E ,;. WORKS OF THE LATE DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN t CONSISTING OF MEMOIRS OF HIS EARLY LIFE, WRITTEN BY HIMSELF; TOGETHER WITH A COLLECTION OF HIC ESSAYS, HUMOROUS, MORAL AND LITERARY. CHIEFLY IN THZ MANNER OF THE SPECTATOR. A fiew edition revised and enlarged, EASTON: 1PUBLISHED BY HENRY W. GIBBS* James St. John....Printer 1810. : F8 PREPACK THE repeated calls of the Public for the fepublication of the " Life of Franklin" evince at once a correct judgment of literary merit , and a veneration for the illustrious character, the subject and author of these memoirs. The history of Franklin is replete with interesting incidents ; and as they are detailed in the follow. ing sheets, they become doubly engaging. The simplicity, purity and admirable perspicuity of the style, the minuteness and fidelity of the de tail, the persevering frnmess of character, the constant oxid rapid dev elopement of mind contin ually unfolding as page succeeds to page, the variety of adventure, and, finally, the success ful issue of his intellectual exertions, unite to render the Life of Franklin, as committed to paper by his own hand, one of the most interest" ing pieces of modern Biography. Franklin s greatness was intrinsic was intellectual. From the humble occupation of an inferior Printer, he rose to an honorable rank among the first Philo sophers and Statesmen of his day, without for tune and without patronage. Nature had formed him for distinction, and habit for useful ness. His youthful mind resembled a luxuriant soil, rich and uncultivated a glebe as yet dr. cumscribed by no hedge, uncleared and unf ar row ed, which needed only the friendly hand of Industry to display all the useful and ornament al variety of a tropical garden ; such was its na tive fertility. PREFACE. Young reader, reflect as you peruse the- following pages, that the richest soil requires the aid of cultivation to render it usefullu pro- / */ \J I ductive ; that the most capacious mind, without a diligent application to books and reflection, will never attain to its proper state of expansion ; and that even the electrical genius of Franklin would never have soared amidst the clouds of heaven, and flashed with scintillations more hu minous than those elicited by his own conductors, without the assistance of labor and investigation. A model is here presented to you, for a successjuL imitation of which, you can only rely upon the most scrupulous improvement of the same ?neans by which the author of these memoirs obtained his celebrity. Think with the deliberation, speak with the prudence, and act with the decision of young Franklin. The Work) of which the following is a. new impression, consists of two parts : The Life rf Franklin, written by his own hand, and a Collection of his Miscellaneous Pieces, calculated loth to amuse and improve the reader. It is repullished with care and accuracy, dfter the- extensive circulation it has had, and the high reputation it has enjoyed, any further recom mendation of it would be superfluous. The pen which produced it is its otvn best critic, and the manner in which it is executed its best rccom* MEMOIRS OF DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, fcte. MY DEAR SON, A HAVE amused myself with collecting some little anecdotes of my family. You may remember the enquiries I made, when you were with me in Eng land, among such of my relations as were then liv ing ; and the journey I undertook for that purpose* To be acquainted with the particulars of my paren tage and life, many of which are unknown to you, I flatter myself, will afford the same pleasure to you as to me. I shall relate them upon paper : it will be an agreeable employment of a week s uninter rupted leisure, which I promise myself during my present retirement in the country. There are also other motives which induce me to the under taking. From the bosom of poverty and obscurity,, in which I drew my first breath and spent my ear liest years, I have raised myself to a state of opu lence and to some degree of celebrity in the world. A constant good fortune has attended me through every period of life to my present advanced age ; and my descendants may be desirous of learning what were the means of which I made use, and which, thanks to the assisting hand of Providence, have proved so eminently successful. They may also, should they ever be placed in a similar situa tion, derive some advantage from my narrative* A 2 6 MEMOIRS OF When I reflect, as I frequently do, upon tne feli- city I have enjoyed, I sometimes say to myself, thaty were the offer made me I would engage to run again, from beginning to end, the same career of life. All I would ask should be the privilege of an author, to correct, in a second edition, certain errors of the first. I could wish, likewise, if it were in my pow er, to change some trivial incidents and events for others more favorable. Were this however deni ed me, still would I not decline the offer. But since a repetition of life cannot take place, there is nothing, which, in my opinion, so nearly resembles it, as to call to mind all its circumstances, and, to render tht^ir remembrance more durable, commit them to writing. By thus employing myself, I shall yield to the inclination, so natural to old men,, to talk of themselves and their exploits, and may freely follow my bi j nt, without being tiresome to those who, from r.-spect to my age, might think themselves obliged to listen to me j as they will be at liberty to read me or not as they please. In fine and I may well avow it, since nobody would be lieve me were I to deny it I shall perhaps, by this employment, gratify my vanity. Scarcely indeed liave I ever heard or read the introductory phrase, -i I mav say without vanity," but some striking and characteristic instance of vanity has immediately followed. The generality of men hate vanity in mothers, however strongly they may be tinctured vith it themselves j for myself, I pay obeisance to it wherever I meet with it, persuaded that it is ad vantageous, as well to the individual whom it go verns, as to those who are within the sphere of its influence* Of consequence, it would, in many cases^ not be wholly absurd, that a man should count his vanity among the other sweets of life, and give tQ Providence for the blessing* DR. FRANKLIN. y And here let me with all humility acknowledge, that to Divine Providence I am indebted for the felidty I have hitherto enjoyqd. It is that power alone \vhich has furnished me with the means I have employed, and that has crowned them \vith success. My faith in this re spect leads me to hope, though I cannot count upon ir, that the divine goodness will still he exercised towards me, either by prolong ing the duration of my happiness to the close of life, or by giving me fortitude to support any melancho. ly reverse, which may happen to me, as to so many others. My future fortune is unknown but to him in whose hand is our destiny, and who can make our very afflictions subservient to our benefit. One of my uncles, desirous, like myself, of col lecting anecdotes of our family, gave me some notes, from which I have derived many particulars respect ing our ancestors. From these I learn, that they had lived in the same village (Eaton in Northamp tonshire,) upon a freehold of about thirty acres, fof the space at least of three hundred years. How long< they had resided there prior to that period, my un cle had been unable to discover ; probably ever since the institution of surnames, when they took the ap pellation of Franklin, which had formerly been the name of a particular order of individuals.* * As a proof that Franklin \v\s anciently the common Dame of an order or rank in England, see Judge Forte- scue, Ddaudibus legum Anglix, written about the year 1412, in which is the following passage, to shew that good juries might easily bq formed in any part of Eng land, rt Regio etiam ilia, ita respersa resertaque est fios* * svssoribuft terrarum et agrorum, quod in ea r villula turn rt purva reperiri non poterit, in qua non est miles, rami* r MEMOIRS OF This petty estate would not have sufficed for their subsistance, had they net added the trade of black smith, which was perpetuated in the family down to my uncle s time, the eldest son having been uni formly brought up to tfiis employment : a custom \\hich both he and my father observed with respect to their eldest sons, In the researches I made at Eaton, I found no account of their births, marriages, and deaths, ear lier than the year 1555 j the parish register not ex tending farther back than that period. This register informed me, that I was the youngest son of the. youngest branch of the family, counting five gene rations. My grandfather, Thomas, who was born " ger velpater-familias, qualis ibidem franklin vulgari- * tur nuncupatur, magnis ditatus possessionibus, nee " non libere, tenentes et alii valecti plurimi, suis pa- " trimoniis sufficientes, ad faciendum juratam, in for- " ma prxnotata." " Moreover, the same country is filled and so replen- " ished with land menne, thaftherein so small a thope 11 cannot be found wherein dwelleth not a knight, an " esquire, or such a housholder as is there commonly * called a franklin, enriched with great possessions ; " and also other freeholders and many yeomen, able " for their livelihoods to make a jury in form afore- " mentioned." OLD TRANSLATION. Chaucer too calls his country gentleman a Franklin, and, after desciibing his good housekeeper, thus cha racterises him : This worthy Franklin bore a purse of silk, Fix d to his girdle, white as morning milk. Knight of the shire, first justice at th* assize, To help the poor, the doubtful to advise- In ail employments, generous ; just he prov dj for courtesy, by ail beiov d. DR. FRANKLIN. 9 *n 1598, living at Eaton till he was too old to conti nue his trade, when he retired to Banburv in Ox fordshire, where his son John who was a d\*-r, re sided, and with whom my father was apprenticed. He died, and was buried there : we saw his monu ment in 1 758. His eldest son lived in the family house at Eaton, which he bequeathed, with the land belonging to it, to his only daughter ; who in conctrt with her husband, Mr. Fisher of Wellingborough, afterwards sold it to Mr. Ested, che present piopri- etor. My grandfather had four surviving sons, Tho~ rnas, John, Benjamin, and Josias. I shall give you such particulars of them as my memory will furnish, not having my papers here, in which you will find a more minute account, if they are not lost during my absence. Thomas had learned the trade of a blacksmith under his father ; but possessing a good natural un derstanding, he improved it by studv, at the solici tation of a gentleman of the name of Palmer, who was at that time the principal inhabitant o.f the vil lage, and who encouraged in like manner all iry uncles to improve their minds. Thomas thus ren dered himself competent to the functions of a coun try attorney ; soon became an essential personage in the affairs of the village ; and was one of the chief movers of every public enterprise, as well re lative to the county as the town of Northampton. A variety of remarkable incidents were told of him at Eaton. Afier enjoying the esteem and palro- trage of Lord Halifax, he died January 6, 1702, precisely four years before I was born. The reci tal chat was made us of his life and character, by some aged persons of the village, struck you, I re. member, as extraordinary, from its analogy to what to MEMOIRS OF you know of myself. " Had he died, r said you,. " just four years later, one might have supposed a transmigration of souls.** John, to the best of my belief, was brought up to- the trade of a wool-dyer. Benjamin served his apprenticeship in London to a silk-dyer. He was an industrious man : I re member him well ; far, while I was a child, he join- ed my father at Boston, and lived for some years in the house with us. A particular affection had al ways subsisted between my father and him ; and I was his godson. He arrived to a great age. He left behind him two quarto volumes of poems in manuscript, consisting of little fugitive pieces ad dressed to his friends. He had invented a short hand, which he taught me, but having never made use of it, I have now forgotten it. He was a man of piety, and a constant attendant on the be-st preach* ers, whose sermons he took a pleasure in writing down according to the expeditory method he had devised. Many volumes were thus collected by him. He was also extremely fond of politics, too much so perhaps for his situation. I lately found in London a collection which he had made ol all the principal pamphlets relative to public af fairs, from the year 1641 to 1717. Many volume* are wanting, as appears by the series of numbers ; but there still remain eight in folio, and twenty- four in quarto and octavo. The collection had fal len into the hands of a second-hand bookseller, who knowing me by having sold me some books, brought it to me. My uncle, it seems, had left it behind him on his departure for America about fif ty years ago. I found various notes of his writing in the margins. His grandson, Samue],is now liv ing at Boston. DR. FRANKLIN. 11 Our humble family had early embraced the Re formation. They remained faithfully attached du ring the reign of Queen Mary, when they were in danger of being molested on account of their zeal against popery. They had an English Bible, and to conceal it the more securely, they conceived the project of fastening it open, with pack-threads a- cross the leaves, on the inside of the lid of a close- stool. When my great grandfather wished to read to the family, he reverved the lid of the close-stool upon his knees, and passed the leaves from one side to the other, which were held down on each by the pack-thread. One of the children was station ed at the door, to give notice if he saw the proctor (an officer of the spiritual court) make his appear ance: in that case the lid was restored to its place, \vith the Bible concealed under it as before. I had this anecdote from my uncle Benjamin. The whole family preserved its attachment to the church of England till towards the close of the reign of Charles II. when certain ministers who had been ejected as non-conformists, having held conventicles in Northamptonshire, they were join ed by Benjamin and Josias, who adhered to them ever after. The rest of the family continued in the episcopal church. My f idler, Josias, married early in life. He \vent with his wife and three children to New Eng land, about the year 1682. Conventicles being at that time prohibited by law, and frequently dis turbed, some considerable persons of his acquaint- anre determined to go to America, where they h jped to enjoy tht* free exercise of their religion, and mv f t*hv r \vas prevailed on to accompany them. My father had also b) the same wife four chil- Horn in A me>-iva, an 1 tt n otht-rs by a second nuik ng in all seventeen, I remember to 3? I a this tabfe, \vho ; Jk were married. -0,1.,, ana the youngest child " .i-.rghiers. I was b -rn at tiosion in f\ >! -iMiglaiKl. My mother the secon.l wile, was A!,v:h I Vlg-.