamb, full dressed +in his snow-white fleece, has scarcely tasted the sweets of existence, +before he is caught up by the cruel wolf or more cruel man. And so +with every bird and fish: this has scarcely learned to sing his song +to the listening grove, or that to leap with transport from the limpid +wave, before he is called to resign his life to man or some larger +animal. + +This was a horrid thought, which, like a cloud, spread a deep gloom +over Ben's mind. But his reflections, like the sunbeams, quickly +pierced and dispersed them. + +These cavillers, said he, in another letter, are entirely wrong. They +wish, it seems, _long life_ to the creatures; the Creator wishes them +a _pleasant_ one. They would have but a few to exist in a _long_ time; +_he_ a great many in a _short_ time. Now as youth is the season of +gaiety and enjoyment, and all after is comparatively insipid, is it +not better, before that pleasant state is ended in sorrow, the +creature should pass away by a quick and generally easy fate, and +appear again in some other shape? Surely if the grass could reason, it +would prefer, while fresh and beautiful, to be cropped by the lamb and +converted into his substance, than, by staying a little longer, to +disfigure the fields with its faded foliage. And the lamb too, if he +could but think and choose, would ask for _a short life and a merry +one_, rather than, by staying a little longer, degenerate into a +ragged old sheep, snorting with the rattles, and dying of the rot, or +murrain. + +But though Ben, at the tender age of sixteen, and with no other aid +than his own strong mind, could so easily quell this host of +atheistical doubts, which Tryon had conjured up; yet he hesitated not +to become his disciple in another tenet. Tryon asserted of animal +food, that though it gave great strength to the body, yet it +contributed sadly to grossness of blood and heaviness of mind; and +hence he reasoned, that all who wish for cool heads and clear thoughts +should make their diet principally of vegetables. Ben was struck with +this as the perfection of reason, and entered so heartily into it as a +rare help for acquiring knowledge, that he instantly resolved, fond as +he was of flesh and fish, to give both up from that day, and never +taste them again as long as he lived. This steady refusal of his to +eat meat, was looked on as a very inconvenient singularity by his +brother, who scolded him for it, and insisted he should give it up. +Ben made no words with his brother on this account.--Knowing that +avarice was his ruling passion, he threw out a bait to James which +instantly caught, and without any disturbance produced the +accommodation he wished. "Brother," said he to him one day as he +scolded; "you give three shillings and six pence a week for my diet at +this boarding-house; give me but _half_ that money and I'll diet +myself without any farther trouble or expense to you." James +immediately took him at his word and gave him in hand his week's +ration, one shilling and nine pence, which after the Boston exchange, +six shillings to the dollar, makes exactly thirty-seven and a half +cents. Those who often give one dollar for a single dinner, and five +dollars for a fourth of July dinner, would look very blue at an +allowance of thirty-seven and a half cents for a whole week. But Ben +so husbanded this little sum, that after defraying all the expenses of +his table, he found himself at the end of the week, near twenty cents +in pocket--thus expending not quite three cents a day! This was a +joyful discovery to Ben--twenty cents a week, said he, and fifty-two +weeks in the year; why, that is upwards of ten dollars in the twelve +months! what a noble fund for books! Nor was this the only benefit he +derived from it; for, while his brother and the journeymen were gone +to the boarding-house to devour their pork and beef, which, with +lounging and picking their teeth, generally took them an hour, he +stayed at the printing-office; and after dispatching his frugal meal, +of boiled potatoe, or rice; or a slice of bread with an apple; or +bunch of raisins and a glass of water, he had the rest of the time for +study. The pure fluids and bright spirits secreted from such simple +diet, proved exceedingly favourable to that clearness and vigour of +mind, and rapid growth in knowledge which his youthful soul delighted +in. + +I cannot conclude this chapter without making a remark which the +reader has perhaps anticipated--that it was by this simple regimen, +vegetables and water, that the Jewish seer, the holy Daniel, while a +youth, was of PROVIDENCE made fit for all the learning of the East; +hence arose his bright visions into futurity, and his clear pointings +to the far distant days of the Messiah, when the four great brass and +iron monarchies of Media, Persia, Grecia, and Rome, being overthrown, +Christ should set up his last golden monarchy of LOVE, which, though +faint in the beginning as the first beam of the uncertain dawn, shall +yet at length brighten all the skies, and chase the accursed clouds of +sin and suffering from the abodes of man and beast. + +In like manner, it was on the simple regimen of vegetables and water, +the easy purchase of three cents a day, that the same PROVIDENCE +raised up our young countryman to guard the last spark of perfect +liberty in the British colonies of North America. Yes, it was on three +cents' worth of daily bread and water, that young Ben Franklin +commenced his collection of that blaze of light, which early as 1754, +showed the infant and unsuspecting colonies their RIGHTS and their +DANGERS--and which afterwards, in 1764, blasted the treasonable stamp +act--and finally, in '73 and '74, served as the famed star of the +East, to guide Washington and his wise men of the revolution, to the +cradle of liberty, struggling in the gripe of the British Herod, lord +North. There rose the battle of God for an injured people; there +spread the star-spangled banner of freedom; and there poured the blood +of the brave, fighting for the rights of man under the last republic. +O that God may long preserve this precious vine of his own right hand +planting, for his own glory and the happiness of unborn millions! + +But the reader must not conclude that Ben, through life, tied himself +up to a vegetable diet. No. Nature will have her way. And having +designed man partly carnivorous, as his canine teeth, his lengthened +bowels, and his flesh-pot appetites all evince, she will bring him +back to the healthy mixture of animal food with vegetable, or punish +his obstinacy with diarrhoea and debility. But she had no great +difficulty in bringing Ben back to the use of animal food. According +to his own account, no nosegay was ever more fragrant to his +olfactories than was the smell of fresh fish in the frying pan. And as +to his objection to such a savory diet on account of its stupifying +effects on the brain, he easily got the better of that, when he +reflected that the witty queen Elizabeth breakfasted on beef-stake; +that sir Isaac Newton dined on pheasants; that Horace supped on fat +bacon; and that Pope both breakfasted, dined, and supped on shrimps +and oysters. And for the objection taken from the cruelty of killing +innocent animals, for their flesh, he got over that by the following +curious accident:--On his first voyage to New-York, the vessel halting +on the coast for lack of breeze, the sailors all fell to fishing for +cod, of which they presently took great numbers and very fine. Instead +of being delighted at this sight, Ben appeared much hurt, and began to +preach to the crew on their "injustice," as he called it, in thus +taking away the lives of those poor little fish, who, "_had never +injured them, nor ever could_." The sailors were utterly dum-founded +at such queer logic as this. Taking their silence for conviction, Ben +rose in his argument, and began to play the orator quite outrageously +on the main deck. At length an old wag of a boatswain, who had at +first been struck somewhat aback by the strangeness of this attack, +took courage, and luffing up again, with a fine breeze of humour in +his weather-beaten sail, called out to Ben, "_Well, but my young +Master preacher, may not we deal by these same cod here, as they deal +by their neighbours._" + +"To be sure," said Ben. + +"Well then, sir, see here," replied the boatswain, holding up a stout +fish, "see here what a whaler I took just now out o' the belly of that +cod!" Ben looking as if he had his doubts, the boatswain went on, "O +sir, if you come to that, you shall have _proof_;" whereupon he laid +hold of a large big-bellied cod that was just then flouncing on the +deck, and ripping him open, in the presence of Ben and the crew, +turned out several young cod from his maw. + +Here, Ben, well pleased with this discovery, cried out, Oho! villains! +is that the game you play with one another under the water! Unnatural +wretches! What! eat one another! Well then, if a cod can eat his own +brother, I see no reason in nature why man may not eat him. With that +he seized a stout young fish just fresh from his native brine, and +frying him in all haste, made a very hearty meal. Ben never after +this, made any more scruples about animal food, but ate fish, flesh, +or fowl, as they came in his way, without asking any questions for +conscience sake. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +Except the ADMIRABLE CRICHTON, I have never heard of a genius that was +fitted to shine in every art and science. Even Newton was dull in +languages; and Pope used to say of himself, that "he had as leave hear +the squeal of pigs in a gate, as hear the organ of Handel!" Neither +was our Ben the "_omnis homo_" or "_Jack of all trades_." He never +could bear the mathematics! and even arithmetic presented to him no +attractions at all. Not that he was not capable of it; for, happening +about this time, still in his sixteenth year, to be laughed at for his +ignorance in the art of calculation, he went and got himself a copy of +old Cocker's Arithmetic, one of the toughest in those days, and went +through it by himself with great ease. The truth is, his mind was at +this time entirely absorbed in the ambition to be a finished writer of +the English language; such a one, if possible, as the SPECTATOR, whom +he admired above all others. + +While labouring, as we have seen, to improve his style, he laid his +hands on all the English Grammars he could hear of. Among the number +was a treatise of that sort, an old shabby looking thing, which the +owner, marking his curiosity in those matters, made him a present of. +Ben hardly returned him a thankee, as doubting at first whether it was +worth carrying home. But how great was his surprise, when coming +towards the close of it, he found, crammed into a small chapter, a +treatise on the art of disputation, after the manner of SOCRATES. The +treatise was very short, but it was enough for Ben; it gave an +outline, and that was all he wanted. As the little whortle-berry boy, +on the sands of Cape May, grabbling for his breakfast in a turtle's +nest, if he but reaches with his little hand but one egg, instantly +laughs with joy, as well knowing that all the rest will follow, like +beads on a string. So it was with the eager mind of Ben, when he first +struck on this plan of Socratic disputation. In an instant his +thoughts ran through all the threads and meshes of the wondrous net; +and he could not help laughing in his sleeve, to think what a fine +puzzling cap he should soon weave for the frightened heads of Collins, +Adams, and all others who should pretend to dispute with him. But the +use which he principally had in view to make of it, and which tickled +his fancy most, was how completely he should now confound those +ignorant and hypocritical ones in Boston, who were continually boring +him about religion. Not that Ben ever took pleasure in confounding +those who were honestly desirous of _showing their religion by their +good works_; for such were always his ESTEEM and DELIGHT. But he could +never away with those who neglected JUSTICE, MERCY, and TRUTH, and yet +affected great familiarities with the Deity, from certain conceited +wonders that Christ had wrought _in_ them. As no youth ever more +heartily desired the happiness of man and beast than Ben did, so none +ever more seriously resented that the religion of love and good works +tending to this, should be usurped by a _harsh, barren puritanism, +with her disfigured faces, whine and cant_. This appeared to him like +Dagon overturning the Ark of God with a vengeance. Burning with zeal +against such detestable phariseeism he rejoiced in his Socratic logic +as a new kind of weapon, which he hoped to employ with good effect +against it. He studied his Socrates day and night, and particularly +his admirable argumentations given by Xenophon, in his book, entitled +"MEMORABLE THINGS OF SOCRATES;" and in a little time came to wield his +new artillery with great dexterity and success. + +But in all his rencontres with the _false_ christians, he adhered +strictly to the spirit of Socrates, as being perfectly congenial to +his own. Instead of blunt contradictions and positive assertions, he +would put modest questions; and after obtaining of them concessions of +which they did not foresee the _consequences_, he would involve them +in difficulties and embarrassments, from which they could never +extricate themselves. Had he possessed a vanity capable of being +satisfied with the triumph of wit over dulness, he might long have +crowed the master cock of this Socratic pit. But finding that his +victories seldom produced any practical good; that they were acquired +at a considerable expense of time, neglect of business, and injury of +his temper, which was never formed for altercation with bigots, he +abandoned it by degrees, retaining only the habit of expressing +himself with a modest diffidence. And not only at that time, but ever +afterwards through life, it was remarked of him, that in argument he +rarely used the words _certainly_, _undoubtedly_, or any others that +might convey the idea of being obstinately conceited of his own +opinion. His ordinary phrases were--_I imagine_--_I suppose-_-or, _it +appears to me, that such a thing is so and so_--or, _it is so, if I am +not mistaken_. By such soothing arts he gradually conciliated the good +will of his opponents, and almost always succeeded in bringing them +over to his wishes. Hence he used to say, it was great pity that +sensible and well-meaning persons should lessen their own usefulness +by a positive and presumptuous way of talking, which only serves to +provoke opposition from the passionate, and shyness from the prudent, +who rather than get into a dispute with such self-conceited +characters, will hold their peace, and let them go on in their errors. +In short, if you wish to answer one of the noblest ends for which +tongues were given to rational beings, which is to _inform_ or to be +_informed_, to _please_ and to _persuade_ them, for heaven's sake, +treat their opinions, even though erroneous, with great politeness. + + "Men must be taught as though you taught them not, + And things unknown propos'd as things forgot," + +says Mr. Pope; and again + + "To speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence; + For want of modesty is want of sense." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +So late as 1720, there was but one newspaper in all North America, and +even this by some was thought one too many so little reading was there +among the people in those days. But believing that the reading +appetite, weak as it was, ran more on newspapers than any thing else, +James Franklin took it into his head to _start_ another paper. His +friends all _vowed_ it would be the ruin of him; but James +persevered, and a second newspaper, entitled "THE NEW ENGLAND +COURANT," was published. What was the number of subscribers, after +so long a lapse of time, is now unknown; but it was Ben's humble lot to +furnish their papers after having assisted to compose and work them +off. + +Among his friends, James had a number of literary characters, who, by +way of amusement, used to write for his paper. These gentlemen +frequently visited him at his office, merely for a little chat, and to +tell how highly the public thought of their pieces Ben attended +closely to their conversation, and happening to think they were no +great wits, he determined to cut in and try his hand among them. But +how to get his little adventures into the paper was the question, and a +serious one too; for he knew very well that his brother, looking on him +as hardly more than a child, would not dream of printing any thing that +he knew had come from his pen. Stratagem of course must be resorted to. +He took his time, and having written his piece pretty much to his mind, +he copied it in a disguised hand, and when they were all gone to bed, +slyly shoved it under the door of the office; where it was found next +morning. In the course of the day, his friends dropping in as usual, +James showed them the stranger paper; a caucus was held, and with +aching heart Ben heard his piece read for their criticism. It was +highly applauded: and to his greater joy still, among their various +conjectures as to the author, not one was mentioned who did not hold a +distinguished reputation for talents! Encouraged by such good success +of this his first adventure, he wrote on, and sent to the press, in the +same sly way, several other pieces, which were equally approved, +keeping the secret till his slender stock of information was pretty +completely exhausted, when he came out with the real author. + +His brother, on this discovery, began to entertain a little more +respect for him, but still looked on and treated him as a common +apprentice. Ben, on the other hand, thought that, as a brother, he had +a right to greater indulgence, and sometimes complained of James as +rather too rigorous. This difference in opinion rose to disputes, which +were often brought before their father, who either from partiality to +Ben, or his _better_ cause, generally gave it in his favour. James +could not bear these awards of his father in favour of a younger +brother, but would fly into a passion and treat him with abuse even to +blows. Ben took this tyrannical behaviour of his brother in extremely +ill part; and he somewhere says that it imprinted on his mind that +deep-rooted aversion to arbitrary power, which he never lost, and which +rendered him through life such a firm and unconquerable enemy of +oppression. His apprenticeship became insupportable, and he sighed +continually for an opportunity of shortening it, which at length +unexpectedly offered. + +An article in his paper, on some political subject, giving great +offence to the assembly, James was taken up; and because he would not +discover the author, was ordered into confinement for a month. Ben also +was had up and examined before the council, who, after reprimanding, +dismissed him, probably because deeming him bound, as an apprentice, to +keep his master's secrets. + +Notwithstanding their private quarrels, this imprisonment of his +brother excited Ben's indignation against the assembly; and having now, +during James' confinement, the sole direction of the paper, he boldly +came out every week with some severe pasquinade against "_The little +tyrants of Boston_." But though this served to gratify his own angry +feelings, and to tickle James, as also to gain himself the character of +a wonderful young man for satire; yet it answered no good end, but far +contrariwise, proved a fatal blow to their newspaper; for at the +expiration of the month, James's enlargement was accompanied with an +order from the assembly, that "JAMES FRANKLIN SHOULD NO LONGER +PRINT THE NEWSPAPER ENTITLED THE NEW ENGLAND COURANT." + +This was a terrible thunder-clap on poor James and his whole scribbling +squad; and Ben could find no lightning rod to parry the bolt. A caucus, +however, of all the friends was convoked at the printing-office, to +devise ways and means of redress. One proposed this measure and another +that; but the measure proposed by James himself was at length adopted. +This was to carry on the newspaper under Ben's name. _But_, said +some, _will not the assembly haul you over the coals for thus +attempting to whip the d----l round the stump?_ + +No, replied James. + +Aye, how will you prevent it? + +Why, I'll give up Ben's indentures. + +So then you'll let Ben run free? + +No, nor that neither; for he shall sign a new contract. + +This was to be sure a very shallow arrangement. It was however carried +into immediate execution, and the paper continued in consequence to +make its appearance for some months in Ben's name. At length a new +difference arising between the brothers, and Ben knowing that James +would not dare to talk of his new _contract_, boldly asserted his +freedom! + +His numerous admirers will here blush for poor Ben, and hide their +reddening cheeks. But let them redden as they may, they will hardly +ever equal that honest crimson which glows in the following lines from +his _own pen_: + +"It was, no doubt, very dishonourable to avail myself of this +advantage, and I reckon this as the _first_ error of my life. But, +I was little capable of seeing it in its true light, embittered as my +mind had been by the blows I had received. Exclusively of his +passionate _treatment_ of me, my brother was by no means an ill +tempered man. And even here, perhaps, my _manners_ had too much of +impertinence not to afford it a very natural pretext." + +Go thy way, honest Ben. Such a confession of error will plead thy +excuse with all who know their own infirmities, and remember what the +greatest saints have done. Yes, when we remember what young Jacob did +to his brother Esau, and how he came over him with his mess of pottage, +robbing him of his birthright; and also what David did to Uriah, whom +he robbed not only of his wife, but of his life also, we surely shall +pity not only Ben, but every man his brother for their follies, and +heartily rejoice that there is mercy with Christ to forgive _all_, +on their repentance and amendment. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +Finding that to live with James in the pleasant relations of a brother +and a freeman was a lost hope, Ben made up his mind to quit him and go +on journey-work with some of the Boston printers. But James suspecting +Ben's intentions, went around town to the printers, and made such a +report of him, that not a man of them all would have any thing to say +to him. The door of employment thus shut against him, and all New +England furnishing no other printing office, Ben determined, in quest +of one, to push off to New-York. He was farther confirmed in this +resolution by a consciousness that his newspaper squibs in behalf of +his brother, had made the governing party his mortal enemies. And he +was also afraid that his bold and indiscreet argumentation against the +gloomy puritans, had led those crabbed people to look on him as no +better than a young atheist, whom it would be doing God service to +worry as they would a wild cat. He felt indeed that it was high time to +be off. + +To keep his intended flight from the knowledge of his father, his +friend Collins engaged his passage with the captain of a New-York +sloop, to whom he represented Ben as an amorous young blade, who wished +to get away privately in consequence of an intrigue with a worthless +hussy, whom her relations wanted to force upon him. Ben had no money. +But he had money's worth. Having, for four years past, been carefully +turning into books every penny he could spare, he had by this time made +up a pretty little library. It went prodigiously against him to break +in upon his books. But there was no help for it. So turning a parcel of +them back again into money, he slipped privately on board of a sloop, +which on the third day landed him safely in New-York, three hundred +miles from home, only seventeen years old, without a single friend in +the place, and but little money in his pocket. + +He immediately offered his services to a Mr. Bradford, the only printer +in New-York. The old gentleman expressed his regret that he could give +him no employment; but in a very encouraging manner advised him to go +on to Philadelphia, where he had a son, a printer, who would probably +do something for him. Philadelphia was a good hundred miles farther +off; but Ben, nothing disheartened by that, instantly ran down to the +wharf, and took his passage in an open boat for Amboy, leaving his +trunk to follow him by sea. In crossing the bay, they were overtaken by +a dreadful squall, during which a drunken Dutchman, a passenger, fell +headlong into the raging waves. Being hissing hot and swollen with rum, +he popped up like a dead catfish; but just as he was going down the +second time, never to rise again, by a miracle of mercy, Ben caught him +by the fore-top, and lugged him in, where he lay tumbled over on the +bottom of the boat, fast asleep, and senseless as a corpse of the +frightful storm which threatened every moment to bury them all in a +watery grave. The violence of the wind presently drove them on the +rocky coasts of Long Island; where, to prevent being dashed to pieces +among the furious breakers, they cast anchor, and there during the rest +of the day, and all night long, lay riding out the gale. Their little +boat pitching bows under at every surge, while the water constantly +flying over them in drenching showers, kept them as wet as drowned +rats; and not only unable to get a wink of sleep, but also obliged to +stir their stumps, baling the boat to keep her from sinking. + +The wind falling the next day, they reached Amboy about dark, after +having passed thirty hours without a morsel of victuals, and with no +other drink than a bottle of bad rum; the water upon which they had +rowed, being as salt as brine. Ben went to bed with a high fever. +Having somewhere read that cold water, plentifully drank, was good in +such cases; he followed the prescription, which threw him into a +profuse sweat, and the fever left him. The next day, feeble and alone, +he set out, with fifty wearisome miles to walk before he could reach +Burlington, whence he was told that a passage boat would take him to +Philadelphia. To increase his depression, soon as he left the tavern, +it set in to rain hard. But though wet to the skin, he pressed on by +himself through the gloomy woods till noon, when feeling much fatigued, +and the rain still pouring down, he stopped at a paltry tavern, where +he passed the rest of the day and night. In this gloomy situation he +began seriously to repent that he had ever left home; and the more, as +from the wretched figure he made, every body was casting a suspicious +eye upon him as a runaway servant. Indeed, from the many insulting +questions put to him, he felt himself every moment in danger of being +taken up as such, and then what would his father think on hearing that +he was in jail as a runaway servant, four hundred miles from home! And +what a triumph to his brother. After a very uneasy night, however, he +rose and continued his journey till the evening, when he stopped about +ten miles from Burlington, at a little tavern, kept by one Dr. Brown. +While he was taking some refreshment, Brown came in, and being of a +facetious turn, put a number of droll questions to him; to which Ben +retorted in a style so superior to his youthful looks and shabby dress, +that the Doctor became quite enamoured of him. He kept him up +conversing until midnight; and next morning would not touch a penny of +his money. This was a very seasonable liberality to poor Ben, for he +had now very little more than a dollar in his pocket. + +On reaching Burlington, and buying some gingerbread for his passage, he +hastened to the wharf. But alas! the boat had just sailed! This was on +Saturday; and there would be no other boat until Tuesday. Having been +much struck with the looks of the old woman, of whom he had just bought +his cargo of gingerbread, he went back and asked her advice. Her +behaviour proved that he had some skill in physiognomy. For the moment +he told her of his sad disappointment and his doubts how he should act, +she gave him the tender look of a mother, and told him he must stay +with her till the next boat sailed. Pshaw! Don't mind these little +disappointments, child, said she, seeing him uneasy; they are not worth +your being troubled about. When I was young, I used to be troubled +about them too. But now I see that it is all but vanity. So stay with +me till the boat goes again; and rest yourself, for I am sure you must +be mighty tired after such a terrible walk. The good old lady was very +right; for what with his late loss of sleep, as also his fever and long +walk in the rains, he was tired indeed; so he gladly consented to stay +with her and rest himself. Having shown him a small room with a bed in +it, for him to take a _nap, for she saw clear enough_, she said, +that _he was a dying for sleep_, she turned with a mother's +alacrity to get him something to eat. By and by she came again, and +from a short but refreshing doze, waked him up to a dinner of hot +beef-steaks, of which she pressed him to eat _heartily_, telling +him that _gingerbread was fit only for children_. While he was +eating, she chatted with him in the affectionate spirit of an aged +relative; she asked him a world of questions, such as _how old_ he +was--and what was his _name_--and whether his mother was +alive--and how far he lived from Burlington? Ben told her every thing +she asked him. He told her his name and age. He also told her that his +mother was alive, and that he had left her only seven days ago in +Boston, where she lived. The old lady could hardly believe him that he +ever came from Boston. She lifted up her hands, and stared at him as +though he had told her he had just dropped from the North Star. From +BOSTON! said she with a scream, _now only to think of that! +O dear, only to think of that!_ And then, O how she pitied his +mother. _Poor dear soul!_ She, all the way yonder in Boston, and +such a sweet looking, innocent child, wandering here at such a distance +by himself: how could she stand it? + +Ben told her that it was a great affliction to be sure; but could not +be helped. That his mother was a poor woman, with sixteen children, and +that he the youngest boy of all, was obliged to leave her to seek his +livelihood, which he hoped he should find in Philadelphia, at his +trade, which was that of a printer. + +On hearing that he was a printer, she was quite delighted and pressed +him to come and set up in Burlington, for that she would be +_bound_ for it he would do mighty well there. Ben told her that it +was a costly thing to set up printing; that it would take two hundred +pounds, and he had not two hundred pence. + +Well then, said she, now that you have got no money, it will give me +more pleasure to have you stay with me till you can get a good +opportunity to go to Philadelphia. I feel for your poor mother, and I +know it would give her such a pleasure if she knew you were here with +me. + +Soon as Ben had enjoyed his beef-steaks, which he did in high style, +having the double sauce of his own good appetite and her motherly +welcome, he drew out his last dollar to pay the good old lady. But she +told him to _put it up, put it up, for she would not take a penny of +it_. Ben told her that he was young and able to work, and hoped to +do well when he got into business, and therefore could not bear that +she who was getting old and weak should entertain him for nothing. + +_Well_, said she, _never mind that, child, never mind that. I +shall never miss what little I lay out in entertaining you while you +stay with me. So put up your money._ However, while she was busied +in putting away the dishes, he slipped out and got a pint of ale for +her: and it was all that he could prevail on her to accept. + +From the pleasure with which Ben ever afterwards spoke of this good old +woman, and her kindness to him, a poor strange boy, I am persuaded as +indeed I have always been, that there is nothing on which men reflect +with so much complacency as on doing or receiving offices of love from +one another. + +Ben has not left us the name of this good old woman, nor the sect of +christians to which she belonged. But it is probable she was a Quaker. +Most of the people about Burlington in those days were Quakers. And +besides such kindness as her's seems to be more after the spirit of +that wise people, who instead of wrangling about _faith_, which +even devils possess, give their chief care to that which is the +_end_ of all faith, and which the poor devils know nothing about, +viz, "_love_ and _good works_." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +Ben now sat himself down to stay with this good old woman till the +following Tuesday; but still Philadelphia was constantly before him, +and happening, in the impatience of his mind, to take a stroll along +the river side, he saw a boat approaching with a number of passengers +in it. _Where are you bound?_ said he. + +To PHILADELPHIA, was the reply. + +His heart leaped for joy. Can't you take a passenger aboard? I'll help +you to row. O yes, answered they, and bore up to receive him. With all +his heart he would have run back to his good old hostess to bid her +farewell, and to thank her for her kindness to him, but the boat could +not wait; and carrying, tortoise-like, his all upon his back, in he +stepped and went on with them to Philadelphia, where, after a whole +night of hard rowing, they arrived about eight o'clock next morning, +which happened to be Sunday. + +Soon as the boat struck the place of landing, which was Market-street +wharf, Ben put his hand into his pocket, and asked, what was the +damage. The boatmen shook their heads, and said, _oh no; he had +nothing to pay. They could never take pay from a young fellow of his +spirit, who had so cheerfully assisted them to row all the way._ As +his own stock now consisted of but one Dutch dollar, and about a +shilling's worth in coppers, he would have been well content to accept +his passage on their own friendly terms; but seeing one of their crew +who appeared to be old, and rather poorly dressed, he hauled out his +coppers and gave them all to him. Having shaken hands with these +honest-hearted fellows, he leaped ashore and walked up Market-street in +search of something to appease his appetite, which was now abundantly +keen from twenty miles' rowing and a cold night's air. He had gone but +a short distance before he met a child bearing in his arms that most +welcome of all sights to a hungry man, a fine loaf of bread. Ben +eagerly asked him where he had got it. The child, turning around, +lifted his little arm and pointing up the street, with great simplicity +and sweetness said, _don't you see that little house--that little +white house, way up yonder?_ + +Ben said, yes. + +_Well then_, continued the child, _that's the baker's house; +there's where my mammy sends me every morning to get bread for all we +children._ + +Ben blessed his sweet lips of innocence, and hastening to the house, +boldly called for _three pence_ worth of bread. The baker threw +him down three large rolls. + +What, all this for three pence! asked Ben with surprise. + +Yes, all that for three pence, replied the baker with a fine yankee +snap of the eye, all that for _only_ three pence! Then measuring +Ben from head to foot, he said with a sly quizzing sort of air, and +pray now my little man where may you have come from? + +Here Ben felt his old panic, on the runaway servant score, returning +strong upon him again. However, putting on a bold face, he promptly +answered that he was from Boston. + +Plague on it replied the man of dough, and why did'nt you tell me that +at first; I might so easily have cabbaged you out of one whole penny; +for you know you could not have got all that bread in YANKEE-TOWN for +less than a good four-pence? Very cheap, said Ben, three large rolls +for three-pence: _quite dog cheap!_ So taking them up, began to stow +them away in his pockets; but soon found it impossible for lack of +room--so placing a roll under each arm, and breaking the third, he +began to eat as he walked along up Market-street. On the way he passed +the house of that beautiful girl, Miss Deborah Read, who happening to +be at the door, was so diverted at the droll figure he made, that she +could not help laughing outright. And indeed no wonder. A stout fleshy +boy, in his dirty working dress, and pockets all puckered out, with +foul linen and stockings, and a loaf of bread under each arm, eating +and gazing around him as he walked--no wonder she could not help +laughing aloud at him as one of the greatest gawkies she had ever seen. +Very little idea had she at that time that she was presently to be up +to her eyes in love with this young gawky; and after many a deep sigh +and heart-ache, was to marry him and to be made a great woman by him. +And yet all this actually came to pass, as we shall presently see, and +we hope greatly to the comfort of all virtuous young men, who though +they may sometimes be laughed at for their oddities; yet if, like +Franklin, they will but stick to the _main chance_, _i.e._ BUSINESS and +EDUCATION, they will assuredly, like him, overcome at the last, and +render themselves the admiration of those who once despised them. + +But our youthful hero is in too interesting a part of the play for us +to lose a moment's sight of him; so after this short moral we turn our +eyes on him again, as there, loaded with his bundles and his bread, and +eating and gazing and turning the corners of the streets, he goes on +without indeed knowing where he is going. At length, however, just as +he had finished his first roll, his reverie was broken up by finding +himself on Market-street wharf, and close to the very boat in which he +had come from Burlington. The sight of the silver stream, as it whirled +in dimpling eddies around the wharf, awakened his thirst; so stepping +into the boat he took a hearty draught, which, to his unvitiated +palate, tasted sweeter than ever did mint-sling to any young drunkard. +Close by him in the boat sat a poor woman with a little ragged girl +leaning on her lap. He asked her if she had breakfasted. With a sallow +smile of hunger hoping relief, she replied _no_, for that she had +nothing to eat. Upon this he gave her both his other loaves. At sight +of this welcome supply of food, the poor woman and her child gave him a +look which he never afterwards forgot. + +Having given, as we have seen, a tythe of his money in gratitude to the +poor boatman, and two thirds of his bread in charity to this poor woman +and her child, Ben skipped again upon the wharf, and with a heart light +and gay with conscious duty, a second time took up Market-street, which +was now getting to be full of well-dressed people all going the same +way. He cut in, and following the line of march, was thus insensibly +led to a large Quaker meeting-house. Sans ceremonie, he pushed in and +sat down with the rest, and looking around him soon felt the +_motions_, if not of a devout, yet of a pleasantly thoughtful +spirit. It came to his recollection to have heard that people must go +abroad to see strange things. And here it seemed to be verified. +_What, no pulpit! Whoever saw a meeting-house before without a +pulpit?_ He could not for his life conceive where the preacher was +to stand. But his attention was quickly turned from the meeting-house +to the congregation, whose appearance, particularly that of the young +females, delighted him exceedingly. Such simplicity of dress with such +an air of purity and neatness! He had never seen any thing like it +before, and yet all admirably suited to the gentle harmony of their +looks. And then their eyes! for meekness and sweetness of expression, +they looked like dove's eyes. With a deep sigh he wished that his +brother James and many others in Boston were but gentle and good as +these people appeared to be. Young as he was, he thought the world +would be a great deal the happier for it. As leaning back he indulged +these soothing sentiments, without any sound of singing or preaching to +disturb him, and tired nature's soft languors stealing over him too, he +sunk insensibly into sleep. We are not informed that he was visited +during his slumber, by any of those benevolent spirits who once +descended in the dreams of the youthful patriarch, as he slept in the +pleasant plains of Bethel. But he tells us himself, that he was visited +by one of that benevolent sect in whose place of worship he had been +overtaken by sleep. Waked by some hand on his shoulder that gently +shook him, he opened his eyes, and lo! a female countenance about +middle age and of enchanting sweetness, was smiling on him. Roused to a +recollection of the impropriety he had been guilty of, he was too much +confused to speak; but his reddened cheeks told her what he felt. But +he had nothing to fear. Gently shaking her head, though without a +frown, and with a voice of music, she said to him "_My son, thee +ought not to sleep in meeting._" Then giving him the look of a +mother as she went out, she bade him farewell. He followed her as well +as he could, and left the meeting-house much mortified at having been +caught asleep in it; but deriving at the same time great pleasure from +this circumstance, because it had furnished opportunity to the good +Quaker lady to give him that _motherly look_. He felt it sweetly +melting along his soul as he walked. _O how different, thought he, +that look from the looks which my brother and the council men of Boston +gave me, though I was younger then and more an object of sympathy!_ + +As he walked along the street, looking attentively in the face of every +one he met, he saw a young Quaker with a fine countenance, whom he +begged to tell him where a stranger might find a lodging. With a look +and voice of great sweetness, the young Quaker said, they receive +travellers _here_, but it is not a house that bears a good +character; if thee will go with me, I will show thee a better one. + +This was the _Crooked Billet_, in Water-street. Directly after +dinner, his drowsiness returning, he went to bed and slept, without +waking till next morning. + +Having put himself in as decent a trim as he could, he waited on Mr. +Bradford, the printer, who received him with great civility, and +invited him to breakfast, but told him he was sorry he had no occasion +for a journeyman. There is, however, continued he in a cheering manner, +there is another printer here, of the name of Keimer, to whom if you +wish it, I will introduce you. Perhaps he may want your services. + +Ben gratefully accepting the offer, away they went to Mr Keimer's. But +alas, poor man! both he and his office put together, made no more than +a miserable burlesque on printing. Only one press, and that old and +damaged! only one font of types, and that nearly worn out! and only one +set of letter cases, and that occupied by himself! and consequently no +room for a journeyman. + +Here was a sad prospect for poor Ben--four hundred miles from home--not +a dollar in his pocket--and no appearance of any employment to get +one.--But having, from his childhood, been accustomed to grapple with +difficulties and to overcome them, Ben saw nothing here but another +trial of his courage, and another opportunity for victory and triumph. + +As to Keimer, suspecting from his youthful appearance, that Ben could +hardly understand any thing of the printing art, he slyly put a +COMPOSING STICK into his hand. Ben saw his drift, and stepping +to the letter cases, filled the stick with such celerity and taste as +struck Keimer with surprise, not without shame, that one so inferior in +years should be so far his superior in professional skill. To complete +this favourable impression, Ben modestly proposed to repair his old +press.--This offer being accepted, Ben instantly fell to work, and +presently accomplished his undertaking in such a workman-like style, +that Keimer could no longer restrain his feelings, but relaxing his +rigid features into a smile of admiration, paid him several flattering +compliments, and concluded with promising him, that though, for the +present, he had no work on hand, yet he expected an abundance shortly, +and then would _be sure_ to send for him. + +In a few days Keimer was as good as his word; for having procured +another set of letter cases, with a small pamphlet to print, he sent in +all haste for Ben, and set him to work. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +As Keimer is to make a considerable figure in the early part of Ben's +life, it may gratify the reader to be made acquainted with him. From +the account given of him by Ben, who had the best opportunity to know, +it appears that he possessed but little either of the amiable or +estimable in his composition. A man he was of but slender +talents--quite ignorant of the world--a wretched workman--and worse +than all yet, utterly destitute of religion, and therefore very uneven +and unhappy in his temper, and abundantly capable of playing the knave +whenever he thought it for his interest. Among other evidences of his +folly, he miserably envied his brother printer, Bradford, as if the +Almighty was not rich enough to maintain them both. He could not +endure, that while working with him, Ben should stay at Bradford's; so +he took him away, and having no house of his own, he put him to board +with Mr. Read, father of the young lady who of late had laughed so +heartily at him for eating his rolls along the street. But Miss Deborah +did not long continue in this wind. For on seeing the favourable change +in his dress, and marking also the wittiness of his conversation, and +above all, his close application to business, and the great respect +paid him on that account by her father, she felt a wonderful change in +his favour, and in place of her former sneers, conceived those tender +sentiments for him, which, as we shall see hereafter, accompanied her +through life. + +Ben now began to contract acquaintance with all such young persons in +Philadelphia as were fond of reading, and spent his evenings with them +very agreeably: at the same time he picked up money by his industry, +and being quite frugal, lived so happy, that except for his parents, he +seldom ever thought of Boston nor felt any wish to see it. An affair, +however, turned up, which sent him home much sooner than he expected. + +His brother-in-law, a captain Holmes, of a trading sloop from Boston to +Delaware, happening at Newcastle to hear that Ben was in Philadelphia, +wrote to him that his father was all but distracted on account of his +sudden elopement from home, and assured him that if he would but +return, which he earnestly pressed him to do, every thing should be +settled to his satisfaction. Ben immediately answered his letter, +thanked him for his advice, and stated his reasons for quitting Boston, +with a force and clearness that so highly delighted captain Holmes, +that he showed it to all his acquaintance at Newcastle, and among the +rest to sir William Keith, governor of the province, with whom he +happened to dine. The governor read it, and appeared surprised when he +learnt his age. "_Why, this must be a young man of extraordinary +talents, captain Holmes_," said the governor, "_very extraordinary +talents indeed, and ought to be encouraged; we have no printer in +Philadelphia now worth a fig, and if this young man will but set up, +there is no doubt of his success. For my part, I will give him all the +public business, and render him every other service in my power._" + +One day as Keimer and Ben were at work near the window, they saw the +governor and colonel French cross the street, and make directly for the +printing-office. Keimer not doubting it was a visit to himself, hurried +down stairs to meet them. The Governor taking no notice of Keimer, but +eagerly inquiring for young Mr. FRANKLIN, came up stairs, and with a +condescension to which Ben had not been accustomed, introduced himself +to him--desired to become acquainted with him--and after obligingly +reproaching him for not having made himself known when he first came to +town, invited him to the tavern where he and colonel French were going +to break a bottle of old Madeira. + +If Ben was surprised, old Keimer was thunderstruck. Ben went, however, +with the governor and the colonel to the tavern, where, while the +Madeira was circulating in cheerful bumpers, the governor proposed to +him to set up a printing-office, stating at the same time the great +chances of success, and promising that both himself and colonel French +would use their influence in procuring for him the public printing of +both governments. As Ben appeared to doubt whether his father would +assist him in this enterprize, sir William said that he would give the +old gentleman a letter, in which he would represent the advantages of +the scheme in a light that would, he'd be bound, determine him in his +favour. It was thus concluded that Ben should return to Boston by the +first vessel, with the governor's letter to good old Josias: in the +mean time Ben was to continue with Keimer, from whom this project was +to be kept a secret. + +The governor sent every now and then to invite Ben to dine with him, +which he considered as a very great honour, especially as his +excellency always received and conversed with him in the most familiar +manner. + +In April, 1724, Ben embarked for Boston, where, after a fortnight +passage, he arrived in safety. Having been absent seven months from his +relatives, who had never heard a syllable of him all that time, his +sudden appearance threw the family into a scream of joy, and excepting +his sour-faced brother James, the whole squad gave him a most hearty +welcome. After much embracing and kissing, and some tears shed on both +sides, as is usual at such meetings, Ben kindly inquired after his +_brother James_, and went to see him at his printing-office, not +without hopes of making a favourable impression on him by his dress, +which was handsome far beyond what he had ever worn in his brother's +service; a complete suit of broad cloth, branding new--an elegant +silver watch and chain--and his purse crammed with nearly five pound +sterling--all in silver dollars. But it would not all do to win over +James. Nor indeed is it to be wondered at; for in losing Ben he had +lost a most cheerful, obliging lad, whose rare genius and industry in +writing, printing, and selling his pamphlets and papers, had brought a +noble grist to his mill. + +Ben's parade therefore of his fine clothes, and watch, and silver +dollars, only made things worse with James, serving but to make him the +more sensible of his loss; so after eyeing him from head to foot with a +dark side-long look, he turned again to his work without saying a +syllable to him. The behaviour of his own journeymen contributed still +the more to anger poor James: for instead of taking part with him in +his prejudices against Ben, they all appeared quite delighted with him; +and breaking off from their work and gathering around him, with looks +full of curiosity, they asked him a world of questions. + +PHILADELPHIA! said they, O dear! have you been all the way +there to Philadelphia! + +Ben said, yes. + +Why Philadelphia must be a _tarnal nation way off_! + +Four hundred miles, said Ben. + +At this they stared on him in silent wonder, for having been four +hundred miles from Boston! + +And so they have got a printing-office in Philadelphia! + +Two or three of them, said Ben. + +O la! why that will starve us all here in Boston. + +Not at all, said Ben: their advertising "_lost pocket +books_"--"_runaway servants_" and "_stray cows_" in +Philadelphia, can no more starve you here in Boston, than the catfish +of Delaware, by picking up a few soft-crabs there, can starve our +catfish here in Boston harbour. The world's big enough for us all. + +Well, I wonder now if they have any such thing as _money_ in +Philadelphia? + +Ben thrust his hand into his pocket, and brought up a whole fist full +of dollars! + +The dazzling silver struck them all speechless--gaping and gazing at +him and each other. Poor fellows, they had never, at once, seen so much +of that precious metal in Boston, the money there being nothing but a +poor paper proc. + +To keep up their stare, Ben drew his silver watch, which soon had to +take the rounds among them, every one insisting to have _a look at +it_. Then, to crown all, he gave them a shilling to drink his +health; and after telling them what great things lay before them if +they would but continue _industrious_ and _prudent_, and make +themselves _masters of their trade_, he went back to the house. + +This visit to the office stung poor James to the quick; for when his +mother spoke to him of a reconciliation with Ben, and said how happy +she should be to see them like brothers again before she died, he flew +into a passion and told her such a thing would never be, for that Ben +had so insulted him before his men that he would never forgive nor +forget it as long as he lived. But Ben had the satisfaction to live to +see that James was no prophet. For when James, many years after this, +fell behind hand and got quite low in the world, Ben lent him money, +and was a steady friend to him and his family all the days of his life. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +But we have said nothing yet about the main object of Ben's sudden +return to Boston, _i.e._ governor Keith's letter to his father, on the +grand project of setting him up as a printer in Philadelphia. The +reader has been told that all the family, his brother James excepted, +were greatly rejoiced to see Ben again. But among them all there was +none whose heart felt half such joy as did that of his father. He had +always doted on this young son, as one whose rare genius and +unconquerable industry, if but conducted by prudence, would assuredly, +one day, lead him to greatness. His sudden elopement, as we have seen, +had greatly distressed the old man, especially as he was under the +impression that he was gone to sea. And when he remembered how few that +go out at his young and inexperienced age, ever return better than +blackguards and vagabonds, his heart sickened within him, and he was +almost ready to wish he had never lived to feel the pangs of such +bitter disappointment in a child so beloved. He counted the days of +Ben's absence; by night his sleep departed from his eyes for thinking +of his son; and all day long whenever he heard a rapping at the door, +his heart would leap with expectation: "who knows," he would say to +himself, "but this may be my child?" And although he would feel +disappointed when he saw it was not Ben who rapped, yet he was afraid, +at times, to see him lest he should see him covered with the marks of +dishonour. Who can tell what this anxious father felt when he saw his +son return as he did? Not in the mean apparel and sneaking looks of a +drunkard, but in a dress far more genteel than he himself had ever been +able to put on him; while his beloved cheeks were fresh with +temperance, and his eyes bright with innocence and conscious well +doing. Imagination dwells with pleasure on the tender scene that marked +that meeting, where the withered cheeks of seventy and the florid bloom +of seventeen met together in the eager embrace of parental affection +and filial gratitude: + +"_God bless my son!_" the sobbing sire he sigh'd. + +"_God bless my sire!_" that pious son replied. + +Soon as the happy father could recover his articulation, with great +tenderness he said, "but how, my beloved boy could you give me the pain +to leave me as you did?" + +"Why you know, my dear father," replied Ben, "that I could not live +with my brother; nor would he let me live with the other printers; and +as I could not bear the thought of living on an aged father now that I +was able to work for myself, I determined to leave Boston and seek my +fortune abroad. And knowing that if I but hinted my intentions you +would prevent me, I thought I would leave you as I did." + +"But why, my son, did you keep me so long unhappy about your fate, and +not write to me sooner?" + +"I knew, father, what a deep interest you took in my welfare, and +therefore I resolved never to write to you until by my own industry and +economy I had got myself into such a state, that I could write to you +with pleasure. This state I did not attain till lately. And just as I +was a going to write to you, a strange affair took place that decided +me to come and see you, rather than write to you." + +"Strange affair! what can that mean, my son?" + +"Why, sir, the governor of Pennsylvania, sir William Keith--I dare say, +father, you have often heard of governor Keith?" + +"I may have heard of him, child--I'm not positive--but what of governor +Keith?" + +"Why he has taken a wonderful liking to me, father!" + +"Aye! has he so?" said the old man, with joy sparkling in his eyes. +"Well I pray God you may be grateful for such favours, my son, and make +a good use of them!" + +"Yes, father, he has taken a great liking to me sure enough; he says I +am the only one in Philadelphia who knows any thing about printing; and +he says too, that if I will only come and set up in Philadelphia, he +will make my fortune for me in a trice!!" + +Old Josias here shook his head; "No, no, Ben!" said he, "that will +never do: that will never do: you are too young yet, child, for all +that, a great deal too young." + +"So I told him, father, that I was too young. And I told him too that I +was certain you would never give your consent to it." + +"You were right there, Ben; no indeed, I could never give my consent to +it, that's certain." + +"So I told the governor, father; but still he would have it there was a +fine opening in Philadelphia, and that I would fill it so exactly, that +nothing could be wanting to insure your approbation but a clear +understanding of it. And to that end he has written you a letter." + +"A letter, child! a letter from governor Keith to me!" + +"Yes, father, here it is." + +With great eagerness the old gentleman took it from Ben; and drawing +his spectacles, read it over and over again with much eagerness. When +he was done he lifted his eyes to heaven, while in the motion of his +lips and change of countenance, Ben could clearly see that the soul of +his father was breathing an ejaculation of praise to God on his +account. Soon as his _Te Deum_ was finished, he turned to Ben with +a countenance bright with holy joy, and said, "Ben, I've cause to be +happy; my son, I've cause to be happy indeed. O how differently have +things turned out with you! God's blessed name be praised for it, how +differently have they turned out to what I dreaded! I was afraid you +were gone a poor vagabond, on the seas; but instead of that you had +fixed yourself in one of the finest cities in the country. I was afraid +to see you; yes, my dear child, I was afraid to see you, lest I should +see you clad in the mean garb of a poor sailor boy; but here I behold +you clad in the dress of a gentleman! I trembled lest you had been +degrading yourself into the low company of the profane and worthless; +and lo! you have been all the time exalting yourself into the high +society of great men and governors. And all this in so short a time, +and in a way most honourable to yourself, and therefore most delightful +to me, I mean by your virtues and your close attention to the duties of +a most useful profession. Go on, my son, go on! and may God Almighty, +who has given you wisdom to begin so glorious a course, grant you +fortitude to persevere in it!" + +Ben thanked his father for the continuance of his love and solicitude +for him; and he told him moreover, that one principal thing that had +stirred him up to act as he had done, was the joy which he knew he +should be giving him thereby; as also the great trouble which he knew a +contrary conduct would have brought upon him. Here his father tenderly +embraced him, and said, "Blessed be God for giving me such a son! I +have always, Ben, fed myself with hopes of great things from you. And +now I have the joy to say my hopes were not in vain. Yes, glory to God, +I trust my precious hopes of you were not in vain." Then, after making +a short pause, as from fullness of joy, he went on, "but as to this +letter, my son; this same letter here from governor Keith; though +nothing was ever more flattering to you, yet depend upon it, Ben, it +will never do; at least not yet awhile.