Full text of "The adventures of Bob White"

REFERENCgA'

TiTiliTffiF

UUiLVAiJiL

CHILDREN'S ROOM
' -' ' 5v CENTER

20 * i S
YOKK.

FRANKLIN SEAL

Franklin at the Court of Louis XVI

"He was therefore, feasted and invited to all the court parties. At these he son >-
times met the old Duchess of Bourbon, who, being a chess player of about his force,
they very generally played together. Happening once to put her king into prize. tin-
Doctor took it. 'Ah,' says she, 'we do not take kings so.' 'We do in America,' said
the Doctor." THOMAS JEFFERSON.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

BENJAMIN

F R A

i N

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS

by
E. BOYD SMITH

EDITED

FRANK WOODWORTH PINE

York

HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY
1916

BY
HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY

TWE QU1NN & BODEN CO. PRESS

CONTENTS

PAGE

INTRODUCTION - - vii
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY

I. Ancestry and Early Life in Boston - 3

II. Beginning Life as a Printer - -21

III. Arrival in Philadelphia - 41

IV. First Visit to Boston - 55
V. Early Friends in Philadelphia - 69

VI. First Visit to London - 77

VII. Beginning Business in Philadelphia - 99

VIII. Business Success and First Public Service - - 126

IX. Plan for Attaining Moral Perfection - 146

X. Poor Richard's Almanac and Other Activities - 169

XL Interest in Public Affairs 188

XII. Defense of the Province 201

XIII. Public Services and Duties - 2-17

XIV. Albany Plan of Union - 241
XV. Quarrels with the Proprietary Governors - - 246

XVI. Braddock's Expedition - - 253

XVII. Franklin's Defense of the Frontier 274

XVIII. Scientific Experiments - - 289

XIX. Agent of Pennsylvania in London - - 296

APPENDIX

Electrical Kite - 327

The Way to Wealth 33*

The Whistle - 336

A Letter to Samuel Mather - - 34

BIBLIOGRAPHY 343

iii

*/.

ILLUSTRATIONS

Franklin at the Court of Louis XVI - - Frontispiece

" He was therefore, feasted and invited to all the court
parties. At these he sometimes met the old Duchess of
Bourbon, who, being a chess player of about his force,
they very generally played together. Happening once to
put her king into prize, the Doctor took it. ' Ah,' says
she, ' we do not take kings so.' ' We do in America/
said the Doctor." THOMAS JEFFERSON.

FACING

PAGE

Portrait of Franklin vii

Pages i and 4 of The Pennsylvania Gazette, Number

XL, the first number after Franklin took control xxi

First page of The New England Courant of December

4-i i, 1721 33

" I was employed to carry the papers thro' the streets

to the customers " - 36

" She, standing at the door, saw me, and thought I
made, as I certainly did, a most awkward, ridicu-
lous appearance " - 48

" I took to working at press " - 88

" I see him still at work when I go home from club " 120
Two pages from Poor Richard's Almanac for 1736 - 171

" I regularly took my turn of duty there as a common

soldier " - 204

" In the evening, hearing a great noise among them,
the commissioners walk'd out to see what was the
matter" - - 224

vi ILLUSTRATIONS

FACING
PAGE

" Our axes . . . were immediately set to work to

cut down trees " - 278

' We now appeared very wide, and so far from each
other in our opinions as to discourage all hope
of agreement " - 318

' You will find it stream out plentifully from the key

on the approach of your knuckle " - - 328

Father Abraham in his study - - 330

The end papers show, at the front, the Franklin arms
and the Franklin seal ; at the back, the medal given
by the Boston public schools fponalthe fund left
by Franklin for that purpose as provided in the
following extract from his will :

" I was born in Boston, New England, and owe my
first instructions in literature to the free grammar-
schools established there. I therefore give one hundred
pounds sterling to my executors, to be by them . . .
paid over to the managers or directors of the free
schools in my native town of Boston, to be by them . . .
put out to interest, and so continued at interest forever,
which interest annually shall be laid out in silver medals,
and given as honorary rewards annually by the directors
of the said free schools belonging to the said town, in
such manner as to the discretion of the selectmen of the
said town shall seem meet."

INTRODUCTION

: e Americans devour eagerly any
piece of writing thot purports to tell
us the secret of success in life; yet
finr! nothing but commonplace state-

-.its, or receipts that we know by
heart but never follow. "lost of the
life stories of our famous and suc-
cessful men fa.il to inspire because
they lack the human element that makes
the record real and brings the story
vi thin our grasp. "hile we are search-
ing far and near for some Aladdin ! s
Lamp to give coveted fortune, there is
ready at our hand if we will only
reach out and take it, like the charm
in Alton's COITUS,

"Unknown, and lik? esteemed,

and the dull swain
Treads on it daily with his
c 1 out e d s ho on ; "

the interesting, human an^ vividly told
story of one of the wisest and most
useful lives in our own history, airrl
perhaps in any history. In Franklin's
AUTOBIOGRAPHY is offered not so much
a ready-made formula for success, as
the companionship of a real flesh and
blood man of extraordinary mind and
quality, whose daily walk and conver-

VII

viii INTRODUCTION

sation will help us to meet our own
difficulties, much as does the example
of a wise and strong friend. 7hile
we are fascinated by the story, we ab-
sorb the human experience through
which a strong and helpful character
is building.

The thing that makes Franklin T s
JJTOBIOGRAPHY different from every
other life story of a great and suc-
cessful ra,-.n is just this human aspect
of the account. Franklin told the
story of his life, as he himself says,
for the benefit of his posterity. He
wanted to help them by the relation
of his o rn rise from obscurity and
poverty to eminence and wealth. He
is not unmindful of the importance of
his public services and their recog-
nition, yet his accounts of these
achievements are given only as a part
of the story, and the vanity displayed
is incidental and in keeping with the
honesty of the recital. There is
nothing of the impossible in the meth-
od and practice of Franklin as he sets
them forth. The youth who reads the
fascinating story is astonished to
find that Franklin in his early years
struggled with the same everyday pas-
sions and difficulties that he him-
self experiences, and he loses the
sense of discouragement that comes
from a realization of his ov-n short-
comings and inability to attain.

INTRODUCTION ix

There are other reasons why the
AUTOBIOGRAPHY' should be an intimate
friend of American young people.
Here they may establish a close rela-
tionship with one of the foremost
Americans as well as one of the wisest
men of his age.

The life of Benjamin franklin is
of importance to every American pri-
marily because of the part he played
in securing the independence of the
United States and in establishing it
as a nation. Franklin shares with
'Vashington the honors of the Revolu-
tion, and of the events leading to the
birth of the new nation. "Vhile "ash-
ington was the animating spirit of
the struggle in the colonies, ?rankli:.i
was its ablest champion abroad. To
Franklin's cogent reasoning and keen
satire, we owe the clear and forcible
presentation of the American case in

igland and France; while; to his per-
sonality and diplomacy as well as to
his facile pen, we are indebted for
the foreign alliance and the funds
without which "n shington* s work must
have failed. His patience, fortitude,
and practical wisdom, coupled with
self-sacrificing devotion to the cause
of his country, are hard.ly less notice-
able than similar qualities displayed
by Vashington. In fact, Franklin as
a public man was much like r ashingto',
especially in the entire disinterested-
ness of his public service.

x INTRODUCTION

franklin is also interesting to
us because by his life and teachings
he has done more than any other '\mer-
ican to advance the material prosper-
ity of his countrymen. It is said
that his widely and faithfully read
maxims made Philadelphia and Pennsyl-
vania wealthy, while Poor Richard's
pithy sayings, translated into many
1 nguiges, have had a world-wide in-
fluence.

Franklin is a good type of our
American manhood. Although not the
wealthiest or the most powerful, he
is undoubtedly, in the versatility
of his genius and achievements, the
greatest of our selfimade men. The
simple yet graphic story in the Auto-
biography of his steady rise from hum-
ble boyhood in a tallow-chandler shop,
by industry, economy, and perseverance
in self -improvement , to eminence, is
the most remarkable of all the remark-
able histories of our self -made men.
It is in itself a wonderful illustra-
tion of the results possible to be
attained in a land of unequaled oppor-
tunity by following Franklin's ma "i is.

Franklin's fame, however, was nob
confined to his own country. Although
he lived in a century notable for the
rapid evolution of scientific and po-
litical thought and activity, yet no
less a keen judge and critic than Lord
Jeffrey, the famous editor of the
inburgh Review, a cen-

INTRODUCTION xi

tury ago said that " in one point of view the
name of Franklin must be considered as stand-
ing higher than any of the others which illus-
trated the eighteenth century. Distinguished
as a statesman, he was equally great as a phi-
losopher, thus uniting in himself a rare degree
of excellence in both these pursuits, to excel in
either of which is deemed the highest praise."

Franklin has indeed been aptly called " many-
sided." He was eminent in science and public
service, in diplomacy and in literature. He was
the Edison of his day, turning his scientific dis-
coveries to the benefit of his fellow-men. He
perceived the identity of lightning and elec-
tricity and set up the lightning rod. He in-
vented the Franklin stove, still widely used, and
refused to patent it. He possessed a masterly
shrewdness in business and practical affairs.
Carlyle called him the father of all the Yankees.
He founded a fire company, assisted in founding
a hospital, and improved the cleaning and light-
ing of streets. He developed journalism, estab-
lished the American Philosophical Society, the
public library in Philadelphia, and the Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania. He organized a postal
system for the colonies, which was the basis of
the present United States Post Office. Bancroft,
the eminent historian, called him " the greatest

xii INTRODUCTION

diplomatist of his century." He perfected the
Albany Plan of Union for the colonies. He is
the only statesman who signed the Declaration
of Independence, the Treaty of Alliance with
France, the Treaty of Peace with England, and
the Constitution. As a writer, he has produced,
in his Autobiography and in Poor Richard's
Almanac, two works that are not surpassed by
similar writing. He received honorary degrees
from Harvard and Yale, from Oxford and St.
Andrews, and was made a fellow of the Royal
Society, which awarded him the Copley gold
medal for improving natural knowledge. He
was one of the eight foreign associates of the
French Academy of Science.

The careful study of the Autobiography is also
valuable because of the style in which it is
written. If Robert Louis Stevenson is right in
believing that his remarkable style was acquired
by imitation then the youth who would gain the
power to express his ideas clearly, forcibly, and
interestingly cannot do better than to study
Franklin's method. Franklin's fame in the
scientific world was due almost as much to his
modest, simple, and sincere manner of present-
ing his discoveries and to the precision and
clearness of the style in which he described his
experiments, as to the results he was able to

INTRODUCTION xiii

announce. Sir Humphry Davy, the celebrated
English chemist, himself an excellent literary
critic as well as a great scientist, said: ' A sin-
gular felicity guided all Franklin's researches,
and by very small means he established very
grand truths. The style and manner of his pub-
lication on electricity are almost as worthy of
admiration as the doctrine it contains."

Franklin's place in literature is hard to deter-
mine because he was not primarily a literary
man. His aim in his writings as in his life work
was to be helpful to his fellow-men. For him
writing was never an end in itself, but always a
means to an end. Yet his success as a scientist,
a statesman, and a diplomat, as well as socially,
was in no little part due to his ability as a
writer. ' His letters charmed all, and made his
correspondence eagerly sought. His political
arguments were the joy of his party and the
dread of his opponents. His scientific discov-
eries were explained in language at once so sim-
ple and so clear that plow-boy and exquisite
could follow his thought or his experiment to its
conclusion."

As far as American literature is concerned,
Franklin has no contemporaries. Before the
Autobiography only one literary work of impor-

1 The Many-Sided Franklin. Paul L. Ford.

xiv INTRODUCTION

tance had been produced in this country Cot-
ton Mather's Magnalia, a church history of New
England in a ponderous, stiff style. Franklin
was the first American author to gain a wide
and permanent reputation in Europe. The
Autobiography, Poor Richard, Father Abraham's
Speech or The Way to Wealth, as well as some
of the Bagatelles, are as widely known abroad
as any American writings. Franklin must also
be classed as the first American humorist.

English literature of the eighteenth century
was characterized by the development of prose.
Periodical literature reached its perfection early
in the century in The Tatler and The Spectator
of Addison and Steele. Pamphleteers flourished
throughout the period. The homelier prose of
Bunyan and Defoe gradually gave place to the
more elegant and artificial language of Samuel
Johnson, who set the stand_ard for prose writing
from 1745 onward. This century saw the be-
ginnings of the modern novel, in Fielding's Tom
Jones, Richardson's Clarissa Harlowe, Sterne's
Tristram Shandy, and Goldsmith's Vicar of
Wakefield. Gibbon wrote The Decline and Fall
of the Roman Empire, Hume his History of Eng-
land, and Adam Smith the Wealth of Nations.

In the simplicity and vigor of his style Frank-
lin more nearly resembles the earlier group of

INTRODUCTION xv

writers. In his first essays he was not an in-
ferior imitator of Addison. In his numerous
parables, moral allegories, and apologues he
showed Bunyan's influence. But Franklin was
essentially a journalist. In his swift, terse style,
he is most like Defoe, who was the first great
English journalist and master of the newspaper
narrative. The style of both writers is marked
by homely, vigorous expression, satire, burlesque,
repartee. Here the comparison must end.
Defoe and his contemporaries were authors.
Their vocation was writing and their success
rests on the imaginative or creative power they
displayed. To authorship Franklin laid no
claim. He wrote no work of the imagination.
He developed only incidentally a style in many
respects as remarkable as that of his English
contemporaries. He wrote the best autobiogra-
phy in existence, one of the most widely known
collections of maxims, and an unsurpassed
series of political and social satires, because he
was a man of unusual scope of power and use-
fulness, who knew how to tell his fellow-men the
secrets of that power and that usefulness.

THE STORY OF THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY

The account of how Franklin's Autobiography
came to be written and of the adventures of the

xvi INTRODUCTION

original manuscript forms in itself an interesting
story. The Autobiography is Franklin's longest
work, and yet it is only a fragment. The first
part, written as a letter to his son, William
Franklin, was not intended for publication; and
the composition is more informal and the narra-
tive more personal than in the second part, from
1730 on, which was written with a view to pub-
lication. The entire manuscript shows little
evidence of revision. In fact, the expression is
so homely and natural that his grandson,
William Temple Franklin, in editing the work
changed some of the phrases because he thought
them inelegant and vulgar.

Franklin began the story of his life while on
a visit to his friend, Bishop Shipley, at Twyford,
in Hampshire, southern England, in 1771. He
took the manuscript, completed to 1731, with
him when he returned to Philadelphia in 1775.
It was left there with his other papers when he
went to France in the following year, and dis-
appeared during the confusion incident to the
Revolution. Twenty-three pages of closely
written manuscript fell into the hands of Abel
James, an old friend, who sent a copy to Frank-
lin at Passy, near Paris, urging him to complete
the story. Franklin took up the work at Passy
in 1784 and carried the narrative forward a few

INTRODUCTION xvii

months. He changed the plan to meet his new
purpose of writing to benefit the young reader.
His work was soon interrupted and was not re-
sumed until 1788, when he was at home in Phila-
delphia. He was now old, infirm, and suffering,
and was still engaged in public service. Under
these discouraging conditions the work pro-
gressed slowly. It finally stopped when the
narrative reached the year 1757. Copies of the
manuscript were sent to friends of Franklin in
England and France, among others to Monsieur
Le Veillard at Paris.

The first edition of the Autobiography was
published in French at Paris in 1791. It was
clumsily and carelessly translated, and was im-
perfect and unfinished. Where the translator
got the manuscript is not known. Le Veillard
disclaimed any knowledge of the publication.
From this faulty French edition many others
were printed, some in Germany, two in England,
and another in France, so great was the demand
for the work.

In the meantime the original manuscript of
the Autobiography had started on a varied and
adventurous career. It was left by Franklin
with his other works to his grandson, William
Temple Franklin, whom Franklin designated as
his literary executor. When Temple Franklin

xviii INTRODUCTION

came to publish his grandfather's works in 1817,
he sent the original manuscript of the Autobiog-
raphy to the daughter of Le Yeillard in ex-
change for her father's copy, probably think-
ing the clearer transcript would make better
printer's copy. The original manuscript thus
found its way to the Le Yeillard family and con-
nections, where it remained until sold in 1867
to Mr. John Bigelow, United States Minister to
France. By him it was later sold to Mr. E.
Dwight Church of New York, and passed with
the rest of Mr. Church's library into the posses-
sion of Mr. Henry E. Huntington. The original
manuscript of Franklin's Autobiography now
rests in the vault in Mr. Huntington's residence
at Fifth Avenue and Fifty-seventh Street, New
York City.

When Mr. Bigelow came to examine his pur-
chase, he was astonished to find that what peo-
ple had been reading for years as the authentic
Life of Benjamin Franklin by Himself, was only
a garbled and incomplete version of the real
Autobiography. Temple Franklin had taken un-
warranted liberties with the original. Mr. Bige-
low says he found more than twelve hundred
changes in the text. In 1868, therefore, Mr.
Bigelow published the standard edition of
Franklin's Autobiography. It corrected errors

INTRODUCTION xix

in the previous editions and was the first Eng-
lish edition to contain the short fourth part,
comprising the last few pages of the manuscript,
written during the last year of Franklin's life.
Mr. Bigelow republished the Autobiography,
with additional interesting matter, in three vol-
umes in 1875, in 1905, and in 1910. The text in
this volume is that of Mr. Bigelow's editions. 1

The Autobiography has been reprinted in the
United States many scores of times and trans-
lated into all the languages of Europe. It has
never lost its popularity and is still in constant
demand at circulating libraries. The reason for
this popularity is not far to seek. For in this
work Franklin told in a remarkable manner the
story of a remarkable life. He displayed hard
common sense and a practical knowledge of the
art of living. He selected and arranged his ma-
terial, perhaps unconsciously, with the unerring
instinct of the journalist for the best effects.
His success is not a little due to his plain, clear,
vigorous English. He used short sentences and
words, homely expressions, apt illustrations,
and pointed allusions. Franklin had a most in-
teresting, varied, and unusual life. He was one
of the greatest conversationalists of his time.

1 For the division into chapters and the chapter titles, however, the
present editor is responsible.

xx INTRODUCTION

His book is the record of that unusual life told
in Franklin's own unexcelled conversational
style. It is said that the best parts of Boswell's
famous biography of Samuel Johnson are those
parts where Boswell permits Johnson to tell his
own story. In the Autobiography a no less re-
markable man and talker than Samuel Johnson
is telling his own story throughout.

F. W. P.

THE OILMAN COUNTRY SCHOOL,
Baltimore, September, 1916.

THE

Numb. XL.

Pennfylvania GAZETTE.

Containing the frefieft Advice f Foreign andDome&ick.

From Thurfday, September 25. to Thurfday, October a. 1720.

rH E Pennfylvania Gazette being new to
bt tarry' d on by other Hands,, the Reader
may expett fame Account of the Method lee
defwt lo frocttd in,

Ufon aVuw of Chambers'* great Dictionaries,
from whence were taken the Materials of- the
Universal Jnftrudor in all Arts and Sciences,
which ufaally made the Firfl tPart of t bit 'Paper,
vie find that te fides their containing mauyTbtiigs.
abftnife or iujignificatit to us, it will probably
te fifty Tears before the Whole tan be gone thro'
in this Manner of 'Publication. There are lite-
vife in tbofe Books continual References from
Things under one Letter of the Alphabet to tbofe
under another, which relate to the fame Subject,
and are ntttffiiry to explain and compleat it ;

taken irt their Tarn may perhaps be Ten
jears ayiu/it, WHO im*,* * n nv*rj *,. .i.j _ t-

de/ire to acerfamt them/lives with any particular
.Art or Science, would gladly have the whole be-
'fore them in a mncb iefs Time, we believe our
Readers -will not thinTtfuch a Method of commu-
nicating Knowledge to be a proper One,

However } tho' we do net intend to continue the
Publication of tbofe Dictionaries HI a regular
Alphabet iosl Method, as has hitherto been done;
yet as fevetal Things exhibited from them HI the
Conrfc of thefe 'Tapers, have been entertaining
to /itch of the Citriotis, Who never had and can-
not have the Advantage of good Libraries ; and
as there are many Tbivgsftill behind, which be-
ing in tins Manner made generally known, may
perhaps become of considerable Ufe, If) giving fuch
Hints TO the excellent natural Genus's of our
Country, as may contribute either to the Im-
provement of toir prefent ManiifacJures, or to-
wards the Invention of new Ones ; we propofe
from Time to Time to communicate fucb particu-
lar 'Parts as appear to be of the moft general
Cotifcqutnce.

Js to the Religious Courtfhip, fart of
Which has been retal'd to the Vubltck in tbefe
\Papers,, the Reader may be inform'd, that the
whole "Bock will jrobably in a littlt Time be
printed and bound up by it-felf; and thofe who
approve of it, will doabtlels be better pleas 'd to
have it .entire, .than in this broken interrupted
Manner.

Tlere are many who have hug de/tred to fie a
goodNcws-tpaper in Pcnnfylvania ; and we hope
fhofi Gentlemen who are able, will contribute to-
warls the making This f tick. We ask j4/flftance,
becaiTe we are fully feiijible, that to ptiblijh a
good Hews-Taper is not fo eafy an Undertaking
as. itany fcnyle imagine it to be. The Author of
a Gatette (in the Opinion of the Learned) ought
to be qualified with an extenfivi jlcqutiiiitaitte
with Languages, a great Eafinefs and Command
of Writing and Relating Things cleanly and in"
teiligi'ely, and in few Words ; be jbould be ablt
tofpttk of War both by Land and Sea -.le well
acquainted with Geography, with the nflory of
the Time, with the feve*al Intcrejis of<3>ricai
and States, the Secrets of Courts, and the Mjn
ners and Ciiftoms of all "Nations. Mm thus ac-
""tbfa'd are very rare in this remote Wart of
the World; ana a wviutt t/e it/at if the Writer
of theft Papers could make up amwg^bis Friends
v/ha: is wanting in bimfelf.

Upon the Whole, we may affitre the fiibKck,
that as far as the Encouragement we men with
will enable us, no Care andVains /ball be omit-
ted, that may make the Pcnnfylvania Gazette
as agreeable and iifeful au Entertainment as the
Nattre of the Thing will allow.

The Following is the laft Meflage fcnt by
his Excellency Governour Bumet, to the
Houfe of Reprefentatives in Bojiou.

Catttma iftk Htufi / Rtprefautivu,

T T ss not with To win a Hope ai to convince yon, that
1 I take the Trouble to tuTwer your Meflages, but, if
poflSIlt, to open the Eyes of the deluded People whom
you eprefent, aad whom you are tt to much Pains to keep
in ferorance of the true State of their Ar&Jrv I need not
go further for an undeniable Proof of fhts Endeavour to
blind them, than your ordering the Letttr of Meffieun
If^Kr and frkltr of the 7th of jam laft to your Speaker to
he psblifhed. This Letter il laid (in Pfft I. of your
Veto) If Mofe a Off tf Ox Repert if tie itnlt <ftl Com-
mHta ifffii Aiejtfft trtuy Cuaail, wht til Happy i jfy-
pmtaim ami Onkr tbtrm * Cwncil ; Yet ttefe Gentlemen
had at the fame timr the unparallcll'd Prr^lmption to
write to the Speaker in this Manner ; Ttu'll tbfmx tf tht
C&chifm, ota it fnfafeJ itttttt CoaftijMala 4 juir na .
tbriitg vtiib Hi i Majrfyi InHrudica ( tlx W< Mailer la ki

Pages i and 4 of The Pennsylvania Gazette, the first number after
Franklin took control. Reduced nearly one-half. Reproduced from
a copy at the New York Public Library.

fcrfeited but thofe of iSrf. And it is rernaikabU that al
Attempts of this Kind upon the Paper Mopcy of this anc
the neighbouring Provinces, hive been detected and me
u-'uh ill Succels.

Ciiflont-'Hoiife, VbHtnttlpLia, Entred Inwards.

Sloop Hope, Etias Naudain, from Bofton.
Sloop Dove, John Howel, t'rom Antigua *
Brigt Pennfwood, Thomas Braly, from Madcra.

Entred Ont'jijrds.
Scooner John, Thomas Wright, to Bofton
Brigt. Richard and William, W. Mayle, for Lisbon.
Ship Diligence, James Bayley, for Maryland

Cleared fur Departure,

Ship London Hope, Thomas Annis, for London.
Ship John and Anna, James Shcrlcy, for Plymouth.

Advertifements.

be Sold by Edward Shtppen, choice

Hard Soap, very heafouable

PUN away on the ajth of September paft,

ix liom Ria Prickard of IfhiulaiJ in Ctefttr County, a
Servant Man named 'Jet* Crrffa.il, of a middle Stature and
ruddy Countenance, "his Haii inclining to Red : He had on
when he uent away, a little white fliorr Wig, an old Hat,
Drugget Waftcoat, the Body lined with Lumen ; coarfc
Linncn Bieechcs, grey woollen Stockings, and round toe'd
Shoes

Whoever (hall fecure the fairl Servant fo that his Mafict
may have him again, ihall have Thrtt Puadi Reward, and
rcafonabrc Qurgcs paid, by

Riot frkcari

T> U N away on the loth of Sepfenber paft,

* v from W,m*m DKitti of Gtrnauvni TownJnip, in
Plilaae^ia County, a Scrvaut Man named MelcliztJ~L
jtrmla, of a mldcllo StJfiuo, a*t icxrm curled Hair :
He had on when he went away, a good Felt Hat, a dark
Cinrutmon-colour'd Coat, black Diugget Jacket, moufc-
eolour'd drugget Breeches, grey Stockings, and new Shoes
Whoever fccures the faid Runaway, Ib that his Matter
may have him again, (hall have fvinty Sbil/ingi Reward,
and reafonablc Charges paid, by me

' Dnccii.

Lately Re-printed and Sold at the Nfj> Print-
ing-Office near tke Market.

'T"HE <? S 4 IMS of DjviJ, Imita-

ted in the Language of the Near Tejfammt, and ap-
ply 'd to the Chrilhan State and Worfhip By /. K'aii,
V D M The Seventh Edition

N B. tfbij Work Kw met CTffi/iarfc a ffrnrrjj good Rtffftifn
tmJ Efrrm amaig tit Pnttjfaa Diffmttrl in Great Britain, &c
1l-l*litr Presbyterians, Indcpcndfrits, or Baptift*, tkt Six
larft lipfrtjjintshejert 'Thtt have been feUeff in awryo* < I'irnt

I'he cbifj Dtjiffi tf tbit fxrtUent Pirfermancc [ at the Jittlvr
A-.JW.I/IJJ j in LII sftkrrttfemtmt to the Rc.ider} it " tf im-
*' prew Pfalmody er Religious Singing, and to enfevrige *rtd
" ajjifl tke fTtqxtnt PraBxt cf it in fvklfk slfftmtlat aJ fr,-
*' me famtlttf with mere Honour atd Lfehgit ; jet rtv
41 Reading tf it rimy alfo nrtertArn tbt Par.'citr ami th Cleftt
" <iilb Jnaa Plea/an .trd Mr MedrlAtKni <Tltrefm It a-iU
41 rf^HfJi bit Rr.i&'i, at frej^r StafaKl, to pfrufe it tiro t and
" amcnf 540 farrtJ Hlirmi tttjf nut fnd ml fraral tilt [ml
*' tteir ovnt Cafe and <Temper t er tit Cirrvmftaaat ej tktr fa-
*' tnitiet or Fnntdi , tier may text thfir U ;ljrn fmlt at are
" frffn ftnbtir Jet, atij Irtafirrmg tttm in tteir .Werner?
*' ri*r w.tr if fumifet for preni Retirement, er may e&erlaat
' iLfir Fneiuli tuM ttir Mt'eay.

L Ately Imported from Louden, by Johj

Le and are to be fold by htm 1t the loweft Pnccs.
eith:r by Wholelalc or Reulc, at his Shop i,, fitrlui Street,
over again/I the Preitjterian Mccting-Houlc, thcfc Goods
following, /a

Callicoes, divers Sorts Hollands, and feveral r or ts of
Sheeting Linncn. Several forts of Diapers and Table-Cloth,,
Several forts of Camhricks Mantua Silks, and GralTcu
Bcryllan, and plain Calhrr.jnco Tamie yard-wide Men'j
dyed fl-ammic Gloves Women's Vino, Lamb. Stitching
Silk, Thread and Silk. Twift for Women. SilkandRi
bands Double Thread Stoclungi Men's white flianume
Gloves Silk Handkerchiefs, & other forts of Handkerchiefs
Men's glai'd Gloves, Topp'd Men's Shoe-Buckles, Bath-
metal. Masks for Women Several forts of Penknives
Plain metal Buttons for Men's Coatv and Jackets Ivory
Cafe-Knives, and leveral forts of Pocket-Knives Dov. laflfc 1
feveral forts Huckabags, and Ruflia Linnen Oiiubureh-
Scveral forts of Looking Glafl'cs Garlicks sndbroun Hol-
land. Bag-Holland L/itu Scver.il forts of Druggets Fine
Kcrfeys Superfine double-mill'd Drab Broad -Cloths.
London Shalloons Fine and coarfc Hats Men and Wo-"
men's Englifi Shoes Stockings, feveral forts, for Men, Wo-
men and Children. Several Ions of Caps. Women's Bon-
RCO- Several Ibrtsof Horn 'and Ivory Combs Gun-powde-r f
Shot, and Flints Bibles of feveral forts Terfaments,
Pfaltcn and Primers Large Paper Books, and fmall ones,
with Pocket-Books, and other Stationary Ware Several
forts of Chccij'ja'd Linncn Flannels and Duroys Scots-
Snuff

<ft te L f */ th alow Prrfm, One Half ef trt Hnfe U
new fcffeffttt. Encjuire of him and know further

gl B L E S, Teftaments, Pfalters, Pfalm-

Books, Aecompt-Boob, Bills of Lading bound and
unbound. Common Blank Bonds for Money, Bnivdi with
Judgment, Coumcrbonds, Arbitration Bonds Arbitration
sends with Umpirage, Bail Bonds, Coiinterbonds to fave
il harmlcis. Bills of Sale, Powers of Attorney, Writs,
)ummon>. Apprentices Indentures, Servants Indentures,
'enal Bills, Promifory Notes, Sfi all the Blacks in the
moA authcntick Forms, and correctly printed ; mav beh.-ui
^t thr Pnkl'^- - f *-*- T* i , t- |..^w_ . ~ll .la^ OOrts

'' ''riuung at rcafotublc Rotes.

Ery good Live-Gcefc Feathers to be fold

at Evan Peti-rri in Qicihut-llrcct, next Door but one
Attirna Hamilton, ES<\,

Jnft <PnUiJI;ed:
'I T A N L E E D S's Almanack,

for the Year, 1730 in his ufual plain Method . bc-

n far preferable to jny yet pubhOied in Jmrrxa To be
Sold by CMiil Harrr at the laic Punting Office nf Hrrnnel
Kemer, at Three Shillings uid nine-pence per Down
N B. stl tltt sHtt;a*,iL i for Fit If'erth fat met fMitlr *jtrutr~

i/ Reception, it bat raii'd llx Prxe of tt# Cefr to 15 I a rrjr 9
r or v/k.b Rrafin t).{ Prmter ramct jferil Irfm rmler tir aLtve-

nfxtionej Prke : But fnxi tin Fn,nJlf Cnclim It tie Hullht,
1*1*1 cr^m thrr tnr jjlmaxarkt Jor \ i a Lsltn, tl*y wijl net

xff8 Titan Lceds'j, 'or it) ft vjluak'e

Sfeadily, will be
[~1 O D F R E Y's Almanack, for the

^"^ Year 1750 Containing the Lunations, Eclipfes,
Judgment of the Weather, the Spring Tidrs, Mcxfi Rt-
i*t aiut Selling, Sun's Riling and Setting, Lcni^h o* Days.
ieven Stars Riling, Southing mid Setting, Time ot High-
Water, Fairs, Courts, and oblcrvahlc Dy> Fitted t
he Latitude of 40 Degrees, and e Meridian of Five Hourt
A'eft fiom London Beaxtil*lh I'rntHi in Rri tad Blfft,

on One SiJf t) a inrft Demi Shrtl ff Pafer, erjur tte I mi*
Manor To be. Sold by the Punters heieof, ot the New
Printing-Office near the Mttktt, for } < per

ftiUfltlfia: Prii-.ted by B FraUrn and H Mcreant. at the New Printing-office near the M.irktt. where Advcnacmtuti
UC ulcu in, aad all Peifom iruy be lUpj'lied wilh this Papcrj at "fen Slillmf.i t\ca.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

OF
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

ANCESTRY AND EARLY YOUTH IN

BOSTON

TwYFORD, 1 at the Bishop of St. Asaph's, 1771.

EAR SON: I have ever had pleasure
in obtaining any little anecdotes of
my ancestors. You may remember
the inquiries I made among the re-
mains of my relations when you were with me
in England, and the journey I undertook for
that purpose. Imagining it may be equally
agreeable to you to know the circumstances of
my life, many of which you are yet unac-
quainted with, and expecting the enjoyment of
a week's uninterrupted leisure in my present
country retirement, I sit down to write them
for you. To which I have besides some other
inducements. Having emerged from the pov-

1 A small village not far from Winchester in Hampshire,
southern England. Here was the country seat of the Bishop of
St. Asaph, Dr. Jonathan Shipley, the "good Bishop," as Dr.
Franklin used to style him. Their relations were intimate and
confidential. In his pulpit, and in the House of Lords, as well
as in society, the bishop always opposed the harsh measures
of the Crown toward the Colonies. Bigelow.

4 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

erty and obscurity in which I was born and
bred, to a state of affluence and some degree of
reputation in the world, and having gone so
far through life with a considerable share of
felicity, the conducing means I made use of,
which with the blessing of God so well succeeded,
my posterity may like to know, as they may
find some of them suitable to their own situ-
ations, and therefore fit to be imitated.

That felicity, when I reflected on it, has in-
duced me sometimes to say, that were it offered
to my choice, I should have no objection to a
repetition of the same life from its beginning,
only asking the advantages authors have in a
second edition to correct some faults of the first.
So I might, besides correcting the faults, change
some sinister accidents and events of it for
others more favourable. But though this were
denied, I should still accept the offer. Since
such a repetition is not to be expected, the next
thing most like living one's life over again seems
to be a recollection of that life, and to make
that recollection as durable as possible by put-
ting it down in writing.

Hereby, too, I shall indulge the inclination
so natural in old men, to be talking of them-
selves and their own past actions; and I shall
indulge it without being tiresome to others,

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 5

who, through respect to age, might conceive
themselves obliged to give me a hearing, since
this may be read or not as anyone pleases. And,
lastly (I may as well confess it, since my denial
of it will be believed by nobody), perhaps I
shall a good deal gratify my own vanity. 1 In-
deed, I scarce ever heard or saw the introduc-
tory words, "Without vanity I may say'' etc.,
but some vain thing immediately followed.
Most people dislike vanity in others, whatever
share they have of it themselves; but I give it
fair quarter wherever I meet with it, being per-
suaded that it is often productive of good to the
possessor, and to others that are within his
sphere of action; and therefore, in many cases,
it would not be altogether absurd if a man were
to thank God for his vanity among the other
comforts of life.

And now I speak of thanking God, I desire
with all humility to acknowledge that I owe the
mentioned happiness of my past life to His kind
providence, which lead me to the means I used

1 In this connection Woodrow Wilson says, " And yet the sur-
prising and delightful thing about this book (the Autobiography)
is that, take it all in all, it has not the low tone of conceit,
but is a staunch man's sober and unaffected assessment of him-
self and the circumstances of his career."

Gibbon and Hume, the great British historians, who were
contemporaries of Franklin, express in their autobiographies the
same feeling about the propriety of just self-praise.

6 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

and gave them success. My belief of this in-
duces me to hope, though I must not presume,
that the same goodness will still be exercised
toward me, in continuing that happiness, or
enabling me to bear a fatal reverse, which I may
experience as others have done; the complexion
of my future fortune being known to Him only
in whose power it is to bless to us even our
afflictions.

The notes one of my uncles (who had the
same kind of curiosity in collecting family anec-
dotes) once put into my hands, furnished me
with several particulars relating to our ances-
tors. From these notes I learned that the fam-
ily had lived in the same village, Ecton, in
Northamptonshire, 1 for three hundred years, and
how much longer he knew not (perhaps from the
time when the name of Franklin, that before
was the name of an order of people, 2 was as-
sumed by them as a surname when others took
surnames all over the kingdom), on a freehold
of about thirty acres, aided by the smith's busi-
ness, which had continued in the family till his
time, the eldest son being always bred to that
business; a custom which he and my father
followed as to their eldest sons. When I
searched the registers at Ecton, I found an ac-

1 See Introduction. 2 A small landowner.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 7

count of their births, marriages and burials from
the year 1555 only, there being no registers kept
in that parish at any time preceding. By that
register I perceived that I was the youngest son
of the youngest son for five generations back.
My grandfather Thomas, who was born in 1598,
lived at Ecton till he grew too old to follow
business longer, when he went to live with his
son John, a dyer at Banbury, in Oxfordshire,
with whom my father served an apprenticeship.
There my grandfather died and lies buried. We
saw his gravestone in 1758. His eldest son
Thomas lived in the house at Ecton, and left it
with the land to his only child, a daughter, who,
with her husband, one Fisher, of Welling-
borough, sold it to Mr. Isted, now lord of the
manor there. My grandfather had four sons
that grew up, viz. : Thomas, John, Benjamin and
Josiah. I will give you what account I can of
them at this distance from my papers, and if
these are not lost in my absence, you will among
them find many more particulars.

Thomas was bred a smith under his father;
but, being ingenious, and encouraged in learn-
ing (as all my brothers were) by an Esquire
Palmer, then the principal gentleman in that
parish, he qualified himself for the business of
scrivener; became a considerable man in the

8 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

county; was a chief mover of all public-spirited
undertakings for the county or town of North-
ampton, and his own village, of which many
instances were related of him; and much taken
notice of and patronized by the then Lord Hali-
fax. He died in 1702, January 6, old style, 1 just
four years to a day before I was born. The
account we received of his life and character
from some old people at Ecton, I remember,
struck you as something extraordinary, from
its similarity to what you knew of mine. " Had
he died on the same day," you said, " one might
have supposed a transmigration."

John was bred a dyer, I believe of woollens,
Benjamin was bred a silk dyer, serving an ap-
prenticeship at London. He was an ingenious
man. I remember him well, for when I was a
boy he came over to my father in Boston, and
lived in the house with us some years. He lived

1 January 17, new style. This change in the calendar was
made in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, and adopted in England in
1752. Every year whose number in the common reckoning since
Christ is not divisible by 4, as well as every year whose num-
ber is divisible by 100 but not by 400, shall have 365 days, and
all other years shall have 366 days. In the eighteenth century
there was a difference of eleven days between the old and the
new style of reckoning, which the English Parliament canceled
by making the 3rd of September, 1752, the I4th. The Julian
calendar, or " old style'," is still retained in Russia and Greece,
whose dates consequently are now 13 days behind those of other
Christian countries.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 9

to a great age. His grandson, Samuel Franklin,
now lives in Boston. He left behind him two
quarto volumes, MS., of his own poetry, con-
sisting of little occasional pieces addressed to
his friends and relations, of which the follow-
ing, sent to me, is a specimen. 1 He had formed
a short-hand of his own, which he taught me,
but, never practising it, I have now forgot it.
I was named after this uncle, there being a par-
ticular affection between him and my father.
He was very pious, a great attender of sermons
of the best preachers, which he took down in
his short-hand, and had with him many volumes
of them. He was also much of a politician; too
much, perhaps, for his station. There fell lately
into my hands, in London, a collection he had
made of all the principal pamphlets relating to
public affairs, from 1641 to 1717; many of the
volumes are wanting as appears by the num-
bering, but there still remain eight volumes in
folio, and twenty-four in quarto and in octavo.
A dealer in old books met with them, and
knowing me by my sometimes buying of him,
he brought them to me. It seems my uncle
must have left them here when he went to
America, which was about fifty years since.
There are many of his notes in the margins.

1 The specimen is not in the manuscript of the Autobiography.

io FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

This obscure family of ours was early in the
Reformation, and continued Protestants through
the reign of Queen Mary, when they were some-
times in danger of trouble on account of their
zeal against popery. They had got an English
Bible, and to conceal and secure it, it was fast-
ened open with tapes under and within the
cover of a joint-stool. When my great-great-
grandfather read it to his family, he turned up
the joint-stool upon his knees, turning over the
leaves then under the tapes. One of the chil-
dren stood at the door to give notice if he saw
the apparitor coming, who was an officer of the
spiritual court. In that case the stool was
turned down again upon its feet, when the Bible
remained concealed under it as before. This
anecdote I had from my uncle Benjamin. The
family continued all of the Church of England
till about the end of Charles the Second's reign,
when some of the ministers that had been outed
for non-conformity, holding conventicles * in
Northamptonshire, Benjamin and Josiah ad-
hered to them, and so continued all their lives:
the rest of the family remained with the Epis-
copal Church.

Josiah, my father, married young, and carried
his wife with three children into New England,

1 Secret gatherings of dissenters from the established Church.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 11

about 1682. The conventicles having been for-
bidden by law, and frequently disturbed, in-
duced some considerable men of his acquaint-
ance to remove to that country, and he was
prevailed with to accompany them thither,
where they expected to enjoy their mode of re-
ligion with freedom. By the same wife he had
four children more born there, and by a second

Birthplace of Franklin. Milk Street, Boston

wife ten more, in all seventeen; of which I re-
member thirteen sitting at one time at his table,
who all grew up to be men and women, and
married; I was the youngest son, and the
youngest child but two, and was born in Bos-
ton, New England. 1 My mother, the second

1 Franklin was born on Sunday, January 6, old style, 1706, in
a house on Milk Street, opposite the Old South Meeting House,
where he was baptized on the day of his birth, during a snow-
storm. The house where he was born was burned in 1810.
Griffin.

i2 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

wife, was Abiah Folger, daughter of Peter Fol-
ger, one of the first settlers of New England,
of whom honorable mention is made by Cot-
ton Mather, 1 in his church history of that
country, entitled Magnalia Christi Americana,
as "a godly, learned Englishman," if I remem-
ber the words rightly. I have heard that he
wrote sundry small occasional pieces, but only
one of them was printed, which I saw now many
years since. It was written in 1675, in the
home-spun verse of that time and people, and
addressed to those then concerned in the gov-
ernment there. It was in favour of liberty of
conscience, and in behalf of the Baptists, Quak-
ers, and other sectaries that had been under
persecution, ascribing the Indian wars, and
other distresses that had befallen the country,
to that persecution, as so many judgments of
God to punish so heinous an offense, and ex-
horting a repeal of those uncharitable laws.
The whole appeared to me as written with a good
deal of decent plainness and manly freedom. The
six concluding lines I remember, though I have
forgotten the two first of the stanza; but the
purport of them was, that his censures pro-

1 Cotton Mather (1663-1728), clergyman, author, and scholar.
Pastor of the North Church, Boston. He took an active part
in the persecution of witchcraft.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 13

ceeded from good-will, and, therefore, he would
be known to be the author.

" Because to be a libeller (says he)

I hate it with my heart ;
From Sherburne town, 1 where now I dwell

My name I do put here ;
Without offense your real friend,

It is Peter Folgier."

My elder brothers were all put apprentices
to different trades. I was put to the grammar-
school at eight years of age, my father intend-
ing to devote me, as the tithe 2 of his sons, to
the service of the Church. My early readiness
in learning to read (which must have been very
early, as I do not remember when I could not
read), and the opinion of all his friends, that
I should certainly make a good scholar, en-
couraged him in this purpose of his. My uncle
Benjamin, too, approved of it, and proposed to
give me all his short-hand volumes of sermons,
I suppose as a stock to set up with, if I would
learn his character. 3 I continued, however, at
the grammar-school not quite one year, though
in that time I had risen gradually from the
middle of the class of that year to be the head
of it, and farther was removed into the next
class above it, in order to go with that into

1 Nantucket. 2 Tenth. 3 System of shorthand.

i 4 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

the third at the end of the year. But my father,
in the meantime, from a view of the expense
of a college education, which having so large
a family he could not well afford, and the mean
living many so educated were afterwards able
to obtain reasons that he gave to his friends
in my hearing altered his first intention, took
me from the grammar-school, and sent me to a
school for writing and arithmetic, kept by a
then famous man, Mr. George Brownell, very
successful in his profession generally, and that
by mild, encouraging methods. Under him I
acquired fair writing pretty soon, but I failed
in the arithmetic, and made no progress in it.
At ten years old I was taken home to assist
my father in his business, which was that of
a tallow-chandler and sope-boiler; a business he
was not bred to, but had assumed on his arrival
in New England, and on finding his dyeing
trade would not maintain his family, being in
little request. Accordingly, I was employed in
cutting wick for the candles, filling the dipping
mould and the moulds for cast candles, attend-
ing the shop, going of errands, etc.

I disliked the trade, and had a strong inclina-
tion for the sea, but my father declared against
it; however, living near the water, I was much
in and about it, learnt early to swim well, and

FRANKL IN ' S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 15

, ts; and when in a boat or canoe
to manage boa

-At. At. t, ys, I was commonly allowed to
with other bo} J

lly in any case of difficulty; and
govern, especia J J

,1. ;asions I was generally a leader

upon other oc( . *

At. t, r s, and sometimes led them into
among the bo>

r iich I will mention one instance,
scrapes, ot wn . . .