-r, daughter oi" Piter Folgtr, oae of the first colonists of Ni w-England, of whom Cot- tort Mathers makes honorable mention, in the Ec clesiastical History oi that province, as u a pious and learned Englishman" if i rightly recollect his expressions. I have been told of his having writ- tin a variety of little pieces ; but there appears to be only one in print, which J met wit i many years a^o. It was published in the \ ear 1675, and is in familiar verse, agreeably to the taste of ihe times and the country. The author addresses himself to the governors for the time being, speaks tor liberty of conscience, and in favor of the anabaptists, qua- kers, and other sectaries, who had suffered perse cution. To this persecution he attributes the wars with the natives, and other calamities which afflivt* ed the country, regarding them as the judgments of God in punishment of so odious an oftVme, and he exhorts the government to the repeal of laws so contrary to charity. The poem appeared to be written with a manly freedom and a phasing sim plicity. I recollect the six concluding lines, though I have forgotten the order of words of the two first; the sense of which was, thai his censures were dic tated by benevolence, and that, of consequence, he wished to be known as the author ; because said he* I hate from my very soul dissimulation i From Sherburne,* where I dwell, I therefore put my name, Your friend, who means you well, PETER * Town in the Island of NantuckcU DR. FRANKLIN. is- iVly brothersVere all put apprentices to different trades. With respect to ni) seit, I was sent, at the age of eight years, to a grammar school. My fa ther destined me for the church ; and already re garded me as the chaplain of the family. The promptitude with which from my infancy I had Lamed to read, for 1 do not remember to have been ever without this acquirement, and the encourage ment of his friends, who assured him that I should one day certainly become a man of letters, con firmed him in this design. My uncle Benjamin approved also of the scheme, and promised to give me all his volumes of sermons, written, as I have said, in the short-hand of his invention, if I would take th^ pains to learn it. I remained however scarcely a year at grammar school, although, in this short interval, I had risen from the middle to the head of my class, from thence to the class immediately above, and was to pass, at the end of the year, to the one next in or der. But my father, burthened with a numerous- family, found that he was incapable, without sub jecting himself to difficulties, of providing for the expence of a collegiate education; and considering besides, as I heard him say to his friends, that per sons so educated were often poorly provided for, he renounced his first intentions, took me from the grammar school, and sent me to a school for writ- ting and arithmetic, kept by a Mr. George Brown* wel, who was a skilful master, and succeeded very well in his profession by employing gentle means only, and such as were calculated to encourage his scholars. Under him I soon acquired an excellent hand ; but I failed in arithmetic, and made therein no sort of progress. At ten years of age I was called home to assist B i-4, MEMOIRS OF my father in his occupation, which was that of soap boiler and tallow-chandler ; a business to whicl, he had served no apprenticeship, but which he embrac ed on his arrival in New-England, because he found his own, that of a d} er, in too little request to ena ble him to maintain his family, i was according ly employed in cutting the wicks, filling the moulds, taking care of the shop, carrying messages, &c. This business dispk ased me, and I felt a strong inclination for a sea life ; but my father set his face against it. The vicinity of the water, however, gave me frequent opportunities of venturing myself both upon and within it, and I soon acquired the art of swimming and of managing a boat. When embarked with other children, the helm was com monly deputed to me, particularly on difficult occa sions ; and, in every other project, I was almost al ways the leader of the troop, whom I sometimes in volved in embarrassments. I shall give an instance of this which demonstrates an early disposition of mind for public enterprizes, though the one in question was not conducted by justice. The mill-pond was terminated on one side by a jnarsh, upon the borders of which we were accus tomed to take our stand, at high water to angle for small fish. By dint of walking, we had converted the place into a perfect quagmire. My proposal was to erect a wharf that should afford us firm foot ing ; and I pointed out to my companions a large heap of stones, intended for the building a new- house near the marsh, and which were well adapted for our purpose. Accordingly, when the workmen retired in the evening, I assembled a number of my playfellows, and by laboring diligently, like ants, sometimes four of us uniting our strength to carry a single stone, we removed them all, and construct DR. FRANKLIK. IS ed our little quay. The workmen were surprised the next morning at not finding th^ir stones, which had been conveyed to our wharf. Enquiries were made respecting the authors of this conveyance ; we were discovered ; complaints were exhibited against us ; many of us underwent correction on the part of our parents ; and though I strenuously defended the utility of the work, my father at length convinced me, that nothing which was not strictly honest could be useful. It will not, perhaps, be uninteresting to you to know what sort of a man my father was. He had an excellent constitution, was of a middle size, but well made and strong, and extremely active in what ever he undertook. He designed with a degree of neatness, and knew a little of music. His voice was sonorous and agreeable ; so that when he sung- a psalm or hymn with accompaniment of his violin, as was his fn-quent practice in an evening when the labors of the clay were finished, it was truly delight ful to her him. He was versed also in mechanics, and could upon occasion, use the tools of a variety of trades. But his greatest excellence was a sound understanding and solid judgment in matters of pru dence, both in public and private life. In the for mer indeed he never engaged, because his nume rous family and the mediocrity of his fortune, kept him unremittingly employed in the duties of his profession. But I very well remember that the leading men of the place ustd frequently to come and ask his advice respecting affairs of the town, cr of the church to which he belonged, and that they paid much deference to his opinion. Individuals were also in the habit of consulting him in their pri vate affairs, and he was often chosen arbiter between . contending parties. 16 MEMOIRS OF He was fond of having at his table, as often a$ possible, some friends or well informed neighbors capable of rational conversation, and he was always careful to introduce useful or ingenious topics of discourse, which might tend to form the minds of jiis children. By this means he early attracted our attention to what was just, prudent, and beneficial in the conduct of life. He never talked of the meats \vhich appeared upon the table, never discussed \vheiher they were well or ill dressed, of a good or a bad flavour, high-seasoned or otherwise, prefera ble or inferior to this or that dish of a similar kind. Thus accustomed, from my infancy, to the utmost inattention as to these objects, I have always been perfectly regardless of what kind of foqdwas before me ; and I pay so little attention to it even now, that it would be a hard matter for me to recollect, a few hours after I had dined, of what my dinner had con sisted. When travelling I have particularly ex perienced the advantage of this habit ; for it has often happened to me to be in company with per sons, who, having a more delicate, because a more exercised taste, have suffered in many cases consid erable inconvenience; while as to myself I have had nothing to desire. My mother was likewise possessed of an excel lent constitution. She suckled ali her ten children, and I never heard either her or my father complain of any other disorder than that of \vl\ich they died : my father at the age of eighty-seven, and my mo ther at eighty-five. They are buried together at Boston, where a few years ago, I placed a marble over their grave, with this inscription : " Here lie u JOSIAS FRANKLIN and ABIAH his wife: They * lived together with reciprocal affection lor fiity. DR. FRANKLIN. 17 ** nine years ; and without private fortune, without u lucrative employment, by assiduous labor and 44 honest industry, decently supported a numerous " family, and educated, with success, thirteen chil- u dren, and seven grand- children. Let this exam- " pie, reader, encourage thee diligently to dis- 1 charge the duties of thy calling, and to rely on " the support of divine providence. " He was pious and prudent, " She discreet and virtuous. " Their youngest son, from a sentiment of filial ** duty, consecrates this stone " To their memory." I perceive by my rambling digressions, that I am growing old. But v^e do not dress for a private company as for a formal ball. This deserves pert haps the name of negligence. To return. I thus continued employed in my father s trade for the space of two years ; that is to say, till I arrived at twelve years of age. About this time my brother John, who had served his appren ticeship in London, having quitted my father, and being married and settled in business on his own account at Rhode Island, I was destined, to all ap pearance, to supply his place, and be a candle maker *jll my life ; but my dislike of this occupation con tinuing, my father was apprehensive, that, if a more agreeable one were not offered me, I might pla\ the truant and go to sea ; as, to his extreme mortifica tion, my brother Josias had done. He therefore took me sometimes to see masons, coopers, brazi ers, joiners, and other mechanics, employed at thtir work ; ia order to discover the bent of my inclina tion, and fix it if he could upon some occupation, that might retain me on shore. I have since inv consequence gt these visits, derived no &m,iil plea- B 8 18 MEMOIRS OF sure from seeing skilful workmen handle their tools ; and it has proved of considerable benefit, to have acquired thereby suiEcitnt knowledge to be able to make little things for myself, when I have had no mechanic at hand, and to construct small machines for my experiments, while the idea I hive conceiv ed has been fresh and strongly impressed in my imagination. My father at length decided that I should be a cut ler, and I was placed for some days upon trial with? my cousin Samuel, son of my uncle Benjamin, who had learned this trade in London, and had establish ed himself at Boston. But the premium he re quired for my apprenticeship displeasing my father, I was recalled home. From my earliest years I had been passionately fond of reading, and 1 laid out in books all the little money I could procure. I was particularly pleased with accounts of voyages. My first acquisition was Bunyan s collection in small separate volumes. These I afterwards sold in order to buy an historical collection hy R. Burton, which consisted of small cht ap volumes, amounting in all to about forty or fcy. My father s little library was principally made up of books of practical and polemical theo- logv. I read the greatest part of them. I have since often regretted, that at a time when I had so givat a thirst for knowledge, more eligible books had not fallen into my hands, as it was then a point decided that I should not he educated for the church. There was also am<-ng mv father s books Plutarch s Lives, in wh h I read continually, and I still re garded as advantageously employed the time I de voted to them. I foun 1 besides a work of De Foe s, entitled, an essay on Projects, from which, perhaps, I derived impressions that have since influenced some of the principal events of my life. DR. FRANKLIN. IS My inclination for books at last determined my father to make me a printer, though he had already a son in that profession. My brother had returned from England in 1717, with a press and types, in order to establish a printing office at Boston. This business pleased me miu h better than that of my father, though I had still a predilection for the sea. .To prevent the effects which ajght result from this inclination, my father was impatient 10 see me en gaged with my brother. I held back for some time; at length however I suffered myself to he persuaded, and signed my indentures, being tlu n only twelve years of ^ge. It was agreed that I should serve as an apprentice to ihc age of twent - one, and souid receive journe) man s wages only during the last year In a very short time I made great profiv iency in +this business, and became very serviceable to my brother. I had now an opportunity of procuring better books. I he acquaintance I necessarily form ed with booksellers apprentices, enabled me to bor row a volume now and then, which I never failed to return punctually and without injuiy. How o - ten has it happened to me to pass the greater p;t of the night in reading by mv bed-side, when the book had been lent me in the evening, and was to be returned the next morning, lest it might be missed or warned. At lengch, Mr. M itrhew Adams, an ingenious .tradesman, who had a handsome collection ot books, and who frequented our printing-office, took notice of me. He invited me to see his library, and h<5 I triv goodness to lend me any books 1 was desirous of reading. I hen took a strange fancy for pot-try, and. composed several little pi<-c< s. M\ brother, thiakiLg he might fiaa his account in it, encouraged & MEMOIRS OF me, and engnged me to write two ballads. called the Light-House Tragedy, contained an ac- councuf the shipwreck of captain Worthilake and and his two daughters ; the other was a sailor s song on the capture of the noted pirate called Teach or Black-beard. They were wretched ver&es in point of style, mere blind-men s ditties. When printed, he dispatched me about the town to sell, them. The first had a prodigious run, because the event was recent, and had made a great noise. My vanity was flattered by this success ; but my father checked my exultation, by ridiculing my pro ductions, and telling me that versifiers were always poor. I thus escaped the misfortune of being, pro bably, a very "wretched poet. But as the faculty of writing prose has been of great service to me in the course of my life, and principally contributed to my advancement, I shall relate by what means, sit uated as I was, I acquired the small skill I may possess in that way. There was in the town another young man, a great lover of books, of the name of John Collins, with whom I was intimately connected. We fre quently engaged in dispute, and were indeed so fond of argumentation, that nothing was so agreea ble to us as a war of words. This contentious temper, I would observe by the b\e, is in danger o| b, coming a very bad habit, and frequently ren ders a man s company insupportable, as being no otherwise capable of indulgence than by indiscrimi nate contradiction. Independently of this acrimony and discord it introduces into conversation, it is of.tn productive of dislike, and even hatred, be tween persons to whom friendship is indispensably n. ressarv. I acquired it by reading, while I lived >viih my father, books of religious, controversy I DR. FRANKLIN. 