--The duties of the place are +too numerous, child, and difficult for any but one who has had many +more years of experience than you have had." + +"Well then, father, what's to be done, for I know that the governor is +so very anxious to get me into this place, that he will hardly be said +nay?" + +"Why, my dear boy, we must still decline it, for all that: not only +because from your very unripe age and inexperience, it may involve you +in ruin; but also because it actually is not in your power. It is true +the governor, from his letter, appears to have the greatest friendship +in the world for you; but yet, it is not to be expected that he would +advance funds to set you up. O no, my dear boy, that's entirely out of +the question. The governor, though perhaps rich, has no doubt too many +poor friends and relations hanging on him, for you to expect any thing +from that quarter. And as to myself, Ben, with all my love for you, it +is not in my power to assist you in such an affair. My family you know, +is very large, and the profits of my trade but small, insomuch that at +the end of the year there is nothing left. And indeed I never can be +sufficiently thankful to God for that health and blessing which enables +me to feed and clothe them every year so plentifully." + +Seeing Ben look rather serious, the old gentleman, in a livelier tone, +resumed his speech, "Yes, Ben, all this is very true; but yet let us +not be disheartened. Although we have no funds now, yet a noble supply +is at hand." + +"Where, father," said Ben, roused up, "where?" + +"Why, in your own virtues, Ben, in your own virtues, my boy--There are +the noblest funds that God can bestow on a young man. All other funds +may easily be drained by our vices and leave us poor indeed. But the +virtues are fountains that never fail: they are indeed the true riches +and honours, only by other names. Only persevere, my son, in the +virtues, as you have already so bravely begun, and the grand object is +gained. By the time you reach twenty-one, for every friend that you now +have, you will have ten; and for every dollar an hundred; and with +these you will make thousands more. Thus, under God, you will have the +glory to be the artificer of your own fame and fortune: and that will +bring ten thousand times more honour and happiness, to you, Ben, than +all the money that governors and fathers could ever give you." + +Ben's countenance brightened as his father uttered this; then heaving a +deep sigh, as of strong hope that such great things might one day be +realized, he said, "Well father, God only knows what I am to come to; +but this I know, that I feel in myself a determination to do my best." + +"I believe you do, my son, and I thank God most heartily that I have +such good reason to believe you do. And when I consider, on the one +hand, what a fine field for fame and fortune this new country presents +to young men of talents and enterprise: and on the other hand, what +wonders you, a poor unknown and unfriended boy have done in +Philadelphia, in only six months, I feel transported at the thought of +what you may yet attain before my gray hairs descend to the grave. Who +knows, Ben, for God is good, my son, who knows but that a fate like +that of young Joseph, whom his brethren drove into Egypt, may be in +reserve for you? And who knows but that old Jacob's joys may be mine? +that like him, after all my anxieties on your account, I may yet hear +the name of my youngest son, my beloved Benjamin, coming up from the +South, perfumed with praise for his great virtues and services to his +country? Then when I hear the sound of his fame rising from that +distant land, like the pleasant thunders of summer before refreshing +showers, and remember how he used to stand a little prattling boy by my +side, in his rosy cheeks and flaxen locks filling the candle moulds, or +twisting the snow white cotton wicks with his tender fingers, O how +will such remembrance lighten up the dark evening of my days, and cause +my setting sun to go down in joy!" + +He spoke this in tones so melting, that Ben, who was sitting by his +father's side, fell with his face on his bosom, without saying a word. +The fond parent, hearing him sob, tenderly embraced him, and with a +voice broken with sighs, went on, "Yes, my son, the measure of my joys +will then be full. I shall have nothing to detain me any longer in this +vale of troubles, but shall gladly breathe out my life in praise to God +for this his last, his crowning act of goodness--for this his blessing +me in my son." + +After a moment's pause, the feelings of both being too deliciously +affected for speech, Ben gently raised his face from his father's +bosom, and with his eyes yet red and wet with tears, tenderly looking +at him, said, "I would to God, father, you would go and live in +Philadelphia." + +"Why so, my son?" + +"Because, I don't want ever to part with you, father, and I am, you +know, obliged to go back to Philadelphia immediately." + +"Not immediately, my son, I cannot let you go from me immediately." + +"Father, I would never go from you, if I could help it; but I must be +doing something to make good your fond hopes of me; and I can't stay +here." + +"Why not, my son?" + +"Father, I can't stay with those who hate me; and you know that brother +James hates me very much." + +"O! he does not hate you, I hope, my son." + +"Yes, he does, father, indeed he does; because I only differed from him +in opinion and ventured to reason with him, he kindled into passion and +abused me even to _blows_, though I was in the right, as you told +him afterwards. And because I told him I did not think he acted the +part of a brother by me in wishing to make me a slave so many years, he +went about town and set all the printers against me, and thus drove me +away from home, and from you, my father, whom I so much love. And just +now, when I went to his office to see him, instead of running to meet +me and rejoicing to see me returned safe and sound and so well dressed +and a plenty of money in my pocket, he would not even speak to me, but +looked as dark and angry as though he would have torn me to pieces. And +yet he can turn up his eyes, and make long prayers and graces, and talk +a great deal about JESUS CHRIST!" + +The old man here shook his head with a deep groan, while Ben thus went +on, "No, father, I can't stay here; I must be going back to +Philadelphia and to my good friend governor Keith; for I long to be +realizing all the great hopes that you have been forming of me. And +should God but give me a good settlement in Philadelphia, then you will +come and live with me. O say, my father, wont you come and live with +me?" + +Ben spoke this, looking up to his father with that joy of filial love +sparkling in his youthful eyes which made him look like all that we +fancy of angels. + +The old man embraced him and said, "I will, my son, I will; but stay +with me a little while, at the least three days, and then you may +depart." Ben consenting to this, the old gentleman wrote a polite +letter to governor Keith, thanking him very heartily for that he, so +great a man, should have paid such attentions to his poor boy: but at +the same time begged his pardon for declining to do any thing for him, +not only because he had very little in his power to do; but also +because he thought him too young to be intrusted with the conduct of an +enterprise that required much more experience than he possessed. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +Of the three days which Ben, as we have seen above, had consented to +stay at home, he spent the chiefest part with his father, in his old +candle manufactory. 'Tis true, this happy sire, whose _natural_ +affection for Ben as a _son_, was now exalted into the highest +respect for him as a youth of _talents_ and _virtues_; and +_perhaps_ too, looking up to him as a young mountain oak, whose +towering arms would soon protect the parent tree, insisted that Ben +should not stay in _that dirty place_, as he called it. But +knowing that his father could not be spared from his daily labour, Ben +insisted to be with him in the old shop, and to assist in his labours, +reminding his father how sweetly the time passes away when at work and +conversing with those we love. His father at length consented: and +those three days, now spent with Ben, were the happiest days he had +spent for a long time. His aged bosom was now relieved from his six +months' load of fears and anxieties about this beloved child; nor only +so, but this beloved child, shining in a light of his own virtues, was +now with him, and as a volunteer of filial love was mingling in his +toils--eagerly lending his youthful strength to assist him in packing +and boxing his candles and soap; while his sensible conversation, +heightened all the time by the charm of that voice and those eyes that +had ever been so dear to him, touched his heart with a sweetness +inexpressible, and made the happy hours fly away as on angels' wings. + +On the afternoon of the third day, as they were returning from dinner, +walking down the garden, at the foot of which the factory stood, the +old gentleman lifting his eyes to the sun, suddenly heaved a deep sigh +and put on a melancholy look. + +"High, father!" said Ben, "I see no cloud over the sun that we should +fear a change of weather." + +"No, Ben, there is no cloud over the sun, but still his beams throw a +cloud over my spirits. They put me in mind that I shall walk here +to-morrow, but with no son by my side!" + +The idea was mournful: and more so by the tender look and plaintive +tones in which it was conveyed.--It wrung the heart of Ben, who in +silence glanced his eyes on his father. It was that tender glance of +sorrowing love which quickest reaches the heart and stirs up all its +yearnings. The old gentleman felt the meaning of his son's looks. They +seemed to say to him, "_O my father, must we part to-morrow?_" + +"Yes, Ben, we part to-morrow, and perhaps never to meet again!" + +After a short pause, with a sigh, he thus resumed his speech--"Then, O +my son, what a wretch were man without religion? Yes, Ben, without the +hopes of immortality, how much better he had never been born? Without +these, his noblest capacities were but the greater curses. The more +delightful his friendships the more dreadful the thought they may be +extinguished for ever; and the gayer his prospects the deeper his +gloom, that endless darkness may so quickly cover all. We were +yesterday feeding fond hopes, my son; we were yesterday painting bright +castles in the air: you were to be a great man and I a happy father. +But alas! this is the last day, my child, that we may ever see each +other again. And the sad reverse of all this may even now be at the +door; when I, instead of hearing of my son's glory in Philadelphia, may +hear that he is cold in his grave. And when you, returning--after years +of virtuous toils, returning laden with riches and honours for your +happy father to share in, may see nothing of that father but the tomb +that covers his dust." + +Seeing the moisture in Ben's eyes, the old gentleman, with a voice +rising to exultation, thus went on. "Yes, Ben, this may soon be the +case with us, my child; the dark curtain of our separation soon may +_drop_, and your cheeks or mine be flooded with sorrows. But +thanks be to God, that curtain will rise again, and open to our view +those scenes of happiness, one glance at which is sufficient to start +the tear of transport into our eyes. Yes, Ben, religion assures us of +all this; religion assures us that this life is but the morning of our +existence--that there is a glorious eternity beyond--and that to the +penitent, death is but the passage to that happy life where they shall +soon meet again to part no more, but to congratulate their mutual +felicities for ever. Then, O my son, lay hold of religion, and secure +an interest in those blessed hopes that contribute so much to the +virtues and the joys of life." + +"Father," said Ben with a sigh, "I know that many people here in Boston +think I never had any religion; or, that if I had I have apostatized +from it." + +"God forbid! But whence, my son, could these prejudices have arisen?" + +"Why, father, I have for some time past discovered that there is no +effect without a cause. These prejudices have been the effect of my +youthful _errors_. You remember father, the old story of the pork, +don't you?" + +"No, child; what is it, for I have forgotten it?" + +"I thought so, father, I thought you had been so good as to forget it. +But I have not, nor ever shall forget it." + +"What is it, Ben?" + +"Why, father, when our pork, one fall, lay salted and ready for the +barrel, I begged you to say grace over it all at once; adding that it +would _do as well_ and save _a great deal of time_." + +"Pshaw, Ben, such a trifle as that, and in a child too, cannot be +remembered against you now." + +"Yes, father, I am afraid it is. All are not so loving, and so +forgetful of my errors as you. It was at the time inserted in the +Boston NEWS LETTER, and is now recollected to the discredit of +my religion. And they have a prejudice against me on another account. +While I lived with you, father, you always took me to meeting with you; +but when I left you and went to live with my brother James, I often +neglected going to meeting; preferring to stay at home and read my +books." + +"I am sorry to hear that, Ben; very sorry that you could neglect the +preachings of Christ." + +"Father, I never neglected them. I look on the preaching of Christ as +the finest system of morality in the world; and his parables, such as +"The Prodigal Son"--"The Good Samaritan"--"The Lost Sheep," &c. as +models of divine goodness. And if I could only hear a preacher take +these for his texts, and paint them in those rich colours they are +capable of, I would never stay from meeting. But now, father, when I +go, instead of those benevolent preachings and parables which Christ so +delighted in, I hardly ever hear any thing but lean, chaffy discourses +about the TRINITY, and BAPTISMS, and ELECTIONS, and REPROBATIONS, and +FINAL PERSEVERANCES, and COVENANTS, and a thousand other such things +which do not strike my fancy as religion at all, because not in the +least calculated, as I think, to sweeten and ennoble men's natures, and +make them love and do good to one another." + +"There is too much truth in your remark, Ben; and I have often been +sorry that our preachers lay such stress on these things, and do not +stick closer to the preachings of Christ." + +"Stick closer to them, father! O no, to do them justice, sir, we must +not charge them with not _sticking to the text_, for they never take +Christ for their text, but some dark passage out of the prophets or +apostles, which will better suit their gloomy education. Or if they +should, by some lucky hit, honour Christ for a text, they quickly give +him the _go-by_ and lug in Calvin or some other angry doctor; and then +in place of the soft showers of Gospel pity on sinners, we have nothing +but the dreadful thunderings of eternal hate, with the unavailing +screams of little children in hell not a span long! Now, father, as I +do not look on such preaching as this to be any ways pleasing to the +Deity or profitable to man, I choose to stay at home and read my books; +and this is the reason, I suppose, why my brother James and the +council-men here of Boston think that I have no religion." + +"Your strictures on some of our ministers, my son, are in rather a +strong style: but still there is too much truth in them to be denied. +However, as to what your brother James and the council think of you, it +is of little consequence, provided you but possess true religion." + +"Aye, TRUE RELIGION, father, is another thing; and I should +like to possess it. But as to such religion as theirs, I must confess, +father, I never had and never wish to have it." + +"But what do you mean by _their_ religion, my son?" + +"Why, I mean, father, a religion of gloomy forms and notions, that have +no tendency to make men good and happy, either in themselves or to +others." + +"So then, my son, you make _man's happiness_ the end of religion." + +"Certainly I do, father." + +"Our catechisms, Ben, make _God's glory_ the end of religion." + +"That amounts to the same thing, father; as the framers of the +catechisms, I suppose, placed God's glory in the happiness of man." + +"But why do you suppose that so readily, Ben?" + +"Because, father, all wise workmen place their glory in the perfection +of their works. The gunsmith glories in his rifle, when she never +misses her aim; the clockmaker glories in his clock when she tells the +time exactly. They thus glory, because their works answer the ends for +which they were made. Now God, who is wiser than all workmen, had, no +doubt, his ends in making man. But certainly he could not have made him +with a view of getting any thing from him, seeing man has nothing to +give. And as God, from his own infinite riches, has a boundless power +to give; and from his infinite benevolence, must have an equal delight +in giving, I can see no end so likely for his making man as to make him +happy. I think, father, all this looks quite reasonable." + +"Why, yes, to be sure, Ben, it does look very reasonable indeed." + +"Well then, father, since all wise workmen glory in their works when +they answer the ends for which they designed them, God must glory in +the happiness of man, that being the end for which he made him." + +"This seems, indeed, Ben, to be perfectly agreeable to reason." + +"Yes, sir, not only to _reason_, but to _nature_ too: for +even nature, I think, father, in all her operations, clearly teaches +that God must take an exceeding glory in our happiness; for what else +could have led him to build for us such a noble world as this; adorned +with so much beauty; stored with such treasures; peopled with so many +fair creatures; and lighted up as it is with such gorgeous luminaries +by day and by night?" + +"I am glad, my son, I touched on this subject of religion in the way I +did; your mode of thinking and reasoning on it pleases me greatly. But +now taking all this for granted, what is still your idea of the true +religion?" + +"Why, father, if God thus places his glory in the happiness of man, +does it not follow that the most acceptable thing that man can do for +God, or in other words, that the true religion of man consists in his +so living, as to attain the highest possible perfection and happiness +of his nature, that being the chief end and glory of the Deity in +creating him?" + +"Well, but how is this to be done?" + +"Certainly, father, by imitating the Deity." + +"By imitating him, child! but how are we to imitate him?" + +"In his goodness, father." + +"But why do you pitch on his GOODNESS rather than on any other +of his attributes?" + +"Because, father, this seems, evidently, the prince of all his other +attributes, and greater than all." + +"Take care child, that you do not blaspheme. How can one of God's +attributes be greater than another, when all are infinite?" + +"Why, father, must not that which moves be greater than that which is +moved?" + +"What am I to understand by that, Ben?" + +"I mean, father, that the power and wisdom of the Deity, though both +unspeakably great, would probably stand still and do nothing for men, +were they not moved to it by his goodness. His goodness then, which +comes and puts his power and wisdom into motion, and thus fills heaven +and earth with happiness, must be the greatest of all his attributes." + +"I don't know what to say to that, Ben; certainly his power and wisdom +must be very great too." + +"Yes, father, they are very great indeed: but still they seem but +subject to his _greater benevolence_ which enlists them in its +service and constantly gives them its own delightful work to do. For +example, father, the wisdom and power of the Deity can do any thing, +but his benevolence takes care that they shall do nothing but for good. +The power and wisdom of the Deity could have made changes both in the +earth and heavens widely different from their present state. They +could, for instance, have placed the sun a great deal farther off or a +great deal nearer to us. But then in the first case we should have been +frozen to icicles, and in the second scorched to cinders. The power of +the Deity could have given a tenfold force to the winds, but then no +tree could have stood on the land, and no ship could have sailed on the +seas. The power of the Deity could also have made changes as great in +all other parts of nature; it could have made every fish as monstrous +as a whale, every bird dreadful as the condor, every beast as vast as +the elephant, and every tree as big as a mountain. But then it must +strike every one that these changes would all have been utterly for the +worse, rendering these noble parts of nature comparatively useless to +us.--I say the power of the Deity could have done all this, and might +have so done but for his benevolence, which would not allow such +discords, but has, on the contrary, established all things on a scale +of the exactest harmony with the convenience and happiness of man. Now, +for example, father, the sun, though placed at an enormous distance +from us, is placed at the very distance he should be for all the +important purposes of light and heat; so that the earth and waters, +neither frozen nor burnt, enjoy the temperature fittest for life and +vegetation. Now the meadows are covered with grass; the fields with +corn; the trees with leaves and fruits; presenting a spectacle of +universal beauty and plenty, feasting all senses and gladdening all +hearts; while man, the favoured lord of all, looking around him amidst +the mingled singing of birds and skipping of beasts and leaping of +fishes, is struck with wonder at the beauteous scenery, and gratefully +acknowledges that benevolence is the darling attribute of the Deity." + +"I thank God, my son, for giving you wisdom to reason in this way. But +what is still your inference from all this, as to true religion?" + +"Why, my dear father, my inference is still in confirmation of my first +answer to your question relative to the true religion, that it consists +in our imitating the Deity in his goodness. Every wise parent, wishing +to allure his children to any particular virtue, is careful to set them +the fairest examples of the same, as knowing that example is more +powerful than precept. Now since the Deity, throughout all his works, +so invariably employs his great power and wisdom as the ministers of +his benevolence to make his creatures happy, what can this be for but +an example to us; teaching that if we wish to please him--the true end +of all religion--we must imitate him in his moral goodness, which if we +would but all do as steadily as he does, we should recall the golden +age, and convert this world into Paradise. + +"All this looks very fair, Ben; but yet after all what are we to do +without FAITH?" + +"Why, father, as to Faith, I cannot say; not knowing much about it. But +this I can say, that I am afraid of any substitutes to the moral +character of the Deity. In short, sir, I don't love the fig-leaf." + +"Fig-leaf! I don't understand you, child: what do you mean by the +fig-leaf?" + +"Why, father, we read in the Bible that soon as Adam had lost that true +image of the Deity, his MORAL GOODNESS, instead of striving to +recover it again, he went and sewed fig-leaves together to cover +himself with." + +"Stick to the point, child." + +"I am to the point, father. I mean to say that as Adam sought a vain +fig-leaf covering, rather than the imitation of the Deity in moral +goodness, so his posterity have ever since been fond of running after +fig-leaf substitutes." + +"Aye! well I should be glad to hear you explain a little on that head, +Ben." + +"Father, I don't pretend to explain a subject I don't understand, but I +find in PLUTARCH'S LIVES and the HEATHEN ANTIQUITIES, which I read in +your old divinity library, and which no doubt give a true account of +religion among the ancients, that when they were troubled on account of +their crimes, they do not seem once to have thought of conciliating the +Deity by _reformation_, and by acts of benevolence and goodness to be +like him. No, they appear to have been too much enamoured of lust, and +pride, and revenge, to relish moral goodness; such lessons were too +much against the grain. But still something must be done to appease the +Deity. Well then, since they could not sum up courage enough to attempt +it by imitating his goodness, they would try it by coaxing his +vanity--they would build him grand temples; and make him mighty +sacrifices; and rich offerings. This I am told, father, was _their_ +fig-leaf." + +"Why this, I fear, Ben, is a true bill against the poor Heathens." + +"Well, I am sure, father, the Jews were equally fond of the fig-leaf; +as their own countrymen, the Prophets, are constantly charging them. +JUSTICE, MERCY, and TRUTH had, it seems, no charms for them. They must +have fig-leaf substitutes, such as tythings of _mint_, _anise_, and +_cummmin_, and making '_long prayers in the streets_,' and deep +groanings with '_disfigured faces in the synagogues_.' If they but did +all this, then surely they must be Abraham's children even though they +devoured widows' houses." + +Here good old Josias groaned. + +"Yes, father," continued Ben, "and it were well if the rage for the +fig-leaf stopped with the Jews and Heathens; but the Christians are +just as fond of substitutes that may save them the labour of imitating +the Deity in his moral goodness. It is true, the old Jewish hobbies, +mint, anise, and cummin, are not the hobbies of Christians; but still, +father, you are not to suppose that they are to be disheartened for all +that. Oh no. They have got a hobby worth all of them put together--they +have got FAITH." + +Here good old Josias began to darken; and looking at Ben with great +solemnity, said, "I am afraid, my son, you do not treat this great +article of our holy religion with sufficient reverence." + +"My dear father," replied Ben eagerly, "I mean not the least reflection +on FAITH, but solely on those hypocrites who abuse it to +countenance their vices and crimes." + +"O then, if that be your aim, go on, Ben, go on." + +"Well, sir, as I was saying, not only the Jews and Heathens, but the +Christians also have their fig-leaf substitutes for _Moral Goodness_. +Because Christ has said that so great is the DIVINE CLEMENCY, that if +even the worst of men will but have faith in it so as to repent and +amend their lives by the golden law of '_love and good works_,' they +should be saved, many lazy Christians are fond of overlooking those +excellent conditions 'LOVE AND GOOD WORKS,' which constitute the moral +image of the Deity, and fix upon the word FAITH for their salvation." + +"Well, but child, do you make no account of faith?" + +"None, father, as a fig-leaf cloak of immorality." + +"But is not faith a great virtue in itself, and a qualification for +heaven?" + +"I think not, sir; I look on faith but as a _mean_ to beget that _moral +goodness_, which, to me, appears to be the only qualification for +Heaven." + +"I am astonished, child, to hear you say that faith is not a virtue in +itself." + +"Why, father, the Bible says for me in a thousand places. The Bible +says that _faith without good works is dead_." + +"But does not the Bible, in a thousand places, say that without faith +no man can please God?" + +"Yes, father, and for the best reason in the world; for who can ever +hope to please the Deity without his moral image? and who would ever +put himself to the trouble to cultivate the virtues which form that +image, unless he had a belief that they were indispensible to the +perfection and happiness of his nature?" + +"So then, you look on faith as no virtue in itself, and good for +nothing unless it exalt men to the likeness of God?" + +"Yes, sir, as good for nothing unless it exalt us to the likeness of +God--nay, as worse; as utterly vile and hypocritical." + +"And perhaps you view in the same light the IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS, and +the Sacraments of BAPTISM and the LORD'S SUPPER." + +"Yes, father, faith, imputed righteousness, sacraments, prayers, +sermons; all, all I consider as mere barren fig-leaves which will yield +no good unless they ripen into the fruits of BENEVOLENCE and GOOD +WORKS." + +"Well, Ben, 'tis well that you have taken a turn to the printing +business; for I don't think, child, that if you had studied divinity, +as your uncle Ben and myself once wished, you would ever have got a +_licence_ to preach." + +"No, father, I know that well enough; I know that many who think +themselves mighty good Christians, are for getting to heaven on easier +terms than imitating the Deity in his moral goodness. To them, faith +and imputed righteousness, and sacraments, and sour looks, are very +convenient things. With a good stock of these they can easily manage +matters so as to make a little morality go a great way. But I am +thinking they will have to _back out_ of this error, otherwise +they will make as bad a hand of their barren faith, as the poor +Virginia negroes do of their boasted freedom." + +"God's mercy, child, what do you mean by that?" + +"Why, father, I am told that the Virginia negroes, like our +faith-mongers, fond of ease and glad of soft substitutes to hard +duties, are continually sighing for freedom; '_O if they had but +freedom! if they had but freedom! how happy should they be! They should +not then be obliged to work any more. Freedom would do every thing for +them. Freedom would spread soft beds for them, and heap their tables +with roast pigs, squealing out, 'come and eat me.' Freedom would give +them fine jackets, and rivers of grog, and mountains of segars and +tobacco, without their sweating for it_.' Well, by and by, they get +their freedom; perhaps by running away from their masters. And now see +what great things has freedom done for them. Why, as it is out of the +question to think of _work_ now they are _free_, they must give +themselves up like gentlemen, to visiting, sleeping, and pastime. In a +little time the curses of hunger and nakedness drive them to stealing +and house-breaking, for which their backs are ploughed up at +whipping-posts, or their necks snapped under the gallows! and all this +because they must needs live easier than by honest labour, which would +have crowned their days with character and comfort. So, father, it is, +most exactly so it is, with too many of our FAITH-MONGERS. They have +not courage to practise those exalted virtues that would give them the +moral likeness of the Deity. Oh no: they must get to heaven in some +easier way. They have heard great things of faith. Faith, they are +told, has done wonders for other people; why not for them? Accordingly +they fall to work and after many a hard throe of fanaticism, they +conceit they have got faith sure enough. And now they are happy. Like +the poor Virginia negroes, they are clear of all _moral working now_: +thank God they can get to heaven without it; yes, and may take some +indulgences, by the way, into the bargain. If, as jovial fellows, they +should waste their time and family substance in drinking rum and +smoking tobacco, where's the harm, _an't they sound believers_? If they +should, as _merchants_, sand their sugar, or water their molasses, what +great matter is that? Don't they keep up family prayer? If, as men of +HONOUR, they should accept a challenge, and receive a shot in a duel, +what of that? They have only to send for a priest, and take the +sacrament. Thus, father, as freedom has proved the ruin of many a lazy +Virginian negro, so I am afraid that such faith as this has made many +an hypocritical christian ten times more a child of the devil than he +was before." + +Good old Josias, who, while Ben was speaking at this rate, had appeared +much agitated, sometimes frowning, sometimes smiling, here replied, +with a deep sigh, "Yes, Ben, this is all too true to be denied: and a +sad thing it is that mankind should be so ready, as you observe, to go +to heaven _in any other way_ than by imitating God in his _moral +likeness_. But I rejoice in hope of you, my son, that painting this +lamentable depravity in such strong colours as you do, you will ever +act on wiser and more magnanimous principles." + +"Father, I don't affect to be better than other young men, yet I think +I can safely say, that if I could get to heaven by playing the +hypocrite I would not, while I have it in my choice to go thither by +acquiring the virtues that would give me a resemblance to God. For to +say nothing of the exceeding honour of acquiring even the _faintest +resemblance_ of him, nor yet of the immense happiness which it must +afford hereafter, I find that even here, and young as I am, the least +step towards it, affords a greater pleasure than any thing else; indeed +I find that there is so much more pleasure in getting knowledge to +resemble the Creator, than in living in ignorance to resemble brutes; +so much more pleasure in BENEVOLENCE and DOING GOOD to resemble him, +than in _hate_ and _doing harm_ to resemble demons, that I hope I shall +always have wisdom and fortitude sufficient even for my own sake, to +spend my life in getting all the useful knowledge, and in doing all the +little good I possibly can." + +"God Almighty confirm my son in the wise resolutions which his grace +has enabled him thus early to form!" + +"Yes, father, and besides all this, when I look towards futurity; when +I consider the nature of that felicity which exists in heaven; that it +is a felicity flowing from the smiles of the Deity on those excellent +spirits whom his own admonitions have adorned with the virtues that +resemble himself; that the more perfect their virtues, the brighter +will be his smiles upon them, with correspondent emanations of bliss +that may, for aught we know, be for ever enlarged with their ever +enlarging understandings and affections; I say, father, when I have it +in my choice to attain to all this in a way so pleasant and honourable +as that of imitating the Deity in WISDOM and GOODNESS, should I not be +worse than mad to decline it on such terms, and prefer substitutes that +would tolerate me in _ignorance_ and _vice_?" + +"Yes, child, I think you would be mad indeed." + +"Yes, father, especially when it is recollected, that if the ignorant +and vicious could, with all their pains, find out substitutes that +would serve as passports to heaven, they could not rationally expect a +hearty welcome there. For as the Deity delights in the wise and good, +because they resemble him in those qualities which render him so +amiable and happy, and would render all his creatures so too; so he +must proportionably abhor the STUPID and VICIOUS, because deformed with +qualities diametrically opposite to his own, and tending to make both +themselves and others most vile and miserable." + +"This is awfully true, Ben; for the Bible tells us, that the _wicked +are an abomination to the Lord; but that the righteous are his +delight_." + +"Yes, father, and this is the language not only of the BIBLE, which is, +perhaps, the grand class book of the Deity, but it is also the language +of his first or _horn_ book, I mean REASON, which teaches, that if +'_there be a God, and that there is all nature cries aloud through all +her works, he must delight in virtue_,' because most clearly conducive +to the perfection of mankind; which must be the chief aim and glory of +the Deity in creating them. And for the same reason he must abhor vice, +because tending to the disgrace and destruction of his creatures. +Hence, father, I think it follows as clearly as a demonstration in +mathematics, that if it were possible for bad men, through _faith_, +_imputed righteousness_, or any other leaf-covering, to get to +Paradise, so far from meeting with any thing like cordiality from the +Deity, they would be struck speechless at sight of their horrible +dissimilarity to him. For while he delights above all things in giving +life, and the duellist glories in destroying it; while he delights in +heaping his creatures with good things, and the gambler triumphs in +stripping them; while he delights in seeing love and smiles among +brethren, and the slanderer in promoting strifes and hatreds; while he +delights in exalting the intellectual and moral faculties to the +highest degree of heavenly wisdom and virtue, and the drunkard delights +in polluting and degrading both below the brutes; what cordiality can +ever subsist between such opposite natures? Can infinite purity and +benevolence behold such monsters with complacency, or could they in his +presence otherwise than be filled with intolerable pain and anguish, +and fly away as weak-eyed owls from the blaze of the meridian sun?" + +"Well, Ben, as I said before, I am richly rewarded for having drawn you +into this conversation about religion; your language indeed is not +always the language of the scriptures; neither do you rest your hopes, +as I could have wished, on the _Redeemer_; but still your idea in +placing our qualification for heaven in resembling God in _moral +goodness_, is truly evangelical, and I hope you _will one day become_ a +great christian." + +"I thank you, father, for your good wishes; but I am afraid I shall +never be the christian you wish me to be." + +"What, not a christian!" + +"No, father, at least not in the _name_; but in the nature I hope to +become a christian. And now, father, as we part to-morrow, and there is +a strong presentiment on my mind that it may be a long time before we +meet again, I beg you to believe of me that I shall never lose sight of +my great obligations to an active pursuit of knowledge and usefulness. +This, if persevered in, will give me some humble resemblance of the +great Author of my being in loving and doing all the good I can to +mankind. And then, if I live, I hope, my dear father, I shall give you +the joy to see realized some of the fond expectations you have formed +of me. And if I should die, I shall die in hope of meeting you in some +better world, where you will no more be alarmed for my welfare, nor I +grieved to see you conflicting with age and labour and sorrow: but +where we may see in each other all that we can conceive of what we call +ANGELS, and in scenes of undeserved splendour, dwell with those +enlightened and benevolent spirits, whose conversation and perfect +virtues, will for ever delight us. And where, to crown all, we shall +perhaps, at times, be permitted to see that UNUTTERABLE BEING, whose +disinterested goodness was the spring of all these felicities." + +Thus ended this curious dialogue, between one of the most amiable +parents, and one of the most acute and sagacious youths that our +country, or perhaps any other has ever produced. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +The three days of Ben's promised stay with his father being expired, +the next morning he embraced his parents and embarked a second time for +Philadelphia, but with a much lighter heart than before, because he now +left home with his parents' blessing, which they gave him the more +willingly as from the dark _sanctified_ frown on poor James' brow +they saw in him no disposition towards reconciliation. + +The vessel happening to touch at Newport, Ben gladly took that +opportunity to visit his favourite brother John, who received him with +great joy. John was always of the mind that Ben would one day or other +become a great man; "_he was so vastly fond_," he said, "_of his +book_." + +And when he saw the elegant size that Ben's person had now attained, +and also his fine mind-illuminated face and manly wit, he was so proud +of him that he could not rest until he had introduced him to all his +friends. Among the rest was a gentleman of the name of Vernon, who was +so pleased with Ben during an evening's visit at his brother's, that he +gave him an order on a man in Pennsylvania for thirty pounds, which he +begged he would collect for him. Ben readily accepted the order, not +without being secretly pleased that nature had given him a face which +this stranger had so readily credited with thirty pounds. + +Caressed by his brother John and by his brother John's friends, Ben +often thought that if he were called on to point out the time in his +whole life that had been spent more pleasantly than the rest, he would, +without hesitation, pitch on this his three days' visit to Newport. + +But alas! he has soon brought to cry out with the poet, + + "The brightest things beneath the sky, + Yield but a glimmering light; + We should _suspect some danger nigh_, + Where we possess _delight_." + +His thirty pound order from Vernon, was at first ranked among his dear +honied delights enjoyed at Newport; but it soon presented, as we shall +see, a roughsting. This however, was but a flea bite in comparison of +that mortal wound he was within an ace of receiving from this same +Newport trip. The story is this: Among a considerable cargo of live +lumber which they took on board for Philadelphia, were three females, +a couple of gay young damsels, and a grave old Quaker lady. Following +the natural bent of his disposition, Ben paid great attention to the +old Quaker. Fortunate was it for him that he did; for in consequence +of it she took a motherly interest in his welfare that saved him from +a very ugly scrape. Perceiving that he was getting rather too fond of +the two young women above, she drew him aside one day, and with the +looks and speech of a mother, said, "Young man, I am in pain for thee: +thou hast no parent to watch over thy conduct, and thou seemest to be +quite ignorant of the world and the snares to which youth is exposed. +I pray thee rely upon what I tell thee.--These are women of bad +character; I perceive it in all their actions. If thou dost not take +care they will lead thee into danger!!" + +As he appeared at first not to think so ill of them as she did, the +old lady related of them many things she had seen and heard, and which +had escaped his attention, but which convinced him she was in the +right. He thanked her for such good advice, and promised to follow it. + +On their arrival at New-York the girls told him where they lived, and +invited him to come and see them. Their eyes kindled such a glow along +his youthful veins that he was on the point of melting into consent. +But the motherly advice of his old quaker friend happily coming to his +aid, revived his wavering virtue, and fixed him in the resolution, +though much against the grain, _not to go_. It was a most blessed +thing for him that he did not; for the captain missing a silver spoon +and some other things from the cabin, and knowing these women to be +prostitutes, procured a search warrant, and finding his goods in their +possession, had them brought to the whipping-post. + +As God would have it, Ben happened to fall in with the constable and +crowd who were taking them to whip. He would fain have run off. But +there was a drawing of sympathy towards them which he could not +resist: so on he went with the rest. He said afterwards that it was +well he did: for when he beheld these poor devils tied up to the +stake, and also their sweet faces distorted with terror and pain, and +heard their piteous screams under the strokes of the cowhide on their +bleeding backs, he could not help melting into tears, at the same time +saying to himself--"now had I but _yielded to the allurements of these +poor creatures, and made myself an accessary to their crimes and +sufferings, what would now be my feelings_!" + +From the happy escape which he had thus made through the seasonable +advice of the good old quaker lady he learned that acts of this sort +hold the first place on the list of charities: and entered it as a +resolution on his journal that he would imitate it and do all in his +power to open the eyes of all, but especially of the young, to a +timely sense of the follies and dangers that beset them. How well he +kept his promise, will, 'tis likely, gentle reader, be remembered by +thousands when you and I are forgotten. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +On the arrival of the vessel at New-York, Ben went up to a tavern, and +lo! who should he first cast his eyes on there, but his old friend +Collins, of Boston! + +Collins had, it seems, been so charmed with Ben's account of +Philadelphia, that he came to the determination to try his fortune +there also; and learning that Ben was shortly to return by the way of +New-York, he had jumped into the first vessel, and was there before +him, waiting his arrival. Great was the joy of Ben at the sight of his +friend Collins, for it drew after it a train of the most pleasant +recollections.--But who can describe his feelings, when flying to +embrace that long esteemed youth, he beheld him now risen from his +chair equally eager for the embrace, but alas! only able to make a +staggering step or two before down he came sprawling on the floor, +drunk as a lord! + +To see a young man of his wit--his eloquence--his education--his +hitherto unstained character and high promise, thus overwhelmed by a +worse than brutal vice, would have been a sad sight to Ben, even +though that young man had been an entire stranger. But oh! how tenfold +sad to see such marks of ruinous dishonour on one so dear, and from +whom he had expected so much. + +Ben had just returned from assisting to put poor Collins to bed, when +the captain of the vessel which had brought him to New-York, stepped +up and in a very respectful manner put a note into his hand.--Ben +opened it, not without considerable agitation, and read as follows:-- + +"G. Burnet's compliments await young Mr. Franklin--and should be glad +of half an hour's chat with him over a glass of wine." + +"G. Burnet!" said Ben, "who can that be?" + +"Why, 'tis the governor," replied the captain with a smile. "I have +just been to see him, with some letters I brought for him from Boston. +And when I told him what a world of books you have, he expressed a +curiosity to see you, and begged I would return with you to his +palace." + +Ben instantly set off with the captain, but not without a sigh as he +cast a look back on the door of poor Collins' bed-room, to think what +an honour that wretched young man had lost for the sake of two or +three vile gulps of filthy grog. + +The governor's looks, at the approach of Ben, showed somewhat of +disappointment. He had, it seems, expected considerable entertainment +from Ben's conversation. But his fresh and ruddy countenance showed +him so much younger than he had counted on, that he gave up all his +promised entertainment as a lost hope. He received Ben, however, with +great politeness, and after pressing on him a glass of wine, took him +into an adjoining room, which was his library, consisting of a large +and well-chosen collection. + +Seeing the pleasure which sparkled in Ben's eyes as he surveyed so +many elegant authors, and thought of the rich stores of knowledge +which they contained, the governor, with a smile of complacency, as on +a young pupil of science, said to him, "Well, Mr. Franklin, I am told +by the captain here, that you have a fine collection too." + +"Only a trunk full, sir," said Ben. + +"A trunk full!" replied the governor. "Why, what use can you have for +so many books? Young people at your age have seldom read beyond the +10th chapter of Nehemiah." + +"I can't boast," replied Ben, "of having read any great deal beyond +that myself; but still, I should be sorry if I could not get a trunk +full of books to read every six months." At this, the governor +regarding him with a look of surprise, said, "You must then, though so +young, be a scholar; perhaps a teacher of the languages." + +"No sir," answered Ben, "I know no language but my own." + +"What, not Latin nor Greek!" + +"No sir, not a word of either." + +"Why, don't you think them necessary?" + +"I don't set myself up as a judge. But I should not suppose them +necessary." + +"Aye! well, I should like to hear your reasons." + +"Why, sir, I am not competent to give reasons that may satisfy a +gentleman of your learning, but the following are the reasons with +which I satisfy myself. I look on languages, sir, merely as arbitrary +sounds of characters, whereby men communicate their ideas to each +other. Now, if I already possess a language which is capable of +conveying more ideas than I shall ever acquire, were it not wiser in +me to improve my time in getting _sense_ through that one language, +than waste it in getting mere _sounds_ through fifty languages, even +if I could learn as many?" + +Here the governor paused a moment, though not without a little red on +his cheeks, for having only a minute before put Ben and the 10th +chapter of Nehemiah so close together. However, catching a new idea, +he took another start. "Well, but, my dear sir, you certainly differ +from the learned world, which is, you know, decidedly in favour of the +languages." + +"I would not wish wantonly to differ from the learned world," said +Ben, "especially when they maintain opinions that seem to be founded +on truth. But when this is not the case, to differ from them I have +ever thought my duty; and especially since I studied Locke." + +"Locke!" cried the governor with surprise, "_you studied Locke!_" + +"Yes, sir, I studied Locke on the Understanding three years ago, when +I was thirteen." + +"You amaze me, sir. You studied Locke on the Understanding at +thirteen!" + +"Yes, sir, I did." + +"Well, and pray at what college did you study Locke at thirteen; for +at Cambridge college in Old England, where I got my education, they +never allowed the senior class to look at Locke till eighteen?" + +"Why, sir, it was my misfortune never to be at a college, nor even at +a grammar school, except nine months when I was a child." + +Here the governor sprung from his seat, and staring at Ben, cried out, +"the devil! well, and where--where did you get your education, pray?" + +"At home, sir, in a tallow chandler's shop." + +"In a tallow chandler's shop!" screamed the governor. + +"Yes, sir; my father was a poor old tallow chandler, with sixteen +children, and I the youngest of all. At eight he put me to school, but +finding he could not spare the money from the rest of the children to +keep me there, he took me home into the shop, where I assisted him by +twisting the candle wicks and filling the moulds all day, and at night +I read by myself. At twelve, my father bound me to my brother, a +printer, in Boston, and with him I worked hard all day at the press +and cases, and again read by myself at night." + +Here the governor, spanking his hands together, put up a loud whistle, +while his eye-balls, wild with surprise, rolled about in their sockets +as if in a mighty mind to hop out. "Impossible, young man!" he +exclaimed: "Impossible! you are only sounding my credulity. I can +never believe one half of all this." Then turning to the captain, he +said, "captain, you are an intelligent man, and from Boston; pray tell +me can this young man here, be aiming at any thing but to quiz me?" + +"No, indeed, please your excellency," replied the captain, "Mr. +Franklin is not quizzing you. He is saying what is really true, for I +am acquainted with his father and family." + +The governor then turning to Ben said, more moderately, "Well, my dear +wonderful boy, I ask your pardon for doubting your word; and now pray +tell me, for I feel a stronger desire than ever to hear your objection +to learning the dead languages." + +"Why, sir, I object to it principally on account of the shortness of +human life. Taking them one with another, men do not live above forty +years. Plutarch, indeed, puts it only thirty-three. But say forty. +Well, of this full ten years are lost in childhood, before any boy +thinks of a Latin grammar. This brings the forty down to thirty. Now +of such a moment as this, to spend five or six years in learning the +dead languages, especially when all the best books in those languages +are translated into ours, and besides, we already have more books on +every subject than such short-lived creatures can ever acquire, seems +very preposterous." + +"Well, but what are you to do with their great poets, Virgil and +Homer, for example; I suppose you would not think of translating Homer +out of his rich native Greek into our poor homespun English, would +you?" + +"Why not, sir?" + +"Why I should as soon think of transplanting a pine-apple from Jamaica +to Boston." + +"Well, sir, a skilful gardener, with his hot-house, can give us nearly +as fine a pine-apple as any in Jamaica. And so Mr. Pope, with his fine +imagination, has given us Homer, in English, with more of his beauties +than ordinary scholars would find in him after forty years' study of +the Greek. And besides, sir, if Homer was not translated, I am far +from thinking it would be worth spending five or six years to learn to +read him in his own language." + +"You differ from the critics, Mr. Franklin; for the critics all tell +us that his beauties are inimitable." + +"Yes, sir, and the naturalists tell us that the beauties of the +basilisk are inimitable too." + +"The basilisk, sir! Homer compared with the basilisk! I really don't +understand you, sir." + +"Why, I mean, sir, that as the basilisk is the more to be dreaded for +the beautiful skin that covers his poison, so Homer for the bright +colourings he throws over bad characters and passions. Now, as I don't +think the beauties of poetry are comparable to those of philanthropy, +nor a thousandth part so important to human happiness, I must confess +I dread Homer, especially as the companion of youth. The humane and +gentle virtues are certainly the greatest charms and sweeteners of +life. And I suppose, sir, you would hardly think of sending your son +to Achilles to learn these." + +"I agree he has too much revenge in his composition." + +"Yes, sir, and when painted in the colours which Homer's glowing fancy +lends, what youth but must run the most imminent risk of catching a +spark of bad fire from such a blaze as he throws on his pictures?" + +"Why this, though an uncommon view of the subject, is, I confess, an +ingenious one, Mr. Franklin; but surely 'tis overstrained." + +"Not at all, sir; we are told from good authority, that it was the +reading of Homer that first put it into the head of Alexander the +great to become a HERO: and after him of Charles the 12th. What +millions of human beings have been slaughtered by these two great +butchers is not known; but still probably not a tythe of what have +perished in duels between individuals from the pride and revenge +nursed by reading Homer." + +"Well, sir," replied the governor, "I never heard the prince of bards +treated in this way before. You must certainly be singular in your +charges against Homer." + +"I ask your pardon, sir, I have the honour to think of Homer exactly +as did the greatest philosopher of antiquity; I mean Plato, who +strictly forbids the reading of Homer in his republic. And yet Plato +was a heathen. I don't boast myself as a christian; and yet I am +shocked at the inconsistency of our Latin and Greek teachers +(generally christians and DIVINES too,) who can one day put Homer into +the hands of their pupils, and in the midst of their recitations can +stop them short to point out the _divine beauties_ and _sublimities_ +which the poet gives to his hero, in the bloody work of slaughtering +the poor Trojans; and the next day take them to church to hear a +discourse from Christ on the blessedness of meekness and forgiveness. +No wonder that hot-livered young men thus educated, should despise +meekness and forgiveness, as mere cowards' virtues, and deem nothing +so glorious as fighting duels, and blowing out brains." + +Here the governor came to a pause, like a gamester at his last trump. +But perceiving Ben cast his eyes on a splendid copy of Pope's works, +he suddenly seized that as a _fine_ opportunity to turn the +conversation. So stepping up, he placed his hand on his shoulder, and +in a very familiar manner said, "Well, Mr. Franklin, there's an author +that I am sure you'll not quarrel with; an author that I think you'll +pronounce _faultless_." + +"Why, sir," replied Ben, "I entertain a most exalted opinion of Pope; +but still, sir, I think he is not without his faults." + +"It would puzzle you, I suspect, Mr. Franklin, as keen a critic as you +are, to point out _one_." + +"Well, sir," answered Ben, hastily turning to the place, "what do you +think of this famous couplet of Mr. Pope's-- + + "Immodest words admit of no defence, + For want of decency is want of sense." + +"I see no fault there." + +"No, indeed!" replied Ben, "why now to my mind a man can ask no better +excuse for any thing wrong he does, than his _want of sense_." + +"Well, sir," said the governor, sensibly staggered, "and how would you +alter it?" + +"Why, sir, if I might presume to alter a line in this great Poet, I +would do it in this way:-- + + "Immodest words admit but _this_ defence-- + That want of decency is want of sense." + +Here the governor caught Ben in his arms as a delighted father would +his son, calling out at the same time to the captain, "How greatly am +I obliged to you, sir, for bringing me to an acquaintance with this +charming boy? O! what a delightful thing it would be for us old +fellows to converse with sprightful youth if they were but all like +him!--But the d----l of it is, most parents are as blind as bats to +the true glory and happiness of their children. Most parents never +look higher for their sons than to see them delving like muckworms for +money; or hopping about like jay-birds, in fine feathers. Hence their +conversation is generally no better than froth and nonsense." + +After several other handsome compliments on Ben, and the captain +expressing a wish to be going, the governor shook hands with Ben, +begging at the same time that he would for ever consider him as one of +his fastest friends, and also never came to New-York without coming to +see him. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +On returning to the tavern, he hastened into his chamber, where he +found his drunken comrade, poor Collins, in a fine perspiration, and +considerably sobered, owing to the refrigerating effects of a pint of +strong sage tea, with a tea-spoonful of saltpetre, which Ben, before +he set out to the governor's, had pressed on him as a remedy he had +somewhere read, much in vogue among the London topers, to _cool off_ +after a rum fever. Collins appeared still to have enough of brandy in +him for a frolic; but when Ben came to tell him of the amiable +governor Burnet, in whose company, at his own palace, he had spent a +most delightful evening; and also to remind him of the golden +opportunity he had lost, of forming an acquaintance with that noble +gentleman, poor Collins wept bitterly. + +Ben was exceedingly affected to see him in tears, and endeavoured to +comfort him. But he refused comfort. He said, "if this had been the +_first time_, he should not himself think much of it; but he candidly +confessed, that for a long time he had been guilty of it, though till +of late he had always kept it to himself, drinking in his chamber. But +now he felt at times," he said, "an awful apprehension that he was a +_lost man_. His cravings for liquor were so strong on the one hand, +and on the other his powers of resistance so feeble, that it put him +fearfully in mind of the dismal state of a poor wretch, within the +fatal attraction of a whirlpool, whose resistless suction, in spite of +all his feeble efforts, was hurrying him down to sure and speedy +destruction." + +Collins, who was exceedingly eloquent on every subject, but especially +on one so nearly affecting himself, went on deploring his misfortune +in strains so tender and pathetic, that Ben, whose eyes were fountains +ever ready to flow at the voice of sorrow, could not refrain from +weeping, which he did most unfeignedly for a long esteemed friend now +going to ruin. He could bear, he said, to see the brightest plumed +bird, charmed by the rattle-snake, descending into the horrid +sepulchre of the monster's jaws. He could bear to see the richest +laden Indiaman, dismasted and rudderless, drifting ashore on the +merciless breakers; because made of dust, these things must at any +rate return to dust, again. But to see an immortal mind stopped in her +first soarings, entangled and limed in the filth of so brutal a vice +as drunkenness--that was a sight he could not bear. And as a mother +looking on her child that is filleted for the accursed Moloch, cannot +otherwise than shed tears, so Ben, when he looked on poor Collins, +could not but weep when he saw him the victim of destruction. + +However, as a good wit turns every thing to advantage, this sudden and +distressing fall of poor Collins, set Ben to thinking: and the result +of his thoughts noted down in his journal of that day, deserves the +attention of all young men of this day; and even will as long as human +nature endures. + +"Wit," says he, "in young men, is dangerous, because apt to breed +vanity, which, when disappointed, brings them down, and by depriving +them of _natural_ cheerfulness, drives them to the bottle for that +which is _artificial_.--And learning also is dangerous, when it is +aimed at as an _end_ and not a _mean_. A young man who aspires to be +learned merely for _fame_, is in danger; for, familiarity breeding +contempt, creates an uneasy void that drives him to the bottle. Hence +so many learned men with red noses. But when a man from a benevolent +heart, seeks learning for the sublime pleasure of imitating the Deity +in _doing good_, he is always made so happy in the spirit and pursuit +of this godlike object, that he needs not the stimulus of brandy." + +This one hint, if duly reflected on by young men, would render the +name of Franklin dear to them for ever. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +The next day, when they came to settle with the tavern-keeper, and Ben +with his usual alacrity had paraded his dollars for payment, poor +Collins hung back, pale and dumb-founded, as a truant school-boy at +the call to recitation. The truth is, the fumes of his brandy having +driven all the wit out of his noddle, had puffed it up with such +infinite vanity, that he must needs turn in, red faced and silly as he +was, to gamble with the cool-headed water-drinking sharpers of +New-York. The reader hardly need be informed, that poor Collins' +pistareens, which he had scraped together for this expedition, were to +these light-fingered gentlemen as a fry of young herrings to the +hungry dog-fish. + +Ben was now placed in a most awkward predicament. To pay off Collins' +scores at New-York, and also his expenses on the road to Philadelphia, +would drain him to the last farthing. But how could he leave in +distress a young friend with whom he had passed so many happy days and +nights in the elegant pleasure of literature, and for whom he had +contracted such an attachment! Ben could not bear the idea, especially +as his young friend, if left in this sad condition, might be driven to +despair; so drawing his purse he paid off Collins' bill, which, from +the quantity of liquor he had drank, was swelled to a serious amount; +and taking him by the arm, set out with a heart much heavier than his +purse, which indeed was now so empty that had it not been replenished +at Bristol by the thirty pounds for which, as we have seen, Vernon +gave him an order on a gentleman living there, who readily paid it, +would never have carried him and his drunken companion to +Philadelphia. On their arrival Collins endeavoured to procure +employment as a merchant's clerk, and paraded with great confidence +his letters of recommendation. But his breath betrayed him. And the +merchants would have nothing to say to him notwithstanding all his +letters; he continued, therefore, to lodge and board with Ben at his +expense. Nor was this all; for knowing that Ben had Vernon's money, he +was continually craving loans of it, promising to pay as soon as he +should get into business. By thus imposing on Ben's friendship, +getting a little of him at one time, and a little at another, he had +at last got so much of it, that when Ben, who had gone on _lending_ +without taking note, came to count Vernon's money, he could hardly +find a dollar to count! + +It is not easy to describe the agitation of Ben's mind on making this +discovery; nor the alternate chill and fever, that discoloured his +cheeks, as he reflected on his own egregious folly in this affair. +"What demon," said he to himself, as he bit his lip, "could have put +it into my head to tell Collins that I had Vernon's money! Didn't I +know that a drunkard has no more reason in him than a hog; and can no +better be satisfied, unless like him he is eternally pulling at his +filthy swill? And have I indeed been all this time throwing away +Vernon's money for brandy to addle the brain of this poor _self-made_ +brute? Well then, I am served exactly as I deserve, for thus making +myself a pander to his vices. But now that the money is all gone, and +I without a shilling to replace it, what's to be done? Vernon will, no +doubt, soon learn that I have collected his money; and will of course +be daily expecting to hear from me. But what can I write? To tell him +that I have collected his money, but lent it to a poor, pennyless sot, +will sound like a pretty story, to a man of business! And if I don't +write to him, what will he think of me, and what will become of that +high opinion he had formed of me, on which it appeared he would have +trusted me with thousands? So you see, I have got myself into a pretty +hobble. And worse than all yet, how shall I ever again lift up my +booby face to my affectionate brother John, after having thus basely +stabbed him, through his friend, as also through the honour of our +family! O my dear, dear old father; now I see your wisdom and my own +folly! A thousand times did you tell me I was too young; too +inexperienced yet, to undertake by myself.--But no. It would not all +do. For the life of you, you could not lead or drive such divine +counsel into this conceited noddle of mine. I despised it as the +_weakness of old age_, and much too _slow_ for me. I wanted to save +time, and get three or four years ahead of other young men; and that +tempted me to disobedience. Well, I am justly punished for it! My +bubble is broke. And now I see I shall be thrown back as long as if I +had continued the apprentice of my brother James!!" + +O young men! young men! you that with segars in your mouths, and faces +flushed with libations of whiskey, can fancy yourselves _clever +fellows_, and boast the long list of your _dear friends_, O think of +the curses that Ben bestowed on his dear friend Collins, for bringing +him in such a scrape; and learn that an idle, drinking rascal has no +friends. If you think otherwise, it is only a proof that you don't +even yet understand the meaning of the word. FRIENDS indeed! you talk +of friends! What, _you_, who instead of nobly pressing on for VIRTUE +and KNOWLEDGE and WEALTH, to make yourselves an honour and blessing to +your connexions, are constantly, by your drunken and gambling courses, +making yourselves a disgrace and curse to them. And when, like that +fool in the parable, your all is gone, then, instead of modestly going +with him into the fields, to feed the swine, you have the impudence to +quarter your rags and red noses on your _dear friends_, spunging and +borrowing of them as long as they'll lend. And if at last, they should +get wise enough to refuse such unconscionable leechers, as would suck +every drop of their blood, instantly you can turn tail and abuse your +_dear friends_ as though they were pick-pockets.--Witness now master +Collins. + +Just as Ben was in the midst of his fever and pet, on discovering as +aforesaid, the great injury which Collins had done him, who but that +promising youth should come in, red faced and blowzy, and with extreme +confidence, demand of him a couple of dollars. Ben, rather tartly, +replied that he had no more to spare. "Pshaw," answered Collins, "'tis +only a brace of dollars I want, just to treat an old Boston +acquaintance I fell in with at the tavern, and you know Vernon tipt +you 'the shiners' t'other day to the tune of a round hundred." "Yes," +replied Ben, "but what with two dollars at one time, and two at +another, you have taken nearly the whole." "Well, man, and what of +that," rejoined Collins, swaggeringly; "suppose I had taken the +_whole_; yes, and twice as much, sha'nt I get into fine business +presently, some head clerk's place, or governor's secretary? And then +you'll see how I'll tumble you in the _yellow boys_ hand over hand, +and pay you off these little beggarly items all at a dash." + +"_Fair words, Mr. Collins_," answered Ben, "_butter no parsnips_. And +you have been so long talking at this rate, and yet doing nothing, +that I really am afraid----" + +"Afraid, the d----l," interrupted Collins, insultingly, "afraid of +what? But see here, Mr. Franklin, I came to you, not to preach to me, +but to lend me a couple of dollars. And now all that you have to do is +just to tell me, at a word, whether you can lend them or not." + +"Well then, at a word, I cannot," said Ben. + +"Well then, you are an ungrateful fellow," retorted Collins. + +"Ungrateful?" asked Ben, utterly astonished. + +"Yes, an ungrateful fellow," replied Collins. "You dare not deny, sir, +that it was I who first took you out of the tallow pots and grease of +your old father's candle shop in Boston, and made a man of you. And +now after all, when I only ask you to lend me a couple of shabby +dollars to treat a friend, you can refuse me! Well, keep your dollars +to yourself and be d----d for an ungrateful fellow as you are!" then +wheeling on his heel he went off, blustering and swollen with passion, +as though he had been most outrageously ill-treated. Soon as Ben had +recovered himself a little from the stupefaction into which this +tornado of Collins had thrown him, he clapped his hands, and rolling +up his eyes like one devoutly given, exclaimed, "O Ulysses, well +called wise! You, though a heathen, could lash your sailors to the +mast to keep them from going ashore to be made hogs of at the _grog +shops of Circe_, while I, the son of an old presbyterian christian, +the son of his old age, and heir elect of all his wisdom, have been +here now for weeks together, lending money to brutalize my own friend! +Would to heaven, I had been but half as wise as you, I should not have +been so shamefully fleeced, and now so grossly insulted by this young +swine, Collins. But what brain of man could have suspected this of +him? After taking him out of the stye of a jug tavern in New-York, +where he was up to the back in dirt and debt--after paying all his +expenses to Philadelphia, and here supporting him cheerfully, out of +my hard and scanty earnings;--after submitting, for cheapness sake, to +sleep in the same bed with him every night, scorched with his +rum-fevered flesh, drenched in his nocturnal sweats, and poisoned with +his filthy breath; and still worse, after lending him nearly the whole +of Vernon's money, and thereby brought my own silly nose to the +grindstone, perhaps for many a doleful year, I should now at last be +requited with all this abuse: d--n--d for an _ungrateful fellow_!! +Well, I don't know where all this is to end; but I will still hope for +the best. I hope it will teach me this important lesson, never to have +any thing to do with a _sot_ again, as long as I live. But stop, +though I refused him money to get drunk with, I still feel a +friendship for this wretched young man, this Collins; and will still +work to support him, while he stays with me. It is likely that now, +that he can get no more money from me, he will take his departure; and +then, if my senses remain, I think I will for ever hereafter shun, as +I would a beast, the young man who drinks _drams and grog_." + +From his going off in such a pet, Ben had supposed at first, that +Collins would not return again. But having no money nor friends in +Philadelphia, the poor fellow came back at night, to his old roosting +place with Ben, by whom he was received with the same good humour as +if nothing had happened. But though the injured may forgive, the +injurer seldom does. Collins never looked straight at Ben after this. +The recollection of the past kept him sore. And to be dependent on one +whom, in the pride of former days, he had thought his inferior, +rendered his condition so uneasy, that he longed for an opportunity to +get out of it. Fortunately an opportunity soon offered. The captain of +a trader to the West Indies, falling in with him one day at a tavern, +where he was spouting away at a most elegant rate, was so charmed with +his vivacity and wit, which most young fools, half shaved, are apt to +figure in, that he offered him the place of a private tutor in a rich +family in Jamaica. Dame fortune, in her best humour, with all her +cogged dice in the bargain, could not, as Collins himself thought, +have thrown him a luckier hit. Young black eyed creoles, with fourth +proof spirit, in all its delicious modifications, of _slings, bumbo +and punch_, dancing before his delighted fancy, in such mazes of +pleasurable promise, that 'tis likely he would hardly have exchanged +places with the grand Turk. With a countenance glowing with joy, he +hastened to Ben to tell him the glorious news, and to take leave. +After heartily congratulating him on his good fortune, Ben asked, if +he would not want a little money to _fit him out_. Collins thanked +him, but said that the captain, who had engaged him, was such a +noble-hearted fellow, that he had, of his own accord, advanced him +_three half joes_ to put him into what he called "_complete sailing +trim_." Though Ben had of late been so scurvily treated by Collins, as +to think it very desirable to be quit of him; yet, when the time came, +he found it no such easy matter for the heart to dissolve the ties of +a long and once pleasant friendship. He had passed with Collins many +of his happiest hours, and these too, in the sweetest season of life, +and amidst pleasures which best lift the soul from earth, and spring +those unutterable hopes she delights in. How then, without tears, +could he for the last time, feel the strong pressure of his hand, and +catch the parting glance? On the other side, through watery eyes and +broken accents, poor Collins sobbed out his last adieu, not without +hearty thanks, for the many favors which Ben had done him, and solemn +promises of speedily _writing to him, and remitting all his money_. +Charity would fain believe, that he fully so intended; but alas! nor +money, nor friend did Ben ever hear of afterwards. This elegant victim +of rum, was no doubt presented by the captain to the wealthy family in +Jamaica. And being introduced, under the genial influence perhaps of a +cheerful glass, 'tis likely that with his advantages of education and +eloquence, he made such a figure in the eyes of those wealthy and +hospitable islanders, that they were in raptures with him, and fondly +counted that they had got an elegant young schoolmaster who was to +make scholars and wits of the whole family. Perhaps too, their darling +hope, a blooming daughter, was seen to heave the tender sigh, as +blushing she darted the side-long glance upon him. But alas! the next +day sees the elegant young schoolmaster _dead drunk!_ and the amiable +family all in the dumps again. 'Tis more than probable, that after +having been alternately received and dismissed from a dozen wealthy +families, he sunk at length, into tattered garments, and a +grog-blossomed face; the mournful victim of intemperance. And now +perhaps, after all the fair prospects of his youth, and all the fond +hopes of his parents, poor Collins, untimely buried in a foreign +church-yard, only serves for the pious to point their children to his +early tomb and remind them how vain are talents and education without +the restraints of religion. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +Soon as Ben reached Philadelphia, as aforesaid, he waited on the +governor, who received him with joy, eagerly calling out, "_Well my +dear boy, what success? What success?_" Ben, with a smile, drew his +father's letter from his pocket. The governor snatched it, as if all +impatient to see its contents, which he ran through with a devouring +haste. When he was done, he shook his head and said, "it was to be +sure a sensible letter, a vastly sensible letter; _but_--_but_,--it +won't do," continued he to Ben, "no, it won't do; your father is too +cautious, entirely too cautious, sir." Hereupon he fell into a brown +study, with his eyes nailed to the ground, as in a profound reverie. +After a moment's pause, he suddenly looked up, and with a countenance +bright as with some happy thought, he cried out, "I've got it, my dear +young friend, I've got it exactly. Zounds! what signifies making two +bites at a cherry? _In for a penny, in for a pound_, is my way. Since +your father will do nothing for you, I'll do it all myself. A printer +I want, and a printer I'll have, that's a clear case: and I am sure +you are the lad that will suit me to a fraction. So give me a list of +the articles you want from England, and I will send for them by the +very next ship, and set you up at once: and all I shall expect of you, +is that you'll pay me when you are able!!" Seeing the tear swelling in +Ben's eye, the governor took him by the hand, and in a softened tone +said, "come, nothing of that my dear boy, nothing of that. A lad of +your talents and merit, must not languish in the back ground for lack +of a little money to bring you forward. So make me out, as I said, a +list of such articles as you may want, and I'll send for them at once +to London.--But stop! would it not be better for you to go to London, +and choose these things yourself? you could then, you know, be sure to +have them all of the best quality. And besides, you could form an +acquaintance with _some clever fellows_ in the book selling and +stationary line, whose friendship might be worth a Jew's eye to you, +in your business here." + +Ben, hardly able now to speak, thanked the governor as well as he +could for so generous an offer.--"Well then," continued the governor, +"get yourself in readiness to go with the Annis." The reader will +please to be informed, that the Annis was, at that time, (1722) the +only regular trader between London and Philadelphia; and she made but +one voyage in the year! Finding that the Annis was not to sail for +several months yet, Ben prudently continued to do journey work for old +Keimer; but often haunted with the ghost of Vernon's money which he +had lent to Collins, and for fear of what would become of him if +Vernon should be strict _to mark his iniquities_ in that mad affair. +But happily for him, Vernon made no demand. It appeared afterwards +that this worthy man had not forgotten his money. But learning from a +variety of quarters, that Ben was a perfect non-descript of industry +and frugality, he concluded that as the money was not paid, Ben was +probably under the hatches. He therefore, generously, let the matter +lie over till a distant day, when Ben, as we shall by and by see, paid +him up fully, both principal and interest, and thus recovered the high +ground he formerly held in his friendship. Thanks be to God, who has +given to inflexible honesty and industry, such power over the "_heart +strings_," as well as "_purse strings_," of mankind. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +Ben was naturally comic in a high degree, and this pleasant vein, +greatly improved by his present golden prospects, betrayed him into +many a frolic with Keimer, to whom he had prudently attached himself +as a journeyman, until the Annis should sail. The reader will excuse +Ben for these frolics when he comes to learn what were their aims; as +also what an insufferable old creature this Keimer was. Silly as a +BOOBY, yet vain as a JAY, and garrulous as a PIE, he could never rest +but when in a stiff argument, and acting the orator, at which he +looked on Cicero himself as but a boy to him. Here was a fine target +for Ben's SOCRATIC ARTILLERY, which he frequently played off on the +old pomposo with great effect. By questions artfully put, he would +obtain of him certain points, which Keimer readily granted, as seeing +in them no sort of connexion with the matter in debate. But yet these +points, when granted, like distant nets slyly hauling round a porpoise +or sturgeon, would, by degrees, so completely circumvent the silly +fish, that with all his flouncing and fury he could never extricate +himself, but rather got more deeply entangled. Often caught in this +way, he became at last so afraid of Ben's _questions_, that he would +turn as mad when one of them was "_poked at him_," as a bull at sight +of a scarlet cloak; and would not answer the simplest question without +first asking, "_well, and what would you make of that?_" He came at +length to form so exalted an opinion of Ben's talents for refutation, +that he seriously proposed to him one day that they should turn out +together and preach up a NEW RELIGION! Keimer was to preach and make +the converts, and Ben to answer and put to silence the gainsayers. He +said a _world of money_ might be made by it. + +On hearing the outlines of this new religion, Ben found great fault +with it. This he did only that he might have another frolic with +Keimer; but his frolics were praiseworthy, for they all "leaned to +virtue's side." The truth is, he saw that Keimer was prodigiously a +hypocrite. At every whip-stitch he could play the knave, and then for +a pretence would read his Bible. But it was not the _moral part_ of +the Bible, the sweet precepts and parables of the Gospel that he read. +No verily. Food so angelic was not at all to the tooth of his childish +fancy, which delighted in nothing but the _novel_ and _curious_. Like +too many of the saints now-a-days, he would rather read about the +WITCH OF ENDOR, than the GOOD SAMARITAN, and hear a sermon on the +_brazen candlesticks_ than on the LOVE OF GOD. And then, O dear! who +was Melchizedeck? Or where was the land of Nod? Or, was it in the +shape of a _serpent or a monkey_ that the devil tempted Eve? As he was +one day poring over the pentateuch as busy after some nice game of +this sort as a terrier on the track of a weazle, he came to that +famous text where Moses says, "_thou shall not mar the corners of thy +beard_." Aye! this was the divinity for Keimer. It struck him like a +new light from the clouds: then rolling his eyes as from an +apparition, he exclaimed, "miserable man that I am! and was I indeed +forbidden to mar even the corners of my beard, and have I been all +this time shaving myself as smooth as an eunuch! Fire and brimstone, +how have you been boiling up for me, and I knew it not! Hell, deepest +hell is my portion, that's a clear case, unless I reform. And reform I +will if I live. Yes, my poor naked chin, if ever I but get another +crop upon thee and I suffer it to be touched by the ungodly steel, +then let my right hand forget her cunning." + +From that day he became as shy of a razor as ever Samson was. His long +black whiskers "_whistled in the wind_." And then to see how he would +stand up before his glass and stroke them down, it would have reminded +you of some ancient Druid, adjusting the _sacred Mistletoe_. + +Ben could not bear that sight. Such shameless neglect of angel +morality, and yet such fidgetting about a goatish beard! "Heavens, +sir," said he to Keimer, one day in the midst of a hot argument, + + "Who can think, with common sense, + A smooth shaved face gives God offence? + Or that a whisker hath a charm, + Eternal justice to disarm?" + +He even proposed to him to get _shaved_. Keimer swore outright that he +would never lose his beard. A stiff altercation ensued. But Keimer +getting angry, Ben agreed at last to give up the beard. He said that, +"as the beard at best was but an external, a mere excrescence, he +would not insist on that as so very essential. But certainly sir," +continued he, "there is one thing that is." + +Keimer wanted to know what that was. + +"Why sir," added Ben, "this turning out and preaching up a NEW +RELIGION, is, without doubt, a very serious affair, and ought not to +be undertaken too hastily. Much time, sir, in my opinion at least, +should be spent in making preparation, in which, fasting should +certainly have a large share." + +Keimer, who was a great glutton, said he could _never fast_. + +Ben then insisted that if they were not to fast altogether, they +ought, at any rate, to abstain from animal food, and live as the +saints of old did, on _vegetables_ and _water_. + +Keimer shook his head, and said that if he were to live on vegetables +and water, he should soon die. + +Ben assured him that it was entirely a mistake. He had tried it often, +he said, and could testify from his own experience that he was never +more healthy and cheerful than when he lived on vegetables alone. "Die +from feeding on vegetables, indeed! Why, sir, it contradicts reason; +and contradicts all history, ancient and profane. There was Daniel, +and his three young friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who fed +on a vegetable diet, of choice; did they languish and die of it? or +rather did they not display a rouge of health and fire of genius, far +beyond those silly youths who crammed on all the luxuries of the royal +table? And that amiable Italian nobleman, Lewis Cornaro, who says of +bread, that it was such a dainty to his palate, that he was almost +afraid, at times, it was too good for him to eat; did he languish and +die of this simple fare? On the contrary, did he not out-live three +generations of gratified epicures; and after all, go off in his second +century, like a bird of Paradise, singing the praises of Temperance +and Virtue? And pray, sir," continued Ben, "where's the wonder of all +this? Must not the blood that is formed of vegetables be the purest in +nature? And then, as the spirits depend on the blood, must not the +spirits secreted from such blood be the purest too? And when this is +the case with the blood and spirits, which are the very life of the +man, must not that man enjoy the best chance for such healthy +secretions and circulations as are most conducive to long and happy +life?" + +While Ben argued at this rate, Keimer regarded him with a look which +seemed to say, "Very true, sir; all this is very true; but still I +cannot _go it_." + +Ben, still unwilling to give up his point, thought he would make one +more push at him. "What a pity it is," said he with a sigh, "that the +blessings of so sublime a religion should be all lost to the world, +merely for lack of a little fortitude on the part of its propagators." + +This was touching him on the right string; for Keimer was a man of +such vanity, that a little flattery would put him up to any thing. So +after a few _hems_ and _ha's_, he said, he believed he would, at any +rate, make a trial of this new regimen. + +Having thus carried his point, Ben immediately engaged a poor old +woman of the neighbourhood to become their cook; and gave her off +hand, written receipts for three and forty dishes; not one of which +contained a single atom of fish, flesh, or fowl. For their first day's +breakfast on the _new regimen_, the old woman treated them with a +terrene of oatmeal gruel. Keimer was particularly fond of his +breakfast, at which a nice beef-stake with onion sauce was a standing +dish. It was as good as a farce to Ben, to see with what an eye Keimer +regarded the terrene, when entering the room, in place of his stake, +hot, smoking, and savory, he beheld this pale, meagre-looking slop. + +"What have you got there?" said he, with a visage grum, and scowling +eye. + +"A dish of hasty pudding," replied Ben, with the smile of an innocent +youth who had a keen appetite, with something good to satisfy it--"a +dish of nice hasty pudding, sir, made of oats." + +"Of OATS!" retorted Keimer, with a voice raised to a scream. + +"Yes, sir, _oats_," rejoined Ben,--"_oats_, that precious grain which +gives such elegance and fire to our noblest of quadrupeds, the horse." + +Keimer growled out, that he was no horse to eat oats. + +"No matter for that," replied Ben, "'tis equally good for men." + +Keimer denied that any human being ever eat oats. + +"Aye!" said Ben, "and pray what's become of the Scotch? Don't they +live on oats; and yet, where will you find a people so 'bonny, blythe, +and gay;' a nation of such wits and warriors." + +As there was no answering this, Keimer sat down to the terrene, and +swallowed a few spoonfuls, but not without making as many wry faces as +if it had been so much jalap; while Ben, all smile and chat, +breakfasted most deliciously. + +At dinner, by Ben's order, the old woman paraded a trencher piled up +with potatoes. Keimer's grumbling fit came on him again. "He saw clear +enough," he said, "that he was to be poisoned." + +"Poh, cheer up, man," replied Ben; "this is your right preacher's +bread." + +"Bread the d----l!" replied Keimer, snarling. + +"Yes, bread, sir," continued Ben, pleasantly; "the bread of _life_, +sir; for where do you find such health and spirits, such bloom and +beauty, as among the honest-hearted IRISH, and yet for their +breakfast, dinner, and supper, the potato is their tetotum; the +_first_, _second_, and _third_ course." In this way, Ben and his old +woman went on with Keimer; daily ringing the changes on oat-meal +gruel, roasted potatoes, boiled rice, and so on, through the whole +family of roots and grains in all their various genders, moods, and +tenses. + +Sometimes, like a restive mule, Keimer would kick up and show strong +symptoms of flying the way. But then Ben would prick him up again with +a touch of his ruling passion, vanity; "only think, Mr. Keimer," he +would say, "only think what has been done by the founders of _new +religions_: how they have enlightened the ignorant, polished the rude, +civilized the savage, and made heroes of those who were little better +than brutes. Think, sir, what Moses did among the stiff-necked Jews; +what Mahomet did among the wild Arabs--and what you may do among these +gentle drab-coated Pennsylvanians." This, like a spur in the flank of +a jaded horse, gave Keimer a new start, and pushed him on afresh to +his gruel breakfasts and potato dinners. Ben strove hard to keep him +up to this gait. Often at table, and especially when he saw that +Keimer was in good humour and fed kindly, he would give a loose to +fancy, and paint the advantages of their new regimen in the most +glowing colours. "Aye, sir," he would say, letting drop at the same +time his spoon, as in an ecstasy of his subject, while his pudding on +the platter cooled--"aye, sir, now we are beginning to live like men +going a preaching indeed. Let your epicures gormandize their fowl, +fish, and flesh, with draughts of intoxicating liquors. Such gross, +inflammatory food may suit the brutal votaries of Mars and Venus. But +our views, sir, are different altogether; we are going to teach wisdom +and benevolence to mankind. This is a heavenly work, sir, and our +minds ought to be heavenly. Now, as the mind depends greatly on the +body, and the body on the food, we should certainly select that which +is of the most pure and refining quality. And this, sir, is exactly +the food to our purpose. This mild potato, or this gentle pudding, is +the thing to insure the light stomach, the cool liver, the clear head, +and, above all, those celestial passions which become a preacher that +would moralize the world. And these celestial passions, sir, let me +add, though I don't pretend to be a prophet, these celestial passions, +sir, were you but to stick to this diet, would soon shine out in your +countenance with such apostolic majesty and grace, as would strike all +beholders with reverence, and enable you to carry the world before +you." + +Such was the style of Ben's rhetoric with old Keimer. But it could not +all do. For though these harangues would sometimes make him fancy +himself as big as Zoroaster or Confucius, and talk as if he should +soon have the whole country running after him, and worshipping him for +the GREAT LAMA of the west; yet this divinity fit was too much against +the grain to last long. Unfortunately for poor Keimer, the kitchen lay +between him and his bishobprick: and both nature and habit had so +wedded him to that swinish idol, that nothing could divorce him. So +after having been led by Ben a "_very d----l of a life_," as he called +it, "_for three months_," his flesh-pot appetites prevailed, and he +swore, "_by his whiskers, he would suffer it no longer_." Accordingly +he ordered a nice roast pig for dinner, and desired Ben to invite a +young friend to dine with them. Ben did so: but neither himself nor +his young friend were any thing the better for the pig. For before +they could arrive, the pig being done, and his appetite beyond all +restraint, Keimer had fallen on it and devoured the whole. And there +he sat panting and torpid as an ANACONDA who had just swallowed a +young buffaloe. But still his looks gave sign that the "_Ministers of +Grace_" had not entirely deserted him, for at sight of Ben and his +young friend, he blushed up to the eye lids, and in a glow of scarlet, +which showed that he paid dear for his _whistle_, (gluttony) he +apologized for disappointing them of their dinner. "Indeed, the smell +of the pig," he said, "was so sweet, and the nicely browned skin so +inviting, especially to him who had been _long starved_, that for the +soul of him he could not resist the temptation to _taste it_--and +then, O! if Lucifer himself had been at the door, he must have gone +on, let what would have been the consequences." He said too, "that for +his part he was glad it was a _pig_ and not a _hog_, for that he +verily believed he should have bursted himself."--Then leaning back in +his chair and pressing his swollen abdomen with his paws, he exclaimed +with an awkward laugh, "_Well_, I don't believe I was ever cut out for +a bishop!"--Here ended the farce: for Keimer never after this uttered +another word about his NEW RELIGION. + +Ben used, laughing, to say that he drew Keimer into this scrape that +he might enjoy the satisfaction of _starving him out of his gluttony_. +And he did it also that he might save the more _for books and +candles:_ their vegetable regimen costing him, in all, rather less +than three cents a day! To those who can spend twenty times this sum +on tobacco and whiskey alone, _three_ cents per day must appear a +scurvy allowance, and of course poor Ben must be sadly pitied. But +such philosophers should remember that all depends on our loves, whose +property it is to make bitter things sweet, and heavy things light. + +For example: to lie out in the darksome swamp with no other canopy but +the sky, and no bed but the cold ground, and his only music the +midnight owl or screaming alligator, seems terrible to servile minds; +but it was joy to Marion, whose "_whole soul_," as general Lee well +observes, "_was devoted to liberty and country_." + +So, to shut himself up in a dirty printing-office, with no dinner but +a bit of bread, no supper but an apple, must appear to every epicure +as it did to Keimer, "_a mere d----l of a life_;" but it was joy to +Ben, whose whole soul was on his _books_, as the sacred lamps that +were to guide him to usefulness and glory. + +Happy he who early strikes into the path of _wisdom_, and bravely +walks therein till habit sprinkles it with roses. He shall be led as a +lamb among the green pastures along the water courses of pleasure, nor +shall he ever experience the pang of those + + "Who see the right, and approve it too; + Condemn the wrong--and yet the wrong pursue." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + +Ben, as we have seen, was never without a knot of choice spirits, like +satellites, constantly revolving around him, and both receiving and +reflecting light. By these satellites I mean young men of fine minds, +and fond of books. He had at this time a _trio_ of such. The first was +of the name of Osborne, the second Watson, and the third Ralph. As the +two first were a good deal of the nature of wandering stars, which, +though bright, soon disappear again, I shall let them pass away in +silence. But the last, that's to say, Ralph, shone so long in the same +sphere with Ben, both in America and Europe, that it will never do to +let him go without giving the reader somewhat at least of a telescopic +squint at him. James Ralph, then, was a young man of the first rate +talents, ingenious at argument, of flowery fancy, most fascinating in +his manners, and uncommonly eloquent. In short, he appears to have +been built and equipped to run the voyage of life with as splendid +success as any. But alas! as the seamen say of their ships, "_he took +the wrong sheer_." Hence, while many a DULL GENIUS, with only a few +plain-sailing virtues on board, such as honest industry, good humour, +and prudence, have made fine weather through life, and come into port +at last laden _up to the bends_ with riches and honours, this gallant +PROA, this stately GONDOLA, the moment he was put to sea, was caught +up in a Euroclydon of furious passions and appetites that shivered his +character and peace, and made a wreck of him at the very outset. + +According to his own account, it appears that Ben was often haunted +with fears that he himself had some hand in Ralph's disasters. Dr. +Franklin was certainly one of the wisest of mankind. But with all his +wisdom he was still but a man, and therefore liable to err. Solomon, +we know, was fallible; what wonder then young Franklin? + +But here lies the difference between these two wise men, as to their +errors. Solomon, according to scripture, was sometimes overcome of +Satan, even in the bone and sinew of his strength; but the devil was +too hard for Franklin only while he was in the _gristle_ of his youth. +The case was thus: among the myriads of books which came to his eager +tooth, there was a most unlucky one on deism, written, 'tis said, by +Shaftesbury, a man admirably calculated to pervert the truth; or, as +Milton says of one of his fallen spirits, to make "_the worse appear +the better reason_." Mark now this imposing writer--he does not utter +you a word against religion; not he indeed: no, not for the world. +Why, sirs, he's the best friend of religion. He praises it up to the +skies, as the sole glory of man, the strong pillar of his virtues, and +the inexhaustible fountain of all his hopes. But then he cannot away +with that false religion, that detestable superstition called +christianity. And here, to set his readers against it, he gives them a +most horrible catalogue of the cruelties and bloody persecutions it +has always occasioned in the world; nay, he goes so far as to assert +that christians are the _natural enemies of mankind_; "vainly +conceiting themselves," says he, "to be the favourites of heaven, they +look on the rest of the world but as 'heathen dogs' whom it is 'doing +God service to kill,' and whose goods it is right to seize on, as +spoil for the Lord's people! Who," he asks crowingly, "filled Asia +with fire and sword in the bloody wars of the Crusades? The +christians. Who depopulated the fine negro-coasts of Africa? The +christians. Who extirpated many of the once glorious Indian nations of +America? The christians; nay," continues he, "so keen are those +christians for blood, that when they can't get their 'heathen dogs' to +fall on, they fall on one another: witness the papist christians +destroying the protestants, and the protestant christians destroying +the papists. And still greater shame," says he, "to these sweet +followers of the Lamb, these papist and protestant christians, when +they can no longer worry each other, will worry those of their own +party, as in numberless and shameful cases of the calvinists and +arminians; nay, so prone are the christians to hate, that their +greatest doctors even in their _pulpits_, instead of exhorting to +piety and those godlike virtues, that make men honour and love one +another, will fix on the vainest speculations; which, though not +understood by one soul among them, yet serve abundantly to set them +all by the ears; yes, they can hate one another: + + "For believing that there are three persons in the Godhead; or only + one person. + + "For believing that there are children in hell not a span long; or + for not believing it. + + "For believing that every body will be saved; or for believing that + scarcely any body will be saved. + + "For baptizing in mill ponds; or only out of china bowls. + + "For taking the sacrament in both elements; or only in the bread. + + "For praying in Latin; or for praying only in English. + + "For praying with a book; or for praying without a book. + + "For praying standing; or for praying kneeling. + + "For reading the Bible by themselves; or for reading it only with a + priest. + + "For wearing long beards; or for shaving their beards. + + "For preaching up predestination; or for preaching up free will. + +"Now," continues our writer, "barely to _hate_ one's neighbours for +such notions as these, were enough, one would think, to make any +common d----l blush; but these christians, as if to out-d----l Satan +himself, can not only hate, but actually murder one another for these +contradictory notions! yes; and oh, horrible to think! not only +murder, but even glory in it: at every shower of cruel bullets on +their flying victims; or at every plunge of the reeking spear into the +bodies of shrieking mothers and infants, they can cheer each other to +_the glorious spot_ with animating huzzas! and even when the infernal +tragedy is closed, they can write congratulatory letters, and sing _Te +Deums_, giving glory to God that the MONSTERS--the BEASTS--the +HERETICS, are rooted out." + +Such was the prince of infidels. And it was the very argument to +stagger Ben, even the dangerous argument of example, which young as he +was, he had learned to consider as a short way of coming at men's real +principles. + + "Example is a living law, whose sway + Men more than all the living laws obey." + +Or as Hudibras has it, + + "Men oft prove it by their _practice_: + No argument like matter of _fact_ is. + And we are, best of all, led to + Men's principles, by what they do." + +'Tis true, that to tax the gospel with these accursed deeds of mad +papists and protestants, is just about as good logic as to accuse our +excellent civil code with all the crimes of gamblers and horse +thieves--the very rascals it aims to hang. Or like charging the sun as +the cause of _darkness_, which indeed it was given to dispel. + +But Ben was too young yet, to know everything. And besides, led +altogether as he was by the strongest feelings of sympathy, it is not +much to be wondered at, that this popular argument, "_the barbarities +of christians_," should have excited so lasting prejudice against +christianity. As some men of delicate natures who have taken an +emetic, though in the best madeira, can never afterwards bear the +smell of that generous liquor; so christianity, steeped in tears and +blood, excited in Ben an aversion that stuck by him a long time. In +short, Ben became an unbeliever. And, like Paul of Tarsus, during the +reign of his unbelief, "_he thought verily he ought to do many things +contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth, which things he also did_," +arguing powerfully for _natural_ religion. + +How many converts he made to infidelity, I have never been able +exactly to learn. But certain it is, he made two, viz. John Collins +and James Ralph. As to Collins, we have seen already, that in +converting him to scepticism, he soon _drew down an old house over his +head_, his pupil quickly turning out a most impudent drunkard and +swindler. And though he expected better luck from Ralph, yet he +quickly discovered in him also certain very dismal symptoms of the +cloven foot. + +Some short time before the sailing of the Annis, Ben, in the warmth of +his heart, told Ralph of the immense affair which Sir William Keith +had engaged him in, viz. to make him the KING'S PRINTER in +Philadelphia. And also that he was about to sail in a few days on that +very errand for London. Ralph suddenly turned serious; the next day he +came and told Ben that he had made up his mind to go with him. "How +can that be," said Ben, "seeing you have a young wife and child?" To +this Ralph replied, with an oath, that "that should be no obstacle." +"It was true," he said, "he had married the wench, but it was only for +her money. But since the old rascal, her father, would not give it to +him, he was determined to be revenged on him, by leaving his daughter +and grandchild on his hands for life." + +Ben, though greatly shocked by this trait in his character, was yet so +blindly partial to Ralph that he could not find in his heart to spurn +him from his acquaintance. But for this, as he afterwards called it, +_great error in his life_, he received a chastisement, which, though +pretty severe, was not one stripe more than he richly deserved. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +The day at length arrives, the long wished day for the sailing of the +Annis; and Ben gladly hails it as the fairest he had ever seen. + + All in the stream the ship she lies, + Her topsails loosen'd from above, + When Ben to DEBBY fondly flies + To bid farewell to his TRUE LOVE. + +But brightly as shone the day, yet in this, as in all the past, he +found a canker. If the season served his ambition, it crossed his +love. The reader will please be reminded that the _Debby_, +immortalized in the lines above, was the beautiful Miss Deborah Read, +who had at first so heartily laughed at Ben for munching his roll +along the street; but afterwards had fallen very much in love with +him. And, on the other hand, living in her father's family, and daily +a spectator of her prudence and sweetness of spirit, he had become +equally partial to her; and had even asked her in marriage, before he +set out for London. The old gentleman, her father, was quite keen for +the match, it having always been his opinion, he said, that in +choosing a husband for his daughter, it was better to get _a man +without money, than money without a man_. + +But old Mrs. Read flatly refused her consent; or, at any rate, until +his return, when, as she said, it would be full time enough for "_such +young people to marry_." The truth is, the printing trade, then in its +infancy in Pennsylvania, was of such little account that the old lady +had her fears that her daughter would _starve_ if she married Ben. + +Having taken leave of his fair sweetheart, with many a vow of love and +swift return, Ben, accompanied by Ralph, hastened on board the ship, +which fell down the river for Newcastle. Immediately on his arrival at +this place, he went on shore to see his dear friend the governor, who +was come down to despatch the packet. The governor could not be seen! +This was a sad shock to Ben, and would have been much more so, but for +the attentions of the governor's secretary, Dr. Bar, who, with the +finest smile imaginable, presented the "GOVERNOR'S _compliments to his +young friend Mr. Franklin--was extremely sorry indeed he could not see +him, owing to a press of business, among which was that of writing +some letters for his own special service, which should be sent on +board to him--but though his_ EXCELLENCY _could not enjoy the pleasure +of seeing Mr. Franklin, yet he begged he would accept the assurances +of his eternal friendship, with the best wishes for his prosperous +voyage and speedy return; and above all, his earnest hopes that he +would continue to improve his extraordinary talents_." + +Though this was to Ben somewhat like a sugar-plumb to a child after a +dose of wormwood, yet could it not so entirely take off the bitter, +but that he was at first prodigiously in a humour to break with the +governor. His characteristic prudence, however, came to his aid; and +fortunately recollecting that it was not a common man, but a GOVERNOR, +he was dealing with, and that such great men have their ways of doing +things quite different from little people, he smothered his +resentment, and went peaceably on board the ship--not even yet +suspecting any fraud on the part of the governor. When we consider how +dear to the young and virtuous bosom is the glow of gratitude to +benefactors, we cannot but mourn that governor Keith should so cruelly +have chilled those joys in the bosom of our young countryman. But, +though chilled for a moment, they were not extinct. The heavy heart +which he at first felt on being denied the pleasure of seeing the +governor, is already much relieved by his gracious message through the +secretary, and afterwards so completely cured by the sublime and +beautiful scenes around Newcastle, that he went back to the ship in +good spirits again. On the return of the last boat, bringing the mail, +he modestly asked the captain for the letters which the governor had +addressed to his care. To this the rough son of Neptune replied, +"_that they were all there_, he supposed, _higglety, pigglety, +together in the letter bag, and that as the ship with a fine breeze +was getting under weigh, he could not spare the time now to make a +search for them, but that before they got to London he might overhaul +the bag and take 'em out for himself_." + +Ben was perfectly satisfied with this answer. And charmed at thought +of the great things awaiting him in London, he threw off his coat and +bravely joined the crew in all their haste and bustle to weigh the +anchor, and spread the sails before the freshening gale. + +But while the sailors, many of them at least, poor fellows, for lack +of education, were straining at the clanking windlass, or creaking +halyards, as void of thought as the timber-heads of the ship, the +spirits of Ben were in a constant succession of pleasurable +reflections on the magnificent scenes around him--the grand floating +castle which bore him so high above the foaming billows--the rapid +flight of the ship, as flying before the stormy winds she left the +lessening shores behind her--the boundless fields of the blue rolling +ocean, with all her porpoises gathering round in blackening shoals, +bounding and blowing, as if to greet the monster vessel, and by their +furious romps, adding to the crash and foam of the tempest. + +Though Ben was no poet, nor ever affected to be "_religious +overmuch_," yet could he not behold such magnificent scenes without +that adoring sense of eternal power and goodness which has been so +elegantly expressed by the sweet voice of Zion:-- + + "Shout to the Lord, ye surging seas, + In your eternal roar; + Let wave to wave resound his praise, + And shore reply to shore. + + "While monsters sporting on the flood + In scaly silver shine, + Speak terribly their Maker--God, + And lash the foaming brine." + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +_Ben getting into trouble--finds out his old friend governor Keith to +be a black sheep--and learns that a good trade and virtuous habits are +the best wealth that a father can give his son._ + + "Who dares think one thing and another tell, + My soul abhors him like the gates of hell." + + +On the arrival of the ship in the Thames (or London river) the captain, +like an honest fellow of his word, ordered the letter-bag on deck, and +told Ben he was welcome now to overhaul it and pick out the governor's +letters to him. After eagerly turning them all over and over again, not +a single letter could he find that had his name on it, either directed +to himself, or to his care. He picked out however a few that seemed to +have some little squinting that way, one especially, that was directed +to a PRINTER, and another to a BOOKSELLER. These he immediately carried +to their respective owners. But in place of those smiles and prompt +offers of money and merchandize, which his illustrious patron, governor +Keith, had promised him, scarcely were his letters opened before they +were nearly thrown back into his face, as coming from a couple of +scoundrel debtors, who, instead of paying off their old scores, were +now impudently asking for new credits. + +Here were strong symptoms of treachery on the part of the governor. And +in spite of all his credulity, Ben was brought to his doubtings. In +this dilemma he went back to a worthy Quaker of the name of Denham, +with whom he had contracted a great friendship on ship-board, and told +him the whole story from beginning to end. With all his professional +gravity, Denham could not help smiling, as Ben related the history of +his credulity: but when he came to tell of governor Keith's LETTERS of +_Credit_, and the vast supplies of TYPES, and PAPER, and PRESSES, which +they were instantly to procure him, he broke into a horse laugh. "He +give thee letters of credit, friend Benjamin! Governor Keith give thee +letters of credit! Why, man, he has not credit for himself, no not for +a brass farthing, from any one who ever heard of him." + +Poor Ben was struck "all in a heap"--dumb as a codfish. He stood for +all the world like a shipwrecked sailor boy, who, after dreaming of +gold and diamond coasts, and black-eyed Polls, and whole seas of +grog, and mountains of segars, wakes up all at once, and finds +himself, like poor Robinson Crusoe, on a desolate island, with not +even a scape-goat of hope before him. In silence he rolled his eyes +in woeful cogitation--for three months he had been feasting on the +smiles and promises of his illustrious friend, governor Keith--for +three months had been anticipating his grand Printing Establishment, +in Philadelphia, and his complete triumph over old Keimer and +Bradford--for three months he had been drinking in streams of rapture +from the love-beaming eyes of the beauteous Miss Read, shortly as his +wife to rustle in silks and roll in her carriage--but dearer still +than all, for three months he had been looking forward to the time, +close at hand, when his infirm parents should come to enjoy with him, +in Philadelphia, the welcome repose of their age, in an elegant +retreat, purchased for them, by his own virtues. But lo! in a moment +the whole goodly structure is dissipated in smoke, leaving him +pennyless and friendless, in a strange country, three thousand miles +from home, and at a long, long distance from all these dear objects! + +Denham saw in Ben's looks what was passing in his heart; but knowing +that it is good for virtuous and heroic minds to bear the cross in +their youth, he suffered him to go on, undisturbed, with his dismal +cogitations. + +But a young man early trained in the school of wisdom is not long to +be depressed. After relieving his bosom with a deep sigh; he turned to +Denham and said, in a plaintive tone, "_but was it not cruel in +governor Keith to deceive me so?_" + +"Yes, Benjamin," replied Denham, "'twas, to our view, very cruel in +the governor of Pennsylvania thus to deceive an inexperienced lad as +thou art." + +Here Ben turning on him his fine blue eyes, softened by misfortune, +said again to Denham, "_well, and what would you advise me?