., , n early projecting public spirit,

as it shows ai J

,, , ., justly conducted,

tho not then j J

,-P, salt-marsh that bounded part of

1 here was a

,, MI i on the edge of which, at high
the mill-pond,

I to stand to fish for minnows,
water, we use(

-r, , ipHnsr, we had made it a mere

By much tran 1

Tvyr r proposal was to build a wharf
quagmire. My

,, r. to stand upon, and I showed my

there fit for us

, T rge heap of stones, which were

comrades a lai fc

, , r new house near the marsh, and
intended for a

. , , , r ery well suit our purpose. Ac-

which would \ J

,. T - ,:he evening, when the workmen
cordmgly, in t '

T issembled a number ot my play-
were gone, I

, , orking with them diligently like

fellows, and w

>ts, sometimes two or three to a
so many emmt

, ght them all away and built our
stone, we brou fe

,. , , r The next morning the workmen

1 at missing the stones, which
were surprisec

r j our wharf. Inquiry was made
were found in . J

f ^ ,, overs; we were discovered and

after the rem

1 j rJ several of us were corrected by
complained of? J

f At, . Jid, though I pleaded the useful-
our latners , ai

16 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

ness of the work, mine convinced me that
nothing was useful which was not honest.

I think you may like to know something of
his person and character. He had an excellent
constitution of body, was of middle stature, but
well set, and very strong; he was ingenious,
could draw prettily, was skilled a little in music,
and had a clear, pleasing voice, so that when
he played psalm tunes on his violin and sung
withal, as he sometimes did in an evening after
the business of the day was over, it was ex-
tremely agreeable to hear. He had a mechani-
cal genius too, and, on occasion, was very handy
in the use of other tradesmen's tools; but his
great excellence lay in a sound understanding
and solid judgment in prudential matters, both
in private and publick affairs. In the latter, in-
deed, he was never employed, the numerous
family he had to educate and the straitness of
his circumstances keeping him close to his
trade; but I remember well his being frequently
visited by leading people, who consulted him for
his opinion in affairs of the town or of the
church he belonged to, and showed a good deal
of respect for his judgment and advice: he was
also much consulted by private persons about
their affairs when any difficulty occurred, and
frequently chosen an arbitrator between con-

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 17

tending parties. At his table he liked to have,
as often as he could, some sensible friend or
neighbor to converse with, and always took
care to start some ingenious or useful topic for
discourse, which might tend to improve the
minds of his children. By this means he turned
our attention to what was good, just, and pru-
dent in the conduct of life; and little or no
notice was ever taken of what related to the
victuals on the table, whether it was well or
ill dressed, in or out of season, of good or bad
flavor, preferable or inferior to this or that
other thing of the kind, so that I was bro't up
in such a perfect inattention to those matters
as to be quite indifferent what kind of food was
set before me, and so unobservant of it, that to
this day if I am asked I can scarce tell a few
hours after dinner what I dined upon. This
has been a convenience to me in traveling,
where my companions have been sometimes
very unhappy for want of a suitable gratifica-
tion of their more delicate, because better in-
structed, tastes and appetites.

My mother had likewise an excellent consti-
tution: she suckled all her ten children. I never
knew either my father or mother to have any
sickness but that of which they dy'd, he at 89,
and she at 85 years of age. They lie buried to-

i8 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

gather at Boston, where I some years since
placed a marble over their grave, 1 with this
inscription:

JOSIAH FRANKLIN,

and

ABIAH his wife,

lie here interred.

They lived lovingly together in wedlock

fifty-five years.

Without an estate, or any gainful employment,
By constant labor and industry,

with God's blessing,
They maintained a large family

comfortably,

and brought up thirteen children
and seven grandchildren

reputably.

From this instance, reader,
Be encouraged to diligence in thy calling,

And distrust not Providence.

He was a pious and prudent man ;

She, a discreet and virtuous woman.

Their youngest son,
In filial regard to their memory,

Places this stone.

J. F. born 1655, died 1744, ^Etat 89.
A. F. born 1667, died 1752, 85.

By my rambling digressions I perceive my-
self to be grown old. I us'd to write more me-

1 This marble having decayed, the citizens of Boston in 1827
erected in its place a granite obelisk, twenty-one feet high,
bearing the original inscription quoted in the text and another
explaining the erection of the monument.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 19

thodically. But one does not dress for private
company as for a publick ball. 'Tis perhaps
only negligence.

To return: I continued thus employed in my
father's business for two years, that is, till I
was twelve years old; and my brother John,
who was bred to that business, having left my
father, married, and set up for himself at Rhode
Island, there was all appearance that I was des-
tined to supply his place, and become a tallow-
chandler. But my dislike to the trade continu-
ing, my father was under apprehensions that if
he did not find one for me more agreeable, I
should break away and get to sea, as his son
Josiah had done, to his great vexation. He
therefore sometimes took me to walk with him,
and see joiners, bricklayers, turners, braziers,
etc., at their work, that he might observe my
inclination, and endeavor to fix it on some trade
or other on land. It has ever since been a pleas-
ure to me to see good workmen handle their
tools; and it has been useful to me, having
learnt so much by it as to be able to do little
jobs myself in my house when a workman could
not readily be got, and to construct little ma-
chines for my experiments, while the intention
of making the experiment was fresh and warm
in my mind. My father at last fixed upon

20 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

the cutler's trade, and my uncle Benjamin's
son Samuel, who was bred to that business in
London, being about that time established in
Boston, I was sent to be with him some time
on liking. But his expectations of a fee with
me displeasing my father, I was taken home
again.

BEGINNING LIFE AS A PRINTER

ROM a child I was fond of reading,
and all the little money that came
into my hands was ever laid out in
books. Pleased with the Pilgrim's
Progress, my first collection was of John Bun-
yan's works in separate little volumes. I after-
ward sold them to enable me to buy R. Burton's
Historical Collections; they were small chap-
men's books, 1 and cheap, 40 or 50 in all. My
father's little library consisted chiefly of books in
polemic divinity, most of which I read, and have
since often regretted that, at a time when I had
such a thirst for knowledge, more proper books
had not fallen in my way, since it was now re-
solved I should not be a clergyman. Plutarch's
Lives there was in which I read abundantly, and I
still think that time spent to great advantage.
There was also a book of DeFoe's, called an
Essay on Projects, and another of Dr. Mather's,
called Essays to do Good, which perhaps gave me

1 Small books, sold by chapmen or peddlers.

22 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

a turn of thinking that had an influence on some
of the principal future events of my life.

This bookish inclination at length determined
my father to make me a printer, though he had
already one son (James) of that profession. In
1717 my brother James returned from England
with a press and letters to set up his business in
Boston. I liked it much better than that of my
father, but still had a hankering for the sea. To
prevent the apprehended effect of such an in-
clination, my father was impatient to have me
bound to my brother. I stood out some time, but
at last was persuaded, and signed the indentures
when I was yet but twelve years old. I was to
serve as an apprentice till I was, twenty-one
years of age, only I was to be allowed journey-
man's wages during the last year. In a little time
I made great proficiency in the business, and
became a useful hand to my brother. I now had
access to better books. An acquaintance with
the apprentices of booksellers enabled me some-
times to borrow a small one, which I was care-
ful to return soon and clean. Often I sat up in
my room reading the greatest part of the night,
when the book was borrowed in the evening and
to be returned early in the morning, lest it should
be missed or wanted.

And after some time an ingenious tradesman,

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 23

Mr. Matthew Adams, who had a pretty collec-
tion of books, and who frequented our printing-
house, took notice of me, invited me to his
library, and very kindly lent me such books as I
chose to read. I now took a fancy to poetry, and
made some little pieces; my brother, thinking
it might turn to account, encouraged me, and put
me on composing occasional ballads. One was
called The Lighthouse Tragedy, and contained an
account of the drowning of Captain Worthilake,
with his two daughters: the other was a sailor's
song, on the taking of Teach (or Blackbeard)
the pirate. They were wretched stuff, in the
Grub-street-ballad style; 1 and when they were
printed he sent me about the town to sell them.
The first sold wonderfully, the event being recent,
having made a great noise. This flattered my
vanity; but my father discouraged me by ridicul-
ing my performances, and telling me verse-
makers were generally beggars. So I escaped
being a poet, most probably a very bad one; but
as prose writing has been of great use to me
in the course of my life, and was a principal
means of my advancement, I shall tell you how,
in such a situation, I acquired what little ability
I have in that way.

1 Grub-street : famous in English literature as the home of poor
writers.

24 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

There was another bookish lad in the town,
John Collins by name, with whom I was inti-
mately acquainted. We sometimes disputed,
and very fond we were of argument, and very
desirous of confuting one another, which
disputatious turn, by the way, is apt to
become a very bad habit, making people often
extremely disagreeable in company by the con-
tradiction that is necessary to bring it into
practice; and thence, besides souring and spoil-
ing the conversation, is productive of disgusts
and, perhaps enmities where you may have oc-
casion for friendship. I had caught it by read-
ing my father's books of dispute about religion.
Persons of good sense, I have since observed,
seldom fall into it, except lawyers, university
men, and men of all sorts that have been bred
at Edinborough.

A question was once, somehow or other,
started between Collins and me, of the pro-
priety of educating the female sex in learning,
and their abilities for study. He was of opin-
ion that it was improper, and that they were
naturally unequal to it. I took the contrary
side, perhaps a little for dispute's sake. He was
naturally more eloquent, had a ready plenty
of words, and sometimes, as I thought, bore me
down more by his fluency than by the strength

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 25

of his reasons. As we parted without settling
the point, and were not to see one another
again for some time, I sat down to put my ar-
guments in writing, which I copied fair and
sent to him. He answered, and I replied. Three
or four letters of a side had passed, when my
father happened to find my papers and read
them. Without entering into the discussion,
he took occasion to talk to me about the man-
ner of my writing; observed that, though I had
the advantage of my antagonist in correct spell-
ing and pointing (which I ow'd to the printing-
house), I fell far short in elegance of expres-
sion, in method and in perspicuity, of which he
convinced me by several instances. I saw the
justice of his remarks, and thence grew more
attentive to the manner in writing, and deter-
mined to endeavor at improvement.

About this time I met with an odd volume
of the Spectator^ It was the third. I had never
before seen any of them. I bought it, read it
over and over, and was much delighted with it.
I thought the writing excellent, and wished, if
possible, to imitate it. With this view I took
some of the papers, and, making short hints

1 A daily London journal, comprising satirical essays on social
subjects, published by Addison and Steele in 1711-1712. The
Spectator and its predecessor, the Tatler (1709), marked the be-
ginning of periodical literature.

26 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

of the sentiment in each sentence, laid them by
a few days, and then, without looking at the
book, try'd to compleat the papers again, by
expressing each hinted sentiment at length, and
as fully as it had been expressed before, in any
suitable words that should come to hand. Then
I compared my Spectator with the original dis-
covered some of my faults, and corrected them.
But I found I wanted a stock of words, or a
readiness in recollecting and using them, which
I thought I should have acquired before that
time if I had gone on making verses; since
the continual occasion for words of the same im-
port, but of different length, to suit the meas-
ure, or of different sound for the rhyme, would
have laid me under a constant necessity of
searching for variety, and also have tended
to fix that variety in my mind, and make me
master of it. Therefore I took some of the
tales and turned them into verse; and, after
a time, when I had pretty well forgotten the
prose, turned them back again. I also some-
times jumbled my collections of hints into con-
fusion, and after some weeks endeavored to re-
duce them into the best order, before I began
to form the full sentences and compleat the
paper. This was to teach me method in the
arrangement of thoughts. By comparing my

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 27

work afterwards with the original, I discovered
many faults and amended them; but I some-
times had the pleasure of fancying that, in cer-
tain particulars of small import, I had been
lucky enough to improve the method of the
language, and this encouraged me to think I
might possibly in time come to be a tolerable
English writer, of which I was extremely am-
bitious. My time for these exercises and for
reading was at night, after work or before it
began in the morning, or on Sundays, when I
contrived to be in the printing-house alone,
evading as much as I could the common at-
tendance on public worship which my father
used to exact of me when I was under his
care, and which indeed I still thought a duty,
thought I could not, as it seemed to me, afford
time to practise it.

W'len about 16 years of age I happened to
meet with a book, written by one Tryon, rec-
ommending a vegetable diet. I determined to
go into it. My brother, being yet unmarried,
did not keep house, but boarded himself and
his apprentices in another family. My refus-
ing to eat flesh occasioned an inconveniency,
and I was frequently chid for my singularity.
I made myself acquainted with Tryon's man-
ner of preparing some of his dishes, such as

28 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

boiling potatoes or rice, making hasty pudding,
and a few others, and then proposed to my
brother, that if he would give me, weekly, half
the money he paid for my board, I would board
myself. He instantly agreed to it, and I pres-
ently found that I could save half what he paid
me. This was an additional fund for buying
books. But I had another advantage in it. My
brother and the rest going from the printing-
house to their meals, I remained there alone,
and, dispatching presently my light repast,
which often was no more than a bisket or a
slice of bread, a handful of raisins or a tart from
the pastry-cook's, and a glass of water, had the
rest of the time till their return for study, in
which I made the greater progress, from that
greater clearness of head and quicker apprehen-
sion which usually attend temperance in eating
and drinking.

And now it was that, being on some occa-
sion made asham'd of my ignorance in figures,
which I had twice failed in learning when at
school, I took Cocker's book of Arithmetick,
and went through the whole by myself with
great ease. I also read Seller's and Shermy's
books of Navigation, and became acquainted
with the little geometry they contain; but never
proceeded far in that science. And I read about

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 29

this time Locke On Human Understanding?
and the Art of Thinking, by Messrs, du Port
Royal. 2

While I was intent on improving my lan-
guage, I met with an English grammar (I
think it was Greenwood's), at the end of which
there were two little sketches of the arts of
rhetoric and logic, the latter finishing with a
specimen of a dispute in the Socratic 3 method;
and soon after I procur'd Xenophon's Mem-
orable Things of Socrates, wherein there
are many instances of the same method. I was
charm'd with it, adopted it, dropt my abrupt
contradiction and positive argumentation, and
put on the humble inquirer and doubter. And
being then, from reading Shaftesbury and Col-
lins, become a real doubter in many points of
our religious doctrine, I found this method
safest for myself and very embarrassing to those
against whom I used it; therefore I took a de-
light in it, practis'd it continually, and grew

a john Locke (1632-1704), a celebrated English philosopher,
founder of the so-called "common-sense" school of philosophers.
He drew up a constitution for the colonists of Carolina.

2 A noted society of scholarly and devout men occupying the
abbey of Port Royal near Paris, who published learned works,
among them the one here referred to, better known as the Port
Royal Logic.

3 Socrates confuted his opponents in argument by asking ques-
tions so skillfully devised that the answers would confirm the
questioner's position or show the error of the opponent.

30 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

very artful and expert in drawing people, even
of superior knowledge, into concessions, the
consequences of which they did not foresee,
entangling them in difficulties out of which they
could not extricate themselves, and so obtain-
ing victories that neither myself nor my cause
always deserved. I continu'd this method some
few years, but gradually left it, retaining only
the habit of expressing myself in terms of
modest diffidence; never using, when I ad-
vanced anything that may possibly be disputed,
the words certainly, undoubtedly, or any others
that give the air of positiveness to an opinion;
but rather say, I conceive or apprehend a thing
to be so and so; it appears to me, or I should
think it so or so, for such and such reasons;
or I imagine it to be so; or it is so, if I am not
mistaken. This habit, I believe, has been of
great advantage to me when I have had occa-
sion to inculcate my opinions, and persuade
men into measures that I have been from time
to time engaged in promoting; and, as the chief
ends of conversation are to inform or to be
informed, to please or to persuade, I wish well-
meaning, sensible men would not lessen their
power of doing good by a positive, assuming
manner, that seldom fails to disgust, tends to
create opposition, and to defeat everyone of

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 31

those purposes for which speech was given to
us, to wit, giving or receiving information or
pleasure. For, if you would inform, a positive
and dogmatical manner in advancing your sen-
timents may provoke contradiction and prevent
a candid attention. If you wish information and
improvement from the knowledge of others,
and yet at the same time express yourself as
firmly fix'd in your present opinions, modest,
sensible men, who do not love disputation, will
probably leave you undisturbed in the posses-
sion of your error. And by such a manner, you
can seldom hope to recommend yourself in
pleasing your hearers, or to persuade those
whose concurrence you desire. Pope * says,
judiciously:

" Men should be taught as if you taught them not,
And things unknown proposed as things forgot; "

farther recommending to us

' To speak, tho' sure, with seeming diffidence."

And he might have coupled with this line that
which he has coupled with another, I think,
less properly,

" For want of modesty is want of sense."

If you ask, Why less properly? I must repeat
the lines,

1 Alexander Pope (1688-1744), the greatest English poet of the
first half of the eighteenth century.

32 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

" Immodest words admit of no defense,
For want of modesty is want of sense."

Now, is not want of sense (where a man is so
unfortunate as to want it) some apology for his
'want of modesty? and would not the lines stand
more justly thus?

" Immodest words admit but this defense,
That want of modesty is want of sense."

This, however, I should submit to better judg-
ments.

My brother had, in 1720 or 1721, begun to
print a newspaper. It was the second that
appeared in America, 1 and was called the New
England Courant. The only one before it was
the Boston News-Letter. I remember his be-
ing dissuaded by some of his friends from the
undertaking, as not likely to succeed, one news-
paper being, in their judgment, enough for
America. At this time (1771) there are not less
than five-and-twenty. He went on, however,
with the undertaking, and after having worked
in composing the types and printing off the

1 Franklin's memory does not serve him correctly here. The
Courant was really the fifth newspaper established in America,
although generally called the fourth, because the first, Public Oc-
currences, published in Boston in 1690, was suppressed after the
first issue. Following is the order in which the other four
papers were published: Boston News Letter, 1/04; Boston Ga-
zette, December 21, 1719; The American Weekly Mercury, Phila-
delphia, December 22, 1719; The New England Courant, 1721.

THE

New-England Courant.

From MONDAY December 4. to M o D A T December it. 1721.

S Y L V I A lit Fiir. A Jingle.

A Swum of Sparks, young, gay, and bold,
Lov'J Sjlvi* long, biu (he was cold ;
In'treft and Pride the Nymph contiol'd,
So they in vain their Palfion lolj.
At lift came Dalrnan, he was old,
Nay, he was ugly, but had Gold.
He came, and law, and took (lie HolJ,
While t'other Beau* their Lois Condol'd.
Some fiy, (he's Wed; 1 fa;, file's fold.

"lit Letter igitivft tnocul.itixg it't Fmtll Tax, ( Sig
Abfinihium ) giving an Account of ill Number of
ftifini alia A.tte d)'d undo tint Vferatian, will tt
I/tHtd in cur ut^t.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

Ifp.i'-n t Mnrcti6. The Con [piracy form'd by the
Grand Vizir laft January was Twelvemonth, with de-
fign to make hunfelf King of Perfla, was feafonably
dilco ver'd. and himfelf and Accomplices fecured ; fince
which the State hath enjoy'd its former Tiamjuility,
and a new Vizir is appointed i i his room, The old
cne's Eyes being both put out, he is Kept alive ( but
in Prifon ) to make him difcover ali his Riches ;
which muft be immenfely great, fince they found in
onecf his Cherts four hundred thoufand Perfian Du-
cats, befide Foreign Coin, and in another Place abun-
dance of Jewels. Gold and Silver ; and fo in proporti-
on among feveral of his Accomplices ; by the help of
which 1 icafure they hoped to compafs their Ends.

Tnp"li,Ju!) i . As foon as our Squadron fitted out
againft the famous BafTaw Cianur. Cogia, appear'd off
Luma and Beugan, with two thoufand five hundred
Moorifh Horfe, nd a thoufand Foot, and skirmiHi'p
a little with his Squadron, he abandon'd both thofe
Places, and fled to the Ifland of Serty in the Territo-
ries of Tunis .- But the Bey of that Place having de-
ny'd him Shelter, he fail'd farther away, in a French
Barque, w know not whether ; and his own Galleys
and Basques, are gone after him, fo that we are now
entirely riJofthat iroublefouneGuell. Our Roveii
keep all in Port, for fear of the Maltezc.

Cifit, Aug- i*. The Flota is expected Home from
t>ie Weft-Indies before the End of this Month.
Thirteen Pieces of Ca -non and two Mortars were late-
ly fent from hence to Ceuta. The three SpaniOi Men
of War of $o to So Guns each, which carried the Spa-
ni(h Cardinals to Italy, are now at Alicant : It is faid
they ate to join the Dutch Vice-Aduiiral, who isnow
in this Bay with four Ships of his Squadron of Jo
Ouns each, and ctuize againft the Algetines. Wheat
and P.arley being very cheap in thefe Parts, great
Quantities have been ftnt lately to the Canaries,
where for feme Time paft the Inhabitants have been
ingreat Want of Coin. Ori the oth luftait died Mr.-
Charles, His Biiiannfck Ma jetty's Co.iful at St.
Lucat,

feme, Jut. 20. The Deputies of this Canton who
went to the Diet at Frawenfeldt, are now atTembled
at Raden with thofe of Zurich and Qlaris, to regulate
terrain Affairs relating to the Town and Cou-ity of
Baden, -vliich formerly belonged to ihe fcighc tliieft

Cantons, but in the lad Swifs War was given up (o
Zurich and Berne in Propriety, with a Refer.vationto
the Canton of Claris ( which is inoftly Proteilant j of
the Share it had berorg in the Sovereignty of that
TJiftricl. The thiee Deputies of Zurich, Lucein &
Ury, who were coininillioned by the late General Dyet
to go to Wilchingen, to try to compofe the DirTcr-
enccs which have been long (landing between the In-
habitants of that Mace and the Canton of Schafhuy-
fen whofe Subjects they are, have offered thofe Inha-
bitonts a full Pardon for all paft Misbehaviour, and
the Maintenance of their Piivilcgss for the future,
provided tl:ey forthwith rctutn to their Duty ; but
it is advifed that thofeof Wjlchiugcii pctlUl hitheito
in their UiloJed.ence.

Sibtffbauftn Sift. i. They write fiom Italy, that
the Plague is no longer obferv'd at Marfeilles, Aix, %
feveral other Places; and that at Toulon it is very
much decreas'd : But alas .' how (hould it be othet-
wife, when the Diftemper huh hardly any Objeflj
left to work upon ? At Aries it is Hl.ewil'c abated,
we fer for the fame Reafon. Mean while, it fpreadi
in the Gevaudan ; and two large Villages in tha
Neighbourhood of Frejus were attack'd the begin-
ning of this Month. The French Court hath prohi-
bited all communication with the Gevaudan upon fe-
vere Penalties. The PI ague is certainly got into tho
fmall Town of Marvegue in that Diftrjil, which
Town is (hut in by eight hundred Men. Letters from
Geneva fay, the two Battalions employ'd in furroun-
ding La Canourgue, are infefted ; and that Maages is
very much fufpefted. The Marquis de Quelus had
retired to a Cattle near Avignon; but the Sicknefs
being got among his Domefticks, he was fled farther
away.

Pi>-it, Sept. j. The Diftriit over which the Duke
of Berwick is to have the Command, extends to the
Borders of the Bourbonnois; and the Court puts 2
great Confidence in the Care of that General 19 hinder
the Infection from fpreading. The Marquis da
Verceil isaftually drawing Lines to (hut in the Ge-
vaudan ; and twelve Regiments of Foot, and as many
of Dragoons, are marching to reinforce the Troops
already polled on that fide. The Plague feems to
have almoft fpent itfelf in Provence. Tho' it is yet
a great way offof us, Men talk neverthelefs of laying
up Magazines of all fort of Provifions here, and of ma-
king twenty thoufand Beds, to be fet up in the Hofpi-
tals and Tennis-Conns.

Jf'gue, Sept. 9. The Deputies of our Admiralties
had, laft Saturday, an extraordinary Confeience with
thofeof the States General, upon the fpreading of a
Report, that ten or twelve Perfons died daily at a cer-
tain Place in Normandy, which was therefore fufpeft-
d to have received the Contagion ; Rut upon the
matter, it doth not appear thete^as the leaf? Foun-
dation for fuch a Report ; tho' it is too plain the
Difteroper gains ground apace in the Southern Parts
of France.

We can by no means penetrate into the Defigns of
trie Czar; who, notwithstanding 'tis confidently
written that the Peace between birn and Sweden is at
good'as concluded, hath a Fleet of thirty Menof War
and two hundred Galleys at Sea near Aland. Howe-
ver, an Expreis gone by from Stockholm, doth not

coofim

First page of The New England Courant of Dec. 4-11, 1721.
duced about one-third. From a copy in the library of
the Massachusetts Historical Society

Re-

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 35

sheets, I was employed to carry the papers
thro' the streets to the customers.

He had some ingenious men among his
friends, who amus'd themselves by writing little
pieces for this paper, which gain'd it credit
and made it more in demand, and these gentle-
men often visited us. Hearing their conversa-
tions, and their accounts of the approbation
their papers were received with, I was excited
to try my hand among them; but, being still a
boy, and suspecting that my brother would
object to printing anything of mine in his pa-
per if he knew it to be mine, I contrived to dis-
guise my hand, and, writing an anonymous
paper, I put it in at night under the door of
the printing-house. It was found in the morn-
ing, and communicated to his writing friends
when they call'd in as usual. They read it,
commented on it in my hearing, and I had the
exquisite pleasure of finding it met with their
approbation, and that, in their different guesses
at the author, none were named but men of
some character among us for learning and in-
genuity. I suppose now that I was rather lucky
in my judges, and that perhaps they were not
really so very good ones as I then esteem'd
them.

Encourag'd, however, by this, I wrote and

36 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

conveyed in the same way to the press several
more papers which were equally approv'd; and
I kept my secret till my small fund of sense
for such performances was pretty well ex-
hausted, and then I discovered 1 it, when I
began to be considered a little more by my
brother's acquaintance, and in a manner that
did not quite please him, as he thought, prob-
ably with reason, that it tended to make me
too vain. And, perhaps, this might be one oc-
casion of the differences that we began to have
about this time. Though a brother, he con-
sidered himself as my master, and me as his
apprentice, and, accordingly, expected the same
services from me as he would from another,
while I thought he demean'd me too much in
some he requir'd of me, who from a brother
expected more indulgence. Our disputes were
often brought before our father, and I fancy
I was either generally in the right, or else a
better pleader, because the judgment was gen-
erally in my favor. But my brother was pas-
sionate, and had often beaten me, which I took
extreamly amiss; and, thinking my apprentice-
ship very tedious, I was continually wishing
for some opportunity of shortening it, which
at length offered in a manner unexpected.

1 Disclosed.

'I was employed to carry the papers thro' the streets
to the customers"

ASTCR,
TILDEN I

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 37

One of the pieces in our newspaper on some
political point, which I have now forgotten,
gave offense to the Assembly. He was taken
up, censur'd, and imprison'd for a month, by
the speaker's warrant, I suppose, because he
would not discover his author. I too was taken
up and examin'd before the council; but, tho'
I did not give them any satisfaction, they con-
tented themselves with admonishing me, and
dismissed me, considering me, perhaps, as an
apprentice, who was bound to keep his mas-
ter's secrets.

During my brother's confinement, which I
resented a good deal, notwithstanding our
private differences, I had the management of
the paper; and I made bold to give our rulers
some rubs in it, which my brother took very
kindly, while others began to consider me in
an unfavorable light, as a young genius 'that
had a turn for libeling and satyr. My brother's
discharge was accompany'd with an order of
the House (a very odd one), that ' James
Franklin should no longer print the paper called
the New England Courant."

There was a consultation held in our print-
ing-house among his friends, what he should
do in this case. Some proposed to evade the
order by changing the name of the paper; but

38 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

my brother, seeing inconveniences in that, it
was finally concluded on as a better way, to
let it be printed for the future under the name
of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN; and to avoid the cen-
sure of the Assembly, that might fall on him as
still printing it by his apprentice, the contriv-
ance was that my old indenture should be re-
turn'd to me, with a full discharge on the back
of it, to be shown on occasion, but to secure to
him the benefit of my service, I was to sign
new indentures for the remainder of the term,
which were to be kept private. A very flimsy
scheme it was; however, it was immediately
executed, and the paper went on accordingly,
under my name for several months.

At length, a fresh difference arising between
my brother and me, I took upon me to assert
my freedom, presuming that he would not ven-
ture to produce the new indentures. It was
not fair in me to take this advantage, and this
I therefore reckon one of the first errata of
my life; but the unfairness of it weighed little
with me, when under the impressions of re-
sentment for the blows his passion too often
urged him to bestow upon me, though he was
otherwise not an ill-natur'd man: perhaps I
was too saucy and provoking.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 39

When he found I would leave him, he took
care to prevent my getting employment in any
other printing-house of the town, by going
round and speaking to every master, who ac-
cordingly refus'd to give me work. I then thought
of going to New York, as the nearest place
where there was a printer; and I was rather in-
clin'd to leave Boston when I reflected that
I had already made myself a little obnoxious
to the governing party, and, from the arbitrary
proceedings of the Assembly in my brother's
case, it was likely I might, if I stay'd, soon
bring myself into scrapes; and farther, that my
indiscreet disputations about religion began to
make me pointed at with horror by good people
as an infidel or atheist. I determin'd on the
point, but my father now siding with my
brother, I was sensible that, if I attempted to
go openly, means would be used to prevent
me. My friend. Collins, therefore, undertook
to manage a little for me. He agreed with
the captain of a New York sloop for my
passage, under the notion of my being a young
acquaintance of his. So I sold some of my
books to raise a little money, was taken on
board privately, and as we had a fair wind,
in three days I found myself in New York,

4 o FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

near 300 miles from home, a boy of but 17,
without the least recommendation to, or knowl-
edge of, any person in the place, and with
very little money in my pocket.

Ill

ARRIVAL IN PHILADELPHIA

Y inclinations for the sea were by
this time worne out, or I might
now have gratify'd them. But, hav-
ing a trade, and supposing myself a
pretty good workman, I offer'd my service to
the printer in the place, old Mr. William Brad-
ford, who had been the first printer in Penn-
sylvania, but removed from thence upon the
quarrel of George Keith. He could give me no
employment, having little to do, and help
enough already; but says he, 'My son at
Philadelphia has lately lost his principal hand,
Aquilla. Rose, by death; if you go thither, I
believe he may employ you." Philadelphia was
a hundred miles further; I set out, however,
in a boat for Amboy, leaving my chest and
things to follow me round by sea.

In crossing the bay, we met with a squall
that tore our rotten sails to pieces, prevented
our getting into the Kill, 1 and drove us upon

1 Kill van Kull, the channel separating Staten Island from New
Jersey on the north.

42 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Long Island. In our way, a drunken Dutch-
man, who was a passenger too, fell overboard;
when he was sinking, I reached through the
water to his shock pate, and drew him up, so
that we got him in again. His ducking sobered
him a little, and he went to sleep, taking first
out of his pocket a book, which he desir'd I
would dry for him. It proved to be my old
favorite author, Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress,
in Dutch, finely printed on good paper, with
copper cuts, a dress better than I had ever
seen it wear in its own language. I have since
found that it has been translated into most
of the languages of Europe, and suppose it
has been more generally read than any other
book, except perhaps the Bible. Honest John
was the first that I know of who mix'd narra-
tion and dialogue; a method of writing very
engaging to the reader, who in the most inter-
esting parts finds himself, as it were, brought
into the company and present at the discourse.
De Foe in his Cruso, his Moll Flanders, Re-
ligious Courtship, Family Instructor, and other
pieces, has imitated it with success; and Rich-
ardson l has done the same in his Pamela, etc.

i Samuel Richardson, the father of the English novel, wrote
Pamela, Clarissa Harlowe, and the History of Sir Charles Grandi-
son, novels published in the form of letters.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 43

When we drew near the island, we found
it was at a place where there could be no
landing, there being a great surff on the stony
beach. So we dropt anchor, and swung round
towards the shore. Some people came down
to the water edge and hallow'd to us, as we did
to them; but the wind was so high, and the
surff so loud, that we could not hear so as to
understand each other. There were canoes
on the shore, and we made signs, and hallow'd
that they should fetch us; but they either did
not understand us, or thought it impracticable,
so they went away, and night coming on, we
had no remedy but to wait till the wind should
abate; and, in the meantime, the boatman and
I concluded to sleep, if we could; and so
crowded into the scuttle, with the Dutchman,
who was still wet, and the spray beating over
the head of our boat, leak'd thro' to us, so that
we were soon almost as wet as he. In this man-
ner we lay all night, with very little rest; but,
the wind abating the next day, we made a
shift to reach Amboy before night, having been
thirty hours on the water, without victuals, or
any drink but a bottle of filthy rum, and the
water we sail'd on being salt.

In the evening I found myself very feverish,
and went in to bed; but, having read some-

44 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

where that cold water drank plentifully was
good for a fever, I follow'd the prescription,
sweat plentifully most of the night, my fever
left me, and in the morning, crossing the ferry,
I proceeded on my journey on foot, having
fifty miles to Burlington, where I was told I

should find boats that would carry me the rest
of the way to Philadelphia.

It rained very hard all the day; I was
thoroughly soak'd, and by noon a good deal
tired; so I stopt at a poor inn, where I staid
all night, beginning now to wish that I had
never left home. I cut so miserable a figure,
too, that I found, by the questions ask'd me,
I was suspected to be some runaway servant,
and in danger of being taken up on that sus-
picion. However, I proceeded the next day,

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 45

and got in the evening to an inn, within eight
or ten miles of Burlington, kept by one Dr.
Brown. He entered into conversation with
me while I took some refreshment, and, find-
ing I had read a little, became very sociable
and friendly. Our acquaintance continu'd as
long as he liv'd. He had been, I imagine, an
itinerant doctor, for there was no town in
England, or country in Europe, of which he
could not give a very particular account. He
had some letters, and was ingenious, but much
of an unbeliever, and wickedly undertook, some
years after, to travesty the Bible in doggrel
verse, as Cotton had done Virgil. By this
means he set many of the facts in a very
ridiculous light, and might have hurt weak
minds if his work had been published; but it
never was.

At his house I lay that night, and the next
morning reach'd Burlington, but had the mor-
tification to find that the regular boats were
gone a little before my coming, and no other
expected to go before Tuesday, this being Sat-
urday; wherefore I returned to an old woman
in the town, of whom I had bought ginger-
bread to eat on the water, and ask'd her advice.
She invited me to lodge at her house till a
passage by water should offer; and being tired

46 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

with my foot traveling, I accepted the invita-
tion. She understanding I was a printer, would
have had me stay at that town and follow my
business, being ignorant of the stock necessary
to begin with. She was very hospitable, gave
me a dinner of ox-cheek with great good will,
accepting only of a pot of ale in return; and I
thought myself fixed till Tuesday should come.
However, walking in the evening by the side
of the river, a boat came by, which I found was
going towards Philadelphia, with several people
in her. They took me in, and, as there was no
wind, we row'd all the way; and about mid-
night, not having yet seen the city, some of the
company were confident we must have passed
it, and would row no farther; the others knew
not where we were; so we put toward the
shore, got into a creek, landed near an old
fence, with the rails of which we made a fire,
the night being cold, in October, and there we
remained till daylight. Then one of the com-
pany knew the place to be Cooper's Creek, a
little above Philadelphia, which we saw as soon
as we got out of the creek, and arriv'd there
about eight or nine o'clock on the Sunday
morning, and landed at the Market-street
wharf.

I have been the more particular in this de-

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 47

scription of my journey, and shall be so of
my first entry into that city, that you may in
your mind compare such unlikely beginnings
with the figure I have since made there. I
was in my working dress, my best clothes be-
ing to come round by sea. I was dirty from
my journey; my pockets were stufFd out with
shirts and stockings, and I knew no soul nor
where to look for lodging. I was fatigued
with traveling, rowing, and want of rest, I
was very hungry; and my whole stock of cash
consisted of a Dutch dollar, and about a shilling
in copper. The latter I gave the people of the
boat for my passage, who at first refus'd it, on
account of my rowing; but I insisted on their
taking it. A man being sometimes more gen-
erous when he has but a little money than when
he has plenty, perhaps thro' fear of being
thought to have but little.

Then I walked up the street, gazing about
till near the market-house I met a boy with
bread. I had made many a meal on bread,
and, inquiring where he got it, I went immedi-
ately to the baker's he directed me to, in Sec-
ond-street, and ask'd for bisket, intending such
as we had in Boston; but they, it seems, were
not made in Philadelphia. Then I asked for
a three-penny loaf, and was told they had

48 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

none such. So not considering or knowing
the difference of money, and the greater cheap-
ness nor the names of his bread, I bade him
give me three-penny worth of any sort. He
gave me, accordingly, three great puffy rolls.
I was surpriz'd at the quantity, but took it,
and, having no room in my pockets, walk'd
off with a roll under each arm, and eating
the other. Thus I went up Market-street as
far as Fourth-street, passing by the door of
Mr. Read, my future wife's father; when she,
standing at the door, saw me, and thought I
made, as I certainly did, a most awkward,
ridiculous appearance. Then I turned and went
down Chestnut-street and part of Walnut-
street, eating my roll all the way, and, com-
ing round, found myself again at Market-street
wharf, near the boat I came in, to which I
went for a draught of the river water; and,
being filled with one of my rolls, gave the other
two to a woman and her child that came down
the river in the boat with us, and were waiting
to go farther.

Thus refreshed, I walked again up the street,
which by this time had many clean-dressed
people in it, who were all walking the same
way. I joined them, and thereby was led into
the great meeting-house of the Quakers near

"She, standing at the door, saw me, and thought I made, as I
certainly did, a most awkward, ridiculous appearance"

'Hi

PUBL

AS
T1LD

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 49

the market. I sat down among them, and,
after looking round awhile and hearing nothing
said, being very drowsy thro' labour and want
of rest the preceding night, I fell fast asleep,
and continu'd so till the meeting broke up,
when one was kind enough to rouse me. This
was, therefore, the first house I was in, or slept
in, in Philadelphia.

Walking down again toward the river, and,
looking in the faces of people, I met a young
Quaker man, whose countenance I lik'd, and,
accosting him, requested he would tell me
where a stranger could get lodging. We were
then near the sign of the Three Mariners.
" Here," says he, " is one place that enter-
tains strangers, but it is not a reputable
house; if thee wilt walk with me, I'll show
thee a better." He brought me to the Crooked
Billet in Water-street. Here I got a dinner;
and, while I was eating it, several sly ques-
tions were asked me, as it seemed to be sus-
pected from my youth and appearance, that I
might be some runaway.

After dinner, my sleepiness return'd, and
being shown to a bed, I lay down without un-
dressing, and slept till six in the evening,
was call'd to supper, went to bed again very
early, and slept soundly till next morning.

50 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Then I made myself as tidy as I could, and
went to Andrew Bradford the printer's. I
found in the shop the old man his father,
whom I had seen at New York, and who,
traveling on horseback, had got to Philadel-
phia before me. He introduc'd me to his son,
who receiv'd me civilly, gave me a breakfast,
but told me he did not at present want a hand,
being lately suppli'd with one; but there was
another printer in town, lately set up, one
Keimer, who, perhaps, might employ me; if
not, I should be welcome to lodge at his house,
and he would give me a little work to do now
and then till fuller business should offer.

The old gentleman said he would go with
me to the new printer; and when we found
him, " Neighbour," says Bradford, ' I have
brought to see you a young man of your busi-
ness; perhaps you may want such a one." He
ask'd me a few questions, put a composing
stick in my hand to see how I work'd, and then
said he would employ me soon, though he
had just then nothing for me to do; and, tak-
ing old Bradford, whom he had never seen
before, to be one of the town's people that had
a good will for him, enter'd into a conversa-
tion on his present undertaking and prospects;
while Bradford, not discovering that he was

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 51

the other printer's father, on Keimer's saying
he expected soon to get the greatest part of
the business into his own hands, drew him
on by artful questions, and starting little
doubts, to explain all his views, what interest
he reli'd on, and in what manner he intended
to proceed. I, who stood by and heard all,
saw immediately that one of them was a crafty
old sophister, and the other a mere novice.
Bradford left me with Keimer, who was greatly
surpris'd when I told him who the old man
was.

Keimer's printing-house, I found, consisted
of an old shatter'd press, and one small, worn-
out font of English, which he was then using
himself, composing an Elegy on Aquilla Rose,
before mentioned, an ingenious young man,
of excellent character, much respected in the
town, clerk of the Assembly, and a pretty
poet. Keimer made verses too, but very indif-
ferently. He could not be said to write them,
for his manner was to compose them in the
types directly out of his head. So there being
no copy, 1 but one pair of cases, and the Elegy
likely to require all the letter, no one could
help him. I endeavour'd to put his press (which
he had not yet us'd, and of which he under-

1 Manuscript.

52 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

stood nothing) into order fit to be work'd with;
and, promising to come and print off his Elegy
as soon as he should have got it ready, I re-
turn'd to Bradford's, who gave me a little
job to do for the present, and there I lodged
and dieted. A few days after, Keimer sent
for me to print off the Elegy. And now he
had got another pair of cases, 1 and a pamphlet
to reprint, on which he set me to work.

These two printers I found poorly qualified
for their business. Bradford had not been bred
to it, and was very illiterate; and Keimer, tho'
something of a scholar, was a mere compositor,
knowing nothing of presswork. He had been
one of the French prophets, 2 and could act
their enthusiastic agitations. At this time he
did not profess any particular religion, but
something of all on occasion; was very ignorant
of the world, and had, as I afterward found, a
good deal of the knave in his composition. He
did not like my lodging at Bradford's while I
work'd with him. He had a house, indeed,
but without furniture, so he could not lodge

1 The frames for holding type are in two sections, the upper
for capitals and the lower for small letters.

2 Protestants of the South of France, who became fanatical
under the persecutions of Louis XIV, and thought they had the
gift of prophecy. They had as mottoes " No Taxes " and " Lib-
erty of Conscience."

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 53

me; but he got me a lodging at Mr. Read's be-
fore mentioned, who was the owner of his
house; and, my chest and clothes being come
by this time, I made rather a more respectable
appearance in the eyes of Miss Read than I
had done when she first happen'd to see me
eating my roll in the street.

I began now to have some acquaintance
among the young people of the town, that
were lovers of reading,, with whom I spent
my evenings very pleasantly; and gaining
money by my industry and frugality, I lived
very agreeably, forgetting Boston as much as
I could, and not desiring that any there should
know where I resided, except my friend Collins,
who was in my secret, and kept it when I wrote
to him. At length, an incident happened that
sent me back again much sooner than I had
intended. I had a brother-in-law, Robert
Holmes, master of a sloop that traded between
Boston and Delaware. He being at Newcastle,
forty miles below Philadelphia, heard there of
me, and wrote me a letter mentioning the con-
cern of my friends in Boston at my abrupt
departure, assuring me of their good will to
me, and that everything would be accommo-
dated to my mind if I would return, to which
he exhorted me very earnestly. I wrote an

54 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

answer to his letter, thank'd him for his advice,
but stated my reasons for quitting Boston fully
and in such a light as to convince him I was
not so wrong as he had apprehended.

IV
FIRST VISIT TO BOSTON

IR WILLIAM KEITH, governor of
the province, was then at Newcastle,
and Captain Holmes, happening to
be in company with him when my
letter came to hand, spoke to him of me, and
show'd him the letter. The governor read it,
and seem'd surpris'd when he was told my
age. He said I appear'd a young man of prom-
ising parts, and therefore should be encouraged;
the printers at Philadelphia were wretched
ones; and, if I would set up there, he made
no doubt I should succeed; for his part, he
would procure me the public business, and do
me every other service in his power. This my
brother-in-law afterwards told me in Boston,
but I knew as yet nothing of it; when, one day,
Keimer and I being at work together near the
window, we saw the governor and another
gentleman (which proved to be Colonel French,
of Newcastle), finely dress'd, come directly
across the street to our house, and heard them
at the door.

56 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Keimer ran down immediately, thinking it
a visit to him; but the governor inquir'd for me,
came up, and with a condescension and polite-
ness I had been quite unus'd to, made me many
compliments, desired to be acquainted with me,
blam'd me kindly for not having made my-
self known to him when I first came to the
place, and would have me away with him to
the tavern, where he was going with Colonel
French to taste, as he said, some excellent
Madeira. I was not a little surprised, and
Keimer star'd like a pig poison'd. 1 I went,
however, with the governor and Colonel French
to a tavern, at the corner of Third-street, and
over the Madeira he propos'd my setting up
my business, laid before me the probabilities
of success, and both he and Colonel French
assur'd me I should have their interest and
influence in procuring the public business of
both governments. 2 On my doubting whether
my father would assist me in it, Sir William
said he would give me a letter to him, in
which he would state the advantages, and he
did not doubt of prevailing with him. So it
was concluded I should return to Boston in

1 Temple Franklin considered this specific figure vulgar and
changed it to " stared with astonishment."

2 Pennsylvania and Delaware.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY . 57

the first vessel, with the governor's letter rec-
ommending me to my father. In the mean-
time the intention was to be kept a secret,
and I went on working with Keimer as usual,
the governor sending for me now and then
to dine with him, a very great honour I thought
it, and conversing with me in the most affable,
familiar, and friendly manner imaginable.

About the end of April, 1724, a little vessel
offer'd for Boston. I took leave of Keimer
as going to see my friends. The governor
gave me an ample letter, saying many flatter-
ing things of me to my father, and strongly
recommending the project of my setting up at
Philadelphia as a thing that must make my
fortune. We struck on a shoal in going down
the bay, and sprung a leak; we had a blus-
tering time at sea, and were oblig'd to pump
almost continually, at which I took my turn.
We arriv'd safe, however, at Boston in about
a fortnight. I had been absent seven months,
and my friends had heard nothing of me; for
my br. Holmes was not yet return'd, and had
not written about me. My unexpected appear-
ance surpriz'd the family; all were, however,
very glad to see me, and made me welcome,
except my brother. I went to see him at his
printing-house. I was better dress'd than ever

58 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

while in his service, having a genteel new suit
from head to foot, a watch, and my pockets
lin'd with near five pounds sterling in silver.
He receiv'd me not very frankly, look'd me
all over, and turn'd to his work again.