21 have since remarked that men of sense seldom fall into this error ; lawyers, fellows of universities, and persons of every profession educated at Edin burgh, excepted. Collins and I fell one day into an argument rela tive to the education of women ; namely, whether it were proper to instruct them in the sciences, and whether they were competent to the study. Collins supported the negative, and affirmed that the task \vas beyond their capacity. I maintained the oppo- site^opinion, a little perhaps for the pleasure of dis puting. He was naturally more eloquent than I ; words flowed copiously from his lips ; and fre quently I thought myself vanquished, more by his volubility than by the force of his arguments. We separated without coming to an agreement upon this point ; and as we were not to see each other again for some time, I committed my thoughts to paper, made a fair copy, and sent it him. He an swered, and I replied. Three or four letters had been written by each, when my father chanced to light upon my papers and read them. Without en tering into the merits of the cause, he embraced the Opportunity of speaking to me upon the manner of writing. He observed that though I had the ad vantage of my adversary in correct spelling and pointing, which I owed to my occupation, I was greatly his inferior in elegance of expression, in ar rangement, and perspicuity. Of this h^ convinced me by several examples- I frit the justice of his remarks, became more attentive to language, and resolved to make every effort to improve mv style. Amidst these resolves, an odd volume of the Spec tator fell into my hands. This was a publication I had never seen. I bought the volume, and read it again and again. I was enchanted uith it, thought the- style excellent, and wished it were in my power 22 MEMOIRS OF -to imitate it. With this view I selected some of the papers, made short summaries of the sense of each period, and put them for a few days aside. I then, without looking at the book, endeavored to restore the essays to their true form, and to express each thought at length, as it was in the original, employing the most appropriate words that occur red to my mind. I afterwards compared my Spec tator with the original ; 1 perceived some faults, which 1 corrected : but I found ihat I wanted a fund of words, if I may so express myself, and a facility of recollecting and employing them, \vhi(h I ihought I should by that time have acquired, had I continued to make verses. The continual need of words of the same meaning, but of different lengths for the measure, or of different sounds for the rrn me, would have obliged me to seek for a va riety of synonvmes, and h-.ive rendered me master of them. From this belief, I took some of the tales of the Spectator, and turned them into verse; and after a time, \\hen I had sufficiently forgot.en them, I again converted them into prose. Sometimes also I mingled all my summaries to gether ; and a few weeks after, erdeavored to ar range them in the best order, before I attempted to form the periods and complete the essays. This I did with a view of acquiring method in the ar rangement of my thoughts. On comparing afttr- wards my performance with the original, many faults were apparent, which! corrected ; but I had sometimes jhe satisfaction to think, that, in certain particulars of little importance I had been fortunate enough to improve the order of thought or the style ; and this encouraged me to hope that I should succeed, in time, in writing the English language, which was one of the great objects of my ambition. The time which I devoted to these excrcises ? DR. FRANKLIN. 23 and to reading, was the evening after my day s la bor was finished, the morning oeiore it began, and Sundays when I could escape attending divine ser vice. While I lived with my father, he had insist ed on my punctual attendance on public wor ship, and I still indeed considered it as a duty, but a duty which I thought I had no time to practise. When about sixteen years of age, a work of Try- on fell into my hands, in which he recommends ve getable diet. I determined to observe it. My brother, being a bachelor, did not keep house, but boarded with his apprentices in a neighboring fa mily. My refusing to eat animal food was found inconvenient, and I was often scolded for my singu larity. I attended to the mode in which Tryon pre pared some of his dishes, particularly how to boil potatoes and rice, and make hasty puddings. I then said to my brother, that if he would allow me j>er week half what he paid for my board, I would undertake to maintain myself. The offer was in stantly embraced, and I soon found that of what he gave me I was able to save half. This was a new fund for the purchase of books ; and other advan. tages resulted to me from the plan. When my brother and his workmen left the printing house to go to dinner, I remained behind ; and dispatch ing my frugal meal, which frequently consisted of a biscuit only, or a slice of bread and a bunch of raisins, or a bun from the pastry cook s, with a glass of water, I had the rest of the time till their re turn, forstudy ; and my progress therein was propor tioned to that clearness of ideas, and quickness of conception, which are the fruit of temperance in eating and drinking. It was about this period that, having one day been put to the blush for my ignorance in the art of calculation, which I had twice failed to learo 24 MEMOIRS OF while at school, I took Cocker s Treatise of Arith metic, and went through it by myself with the ut most ease. I also read a book of navigation by Seller and Sturmy, and made myself master of the little geometry it contains, but I never proceeded far in this science. Nearly at the same time I read Locke on the Human understanding, and the Art of Thinking by Messrs, du Port Royal. While laboring to form and improve mv style, I met with an English Grammar, which I believe was Greenwood s, having at th-- end of it two little essays on rhetoric and logic. In the latter I found a model ol disputation after the manner of Socrates. Shortly after I procured Xenophon s work, entitled, Memorable Things of Socrates, in which are vari ous examples of the same method. Charmed to a degree of enthusiasm with this mode of disputing, I adopted it, and renouncing blunt contradiction, and direct and positive argument, I assumed the character of a humble questioner. The perusal of Shaftsbury and Collins had made me a sceptir ; and being previously so as to many doctrines of Chris tianity , I found Socrates s method to be both the safest for myself, as well as the most embarrassing to those against whom I employed it. It soon af forded me singular pleasure ; I incessantly practiced it ; and became very adroit in obtaining, even from persons of superior understanding, concessions of \vhich they did not foresee the constquences. Thus I involved them in diffir.ultices from whuh they were unable to extricate themselves, and some times obtained victories, which neither my cause nor my arguments merited. This method I continued to employ for some years ; but I afterwards abandoned it by degrees, retaining only the habit of expressing myself with modest diffidence, and never making use, when I DR. FRANKLIN, ft The old man offered to introduce me to the new- printer. When we were at his house, u Neighbor," said he, " I bring you a young man in the printing business j perhaps you may have need of his ser vices." Keimer asked me some questions, put a compo sing stick in my hand to see how I could work, and then said, that at present he had nothing for me to do, but that he should soon be able to employ me* At the same time taking old Bradford for an inha bitant of the town well-disposed towards him, he communicated his project to him, and the prospect he nad of success. Bradford was careful not to discover that he was the father of the other printer; and from what Keimer hud said, that he hoped shortly to be in possession of the greater part of the business of the town, led him by artful ques tions, and by starting some difficulties, to disclose all his views, what his hopes were founded upon, and how he intended to proceed. I was present, and heard it all. I instantly saw that one of the two was a cunning old fox, and the other a perfect novice. Bradford left me with Keimer, who was strangely surprized when I informed him who the old man was. I lound Keimer s printing materials to consist of an old damaged press, and a small cast of worn-out English letters, with which he was himself at work upon an elegy on Aquila Kose, whom I have men tioned above as an ingenious young man, and of an, excellent character, highly esteemed in the town, secretary to the assembly, and a very tolerable poet. Keimer also made verses, but they were indifferent ones. He could not be said to write in verse, for his method was to set the lines as they flowed from his muse , and as he worked without copy, had D 39 MEMOIRS OF but one set of letter-cases, and the elegy would pro bably occupy all his type, it was impossible lor any one to assist him. I endeavored to put his press in order, which he had not yet used, and of which in deed he understood nothing: and having promised to come and work off his elegy as soon as it should be re.ady, 1 returned to the house ot Bradford, who gave me home trifle to do for the present, for whicB I had my board and lodging. In a few days Keimer sent for me to print off his elegy. He had now procured another set oi letter- cases, and had a pamphlet to reprint, upon which he set me to work. The two Philadelphia printers appeared destitute of every qualification necessary in their profession. Bradford had been brought up to it, and was very illerate. Keimer, though he understood a little of the business, was merely a compositor, and wholly incapable of working at the press. He had been, one of the French prophets, and knew how to imi tate their supernatural agitations. At the time of our first acquaintance he professed no particular re ligion, but a little of all upon occasion. He was to tally ignorant of the world, and a great knave at heart, as I had afterwards an opportunity of expe riencing. Keimer could not endure that, working with him, I should lodge at Bradford s. He had indeed a hou^e^ uut it was unfurnished ; so that he could not take uie in. He procured me a lodging at Mr. 3- tad s, his landlord, whom I have already men tioned. My trunk and effects being now arrived, I thought of making in the eyes of Miss Read, a more respectable appearance than when chance ex hibited me to her view, eating my roll and waa- in the streets. DR. FRANKLIN. 26 advanced any proposition which might be controverted of the words certainly, undoubtedly, or any others that might give the appearance of being obstinately attached to my opinion. 1 rather said, I imagine, 1 suppose, or it appears to me that such a thing is so or so, for such and such reasons ; or it is so, if I am not mistaken. This habit has, I think, been of considerable advantage to me \vhen I have had occasion to impress my opinion on the minds of others, and persuade them to the adoption of the measures I had suggested. And since the chief ends of conversation are, to inform or to be informed, to please or to persuade, I could wish that intelligent and veil-meaning men would not themselves diminish, the powers they possess of being useful by a positive and presumptuous manner of expressing themselves, which scarcely ever fails to disgust the hearer, and is O4>ly calculated to excite opposition, and defeat every purpose for which the faculty of speech has been be stowed upon man. In short, if you wish to inform, a positive and dogmatical manner of advancing your opi nion may provtke contradiction, and prevent your be ing heard with attention. On the other hand, if, with a desire of being informed, and of benefiting by the knowledge of others, you express yourself as being strongly attached to your opinions, modest and sensible men, who do not love disputation, will leave you in tran quil possession of your errors. By following such a method, you can rarely hope to please your auditors, conciliate their good-will, or work conviction on those "whom you may be desirous of gaining over to your views. Pope judiciously observes, Men must be taught as if you taught them not, And things unknown propos d as things forgot. And in the same poem he afterwards advises us, To speak, tho 5 sure, with seeming diffidence, C 26 MEMOIRS OF He might have added lo these lines, one that he has coupled elsewheiv, in my opinion with less propriety. It is this: For want of modesty is want of sense. If you ask why I say with less jirojiriety, I must give you the two lines together : Immodest words admit of no drf nee, For want of decency is want of sense. Now want of sense, when a man has the misfortune to be so circumstanced, is it not a kind of excuse for want of modesty ? And would not the verses have b^enmore accurate, if they had been constructed thus: Immodest words admit but this defe That want of decency is want of sense. But I leave the decision of this to better judges than myself. In 1720, or 1721, my brother began to print a new public paper. It was the second that made its appear ance in America, and was entitled the Neya+Engtand Courant. The only one that existed before was tne Boston News Letter. Some of his friends, I remember, \\ould have dissuaded him from this undertaking, as a thing; that was not likely to succeed ; a single newspa per being, in their opinion, sufficient for all America. At present, however, in 1777, there are no less than twenty-five. But he carried his project into execution, and I was employed in distributing the copies to his customers, after having assisted in composing and work ing them off. Among his friends he had a number of literary cha racters, who as an amusement, wrote short essays for the paper, which gave it reputation and increased its sale. These gentlemen came frequently to our house. I heard the conversation that passed, and the accounts they gave of the favorable reception of their writings DR. FRANKLIN 1 . 2? tylth the public. I wastempteu to try my hanc! among them; bin, being still a child as it were, i was icai ml thai my brother might be unwilling to print in his pa per any performance of wliich he should know rue to be i he author. 1 there tore conuived to disguise my hand, and having written an aaoii) mou* piece, I placed it at nignt u ^ier liie door oft lie printing-hpus.^ where it wa--. to i jet the nexi morning. My brother colnmum- cateu u to his friends, when they came as usual to see bun, ul:o read it, commented upon it within my hearing, and i had the exquisite pleasure to ind that U met with iheii approbation, and that in t[>e Vuiiou-. conjectures they had made respecting the au hor, i.o one HUS mentioned vviio did not enj t( y a nigh reputation in the country for talents and gv ..ins. I now supposed imseit foi tunute in niy j-H i .