_" + +"Advise thee, Benjamin," replied Denham, in a cheerful tone, "why, I +would advise thee not to give thyself one moment's uneasiness about +this affair. Thee remembers the story of Joseph, does thee not? how he +was betrayed by his brethren into Egypt, not only a poor lad like thee, +but indeed a slave too? And yet this event, though at the time highly +disheartening, proved to him in the end, one of the happiest incidents +of his life. So, by good management, Benjamin, this may prove to thee. +Thou art young, very young yet, with a plenty of time before thee; and +this is a great city for thy business. Now if thou wilt but seek +employment with some printer of distinction, thou mayest make thyself +more completely master of thy trade, and also gain friends, that may +enable thee to settle so much more advantageously in Philadelphia, as +to make it good for thee that governor Keith ever betrayed thee here. +And this will be a triumph much to thine own honour, as also to the +benefit of other youth, who shall ever hear of thy story." + +As when a sweet breeze of the ocean suddenly strikes a becalmed ship, +that with flapping sails lay tossing on the sluggish flood, instantly +the joy-wakened billows roll a brighter foam, and the hearts of the +sailors spring forward with transport to their native shores. Thus +exhilarating to Ben's soul was the counsel of his friend Denham. +Without a moment's loss of time he went, as his friend Denham had +advised, and sought business at the offices of two of the most eminent +book-printers in London, Palmer and Watts. With the latter he spent +most of his time during his stay in England. + +This Palmer was an amiable man, and in Ben's countenance, now mellowed +more than ordinary, by his late disappointment, he saw a something that +interested him greatly in his favour. He asked Ben in what part of +London he had learned the art of printing. Ben told him he had never +set a type in London. "Aye! where then," said Palmer; "in Paris?" Ben +replied, that he was just from Pennsylvania, in North America; and that +what little he knew of printing he had picked up there. Palmer, though, +in other respects, amiable, was one of those thorough-gone COCKNEYS, +who can't believe that any thing can be learned out of the sound of +"_Bow-bell_." He stared at Ben on saying he had learned to print in +North America, as would a French petit maitre at one who said he had +learned to _dance among the Hottentots_. "I am afraid, sir," said he to +Ben, "that I cannot employ you, as I really felt a wish to do; for +though I now command fifty workmen, I want a _Gabber_, _i.e._ a man +uncommonly quick, and of a satirical turn. And in neither of these +characters, sir, will you, probably, suit me, sir--however, sir, as it +is late now, and I have business out, if you will call in the morning, +we will see about it." Next morning, before sunrise, Ben waited at +Palmer's office, where numbers of his journeymen, having heard of the +young North American printer, were assembled to see him work. Palmer +was not yet up. An apprentice went to inform him that the young printer +from North America, was come. Presently Mr. Palmer made his appearance, +looking somewhat confused. + +"And so you are a buckskin, sir," said he, rather cavalierly. + +"Yes sir," replied Ben, "I am a buckskin." + +"Well sir, I am afraid you'll not make your fortune by that here in +London," said Palmer. + +"No sir," answered Ben, "I find it is thought a misfortune here, to +have been born in America. But I hope it was the will of heaven, and +therefore must be right." + +"Aye!" replied Palmer, a little tauntingly; "and so you have +_preaching_ there too!! But do the buckskins generally stir so early as +this?" + +Ben replied, that the Pennsylvanians were getting to find out that it +was _cheap burning sun-light_. Here Palmer and his cockneys stared at +him, as country buckskins are wont to do at a monkey, or parrot, or any +such creature that pretends to mimic man. + +"You talk of _sun-light_, sir," said the foreman to Ben: "can you tell +the cause of that wide difference between the light of the sun in +England and America?" + +Ben replied that he had never discovered that difference. + +"What! not that the sun shines brighter in London than in America--the +sky clearer--the air purer--and the light a thousand times more +vivid--and luminous--and cheering--and all that?" + +Ben said that he could not understand how that could be, seeing it was +the same sun that gave light to both. + +"The same sun, sir! the same sun!" replied the cockney, rather nettled, +"I am not positive of that sir. But admitting that it is the same sun, +it does not follow that it gives the same light in America as in +England. Every thing, you know, suffers by going to the _West_, as the +great French philosophers have proved; then why not the sun?" + +Ben said he wondered the gentleman should talk of the sun going to the +west. + +"What, the sun not go to the west!" retorted the cockney, quite angry, +"a pretty story, indeed. You have eyes, sir; and don't these show you +that the sun rises in the east and travels to the west?" + +"I thought, sir," replied Ben, modestly, "that your own great +countryman, sir Isaac Newton, had satisfied every body that it is the +earth that is thus continually travelling, and not the sun, which is +stationary, and gives the same light to England and America." + +Palmer, who had much of the honest Englishman about him, equally +surprised and pleased to see Ben thus chastise the pride and ignorance +of his foreman, put a stop to the conversation by placing a composing +stick in the hands of Ben, while the journeymen gathering around, +marvelled hugely to see the young North American take _a composing +stick in his hand_! + +Having spent a moment or two in running his eyes over the letter cases, +to see if they were fixed as in the printing-offices in America, and +glancing at his watch, Ben fell to work, and in less than four minutes +finished the following-- + +"And Nathaniel said, can there any thing good come out of +Nazareth?--Philip said, come and see." + +Palmer and his workmen were petrified. Near eighty letters set up in +less than four minutes, and without a blunder? And then such a delicate +stroke at their prejudice and nonsense! Ben was immediately employed. + +This was a fine introduction of Ben to the printing office, every +person in which seemed to give him a hearty welcome; he wore his rare +talents so modestly. + +It gave him also a noble opportunity to be useful, which he failed not +to improve. + +Passing by one of the presses at which a small man, meagre and +hollow-eyed, was labouring with unequal force, as appeared by his +paleness and big-dropping sweat, Ben touched with pity, offered to give +him "_a spell_." As the pressman and compositor, like the parson and +the clerk, or the coffin-maker and the grave-digger are of entirely +distinct trades in London, the little pressman was surprised that Ben, +who was a compositor, should talk of giving him "_a spell_." However, +Ben insisting, the little pressman gave way, when Ben seized the press, +and possessing both a skill and spirit extraordinary, he handled it in +such a workman-like style, that the men all declared they should have +concluded he had done nothing but _press-work_ all his life. Palmer +also, coming by at the time, mingled his applauses with the rest, +saying that he had never seen a fairer impression; and, on Ben's +requesting it, for _exercise_ and _health sake_, he permitted him to +work some hours every day at press. + +On his entrance into Palmer's printing-office, Ben paid the customary +_garnish_ or treat-money, for the journeymen to drink. This was on the +first floor, among the pressmen. Presently Palmer wanted him up stairs, +among the compositors. There also the journeymen called on him for +_garnish_. Ben refused, looking upon it as altogether an unfair demand, +and so Palmer himself, to whom it was referred, decided; insisting that +Ben should _not pay_ it. But neither justice nor patronage could bear +Ben out against the spite of the journeymen. For the moment his back +was turned they would play him an endless variety of mischievous +tricks, such as mixing his letters, transposing his pages, breaking +down his matter, &c. &c. It was in vain he remonstrated against such +injustice. They all with one accord excused themselves, laying all the +blame on RALPH, for so they called a certain evil spirit who, they +pretended, haunted the office and always tormented such as were not +_regularly admitted_. Upon this Ben paid his garnish--_being fully +convinced of the folly of not keeping up a good understanding with +those among whom we are destined to live_. + +Ben had been at Palmer's office but a short time before he discovered +that all his workmen, to the number of fifty, were terrible drinkers of +porter, insomuch that they kept a stout boy all day long on the trot to +serve them alone. Every man among them must have, viz. + + 1 A pint of porter before breakfast,--cost _d._1-1/2 + 1 A pint, with his bread and cheese, for breakfast, 1-1/2 + 1 A pint betwixt his breakfast and dinner, 1-1/2 + 1 A pint at his dinner, 1-1/2 + 1 A pint betwixt his dinner and night, 1-1/2 + 1 A pint after his day's work was done, 1-1/2 + -- ----- + 6 Total, three quarts!--equal to _nine pence + sterling per day_! 9 + +A practice so fatal to the health and subsistence of those poor people +and their families, pained Ben to the soul, and he instantly set +himself to break it up. But they laughed him to scorn, boasting of +their beloved porter, that it was "_meat and drink too_," and the only +thing to give them _strength_ to work. Ben was not to be put out of +heart by such an argument as this. He offered to prove to them that +the strength they derived from the beer could only be in proportion to +the barley dissolved in the water of which the beer was made--that +there was a larger portion of flour in a penny loaf; and that if they +ate this loaf and drank a pint of water with it, they would get more +strength than from a pint of beer. But still they would not hearken to +any thing said against their darling beer. Beer, they said, was "_the +liquor of life_," and beer they must have, or _farewell strength_. + +"Why, gentlemen," replied Ben, "don't you see me with great ease carry +up and down stairs, a large form of letters in each hand; while you, +with _both_ hands, have much ado to carry one? And don't you perceive +that these heavy weights which I bear produce no manner of change in +my breathing, while you, with only half the weight, cannot mount the +stairs without puffing and blowing most distressingly? Now is not this +sufficient to prove that water, though apparently the weakest, is yet +in reality the strongest liquor in nature, especially for the young +and healthy?" + +But alas! on most of them, this excellent logic was all thrown away. + + "The ruling passion, be it what it will-- + The ruling passion governs reason still." + +Though they could not deny a syllable of Ben's reasoning, being often +heard to say that, "THE AMERICAN AQUATIC (or _water drinker_) as they +called him, was much stronger than any of the beer drinkers," still +they would drink. + +"But suppose," asked some of them, "we were to quit our beer with +bread and cheese for breakfast, what substitute should we have?" + +"Why, use," said Ben, "the substitute that I do; which is a pint of +nice oat-meal gruel brought to me from your beer-house, with a little +butter, sugar and nutmeg, and a slice of dry toast. This, which is +more palatable and still less costly than a pint of beer, makes a much +better breakfast, and keeps the head clearer to boot. At dinner I take +a cup of cold water, which is the wholesomest of all beverages, and +requires nothing but a little use, to render it as pleasant. In this +way, gentlemen, I save _nine_ pence sterling every day, making in the +year nearly _three thousand pence_! an enormous sum, let me tell you, +my friends, to a small family; and which would not only save parents +the disgrace of being dunned for trifling debts, but also procure a +thousand comforts for the children." + +Ben did not entirely lose his reward, several of his hearers affording +him the unspeakable satisfaction of following his counsel. But the +major part, "_poor devils_," as he emphatically styled them, "_went on +to drink--thus continuing all their lives in a state of voluntary +poverty and wretchedness!!_" + +Many of them, for lack of punctuality to pay the publican, would often +have their porter stopped.--They would then apply to Ben to become +security for them, _their light_, as they called it, _being out_. I +never heard that he upbraided them with their folly; but readily gave +his word to the publican, though it cost him the trouble of attending +at the pay-table, every _Saturday night_, to take up the sums he had +made himself accountable for. + +Thus, by virtue of the right education, _i.e._ a good trade, and early +fondness for labour and books, did Ben rise, like a young swan of +heaven, above the dark billows of adversity; and cover himself with +glory in the eyes of these young Englishmen, who had at first been so +prejudiced against him. And, better still, when night came, instead +of sauntering with them to the filthy yet costly ale-houses and +porter cellars, he hastened to his little chamber at his _frugal_ +boarding-house, (only 1s. 6d. per week) there to enjoy the divine +society of his books, which he obtained on _hire_ from a neighbouring +book-store. And commanding, as he always did, through his steadiness +and rapidity at work, all the _quick off-hand jobs_, generally the +best paid, he might have made money and enjoyed great peace; but +alas! there was a moth in his purse which kept him constantly poor; a +canker in his peace which filled his life with vexation. That canker +and that moth was his young friend Ralph, whom, as we have seen, he +had made an infidel of in Philadelphia; and for which good office, +Ralph, as we shall presently see, requited him as might have been +expected. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + "Who reasons wisely, is not therefore _wise_; + His pride in reasoning, not in acting, lies." + + +Some years ago a certain empiric whispered in the ear of a noble lord, +in the British parliament, that he had made a wonderful discovery. + +"Aye," replied the nobleman, staring; "a wonderful discovery, say +you!" + +"Yes, my lord, a wonderful discovery indeed! A discovery, my lord, +beyond Gallileo, Friar Bacon, or even the great sir Isaac Newton +himself." + +"The d----l! what, beyond sir Isaac?" + +"Yes, 'pon honour, my lord, beyond the great sir Isaac. 'Tis true his +ATTRACTIONS and GRAVITATIONS and all that, are well enough; very +clever things to be sure, my lord; but still nothing in comparison of +this." + +"Zounds, man, what can it be?" + +"Why, my lord--please come a little this way--now, in confidence, my +lord--I've been such a lucky dog as to discover the wondrous art of +raising a breed of sheep _without wool_!" + +The nobleman, who, it is thought, was not very nearly related to +Solomon, had like to have gone into fits. "What sir," asked he, with a +countenance wild-staring with amazement, "a breed of sheep without +wool! impossible!" + +"Pardon me, my lord, it is very possible, very true. I have indeed, my +lord, discovered the adorable art of raising a breed of sheep without +a lock of wool on their backs! not a lock, my lord, any more than +there is here on the back of my hand." + +"Your fortune is made, sir," replied the nobleman, smacking his hands +and lifting both them and his eyes to heaven as in ecstasy--"Your +fortune is made for ever. Government, I am sure, sir, will not fail +suitably to reward a discovery that will immortalize the British +nation." + +Accordingly, a motion to that purpose was made in the _House of +Lords_, and the empiric was within an ace of being created a peer of +the realm; when, most unfortunately, the duke of Devonshire, a +district famed for sheep, got up and begged a little patience of the +house until it could be fully understood what great benefit the nation +was to derive from a flock of sheep without wool. "Why, zounds! my +lords," said the noble duke, "I thought all along that wool was the +_main chance_ in a flock of sheep." + +A most learned discussion ensued. And it being made apparent to the +noble lords, that wool is _actually_ the basis of broadcloths, +flannels, and most other of the best British manufactures--and it +being also made apparent to the noble lords, which was another great +point gained, that two good things are better than one, _i.e._ that +wool and mutton together, are better than mutton by itself, or wool by +itself, the motion for a TITLE was unanimously scouted: and in place +of a pension the rascal had like to have got a prison, for daring thus +to trump up a vile discovery that would have robbed the world of one +its greatest comforts. + +Just so, to my mind at least, it fares with all the boasted +discoveries of our modern atheists. Admitting that these wonderful +wizards could raise a nation of men and women without religion, as +easily as this, their brother conjurer, could a breed of Merinos +without wool--still we must ask _cui bono_? that is, what _good_ would +it be to the world? Supposing they could away at a dash, with all +sense of so glorious a being as God, and all comfort of so mighty a +hope as heaven, what benefit would it bring to man or beast? + +But, God be praised, this dismal question about the consequence of +discarding religion need not be asked at this time of day. These +gentlemen without religion, like bell-wethers without wool, do so +constantly betray their nakedness, I mean their want of morality, that +the world, bad as it is, is getting ashamed of them. Here, for +example, is master Ralph, who, for reasons abundantly convenient to +himself, had accompanied Ben to London--Ben, as he himself confesses, +had lent a liberal hand to make Ralph a sturdy infidel, that is, to +free him from the restraints of the gospel. Now mark the precious +fruits of this boasted freedom. Getting displeased with the parents of +a poor girl, whom he had married, he determines to quit her for ever, +as also a poor unoffending child he had by her, whom, by the ties of +nature, he was bound to comfort and protect! Ben, though secretly +abhorring this villany of Ralph, yet suffered himself to be so +enamoured of his vivacity and wit, as to make him an inmate. "We +were," says Ben, "_inseparable companions_." Very little cause had he, +poor lad! as he himself owns afterwards, to boast of this connexion. +But it was fine sport for Ralph; for having brought no money with him +from America but what just sufficed to pay his passage, and knowing +what a noble drudge Ben was, and also that he had with him fifteen +pistoles, the fruits of his hard labours and savings in Philadelphia, +he found it very convenient to hang upon him; not only boarding and +lodging at his expense, and at his expense going to plays and +concerts, but also frequently drawing on his dear yellow boys, the +pistoles, for purposes of private pleasure. + +If the reader should ask, how Ralph, even as a man of honour, could +reconcile it to himself, thus to devour his friend, let me, in turn, +ask what business had Ben to furnish Ralph the very alphabet and +syntax of this abominable lesson against himself? And, if that should +not be thought quite to the point, let me ask again, where, taking the +fear of God out of the heart, is the difference between a man and a +beast? If man has reason, it is only to make him ten-fold more a +beast. Ralph, it is true, did no work; but what of that? He wrote such +charming poetry--and spouted such fine plays--and talked so eloquently +with Ben of nights!--and sure this was a good offset against Ben's +hard labours and pistoles. At any rate Ralph thought so. Nay, more; he +thought, in return for these sublime entertainments, Ben ought to +support not only him, but also his concubine. Accordingly he went and +scraped acquaintance with a handsome young widow, a milliner, in the +next street: and what with reading his fine poetry to her, and +spouting his plays, he got so completely into her good graces, that +she presently turned actress too; and in the "COMEDY OF ERRORS," or +"ALL FOR LOVE," played her part so unluckily, that she was hissed from +the stage, by all her virtuous acquaintance, and compelled to troop +off with a big belly to another neighbourhood, where Ralph continued +to visit her. + +The reader will hardly wonder, when told that Ralph and his fair +milliner soon found the bottom of Ben's purse. He will rather wonder +what sort of love-powder it was that Ben took of this young man that +could, for such a length of time, so fatally have befooled him. But +Ben was _first in the transgression_. Like Alexander the coppersmith, +he had done Ralph "_much harm_," and "God, who is wiser than all, had +ordained that he should be "_rewarded according to his works_. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + + "Learn to be wise from others' ill, + And you'll learn to do full well." + + +As nothing is so repellant of base minds as poverty, soon as Ralph +found that Ben's pistoles were all gone, and his finances reduced to +the beggarly ebb of living _from hand to mouth_, he "_cleared out_," +and betook himself into the country to teach _school_, whence he was +continually writing fine poetical epistles to Ben, not forgetting in +every postscript, to put him in mind of his dear Dulcinea, the fair +milliner, and to commend her to his kindness. As to Ben, he still +persevered, after Ralph's departure, in his good old habits of +industry and economy--never indulging in tobacco or gin--never +sauntering to taverns or play houses, nor at any time laying out his +money but on books, which he always visited, as frugal lovers do their +sweethearts, at night. But still it would not all do. He could lay up +nothing. The daily postage of Ralph's long poetical epistles, with the +unceasing application of the poor milliner, kept his purse continually +in a galloping consumption. At length he obtained a release from this +unpleasant situation, though in a way that he himself never could +think of afterwards without a blush. + +After very frequent loans of money to her, she came, it seems, one +night to his lodgings on the old errand--_to borrow half a guinea_! +when Ben, who had been getting too fond of her, took this opportunity +to offer freedoms which she highly resented. + +This Ben tells himself, with a candour that will for ever do him +credit among those who know that the confession of folly is the first +step on the way to wisdom. + +"Having, at that time," says he, "no ties of religion upon me, and +taking advantage of her necessitous situation, I attempted liberties +(_another great error of my life_,) which she repelled with _becoming +indignation_. She informed Ralph; and the affair occasioned a breach +between us. When he returned to London, he gave to understand that he +considered all the obligations he owed me as annihilated by this +proceeding; and that I was not to expect _one farthing of all the +monies I had lent him_." + +Ben used to say, many years afterwards, that this conduct of his +friend Ralph put him in mind of an anecdote he had some where heard, +of good old Gilbert Tenant: the same that George Whitefield generally +called HELL-FIRE TENANT. This eminent divine, believing _fear_ to be a +much stronger motive with the multitude than _love_, constantly made a +great run upon that passion in all his discourses. And Boanerges +himself could hardly have held a candle to him in this way. Nature had +given him a countenance which he could, at will, clothe with all the +terrors of the tornado. And besides he had a talent for painting the +scenes of dread perdition in such colours, that when aided by the +lightning of his eyes, and the bursting thunders of his voice, it was +enough to start the soul of lion-hearted innocence; what then of +rabbit-livered guilt? The truth is, he wrought miracles in New-Jersey: +casting out devils--the devils of drunkenness, gambling, and lust, out +of many a wretch _possessed_. + +Among the thousands whom he thus frightened for their good, was a tame +Indian of Woodbury, who generally went by the name of Indian-Dick. +This poor savage, on hearing Mr. Tenant preach, was so terrified, that +he fell down in the meeting house, and roared as if under the scalping +knife. + +He lost his stomach: and even his beloved bottle was forgotten. Old +Mr. Tenant went to see Dick, and rejoiced over him as a son in the +gospel;--heartily thanking God for adding this INDIAN GEM to the crown +of his glory. + +Not many days after this, the man of God took his journey through the +south counties of New-Jersey, calling the poor clam-catchers of Cape +May to repentance. As he returned and drew near to Woodbury, lo! a +great multitude! He rejoiced in spirit, as hoping that it was a +meeting of the people to hear the word of God: but the uproar bursting +upon his ear, put him in doubt. + +"Surely," said he, "this is not the voice of praise; 'tis rather, I +fear, the noise of drunkenness." And so it was indeed; for it being a +day of election, the friends of the candidates had dealt out their +brandy so liberally that the street was filled with sots of every +degree, from the simple _stagger_ to the _dead drunk_. Among the rest, +he beheld his Indian convert, poor Dick, under full sail in the +street, reeling and hallooing, great as a sachem. Mr. Tenant strove +hard to avoid him; but Dick, whose quick eye had caught the old +pie-balled horse that Tenant rode on, instantly staggered towards him. +Tenant put forth all his horsemanship to avoid the interview. He +kicked old Pie-ball in one flank, and then in the other; pulled this +rein and then that; laid on _here_ with his staff, and laid on +_there_; but all would not do; unless he could at once ride down the +drunken beasts, there was no way of getting clear of them. So that +Dick, _half shaved_ as he was, soon got along side of old Pie-ball, +whom he grappled by the rein with one hand, and stretching forth the +other, bawled out, "_how do? how do, Mr. Tenant?_" + +Tenant could not look at him. + +Still, Dick, with his arm full extended, continued to bawl, "_how do, +Mr. Tenant, how do?_" Finding that there was no getting clear of him, +Mr. Tenant, red as crimson, lifted up his eyes on Dick, who still, +bold as brandy, stammered out, "_High, Mr. Tenant! d-d-d-don't you +know me, Mr. Tenant? Don't you know Indian Dick? Why, sure, Mr. +Tenant, you are the man that converted me?_" + +_"I converted you!" replied Tenant, nearly fainting._ + +"_Yes_, roared Dick, _I'll be d-d-d-nd, Mr. Tenant, if you an't the +very man that converted me_." + +"Poor fellow!" said Tenant, with a heavy sigh, "you look like one of +my _handiworks_. Had God Almighty converted you, you would have looked +like another guess sort of a creature." + +From Ben's constantly relating this story of old Tenant and Indian +Dick, whenever he mentioned the aforesaid case of Ralph's baseness, +many of his acquaintance were of opinion, that Ben thereby as good as +acknowledged, that at the time he took Ralph in hand, he did not +altogether understand the art of converting; or, that at any rate, it +would have been much better for Ralph, if, as Mr, Tenant said of +Indian Dick, _God Almighty had converted him_. He would hardly, for +the sake of a harlot, have so basely treated his best friend and +benefactor. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +_Ben resolves to return to America.--Anecdote of a rare character._ + + "A wit's a feather, and a chief's a rod, + An _honest_ man's the noblest work of God." + + +Ben used, with singular pleasure, to relate the following story of his +Quaker friend Denham. This excellent man had formerly been in business +as a Bristol merchant; but failing, he compounded with his creditors +and departed for America, where, by his extraordinary diligence and +frugality, he acquired in a few years a considerable fortune. +Returning to England, in the same ship with Ben, he invited all his +old creditors to a dinner. After thanking them for their former +kindness and assuring them that they should soon be paid, he begged +them to take their seats at table. On turning up their plates, every +man found his due, principal and interest, under his plate, in shining +gold. + +This was the man after Ben's own heart. Though he never found in +Denham any of those flashes of wit, or floods of eloquence, which used +so to dazzle him in Ralph, yet he contracted such a friendship for +him, on account of his honesty and Quaker-like meekness, that he would +often steal an hour from his books at night, to go and chat with him. +And on the other hand, Ben's steady and persevering industry, with his +passion for knowledge, had so exalted him in Denham's esteem, that he +was never better pleased than when his _young friend Franklin_, as he +always called him, came to see him. One night Denham asked Ben how he +would like a trip to America? + +"Nothing on earth would so please me," replied Ben, "if I could do it +to advantage." + +"Well, friend Benjamin," said Denham, "I am just a-going to make up a +large assortment of goods for a store in Philadelphia, and if fifty +pounds sterling a year, and bed and board with myself, will satisfy +thee, I shall be happy of thy services to go and live with me as my +clerk." + +The memory of his dear Philadelphia, and the many happy days he had +spent there, instantly sprung a something at his heart that reddened +his cheeks with joy. But the saddening thought of his total +unacquaintedness with commerce, soon turned them pale again. "I +should be happy indeed to accompany you," replied he, with a deep +sigh, "if I were but qualified to do you justice." + +"O! as to that, friend Benjamin, don't be uneasy," replied Denham: "If +thou art not qualified _now_, thou soon wilt be. And then as soon as +thou art fit; I'll send thee with a cargo of corn and flour to the +West Indies, and put thee in a way wherein, with such talents and +industry as thine, thee may soon make a fortune." + +Ben was highly delighted with this proposal, for though fifty pounds a +year was not so much as he could earn at printing, yet the prospects +in other respects were so much greater. Added to this, he was getting +heartily tired of printing. He had tried it five years at Boston, +three at Philadelphia, and now nearly two in London. At all these +places he had worked without ceasing; had lived most sparingly; had +left no stone unturned; and after all was now, in his twenty-first +year, just as indigent as when he began! "Scurvy, starving business!" +thought he to himself, "'tis high time to quit you! and God be thanked +for this fair opportunity to do it; and now we will shake hands and +part for ever." Taking leave now of the printing business, and as he +believed and wished, _for ever_, he gave himself up entirely to his +new occupation, constantly going from house to house with Denham, +purchasing goods and packing them. When every thing was safe on board, +he took a little leisure to visit his friends, and amuse himself. This +was a rule which he observed through life--to do business first, and +then enjoy pleasure without a sting. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + + +On the 23d of July, 1726, Ben, with his friend Denham, took leave of +their London acquaintance, and embarked for America. As the ebbing +current gently bore the vessel along down the amber coloured flood, +Ben could not suppress his emotions, as he looked back on that mighty +city, whose restless din was now gradually dying on his ear, as were +its smoke-covered houses sinking from his view, perhaps for ever. And +as he looked back, the secret sigh would arise, for the many toils and +heart aches he had suffered there, and all to so little profit. But +virtue, like the sun, though it may be overcast with clouds, will soon +scatter those clouds, and spread a brighter ray after their transient +showers. 'Tis true, eighteen months had been spent there, but they had +not been _misspent_. He could look back upon them without shame or +remorse. He had broken no midnight lamps--had knocked down no poor +watchman--had contributed nothing to the idleness and misery of any +family. On the contrary, he had the exceeding satisfaction to know, +that he had left the largest printing-houses in London in mourning for +his departure--that he had shown them the blessings of temperance, and +had proselyted many of them from folly to wise and manly living. And +though, when he looked at those eighteen months, he could not behold +them, like eastern maidens, dowered with gold and diamonds, yet, +better still, he could behold them like the "Wise Virgins," whose +lamps he had diligently fed with the oil of wisdom, for some great +marriage supper--perhaps that between LIBERTY and his COUNTRY. + +After a wearisome passage of near eleven weeks, the ship arrived at +Philadelphia, where Ben met the perfidious Keith, walking the street +alone, and shorn of all the short-lived splendours of his governorship. +Ben's honest face struck the culprit pale and dumb. The reader hardly +need be told, that Ben was too magnanimous to add to his confusion, by +reproaching or even speaking to him. But as if to keep Ben from pride, +Providence kindly threw into his way his old sweetheart, Miss Read. +Here his confusion would have been equal to Keith's, had not that fair +one furnished him with the sad charge against herself--of marrying +during his absence. Her friends, after reading his letter to her, +concluding that he would never return, had advised her to take a +husband. But she soon separated from him, and even refused to bear +his name; in consequence of learning that he had another wife. + +Denham and Ben took a store-house, and displayed their goods; which, +having been well laid in, sold off very rapidly. This was in October, +1726. Early in the following February, when the utmost kindness on +Denham's part, and an equal fidelity on Ben's, had rendered them +mutually dear, as father and son; and when also, by their extraordinary +success in trade, they had a fair prospect of speedily making their +fortunes, behold! O, vanity of all worldly hopes! they were both taken +down dangerously ill. Denham, for his part, actually made a die of it. +And Ben was so far gone, at one time, that he concluded it was all over +with him; which afforded a melancholy kind of pleasure, especially when +he was told that his friend Denham, who lay in the next room, was dead. +And when he reflected that now, since his good patron had left him, he +should be turned out again upon the world, with the same hard struggles +to encounter, and no prospect of ever being able to do any thing for +his aged father, he felt a secret regret, that he was called back to +life again. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + + +Some people there are who tell us that every man is born for a +particular walk in life, and that whether he will or not, in that walk +he must go; and can no more quit it than the sun can quit his course +through the skies. + +This is a very pleasing part of faith; and really there seems much +ground for it. Certainly scripture, in many places, has a powerful +squinting that way. And in the lives of many of our greatest men, we +discover strong symptoms of it. The great Washington was, a dozen +times and more within an ace of getting out of the only track that +could have led him to the command of the American armies. But yet +there seems to have been always some invisible hand to meet him at the +threshold of his wanderings, and to push him back. Dr. Franklin also +appears, on several occasions, to have been at the very point of +breaking off from the printing business. But Heaven has decreed for +him that walk in life, and in it he must move. And though blind at +times, as Balaam's ass, he sought to turn out of the way, yet, crouch +as he would, he still found at every turn a good angel to bring him +back. First he was to have been a sailor out of Boston--then a +swimming-master in London--then a merchant in America. But it would +not all do. And though in this last brilliant affair, he seemed to +have effected his escape, losing the black-fingered printer in the +sprucely powdered merchant, yet, come back to the WORLD-ENLIGHTENING +TYPES he must--for Denham dies, and with him all the grand castles +which Ben had built in the air. Still averse to the printing business, +he tries hard for another place _behind the counter_, but nobody will +take him in. His money at length gone, and every avenue to honest +bread hedged up against him, he is constrained to take refuge in his +old trade. + +Keimer, his former employer, who well knew his worth, waited on him, +and made liberal offers if he would take charge of his printing-office. +It must have been a sore trial to Ben to come under authority of a man +whose ignorance and hypocrisy he so heartily despised; and who, he well +knew, had nothing else in view, but just to get him to instruct his +numerous apprentices, and then pick a quarrel and pack him off. But +bad as he hated Keimer's vices, he still worse hated idleness and +dependence, and therefore he accepted his invitation. He found Keimer's +office in the old way, _i.e._ quite out of order, and miserably +destitute of letters. There being at that time no such thing in +America, as a type-foundry, this defect appeared at first utterly +incurable. But Ben soon found a remedy. Having once, while he lived in +London, glanced his eye on the practice of this art, he thought he +could imitate it. And, by casting in clay, he presently created a fine +parcel of letters in lead, which served at least, to keep the press +from stopping. He also, on occasion, engraved a variety of ornaments +for printing--made ink--gave an eye to the shop, and, in short, was in +all respects the factotum of the establishment. But useful as he made +himself, he had the mortification to find that his services became +every day of less importance to Keimer, in proportion as his +apprentices improved; and when Keimer paid Ben his second quarter's +wages, he did it very grumblingly, and gave him to understand, that +they were too heavy. By degrees he became less civil; was constantly +finding fault, and seemed always on the point of coming to an open +rupture. + +Ben bore it all very patiently, conceiving that his ill humour was +owing to the embarrassment of his affairs. + +At length, however, the old wretch insulted him so grossly, and that +under circumstances of all others the most provoking to a man of +honest pride, _i.e._ in the presence of neighbours, that Ben could +bear it no longer; but, after upbraiding him for his ingratitude, took +up his hat and left him, begging a young man of the office to take +care of his trunk, and bring it to him at night. + +The name of this young man was Meredith, one of Keimer's apprentices. +He had taken a great liking to Ben, because that while Keimer, +ignorant and crabbed, taught him nothing, Ben was every day giving him +some useful lesson in his trade, or some excellent hint in morals, +conducive to the government and happiness of his life. In the evening +he came and entreated Ben not to think of quitting the printing office +while he continued in it. "My dear sir," said he to Ben, "I beg you +will take no notice of what this Keimer does. The poor man is always, +as you see, _half shaved_; and no wonder, for he is over head and ears +in debt--often selling his goods at prime cost, for the sake of +_cash_--constantly giving credit without taking any account; and +therefore cannot help shortly coming out of the little end of the +horn, which will leave a glorious opening for you to make your +fortune." + +Ben replied that he had nothing to begin with. "O, as to that +difficulty," answered Meredith, "we can easily get over it. My father +has a very high opinion of you, and will, I am sure, readily advance +money to set us up, provided you will but go into partnership with me. +I am no workman, but you are. And so, if you like, I will find the +capital and you the skill, and let's go halves in the profits. By +spring we can have in from London, our press, types, and paper, and +then, as my time with Keimer will be out, we can fall to work at once, +and make our _jacks_." + +As this was an offer not to be met with every day, Ben readily agreed +to it, as also did old Mr. Meredith. + +But the old gentleman had a better motive in view than the pecuniary +profits. He had marked, with great pleasure, Ben's ascendancy over his +son, whom he had already wonderfully checked in his passion for +tobacco and brandy. And he fondly hoped, that by this connexion his +son would be perfectly cured. + +With this hope, he desired Ben to make him out the list of a +_complete_ printing-office, which he immediately took to his merchant, +with orders to import it without loss of time. Keimer was to know +nothing of all this; and Ben, in the interim, was to get work with +Bradford. + +On application, Bradford had no room. Ben, therefore, had to rest on +his oars. This, however, was but for a short season: for Keimer +getting a hint that he should be employed to print some New-Jersey +paper money, that would require engravings and types which he knew +nobody in Philadelphia but Ben could make; and fearful that Bradford, +by engaging Ben, might deprive him of the job, sent a very civil +message to Ben, telling him that "_old friends ought not to part on +account of a few hasty words dropt in a passion_," and concluding with +a pressing invitation to come back. + +Ben went back; and Keimer met him with a most cordial welcome. +Although there was nothing in this poor old man to excite his esteem, +yet Ben could not help feeling happy to see smiles of joy brightening +over his withered face; and he then felt, though not for the first +time, that though learning is a pleasant thing, yet one touch of +"_kindred sentiment warm at the heart_," outweighs, in pure delight, +all the learning in the world. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + + +Keimer presently obtained what he so ardently wished, the printing of +the New-Jersey paper-money, and flew into the office with the news to +Ben, who immediately set about constructing a copper-plate press, the +first that had ever been seen in Philadelphia. He also engraved various +ornaments and devices for the bills; and putting every thing in +readiness for their paper-money coinage, he set out with Keimer for +Burlington, where the New-Jersey legislature held their session. + +At the first sight of Ben's paper-money, every eye was struck with its +beauty. "_Why this Keimer must be a very clever old fellow!_" was the +cry. But others who were deeper in the secret, replied, "not so; young +Franklin is the man." Hereupon great attention was paid to Ben. And he +was sensibly taught, that though he had been grievously tried and held +back in the world, yet he had much cause of gratitude. Presently +another affair arose, furnishing him fresh matter of congratulation, +that he had ever paid such attention to the improvement of his mind. + +Fearing that our Philadelphia printers might strike off _more money +bills_ than they had been desired, the New-Jersey Assembly thought +proper to send two or three commissioners to superintend the press. +These gentlemen, all of the shrewd sort, and constantly with them while +at work, soon found out the difference between the master and his young +journeyman. Keimer, though a printer, had never been a reader. Ben had +devoted all his leisure hours to reading. The one had ever courted +pleasure in the furniture of his mind: the other, popularity in the +decorations of his body. The shape of his whiskers; the cock of his +hat; the cut of his coat, were great things with Keimer. Every trick at +easy outside show was caught up by him. Among other dashes at +popularity, he pretended to be a freemason, and was constantly grinning +and making his signs. But it would not all do. The New-Jersey +commissioners knew nothing of Jachin and Boaz. So that though, while +Ben, stripped to the buff, was heaving at the press, old Keimer would +stand by, stately as a prince at his levee, his attitude perpendicular +as the _plummet_, and his feet perfectly on the _square_, with his gilt +snuff-box nicely poised in his left hand, and his right, bespangled +with rings, tastily carrying the fragrant Maccabau to his nostrils, +courting the commissioners--yet, as before said, it would not all do. +The commissioners wanted new ideas, and Keimer had none to give them. +He had a pompous way of saying yes or no. And this was all they could +get from him in answer to their questions. Presently they turned to +Ben, whom by the by, they hardly thought it worth while to interrogate, +considering the character of his master, and his own young and raw +appearance. But in place of the old YES and NO of master Keimer, Ben +gave them such answers to their questions, as at once surprised and +delighted them. He was slow to speak, but when the commissioners, +curious to explore his intellect, which had so unexpectedly startled +them, purposely put a number of deep questions to him on the subject of +their paper-money, such as its effects on agriculture and commerce, and +the laws that should regulate its quantity, he answered all in his own +peculiar way of sagacious brevity, that made them declare he must have +studied nothing else all his life. The reports which these gentlemen +made in his favour, produced their natural effect. Ben was invited +every where, and treated with the most flattering attention; while +Keimer, though his employer, was entirely neglected, or invited only as +a compliment to Ben. + +Among the many wealthy and great ones, his admirers, was the inspector +general, Isaac Deacon, a cunning old fox, and rich as a Jew. He could +never rest without Ben at his house. "_Young man_," said he one day, as +Ben was hard at work, "_I am mightily taken with you_, and let me tell +you, I never look at you without thinking of myself, as I was at your +time of life. Now, do you know what was my first employment, when I was +a boy?" + +Ben replied that that was a question beyond his reach. + +"Well then, I will tell you, sir, if you can but believe me. I'll tell +you. My first employment was to carry clay to the brick-makers!" + +"Impossible!" said Ben. + +"No, indeed, not impossible at all, but very certain. Yes, many a hot +day have I carried the clay, and so daubed with it all over, that my +own mother would hardly have told me from her house pig. Well, after +that I became an underling to a surveyor, and dragged his chain many a +day through the woods; and all the time did not know '_B from a bull's +foot_.' But the surveyor was a good man, sir, and taught me to read and +write. Ah! _them were dark times_, sir, _dark times_; all living here +like Indians in the woods. A young man, printing his books and pictures +like you, would have been looked on as a conjurer. And now let me tell +you one thing. Don't you be discouraged, but keep up a good heart. A +_little_, making every day, makes a great deal in a long life. And I am +mistaken if you don't make a fortune, and come out a great man yet some +of these days." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + + +Having finished printing the New-Jersey money, Ben, accompanied by +Keimer, set out for Philadelphia, where he had scarcely arrived before +in came Meredith, with a face of joy, and taking Ben aside, told him +that their press and types were all come. Immediately the two friends +went forth in search of a good house and stand, which they were so +lucky as to find near the market, at twenty-four pounds _a year_! The +fixing and putting all their things to rights, having consumed every +penny of their money, our young beginners were at their wit's end what +to be at. In this extremity, one of their acquaintance, a Mr. George +House, brought them a countryman who wanted some advertisements for a +cow he had lost. Ben soon had the old cow up for him in a "_staring_" +shape, which so pleased the honest rustic, that he instantly counted +them down their _five shillings_. Never did five shillings come more +acceptably. The gratitude which Ben felt towards George House for this +little kindness, fixed on him a determination from that day, "_never to +miss an opportunity to lend a helping hand to young beginners_." + +His favourite young Hercules, the PRINTING-OFFICE, which had been so +long labouring in his brain, being now happily brought to birth, Ben +determined immediately to give it the countenance and support of +another noble bantling of his own. I allude to his famous club, called +the "Junto," a kind of Robinhood society, composed of young men +desirous of improving themselves in knowledge and elocution, and who +met one night every week, to discuss some interesting question in +morals, politics, or philosophy. + +The members at first were but few; but Ben, now a complete master of +his pen, made such a dash with their speeches in his _newspaper_, that +the Junto soon got to be the talk of the town; and members were added +to it daily. Ben was unanimously appointed moderator of the club; and +in reward for the great pleasure and profit derived from this noble, +mind-improving institution, the members all agreed to support his +printing-office. This was of service; but its principal support was +derived from a still higher source; I mean his own astonishing +industry. No sooner was it known in town that Ben had set up a new +paper and press, under the very nose of two others, Keimer's and +Bradford's, than it became a matter of speculation whether it could +possibly stand. The generality gave into the negative. But Dr. Bard, a +shrewd old Scotchman, who well knew the effect of persevering industry +on young men's fortunes, laughed heartily at the doubters. "_Stand_," +said he, "_gentlemen_! Yes, take my word it _will stand_. The industry +of that young Franklin will make any thing stand. I see him still at +work when I return from my patients at midnight, and he is at it again +in the morning before his neighbours are out of bed." Ben was fairly +entitled to his praise. He generally composed and corrected ten to +twelve thousand m's a day, though it constantly took him till near +midnight. But so intent was he on finishing this incredible task, that +when accident had deranged a good half of his hard day's work, he has +been known to fall to work and set it up again before he went to bed. + +The reputation acquired by this industry, made such an impression in +his favour, that the merchants, many of them, made him liberal offers +of their stationary on _credit_. But, not wishing to have "_too many +irons in the fire_," he declined their offers, which added to his +reputation of an _industrious_ young man, that of an _upright_ and +_cautious_ one. This is mentioned, not so much for praise of the +_dead_, as for a _hint_ to the living. + +Business began now to make a flood-tide movement in the new +printing-office, and Ben made such good use of it, and picked up money +so fast, that he was in hopes he had nearly thrown all his troubles +over the "_left shoulder_." But in this he was miserably mistaken; for +presently, as if there was to be no end to troubles, there leaped out +another, more alarming than all before. Old Meredith, finding that Ben +had not cured his son of his drunken fits, _took a miff_, and all at +once _backed out_ of his promise to pay for their press and printing +materials! and the merchant who imported these costly articles, and who +had for some time been expecting his money, commenced a suit, and +threatened immediate execution! + +Poor Ben! Imagination sees him, at first, standing like a luckless +merchant, who, after two noble ventures swallowed up, now beholds the +breakers that are to swallow up his third, and _last_ hope--"Yes," +thought he, "but a few short weeks and my press and type will be under +the hammer; all my delightful hopes annihilated; and myself turned +adrift on the wide world again!" + +At this perilous moment, when nothing but infamy and ruin stared him in +the face, God was pleased to cause his OWN VIRTUES to leap forth like +an armed Minerva, with shield and buckler for his defence. His INDUSTRY +and PRUDENCE having, as aforesaid, been trumpeted through the town, the +public feelings were greatly excited by his misfortunes. "_Shame_," +_said they_, "_that such a young man should fall. As to that drunken +fellow, that Meredith, no matter how soon he is stripped and sent to +jail. But this Franklin must not fall for want of a little help. It +were a disgrace to the town._" Accordingly several gentlemen, two at +least are recorded, Coleman and Grace, without each other's knowledge, +called on him, and tendered whatever sum he should want!--but hoping at +the same time he would, if possible, get quit of Meredith, who only +served to disgrace and injure him; being often seen at _taverns_ and +_gambling tables_. + +A relief so unexpected, and in a manner too so flattering, produced on +the mind of Ben, a satisfaction beyond expression. After making the +best acknowledgments he could to such noble benefactors, he begged they +would allow him a day or two to effect, if possible, an honourable +separation from Meredith. Fortunately he found no difficulty in this: +for Meredith, heartily sick of the business, readily agreed, for a +small consideration, to give him up the printing-office to himself. Ben +then called on his two friends, accepted the proffered supply, taking +exactly one half from each for fear of offending either, and making +full settlement with the Merediths, took the whole business into his +own hands. + +Ben's extreme alarm from the danger of having his printing-office +seized, and its fortunate rescue by the amiable Coleman and Grace, has +been very briefly narrated. But transient as this event may seem in our +narrative, it produced on his feelings a glow of gratitude which kings +might envy; and it led to an _act_ which Angels would glory in. The +reader shall hear all in good time. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + + +Having now got the printing-office in his own hands, Ben began to find +the unspeakable advantage of his past labours to acquire ideas, and to +convey them handsomely by his pen. The town and country getting at this +time prodigiously excited about a PAPER CURRENCY, Ben came out with a +most luminous pamphlet, on "THE ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES of a PAPER +CURRENCY." The pamphlet gave such satisfaction to the legislature, that +they rewarded him with the _printing_ of all their money bills. His +pamphlet producing the same effect on the legislature of Delaware, they +rewarded him in the same way--as also did both these legislatures by +throwing into his way several other jobs of public printing. + +Money now coming in, he went at once, and paid his good friends Coleman +and Grace what they had so nobly lent him. With a light heart he then +wiped off that old score of VERNON'S, which had given him so much +uneasiness, but which now receipted in _full_, _principal_ and +_interest_, made him feel himself the freest, and therefore the +happiest man in Pennsylvania. Money still coming in, he fitted up a few +shelves in the front room of his printing-office, where he spread out +an assortment of Books, Blanks, Paper and Quills; but all in the small +way--for he always thought, that though + + "Vessels large may venture more, + Yet little boats should keep near shore." + +Like a ship that after long tacking against winds and tides, through +dangerous straits and shallows, has at last got safely out on the main +ocean flood, and at liberty to lay her own course; such was now the +condition of Ben; who hereupon felt it his duty immediately to take on +board those two grand guides and guardians of his voyage--RELIGION and +a GOOD WIFE. + +As to religion--the grum looks and bitter sectarian animosities of the +christians in those wretched days, had early made a deist of him; and +he, in turn, had made deists of others, as Collins and Ralph. But on +coming to test the thing by its fruits, he found that this new religion +(deism) was not yet the religion he could admire. He found that poor +Collins, with all his deism, was but a drunkard--Ralph, an ungrateful +swindler--governor Keith, a great rascal--and even himself, though a +prime deist, yet in his treatment of Miss Read, as culpable as any of +them all. This led him to a train of thought which resulted in the +conclusion, that though he could not conceive that _bad actions are +bad, merely because revelation forbids them; nor good actions good, +because revelation enjoins them_: yet he doubted not but the former +were forbidden, because they are _hurtful_, and the latter enjoined +because they are _beneficial_ to us--all things considered. On this +grand principle then, the inseparable connexion between VICE and +MISERY, and VIRTUE and HAPPINESS, he determined from that day to shun +the one, and embrace the other; thus summing up his religion in those +beautiful lines:-- + + "What CONSCIENCE dictates to be done, + Or warns me not to do; + This teach me more than HELL to shun, + That more than HEAVEN pursue." + +So much for his religion. As to his wife, his behaviour in this respect +seems to have shown that there was some substance in the religious +ground he had taken. Having, at the time of his sad disappointment in +London, and when he despaired of ever marrying her, neglected his old +sweetheart Miss Read, he resolved, now that he was getting into better +circumstances, to make her all the amends in his power. 'Tis true, her +mother, who had prevented the marriage before he set off for England, +and during his absence had prevailed on her to marry another lover, was +most in fault, and actually acquitted him, laying the blame altogether +at her own door.--But Ben never acquitted himself; he felt condemned, +and would therefore accept no _absolution_ while he could make +_reparation_. He renewed his visits to the family, who were rejoiced to +see him. He saw his old sweetheart, Miss Read; but O how altered from +her who, formerly bright with love and joy, used to fly to the door to +welcome his coming! How altered from her, whose rosy cheeks crimsoned +with blushes, he so fondly kissed at taking leave for England, with +sweetest promises of speedy return and blissful marriage. Pale and wan +were her looks, where she sat silent, and retired, and often deeply +sighing, like one much troubled in mind, or crossed in hopeless love. +She never reminded him of his "_troth and broken vows_." But such +patient suffering served but the more to harrow up his feelings. Each +stifled sigh sounded in his ear as a death bell; and each tender glance +carried a point keener than the lightning's fork. In a word, his heart +was completely torn, and he had wisdom to seek its only +cure--_reconciliation with the injured_. 'Tis true, pride whispered +that Miss Read, having treated him with great disrespect by marrying in +his absence, ought to be _punished_. But how could he think of revenge +on a poor girl, whom his own neglect had driven to that desperate act! +Avarice, too, remonstrated against marrying a woman, whose last husband +had left debts which he might be ruined to pay. But Ben felt resolved, +that as he had rendered this dear woman unhappy, he would restore her +peace, whatever might be the cost. As the coming forth of the sun after +clouds, such was the shining of conscious virtue on Ben's face, after +such noble resolving. As a flower after long mourning its absent sun, +rejoices again in his returning beams; so the soul of Miss Read +rejoiced in the smiles of her returning lover. The hearts of her aged +parents revived with the cheerful rose once more blooming on her pallid +cheek; and heaven itself shed choicest blessings on their happy union. + +No debts of the former husband were ever exhibited against them. No foe +was permitted to triumph. And while old Keimer, after all his roguery, +was fain to run away from his creditors to the West Indies, where he +died in poverty--and while his successor, Harry, elated with a puff of +prosperity, and affecting the FINE GENTLEMAN, soon came out at the +little end of the horn, Ben and his lovely bride, going on in their +virtuous toils, prospered together like twin trees planted by the +rivers of water. Lured by her pleasant looks, the book-store, over +which she presided, was constantly thronged; and equally pleased with +the neatness and fidelity of his printing, Ben's press was always at +work. Happy in the tender wish to please, "each was to the other a +dearer self." And whether their duties called them to the kitchen, the +book-store, or the printing-office, they still found, in their mutual +love, that divine cordial which lightened every burden and sweetened +every care. Their table, though frugal, was delicious, because seasoned +with smiles of mutual fondness. And doubly welcome the return of night, +where Hymen, unreproved, had lighted up his sacred torch; and where +pressed to the soft bosom of his affectionate spouse, the happy husband +could take his fill of pure connubial bliss, without remorse or dread +of danger. Such were the benefits which Ben derived from his generous +dealings with the afflicted Miss Read; and as a farther reward, it was +in this self same year, that Ben was enabled to _incorporate_ his grand +library-company. + +This first of social blessings, a PUBLIC LIBRARY, was set on foot by +Franklin, about the year 1731. Fifty persons subscribed forty shillings +each, and agreed to pay ten shillings annually. The number increased; +and in 1742, the company was incorporated, by the name of "The Library +Company of Philadelphia." It now contains eight thousand volumes on all +subjects, a philosophical apparatus, and a good beginning towards a +collection of natural and artificial curiosities. The company have +lately built an elegant house in Fifth street, on the front of which is +erected a marble statue of their founder, Benjamin Franklin.