The journeymen were inquisitive where I
had been, what sort of a country it was, and

how I lik'd it. I prais'd it much, and the happy
life I led in it, expressing strongly my inten-
tion of returning to it; and, one of them ask-
ing what kind of money we had there, I pro-
duc'd a handful of silver, and spread it be-
fore them, which was a kind of raree-show L
they had not been us'd to, paper being the
money of Boston.* Then I took an opportunity

1 A peep-show in a box.

2 There were no mints in the colonies, so the metal money was
of foreign coinage and not nearly so common as paper money,

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 59

of letting them see my watch; and, lastly (my
brother still grum and sullen), I gave them
a piece of eight x ' to drink, and took my leave.
This visit of mine offended him extreamly; for,
when my mother some time after spoke to
him of a reconciliation, and of her wishes to
see us on good terms together, and that we
might live for the future as brothers, he said
I had insulted him in such a manner before
his people that he could never forget or for-
give it. In this, however, he was mistaken.

My father received the governor's letter with
some apparent surprise, but said little of it to
me for some days, when Capt. Holmes return-
ing he show'd it to him, asked him if he knew
Keith, and what kind of man he was; adding
his opinion that he must be of small discre-
tion to think of setting a boy up in business
who wanted yet three years of being at man's
estate. Holmes said what he could in favour
of the project, but my father was clear in the
impropriety of it, and at last, gave a flat denial
to it. Then he wrote a civil letter to Sir
William, thanking him for the patronage he
had so kindly offered me, but declining to assist

which was printed in large quantities in America, even in small
denominations.
1 Spanish dollar about equivalent to our dollar.

6o FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

me as yet in setting up, I being, in his opinion,
too young to be trusted with the management
of a business so important, and for which the
preparation must be so expensive.

My friend and companion Collins, who was
a clerk in the post-office, pleas'd with the
account I gave him of my new country, deter-
mined to go thither also; and, while I waited
for my father's determination, he set out be-
fore me by land to Rhode Island, leaving his
books, which were a pretty collection of mathe-
maticks and natural philosophy, to come with
mine and me to New York, where he pro-
pos'd to wait for me.

My father, tho' he did not approve Sir
William's proposition, was yet pleas'd that I
had been able to obtain so advantageous a
character from a person of such note where
I had resided, and that I had been so indus-
trious and careful as to equip myself so hand-
somely in so short a time; therefore, seeing no
prospect of an accommodation between my
brother and me, he gave his consent to my re-
turning again to Philadelphia, advis'd me to
behave respectfully to the people there, en-
deavour to obtain the general esteem, and avoid
lampooning and libeling, to which he thought
I had too much inclination; telling me, that

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 61

by steady industry and a prudent parsimony
I might save enough by the time I was one-
and-twenty to set me up; and that, if I came
near the matter, he would help me out with
the rest. This was all I could obtain, except
some small gifts as tokens of his and my
mother's love, when I embark'd again for New
York, now with their approbation and their
blessing.

The sloop putting in at Newport, Rhode
Island, I visited my brother John, who had
been married and settled there some years. He
received me very affectionately, for he always
lov'd me. A friend of his, one Vernon, having
some money due to him in Pensilvania, about
thirty-five pounds currency, desired I would
receive it for him, and keep it till I had his
directions what to remit it in. Accordingly,
he gave me an order. This afterwards occa-
sion'd me a good deal of uneasiness.

At Newport we took in a number of pas-
sengers for New York, among which were two
young women, companions, and a grave, sen-
sible, matronlike Quaker woman, with her
attendants. I had shown an obliging readiness
to do her some little services, which impress'd
her I suppose with a degree of good will
toward me; therefore, when she saw a daily

62 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

growing familiarity between me and the two
young women, which they appear'd to en-
courage, she took me aside, and said, Young
man, I am concern'd for thee, as thou hast
no friend with thee, and seems not to know
much of the world, or of the snares youth
is expos'd to; depend upon it, those are
very bad women; I can see it in all
their actions; and if thee art not upon
thy guard, they will draw thee into some dan-
ger; they are strangers to thee, and I advise
thee, in a friendly concern for thy welfare,
to have no acquaintance with them." As I
seem'd at first not to think so ill of them as
she did, she mentioned some things she had
observ'd and heard that had escap'd my notice,
but now convinc'd me she was right. I thank'd

her for her kind advice, and promis'd to follow
it. When we arriv'd at New York, they told
me where they liv'd, and invited me to come
and see them; but I avoided it, and it was
well I did; for the next day the captain miss'd
a silver spoon and some other things, that had
been taken out of his cabbin, and, knowing
that these were a couple of strumpets, he got
a warrant to search their lodgings, found the
stolen goods, and had the thieves punish'd.
So, tho' we had escap'd a sunken rock, which

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 63

we scrap'd upon in the passage, I thought this
escape of rather more importance to me.

At New York I found my friend Collins,
who had arriv'd there some time before me.
,We had been intimate from children, and had
read the same books together; but he had the
advantage of more time for reading and study-
ing, and a wonderful genius for mathematical
learning, in which he far outstript me. While
I liv'd in Boston, most of my hours of leisure
for conversation were spent with him, and he
continu'd a sober as well as an industrious lad;
was much respected for his learning by several
of the clergy and other gentlemen, and seemed
to promise making a good figure in life. But,
during my absence, he had acquir'd a habit of
sotting with brandy; and I found by his own
account, and what I heard from others, that
he had been drunk every day since his arrival
at New York, and behav'd very oddly. He
had gam'd, too, and lost his money, so that
I was oblig'd to discharge his lodgings, and
defray his expenses to and at Philadelphia,
which prov'd extremely inconvenient to me.

The then governor of New York, Burnet
(son of Bishop Burnet), hearing from the cap-
tain that a young man, one of his passengers,
had a great many books, desir'd he would bring

64 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

me to see him. I waited upon him accordingly,
and should have taken Collins with me but
that he was not sober. The gov'r. treated me
with great civility, show'd me his library, which
was a very large one, and we had a good deal
of conversation about books and authors. This
was the second governor who had done me the
honour to take notice of me; which, to a poor
boy like me, was very pleasing.

We proceeded to Philadelphia. I received
on the way Vernon's money, without which
we could hardly have finish'd our journey.
Collins wished to be employ'd in some count-
ing-house; but, whether they discover'd his
dramming by his breath, or by his behaviour,
tho' he had some recommendations, he met with
no success in any application, and continu'd
lodging and boarding at the same house with
me, and at my expense. Knowing I had that
money of Vernon's, he was continually bor-
rowing of me, still promising repayment as
soon as he should be in business. At length
he had got so much of it that I was distress'd
to think what I should do in case of being
call'd on to remit it.

His drinking continu'd, about which we some-
times quarrel'd; for, when a little intoxicated,
he was very fractious. Once, in a boat on the

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 65

Delaware with some other young men, he re-
fused to row in his turn. ' I will be row'd
home," says he. " We will not row you," says
I. " You must, or stay all night on the water,"
says he, " just as you please." The others
said, "Let us row; what signifies it?' But,
my mind being soured with his other conduct,
I continu'd to refuse. So he swore he would
make me row, or throw me overboard; and
coming along, stepping on the thwarts, toward
me, when he came up and struck at me, I
clapped my hand under his crutch, and, rising,
pitched him head-foremost into the river. I
knew he was a good swimmer, and so was under
little concern about him; but before he could
get round to lay hold of the boat, we had with
a few strokes pull'd her out of his reach; and
ever when he drew near the boat, we ask'd if
he would row, striking a few strokes to slide
her away from him. He was ready to die with
vexation, and obstinately would not promise to
row. However, seeing him at last beginning
to tire, we lifted him in and brought him home
dripping wet in the evening. We hardly ex-
chang'd a civil word afterwards, and a West
India captain, who had a commission to pro-
cure a tutor for the sons of a gentleman at
Barbados, happening to meet with him, agreed

66 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

to carry him thither. He left me then, prom-
ising to remit me the first money he should
receive in order to discharge the debt; but I
never heard of him after.

The breaking into this money of Vernon's
was one of the first great errata of my life;
and this affair show'd that my father was not
much out in his judgment when he suppos'd
me too young to manage business of impor-
tance. But Sir William, on reading his letter,
said he was too prudent. There was great dif-
ference in persons; and discretion did not always
accompany years, nor was youth always
without it. ' And since he will not set you up,"
says he, " I will do it myself. Give me an
inventory of the things necessary to be had
from England, and I will send for them. You
shall repay me when you are able; I am resolv'd
to have a good printer here, and I am sure you
must succeed." This was spoken with such
an appearance of cordiality, that I had not the
least doubt of his meaning what he said. I
had hitherto kept the proposition of my setting
up, a secret in Philadelphia, and I still kept
it. Had it been known that I depended on the
governor, probably some friend, that knew him
better, would have advis'd me not to rely on
him, as I afterwards heard it as his known

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 67

character to be liberal of promises which he
never meant to keep. Yet, unsolicited as he
was by me, how could I think his generous
offers insincere? I believ'd him one of the best
men in the world.

I presented him an inventory of a little
print'-house, amounting by my computation
to about one hundred pounds sterling. He lik'd
it, but ask'd me if my being on the spot in Eng-
land to chuse the types, and see that everything
was good of the kind, might not be of some
advantage. " Then," says he, " when there,
you may make acquaintances, and establish
correspondences in the bookselling and sta-
tionery way." I agreed that this might be ad-
vantageous. " Then," says he, ' get yourself
ready to go with Annis; " which was the annual
ship, and the only one at that time usually
passing between London and Philadelphia. But
it would be some months before Annis sail'd, so
I continu'd working with Keimer, fretting about
the money Collins had got from me, and in
daily apprehensions of being call'd upon by
Vernon, which, however, did not happen for
some years after.

I believe I have omitted mentioning that, in
my first voyage from Boston, being becalm'd
off Block Island, our people set about catching

68 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

cod, and hauled up a great many. Hitherto I
had stuck to my resolution of not eating animal
food, and on this occasion I consider'd, with
my master Tryon, the taking every fish as a
kind of unprovoked murder, since none of them
had, or ever could do us any injury that might
justify the slaughter. All this seemed very
reasonable. But I had formerly been a great
lover of fish, and, when this came hot out of
the frying-pan, it smelt admirably well. I bal-
anc'd some time between principle and inclina-
tion, till I recollected that, when the fish were
opened, I saw smaller fish taken out of their
stomachs; then thought I, 'If you eat one
another, I don't see why we mayn't eat you."
So I din'd upon cod very heartily, and continued
to eat with other people, returning only now
and then occasionally to a vegetable diet. So
convenient a thing is it to be a reasonable
creature, since it enables one to find or make
a reason for everything one has a mind to do.

V
EARLY FRIENDS IN PHILADELPHIA

EIMER and I liv'd on a pretty good
familiar footing, and agreed toler-
ably well, for he suspected nothing
of my setting up. He retained a
great deal of his old enthusiasms and lov'd
argumentation. We therefore had many dis-
putations. I used to work him so with my
Socratic method, and had trepann'd him so
often by questions apparently so distant from
any point we had in hand, and yet by degrees
led to the point, and brought him into diffi-
culties and contradictions, that at last he grew
ridiculously cautious, and would hardly answer
me the most common question, without asking
first, '' What do you intend to infer from that?'
However, it gave him so high an opinion of my
abilities in the confuting way, that he seriously
proposed my being his colleague in a project
he had of setting up a new sect. He was to
preach the doctrines, and I was to confound
all opponents. When he came to explain with
me upon the doctrines, I found several conun-

70 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

drums which I objected to, unless I might have
my way a little too, and introduce some of
mine.

Keimer wore his beard at full length, because
somewhere in the Mosaic law it is said, l( Thou
shall not mar the corners of thy beard." He
likewise kept the Seventh day, Sabbath; and
these two points were essentials with him.
I dislik'd both; but agreed to admit them upon
condition of his adopting the doctrine of using
no animal food. " I doubt," said he, " my con-
stitution will not bear that." I assur'd him it
would, and that he would be the better for it.
He was usually a great glutton, and I prom-
ised myself some diversion in half starving him.
He agreed to try the practice, if I would keep
him company. I did so, and we held it for
three months. We had our victuals dress'd,
and brought to us regularly by a woman in the
neighborhood, who had from me a list of forty
dishes, to be prepar'd for us at different times,
in all which there was neither fish, flesh, nor
fowl, and the whim suited me the better at this
time from the cheapness of it, not costing us
above eighteenpence sterling each per week. I
have since kept several Lents most strictly,
leaving the common diet for that, and that for
the common, abruptly, without the least incon-

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 71

venience, so that I think- there is little in the
advice of making those changes by easy grada-
tions. I went on pleasantly, but poor Keimer
suffered grievously, tired of the project, long'd
for the flesh-pots of Egypt, and order'd a roast
pig. He invited me and two women friends to
dine with him; but, it being brought too soon
upon table, he could not resist the temptation,
and ate the whole before we came.

I had made some courtship during this time
to Miss Read. I had a great respect and affection
for her, and had some reason to believe she had
the same for me; but, as I was about to take a
long voyage, and we were both very young,
only a little above eighteen, it was thought most
prudent by her mother to prevent our going too
far at present, as a marriage, if it was to take
place, would be more convenient after my re-
turn, when I should be, as I expected, set up in
my business. Perhaps, too, she thought my ex-
pectations not so well founded as I imagined
them to be.

My chief acquaintances at this time were
Charles Osborne, Joseph Watson, and James
Ralph, all lovers of reading. The two first were
clerks to an eminent scrivener or conveyancer
in the town, Charles Brogden; the other was
clerk to a merchant. Watson was a pious,

72 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

sensible young man, of great integrity; the
others rather more lax in their principles of re-
ligion, particularly Ralph, who, as well as Col-
lins, had been unsettled by me, for which they
both made me suffer. Osborne was sensible,

candid, frank; sincere and affectionate to his
friends; but, in literary matters, too fond of
criticizing. Ralph was ingenious, genteel in
his manners, and extremely eloquent; I think
I never knew a prettier talker. Both of them
were great admirers of poetry, and began to
try their hands in little pieces. Many pleasant
walks we four had together on Sundays into
the woods, near Schuylkill, where we read to
one another, and conferr'd on what we read.

Ralph was inclin'd to pursue the study of
poetry, not doubting but he might become emi-

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 73

nent in it, and make his fortune by it, alleging
that the best poets must, when they first began
to write, make as many faults as he did. Os-
borne dissuaded him, assur'd him he had no
genius for poetry, and advis'd him to think of
nothing beyond the business he was bred to;
that, in the mercantile way, tho' he had no
stock, he might, by his diligence and punctu-
ality, recommend himself to employment as a
factor, and in time acquire wherewith to trade
on his own account. I approv'd the amusing
one's self with poetry now and then, so far
as to improve one's language, but no farther.

On this it was propos'd that we should each
of us, at our next meeting, produce a piece of
our own composing, in order to improve by our
mutual observations, criticisms, and corrections.
As language and expression were what we had
in view, we excluded all considerations of in-
vention by agreeing that the task should be a
version of the eighteenth Psalm, which de-
scribes the descent of a Deity. When the time
of our meeting drew nigh, Ralph called on me
first, and let me know his piece was ready. I
told him I had been busy, and, having little
inclination, had done nothing. He then show'd
me his piece for my opinion, and I much ap-
prov'd it, as it appear'd to me to have great

74 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

merit. " Now," says he, " Osborne never will
allow the least merit in anything of mine, but
makes 1000 criticisms out of mere envy. He is
not so jealous of you; I wish, therefore, you
would take this piece, and produce it as yours;
I will pretend not to have had time, and so
produce nothing. We shall then see what he
will say to it." It was agreed, and I immedi-
ately transcrib'd it, that it might appear in my
own hand.

We met; Watson's performance was read;
there were some beauties in it, but many de-
fects. Osborne's was read; it was much better;
Ralph did it justice; remarked some faults, but
applauded the beauties. He himself had nothing
to produce. I was backward; seemed desirous
of being excused; had not had sufficient time
to correct, etc.; but no excuse could be ad-
mitted; produce I must. It was read and re-
peated; Watson and Osborne gave up the con-
test, and join'd in applauding it. Ralph only
made some criticisms, and propos'd some
amendments; but I defended my text. Osborne
was against Ralph, and told him he was no
better a critic than poet, so he dropt the argu-
ment. As they two went home together, Os-
borne expressed himself still more strongly in
favor of what he thought my production; hav-

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 75

ing restrain'd himself before, as he said, lest
I should think it flattery. " But who would
have imagin'd," said he, " that Franklin
had been capable of such a performance;
such painting, such force, such fire! He
has even improv'd the original. In his com-
mon conversation he seems to have no choice
of words; he hesitates and blunders; and yet,
good God! how he writes!' When we next
met, Ralph discovered the trick we had plaid
him, and Osborne was a little laughed at.

This transaction fixed Ralph in his resolu-
tion of becoming a poet. I did all I could to
dissuade him from it, but he continued scrib-
bling verses till Pope cured him. 1 He became,
however, a pretty good prose writer. More of
him hereafter. But, as I may not have occa-
sion again to mention the other two, I shall
just remark here, that Watson died in my arms
a few years after, much lamented, being the
best of our set. Osborne went to the West
Indies, where he became an eminent lawyer and

1 " In one of the later editions of the Dtmciad occur the follow-
ing lines :

' Silence, ye wolves ! while Ralph to Cynthia howls,
And makes night hideous answer him, ye owls.'
To this the poet adds the following note:

' James Ralph, a name inserted after the first editions, not
known till he writ a swearing-piece called Sawney, very abusive
of Dr. Swift, Mr. Gay, and myself.' "

76 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

made money, but died young. He and I had
made a serious agreement, that the one who
happen'd first to die should, if possible, make
a friendly visit to the other, and acquaint him
how he found things in that separate state. But
he never fulfill'd his promise.

VI
FIRST VISIT TO LONDON

HE governor, seeming to like my
company, had me frequently to his
house, and his setting me up was
always mention'd as a fixed thing.
I was to take with me letters recommendatory
to a number of his friends, besides the letter
of credit to furnish me with the necessary
money for purchasing the press and types,
paper, etc. For these letters I was appointed
to call at different times, when they were to
be ready; but a future time was still named.
Thus he went on till the ship, whose departure
too had been several times postponed, was on
the point of sailing. Then, when I call'd to
take my leave and receive the letters, his secre-
tary, Dr. Bard, came out to me and said the
governor was extremely busy in writing, but
would be down at Newcastle, before the ship,
and there the letters would be delivered to me.
Ralph, though married, and having one child,
had determined to accompany me in this voy-
age. It was thought he intended to establish

78 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

a correspondence, and obtain goods to sell on
commission; but I found afterwards, that, thro'
some discontent with his wife's relations, he
purposed to leave her on their hands, and never
return again. Having taken leave of my friends,
and interchang'd some promises with Miss
Read, I left Philadelphia in the ship, which
anchor'd at Newcastle. The governor was
there; but when I went to his lodging, the sec-
retary came to me from him with the civillest
message in the world, that he could not then
see me, being engaged in business of the ut-
most importance, but should send the letters
to me on board, wished me heartily a good
voyage and a speedy return, etc. I returned on
board a little puzzled, but still not doubting.

Mr. Andrew Hamilton, a famous lawyer of
Philadelphia, had taken passage in the same
ship for himself and son, and with Mr. Denham,
a Quaker merchant, and Messrs. Onion and
Russel, masters of an iron work in Maryland,
had engaged the great cabin; so that Ralph and
I were forced to take up with a berth in the
steerage, and none on board knowing us, were
considered as ordinary persons. But Mr. Ham-
ilton and his son (it was James, since gov-
ernor) return'd from Newcastle to Philadel-
phia, the father being recall'd by a great fee

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 79

to plead for a seized ship; and, just before
we sail'd, Colonel French coming on board,
and showing me great respect, I was more
taken notice of, and, with my friend Ralph, in-
vited by the other gentlemen to come into the
cabin, there being now room. Accordingly,
we remov'd thither.

Understanding that Colonel French had
brought on board the governor's despatches,
I ask'd the captain for those letters that were
to be under my care. He said all were put
into the bag together and he could not then
come at them; but, before we landed in Eng-
land, I should have an opportunity of picking
them out; so I was satisfied for the present,
and we proceeded on our voyage. We had a
sociable company in the cabin, and lived un-
commonly well, having the addition of all Mr.
Hamilton's stores, who had laid in plentifully.
In this passage Mr. Denham contracted a friend-
ship for me that continued during his life. The
voyage was otherwise not a pleasant one, as
we had a great deal of bad weather.

When we came into the Channel, the cap-
tain kept his word with me, and gave me an
opportunity of examining the bag for the gov-
ernor's letters. I found none upon which my
name was put as under my care. I picked out

8o FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

six or seven, that, by the handwriting, I thought
might be the promised letters, especially as one
of them was directed to Basket, the king's
printer, and another to some stationer. We
arriv'd in London the 24th of December, 1724.
I waited upon the stationer, who came first
in my way, delivering the letter as from Gov-
ernor Keith. " I don't know such a person,"

says he; but, opening the letter, " O ! this is
from Riddlesden. I have lately found him to
be a compleat rascal, and I will have nothing
to do with him, nor receive any letters from
him." So, putting the letter into my hand, he
turn'd on his heel and left me to serve some
customer. I was surprized to find these were
not the governor's letters; and, after recollect-
ing and comparing circumstances, I began to

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 81

doubt his sincerity. I found my friend Den-
ham, and opened the whole affair to him. He
let me into Keith's character; told me there
was not the least probability that he had writ-
ten any letters for me; that no one, who knew
him, had the smallest dependence on him; and
he laught at the notion of the governor's giv-
ing me a letter of credit, having, as he said,
no credit to give. On my expressing some
concern about what I should do, he advised
me to endeavour getting some employment in
the way of my business. " Among the printers
here," said he, " you will improve yourself, and
when you return to America, you will set up
to greater advantage."

We both of us happen'd to know, as well as
the stationer, that Riddlesden, the attorney,
was a very knave. He had half ruin'd Miss
Read's father by persuading him to be bound
for him. By this letter it appear'd there was
a secret scheme on foot to the prejudice of
Hamilton (suppos'd to be then coming over
with us); and that Keith was concerned in it
with Riddlesden. Denham, who was a friend
of Hamilton's, thought he ought to be ac-
quainted with it; so, when he arriv'd in Eng-
land, which was soon after, partly from resent-
ment and ill-will to Keith and Riddlesden, and

82 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

partly from good-will to him, I waited on
him, and gave him the letter. He thank'd
me cordially, the information being of im-
portance to him; and from that time he be-
came my friend, greatly to my advantage after-
wards on many occasions.

But what shall we think of a governor's
playing such pitiful tricks, and imposing so
grossly on a poor ignorant boy! It was a
habit he had acquired. He wish'd to please
everybody; and, having little to give, he gave
expectations. He was otherwise an ingenious,
sensible man, a pretty good writer, and a good
governor for the people, tho' not for his con-
stituents, the proprietaries, whose instructions
he sometimes disregarded. Several of our best
laws were of his planning and passed during
his administration.

Ralph and I were inseparable companions.
We took lodgings together in Little Britain x
at three shillings and sixpence a week as
much as we could then afford. He found some
relations, but they were poor, and unable to
assist him. He now let me know his inten-
tions of remaining in London, and that he

1 One of the oldest parts of London, north of St. Paul's Ca-
thedral, called " Little Britain " because the Dukes of Brittany
used to live' there. See the essay entitled " Little Britain " in
Washington Irving's Sketch Book.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 83

never meant to return to Philadelphia. He
had brought no money with him, the whole
he could muster having been expended in pay-
ing his passage. I had fifteen pistoles; 1 so
he borrowed occasionally of me to subsist,
while he was looking out for business. He
first endeavoured to get into the play-house,
believing himself qualify'd for an actor; but
Wilkes, 2 to whom he apply'd, advis'd him can-
didly not to think of that employment, as it
was impossible he should succeed in it. Then
he propos'd to Roberts, a publisher in Pater-
noster Row, 3 to write for him a weekly paper
like the Spectator, on certain conditions, which
Roberts did not approve. Then he endeav-
oured to get employment as a hackney writer,
to copy for the stationers and lawyers about
the Temple, 4 but could find no vacancy.

I immediately got into work at Palmer's,
then a famous printing-house in Bartholomew
Close, and here I continu'd near a year. I was
pretty diligent, but spent with Ralph a good
deal of my earnings in going to plays and
other places of amusement. We had together

1 A gold coin worth about four dollars in our money.

2 A popular comedian, manager of Drury Lane Theater.

3 Street north of St. Paul's, occupied by publishing houses.

* Law schools and lawyers' residences situated southwest of St.
Paul's, between Fleet Street and the Thames.

84 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

consumed all my pistoles, and now just rubbed
on from hand to mouth. He seem'd quite to
forget his wife and child, and I, by degrees,
my engagements with Miss Read, to whom I
never wrote more than one letter, and that
was to let her know I was not likely soon
to return. This was another of the great
errata of my life, which I should wish to cor-
rect if I were to live it over again. In fact, by
our expenses, I was constantly kept unable to
pay my passage.

At Palmer's I was employed in composing
for the second edition of Wollaston's ' Re-
ligion of Nature." Some of his reasonings not
appearing to me well founded, I wrote a little
metaphysical piece in which I made remarks
on them. It was entitled ' A Dissertation on
Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain."
I inscribed it to my friend Ralph; I printed a
small number. It occasion'd my being more
consider'd by Mr. Palmer as a young man of
some ingenuity, tho' he seriously expostulated
with me upon the principles of my pamphlet,
which to him appear'd abominable. My print-
ing this pamphlet was another erratum.

While I lodg'd in Little Britain, I made an
acquaintance with one Wilcox, a bookseller,
whose shop was at the next door. He had an

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 85

immense collection of second-hand books. Cir-
culating libraries were not then in use; but
we agreed that, on certain reasonable terms,
which I have now forgotten, I might take,
read, and return any of his books. This I
esteem'd a great advantage, and I made as
much use of it as I could.

My pamphlet by some means falling into the
hands of one Lyons, a surgeon, author of a
book entitled ' The Infallibility of Human Judg-
ment," it occasioned an acquaintance between
us. He took great notice of me, called on me
often to converse on those subjects, carried
me to the Horns, a pale alehouse in
Lane, Cheapside, and introduced me to Dr.
Mandeville, author of the " Fable of the Bees,"
who had a club there, of which he was the
soul, being a most facetious, entertaining com-
panion. Lyons, too, introduced me to Dr. Pem-
berton, at Batson's Coffee-house, who prom-
is'd to give me an opportunity, sometime or
other, of seeing Sir Isaac Newton, of which
I was extreamly desirous; but this never hap-
pened.

I had brought over a few curiosities, among
which the principal was a purse made of the
asbestos, which purifies by fire. Sir Hans
Sloane heard of it, came to see me, and in-

86 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

vited me to his house in Bloomsbury Square,
where he show'd me all his curiosities, and
persuaded me to let him add that to the num-
ber, for which he paid me handsomely.

In our house there lodg'd a young woman,
a milliner, who, I think, had a shop in the
Cloisters. She had been genteelly bred, was
sensible and lively, and of most pleasing con-
versation. Ralph read plays to her in the
evenings, they grew intimate, she took another
lodging, and' he followed her. They liv'd to-
gether some time; but, he being still out of
business, and her income not sufficient to main-
tain them with her child, he took a resolution
of going from London, to try for a country
school, which he thought himself well qualified
to undertake, as he wrote an excellent hand,
and was a master of arithmetic and accounts.
This, however, he deemed a business below
him, and confident of future better fortune,
when he should be unwilling to have it known
that he once was so meanly employed, he
changed his name, and did me the honour to
assume mine; for I soon after had a letter from
him, acquainting me that he was settled in a
small village (in Berkshire, I think it was,
where he taught reading and writing to ten or
a dozen boys, at sixpence each per week), rec-

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 87

ommending Mrs. T to my care, and de-
siring me to write to him, directing for Mr.
Franklin, schoolmaster, at such a place.

He continued to write frequently, sending
me large specimens of an epic poem which he
was then composing, and desiring my remarks
and corrections. These I gave him from time
to time, but endeavour'd rather to discourage
his proceeding. One of Young's Satires 1 was
then just published. I copy'd and sent him a
great part of it, which set in a strong light
the folly of pursuing the Muses with any hope
of advancement by them. All was in vain;
sheets of the poem continued to come by every

post. In the meantime, Mrs. T , having

on his account lost her friends and business,
was often in distresses, and us'd to send for
me and borrow what I could spare to help her
out of them. I grew fond of her company,
and, being at that time under no religious re-
straint, and presuming upon my importance
to her, I attempted familiarities (another
erratum) which she repuls'd with a proper
resentment, and acquainted him with my be-
haviour. This made a breach between us;
and, when he returned again to London, he let

1 Edward Young (1681-1765), an English poet. See his satires,
Vol. Ill, Epist. ii, page 70.

88 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

me know he thought I had cancell'd all the
obligations he had been under to me. So I
found I was never to expect his repaying me
what I lent to him or advanc'd for him. This,
however, was not then of much consequence,
as he was totally unable; and in the loss of his
friendship I found myself relieved from a
burthen. I now began to think of getting
a little money beforehand, and, expecting bet-
ter work, I left Palmer's to work at Watts' s,
near Lincoln's Inn Fields, a still greater print-
ing-house. 1 Here I continued all the rest of
my stay in London.

At my first admission into this printing-
house I took to working at press, imagining
I felt a want of the bodily exercise I had been
us'd to in America, where presswork is mix'd
with composing. I drank only water; the other
workmen, near fifty in number, were great
guzzlers of beer. On occasion, I carried up
and down stairs a large form of types in each
hand, when others carried but one in both
hands. They wondered to see, from this and
several instances, that the Water-American, as
they called me, was stronger than themselves,
who drank strong beer! We had an alehouse boy

1 The printing press at which Franklin worked is preserved in
the Patent Office at Washington.

'I took to working at press"

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 89

who attended always in the house to supply the
workmen. My companion at the press drank
every day a pint before breakfast, a pint at
breakfast with his bread and cheese, a pint
between breakfast and dinner, a pint at dinner,
a pint in the afternoon about six o'clock, and
another when he had done his day's work. I
thought it a detestable custom; but it was
necessary, he suppos'd, to drink strong beer,
that he might be strong to labour. I endeav-
oured to convince him that the bodily strength
afforded by beer could only be in proportion
to the grain or flour of the barley dissolved in
the water of which it was made; that there
was more flour in a pennyworth of bread; and
therefore, if he would eat that with a pint of
water, it would give him more strength than a
quart of beer. He drank on, however, and had
four or five shillings to pay out of his wages
every Saturday night for that muddling liquor;
an expense I was free from. And thus these
poor devils keep themselves always under.

Watts, after some weeks, desiring to have
me in the composing-room, 1 I left the press-
men; a new bien venu or sum for drink, being

1 Franklin now left the work of operating the printing presses,
which was largely a matter of manual labor, and began setting
type, which required more skill and intelligence.

90 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

five shillings, was demanded of me by the
compositors. I thought it an imposition, as I
had paid below; the master thought so too,
and forbade my paying it. I stood out two or
three weeks, was accordingly considered as an
excommunicate, and had so many little pieces
of private mischief done me, by mixing my
sorts, transposing my pages, breaking my
matter, etc., etc., if I were ever so little out
of the room, and all ascribed to the chappel
ghost, which they said ever haunted those not
regularly admitted, that, notwithstanding the
master's protection, I found myself oblig'd to
comply and pay the money, convinc'd of the
folly of being on ill terms with those one is
to live with continually.

I was now on a fair footing with them, and
soon acquir'd considerable influence. I pro-
pos'd some reasonable alterations in their chap-
pel laws, 1 and carried them against all opposi-
tion. From my example, a great part of them
left their muddling breakfast of beer, and bread,
and cheese, rinding they could with me be sup-
ply'd from a neighbouring house with a large
porringer of hot water-gruel, sprinkled with

1 A printing house is called a chapel because Caxton, the first
English printer, did his printing in a chapel connected with West-
minster Abbey.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 91

pepper, crumb'd with bread, and a bit of butter
in it, for the price of a pint of beer, viz., three
half-pence. This was a more comfortable as
well as cheaper breakfast, and keep their heads
clearer. Those who continued sotting with
beer all day, were often, by not paying, out
of credit at the alehouse, and us'd to make in-
terest with me to get beer; their light, as they
phrased it, being out. I watch'd the pay-table
on Saturday night, and collected what I stood
engag'd for them, having to pay sometimes
near thirty shillings a week on their accounts.
This, and my being esteem'd a pretty good
riggite, that is, a jocular verbal satirist, sup-
ported my consequence in the society. My
constant attendance (I never making a St.
Monday) 1 recommended me to the master; and
my uncommon quickness at composing occa-
sioned my being put upon all work of dispatch,
which was generally better paid. So I went on
now very agreeably.

My lodging in Little Britain being too re-
mote, I found another in Duke-street, oppo-
site to the Romish Chapel. It was two pair
of stairs backwards, at an Italian warehouse.
A widow lady kept the house ; she had a daugh-
ter, and a maid servant, and a journeyman who

1 A holiday taken to prolong the dissipation of Saturday's wages.

92 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

attended the warehouse, but lodg'd abroad.
After sending to inquire my character at
the house where I last lodg'd she agreed to
take me in at the same rate, 35. 6d. per week;
cheaper, as she said, from the protection she
expected in having a man lodge in the house.
She was a widow, an elderly woman; had been
bred a Protestant, being a clergyman's daugh-
ter, but was converted to the Catholic religion
by her husband, whose memory she much re-
vered; had lived much among people of dis-
tinction, and knew a thousand anecdotes of
them as far back as the times of Charles the
Second. She was lame in her knees with the
gout, and, therefore, seldom stirred out of her
room, so sometimes wanted company; and hers
was so highly amusing to me, that I was sure
to spend an evening with her whenever she
desired it. Our supper was only half an
anchovy each, on a very little strip of bread
and butter, and half a pint of ale between us;
but the entertainment was in her conversation.
My always keeping good hours, and giving little
trouble in the family, made her unwilling to
part with me, so that, when I talk'd of a lodg-
ing I had heard of, nearer my business, for two
shillings a week, which, intent as I now was
on saving money, made some difference, she

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 93

bid me not think of it, for she would abate me
two shillings a week for the future; so I re-
mained with her at one shilling and sixpence
as long as I staid in London.

In a garret of her house there lived a maiden
lady of seventy, in the most retired manner,
of whom my landlady gave me this account:
that she was a Roman Catholic, had been sent
abroad when young, and lodg'd in a nunnery
with an intent of becoming a nun; but, the
country not agreeing with her, she returned
to England, where, there being no nunnery, she
had vow'd to lead the life of a nun, as near as
might be done in those circumstances. Ac-
cordingly, she had given all her estate to
charitable uses, reserving only twelve pounds
a year to live on, and out of this sum she still
gave a great deal in charity, living herself on
water-gruel only, and using no fire but to boil
it. She had lived many years in that garret,
being permitted to remain there gratis by suc-
cessive Catholic tenants of the house below,
as they deemed it a blessing to have her there.
A priest visited her to confess her every day.
' I have ask'd her," says my landlady, ' how
she, as she liv'd, could possibly find so much
employment for a confessor? ' " Oh," said she,
" it is impossible to avoid vain thoughts." I

94 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

was permitted once to visit her. She was
cheerful and polite, and convers'd pleasantly.
The room was clean, but had no other furni-
ture than a matras, a table with a crucifix and
book, a stool which she gave me to sit on, and
a picture over the chimney of Saint Veronica
displaying her handkerchief, with the mirac-
ulous figure of Christ's bleeding face on it, 1
which she explained to me with great serious-
ness. She look'd pale, but \vas never sick;
and I give it as another instance on how small
an income, life and health may be supported.
At Watts's printing-house I contracted an
acquaintance with an ingenious young man,
one Wygate, who, having \vealthy relations,
had been better educated than most printers;
was a tolerable Latinist, spoke French, and
lov'd reading. I taught him and a friend of
his to swim at twice going into the river, and
they soon became good swimmers. They in-
troduc'd me to some gentlemen from the coun-
try, who went to Chelsea by water to see the
College and Don Saltero's curiosities. 2 In our

1 The story is that she met Christ on His way to crucifixion
and offered Him her handkerchief to wipe the blood from His
face, after which the handkerchief always bore the image of
Christ's bleeding face.

2 James Salter, a former servant of Hans Sloane, lived in Cheyne
Walk, Chelsea. " His house, a barber-shop, was known as ' Don
Saltero's Coffee-House.' The curiosities were in glass cases and

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 95

return, at the request of the company, whose
curiosity Wygate had excited, I stripped and
leaped into the river, and swam from near
Chelsea to Blackfryar's, 1 performing on the
way many feats of activity, both upon and un-
der water, that surprised and pleas'd those to
whom they were novelties.

I had from a child been ever delighted with
this exercise, had studied and practis'd all
Thevenot's motions and positions, added some
of my own, aiming at the graceful and easy
as \vell as the useful. All these I took this
occasion of exhibiting to the company, and
was much flatter d by their admiration; and
Wygate, who was desirous of becoming a mas-
ter, grew more and more attach'd to me on
that account, as well as from the similarity
of our studies. He at length proposed to me
traveling all over Europe together, support-
ing ourselves everywhere by working at our
business. I was once inclined to it; but, men-
tioning it to my good friend Mr. Denham, with
whom I often spent an hour when I had leisure,
he dissuaded me from it, advising me to think

constituted an amazing and motley collection a petrified crab
from China, a ' lignified hog,' Job's tears, Madagascar lances, Wil-
liam the Conqueror's flaming sword, and Henry the Eighth's coat
of mail." Smyth.
1 About three miles.

96 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

only of returning to Pennsilvania, which he
was now about to do.

I must record one trait of this good man's
character. He had formerly been in business
at Bristol, but failed in debt to a number of
people, compounded and went to America.
There, by a close application to business as a
merchant, he acquir'd a plentiful fortune in a
few years. Returning to England in the ship
with me, he invited his old creditors to an en-
tertainment, at which he thank'd them for the
easy composition they had favoured him with,
and, when they expected nothing but the treat,
every man at the first remove found under his
plate an order on a banker for the full amount
of the unpaid remainder with interest.

He now told me he was about to return to
Philadelphia, and should carry over a great
quantity of goods in order to open a store
there. He propos'd to take me over as his
clerk, to keep his books, in which he would
instruct me, copy his letters, and attend the
store. He added, that, as soon as I should be
acquainted with mercantile business, he would
promote me by sending me with a cargo of
flour and bread, etc., to the West Indies, and
procure me commissions from others which
would be profitable; and, if I manag'd well,

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 97

would establish me handsomely. The thing
pleas'd me; for I was grown tired of Lon-
don, remembered with pleasure the happy
months I had spent in Pennsylvania, and wish'd
again to see it; therefore I immediately agreed
on the terms of fifty pounds a year, 1 Pennsyl-
vania money; less, indeed, than my present
gettings as a compositor, but affording a better
prospect.

I now took leave of printing, as I thought,
forever, and was daily employed in my new
business, going about with Mr. Denham among
the tradesmen to purchase various articles, and
seeing them pack'd up, doing errands, calling
upon workmen to dispatch, etc.; and, when all
was on board, I had a few days' leisure. On
one of these days, I was, to my surprise, sent
for by a great man I knew only by name, a
Sir William Wyndham, and I waited upon
him. He had heard by some means or other
of my swimming from Chelsea to Blackfriars,
and of my teaching Wygate and another young
man to swim in a few hours. He had two sons,
about to set out on their travels; he wish'd to
have them first taught swimming, and pro-
posed to gratify me handsomely if I would
teach them. They were not yet come to town,

1 About $167.

98 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

and my stay was uncertain, so I could not
undertake it; but, from this incident, I thought
it likely that, if I were to remain in England
and open a swimming-school, I might get a
good deal of money; and it struck me so
strongly, that, had the overture been sooner
made me, probably I should not so soon have
returned to America. After many years, you
and I had something of more importance to
do with one of these sons of Sir William Wynd-
ham, become Earl of Egremont, which I shall
mention in its place.

Thus I spent about eighteen months in Lon-
don; most part of the time I work'd hard at
my business, and spent but little upon myself
except in seeing plays and in books. My
friend Ralph had kept me poor; he owed me
about twenty-seven pounds, which I was now
never likely to receive; a great sum out of my
small earnings! I lov'd him, notwithstanding,
for he had many amiable qualities. I had by no
means improv'd my fortune; but I had picked
up some very ingenious acquaintance, whose
conversation was of great advantage to me;
and I had read considerably.

VII

BEGINNING BUSINESS IN
PHILADELPHIA

E sail'd from Gravesend on the 23rd
of July, 1726. For the incidents of
the voyage, I refer you to my Jour-
nal, where you will find them all
minutely related. Perhaps the most important
part of that journal is the plan 1 to be found
in it, which I formed at sea, for regulating my
future conduct in life. It is the more remark-
able, as being formed when I was so young,
and yet being pretty faithfully adhered to quite
thro' to old age.

We landed in Philadelphia on the nth of
October, where I found sundry alterations.
Keith was no longer governor, being super-
seded by Major Gordon. I met him walking
the streets as a common citizen. He seem'd
a little asham'd at seeing me, but pass'd with-
out saying anything. I should have been as
much asham'd at seeing Miss Read, had not

1<( Not found in the manuscript journal, which was left among
Franklin's papers." Bigelow.

ioo FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

her friends, despairing with reason of my return
after the receipt of my letter, persuaded her
to marry another, one Rogers, a potter, which
was done in my absence. With him, however,
she was never happy, and soon parted from
him, refusing to cohabit with him or bear his
name, it being now said that he had another
wife. He was a worthless fellow, tho' an
excellent workman, which was the temptation
to her friends. He got into debt, ran away in
1727 or 1728, went to the West Indies, and
died there. Keimer had got a better house,
a shop well supply'd with stationery, plenty
of new types, a number of hands, tho' none
good, and seem'd to have a great deal of
business.

Mr. Denham took a store in Water-street,
where we open'd our goods; I attended the
business diligently, studied accounts, and grew,
in a little time, expert at selling. We lodg'd
and boarded together; he counsell'd me as a
father, having a sincere regard for me. I
respected and loved him, and we might have
gone on together very happy; but, in the be-
ginning of February, 1724, when I had just
pass'd my twenty-first year, we both were
taken ill. My distemper was a pleurisy, which
very nearly carried me off. I suffered a good

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 101

deal, gave up the point in my own mind, and
was rather disappointed when I found myself
recovering, regretting, in some degree, that I
must now, some time or other, have all that
disagreeable work to do over again. I forget
what his distemper was; it held him a long
time, and at length carried him off. He left

me a small legacy in a nuncupative will, as
a token of his kindness for me, and he left
me once more to the wide world; for the store
was taken into the care of his executors, and
my employment under him ended.

My brother-in-law, Holmes, being now at
Philadelphia, advised my return to my busi-
ness; and Keimer tempted me, with an offer
of large wages by the year, to come and take
the management of his printing-house, that
he might better attend his stationer's shop.

102 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

I had heard a bad character of him in Lon-
don from his wife and her friends, and was
not fond of having any more to do with him.
I tri'd for farther employment as a merchant's
clerk; but, not readily meeting with any, I clos'd
again with Keimer. I found in his house these
hands: Hugh Meredith, a Welsh Pensilvanian,
thirty years of age, bred to country work;
honest, sensible, had a great deal of solid
observation, was something of a reader, but
given to drink. Stephen Potts, a young coun-
tryman of full age, bred to the same, of un-
common natural parts, and great wit and
humor, but a little idle. These he had agreed
with at extream low wages per week to be
rais'd a shilling every three months, as they
would deserve by improving in their business;
and the expectation of these high wages, to
come on hereafter, was what he had drawn
them in with. Meredith was to work at press,
Potts at book-binding, which he, by agreement,
was to teach them, though he knew neither one

nor t'other. John , a wild Irishman,

brought up to no business, whose service, for
four years, Keimer had purchased from the
captain of a ship; he, too, was to be made a
pressman. George Webb, an Oxford scholar,
whose time for four years he had likewise

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 103

bought, intending him for a compositor, of
whom more presently; and David Harry, a
country boy, whom he had taken apprentice.

I soon perceiv'd that the intention of engag-
ing me at wages so much higher than he had
been us'd to give, was, to have these raw,
cheap hands form'd thro' me; and, as soon as
I had instructed them, then they being all
articled to him, he should be able to do without
me. I went on, however, very chearfully, put
his printing-house in order, which had been
in great confusion, and brought his hands by
degrees to mind their business and to do it
better.

It was an odd thing to find an Oxford scholar
in the situation of a bought servant. He was
not more than eighteen years of age, and gave
me this account of himself; that he was born
in Gloucester, educated at a grammar-school
there, had been distinguish'd among the schol-
ars for some apparent superiority in perform-
ing his part, when they exhibited plays; belong'd
to the Witty Club there, and had written some
pieces in prose and verse, which were printed
in the Gloucester newspapers; thence he was
sent to Oxford; where he continued about a
year, but not well satisfi'd, wishing of all things
to see London, and become a player. At

104 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

length, receiving his quarterly allowance of
fifteen guineas, instead of discharging his debts
he walk'd out of town, hid his gown in a furze
bush, and footed it to London, where, having
no friend to advise him, he fell into bad com-
pany, soon spent his guineas, found no means
of being introduc'd among the players, grew
necessitous,pawn'd his cloaths, and wanted bread.
Walking the street very hungry, and not know-
ing what to do with himself, a crimp's bill l
was put into his hand, offering immediate enter-
tainment and encouragement to such as would
bind themselves to serve in America. He went
directly, sign'd the indentures, was put into
the ship, and came over, never writing a line
to acquaint his friends what was become of
him. He was lively, witty, good-natur'd, and
a pleasant companion, but idle, thoughtless,
and imprudent to the last degree.