^es, and be^aa to suspect that they were not such, excellent writers as I had hitherto supposed them. Be tijat as it may, encouraged by this lutie adventure, I ViOte and scut to the press, in the same way, iru;iy u- ther pieces, which were equally approved ; keeping t : .e c^trct iiii my blvimct bloc:., of infurniiiUDn ^. lt i L.iUvV- leu^e for such performances was pivtiy completely ex hausted, when i made myself known. My brother, upon this discovery, began to entertain a liitlfc more respect tor me ; but he still regarded him- self as my master, and treated me li^e an apprentice. lie thought himtclf eniiliLd to the same service from me as any other person. On ihe contrary, i conceived thai, in many instances, he was too rigorous, and that, .on the part of a brother, 1 had a right to expect greater indulgence. Our disputes were frequently brought be fore my lather; ana either my brother was generally in the wrong, or I was better pleader of the two, for judgment was commonly given in my favor. But my broiuer was passionate, ana often had recourse to biows ; a circumstance wnich I tooKin very dl part. This se vere and lyrunuic-ttitieaimeut coiiinouuuj 1 bckuvc^ to. 28 MEMOIRS OF imprint on my mind that aversion to arbitrary power, "Which during my whole life I have ever preserved. My apprenticeship became insupportable to me, and I con tinually sighed for an opportunity oi shortening it, which at length unexpectedly offered. An article Inserted in our paper upon some political subject which I have now forgotten, gave offence to the Assembly. My brother was taken into custody, cen sured, and ordered into confinement for a month, be cause, as I presume, he would not discover the author. I was also taken up, and examined before the council ; but, though I gave them no satisfaction, they contented themselves with reprimanding, and then dismissed me, considering me probably as bound, in quality of ap prentice, to keep my master s secrets. The imprisonment of my brother kindled my resent ment, notwithstanding our private quarrels. During its continuance the management of the paper was entrust ed to me, and I was bold enough to insert some pas- querades against the governors; which highly pleased my brother, while others began to look upon me \\ an unfavorable point of view, considering me as a young *vit inclined to satire and lampoon. My brother s enlargement was accompanied with an arbitrary order from the assembly, " That James Fra.k- " lin should no longer print the newspaper entitled the " New England Courant." In this conjuncture, we held a consultation of our friends at the printing-office, in order to determine what was proper to be done. Some proposed to evade the order, by changing the name of the paper: but my brother foreseeing incon-. veniences that would ^result from this step, thought it better that it should in future be printed in the name of Benjamin Franklin; and to avoid the censure of the assembly, who might charge him with sull prmlmg the paper himself, under the name of his apprentice, it was ivsolverl that my old indentures should be given up to wie, with a full and eiiiu e di&ciidr^e written on the buck* DR. FRANKLTN. 29 in order to be produced upon #n emergency ; but that, t> secure to mv brother the benefit of my service, I s/iould sign a new contract, which should be ke;.>t se cret during the remaining part of the term. This was a very shallow arrangement. It WdS i however, caivi d into immediate execution, and the paper continued, in consequence, to make its appearance for some months in my name. At length a new difference arising be tween my brother and :ne, i ventured 10 take advantage of my liberty, presuming that he would not dare to pro duce the new contract. It was undoubtedly dishonora ble to avail nys-^lf of this ciivu nstance, and I reckon this action as one of the first erro s of my life; but I tvas little capable 6"f v e4tirttating it at its true value, em bittered as my mind had been by the recollection of the blows I had received. Exclusively of his passionate treatment of me, my brother was by no means a m ui of an ill temper, and perhaps mv manners .iacl roo much of i nperlmence not 10 afford it a very natural pretext. f When he knew that it was my determination to q.iit bias, he wished to prevent my fi idi.ig employ aunt elsewhere. He went to all the printiug-oiiices in the town, and prejudiced the makers against me ; who ac cordingly refused to employ me. The idea then sug gested itseif to me of omg to New-York, the nearest town in- which there u as i priming-o-lice. Farther re flection confirmed me in the design of leaving Boston, where i iia;i already render d mvself an object of sus- piciou to Uv goveruin r party. It was probable, froin the arbitrary pro. eedings of the assembly in the an\ur of my brother, that, by remaining, I should soon liuve. been , x.)0-.cd to disri Allies ; wmch I had th -. grea <_r i-easo ) 10 apprehenfl, a^>. i"oa my indiscreet disputes U .joj-i r he subjects oi reiiguj i, i oe .nia to be re ;aidjd, by uc pious souU, with horror, eiuiti 1 as an apo-.utte or .iicist. i came ti ereior - to a r-boli;uoii ; oiii -uy Ittliivi j ni thia iiiaUuee, siding witii my UtOluci, C ^ 30 MEMOIRS OF siimed that if T attempted to depart openly, treasures would be taken to prevent me. My friend .Collins un dertook to favor my flight. He agreed for my passage with the captain of a New -York sloop, to whom he jvp- resented me as a young man of his acquaintance, who had had an affair with a girl of bad character, whose parents wished to compel me to marry her, and that of coiisequ nee I could neither make my appearance rior go off publicly. I sold part of my books to procure a small sum of mon.-y, and went privately on board the fclnop. By favor of a good wind, I found myself in thvee days at New -York, ne.-n-ly three hundred miles from my home, at the age only of seventeen years, without knowing an individual in the place, and with very little money in my pocket. The inclination I had felt for a seafaring life was en tirely subsided, or I should nOiV have been able to gra tify it ; but having another trade, and believing myself to be a tolerable workman, I hesitated not to offer my services to the old Mr. William Bradford, who had been the first printer in Pennsylvania, but had quitted that province on account of a quarrel with (Jeorge Keith, the governor. He could not give me employ ment himself, having little to do, and already as many pt rsons as he wanted ; but he told me that his son, printer at Philadelphia, had lately lost his principal workman, Aquila Hose, who was dead, and that if I would go thither, he believed he would engage me. Philadelphia was a hundred miles farther. I hesitated not to embark in a boat in order to repair, by the short est cut of the sea, to Amboy, leaving my trunk and ef- f cts to come after me by the usual and more tedious conveyance. In crossing the Bay we met with a squall, which shattered to pieces our rotten sails prevented us from entering the Kill, and threw us upon Long- Island. During the squall, a drunken Dutchman, who like was a pa&jjenger m the boat, fell into uc set*. DR. F&ANKtlN. 31 At the moment that he was sinking, I se zed him by the fore-top, saved him, and drew him on board. This immersion sobered him a little, so that he fell asleep, a&er having taken from his pocket a volume, which he requested me to dry. This volume I found to be my old favorite work, Bun van s Voyages, in Dutch, a !>eau- til>il impression on fine paper, with copperplate engra vings; a dress in which I had never seen it in its ori ginal language. T have since learned that it has been, translated into almost all the languages of Europe and next to the Bible, I am persuaded, it is one of the books which has had the greatest spread. Honest John is the first, that i kro,v of, who has mixed narrative and dialogue together; a mode of writing very enga ging to the reader, who in the most interesting pas sages, finds himself admitted as it were into the com pany, and present at the conversation. De Foe has imitated it with success in his Robinson Crusoe, his Moll Flanders, and other works; as also has Richard son in his Pamela, &c. In approaching the island we found that we had made a part of the coast where it was not possible to land, on account of the strong breakers produced by the rocky shore. We cast anchor and veered the cable towards the shore. Some men, who stood upon the brink, hal looed to us, while we did the same on our part ; but the wind was so high, and the waves so noisy, that we could neither of us hear each other. There were some canoes upon the bank, and we called out to them, and made signs to prevail on them to come and take us up ; but either they did not understand us, or they deemed our request impracticable, and withdrew. Night came on, and nothing remained for us but to wait quietly the subsiding of the wind ; till when we determined, that is, the pilot and I, to sleep if possible. For that purpose \n we.jt below the hatches with the Dutchman, who with water. The sea broke over the S2 MEMOIRS OF boat, and reached us in our retreat, so that we were presently as completely drenched as he. We had very little repose during the whole nigfet : but the wind abating the next day, we succeeded in reaching Amboy before it was dark, after having parsed thirty hours without provisions, and with no other drink than a brittle of bid run), the water upon which we rowed being salt. In he evening I went to bed vvi-.li a very violent fever. I had so new here read that cold water, drank plen ;; fully, was a remedy in such cases. 1 followed the prescription, was in a profuse sweat for the greater part of the night, and the fever left me.- The next day I crossed the river in a fr.rry-boat, and continued my joiuney on foot. I had filly miles to walk, in order to reach Burlington, where I was told I should find passage-boats that would convey me to Phi- luudphia. It rained hard the whole day, so that I was \vel to Use skin. Finding myself fatigued about noon, I stopped at a paltry inn, where I passed t e rest of the ciay and the \\hole night, beginning *o regret thai 1 had quitted my home. 1 made besides so wretched a figure, that I was suspected lobe some runaway servant. Thi* 1 discovered by the questions that were asked oe ; and I felt i hat 1 was every moment in danger of being t.tkeii tip us sue!:. The next duy, hoA eve , 1 continued my jo i tiey, and arrive-,! i; tit-, evciii .g at an inns eight op t-en mil: s iVo .1 Bui i u :o j, that wus kept b/ o.ic Lhv BioWii. This man entered into conversation with me wh 1. I t . . -^ome refrcbiimeiUj and pore riving t iat 1 ha-1 read i\ -i.tie, he expressed to -varas me oifsiderdble iat c rest ace! ffieiji^i.i ). Our accjtiaiutafice coji .-nMcM during t! . ". r of !I"K> if... I iieiieve hi-n lo have been vl .. .-d da :>iiir rant doctor: lor there was no town i .i il. i la;u!, or iiuievd in i^uiope, of tvhic.h he C" V.-i 101 _:i\c u fir .i ar \CA ; it . lie ^ .is ne* Iv-T df^c -i ; u-... i stiiiiuitjt ! i... i ..)tu"<;, o.ji lie ujs a SHU. niijUwJ , tti\!j SoiliC ; eai o aitCi j UilviCi lOO.v IO U a . wS^/ DR. FRANKLIN. 33 the Bible in burlesque verse, as Cotton has traves tied Virgil. He exhibited, by this means, many facts in a very ludicrous point of view, which would give umbrage to weak minds, had his work been published, which it never was. I spent the night at his house, and reached Bur lington the next morning. On my arrival, I had the mortification to learn that the ordinary passage boats had sailed a little before. This was on a Saturday, and there would be no other boat umil the Tuesday following. I returned to the house of an old woman in the town who had sold me some gingerbread to eat on my passage, and I asked her advice. She invited me to take up my abode with her till an opportunity offered for me to embark. Fatigued with having travelled so far on foot, I accepted her invitation. When she understood that I was a printer, she would have pcrsuaclcd me to stay at Burlington, and set up my llM + ,-.* O.lf- treated while at her house with She gave me, with the utmost good-will, a* dinner ot bed-steaks, and would accept of nothing in re- turn but a pint of ale. Here I imagined myself to be fixed till the Tuesday in the ensuing week j but walking out in the evening by the river side, I saw a boat with a number of persons in it approach. It was going to Philadelphia, and the company took me in. As there was no wind, we could only make way with our oars. About midnight, not perceiving the town, some of the company were of opinion that we must have passed it, and were unwilling to row any further; the rest not knowing where we were, it WAS res^ivca uut we sluuid stop. We 34 MEMOIRS OF drt-vv towards the suoie, entered a creek, ami land ed icar sonic old pai.sadcs, .which served us for fire-wood, it being a colu uiglu in October. Here we stayed till day, when one of the compaay found tlit place in wi.ich *ve were to be Cooper s Creek, a liuie above Philadelphia ; which in reality we perceived die morru-nt vve were out of the creek. We arrived, on Sunday about eight or nine o clock in the inurmng., anu landed on Market-street wharf. I have en,eied into the particulars of my voj age, s .- : I shall in like manner describe my first en- ti . -i.v into this cit) , that you may be able to com pare beginnings so little auspicious, with the figure 1 ha\v -;; ce made. On livv arrival at Philadelphia I was in my working dr< ss, my best clothes being to come by sea. I was covered with dirt; ni) pockets were filled shins and stockings ; I was unacquainted with a single soul in the place, and knew not where to seek for a 1 Klcrioir. Fatimied with walking, rowing, and having passed the "niglit without sleep, I u as extremely hungry, and all my money con- sisted of a Dutch dollar, and about a shillings worth of coopers, which i gave to the boatmen for my passage! As I lad assisted them in rowing, they rciused it at lust ; but I insisted on their tak ing" it. A m.m is sometimes more generous whe he has little, than when he has much money; pro- baoly because, in the first case, he is desirous ot concealing his poverty. I walked towards the top of the street, looking eagerly on both -sides, till I came to Market-street, where met a child with a loaf of bread. Often had I made my dinner on dry bread. I enquired where he had bought it, and went straight to die baker s shop winch he pointed out to me. I asked DR. FRANK! 35 for some biscuiis, expertii ^ i , nnd such as we had at Boston ; bur the) UUICH, it seems, none of ttiat S .rt at Philadelphia,. 