[2] + + [2] The gift of William Bingham, Esq. + +The beneficial influence of this institution was soon evident. The +cheapness of terms rendered it accessible to every one. Hence a degree +of information was extended among all classes of people, which is very +unusual in other places. The example was soon followed. Libraries were +established in various places, and they are now become very numerous in +the United States, and particularly in Pennsylvania. It is to be hoped, +that they will be _still more widely extended_, and that information +will be every where increased. This will be the best security for our +liberties. _A nation who has been taught to know and prize the rights +which God has given them, cannot be enslaved. It is in the regions of +ignorance alone that tyranny reigns._ + +In 1732, Franklin began to publish POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC. + +The eloquent Charles Fox used to say, that had Doctor Franklin written +nothing else, his "Poor Richard's Almanac" were alone sufficient to +immortalize him. Instead of being taken up, as too many Almanacs are, +with trifling stories and fool-born jests, it abounds with the finest +maxims on Industry, Temperance, and Frugality, thrown together with +astonishing conciseness, and written with that happy mixture _of +gravity_ and gaiety that captivates every body, and never tires. It +took a wonderful run. From 10 to 15,000 a year were generally sold in +Pennsylvania. And to this Almanac, in a considerable measure, may be +ascribed that wonderful start which Pennsylvania has taken of the +middle and southern states in all the REPUBLICAN VIRTUES, of INDUSTRY +and ECONOMY, which point the WAY to WEALTH. + +Even the finest girls there, worth their thousands, don't think it +beneath them, to "_lay hold on the distaff_," like Solomon's +accomplished daughter, to swell the riches of the family _wardrobe_ and +to improve the _savoury dishes_ of their parents. + +A foppish young fortune-hunter from the south, ventured sometime ago to +pay his respects to the beautiful Miss Dickenson, one of the first +fortunes in the state. Instead of finding her, as he had expected, idly +lolling in a room of state, and bedizened in ribbands and laces, like a +fairy queen, he found her attired in that simple dress of exquisite +neatness which best sets off the rosy freshness of youthful beauty; and +he found her, too, busied in some piece of domestic industry. He +blushed to find her "_at work_!" After a world of compliments, all +tending to make her out far too _divine a creature_ for such +disparaging employments, he gave her to understand that she should not +thus demean herself if she were in Carolina. + +"_What!_" replied she, with sarcastic pleasantry, "_don't the young +ladies with you, read_ POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC?" + +Thus was this little annual visitor of Doctor Franklin's, a general +blessing to the Pennsylvanians, making them all fond of industry. And +Jacob did not more naturally beget Joseph and his twelve brethren than +does industry beget INNOCENCE, and HEALTH, and WEALTH, and +CHEERFULNESS, and all that lovely train of virtues, which tend to make +men happy by driving away their vices. For who, for example, will ever +get drunk who has no _debts_ nor _duns_ nor vices of any sort to make +him _uneasy_? And who will ever _sell his birthright_ of an _honest +vote_ for an electioneering dinner and a drink of grog, when he has +fatted calves and wine of his own at home? This is Pennsylvania all +over. + +In the Almanac for the last year that doctor Franklin ever published, +he compressed the choicest sentiments of all the preceding editions, +and entitled it "THE WAY TO WEALTH." It is not easy to do justice to +this little work. American writers need not eulogize it. The British, +and even the French into whose language it was quickly translated, have +paid it the most flattering attention. Doctor Knox gave it a place in +his "ELEGANT EXTRACTS;" and Lewis XV. on hearing it read, was so +charmed with the admirable sense and humour of Poor Richard, that he +gave orders for a new frigate, just launching, to be named, in honour +of this famous nosegay of Franklin's, LE BON HOMME RICHARD, or "POOR +RICHARD." I have heard nothing of this frigate or of any exploits of +her's, while she was a new ship, and in the French service. But this I +know, that in her latter days she was covered over with glory. This was +the ship on which that gallant Scot, Paul Jones, hoisted the American +flag in the great war of the revolution. Though the Poor Richard +mounted but 36 guns, and was old and crazy besides, yet her commander +had the audacity to carry her alongside of the SERAPIS, a British 44, +and a new ship. It is true, the Alliance, an American frigate of the +smallest class, was in company with the POOR RICHARD; but as Jones and +his officers all declare, rendered him no assistance whatever. But +though thus basely deserted by her consort in the hour of conflict with +a mightier foe, yet did not the POOR RICHARD despair, but bravely +grappled with her enemy at once, and after one of the bloodiest +contests recorded in history, gloriously succeeded in hauling down her +colours. The Poor Richard, however, but barely survived this dreadful +four hours' conflict with such a heavy adversary. For as if only +waiting to see the modest stars of liberty waving where the proud jack +of tyranny had waved before, she bowed her head beneath a mountainous +billow and went down--the glorious tomb of many of her gallant crew, +embalmed, for dear liberty's sake, in their own heart's blood. + +As the reader might think it hard, after so much said about it to whet +his curiosity, if we did not give him a squint at this famous "POOR +RICHARD'S ALMANAC," we hasten now to do ourselves the pleasure to lay +it before him, in the last and best form wherein doctor Franklin gave +it to the public, and under the same title, viz. "THE WAY TO WEALTH," +or "POOR RICHARD," _improved_--which runs thus:-- + +COURTEOUS READER, + +I have heard that nothing gives an author so great pleasure as to find +his works respectfully quoted by others. 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 merchant's 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 be ever 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 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:-- + +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 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. + + I. It will 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 +labour 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 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 over take +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. + +So what signifies wishing and hoping for better times? we may make +these times better, if we bestir ourselves. "Industry need not wish, +and he that lives upon hope 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 honour," as poor Richard +says; but then the trade must be worked at, and the calling well +followed, or neither the estate nor the office will enable us to pay +our taxes. If we are industrious, we will never starve; for at the +working man'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 plough deep while +sluggards 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 farther, "never leave that till to-morrow, which you +can do to-day." If you were a 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 relations, and your country. 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." + +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 labour 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 body +bids me good-morrow." + + II. But with our industry, we must likewise be steady, settled and +careful, and oversee our own affairs with our own eyes, and not trust +too much to others; for, as poor Richard says, + + "I never saw an oft removed tree, Nor yet an oft removed family, + That throve so well as those that settled be." + +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, + + "He that by the plough would thrive, + Himself must either hold or drive." + +And again, "the eye of a 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 horse-shoe nail." + +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, + + "Many estates are spent in the getting, + Since women for tea forsook spinning and knitting, + And men for punch forsook hewing and splitting." + +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. + +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, + + "Women and wine, game and deceit, + Make the wealth small, and the want great." + +And farther, "what maintains one vice will 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." Here you are all got together to this sale of fineries +and nicknacks. 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 great pennyworths." Again, "it is foolish to lay out money in a +purchase of repentance:" and yet this folly is practised every day at +auctions, for want of minding the Almanac. Many a one, for the sake of +finery on the back, have gone with a hungry belly, and half starved +their families; "silks and sattins, scarlet and velvets, put out the +kitchen fire," as poor Richard says. 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 ploughman on his legs is higher than a gentleman on +his knees," as poor Richard says. Perhaps they have had a small estate +left them, which they knew not the getting of: they think "it is day, +and will never 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 again. Poor Dick +farther advises, and says, + + "Fond pride of dress is sure a very curse, + Ere fancy you consult, consult your purse." + +And again, "pride is as loud a beggar as want, and a great deal more +saucy." 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 to equal the ox. + +"Vessels large, may venture more, But little boats should keep near +shore." + +It is, however, a folly soon punished; for, as poor Richard says, +"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. + +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 on debt's back;" whereas a +free American 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." What would you +think of that nation, 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 were 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 that tyranny when you run into debt for +such a dress! your creditor has authority, at his pleasure, to deprive +you of your liberty, by confining you in jail for life, or by selling +you for a servant, if you should not be able to pay him: when you have +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 set, 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 at +Easter." At present, perhaps, you may think yourself in thriving +circumstances, and that you can bear a little extravagance without +injury; but, + + "For age and want save while you may, + No morning suns last the whole day." + +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." + +"Get what you can, and what you get, hold, 'Tis the stones that will +turn lead into gold." + +And when you have got the philosopher's stone, sure you will no longer +complain of bad times, or the difficulty of paying taxes. + +IV. This doctrine of my friend's 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 afterwards prosperous. + +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 counselled cannot be helped;" and +farther, that "if you will not hear reason, she will surely wrap your +knuckles," as poor Richard says. + +Thus the old gentleman ended his harangue. The people heard it and +approved the doctrine, and immediately practised the contrary, 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 dropt on those 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. + +RICHARD SAUNDERS. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + + +"_When poverty comes in at the door_," said a shrewd observer, "_love +flies out at the window_." When foolish families, "_wasting their +substance in riotous living_," have fairly run their estates through +the girt, and brought a host of hungry sheriffs and constables to the +door, seizing on all their trumpery of fine carpets and curtains, and +side-boards, and looking-glasses for _auction_, oh what sudden +palpitations and blank looks ensue! what bitter upbraidings between +husbands and wives, parents and children! what lyings, and perjuries, +and secret transfers of property to _cheat creditors_! with universal +wreck of character, and conscience, and every thing else that can give +dignity or pleasure to life! + +But while Franklin, by his famous Almanack "_poor Richard_," was +generously striving to prevent all these curses of _sloth_ and +_extravagance_, his wide spread newspapers were scattering thousands +of the finest lectures on that _honest industry_ and _prudence_, +which makes nations wealthy and glorious. And his lecturing, like one +born to be the moralist of nations, was in that style of brevity, +sprightliness, and nerve, that young and old, men, women, and +children were never tired of reading. And to give more value to these +beautiful little essays, they were always written under the smarting +recollection of what himself had suffered, from the follies which he +wished to guard others against. Witness first, his celebrated little +story, entitled + + +THE WHISTLE. + +A TRUE STORY. + +WRITTEN TO HIS NEPHEW. + +When I was a child, about seven years old, my friends, on a holiday, +filled my pocket with coppers. I went directly to a shop, where they +sold toys for children, and being charmed with the sound of a +_whistle_, that I met by the way, in the hands of another boy, I +voluntarily offered him all my money for it. I then came home, and +went whistling all over the house, much pleased with my _whistle_, but +disturbing all the family. My brothers, and sisters, and cousins, +understanding the bargain I had made, told me I had given four times +as much for it as it was worth. This put me in mind what good things I +might have bought with the rest of my money; and they laughed at me so +much for my folly, that I cried with vexation; and the reflection gave +me more chagrin than the _whistle_ gave me pleasure. + +This, however, was afterwards of use to me. The impression continued +on my mind; so that, often, when I was tempted to buy some unnecessary +thing, I said to myself, _don't give too much for the whistle_; and so +I saved my money. + +As I grew up, came into the world, and observed the actions of men, I +thought I met with many, very many who _gave too much for the +whistle_. + +When I saw any one too ambitious of court favours, sacrificing his +time in attendance on levees, his repose, his liberty, his virtue, and +perhaps his friends, to attain it; I have said to myself, _this man +gives too much for his whistle_. + +When I saw another fond of popularity, constantly employing himself in +political bustles, neglecting his own affairs, and ruining them by +that neglect; _he pays indeed_, says I, _too much for his whistle_. + +If I knew a miser, who gave up every kind of comfortable living; all +the pleasures of doing good to others, all the esteem of his +fellow-citizens, and the joys of benevolent friendship, for the sake +of accumulating wealth; _poor man_, says I, _you do, indeed, pay too +much for your whistle_. + +When I meet a man of pleasure, sacrificing every laudable improvement +of the mind, or of his fortune, to mere corporeal sensations--_Mistaken +man_, says I, _you are providing pain for yourself, instead of +pleasure. You give too much for your whistle._ + +If I see one fond of fine clothes, fine furniture, fine equipages, all +above his fortune, for which he contracts debts, and ends his career +in prison; _alas_, says I, _he has paid dear, very dear, for his +whistle_. + +When I see a beautiful sweet-tempered girl, married to an ill-natured +brute of a husband; _what a pity it is_, says I, _that she has paid so +much for her whistle_. + +In short, I conceived, that great part of the miseries of mankind were +brought upon them, by the false estimates they had made of the value +of things, and by their giving too much for their _whistle_. + + +The following admirable satire against _prejudice_, can never be too +often read by the ill-natured and hypochondrical. + +THE HANDSOME AND UGLY LEG. + +There are two sorts of people in the world, who, with equal advantages +of life, become, the one happy, and the other miserable. This arises, +very much, from the different views in which they consider things, and +the effect of those different views upon their own minds. + +In every situation men can be placed, they may find conveniences and +inconveniences; in every company, persons and conversation more or +less pleasing; at every table, meats and drinks of better or worse +taste; dishes better and worse dressed; in every climate, good and bad +weather; and under every government, good and bad laws, and a good and +bad administration of those laws; in every poem, faults and beauties; +in almost every face, and every person, fine features and sad defects, +good and bad qualities. + +Under these circumstances, the two classes above mentioned, fix their +attention--those who are disposed to be _happy_, on the _conveniences_ +of things, the _pleasant parts_ of conversation, the _well dressed_ +dishes, the _goodness_ of the wine, the _fine weather_, &c. and enjoy +all with _cheerfulness_. Those who are to be _unhappy_, think and +speak only of the contraries. Hence they are continually discontented +themselves, and, by their remarks, sour the pleasures of society, and +make themselves every where disagreeable. + +Nobody loves this sort of people; no one shows them more than the +commonest civility, and scarcely that; and this frequently puts them +out of humour, and draws them into disputes. If they aim at obtaining +any advantage in rank or fortune, nobody wishes them success, or will +stir a step to favour their pretensions. If they incur public censure +or disgrace, no one will defend or excuse, and many join to aggravate +their misconduct, and render them completely odious. If these poor +gentlemen will not change this bad habit, condescend to be pleased +with what is pleasing, without fretting themselves and others about +the contraries, it is good to avoid an acquaintance with them, which +is always disagreeable, and sometimes very inconvenient, especially +when one finds one's self entangled in their quarrels. + +An old philosophical friend of mine was grown, from experience, very +cautious in this particular, and carefully avoided any intimacy with +such people. He had, like other philosophers, a thermometer, to show +him the heat of the weather, and a barometer, to mark when it was +likely to prove good or bad; but there being no instrument invented to +discover, at first sight, this unpleasing disposition in a person, he, +for that purpose, made use of his legs, one of which was remarkably +handsome; the other, by some accident, crooked and deformed. If a +stranger, at the first interview, kept his eyes on his ugly leg more +than the handsome one, he doubted him; if he spoke of it, and took no +notice of the handsome leg, that was sufficient to determine my +philosopher to have no further acquaintance with him. Every body has +not this two-legged instrument; but every one, with a little +attention, may observe signs of that carping, fault-finding +disposition, and take the same resolution of avoiding the acquaintance +of those infected with it. I therefore advise those critical, +querulous, discontented, unhappy people, that if they wish to be +respected and beloved by others, and happy in themselves, they should +_leave off looking at the ugly leg_. + + +"_A good wit will turn every thing to advantage_," says Shakespeare; +and the following will show what a singular passion Dr. Franklin had +to turn every little cross incident of his own life into pleasure and +profit to others. He calls it + +STOOP, AND GO SAFE. + + _To the late Dr. Mather, of Boston._ + + REV. SIR, + + When I was a boy, I met with a book, entitled, "_Essays to do + good_," which, I think, was written by your father. It had been so + little regarded by a former possessor, that several leaves of it + were torn out: but the remainder gave me such a turn for thinking, + as to have an influence on my conduct through life; for I have + always set a greater value on the character of a doer of good than + any other kind of reputation; and if I have been, as you seem to + think, a useful citizen, the public owes the advantage of it to + that book. + + The last time I saw your father was in the beginning of 1724, when + I visited him after my first trip to Pennsylvania. He received me + in his library; and on my taking leave, showed me a shorter way + out of the house, through a narrow passage, which was crossed by a + beam over head. We were still talking, as I withdrew; he + accompanying me behind, and I turning partly towards him, when he + said hastily, "_stoop! stoop!_" I did not understand him, till I + felt my head hit against the beam. He was a man, who never missed + any occasion of giving instruction; and upon this he said to me, + "_you are young, and have the world before you_. STOOP, _as you go + through, and you will miss many hard thumps_." This advice, thus + beat into my head, has frequently been of use to me; and I often + think of it, when I see pride mortified, and misfortune brought + upon people, by carrying their heads too high. + + I long much to see again my native place; and did hope to have + been there in 1783; but could not obtain my dismission from + employment here. And now I fear I shall never have that happiness. + My best wishes, however, attend my dear country. It is now blessed + with an excellent constitution. _May it last for ever!_ + + This powerful monarchy continues its friendship for the United + States. It is a friendship of the utmost importance to our + security; and should be carefully cultivated. Britain has not yet + digested the loss of its dominion over us, and has still, at + times, some flattering hopes of recovering it. Accidents may + increase those hopes, and encourage dangerous attempts. A breach + between us and France would infallibly bring the English again + upon our backs: and yet, we have some wild beasts among our + countrymen, who are endeavouring to weaken that connexion. + + Let us preserve our reputation, by performing our engagements; our + credit, by fulfilling our contracts; and our friends, by gratitude + and kindness: for we know not how soon we may again have occasion + for all of them.--With great and sincere esteem, I have the honour + to be--Reverend sir, + + Your most obedient and most humble servant, + + B. FRANKLIN. + + _Passy, May 12, 1784._ + + +The witty little essay that follows, will show how very closely Dr. +Franklin observed every thing around him, and what gross errors in +education yet remain to be corrected. + +THE HUMOUROUS PETITION. + +I address myself to all the friends of youth, and conjure them to +direct their compassionate regard to my unhappy fate, in order to +remove the prejudices of which I am the victim. There are twin sisters +of us, and the two eyes of man do not more resemble, nor are capable +of being upon better terms with each other, than my sister and myself, +were it not for the partiality of our parents, who make the most +injurious distinctions between us. From my infancy I have been led to +consider my sister as being of a more elevated rank. I was suffered to +grow up without the least instruction, while nothing was spared in her +education. She had masters to teach her writing, drawing, music, and +other accomplishments, but if, by chance, I touched a pencil, a pen, +or a needle, I was bitterly rebuked; and more than once, I have been +beaten for being awkward, and wanting a graceful manner. It is true, +my sister associated me with her upon some occasions; but she always +made a point of taking the lead, calling upon me only from necessity, +or to figure by her side. + +But conceive not, sirs, that my complaints are instigated merely by +vanity--no, my uneasiness is occasioned by an object much more +serious. It is the practice in our family, that the whole business of +providing for its subsistence falls upon my sister and myself. If any +indisposition should attack my sister--and I mention it in confidence, +upon this occasion, that she is subject to the gout, the rheumatism, +and cramp, without making mention of other accidents--what would be +the fate of our poor family? Must not the regret of our parents be +excessive, at having placed so great a distance between sisters who +are so perfectly equal? Alas! we must perish from distress: for it +would not be in my power even to scrawl a suppliant petition for +relief, having been obliged to employ the hand of another in +transcribing the request which I have now the honour to prefer to you. + +Condescend, sirs, to make my parents sensible of the injustice of an +_exclusive tenderness_, and of the necessity of distributing their +care and affection among all their children equally. I am, with +profound respect, Sirs, + +Your obedient servant, + +THE LEFT HAND. + + +The following essays strikingly illustrate the admirable wisdom and +philanthropy of Dr. Franklin; and, if read _practically_, would, no +doubt, greatly lessen the number both of PHYSICIANS and PATIENTS. + +THE ART OF PROCURING PLEASANT DREAMS. + +As a great part of our life is spent in sleep, during which we have +sometimes pleasing, and sometimes painful dreams, it becomes of some +consequence to obtain the one kind, and avoid the other; for whether +real or imaginary, pain is pain, and pleasure is pleasure. If we can +sleep without dreaming, it is well that painful dreams are avoided. +If, while we sleep, we can have pleasing dreams, it is so much clear +gain to the pleasures of life. + +To this end, it is, in the first place, necessary to be careful in +preserving health--for, in sickness, the imagination is disturbed; and +disagreeable, sometimes terrible ideas are apt to present themselves. +But for health, our main dependence is on EXERCISE and TEMPERANCE. +These render the appetite sharp, the digestion easy, the body +lightsome, and the temper cheerful, with sweet sleep and pleasant +dreams. While indolence and full feeding never fail to bring on loaded +stomachs, with night-mares and horrors--we fall from precipices--are +stung by serpents--assaulted by wild beasts--murderers--devils--with +all the black train of unimaginable danger and wo. Temperance, then, +is all-important to sweet sleep and pleasant dreaming. But a main +point of temperance, is to _shun hearty suppers_, which are indeed not +safe, even when dinner has been missed; what then must be the +consequence of hearty suppers after full dinners? why only restless +nights and frightful dreams; and sometimes _a stroke of the apoplexy_, +after which they sleep till doomsday. The newspapers often relate +instances of persons, who, after eating hearty suppers, are found dead +in their beds next morning. + +Another grand mean of preserving health, is to admit a constant supply +of _fresh air_ into your chamber. A more sad mistake was never +committed than that of sleeping in tight rooms, and beds closely +curtained. This has arisen from the dread of night air. But, after all +the clamour and abuse that have been heaped on _night air_, it is very +certain that no outward air, that may come in, is half so unwholesome +as the air often breathed in a close chamber. As boiling water does +not grow hotter by longer boiling, if the particles that receive +greater heat can escape; so living bodies do not putrify, if the +particles, as fast as they become putrid, can be thrown off. Nature +expels them by the pores of the skin and lungs, and in a free open air +they are carried off; but, in a _close room_, we receive them again +and again, though they become more and more corrupt. A number of +persons crowded into a small room, thus spoil the air in a few +minutes, and even render it mortal, as in the black hole at +Calcutta.[3] A single person is said to spoil a gallon of air per +minute, and therefore requires a longer time to spoil a chamber full; +but it is done, however, in proportion, and many putrid disorders +hence have their origin. It is recorded of Methusalem, who, being the +longest liver, may be supposed to have best preserved his health, that +he slept always in the open air; for when he had lived five hundred +years, an angel said to him, "_arise, Methusalem, and build thee an +house, for thou shalt live yet five hundred years longer_." But +Methusalem answered and said, "_If I am to live but five hundred years +longer, it is not worth while to build me an house--I will sleep in +the air, as I have been used to do._" Physicians, after having for +ages contended that the sick should not be indulged with fresh air, +have at length discovered that it may do them good. It is therefore to +be hoped that it is not hurtful to those who are in health, and that +we may be then cured of the _acrophobia_ that at present distresses +weak minds, and makes them choose to be stifled and poisoned, rather +than leave open the windows of a bed chamber, or put down the glass of +a coach. + + [3] In India, where out of 140 poor British prisoners shut + up in a close small room 120 of them perished in one night. + +Confined air, when saturated with perspirable matter,[4] will not +receive more; and that matter must remain in our bodies, and occasions +diseases; but it gives some previous notice of its being about to be +hurtful, by producing certain uneasinesses which are difficult to +describe, and few that feel know the cause. But we may recollect, that +sometimes, on waking in the night, we have, if warmly covered, found +it difficult to get asleep again. We turn often without finding repose +in any position. This _fidgetiness_, to use a vulgar expression for +the want of a better, is occasioned wholly by an uneasiness in the +skin, owing to the retention of the perspirable matter, the +bed-clothes having received their quantity, and, being saturated, +refusing to take any more. + + [4] What physicians call the perspirable matter, is that + vapour which passes off from our bodies, from the lungs, and + through the pores of the skin. The quantity of this is said + to be five-eighths of what we eat. + +When you are awakened by this uneasiness, and find you cannot easily +sleep again, get out of bed, beat up and turn your pillow, shake the +bed-clothes well, with at least twenty shakes, then throw the bed +open, and leave it to cool; in the meanwhile, continuing undrest, walk +about your chamber, till your skin has had time to discharge its load, +which it will do sooner as the air may be drier and colder. When you +begin to feel the cool air unpleasant, then return to your bed, and +you will soon fall asleep, and your sleep will be sweet and pleasant. +All the scenes presented by your fancy, will be of the pleasing kind. +I am often as agreeably entertained with them, as by the scenery of an +opera. If you happen to be too indolent to get out of bed, you may +instead of it, lift up your bed-clothes so as to draw in a good deal +of fresh air, and, by letting them fall, force it out again. This, +repeated twenty times, will so clear them of the perspirable matter +they have imbibed, as to permit your sleeping well for some time +afterwards. But this latter method is not equal to the former. + +Those who do not love trouble, and can afford to have two beds, will +find great luxury in rising, when they wake in a hot bed, and going +into the cool one. Such shifting of beds, would be of great service to +persons ill in a fever; as it refreshes and frequently procures sleep. +A very large bed, that will admit a removal so distant from the first +situation as to be cool and sweet, may in a degree answer the same +end. + +These are the rules of the art. But though they will generally prove +effectual in producing the end intended, there is a case in which the +most punctual observance of them will be totally fruitless. This case +is, when the person who desires to have pleasant dreams has not taken +care to preserve, what is necessary above all things--A GOOD CONSCIENCE. + + +ON THE ART OF SWIMMING. + +The exercise of swimming is one of the most healthy and agreeable in +the world. After having swam for an hour or two in the evening, one +sleeps coolly the whole night, even during the most ardent heat of +summer. Perhaps the pores being cleansed, the insensible perspiration +increases, and occasions this coolness. It is certain that much +swimming is the means of stopping a diarrhoea and even of producing a +constipation. With respect to those who do not know how to swim, or +who are affected with a diarrhoea at the season which does not permit +them to use that exercise, a warm bath, by cleansing and purifying the +skin, is found very salutary, and often effects a radical cure. I +speak from my own experience, frequently repeated, and that of others, +to whom I have recommended this. + +You will not be displeased if I conclude these hasty remarks by +informing you, that as the ordinary method of swimming is reduced to +the act of rowing with the arms and legs, and is consequently a +laborious and fatiguing operation, when the space of water to be +crossed is considerable; there is a method in which a swimmer may pass +a great distance with much facility, by means of a sail. This +discovery I fortunately made by accident, and in the following manner. + +When I was a boy, I amused myself one day with flying a paper kite; +and approaching the bank of a pond, which was near a mile broad, I +tied the string to a stake, and the kite ascended to a very +considerable height, above the pond, while I was swimming. In a little +time, being desirous of amusing myself with my kite, and enjoying at +the same time the pleasure of swimming, I returned, and loosing from +the stake the string, with the little stick fastened to it, went again +into the water, where I found, that, lying on my back, and holding the +stick in my hands, I was drawn along the surface of the water in a +very agreeable manner. Having then engaged another boy to carry my +clothes round the pond to the other side, I began to cross the pond +with my kite, which carried me quite over without the least fatigue, +and with the greatest pleasure imaginable. I was only obliged +occasionally to halt a little in my course, and resist its progress, +when it appeared that, by following too quick, I lowered the kite too +much, by doing which occasionally I made it rise again. I have never +since that time practised this singular mode of swimming, though I +think it not impossible to cross, in this manner, from Dover to +Calais. The packet boat, however, is still preferable. + + +NEW MODE OF BATHING. + +The cold bath has long been in vogue as a tonic, but the shock of the +cold water has always appeared to me, generally speaking, as too +violent, and I have found it much more agreeable to my constitution to +bathe in another element--I mean cold air. With this view, I rise, +early every morning and sit in my chamber, without any clothes +whatever, half an hour or an hour, according to the season, either +reading or writing, This practice is not the least painful, but, on +the contrary, agreeable; and if I return to bed afterwards, before I +dress myself, as sometimes happens, I make a supplement to my night's +rest of one or two hours of the most pleasing sleep that can be +imagined. I find no ill consequences whatever resulting from it, and +that at least I do not injure my health, if it does not, in fact, +contribute much to its preservation. I shall, therefore, call it for +the future a _tonic air bath_. + + +The common saying, "_lazy people take the most pains_," was never more +clearly exemplified than in the following squib. + +STRENUOUS IDLENESS. + +Passing the Schuylkill, one day, he saw a man sitting on the bridge, +very earnestly looking on the cork of his fishing line. "_What luck? +What luck?_" cried the doctor. "_O none! none!_" answered our fishing +hawk; "_none yet; I have not been here over a couple of hours or so_." +The doctor pushed on. Near sun-down he returned. The man was still +sitting and staring at his cork, like a spaniel at a dead set. "Well," +said the doctor, "I hope you have had a fine haul among the fish." +"Not a single one," replied the man. "_Not a single one!_" quoth the +doctor, amazed. "No, not one, sir," answered the fisher, "not one; but +I've had a most _glorious nibble_!" + + +The following is a fine hint to such as have learned useful trades, +but have not learned what is infinitely more valuable, I mean that +divine philanthropy which alone can make their trades their delight, +and thus strew life over with roses. + +THE SILVER HOOK. + +Doctor Franklin observing one day a hearty young fellow, whom he knew +to be an extraordinary blacksmith, sitting on the wharf, bobbing for +little mud-cats and eels, he called to him, "Ah Tom, what a pity 'tis +you don't fish with a _silver_ hook." The young man replied, "he was +not able to fish with a silver hook." Some days after this, the doctor +passing that way, saw Tom out at the end of the wharf again, with his +long pole bending over the flood. "What, Tom," cried the doctor, "have +you not got the silver hook yet?" + +"God bless you, doctor," cried the blacksmith, "I'm hardly able to +fish with an iron hook." + +"Poh! poh!" replied the doctor, "go home to your anvil; and you'll +make silver enough in one day to buy more and better fish than you +would catch here in a month." + + +But few have it so much in their power to do good or evil as the +PRINTERS. I know they all glory in Dr. Franklin as a FATHER, and are +wont to name his name with _veneration_; happy would it be for this +country if they would read the following with _imitation_. + +TRUE INDEPENDENCE. + +Soon after his establishment in Philadelphia, Franklin was offered a +piece for publication in his newspaper. Being very busy, he begged the +gentleman would leave it for consideration. The next day the author +called and asked his opinion of it. "Why, sir," replied Franklin, "I +am sorry to say that I think it highly scurrilous and defamatory. But +being at a loss on account of my poverty whether to reject it or not, +I thought I would put it to this issue--at night, when my work was +done, I bought a two-penny loaf, on which with a mug of cold water I +supped heartily, and then wrapping myself in my great coat, slept very +soundly on the floor till morning; when another loaf and a mug of +water afforded me a pleasant breakfast. Now, sir, since I can live +very comfortably in this manner, why should I prostitute my press to +personal hatred or party passion, for a more luxurious living?" + +One cannot read this anecdote of our American sage without thinking of +Socrates' reply to King Archilaus, who had pressed him to give up +preaching in the dirty streets of Athens, and come and live with him +in his splendid courts--"_Meal, please your majesty, is a half penny a +peck at Athens, and water I can get for nothing._" + + +The letter ensuing was from Dr. Franklin to a friend of his, who +having displeased some of his relatives by marrying very early, wrote +to him for his opinion on that subject. Young bachelors would do well +to read it once a month. + +ON EARLY MARRIAGES. + +DEAR JACK, + +From the marriages that have fallen under my observation, I am rather +inclined to think that _early_ ones stand the best chance for +happiness. The temper and habits of the young are not yet become so +stiff and uncomplying, as when more advanced in life; they form more +easily to each other, and hence, many occasions of disgust are +removed. And if youth has less of that prudence which is necessary to +manage a family, the parents and elder friends of young married +persons are generally at hand to afford their advice, which amply +supplies that defect. By early marriage youth is sooner formed to +regular and useful life; and possibly some of those accidents or +connexions that might have injured the constitution, or reputation, or +both, are thereby happily prevented. Particular circumstances of +particular persons, may sometimes make it prudent to delay entering +into that state; but in general, when nature has rendered our bodies +fit for it, the presumption is in nature's favour, that she has not +judged amiss in making us _desire_ it. Late marriages are often +attended too, with this inconvenience, that there is not the same +chance that the parents shall live to see their offspring educated. +"_Late children_," says the Spanish proverb, "_are early orphans_." A +melancholy reflection to those whose case it may be! With us in +America, marriages are generally in the morning of life; our children +are educated and settled in the world by noon; and thus, our business +done, we have an evening of cheerful leisure to ourselves. + +By these early marriages we are blessed with more children; and from +the mode among us, founded in nature, of every mother suckling her +own child, more of them are raised. Thence the swift progress of +population among us, unparalleled in Europe. In fine, I am glad you +are married, and congratulate you most cordially upon it. You are now +in the way of becoming a useful citizen; and you have escaped the +unnatural state of celibacy for life--the fate of many who never +intended it, but who having too long postponed the change of their +condition, find, at length, that it is too late to think of it, and +so live all their lives in a situation that greatly lessens a man's +value. An odd volume of a set of books bears not the value of its +proportion to the set: what think you of the _half_ of a pair of +scissors? it can't well cut anything; it may possibly serve to scrape +a trencher. + +Pray make my best wishes acceptable to your bride. I am old and +heavy, or I should ere this have presented them in person. I shall +make but small use of the old man's privilege, that of giving _advice +to younger friends_. Treat your wife always with respect; it will +procure respect to you, not only from her, but from all that observe +it. Never use a slighting expression to her even in _jest_; for +slights in _jest_, after frequent bandyings, are apt to end in angry +_earnest_. Be studious in your profession, and you will be learned. +Be industrious and frugal, and you will be rich. Be sober and +temperate, and you will be healthy. Be virtuous, and you will be +happy. At least, you will, by such conduct, stand the best chance for +such consequences. I pray God to bless you both! + +Your affectionate friend, + +B. FRANKLIN. + + +As next to a GOOD WIFE, there is but "ONE THING" to be compared to a +_handsome fortune_, we advise our young countrymen to read the +following. It needs but be read to be valued, and it can hardly be +read and valued enough by all who know the value of INDEPENDENCE. + +ADVICE TO A YOUNG TRADESMAN. + +Remember that time is money. He that can earn ten shillings a day, by +his labour, and goes abroad, or sits idle one half of that day, though +he spends but six-pence during his diversion or idleness, ought not to +reckon _that_ the only expense; he has really spent, or rather thrown +away five shillings besides. + +Remember that _credit_ is money. If a man let his money lie in my +hands, after it is due, he gives me the interest, or so much as I can +make of it, during that time. This amounts to a considerable sum where +a man has good and large credit, and makes good use of it. + +Remember that money is of a very breeding prolific nature. Money +begets money; and its offspring can beget more: and so on. Five +shillings turned is six. Turned again it is seven and three-pence; and +so on, till it becomes hundreds and thousands of pounds. The more +there is of it, the more it produces, every turning; so that the +profits rise quicker and quicker. He, who kills a breeding sow, +destroys all her offspring, to the thousandth generation. He, who +murders a crown, destroys all that it might have produced; even scores +of pounds. + +Remember that six pounds a year is but a groat a day. For this little +sum, which may be daily wasted either in time or expense, unperceived, +a man of credit may, on his own security, have the constant possession +and use of an hundred pounds. So much in stock, briskly turned by an +industrious man, produces great advantages. + +Remember this saying, "the good paymaster is lord of another man's +purse." He who is known to pay punctually and exactly to the time he +promises, may, at any time, and on any occasion, raise all the money +his friends can spare. This is sometimes of great use. After industry +and frugality, nothing contributes more to the raising of a young man +in the world, than punctuality and justice in all his dealings. +Therefore never keep borrowed money an hour beyond the time you +promised, lest a disappointment shut up your friend's purse for ever. + +The most trifling actions, that affect a man's credit, are to be +regarded. The sound of your hammer at five in the morning, or nine at +night, heard by a creditor, makes him easy six months longer; but if +he see you at a billiard table, or hears your voice at a tavern, when +you should be at work, he sends for his money next day; and demands it +before he can receive it in a lump. + +It shows, besides, that you are mindful of what you owe. It makes you +appear a careful as well as an honest man; and that still increases +your credit. + +Beware of thinking all your own, that you possess; and of living +accordingly. It is a mistake that many people, who have credit, fall +into. + +To prevent this, keep an exact account, for some time, both of your +expenses and your income. If you take the pains at first to mention +particulars, it will have this good effect:--you will discover how +wonderfully small, trifling expenses mount up to large sums; and will +soon discern, what might have been, and may for the future be saved, +without occasioning any great inconvenience. + +Again: he, who sells upon credit, asks a price, for what he sells, +equivalent to the principal and interest of his money, for the time he +is to be kept out of it. Therefore, he who buys upon credit, pays +interest for what he buys; and, he who pays ready money, might let +that money out to use. So, that he who possesses any thing he has +bought, pays interest for the use of it. + +Yet, in buying goods, it is best to pay ready money; because, he who +sells upon credit, expects to lose five per cent, by bad debts. +Therefore, he charges, on all he sells upon credit, an advance that +shall make up that deficiency. + +Those who pay for what they buy upon credit, pay their share of this +advance. + +He who pays ready money, escapes, or may escape that charge. + + A penny sav'd is two-pence clear, + A pin a day's a groat a year. + +In short, the way to wealth, if you desire it, is as plain as the way +to market. It depends chiefly on two words: _Industry_ and _Frugality_. +Waste neither _time_ nor _money_; but make the best use of both. +Without industry and frugality, nothing will do; but with them every +thing. He who gets all he can, honestly, and saves all he gets, +necessary expenses excepted, will certainly become _rich_; if that +Being who governs the world, to whom all should look for a blessing on +their honest endeavours, doth not, in his wise providence, otherwise +determine. + +AN OLD TRADESMAN. + + +Every reader will be diverted with the following. + +IDLE CURIOSITY CURED. + +On his first trip, by land, to see his father in Boston, he was worried +almost to death by the abominable inquisitiveness of the New England +tavern-keepers. + +Neither man nor beast could travel among them in comfort. No matter how +wet or weary, how hungry or thirsty, the poor traveller might be, he +was not to expect an atom of refreshment from these silly publicans +until their most pestiferous curiosity was first gratified. And then +Job himself could not stand such questions as they would goad him with; +such as, _where he came from--and where he might be a-going--and what +religion he might be of--and if he was a married man_--and so on. After +having been prodigiously teazed in this way for several days, until at +last the bare sight of a public house almost threw him into an ague, he +determined to try the following remedy at the very next tavern. Soon as +he alighted from his horse he desired the tavern keeper to collect his +whole family, wife, children, and servants, every soul of them; for +that he had something _vastly important_ to communicate. All being +assembled and wondering what he had to say, he thus addressed them. "My +name is Benjamin Franklin. I am a printer by trade. I live, when at +home, in Philadelphia. In Boston I have a father, a good old man who +taught me, when I was a little boy, to read my book and say my prayers. +I have, ever since, thought it my duty to visit and pay my respects to +such a father; and I am on that errand to Boston now. This is all that +I can at present recollect of myself that I think worth telling you. +But if you can think of any thing else that you wish to know about me, +I beg you to out with it at once, that I may answer, and so give you +opportunity to get me something to eat; for I long to be on my journey +that I may return as soon as possible to my family and business, where +I most of all delight to be." + +Forty thousand sermons against IDLE CURIOSITY could hardly have driven +it so effectually out of New England as did this little squib of +ridicule. + + +The following jeu d'esprit is peculiarly in character with Dr. +Franklin. It proves that his wit and his benevolence were equal to +every emergence, and that if he carried the Old Testament language in +his head, he carried the New Testament spirit in his heart. + +WIT AND PERSECUTION. + +The conversation turning, one day, on _persecution_, a doctor of +divinity, distinguished for his wit, but, unfortunately, a little too +much infected with that acrimony which is caught by reading books of +religious controversy, took the part of persecution and contended that +it was _sometimes_ right to employ it. Franklin said, he could not +think of any case wherein _persecution_ was _admissible_ among rational +creatures. It might be very excusable in _error_ to persecute, whose +nature it was to see things wrong, and to get angry; but that for such +a "_divinity as_ TRUTH," to persecute, was, in his opinion, a sin +against the _Holy Ghost, never to be forgiven_. After using, in his +facetious manner, a variety of arguments honourable to wit and +philanthropy, and the clergyman still remaining unconvinced, Franklin +called out to him with an air of great surprise, "Why, my dear sir, I +am astonished that you plead thus for persecution when it is so +diametrically opposite to your _Bible_." + +The clergyman replied, that he did not know what doctor Franklin meant. +He thought, he said, he knew something of his _Bible_, but he did not +recollect any chapter in point. + +"_No, sir!_" answered Franklin, still with the look and voice of +surprise, "_not that memorable chapter concerning Abraham and the poor +man! Pray, sir, favour us with your Bible a minute or two._" + +"With all my heart," replied the clergyman, "I should like to see that +_memorable chapter_." + +The company manifested a solicitude for the issue of the pending +controversy--the family Bible was brought and laid on the table by the +side of doctor Franklin. "Well, reverend sir," said he, looking at the +preacher, as he took up the Bible, "shall I read this chapter?" + +"Certainly," replied the divine, settling himself in his chair to +listen.