John, the Irishman, soon ran away; with
the rest I began to live very agreeably, for
they all respected me the more, as they found
Keimer incapable of instructing them, and that
from me they learned something daily. We
never worked on Saturday, that being Keimer's

1 A crimp was the agent of a shipping company. Crimps were
sometimes employed to decoy men into such service as is here
mentioned.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 105

Sabbath, so I had two days for reading. My
acquaintance with ingenious people in the town
increased. Keimer himself treated me with
great civility and apparent regard, and nothing
now made me uneasy but my debt to Vernon,
which I was yet unable to pay, being hitherto
but a poor seconomist. He, however, kindly
made no demand of it.

Our printing-house often wanted sorts, and
there was no letter-founder in America; I had
seen types cast at James's in London, but
without much attention to the manner; how-
ever, I now contrived a mould, made use of the
letters we had as puncheons, struck the mat-
trices in lead, and thus supply'd in a pretty
tolerable way all deficiencies. I also engrav'd
several things on occasion; I made the ink;
I was warehouseman, and everything, and, in
short, quite a fac-totum.

But, however serviceable I might be, I found
that my services became every day of less
importance, as the other hands improv'd in
the business; and, when Keimer paid my sec-
ond quarter's wages, he let me know that he
felt them too heavy, and thought I should
make an abatement. He grew by degrees less
civil, put on more of the master, frequently
found fault, was captious, and seem'd ready

io6 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

for an outbreaking. I went on, nevertheless,
with a good deal of patience, thinking that
his encumber'd circumstances were partly the
cause. At length a trifle snapt our connec-
tions; for, a great noise happening near the
court-house, I put my head out of the win-
dow to see what was the matter. Keimer,
being in the street, look'd up and saw me, call'd
out to me in a loud voice and angry tone to
mind my business, adding some reproachful
words, that nettled me the more for their pub-
licity, all the neighbours who were looking
out on the same occasion being witnesses how
I was treated. He came up immediately into
the printing-house, continu'd the quarrel, high
words pass'd on both sides, he gave me the
quarter's warning we had stipulated, express-
ing a wish that he had not been oblig'd to
so long a warning. I told him his wish was
unnecessary, for I would leave him that instant;
and so, taking my hat, walk'd out of doors,
desiring Meredith, whom I saw below, to take
care of some things I left, and bring them to
my lodgings.

Meredith came accordingly in the evening,
when we talked my affair over. He had con-
ceiv'd a great regard for me, and was very
unwilling that I should leave the house while

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 107

he remain'd in it. He dissuaded me from
returning to my native country, which I began
to think of; he reminded me that Keimer was
in debt for all he possess'd; that his creditors
began to be uneasy; that he kept his shop
miserably, sold often without profit for ready
money, and often trusted without keeping ac-
counts; that he must therefore fail, which
would make a vacancy I might profit of. I
objected my want of money. He then let me
know that his father had a high opinion of
me, and, from some discourse that had pass'd
between them, he was sure would advance
money to set us up, if I would enter into part-
nership with him. " My time," says he, " will
be out with Keimer in the spring; by that time
we may have our press and types in from Lon-
don. I am sensible I am no workman; if you
like it, your skill in the business shall be set
against the stock I furnish, and we will share
the profits equally."

The proposal was agreeable, and I consented;
his father was in town and approv'd of it; the
more as he saw I had great influence with his
son, had prevail'd on him to abstain long from
dram-drinking, and he hop'd might break him
of that wretched habit entirely, when we came
to be so closely connected. I gave an inventory

io8 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

to the father, who carry'd it to a merchant; the
things were sent for, the secret was to be kept
till they should arrive, and in the meantime
I was to get work, if I could, at the other
printing-house. But I found no vacancy there,
and so remain'd idle a few days, when Keimer,
on a prospect of being employ'd to print some
paper money in New Jersey, which would re-
quire cuts and various types that I only could
supply, and apprehending Bradford might en-
gage me. and get the jobb from him, sent me
a very civil message, that old friends should
not part for a few words, the effect of sud-
den passion, and wishing me to return. Mere-
dith persuaded me to comply, as it would give
more opportunity for his improvement under
my daily instructions; so I return'd, and we
went on more smoothly than for some time
before. The New Jersey jobb was obtained,
I contriv'd a copperplate press for it, the first
that had been seen in the country; I cut sev-
eral ornaments and checks for the bills. We
went together to Burlington, where I executed
the whole to satisfaction; and he received so
large a sum for the work as to be enabled
thereby to keep his head much longer above
water.
At Burlington I made an acquaintance with

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 109

many principal people of the province. Sev-
eral of them had been appointed by the Assem-
bly a committee to attend the press, and take
care that no more bills were printed than the
law directed. They were therefore, by turns,
constantly with us, and generally he who
attended, brought with him a friend or two
for company. My mind having been much
more improv'd by reading than Keimer's, I
suppose it was for that reason my conversa-
tion seem'd to be more valu'd. They had me
to their houses, introduced me to their friends,
and show'd me much civility; while he, tho'
the master, was a little neglected. In truth,
he was an odd fish; ignorant of common life,
fond of rudely opposing receiv'd opinions,
slovenly to extream dirtiness, enthusiastic in
some points of religion, and a little knavish
withal.

We continu'd there near three months; and
by that time I could reckon among my acquired
friends, Judge Allen, Samuel Bustill, the sec-
retary of the Province, Isaac Pearson, Joseph
Cooper, and several of the Smiths, members
of Assembly, and Isaac Decow, the surveyor-
general. The latter was a shrewd, sagacious
old man, who told me that he began for him-
self, when young, by wheeling clay for brick-

no FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

makers, learned to write after he was of age,
carri'd the chain for surveyors, who taught him
surveying, and he had now by his industry,
acquir'd a good estate; and says he, 'I fore-
see that you will soon work this man out of
his business, and make a fortune in it at Phila-
delphia." He had not then the least intima-
tion of my intention to set up there or any-
where. These friends were afterwards of great
use to me, as I occasionally was to some of
them. They all continued their regard for me
as long as they lived.

Before I enter upon my public appearance
in business, it may be well to let you know
the then state of my mind with regard to my
principles and morals, that you may see how
far those influenc'd the future events of my
life. My parents had early given me religious
impressions, and brought me through my child-
hood piously in the Dissenting way. But I
was scarce fifteen, when, after doubting by
turns of several points, as I found them dis-
puted in the different books I read, I began
to doubt of Revelation itself. Some books
against Deism 1 fell into my hands; they were

1 The creed of an eighteenth century theological sect which,
while believing in God, refused to credit the possibility of miracles
and to acknowledge the validity of revelation.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY in

said to be the substance of sermons preached
at Boyle's Lectures. It happened that they
wrought an effect on me quite contrary to
what was intended by them; for the argu-
ments of the Deists, which were quoted to be
refuted, appeared to me much stronger than
the refutations; in short, I soon became a
thorough Deist. My arguments perverted some
others, particularly Collins and Ralph; but, each
of them having afterwards wrong'd me greatly
without the least compunction, and recollect-
ing Keith's conduct towards me (who was
another free-thinker), and my own towards
Vernon and Miss Read, which at times gave
me great trouble, I began to suspect that this
doctrine, tho' it might be true, was not very
useful. My London pamphlet, which had for
its motto these lines of Dryden: 1

" Whatever is, is right. Though purblind man
Sees but a part o' the chain, the nearest link :
His eyes not carrying to the equal beam,
That poises all above ; "

and from the attributes of God, his infinite
wisdom, goodness and power, concluded that
nothing could possibly be wrong in the world,
and that vice and virtue were empty distinc-

*A great English poet, dramatist, and critic (1631-1700).
The lines are inaccurately quoted from Dryden's CEdipus, Act
III, Scene I, line 293.

ii2 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

tions, no such things existing, appear'd now
not so clever a performance as I once thought
it; and I doubted whether some error had not
insinuated itself unperceiv'd into my argument,
so as to infect all that follow'd, as is common
in metaphysical reasonings.

I grew convinc'd that truth, sincerity and in-
tegrity in dealings between man and man were
of the utmost importance to the felicity of life;
and I form'd written resolutions, which still re-
main in my journal book, to practice them ever
while I lived. Revelation had indeed no weight
with me, as such; but I entertain'd an opinion
that, though certain actions might not be bad
because they were forbidden by it, or good
because it commanded them, yet probably these
actions might be forbidden because they were
bad for us, or commanded because they were
beneficial to us, in their own natures, all the
circumstances of things considered. And this
persuasion, with the kind hand of Providence,
or some guardian angel, or accidental favour-
able circumstances and situations, or all to-
gether, preserved me, thro' this dangerous time
of youth, and the hazardous situations I was
sometimes in among strangers, remote from
the eye and advice of my father, without any
willful gross immorality or injustice, that might

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 113

have been expected from my want of religion.
I say willful, because the instances I have men-
tioned had something of necessity in them, from
my youth, inexperience, and the knavery of
others. I had therefore a tolerable character
to begin the world with; I valued it properly,
and determin'd to preserve it.

We had not been long return'd to Philadelphia
before the new types arriv'd from London. We
settled with Keimer, and left him by his con-
sent before he heard of it. We found a house
to hire near the market, and took it. To lessen
the rent, which was then but twenty-four
pounds a year, tho' I have since known it to
let for seventy, we took in Thomas Godfrey,
a glazier, and his family, who were to pay a
considerable part of it to us, and we to board
with them. We had scarce opened our letters
and put our press in order, before George
House, an acquaintance of mine, brought a coun-
tryman to us, whom he had met in the street
inquiring for a printer. All our cash was now
expended in the variety of particulars we had
been obliged to procure, and this countryman's
five shillings, being our first-fruits, and coming
so seasonably, gave me more pleasure than any
crown I have since earned; and the gratitude
I felt toward House has made me often more

ii4 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

ready than perhaps I should otherwise have
been to assist young beginners.

There are croakers in every country, always
boding its ruin. Such a one then lived in Phila-
delphia; a person of note, an elderly man,
with a wise look and a very grave manner
of speaking; his name was Samuel Mickle.
This gentleman, a stranger to me, stopt one
day at my door, and asked me if I was the
young man who had lately opened a new print-
ing-house. Being answered in the affirmative, he
said he was sorry for me, because it was an
expensive undertaking, and the expense would
be lost; for Philadelphia was a sinking place,
the people already half-bankrupts, or near being
so; all appearances to the contrary, such as
new buildings and the rise of rents, being to
his certain knowledge fallacious; for they were,
in fact, among the things that would soon ruin
us. And he gave me such a detail of misfor-
tunes now existing, or that were soon to exist,
that he left me half melancholy. Had I known
him before I engaged in this business, prob-
ably I never should have done it. This man
continued to live in this decaying place, and
to declaim in the same strain, refusing for
many years to buy a house there, because all
was going to destruction; and at last I had

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 115

the pleasure of seeing him give five times as
much for one as he might have bought it for
when he first began his croaking.

I should have mentioned before, that, in the
autumn of the preceding year, I had form'd
most of my ingenious acquaintance into a club
of mutual improvement, which was called the
JUNTO ; * we met on Friday evenings. The
rules that I drew up required that every mem-
ber, in his turn, should produce one or more
queries on any point of Morals, Politics, or
Natural Philosophy, to be discuss'd by the
company; and once in three months produce
and read an essay of his own writing, on any
subject he pleased. Our debates were to be
under the direction of a president, and to be
conducted in the sincere spirit of inquiry after
truth, without fondness for dispute, or desire
of victory; and, to prevent warmth, all expres-
sions of positiveness in opinions, or direct con-
tradiction, were after some time made contra-
band, and prohibited under small pecuniary
penalties.

The first members were Joseph Breintnal, a
copyer of deeds for the scriveners, a good-
natur'd, friendly middle-ag'd man, a great lover

1 A Spanish term meaning a combination for political intrigue ;
here a club or society.

n6 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

of poetry, reading all he could meet with, and
writing some that was tolerable; very ingenious
in many little Nicknackeries, and of sensible
conversation.

Thomas Godfrey, a self-taught mathemati-
cian, great in his way, and afterward inventor
of what is now called Hadley's Quadrant. But
he knew little out of his way, and was not a
pleasing companion; as, like most great mathe-
maticians I have met with, he expected uni-
versal precision in everything said, or was for-
ever denying or distinguishing upon trifles, to
the disturbance of all conversation. He soon
left us.

Nicholas Scull, a surveyor, afterwards sur-
veyor-general, who lov'd books, and sometimes
made a few verses.

William Parsons, bred a shoemaker, but,
loving reading, had acquir'd a considerable share
of mathematics, which he first studied with a
view to astrology, that he afterwards laught
at it. He also became surveyor-general.

William Maugridge, a joiner, a most
exquisite mechanic, and a solid, sensible
man.

Hugh Meredith, Stephen Potts, and George
Webb I have characteriz'd before.

Robert Grace, a young gentleman of some

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 117

fortune, generous, lively, and witty; a lover of
punning and of his friends.

And William Coleman, then a merchant's
clerk, about my age, who had the coolest, clear-
est head, the best heart, and the exactest morals
of almost any man I ever met with. He be-
came afterwards a merchant of great note, and
one of our provincial judges. Our friendship
continued without interruption to his death,
upwards of forty years; and the club continued
almost as long, and was the best school of
philosophy, morality, and politics that then
existed in the province; for our queries, which
were read the week preceding their discus-
sion, put us upon reading with attention upon
the several subjects, that we might speak more
to the purpose; and here, too, we acquired
better habits of conversation, everything being
studied in our rules which might prevent our
disgusting each other. From hence the long
continuance of the club, which I shall have
frequent occasion to speak further of here-
after.

But my giving this account of it here is to
show something of the interest I had, every-
one of these exerting themselves in recom-
mending business to us. Breintnal particu-
larly procur'd us from the Quakers the print-

u8 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

ing forty sheets of their history, the rest being
to be done by Keimer; and upon this we work'd
exceedingly hard, for the price was low. It
was a folio, pro patria size, in pica, with long
primer notes. 1 I compos'd of it a sheet a day,
and Meredith worked it off at press; it was
often eleven at night, and sometimes later,
before I had finished my distribution for the
next day's work, for the little jobbs sent in by
our other friends now and then put us back.
But so determin'd I was to continue doing a
sheet a day of the folio, that one night, when,
having impos'd 2 my forms, I thought my day's
work over, one of them by accident was broken,
and two pages reduced to pi, 3 I immediately
distribut'd and composed it over again before
I went to bed; and this industry, visible to our
neighbors, began to give us character and
credit; particularly, I was told, that mention
being made of the new printing-office at the
merchants' Every-night club, the general
opinion was that it must fail, there being
already two printers in the place, Keimer and

X A sheet 8^ by 13^2 inches, having the words pro patria in
translucent letters in the body of the paper. Pica a size of type; as,
A B C D : Long Primer a smaller size of type; as, A B C D.

2 To arrange and lock up pages or columns of type in a rec-
tangular iron frame, ready for printing.

3 Reduced to complete disorder.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 119

Bradford; but Dr. Baird (whom you and I saw
many years after at his native place, St. An-
drew's in Scotland) gave a contrary opinion:
" For the industry of that Franklin," says he,
" is superior to anything I ever saw of the
kind; I see him still at work when I go home
from club, and he is at work again before his
neighbors are out of bed." This struck the
rest, and we soon after had offers from one
of them to supply us with stationery; but as
yet we did not chuse to engage in shop busi-
ness.

I mention this industry the more particularly
and the more freely, tho' it seems to be talk-
ing in my own praise, that those of my pos-
terity, who shall read it, may know the use of
that virtue, when they see its effects in my
favour throughout this relation.

George Webb, who had found a female friend
that lent him wherewith to purchase his time
of Keimer, now came to offer himself as a jour-
neyman to us. We could not then imploy him;
but I foolishly let him know as a secret that I
soon intended to begin a newspaper, and might
then have work for him. My hopes of success,
as I told him, were founded on this, that the
then only newspaper, printed by Bradford, was
a paltry thing, wretchedly manag'd, no way

120 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

entertaining, and yet was profitable to him; I
therefore thought a good paper would scarcely
fail of good encouragement. I requested Webb
not to mention it; but he told it to Keimer,
who immediately, to be beforehand with me,
published proposals for printing one himself,
on which Webb was to be employ'd. I re-
sented this; and, to counteract them, as I
could not yet begin our paper, I wrote several
pieces of entertainment for Bradford's paper,
under the title of the BUSY BODY, which Breint-
nal continu'd some months. By this means
the attention of the publick was fixed on that
paper, and Keimer's proposals, which we bur-
lesqu'd and ridicul'd, were disregarded. He
began his paper, however, and, after carrying
it on three quarters of a year, with at most
only ninety subscribers, he offered it to me
for a trifle; and I, having been ready some
time to go on with it, took it in hand directly;
and it prov'd in a few years extremely profit-
able to me.

I perceive that I am apt to speak in the
singular number, though our partnership still
continu'd; the reason may be that, in fact, the
whole management of the business lay upon
me. Meredith was no compositor, a poor press-
man, and seldom sober. My friends lamented

"I sec him still at work when I go home from club'

ASTOr.. L tN'OX AND
I TILDE\ Fvjlj.-.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 121

my connection with him, but I was to make
the best of it.

Our first papers made a quite different ap-
pearance from any before in the province; a
better type, and better printed; but some
spirited remarks of my writing, on the dis-
pute then going on between Governor Burnet
and the Massachusets Assembly, struck the
principal people, occasioned the paper and the
manager of it to be much talk'd of, and in
a few weeks brought them all to be our sub-
scribers.

Their example was follow'd by many, and
our number went on growing continually. This
was one of the first good effects of my having
learnt a little to scribble; another was, that the
leading men, seeing a newspaper now in the
hands of one who could also handle a pen,
thought it convenient to oblige and encourage
me. Bradford still printed the votes, and laws,
and other publick business. He had printed an
address of the House to the governor, in a
coarse, blundering manner; we reprinted it
elegantly and correctly, and sent one to every
member. They were sensible of the differ-
ence: it strengthened the hands of our friends
in the House, and they voted us their printers
for the year ensuing.

122 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Among my friends in the House I must not
forget Mr. Hamilton, before mentioned, who
was then returned from England, and had a seat
in it. He interested himself for me strongly
in that instance, as he did in many others
afterward, continuing his patronage till his
death. 1

Mr. Vernon, about this time, put me in
mind of the debt I ow'd him, but did not
press me. I wrote him an ingenuous letter
of acknowledgment, crav'd his forbearance a
little longer, which he allow'd me, and as soon
as I was able, I paid the principal with interest,
and many thanks; so that erratum was in some
degree corrected.

But now another difficulty came upon me
which I had never the least reason to expect.
Mr. Meredith's father, who was to have paid
for our printing-house, according to the ex-
pectations given me, was able to advance only
one hundred pounds currency, which had been
paid; and a hundred more was due to the mer-
chant, who grew impatient, and su'd us all.
We gave bail, but saw that, if the money
could not be rais'd in time, the suit must soon
come to a judgment and execution, and our
hopeful prospects must, with us, be ruined, as
1 1 got his son once 500. Marg. note.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 123

the press and letters must be sold for pay-
ment, perhaps at half price.

In this distress two true friends, whose kind-
ness I have never forgotten, nor ever shall
forget while I can remember any thing, came
to me separately, unknown to each other, and,
without any application from me, offering each
of them to advance me all the money that
should be necessary to enable me to take the
whole business upon myself, if that should be
practicable; but they did not like my con-
tinuing the partnership with Meredith, who,
as they said, was often seen drunk in the
streets, and playing at low games in alehouses,
much to our discredit. These two friends were
William Coleman and Robert Grace. I told
them I could not propose a separation while
any prospect remain'd of the Meredith's ful-
filling their part of our agreement, because I
thought myself under great obligations to them
for what they had done, and would do if they
could; but, if they finally fail'd in their per-
formance, and our partnership must be dis-
solv'd, I should then think myself at liberty
to accept the assistance of my friends.

Thus the matter rested for some time, when
I said to my partner, " Perhaps your father
is dissatisfied at the part you have undertaken

124 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

in this affair of ours, and is unwilling to ad-
vance for you and me what he would for you
alone. If that is the case, tell me, and I will
resign the whole to you, and go about my busi-
ness." " No," said he, " my father has really
been disappointed, and is really unable; and
I am unwilling to distress him farther. I see
this is a business I am not fit for. I was bred
a farmer, and it was a folly in me to come to
town, and put myself, at thirty years of age,
an apprentice to learn a new trade. Many of
our Welsh people are going to settle in North
Carolina, where land is cheap. I am inclin'd
to go with them, and follow my old employ-
ment. You may find friends to assist you.
If you will take the debts of the company upon
you; return to my father the hundred pounds
he has advanced; pay my little personal debts,
and give me thirty pounds and a new saddle,
I will relinquish the partnership, and leave
the whole in your hands." I agreed to this
proposal: it was drawn up in writing, sign'd,
and seal'd immediately. I gave him what he
demanded, and he went soon after to Caro-
lina, from whence he sent me next year two
long letters, containing the best account that
had been given of that country, the climate,
the soil, husbandry, etc., for in those matters

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 125

he was very judicious. I printed them in the
papers, and they gave great satisfaction to the
publick.

As soon as he was gone, I recurr'd to my
two friends; and because I would not give an
unkind preference to either, I took half of what
each had offered and I wanted of one, and
half of the other; paid off the company's debts,
and went on with the business in my own
name, advertising that the partnership was
dissolved. I think this was in or about the
year 1729.

VIII

BUSINESS SUCCCESS AND FIRST
PUBLIC SERVICE

BOUT this time there was a cry
among the people for more paper
money, only fifteen thousand pounds
being extant in the province, and
that soon to be sunk. 1 The wealthy inhabi-
tants oppos'd any addition, being against all
paper currency, from an apprehension that it
would depreciate, as it had done in New Eng-
land, to the prejudice of all creditors. We
had discuss'd this point in our Junto, where
I was on the side of an addition, being per-
suaded that the first small sum struck in 1723
had done much good by increasing the trade,
employment, and number of inhabitants in the
province, since I now saw all the old houses
inhabited, and many new ones building:
whereas I remembered well, that when I first
walk'd about the streets of Philadelphia, eat-
ing my roll, I saw most of the houses in Wal-
nut Street, between Second and Front streets, 2

1 Recalled to be redeemed.

2 This part of Philadelphia is now the center of the wholesale
business district.

126

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 127

with bills on their doors, " To be let"; and
many likewise in Chestnut-street and other
streets, which made me then think the in-
habitants of the city were deserting it one
after another.

Our debates possess'd me so fully of the
subject, that I wrote and printed an anonymous
pamphlet on it, entitled ' The Nature and
Necessity of a Paper Currency." It was well
receiv'd by the common people in general; but
the rich men dislik'd it, for it increas'd and
strengthen'd the clamor for more money, and
they happening to have no writers among them
that were able to answer it, their opposition
slacken'd, and the point was carried by a ma-
jority in the House. My friends there, who
conceiv'd I had been of some service, thought
fit to reward me by employing me in printing
the money; a very profitable jobb and a great
help to me. This was another advantage gain'd
by my being able to write.

The utility of this currency became by time
and experience so evident as never afterwards
to be much disputed; so that it grew soon to
fifty-five thousand pounds, and in 1739 to eighty
thousand pounds, since which it arose during
war to upwards of three hundred and fifty
thousand pounds, trade, building, and inhabi-

128 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

tants all the while increasing, tho' I now think
there are limits beyond which the quantity
may be hurtful. 1

I soon after obtain'd, thro' my friend Ham-
ilton, the printing of the Newcastle paper
money, another profitable jobb as I then
thought it; small things appearing great to
those in small circumstances; and these, to me,
were really great advantages, as they were
great encouragements. He procured for me,
also, the printing of the laws and votes of that
government, which continu'd in my hands as
long as I follow'd the business.

I now open'd a little stationer's shop. I
had in it blanks of all sorts, the correctest that
ever appear'd among us, being assisted in that
by my friend Breintnal. I had also paper,
parchment, chapmen's books, etc. One White-
mash, a compositor I had known in London,
an excellent workman, now came to me, and
work'd with me constantly and diligently; and
I took an apprentice, the son of Aquilla Rose.

I began now gradually to pay off the debt

1 Paper money is a promise to pay its face value in gold or
silver. When a state or nation issues more such promises than
there is a likelihood of its being able to redeem, the paper repre-
senting the promises depreciates in value. Before the success of
the Colonies in the Revolution was assured, it took hundreds of
dollars of their paper money to buy a pair of boots.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 129

I was under for the printing-house. In order
to secure my credit and character as a trades-
man, I took care not only to be in reality
industrious and frugal, but to avoid all appear-
ances to the contrary. I drest plainly; I was
seen at no places of idle diversion. I never
went out a fishing or shooting; a book, indeed,

sometimes debauch'd me from my work, but
that was seldom, snug, and gave no scandal;
and, to show that I was not above my busi-
ness, I sometimes brought home the paper I
purchas'd at the stores thro' the streets on
a wheelbarrow. Thus being esteem'd an indus-
trious, thriving young man, and paying duly
for what I bought, the merchants who im-
ported stationery solicited my custom; others
proposed supplying me with books, and I went
on swimmingly. In the meantime, Keimer's
credit and business declining daily, he was at

130 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

last forc'd to sell his printing-house to satisfy
his creditors. He went to Barbadoes, and
there lived some years in very poor circum-
stances.

His apprentice, David Harry, whom I had
instructed while I work'd with him, set up in
his place at Philadelphia, having bought his
materials. I was at first apprehensive of a
powerful rival in Harry, as his friends were
very able, and had a good deal of interest. I
therefore propos'd a partnership to him, which
he, fortunately for me, rejected with scorn.
He was very proud, dress'd like a gentleman,
liv'd expensively, took much diversion and
pleasure abroad, ran in debt, and neglected
his business; upon which, all business left him;
and, finding nothing to do, he followed Keimer
to Barbadoes, taking the printing-house with
him. There this apprentice employ'd his former
master as a journeyman; they quarrell'd often;
Harry went continually behindhand, and at
length was forc'd to sell his types and return
to his country work in Pensilvania. The per-
son that bought them employ'd Keimer to
use them, but in a few years he died.

There remained now no competitor with me
at Philadelphia but the old one, Bradford; who
was rich and easy, did a little printing now and

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 131

then by straggling hands, but was not very
anxious about the business. However, as he
kept the post-office, it was imagined he had bet-
ter opportunities of obtaining news; his paper
was thought a better distributer of advertise-
ments than mine, and therefore had many more,
which was a profitable thing to him, and a
disadvantage to me; for, tho' I did indeed re-
ceive and send papers by the post, yet the
publick opinion was otherwise, for what I did
send was by bribing the riders, who took them
privately, Bradford being unkind enough to
forbid it, which occasion'd some resentment
on my part; and I thought so meanly of him
for it, that, when I afterward came into his
situation, I took care never to imitate it.

I had hitherto continu'd to board with God-
frey, who lived in part of my house with his
wife and children, and had one side of the shop
for his glazier's business, tho' he worked little,
being always absorbed in his mathematics.
Mrs. Godfrey projected a match for me with
a relation's daughter, took opportunities of
bringing us often together, till a serious court-
ship on my part ensu'd, the girl being in her-
self very deserving. The old folks encourag'd
me by continual invitations to supper, and by
leaving us together, till at length it was time

132 FRA^ KLIN ' S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

to explain. Mrs. Godfrey manag'd our little
treaty. I ^ et ner know that I expected as
much mon^y with their daughter as would pay
off my rer^ amm & debt for the printing-house,
which I be'^ eve was not then above a hundred
pounds. ? ne brought me word they had no
such sum to spare; I said they might mort-
gage their house in the loan-office. The answer
to this aft er some days, was, that they did
not appro^ e the match; that, on inquiry of
Bradford they had been informed the print-
ing busine? 8 was n t a profitable one; the types
would soo n be worn out, and more wanted;
that S. Ki mer an d D. Harry had failed one
after the ther, and I should probably soon
follow the m ' an d> therefore, I was forbidden
the house, an( ^ the daughter shut up.

Whethei" this was a real change of senti-
ment or o n ly a i~tifice, on a supposition of our
beino- too ^ ar engaged in affection to retract,
and there^ ore that we should steal a mar-
riage, whi cn would leave them at liberty to
give or withhold what they pleas'd, I know
not; but I suspected the latter, resented it, and
went no more. Mrs. Godfrey brought me
afterward some more favorable accounts of
their disposition, and would have drawn me
on again; but I declared absolutely my reso-

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 133

lution to have nothing more to do with that
family. This was resented by the Godfreys;
we differ'd, and they removed, leaving me the
whole house, and I resolved to take no more
inmates.

But this affair having turned my thoughts
to marriage, I look'd round me and made
overtures of acquaintance in other places; but
soon found that, the business of a printer be-
ing generally thought a poor one, I was not
to expect money with a wife, unless with such
a one as I should not otherwise think agree-
able. A friendly correspondence as neighbours
and old acquaintances had continued between
me and Mrs. Read's family, who all had a regard
for me from the time of my first lodging in
their house. I was often invited there and
consulted in their affairs, wherein I sometimes
was of service. I piti'd poor Miss Read's un-
fortunate situation, who was generally dejected,
seldom chearful, and avoided company. I con-
sidered my giddiness and inconstancy when in
London as in a great degree the cause of her
unhappiness, tho' the mother was good enough
to think the fault more her own than mine, as
she had prevented our marrying before I went
thither, and persuaded the other match in my
absence. Our mutual affection was revived,

134 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

but there were now great objections to our
union. The match was indeed looked upon
as invalid, a preceding wife being said to be
living in England; but this could not easily
be prov'd, because of the distance; and, tho'
there was a report of his death, it was not
certain. Then, tho' it should be true, he had
left many debts, which his successor might be
call'd upon to pay. We ventured, however,
over all these difficulties, and I took her to
wife, September ist, 1730. None of the incon-
veniences happened that we had apprehended;
she proved a good and faithful helpmate, 1
assisted me much by attending the shop; we
throve together, and have ever mutually en-
deavour'd to make each other happy. Thus
I corrected that great erratum as well as I
could.

About this time, our club meeting, not at a
tavern, but in a little room of Mr. Grace's, set
apart for that purpose, a proposition was made

1 Mrs. Franklin survived her marriage over forty years. Frank-
lin's correspondence abounds with evidence that their union was a
happy one. " We are grown old together, and if she has any
faults, I am so used to them that I don't perceive them." The
following is a stanza from one of Franklin's own songs written
for the Junto :

" Of their Chloes and Phyllises poets may prate,

I sing my plain country Joan,

These twelve years my wife, still the joy of my life,
Blest day that I made her my own."

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 135

by me, that, since our books were often re-
ferr'd to in our disquisitions upon the queries, it
might be convenient to us to have them alto-
gether where we met, that upon occasion they
might be consulted; and by thus clubbing our
books to a common library, we should, while
we lik'd to keep them together, have each of
us the advantage of using the books of all
the other members, which would be nearly as
beneficial as if each owned the whole. It was
lik'd and agreed to, and we fill'd one end of
the room with such books as we could best
spare. The number was not so great as we
expected; and tho' they had been of great use,
yet some inconveniences occurring for want of
due care of them, the collection, after about a
year, was separated, and each took his books
home again.

And now I set on foot my first project of
a public nature, that for a subscription library.
I drew up the proposals, got them put into form
by our great scrivener, Brockden, and, by the
help of my friends in the Junto, procured fifty
subscribers of forty shillings each to begin
with, and ten shillings a year for fifty years,
the term our company was to continue. We
afterwards obtain'd a charter, the company
being increased to one hundred: this was the

136 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

mother of all the North American subscription
libraries, now so numerous. It is become a
great thing itself, and continually increasing.
These libraries have improved the general con-
versation of the Americans, made the com-
mon tradesmen and farmers as intelligent as
most gentlemen from other countries, and per-
haps have contributed in some degree to the
stand so generally made throughout the col-
onies in defense of their privileges. 1

Mem . Thus far was written with the inten-
tion express'd in the beginning and therefore
contains several little family anecdotes of no
importance to others. What follows was writ-
ten many years after in compliance with the
advice contain'd in these letters, and accord-
ingly intended for the public. The affairs
of the Revolution occasion'd the interruption. 2

[Continuation of the Account of my Life, begun
at Passy, near Paris, 1784.]

It is some time since I receiv'd the above
letters, but I have been too busy till now to

1 Here the first part of the Autobiography, written at Twyford
in 1/71, ends. The second part, which follows, was written at
Passy in 1/84.

2 After this memorandum, Franklin inserted letters from Abel
James and Benjamin Vaughan, urging him to continue his Auto-
biography.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 137

think of complying with the request they con-
tain. It might, too, be much better done if
I were at home among my papers, which would
aid my memory, and help to ascertain dates;
but my return being uncertain, and having
just now a little leisure, I will endeavour to
recollect and write what I can; if I live to
get home, it may there be corrected and im-
provid.

Not having any copy here of what is already
written, I know not whether an account is
given of the means I used to establish the
Philadelphia public library, which, from a small
beginning, is now become so considerable,
though I remember to have come down to
near the time of that transaction (1730). I
will therefore begin here with an account of
it, which may be struck out if found to have
been already given.

At the time I establish'd myself in Pennsyl-
vania, there was not a good bookseller's shop
in any of the colonies to the southward of
Boston. In New York and Philad'a the printers
were indeed stationers; they sold only paper,
etc., almanacs, ballads, and a few common
school-books. Those who lov'd reading were
oblig'd to send for their books from England;
the members of the Junto had each a few. We

138 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

had left the alehouse, where we first met, and
hired a room to hold our club in. I propos'd
that we should all of us bring our books to
that room, where they would not only be ready
to consult in our conferences, but become a
common benefit, each of us being at liberty
to borrow such as he wish'd to read at home.
This was accordingly done, and for some time
contented us.

Finding the advantage of this little collec-
tion, I propos'd to render the benefit from
books more common, by commencing a public
subscription library. I drew a sketch of the
plan and rules that would be necessary, and
got a skilful conveyancer, Mr. Charles Brock-
den, to put the whole in form of articles of
agreement to be subscribed, by which each sub-
scriber engag'd to pay a certain sum down
for the first purchase of books, and an annual
contribution for increasing them. So few were
the readers at that time in Philadelphia, and
the majority of us so poor, that I was not
able, with great industry, to find more than
fifty persons, mostly young tradesmen, willing
to pay down for this purpose forty shillings
each, and ten shillings per annum. On this
little fund we began. The books were imported;
the library was opened one day in the week

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 139

for lending to the subscribers, on their prom-
issory notes to pay double the value if not duly
returned. The institution soon manifested its
utility, was imitated by other towns, and in
other provinces. The libraries were augmented
by donations; reading became fashionable; and
our people, having no publick amusements to
divert their attention from study, became bet-
ter acquainted with books, and in a few years
were observ'd by strangers to be better
instructed and more intelligent than people of
the same rank generally are in other countries.

When we were about to sign the above-
mentioned articles, which were to be binding
on us, our heirs, etc., for fifty years, Mr. Brock-
den, the scrivener, said to us, " You are young
men, but it is scarcely probable that any of
you will live to see the expiration of the term
fix'd in the instrument." A number of us,
however, are yet living; but the instrument was
after a few years rendered null by a charter
that incorporated and gave perpetuity to the
company.

The objections and reluctances I met with
in soliciting the subscriptions, made me soon
feel the impropriety of presenting one's self
as the proposer of any useful project, that
might be suppos'd to raise one's reputation

140 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

in the smallest degree above that of one's
neighbours, when one has need of their assist-
ance to accomplish that project. I therefore
put myself as much as I could out of sight,
and stated it as a scheme of a number of friends,
who had requested me to go about and pro-
pose it to such as they thought lovers of read-
ing. In this way my affair went on more
smoothly, and I ever after practis'd it on such
occasions; and, from my frequent successes,
can heartily recommend it. The present little
sacrifice of your vanity will afterwards be
amply repaid. If it remains a while uncertain
to whom the merit belongs, someone more vain
than yourself will be encouraged to claim it,
and then even envy will be disposed to do you
justice by plucking those assumed feathers,
and restoring them to their right owner.

This library afforded me the means of im-
provement by constant study, for which I set
apart an hour or two each day, and thus re-
pair'd in some degree the loss of the learned
education my father once intended for me.
Reading was the only amusement I allow'd
myself. I spent no time in taverns, games,
or frolicks of any kind; and my industry in
my business continu'd as indefatigable as it
was necessary. I was indebted for my print-

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 141

ing-house; I had a young family coming on
to be educated, and I had to contend with for
business two printers, who were established
in the place before me. My circumstances,
however, grew daily easier. My original habits
of frugality continuing, and my father having,
among his instructions to me when a boy,
frequently repeated a proverb of Solomon,
" Seest thou a man diligent in his calling, he
shall stand before kings, he shall not stand
before mean men," I from thence considered
industry as a means of obtaining wealth and
distinction, which encourag'd me, tho' I did
not think that I should ever literally stand
before kings, which, however, has since hap-
pened; for I have stood before five, and even
had the honor of sitting down with one, the
King of Denmark, to dinner.

We have an English proverb that says, " He
that would thrive, must ask his wife." It was
lucky for me that I had one as much dispos'd
to industry and frugality as myself. She
assisted me chearfully in my business, folding
and stitching pamphlets, tending shop, pur-
chasing old linen rags for the paper-makers,
etc., etc. We kept no idle servants, our table
was plain and simple, our furniture of the
cheapest. For instance, my breakfast was a

142 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

long time break and milk (no tea), and I
ate it out of a twopenny earthen porringer,
with a pewter spoon. But mark how luxury
will enter families, and make a progress, in spite
of principle: being call'd one morning to break-
fast, I found it in a China bowl, with a spoon
of silver! They had been bought for me with-
out my knowledge by my wife, and had cost
her the enormous sum of three-and-twenty
shillings, for which she had no other excuse or
apology to make, but that she thought her
husband deserv'd a silver spoon and China bowl
as well as any of his neighbors. This was the
first appearance of plate and China in our
house, which afterward, in a course of years,
as our wealth increas'd, augmented gradually
to several hundred pounds in value.

I had been religiously educated as a Presby-
terian; and though some of the dogmas of that
persuasion, such as the eternal decrees of God,
election, reprobation, etc., appeared to me un-
intelligible, others doubtful, and I early ab-
sented myself from the public assemblies of
the sect, Sunday being my studying day, I
never was without some religious principles.
I never doubted, for instance, the existence
of the Deity; that he made the world, and
govern'd it by his Providence; that the most

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 143

acceptable service of God was the doing good
to man; that our souls are immortal; and that
all crime will be punished, and virtue rewarded,
either here or hereafter. These I esteem'd
the essentials of every religion; and, being to
be found in all the religions we had in our
country, I respected them all, tho' with differ-
ent degrees of respect, as I found them more
or less mix'd with other articles, which, with-
out any tendency to inspire, promote, or con-
firm morality, serv'd principally to divide us,
and make us unfriendly to one another. This
respect to all, with an opinion that the worst
had some good effects, induc'd me to avoid all
discourse that might tend to lessen the good
opinion another might have of his own religion;
and as our province increas'd in people, and
new places of worship were continually wanted,
and generally erected by voluntary contribu-
tion, my mite for such purpose, whatever might
be the sect, was never refused.

Tho' I seldom attended any public worship,
I had still an opinion of its propriety, and of
its utility when rightly conducted, and I regu-
larly paid my annual subscription for the sup-
port of the only Presbyterian minister or meet-
ing we had in Philadelphia. He us'd to visit
me sometimes as a friend, and admonished me

i 4 4 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

to attend his administrations, and I was now
and then prevail'd on to do so, once for five
Sundays successively. Had he been in my
opinion a good preacher, perhaps I might have
continued, 1 notwithstanding the occasion I had
for the Sunday's leisure in my course of study;
but his discourses were chiefly either polemic
arguments, or explications of the peculiar doc-
trines of our sect, and were all to me very dry,
uninteresting, and unedifying, since not a single
moral principle was inculcated or enforc'd, their
aim seeming to be rather to make us Presby-
terians than good citizens.

At length he took for his text that verse of
the fourth chapter of Philippians, 'Finally,
brethren, whatsoever things are true, honest, just,
pure, lovely, or of good report, if there be any
virtue, or any praise, think on these things."
And I imagin'd, in a sermon on such a text,
we could not miss of having some morality.
But he confin'd himself to five points only,
as meant by the apostle, viz.: i. Keeping
holy the Sabbath day. 2. Being diligent in
reading the holy Scriptures. 3. Attending duly
the publick worship. 4. Partaking of the Sac-
rament. 5. Paying a due respect to God's min-

1 Franklin expressed a different view about the duty of attending
church later.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 145

isters. These might be all good things; but,
as they were not the kind of good things that
I expected from that text, I despaired of ever
meeting with them from any other, was dis-
gusted, and attended his preaching no more.
I had some years before compos'd a little
Liturgy, or form of prayer, for my own private
use (viz., in 1728), entitled, Articles of Belief
and Acts of Religion. I return'd to the use
of this, and went no more to the public assem-
blies. My conduct might be blameable, but
I leave it, without attempting further to excuse
it; my present purpose being to relate facts,
and not to make apologies for them.

PLAN FOR ATTAINING MORAL
PERFECTION

T was about this time I conceived
the bold and arduous project of
arriving at moral perfection. I
wish'd to live without committing
any fault at any time; I would conquer all that
either natural inclination, custom, or company
might lead me into. As I knew, or thought I
knew, what was right and wrong, I did not see
why I might not always do the one and avoid
the other. But I soon found I had undertaken
a task of more difficulty than I had imagined. 1
While my care was employ'd in guarding
against one fault, I was often surprised by
another; habit took the advantage of inatten-
tion; inclination was sometimes too strong for
reason. I concluded, at length, that the mere
speculative conviction that it was our interest
to be completely virtuous, was not sufficient to
prevent our slipping; and that the contrary
habits must be broken, and good ones acquired
and established, before we can have any de-

1 Compare Philippians iv, 8.
146

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 147

pendence on a steady, uniform rectitude of
conduct. For this purpose I therefore con-
trived the following method.

In the various enumerations of the moral
virtues I had met with in my reading, I found
the catalogue more or less numerous, as dif-
ferent writers included more or fewer ideas
under the same name. Temperance, for ex-
ample, was by some confined to eating and
drinking, while by others it was extended to
mean the moderating every other pleasure, ap-
petite, inclination, or passion, bodily or mental,
even to our avarice and ambition. I propos'd
to myself, for the sake of clearness, to use
rather more names, with fewer ideas annex'd
to each, than a few names with more ideas;
and I included under thirteen names of vir-
tues all that at that time occurr'd to me as
necessary or desirable, and annexed to each a
short precept, which fully express'd the extent
I gave to its meaning.

These names of virtues, with their precepts,

were:

1. TEMPERANCE.

Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.

2. SILENCE.

Speak not but what may benefit others or
yourself; avoid trifling conversation.

H8 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

3. ORDER.

Let all your things have their places; let
each part of your business have its time.

4. RESOLUTION.

Resolve to perform what you ought; per-
form without fail what you resolve.

5. FRUGALITY.

Make no expense but to do good to others
or yourself; i. e., waste nothing.

6. INDUSTRY.

Lose no time; be always employ'd in some-
thing useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.

7. SINCERITY.

Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and
justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

8. JUSTICE.

Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting
the benefits that are your duty.

9. MODERATION.

Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries
so much as you think they deserve.

10. CLEANLINESS.

Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths,
or habitation.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 149

11. TRANQUILLITY.

Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents
common or unavoidable.

12. CHASTITY.

13. HUMILITY.

Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

My intention being to acquire the habitude
of all these virtues, I judg'd it would be well
not to distract my attention by attempting the
whole at once, but to fix it on one of them at
a time; and, when I should be master of that,
then to proceed to another, and so on, till I
should have gone thro' the thirteen; and, as
the previous acquisition of some might facili-
tate the acquisition of certain others, I arrang'd
them with that view, as they stand above. Tem-
perance first, as it tends to procure that cool-
ness and clearness of head, which is so neces-
sary where constant vigilance was to be kept
up, and guard maintained against the unremit-
ting attraction of ancient habits, and the force
of perpetual temptations. This being acquir'd
and establish'd, Silence would be more easy;
and my desire being to gain knowledge at the
same time that I improv'd in virtue, and con-
sidering that in conversation it was obtain'd

150 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

rather by the use of the ears than of the tongue,
and therefore wishing to break a habit I was
getting into of prattling, punning, and joking,
which only made me acceptable to trifling com-
pany, I gave Silence the second place. This
and the next, Order, I expected would allow
me more time for attending to my project and
my studies. Resolution, once become habitual,
would keep me firm in my endeavours to ob-
tain all the subsequent virtues; Frugality and
Industry freeing me from my remaining debt,
and producing affluence and independence,
would make more easy the practice of Sin-
cerity and Justice, etc., etc. Conceiving then,
that, agreeably to the advice of Pythagoras 1
in his Golden Verses, daily examination would
be necessary, I contrived the following method
for conducting that examination.

I made a little book, in which I allotted a
page for each of the virtues. 2 I rul'd each
page with red ink, so as to have seven columns,
one for each day of the week, marking each
column with a letter for the day. I cross'd

1 A famous Greek philosopher, who lived about 582-500 B. c.
The Golden Verses here ascribed to him are probably of later
origin. " The time which he recommends for this work is about
even or bed-time, that we may conclude the action of the day with
the judgment of conscience, making the examination of our con-
versation an evening song to God.

2 This " little book " is dated July i, 1733. W. T. F.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 151

these columns with thirteen red lines, mark-
ing the beginning of each line with the first
letter of one of the virtues, on which line, and
in its proper column, I might mark, by a little
black spot, every fault I found upon examina-
tion to have been committed respecting that
virtue upon that day.

Form of the pages.

TEMPERANCE.

EAT NOT TO DULLNESS
DRINK NOT TO ELEVATION.