1 then asked lor a >hrre- prnm loaf. 1 he n adi no loa\ es of (hat price. Finding myself ignorant of the prices, as well as of the different kinds of bread, I desired hint to lit me have three penny-worth ot bread of some kind or other, lie gave me three large rolls. I %vas surprized at receiving so much : i took them, however, and having no room for them in my pock ets, I walked on with a roll under each arm, eating the third. In this manner I went through Mai ket- s reet to Fourth-street, and passed the house of Mr. Read, the father of my future wife. She was standing at the door, observed me, and thought, with reason, that I made a very singular and gro tesque appearance. I then turned the corner, and went through Chvsnut-street, eating my roll all the wav ; and having made this round, I found myself again on Market-street wharf, near the boat in which 1 h id arrived. I stepped into it to take a draught of the river water; and finding myself satisfied with my first roll, I gave the other two to a woman and her child, who had come down the riv er with us in the boat, and was waiting to continue her journey. Thus refreshed, I regained the street, which was now full of well dressed people, all going the same \v ay. I joined ?hem, and was thus led to a large Quakers meeting-house near the market-place. I sat down with the rest, and after look ing round me for some time, hearing nothing said, and being drowsy from my last night s labor and want of rest, I fell into a sound sleep. In this state I continued till the assembly dispersed, when one of the con- gregatioa hud the goodness to wake me. This 36 MEMOIRS OF was consequently ihe first house I entered, or ifi which 1 slept, at Philadelphia. I began again to walk along the street by the river side ; and looking attentively in the face of every one I met, I at length perceived a young quaker, whose countenance pleased me. I accost ed him, and begged him to inform me where a stranger might find a lodging. We were then near the sign of the Three Mariners. They receive travellers here, said he, but it is not a house that bears a good character; if you will go with me, I will shew you a better one. He conducted me to the Crooked Billet, in Water-street. There I or* dered something for dinner, and during my meal a number of curious questions were put to me ; my youth and appearance exciting the suspicion of my being a runaway- After dinner rrn drowsiness returned, and I threw myself on a bed without taking off my clothes, and slept till six o clock in the evening, when 1 was called to supper. I after- Wards went to bed at a very early hour, and did not awake till the next morning. As soon as I got up I put myself in as decent a trim as I could, and went to the house of Andrew Bradford, the printer. I found his father in ihe shop, whom I had seen at New -York. Having travelled on horseback, he had ai lived at Philadel phia before me. He introduced me to his son, who received me with civility, and gave me some break fast ; but told me he had no occasion for a journey man, having aiely procured one. He added, that there \v;is another printer newlv settled in town, of the nit. me of Xeimer, who might perhaps employ me ; and that in case of a refusal, I should be wel come to lode at nis house, and he would give me a !iitle work now und thtn> till something better fehould oiier.. DR. FRANKLIN: 47 completely drenched. The utmost coldness sub- sistcd between us after this adventure. At last the captain of a West-India ship, who was commission ed to procure a tutor for the children of a gentleman at Barbadoes, meeting with Collins, offered him the place. He accepted it, and took his leave of me, promising to discharge the debt he owed me with the first money he should receive \ but I have heard nothing oi him since. The violation of the trust reposed in me by Ver- non, was one of the first great errors of my life ; and it proves that my father was not mistaken when he supposed me too young to be intrusted with the management of important affairs. But Sir William, upon reading his letter, thought him too prudent. There was a difference, he said, between individu als ; years of maturity were not always accompanied \vith discretion, neither was you h in every instance devoid of it. Since your father, added he, will not set you up in business, I will do it myself. Make out a list of what will be wanted from England, and I will send for the articles. You shall repay me \vhen you can. I arn determined to have a good printer here, and I am sure you will succeed. This \vas said with so much seeming cordiality, th;;t I suspected not for an instant the sincerit) of the offe r, I had hitherto kept the project, with which Sii Wil liam had inspired me, a secret at Philadelphia, and still continued to do so. Had my reliance on the governor been known, some friend, better acquaint ed with his character than myself, would doubtless have advised me not to trust him ; for I afterwards learned that he was universally known to be liberal of promises, which he had no intention to perform. But having never solicited him, how could I sup pose his offers to be deceitful ? On the contrary, J believed him to be the best man in the world. 48 MEMOIRS OF I gave him an inventory of a small printing office ;- the expcnce of which 1 had calculated at about a hundred pounds sterling. He expressed his ap probation ; but asked if my presence in England, that I might choose the characters myself, and see that every article was good in its kind, \voaklnotbe an advantage. You will also be able, said he, to form an acquaintance there, and establish a corres pondence with stationers and booksellers. This I acknowledged was desirable. That being the case, added he, hold yourself in readiness to go with the Annis. This was the annual vessel, and the only one, at that time, whi h made regular voyages be tween the ports of London and Philadelphia. But the Annis was not to sail for some months. I there fore continued to work for Keimer, unhappy res pecting the sum which Collins had drawn from me, and almost in a continued agony at the thoughts of Vernon, who fortunately made no demand of his money till several years after. In the account of my first voyage from Boston to Philadelphia, I omitted I believe a trifling cir cumstance, which will not perhaps be out of place here. During a calm which stopped us above Block-island, the crew employed themselves in fish ing for cod, of which they caught a great number. I had hitherto adhered to my resolution of not eat ing any thing that possessed life ; and I considered on this occasion, agreeably to the maxims of my master Tryon, the capture of every fish as a sort of murder, committed without provocation, since these animals had neither done, nor were capable of dos ing, the smallest injury to any one that should jus tify the measure. This mode of reasoning I con ceived to be unanswerable. Meanwhile I had for merly been extremely fond of fish ; and when one el these cod was taken out of the frying-pan I BR. FRANKLIN. 39 From this period I began to contract acquaintance with such joung people of the town as were fond of reading, and spent my evenings with them agreea- blv, while at the same time I gained money by my industry, and, thanks to my frugality, lived con* tented. I thus forgot Boston as much as possible, and wished every one to be ignorant of the place of my residence, except my friend Collins, to whom I wrote and who kept my secret. An incident, however* arrived, which sent me home much sooner than I proposed. I had a bro ther in-law, of the name of Robert Holmes, mas ter of a trading sloop from Boston to Delaware. Being at Newcastle, forty miles below Philadelphia, he heard from me, and wrote to inform me of the chagrin which my sudden departure occasioned nv pan-nt^, and of the affection \vhich they still tn- tertaincd for ;i,-. ., assuring me that, if I would re turn, every thhi * V1 be adjusted to my satis-* faction ; and he was YV . pi - i^g in his entreaties. I answered his letter, thanked him for his advii.-e, and explained the: reasons which had induced me to quit Boston with such force and clearness, that he was convinedl had been less to bluine than he had imagined. Sir William Keith, governor of the province, was at Newcastle at the time. Captain Holmes being by chance in his company when he received my let ter, took occasion to speak of me, and shewed it him. The governor read it, and appeared surprized when he learned my age. He thought me, he said, a young man of very promising talents, and that, of consequence, I ought to be encouraged - f that there were at Philadelphia none but very ignorant print ers, and that if I were to set up for myself, he had ;|o doubt of my success ; that for his own part, he would procure m? all the public business, and $> MEMOIRS OF would render me everv other service in his power, My brother in-lavv related all this to me afterwards at Boston ; but I knew nothing of it at the time ; when one dav Keimer and I being at work together near the window, we saw the governor and another gentleman, colonel French of Newcastle, handsome ly drts-.ed, cross the street, and made directlv for our house. We h- ard them at the door, and Kei- iner, believing it to be a visit to himself, went im mediately dcwn : but the governor enquired for me, came up stair*;, and with a condescention and polite ness to which I h.ul not at all been accustomed, paid me many compliments, desirtd to be acquain- ed with me, obligingly reproached me for not hav ing made myself known to him on my arrival in the town, and wished me to accompany him to a tavern, where he and colonel French were going to taste some excellent Madeira wine. I was, I confess, somewhat surprised, and Kei mer appeared thunderstruck. I went however with the governor and the colonel to a tavern at the corner of Third street, where, while we were drink ing the Madeira, he proposed to me to establish a Jptinting-house, He sat forth the probabilities of success, r and himself and colonel French assured me that I she aid have thc^ir protection and influ ence in obtaining the printing of the public papers of both governments ; and as I appeared to doubt whe ther my father would assist me in this enterprise, Sir William said that he would give me a letter to him, in which he would represent the advantages of the scheme, in a light which he bad no doubt would determine him. It was thus concluded that I would return to Boston by the first vessel, with the letter of recommendation from the governor to my father. Meanwhile the project was to be kept secret and I continued to wc-rk for Ktimer as before* DR. FRANKLIN". 41 The governor sent every now and then to invite me to dine w uh him. I considered this as a very ^reat honor ; and I was the more sensible of it, as he conversed with me in the most affable, familiar, and friendly manner imaginable. Towards the end of April 1724, a small vessel was ready to sail for Boston. I took leave of KeU mer, upon the pretext of going to see my parents* The governor gave me a long letter, in which he said rnanv flattering things of me to my father ; and strongly recommended the project of my settling, at Philadelphia, as a thing which could not fail to make my fortune. Going down the bay we struck on a flat, and sprung a leak. The weather was very tempestu ous, and we were obliged to pump without inter mission ; I took my turn. We arrived however safe and sound at Boston, after about a fortnights passage. I had been absent seven complete months, and my relations, during that interval, had received no intelligence of me j. my brother-in-law, Holmes, was not yet returned, and had not written about me. My unexpected appearance surprized the family ; but they were all delighted at seeing me again, and,, except my brother, welcomed me home. I went to him at the printing-office. I was better dressed than I had ever been while in his service : I had .a complete suit of clothes, new and neat, a watch in my pocket, and mv purse was furnished with near- Iv five pounds sterling money. He gave me no ve ry civil reception, and having eyed me from head to foot, resumed his work The workmen asked me with eargerness where I had been, what sort of a country it was ?nd how I liked it. .1 spoke in the highest terms of Philadek- D 42 MEMOIRS OF phia, the happy life we led there, and expressed my intention of going back again. One of them asking what sort of money we had, I displayed before thorn a handful ot silver, which I drew from pock et. This was a curiosity to which they were not accustomed, paper being the current money at Bos ton. I failed not after this to let them see mv watch ; and at last, my brother continuing sullen and out of humor, I gave them a shilling to drink, and took rnv leave. This visit stung my brother to the sou I ; for when, shortly after, my mother spoke to him of a reconciliation, and a desire to see us upon good terms, he told her that I had so insulted him before his men that he would never forget or forgive it : in this, however, he was mistaken. The governor s letter appeared to excite in my father some surprise ; but he said little. After some days, Capt. H >lmes being returned, he show ed it him, asking him if he knew Keith, and what sort of a man he was : adding, that, in his opinion, it proved very little discernment to think of setting up a boy in business who for three vf ars to come would not be of an age to be ranked in the class of mm. Holmes said even thing he could in favor of the scheme ; but my father firmly maintained its ab surdity, and at last gave a positive refusal. He wrote, however, a civil letter to Sir William, thank ing him for the protection he had so obligingly of fered m *, but refusing to assist me for the present, because he thought me too young to be entrusted with the conduct of so important an enterprise, and which would require so considerable a sum of mo ney. Mv old comrade Collins, who was a clerk in the post office, charmed with the account I gave of my new residence, expressed a desire of going thither ; DR. FRANKLIN* & Jmd while I waited my father s determination, he set off before me, by land, for Rhode-Island, leav ing his books, which formed a haadsome collection in mathematics and natural philosophy, to be con veyed with mine to New- York, where he proposed to wait for me. My fath.tr, though he could not approve Sir Wil liam s proposal, was yet please that I had obtained so advantageous a recommendation as that of a per* son of his rank, and that my industry and oe..onomy had enabled me to equip myself so handsomely in- so short a period. Seeing no appearance of accom modating matters between my brother and me, he consented to my return to Philadelphia, advised me to be civil to every body, to endeavor to obtain ge neral esteem, and avoid satire andsarrasm, to whi h he thought I was too much inclined ; adding that with 5 perseverance and prudent (Economy, I might, by the time I became of age, save enough to establish my self in business ; and that if a small sum should then be wanting, he would undertake to supply it. This was all I could obtain from him, except some trifling presents, in token of friendship from him and my mother. I embarked once more for New-York, furnished at this time with their appro* Lation and blessing. The sloop having touched at Newport in Rhodf -Island, I paid a visit to mv bro ther John, who had for some years been settled there, and was married. He had always been at tached to me, and received me with great affect ion. One of his friends, whose name was Vernon, hav ing a debt of about thirt\-six pounds due to him in Pennsylvania, begged me to receive it for him, and keep the money till I should h^ar from him : ao cordingh he gave me an order for that purpose* This affair occasioned me, in the sequel, much im easiness* 44 MEMOIRS OF At Newport we took on board a number of sengers ; among whom were two young women, and a grave and sensible quaker lady with her servants I had shown an obliging forwardness in rendering the quaker some trifling services, which led her, pro bably, to feel some interest in my welfare ; for when she saw a familiarity take place, and every day in crease, between the young women and me, she took me aside, and said, u Young 1 man, I am in pain for thee. Thou hast no parent to watch over thv con duct, and thou seemest to be ignorant of the world, and the snares to which youth is exposed. Rely upon what I tell thee : those are women of bad characters: I perceive it in all their actions. If thou dost not take care, they will lead thee into danger. They are strangers to thee, and I advise thee, by the friendly interest I take in thy preserva tion, to form no connection with them." As I i?p- peared at first not to think quite so ill of them as she did, she related many things she had seen and heard, which had escaped my attention, but which convinced me she was in the right. I thanked her for her obliging advice,, ard promised to follow it* When we arrived at New-York, they informed me where they lodged, and invited me torome and see thrm. I did not however go, and it was well I did not ; for the next day, the captain, missing a silver spoon and some other things which had been taken from the cabin, and knowing these women to b- prostitutes, procured a search warrant, found ihe st.oK-n goods upon them, and had them punished. And thus, after having been saved from one rock concealed -,nder water, upon which the vessel strwrk during our passage, I escaped another of a more dangerous nature. Ar N-w-York I found my friend Collins, who had arrived some time before. We had been DR. FRANKLIN. 