--The eyes of all were fixed on Franklin; when, opening the +Bible and turning back the leaves as to find the place, he thus audibly +began:-- + +The twenty-seventh chapter of the first book of Moses, commonly called +the book of Genesis. + + 1. And it came to pass, after these things, that Abraham sat in the +door of his tent, about the going down of the sun. + + 2. And behold a man, bowed with age, coming from the way of the +wilderness, leaning on a staff. + + 3. And Abraham arose, and met him, and said unto him, turn in, I pray +thee, and wash thy feet, and tarry all night, and thou shalt arise +early in the morning and go on thy way. + + 4. But the man said, nay, for I will abide under this tree. + + 5. And Abraham pressed him greatly; so he turned, and they went into +the tent; and Abraham baked unleavened bread, and they did eat. + + 6. And when Abraham saw that the man blessed not God, he said unto +him, wherefore dost thou not worship the most high God, Creator of +heaven and earth. + + 7. And the man answered and said, I do not worship thy God, neither do +I call upon his name; for I have made to myself a God, which abideth +always in mine house, and provideth me all things. + + 8. And Abraham's zeal was kindled against the man, and he arose and +fell upon him, and drove him forth with blows into the wilderness. + + 9. And at midnight God called unto Abraham, saying, where is the +stranger? + +10. And Abraham answered, and said, Lord, he would not worship thee, +neither would he call upon thy name, therefore have I driven him out +from before my face into the wilderness. + +11. And God said, have I borne with him these hundred and ninety and +eight years, and nourished him and clothed him, notwithstanding his +rebellion against me; and couldest not thou, that art thyself a +sinner, bear with him one night? + +12. And Abraham said, let not the anger of my Lord wax hot against his +servant; lo, I have sinned: forgive me, I pray thee. + +13. And he arose, and went forth into the wilderness, and sought +diligently for the man and found him: + +14. And returned with him to his tent; and when he had entreated him +kindly, he sent him away in the morning with gifts. + +15. And God spake again unto Abraham, saying, for this thy sin, shall +thy seed be afflicted four hundred years in a strange land: + +16. But for thy repentance, will I deliver them; and they shall come +forth with power, and with gladness of heart, and with much substance. + + +That witty but splenetic old bachelor, Dean Swift, used to say, that +"there was no dispute which a man of a tolerably good head and heart +might not easily avoid falling into, or honourably get out of; and, +therefore, as none but fools and rascals fought duels, the sooner +such beasts cut each other's throats, the better for the community." +This, no doubt, is very true, but still it is too much like striking +with a war club, or _tomahawk_, to be allowed among christians. The +following _impromptu_ on duelling, by Dr. Franklin, claims a far +higher admiration. It is an arrow pointed with the diamond of wit, +dipt in the oil of kindness, that wounds but to heal. + +THE FOLLY OF DUELLING. + +This most pusillanimous practice was one day made the theme of +conversation in a large party in London, where Doctor Franklin dined. +The philosophers and divines of the company joined unanimously to +execrate it; and so many sensible and severe things were said against +it, that everybody seemed willing to give it up to its father, the +devil, except a young officer, whose ugly distortions showed plainly +enough that he did not at all relish their strictures. Soon as they +were done, he called aloud, "well, gentlemen, you may preach as much as +you please against duelling, but I'll never pocket an insult for all +that. No, if any man affront me, I'll call him to an account, if I lose +my life for it." + +The philosophers and divines looked at each other in silence, like +fools who had shot their last bolt. + +Here Franklin took up the cudgels; and looking at the young officer +with a smile, said, "This, sir, puts me in mind of an affair that +lately happened in a Philadelphia coffee-house." + +The young fellow, rather pertly, said he should like to hear what had +lately happened in a Philadelphia coffee-house. + +"Why, sir," continued the doctor, "two gentlemen were sitting together +in the coffee-house, when one said to the other, for heaven's sake, +sir, sit further off, and don't poison me; you smell as bad as a +pole-cat." + +"Sir," resorted the other, "what do you mean? Draw, and defend +yourself." + +"O, sir," quoth the first, "I'll meet you in a moment, if you insist on +it; but let's see first how that's to _mend the matter_. If you kill +me, I shall smell as bad as a pole-cat too. And if I kill you, you will +_only smell ten times worse_." + +In short, that divine motto, + + "Homo sum, nil humani a me alienum puto." + +In English thus, + + _A man I am, in man I take a part, + And good of man is ever next my heart._ + +has seldom been more justly applied than to Dr. Franklin. He seems to +have been all eye, all ear, all touch, to every thing that affected +human happiness. Did he, even at the early age of twenty-five, form an +acquaintance with young persons fond of reading, but unable to +purchase books? Instantly he suggested the plan for obviating that +great, great misfortune, by founding a PUBLIC LIBRARY; whereby, at a +_small expense_ in hand, and a much smaller paid annually, a +subscriber might have his choice of books, on all subjects, whether of +pleasure or profit. This Library, which was commenced in 1731, by +Franklin and only thirty-seven members, and no more than one hundred +volumes, consisting of much little parcels of books as each subscriber +possessed, is now, 1820, enlarged to six hundred members, and upwards +of twenty thousand volumes. + +The great advantages arising from this library became so sensibly felt +that others were soon founded; and they have now kindled up their +salutary lights not only in several parts of the city, but in almost +every county in the state. From the choicest books on Religion, +Morals, History, Voyages, Travels, &c. thus brought home to their +fire-sides and constantly lying on their mantlepieces, the citizens +derive advantages incalculable. Their idle hours, formerly so +dangerous, were now innocently filled up; solitude was cheered with a +succession of new ideas; company enlivened by witty conversation, and +labour itself sweetened by the thought of a beloved book at night. + +With their taste thus exalted to _better pleasures_, the youth of all +classes were saved from the brutalizing sensualities that destroy +character and health. Having their understandings enlightened, they +were led to greater virtues and usefulness. And being thus taught to +enjoy life, they felt the strongest inducements to preserve it. Hence +the astonishing prosperity of Philadelphia in industry and morals, +population and wealth. + +The mother Library now displays its twenty thousand volumes, in an +elegant building, on the corner of Fifth and Chestnut. In a niche on +the wall above the door is a fine marble likeness of Dr. Franklin at +full length, presented by William Bingham, Esq. + +Again:--Did Franklin catch a glimpse of those poor pusillanimous +creatures, who rather than live nobly independent in the pure aired +country, by cultivating their own sweet vegetables, and raising fat +poultry, will run into the sickly towns to sell whiskey and apples in +the summer, and take their chance to starve and freeze in the winter? +Did he, I say, catch a glimpse of these poor spiritless creatures with +their children, shivering over small fires kindled by a little +"_charity wood_?" Instantly his bowels of compassion were stirred +within him. Although he was no friend to such _lazy self-made +paupers_, nor to the miserable policy that winks at them, yet it was +impossible for him to remain unconcerned at their sufferings. In a +letter to one of his friends, he says, "since we can get no more wood +for the poor, we must try from that wood to get more warmth for them." +He set himself to examine the principles of the stoves generally in +use. His genius, as usual, discovered such room for amendment, that he +soon came out with a stove, which to this day, in honour of him, is +called "THE FRANKLIN STOVE," and wherein one cord of charity oak would +afford as much heat and comfort to those poor people, as two cords in +the old way! + +Did he hear the shrill midnight cry of FIRE! and mark the deep +distress of the citizens, as with tearful eyes they beheld the flames +swallowing up their pleasant habitations and furniture? Instantly he +set himself to call up all the energies of the public against this +dire calamity, and to point them to the only adequate remedy, MUTUAL +INSURANCE COMPANIES. + +"_Man_," said he, in his calls to the citizens through his popular +newspaper, "_Man separate_ from man, is but a feeble creature; and +like the filament of flax before the thread is formed, he is without +strength, because without connexion. But UNION will make us strong, +and _enable us to do all things essential to our safety. The houses +burnt every year are, compared with all the houses in the city, but +few. And were all the housekeepers in the city, joined for mutual +security, to pay a certain sum; and were that sum put to interest, it +would not only cover all the losses by fire, but would bring in every +year, clear profit on his money to each subscriber._" + +Numbers of the citizens came into his scheme; and a large "_Mutual +Insurance Company_," was immediately formed. The great benefits, +foretold to flow from it, being soon realized, several others were +presently set on foot: and now (in 1820,) there are, in Philadelphia, +no fewer than forty engines, with eight thousand feet of hose, (strong +leather pipes,) to convey the water from the pumps or hydrants to the +engines; whereby in less than _two minutes_ they are in full play, +pouring their watery cataracts on the flames. Hence, while for lack of +one Franklin, one intelligent and public spirited philanthropist, many +of our promising young towns are suddenly turned to ashes, and their +hapless families, driven out naked into the weather; the favoured +citizens of Philadelphia, guarded by forty engines, and hundreds of +well trained young firemen, seldom suffer any thing beyond a momentary +pang from this most alarming element! + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +"_To him who hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance._" + + +The life of Dr. Franklin appears to have been one continued +exemplification of this most animating promise; for scarcely had he +finished that noble work just mentioned, before he was called to +another which acquired him a still higher reputation, I mean his +wonderful discoveries in electricity, and his application of them to +the preservation of human life and property. The manner in which this +honour was conferred on Dr. Franklin, is enough to convince all honest +minds that there is a kind Providence over the ways of men, that often +turns their "_seeming evils into real good_." + +Among the many benefits which he derived from the dangerous scenes of +London, where he was so severely tried, and where he so gloriously +triumphed, was his acquaintance with a Mr. Collinson, of that city. +This gentleman had a soul of uncommon sensibility to the charms of +virtue. His first interview with Franklin, was in Watts's +printing-office. The sight of a youthful stranger, not yet out of his +teens, exhibiting such practical lessons of virtue to the deluded +young PORTER DRINKERS of London, filled him with admiration of his +character. On getting acquainted with him, he was in pleasing doubt, +whether most to esteem his heart or admire his head. + +When Franklin left England, the generous Collinson accompanied him on +board the ship, and at parting, the two friends exchanged _canes_, +with promises of everlasting friendship and constant correspondence by +letters. Soon as all London had become filled with the aforesaid rage +for electricity, and electrical experiments, Collinson wrote the whole +history of them to Franklin, with a compliment to his genius, and an +earnest request that he would turn it to that subject, and accompanied +all with the present of a small electrical instrument. Franklin's +curiosity was excited. He immediately set to work; and presently made +discoveries that far exceeded all that Collinson had promised himself. +He discovered the power of metallic points to draw off the electrical +matter--he discovered a _positive_ and a _negative_ state of +electricity--he explained on electrical principles, the phenomena of +the famous Leyden vial--he explained the phenomena of the aurora +borealis, and of thunder-gusts--he showed the striking resemblance in +many respects between electricity and lightning. + + 1st. In giving light. + 2d. In colour of the light. + 3d. In crooked direction. + 4th. In swiftness of motion. + 5th. In being conducted by metals. + 6th. In cracking in exploding. + 7th. In subsisting in water or ice. + 8th. In rending the bodies it passeth through. + 9th. In killing animals. + 10th. In melting metals. + 11th. Firing inflammable substances. + 12th. Emitting a sulphurous smell. + 13th. In being attracted by iron points. + +"We do not, indeed," says he, "know that this property is in +lightning, but since electricity and lightning agree in so many other +particulars, is it not probable that they agree also in this?" + +He resolved at any rate to make the experiment. But foreseeing what a +blessing it would be to mankind, to disarm the lightnings of their +power to harm, he did not in the pitiful spirit of ordinary inventors, +cautiously conceal the dawnings of a discovery that promised so much +glory to his name. On the contrary, and with a philanthropy that +throws eternal loveliness over his character, he published his ideas, +inviting all the philosophers to make experiments on this important +subject, and even pointed the way, _i.e._ by insulated bars of iron +raised to considerable heights in the air. + +Immediately, metallic bars, some of them forty feet high, were raised +towards the heavens, by sundry philosophers, both in France and +England. But God, as if pleased with such disinterested virtue, +determined to reserve to Franklin the honour of confirming the truth +of his own great theory. His plan to accomplish this, was in that +simplicity which characterizes all his inventions. + +To a common kite, made of silk rather than paper, because of the rain, +he fixed a slender iron point. The string which he chose for his kite +was of silk, because of the fondness of lightning for silk; and for +the same reason, at the lower end of the string he tied a key. With +this simple preparation, he went out on the commons back of +Philadelphia, as a thundergust was coming on, and raised his kite +towards the clouds. The lightning soon found out his metallic rod, as +it soared aloft on the wings of the kite, and greeted its polished +point with a cordial kiss. With joy he beheld the loose fibres of his +string raised by the fond salute of the celestial visitant. + +He hastened to clap his knuckle to the key, and behold, a smart spark! +having repeated a second, and a third time, he charged a phial with +this strange visitor from the clouds, and found that it exploded +gunpowder, set spirits of wine on fire, and performed in all respects +as the electrical fluid. + +It is not easy to express the pleasure which this clear confirmation +of his theory must have given to our benevolent philosopher, who had +already counted up some of the great services which he should thereby +render to the world. + +He lost no time in communicating these discoveries to his friend +Collinson in London, by whom they were read with unimaginable joy. +Collinson instantly laid them before the Royal Society, not doubting +but they would be printed among their papers, with the same enthusiasm +which he had felt. But to his great mortification they were utterly +rejected. Upon this, Collinson went in high dudgeon and printed them +himself, which was looked on as a very desperate kind of undertaking, +especially as he chose for his book, a title that seemed to carry a +death warrant on its face, _viz._ "NEW EXPERIMENTS ON ELECTRICITY, +MADE AT PHILADELPHIA, IN NORTH AMERICA." Some ventured however to read +the EXPERIMENTS ON ELECTRICITY MADE IN NORTH AMERICA, though with +pretty nearly such motives as usually lead people to see the learned +pig, or to hear a woman preach. But the scoffers were soon turned into +admirers. Discoveries so new and astonishing, presented in a manner so +simple, struck every reader with admiration and pleasure. The book +soon crossed the British channel, and was translated into most of the +languages of Europe. A copy of it, though miserably translated, had +the fortune to fall into the hands of the celebrated Buffon, who +immediately repeated the experiments and with the most complete +success. Lewis XV. hearing of these curious exhibitions, expressed a +wish to be a spectator of them. A course of experiments was made +before him and his court, to their exceeding surprise and diversion, +by Buffon and De Lor. The history of electricity has not recorded +those experiments. But it is probable, that they were not of so comic +a character as the following, wherewith Dr. Franklin would sometimes +astonish and delight his Philadelphia friends, during the intervals of +his severer studies. + +I. In the presence of a large party at his house, he took up a pistol +which he had beforehand charged with inflammable air, well stopped +with a cork, and presented it to Miss Seaton, a celebrated belle in +those days. She took it from the doctor, but could not help turning +pale, as though some conjuration was brewing. "_Don't be afraid, +madam_," said he, "_for I give you my word that there is not a grain +of powder in it; and now turn it against any gentleman in the room +that you are angry with._" With a sudden blush, she turned it towards +a gentleman whom she soon after married. In the same instant, the +doctor drew a charged rod near the mouth of the pistol, the electric +spark rushed in, and set fire to the inflammable air; off went the +pistol; out flew the cork, and striking her lover a smart shock in the +face, fell down on the floor, to the exceeding terror at first, but +afterwards, to the equal diversion of the young lady and the whole +company. This he called THE MAGIC PISTOL. + +II. At another time, in a large party at his house, all eager, as +usual, to see some of his ELECTRICAL CURIOSITIES, he took from the +drawer a number of little dogs, made of the pith of elder, with straw +for feet and tails, and set them on the table. All eyes were fixed on +him. "_Well, Miss Eliza_," said he, addressing the elegant Miss E. +Sitgreaves, "_can you set these little dogs a dancing?_" "_No indeed, +I can't_," replied she. "_Well_," replied he, "_if I had such a pair +of eyes as you have, I think I could do it._" She blushed. "_However, +let us see_," continued he, "_if we can't do something._" He then took +a large tumbler from the table, which he had previously charged with +the electric fluid, and clapped the tumbler over the dogs; whereupon +they instantly fell to skipping and jumping up the sides of the +tumbler, as if they were half mad to get out of it. This he called +"THE DANCING DOGS." + +III. During something like a _levee_, at his house, one night, a +couple of ladies who had been at London and Paris, were speaking in +rapturous terms of the splendours of those royal courts, and of the +diamond stars which they had seen, glittering with more than solar +lustre on the breasts of the Prince of Wales and the Dauphin. At +length one of the fair orators, as if wrought up to a perfect +adoration of the wondrous stars which she had been so elegantly +depicting, turned to the doctor, and smartly asked him if he would not +like mightily to have such a star. "_To be sure, madam_," replied he +with his usual gallantry, "_and suppose we order one?_" She looked +surprised. "_Boy_," continued he, "_bring me down one of my electrical +jars, and put it on the sideboard._" While the servant was gone, the +doctor took a plate of tin, and cutting it into a dozen angles, like a +star, poised it on a wire projecting from his prime conductor. "_Well +now, ladies, put out the candles, and you shall see a star not +inferior to that of the prince of Wales._" The candles were put out, +and a turn or two of the jar being made, the lightning flew to the +plate of tin, and appeared at the extremities of its angles, in a +blaze of light beautiful as the morning star. This he called "THE +ELECTRIC STAR." + +IV. On his sideboard was placed an electrical jar, concealed behind a +large picture of a man dressed in purple and fine linen. At a short +distance stood a little brass pillar, in front of which was the +picture of a poor man lying down ragged and wan as Lazarus. From the +ceiling, and reaching down to the sideboard, was suspended by a fine +thread, the picture of a boy, with a face benevolent and beautiful as +a youthful cherub. "_Well, now, gentlemen, do you know who these +are?--This is the proud, unfeeling Dives; that, the poor dying +Lazarus; and here is a beautiful boy, that for humanity's sake, we +will call the son of Dives. Now gentlemen, can any of you make this +lovely child the minister of Dives' bounty to poor Lazarus?"_ + +They all confessed their inability; regarding him at the same time +with an eye of expectation. Without being noticed by his company, he +charged the jar behind the picture of Dives with electric fluid from +his prime conductor. Instantly, the beauteous youth flew to it, and +getting charged flew to the brass pillar behind Lazarus, which +possessed no electricity, and imparted to it his whole load. He then +flew back to the jar of Dives, and receiving a second supply, hastened +to poor Lazarus and emptied himself again. And thus it went on to the +astonishment of the spectators, alternately receiving and imparting +until it had established a balance between them, and then, as if +satisfied, it came to a pause. + +Seeing their surprise, the doctor thus went on. "Well, now, gentleman, +here is a fine lesson for us all. This electric fluid, which you saw +animating that youth, came down from heaven to teach us that men were +as assuredly designed to be helpmates to men, as were the two eyes, +the two feet, or the two hands, to assist one another. And if all who +are overcharged with this world's riches would but imitate this good +little electrical angel, and impart of their superabundance to the +empty and the poor, they would, no doubt, even in this world, find a +much higher pleasure than in hoarding it up for ungrateful heirs, or +spending it on vanity." This he called "DIVES AND LAZARUS." + +But it were an endless task to enumerate all the rare and beautiful +phenomena, wherewith he would surprise and delight the vast circles of +friends and citizens, whose curiosity was so pressing, that, as he +says, _it almost wore him out_. + +Sometimes, in order to show them the force of electricity he would +turn his wires against a pack of cards, or a quire of paper, and the +subtle fluid would instantly dart through, leaving a beautiful +perforation like the puncture of a large needle. + +Sometimes, to show the wondrous qualities of electricity, he would let +them see it darting, like a diamond bead, through a long cylinder of +water, not hurt, like other fires, by that element. + +Sometimes he would place a young lady, generally the handsomest of the +company, on his electrical stool; then by slily touching her dress +with his magic wand, he would so fill her lovely frame with the +electric fluid, that, on the approach of any young gentleman to kiss +her, a spark from her ruby lips would suddenly drive him frightened +and staggering back. This was called the "MAGIC KISS." + +Sometimes he would fix figures of horses cut in paper, on wires nicely +poised, so as to move in circles round his prime conductor, then, from +his magic wand, he would dash on them a stream of mimic lightning, +which, potent as the whips and spurs of Newmarket, would set them all +in full speed, bending and buckling with glorious emulation in the +beautiful contest, to the great amusement of the spectators. The +public named this the "ELECTRICAL HORSE RACE." + +Sometimes he would suspend, near the ceiling, a large flock of finely +picked cotton, or place on a distant table, a paper of gunpowder; then +from his wires, artfully directed, he would send a flash of lightning, +instantly exploding the powder, and wrapping the cotton into a blaze. + +Sometimes he would take the model of a double-geared water mill, +turning two pair of stones, and placing it near his prime conductor, +direct a stream of electric fire against the large wheel, setting it +in motion, and with it the whole machinery of his mill, to the equal +surprise and pleasure of the beholders. + +Sometimes he would take the figures of the sun, moon, and earth, cut +in papers, and fix them on wires, nicely balanced. Then, by the force +of the electric fluid, he would set them a-going in most harmonious +style--the earth revolving round her own axis; the moon round the +earth; and both round the sun; all exactly according to the course +which the hand of the Creator had prescribed to these mighty orbs. + +For the sake of those who have never considered this wonderful +attraction of lightning to iron rods, I beg leave to relate the +following very extraordinary and daring experiments of Dr. Franklin. + +In a large chamber, which he kept for his electrical apparatus and +experiments, he suspended a number of bells, all connected by wires, +and communicating, through the gable end of the house, with the large +lightning rods that descended along the chimney to the ground. His aim +in this contrivance was, that he might know whenever a lightning cloud +passed over his house in the night; and also what freight of +electrical fluid it carried about with it. For, as it seldom passes, +without paying a loving visit to his rod, so it always told, with +great honesty, the amount of its inflammable cargo, especially if it +was ample; in which case, it was always sure to set the bells a +ringing at a terrible rate. + +And besides these, he had numbers of men and women of the Lilliputian +stature, cut in paper, and so artfully attached to the clappers, that +as soon as the bells began to ring, the men and women began to dance +also, and all of them more and more merrily, according as this +extraordinary kind of music played up more briskly. But though, for +the amusement of his friends, Franklin would sometimes set his bells +and dolls to ringing and dancing, by his electricity, yet his main +object was, to invite the lightnings to be the bell ringers, and +dancing masters to his puppets, that, as before observed, he might +become better acquainted with the nature of lightning, and thus extend +his electrical experiments and knowledge. + +But it must be owned, that when the lightnings were drawn down for +this purpose among the bells and wires of his chamber, the +entertainment was almost too terrible to be agreeable to any but +philosophers. + +The elegant J. Dickinson, Esq. informed me, that he was at Dr. +Franklin's one evening, with a large party, when a dreadful cloud +began to rise, with distant thunder and lightning. The ladies, panic +struck, as usual, were all in a prodigious bustle for their bonnets, +to get home. The doctor entreated them not to be frightened; for that +they were in the safest house in Philadelphia; and indeed, jokingly +offered to underwrite their lives at the low premium of a groat a +head. + +When the storm was near its worst, he invited his company up into his +large chamber. A glimmering light faintly showed them his electrical +apparatus of globes, cylinders, bells, wires, and the Lord knows what, +conveying to those of the superstitious sort, a strong idea of a magic +cell, or a haunted castle, at least. Presently a dreadful clap of +thunder shook the house over their heads, the chamber was filled with +vivid lightnings, darting like fiery serpents, crackling and hissing +along the wire all around them, while the strong smell of sulphur, +together with the screams of the poor ladies, and the ringing of the +bells, completed the terribleness of the scene, inspiring a fearful +sense of the invisible world. + +"_But all these things, gentlemen_," he would say, smiling all the +time on his crowding and gaping friends, as a parent on his children, +whom he saw surprised at small matters, "_all these things are mere +nothings; the childish sportings of an art but yet in its cradle_. +ELECTRICITY, gentlemen, is of the terrible family of lightning, that +most powerful of the works of God on this globe, and the chosen +instrument of most of his operations here below. It is the electric +fluid, (passing from a full cloud to an empty one,) that makes his +voice, and that, as the scripture says, _a terrible voice_, even the +THUNDER, to terrify the guilty, and to increase in the virtuous a +becoming reverence of the Creator. For if the electric fluid passing +from a small jar, cause so loud a crack, why should we wonder at the +dreadful peals of thunder that are occasioned, when thousands and +myriads of acres of clouds are throwing off their electric fluid in +rivers of living fires, sufficient to blow up the globe itself, if the +Almighty were but to let loose his hold on these furious agents. And +this electric fluid is that same lightning which, as David says, +_shines out from one end of Heaven to another_, and that so +instantaneously, that were all the men, women, and children, on earth, +joining hands, to form a ring round this great globe, an electric +shock given to the first person in that ring, would so suddenly reach +the last, that they themselves would probably be at a loss to +determine which of them received it first. + +"Thus the electric fluid, in the form of lightning, serves also in the +hand of heaven as the _red rod_ to restrain the vicious. Does the +benevolent governor of the world seek to impress a salutary awe on the +gambler, the drunkard, and such immoral characters, whose lives are in +constant opposition to their own and the happiness of others? He but +speaks to his ready ministers, the lightnings. Quickly, from the +sultry cloud, coming up with muttering thunder, black and terrible as +nature's approaching pall, the frightening flash bursts forth, rending +the trees and houses over their heads; killing their flocks and herds; +and filling the air with smoking sulphur, a strong memento of that +dismal place to which their evil practices are leading them. And when, +to unthinking mortals, he sees fit to read instruction on a wider +scale, he only needs but beckon to the ELECTRIC FLUID. Straightway +this subtle servant of his power rushes forth, clad in various forms +of terror, sometimes as the roaring WHIRLWIND, unroofing the palaces +of kings, and desolating the forests in its course. Sometimes with +dreadful stride it rushes forth upon the 'howling wilderness of +waves,' in shape of the funnelled water-spout, with hideous roar and +foam, whirling the frightened billows to the clouds, or dashing them +back with thundering crash into their dismal gulphs; while the hearts +of the seamen, looking on, sink with terror at the sight, and even +sharks and sea-monsters fly for refuge to their oozy caverns. + +"Sometimes, with the bolder aim of the earthquake, it strikes both sea +and land at once, sending the frightened globe bellowing and trembling +along her orbit, sadly pondering the coming day, when the measure of +sin being filled up, she shall be wrapt in these _same electric +fires_, perhaps, and lose her place for ever among the starry train." + +But though the experiments above mentioned are highly curious; and +also Dr. Franklin's reflections on them abundantly philosophical and +correct, for what I know, yet the world should learn that the +gratification of public curiosity formed but a very small part of his +many and grand discoveries in electricity. For soon as he had +ascertained that lightning was the same thing with the electric fluid, +and like it, so passionately fond of iron that it would forsake every +thing else in its course, to run along upon that beloved metal, he +conceived the plan of putting this discovery to those beneficent uses +for which alone he thought the power of discovery was given to man, +and which alone can consecrate it to the divine Giver. + +"_The_ GRAND _practical use_," says the learned Mr. Immison, who, +though a Scotch monarchist himself, had the extraordinary virtue to be +a profound admirer of our republican American,--"the grand practical +use which Dr. Franklin made of this discovery was to secure houses and +ships from being damaged by lightning; a thing of vast consequence in +all parts of the world, but more especially in North America, where +thunder gusts are more frequent and their effects, in that dry air, +more dreadful than they are ever known to be with us. This great end +he accomplished by the cheap, and seemingly trifling, apparatus of a +pointed metallic rod, fixed higher than any part of the building, and +communicating with the ground, or rather the nearest water. This rod +the lightning is sure to seize upon preferably to any other part of +the building, unless it be very large; in which case, rods may be +erected at each extremity; by which means this dangerous power is +safely conducted to the earth, and dissipated without doing any harm +to the edifice." + +Had any thing more been necessary to convince the world of the value +of lightning rods to buildings, it was abundantly furnished by several +very terrible instances of destruction which took place about this +time in several parts of America, for no other reason upon earth, as +every one must admit who reads the account, but the want of lightning +rods. + +There, for example, was the affair of the new church, in the town of +Newberry, New-England. This stately building was adorned on its north +end with an elegant steeple or tower of wood, running up in a fine +square, seventy feet from the ground to the bell, and thence went off +in a taper spire of wood, likewise seventy feet higher, to the +weathercock. Near the bell was fixed an iron hammer to strike the +hours; and from the tail of the hammer, a wire went down through a +small gimblet hole in the floor that the bell stood upon, and through +a second floor in like manner; then horizontally under the plaistered +ceiling of that floor to a plaistered wall, then down that wall to a +clock which stood about twenty feet below the bell. + +Now come, gentlemen, _you_ who have no faith in lightning rods--you +who think it _blasphemy_ to talk of warding off GOD ALMIGHTY'S +LIGHTNING!--as if it were not just as pleasing to him to see you +warding off the lightning by steel rods, as warding off the ague and +fever by jesuit's bark; come, I say, and see how very visibly he +approbates our works of wisdom, which make us like himself. You have +read the structure of this steeple--the top, a _seventy feet spire +without any rod_--then a rod that went down zigzag, about thirty feet; +then a plaistered brick and stone wall without any rod, to the ground. +A dreadful cloud came over the steeple. At the first flash, away went +the whole of the seventy foot wooden spire, scattered all over the +church yard in splinters fit to boil the preacher's tea kettle. The +lightning then found the iron wire which it instantly seized on, +quitting all things else for that, and darting along with it in so +close an embrace, as barely to widen a little the gimblet holes +through which it passed. It then followed the wire in all its +meanders, whether perpendicular or horizontal--never turning either to +the right or to the left, to hurt the building, but passed through it +the whole length of the wire, which was about thirty feet, as +harmlessly as a lamb. But soon as its dear chain was ended, it assumed +the furious lion again; attacking the building with the most +destructive rage, dashing its foundation stones to a great distance, +and in other respects damaging it dreadfully. + +Now what can be more reasonable than doctor Franklin's remarks on this +very remarkable occurrence? + + "I. That lightning, in its passage through a building, will leave +wood, brick, or stone, to pass as far as it can in metal; and not +enter those again, till the metal conductor ceases. + + "II. The quantity of lightning that passed through this steeple must +have been very great, by its effects on the lofty spire, &c., and yet +great as this quantity was, it was conducted by a small wire without +the least damage to the building as far as the wire extended. + +"III. Hence it seems probable, that if even such a small wire had been +extended from the top of the steeple to the earth, before the storm, +no damage would have been done by that stroke of lightning." + +A fate exactly similar to this attended the great Dutch church, of New +York, in 1750. As far as the wire was extended, which was from the top +of the steeple, to within a few feet of the earth, the lightning +closely accompanied it, passing with it through small holes in the +floors, without doing the least damage. But the instant it quitted the +wire, it commenced its ravages on the building. + +The summer of 1760 was dreadfully hot in Pennsylvania; and the thunder +gusts frequent and terrible. Several ships at the wharves were struck +and greatly injured. One of them in particular, a very large ship, had +her mainmast torn to pieces, and her captain and three seamen killed. +Of houses, both in town and country, many were struck; and some of +them, as barns with large quantities of hay, and warehouses with hemp, +were set on fire and destroyed to the great detriment and terror, both +of the unfortunate sufferers and their neighbours. + +These things, though melancholy in themselves, were not without their +good effects. They served to place in the strongest point of view, the +admirable efficacy of the newly invented lightening rods. For, while +buildings destitute of them, were often struck, and sometimes with +great loss of lives and property, those houses that had them, were +hardly ever known to be hurt, though the neighbours who saw the dismal +clouds when they bursted, with such hideous peals of thunder and +streams of lightning, were sickened with horrid apprehension that all +was lost. And even the house keepers themselves, when recovered from +their terrors and faintings, would fly shrieking from chamber to +chamber, amidst the clouds of sulphur to see who were _dead_. But +behold, to the delicious wonder of themselves and congratulating +friends, all were safe. But still the cry was, _certainly the house +was struck! the house was surely struck! let us examine the +conductors_. + +The conductors were resorted to and examined, and behold! the wondrous +laws imposed of God on the most powerful of his creatures! The furious +lightnings had fallen on the houses in torrents of fire, threatening a +wide destruction. But the iron rods, faithful to their trust, had +arrested the impending bolts, and borne them in safety to the ground. + +But it was found that the cataracts of lightning had proved too +powerful for the rods; in some instances melting them in two at their +slenderest parts, and in others entirely consuming them into smoke. +But though these GUARDIAN RODS had perished in their conflict with the +rude lightnings, yet they had succeeded in parrying the dreadful +stroke with perfect safety to the buildings and their terrified +inhabitants; thus impressing all men with joy and thankfulness, _that +God had given such complete victory over one of the most terrible of +all our natural enemies_. + +In short, to use the handsome language of president Adams, "nothing +perhaps that ever occurred on earth, could have better tended to +confer universal celebrity on man, than did these lightning rods of +doctor Franklin's. The idea was certainly one of the most sublime ever +suggested to the human imagination. That mortal man should thus be +taught to disarm the clouds of heaven, and almost snatch from his hand +'_the sceptre and the rod_!'" + +The ancients would, no doubt, have enrolled among their gods, the +author of so wonderful an invention. Indeed the reputation which +Franklin acquired by it, not only in America, but in Europe also, far +transcended all conception. His _lightning rods_, or as the French +called them, his "_paratonerres_," erected their heads, not only on +the temples of God and the palaces of kings, but also on the masts of +ships and the habitations of ordinary citizens. The sight of them +every where reminded the gazing world of the name and character of +their inventor, who was thought of by the multitude as some _great +magician_ dwelling in the _fairy lands_ of North America, and to whom +God had given controul over the elements of nature. + +And equally wonderful was the change produced by them in the state of +general comfort. The millions, who had hitherto trembled at the cloud +rising in the heat of summer, could now look on it with pleasing awe +as it rose dark and solemn, with all its muttering thunders. And even +amidst the mingled flash and crash of the earth shaking tornado, the +very women and children, if they had but Franklin _paratonerres_ to +their chimnies, would sit perfectly composed, silently adoring God for +teaching such great salvation to men. + +But the pleasure which doctor Franklin found in these plaudits of an +honest world was not without an alloy. Though the end of his labours +had been to do good; yet he soon discovered that there were some who +sickened at his success. Alas! + + "Among the sons of men, how few are known + Who dare be just to merit, not their own." + +Certain invidious scribblers, in London and Paris, began to decry his +well-earned glory, by pretending that it was all due to the Abbe +Nollet, to doctor Gilbert, or some other wonderful Frenchman or +Englishman, as the real father of electricity. Franklin took no notice +of all this impotent malice; nor indeed was it necessary; for soon as +it dared to present its brazen front in print, it was attacked by the +first-rate philosophers of Europe, who nobly taking the part of +Franklin, soon showed, to the general satisfaction, that whatever +others may have dreamed about the late wonderful discoveries in +electricity, they were all due, under God, to the great American +philosopher, who for these, and many other important discoveries, had +a good right to share with Newton in the following bold compliment. + + "Nature and nature's works lay hid in night, + God said, let Franklin be, and all was light." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + + +A curious demonstration of Dr. Franklin's philosophy of lightning. +About thirty-four years after this date, when Doctor Franklin, by his +opposition to Lord North's measures, had become very unpopular, George +III. was persuaded to pull down the _sharp points_ of that "HOARY +REBEL," and set up the _blunts_ of an impudent quack, because, +forsooth, he was a _loyal subject_! Scarcely were the _sharps_ taken +down from the palace, to which, during thirty four years, they had +been an excellent safeguard, before a dismal cloud rose upon the city, +black as midnight, and when right over the palace discharged a +cataract of electric fluid, with horrid glare and thunder, stunning +all ears, blinding all eyes, and suffocating every sense with the +smell of sulphur. The famous _blunt conductors_ presented no point to +catch the bolt, which, dashing at the stately edifice, tore away all +its gable end, marring the best apartments, and killing several of the +king's servants. + +Shortly arrived the packet from New York, with news of a far more +dreadful thunder-clap which had bursted on poor George in America--the +capture of his grand Canada army! which Lord North had promised him +should soon bring the rebels to their marrow bones. The next day the +following pasquinade made its appearance in the newspapers: + + "While you, great George, intent to hunt, + Your sharp Conductors change to blunt, + The nation's out of joint; + Franklin a wiser course pursues, + And all your thunder fearless views, + By sticking to the POINT." + +I cannot quit this subject without observing, that from Dr. Franklin's +experiments it appears, that death by lightning, must be the easiest +of all deaths. + +"In September, 1752," says he, "six young Germans, apparently doubting +the truth of the reported force of electricity, came to me to see," as +they said, "if there was _any thing in it_. Having desired them to +stand up side by side, I laid one end of my discharging rod on the +head of the first; this laid his hand on the head of the second, that +on the head of the third, and so on to the last, who held in his hand +the chain that was attached to the lightning globe. On being asked if +they were ready, they answered _yes_, and boldly desired that I would +give them a _thumper_; I then gave them a shock; whereat they all +dropped down together. When they got up, they declared that they had +not felt any stroke; and wondered how they came to fall. Nor did any +of them _hear_ the crack, or _see_ the light of it." + +He tells another story equally curious. "A young woman, afflicted with +symptoms of a palsy in the foot, came to receive an electrical shock. +Heedlessly stooping too near the prime conductor, she received a smart +stroke in the forehead, of which she fell like one perfectly lifeless +on the floor. Instantly she got up again complaining of nothing, and +wondering much why she fell, for that nothing of the sort had ever +happened to her before." + +Nay, he also tells us of himself, that by accident, he received a +shock which in an instant brought him to the floor, without giving him +time to _see, hear, or feel any thing of the matter_! Hence he +concludes, and I think with good reason, that all who dread the idea +of pain in dying, would do well to pray, if it be God's will, to die +of _coelataction_, as the ancients called it, or a _touch from +heaven_. + +It is worthy of remark, that persons thus knocked down, do not +_stagger_, or fall _lengthwise_, but as if deprived instantaneously +of strength and firmness, they sink down at once, doubled or folded +together, or as we say, "_all in a heap_." + +Dr. Franklin seldom suffered any thing to escape him. From the power +of lightning to dissolve the hardest metals, he caught an idea +favourable to cooking and matrimony. First, an old dunghill cock +killed in the morning by a shock from his electrical jar, by dinner +was become so tender that both the doctor and several of his literary +friends pronounced it equal to a young pheasant. Second, an old +bachelor thought to be far gone in a consumption, had hardly received +more than a couple of dozen smart shocks of electricity, before he +turned into courting with great spirit, and presently got himself a +wife. + +If electrical jars could be had cheap, this discovery concerning the +old dunghill cock might prove a good hint to those gentlemen in the +_tavern-keeping_ line, who are so very frugal that they will not keep +up a coop full of young poultry, fat and fine, and always ready for +the traveller, but prefer giving him the pain, long after his arrival +at their door, to hear the lean tenants of the dunghill flying and +squalling from the pursuit of the barking dogs and noisy servants. + +And as to the experiment on the other kind of old CAPON, the grunting +wheezing old bachelor, it clearly points to the wish often expressed +by Dr. Franklin, viz. "_that the legislature would order an electrical +machine, large enough to kill a turkey cock at least, to be placed in +every parish, at the cost and for the benefit of all the old bachelors +of the same_." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + + +I have been told that Dr. Franklin on his death bed often returned +thanks to God for having so kindly cast his lot of life in the very +time when of all others he would have chosen to live for the great +purposes of usefulness and pleasure. And so indeed it appears; for +scarcely had he matured, as above, his most useful discoveries in +electricity, before a new door was opened to him for another noble +charity to his country. + +Some there are who for a good work begun by themselves will do every +thing; but for the same work begun by others will do nothing; and yet +will call themselves christians. Franklin lived to set the example of +a better christianity. A notable instance of this occurred about this +time, 1754. + +A Dr. Thomas Bond, having noticed a number of families so extremely +poor, as to be in imminent danger not only of suffering grievously in +case of sickness, but of actually perishing for want of wholesome food +and medicine, generously undertook, by subscription, to build a +hospital for these sufferers. Meeting with but little encouragement, +and knowing Dr. Franklin's influence and public spirit, he applied to +him for assistance. Perfectly indifferent who got the praise, provided +he but shared the pleasure of founding so god-like an institution, +Franklin entered very heartily into the plan with Dr. Bond, and +inserted in his newspaper, a series of essays, "_on the great duty of +charity to the sick and miserable_," which made such an impression on +the public mind, that the noble sum of twelve thousand dollars was +quickly subscribed. With this the trustees bought a lot, and finished +one wing of their hospital, for immediate use. On the foundation stone +is to be seen the following inscription by Dr. Franklin: + + "In the year of Christ MDCCLV, George the Second, _happily + reigning_, (For he sought the HAPPINESS OF HIS PEOPLE,) + Philadelphia _flourishing_, (For its inhabitants were _public + spirited_,) This Building By the bounty of the Government And of + many private persons Was piously founded For the relief of the + _sick_ and _miserable_. MAY THE GOD OF MERCIES BLESS THE + UNDERTAKING!" + +Never did benevolence put up an ejaculation more fervent. And never +was one more signally answered. Indeed the blessings of heaven have +been so signally showered on this excellent charity, that it now forms +one of brightest ornaments of the fairest city in America, presenting +to the delighted eye of humanity a noble front, of elevation and +extent far beyond that of Solomon's temple, even a royal range of +buildings, two and three stories high, two hundred and seventy-eight +feet long, and forty wide, containing about one hundred and thirty +spacious well-aired rooms, for the accommodation of the sick, wounded, +and lunatic of every description; affectionately waited on by skilful +physicians and active nurses; comforted by refreshing baths both hot +and cold; and abundantly supplied with the best loaf bread, nice +vegetables, fresh meats, soups, wines and medicines. + +And while other parts of the city have been very sickly; and +especially in the summer of 1793, when no fewer than 4000 persons +perished of the yellow fever, not a single case of disease occurred in +this hospital. The destroying angel as he passed along, smelt the +odour of that precious grace (charity) which embalmed the building, +and let fall his avenging sword. + +Gentlemen travellers falling sick in Philadelphia, will please be +informed of this famous hospital, that if they wish excellent +physicians, experienced nurses, pleasant chambers, pure air, and sweet +retirement, they may here have all those of the first quality at _half +price_; and _even_ THAT a _donation_ to the _Institution_. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + + +Dr. Franklin, about this time, 1756, commenced his political career. + +When we see some peerless _Childers_, (whose figure almost proves the +divinity of matter, and who in matchless speed leaves the stormy winds +behind him,) bending under the weight of a miller's bag, or tugging at +the hames of some drunken carman, how can we otherwise than mourn such +a prostitution of excellences; so how can we but mourn, when we see +such a man as Franklin, born for those divine arts which widen our +empire over nature, and multiply a thousand-fold the comforts of life, +wasting his precious time in combatting the unreasonable claims of +selfish and wicked man? + +This, for a portion of his eventful life, was the sad destiny of Dr. +Franklin. Scarcely had he passed his first forty years in his +favourite philosophical labours, equally useful to the world, and +delightful to himself, when he was at once stopped short--stopped by +the voice of public gratitude. The wise and virtuous people of +Pennsylvania, chiefly quakers, who estimate a man, not by the fineness +of his coat, but the _usefulness_ of his life, were not to overlook +such a man as Franklin. His astonishing industry, and his many +valuable inventions, had long made him the favourite theme of their +talk. But it was not for approbation so general and hearty, to be +satisfied with _mere talk._ + +_What shall be done for the man whom the people delighteth to honour?_ +was the question in every circle. _God, they said, has lighted up this +candle for our use, it must not be hid under a bushel. Let it be +placed on the great candlestick of the nation, the_ LEGISLATURE. So +strong, indeed, was the public feeling in his favour, that from +several of the wards, deputations were appointed to wait upon him, to +beg he would serve the city as their representative in the house of +burgesses. + +The sight of his name in the papers, as a candidate at the next +election, to serve the city of Philadelphia, gave a general joy. Among +his opponents were several of the wealthiest citizens, who had long +served as representatives, and whose numerous friends could not bear +the idea of their being turned out. Great exertions were made on both +sides; and the polls were uncommonly crowded. But when the contest +came to issue, it was found that the Philadelphia printer, and son of +the good old psalm-singing Boston tallow-chandler, carried the day +with great ease. + +_O ye simple ones, how long will you love simplicity!_ you, I mean, +who can once a year look sweetly on your constituents, and once a year +invite them to barbacues, and make them drunk with whiskey, thus +ignobly begging those votes which you feel you have not the sense to +deserve, O learn from this your great countryman, wherein consists the +true art of electioneering; not in ignoble tricks like these, to court +the little, but in high qualifications, like Dr. Franklin's, to be +courted by the great. + +The exalted expectations formed of him by the public were not +disappointed. Heartily a lover of man and the friend of equal rights, +he had scarcely taken his seat in the legislature before he had to +turn the torrent of his honest indignation against the _proprietaries_ +and their creatures the _Governors_. + +The reader will please here be reminded that in the year 1680, that +great GOOD man, William Penn, a quaker, was paid off a large claim +against Charles II. of England, by a grant of lands in North America. +To make the best of a bad bargain, honest William gathered together a +caravan of his poor persecuted brethren, and taking ship came over to +North America. + +The good angel that guided the steps of pious Jacob as he sojourned +from Padan-aram to the land Uz, seeking a rest, guided Penn and his +gentle followers to the mouth of the Delaware bay. He followed the +stately flood in all its wanderings among the green marshes and +forests of the new found world, until he reached the pleasant spot +where now Philadelphia stands. The majestic grove that shaded the +extended level on the western bank, bordered on the back by the +beautiful serpentine river called by the natives, the SCHUYLKILL, +struck his eye as a fine site for his future city. + +Abhorring the idea of killing his fellow men, the poor natives, and +taking away their lands, he sent around among them the Calumet, or +_pipe of peace_, inviting them to "A FRIENDLY TALK." Painted in red +ochre, and decked in all the savage pomp of wild skins and feathers, +the kings of the soil with all their simple tribes assembled +themselves together. The meeting was in the summer of 1681, under the +trees near the margin of the great river. The scene was lovely to the +eye of humanity. The red and white men from different continents were +seen to meet, not as enemies for mutual slaughter, but as brothers for +loving commerce. The shores were covered with British merchandize. The +eyes of the simple children of nature sparkled on those rich wares, +the like of which they had never seen before. + +Penn gave them every thing. He gave them precious axes to master the +forests; and still more magic guns to master the wolves and panthers. +He gave them warm clothes for defence against the cold, and +plough-shares and hoes for plentiful harvests. In return they gave him +that large tract of land in their country, which, in honour of this +good man, has been called Pennsylvania. Instantly the aged forests +began to resound with the strokes of axes and the crash of falling +trees. And the corner stone was laid of the new city, which, with +great propriety, was named of Penn, PHILADELPHIA, or the city of +_brotherly love_. + +Having thus laid, the foundation of this colony in JUSTICE to the poor +natives, and in generosity to his own followers in the great cheapness +of his lands, in perfect liberty of conscience, and in the exceeding +moderation of his government, this wise statesman then looked to God +for his blessings. Nor did he look in vain, The fame of "PENN COLONY" +resounded throughout Great Britain. An immense emigration were quickly +on their way to Pennsylvania. The young city grew apace, and farms and +fair buildings in the country, spread in every direction with a +rapidity unequalled in history. + +But alas! when honest William fell asleep, there rose after him a race +of heirs "_who knew not Joseph_;" who not content, _like him_, with +modest drab, and simple dinners, and aspiring to the true happiness of +imitating God in godlike loves and deeds, basely prostituted their +hearts to carnal lusts and pride. + +The worship of these gods, though contemptible, is costly; and to +these _wet-quaker_ successors of the good William Penn, nothing +promised such a swelling revenue as a bold rise in the price of their +lands. And in this pitiful kind of management they soon gave the +Pennsylvanians to understand that like Rehoboam of old, "_their little +fingers were heavier than their father's loins_." I have not been able +to procure any thing like certainty as to the sum that GOOD William +Penn gave to the natives for the vast tract of land he purchased of +them. But that he hardly gave at the rate of a _hatchet_ for what is +now a noble farm, may be very fairly inferred. In 1754, which was +seventy years later than the first purchase, the house of Penn bought +of the Indians seven millions of acres lying within the ROYAL GRANT. +And what do you suppose they gave for it? what do you suppose they +gave for seven millions of acres of rich, heavy timbered Pennsylvania +land? why not quite two thousand dollars! not _three cents_ the +hundred acres! And what do you suppose they immediately asked for it? +why _fifteen pounds ten shillings!