* *

J-

I determined to give a week's strict attention
to each of the virtues successively. Thus, in the

152 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

first week, my great guard was to avoid every
the least offense against Temperance, leaving
the other virtues to their ordinary chance, only
marking every evening the faults of the day.
Thus, if in the first week I could keep my first
line, marked T, clear of spots, I suppos'd the
habit of that virtue so much strengthen'd, and
its opposite weaken'd, that I might venture
extending my attention to include the next,
and for the following week keep both lines
clear of spots. Proceeding thus to the last,
I could go thro' a course compleat in thirteen
weeks, and four courses in a year. And like
him who, having a garden to weed, does not
attempt to eradicate all the bad herbs at once,
which would exceed his reach and his strength,
but works on one of the beds at a time, and,
having accomplish'd the first, proceeds to a
second, so I should have, I hoped, the encour-
aging pleasure of seeing on my pages the prog-
ress I made in virtue, by clearing successively
my lines of their spots, till in the end, by a
number of courses, I should be happy in view-
ing a clean book, after a thirteen weeks' daily
examination.

This my little book had for its motto these
lines from Addison's Cato:

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 153

" Here will I hold. If there's a power above us
(And that there is, all nature cries aloud
Thro' all her works), He must delight in virtue;
And that which he delights in must be happy."

Another from Cicero,

" O vitse Philosophia dux ! O virtutum indagatrix ex-
pultrixque vitiorum! Unus dies, bene et ex praeceptis tuis
actus, peccanti immortalitati est anteponendus." x

Another from the Proverbs of Solomon,
speaking of wisdom or virtue:

" Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand
riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace." iii. 16, 17.

And conceiving God to be the fountain of
wisdom, I thought it right and necessary to
solicit his assistance for obtaining it; to this
end I formed the following little prayer, which
was prefix'd to my tables of examination, for
daily use.

" O powerful Goodness! bountiful Father! merciful
Guide! Increase in me that wisdom which discovers my
truest interest. Strengthen my resolutions to perform what
that wisdom dictates. Accept my kind offices to thy other
children as the only return in my power for thy continual
favours to me."

a "O philosophy, guide of life! O searcher out of virtue and
exterminator of vice! One day spent well and in accordance
with thy precepts is worth an immortality of sin." Tusculan In-
quiries, Book V.

154 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

I used also sometimes a little prayer which
I took from Thomson's Poems, viz.:

" Father of light and life, thou Good Supreme !
O teach me what is good; teach me Thyself!
Save me from folly, vanity, and vice,
From every low pursuit ; and fill my soul
With knowledge, conscious peace, and virtue pure ;
Sacred, substantial, never-fading bliss ! "

The precept of Order requiring that every
part of my business should have its allotted time,
one page in my little book contain'd the fol-
lowing scheme of employment for the twenty-
four hours of a natural day.

Rise, wash, and ad-
dress Powerful Good-
ness! Contrive day's
business, and take the

THE MORNING.
Question. What good
shall I do this day?

5
6

resolution of the day;
prosecute the present
study, and breakfast.

Work.

NOON.

Read, or overlook my
accounts, and dine.

Work.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 155

EVENING.

Question. What good
have I have done to-day ?

NIGHT.

7
8

12
I

Put things in their
places. Supper. Music
or diversion, or conver-
sation. Examination of
the day.

Sleep.

I enter'd upon the execution of this plan
for self-examination, and continu'd it with occa-
sional intermissions for some time. I was sur-
pris'd to find myself so much fuller of faults
than I had imagined; but I had the satisfaction
of seeing them diminish. To avoid the trouble
of renewing now and then my little book,
which, by scraping out the marks on the paper
of old faults to make room for new ones in a
new course, became full of holes, I transferr'd
my tables and precepts to the ivory leaves of
a memorandum book, on which the lines were
drawn with red ink, that made a durable stain,
and on those lines I mark'd my faults with a
black-lead pencil, which marks I could easily
wipe out with a wet sponge. After a while I
went thro' one course only in a year, and after-

156 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

ward only one in several years, till at length
I omitted them entirely, being employ'd in
voyages and business abroad, with a multi-
plicity of affairs that interfered; but I always
carried my little book with me.

My scheme of ORDER gave me the most
trouble; 1 and I found that, tho' it might be
practicable where a man's business was such
as to leave him the disposition of his time, that
of a journeyman printer, for instance, it was
not possible to be exactly observed by a master,
who must mix with the world, and often re-
ceive people of business at their own hours.
Order, too, with regard to places for things,
papers, etc., I found extreamly difficult to
acquire. I had not been early accustomed to
it, and, having an exceeding good memory, I
was not so sensible of the inconvenience attend-
ing want of method. This article, therefore,
cost me so much painful attention, and my
faults in it vexed me so much, and I made so
little progress in amendment, and had such
frequent relapses, that I was almost ready
to give up the attempt, and content myself with

1 Professor McMaster tells us that when Franklin was Ameri-
can Agent in France, his lack of business order was a source of
annoyance to his colleagues and friends. " Strangers who came to
see him were amazed to behold papers of the greatest importance
scattered in the most careless way over the table and floor."

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 157

a faulty character in that respect, like the
man who, in buying an ax of a smith, my neigh-
bour, desired to have the whole of its surface
as bright as the edge. The smith consented
to grind it bright for him if he would turn the
wheel; he turn'd, while the smith press'd the
broad face of the ax hard and heavily on the

stone, which made the turning of it very fatigu-
ing. The man came every now and then from
the wheel to see how the work went on, and
at length would take his ax as it was, without
farther grinding. " No," said the smith, " turn
on, turn on; we shall have it bright by-and-by;
as yet, it is only speckled." " Yes," says the
man, "but I think I like a speckled ax best."
And I believe this may have been the case
with many, who, having, for want of some
such means as I employ'd, found the difficulty
of obtaining good and breaking bad habits in

158 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

other points of vice and virtue, have given up
the struggle, and concluded that ' a speckled
ax was best " ; for something, that pretended
to be reason, was every now and then sug-
gesting to me that such extream nicety as I
exacted of myself might be a kind of foppery
in morals, which, if it were known, would make
me ridiculous; that a perfect character might
be attended with the inconvenience of being
envied and hated; and that a benevolent man
should allow a few faults in himself, to keep
his friends in countenance.

In truth, I found myself incorrigible with
respect to Order; and now I am grown old,
and my memory bad, I feel very sensibly the
want of it. But, on the whole, tho' I never
arrived at the perfection I had been so am-
bitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it,
yet I was, by the endeavour, a better and a
happier man than I otherwise should have been
if I had not attempted it; as those who aim at
perfect writing by imitating the engraved
copies, tho' they never reach the wish'd-for
excellence of those copies, their hand is mended
by the endeavour, and is tolerable while it con-
tinues fair and legible.

It may be well my posterity should be
informed that to this little artifice, with the

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 159

blessing of God, their ancestor ow'd the con-
stant felicity of his life, down to his 79th year,
in which this is written. What reverses may
attend the remainder is in the hand of Provi-
dence; but, if they arrive, the reflection on
past happiness enjoy'd ought to help his bear-
ing them with more resignation. To Tem-
perance he ascribes his long-continued health,
and what is still left to him of a good con-
stitution; to Industry and Frugality, the early
easiness of his circumstances and acquisition of
his fortune, with all that knowledge that enabled
him to be a useful citizen, and obtained for
him some degree of reputation among the
learned; to Sincerity and Justice, the confi-
dence of his country, and the honorable em-
ploys it conferred upon him; and to the joint
influence of the whole mass of the virtues, 1
even in the imperfect state he was able to
acquire them, all that evenness of temper, and
that cheerfulness in conversation, which makes
his company still sought for, and agreeable

1 While there can be no question that Franklin's moral improve-
ment and happiness were due to the practice of these virtues, yet
most people will agree that we shall have to go back of his plan
for the impelling motive to a virtuous life. Franklin's own sug-
gestion that the scheme smacks of "foppery in morals" seems jus-
tified. Woodrow Wilson well puts it : " Men do not take fire
from such thoughts, unless something deeper, which is missing
here, shine through them. What may have seemed to the

160 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

even to his younger acquaintance. I hope,
therefore, that some of my descendants may
follow the example and reap the benefit.

It will be remark'd that, tho' my scheme was
not wholly without religion, there was in it no
mark of any of the distinguishing tenets of
any particular sect. I had purposely avoided
them; for, being fully persuaded of the utility
and excellency of my method, and that it might
be serviceable to people in all religions, and
intending some time or other to publish it, I
would not have anything in it that should preju-
dice anyone, of any sect, against it. I pur-
posed writing a little comment on each virtue,
in which I would have shown the advantages
of possessing it, and the mischiefs attending
its opposite vice; and I should have called my
book THE ART OF VIRTUE/ because it would
have shown the means and manner of obtain-
ing virtue, which would have distinguished it
from the mere exhortation to be good, that
does not instruct and indicate the means, but

eighteenth century a system of morals seems to us nothing more
vital than a collection of the precepts of good sense and sound
conduct. What redeems it from pettiness in this book is the
scope of power and of usefulness to be seen in Franklin himself,
who set these standards up in all seriousness and candor for his
own life." See Galatians, chapter V, for the Christian plan of
moral perfection.
1 Nothing so likely to make a man's fortune as virtue. Marg. note.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 161

is like the apostle's man of verbal charity, who
only without showing to the naked and hun-
gry how or where they might get clothes or
victuals, exhorted them to be fed and clothed.
James ii. 15, 16.

But it so happened that my intention of
writing and publishing this comment was never
fulfilled. I did, indeed, from time to time, put
down short hints of the sentiments, reasonings,
etc., to be made use of in it, some of which I
have still by me; but the necessary close atten-
tion to private business in the earlier part of
my life, and public business since, have occa-
sioned my postponing it; for, it being con-
nected in my mind with a great and extensive
project, that required the whole man to execute,
and which an unforeseen succession of employs
prevented my attending to, it has hitherto re-
main'd unfinished.

In this piece it was my design to explain
and enforce this doctrine, that vicious actions
are not hurtful because they are forbidden, but
forbidden because they are hurtful, the nature
of man alone considered; that it was, there-
fore, everyone's interest to be virtuous who
wish'd to be happy even in this world; and
I should, from this circumstance (there being
always in the world a number of rich mer-

1 62 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

chants, nobility, states, and princes, who have
need of honest instruments for the manage-
ment of their affairs, and such being so rare),
have endeavoured to convince young persons
that no qualities were so likely to make a poor
man's fortune as those of probity and integrity.

My list of virtues contain'd at first but twelve;
but a Quaker friend having kindly informed
me that I was generally thought proud; that
my pride show'd itself frequently in conversa-
tion; that I was not content with being in
the right when discussing any point, but was
overbearing, and rather insolent, of which he
convinc'd me by mentioning several instances;
I determined endeavouring to cure myself, if
I could, of this vice or folly among the rest,
and I added Humility to my list, giving an
extensive meaning to the word.

I cannot boast of much success in acquiring
the reality of this virtue, but I had a good
deal with regard to the appearance of it. I
made it a rule to forbear all direct contradic-
tion to the sentiments of others, and all posi-
tive assertion of my own. I even forbid my-
self, agreeably to the old laws of our Junto,
the use of every word or expression in the
language that imported a fix'd opinion, such
as certainly, undoubtedly, etc., and I adopted,

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 163

instead of them, I conceive, I apprehend, or
I imagine a thing to be so or so; or it so appears
to me at present. When another asserted some-
thing that I thought an error, I deny'd myself
the pleasure of contradicting him abruptly, and
of showing immediately some absurdity in his
proposition; and in answering I began by ob-
serving that in certain cases or circumstances
his opinion would be right, but in the present
case there appeared or seem'd to me some dif-
ference, etc. I soon found the advantage of
this change in my manner; the conversations
I engag'd in went on more pleasantly. The
modest way in which I propos'd my opinions
procur'd them a readier reception and less con-
tradiction; I had less mortification when I was
found to be in the wrong, and I more easily
prevail'd with others to give up their mistakes
and join with me when I happened to be in
the right.

And this mode, which I at first put on with
some violence to natural inclination, became
at length so easy, and so habitual to me, that
perhaps for these fifty years past no one has
ever heard a dogmatical expression escape me.
And to this habit (after my character of integ-
rity) I think it principally owing that I had
early so much weight with my fellow-citizens

1 64 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

when I proposed new institutions, or altera-
tions in the old, and so much influence in public
councils when I became a member; for I was
but a bad speaker, never eloquent, subject to
much hesitation in my choice of words, hardly
correct in language, and yet I generally carried
my points.

In reality, there is, perhaps, no one of our
natural passions so hard to subdue as pride.
Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down,
stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it
is still alive, and will every now and then peep
out and show itself; you will see it, perhaps,
often in this history; for, even if I could con-
ceive that I had compleatly overcome it, I
should probably be proud of my humility.

[Thus far written at Passy, 1784.]

["/ am now about to write at home, August,
1788, but cannot have the help expected from
my papers, many of them being lost in the war.
I have, however, found the following." ] 3

HAVING mentioned a great and extensive
project which I had conceiv'd, it seems proper
that some account should be here given of
that project and its object. Its first rise in

1 This is a marginal memorandum. B.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 165

my mind appears in the following little paper,
accidentally preserv'd, viz.:

Observations on my reading history, in
Library, May igth, 1731.

" That the great affairs of the world, the wars,
revolutions, etc., are carried on and effected by
parties.

" That the view of these parties is their
present general interest, or what they take to
be such.

" That the different views of these different
parties occasion all confusion.

" That while a party is carrying on a gen-
eral design, each man has his particular private
interest in view.

" That as soon as a party has gain'd its
general point, each member becomes intent
upon his particular interest; which, thwarting
others, breaks that party into divisions, and
occasions more confusion.

: That few in public affairs act from a meer
view of the good of their country, whatever
they may pretend; and, tho' their actings bring
real good to their country, yet men primarily
considered that their own and their country's
interest was united, and did not act from a prin-
ciple of benevolence.

1 66 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

"That fewer still, in public affairs, act with
a view to the good of mankind.

" There seems to me at present to be great
occasion for raising a United Party for Virtue,
by forming the virtuous and good men of all
nations into a regular body, to be govern'd
by suitable good and wise rules, which good
and wise men may probably be more unani-
mous in their obedience to, than common people
are to common laws.

" I at present think that whoever attempts
this aright, and is well qualified, cannot fail of
pleasing God, and of meeting with success.

B. F."

Revolving this project in my mind, as to be
undertaken hereafter, when my circumstances
should afford me the necessary leisure, I put
down from time to time, on pieces of paper,
such thoughts as occurr'd to me respecting it.
Most of these are lost; but I find one purport-
ing to be the substance of an intended creed,
containing, as I thought, the essentials of every
known religion, and being free of everything
that might shock the professors of any religion.
It is express'd in these words, viz.:

" That there is one God, who made all things.

" That he governs the world by his providence.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 167

" That he ought to be worshiped by adora-
tion, prayer, and thanksgiving.

" But that the most acceptable service of God
is doing good to man.

" That the soul is immortal.

" And that God will certainly reward virtue
and punish vice, either here or hereafter."

My ideas at that time were, that the sect
should be begun and spread at first among
young and single men only; that each person
to be initiated should not only declare his
assent to such creed, but should have exercised
himself with the thirteen weeks' examination
and practice of the virtues, as in the before-
mention'd model; that the existence of such a
society should be kept a secret, till it was be-
come considerable, to prevent solicitations for
the admission of improper persons, but that the
members should each of them search among
his acquaintance for ingenuous, well-disposed
youths, to whom, with prudent caution, the
scheme should be gradually communicated; that
the members should engage to afford their
advice, assistance, and support to each other
in promoting one another's interests, business,
and advancement in life; that, for distinction,
we should be call'd The Society of the Free
and Easy: free, as being, by the general prac-

168 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

tice and habit of the virtues, free from the
dominion of vice; and particularly by the prac-
tice of industry and frugality, free from debt,
which exposes a man to confinement, and a
species of slavery to his creditors.

This is as much as I can now recollect of
the project, except that I communicated it
in part to two young men, who adopted it
with some enthusiasm; but my then narrow
circumstances, and the necessity I was under
of sticking close to my business, occasion'd my
postponing the further prosecution of it at that
time; and my multifarious occupations, public
and private, induc'd me to continue postponing,
so that it has been omitted till I have no
longer strength or activity left sufficient for
such an enterprise; though I am still of opinion
that it was a practicable scheme, and might
have been very useful, by forming a great num-
ber of good citizens; and I was not discourag'd
by the seeming magnitude of the undertaking,
as I have always thought that one man of
tolerable abilities may work great changes, and
accomplish great affairs among mankind, if
he first forms a good plan, and, cutting off all
amusements or other employments that would
divert his attention, makes the execution of
that same plan his sole study and business.

POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC AND
OTHER ACTIVITIES

N 1732 I first publish'd my Alma-
nack, under the name of Richard
Saunders; it was continu'd by me
about twenty-five years, commonly
call'd Poor Richard's Almanac? I endeavour'd
to make it both entertaining and useful, and it
accordingly came to be in such demand, that
I reap'd considerable profit from it, vending
annually near ten thousand. And observing
that it was generally read, scarce any neigh-
borhood in the province being without it, I
consider'd it as a proper vehicle for convey-
ing instruction among the common people, who
bought scarcely any other books; I therefore
filled all the little spaces that occurr'd between
the remarkable days in the calendar with pro-
verbial sentences, chiefly such as inculcated
industry and frugality, as the means of pro-

1 The almanac at that time was a kind of periodical as well as
a guide to natural phenomena and the weather. Franklin took
his title from Poor Robin, a famous English almanac, and from
Richard Saunders, a well-known almanac publisher. For the
maxims of Poor Richard, see pages 331-335.

169

iyo FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

curing wealth, and thereby securing virtue; it
being more difficult for a man in want, to act
always honestly, as, to use here one of those
proverbs, it is hard for an empty sack to stand
upright.

These proverbs, which contained the wis-
dom of many ages and nations, I assembled
and form'd into a connected discourse prefix'd
to the Almanack of 1757, as the harangue of
a wise old man to the people attending an
auction. The bringing all these scatter'd coun-
cils thus into a focus enabled them to make
greater impression. The piece, being univer-
sally approved, was copied in all the news-
papers of the' Continent; reprinted in Britain
on a broadside, to be stuck up in houses; two
translations were made of it in French, and
great numbers bought by the clergy and gentry,
to distribute gratis among their poor parishion-
ers and tenants. In Pennsylvania, as it dis-
couraged useless expense in foreign superflu-
ities, some thought it had its share of influence
in producing that growing plenty of money
which was observable for several years after
its publication.

I considered my newspaper, also, as another
means of communicating instruction, and in
that view frequently reprinted in it extracts

Two pages from Poor Richard's Almanac for 1736. Size of original.
Reproduced from a copy at the New York Public Library.

IV Mon. June hath .xxx days.

Things thaf are bitter, bitterrer than Gall

Phyficians fay are always phyfical :
Now Women's Tongues if into Powder beaten,

May in a Potion or a Pill be eaten,

And as there's nought more bitter, I do mufe,

That Women's Tongues in Phyfick they ne'er ufe.

My (elf and others who lead reftlefs Lives,

Would (pa re that bitter Member of our Wives.

l?r/ weather,

4 36 8

> let 10 12 afr

2icenfiou ^aj?

4 35 8

He that can have

<5 T? 9 Judden

4 35 8

Patience, can

Jbowert

4 35 8

have what he

of Rain.

4 35 8

Firft Quarter.

(

igrauDi

4.35 8

will.

A <J $ thunder,

4 35 8

&3&

perhaps bail.

4 35 8

Qent.25 loday

7* rile 215

4 34 8

making Icngeft

very lot,

4 34 8

day i4h. 51 m.

St. 2&arnaba$.

4 34 8

Full 9 1 2 day,

e rain.

(

4 34 8

at i morn. ,

IDfjttfun&aji.

4 35 8

3) rife 8 20 afr.

4 35 8

Now l\e a peep

fC.GEO.II. procl

4 35 s

and a cow, every

G b 'Wind, ram

4 35 8

body bids megooJ

% pj ^ </7 <wd

4 35 8

morrcisj.

tlwnder.

4 35 8

D rife 1 1 10 af.

1C)

Day fhorter 2 m.

<5h

4 35 8

Cnnjtp ;un&.

4 36 8

Laft Quarter.

//~w<? have rain a-

4 36 8

God helps them

\out the Change,

4 3* 8

that belp tbem-

Let not mv reader

4 36 8

fpfoes.

St.3Ioljn;5ap.

4 3* 8

3) rife 2 morn.

7* rife i 8

1 1

4 37 8

Why does tie

VC0^ tlinkil

4 37 8

Windmans wife

jhartge.

1<J

4 38 8

Mew >27 day^

% fj <J bail and

4 38 8

near noon.

2 9

Sr. j^ctcc Sppaitl

4 39 8

paitt herfeff.

D<J9 ww.

4 40 8

)(ets 9 30

V Mou. July hath xxxi days.

Who can charge Ebrio with Thirft of Wealth?

Sec he confumes his Money, Time and Health,

In drunken Frolicks which will all confound,

Neglecls his Farm, forgets to till his Ground,

His Stock grows IcCs that might be kept with cafe ;

In nought but Guts and Debts he finds Encreafe.

In Town reels as if he'd fhove down each Wall,

Yet Walls muft fbnd, poor Soul, or he mud fall.

Day fhort. 1 i mi

4 40 i,

A r 0ne preaches

7* life 1232

>j%

4418

better than the

windy weather.

4 41 8

ant, andjbe fayt

*&una.pCnit

442 8

Firft Quarter.'

Vc ^ 9 rw

''4

4 43 8

nothing.

plrafint weather

4 44 8

>fets 12 30 m

fame days

4 45 8

T^* /ii/CT7< *re

together^

2 3

446 S

never without

tut indinet to

4 47 8

fault, nor tbe

falling

1 1

4 48 8

prefent without

3&UM&. p;3Tnn.

AAW

-v

449 8

Full 1 1 day,

* fj ^ weather.

4 50 8

2 afternoon.

30jj*oayi begin

2 5

4 50 8

Oinft

Days 14 h. 20 m

4 51 8

> rife 8 55 aft.

St. Switbin.

4 5 2 8

exctife.

& i *

4 53 8

rf O $ r<J / w

4 54 8

Gifts lurjt

7* rife n 40

4 55 8

rocks

hail or rain.

4 5* 8

Laft Quarter.

*Tj thunder.

4 57 8

>rife 11 52 at

7* rife ii 1 8

4 57 8

/f i//r d blows on

then high

4 58 8

you thro' a hole t

2 3

wind.

4 59 8

Make ) our will

8Qv

4 59 8

and take care of

&t.3!ame$.

* *

507

your foul.

bail

5 i 7

Ncw))26day,

>near cor S)

527

near 8 afrern

<?-y.9 ^r

537

)fets 8 aftern.

/i/r, and fne

5 4 7

%he rotten jfyple

weather

^x.

5 5 7

fpoilt his Com-

)* rife 10 40 .

5 * 7

panion.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 175

from the Spectator, and other moral writers;
and sometimes publish'd little pieces of my
own, which had been first compos'd for read-
ing in our Junto. Of these are a Socratic dia-
logue, tending to prove that, whatever might
be his parts and abilities, a vicious man could
not properly be called a man of sense; and a
discourse on self-denial, showing that virtue
was not secure till its practice became a habi-
tude, and was free from the opposition of con-
trary inclinations. These may be found in the
papers about the beginning of 1735. 1

In the conduct of my newspaper, I carefully
excluded all libeling and personal abuse, which
is of late years become so disgraceful to our
country. Whenever I was solicited to insert
anything of that kind, and the writers pleaded,
as they generally did, the liberty of the press,
and that a newspaper was like a stage-coach,
in which anyone who would pay had a right to a
place, my answer was, that I would print the
piece separately if desired, and the author might
have as many copies as he pleased to distrib-
ute himself, but that I would not take upon
me to spread his detraction; and that, having
contracted with my subscribers to furnish them
with what might be either useful or enter-

ijune 23 and July 7, 1730. Smyth.

176 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

taining, I could not fill their papers with private
altercation, in which they had no concern, with-
out doing them manifest injustice. Now, many
of our printers make no scruple of gratifying
the malice of individuals by false accusations
of the fairest characters among ourselves, aug-
menting animosity even to the producing of
duels; and are, moreover, so indiscreet as to
print scurrilous reflections on the government
of neighboring states, and even on the con-
duct of our best national allies, which may be
attended with the most pernicious consequences.
These things I mention as a caution to young
printers, and that they may be encouraged
not to pollute their presses and disgrace their
profession by such infamous practices, but
refuse steadily, as they may see by my
example that such a course of conduct will
not, on the whole, be injurious to their in-
terests.

In 1733 I sent one of my journeymen to

Charleston, South Carolina, where a printer
was wanting. I furnish'd him with a press
and letters, on an agreement of partnership,
by which I was to receive one-third of the
profits of the business, paying one-third of the
expense. He was a man of learning, and hon-
est but ignorant in matters of account; and,

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 177

tho' he sometimes made me remittances, I could
get no account from him, nor any satisfactory
state of our partnership while he lived. On
his decease, the business was continued by his
widow, who, being born and bred in Holland,
where, as I have been inform'd, the knowledge
of accounts makes a part of female education,
she not only sent me as clear a state as she
could find of the transactions past, but con-
tinued to account with the greatest regularity
and exactness every quarter afterwards, and
managed the business with such success, that
she not only brought up reputably a family of
children, but, at the expiration of the term,
was able to purchase of me the printing-house,
and establish her son in it.

I mention this affair chiefly for the sake of
recommending that branch of education for
our young females, as likely to be of more
use to them and their children, in case of
widowhood, than either music or dancing, by
preserving them from losses by imposition of
crafty men, and enabling them to continue,
perhaps, a profitable mercantile house, with
establish'd correspondence, till a son is grown
up fit to undertake and go on with it, to
the lasting advantage and enriching of the
family.

iy8 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

About the year 1734 there arrived among us
from Ireland a young Presbyterian preacher,
named Hemphill, who delivered with a good
voice, and apparently extempore, most excellent
discourses, which drew together considerable
numbers of different persuasions, who join'd
in admiring them. Among the rest, I became
one of his constant hearers, his sermons pleas-
ing me, as they had little of the dogmatical
kind, but inculcated strongly the practice of
virtue, or what in the religious stile are called
good works. Those, however, of our congre-
gation, who considered themselves as orthodox
Presbyterians, disapprov'd his doctrine, and
were join'd by most of the old clergy, who
arraign'd him of heterodoxy before the synod,
in order to have him silenc'd. I became his
zealous partisan, and contributed all I could
to raise a party in his favour, and we com-
bated for him awhile with some hopes of suc-
cess. There was much scribbling pro and con
upon the occasion; and finding that, tho' an
elegant preacher, he was but a poor writer, I
lent him my pen and wrote for him two or
three pamphlets, and one piece in the Gazette
of April, 1735. Those pamphlets, as is gen-
erally the case with controversial writings, tho'
eagerly read at the time, were soon out of

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 179

vogue, and I question whether a single copy
of them now exists. 1

During the contest an unlucky occurrence
hurt his cause exceedingly. One of our adver-
saries having heard him preach a sermon that
was much admired, thought he had somewhere
read the sermon before, or at least a part of
it. On search, he found that part quoted at
length, in one of the British Reviews, from a dis-
course of Dr. Foster's. 2 This detection gave
many of our party disgust, who accordingly
abandoned his cause, and occasion'd our more
speedy discomfiture in the synod. I stuck by
him, however, as I rather approv'd his giving
us good sermons composed by others, than bad
ones of his own manufacture, tho' the latter
was the practice of our common teachers. He
afterward acknowledg'd to me that none of
those he preach'd were his own; adding, that
his memory was such as enabled him to retain
and repeat any sermon after one reading only.

1 See " A List of Books written by, or relating to Benjamin
Franklin," by Paul Leicester Ford. 1889. p. 15. Smyth.

2 Dr. James Foster (1697-1753):

" Let modest Foster, if he will excel
Ten metropolitans in preaching well."

Pope (Epilogue to the Satires, I, 132).

"Those who had not heard Farinelli sing and Foster preach
were not qualified to appear in genteel company," Hawkins. " His-
tory of Music." Smyth.

i8o FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

On our defeat, he left us in search elsewhere
of better fortune, and I quitted the congrega-
tion, never joining it after, tho' I continu'd
many years my subscription for the support
of its ministers.

I had begun in 1733 to study languages; I
soon made myself so much a master of the
French as to be able to read the books with
ease. I then undertook the Italian. An ac-
quaintance, who was also learning it, us'd often
to tempt me to play chess with him. Finding
this took up too much of the time I had to
spare for study, I at length refus'd to play
any more, unless on this condition, that the
victor in every game should have a right to
impose a task, either in parts of the grammar
to be got by heart, or in translations, etc.,
which tasks the vanquish'd was to perform
upon honour, before our next meeting. As we
play'd pretty equally, we thus beat one another
into that language. I afterwards with a little
painstaking, acquir'd as much of the Spanish
as to read their books also.

I have already mention'd that I had only one
year's instruction in a Latin school, and that
when very young, after which I neglected that
language entirely. But, when I had attained
an acquaintance with the French, Italian, and

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 181

Spanish, I was surpriz'd to find, on looking
over a Latin Testament, that I understood so
much more of that language than I had
imagined, which encouraged me to apply my-
self again to the study of it, and I met with
more success, as those preceding languages had
greatly smooth'd my way.

From these circumstances, I have thought
that there is some inconsistency in our com-
mon mode of teaching languages. We are told
that it is proper to begin first with the Latin,
and, having acquir'd that, it will be more easy
to attain those modern languages which are de-
riv'd from it; and yet we do not begin with the
Greek, in order more easily to acquire the Latin.
It is true that, if you can clamber and get to
the top of a staircase without using the steps,
you will more easily gain them in descending;
but certainly, if you begin with the lowest you
will with more ease ascend to the top ; and I
would therefore offer it to the consideration
of those who superintend the education of our
youth, whether, since many of those who begin
with the Latin quit the same after spending
some years without having made any great
proficiency, and what they have learnt becomes
almost useless, so that their time has been
lost, it would not have been better to have

182 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

begun with the French, proceeding to the
Italian, etc.; for, tho', after spending the same
time, they should quit the study of languages
and never arrive at the Latin, they would, how-
ever, have acquired another tongue or two, that,
being in modern use, might be serviceable to
them in common life. 1

After ten years' absence from Boston, and
having become easy in my circumstances, I
made a journey thither to visit my relations,
which I could not sooner well afford. In re-
turning, I call'd at Newport to see my brother,
then settled there with his printing-house. Our
former differences were forgotten, and our
meeting was very cordial and affectionate. He
was fast declining in his health, and requested
of me that, in case of his death, which he ap-
prehended not far distant, I would take home
his son, then but ten years of age, and bring

1 " The authority of Franklin, the most eminently practical man
of his age, in favor of reserving the study of the dead languages
until the mind has reached a certain maturity, is confirmed by the
confession of one of the most eminent scholars of any age.

" ' Our seminaries of learning,' says Gibbon, ' do not exactly
correspond with the precept of a Spartan king, that the child
should be instructed in the arts which will be useful to the man ;
since a finished scholar may emerge from the head of West-
minster or Eton, in total ignorance of the business and con-
versation of English gentlemen in the latter end of the eighteenth
century. But these schools may assume the merit of teaching all
that they pretend to teach, the Latin and Greek languages.' "
Bigelow.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 183

him up to the printing business. This I accord-
ingly perform'd, sending him a few years to
school before I took him into the office. His
mother carried on the business till he was
grown up, when I assisted him with an assort-
ment of new types, those of his father being
in a manner worn out. Thus it was that I made

my brother ample amends for the service I had
depriv'd him of by leaving him so early.

In 1736 I lost one of my sons, a fine boy of
four years old, by the small-pox, taken in the
common way. I long regretted bitterly, and
still regret that I had not given it to him by
inoculation. This I mention for the sake of
parents who omit that operation, on the sup-
position that they should never forgive them-
selves if a child died under it; my example show-
ing that the regret may be the same either way,
and that, therefore, the safer should be chosen.

Our club, the Junto, was found so useful, and

1 84 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

afforded such satisfaction to the members, that
several were desirous of introducing their
friends, which could not well be done without
exceeding what we had settled as a convenient
number, viz., twelve. We had from the be-
ginning made it a rule to keep our institu-
tion a secret, which was pretty well observ'd;
the intention was to avoid applications of im-
proper persons for admittance, some of whom,
perhaps, we might find it difficult to refuse.
I was one of those who were against any addi-
tion to our number, but, instead of it, made
in writing a proposal, that every member sep-
arately should endeavour to form a subordinate
club, with the same rules respecting queries,
etc., and without informing them of the con-
nection with the Junto. The advantages pro-
posed were, the improvement of so many more
young citizens by the use of our institutions;
our better acquaintance with the general senti-
ments of the inhabitants on any occasion, as
the Junto member might propose what queries
we should desire, and was to report to the
Junto what pass'd in his separate club; the
promotion of our particular interests in busi-
ness by more extensive recommendation, and
the increase of our influence in public affairs,
and our power of doing good by spreading

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 185

thro' the several clubs the sentiments of the
Junto.

The project was approv'd, and every mem-
ber undertook to form his club, but they did
not all succeed. Five or six only were com-
pleated, which were called by different names,
as the Vine, the Union, the Band, etc. They
were useful to themselves, and afforded us a
good deal of amusement, information, and in-
struction, besides answering, in some consider-
able degree, our views of influencing the public
opinion on particular occasions, of which I shall
give some instances in course of time as they
happened.

My first promotion was my being chosen,
in 1736, clerk of the General Assembly. The
choice was made that year without opposition;
but the year following, when I was again pro-
pos'd (the choice, like that of tr^e members,
being annual), a new member made a long
speech against me, in order to favour some
other candidate. I was, however, chosen, which
was the more agreeable to me, as, besides the
pay for the immediate service as clerk, the
place gave me a better opportunity of keep-
ing up an interest among the members, which
secur'd to me the business of printing the votes,
laws, paper money, and other occasional jobbs

i86 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

for the public, that, on the whole, were very
profitable.

I therefore did not like the opposition of this
new member, who was a gentleman of for-
tune and education, with talents that were likely
to give him, in time, great influence in the
House, which, indeed, afterwards happened. I
did not, however, aim at gaining his favour
by paying any servile respect to him, but, after
some time, took this other method. Having
heard that he had in his library a certain very
scarce and curious book, I wrote a note to him,
expressing my desire of perusing that book,
and requesting he would do me the favour of
lending it to me for a few days. He sent it
immediately, and I return'd it in about a week
with another note, expressing strongly my
sense of the favour. When we next met in
the House, he spoke to me (which he had
never done before), and with great civility;
and he ever after manifested a readiness to
serve me on all occasions, so that we became
great friends, and our friendship continued to
his death. This is another instance of the truth
of an old maxim I had learned, which says,
"He that has once done you a kindness will be
more ready to do you another, than he whom
you yourself have obliged." And it shows how

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 187

much more profitable it is prudently to re-
move, than to resent, return, and continue
inimical proceedings.

In 1737, Colonel Spotswood, late governor
of Virginia, and then postmaster-general, being
dissatisfied with the conduct of his deputy at
Philadelphia, respecting some negligence in
rendering, and inexactitude of his accounts, took
from him the commission and offered it to
me. I accepted it readily, and found it of great
advantage; for, tho' the salary was small, it
facilitated the correspondence that improv'd
my newspaper, increas'd the number demanded,
as well as the advertisements to be inserted,
so that it came to afford me a considerable in-
come. My old competitor's newspaper declin'd
proportionately, and I was satisfy'd without
retaliating his refusal, while postmaster, to per-
mit my papers being carried by the riders.
Thus he suffer'd greatly from his neglect in
due accounting; and I mention it as a lesson
to those young men who may be employ'd in
managing affairs for others, that they should
always render accounts, and make remittances,
with great clearness and punctuality. The char-
acter of observing such a conduct is the most
powerful of all recommendations to new em-
ployments and increase of business.

XI
INTEREST IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS

BEGAN now to turn my thoughts
a little to public affairs, beginning,
however, with small matters. The
city watch was one of the first
things that I conceiv'd to want regulation. It
was managed by the constables of the respect-
ive wards in turn; the constable warned a num-
ber of housekeepers to attend him for the night.
Those who chose never to attend, paid him
six shillings a year to be excus'd, which was
suppos'd to be for hiring substitutes, but was,
in reality, much more than was necessary for
that purpose, and made the constableship a
place of profit; and the constable, for a little
drink, often got such ragamuffins about him
as a watch, that respectable housekeepers did
not choose to mix with. Walking the rounds,
too, was often neglected, and most of the nights
spent in tippling. I thereupon wrote a paper
to be read in Junto, representing these irregu-
larities, but insisting more particularly on the
inequality of this six-shilling tax of the con-

188

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 189

stables, respecting the circumstances of those
who paid it, since a poor widow housekeeper,
all whose property to be guarded by the watch
did not perhaps exceed the value of fifty pounds,
paid as much as the wealthiest merchant, who
had thousands of pounds' worth of goods in his
stores.

On the whole, I proposed as a more effec-
tual watch, the hiring of proper men to serve
constantly in that business; and as a more
equitable way of supporting the charge, the
levying a tax that should be proportion'd to
the property. This idea, being approv'd by the
Junto, was communicated to the other clubs,
but as arising in each of them; and though the
plan was not immediately carried into execu-
tion, yet, by preparing the minds of people
for the change, it paved the way for the law
obtained a few years after, when the members
of our clubs were grown into more influence.

About this time I wrote a paper (first to be
read in Junto, but it was afterward publish'd)
on the different accidents and carelessnesses by
which houses were set on fire, with cautions
against them, and means proposed of avoiding
them. This was much spoken of as a useful
piece, and gave rise to a project, which soon
followed it, of forming a company for the more

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

ready extinguishing of fires, and mutual assist-
ance in removing and securing of goods when
in danger. Associates in this scheme were
presently found, amounting to thirty. Our
articles of agreement oblig'd every member to
keep always in good order, and fit for use, a
certain number of leather buckets, with strong
bags and baskets (for packing and transport-
ing of goods), which were to be brought to
every fire; and we agreed to meet once a month
and spend a social evening together, in dis-
coursing and communicating such ideas as
occurred to us upon the subjects of fires, as
might be useful in our conduct on such occa-
sions.

The utility of this institution soon appeared,
and many more desiring to be admitted than
we thought convenient for one company, they
were advised to form another, which was
accordingly done; and this went on, one new
company being formed after another, till they
became so numerous as to include most of the
inhabitants who were men of property; and
now, at the time of my writing this, tho' up-
ward of fifty years since its establishment, that
which I first formed, called the Union Fire
Company, still subsists and flourishes, tho' the
first members are all deceas'd but myself and

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 191

one, who is older by a year than I am. The
small fines that have been paid by members
for absence at the monthly meetings have been
apply'd to the purchase of fire-engines, ladders,
fire-hooks, and other useful implements for
each company, so that I question whether there

is a city in the world better provided with the
means of putting a stop to beginning conflagra-
tions; and, in fact, since these institutions, the
city has never lost by fire more than one or two
houses at a time, and the flames have often
been extinguished before the house in which
they began has been half consumed.

In 1739 arrived among us from Ireland the
Reverend Mr. Whitefield, 1 who had made him-
self remarkable there as an itinerant preacher.
He was at first permitted to preach in some

1 George Whitefield, pronounced Hwit'field (1714-1770), a cele-
brated English clergyman and pulpit orator, one of the founders
of Methodism.

192 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

of our churches; but the clergy, taking a dis-
like to him, soon refus'd him their pulpits, and
he was oblig'd to preach in the fields. The
multitudes of all sects and denominations that
attended his sermons were enormous, and it
was matter of speculation to me, who was one
of the number, to observe the extraordinary
influence of his oratory on his hearers, and
how much they admir'd and respected him,
notwithstanding his common abuse of them,
by assuring them they were naturally half beasts
and half devils. It was wonderful to see the
change soon made in the manners of our inhabi-
tants. From being thoughtless or indifferent
about religion, it seem'd as if all the world were
growing religious, so that one could not walk
thro' the town in an evening without hearing
psalms sung in different families of every street.
And it being found inconvenient to assemble
in the open air, subject to its inclemencies, the
building of a house to meet in was no sooner
propos'd, and persons appointed to receive con-
tributions, but sufficient sums were soon receiv'd
to procure the ground and erect the building,
which was one hundred feet long and seventy
broad, about the size of Westminster Hall; 1

1 A part of the palace of Westminster, now forming the vesti-
bule to the Houses of Parliament in London.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 193

and the work was carried on with such spirit
as to be finished in a much shorter time than
could have been expected. Both house and
ground were vested in trustees, expressly for
the use of any preacher of any religious per-
suasion who might desire to say something to
the people at Philadelphia; the design in build-
ing not being to accommodate any particular
sect, but the inhabitants in general; so that
even if the Mufti of Constantinople were to
send a missionary to preach Mohammedanism
to us, he would find a pulpit at his service.

Mr. Whitefield, in leaving us, went preach-
ing all the way thro' the colonies to Georgia.
The settlement of that province had lately been
begun, but, instead of being made with hardy,
industrious husbandmen, accustomed to labour,
the only people fit for such an enterprise, it
was with families of broken shop-keepers and
other insolvent debtors, many of indolent and
idle habits, taken out of the jails, who, being
set down in the woods, unqualified for clearing
land, and unable to endure the hardships of a
new settlement, perished in numbers, leaving
many helpless children unprovided for. The
sight of their miserable situation inspir'd the
benevolent heart of Mr. Whitefield with the
idea of building an Orphan House there, in

194 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

which they might be supported and educated.
Returning northward, he preach'd up this char-
ity, and made large collections, for his eloquence
had a wonderful power over the hearts and
purses of his hearers, of which I myself was
an instance.

I did not disapprove of the design, but, as
Georgia was then destitute of materials and
workmen, and it was proposed to send them
from Philadelphia at a great expense, I thought
it would have been better to have built the
house here, and brought the children to it.
This I advis'd; but he was resolute in his first
project, rejected my counsel, and I therefore
refus'd to contribute. I happened soon after
to attend one of his sermons, in the course
of which I perceived he intended to finish with
a collection, and I silently resolved he should
get nothing from me. I had in my pocket a
handful of copper money, three or four silver
dollars, and five pistoles in gold. As he pro-
ceeded I began to soften, and concluded to give
the coppers. Another stroke of his oratory
made me asham'd of that, and determin'd me
to give the silver; and he finish'd so admirably,
that I empty'd my pocket wholly into the col-
lector's dish, gold and all. At this sermon
there was also one of our club, who, being of

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 195

my sentiments respecting the building in
Georgia, and suspecting a collection might be
intended, had, by precaution, emptied his pock-
ets before he came from home. Towards the
conclusion of the discourse, however, he felt
a strong desire to give, and apply'd to a neigh-
bour who stood near him, to borrow some
money for the purpose. The application was
unfortunately [made] to perhaps the only man
in the company who had the firmness not to
be affected by the preacher. His answer was,
'At any other time, Friend Hopkinson, I would
lend to thee freely; but not now, for thee seems
to be out of thy right senses."

Some of Mr. Whitefield's enemies affected
to suppose that he would apply these collec-
tions to his own private emolument; but I, who
was intimately acquainted with him (being em-
ployed in printing his Sermons and Journals,
etc.), never had the least suspicion of his integ-
rity, but am to this day decidedly of opinion
that he was in all his conduct a perfectly
honest man; and methinks my testimony in his
favour ought to have the more weight, as we
had no religious connection. He us'd, indeed,
sometimes to pray for my conversion, but
never had the satisfaction of believing that
his prayers were heard. Ours was a mere civil

196 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

friendship, sincere on both sides, and lasted
to his death.

The following instance will show something
of the terms on which we stood. Upon one
of his arrivals from England at Boston, he
wrote to me that he should come soon to
Philadelphia, but knew not where he could
lodge when there, as he understood his old
friend and host, Mr. Benezet was removed to
Germantown. My answer was, " You know
my house; if you can make shift with its scanty
accommodations, you will be most heartily wel-
come." He reply'd, that if I made that kind
offer for Christ's sake, I should not miss of a
reward. And I returned, "Don't let me be mis-
taken; it <was not for Christ's sake, but for your
sake." One of our common acquaintance jo-
cosely remark'd, that, knowing it to be the
custom of the saints, when they received any
favour, to shift the burden of the obligation
from off their own shoulders, and place it in
heaven, I had contriv'd to fix it on earth.

The last time I saw Mr. Whitefield was in
London, when he consulted me about his Or-
phan House concern, and his purpose of appro-
priating it to the establishment of a college.

He had a loud and clear voice, and articu-
lated his words and sentences so perfectly, that

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 197

he might be heard and understood at a great
distance, especially as his auditories, however
numerous, observ'd the most exact silence. He
preach'd one evening from the top of the Court-
house steps, which are in the middle of Market-
street, and on the west side of Second-street,
which crosses it at right angles. Both streets
were fill'd with his hearers to a considerable
distance. Being among the hindmost in Mar-
ket-street, I had the curiosity to learn how
far he could be heard, by retiring backwards
down the street towards the river; and I found
his voice distinct till I came near Front-street,
when some noise in that street obscur'd it.
Imagining then a semicircle, of which my dis-
tance should be the radius, and that it were
fill'd with auditors, to each of whom I allow'd
two square feet, I computed that he might
well be heard by more than thirty thousand.
This reconcil'd me to the newspaper accounts
of his having preach'd to twenty-five thousand
people in the fields, and to the antient histories
of generals haranguing whole armies, of which
I had sometimes doubted.