4* mate from our infancy, and had read the same books together ; but he had the advantage of being able to devote more of his time to re ding and study, and an astonishing disposition for mathematics, in which he left me far behind him. When at Boston, I had been accustomed to pass with him almost all my leisure hours. He was then a sober and industri ous lad ; his knowledge had gained him a verv gen eral esteem, and he seemed to promise to make an advantageous figure in society. But, during my absence, he had unfortunately addicted himself to brandy, ancl I learned, as well from himself as from the reports of others, that every clay since his arrival at New- York he had been intoxicat ed, and had acted in a very extravagant manner. He had also played and lost all his money ; so that I was obliged to pay his expences at the inn, and to maintain him during the rest of the journey - 9 a burthen that was very inconvenient to me. The governor of New- York, whose name was Burnet, hearing the captain say that a young man who was a passenger in his ship had a great number of books, begged him to bring me to his house. I accordingly went, and should have taken Collins with m-, had he been sober. The governor treated me with great civility, shewed me his library, which was a very considerable, one, and we talked for some time upon books and authors. This was the second governor who had honored me with his at tention ; and to a poor boy, as I then was, these lit tle adventures did not fail to be pleasing. We arrived at Philadelphia. On the way I re ceived Vernon s money, without which we should have been unable to have finished our journey. Collins wished to get employment as a merchant s clerk ; but either his breath or his countenance be trayed his bud habit j for, though he had resom- 46 MEMOIRS OF mendalions, he met with no success, and continued to lodge and eat with me, and at my expense. Knowing that I had Vernon s money, he was con* tinually asking me to lend him some of it ; promis ing to repay me as soon as he should get employ- lm nt. At last he had drawn so much of this mon ey, that I was extremely alarmed at what might be. come of me, should he fail to make good the defi* ciency. His habit of drinking did not at all dimin ish, and was a frequent source of discord between us: for when he had drank a little too much, he was very headstrong. Being on< j day in a boat together, on the Dela ware, with some other young persons, he refused to take his turn in rowing. You shall row for me, said he, till we get home. No, I replied, we will not row for you. You shall, said he, or remain upon the water all night As you please. Let us row, said the rest of the company ,; what signifies, it whether he assists or not. But, already angry with him for his conduct in other respects, I per sisted in my refusal. He then swore he would make me row, or would throw me out of the boat ; and he made up to me. As soon as he was within. jny reach I took him by the collar, gave him a vio lent thrust, and threw him head- fore most into the river. I knew that he was a good swimmer, and was therefore under no apprehensions for his life. Before he could turn himself, we were able, by a few strokes of our oars, to place ourselves out of his reach ; and whenever he touched the boat, we asked him if he would row, stiikinghis hands with the oars to make him let go his hold. He was nearly suffocated with rage, but obstinately refused mak ing any promise to row. Perceiving at length that his strength began to be exhausted, we took him in to the boat, and conveyed him. home in the evening. DR. FRANKLIN. 49 thought its flavor delicious. I hesitated some time between principle and inclination, till at last recol lecting, ihat when the cod had been opened, some small fish were found in its belly, I said to myself, if you eat one another, I see no reason why we may not eat you. I according!) dined on the cod with, no smiul degree of pleasure, and have since con i- nued to eat like the rest of mankind, returning oc casionally to my vegetable plan. How convenient does it prove to be a rational animal, that knows how to find or invent a plausable pretext for what ever it has an inclination to do ! I continued to live upon good terms with Kei- mer, who had not the smallest suspicion oi my j ro- je^ted establishment. He still retained a portion of his former rnthusiam ; and being fond of argu ment, we frequently disputed together. I was so much in the habit of using my Socratic method, and had so frequently puzzled him by my questions, which appeared at first very distant from the point in debate, yet nevertheless led to it by degrees, in volving him in di.Hcuhies and contradictions from- which he was unable to extricate himself, that he became at last ridiculously cautious, and would scarcely antwer the most plain and familiar ques tion without previously asking me What woui.J you inter from thai ? Hence he formed so high an opinion of my talents for refutation, that he seri ously proposed to ncu; to become his colleague in the establishment of r> new religious sect. He was to propagate the doctrine by preaching, and I to refute every opponent. When he explained to me his tenets, I found ma ny absurdities which I refused to admit, unless he \vouH agrre in turn to adopt some of my opinions. Keimcr wore his beard long, because Moses had fi 50 MEMOIRS OF somewhere said, Thou shall not mar the corners of thy beard. He likewise observed the Sabbath ; and these were with him two very essential points. I disliked them both ; but I consented to adopt them, provided he would abstain from animal food. I doubt, said he, whether rnv constitution will be able to support it. I assured him on the contrary, that he \\oulcl find himself the better for it. He was naturally a glutton, and I wished to amuse myself bv starving him. He consented to make trial of this regimen, if I would bear him company ; and in reality \ve contiuurd it for th . ee months. A wo man in the neighborhood prep;-rerl and brought us our victuals, to whcm I gave a list of fortx dishes ; in the composition of which there entered neither fl"h nor hsh. This fancy was the more agreeable to me, as it turned to good account ; for the whole ex- pmce of < ur li\ ii<g did nut exceed lor each eighteen pence a wt^k. I rmve since that peiiod observed several Lents with the greatest strictness, and have suddenly re turned again to my ordinary diet, without experi encing the smallest inconvenience ; which had led nv? to regard as of no importance th^ advire com- rn.jnly given, of introducing gradually siuh altera tions o* regimen* I continued it cheerfully ; but poor Kfimer suf- f^n-d terribly. 1 nvd oi this project, he sighed for th fl- sh-pots of Kgypt. At Urgrh he ordered a r r ast j s jg, and invited me and two of our ff-maleac- quainrancf to dine wi*h hi^n , hul the pig be .ng done a little too soon, he could not resist che temptation, y- (1 tat it :11 up before wvanived. ,n^ th-j circumstance I have related I had some attention to JMit.s Itead. I f-ntertained for her the utmost, esteem aad affection \ and I had DR. FRANKLIN. 51 reason to believe that these sentiments were rmitu* al. But we were both young, scarcely more than eighteen years of age ; and as i was on the point of undertaking a long voyage, her mother thought it prudent to prevent matters beingcanitd too far for the present, judging that if matriage waa our ob ject, there would be more propriety in it after my return, when, as at least I expected, I should be es tablished in my business. Peri s also she thought that my expectations were not so w t " mdcd as I imagined. My most intimate ar qunirtance at this tin: f re Charles O&borne, Joseph Watson, and James Riu, h, young men who were all fond of reauirg. The two first were clerks to Mr. Charlt s Brockdon, one of the principal attornies in the touri, and : .be other clerk to a merchant. Watson was an uprtgi. cious and sensible young man ; the others were somewhat more loose in their principles of religion, particu larly Ralph, whose faith, as well as that of Collins,. I had contributed to shake ; <ra*.h of whom made me suffer a very adequate punishment. Osborne v as sensible, and sincere, and affectionate in his friendships, but too much inclined to the critic in matters of literature. Ralph was ingenious and shrewd, gentetl in his address, and ex.rtmely elo quent. 1 do not remember to have met w ith a more agreeable speaker. They were both enamoured 01 the muses and had already evinced their passion by some small poetical productions. It was a custom with us to take a charmingwalk on Sundays, in tht woods that border on tht Skuylki!l Here we rt au together, and afterwards conversed 0:1 what \ve read. Ralph was disposed to give b - self up entirely to poetry. He flattered himsrh that he should arrive at great eminence in the art, an i e veil acquire a fortune. The sublimes* poets, i& *2 MEMOIRS OF pretended, when they first began to write, commTtted as many faults as himself. Osborne endeavored to dissuade him from it, by assuring him that he had no genius for poetry, and advising him to stick to the tradein which he hod been brought up. In the road of commerce, said-he, yoi> will be sure, by diligence arid assiduity, though you have no capital, of so far succeeding as to be employed as a factor, and may thus, in time, acquire the means of setting up for yourself. I concurred in these sentiments, but at the same time expressed my approbation of amus ing ourselves sometimes with poetry, with a view of improving* our style. In consequence of ihis it was proposed that, at our next meeting, each of us should bring a copy of verses of his own composition. Our object in this competition was to benefit eaclt other by our mutual remarks, criticisms, and cor rections ; and as st>le and expression were all we had in view, we excluded every idea of invention^ by agreeir-g that our task should be a version of the eighteenth psalm, in which is described the descent of the Deity. The time of our meeting drew near, when Ralph- called upon me, and told me his piece was ready.- I informed him that I had been idle, and not much liking the task, h;id done nothing. He showed me his piece, and asked what I thought of it. I ex pressed myself in terms of warm approbation ; be cause it really appeared to have considerable merit. He then said : Osborne will never acknowledge the smallest degree of excellence in any production of mine. Envy alone dictates to him a thousand animadversions. Of you he is not so jealous: I \vish therefore you would take the verses, and pro duce them as your own. I will pretend not to have had leisure to write any thing. We shall .then see in what manner he will speak of them. I agreed to DR. FRANKLIN. $3 this little artifice, and immediately transcribed the verses to prevent all suspicion. We met. Watson s performance was the first thtt was read. It had some beauties, but many faults. We next read Osborne s which was much better. Ralph did it justice, remarking a few im perfections, and applauding such parts as were ex cellent. He had himself nothing to show. It was now my turn. I made some difficulty; seemed as if I wished to be excused ; pretending that I had no time to make corrections, &c. No excuse, how ever, was admissible, and the piece must be pro duced. It was read and re-read. Watson and Osborne immediately resigned the palm, and united in applauding it. Ralph alone made a few remarks, and proposed some alterations ; but I defended my text. Osborne agreed with me, and told Ralph he was no more able to criticise than he was able to write. When Osborne was alone with me, he expressed himself more strongly in favor of what he consi dered as my performance. He pretended that he h td put some restraint on himself before, apprehen sive of my construing his commendation ir to flatte ry. But who would have supposed, said he, Frank lin to be capable of such a composition ? What painting, what energv, what fire ! He has surpass ed the original. In his common conversation he appears not to have choice of words ; he hesitates, and is at a loss ; and yet, good God, how he writes ! At our next meeting Ralph discovered the trick we had played Osborne, who was rallied without mercy. By this adventure Ralph was fixed in his resolu* tion of becoming a poet. I left nothing unattempt- d to divert him from his purpose, but he perse* E 2 54 MEMOIRS OF vered, till at last the reading of Pope* effected his curt : he became, however, a very tolerable prose writer. I shall speak more of him hereafter ; bat as I shall probably have no farther occasion to men tion the other two, I ought to observe here, that Watson died a few years after in my arms. He was greatly regretted ; for he was the best of our society. Osborne went to the islands, where he gained considerable reputation as a barrister, and was getting money ; but he died young. We had seriously engaged, that whoever died first should return, if possible, and pay 7 a friendly visit to the survivor, to give him an account of the other world ; but he has never fulfilled his engagement. The governor appeared to be fond of my compa ny, and frequently invited me to his house. He always spoke of his intention of settling me in busU ness, as a point that was decided. I was to take with me letters of recommendation to a number of friends ; and particularly a letter of credit, in order to obtain the necessary sum for the purchase of my press, tyes, and paper. He appointed various times for me to co ne for these letters, which would cer tainly be ready ; and when I came always put me off to another day. These successive delays continued till the vessel, whose departure hud been several times deferred, was on the point of setting sail ; when I again went to Sir William s house, to receive my letters and take leave of him. I saw his secretary Dr. Bard, who toll me that- the governor was cx- * Probably the Dunciad, where we find him thus irn- jnortalizcd by the author: Silence, ye wolves, while RALPH to Cynthia howls, And ffi&k&s night hideous , answer him, ye owlst DR. FRANKLIN. 55 tremely busy writing, but that he would be down at Newcastle before the vessel, and that the letters would be delivered to me there. Ralph, though he was married and had a child, determined to accompany me in this voyage. His object was. supposed to be the establishing a corres pondence with some mercantile houses, in order to sell goods by commission ; but I afterwards learned, that, having reason to be dissatisfied wilh the parents of his wife, he proposed to himself to leave her on their hands, and never return to America again. Having taken leave of my friends, and interchan ged promises of fidelity with Miss Read, I quitted Philadelphia. At Newcastle the vessel came to anchor. The governor was arrived, and I went to his lodgings. His secretary received, me with great civility, told me on the part of the governor that he could not see me then, as he was engaged in affairs of the utmost importance, but that h.