_ near fifty thousand cents per +hundred acres! And yet with such a bank of millions in hand they were +not willing to bear their part of the taxes for public good!! + +Like the starched Pharisees of old, they could throw heavy weights on +other men's shoulders, but not suffer a fly to light on theirs. They +could smile when they saw the officer going round with his ink horn +and pen, noting down the poor man's paddock, but if he but looked at +their princely manors and parks they would make the whole colony ring +with it. + +Grown beyond calculation rich by the sales and rents of their lands in +America, they scorned the country of their illustrious predecessor, +and went over to London, where they mimicked the pride and pageantry +of princes. + +Thinking they did the obscure Pennsylvanians honour enough to govern +them by _proxy_, they washed their hands of the poor colony +government, and sent them over deputies. These, hirelings, to augment +their salaries, soon commenced a course of oppressions on the people, +whom they treated with great insolence. + +It were too great an honour to those wretches to set the people of the +present day to reading their insolent messages to the legislature. +They were always, however, very properly chastised by Dr. Franklin; +sometimes in the columns of his own popular newspaper, and sometimes +in the assembly. Not, indeed, by long and eloquent orations, for which +he either had no talent, or declined it, preferring the pithy and +pungent _anecdote_ or _story_, which was always so admirably +appropriate, and withal so keen in wit and truth, that like a flash +from his own lightning rods, it never failed to demolish the fairest +fabric of sophistry, and cause even its greatest admirers to blush +that they had been so fascinated by its false glare. + +In 1756, he was appointed deputy post-master general for the British +colonies. It is asserted that in _his_ hands, the post-office in +America yielded annually thrice as much as did that of Ireland. An +extraordinary proof of our passion for reading and writing beyond the +Irish. Perhaps it was owing to this that we saved our liberties, while +they lost theirs. + +Several of the middle colonies suffering much at this time from Indian +depredations on their frontiers, it was agreed among them to send +commissioners to Albany to devise means for mutual defence. Dr. +Franklin, commissioner on the part of Pennsylvania, had the honour to +draw up a plan, which was thought excellent. Knowing the colonists to +be the best marksmen in the world, and supposing it infinitely safer +that the defence of their own firesides should be entrusted to them +than to British hirelings, he had with his usual sagacity recommended +that muskets and powder should be put into their hands. + +But when his plan was presented to the KING and COUNCIL for +ratification, it was indignantly rejected. It was thought by some that +hardly could Satan and his black janisaries have been more seriously +offended, had a cargo of Bibles and hymn books been recommended for +their pandemonium. + +The truth is, the British ministry had for a long time depressed the +unfortunate Americans into mere _hewers of wood and drawers of water_, +by making them bring all their rich produce of tobaccos, furs, &c. to +English ports, and there give them the meanest prices; sometimes a +penny, and even half a penny a pound for their brightest tobacco, +which they would the next hour sell to the Dutch merchants for two +shillings a pound. To preserve such a trade as this, as Lord Howe +ingenuously confessed, from going into any other channel, was a grand +object to the ministry. But this they could not long count on, if the +Americans were furnished with muskets, cannon, and powder. They +therefore, very prudently, determined to leave Dr. Franklin's +_excellent marksmen_ out of the question, and confide to their own +creatures the protection of a country whose trade could so _well repay +them for it_. + +But their folly in preferring such troops was soon made evident, as +Franklin had predicted. In the spring of 1755, two thousand veterans, +the elite of the British military, were sent over to drive the French +from the Ohio. One half that number of Virginia riflemen would have +done the business completely. But such was the ministerial jealousy of +the American riflemen, and so great their dread to embody and arm that +kind of troops, that they permitted no more than three companies to +join the army. And even these were so ludicrously scrimped up by +governor Dinwiddie, in jackets scarcely reaching to their waists, that +they became a mere laughing stock of the British army, who never +called them by any other name than the "VIRGINIA SHORT RUMPS." Many +believed that this was done purposely, that by being thus constantly +laughed at, they might be _cowed_ thereby, and be led to think meanly +of themselves, as quite an inferior sort of beings to the MIGHTY +ENGLISH. But blessed be God whose providence always takes part with +the oppressed. A few short weeks only elapsed when this motley army +was led, by an incautious commander, into a fatal ambuscade of the +French and Indians--general Braddock, at the head of his 2000 British +veterans, and young George Washington at the head of his two hundred +"_Virginia short rumps_." Then was displayed the soundness of Dr. +Franklin's judgment, in the wide difference, as to _self-possession +and hard fighting_, between these two kind of troops. + +The conceited Englishmen behaved no better than WILD TURKIES; while +the despised "_Virginia short rumps_" fought like lions, and had the +glory of saving the wreck of the British army. + +This sad defeat had like to have ruined doctor Franklin, by whose +credit with the Pennsylvanians, colonel Dunbar of the rear guard of +his army, had been furnished with fifty wagons, which were all burnt +on the retreat. His escape from this danger was owing to the +generosity of governor Shirley, who learning that Franklin had +incurred this debt on account of the British government, undertook to +discharge it. + +Seeing no end to the vexation and expense brought on the colony by +those selfish beings, the PROPRIETARIES, the assembly came at length, +to the resolution to petition the king to abolish the proprietary +government, and take the colony under his own care. Doctor Franklin +was appointed to the honour of presenting this petition to his majesty +George II. and sailed for England, June, 1757. + +Learning at last that by obstinately contending for _too much_, they +might possibly lose _all_, the proprietaries signified to doctor +Franklin a willingness that their land should be _taxed_. + +After the completion of this important business, Franklin remained at +the court of Great Britain as agent for the province of Pennsylvania. +The extensive knowledge which he possessed of the situation of the +colonies and the regard which he always manifested for their +interests, occasioned his appointment to the same office by the +colonies of Massachusetts, Maryland and Georgia. + +He had now an opportunity of visiting those illustrious Englishmen, +whom his useful writings and discoveries had strongly bound to him, +though they had never seen his face. The high opinion which they had +formed of him at a distance, was greatly increased by a personal +acquaintance. + +Such vastness of mind with such sweetness of spirit and simplicity of +manners, formed a spectacle as rare as it was lovely. And as a proof +that SUPERIOR SENSE and superior benevolence will always prevail +against prejudice, he was now courted by those learned societies who +formerly affected to deride his discoveries in philosophy and +electricity. The Royal Society of London, which had at first refused +his performances admission into its transactions, now deemed it an +honour to class him among its fellows. The universities of St. +Andrews, of Edinburgh, and Oxford, conferred on him the degree of +doctor of laws; and the most distinguished philosophers of Europe +sought his correspondence. In reading his letters to those great men, +we are at a loss which most to admire, the majesty of his sense, or +the simplicity of his style. While in England, which was from July, +1757, to July, '62, he suggested to the British ministry the duty of +dispossessing the French of that great country on the north of our +colonies called Canada. To this end, he published his famous _Canada +pamphlet_, exhibiting in strong colours the many mischiefs and murders +committed on his countrymen, even in times of peace, by the Indians in +French pay. This little tract served to rouse the British nation to +the pitch he desired. + +An army of English regulars and New-England militia were sent under +the command of general Wolfe, who presently succeeded in driving the +French out of a fine country, of which, by their cruelties, they had +rendered themselves utterly unworthy. + +About this time the celebrated doctor Cullen, of Scotland, made some +curious discoveries in the art of producing cold by evaporation. +Hoping that the genius of Franklin might throw some lights on this +dawning science, a friend of doctor Cullen's wrote a statement of the +facts to Franklin. The American philosopher, though now immersed in +political pursuits, took a little leisure to repeat doctor Cullen's +experiments on cold, which he so improved as easily to produce ICE in +the _dog days_. But it was one of those discoveries, which, as he +says, he _never valued, because it was too expensive to be of general +utility_. + +About the autumn of 1761, he rendered himself prodigiously popular +among the ladies in London, by completing that sweet toned little +instrument of music, the HARMONICA. + +I have been told that his fame at court on this account, so awakened +the recollection of George III. that he caused it to be signified to +Dr. Franklin, that he felt a disposition to "_do something for him_." +Our philosopher replied, that he wanted nothing for himself, +but--that, _he had a son in America_. The king took the hint, and +immediately made out a commission of "_Governor of his colony of New +Jersey, for his beloved subject, Temple Franklin, Esq._" On such small +things are the fortunes of men sometimes founded! + +Doctor Franklin was now become so great a favourite that the people of +all classes seemed to take a pride in talking of him, and his sayings, +insomuch that not a word of the brilliant sort could fall from his +lips but it was sure to be caught up instantly and re-echoed through +every circle, from proud St. James to humble St. Giles. The following +impromptu made a great noise in London about this time. + +One evening in a large party at his friend Vaughan's he was, +laughingly, challenged by a very beautiful girl, a Miss Gun, to make +her a couplet of verses _extempore_. Well, madam, replied he, with +great gallantry, since every body is offering a tribute to your +graces, let me tender the following: + + "Cupid now to ensure his fun, + Quits his _bow_ and takes to _gun_." + +This handsome play on her name instantly suffused the cheeks of Miss +Gun with celestial roses, making her look much more like an angel than +before. + +I mention this merely to show what an extraordinary mind that man must +have possessed, who with such equal ease, could play the _Newton_ or +the _Chesterfield_, and charm alike the lightnings and the ladies. + +In the summer of 1762, he took leave of his friends in England to +return to his native country. On his voyage he discovered in oil or +grease thrown on the water, a property, which few people ever dreamt +of. When we learn of _gold_ that it may by beating, be expanded into a +leaf of such incredible fineness, that a guinea might in that way be +made to cover Solomon's temple, or deck Noah's ark, we are filled with +wonder of such a metal. Doctor Franklin tells us of equal wonders in +oil. He informs us, that a wine glass full of pure oil poured on a +mill pond, will presently spread over it, with a film inconceivably +thinner than a cobweb, and so adhesive that the winds shall not excite +it to mad-caps and breakers. Hence, he infers, that oil might be made +a mean of saving ships during a violent storm at sea. + +In this voyage he made also another discovery, which ought to be known +to all going by sea, viz. that if persons perishing of thirst on a +voyage, would but bathe half a dozen times a day in the sea water, +which they easily might, by using their empty water casks as bathing +tubs, they would obtain great relief from their thirst, and live +several days longer; thence enjoying a better chance for their lives, +by getting into port, or falling in with some friendly sail. + +On his arrival in Philadelphia doctor Franklin was welcomed with marks +of the most flattering respect by the citizens universally--handsome +addresses and dinners were given him by literary societies and +clubs--and the assembly, in the most public manner voted him their +thanks for "the great honour and services he had rendered the country +in general during his residence in England; and especially to the +province of Pennsylvania." And they accompanied their thanks with a +present of five thousand pounds. + +Ye blind parents who can think hard of laying out a few dollars for +books and education of your children, O think of this, and learn a +course of conduct more to your own credit and to their temporal and +eternal welfare. + +In a few weeks after his return to Philadelphia there occurred in that +neighbourhood an affair that serves to show the popularity of doctor +Franklin in a very strong light. + +In consequence of a number of murders committed on the frontiers by +some villanous Indians, about a hundred and twenty young men of +Dauphin county, christians in _name_ but perfect savages in nature, +bound themselves by a horrid oath to exterminate a little tribe of +about twenty tame Indians, who lived very harmlessly among the whites +in York county. Mounted on horses, and with rifles and tomahawks in +their hands, they set off very deliberately on this hellish errand +towards the settlements of the poor Indians. The old men, women, and +children, in the cabins, soon fell weltering in their blood. The rest, +who were at work, getting notice, fled to Lancaster, and were lodged +in the jail as in a place of security. The blood thirsty whites broke +open the jail and butchered every soul. All smeared with innocent +blood, and furious as demons, they then pushed off for Philadelphia, +to massacre the feeble remains of a friendly tribe who had fled into +that city for protection. The governor issued his proclamation. The +rioters paid no regard to it, but moved on rapidly, well armed, and +determined to cut their way to the hated Indians over the bodies of +all who should oppose them. They are now on this side of Germantown, +only one hour's march from Philadelphia. The inhabitants are all in +terror. The governor quits his palace, and for safety flies to the +house of doctor Franklin. He, calm as he was wont to be amidst the +lightnings as they darted around him on his rods, went out to meet the +rioters. We sincerely regret that we cannot give the speech which he +made on this memorable occasion. It must have been impressive in a +most extraordinary degree; for on hearing it they instantly abandoned +their hellish design and returned peaceably to their homes! + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + + +Had the fatal sisters, even now, put forth their shears and clipped +his thread, yet would not the friend of man "_have fallen without +his fame_." Admiring posterity would still have written on his +tomb, + + _Here lies the GREAT FRANKLIN._ + +But though great now, he is destined to be much greater still. A +crisis is approaching that is to call forth all his talents, and to +convince even the most unthinking, that in the dark day of trouble the +"_wise shall shine forth like the firmament_." By the crisis here +mentioned, I mean the events leading to the American revolution. + +The British cabinet, as if entire strangers to that divine philosophy +which commands its disciples to be "_no respecters of persons_," +allowed themselves in the most fatal policy of sparing the British +subjects in _England_ at the expense of the British subjects in +_America_. After having drained much money from them in a variety of +unconstitutional ways, they came at length to the resolution of taxing +_the colonies without their consent_. + +This dark design was hinted in 1754, by the minister, to governor +Shirley, of the Massachusetts-Bay colony. The governor, well knowing +his extraordinary penetration and judgment, broke this ministerial +plan to Dr. Franklin; requesting _his_ opinion of it. Dr. Franklin +answered this question of the governor, by urging an "_immediate union +of the colonies with great Britain, by allowing them representatives +in parliament_," as the only thing that could prevent those ceaseless +encroachments on the one side, and those bitter animosities on the +other, which, _he feared_, would one day prove the ruin of both +countries. As to the ministerial plan of taxing the colonies by act of +parliament, where they have no representation, he assured the governor +that it would prove utterly abominable. "His majesty, sir," said he to +the governor, "has no subjects in all his wide dominions, who more +heartily love him than do his American subjects. Nor do there exist on +earth, the Englishmen who hold more dear the glory of old England than +they do. But the same spirit of their gallant forefathers, which makes +them ready to lay down their lives and fortunes, in a constitutional +way, for their king and country, will for ever secure them from being +slaves. We exult, sir, in the recollection, that of all the +governments on earth, that of Great Britain has long been the +_freest_; and that more blood has been shed for freedom's sake in +England in one week, than on the whole continent for fifty years. Now, +on the bright face of that government, the first and fairest feature +is this: that no king can touch a penny belonging to the poorest +subject, without his own consent, by his representative in parliament. +For, if, say they, '_a king can at pleasure take our money, he can +take every thing else; since with that he can easily hire soldiers to +rob, and then murder us if we but open our lips against him_.' As +Americans glory in being Englishmen on the western side of the +Atlantic, they very naturally claim the common right of Englishmen, +not to be taxed without their own consent, by their representatives in +parliament. But the British ministry, though they obstinately refuse +to the Americans the sacred rights of representation, yet as wickedly +insist on the right of _taxation_; and accordingly have brought into +parliament the famous _stamp act bill_, whereby no business that +requires a record on paper, as _deeds_, _bonds_, _wills_, _marriages_, +_&c._ can be legally done but on paper that has received the _royal +stamp_. Now, sir, you well know that the same minister who proposes +this most iniquitous and unconstitutional act, would not dare propose +to any the most drunken tavern-keeper in England, a farthing tax on a +pot of his ale without the consent of his representative in +parliament; and yet, without being allowed a hearing in parliament, +_three millions_ of free-born Americans, sons of Englishmen, are to be +taxed at the pleasure of a distant minister! Not, honoured sir, that +the Americans care a fig for the _pence_ imposed on this bit of stamp +paper, but for the _principle_. For they well know that if parliament +claim a _right_ to take from us a penny in the pound, there is no line +drawn to bound that right; and what shall hinder their calling +whenever they please for the other _nineteen shillings and eleven +pence_? And besides, sir, where is the necessity for this _most +degrading_ measure? Have not the Americans ever shown themselves the +warmest friends of their king and country? Have they not, in all cases +of danger, most readily voted both their men and money to the full +extent of their means, and sometimes far beyond? + +"And in addition to all this, are they not daily paying large monies +in secret taxes to Great Britain? + + "I. We are not _permitted to trade with foreign nations_! All the +difference in the price of what we could buy cheaper from them, but +must buy dearer from Britain, is a clear _tax_ to Britain. + + "II. We are obliged to _carry our produce to Britain_! All that +it sells for less _there_ than it would in any other market, is a +clear _tax_ to Britain. + +"III. All the manufactures that we could make, but are +_forbidden_ and must buy of British merchants, is a clear +_tax_ to Britain. + +"And what _freeborn_ Englishman can, without indignation, think of +being so daringly defrauded of his _birthright_, that if he wants a +pipe of good wine, he cannot go to the island of Madeira and get it on +easy exchange for his bread stuff, and return at once to his home and +business; but must go a thousand miles farther from his family, even +to Great Britain, and there run the gauntlet, through so many ruinous +charges, as to bring his wine up to almost double what it ought to +have cost? And all this most flagrant injustice done to the whole +people of the colonies, just to enrich half a dozen British merchants +engaged in the Portugal wine trade! + +"A similar outrage on another of the dearest rights of Englishmen, +_i.e._ '_to make the most that they honestly can of their property_,' +is committed on the British subjects in America, for the sake of +favouring a few hatters and nail makers in England. No country on the +globe, furnishes better iron or better beaver than does North America. +But the Americans must not make a hob-nail or a felt hat for +themselves. No; they must send all their iron and fur to England for +the hatters and nail makers _there_; who may give them their own price +for the raw materials, and ask their own price for the manufactures. + +"All that a wise government wishes, is, that the people should be +numerous and wealthy enough to _fight the battles_ of their country, +and to _pay the taxes_. But they care not so much whether the fighting +be done by John or Thomas, or the tax paid by William or Charles. + +"What imports it to the government, whether a merchant, a smith, or a +hatter, grows rich in Old England or New England? And if, through +increase of the people, _two_ smiths are wanted for _one_ employed +before, why may not the _new_ smith be allowed to live and thrive in +the _new_ country, as well as the _old_ in the _old_? In short, why +should the countenance of a state be _partially_ afforded to its +people, unless it be most in favour of those who have most merit?" + +The whig papers in London soon got this letter, and laid it before the +public. + +Among a high-minded people like the British, who pride themselves in +their love of liberty and their perfect scorn of _foul play_, such +sentiments could not be read without the liveliest emotions. And +though some, the ministerial junto for example, with the merchants and +manufacturers, did not like such plain truths, yet the nation in +general gave him great credit both for his singular honesty and +abilities; and the name of Dr. Franklin became very dear to thousands +of the most enlightened and virtuous patriots of Britain. + +But the pleasure of admiration was dashed with fear, that the minister +would suffer no good to be done to the nation by all this divine +counsel, merely because the giver was not an _Englishman_. + +The lights, however, which Dr. Franklin had thrown on this great +subject, were pressed upon the minister with such courage by numbers +of honest English writers, that he prudently delayed ordering the +collection of the tax until he could get further information. It was +not long before an opportunity was offered him to obtain this +information in a way highly complimentary to Dr. Franklin, _i.e._ by +summoning him, then in London as colony agent from Pennsylvania, +February 2, 1766, _to appear before the Bar of the British House of +Commons, to answer certain questions, &c._ + +The next day, accompanied by Mr. Strahan, afterwards member of +parliament, with several illustrious Englishmen, his warm friends, he +went to the house. The concourse was immense. _To see Dr. +Franklin_--the American, whose philosophical discoveries and political +writings had filled the world with his name, excited universal +curiosity. The galleries were filled with ladies of the first +distinction, and every seat below was occupied by the members from the +house of lords. At ten o'clock he appeared at the bar before the eager +waiting crowd. The profoundest silence ensued. All eyes were fixed on +him; and, from their deep regard, it appeared, that though they beheld +no stars nor garters glittering on his breast, no burning velvets nor +flaming diamonds adorning his person, yet they were not disappointed. +They beheld a spectacle still more interesting and novel.--The +spectacle of a man whose simple dress evinced that he asked no aid of +the tailor and silkworm to recommend him, but stood solely on the +majesty of his mind. The hour for examination being come, and the +attendant officer beckoning him thereto, he arose-- + +"And in his rising seemed a pillar of state--deep on his brow engraven +deliberation sat and public care. His looks drew audience and +attention still as night, or summer's noontide air." + +Who can paint the looks of the minister, as with darkly scowling +eye-balls, he beheld this terror of aristocracy! or who can paint the +NOBLE LORDLINGS, as lost in equal _stare_, they gazed and gazed at the +wondrous American, forgetting the while, "_to quiz_," as they were +wont, "_his homespun coat and simple shoe-strings_." + +But never did the mind-illumined looks of man shine more divinely +bright than did those, that day, of the generous Barry, the godlike +Chatham, and the high-minded Dunning, when they beheld the noble form +of Franklin. Though born in North America, he shines before their eyes +as a true born son of Britain--the luminous and brave interpreter of +her SACRED CONSTITUTION, and the wise politician who seeks to exalt +her glory, lasting as the skies, on the broad base of impartial +justice to all her children. With eyes sparkling with esteem +unutterable, they hail him as a brother; and breathe the ardent wish +that in the impending examination he may succeed in diverting the +minister from that unconstitutional course which may involve the ruin +both of England and America. + +The moment for trial being come, and the minister giving the signal to +begin, the speaker thus commenced:-- + +_Q._ What is your name and place of abode? + +_A._ Franklin, of Philadelphia. + +Here followed nearly _three hundred questions_ and _answers_, which +were once read with exceeding interest by men, women, and children in +America. But as they turn altogether on that great quarrel which the +British ministry formerly excited in this country; and which God, to +his endless glory, was pleased to put asleep in our favour near half a +century ago, then let all these questions and answers lie asleep with +it. However, it is but justice to Dr. Franklin to observe, that when +we consider these questions, what a wide range they take both of the +British and American _relations_ and _interests_--together with the +_luminous_, prompt, and decisive manner in which they were solved, we +are lost in astonishment at the extent of his information and the +powers of his mind, and are almost tempted to believe that the +_answers_, and not the _questions_ must have been studied with the +nicest discrimination of circumstances. + +Charles Fox, an honest Englishman, and an excellent judge in these +matters, being asked his opinion of Dr. Franklin and the _ministers_ +in the late examination, replied, in his strong way, "_Dwarfs_, sir, +mere _dwarfs in the hand of a giant_!" + +Edmund Burke used to say, that this examination of Dr. Franklin before +the ministers, always put him in mind of a "_Master examined before a +parcel of school-boys_." + +But though his abilities on this occasion excited the admiration of +generous enemies, while his more partial friends set no bounds to +their praise, yet it would appear from the following that all afforded +_him_ but little pleasure. In a letter to a friend in Philadelphia, he +has these remarkable words: "You have, no doubt, heard that I have +been examined before the HOUSE OF COMMONS in this country. And it is +probable you have also been told that I did not entirely disappoint +the expectations of my friends, nor betray the cause of truth. This, +to be sure, gives me some pleasure; and, indeed it is the only thing +that does; for, as to any good being done by my honest statement to +ministers, of what I firmly believe to be the best interests of the +two countries, 'tis all, I fear, _a lost hope_. The people of this +country are too proud, and too much despise the poor Americans, to +allow them _the common rights of Englishmen_, that is, _a +representation in parliament_. And until this be done, I apprehend +that no taxes laid by parliament, will ever be collected, but such as +must be stained with blood. How lamentable it is that two people, +sprung from the same origin, speaking the same language, governed by +the same laws, and worshipping at the same altar of God, and capable, +by a wise use of the extraordinary means he has now put into their +hands, of becoming the greatest nation on earth, should be stopped +short and perhaps reduced to insignificance by a civil war, kindled by +ministers obstinately contending for what they cannot but know to be +utterly unconstitutional and eternally inadmissible among the +_free-born sons of Englishmen_. But I suppose the repeal will not now +be agreed to, from what I think a mistaken opinion, that the honour +and dignity of government are better supported by persisting in a +wrong measure, once entered into, than by rectifying an error as soon +as it is discovered." + +Differently, however, from the apprehensions of Franklin, the stamp +act was repealed, and even in the course of the same year! + +But though so little expected by him, yet was this event ascribed, in +a great measure, to Dr. Franklin. His famous examination, printed in a +shilling pamphlet, had been distributed by myriads throughout Britain +and America. In America it served to brighten up the _old land marks_ +of their rights as _free-born sons of Englishmen_, and to quicken +their sensibilities to ministerial frauds. In England, it served to +show the ignorance of the ministers; the impolicy of their measures +towards America; and the utter inexpediency of the stamp act. The +stamp act of course fell to the ground. The reader, if a good man, +exults, no doubt, in this as a most fortunate event, and already hails +this removal of strife, as a certain prelude to that return of love +between the mother country and her colonies, which will make them +both, glorious and happy. He may hope it, but alas! he is never to see +the accomplishment of that good hope. Death is whetting his scythe; +and civil wars and slaughters are now just as near at hand as though +the stamp act had never been repealed. For a pamphlet in some popular +style that should unrip the black budget of ministerial injustice and +lay naked to view the causes of the coming war; that unnatural war +that is to sever England and her colonies for ever! Brighter than a +thousand sermons it would illustrate to politicians that "_the Lord is +King_"--that the sole end of his government, is to _glorify himself in +the happiness of his creatures_--that thereunto he hath _established +his throne in justice_--the eternal justice of men "_doing unto others +as they would that others should do unto them_," and that none, +however great, shall ever violate this blessed order with impunity. +The British ministry are destined to illustrate this. They are fond of +power--to preserve this, they must continue in place--in order +thereunto they must please the merchants and manufacturers--to +accomplish this they must favour their trade and lighten their taxes. +And how is this to be done? why, by a little peccadillo of INJUSTICE. +They have only to sweat the "CONVICTS _on their American +plantations_,"--the rascals live a great way off, and have no +_representative_ in parliament to make a noise about it. Accordingly, +soon as the Americans were supposed to have gotten a little over their +fever about the stamp act, the minister, lord North, of famous memory, +determined to try them again. However it was but a small affair +now--only a _three penny excise_ on the pound of tea. + +When Dr. Franklin, our ARGUS, then in London, discovered the designs +of minister North, he exerted himself to point that purblind gentleman +to the horrible gulf that was yawning at his feet. He wrote letters to +several members of parliament, his friends; and he published a number +of luminous pieces in the patriotic gazettes, all admirably calculated +to rouse the friends of the nation to a sense of the impending +dangers. + +In three letters to the honourable Mr. W. Strahan, he has, in the +extract, these remarkable words:-- + + "_London, November, 1768._ + + "DEAR SIR, + + "With respect to the present dispute between Great Britain and the + colonies, there is nothing I wish for more than to see it amicably + settled. But _Providence_ brings about its own ends by its own + means; and if it intends the downfall of a nation, that nation will + be so blinded by its pride and other passions as not to see its + danger, or how its fall may be prevented. + + "The friends of the ministry say that this tax is but a _trifle_; + granted. But who does not see what will be the consequence of + submitting to it? Is it not the more dangerous for being a trifle? + Is it not in this way that the devil himself most effectually works + our ruin? If he can but prevail on a poor thoughtless youth to + shake hands with innocence, and to _steal_, he is abundantly + satisfied. To get the boy's _hand in_, is all he wants. And he + would as leave the simpleton should begin with stealing a halter as + a horse. For he well knows that if he but begins with the one he is + sure to end with the other. Just so the minister, angling for + American liberty, artfully covers his hook with this delicate bait. + But the truth is, I have talked and written so much and so long on + the subject of this unhappy quarrel, that my acquaintance are weary + of hearing, and the public of reading, any more of it; which begins + to make me weary of talking and writing; especially as I do not + find that I have gained any point in either country, except that of + rendering myself suspected, by my impartiality, in England of being + too much an _American_, and in America of being too much an + _Englishman_. However, as in reply to your polite question, "_what + is to be_ done _to settle this alarming dispute?_" I have often + told you what I think the minister _ought_ to do: I now go a step + farther, and tell you what I fear he will do. + + "I apprehend he will, ere long, attempt to enforce this obnoxious + tax, whatever may be the consequences.--I apprehend that in the + mean time, the colonies will continue to be treated with contempt, + and the redress of their grievances be neglected--that, this will + inflame matters still more in that country--that, further rash + measures there, may create more resentments here--that, their + assemblies will be attempted to be dissolved--that, more troops + will be sent to oppress them--that, to justify these measures of + government, your newspapers will revile them as _miscreants_, + _rogues_, _dastards_, and _rebels_--that, this will alienate the + minds of the people here from them, and theirs from you--that, + possibly too, some of their warm patriots may be distracted enough + to do some _mad_ act which will cause them to be sent for + hither--and that government may be indiscreet enough to hang them + for it--that mutual provocations will thus go on to complete the + separation, and instead of that cordial affection which so long + existed, and which is so necessary to the glory and happiness of + both countries, an implacable malice, dishonourable and destructive + to both, may take place. I hope, however, that this may all prove + _false prophecy_, and that you and I may live to see as sincere a + friendship established between our countries, as has so many years + subsisted between W. Strahan, Esq. and his truly affectionate old + friend, + + "B. FRANKLIN." + +But notwithstanding his prayer to the contrary, every body recollects +how, exactly as Dr. Franklin had predicted, the minister continued to +blunder and blunder on with his face constantly towards war--how +nothing was trumpeted by the ministerial party, like the ingratitude +and baseness of the Americans--how _certain_ newspapers perpetually +vilified them as _miscreants_, _rascals_ and _rebels_--how the public +mind was so set against them that even the _shoe-blacks_, as Mr. +Wilkes said, talked of the colonies as _their plantations_, and of the +people there as if they had been their _overseers_ and _negroes_--how +the minister determined at last, to enforce the _tea-tax_--how, on +hearing the news of this, as of the stamp act, the yankees muffled +their drums, and played the _dead march_--how they took the sacrament +never to submit to it--how the minister, to test their valour, sent +three ships laden with this three-penny tea--how the yankees, dressed +like Mohawks, boarded their ships and destroyed their cargoes--how the +minister, waxing more in wrath, sent more soldiers to quell the +rebels--how the rebels insulted the soldiers--how the soldiers fired +on the rebels--how the port of Boston was shut by royal +proclamation--how, in spite of the royal proclamation, the colonies +would trade with her and send monies to her relief--how the LORDS and +COMMONS petitioned the king that, any rebel opposing the officers of +his sacred majesty, should be instantly hung up without judge or +jury--how the king _thanked_ his noble lords and commons, and was +graciously pleased to decree that all rebels thus offending should be +thus hung up without judge or jury--how that, notwithstanding this +gracious decree, when his majesty's troops attempted to destroy the +rebel stores at Concord, the rebels attacked and killed them, without +any regard to his majesty's decree. + +This unpardonable sin against the "Lord's anointed," which happened on +the 19th of April 1775, served as the double bolting and barring of +the door against all hope of peace. Throughout America, it struck but +one deep and awful sentiment, "_the sword is drawn, and we must now +throw the scabbard away_." In May, the news got to England, where it +excited emotions that beggar all description. They somewhat, however, +resembled the effects of the trumpet of the great angel spoken of in +the _Revelations_, that sounded "_wo! wo! wo! to the inhabitants_" of +America, and proclaimed the pouring forth of _fire_ and sword. But, +reserving this tragedy for the next chapter, we will conclude the +present with the following anecdote. It will show at least, that +doctor Franklin left no stone unturned to carry his point; and that +where logic failed he had recourse to wit. + + +THE CAT AND EAGLE. + +A FABLE, BY DOCTOR FRANKLIN. + +Lord Spencer was a great admirer of Dr. Franklin, and never missed +sending him a card when he intended a quorum of learned ones at his +table. The last time that our philosopher enjoyed this honour, was in +1775, just before he was driven from England by lord North. The +conversation taking a turn on fables, lord Spencer observed, that it +had certainly been a very lucky thing, especially for the YOUNG, that +this mode of instruction had ever been hit on, as there was a +something in it wonderfully calculated to touch a favourite string +with them, _i.e._ novelty and surprise. They would listen, he said, to +a fox, when they would not to a father, and they would be more apt to +remember any thing good told them by an owl or a crow, than by an +uncle or an aunt. But I am afraid, continued his lordship, that the +age of fables is past. AEsop and Phaedrus among the ancients, and +Fontaine and Gay among the moderns, have given us so many fine +speeches from the birds and beasts, that I suspect their budgets are +pretty nearly exhausted. + +The company concluded with his lordship, except Franklin, who was +silent. + +"Well, doctor," said lord Spencer, "what is your opinion on this +subject?" + +"Why, my lord," replied Franklin, "I cannot say that I have the honour +to think with you in this affair. The birds and beasts have indeed +said a great many wise things; but it is likely they will say a great +many more yet before they are done. Nature, I am thinking, is not +quite so easily exhausted as your lordship seems to imagine." + +Lord Spencer, evidently confused, but still with that countenance of +pleasure which characterizes great souls, when they meet superior +genius, exclaimed--"Well, doctor, suppose you give us a fable? I know +you are good at an impromptu." The company all seconded the motion. +Franklin thanked them for the compliment, but begged to be excused. +They would hear no excuses. They knew, they said, he could _go it_, +and insisted he should gratify them. Finding all resistance +ineffectual, he drew his pencil, and after scribbling a few minutes, +reached it to Spencer, saying--"Well, my lord, since, you will have it +so, here's a something fresh from the brain, but I'm afraid you'll not +find AEsop in it." + +"Read it, doctor, read it!" was the cry of the noble lord and his +friends. In a mood, spriteful and pleasant, Franklin thus began--"Once +upon a time--hem!--as an Eagle in the full pride of his pinions, +soared over a humble farm-yard, darting his fiery eyes around in +search of a pig, a lamb, or some such pretty tit-bit, what should he +behold but a plump young rabbit, as he thought, squatted among the +weeds. Down at once upon him, he pounced like thunder, and bearing him +aloft in his talons, thus chuckled to himself with joy--Zounds, what a +lucky dog I am! such a nice rabbit here, this morning, for my +breakfast! + +"His joy was but momentary; for the supposed rabbit happened to be a +stout cat, who, spitting and squalling with rage, instantly stuck his +teeth and nails, like any fury, into the eagle's thighs, making the +blood and feathers fly at a dreadful rate. + +"HOLD! HOLD! _for mercy's sake, hold!_ cried the eagle, his wings +shivering in the air with very torment. + +"Villain! retorted the cat, with a tiger-like growl, dare you talk of +_mercy_ after treating me thus, who never injured you?" + +O, God bless you, Mr. CAT, is that you? rejoined the eagle, mighty +complaisant; 'pon honour, I did not intend, sir. I thought it was only +a rabbit I had got hold of--and you know we are all fond of rabbits. +Do you suppose, my dear sir, that if I had but dreamt it was you, I +would ever have touched the hair of your head? No, indeed: I am not +such a fool as all that comes to. And now, my dear Mr. CAT, come let's +be good friends again, and I'll let you go with all my heart. + +"Yes, you'll let me go, scoundrel, will you--here from the clouds--to +break every bone in my skin!--No, villain, carry me back, and put me +down exactly where you found me, or I'll tear the throat out of you in +a moment. + +"Without a word of reply, the eagle stooped at once from his giddy +height, and sailing humbly down, with great complaisance restored the +cat to his simple farm-yard, there to sleep, or hunt his rats and mice +at pleasure." + +A solemn silence ensued. At length, with a deep prophetic sigh, lord +Spencer thus replied: "_Ah! Dr. Franklin I see the drift of your +fable; and my fears have already made the application. God grant_, +that Britain may not prove the eagle, and America the cat." This fable +paraphrased in the WHIG papers of that day, concludes in this way: + + "Thus Britain thought in seventy-six, + Her talons in a hare to fix; + But in the scuffle it was found, + The bird received a dangerous wound, + Which, though pretending oft to hide, + Still rankles in his Royal side." + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + + +Doctor Franklin now began to find his situation in London extremely +unpleasant. For twelve years, like heaven's own minister of peace, he +had pressed the olive-branch on the British ministry; and yet after +all, their war-hawks could hardly tolerate the sight of him. They even +went so far as to call him "_the hoary headed villain, who first +stirred up the Americans to rebellion_." As soon as he could obtain +his passports he left England. + +His old friend, Strahan, advised him to continue in that country, for +that America would soon be filled with tumult and bloodshed. He +replied, "_No, sir, where liberty is, there is my country._" + +Unbounded was the joy of the Americans on the return of so great a +patriot and statesman. The day following he was elected by the +legislature of Pennsylvania, a member of Congress. The following +letters, in extract, to his constant friend, and the friend of science +and liberty, the celebrated doctor Priestley, will show how full his +hands were + + "_Philadelphia, July 7, 1775._ + + "DEAR FRIEND, + + "Britain has begun to burn our sea port towns; _secure_, I suppose, + _that we shall never be able to return the outrage in kind_. She + may doubtless destroy them all. But is this the way to recover our + friendship and trade? She must certainly be distracted; for no + tradesman out of Bedlam ever thought of increasing the number of + his customers by knocking them on the head; or of enabling them to + pay their debts, by burning their houses. + + "My time was never more fully employed. I breakfast before six. At + six I hasten to the COMMITTEE of SAFETY for putting the province in + a state of defence. At nine I go to Congress, which sits till after + four. It will scarcely be credited in Britain, that men can be as + diligent with us, from zeal for the public good, as with you, for + _thousands_ per annum. Such is the difference between uncorrupted + new states, and corrupted old ones. + + "Great frugality and great industry are now become fashionable + here: gentlemen, who used to entertain with two or three courses, + pride themselves now in treating with simple beef and pudding. By + these means, and the stoppage of our consumptive trade with + Britain, we shall be better able to pay our voluntary taxes for the + support of our troops. Our savings in the article of trade, amount + to near five millions of sterling per annum.--Yours, most + affectionately, + + "B. FRANKLIN." + +In another letter to the same, dated October 3d, he says: + + "Tell our dear good friend, doctor Price, who sometimes has his + doubts and despondencies about our firmness, that America is + determined and unanimous: a very few tories and placemen excepted, + who will probably soon export themselves. Britain, at the expense + of three millions has killed in this campaign, _one hundred and + fifty yankees!_ which is 20,000 pounds sterling a head; and at + Bunker's hill she gained half a mile of ground! During the same + time she lost, at one place, near one thousand men, and we have had + a good sixty thousand children born in America. From these data, + with the help of his mathematical head, lord North will easily + calculate the time and expense necessary to kill us all, and + conquer our whole territory.-- + + "I am yours, B. FRANKLIN." + +In another letter to the same, and of the same date, he says: + + "Britain still goes on to goad and exasperate. She despises us too + much; and seems to forget the Italian proverb, that '_there is no + little enemy_.' I am persuaded the body of the British people are + our friends; but your lying gazettes may soon make them our + enemies--and I see clearly that we are on the high road to mutual + enmity, hatred, and detestation. A _separation_ will of course be + inevitable. It is a million of pities so fair a plan, as we have + hitherto been engaged in for increasing _strength_ and _empire_ + with PUBLIC FELICITY, should be destroyed by the mangling hands of + a few blundering ministers. It will not be destroyed: GOD WILL + PROTECT AND PROSPER IT: you will only exclude yourselves from any + share of it. We hear that more ships and troops are coming out. We + know you may do us a great deal of mischief, but we are determined + to bear it patiently; but if you flatter yourselves with beating us + into submission, you know neither the people nor the country. + + "I am ever your's, most affectionately, + + "B. FRANKLIN." + +This letter of Doctor Franklin's is the first thing I have seen that +utters a whisper about INDEPENDENCE. It was, however, a _prophetical_ +whisper, and soon found its accomplishment in the source that Franklin +predicted--the BARBARITY OF BRITAIN. To see war waged against them by +a power whom they had always gloried in as their MOTHER COUNTRY--to +see it waged because as the _children of Englishmen_, they had only +asked for the _common rights of Englishmen_--to see it waged with a +savageness unknown among civilized nations, and all the powers of +earth and hell, as it were, stirred up against them--the Indians with +their bloody tomahawks and scalping knives--the negroes with their +midnight hoes and axes--the merciless flames let loose on their +midwinter towns--with prisons, chains, and starvation of their +worthiest citizens. "_Such miserable specimens_," as Franklin termed +them, "_of the British government_," produced every where in the +colonies a disposition to _detest and avoid it as a complication of +robbery, murder, famine, fire and pestilence_. + +On the 7th of June, resolutions respecting independence, were moved +and seconded in Congress. Doctor Franklin threw all the weight of his +wisdom and character into the scale in favour of independence. + +"INDEPENDENCE," said he, "_will cut the Gordian knot at once, and give +us freedom_. + + "I. _Freedom from the oppressive kings, and endless wars, and mad +politics, and forced religion of an unreasonable and cruel +government._ + + "II. _Freedom to choose a fair, and cheap, and reasonable government +of our own._ + +"III. _Freedom to live in friendship with all nations; and_ + + "IV. _Freedom to trade with all._" + +On the 4th of July, the _Independence_ of the United States was +declared. Immediately on the finishing of this great work, doctor +Franklin, with a committee of the first talents in Congress, prepared +a number of very masterly addresses to the courts of Europe, informing +what the United States had done; assigning their reasons for so doing; +and tendering in the most affectionate terms, the friendship and trade +of the young nation. The potentates of Europe were, generally, well +pleased to hear that a new star had risen in the west, and talked +freely of opening their treasures and presenting their gifts of +friendship, &c. + +But the European power that seemed most to rejoice in this event was +the French. In August, doctor Franklin was appointed by Congress to +visit the French court, for the purpose of forming an alliance with +that powerful people. It was his friend, Doctor B. Rush, who first +announced to him the choice which Congress had made, adding, at the +same time, his hearty congratulations on that account. + +"Why, doctor," replied he with a smile, "I am now, like an old broom, +worn down to the stump in my country's service--near seventy years +old. But such as I am, she must, I suppose, have the last of me." Like +the brave Dutch republicans, each with his wallet of herrings on his +back, when they went forth to negotiate with the proud Dons, so did +doctor Franklin set out to court the great French nation, with no +provisions for his journey, but a few hogsheads of tobacco. He was +received in France, however, with a most hearty welcome, not only as +an envoy from a brave people fighting for their rights, but also as +the famed American philosopher, who by his _paratonerres_ (lightning +rods) had disarmed the clouds of their lightnings, and who, it was +hoped, would reduce the colossal power of Great Britain. + +He had not been long in Paris, before the attention of all the courts +of Europe was attached to him, by a publication, wherein he +demonstrated, that, _the young, healthy, and sturdy republic of +America, with her simple manners, laborious habits, and millions of +fresh land and produce, would be a much safer borrower of money, than +the old, profligate, and debt-burthened government of Britain_. The +Dutch and French courts, in particular, read his arguments with such +attention, that they soon began to make him loans. To the French +cabinet he pointed out, "THE INEVITABLE DESTRUCTION OF THEIR FLEETS, +COLONIES, AND COMMERCE, IN CASE OF A RE-UNION OF BRITAIN AND AMERICA." +There wanted but a grain to turn the trembling balance in favour of +America. + +But it was the will of Heaven to withhold that grain a good long +while. And Franklin had the mortification to find, that although the +French were an exceedingly polite people; constantly eulogizing +GENERAL WASHINGTON and THE BRAVE BOSTONIANS, on every little victory; +and also for their tobacco, very thriftily smuggling all the fire arms +and ammunition they could into the United States, yet they had no +notion of coming out manfully at once upon the British lion, until +they should first see the American Eagle lay the monster on his back. +Dr. Franklin, of course, was permitted to rest on his oars, at Passy, +in the neighbourhood of Paris, His characteristic philanthropy, +however, could not allow him to be idle at a court, whose pride and +extravagance were so horribly irreconcileable with his ideas of the +true use of riches, _i.e._ INDEPENDENCE for ourselves, and BENEFICENCE +to others. And he presently came out in the Paris Gazette with the +following master piece of WIT and ECONOMICS. + + + _To the Editors of the Paris Journal._ + + GENTLEMEN, + + I was the other evening in a grand company, where the new lamp of + Messrs. Quinquet and Lange was introduced, and much admired for + its splendour; but a general inquiry was made, whether the oil it + consumed, was not in proportion to the light it afforded; in which + case there would be no saving in the use of it. No one present + could satisfy us on that point; which all agreed ought to be + known, it being a very desirable thing to lessen, if possible, the + expense of lighting our apartments, when every other article of + family expense was so much augmented. + + I was pleased to see this general concern for economy; for I love + economy exceedingly. + + I went home, and to bed, three or four hours after midnight, with + my head full of the subject. An accidental sudden noise awaked me + about six in the morning, when I was surprised to find my room + filled with light; and I imagined, at first, that a number of + these lamps had been brought into it; but rubbing my eyes, I + perceived the light came in at my windows. I got up, and looked + out to see what might be the occasion of it, when I saw the sun + just rising above the horizon, whence he poured his rays + plentifully into my chamber, my domestic having negligently + omitted, the preceding evening, to close the shutters. + + I looked at my watch, which goes very well, and found that it was + but six o'clock; and still thinking it something extraordinary + that the sun should rise so early, I looked into the almanack; + where I found it to be the hour given for its rising on that day. + + Your readers, who, with me, have never seen any signs of sunshine + before noon, and seldom regard the astronomical part of the + almanack, will be as much astonished as I was, when they hear of + his rising so early; and especially when I assure them _that he + gives light as soon as he rises_. I am certain of the fact. _I saw + it with my own eyes._ And having repeated this observation the + three following mornings, I found always precisely the same + result. + + Yet so it happens, that when I speak of this discovery to others, + I can easily perceive by their countenances, though they forbear + expressing it in words, that they do not quite believe me. One, + indeed, who is a learned natural philosopher, has assured me that + I must certainly be mistaken as to the circumstance of the light + coming into my room; for it being well known, as he says, that + there could be no light abroad at that hour, it follows that none + could enter from without; and that of consequence, my windows + being accidentally left open, instead of _letting in the light_, + had only served to _let out the darkness_. + + This event has given rise, in my mind, to several serious and + important reflections. I considered that, if I had not been + awakened so early in the morning, I should have slept six hours + longer by the light of the sun, and in exchange have lived six + hours the following night by candle-light; and the latter being a + much more expensive light than the former, my love of economy + induced me to muster up what little arithmetic I was master of, + and to make some calculations, which I shall give you, after + observing, that utility is, in my opinion, the test of value in + matters of invention, and that a discovery which can be applied to + no use, or is not good for something, is good for nothing. + + I took for the basis of my calculation, the supposition that there + are 100,000 families in Paris; and that these families consume in + the night half a pound of candles, per hour. I think this a + moderate allowance, taking one family with another; for though I + believe some consume less, I know that many consume a great deal + more. Then, estimating seven hours per day, as the medium quantity + between the time of the _sun's_ rising and _ours_, and there being + seven hours, of course, per night, in which we burn candles, the + account will stand thus: + + In 12 months there are nights 365; hours of each night in which we + burn candles 7; multiplication gives for the total number of hours + 2555. These multiplied by 100,000, the number of families in + Paris, give 255,000,000 hours spent at Paris by candle-light, + which, at half a pound of wax and tallow per hour, give + 127,750,000 pounds, worth, at 3 livres the pound, 383,250,000 + livres; upwards of THIRTY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS!!! + + An immense sum! that the city of Paris might save every year, by + the economy of using _sunshine_ instead of candles.--If it should + be said, that the people are very apt to be obstinately attached + to old customs, and that it will be difficult to induce them to + rise before noon, consequently my discovery can be of little use, + I answer, we must not despair. I believe all, who have common + sense, as soon as they have learnt, from this paper, that it is + daylight when the sun rises, will contrive to rise with him; and + to compel the rest, I would propose the following regulations: + + First. Let a tax be laid of a louis, (a guinea,) per window, on + every window that is provided with shutters to keep out the light + of the sun. + + Second. Let guards be placed in the shops of the wax and + tallow-chandlers; and no family be permitted to be supplied with + more than one pound of candles per week. + + Third. Let guards be posted, to stop all the coaches, &c. that + would pass the streets after sunset, except those of physicians, + surgeons, and midwives. + + Fourth. Every morning, as soon as the sun rises, let all the bells + in the city be set ringing; and if that be not sufficient let + cannon be fired in every street, to awake the sluggards + effectually, and make them open their eyes to see their true + interest. + + All the difficulty will be in the first two or three days: after + which the reformation will be as natural and easy as the present + irregularity. Oblige a man to rise at four in the morning, and, it + is more than probable, he shall go willingly to bed at eight in + the evening; and having had eight hours sleep, he will rise more + willingly at four, in the morning following. + + For the great benefit of this discovery, thus freely communicated + and bestowed by me, on the good city of Paris, I demand neither + place, pension, exclusive privilege, nor any other reward + whatever. I expect only to have the _honour_ of it. And yet I know + there are little envious minds, who will, as usual, deny me this, + and say that my invention was known to the ancients. I will not + dispute that the ancients knew that the sun would rise at certain + hours. They possibly had almanacks that predicted it; but it does + not follow, thence, that they knew _that he gave light an soon as + he rose. This is what I claim as my discovery._ If the ancients + knew it, it must long since have been forgotten; for it certainly + was unknown to the moderns, at least to the Parisians; which to + prove, I need use but one plain simple argument. They are as well + instructed and prudent a people as exist, any where in the world; + all professing, like myself, to be lovers of economy; and, from + the many heavy taxes required from them by the necessities of the + state, have surely reason to be economical. I say it is impossible + that so sensible a people, under such circumstances, should have + lived so long by the _smoky, unwholesome and enormously expensive + light of candles, if they had really known that they might have as + much pure light of the sun for nothing_. I am, &c. + + An ABONNE. + +And now, as Dr. Franklin is permitted to breathe a little from his +herculean toils, let us, good reader, breathe a little too, and amuse +ourselves with the following anecdotes. + +Nothing can better illustrate the spirit, which Dr. Franklin carried +with him to the court of Louis XVI., and the spirit he found there. + +On Dr. Franklin's arrival at Paris, as plenipotentiary from the United +States, during the revolution, the king expressed a wish to see him +immediately. As there was no going to the court of France in those +days without permission of the wigmaker, a wigmaker of course was sent +for. In an instant a richly dressed Monsieur, his arms folded in a +prodigious muff of furs, and a long sword by his side, made his +appearance. It was the king's WIGMAKER, with his servant in livery, a +long sword by _his_ side too, and a load of sweet scented band-boxes, +full of "_de wig_," as he said, "_de superb wig for de great docteer +Franklin_." One of the wigs was tried on--a world _too small_! +Band-box after band-box was tried; but all with the same ill success! +The wigmaker fell into the most violent rage, to the extreme +mortification of Dr. Franklin, that a gentleman so bedecked with silks +and perfumes, should, notwithstanding, be such a child. Presently, +however, as in all the transports of a _grand discovery_, the wigmaker +cried out to Dr. Franklin, that he had just found out where the fault +lay--"_not in his wig as too small; O no, by gar! his wig no too +small; but de docteer's head too big; great deal too big._" Franklin, +smiling, replied, that the fault could hardly lie _there_; for that +his head was made of God Almighty himself, who was not subject to err. +Upon this the wigmaker took in a little; but still contended that +there must be something the matter with Dr. Franklin's head. It was at +any rate, he said, _out of the fashion_. He begged Dr. Franklin would +only please for remember, _dat his head had not de honeer_ to be made +in PARREE. No, by gar! for if it had been made in PARREE, it no bin +more dan _half such a head_. "_None of the French Noblesse_," he +swore, "_had a head any ting_ like his. Not de great duke d'Orleans, +nor de grand monarque himself had _half such a head as docteer +Franklin_. And _he did not see_," he said, "_what business any body +had wid a head more big dan de head of de grand monarque_." + +Pleased to see the poor wigmaker recover his good humour, Dr. Franklin +could not find in his heart to put a check to his childish rant, but +related one of his _fine anecdotes_, which struck the wigmaker with +such an idea of his wit, that as he retired, which he did, bowing most +profoundly, he shrugged his shoulders, and with a look most +significantly arch, he said: + +"_Ah, docteer Frankline! docteer Frankline!_ I no wonder your head too +big for my wig. By gar I 'fraid your head be too big for _all de +French nationg_." + + +THE BLUE YARN STOCKINGS. + +When Dr. Franklin was received at the French court as American +minister, he felt some scruples of conscience in complying with their +_fashions as to dress_. "He hoped," he said to the minister, "that as +he was himself a very plain man, and represented a plain republican +people, the king would indulge his desire to appear at court in his +usual dress. Independent of this, the season of the year, he said, +rendered the change from warm yarn stockings to fine silk, somewhat +dangerous." + +The French minister made him a bow, but said, that THE FASHION was too +sacred a thing for him to meddle with, but he would do himself the +honour to mention it to his MAJESTY. + +The king smiled, and returned word that Dr. Franklin was welcome to +appear at court in _any dress he pleased_. In spite of that delicate +respect for strangers, for which the French are so remarkable, the +courtiers could not help staring, at first, at Dr. Franklin's +quaker-like dress, and especially his "BLUE YARN STOCKINGS." But it +soon appeared as though he had been introduced upon this splendid +theatre only to demonstrate that, great genius, like true beauty, +"needs not the foreign aid of ornament." The court were so dazzled +with the brilliancy of his mind that they never looked at his +stockings. And while many other ministers who figured in all the gaudy +fashions of the day are now forgotten, the name of Dr. Franklin is +still mentioned in Paris with all the ardour of the most affectionate +enthusiasm. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + + +Imagination can hardly conceive a succession of pleasures more elegant +and refined than those which Dr. Franklin, now on the shady side of +threescore and ten, continued daily to enjoy in the vicinity of +Paris--his mornings constantly devoted to his beloved studies, and his +evenings to the cheerful society of his friends--the greatest monarch +of Europe heaping him with honours unasked, and the brightest WITS and +BEAUTIES of his court vying with each other in their attentions to +him. And thus as the golden hours rolled along, they still found him +happy--gratefully contrasting his present glory with his humble +origin, and thence breathing nothing but benevolence to man--firmly +confiding in the care of Heaven--and fully persuaded that his smiles +would yet descend upon his countrymen, now fighting the good fight of +liberty and happiness. + +While waiting in strong hope of this most desirable of all events, he +received, by express, December 1777, the welcome news that the battle +had been joined in America, and that God had delivered a noble wing of +the British army into the hands of the brave republicans at Saratoga. +O ye, who, rejecting the philosophy of all embracing love, know no +joys beyond what the miser feels when his own little heap increases, +how faintly can you conceive what this great apostle of liberty +enjoyed when he found that his countrymen still retained the fire of +their gallant fathers, and were resolved to live free or press a +glorious grave! He lost no time to improve this splendid victory to +the good of his country. In several audiences with the king and his +ministers, he clearly demonstrated that France in all her days of +ancient danger had never known so dark a cloud impending over her as +at this awful crisis. "If Great Britain," said he, "already so +powerful were to subdue the revolted colonies and add all North +America to her empire, she would in twenty years be strong enough to +crush the power of France and not leave her an island or a ship on the +ocean." As a sudden flash of lightning from the opening clouds before +the burst of thunder and rain, such was the shock produced by this +argument on the mind of every thinking man throughout France. The +courtiers with all their talents for dissembling could not conceal +their hostile feelings from the British minister resident among them. +He marked it, not without sentiments of answering hostility, which he +could no better conceal, and which, indeed, after the honest bluntness +of his national character, he did not care to conceal. The increased +attentions paid to Dr. Franklin, and the rejoicings in Paris on +account of the American victories, were but illy calculated to soothe +his displeasure. Bitter complaints were presently forwarded to his +court--angry remonstrances to the French cabinet followed--and in a +short time the embers of ancient hate were blown up to flames of fury +so diabolical that nothing but war, with all its rivers of human blood +could extinguish it. War, of course, was proclaimed--Paris was +illuminated--and the thunder of the Royal cannon soon announced to the +willing citizens that the die was cast, and that the Grand Monarque +was become the Ally of the United States. + +"_While there is any thing to be done nothing is done_," said Caesar. +Franklin thought so too. He had succeeded in his efforts to persuade +the warlike French to take part with his oppressed countrymen; but the +Spaniards and the Dutch were still neutral. To rouse their hostile +feelings against Great Britain, and to make them the hearty partisans +of Washington, was his next study. The event quickly showed that he +had studied human nature with success. He who had been the playmate of +lightnings for the _glory of God_, found no difficulty in stirring up +the _wrath of man to praise him_--by chastising the sons of violence. +The tall black ships of war were soon seen to rush forth from the +ports of Holland and Spain, laden with the implements of death, to +arrest the mad ambition of Great Britain, and maintain the balance of +power. How dearly ought the American people to prize their liberties, +for which such bloody contribution was laid on the human race! +Imagination glances with terror on that dismal war whose spread was +over half the solid and half the watery globe. Its devouring fires +burned from the dark wilds of North America to the distant isles of +India; and the blood of its victims was mingled with the brine of +every ocean. But, thanks to God, the conflict, though violent, was but +short. And much of the honour of bringing it to a close is to be +conceded to the instrumentality of Dr. Franklin. + +We have seen that in 1763, he was sent (of Heaven no doubt, for it was +an act worthy of his all-benevolent character,) a preacher of +righteousness, to the proud court of Britain. His luminous preachings, +(through the press,) on the injustice and unconstitutionality of the +ministerial taxing measures on the colonies, shed such light, that +thousands of honest Englishmen set their faces against them, and also +against the war to which they saw it was tending. These converts to +justice, these doves of peace, were not sufficiently numerous to +defeat the war-hawks of their bloody purposes. But when they found +that the war into which they had plunged with such confidence, had +not, instantly, as they expected, reduced the colonies to slavish +submission; but that, instead thereof, one half Europe in favour of +America, was in arms against them with a horrible destruction of lives +and property which they had not counted on, and of which they saw no +end, they seriously deplored their folly in not pursuing the counsel +of doctor Franklin. The nation was still, however, dragged on in war, +plunging like a stalled animal, deeper and deeper in disaster and +distress, until the capture of lord Cornwallis and his army came like +a thunder-bolt, inflicting on the war party a death blow, from which +they never afterwards recovered. + +Dr. Franklin received this most welcome piece of news, the surrender +of lord Cornwallis, by express from America. He had scarcely read the +letters with the tear of joy swelling in his patriot eye, when Mr. +Necker came in. Seeing the transport on his face, he eagerly asked +what _good news_. "_Thank God_," replied Franklin, "_the storm is +past. The paratonerres of divine justice have drawn off the lightning +of British violence, and here, sir, is the rainbow of peace_," holding +up the letter. What am I to understand by that, replied Necker. Why, +sir, quoth Franklin, my lord Cornwallis and his army are prisoners of +war to general Washington. Doctor Franklin's calculation, on the +surrender of Cornwallis, _that the storm was past_, was very correct; +for, although the thunders did not immediately cease, yet, after that +event, they hardly amounted to any thing beyond a harmless rumbling, +which presently subsided altogether, leaving a fine bright sky behind +them. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + + +The rest of the acts of doctor Franklin while he resided in France, +and the many pleasures he enjoyed there, were first, the great +pleasure of announcing to the French court, in 1781, as we have seen, +the surrender of lord Cornwallis and his army to general Washington. +Second, the still greater pleasure of learning in 1782, that the +British ministry were strongly inclined to "A PEACE TALK." Third, +1783, the greatest pleasure of all, the pleasure of _burying the +tomahawk_, by general peace. + +Thus after having lived to see completely verified all his awful +predictions to the blind and obstinate British cabinet about the +result of this disastrous war; with losses indeed, beyond his +prediction--the loss of two thousand ships!--the loss of one hundred +thousand lives!--the loss of seven hundred millions of dollars! and a +loss still greater than all, the loss of the immense continent of +North America, and the monopoly of its incalculable produce and trade, +shortly to fly on wings of canvass to all parts of the globe. + +Having lived to see happily terminated, the grand struggle for +American liberty, which even Englishmen have pronounced "_the last +hope and probable refuge of mankind_," and having obtained leave from +congress to return, he took a last farewell of his generous Parisian +friends, and embarked for his native country. + +On the night of the 4th of September, the ship made the light-house at +the mouth of the Delaware bay. On coming upon deck next morning, he +beheld all in full view and close at hand the lovely shores of +America, "_where his fathers had dwelt_." Who can paint the +joy-brightened looks of our veteran patriot, when, after an absence of +seven years, he beheld once more that beloved country for whose +liberties and morals he had so long contended? Formerly, with an +aching heart, he had beheld her as a dear mother, whose fame was +tarnished, and her liberties half ravished by foreign lords. But now +he greets her as free again, and freed, through heaven's blessing on +her _own heroic virtue and valour_. Crowned thus with tenfold glory, +he hails her with transport, as the grand nursery of civil and +religious freedom, whose fair example of republican wisdom and +moderation is, probably, destined of God to recommend the blessings of +free government to all mankind. + +The next day in the afternoon he arrived at Philadelphia. It is not +for me to describe what he felt in sailing along up these lovely +shores, while the heaven within diffused a double brightness and +beauty over all the fair and magnificent scenes around. Neither is it +for me to delineate the numerous demonstrations of public joy, +wherewith the citizens of Philadelphia welcomed the man whom they all +delighted to honour. Suffice it to say, that he was landed amidst the +firing of cannon--that he was crowded with congratulatory +addresses--that he was invited to sumptuous banquets, &c. &c. &c. But +though it was highly gratifying to others to see transcendent worth so +duly noticed, yet to himself, who had been so long familiar with such +honours, they appeared but as baubles that had lost their tinsel. + +But there were some pledges of respect offered him, which afforded a +heartfelt satisfaction; I mean those numbers of pressing invitations +to accept the presidencies of sundry noble institutions for public +good, as + + I. A society for diffusing a knowledge of the best politics for our +republic. + + II. A society for alleviating the miseries of public prisons. + +III. A society for abolishing the slave trade--the relief of free +negroes unlawfully held in bondage--and for bettering the condition of +the poor blacks. + +"It was because," said the trustees, "they well knew he had made it +the sole scope of his greatly useful life to promote institutions for +the happiness of mankind, that they now solicited the honour and +benefit of his special care and guardianship." + +Though now almost worn out with the toils of fourscore years, and +oftentimes grievously afflicted with his old complaint, the gravel, he +yet accepted the proffered appointments with great pleasure, and +attended to the duties of them with all the ardour of youth. Thus +affording one more proof, + + "That, in the present as in all the past + O SAVE MY COUNTRY, HEAVEN! was still his last." + +"But though the spirit was willing, the flesh was weak." His strength +was so sensibly diminished that it could scarcely second his mind, +which seemed as unimpaired as ever. + +But there was still one more service that his country looked to him +for, before he went to rest; I mean that of aiding her councils in the +grand convention that was about to sit in Philadelphia for the purpose +of framing the present excellent constitution. He was called to this +duty in 1787. The speech which he made in that convention has a high +claim to our notice, not only because it was the last speech that Dr. +Franklin ever made in public; but because nothing ever yet placed in a +fairer light the charm of modesty in a great man; and also the force +of temperance, exercise and cheerfulness, which could preserve the +intellectual faculties in such vigour, to the astonishing age of +EIGHTY-TWO!! + + +_Final Speech of doctor Franklin in the Federal Convention.--George +Washington, President._ + +MR. PRESIDENT, + +I do not entirely approve this constitution at present, but, sir, I am +not sure I shall never approve it; for, having lived long, I have +experienced many instances of being obliged, by better information, to +change opinions which I once thought right. It is, therefore, that the +older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay +more respect to the judgment of others. Most men, indeed, as well as +most sects of religion, think themselves in possession of _all truth_, +and that whenever others differ from them, it is so far error. Steele, +a protestant, tells the pope, that "the only difference between our +two churches, in their opinion of the certainty of their doctrines, +is, the Romish church is _infallible_, and the church of England +_never_ in the _wrong_." + +But though many private persons think almost as highly of their own +infallibility, as of that of their sect, few express it so naturally +as a certain French lady, who, in a little dispute with her sister, +said, "_I don't know how it happens, sister, but I meet with nobody +but myself that is always in the right_." In these sentiments, sir, I +agree to this constitution, with all its faults, if they are such; +because I think a general government necessary for us, and there is no +form of government but what may be a blessing, if well administered; +and I believe farther, that this is likely to be well administered for +a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have +done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted, as to need +despotic government, being incapable of any other. I doubt too, +whether any other convention we can obtain, may be able to make a +better constitution. For when you assemble a number of men, to have +the advantage of their joint wisdom, you assemble with those men, all +their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local +interests, and their selfish views. From such an assembly, can a +perfect production be expected? It therefore astonishes me, sir, to +find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does; and I +think it will confound our enemies, who are waiting with confidence, +to hear that our councils are confounded, like those of the builders +of Babel, and that our states are on the point of separation, only to +meet hereafter for the purpose of cutting each other's throats. + +Thus I consent, sir, to this constitution, because I expect no better, +and because I am not _sure that this is not the best_. The opinions I +have had of its errors, I sacrifice to the public good. I have never +whispered a syllable of them abroad. Within these walls they were +born, and here they shall die. If every one of us, in returning to our +constituents, were to report the objections he has had to it, and +endeavour to gain partisans in support of them, we might prevent its +being generally received, and thereby lose all the great advantages +resulting naturally in our favour among foreign nations, as well as +among ourselves, from our real or apparent unanimity. Much of the +efficiency of any government, in procuring and securing happiness to +the people, depends on the general opinion of the goodness of that +government, as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its governors. + +I hope, therefore, that for our _own sakes_, as a part of the people, +and for the sake of _our posterity_, we shall act heartily and +unanimously, in recommending this constitution, wherever our influence +may extend, and turn our future thoughts and endeavours to the means +of having it well administered. + +On the whole, sir, I cannot help expressing a wish, that every member +of the convention, who may still have objections, would, with me, on +this occasion, doubt a little of his own infallibility, and making +manifest our unanimity, put his name to this instrument. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + + "When ranting round in pleasure's ring, + Religion may be blinded, + Or if she give a random sting, + 'Tis oft but little minded. + + "But when on life we're tempest driv'n, + A conscience's but a canker; + A correspondence fix'd with heaven, + Is sure a noble anchor." + + +The time is now at hand that Franklin must die. When that time +approaches, or when only the chilling thought of it strikes the heart, +how happy is he who in looking on the withered face or snowy locks of +a dear friend, can enjoy the exulting hope that he is prepared for the +awful change. This leads us to speak of doctor Franklin on a much +higher subject than has yet engaged our attention. I mean his +religion. + +I have met with nothing in the life of any great man in our country +about which there has been such universal inquiry, as about the +RELIGION OF DR. FRANKLIN. + +Some, who in despite of Christ and all his apostles, will "_judge +their brother_;" and judge him too by the _letter_ which _killeth_, +will not allow that Dr. Franklin had any religion at all, because, +forsooth, he did not _believe_ and "_confess Christ before men_," in +the manner they did. But others, construing the Gospel, as Christ +himself commands, by "_the spirit_;" which teaches that, "_with the +heart man believeth unto salvation, through love and good works_;" and +that the right way of "_confessing Christ before men_" is by a _good +life_.--These gentlemen tell us, that Dr. Franklin not only had +religion, but had it in an eminent degree. + +Most people seem inclined to judge of Dr. Franklin by these latter +commentators, and wind up with the words of our great moral poet. + + "For modes of faith, let graceless zealots fight; + His can't be wrong, whose Life is in the right." + +For my part, after all that I have heard on this subject, and I have +heard a great deal, I do not know that I have met with any thing that +expresses my opinion of Dr. Franklin's religion more happily than the +following laconic remark by one of our most distinguished senators, I +mean the honourable Rufus King. Knowing that this gentleman was a +compatriot of Dr. Franklin during the revolution, and also sat by his +side, a member of the grand Convention in 1788, I took the greater +pleasure in asking his opinion of that great man in respect of his +RELIGION. "Why, sir," replied he, "my opinion of doctor Franklin has +always been, that, although he was not, perhaps, quite so orthodox in +some of his notions, he was _very much a Christian in his practice_. +Nor is it indeed to be wondered at," continued this able critic, "that +a man of doctor Franklin's extraordinary sagacity, born and brought up +under the light of the Gospel, should have imbibed its spirit, and got +his whole soul enriched, and as it were interlarded, with its +benevolent affections." + +And I have since found from conversation with many of our most +enlightened and evangelical divines, that they all agree, with Mr. +King, that doctor Franklin's extraordinary benevolence and useful life +were imbibed, even _unconsciously_, from the Gospel. For whence but +from the luminous and sublime doctrines of that blessed book could he +have gained such pure and worthy ideas of God--his glorious unity, and +most adorable benevolence: always, himself, loving and doing good to +his creatures; and constantly seeking such to worship him? Whence, we +ask, could he have got all these exalted truths--truths, so honourable +to the Deity--so consolatory to man--so auxiliary of human virtue and +happiness--whence could he have got them, but from the light of the +Gospel? Certainly, you will not say that he might have got them from +the light of nature. For, look around you among all the mighty nations +of antiquity. Look among the Egyptians--the Greeks--the Romans, to +equal him? Two thousand years have rolled between them and us, and +yet the immortal monuments of their arts--their poetry--their +painting--their statuary--their architecture--their eloquence--all +triumphant over the wreck of time, have come down to our days, boldly +challenging the pride of modern genius to produce their parallels. +Evidently then, they had among them prodigies of mind equal to our +Franklin. And yet how has it yet come to pass, that, with all their +astonishing talents, and the light of nature besides, they were so +stupidly blind and ignorant of God, while he entertained such exalted +ideas of him? That while they, like the modern idolaters of +Juggernaut, were disgracing human reason by worshipping not only +_four-footed beasts and creeping things_, but even thieves, +murderers, &c. _deified_, doctor Franklin was elevating his devotions +to the one all-perfect God, MOST GLORIOUS IN ALL MORAL EXCELLENCE. + +And how has it come to pass that while _they_, imitating their bloody +idols, could take pleasure in _sacrificing their prisoners of war! +beholding murderous fights of gladiators!_ and even giving up _their +own children to be burnt alive!_ Franklin, by imitating the moral +character of God, attained to all that gentle wisdom and affectionate +goodness that we fancy when we think of an angel? To what, I ask, can +we ascribe all this, but to the very rational cause assigned by Mr. +King, viz. his having been _born and brought up in a land of Gospel +light and love_? Indeed, who can read the life of doctor Franklin, +attentively, without tracing in it, throughout, that true Christian +charity which bound him, as by the heart-strings, to his fellow +men--on every occasion going out of self to take an interest in them. +"Rejoicing with them, when they acted wisely and attained to +honour."--"Weeping with them when they acted foolishly and came to +shame." Never meeting with any good fortune, through wise doings of +his own, but he made it known to them for their encouragement in +similar doings--never falling into misfortunes, by his own folly, but +he was sure to publish that too, to deter others from falling into the +like sufferings. + +Now what was it but this amiable _oneness of heart_, with his fellow +men; this _sweet Christian sensibility_ to their interests and +consequent generous delight in doing them good, that filled his life +with such noble charities. "_Where love is_," said the great William +Penn, "_there is no labour; or if there be, the labour is sweet._" And +what was it but this, that bore him up so bravely under his many toils +and hardships for his selfish brother James? + +What made him so liberal of his money and services to the base Collins +and Ralph? + +What made him so patient and forgiving of the injuries done him by the +worthless Keimer and Keith? + +What made him so importunate with his young acquaintance in London, to +divert them from their brutalizing and fatal intemperance? + +What set him so vehemently against pride and extravagance, which +besides starving all justice and hospitality among neighbours, tend to +make them demons of fraud and cruelty to one another? + +What made him, through life, such a powerful orator for industry, +frugality, and honesty, which multiplied riches and reciprocal esteem +and usefulness among men, and would make them all loving and happy as +brothers? + +In short, all those labours which doctor Franklin took under the +sun--labours so various and unending, for public and private good, +such as his fire-engines; his lightning rods; his public libraries; +his free schools; his hospitals; his legacies for encouragement of +learning, and helping hundreds of indigent young mechanics with money +to carry on their trades after his death--whence originated all this, +but from that love which is stronger than death, subduing all +obstacles, and overleaping the narrow limits of this mortal life? + +What but the ingenuity of love, eager to swell the _widow's_ mite of +charity into the _rich_ man's talent could have suggested the +following curious method of making a little do a great deal of good? + + + "Received of Benjamin Franklin, ten guineas, which I hereby + promise, soon as I get out of my present embarrassments, to lend + to some other honest and industrious man, as near as I can guess, + he giving his obligation to act in the same way by the next needy + honest man; so that by thus going around it may in time, though a + small sum, do much good, unless stopped by a thief. + + "JAMES HOPEWELL. + + "_Passy, Aug. 10, 1773._" + + +What but the noble spirit of that religion whose sole aim is to +"_overcome evil with good_" could have dictated the following +instructions to Paul Jones, and his squadron, who after scouring the +British channel, was about to make a descent on their coasts. + + "As many of your officers and people have lately escaped from + English prisons, you are to be _particularly attentive_ to their + conduct towards the prisoners you take, lest resentment of the + _more than barbarous_ usage which they have received from the + English, should occasion a retaliation, and an imitation of what + ought rather to be _detested and avoided for the sake of humanity + and the honour of our country_. + + "B. FRANKLIN. + + "_To Commodore P. Jones._ + + "April 28, 1779." + + +What but the spirit of that benevolent religion which is the firm +patroness of all discoveries for human benefit, could have dictated +the ensuing letter "to the commanders of American ships of war," in +favour of captain Cook. + + "GENTLEMEN, + + "A ship having been fitted out from England, before the + commencement of this war, to make discoveries of new countries in + unknown seas, under the conduct of that celebrated navigator, + captain Cook--an undertaking truly laudable in itself, as the + increase of geographical knowledge facilitates the communication + between distant nations, and the exchange of useful products and + manufactures, and the extension of arts, whereby the common + enjoyments of human life are multiplied and augmented, and + science of other kinds increased, to the benefit of mankind in + general. + + "This is, therefore, most earnestly to recommend to every one of + you, that in case the said ship, which is now expected to be soon + in the European seas, on her return, should happen to fall into + your hands, you would not consider her as an enemy, but that you + treat the said captain Cook and his people with all civility and + kindness, affording them, as common friends to mankind, all the + assistance in your power, which they may happen to stand in need + of. + + "I have the honour to be, &c. + + "B. FRANKLIN, + + "Minister plenipotentiary from the United States to the court of + France. + + "_Passy. near Paris, March 10, 1779._" + +The truly christian spirit of doctor Franklin, which dictated this +passport for captain Cook, was so highly approved by the British +government, that, when Cook's voyages in three splendid quarto volumes +were printed, the lords of the admiralty sent doctor Franklin a copy +accompanied with the elegant plates, and also a _gold medal_ of +that illustrious navigator, with a polite letter from lord Howe, +informing him that this compliment was made to doctor Franklin with +the _king's express approbation_. + + * * * * * + +What but the religion that brings life and immortality to light "could +have sprung those high hopes and rich consolations," which shine in +the following letter from doctor Franklin to his niece, on the death +of her father, his favourite brother John Franklin. + + "DEAR NIECE, + + "I condole with you. We have lost a most dear and valuable + relation. But it is the will of God that these mortal bodies be + laid aside, when the soul is to enter into real life. This is + rather an embryo state--a preparation for living. A man is not + completely born until he be dead. Why then should we grieve that + a new child is born among the immortals--a new member added to + their society? We are spirits. That bodies should be lent us, + while they can afford us pleasure, assist us in acquiring + knowledge, or doing good to our fellow creatures, is a kind and + benevolent act of God. When they become unfit for these purposes, + and afford us pain instead of pleasure, and answer none of the + intentions for which they were given, it is equally kind and + benevolent that a way is provided by which we may get rid of + them. Death is that way. We ourselves in some cases, prudently + choose a partial death. A mangled painful limb, which cannot be + restored, we willingly cut off. He who plucks out a tooth parts + with it freely, since the pain goes with it; and he who quits the + whole body, parts at once with all pains, and possibilities of + pains, it was capable of making him suffer. + + "Our friend and we were invited abroad on a grand party of + pleasure, which is to last for ever. His chair was ready first, + and he is gone before us. We could not all conveniently start + together; and why should you and I be grieved at this, since we + are soon to follow, and know where to find him? + + "B. FRANKLIN." + + * * * * * + +What but that religion which teaches "the price of truth," could have +made him so penitent for having said any thing, in his youthful days +against revelation? And while the popular infidels of Europe, the +Voltaires, and Humes, and Bolingbrokes were so fond of filling the +world with their books against Christ, that they might, as one of them +said, "_crush the wretch_," what but a hearty esteem of him could +have led Franklin to write the following pious reproof of a gentleman, +who having written a pamphlet against christianity, sent it to him, +requesting his opinion of it. + +DR. FRANKLIN'S ANSWER. + + "SIR, + + "I have read your manuscript with some attention. By the argument + it contains against a particular _providence_, though you allow a + general _providence_, you strike at the foundation of all + religion. For, without the belief of a _providence_, that takes + cognizance of, guards, and guides, and may favour particular + persons, there is no motive to worship a DEITY, to fear his + displeasure, or to pray for his protection. I will not enter into + any discussion of your principles, though you seem to desire it. + At present I shall only give you my opinion, that though your + reasonings are subtile, and may prevail with some readers, you + will not succeed so as to change the general sentiments of + mankind on that subject; and the consequence of printing this + piece will be, a great deal of odium drawn upon yourself, + mischief to you, and no benefit to others. He that spits against + the wind, spits in his own face. But were you to succeed, do you + imagine any good would be done by it? You yourself may find it + easy to live a virtuous life, without the assistance afforded by + religion; you having a clear perception of the disadvantages of + vice, and possessing a strength of resolution sufficient to + enable you to resist common temptations. But think how great a + portion of mankind consists of weak and ignorant men and women, + and of inexperienced inconsiderate youth of both sexes, who have + need of the motives of religion to restrain them from vice, to + support their virtue, and retain them in the practice of it till + it becomes habitual, which is the great points of its security. + And, perhaps, you are indebted to her original, that is, to your + religious education, for the habits of virtue upon which you now + justly value yourself. You might easily display your excellent + talents of reasoning upon less hazardous objects, and thereby + obtain a rank with our most distinguished authors. For among us + it is not necessary, as among the Hottentots, that a youth, to be + raised into the company of men, should prove his manhood by + beating his mother. I would advise you, therefore, not to attempt + _unchaining the tiger_, but to burn this piece before it is seen + by any other person--whereby you will save yourself a great deal + of mortification from the enemies it may raise against you, and, + perhaps a good deal of regret and repentance. If men are so + wicked _with_ religion, what would they be _without_ it? I intend + this letter itself as a proof of my friendship, and therefore add + no professions to it, but subscribe myself simply yours. + + "B. FRANKLIN." + + +For the following, I owe many thanks to the honourable Mr. Rufus King. + +After having answered my question on that subject, as before stated, +viz. that he considered Dr. Franklin "_very much a christian in +practice_," he added with a fine smile, as if happy that he possessed +an anecdote so honourable to the religious character of his illustrious +friend, and the friend of mankind--"_now, sir, I'll tell you an +anecdote of Dr. Franklin_." The CONVENTION of '88, of which Dr. +Franklin and myself were members, had been engaged several weeks in +framing the present CONSTITUTION, and had done nothing. Dr. Franklin +came in one morning, and rising in his place, called the attention of +the house.--"We have been here, Mr. Speaker," said he, (George +Washington was in the chair,) "a long time, trying to act on this +important subject, and have done nothing; and in place of a speedy and +successful close of our business, we see nothing but dark clouds of +difficulty and embarrassment gathering before us. It in high time for +us, Mr. Speaker, to call in the direction of a wisdom above our +own.--(The countenance of Washington caught a brightness at these +words, as he leaned forward in deepest gaze on Dr. Franklin.) Yes, sir, +it is high time for us to call in the direction of a wisdom above our +own. Our fathers before us, the wise and good men of ancient times, +acted in this way. Aware of the difficulties and perils that attend all +human enterprize, they never engaged in any thing of importance without +having implored the guidance and blessing of heaven. The scriptures are +full of encouragements to such practice. They every where assert a +_particular providence_ over all his works. They assure us that the +very hairs of our head are all numbered; and that not even a sparrow +but is continually under the eye of his parental care. This, Mr. +Speaker, is the language of the gospel, which I _most implicitly +believe_; and which promises the guidance of divine wisdom to _all who +ask it_. We have not asked it; and that may be the reason why we have +been so long in the dark. I therefore move, Mr. Speaker, that it be +made a rule to open the business of this house, every morning, _with +prayer_." + + +The following also will show Dr. Franklin's firm belief in that very +precious article of the religion of Christ--A PARTICULAR PROVIDENCE. + +To WILLIAM STRAHAN, Esq. London + +_France, August 19th, 1784._ + +DEAR OLD FRIEND, + +You "fairly acknowledge that the date war terminated quite contrary to +your expectation." Your expectation was ill founded; for you would not +believe your old friend, who told you repeatedly, that, by those +measures, England would lose her colonies, as Epictetus warned in vain +his master, that he would break his leg. You believed rather the tales +you heard of our poltroonery, and impotence of body and mind. Don't you +remember the story you told me of the Scotch sergeant, who met with a +party of forty American soldiers, and, though alone, disarmed them all, +and brought them in prisoners! A story almost as improbable as that of +the Irishman, who pretended to have alone taken and brought in five of +the enemy, by _surrounding_ them. And yet, my friend, sensible and +judicious as you are, but partaking of the general infatuation, you +seem to believe it. The word _general_ puts me in mind of a general, +your general Clark, who had the folly to say, in my hearing, at sir +John Pringle's, that with a thousand British grenadiers, he would +undertake to go from one end of America to the other, and geld all the +males. It is plain, he took us for a species of animals very little +superior to brutes. The parliament, too, believed the stories of +another foolish general, I forget his name, that the Yankees never +_felt bold_. Yankee was understood to be a sort of Yahoo, and the +parliament did not think the petitions of such creatures were fit to be +received and read in so wise an assembly. What was the consequence of +this monstrous pride and insolence! You first sent small armies to +subdue us, believing them more than sufficient, but soon found +yourselves obliged to send greater; these, whenever they ventured out +of sight of their ships, were either obliged to scamper, or were beaten +and taken prisoners. An American planter, who had never seen Europe, +was chosen by us to command our troops, and continued during the whole +war. This man sent home to you, one after another, five of your best +generals, baffled, their heads bare of laurels, disgraced even in the +opinion of their employers. Your contempt of our understandings, in +comparison with your own, appeared to be not much better founded than +that of our courage, if we may judge by this circumstance, that in +whatever court of Europe a Yankee negotiator appeared, the wise British +minister was routed,--put in a passion,--picked a quarrel with your +friends,--and was sent home with a flea in his ear. But after all, my +dear friend, do not imagine that I am vain enough to ascribe our +success to any superiority in any of those points. I am too well +acquainted with all the springs and levers of our machine, not to see +that our human means were unequal to our undertaking, and that, if it +had not been for the justice of our cause, and the consequent +interposition of Providence, in which we had faith, we must have been +ruined. If I had ever before been an Atheist, I should now have been +convinced of the being and government of a Deity! It is HE who "abases +the proud, and exalts the humble." May we never forget his goodness to +us, and may our future conduct manifest our gratitude! + +B. FRANKLIN. + +Now, can any honest man, after this, entertain a doubt that Dr. +Franklin was indeed, "_in practice very much a christian_." + +I am aware that some, good men have been offended, and I may add, +grieved too, that Dr. Franklin should ever have spoken slightingly of +_faith_, &c. But these gentlemen may rest assured, that Dr. Franklin +did this only to keep people from laying such stress on _faith_, &c. as +to neglect what is infinitely more important, even LOVE and GOOD WORKS. +And in this grand view, do not the holy apostles, and even Christ +himself treat these things in the same way? Every where speaking of +"_faith_ and _baptism_ and _long prayers_," when attempted to be put in +place of love and good works, as mere "_beggarly elements_," and even +"_damning hypocrisies_." However, let honest men read the following +letter on the subject, by Dr. Franklin himself. While it serves to +remove their doubts and prejudices, it may go to prove that if he had +errors in religion, they were not the errors of the heart, nor likely +to do any harm in the world; but contrariwise, to make us all much +better christians, and happier men, than we are. + +The letter is in answer to one from an illustrious foreigner; who, on a +trip to Philadelphia, made Dr. Franklin a visit. The doctor, for some +malady, advised him to try electricity; and actually gave him several +shocks. He had not long been gone, before he wrote Dr. Franklin a most +flattering account of the effects of his electricity--begged him to be +assured he should never forget such KINDNESS--and concluded with +praying that they might both have grace to live a life of FAITH, that +if they were never to meet again in this world, they might at last meet +in heaven. + +DR. FRANKLIN'S ANSWER. + +_Philadelphia, June 6, 1753._ + +SIR, + +I received your kind letter of the 2d instant, and am glad that you +increase in strength; I hope you will continue mending till you recover +your former health. + +As to the _kindness_ you mention, the only thanks I desire is, that you +would always be equally ready to serve any other person that may need +your assistance, and so let good offices go round, _for_ MANKIND ARE +_all of a family_. + +For my own part, when I am employed in serving others, I do not look +upon myself as conferring favours, but as paying debts. In my travels, +and since my settlement, I have received much kindness from men, to +whom I shall never have any opportunity of making the least direct +return--and numberless mercies from God, who is infinitely above being +benefitted by our services. The kindness from men, I can, therefore, +only return on their fellow men, and I can only show my gratitude for +those mercies from God, by a readiness to help his other children, and +my brethren. For I do not think that thanks and compliments, though +repeated weekly, can discharge our real obligations to each other, and +much less those to our Creator. You will see in this, my notion of good +works; that I am far from expecting, as you suppose, to _merit heaven_ +by them. By heaven, we understand a state of happiness; infinite in +degree, and eternal in duration. I can do nothing to deserve such +REWARDS. He that, for giving a draught of water to a thirsty person, +should expect to be paid with a good plantation, would be modest in his +demands, compared with those who think they _deserve_ heaven for the +little good they do on earth. Even the mixed imperfect pleasures we +enjoy in this world, are rather from God's goodness, than our merit; +how much more such happiness as heaven. For my part, I have not the +vanity to think I deserve it, the folly to expect it, nor the ambition +to desire it; but content myself in submitting to the will and disposal +of that God who made me--who has hitherto preserved and blessed me--and +in whose FATHERLY GOODNESS I may well confide, that he will never make +me miserable--and that even the afflictions I may at any time suffer +shall tend to my benefit. + +The faith you mention has, doubtless, its use in the world. I do not +desire to see it diminished. But I wish it were more productive of +_good works_ than I have generally seen it, I mean real good works; +works of kindness, charity, mercy, and public spirit; not holiday +keeping, sermon reading or hearing, performing church ceremonies, or +making long prayers, filled with flatteries and compliments, despised +even by wise men, and much less capable of pleasing the Deity. The +worship of God is a _duty_; the hearing and reading of sermons _may_ be +useful; but if men rest in _hearing_ and _praying_, as _too many do_, +it is as if a tree should value itself on being watered and putting +forth leaves, though it never produced any fruit. Your great master +thought much less of these outward appearances and professions than +many of his modern disciples. He preferred the _doers_ of the word to +the mere _hearers_; the son that _seemingly_ refused to obey his +father, and yet _performed_ his commands, to him that _professed_ his +readiness, but _neglected_ the work; the heretical but charitable +Samaritan, to the uncharitable though orthodox priest and sanctified +Levite: and those who gave food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, +raiment to the naked, entertainment to the stranger, and relief to the +sick, though they never heard of his name, he declares they shall in +the last day be accepted, when those who cry Lord, Lord, who value +themselves on their faith, though great enough to perform miracles, but +have neglected good works, shall be rejected. He professed he came +"_not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance_," which implied +his modest opinion, that there were some in his time so _good_, that +they needed not to hear even _him_ for improvement; but now-a-days, we +have scarce a little parson that does not think it the duty of every +man within his reach, to think _exactly_ as he does, and that all +dissenters offend God. I wish to such more humility, and to you health +and happiness, being + +Your friend and servant, + +B. FRANKLIN. + + +What but the spirit of immortal love, which, not content with doing +much good in life, fondly looks beyond, and feasts on the happiness +that others are to derive from us long after we have ceased to live on +earth; what, I ask, but that love, could have dictated + + DR. FRANKLIN'S WILL. + + _"When thou makest a feast, call not thy rich neighbours: lest + they also bid thee again, and a recompense be made thee._ + + _"But when thou makest a feast, call the poor; and thou shalt be + blessed. For they cannot recompense thee, for thou shall be + recompensed at the resurrection of the just._ + + "LUKE, xiv." + +Sentiments divinely sublime!--Who, without emotions indescribable, can +read them! And yet if they were lost from the Bible, they might be +found again in the _Will_ of Benjamin Franklin. + +While many others "_rise early, and late take rest, and eat the bread +of labour and care_," that they may "_die rich_"--leaving their massy +treasures, some scanty legacies excepted, to corrupt a few proud +relatives, doctor Franklin acted as though the above text, the _true +sublime of wisdom and benevolence_, was before him. + +After having _bequeathed_ his books, a most voluminous and valuable +collection, partly to his family, and partly to the Boston and +Philadelphia philosophical societies; and, after having divided a +handsome competence among his children, and grand children, he goes on +as follows: + + "I. Having owed my first instructions in literature to the free + grammar schools in Boston, I give one hundred pounds sterling to + the free schools in that town, to be laid out in silver medals as + honorary rewards for the encouragement of scholarship in those + schools. + + "II. All the debts to my post-office establishment, which I held + many years, I leave to the Philadelphia hospital. + + "III. Having always been of opinion, that in democratical + governments, there ought to be no offices of _great_ profit, I + have long determined to give a part of my public salary to public + uses; and being chiefly indebted to Massachusetts, my _native_ + state, and Pennsylvania, my _adopted_ state, for lucrative + employments, I feel it my duty to remember them; and having from + long observation, and my own early experience, discovered that the + best objects for assistance are indigent young persons, and the + best modes of assistance, a plain education, a good trade, and a + little money to set them up; and having been set up in business, + while a poor boy, in Philadelphia, by kind loans of money from two + friends there, which was the foundation of my fortune and all the + usefulness that the world ascribed to me, I feel a wish to be + useful, after my death, to others, in the loans of money; I + therefore devote, from the savings of my salaries, the following + sums, to the following persons and uses: + + "1. To the inhabitants of Boston and Philadelphia, one thousand + pounds sterling to each city, to be let out by the oldest divines + of different churches, on a _five per cent. interest_ and good + _security_, to indigent young tradesmen, not _bachelors_, (as they + have not deserved much from their country and the feebler sex,) + but married men." + + "2. No borrower to have more than sixty pounds sterling, nor less + than fifteen." + + "3. And in order to serve as many as possible in their turn, as + well as to make the payment of the principal borrowed more easy, + each borrower shall be obliged to pay, with the yearly interest, + one tenth part of the principal; which sums of principal and + interest, so paid, shall be again lent out to fresh borrowers. + + "B. FRANKLIN." + +In a late Boston paper, the friends of humanity have read with much +pleasure that doctor Franklin's legacy to the indigent young married +tradesmen of that town, of $4444 44 cents, is now increased to $10,902 +28 cents, after having been the means of setting up 206 poor young +men, besides 75 others, who are now in the use of the capital. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + +_The Death of Doctor Franklin._ + + +One cannot read the biography of this great man without being put in +mind of those sweet though simple strains of the bard of Zion. + + "Happy the man, whose tender care + Relieves the poor distrest; + When he's with troubles compass'd round, + The Lord shall give him rest." + + "If, he in languishing estate, + Oppress'd with sickness, lie, + The Lord shall easy make his bed, + And inward strength supply." + +The latter end of doctor Franklin affords glorious proof that nothing +so softens the bed of sickness, and brightens the gloom of the grave, +as a life spent in works of love to mankind. + +See George Washington, who by an active and disinterested benevolence, +was called "THE FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY." See Martha Washington, who by +domestic virtues, and extensive charities, obtained to herself the +high character of "THE MOTHER TO THE POOR."--Both of these found the +last bed spread as it were with roses; and the last enemy converted +into a friend. Such is the lot of all who love; "not in _word, but in +deed and in truth_." + +The friends of doctor Franklin never entered his chamber without being +struck with this precious text, _"Mark the perfect man, and behold the +upright, for the end of that man is peace."_ Though laid on the bed +whence he is to rise no more, he shows no sign of dejection or defeat. +On the contrary, he appears like an aged warrior reposing himself +after glorious victory; while his looks beaming with benevolence, +express an air pure and serene as the Heaven to which he is going. +Death, which most sick people are so unwilling to mention, was to him +a favourite topic, and the sublime conversations of Socrates on that +great subject, were heard a second time, from the lips of our American +Franklin, pregnant with "_immortality and eternal life_." No wonder +then that with such views doctor Franklin should have been so cheerful +on his dying bed; so self-possessed and calm, even under the tortures +of the gravel, which was wearing him down to the grave. "_Don't go +away_," said he to the Rev. Dr. Colline, of the Swedes' church, +Philadelphia, who, as a friend, was much with him in his last illness, +and at sight of his agonies and cold sweats under the fits of the +gravel, would take up his hat to retire--"_O no! don't go away_," he +would say, "_don't go away_. These pains will soon be over. They are +for my good. And besides, what are the pains of a moment in comparison +of the pleasures of eternity." + +Blest with an excellent constitution, well nursed by nature's three +great physicians, _temperance_, _exercise_, and _cheerfulness_, he was +hardly ever sick until after his seventy-sixth year. The gout and +gravel then attacked him with great severity. He bore their +excruciating tortures as became one who habitually felt that he was as +he said, in the hands of an infinitely wise and benevolent being, who +did all things right. + +His physician, the celebrated Dr. Jones, published the following +account of his last illness. + +"The stone, had for the last twelve months confined him chiefly to his +bed; and during the extreme painful paroxysms, he was obliged to take +large doses of laudanum to mitigate his tortures--still in the +intervals of pain, he not only amused himself with reading and +conversing with his family, and his friends who visited him, but was +often employed in doing business of a public as well as private +nature, with various persons who waited on him for that purpose, and +in every instance displayed, not only that readiness of doing good, +which was the distinguishing characteristic of his life, but the +fullest possession of his uncommon mental abilities; and not +unfrequently indulged himself in those flashes of wit and entertaining +anecdotes, which were the delight of all who heard him. + +"About sixteen days before his death, he was seized with a pain in his +left breast, which increased till it became extremely acute, attended +with a cough and laborious breathing. During this state, when the +severity of his pains some times drew forth a groan, he would observe, +that, _he was afraid he did not bear them as he ought--acknowledged +his grateful sense of the many blessings he had received from the +Supreme Being, who had raised him from small and low beginnings to +such high rank and consideration among men--and made no doubt but his +present afflictions were kindly intended to wean him from a world, in +which he was no longer fit to act the part assigned him_. In this +frame of body and mind he continued till five days before his death, +when an imposthumation in his lungs, suddenly burst, and discharged a +great quantity of matter, which he continued to throw up while he had +strength, but, as that failed, the organs of respiration became +gradually oppressed--a calm lethargic state succeeded--and, on the 7th +of April, 1790, about eleven o'clock at night he quietly expired, +closing a long and useful life of _eighty-four years and three +months_." + +Come holy calm of the soul! Expressive silence come! and meditating +the mighty talents of the dead, and their constant application to the +_glory of the giver_, let us ascend with him on the wings of that +blessed promise, "_Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord! even so +saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labours and their works do +follow them._" + +That Franklin is now enjoying that rest which "_remaineth_ _for the +people of God_"--and that while many a blood-stained monster who made +great noise in the world, is _followed_ by the cries of thousands of +widows and orphans, Franklin dying in the Lord, and followed by the +blessings of thousands, fed, clothed, educated, and enriched by his +charities, is in GLORY, may be fairly inferred from the following most +valuable anecdote of him. + +Naturalists tell us, that so great is the paternal care of God, that +every climate affords the food and physic best suited to the +necessaries of its population. What gratitude is due to that goodness, +which foreseeing the dangers impending over this country from British +injustice, sent us two such protectors as Franklin and Washington? The +first, (the forerunner of the second,) like the lightning of Heaven, +to expose the approaching tempest; and the second, like the rock of +the ocean, to meet that tempest in all its fury, and dash it back on +its proud assailants? And how astonishing too, and almost unexampled +that goodness, which with talents of wisdom and fortitude to establish +our republic, combined the cardinal virtues of _justice_, _industry_, +and _economy_ that alone can render our republic immortal? + +Hoping that our _youth_ may be persuaded to love and imitate the +virtues of the men whose great names they have been accustomed, from +the cradle, to lisp with veneration, I have long coveted to set these +virtues before them. The grey haired men of other days, have given me +their aid. The following I obtained from the Rev. Dr. Helmuth, of the +German church, Philadelphia. Hearing that this learned and pious +divine possessed a valuable anecdote of doctor Franklin, I immediately +waited on him. "Yes, sir," said he, "I have indeed a valuable anecdote +of doctor Franklin, which I would tell you with great pleasure; but as +I do not speak English very well, I wish you would call on David +Ritter, at the sign of the _Golden Lamb_, in Front street; he will +tell it to you better. I hastened to Mr Ritter, and told him my +errand. He seemed mightily pleased at it, and said, "Yes, I will tell +you all I know of it. You must understand then, sir, first of all, +that I always had a prodigious opinion of doctor Franklin, as the +_usefulest_ man we ever had among us, by a long way; and so hearing +that he was sick, I thought I would go and see him. As I rapped at the +door, who should come and open it but old Sarah Humphries. I was right +glad to see her, for I had known her a long time. She was of the +people called FRIENDS; and a mighty good sort of body she was too. The +great people set a heap of store by her, for she was famous throughout +the town for nursing and tending on the sick. Indeed, many of them, I +believe, hardly thought they could sicken, and die right if they had +not old Sarah Humphries with them. Soon as she saw me, she said, 'Well +David, how dost?'" + +"'O, much after the old sort, Sarah,' said I; 'but that's neither here +nor there; I am come to see doctor Franklin.' + +"'Well then,' said she, 'thou art too late, for he is _just dead_!' + +"'Alack a day,' said I, 'then a great man is gone.' + +"'Yes, indeed,' said she, 'and a _good_ one too; for it seemed as +though he never thought the day went away as it ought, if he had not +done somebody a service. However, David,' said she, 'he is not the +worse off for all that now, where he is gone to: but come, as thee +came to see Benjamin Franklin, thee shall see him yet.' And so she +took me into his room. As we entered, she pointed to him, where he lay +on his bed, and said, '_there_, did thee ever see any thing look so +natural?' + +"And he did look natural indeed. His eyes were close--but that you saw +he did not breathe, you would have thought he was in a sweet sleep, he +looked so calm and happy. Observing that his face was fixed right +towards the chimney, I cast my eyes that way, and behold! just above +the mantle-piece was a noble picture! O it was a _noble picture_, sure +enough! It was the picture of our Saviour on the cross. + +"I could not help calling out, 'Bless us all, Sarah!' said I, 'what's +all this?' + +"'What dost mean, David,' said she, quite crusty. + +"'Why, how came this picture here, Sarah?' said I, 'you know that many +people think he was not after this sort.' + +"'Yes,' said she, 'I know that too. But thee knows that many who makes +a great fuss about religion have very little, while some who say but +little about it have a good deal.' + +"'That's sometimes the case, I fear, Sarah,' said I. + +"'Well, and that was the case,' said she, 'with Benjamin Franklin. But +be that as it may, David, since thee asks me about this great picture, +I'll tell thee how it came here. Many weeks ago, as he lay, he +beckoned me to him, and told me of this picture up stairs, and begged +I would bring it to him. I brought it to him. His face brightened up +as he looked at it; and he said, '_Aye, Sarah_,' said he, '_there's a +picture worth looking at! that's the picture of him who came into the +world to teach men to love one another!_' Then after looking wistfully +at it for some time, he said, '_Sarah_,' said he, '_set this picture +up over the mantlepiece, right before me as I lie; for I like to look +at it_,' and when I had fixed it up, he looked at it, and looked at it +very much; and indeed, as thee sees, he died with his eyes fixed on +it.'" + +Happy Franklin! Thus doubly blest! Blest in life, by a diligent +co-working with "THE GREAT SHEPHERD," in his precepts of perfect +love.--Blest in death, with his closing eyes piously fixed upon him, +and meekly bowing to the last summons in joyful hope that through the +force of his divine precepts, the "wintry storms" of hate will one day +pass away, and one "eternal spring of love and peace encircle all." + +Now Franklin in his lifetime had written for himself an _epitaph_, to +be put upon his grave, that honest posterity might see that he was no +_unbeliever_, as certain enemies had slandered him, but that he +_firmly believed_ "_that his Redeemer liveth; and that in the latter +day he shall stand upon the earth; and that though worms destroyed his +body, yet in his flesh he should see God_." + + + FRANKLIN'S EPITAPH. + + "THE BODY + OF + _BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, PRINTER_, + LIKE THE COVER OF AN OLD BOOK, + _its contents torn out, + and stripped of its lettering and gilding, + lies here food for worms_. + Yet the work itself shall not be lost; + for it will, as he believed, appear once more + IN A NEW + _and more beautiful edition, + corrected and amended_ + BY + _THE AUTHOR_." + +This epitaph was never put upon his tomb. But the friend of man needs +no stone of the valley to perpetuate his memory. It lives among the +clouds of heaven. The lightnings, in their dreadful courses, bow to +the genius of Franklin. His magic rods, pointed to the skies, still +watch the irruptions of the FIERY METEORS. They seize them by +their hissing heads as they dart forth from the dark chambers of the +thunders; and cradled infants, half waked by the sudden glare, are +seen to curl the cherub smile hard by the spot where the dismal bolts +had fallen. + + +THE END. + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Life of Benjamin Franklin, by Mason Locke Weems + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN *** + +***** This file should be named 36376.txt or 36376.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/3/7/36376/ + +Produced by Brett Fishburne, Nikolay Fishburne, Chuck Greif +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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