By hearing him often, I came to distinguish
easily between sermons newly compos'd, and
those which he had often preach'd in the course
of his travels. His delivery of the latter was

ig8 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

so improv'd by frequent repetitions that every
accent, every emphasis, every modulation of
voice, was so perfectly well turn'd and well
plac'd, that, without being interested in the
subject, one could not help being pleas'd with
the discourse; a pleasure of much the same
kind with that receiv'd from an excellent piece
of musick. This is an advantage itinerant
preachers have over those who are stationary,
as the latter cannot well improve their delivery
of a sermon by so many rehearsals.

His writing and printing from time to time
gave great advantage to his enemies; un-
guarded expressions, and even erroneous opin-
ions, delivered in preaching, might have been
afterwards explain'd or qualifi'd by supposing
others that might have accompani'd them, or
they might have been deny'd; but litera scripta
manet. Critics attack'd his writings violently,
and with so much appearance of reason as to
diminish the number of his votaries and pre-
vent their increase; so that I am of opinion
if he had never written anything, he would have
left behind him a much more numerous and
important sect, and his reputation might in
that case have been still growing, even after
his death, as there being nothing of his writing
on which to found a censure and give him a

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 199

lower character, his proselytes would be left
at liberty to feign for him as great a variety
of excellences as their enthusiastic admiration
might wish him to have possessed.

My business was now continually augment-
ing, and my circumstances growing daily easier,
my newspaper having become very profitable,
as being for a time almost the only one in this
and the neighbouring provinces. I experienced,
too, the truth of the observation, ' that after
getting the first hundred pound, it is more easy
to get the second" money itself being of a pro-
lific nature.

The partnership at Carolina having suc-
ceeded, I was encourag'd to engage in others,
and to promote several of my workmen, who
had behaved well, by establishing them with
printing-houses in different colonies, on the
same terms with that in Carolina. Most of
them did well, being enabled at the end of
our term, six years, to purchase the types of
me and go on working for themselves, by which
means several families were raised. Partner-
ships often finish in quarrels; but I was happy
in this, that mine were all carried on and ended
amicably, owing, I think, a good deal to the
precaution of having very explicitly settled, in
our articles, everything to be done by or ex-

200 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

pected from each partner, so that there was
nothing to dispute, which precaution I would
therefore recommend to all who enter into part-
nerships; for, whatever esteem partners may
have for, and confidence in each other at the
time of the contract, little jealousies and dis-
gusts may arise, with ideas of inequality in
the care and burden of the business, etc., which
are attended often with breach of friendship
and of the connection, perhaps with lawsuits
and other disagreeable consequences.

XII
DEFENSE OF THE PROVINCE

HAD, on the whole, abundant rea-
son to be satisfied with my being
established in Pennsylvania. There
were, however, two things that I
regretted, there being no provision for defense,
nor for a compleat education of youth; no
militia, nor any college. I therefore, in 1743,
drew up a proposal for establishing an academy;
and at that time, thinking the Reverend Mr.
Peters, who was out of employ, a fit person
to superintend such an institution, I communi-
cated the project to him; but he, having more
profitable views in the service of the proprie-
taries, which succeeded, declin'd the undertak-
ing; and, not knowing another at that time
suitable for such a trust, I let the scheme lie
awhile dormant. I succeeded better the next
year, 1744, in proposing and establishing a
Philosophical Society. The paper I wrote for
that purpose will be found among my writings,
when collected.

With respect to defense, Spain having been

2OI

202 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

several years at war against Great Britain, and
being at length join'd by France, which brought
us into great danger; and the laboured and
long-continued endeavour of our governor,
Thomas, to prevail with our Quaker Assembly
to pass a militia law, and make other pro-
visions for the security of the province, having
proved abortive, I determined to try what might
be done by a voluntary association of the
people. To promote this, I first wrote and
published a pamphlet, entitled PLAIN TRUTH,
in which I stated our defenceless situation in
strong lights, with the necessity of union and
discipline for our defense, and promis'd to pro-
pose in a few days an association, to be generally
signed for that purpose. The pamphlet had a
sudden and surprising effect. I was call'd upon
for the instrument of association, and having
settled the draft of it with a few friends, I ap-
pointed a meeting of the citizens in the large
building before mentioned. The house was pretty
full; I had prepared a number of printed copies,
and provided pens and ink dispers'd all over
the room. I harangued them a little on the
subject, read the paper, and explained it, and
then distributed the copies, which were eagerly
signed, not the least objection being made.
When the company separated, and the papers

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 203

were collected, we found above twelve hun-
dred hands; and, other copies being dispersed
in the country, the subscribers amounted at
length to upward of ten thousand. These all
furnished themselves as soon as they could
with arms, formed themselves into companies

One of the flags of the Pennsylvania Association, 1747. Designed
by Fiaaklin and made by the women of Philadelphia.

and regiments, chose their own officers, and met
every week to be instructed in the manual ex-
ercise, and other parts of military discipline.
The women, by subscriptions among them-
selves, provided silk colours, which they pre-
sented to the companies, painted with differ-
ent devices and mottos, which I supplied.

The officers of the companies composing the
Philadelphia regiment, being met, chose me
for their colonel; but, conceiving myself unfit,

204 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

I declin'd that station, and recommended Mr.
Lawrence, a fine person, and man of influence,
who was accordingly appointed. I then pro-
pos'd a lottery to defray the expense of build-
ing a battery below the town, and furnishing
it with cannon. It filled expeditiously, and the
battery was soon erected, the merlons being
fram'd of logs and fill'd with earth. We bought
some old cannon from Boston, but, these not
being sufficient, we wrote to England for more,
soliciting, at the same time, our proprietaries
for some assistance, tho' without much expecta-
tion of obtaining it.

Meanwhile, Colonel Lawrence, William Allen,
Abram Taylor, Esqr., and myself were sent to
New York by the associators, commission'd to
borrow some cannon of Governor Clinton. He
at first refus'd us peremptorily; but at dinner
with his council, where there was great drink-
ing of Madeira wine, as the custom of that
place then was, he softened by degrees, and
said he would lend us six. After a few more
bumpers he advanc'd to ten; and at length
he very good-naturedly conceded eighteen.
They were fine cannon, eighteen-pounders, with
their carriages, which we soon transported and
mounted on our battery, where the associators
kept a nightly guard while the war lasted, and

'I regularly took my turn of duty there as a common soldier"

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 205

among the rest I regularly took my turn of
duty there as a common soldier.

My activity in these operations was agree-
able to the governor and council; they took
me into confidence, and I was consulted by
them in every measure wherein their concur-
rence was thought useful to the association.
Calling in the aid of religion, I propos'd to
them the proclaiming a fast, to promote ref-
ormation, and implore the blessing of Heaven
on our undertaking. They embrac'd the mo-
tion; but, as it was the first fast ever thought
of in the province, the secretary had no prece-
dent from which to draw the proclamation. My
education in New England, where a fast is
proclaimed every year, was here of some ad-
vantage: I drew it in the accustomed stile, it
was translated into German, 1 printed in both lan-
guages, and divulg'd thro' the province. This
gave the clergy of the different sects an oppor-
tunity of influencing their congregations to
join in the association, and it would probably
have been general among all but Quakers if
the peace had not soon interven'd.

It was thought by some of my friends that,

1 Wm. Penn's agents sought recruits for the colony of Penn-
sylvania in the low countries of Germany, and there are still in
eastern Pennsylvania many Germans, inaccurately called Penn-
sylvania Dutch. Many of them use a Germanized English.

206 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

by my activity in these affairs, I should offend
that sect, and thereby lose my interest in the
Assembly of the province, where they formed
a great majority. A young gentleman who had
likewise some friends in the House, and wished
to succeed me as their clerk, acquainted me
that it was decided to displace me at the next
election; and he, therefore, in good will, ad-
vis'd me to resign, as more consistent with my
honour than being turn'd out. My answer to
him was, that I had read or heard of some
public man who made it a rule never to ask
for an office, and never to refuse one when
offer'd to him. " I approve," says I, " of his
rule, and will practice it with a small addition;
I shall never ask, never refuse, nor ever resign
an office. If they will have my office of clerk
to dispose of to another, they shall take it from
me. I will not, by giving it up, lose my right
of some time or other making reprisals on my
adversaries." I heard, however, no more of
this; I was chosen again unanimously as usual
at the next election. Possibly, as they dislik'd
my late intimacy with the members of council,
who had join'd the governors in all the dis-
putes about military preparations, with which
the House had long been harass'd, they might
have been pleas'd if I would voluntarily have

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 207

left them; but they did not care to displace me
on account merely of my zeal for the associa-
tion, and they could not well give another
reason.

Indeed I had some cause to believe that the
defense of the country was not disagreeable
to any of them, provided they were not re-
quir'd to assist in it. And I found that a much
greater number of them than I could have
imagined, tho' against offensive war, were
clearly for the defensive. Many pamphlets
pro and con were publish'd on the subject, and
some by good Quakers, in favour of defense,
which I believe convinc'd most of their younger
people.

A transaction in our fire company gave me
some insight into their prevailing sentiments.
It had been propos'd that we should encourage
the scheme for building a battery by laying
out the present stock, then about sixty pounds,
in tickets of the lottery. By our rules, no
money could be dispos'd of till the next meet-
ing after the proposal. The company con-
sisted of thirty members, of which twenty-two
were Quakers, and eight only of other persua-
sions. We eight punctually attended the meet-
ing; but, tho' we thought that some of the
Quakers would join us, we were by no means

208 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

sure of a majority. Only one Quaker, Mr.
James Morris, appear'd to oppose the measure.
He expressed much sorrow that it had ever
been propos'd, as he said Friends were all
against it, and it would create such discord
as might break up the company. We told him
that we saw no reason for that; we were the
minority, and if Friends were against the meas-
ure, and outvoted us, we must and should,
agreeably to the usage of all societies, submit.
When the hour for business arriv'd it was
mov'd to put the vote; he allow'd we might
then do it by the rules, but, as he could assure
us that a number of members intended to be
present for the purpose of opposing it, it would
be but candid to allow a little time for their
appearing.

While we were disputing this, a waiter came
to tell me two gentlemen below desir'd to speak
with me. I went down, and found they were
two of our Quaker members. They told me
there were eight of them assembled at a tavern
just by; that they were determin'd to come
and vote with us if there should be occasion,
which they hop'd would riot be the case, and
desir'd we would not call for their assistance
if we could do without it, as their voting for
such a measure might embroil them with their

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 209

elders and friends. Being thus secure of a
majority, I went up, and after a little seeming
hesitation, agreed to a delay of another hour.
This Mr. Morris allow'd to be extreamly fair.
Not one of his opposing friends appear'd, at
which he express'd great surprize; and, at the
expiration of the hour, we carri'd the resolution
eight to one; and as, of the twenty-two Quakers,
eight were ready to vote with us, and thirteen,
by their absence, manifested that they were
not inclin'd to oppose the measure, I afterward
estimated the proportion of Quakers sincerely
against defense as one to twenty-one only; for
these were all regular members of that society,
and in good reputation among them, and had
due notice of what was propos'd at that
meeting.

The honorable and learned Mr. Logan, who
had always been of that sect, was one who
wrote an address to them, declaring his appro-
bation of defensive war, and supporting his
opinion by many strong arguments. He put
into my hands sixty pounds to be laid out in
lottery tickets for the battery, with directions
to apply what prizes might be drawn wholly
to that service. He told me the following
anecdote of his old master, William Penn, re-
specting defense. He came over from Eng-

210 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

land, when a young man, with that proprietary,
and as his secretary. It was war-time, and
their ship was chas'd by an armed vessel, sup-
pos'd to be an enemy. Their captain prepar'd
for defense; but told William Penn, and his
company of Quakers, that he did not expect
their assistance, and they might retire into the
cabin, which they did, except James Logan, 1
who chose to stay upon deck, and was quar-
ter'd to a gun. The suppos'd enemy prov'd a
friend, so there was no righting; but when the
secretary went down to communicate the intel-
ligence, William Penn rebuk'd him severely
for staying upon deck, and undertaking to
assist in defending the vessel, contrary to the
principles of Friends, especially as it had not
been required by the captain. This reproof,
being before all the company, piqu'd the sec-
retary, who answer'd, " I being thy servant,
why did thee not order me to come down? But
thee was 'willing enough that I should stay and
help to fight the ship 'when thee thought there
was danger."

My being many years in the Assembly, the
majority of which were constantly Quakers,

1 James Logan (1674-1/51) came to America with William Penn
in 1699, and was the business agent for the Penn family. He be-
queathed his valuable library, preserved at his country seat, " Sen-
ton," to the city of Philadelphia. Smyth.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 211

gave me frequent opportunities of seeing the
embarrassment given them by their principle
against war, whenever application was made
to them, by order of the crown, to grant aids
for military purposes. They were unwilling
to offend government, on the one hand, by a
direct refusal; and their friends, the body of
the Quakers, on the other, by compliance con-
trary to their principles; hence a variety of
evasions to avoid complying, and modes of
disguising the compliance when it became un-
avoidable. The common mode at last was,
to grant money under the phrase of its being
'for the king's use" and never to inquire how
it was applied.

But, if the demand was not directly from the
crown, that phrase was found not so proper,
and some other was to be invented. As, when
powder was wanting (I think it was for the
garrison at Louisburg), and the government
of New England solicited a grant of some from
Pennsilvania, which was much urg'd on the
House by Governor Thomas, they could not
grant money to buy powder, because that was
an ingredient of war; but they voted an aid
to New England of three thousand pounds, to
be put into the hands of the governor, and
appropriated it for the purchasing of bread,

212 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

flour, wheat or other grain. Some of the coun-
cil, desirous of giving the House still further
embarrassment, advis'd the governor not to
accept provision, as not being the thing he
had demanded; but he repli'd, " I shall take the
money, for I understand very well their mean-
ing; other grain is gunpowder," which he ac-
cordingly bought, and they never objected to it. 1

It was in allusion to this fact that, when in
our fire company we feared the success of our
proposal in favour of the lottery, and I had
said to my friend Mr. Syng, one of our mem-
bers, ' If we fail, let us move the purchase of
a fire-engine with the money; the Quakers can
have no objection to that; and then, if you
nominate me and I you as a committee for
that purpose, we will buy a great gun, which
is certainly a fire-engine." ' I see," says he,
" you have improv'd by being so long in the
Assembly; your equivocal project would be
just a match for their wheat or other grain."

These embarrassments that the Quakers suf-
fer'd from having establish'd and published it
as one of their principles that no kind of war
was lawful, and which, being once published,
they could not afterwards, however they might
change their minds, easily get rid of, reminds

1 See the votes. Marg. note.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 213

me of what I think a more prudent conduct
in another sect among us, that of the Bunkers.
I was acquainted with one of its founders,
Michael Welfare, soon after it appear'd. He
complain'd to me that they were grievously
calumniated by the zealots of other persuasions,
and charg'd with abominable principles and
practices to which they were utter strangers.
I told him this had always been the case with
new sects, and that, to put a stop to such
abuse, I imagin'd it might be well to publish
the articles of their belief, and the rules of
their discipline. He said that it had been pro-
pos'd among them, but not agreed to, for this
reason: "When we were first drawn together
as a society," says he, ' it had pleased God to
enlighten our minds so far as to see that some
doctrines, which we once esteemed truths, were
errors; and that others, which we had esteemed
errors, were real truths. From time to time He
has been pleased to afford us farther light, and
our principles have been improving, and our er-
rors diminishing,, Now we are not sure that we
are arrived at the end of this progression, and
at the perfection of spiritual or theological
knowledge; and we fear that, if we should once
print our confession of faith, we should feel
ourselves as if bound and confin'd by it, and

214 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

perhaps be unwilling to receive further im-
provement, and our successors still more so, as
conceiving what we their elders and founders
had done, to be something sacred, never to be
departed from."

This modesty in a sect is perhaps a singular
instance in the history of mankind, every other
sect supposing itself in possession of all truth,
and that those who differ are so far in the
wrong; like a man traveling in foggy weather,
those at some distance before him on the road
he sees wrapped up in the fog, as well as those
behind him, and also the people in the fields
on each side, but near him all appears clear,
tho' in truth he is as much in the fog as any
of them. To avoid this kind of embarrass-
ment, the Quakers have of late years been
gradually declining the public service in the
Assembly and in the magistracy, choosing
rather to quit their power than their principle.

In order of time, I should have mentioned
before, that having, in 1742, invented an open
stove 1 for the better warming of rooms, and
at the same time saving fuel, as the fresh air
admitted was warmed in entering, I made a
present of the model to Mr. Robert Grace, one
of my early friends, who, having an iron-fur-

Franklin stove is still in use.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 215

nace, 1 found the casting of the plates for these
stoves a profitable thing, as they were grow-
ing in demand. To promote that demand, I
wrote and published a pamphlet, entitled 'An
Account of the new-invented Pennsylvania Fire-
places; wherein their Construction and Manner
of Operation is particularly explained; their Ad-
vantages above every other Method of warming
Rooms demonstrated; and all Objections that
have been raised against the Use of them an-
swered and obviated," etc. This pamphlet had
a good effect. Gov'r. Thomas was so pleas'd
with the construction of this stove, as described
in it, that he offered to give me a patent
for the sole vending of them for a term of
years; but I declin'd it from a principle which
has ever weighed with me on such occasions,
viz., That, as we enjoy great advantages from
the inventions of others, we should be glad of
an opportunity to serve others by any invention
of ours; and this we should do freely and gen-
erously.

An ironmonger in London however, assum-
ing a good deal of my pamphlet, and work-
ing it up into his own, and making some small
changes in the machine, which rather hurt its

1 Warwick Furnace, Chester County, Pennsylvania, across the
Schuylkill River from Pottstown.

216 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

operation, got a patent for it there, and made,
as I was told, a little fortune by it. And this
is not the only instance of patents taken out
for my inventions by others, tho' not always
with the same success, which I never contested,
as having no desire of profiting by patents
myself, and hating disputes. The use of these
fireplaces in very many houses, both of this
and the neighbouring colonies, has been, and
is, a great saving of wood to the inhabitants.

XIII

PUBLIC SERVICES AND DUTIES

(I749-I753)

EACE being concluded, and the asso-
ciation business therefore at an end,
I turn'd my thoughts again to the
affair of establishing an academy.
The first step I took was to associate in the design
a number of active friends, of whom the Junto
furnished a good part; the next was to write and
publish a pamphlet, entitled Proposals Relating
to the Education of Youth in Pennsylvania.
This I distributed among the principal inhabi-
tants gratis; and as soon as I could suppose
their minds a little prepared by the perusal
of it, I set on foot a subscription for opening
and supporting an academy; it was to be paid
in quotas yearly for five years; by so dividing
it, I judg'd the subscription might be larger,
and I believe it was so, amounting to no less,
if I remember right, than five thousand pounds.
In the introduction to these proposals, I
stated their publication, not as an act of mine,

but of some publick-spirited gentlemen, avoid-

217

218 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

ing as much as I could, according to my usual
rule, the presenting myself to the publick as
the author of any scheme for their benefit.

The subscribers, to carry the project into
immediate execution, chose out of their num-
ber twenty-four trustees, and appointed Mr.
Francis, 1 then attorney-general, and myself to
draw up constitutions for the government of
the academy; which being done and signed, a
house was hired, masters engag'd, and the
schools opened, I think, in the same year, 1749.

The scholars increasing fast, the house was
soon found too small, and we were looking
out for a piece of ground, properly situated,
with intention to build, when Providence threw
into our way a large house ready built, which,
with a few alterations, might well serve our
purpose. This was the building before men-
tioned, erected by the hearers of Mr. Whitefield,
and was obtained for us in the following manner.

It is to be noted that the contributions to
this building being made by people of differ-
ent sects, care was taken in the nomination of
trustees, in whom the building and ground was

1 Tench Francis, uncle of Sir Philip Francis, emigrated from
England to Maryland, and became attorney for Lord Baltimore.
He removed to Philadelphia and was attorney-general of Penn-
sylvania from 1741 to 1755. He died in Philadelphia August 16,
1758. Smyth.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 219

to be vested, that a predominancy should not
be given to any sect, lest in time that predomi-
nancy might be a means of appropriating the
whole to the use of such sect, contrary to the
original intention. It was therefore that one
of each sect was appointed, viz., one Church-
of-England man, one Presbyterian, one Baptist,
one Moravian, etc., those, in case of vacancy
by death, were to fill it by election from among
the contributors. The Moravian happen'd not
to please his colleagues, and on his death they
resolved to have no other of that sect. The
difficulty then was, how to avoid having two
of some other sect, by means of the new choice.
Several persons were named, and for that
reason not agreed to. At length one men-
tion'd me, with the observation that I was
merely an honest man, and of no sect at all,
which prevailed with them to chuse me. The
enthusiasm which existed when the house was
built had long since abat'd, and its trustees
had not been able to procure fresh contribu-
tions for paying the ground-rent, and discharg-
ing some other debts the building had occa-
sion'd, which embarrass'd them greatly. Being
now a member of both sects of trustees, that
for the building and that for the academy, I
had a good opportunity of negotiating with

220 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

both, and brought them finally to an agree-
ment, by which the trustees for the building
were to cede it to those of the academy, the
latter undertaking to discharge the debt, to
keep forever open in the building a large hall
for occasional preachers, according to the orig-
inal intention, and maintain a free-school for
the instruction of poor children. Writings were
accordingly drawn, and on paying the debts
the trustees of the academy were put in posses-
sion of the premises; and by dividing the great
and lofty hall into stories, and different rooms
above and below for the several schools, and
purchasing some additional ground, the whole
was soon made fit for our purpose, and the
scholars remov'd into the building. The care
and trouble of agreeing with the workmen,
purchasing materials, and superintending the
work, fell upon me; and I went thro' it the
more cheerfully, as it did not then interfere
with my private business, having the year be-
fore taken a very able, industrious, and honest
partner, Mr. David Hall, with whose character
I was well acquainted, as he had work'd for
me four years. He took off my hands all care
of the printing-office, paying me punctually
my share of the profits. The partnership con-
tinued eighteen years, successfully for us both.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 221

The trustees of the academy, after a while,
were incorporated by a charter from the gov-
ernor; their funds were increas'd by contribu-
tions in Britain and grants of land from the
proprietaries, to which the Assembly has since
made considerable addition; and thus was estab-
lished the present University of Philadelphia. 1
I have been continued one of its trustees from
the beginning, now near forty years, and have
had the very great pleasure of seeing a num-
ber of the youth who have receiv'd their edu-
cation in it, distinguish'd by their improv'd
abilities, serviceable in public stations, and or-
naments to their country.

When I disengaged myself, as above men-
tioned, from private business, I flatter'd myself
that, by the sufficient tho' moderate fortune I
had acquir'd, I had secured leisure during the
rest of my life for philosophical studies and
amusements. I purchased all Dr. Spence's ap-
paratus, who had come from England to lec-
ture here, and I proceeded in my electrical ex-
periments with great alacrity; but the publick,
now considering me as a man of leisure, laid
hold of me for their purposes, every part of our
civil government, and almost at the same time,
imposing some duty upon me. The governor

1 Later called the University of Pennsylvania.

222 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

put me into the commission of the peace; the
corporation of the city chose me of the com-
mon council, and soon after an alderman; and
the citizens at large chose me a burgess to rep-
resent them in Assembly. This latter station
was the more agreeable to me, as I was at
length tired with sitting there to hear debates,
in which, as clerk, I could take no part, and
which were often so unentertaining that I was
induc'd to amuse myself with making magic
squares or circles, or anything to avoid weari-
ness; and I conceiv'd my becoming a member
would enlarge my power of doing good. I
would not, however, insinuate that my ambi-
tion was not flatter'd by all these promotions;
it certainly was; for, considering my low be-
ginning, they were great things to me; and they
were still more pleasing, as being so many
spontaneous testimonies of the public good
opinion, and by me entirely unsolicited.

The office of justice of the peace I try'd a
little, by attending a few courts, and sitting
on the bench to hear causes; but finding that
more knowledge of the common law than I
possess'd was necessary to act in that station
with credit, I gradually withdrew from it, ex-
cusing myself by my being oblig'd to attend
the higher duties of a legislator in the Assem-

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 223

bly. My election to this trust was repeated
every year for ten years, without my ever ask-
ing any elector for his vote, or signifying, either
directly or indirectly, any desire of being
chosen. On taking my seat in the House, my
son was appointed their clerk.

The year following, a treaty being to be
held with the Indians at Carlisle, the governor
sent a message to the House, proposing that
they should nominate some of their members,
to be join'd with some members of council, as
commissioners for that purpose. 1 The House
named the speaker (Mr. Norris) and myself;
and, being commission'd, we went to Carlisle,
and met the Indians accordingly.

As those people are extreamly apt to get
drunk, and, when so, are very quarrelsome and
disorderly, we strictly forbad the selling any
liquor to them; and when they complain'd of
this restriction, we told them that if they would
continue sober during the treaty, we would
give them plenty of rum when business was
over. They promis'd this, and they kept their
promise, because they could get no liquor, and
the treaty was conducted very orderly, and
concluded to mutual satisfaction. They then
claim'd and receiv'd the rum; this was in the

1 See the votes to have this more correctly. Marg. note.

224 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

afternoon: they were near one hundred men,
women, and children, and were lodg'd in tem-
porary cabins, built in the form of a square,
just without the town. In the evening, hear-
ing a great noise among them, the commis-
sioners walk'd out to see what was the matter.
We found they had made a great bonfire in
the middle of the square; they were all drunk,
men and women, quarreling and fighting. Their
dark-colour'd bodies, half naked, seen only by
the gloomy light of the bonfire, running after
and beating one another with firebrands, accom-
panied by their horrid yellings, form'd a scene
the most resembling our ideas of hell that
could well be imagin'd; there was no appeasing
the tumult, and we retired to our lodging. At
midnight a number of them came thundering
at our door, demanding more rum, of which
we took no notice.

The next day, sensible they had misbehav'd
in giving us that disturbance, they sent three
of their old counselors to make their apology.
The orator acknowledg'd the fault, but laid it
upon the rum; and then endeavoured to ex-
cuse the rum by saying, " The Great Spirit,
who made all things, made everything for some
use, and whatever use he design'd anything for,
that use it should always be put to. Now, when

"In the evening, hearing a great noise among them, the com-
missioners walk'd out to see what was the matter"

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 225

he made rum, he said, 'Let this be for the
Indians to get drunk with,' and it must he so."
And, indeed, if it be the design of Providence
to extirpate these savages in order to make
room for cultivators of the earth, it seems not
improbable that rum may be the appointed
means. It has already annihilated all the
tribes who formerly inhabited the sea-coast.

In 1751, Dr. Thomas Bond, a particular friend
of mine, conceived the idea of establishing a
hospital in Philadelphia (a very beneficent de-
sign, which has been ascrib'd to me, but was orig-
inally his), for the reception and cure of poor
sick persons, whether inhabitants of the prov-
ince or strangers. He was zealous and active
in endeavouring to procure subscriptions for
it, but the proposal being a novelty in America,
and at first not well understood, he met but
with small success.

At length he came to me with the compli-
ment that he found there was no such thing
as carrying a public-spirited project through
without my being concern'd in it. ' For," says
he, " I am often ask'd by those to whom I pro-
pose subscribing, Have you consulted Frank-
lin upon this business? And what does he
think of it? And when I tell them that I have
not (supposing it rather out of your line),

226 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

they do not subscribe, but say they will con-
sider of it." I enquired into the nature and prob-
able utility of his scheme, and receiving from
him a very satisfactory explanation, I not only
subscrib'd to it myself, but engag'd heartily
in the design of procuring subscriptions from
others. Previously, however, to the solicita-
tion, I endeavoured to prepare the minds of
the people by writing on the subject in the
newspapers, which was my usual custom in
such cases, but which he had omitted.

The subscriptions afterwards were more free
and generous; but, beginning to flag, I saw
they would be insufficient without some assist-
ance from the Assembly, and therefore propos'd
to petition for it, which was done. The coun-
try members did not at first relish the project;
they objected that it could only be serviceable
to the city, and therefore the citizens alone
should be at the expense of it; and they doubted
whether the citizens themselves generally ap-
prov'd of it. My allegation on the contrary,
that it met with such approbation as to leave
no doubt of our being able to raise two thousand
pounds by voluntary donations, they consid-
ered as a most extravagant supposition, and
utterly impossible.

On this I form'd my plan; and, asking leave

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 227

to bring in a bill for incorporating the con-
tributors according to the prayer of their peti-
tion, and granting them a blank sum of money,
which leave was obtained chiefly on the con-
sideration that the House could throw the bill
out if they did not like it, I drew it so as to
make the important clause a conditional one,
viz., " And be it enacted, by the authority afore-
said, that when the said contributors shall have
met and chosen their managers and treasurer,
and shall have raised by their contributions a

capital stock of value (the yearly interest

of which is to be applied to the accommodating
of the sick poor in the said hospital, free of
charge for diet, attendance, advice, and medi-
cines), and shall make the same appear to the
satisfaction of the speaker of the Assembly for
the time being, that then it shall and may be
lawful for the said speaker, and he is hereby
required, to sign an order on the provincial
treasurer for the payment of two thousand
pounds, in two yearly payments, to the treas-
urer of the said hospital, to be applied to the
founding, building, and finishing of the same."
This condition carried the bill through; for
the members, who had oppos'd the grant, and
now conceiv'd they might have the credit of
being charitable without the expense, agreed to

228 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

its passage; and then, in soliciting subscrip-
tions among the people, we urg'd the conditi-
tional promise of the law as an additional
motive to give, since every man's donation
would be doubled; thus the clause work'd both
ways. The subscriptions accordingly soon ex-
ceeded the requisite sum, and we claim'd and
receiv'd the public gift, w r hich enabled us to
carry the design into execution. A convenient
and handsome building was soon erected; the
institution has by constant experience been
found useful, and flourishes to this day; and I
do not remember any of my political
manceuvers, the success of which gave me at
the time more pleasure, or wherein, after think-
ing of it, I more easily excus'd myself for having
made some use of cunning.

It was about this time that another pro-
jector, the Rev. Gilbert Tennent, 1 came to me
with a request that I would assist him in pro-
curing a subscription for erecting a new meet-
ing-house. It was to be for the use of a con-
gregation he had gathered among the Presby-
terians, who were originally disciples of Mr.
Whitefield. Unwilling to make myself dis-

1 Gilbert Tennent (1703-1764) came 1 to America with his father,
Rev. William Tennent, and taught for a time in the " Log Col-
lege," from which sprang the College of New Jersey. Smyth.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 229

agreeable to my fellow-citizens by too fre-
quently soliciting their contributions, I abso-
lutely refus'd. He then desired I would furnish
him with a list of the names of persons I knew
by experience to be generous and public-spir-
ited. I thought it would be unbecoming in
me, after their kind compliance with my solici-
tations, to mark them out to be worried by
other beggars, and therefore refus'd also to
give such a list. He then desir'd I would at
least give him my advice. : That I will readily
do," said I; "and, in the first place, I advise
you to apply to all those whom you know will
give something; next, to those whom you are
uncertain whether they will give anything or
not, and show them the list of those who have
given; and, lastly, do not neglect those who
you are sure will give nothing, for in some of
them you may be mistaken." He laugh'd and
thank'd me, and said he would take my advice.
He did so, for he ask'd of everybody, and he
obtain'd a much larger sum than he expected,
with which he erected the capacious and very
elegant meeting-house that stands in Arch-
street.

Our city, tho' laid out with a beautifull regu-
larity, the streets large, straight, and crossing
each other at right angles, had the disgrace

230 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

of suffering those streets to remain long un-
pav'd, and in wet weather the wheels of heavy
carriages plough'd them into a quagmire, so
that it was difficult to cross them; and in dry
weather the dust was offensive. I had liv'd
near what was call'd the Jersey Market, and
saw with pain the inhabitants wading in mud
while purchasing their provisions. A strip of
ground down the middle of that market was at
length pav'd with brick, so that, being once in
the market, they had firm footing, but were
often over shoes in dirt to get there. By talk-
ing and writing on the subject, I was at length
instrumental in getting the street pav'd with
stone between the market and the brick'd foot-
pavement, that was on each side next the
houses. This, for some time, gave an easy
access to the market dry-shod; but, the rest of
the street not being pav'd, whenever a carriage
came out of the mud upon this pavement, it
shook off and left its dirt upon it, and it was
soon cover'd with mire, which was not re-
mov'd, the city as yet having no scavengers.

After some inquiry, I found a poor, industri-
ous man, who was willing to undertake keeping
the pavement clean, by sweeping it twice a
week, carrying off the dirt from before all the
neighbours' doors, for the sum of sixpence per

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 231

month, to be paid by each house. I then wrote
and printed a paper setting forth the advan-
tages to the neighbourhood that might be ob-
tain'd by this small expense; the greater ease
in keeping our houses clean, so much dirt not
being brought in by people's feet; the benefit
to the shops by more custom, etc., etc., as buy-
ers could more easily get at them; and by not
having, in windy weather, the dust blown in
upon their goods, etc., etc. I sent one of these
papers to each house, and in a day or two
went round to see who would subscribe an
agreement to pay these sixpences; it was unani-
mously sign'd, and for a time well executed.
All the inhabitants of the city were delighted
with the cleanliness of the pavement that sur-
rounded the market, it being a convenience to
all, and this rais'd a general desire to have all
the streets paved, and made the people more
willing to submit to a tax for that pur-
pose.

After some time I drew a bill for paving
the city, and brought it into the Assembly. It
was just before I went to England, in 1757,
and did not pass till I was gone, 1 and then with
an alteration in the mode of assessment, which
I thought not for the better, but with an addi-

1 See votes.

232 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

tional provision for lighting as well as paving
the streets, which was a great improvement.
It was by a private person, the late Mr. John
Clifton, his giving a sample of the utility of
lamps, by placing one at his door, that the
people were first impress'd with the idea of en-
lighting all the city. The honour of this public
benefit has also been ascrib'd to me, but it
belongs truly to that gentleman. I did but
follow his example, and have only some merit
to claim respecting the form of our lamps, as
differing from the globe lamps we were at first
supply'd with from London. Those we found
inconvenient in these respects: they admitted
no air below; the smoke, therefore, did not
readily go out above, but circulated in the globe,
lodg'd on its inside, and soon obstructed the
light they were intended to afford; giving, be-
sides, the daily trouble of wiping them clean;
and an accidental stroke on one of them would
demolish it, and render it totally useless. I
therefore suggested the composing them of four
flat panes, with a long funnel above to draw
up the smoke, and crevices admitting air below,
to facilitate the ascent of the smoke; by this
means they were kept clean, and did not grow
dark in a few hours, as the London lamps do,
but continu'd bright till morning, and an acci-

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 233

dental stroke would generally break but a single
pane, easily repair'd.

I have sometimes wonder'd that the London-
ers did not, from the effect holes in the bottom
of the globe lamps us'd at Vauxhall 1 have in
keeping them clean, learn to have such holes
in their street lamps. But, these holes being
made for another purpose, viz., to communicate
flame more suddenly to the wick by a little flax
hanging down thro' them, the other use, of
letting in air, seems not to have been thought
of; and therefore, after the lamps have been
lit a few hours, the streets of London are very
poorly illuminated.

The mention of these improvements puts me
in mind of one I propos'd, when in London, to
Dr. Fothergill, who was among the best men
I have known, and a great promoter of useful
projects. I had observ'd that the streets, when
dry, were never swept, and the light dust carried
away; but it was suffer'd to accumulate till wet
weather reduc'd it to mud, and then, after lying
some days so deep on the pavement that there

1 Vauxhall Gardens, once a popular and fashionable London
resort, situated on the Thames above Lambeth. The Gardens were
closed in 1859, but they will always be remembered because of
Sir Roger de Coverley's visit to them in the Spectator and from
the descriptions in Smollett's Humphry Clinker and Thackeray's
Vanity Fair.

234 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

was no crossing but in paths kept clean by poor
people with brooms, it was with great labour
rak'd together and thrown up into carts open
above, the sides of which sufTer'd some of the
slush at every jolt on the pavement to shake
out and fall, sometimes to the annoyance of
foot-passengers. The reason given for not

sweeping the dusty streets was that the dust
would fly into the windows of shops and houses.
An accidental occurrence had instructed me
how much sweeping might be done in a little
time. I found at my door in Craven-street, 1
one morning, a poor woman sweeping my pave-
ment with a birch broom; she appeared very
pale and feeble, as just come out of a fit of
sickness. I ask'd who employ'd her to sweep
there; she said, 'Nobody, but I am very poor

1 A short street near Charing Cross, London.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 235

and in distress, and I sweeps before gentle-
folkses doors, and hopes they will give me
something." I bid her sweep the whole street
clean, and I would give her a shilling; this was
at nine o'clock; at 12 she came for the shilling.
From the slowness I saw at first in her work-
ing, I could scarce believe that the work was
done so soon, and sent my servant to examine
it, who reported that the whole street was
swept perfectly clean, and all the dust plac'd
in the gutter, which was in the middle; and
the next rain wash'd it quite away, so that the
pavement and even the kennel were perfectly
clean.

I then judg'd that, if that feeble woman could
sweep such a street in three hours, a strong,
active man might have done it in half the time.
And here let me remark the convenience of hav-
ing but one gutter in such a narrow street,
running down its middle, instead of two, one
on each side, near the footway; for where all
the rain that falls on a street runs from the
sides and rr-eets in the middle, it forms there a
current strong enough to wash away all the
mud it meets with; but when divided into two
channels, it is often too weak to cleanse either,
and only makes the mud it finds more fluid, so
that the wheels of carriages and feet of horses

236 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

throw and dash it upon the foot-pavement,
which is thereby rendered foul and slippery,
and sometimes splash it upon those who are
walking. My proposal, communicated to the
good doctor, was as follows:

" For the more effectual cleaning and keep-
ing clean the streets of London and West-
minster, it is proposed that the several watch-
men be contracted with to have the dust swept
up in dry seasons, and the mud rak'd up at
other times, each in the several streets and
lanes of his round; that they be furnish'd with
brooms and other proper instruments for these
purposes, to be kept at their respective stands,
ready to furnish the poor people they may em-
ploy in the service.

" That in the dry summer months the dust
be all swept up into heaps at proper distances,
before the shops and windows of houses are
usually opened, when the scavengers, with
close-covered carts, shall also carry it all away.

" That the mud, when rak'd up, be not left
in heaps to be spread abroad again by the
wheels of carriages and trampling of horses,
but that the scavengers be provided with bodies
of carts, not plac'd high upon wheels, but low
upon sliders, with lattice bottoms, which, being
cover'd with straw, will retain the mud thrown

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 237

into them, and permit the water to drain from
it, whereby it will become much lighter, water
making the greatest part of its weight; these
bodies of carts to be plac'd at convenient dis-
tances, and the mud brought to them in wheel-
barrows; they remaining where plac'd till the
mud is drain'd, and then horses brought to draw
them away."

I have since had doubts of the practicability
of the latter part of this proposal, on account
of the narrowness of some streets, and the diffi-
culty of placing the draining-sleds so as not to
encumber too much the passage; but I am still
of opinion that the former, requiring the dust
to be swept up and carry'd away before the
shops are open, is very practicable in the sum-
mer, when the days are long; for, in walking
thro' the Strand and Fleet-street one morning
at seven o'clock, I observ'd there was not one
shop open, tho' it had been daylight and the
sun up above three hours; the inhabitants of
London chusing voluntarily to live much by
candle-light, and sleep by sunshine, and yet
often complain, a little absurdly, of the duty
on candles, and the high price of tallow.

Some may think these trifling matters not
worth minding or relating; but when they con-
sider that tho' dust blown into the eyes of a

238 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

single person, or into a single shop on a windy
day, is but of small importance, yet the great
number of the instances in a populous city, and
its frequent repetitions give it weight and con-
sequence, perhaps they will not censure very
severely those who bestow some attention to
affairs of this seemingly low nature. Human
felicity is produc'd not so much by great pieces
of good fortune that seldom happen, as by
little advantages that occur every day. Thus,
if you teach a poor young man to shave him-
self, and keep his razor in order, you may con-
tribute more to the happiness of his life than
in giving him a thousand guineas. The money
may be soon spent, the regret only remaining
of having foolishly consumed it; but in the other
case, he escapes the frequent vexation of wait-
ing for barbers, and of their sometimes dirty
fingers, offensive breaths, and dull razors; he
shaves when most convenient to him, and en-
joys daily the pleasure of its being done with a
good instrument. With these sentiments I have
hazarded the few preceding pages, hoping
they may afford hints which some time or other
may be useful to a city I love, having lived many
years in it very happily, and perhaps to some of
our towns in America.

Having been for some time employed by the

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 239

postmaster-general of America as his comp-
troller in regulating several offices, and bring-
ing the officers to account, I was, upon his
death in 1753, appointed, jointly with Mr.
William Hunter, to succeed him, by a commis-
sion from the postmaster-general in England.
The American office never had hitherto paid
anything to that of Britain. We were to have
six hundred pounds a year between us, if we
could make that sum out of the profits of the
office. To do this, a variety of improvements
were necessary; some of these were inevitably
at first expensive, so that in the first four years
the office became above nine hundred pounds
in debt to us. But it soon after began to repay
us; and before I was displac'd by a freak of the
ministers, of which I shall speak hereafter, we
had brought it to yield three times as much
clear revenue to the crown as the post-
office of Ireland. Since that imprudent trans-
action, they have receiv'd from it not one
farthing!

The business of the postoffice occasion'd my
taking a journey this year to New England,
where the College of Cambridge, of their own
motion, presented me with the degree of Mas-
ter of Arts. Yale College, in Connecticut, had
before made me a similar compliment. Thus,

240 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

without studying in any college, I came to par-
take of their honours. They were conferr'd
in consideration of my improvements and
discoveries in the electric branch of natural
philosophy.

XIV
ALBANY PLAN OF UNION

|N 1754, war with France being again
apprehended, a congress of com-
missioners from the different col-
onies was, by an order of the Lords
of Trade, to be assembled at Albany, there to
confer with the chiefs of the Six Nations con-
cerning the means of defending both their
country and ours. Governor Hamilton, hav-
ing receiv'd this order, acquainted the House
with it, requesting they would furnish proper
presents for the Indians, to be given on this
occasion; and naming the speaker (Mr. Norris)
and myself to join Mr. Thomas Penn and Mr.
Secretary Peters as commissioners to act for
Pennsylvania. The House approv'd the nom-
ination, and provided the goods for the present,
and tho' they did not much like treating out
of the provinces; and we met the other com-
missioners at Albany about the middle of June.
In our way thither, I projected and drew a
plan for the union of all the colonies under one

government, so far as might be necessary for

241

242 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

defense, and other important general purposes.
As we pass'd thro' New York, I had there
shown my project to Mr. James Alexander and
Mr. Kennedy, two gentlemen of great knowledge
in public affairs, and, being fortified by their
approbation, I ventur'd to lay it before the Con-
gress. It then appeared that several of the
commissioners had form'd plans of the same

JOIN, or DIE

kind. A previous question was first taken,
whether a union should be established, which
pass'd in the affirmative unanimously. A com-
mittee was then appointed, one member from
each colony, to consider the several plans and
report. Mine happen'd to be preferr'd, and,
with a few amendments, was accordingly re-
ported.

By this plan the general government was to
be administered by a president-general, ap-
pointed and supported by the crown, and a
grand council was to be chosen by the repre-

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 243

sentatives of the people of the several colonies,
met in their respective assemblies. The debates
upon it in Congress went on daily, hand in
hand with the Indian business. Many objec-
tions and difficulties were started, but at length
they were all overcome, and the plan was unani-
mously agreed to, and copies ordered to be
transmitted to the Board of Trade and to the
assemblies of the several provinces. Its fate
was singular; the assemblies did not adopt it,
as they all thought there was too much pre-
rogative in it, and in England it was judg'd
to have too much of the democratic. The Board
of Trade therefore did not approve of it, nor
recommend it for the approbation of his
majesty; but another scheme was form'd, sup-
posed to answer the same purpose better,
whereby the governors of the provinces, with
some members of their respective councils, were
to meet and order the raising of troops, build-
ing of forts, etc., and to draw on the treasury
of Great Britain for the expense, which was
afterwards to be refunded by an act of Parlia-
ment laying a tax on America. My plan, with
my reasons in support of it, is to be found
among my political papers that are printed.

Being the winter following in Boston, I had
much conversation with Governor Shirley upon

244 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

both the plans. Part of what passed between
us on the occasion may also be seen among
those papers. The different and contrary rea-
sons of dislike to my plan makes me suspect
that it was really the true medium; and I am
still of opinion it would have been happy for
both sides the water if it had been adopted.
The colonies, so united, would have been suffi-
ciently strong to have defended themselves;
there would then have been no need of troops
from England; of course, the subsequent pre-
tence for taxing America, and the bloody con-
test it occasioned, would have been avoided.
But such mistakes are not new; history is full
of the errors of states and princes.

' Look round the habitable world, how few
Know their own good, or, knowing it, pursue ! "

Those who govern, having much business on
their hands, do not generally like to take the
trouble of considering and carrying into execu-
tion new projects. The best public measures
are therefore seldom adopted from previous
"wisdom, but forc'd by the occasion.

The Governor of Pennsylvania, in sending
it down to the Assembly, expressed his appro-
bation of the plan, " as appearing to him to be
drawn up with great clearness and strength of

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 245

judgment, and therefore recommended it as
well worthy of their closest and most serious
attention." The House, however, by the man-
agement of a certain member, took it up when
I happen'd to be absent, which I thought not
very fair, and reprobated it without paying
any attention to it at all, to my no small morti-
fication.