^ would send the letters on board, and that he wished me, with all his heart, a good voyage and speedy return. I returned, somewhat astonished, to the ship, but still without entertaining the slightest suspicion. Mr. Hamilton, a celebrated barrister of Philadel phia, had taken a passage to England for himself and his son, and, in conjunction with Mr. Denham a quaker, and Messrs. Oniam and Russel, proprie tors of a forge in Maryland, had agreed for the whole cabin, so that Ralph and I wtre obliged to take up our lodging with the crew. Being unknown to evtry body in the ship, we were looked upon as the common order of people : but Mr. Hamilton and his son (it was James, who was afterwards go vernor) left us at Newcastle, and returned to Phila delphia, where he was recalled at a very great ex pense, to plead the cause of a vessel that had been seized; and just as we were abom to sail, colonel 5S MEMOIRS OF Finch carrte on board, and shewed me manv civili ties, i ht- passengers upon this paid me more at tention, and I was invited, together wi h my friend Ralph, to occupy the place in the cabin which the return of the two Mr. Hamiltons had made vacant; aii offVr which we readily accepted. Having learned (hat the dispatches of the gover nor had been brought on board by colonel Finch, I asked the captain foe the letters that were to be en trusted to my care. He told me that they were all put together in the bag, which he could not open at present ; but before we reached England, he would give me an opportunity of taking them out* I was satisfied with this answer, and we pursued our voyage. The company in the cabin were all very sociable, and we were perfectly well off as to provisions, as \ve had the advantage of the whole of Mr. Hamil ton s, who had laid in a very plentiful stock. Dur ing the passage Mr. Denham contracted a friend ship for me, which ended only with his life : in other respects the voyage was by no means an agreeable one, as we had much bad weather. When we arrived in the river, the captain was as good as his word, and allowed me to search the bag for the governor s letters. I could not find a single one with my name written on it, as commit ted to my care ; but I selected six or seven, which I judged from the direction to be those that were intended for me; particularly one to Mr. Basket, the king s printer, and another to a sta ioner, who was the first ptrson I called upon. I belivered him the letter as coming from governor Keith. u I have no acquaintance (said he) with any such person ;" and opening the letter, "Oh, it is from Riddles- den !" he exclaimed. " I have lately discovered him to be a very arrant knave, and I wish to have DR. FRANKLIN. 5r Tiothing to do either with him or his letters. >J He instantly put the letter in my hand, turned upon his heel, and left me to serve some customers. I was astonished at finding these letters were not from the governor. Reflecting, and putting circum stances together, I then begnn to doubt his sincerity, I rejoined my friend Denham, *and related the whole affair to him. He let me at once into Keith s character, told me there was not the least proba* biluy of his having written a single letter ; that no one who knew him ever placed any reliance on him, and laughed at my credulity in supposing the governor would give me a letter of credit, when he had no credit for himself. As I showed some un easiness respecting what step I should take, he ad vised me to try to get employment in the house of some printer. You may there, said he, improve yourself in business, and you will be able to settle yourself the more advantageously when you retura to America. We knew already, as well as the stationer, attor ney Riddlesden to be a knave. He had nearly ruin ed the father of Miss Read, by drawing him in to be his security. We learned from his letter, that he was secretly carrying on an intrigue, in concert with the governor, to the prejudice of Mr. Hamil ton, who it was supposed would by this time be in Europe. Denham, who was Hamilton s friend, was of opinion that he ought to be made acquainted with it; and in reality the instant he arrived in England, which was very soon after, I waited on him, i*nd, as much from ^oo.d will to him as resent ment against the governor, put the letter into his hands. He thanked me very sincerely, the infor mation it contained being of constquence to him ; and from that moment bestowed oa me his friend- 58 MEMOIRS OF ship, which afterwards proved on many occasions serviceable to me. But what are we to think of a governor who could play so scurvy a trL-k, and thus grossly deceive a poor young lad, wholly destitute of experience ? It was a practice with him. Wishing to please ev ery body, and having little to bestow, he was lavish of promises. He was in other respects sensible and judicious, a very tolerable writer, find a good governor for the people , though not so for the pro prietaries, whose instructions he frequently disre garded. Many of our best laws were his work, and established during his administration. Ralph and I were inseparable companions. We took a lodging together at three-and-sixpence a week, which was as much as we could afford. He met with some relations in London, but they were poor, and not able to assist him. He now, for the firs time, informed me of his intention to remain in England, and that he had no thoughts of ever returning to Philadelphia. He was totally without money: the little he had been able to raise having barely sufficed for his passage. I had fifteen pis toles remaining; and to me he had from time to time recourse, while he tried to get employment. At first, believing himself possessed of talents for the stage, he thought of turning actor j but Wilkes, to whom he applied, frankly advised him to renounce thr idea, as it-was impossible to succeed. He next proposed to Ro.berts, a bookseller in Paternoster- Row, to write a weekly paper in the mannti of the Spectator upon terms to which Roberts would not listen. Lastly, he endeavored to procure employ- rrunt as a copyist, and applivd to ;,h Uuwtrs and stationers about the Temple; but he cuuid find u DR. FRANKLIN. 59 As to myself, I immediately got engaged at Pal- mer s, at that time a noted printer in Bartholomew Closo, with whom I continued nearly a year. I epplied very assiduously to my work ; but I expend ed with Ralph almost all that I earned. Plays and other places of amusement which \ve frequented together, having exhausted my pistoles, we lived after this from hand to mouth. He appeared to have entirely forgotten his wife and child, as I also, by degrees forgot my engagement with Miss Read, to whom I never wrote more than one letter, and that merely to inform her that 1 was not likely to retuin soon. This was another grand error of my life, which I should be desirous of correcting, were I to begin my career again. I was employed at Palmer s on the second edi tion of Woolaston s Religion of Nature. Some of his arguments appearing to me not to be well foun ded, I wrote a small metaphysical treatise in which I animadverted on those passages. It was entitled a Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Puin. I dedicated it to my friend Ralph, and printed a small number of copies. Palmer upon this treated me with more consideration, and re garded me as a young man of talents ; tho* he seri ously took me to task for the principles of my pam phlet, which he looked upon as abominable. The printing of this work was another error of my life. While I lodged in Little Britain I formed ac quaintance with a bookseller of the name of Wilco.s:, whose shop was next door to me. Circulating li braries were not then in use. He had an immense collection of books of all sorts. We agreed that, for a reasonable retribution, of which I have now forgotten the price, I should have fret- access to his library, and take what books I pleastd, which J was to return \\heu I read them. I considered this a- SO MEMOIRS OF greement as a very great advantage ; and I deriv ed from it as much benefit as was in my power. My pamphlet tailing into the hands of a surgeon^ of the name of L ; ons, au hor of a book entitled In- falibility of Human Judgment, was the occasion of a considerable inumacy between us. He express ed great esteem for me, came frequently to see me, in urder 10 converse upon metaphysical subjects, and introduced me to Di% Mandcville, author of the Fable of Bees, who had instituted a club at a ta vern in Cheapside, of which he \vas the soul : he was a facetious and very amusing character. He al i o introduced me, at Baston s coffee-house, to Dr. Pemberton, who promised to give me an opportu nity of seeing Si? Isaac Newton, vvh ioh I very ar dently desired ; but he never kept his vvord. I ha-! brought some curiosities with me from A- xnerica; die principal of which was a purse made- of asbestos, which fire only purifies. Sir Hans Sloane hearing of it, called upon me, and invited me to his house in Bloomsbun -squar--, whert after showing me every thing that was curious, he prevailed on me to add this piece to his collection ; for which he paid me very handsomely. There lodged in the same house with us a young woman, amiliner who had a shop by the side of the Exchange. Lively and sensible, aud having receiv ed an education some what above her rank, her con versation was very agreeable. Halph r^-ad plays to her every evening. They became intimate. She took another lodging, and he fo lloxved her. They lived some time together ; but Ralph being with out employment, she having a child, and the pro fits of her business not suifi:ing for the maintain- ance of three, he resolved to quit London, and try a country school. Thi? was a plan in which he thought himself likely to succeed,, as he DR. FRANKLIN. 61 wrote a fine hand, and was versed in arithmetic and accounts. But considering the office as beneath him, and expecting some day to make a better fig ure in thf world, when he should be ashamed of its being known that he had exercised a profession so little : onorable, he changed his name, and did me the honor of assuming mine. He wrote to me soon at ter his departure, informing me that he w is settled at a small viilige in Berkshire. In his t et- ter he recommended Mrs. 1 ***, the miiiner, to my caie, and requested an answer directed to Mr. Franklin, schoolmaster at N*** He continued to write to me frequently, sending me large fragments of an epic poem he was com posing, and which he requested me to criticise and correct. I did so, but not without endeavoring to prevail on him to renounce this pursuit. Young hud just published one of his Satires. I cop u d and sent nim a great part of it ; in which the au.hor demonstrates the folly of cultivating the Muses, from the hope, by their instrumentality, of rising in ihj world. It was all to no purpose ; paper af ter paper of his poem continued to arrive every post. Meanwhile Mrs. T*** having lost, on his ac count, both her friends and her business, was fre- quendy in distress. In this dilemma she had re course to me, and to extricate her from her difficul ties, I lent her all the money I could spare. I felt a little too much fondness for her. Having at that time no ties of religion, and Caking advantage of her necessitous situation, I attempted liberties (ano ther error of my life) which she repHled with be coming indignation. She informed Ralph of my conduct ; and the affair occasioned a breach be tween utj. When he returned to London, he gave 62 MEMOIRS OF me to understand that he considered all the obliga tions he owed me as annihilated by this proceeding; whence I concluded that I was never to expect the pa)ment of what money I had knt him, or advanc ed on his account. I was the less afflicted at this, as he was unable to pay me ; and as, by losing his friendship, I was relieved at the same time from a very heavy burden. I now begun to think of laying by some money. The printing-house of Watts, near Lincoln s Inn Fu Ids, being a still more considerable one than that i,i which I worked, it was probable that I might fine! it more advantageous to be employed there. I offered myself, and was accepted ; and in this house I continued during the remainder of my stay in London. On my entrance I worked at first as a pressman, conceiving that I had need of bodily exercise, to vhkh I had been accustomed in America, where the printers work alternately as compositors and at thr pr?-ss. I drank nothing but water. The other workmen, to the number of about fifty, were great dink-r* of beer. f c rried occasionally a large form of letters in each iuind, up and down stairs, vhilt. the rest employed both hands to carry one. They were surprised to see. by this and many other examples, that the American Aquatic^ as thev used to cull me, was strrngt-r than those who drank por- U . The he.er-bov rac! sufficient eirpioMnciu du- ing the the v\hol f - day in serving that house alone. ]> T < f -\- vw-n . j ssfnan dra: k *v<rv dav a pint of beer 1 etore i-reak^r>., a pint vyith ^r.;ad sad cheese for lre lUas-., one b-t-veeu breakfast and dinner, one S?t dinner, one again aj Otu LIX o clock in the atter- , anH another after ht had finished his da) s This custom appeared Jo in DR. FRANKLIN, 63 but he had need, he said, of all this beer, in order to acquire strength to work, I endeavored to convince him that bodily strength furnised by the beer, could only be in proportion 10 the solid part of the barley dissolved in the water of which the beer was composed ; thav there was a larger portion of flour in a penny loaf, and that con sequently if he eat this loaf, and drank a pint of water with it,he would derive more s rength from it than from a pirt of beer. This reasoning, however, did not prevent him from drinking his accustomed quantity of beer, and paying every Saturday night a score of four or five shillings aw-ek for this curs ed beverage ; an expence from which I was wholly exempt. Thus do these poor devils continue all their lives in a state of voluntary wretchedness and poverty. At the end of a few weeks, Watts having occa sion for me above stairs as a compositor, I quit* ted the press* The compositors demanded of me gurnish money afresh. This I considered as an im position, having already paid below. The ma^er was of the same opinion and desired me not to comply. I thus remained two or three weeks out bi ihe fraternity. I was consequently looked upon as excommunicated j and whenever I was absent, no little trick that malice could suggest was left unpracticed upon me. I found mv letters mixecl r my pages transposed, my matter broken, &c. &c. all which was attributed to the spirit that haunted the chapel,* and tormented those who were not regu larly admitted. I was at last obliged to submit to pay, notwithstanding the protection of the mas- * Printing houses in general are thus denominated by the workmen j the s/iirit they call by the name of Ralph* 64 MEMOIRS OF ter ; convinced of the lolly of not keeping up a good understanding with those among whom we are de stined to live. After this I lived in the utmost harmony with my fellow-laborers, aad soon acquired considerable in fluence among them. I proposed some alterations in the laws of the chapel, which I carried without opposition. My example prevailed with several of them to renounce their abcminabl? practice of bread and cheese with beer ; and they procured, like me, from a neighboring house, a good bason of warm gruel, in which was a small slice of butter, wi h toasted bread and mitrntg. This was a much bet ter breakfast, which did not cost more than a pint of beer, namely, three-half-pence, and at the same time preserved the head clearer. Those who con tinued to gorge themselves with beer, often lost their credit with the publican, from mglecting to pay their score. They had thtn recourse to m , to become security for them ; their light, as they used to call it, being out. 1 attended at the pay ta- bie every Saturday evening, to take up the little sum \vhich I had made myself answerable for ; and whkh sometimes amounted to nearly thirty shillings a week. This circumstance, ad-led to mv reputation of being a tolerable good gabber, or, in oh r words, skilful in the art i.f Burlesque, kept up my impor tance in the thapel. I had besides recommenced myself to the esteem of my master by assiduous ap plication to business, never observing Saint Mon day. My extraordinary quickness in composing al- v ays procured me such work as was most urgent, gndwhuh is commonly best paid; and thus my time passed away in u ver) pleasant tnuuritr. DR. FRANKLIN. 