QUARRELS WITH THE PROPRIETARY

GOVERNORS

N my journey to Boston this year,
I met at New York with our new
governor, Mr. Morris, just arriv'd
there from England, with whom
I had been before intimately acquainted. He
brought a commission to supersede Mr. Ham-
ilton, who, tir'd with the disputes his propri-
etary instructions subjected him to, had re-
sign'd. Mr. Morris ask'd me if I thought he
must expect as uncomfortable an administra-
tion. I said, 'No; you may, on the contrary,
have a very comfortable one, if you will only take
care not to enter into any dispute with the
Assembly." " My dear friend," says he, pleas-
antly, ' how can you advise my avoiding dis-
putes? You know I love disputing; it is one
of my greatest pleasures; however, to show the
regard I have for your counsel, I promise you
I will, if possible, avoid them." He had some
reason for loving to dispute, being eloquent,

an acute sophister, and, therefore, generally suc-

246

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 247

cessful in argumentative conversation. He had
been brought up to it from a boy, his father,
as I have heard, accustoming his children to
dispute with one another for his diversion, while
sitting at table after dinner; but I think the
practice was not wise; for, in the course of my
observation, these disputing, contradicting, and
confuting people are generally unfortunate in
their affairs. They get victory sometimes, but
they never get good will, which would be of
more use to them. We parted, he going to
Philadelphia, and I to Boston.

In returning, I met at New York with the
votes of the Assembly, by which it appear'd
that, notwithstanding his promise to me, he
and the House were already in high contention;
and it was a continual battle between them as
long as he retain'd the government. I had my
share of it; for, as soon as I got back to my
seat in the Assembly, I was put on every com-
mittee for answering his speeches and messages,
and by the committees always desired to make
the drafts. Our answers, as well as his mes-
sages, were often tart, and sometimes indecently
abusive; and, as he knew I wrote for the As-
sembly, one might have imagined that, when
we met, we could hardly avoid cutting throats;
but he was so good-natur'd a man that no per-

248 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

sonal difference between him and me was occa-
sion'd by the contest, and we often din'd to-
gether.

One afternoon, in the height of this public
quarrel, we met in the street. " Franklin," says
he, " you must go home with me and spend the

evening; I am to have some company that you
will like;" and, taking me by the arm, he led
me to his house. In gay conversation over our
wine, after supper, he told us, jokingly, that
he much admir'd the idea of Sancho Panza, 1
who, when it was proposed to give him a gov-
ernment, requested it might be a government
of blacks, as then, if he could not agree with
his people, he might sell them. One of his
friends, who sat next to me, says, ' Franklin,
why do you continue to side with these damn'd

1 The " round, selfish, and self-important " squire of Don Quixote
in Cervantes' romance of that name.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 249

Quakers? Had not you better sell them? The
proprietor would give you a good price." The
governor," says I, " has not yet blacked them
enough." He, indeed, had laboured hard to
blacken the Assembly in all his messages, but
they wip'd off his colouring as fast as he laid
it on, and plac'd it, in return, thick upon his
own face; so that, finding he was likely to be
negrofied himself, he, as well as Mr. Hamilton,
grew tir'd of the contest, and quitted the gov-
ernment.

These public quarrels * were all at bottom
owing to the proprietaries, our hereditary
governors, who, when any expense was to be
incurred for the defense of their province, with
incredible meanness instructed their deputies
to pass no act for levying the necessary taxes,
unless their vast estates were in the same act
expressly excused; and they had even taken
bonds of these deputies to observe such in-
structions. The Assemblies for three years
held out against this injustice, tho' constrained
to bend at last. At length Captain Denny, who
was Governor Morris's successor, ventured to
disobey those instructions; how that was
brought about I shall show hereafter.

But I am got forward too fast with my story:

1 My acts in Morris's time, military, etc. Marg. note.

250 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

there are still some transactions to be men-
tion'd that happened during the administra-
tion of Governor Morris.

War being in a manner commenced with
France, the government of Massachusetts Bay
projected an attack upon Crown Point, 1 and
sent Mr. Quincy to Pennsylvania, and Mr.
Pownall, afterward Governor Pownall, to New
York, to solicit assistance. As I was in the
Assembly, knew its temper, and was Mr.
Quincy's countryman, he appli'd to me for my
influence and assistance. I dictated his address
to them, which was well received. They voted
an aid of ten thousand pounds, to be laid out
in provisions. But the governor refusing his
assent to their bill (which included this with
other sums granted for the use of the crown),
unless a clause were inserted exempting the
proprietary estate from bearing any part of the
tax that would be necessary, the Assembly,
tho' very desirous of making their grant to
New England effectual, were at a loss how to
accomplish it. Mr. Quincy labored hard with
the governor to obtain his assent, but he was
obstinate.

'On Lake Champlain, ninety miles north of Albany. It was
captured by the French in 1731, attacked by the English in 1755
and 1756, and abandoned by the French in 1759. It was finally
captured from the English by the Americans in 1775.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 251

I then suggested a method of doing the
business without the governor, by orders on
the trustees of the Loan office, which, by law,
the Assembly had the right of drawing. There
was, indeed, little or no money at that time in
the office, and therefore I propos'd that the
orders should be payable in a year, and to bear
an interest of five per cent. With these orders
I suppos'd the provisions might easily be pur-
chas'd. The Assembly, with very little hesi-
tation, adopted the proposal. The orders were
immediately printed, and I was one of the com-
mittee directed to sign and dispose of them.
The fund for paying them was the interest of
all the paper currency then extant in the prov-
ince upon loan, together with the revenue aris-
ing from the excise, which being known to be
more than sufficient, they obtain'd instant
credit, and were not only receiv'd in payment
for the provisions, but many money'd people,
who had cash lying by them, vested it in those
orders, which they found advantageous, as they
bore interest while upon hand, and might on
any occasion be used as money; so that they
were eagerly all bought up, and in a few weeks
none of them were to be seen. Thus this im-
portant affair was by my means completed. Mr.
Quincy return'd thanks to the Assembly in a

252 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

handsome memorial, went home highly pleas'd
with this success of his embassy, and ever after
bore for me the most cordial and affectionate
friendship.

XVI
BRADDOCK'S EXPEDITION

HE British government, not chusing
to permit the union of the colonies
as propos'd at Albany, and to trust
that union with their defense, lest
they should thereby grow too military, and
feel their own strength, suspicions and jeal-
ousies at this time being entertain'd of them,
sent over General Braddock with two regiments
of regular English troops for that purpose.
He landed at Alexandria, in Virginia, and
thence march'd to Frederictown, in Maryland,
where he halted for carriages. Our Assembly
apprehending, from some information, that he
had conceived violent prejudices against them,
as averse to the service, wish'd me to wait upon
him, not as from them, but as postmaster-gen-
eral, under the guise of proposing to settle with
him the mode of conducting with most celerity
and certainty the despatches between him and
the governors of the several provinces, with
whom he must necessarily have continual cor-
respondence, and of which they propos'd to

253

254 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

pay the expense. My son accompanied me on
this journey.

We found the general at Frederictown, wait-
ing impatiently for the return of those he had
sent thro' the back parts of Maryland and Vir-
ginia to collect waggons. I stayed with him
several days, din'd with him daily, and had full
opportunity of removing all his prejudices, by
the information of what the Assembly had be-
fore his arrival actually done, and were still
willing to do, to facilitate his operations.
When I was about to depart, the returns of
waggons to be obtained were brought in, by
which it appear'd that they amounted only to
twenty-five, and not all of those were in ser-
viceable condition. The general and all the
officers were surpris'd, declared the expedition
was then at an end, being impossible, and ex-
claim'd against the ministers for ignorantly
landing them in a country destitute of the
means of conveying their stores, baggage, etc.,
not less than one hundred and fifty waggons
being necessary.

I happen'd to say I thought it was pity they
had not been landed rather in Pennsylvania, as
in that country almost every farmer had his
waggon. The general eagerly laid hold of my
words, and said, " Then you, sir, who are a

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 255

man of interest there, can probably procure
them for us; and I beg you will undertake it."
I ask'd what terms were to be offer'd the
owners of the waggons, and I was desir'd to
put on paper the terms that appeared to me
necessary. This I did, and they were agreed
to, and a commission and instructions accord-
ingly prepar'd immediately. What those terms
were will appear in the advertisement I pub-
lish'd as soon as I arriv'd at Lancaster, which
being, from the great and sudden effect it pro-
duc'd, a piece of some curiosity, I shall insert
it at length, as follows:

" ADVERTISEMENT.
" LANCASTER, April 26, 1755.

" Whereas, one hundred and fifty waggons,
with four horses to each waggon, and fifteen
hundred saddle or pack horses, are wanted for
the service of his majesty's forces now about to
rendezvous at Will's Creek, and his excellency
General Braddock having been pleased to em-
power me to contract for the hire of the same,
I hereby give notice that I shall attend for that
purpose at Lancaster from this day to next
Wednesday evening, and at York from next
Thursday morning till Friday evening, where
I shall be ready to agree for waggons and

256 FR ANKLIN ' S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

teams d r single horses, on the following terms,
viz.: i. That there shall be paid for each wag-
gon wit n f ur good horses and a driver, fifteen
shillings P er diem; and for each able horse with
a pack-, sa ddle, or other saddle and furniture,
two shillings P er diem; and for each able horse
without a saddle, eighteen pence per diem.
2. That the pay commence from the time of
their jo mm " the forces at Will's Creek, which
must be on or before the 2Oth of May ensuing,
and that a reasonable allowance be paid over
and abo ve f r the time necessary for their trav-
elling t Will's Creek and home again after
their discharge. 3. Each waggon and team,
and eve r y saddle or pack horse, is to be valued
by indiff eren t persons chosen between me and
the owr ler ' an d in case of the loss of any wag-
gon, te am > or other horse in the service, the
price according" to such valuation is to be
allowed an d paid. 4. Seven days' pay is to be
advanced and paid in hand by me to the owner
of eacfr waggon and team, or horse, at the
time of" contracting, if required, and the re-
mainder to be paid by General Braddock, or
by the paymaster of the army, at the time of
their discharge, or from time to time, as if:
shall be demanded. 5. No drivers of waggons,
or pers ons taking care of the hired horses, are

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 257

on any account to be called upon to do the duty
of soldiers, or be otherwise employed than in
conducting or taking care of their carriages or
horses. 6. All oats, Indian corn, or other for-
age that waggons or horses bring to the camp,
more than is necessary for the subsistence of
the horses, is to be taken for the use of the
army, and a reasonable price paid for the same.
" Note. My son, William Franklin, is em-
powered to enter into like contracts with any
person in Cumberland county.

"B. FRANKLIN."

" To the inhabitants of the Counties of Lan-
caster, York, and Cumberland.

" Friends and Countrymen,

" Being occasionally 1 at the camp at Fred-
eric a few days since, I found the general and
officers extremely exasperated on account of
their not being supplied with horses and car-
riages, which had been expected from this prov-
ince, as most able to furnish them; but, through
the dissensions between our governor and As-
sembly, money had not been provided, nor any
steps taken for that purpose.

" It was proposed to send an armed force
immediately into these counties, to seize as

1 By chance.

258 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

many of the best carriages and horses as should
be wanted, and compel as many persons into the
service as would be necessary to drive and take
care of them.

" I apprehended that the progress of British
soldiers through these counties on such an
occasion, especially considering the temper they
are in, and their resentment against us, would
be attended with many and great inconveniences
to the inhabitants, and therefore more willingly
took the trouble of trying first what might be
done by fair and equitable means. The people
of these back counties have lately complained
to the Assembly that a sufficient currency was
wanting; you have an opportunity of receiving
and dividing among you a very considerable
sum; for, if the service of this expedition should
continue, as it is more than probable it will,
for one hundred and twenty days, the hire of
these waggons and horses will amount to upward
of thirty thousand pounds, which will be paid
you in silver and gold of the king's money.

" The service will be light and easy, for the
army will scarce march above twelve miles per
day, and the waggons and baggage-horses, as
they carry those things that are absolutely nec-
essary to the welfare of the army, must march
with the army, and no faster; and are, for

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 259

the army's sake, always placed where they can
be most secure, whether in a march or in a camp.

' If you are really, as I believe you are, good
and loyal subjects to his majesty, you may now
do a most acceptable service, and make it easy
to yourselves; for three or four of such as can-
not separately spare from the business of their
plantations a waggon and four horses and a
driver, may do it together, one furnishing the
waggon, another one or two horses, and another
the driver, and divide the pay proportionately
between you; but if you do not this service
to your king and country voluntarily, when
such good pay and reasonable terms are offered
to you, your loyalty will be strongly suspected.
The king's business must be done; so many
brave troops, come so far for your defense,
must not stand idle through your backward-
ness to do what may be reasonably expected
from you; waggons and horses must be had;
violent measures will probably be used, and
you will be left to seek for a recompense where
you can find it, and your case, perhaps, be
little pitied or regarded.

' I have no particular interest in this affair,
as, except the satisfaction of endeavouring to
do good, I shall have only my labour for my
pains. If this method of obtaining the wag-

260 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

gons and horses is not likely to succeed, I am
obliged to send word to the general in fourteen
days; and I suppose Sir John St. Clair, the hus-
sar, with a body of soldiers, will immediately
enter the province for the purpose, which I
shall be sorry to hear, because I am very sin-
cerely and truly your friend and well-wisher,

"B. FRANKLIN."

I received of the general about eight hun-
dred pounds, to be disbursed in advance-
money to the waggon owners, etc.; but that
sum being insufficient, I advanc'd upward of
two hundred pounds more, and in two weeks
the one hundred and fifty waggons, with two
hundred and fifty-nine carrying horses, were
on their march for the camp. The advertise-
ment promised payment according to the valu-
ation, in case any waggon or horse should be
lost. The owners, however, alleging they did
not know General Braddock, or what depend-
ence might be had on his promise, insisted on
my bond for the performance, which I accord-
ingly gave them.

While I was at the camp, supping one even-
ing with the officers of Colonel Dunbar's regi-
ment, he represented to me his concern for the
subalterns, who, he said, were generally not in

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 261

affluence, and could ill afford, in this dear
country, to lay in the stores that might be
necessary in so long a march, thro' a wilder-
ness, where nothing was to be purchas'd. I
commiserated their case, and resolved to en-
deavour procuring them some relief. I said
nothing, however, to him of my intention, but
wrote the next morning to the committee of
the Assembly, who had the disposition of some
public money, warmly recommending the case
of these officers to their consideration, and pro-
posing that a present should be sent them of
necessaries and refreshments. My son, who
had some experience of a camp life, and of
its wants, drew up a list for me, which I
enclos'd in my letter. The committee approv'd,
and used such diligence that, conducted by my
son, the stores arrived at the camp as soon as
the waggons. They consisted of twenty par-
cels, each containing

6 Ibs. loaf sugar. i Gloucester cheese.

6 Ibs. good Muscovado do. I kegg containing 20 Ibs.
i Ib. good green tea. good butter.

i Ib. good bohea do. 2 doz. old Madeira wine.

6 Ibs. good ground coffee. 2 gallons Jamaica spirits.
6 Ibs. chocolate. i bottle flour of mustard.

1-2 cwt. best white biscuit. 2 well-cur'd hams.
1-2 Ib. pepper. 1-2 dozen dry'd tongues,

i quart best white wine 6 Ibs. rice,
vinegar. 6 Ibs. raisins.

262 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

These twenty parcels, well pack'd, were
placed on as many horses, each parcel, with
the horse, being intended as a present for one
officer. They were very thankfully receiv'd,
and the kindness acknowledg'd by letters to
me from the colonels of both regiments, in the
most grateful terms. The general, too, was
highly satisfied with my conduct in procuring
him the waggons, etc., and readily paid my
account of disbursements, thanking me repeat-
edly, and requesting my farther assistance in
sending provisions after him. I undertook this
also, and was busily employ'd in it till we
heard of his defeat, advancing for the service
of my own money, upwards of one thousand
pounds sterling, of which I sent him an account.
It came to his hands, luckily for me, a few days
before the battle, and he return'd me immedi-
ately an order on the paymaster for the round
sum of one thousand pounds, leaving the re-
mainder to the next account. I consider this
payment as good luck, having never been able
to obtain that remainder, of which more here-
after.

This general was, I think", a brave man, and
might probably have made a figure as a good
officer in some European war. But he had too
much self-confidence, too high an opinion of

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 263

the validity of regular troops, and too mean a
one of both Americans and Indians. George
Croghan, our Indian interpreter, join'd him on
his march with one hundred of those people,
who might have been of great use to his army
as guides, scouts, etc., if he had treated them
kindly; but he slighted and neglected them,
and they gradually left him.

In conversation with him one day, he was
giving me some account of his intended prog-
ress. ' After taking Fort Duquesne," says
he, "I am to proceed to Niagara; and, hav-
ing taken that, to Frontenac, 2 if the season will
allow time; and I suppose it will, for Duquesne
can hardly detain me above three or four days;
and then I see nothing that can obstruct my
march to Niagara." Having before revolv'd
in my mind the long line his army must make
in their march by a very narrow road, to be
cut for them thro' the woods and bushes, and
also what I had read of a former defeat of
fifteen hundred French, who invaded the Iro-
quois country, I had conceiv'd some doubts
and some fears for the event of the campaign.
But I ventur'd only to say, " To be sure, sir,
if you arrive well before Duquesne, with these

1 Pittsburg.

2 Kingston, at the eastern end of Lake Ontario.

264 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

fine troops, so well provided with artillery, that
place not yet completely fortified, and as we
hear with no very strong garrison, can prob-
ably make but a short resistance. The only
danger I apprehend of obstruction to your
march is from ambuscades of Indians, who, by
constant practice, are dexterous in laying and
executing them; and the slender line, near four
miles long, which your army must make, may
expose it to be attack'd by surprise in its
flanks, and to be cut like a thread into several
pieces, which, from their distance, cannot come
up in time to support each other."

He smil'd at my ignorance, and reply'd,
" These savages may, indeed, be a formidable
enemy to your raw American militia, but upon
the king's regular and disciplin'd troops, sir,
it is impossible they should make any impres-
sion." I was conscious of an impropriety in
my disputing with a military man in matters
of his profession, and said no more. The
enemy, however, did not take the advantage
of his army which I apprehended its long line
of march expos'd it to, but let it advance with-
out interruption till within nine miles of the
place; and then, when more in a body (for it
had just passed a river, where the front had
halted till all were come over), and in a more

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 265

open part of the woods than any it had pass'd,
attack'd its advanced guard by heavy fire from
behind trees and bushes, which was the first
intelligence the general had of an enemy's be-
ing near him. This guard being disordered, the
general hurried the troops up to their assist-
ance, which was done in great confusion, thro'
waggons, baggage, and cattle; and presently

the fire came upon their flank: the officers, be-
ing on horseback, were more easily distin-
guish'd, pick'd out as marks, and fell very fast;
and the soldiers were crowded together in a
huddle, having or hearing no orders, and stand-
ing to be shot at till two-thirds of them were
killed; and then, being seiz'd with a panick,
the whole fled with precipitation.

The waggoners took each a horse out of his

266 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

team and scamper'd; their example was im-
mediately followed by others; so that all the
waggons, provisions, artillery, and stores were
left to the enemy. The general, being wounded,
was brought off with difficulty; his secretary,
Mr. Shirley, was killed by his side; and out
of eighty-six officers, sixty-three were killed
or wounded, and seven hundred and fourteen
men killed out of eleven hundred. These eleven
hundred had been picked men from the whole
army; the rest had been left behind with
Colonel Dunbar, who was to follow with the
heavier part of the stores, provisions, and bag-
gage. The flyers, not being pursu'd, arriv'd
at Dunbar's camp, and the panick they brought
with them instantly seiz'd him and all his
people; and, tho' he had now above one thou-
sand men, and the enemy who had beaten Brad-
dock did not at most exceed four hundred In-
dians and French together, instead of pro-
ceeding, and endeavouring to recover some of
the lost honour, he ordered all the stores, am-
munition, etc., to be destroy'd, that he might
have more horses to assist his flight towards
the settlements, and less lumber to remove.
He was there met with requests from the gov-
ernors of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsyl-
vania, that he would post his troops on the

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 267

frontier, so as to afford some protection to 'the
inhabitants; but he continu'd his hasty march
thro' all the country, not thinking himself safe
till he arriv'd at Philadelphia, where the inhabi-
tants could protect him. This whole transac-
tion gave us Americans the first suspicion that
our exalted ideas of the prowess of British
regulars had not been well founded. 1

In their first march, too, from their landing
till they got beyond the settlements, they had
plundered and stripped the inhabitants, totally
ruining some poor families, besides insulting,
abusing, and confining the people if they re-
monstrated. This was enough to put us out
of conceit of such defenders, if we had really
wanted any. How different was the conduct
of our French friends in 1781, who, during a
march thro' the most inhabited part of our
country from Rhode Island to Virginia, near
seven hundred miles, occasioned not the small-
est complaint for the loss of a pig, a chicken,
or even an apple.

Captain Orme, who was one of the general's
aids-de-camp, and, being grievously wounded,
was brought off with him, and continu'd with

1 Other accounts of this expedition and defeat may be found
in Fiske's Washington and his Country, or Lodge's George Wash-
ington, Vol. I.

268 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

him to his death, which happen'd in a few
days, told me that he was totally silent all the
first day, and at night only said, " Who would
have thought it?' That he was silent again
the following day, saying only at last, ' We
shall better know how to deal with them another
time " ; and dy'd in a few minutes after.

The secretary's papers, with all the general's
orders, instructions, and correspondence, fall-
ing into the enemy's hands, they selected and
translated into French a number of the articles,
which they printed, to prove the hostile inten-
tions of the British court before the declaration
of war. Among these I saw some letters of the
general to the ministry, speaking highly of
the great service I had rendered the army, and
recommending me to their notice. David
Hume, 1 too, who was some years after secre-
tary to Lord Hertford, when minister in France,
and afterward to General Conway, when sec-
retary of state, told me he had seen among
the papers in that office, letters from Brad-
dock highly recommending me. But, the ex-
pedition having been unfortunate, my service,
it seems, was not thought of much value, for
those recommendations were never of any use
to me.

*A famous Scotch philosopher and historian (1711-1776).

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 269

As to rewards from himself, I ask'd only
one, which was, that he would give orders to
his officers not to enlist any more of our
bought servants, and that he would discharge
such as had been already enlisted. This he
readily granted, and several were accordingly
return'd to their masters, on my application.
Dunbar, when the command devolv'd on him,
was not so generous. He being at Phila-
delphia, on his retreat, or rather flight, I ap-
ply'd to him for the discharge of the servants
of three poor farmers of Lancaster county that
he had enlisted, reminding him of the late
general's orders on that head. He promised
me that, if the masters would come to him at
Trenton, where he should be in a few days on
his march to New York, he would there de-
liver their men to them. They accordingly
were at the expense and trouble of going to
Trenton, and there he refus'd to perform his
promise, 10 their great loss and disappoint-
ment.

As soon as the loss of the waggons and
horses was generally known, all the owners
came upon me for the valuation which I had
given bond to pay. Their demands gave me
a great deal of trouble, my acquainting them
that the money was ready in the paymaster's

270 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

hands, but that orders for paying it must first
be obtained from General Shirley, 1 and my as-
suring them that I had apply'd to that general
by letter; but, he being at a distance, an an-
swer could not soon be receiv'd, and they must
have patience, all this was not sufficient to sat-
isfy, and some began to sue me. General
Shirley at length relieved me from this terri-
ble situation by appointing commissioners to
examine the claims, and ordering payment.
They amounted to near twenty thousand
pound, which to pay would have ruined
me.

Before we had the news of this defeat, the
two Doctors Bond came to me with a subscrip-
tion paper for raising money to defray the ex-
pense of a grand firework, which it was in-
tended to exhibit at a rejoicing on receipt of
the news of our taking Fort Duquesne. I
looked grave, and said it would, I thought, be
time enough to prepare for the rejoicing when
we knew we should have occasion to rejoice.
They seem'd surpris'd that I did not immedi-
ately comply with their proposal. " Why the
d 1 ! ' says one of them, " you surely don't
suppose that the fort will not be taken?"

1 Governor of Massachusetts and commander of the British
forces in America.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 271

" I don't know that it will not be taken, but
I know that the events of war are subject to
great uncertainty." I gave them the reasons
of my doubting; the subscription was dropt,
and the projectors thereby missed the mortifi-
cation they would have undergone if the fire-
work had been prepared. Dr. Bond, on some
other occasion afterward, said that he did not
like Franklin's forebodings.

Governor Morris, who had continually wor-
ried the Assembly with message after mes-
sage before the defeat of Braddock, to beat
them into the making of acts to raise money
for the defense of the province, without tax-
ing, among others, the proprietary estates, and
had rejected all their bills for not having such
an exempting clause, now redoubled his at-
tacks with more hope of success, the danger
and necessity being greater. The Assembly,
however, continu'd firm, believing they had
justice on their side, and that it would be giv-
ing up an essential right if they suffered the
governor to amend their money-bills. In one
of the last, indeed, which was for granting
fifty thousand pounds, his propos'd amendment
was only of a single word. The bill express'd
' that all estates, real and personal, were to be
taxed, those of the proprietaries not excepted."

272 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

His amendment was, for not read only: a small,
but very material alteration. However, when
the news of this disaster reached England, our
friends there whom we had taken care to
furnish with all the Assembly's answers to the
governor's messages, rais'd a clamor against
the proprietaries for their meanness and injus-
tice in giving their governor such instructions;
some going so far as to say that, by obstruct-
ing the defense of their province, they for-
feited their right to it. They were intimidated
by this, and sent orders to their receiver-gen-
eral to add five thousand pounds of their
money to whatever sum might be given by
the Assembly for such purpose.

This, being notified to the House, was ac-
cepted in lieu of their share of a general tax,
and a new bill was form'd, with an exempt-
ing clause, which passed accordingly. By this
act I was appointed one of the commissioners
for disposing of the money, sixty thousand
pounds. I had been active in modelling the
bill and procuring its passage, and had, at the
same time, drawn a bill for establishing and
disciplining a voluntary militia, which I carried
thro' the House without much difficulty, as care
was taken in it to leave the Quakers at their
liberty. To promote the association necessary

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 273

to form the militia, I wrote a dialogue, 1 stating
and answering all the objections I could think
of to such a militia, which was printed, and
had, as I thought, great effect.

1 This dialogue and the militia act are in the Gentleman's Maga-
zine for February and March, 1756. Marg. note.

XVII

FRANKLIN'S DEFENSE OF THE
FRONTIER

HILE the several companies in the
city and country were forming, and
learning their exercise, the gov-
ernor prevail'd with me to take
charge of our North-western frontier, which
was infested by the enemy, and provide for
the defense of the inhabitants by raising
troops and building a line of forts. I under-
took this military business, tho' I did not con-
ceive myself well qualified for it. He gave
me a commission with full powers, and a par-
cel of blank commissions for officers, to be
given to whom I thought fit. I had but lit-
tle difficulty in raising men, having soon five
hundred and sixty under my command. My
son, who had in the preceding war been an of-
ficer in the army rais'd against Canada, was
my aid-de-camp, and of great use to me. The
Indians had burned Gnadenhut, 1 a village set-
tled by the Moravians, and massacred the in-

1 Pronounced Gna'-den-hoot.
274

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 275

habitants; but the place was thought a good
situation for one of the forts.

In order to march thither, I assembled the
companies at Bethlehem, the chief establish-
ment of those people. I was surprised to find
it in so good a posture of defense; the destruc-
tion of Gnadenhut had made them apprehend
danger. The principal buildings were de-
fended by a stockade; they had purchased a
quantity of arms and ammunition from New
York, and had even plac'd quantities of small
paving stones between the windows of their
high stone houses, for their women to throw
down upon the heads of any Indians that
should attempt to force into them. The armed
brethren, too, kept watch, and reliev'd as
methodically as in any garrison town. In con-
versation with the bishop, Spangenberg, I
mention'd this my surprise; for, knowing they
had obtained an act of Parliament exempting
them from military duties in the colonies, I
had suppos'd they were conscientiously scru-
pulous of bearing arms. He answer'd me that
it was not one of their established principles,
but that, at the time of their obtaining that
act, it was thought to be a principle with
many of their people. On this occasion, how-
ever, they, to their surprise, found it adopted

276 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

by but a few. It seems they were either de-
ceiv'd in themselves, or deceiv'd the Parlia-
ment; but common sense, aided by present dan-
ger, will sometimes be too strong for whimsi-
cal opinions.

It was the beginning of January when we
set out upon this business of building forts.
I sent one detachment toward the Minisink,
with instructions to erect one for the security
of that upper part of the country, and another
to the lower part, with similar instructions;
and I concluded to go myself with the rest of
my force to Gnadenhut, where a fort was tho't
more immediately necessary. The Moravians
procur'd me five waggons for our tools, stores,
baggage, etc.

Just before we left Bethlehem, eleven farm-
ers, who had been driven from their planta-
tions by the Indians, came to me requesting a
supply of firearms, that they might go back
and fetch off their cattle. I gave them each a
gun with suitable ammunition. We had not
march'd many miles before it began to rain,
and it continued raining all day; there were
no habitations on the road to shelter us, till
we arriv'd near night at the house of a Ger-
man, where, and in his barn, we were all hud-
dled together, as wet as water could make us.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 277

It was well we were not attack'd in our march,
for our arms were of the most ordinary sort,
and our men could not keep their gun locks 1
dry. The Indians are dexterous in contri-
vances for that purpose, which we had not.
They met that day the eleven poor farmers
above mentioned, and killed ten of them. The

one who escap'd inform'd that his and his
companions' guns would not go off, the prim-
ing being wet with the rain.

The next day being fair, we continu'd our
march, and arriv'd at the desolated Gnadenhut.
There was a saw-mill near, round which were
left several piles of boards, with which we soon
hutted ourselves; an operation the more neces-
sary at that inclement season, as we had no

1 Flint-lock guns, discharged by means of a spark struck from
flint and steel into powder (priming) in an open pan.

278 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

tents. Our first work was to bury more ef-
fectually the dead we found there, who had
been half interr'd by the country people.

The next morning our fort was plann'd and
mark'd out, the circumference measuring four
hundred and fifty-five feet, which would re-
quire as many palisades to be made of trees,
one with another, of a foot diameter each.
Our axes, of which we had seventy, were im-
mediately set to work to cut down trees, and,
our men being dexterous in the use of them,
great despatch was made. Seeing the trees
fall so fast, I had the curiosity to look at my
'watch when two men began to cut at a pine;
in six minutes they had it upon the ground,
and I found it of fourteen inches diameter.
Each pine made three palisades of eighteen
feet long, pointed at one end. While these
were preparing, our other men dug a trench all
round, of three feet deep, in which the pali-
sades were to be planted; and, our waggons,
the bodys being taken off, and the fore and hind
wheels separated by taking out the pin which
united the two parts of the perch, 1 we had ten
carriages, with two horses each, to bring the
palisades from the woods to the spot. When
they were set up, our carpenters built a stage

1 Here the pole connecting the front and rear wheels of a wagon.

"Our axes . . . were immediately set to work to cut down trees"

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 279

of boards all round within, about six feet high,
for the men to stand on when to fire thro' the
loopholes. We had one swivel gun, which we
mounted on one of the angles, and fir'd it as
soon as fix'd, to let the Indians know, if any
were within hearing, that we had such pieces;
and thus our fort, if such a magnificent name
may be given to so miserable a stockade, was
finish'd in a week, though it rain'd so hard
every other day that the men could not work.

This gave me occasion to observe, that,
when men are employ'd, they are best con-
tent'd; for on the days they worked they were
good-natur'd and cheerful, and, with the con-
sciousness of having done a good day's work,
they spent the evening jollily; but on our idle
days they were mutinous and quarrelsome,
finding fault with their pork, the bread, etc.,;
and in continual ill-humour, which put me in
mind of a sea-captain, whose rule it was to
keep his men constantly at work; and, when
his mate once told him that they had done
everything, and there was nothing further to
employ them about, ' Oh" says he, ' make
them scour the anchor."

This kind of fort, however contemptible, is
a sufficient defense against Indians, who have
no cannon. Finding ourselves now posted se-

280 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

curely, and having a place to retreat to on oc-
casion, we ventur'd out in parties to scour the
adjacent country. We met with no Indians, but
we found the places on the neighbouring hills
where they had lain to watch our proceedings.
There was an art in their contrivance of those
places that seems worth mention. It being
winter, a fire was necessary for them; but a
common fire on the surface of the ground
would by its light have discover'd their posi-
tion at a distance. They had therefore dug
holes in the ground about three feet diameter,
and somewhat deeper; we saw where they had
with their hatchets cut off the charcoal from
the sides of burnt logs lying in the woods. With
these coals they had made small fires in the bot-
tom of the holes, and we observ'd among the
weeds and grass the prints of their bodies, made
by their laying all round, with their legs hanging
down in the holes to keep their feet warm,
which, with them, is an essential point. This
kind of fire, so manag'd, could not discover
them, either by its light, flame, sparks, or even
smoke: it appear'd that their number was not
great, and it seems they saw we were too
many to be attacked by them with prospect
of advantage.

We had for our chaplain a zealous Presby-

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 281

terian minister, Mr. Beatty, who complained
to me that the men did not generally attend
his prayers and exhortations. When they en-
listed, they were promised, besides pay and
provisions, a gill of rum a day, which was
punctually serv'd out to them, half in the
morning, and the other half in the evening;
and I observ'd they were as punctual in at-
tending to receive it; upon which I said to Mr.
Beatty, " It is, perhaps, below the dignity of
your profession to act as steward of the rum,
but if you were to deal it out and only just
after prayers, you would have them all about
you." He liked the tho't, undertook the office,
and, with the help of a few hands to meas-
ure out the liquor, executed it to satisfaction,
and never were prayers more generally and
more punctually attended; so that I thought
this method preferable to the punishment in-
flicted by some military laws for non-attend-
ance on divine service.

I had hardly finish'd this business, and got
my fort well stor'd with provisions, when I
receiv'd a letter from the governor, acquaint-
ing me that he had call'd the Assembly, and
wished my attendance there, if the posture of
affairs on the frontiers was such that my re-
maining there was no longer necessary. My

282 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

friends, too, of the Assembly, pressing me by
their letters to be, if possible, at the meeting,
and my three intended forts being now com-
pleated, and the inhabitants contented to re-
main on their farms under that protection, I
resolved to return; the more willingly, as a
New England officer, Colonel Clapham, ex-
perienced in Indian war, being on a visit to
our establishment, consented to accept the
command. I gave him a commission, and, pa-
rading the garrison, had it read before them,
and introduc'd him to them as an officer who,
from his skill in military affairs, was much
more fit to command them than myself; and,
giving them a little exhortation, took my
leave. I was escorted as far as Bethlehem,
where I rested a few days to recover from the
fatigue I had undergone. The first night, be-
ing in a good bed, I could hardly sleep, it was
so different from my hard lodging on the
floor of our hut at Gnaden wrapt only in a
blanket or two.

While at Bethlehem, I inquir'd a little into
the practice of the Moravians: some of them
had accompanied me, and all were very kind
to me. I found they work'd for a common
stock, etc at common tables, and slept in com-
mon dormitories, great numbers together. In

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 283

the dormitories I observed loopholes, at cer-
tain distances all along just under the ceiling,
which I thought judiciously placed for change
of air. I was at their church, where I was
entertain'd with good musick, the organ being
accompanied with violins, hautboys, flutes,
clarinets, etc. I understood that their sermons
were not usually preached to mixed congrega-
tions of men, women, and children, as is our
common practice, but that they assembled
sometimes the married men, at other times
their wives, then the young men, the young
women, and the little children, each division
by itself. The sermon I heard was to the lat-
ter, who came in and were plac'd in rows on
benches; the boys under the conduct of a
young man, their tutor, and the girls con-
ducted by a young woman. The discourse
seem'd well adapted to their capacities, and
was deliver'd in a pleasing, familiar manner,
coaxing them, as it were, to be good. They
behav'd very orderly, but looked pale and un-
healthy, which made me suspect they were
kept too much within doors, or not allow'd
sufficient exercise.

I inquir'd concerning the Moravian mar-
riages, whether the report was true that they
were by lot. I was told that lots were us'd

284 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

only in particular cases; that generally, when
a young man found himself dispos'd to marry,
he inform'd the elders of his clas who con-
sulted the elder ladies that govern'd the young
women. As these elders of the different sexes
were well acquainted with the tempers and
dispositions of their respective pupils, they
could best judge what matches were suitable,
and their judgments were generally acquiesc'd
in; but if, for example, it should happen that
two or three young women were found to be
equally proper for the young man, the lot was
then recurred to. I objected, if the matches
are not made by the mutual choice of the
parties, some of them may chance to be very
unhappy. " And so they may," answer'd my
informer, ' if you let the parties chuse for
themselves; " which, indeed, I could not deny.

Being returned to Philadelphia, I found the
association went on swimmingly, the inhabi-
tants that were not Quakers having pretty
generally come into it, formed themselves into
companies, and chose their captains, lieutenants,
and ensigns, according to the new law. Dr.
B. visited me, and gave me an account of the
pains he had taken to spread a general good
liking to the law, and ascribed much to those
endeavours. I had had the vanity to asscribe

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 285

all to my Dialogue; however, not knowing but
that he mi^-ht be in the right, I let him enjoy
his opinion, which I take to be generally the
best way in such cases. The officers, meeting,
chose me to be colonel of the regiment, which
I this time accepted. I forget how many com-
panies we had, but we paraded about twelve
hundred well-looking men, with a company of
artillery, who had been furnished with six
brass field-pieces, which they had become so
expert in the use of as to fire twelve times in
a minute. The first time I reviewed my regi-
ment they accompanied me to my house, and
would salute me with some rounds fired be-
fore my door, which shook down and broke
several glasses of my electrical apparatus.
And my new honour proved not much less
brittle; for all our commissions were soon
after broken by a repeal of the law in England.
During this short time of my colonelship,
being about to set out on a journey to Vir-
ginia, the officers of my regiment took it into
their heads that it would be proper for them
to escort me out of town, as far as the Lower
Ferry. Just as I was getting on horseback
they came to my door, between thirty and
forty, mounted, and all in their uniforms. I
had not been previously acquainted with the

286 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

project, or I should have prevented it, being
naturally averse to the assuming .of state on
any occasion; and I was a good deal chagrin'd
at their appearance, as I could not avoid their
accompanying me. What made it worse was,
that, as soon as we began to move, they drew
their swords and rode with them naked all the
way. Somebody wrote an account of this to
the proprietor, and it gave him great offense.
No such honour had been paid him when in
the province, nor to any of his governors; and
he said it was only proper to princes of the
blood royal, which may be true for aught I
know, who was, and still am, ignorant of the
etiquette in such cases.

This silly affair, however, greatly increased
his rancour against me, which was before not
a little, on account of my conduct in the As-
sembly respecting the exemption of his estate
from taxation, which I had always oppos'd
very warmly, and not without severe reflec-
tions on his meanness and injustice of contend-
ing for it. He accused me to the ministry as
being the great obstacle to the King's service,
preventing, by my influence in the House, the
proper form of the bills for raising money, and
he instanced this parade with my officers as a
proof of my having an intention to take the

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 287

government of the province out of his hands
by force. He also applied to Sir Everard
Fawkener, the postmaster-general, to deprive
me of my office; but it had no other effect
than to procure from Sir Everard a gentle ad-
monition.

Notwithstanding the continual wrangle be-
tween the governor and the House, in which
I, as a member, had so large a share, there
still subsisted a civil intercourse between that
gentleman and myself, and we never had any
personal difference. I have sometimes since
thought that his little or no resentment
against me, for the answers it was known I
drew up to his messages, might be the effect
of professional habit, and that, being bred a
lawyer, he might consider us both as merely
advocates for contending clients in a suit, he
for the proprietaries and I for the Assembly.
He would, therefore, sometimes call in a
friendly way to advise with me on difficult
points, and sometimes, tho' not often, take my
advice.

We acted in concert to supply Braddock's
army with provisions; and, when the shock-
ing news arrived of his defeat, the governor
sent in haste for me, to consult with him on
measures for preventing the desertion of the

288 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

back counties. I forget now the advice I
gave; but I think it was, that Dunbar should
be written to, and prevail'd with, if possible,
to post his troops on the frontiers for their pro-
tection, till, by reinforcements from the col-
onies, he might be able to proceed on the ex-
pedition. And, after my return from the fron-
tier, he would have had me undertake the con-
duct of such an expedition with provincial
troops, for the reduction of Fort Duquesne,
Dunbar and his men being otherwise em-
ployed; and he proposed to commission me as
general. I had not so good an opinion of my
military abilities as he profess'd to have, and
I believe his professions must have exceeded
his real sentiments; but probably he might
think that my popularity would facilitate the
raising of the men, and my influence in As-
sembly, the grant of money to pay them, and
that, perhaps, without taxing the proprietary
estate. Finding me not so forward to engage
as he expected, the project was dropt, and he
soon after left the government, being superseded
by Captain Denny.

XVIII
SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS

EFORE I proceed in relating the
part I had in public affairs under
this new governor's administra-
tion, it may not be amiss here to
give some account of the rise and progress of
my philosophical reputation.

In 1746, being at Boston, I met there with
a Dr. Spence, who was lately arrived from
Scotland, and show'd me some electric experi-
ments. They were imperfectly perform'd, as
he was not very expert; but, being on a sub-
ject quite new to me, they equally surpris'd
and pleased me. Soon after my return to
Philadelphia, our library company receiv'd
from Mr. P. Collinson, Fellow of the Royal
Society * of London, a present of a glass tube,
with some account of the use of it in making
such experiments. I eagerly seized the op-
portunity of repeating what I had seen at Bos-
ton; and, by much practice, acquir'd great

1 The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge
was founded in 1660 and holds the foremost place among English
societies for the advancement of science.

289

2 9 o FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

readiness in performing those, also, which we
had an account of from England, adding a
number of new ones. I say much practice, for
my house was continually full, for some time,
with people who came to see these new wonders.
To divide a little this incumbrance among
my friends, I caused a number of similar tubes
to be blown at our glass-house, with which
they furnish'd themselves, so that we had at
length several performers. Among these, the
principal was Mr. Kinnersley, an ingenious
neighbour, who, being out of business, I encour-
aged to undertake showing the experiments for
money, and drew up for him two lectures, in
which the experiments were rang'd in such order,
and accompanied with such explanations in such
method, as that the foregoing should assist in
comprehending the following. He procur'd an
elegant apparatus for the purpose, in which all
the little machines that I had roughly made
for myself were nicely form'd by instrument-
makers. His lectures were well attended, and
gave great satisfaction; and after some time
he went thro' the colonies, exhibiting them in
every capital town, and pick'd up some money.
In the West India islands, indeed, it was with
difficulty the experiments could be made, from
the general moisture of the air.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 291

Oblig'd as we were to Mr. Collinson for his
present of the tube, etc., I thought it right he
should be inform'd of our success in using it,
and wrote him several letters containing ac-
counts of our experiments. He got them read
in the Royal Society, where they were not at
first thought worth so much notice as to be
printed in their Transactions. One paper,
which I wrote for Mr. Kinnersley, on the
sameness of lightning with electricity, 1 I sent to
Dr. Mitchel, an acquaintance of mine, and one
of the members also of that society, who
wrote me word that it had been read, but was
laughed at by the connoisseurs. The papers,
however, being shown to Dr. Fothergill, he
thought them of too much value to be stifled,
and advis'd the printing of them. Mr. Collin-
son then gave them to Cave for publication in
his Gentleman's Magazine; but he chose to
print them separately in a pamphlet, and Dr.
Fothergill wrote the preface. Cave, it seems,
judged rightly for his profit, for by the ad-
ditions that arrived afterward, they swell'd to
a quarto volume, which has had five editions,
and cost him nothing for copy-money.

It was, however, some time before those
papers were much taken notice of in England.

1 See page 327.

292 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

A copy of them happening to fall into the
hands of the Count de Buffon, 1 a philosopher
deservedly of great reputation in France, and,
indeed, all over Europe, he prevailed with M.
Dalibard 3 to translate them into French, and
they were printed at Paris. The publication
offended the Abbe Nollet, preceptor in Natural
Philosophy to the royal family, and an able
experimenter, who had form'd and publish'd a
theory of electricity, which then had the general
vogue. He could not at first believe that such
a work came from America, and said it must
have been fabricated by his enemies at Paris,
to decry his system. Afterwards, having been
assur'd that there really existed such a person
as Franklin at Philadelphia, which he had
doubted, he wrote and published a volume of
Letters, chiefly address'd to me, defending his
theory, and denying the verity of my experi-
ments, and of the positions deduc'd from them.
I once purpos'd answering the abbe, and ac-
tually began the answer; but, on consideration
that my writings contain'd a description of ex-

1 A celebrated French naturalist (1/07-1788).

* Dalibard, who had translated Franklin's letters to Collinson
into French, was the first to demonstrate, in a practical application
of Franklin's experiment, that lightning and electricity are the
same. " This was May 10th, 1752, one month before Franklin
flew his famous kite at Philadelphia and proved the fact himself."
McMaster.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 293

periments which anyone might repeat and
verify, and if not to be verifi'd, could not be
defended; or of observations offer'd as conjec-
tures, and not delivered dogmatically, there-
fore not laying me under any obligation to
defend them; and reflecting that a dispute
between two persons, writing in different lan-
guages, might be lengthened greatly by mis-
translations, and thence misconceptions of one
another's meaning, much of one of the abbe's
letters being founded on an error in the trans-
lation, I concluded to let my papers shift for
themselves, believing it was better to spend
what time I could spare from public business
in making new experiments, than in disputing
about those already made. I therefore never
answered M. Nollet, and the event gave me no
cause to repent my silence; for my friend M.
le Roy, of the Royal Academy of Sciences,
took up my cause and refuted him; my book
was translated into the Italian, German, and
Latin languages; and the doctrine it contain'd
was by degrees universally adopted by the
philosophers of Europe, in preference to that
of the abbe; so that he lived to see himself the

last of his sect, except Monsieur B , of

Paris, his eleve and immediate disciple.

What gave my book the more sudden and

294 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

general celebrity, was the success of one of its
proposed experiments, made by Messrs. Dali-
bard and De Lor at Marly, for drawing light-
ning from the clouds. This engag'd the pub-
lic attention everywhere. M. de Lor, who had
an apparatus for experimental philosophy, and
lectur'd in that branch of science, undertook to
repeat what he called the Philadelphia Experi-
ments; and, after they were performed before
the king and court, all the curious of Paris
flocked to see them. I will not swell this nar-
rative with an account of that capital experi-
ment, nor of the infinite pleasure I receiv'd in
the success of a similar one I made soon after
with a kite at Philadelphia, as both are to be
found in the histories of electricity.

Dr. Wright, an English physician, when at
Paris, wrote to a friend, who was of the Royal
Society, an account of the high esteem my ex-
periments were in among the learned abroad,
and of their wonder that my writings had
been so little noticed in England. The society,
on this, resum'd the consideration of the let-
ters that had been read to them; and the cele-
brated Dr. Watson drew up a summary ac-
count of them, and of all I had afterwards sent
to England on the subject, which he accom-
panied with some praise of the writer. This

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 295

summary was then printed in their Transac-
tions; and some members of the society in
London, particularly the very ingenious Mr.
Canton, having verified the experiment of pro-
curing lightning from the clouds by a pointed
rod, and acquainting them with the success,
they soon made me more than amends for the
slight with which they had before treated me.
Without my having made any application for
that honour, they chose me a member, and
voted that I should be excus'd the customary
payments, which would have amounted to
twenty-five guineas; and ever since have given
me their Transactions gratis. They also pre-
sented me with the gold medal of Sir God-
frey Copley x for the year 1753, the delivery of
which was accompanied by a very handsome
speech of the president, Lord Macclesfield,
wherein I was highly honoured.

1 An English baronet (died in 1709), donator of a fund of 100,
" in trust for the Royal Society of London for improving natural
knowledge."

XIX

AGENT OF PENNSYLVANIA IN
LONDON

UR new governor, Captain Denny,
brought over for me the before-
mentioned medal from the Royal
Society, which he presented to me
at an entertainment given him by the city.
He accompanied it with very polite expres-
sions of his esteem for me, having, as he said,
been long acquainted with my character.
After dinner, when the company, as was cus-
tomary at that time, were engag'd in drink-
ing, he took me aside into another room, and
acquainted me that he had been advis'd by his
friends in England to cultivate a friendship
with me, as one who was capable of giving
him the best advice, and of contributing most
effectually to the making his administration
easy; that he therefore desired of all things to
have a good understanding with me, and he
begged me to be assured of his readiness on all
occasions to render me every service that

might be in his power. He said much to me,

296

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 297

also, of the proprietor's good disposition to-
wards the province, and of the advantage it
might be to us all, and to me in particular, if
the opposition that had been so long continu'd
to his measures was dropt, and harmony re-
stor'd between him and the people; in effect-
ing which, it was thought no one could be
more serviceable than myself; and I might de-
pend on adequate acknowledgments and recom-
penses, etc., etc. The drinkers, finding we did
not return immediately to the table, sent us a
decanter of Madeira, which the governor
made liberal use of, and in proportion became
more profuse of his solicitations and promises.
My answers were to this purpose: that my
circumstances, thanks to God, were such as to
make proprietary favours unnecessary to me;
and that, being a member of the Assembly, I
could not possibly accept of any; that, how-
ever, I had no personal enmity to the propri-
etary, and that, whenever the public measures
he propos'd should appear to be for the good
of the people, no one should espouse and for-
ward them more zealously than myself; my
past opposition having been founded on this,
that the measures which had been urged were
evidently intended to serve the proprietary in-
terest, with great prejudice to that of the peo-

298 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

pie; that I was much obliged to him (the gov-
ernor) for his professions of regard to me,
and that he might rely on everything in my
power to make his administration as easy as
possible, hoping at the same time that he had
not brought with him the same unfortunate
instruction his predecessor had been ham-
pered with.

On this he did not then explain himself; but
when he afterwards came to do business with
the Assembly, they appear'd again, the dis-
putes were renewed, and I was as active as
ever in the opposition, being the penman, first,
of the request to have a communication of the
instructions, and then of the remarks upon
them, which may be found in the votes of the
time, and in the Historical Review I after-
ward publish'd. But between us personally no
enmity arose; we were often together; he was
a man -of letters, had seen much of the world, and
was very entertaining and pleasing in conversa-
tion. He gave me the first information that my
old friend Jas. Ralph was still alive; that he was
esteem'd one of the best political writers in
England; had been employed in the dispute 1
between Prince Frederic and the king, and had

1 Quarrel between George II and his son, Frederick, Prince of
Wales, who died before his father.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 299

obtain'd a pension of three hundred a year;
that his reputation was indeed small as a
poet, Pope having damned his poetry in the
Dunciad? but his prose was thought as good
as any man's.

The Assembly finally finding the proprietary
obstinately persisted in manacling their depu-
ties with instructions inconsistent not only
with the privileges of the people, but with the
service of the crown, resolv'd to petition the
king against them, and appointed me their
agent to go over to England, to present and
support the petition. The House had sent up
a bill to the governor, granting a sum of sixty
thousand pounds for the king's use (ten thou-
sand pounds of which was subjected to the
orders of the then general, Lord Loudoun),
which the governor absolutely refus'd to pass,
in compliance with his instructions.

I had agreed with Captain Morris, of the
packet at New York, for my passage, and my
stores were put on board, when Lord Loudoun
arriv'd at Philadelphia, expressly, as he told
me, to endeavour an accommodation between
the governor and Assembly, that his majesty's
service might not be obstructed by their dis-

1 A satirical poem by Alexander Pope directed against various
contemporary writers.

3 oo FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

sensions. Accordingly, he desir'd the gov-
ernor and myself to meet him, that he might
hear what was to be said on both sides. We
met and discussed the business. In behalf of
the Assembly, I urged all the various argu-
ments that may be found in the public papers
of that time, which were of my writing, and
are printed with the minutes of the Assembly;
and the governor pleaded his instructions, the
bond he had given to observe them, and his
ruin if he disobey'd, yet seemed not unwilling
to hazard himself if Lord Loudoun would ad-
vise it. This his lordship did not chuse to do,
though I once thought I had nearly prevail'd
with him to do it; but finally he rather chose
to urge the compliance of the Assembly; and
he entreated me to use my endeavours with
them for that purpose, declaring that he
would spare none of the king's troops for the
defense of our frontiers, and that, if we did
not continue to provide for that defense our-
selves, they must remain expos'd to the
enemy.

I acquainted the House with what had
pass'd, and, presenting them with a set of
resolutions I had drawn up, declaring our
rights, and that we did not relinquish our
claim to those rights, but only suspended the

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 301

exercise of them on this occasion thro' force,
against which we protested, they at length
agreed to drop that bill, and frame another
conformable to the proprietary instructions.
This of course the governor pass'd, and I was
then at liberty to proceed on my voyage.
But, in the meantime, the packet had sailed
with my sea-stores, which was some loss to
me, and my only recompense was his lord-
ship's thanks for my service, all the credit of
obtaining the accommodation falling to his
share.

He set out for New York before me; and,
as the time for dispatching the packet-boats
was at his disposition, and there were two
then remaining there, one of which, he said,
was to sail very soon, I requested to know the
precise time, that I might not miss her by any
delay of mine. His answer was, " I have
given out that she is to sail on Saturday next;
but I may let you know, entre nous, that if
you are there by Monday morning, you will
be in time, but do not delay longer." By some
accidental hindrance at a ferry, it was Mon-
day noon before I arrived, and I was much
afraid she might have sailed, as the wind was
fair; but I was soon made easy by the in-
formation that she was still in the harbor, and

302 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

would not move till the next day. One would
imagine that I was now on the very point of
departing for Europe. I thought so; but I
was not then so well acquainted with his lord-
ship's character, of which indecision was one
of the strongest features. I shall give some
instances. It was about the beginning of
April that I came to New York, and I think
it was near the end of June before we sail'd.
There were then two of the packet-boats,
which had been long in port, but were de-
tained for the general's letters, which were al-
ways to be ready to-morrow. Another packet
arriv'd; she too was detain'd; and, before we
sail'd, a fourth was expected. Ours was the
first to be dispatch'd, as having been there
longest. Passengers were engaged in all, and
some extremely impatient to be gone, and the
merchants uneasy about their letters, and the
orders they had given for insurance (it being
war time) for fall goods; but their anxiety
avail'd nothing; his lordship's letters were not
ready; and yet whoever waited on him found
him always at his desk, pen in hand, and con-
cluded he must needs write abundantly.

Going myself one morning to pay my re-
spects, I found in his antechamber one Innis,
a messenger of Philadelphia, who had come

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 303

from thence express with a packet from
Governor Denny for the general. He deliv-
ered to me some letters from my friends
there, which occasion'd my inquiring when he
was to return, and where he lodg'd, that I
might send some letters by him. He told
me he was order'd to call to-morrow at nine
for the general's answer to the governor, and
should set off immediately. I put my letters
into his hands the same day. A fortnight
after I met him again in the same place. ' So,
you are soon return'd, Innis?' ' Return' d!
no, I am not gone yet." "How so?' 'I
have called here by order every morning these
two weeks past for his lordship's letter, and
it is not yet ready." " Is it possible, when he
is so great a writer? for I see him constantly
at his escritoire." " Yes," says Innis, " but
he is like St. George on the signs, always on
horseback, and never rides on." This observa-
tion of the messenger was, it seems, well
founded; for, when in England, I understood
that Mr. Pitt * gave it as one reason for re-
moving this general, and sending Generals
Amherst and Wolfe, that the minister never

1 William Pitt, first Earl of Chatham (1708-1778), a great English
statesman and orator. Under his able administration, England won
Canada from France. He was a friend of America at the time of
our Revolution.

304 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

heard from him, and could not know what he was
doing.

This daily expectation of sailing, and all
the three packets going down to Sandy Hook,
to join the fleet there, the passengers thought
it best to be on board, lest by a sudden order
the ships should sail, and they be left behind.
There, if I remember right, we were about six
weeks, consuming our sea-stores, and oblig'd
to procure more. At length the fleet sail'd,
the general and all his army on board, bound
to Louisburg, with the intent to besiege and
take that fortress; all the packet-boats in com-
pany ordered to attend the general's ship,
ready to receive his dispatches when they
should be ready. We were out five days be-
fore we got a letter with leave to part, and
then our ship quitted the fleet and steered for
England. The other two packets he still de-
tained, carried them with him to Halifax,
where he stayed some time to exercise the
men in sham attacks upon sham forts, then
altered his mind as to besieging Louisburg,
and returned to New York, with all his troops,
together with the two packets above men-
tioned, and all their passengers! During his
absence the French and savages had taken
Fort George, on the frontier of that province,

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 305

and the savages had massacred many of the
garrison after capitulation.

I saw afterwards in London Captain Bon-
nell, who commanded one of those packets.
He told me that, when he had been detain'd
a month, he acquainted his lordship that his
ship was grown foul, to a degree that must
necessarily hinder her fast sailing, a point of
consequence for a packet-boat, and requested
an allowance of time to heave her down and
clean her bottom. He was asked how long
time that would require. He answered, three
days. The general replied, " If you can do it
in one day, I give leave; otherwise not; for
you must certainly sail the day after to-mor-
row." So he never obtain'd leave, though de-
tained afterwards from day to day during full
three months.

I saw also in London one of Bonnell's pas-
sengers, who was so enrag'd against his lord-
ship for deceiving and detaining him so long
at New York, and then carrying him to Hali-
fax and back again, that he swore he would
sue him for damages. Whether he did or not,
I never heard; but, as he represented the
injury to his affairs, it was very consider-
able.

On the whole, I wonder'd much how such

306 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

a man came to be intrusted 1 with so impor-
tant a business as the conduct of a great army;
but, having since seen more of the great
world, and the means of obtaining, and mo-
tives for giving places, my wonder is dimin-
ished. General Shirley, on whom the com-
mand of the army devolved upon the death of
Braddock, would, in my opinion, if continued
in place, have made a much better campaign
than that of Loudoun in 1757, which was
frivolous, expensive, and disgraceful to our
nation beyond conception; for, tho' Shirley
was not a bred soldier, he was sensible and
sagacious in himself, and attentive to good ad-
vice from others, capable of forming judicious
plans, and quick and active in carrying them
into execution. Loudoun, instead of defend-
ing the colonies with his great army, left them
totally expos'd while he paraded idly at Hali-
fax, by which means Fort George was lost,
besides, he derang'd all our mercantile opera-
tions, and distress'd our trade, by a long em-
bargo on the exportation of provisions, on
pretence of keeping supplies from being ob-
tain'd by the enemy, but in reality for beat-

relation illustrates the corruption that characterized Eng-
lish public life in the eighteenth century. (See page 308). It was
gradually overcome in the early part of the next century.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 307

ing down their price in favour of the con-
tractors, in whose profits, it was said, perhaps
from suspicion only, he had a share. And,
when at length the embargo was taken off, by
neglecting to send notice of it to Charlestown,
the Carolina fleet was detain'd near three
months longer, whereby their bottoms were
so much damaged by the worm that a great
part of them foundered in their passage home.

Shirley was, I believe, sincerely glad of be-
ing relieved from so burdensome a charge as
the conduct of an army must be to a man un-
acquainted with military business. I was at
the entertainment given by the city of New
York to Lord Loudoun, on his taking upon
him the command. Shirley, tho' thereby su-
perseded, was present also. There was a great
company of officers, citizens, and strangers, and,
some chairs having been borrowed in the
neighborhood, there was one among them
very low, which fell to the lot of Mr. Shirley.
Perceiving it as I sat by him, I said, : They
have given you, sir, too low a seat." " No
matter," says he, ' Mr. Franklin, I find a low
seat the easiest."

While I was, as afore mention'd, detain'd at
New York, I receiv'd all the accounts of the
provisions, etc., that I had furnish'd to Brad-

3 o8 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

dock, some of which accounts could not sooner
be obtain'd from the different persons I had
employ'd to assist in the business. I pre-
sented them to Lord Loudoun, desiring to be
paid the ballance. He caus'd them to be regu-
larly examined by the proper officer, who,
after comparing every article with its voucher,
certified them to be right; and the balance
due for which his lordship promis'd to give me
an order on the paymaster. This was, how-
ever, put off from time to time; and tho' I
call'd often for it by appointment, I did not
get it. At length, just before my departure,
he told me he had, on better consideration,
concluded not to mix his accounts with those
of his predecessors. ' And you," says he,
' when in England, have only to exhibit your
accounts at the treasury, and you will be paid
immediately."

I mention'd, but without effect, the great
and unexpected expense I had been put to by
being detain'd so long at New York, as a reason
for my desiring to be presently paid; and on
my observing that it was not right I should
be put to any further trouble or delay in ob-
taining the money I had advanc'd, as I
charged no commission for my service, " O,
Sir," says he, " you must not think of persuad-

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 309

ing us that you are no gainer; we understand
better those affairs, and know that every one
concerned in supplying the army finds means,
in the doing it, to fill his own pockets." I as-
sur'd him that was not my case, and that I
had not pocketed a farthing; but he appear'd
clearly not to believe me; and, indeed, I have
since learnt that immense fortunes are often
made in such employments. As to my bal-
lance, I am not paid it to this day, of which
more hereafter.

Our captain of the paquet had boasted
much, before we sailed, of the swiftness of his
ship; unfortunately, when we came to sea, she
proved the dullest of ninety-six sail, to his no
small mortification. After many conjectures
respecting the cause, when we were near
another ship almost as dull as ours, which,
however, gain'd upon us, the captain ordered
all hands to come aft, and stand as near the
ensign staff as possible. We were, passengers in-
cluded, about forty persons. While we stood
there, the ship mended her pace, and soon left
her neighbour far behind, which prov'd clearly
what our captain suspected, that she was
loaded too much by the head. The casks of
water, it seems, had been all plac'd forward;
these he therefore order'd to be mov'd further

3 io FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

aft, on which the ship recovered her character,
and proved the best sailer in the fleet.

The captain said she had once gone at the
rate of thirteen knots, which is accounted thir-
teen miles per hour. We had on board, as a
passenger, Captain Kennedy, of the Navy, who
contended that it was impossible, and that no
ship ever sailed so fast, and that there must
have been some error in the division of the
log-line, or some mistake in heaving the log. 1
A wager ensu'd between the two captains, to
be decided when there should be sufficient
wind. Kennedy thereupon examin'd rigor-
ously the log-line, and, being satisfi'd with
that, he determin'd to throw the log himself.
Accordingly some days after, when the wind
blew very fair and fresh, and the captain of
the paquet, Lutwidge, said he believ'd she
then went at the rate of thirteen knots, Ken-
nedy made the experiment, and own'd his
wager lost.

The above fact I give for the sake of the
following observation. It has been remarked,
as an imperfection in the art of ship-building,
that it can never be known, till she is tried,

1 A piece of wood shaped and weighted so as to keep it stable
when in the water. To this is attached a line knotted at regular
distances. By these devices it is possible to tell the speed of a ship.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 311

whether a new ship will or will not be a
good sailer; for that the model of a good-sailing
ship has been exactly follow'd in a new one,
which has prov'd, on the contrary, remarka-
bly dull. I apprehend that this may partly be
occasion'd by the different opinions of seamen
respecting the modes of lading, rigging, and
sailing of a ship; each has his system; and the
same vessel, laden by the judgment and orders
of one captain, shall sail better or worse than
when by the orders of another. Besides, it
scarce ever happens that a ship is form'd, fit-
ted for the sea, and sail'd by the same person.
One man builds the hull, another rigs her, a
third lades and sails her. No one of these has
the advantage of knowing all the ideas and ex-
perience of the others, and, therefore, cannot
draw just conclusions from a combination of the
whole.

Even in the simple operation of sailing when
at sea, I have often observ'd different judg-
ments in the officers who commanded the suc-
cessive watches, the wind being the same.
One would have the sails trimm'd sharper or
flatter than another, so that they seem'd to
have no certain rule to govern by. Yet I
think a set of experiments might be instituted;
first, to determine the most proper form of

312 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

the hull for swift sailing; next, the best dimen-
sions and properest place for the masts; then
the form and quantity of sails, and their posi-
tion, as the wind may be; and, lastly, the dis-
position of the lading. This is an age of ex-
periments, and I think a set accurately made
and combined would be of great use. I am
persuaded, therefore, that ere long some in-
genious philosopher will undertake it, to
whom I wish success.

We were several times chas'd in our pas-
sage, but out-sail'd every thing, and in thirty
days had soundings. We had a good observa-
tion, and the captain judg'd himself so near
our port, Falmouth, that, if we made a good
run in the night, we might be off the mouth
of that harbor in the morning, and by run-
ning in the night might escape the notice of

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 313

the enemy's privateers, who often cruis'd near
the entrance of the channel. Accordingly, all
the sail was set that we could possibly make,
and the wind being very fresh and fair, we
went right before it, and made great way.
The captain, after his observation, shap'd his
course, as he thought, so as to pass wide of
the Scilly Isles; but it seems there is some-
times a strong indraught setting up St.
George's Channel, which deceives seamen and
caused the loss of Sir Cloudesley Shovel's
squadron. This indraught was probably the
cause of what happened to us.

We had a watchman plac'd in the bow, to
whom they often called, "Look well out before
there" and he as often answered, ' Ay, ay " ;
but perhaps had his eyes shut, and was half
asleep at the time, they sometimes answering,
as is said, mechanically; for he did not see a
light just before us, which had been hid by
the studding-sails from the man at the helm,
and from the rest of the watch, but by an ac-
cidental yaw of the ship was discover'd, and
occasion'd a great alarm, we being very near
it, the light appearing to me as big as a cart-
wheel. It was midnight, and our captain fast
asleep; but Captain Kennedy, jumping upon
deck, and seeing the danger, ordered the ship

3H FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

to wear round, all sails standing; an operation
dangerous to the masts, but it carried us clear,
and we escaped shipwreck, for we were
running right upon the rocks on which the
lighthouse was erected. This deliverance im-
pressed me strongly with the utility of light-
houses, and made me resolve to encourage the
building more of them in America if I should
live to return there.

In the morning it was found by the sound-
ings, etc., that we were near our port, but a
thick fog hid the land from our sight. About
nine o'clock the fog began to rise, and seem'd
to be lifted up from the water like the curtain
at a play-house, discovering underneath, the
town of Falmouth, the vessels in its harbor,
and the fields that surrounded it. This was a
most pleasing spectacle to those who had been
so long without any other prospects than the
uniform view of a vacant ocean, and it gave
us the more pleasure as we were now free
from the anxieties which the state of war oc-
casion'd.

I set out immediately, with my son, for Lon-
don, and we only stopt a little by the way to
view Stonehenge l on Salisbury Plain, and

1 A celebrated prehistoric ruin, probably of a temple built by
the early Britons, near Salisbury, England. It consists of inner

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 315

Lord Pembroke's house and gardens, with his
very curious antiquities at Wilton. We ar-
rived in London the 27th of July, I757. 1

As soon as I was settled in a lodging Mr.
Charles had provided for me, I went to visit
Dr. Fothergill, to whom I was strongly recom-
mended, and whose counsel respecting my
proceedings I was advis'd to obtain. He was
against an immediate complaint to govern-
ment, and thought the proprietaries should
first be personally appli'd to, who might possi-
bly be induc'd by the interposition and persua-
sion of some private friends, to accommodate
matters amicably. I then waited on my old
friend and correspondent, Mr. Peter Collinson,
who told me that John Hanbury, the great
Virginia merchant, had requested to be in-
formed when I should arrive, that he might
carry me to Lord Granville's, 2 who was then
President of the Council and wished to see me
as soon as possible. I agreed to go with him

and outer circles of enormous stones, some of which are con-
nected by stone slabs.

" Here terminates the Autobiography, as published by Wm.
Temple Franklin and his successors. What follows was written
in the last year of Dr. Franklin's life, and was never before printed
in English." Mr. Bigelow's note in his edition of 1868.

George Granville or Grenville (1712-1770). As English premier
from 1763 to 1765, he introduced the direct taxation of the Ameri-
can Colonies and has sometimes been called the immediate cause
of the Revolution.

316 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

the next morning. Accordingly Mr. Hanbury
called for me and took me in his carriage to
that nobleman's, who receiv'd me with great
civility; and after some questions respecting
the present state of affairs in America and dis-
course thereupon, he said to me: 'You Ameri-
cans have wrong ideas of the nature of your
constitution; you contend that the king's in-
structions to his governors are not laws, and
think yourselves at liberty to regard or disre-
gard them at your own discretion. But those
instructions are not like the pocket instruc-
tions given to a minister going abroad, for
regulating his conduct in some trifling point
of ceremony. They are first drawn up by
judges learned in the laws; they are then con-
sidered, debated, and perhaps amended in
Council, after which they are signed by the
king. They are then, so far as they relate to
you, the law of the land, for the king is the

LEGISLATOR OF THE COLONIES," * I told his

lordship this was new doctrine to me. I had
always understood from our charters that our

1 This whole passage shows how hopelessly divergent were the
English and American views on the relations between the mother
country and her colonies. Grenville here made clear that the Ameri-
cans were to have no voice in making or amending their laws.
Parliament and the king were to have absolute power over the
colonies. No wonder Franklin was alarmed by this new doctrine.

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 317

laws were to be made by our Assemblies, to
be presented indeed to the king for his royal
assent, but that being once given the king
could not repeal or alter them. And as the
Assemblies could not make permanent laws
without his assent, so neither could he make
a law for them without theirs. He assur'd me
I was totally mistaken. I did not think so,
however, and his lordship's conversation hav-
ing a little alarm'd me as to what might be
the sentiments of the court concerning us, I
wrote it down as soon as I return'd to my
lodgings. I recollected that about 20 years
before, a clause in a bill brought into Parlia-
ment by the ministry had propos'd to make
the king's instructions laws in the colonies,
but the clause was thrown out by the Com-
mons, for which we adored them as our
friends and friends of liberty, till by their con-
duct towards us in 1765 it seem'd that they
had refus'd that point of sovereignty to the
king only that they might reserve it for them-
selves.

After some days, Dr. Fothergill having

With his keen insight into human nature and his consequent
knowledge of American character, he foresaw the inevitable result
of such an attitude on the part of England. This conversation
with Grenville makes these last pages of the Autobiography one
of its most important parts.

3i"8 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

spoken to the proprietaries, they agreed to a
meeting with me at Mr. T. Penn's house in
Spring Garden. The conversation at first con-
sisted of mutual declarations of disposition to
reasonable accommodations, but I suppose each
party had its own ideas of what should be
meant by reasonable. We then went into con-
sideration of our several points of complaint,
which I enumerated. The proprietaries justi-
fy'd their conduct as well as they could, and
I the Assembly's. We now appeared very
wide, and so far from each other in our opin-
ions as to discourage all hope of agreement.
However, it was concluded that I should give
them the heads of our complaints in writing,
and they promis'd then to consider them. I
did so soon after, but they put the paper into
the hands of their solicitor, Ferdinand John
Paris, who managed for them all their law
business in their great suit w r ith the neighbour-
ing proprietary of Maryland, Lord Baltimore,
which had subsisted 70 years, and wrote for
them all their papers and messages in their
dispute with the Assembly. He was a proud,
angry man, and as I had occasionally in the
answers of the Assembly treated his papers
with some severity, they being really weak in
point of argument and haughty in expression,

"We now appeared very wide, and so far from each other in our
opinions as to discourage all hope of agreement"

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 319

he had conceived a mortal enmity to me,
which discovering itself whenever we met, I
declin'd the proprietary's proposal that he and
I should discuss the heads of complaint be-
tween our two selves, and refus'd treating
with anyone but them. They then by his ad-
vice put the paper into the hands of the At-
torney and Solicitor-General for their opinion
and counsel upon it, where it lay unanswered
a year wanting eight days, during which time
I made frequent demands of an answer from
the proprietaries, but without obtaining any
other than that they had not yet received the
opinion of the Attorney and Solicitor-General.
What it was when they did receive it I never
learnt, for they did not communicate it to me,
but sent a long message to the Assembly
drawn and signed by Paris, reciting my paper,
complaining of its want of formality, as a
rudeness on my part, and giving a flimsy justi-
fication of their conduct, adding that they
should be willing to accommodate matters if the
Assembly would send out some person of can-
Jour to treat with them for that purpose, in-
timating thereby that I was not such.

The want of formality or rudeness was,
probably, my not having address'd the paper
to them with their assum'd titles of True and

320 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBJ OCR AP H Y

Absolute Proprietaries of the Province of
Pennsylvania, which I omitted as not thinking
it necessary in a paper, the intention of which
was only to reduce to a certainty by writing,
what in conversation I had delivered viva voce.

But during this delay, the Assembly having
prevailed with Gov'r Denny to pass an act
taxing the proprietary estate in common with
the estates of the people, which was the grand
point in dispute, they omitted answering the
message.

When this act however came over, the pro-
prietaries, counselled by Paris, determined to
oppose its receiving the royal assent. Accord-
ingly they petition'd the king in Council, and
a hearing was appointed in which two lawyers
were employ'd by them against the act, and
two by me in support of it. They alledg'd
that the act was intended to load the pro-
prietary estate in order to spare those of the
people, and that if it were suffer'd to continue
in force, and the proprietaries, who were in
odium with the people, left to their mercy in
proportioning the taxes, they would inevitably
be ruined. We reply'd that the act had no
such intention, and would have no such effect.
That the assessors were honest and discreet
men under an oath to assess fairly and equita-

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 321

bly, and that any advantage each of them
might expect in lessening his own tax by
augmenting that of the proprietaries was too
trifling to induce them to perjure themselves.
This is the purport of what I remember as
urged by both sides, except that we insisted
strongly on the mischievous consequences
that must attend a repeal, for that the
money, 100,000, being printed and given to
the king's use, expended in his service, and
now spread among the people, the repeal
would strike it dead in their hands to the ruin
of many, and the total discouragement of fu-
ture grants, and the selfishness of the pro-
prietors in soliciting such a general catas-
trophe, merely from a groundless fear of their
estate being taxed too highly, was insisted on
in the strongest terms. On this, Lord Mans-
field, one of the counsel, rose, and beckoning
me took me into the clerk's chamber, while
the lawyers were pleading, and asked me if I
was really of opinion that no injury would be
done the proprietary estate in the execution of
the act. I said certainly. ; Then," says he,
" you can have little objection to enter into an
engagement to assure that point." I an-
swer'd, " None at all." He then call'd in
Paris, and after some discourse, his lordship's

322 FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

proposition was accepted on both sides; a
paper to the purpose was drawn up by the
Clerk of the Council, which I sign'd with Mr.
Charles, who was also an Agent of the Prov-
ince for their ordinary affairs, when Lord
Mansfield returned to the Council Chamber,
where finally the law was allowed to pass.
Some changes were however recommended
and we also engaged they should be made by
a subsequent law, but the Assembly did not
think them necessary; for one year's tax hav-
ing been levied by the act before the order of
Council arrived, they appointed a committee
to examine the proceedings of the assessors,
and on this committee they put several par-
ticular friends of the proprietaries. After a
full enquiry, they unanimously sign'd a report
that they found the tax had been assess'd with
perfect equity.

The Assembly looked into my entering into
the first part of the engagement, as an essen-
tial service to the Province, since it secured
the credit of the paper money then spread
over all the country. They gave me their
thanks in form when I return'd. But the pro-
prietaries were enraged at Governor Denny
for having pass'd the act, and turn'd him out
with threats of suing him for breach of in-

FRANKLIN'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY 323

structions which he had given bond to ob-
serve. He, however, having done it at the in-
stance of the General, and for His Majesty's
service, and having some powerful interest at
court, despis'd the threats and they were
never put in execution. . . . [unfinished]

APPENDIX

ELECTRICAL KITE

To PETER COLLINSON

[Philadelphia], Oct. 19, 1752.
SIR,

As frequent mention is made in public papers
from Europe of the success of the Philadelphia
experiment for drawing the electric fire from
clouds by means of pointed rods of iron erected
on high buildings, &c., it may be agreeable to
the curious to be informed, that the same ex-
periment has succeeded in Philadelphia, though
made in a different and more easy manner,
which is as follows:

Make a small cross of two light strips of cedar,
the arms so long as to reach to the four corners
of a large, thin silk handkerchief when extended;
tie the corners of the handkerchief to the ex-
tremities of the cross, so you have the body of
a kite; which being properly accommodated
with a tail, loop, and string, will rise in the air,
like those made of paper; but this being of silk,
is fitter to bear the wet and wind of a thunder-
gust without tearing. To the top of the upright

stick of the cross is to be fixed a very sharp-

327

328 ELECTRICAL KITE

pointed wire, rising a foot or more above the
wood. To the end of the twine, next the hand,
is to be tied a silk ribbon, and where the silk and
twine join, a key may be fastened. This kite is
to be raised when a thunder-gust appears to be
coming on, and the person who holds the string
must stand within a door or window, or under
some cover, so that the silk ribbon may not
be wet; and care must be taken that the twine
does not touch the frame of the door or window.
As soon as any of the thunder clouds come over
the kite, the pointed wire will draw the electric
fire from them, and the kite, with all the twine,
will be electrified, and the loose filaments of the
twine will stand out every way and be attracted
by an approaching finger. And when the rain
has wet the kite and twine, so that it can con-
duct the electric fire freely, you will find it
stream out plentifully from the key on the ap-
proach of your knuckle. At this key the phial
may be charged; and from electric fire thus ob-
tained, spirits may be kindled, and all the elec-
tric experiments be performed, which are
usually done by the help of a rubbed glass globe
or tube, and thereby the sameness of the electric
matter with that of lightning completely demon-
strated.

B. FRANKLIN.

"You will find it stream out plentifully from the key on
the approach of your knuckle"

Father Abraham in his STUDY.

THE SHADE of Him who Counfel can bellow,
Still pleas'd to teach, and ye_t not proud to know f
Unbias'd or by Favour or by Spite ;
Nor dully prepoflefs'd, nor blindly right ;
Th6 learn'd, well-bred ; and, tho well-bred, fincere ;
Modeftly bold, and humanely fevere ;
Who to a Friend his Faults can tweedy (how,
And gladly praife the Merit' of a Foe.
Here, there he fits, his chearful Aid to lend ; j
A firm, unfhaken, uncorrnpted Friend, >

Averfe alike to flatter or offend. J

Printed by Benjamin Mecom, at the New
Printing-Office, (near the Toww-HovsE, in Bofton) where
BOOKS are Sold, and PRINTING-WORK done, Cheap.

From "Father Abraham's Speech," 1760.
a copy at the New York Public Library.

Reproduced from

THE WAY TO WEALTH

(From "Father Abraham's Speech," forming
the preface to Poor Richard's Almanac for 1758.)

It would be thought a hard Government that
should tax its People one-tenth Part of their
Time, to be employed in its Service. But Idle-
ness taxes many of us much more, if we reckon
all that is spent in absolute Sloth, or doing of
nothing, with that which is spent in idle Em-
ployments or Amusements, that amount to
nothing. Sloth, by bringing on Diseases, abso-
lutely shortens Life. Sloth, like Rust, consumes
faster than Labor 'wears; while the used key is al-
ways bright, as Poor Richard says. But dost thou
love Life, then do not squander Time, for that's
the stuff Life is made of, as Poor Richard 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.

// Time be of all Things the most precious,

wasting Time must be, as Poor Richard says, the

331

332 THE WAY TO WEALTH

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, as Poor Richard says; and
He that riseth late must trot all Day, and shall
scarce overtake his Business at Night; while Lazi-
ness travels so slowly, that Poverty soon overtakes
him, as we read in Poor Richard, who adds,
Drive thy Business, let not that drive thee; and
Early to Bed, and early to rise, makes a Man
healthy, wealthy, and wise.

Industry need not wish, and he that lives upon
Hope will die fasting.

There are no Gains without Pains.

He that hath a Trade hath an Estate; and he
that hath a Calling, hath an Office of Profit and
Honor; 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.

What though you have found no Treasure,
nor has any rich Relation left you a Legacy,
Diligence is the Mother of Good-luck, as Poor
Richard says, and God gives all Things to In-
dustry.

THE WAY TO WEALTH 333

One To-day is worth two To-morrows, and far-
ther, Have you somewhat to do To-morrow, do it
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.

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 some-
thing useful; this Leisure the diligent Man will
obtain, but the lazy Man never; so that, as Poor
Richard says, A Life of Leisure and a Life of
Laziness are two things.

Keep thy Shop, and thy Shop will keep thee;
and again, // you would have your business done,
go; if not, send.

If you would have a faithful Servant, and one
that you like, serve yourself.

A little Neglect may breed great Mischief;

334 THE WAY TO WEALTH

adding, for want of a Nail the Shoe was lost; for
want of a Shoe the Horse was lost; and for want
of a Horse the Rider was lost, being overtaken and
slain by the Enemy; all for the want of Care about
a Horse-shoe Nail.

So much for Industry, my Friends, and Atten-
tion to one's own Business; but to these we must
add Frugality.

What maintains one Vice, would bring up two
Children. You may think perhaps, that a little
Tea, or a little Punch now and then, Diet a little
more costly, Clothes a little finer, and a little En-
tertainment now and then, can be no great Mat-
ter; but remember what Poor Richard says,
Many a Little makes a Mickle.

Beware of little expenses; A small Leak will
sink a great Ship; and again, Who Dainties love,
shall Beggars prove; and moreover, Fools make
Feasts, and wise Men eat them.

Buy what thou hast no Need of f and ere long
thou shalt sell thy Necessaries.

If you would know the Value of Money, go and
try to borrow some; for, he that goes a borrowing
goes a sorrowing.

The second Vice is Lying, the first is running
in Debt.

Lying rides upon Debt's Back.

Poverty often deprives a Man of all Spirit and

THE WAY TO WEALTH 335

Virtue: 'Tis hard for an empty Bag to stand up-
right.

And now to conclude, Experience keeps a dear
School, but Fools will learn in no other, and
scarce in that; for it is true, we may give Advice,
but we cannot give Conduct, as Poor Richard
says: However, remember this, They that won't
be counseled, can't be helped, as Poor Richard
says: and farther, That if you will not hear Rea-
son, she'll surely rap your Knuckles.

THE WHISTLE

To MADAME BRILLON

PASSY, November 10, 1779.

I am charmed with your description of Para-
dise, and with your plan of living there; and I
approve much of your conclusion, that, in the
meantime, we should draw all the good we can
from this world. In my opinion, we might all
draw more good from it than we do, and suffer
less evil, if we would take care not to give too
much for whistles. For to me it seems, that
most of the unhappy people we meet with, are
become so by neglect of that caution.

You ask what I mean? You love stories, and
will excuse my telling one of myself.

When I was a child of seven year old, my
friends, on a holiday, filled my pocket with cop-
pers. 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 and
gave all my money for one. I then came home,
and went whistling all over the house, much

pleased with my whistle, but disturbing all the

336

THE WHISTLE 337

family. My brothers, and sisters, and cousins,
understanding the bargain I had made, told me
I had given four times as much for it as it was
worth; put me in mind what good things I
might have bought with the rest of the money;
and laughed at me so much for my folly, that I
cried with vexation; and the reflection gave me
more chagrin than the whistle gave me pleasure.

This, however, was afterwards of use to me,
the impression continuing on my mind; so that
often, when I was tempted to buy some unnec-
essary thing, I said to myself, Don't give too
much for the whistle; and I saved my money.

As I grew up, came into the world, and ob-
served the actions of men, I thought I met with
many, very many, who gave too much for the
whistle.

When I saw one too ambitious of court favor,
sacrificing his time in attendance on levees, his
repose, his liberty, his virtue, and perhaps his
friends, to attain it, I have said to myself, This
man gives too much for his whistle.

When I saw another fond of popularity, con-
stantly employing himself in political bustles,
neglecting his own affairs, and ruining them by
neglect, He pays, indeed, said I, too much for his
whistle.

If I knew a miser who gave up every kind of

338 THE WHISTLE

comfortable living, all the pleasure of doing
good to others, all the esteem of his fellow citi-
zens, and the joys of benevolent friendship, for
the sake of accumulating wealth, Poor man, said
I, you pay too much for your whistle.

When I met with a man of pleasure, sacrific-
ing every laudable improvement of the mind, or
of his fortune, to mere corporeal sensations, and
ruining his health in their pursuit, Mistaken man,
said I, you are providing pain for yourself, instead
of pleasure; you give too much for your whistle.
If I see one fond of appearance, or fine clothes,
fine houses, fine furniture, fine equipages, all
above his fortune, for which he contracts debts,
and ends his career in a prison, Alas! say 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, say I, that she should pay so much
for a whistle!

In short, I conceive that great part of the
miseries of mankind are brought upon them by
the false estimates they have made of the value
of things, and by their giving too much for their
whistles.

Yet I ought to have charity for these unhappy
people, when I consider, that, with all this wis-
dom of which I am boasting, there are certain

THE WHISTLE 339

things in the world so tempting, for example,
the apples of King John, which happily are not
to be bought; for if they were put to sale by
auction, I might very easily be led to ruin my-
self in the purchase, and find that I had once
more given too much for the whistle.

Adieu, my dear friend, and believe me ever
yours very sincerely and with unalterable affec-
tion,

B. FRANKLIN.

A LETTER TO SAMUEL MATHER

PASSY, May 12, 1784.
REVD SIR,

It is now more than 60 years since I left Bos-
ton, but I remember well both your father and
grandfather, having heard them both in the
pulpit, and seen them in their houses. The last
time I saw your father was in the beginning of
1724, when I visited him after my first trip to
Pennsylvania. He received me in his library, and
on my taking leave showed me a shorter way out
of the house through a narrow passage, which
was crossed by a beam overhead. We were still
talking as I withdrew, he accompanying me be-
hind, and I turning partly towards him, when
he said hastily, "Stoop, stoop!" I did not under-
stand him, till I felt my head hit against the
beam. He was a man that never missed any
occasion of giving instruction, and upon this he
said to me, " You are young, and have the world
before you; stoop as you go through it, and you
'will miss many hard thumps." This advice, thus

beat into my head, has frequently been of use

340

A LETTER TO SAMUEL MATHER 341

to me; and I often think of it, when I see pride
mortified, and misfortunes brought upon people
by their carrying their heads too high.

B. FRANKLIN.

THE END

BIBLIOGRAPHY

THE last and most complete edition of Franklin's
works is that by the late Professor Albert H. Smyth,
published in ten volumes by the Macmillan Company,
New York, under the title, The Writings of Benjamin
Franklin. The other standard edition is the Works of
Benjamin Franklin by John Bigelow (New York, 1887).
Mr. Bigelow's first edition of the Autobiography in one
volume was published by the J. B. Lippincott Company
of Philadelphia in 1868. The life of Franklin as a
writer is well treated by J. B. McMaster in a volume
of The American Men of Letters Series; his life as a
statesman and diplomat, by J. T. Morse, American
Statesmen Series, one volume; Houghton, Mifflin Com-
pany publish both books. A more exhaustive account of
the life and times of Franklin may be found in James
Parton's Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin (2 vols.,
New York, 1864). Paul Leicester Ford's The Many-
Sided Franklin is a most chatty and readable book,
replete with anecdotes and excellently and fully illus-
trated. An excellent criticism by Woodrow Wilson
introduces an edition of the 'Autobiography in The
Century Classics (Century Co., New York, 1901). In-
teresting magazine articles are those of E. E. Hale,
Christian Examiner, Ixxi, 447; W. P. Trent, McClure's
Magazine, viii, 273; John Hay, The Century Magazine,
Ixxi, 447.

See also the histories of American literature by C. F.

343

344 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Richardson, Moses Colt Tyler, Brander Matthews, John
Xichol. and Barrett Wendell, as well as the various en-
cyclopedias. An excellent bibliography of Franklin is
that of Paul Leicester Ford, entitled A List of Books
Written by, or Relating to Benjamin Franklin (New
York, 1889).

The following list of Franklin's works contains the
more interesting publications, together with the dates of
first issue.

1722. Dogood Papers.

Letters in the style of Addison's Spectator, contributed to
James Franklin's newspaper and signed " Silence Do-
good."

1729. The Busybody.

A series of essays published in Bradford's Philadelphia
Weekly Mercury, six of which only are ascribed to Frank-
lin. They are essays on morality, philosophy and politics,
similar to the Dogood Papers.

1729. A Modest Enquiry into the Nature and Necessity of a Paper
Currency.

1732. Prefaces to Poor Richard's Almanac.

to Among these are Hints for those that would be Rich, 1737;

1757. and Plan for saving one hundred thousand pounds to New
Jersey, 1756.

1743. A Proposal for Promoting Useful Knowledge Among the

British Plantations in America.

" This paper appears to contain the first suggestion, in

any public form, for an American Philosophical Society."

Sparks.

1744. An Account of the New Invented Pennsylvania F ire-Places.

1749. Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pennsyl-
vania.

Contains the plan for the school which later became the
University of Pennsylvania.

1752. Electrical Kite.

A description of the famous kite experiment, first written in
a letter to Peter Collinson, dated Oct. 19, 1752, which was
published later in the same year in The Gentleman's Maga-
zine.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1754. Plan of Union.

A plan for the union of the colonies presented to the
colonial convention at Albany.

1/55- d Dialogue Between X, Y and Z.

An appeal to enlist in the provincial army for the defense
of Pennsylvania.

1758. Father Abraham's Speech.

Published as a preface to Poor Richard's Almanac and
gathering into one writing the maxims of Poor Richard,
which had already appeared in previous numbers of the
Almanac. The Speech was afterwards published in pam-
phlet form as the Way to Wealth.

1760. Of the Means of disposing the Enemy to Peace.

A satirical plea for the prosecution of the war against
France.

1760. The Interest of Great Britain Consid-ered, with regard to her
Colonies, and the Acquisitions of Canada and Guadaloupe.

1764. Cool Thoughts on the Present Situation of our Public Affairs.
A pamphlet favoring a Royal Government for Pennsylvania
in exchange for that of the Proprietors.

1766. The Examination of Doctor Benjamin Franklin, etc., in The
British House of Commons, Relative to The Repeal of The
American Stamp Act.

1/73- Rules by which A Great Empire May Be Reduced to a
Small One.

Some twenty satirical rules embodying the line of conduct
England was pursuing with America.

1773. An Edict of The King of Prussia.

A satire in which the King of Prussia was made to treat
England as England was treating America because England
was originally settled by Germans.

1/77. Comparison of Great Britain and the United States in Regard
to the Basis of Credit in The Two Countries.
One of several similar pamphlets written to effect loans
for the American cause.

1782. On the Theory of the Earth.

The best of Franklin's papers on geology.

1782. Letter purporting to emanate from a petty German Prince
and to be addressed to his officer in Command in America.

1785. On the Causes and Cure of Smoky Chimneys.

1786. Retort Courteous.
Sending Felons to America.

Answers to the British clamor for the payment of Amer-
ican debts.

34.6 BIBLIOGRAPHY

1789. Address to the Public from the Pennsylvania Society for
Promoting Abolition of Slavery.

1789. An Account of the Suprctnest Court of Judicature in Pennsyl-

vania, vis. The Court of the Press.

1790. Martin's Account of his Consulship.

A parody of a pro-slavery speech in Congress.

1791. Autobiography.

The first edition.

1818. Bagatelles.

The Bagatelles were first published in 1818 in William
Temple Franklin's edition of his grandfather's works. The
following are the most famous of these essays and the
dates when they were written :
1774? A Parable Against Persecution.

Franklin called this the LI Chapter of Genesis.
1774? A Parable on Brotherly Love.

1778. The Ephemera, an Emblem of Human Life.

A new rendition of an earlier essay on Human
Vanity.

1779. The Story of the Whistle.
1779? The Levee.

1779? Proposed New Version of the Bible.

Part of the first chapter of Job modernized.
(1779. Published) The Morals of Chess.
1780? The Handsome and Deformed Leg.

1780. Dialogue between Franklin and the Gout.

(Published in 1802.)

1802. A Petition of the Left Hand.

1806. The Art of Procuring Pleasant Dreams.

S X

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1 193B