6 MV lodging in little Britain being too far from the printing-house, I took another in Duke-street, opposite the Roman Chapel. It was the back of an. Italian warehouse. The house was kept by a wi dow, who had a daughter, a servant, and a shop boy; but the latter slept out of the house. After sending to the people with whom I lodged in Little Britain, to enquire into mv character, she agreed to take mf at .the same price, three-and-six-pence a week ; contenting herself she said, with so little, be cause tbe security she would derive, as they were all- women, from having a man lodge in the house. She was a woman rather advanced in life, the daughter of a clergyman. She had been educated a Protestant ; but h T husband, whose memory she highly revered, had converted her ro the Cathoiie religion. She had lived in the habits of intimacy with persons of distinction ; of which she kneuf various anecdotes as far back as the time of Charles II* Being subject to fits of the gout, which often con fined her to her room, she was sometimes disposed to see company. Hers was so amusing to me, that I was glad to pass the evening with her as often as she desired it. Our supper consisted only of half an anchovy a piece, upon a slice of bread and butter,, with half a pint of ale between us. But the enter tainment was in her conversation. The early hours I kept, and the little trouble I oc casioned in the family, made her loath to part with me, and when I mentioned another lodging I had found, nearer the pvinting-house,at two shillings a week, which fell in with my plan of sa\ing, she persuaded me to give it up, making herself an abate* ment of two shillings : and thus I continued to- lodge with her, during the remainder of my abodt? ia Londo^ at eighteen pence a E 3 66 MEMOIRS OF In the gnrret of thr house there lived, in th* most retired manner, a lad< seventy \ears of ag , of whim I received the following account fr >m my landlady. She was a Roman Catholic. In her early- years she. had been stiit to the continent, and en- terrd a conve-t with die d-.-sign of becoming a nun; but the climate not agreeing wkh her constitution, sh.- was obiig-.d to reiun to E igl uvl, wh -re, as th.re were no monasteries, she made a vow to lead a monastic life, iti as rigid a manner as circum- st uices would permit. She accordingly disposed of all her property to be applied to charitable uses, reserving to herself only twrlve pounds <i year, and o hr.s small pittance she gav-- a part to the poor, li, - ia ? ou water-gruel, and never i\i iking use of fire but to boil it. S ie had lived in this garret a great ma ny years, without paying rent to the successive Ca tholic inhabitants that had k pt the house ; who in deed considered her abode with them as a blesdng. A priest came everv da> to confess h r. I ask ed her, said mv landlady, h >w. living as she di I, she could find so much employment for a confessor ? To vvhi h she answered, that it was impossible to avoid vain thoughts. I was once permitted to visit her. She was cheerful and polite, and her conversation agreeable* Her apartment was neat ; but the whole furniuire consisted of a mattrass, a table, on which were a cru cifix and a book, a ihair, which she jr.jve me t > -.it on, and over the mantle piece apKture of St. V - ro iica displaying her handkerchief, on which was st en t ne miraculous impression of the face of Christ, \v ,ich she explained to me with great gravity. H i r countenance was pair, bin had never experi enced sickness ; and I mav adduce hi j r as another proof how iiule is buffioKiit to maintain Ufe and R. FRANKLIN. 67 At the printing-house I contracts! an intimacy tvhh a sensible young man of the name oi W\ g:ite, \\ho.a-i his parents u t re in good circumstances, h t received a better education than is common. \vi.h prinu is. He was a tol rable Intin scholar, spoke 1 rmch fluently, and was loncl of reading. I taugi.t him, as wt 11 as a friend ol his, to swim, by tak i-g them twice only into the river; after which <h y stood in need of no finther assistance. We one day made a party to go by water to Chelsea, in ordei to srt the College and Don Soltero s cariosities. On our return, at ihe request of the company, whose curiosity Wygate had excited, I undress d mvself, and leaped into the river. 1 swam from near CheU s^a to BlackiViars Bridge, exhil)5cing, during my course, a variety of feats of activity and address, fcoth-upori the surface of the wa er, as well as under it. This sight occasioned much astonish rrient and pleasure to those to whom it was new. In my youth I took great delight in this exercise. I knew, and could execute, all the evolutions and positions of Thevenot ; and I added to them some of my own invention, in which I endeavored to unite gracefulness and utility. I took a pleasure in dis playing them all on this occasion, and was highly flattered with the admiration they excited. Wyg ite, besides his being desirous of perfecting himself in this art, was the more attached to me from there being, in other respects, a conformity in our tastes and studies. He at length proposed to me to make the tour of Europe with him, main taining ourselves at the same time bv workingatour profession. I was on the point of consenting, when I mentioned it to mv friend Denh*m, with whom I was glad to pass an hour whenever I had leisure* He dissuaded me from the project, and advised me 68 MEMOIRS OF to return to Philadelphia, which he was about to do himself. I must relate in this place a irait of this worthy man s character. He had formerly been ir business at Bristol, but fulling, he compounded with his creditors, and de parted lor America, where, .by assiduous application,, as a merchant, he acquired in a few years a very considerable fortune. Returning 10 England in the same vessel with myself, as I have related above r he invited all his old creditors to a feast. Whi a assembled, he thanked them for th^ readiness with which they had received his small composition | and while they expected nothing more than a single entertainment, each found under his plate., when it came to be rt moved, a draft u; o i a banker for the residue of h s debt, with interest. He told me it was his intention to carry back with* hiiu to Philadelphia a great quantity of goods, in order to open a store ; and hr offv red to take me with him in the capacity ofdrrk, to keep his books, in which he would instruct me, copy Utters, and superintend the store. He added, that, as soon a9H I had acquired a knowledge, of mercantile transac tions, he would improve my situation,, by sending- me wi h aca?go of corn and flour to the American islands, and by procuring me orhrr lucrative com* missions ; so that, with good management and ot-:o- nomv, I mi^ht in time begin business with ad*- Vantage for mvsclf. I relished these proposals. London began to tire me, the agreeable hours I had passed at Phila delphia presented themselves to my mind^ and I wish d to see thi m revive. I consequently en* guged myself to Mr. Denham, at a sal iry of nity pounds a year. This was indeed less than I earn ed MS acompobhor, but ihtn 1 hud a muth DR. FRANKLIN. 69 prospect. I took leave, therefore, as I believed forever, of priming, and gave myself up entirely to my new occupation, spending all my time either in going from house to house with Mr. Denham to purchase goods, or in packing them up, or in expe- pcditing the workmen, &c. &c. Whc n every thing however was on board, I had at last a it\v davs leisure. During this interval, I was one dav sent for by a pen tie m an, whom 1 knew only by iv.>me. I: was Sir William Wyndh^m. I went to his house. He had by some means heard of my performance^ t j - tween Chelsea a v! Blackfriars,and at 1 1 d uu^ht the art of swimming to Wygate and another young men in the course of a few hours. His two sons were on the point of setting out on their travels ; lie was desirous that they should previously learn 10 swim, and offered me a very liberal reward if I \vould undertake to instruct thf m. They were not yet arrived in town, and the stay I should make my self was uncertain ; I could not therefore accept his proposal. I was led however to suppose from this incident, that if 1 had wishrdtn remain in Lon don, and open a swimming-si hool, I should per haps have gained a great deal of money. This idea s ruck me so forcibly, that, had the offer bttn made me sooner, I should have dismissed thr thought of returning as yet to America. Some years after;. you and I had more important business to settle vviih one of the sons of sir William Wyndham, then Lord Egrtmont. But let us not anticipate events* I thus passed about eighteen months in London, working almost without intermission at my trade, avoiding all exp^ nee on my own account, except going now and hen to the plav, and purchasing a few books. But my iriend Ralph kept me poor. 70 MEMOIRS OF He owed me about twenty-seven pounds, which was so much money lost ; and when considered as taken from my little savings, was a very great sum. I had, notwithstanding this, a regard for him, as he possessed many amiable qualities. But though I had done nothing for myself in point of fortune, I had increased my stock of knowledge, either by the many excellent books I had read, or the conversa tion of learned and literary persons with whom I was acquainted. We sailed from Gravesend the 23d of July, 1726. For the incidents of my voyage I refer you to my journal, where you will find all the circumstances minutely related. We landed at Philadelphia on the llth of the following October. Keith had been deprived of his office of governor, and was succeeded by Major Gordon. I met him, walking in the streets as a private individual. He appeared ashamed at seeing me, but passed on with., out saying any thing. I should have been equally ashamed myself at meeting Miss Read, had not her family, justly des pairing of my return after reading my letter, advised her to give me up, and marry a potter, of the name of Rogers ; to which she consented : but he never made her happy, and she soon separated from him, refusing to cohabit with him, or even bear his name, on account of a report which prevailed, of his hav ing another wife. His skill in his profession had seduced Miss Read s parents ; but he was as bad a subject as he was excellent as a workman. He in volved himself in debt, and fled, in the year 1727 or 1728, to the West Indies, where he died. During my absence Keirner had taken a more considerable house, in which he kept a shop, that was well supplied with paper, aud various o DR. FRANKLIN. tides. He had procured some new types, and a number of workmen ; among whom, however, there was not one who was good for any thing ; and he appeared not to want business. Mr. Denham took a warehouse in Water-street, where we exhibited our commodities. I applied myself closely, studied accounts, and became in a short time very expert in trade. We lodged and eat together. He was sincerely attached to me, and acted towards me as if he had been my father. On my side, I respected and loved him. My situ ation was happy ; but it was a happiness of no long duration. Early in February 1727, when I entered into my twenty-second year, we were both taken ill. I was attacked with a pleurisy, which had nearly carried me off; I suffered terribly, and considered it as all over with me. I felt indeed a soit of disappoint ment when I found myself likely to recover, and regretted that I had still to experience, sooner or later, the same disagreeable scene again. I have forgotten what was Mr. Denham s disor der ; but it was a tedious one, and he at last sunk under it. He left me a small legacy in his will., as a testimony of his friendship ; and I was once more abandoned to myself in the wide world, the ware house being confided to the care of the testamentary executor, who dismissed me. My brother-in-law. Holmes, who happened to be at Philadelphia, advised me to return to my former profession ; and Keimer offered me a very consid erable salary if I would undertake the management of his printing-office, that he might devote himself entirely to the superintendance of his shop. His wife and relations in London had given me a bad character of him , and I was loath, for the present, 73 MEMOIRS OF to have any concern with him^ I endeavored to get employment as a clerk to a merchant; but not readily finding a situation, I was induced to accept Keimer s proposal, : t The following were the persons I found in his printing-house : Hugh Meredith, a Pennsvlvanian, about thirty- five years of age. He had been brought up o hus bandry, was honest, sensible, had some experience, and was fond of reading : but too much addicted to drinking. Stephen Potts, a young rustic, just broke from school, and of rustic education, with endowments rather above the common order, and a compeu-nt portion of understanding and guicty ; but a little idle. Kcimer iiad engaged these two at very low wages, which he had promised to raise even three months a shilling a week, provided their improve ment in the typographic art should merit it. This future increase of wages was the bail he made use of to ensnare them. Meredith to \voik at thr press, and Potts to hind books, which he had engaged to tench th-.-m, though he understood iieilher himself. John Savage, an Irishman, who had been brought up to no trade, and uhose sc-nicr for a period of four years, Keimer had purchased of the captain of a ship. II \\-c\s also to be a | rrssman. George Webb, an Oxford scholar., whose time he had in like maniv r bought lor four years, intend- ing him for a compositor. 1 shall speak more of him presently. JLasdy, David Harry, a country lad, who was apprenticed to him. I soon perceived that KeimerVintention, in engag ing me at a price so much above what he v/as accus tomed to give, was, that I niiglu form all these raw Dft. FRANKLIN. f* journeymen and apprentices, who scarcely cost him any thing, and who, being indentured, would, as soon as ihey should be suihciemly instructed, ena* ble him to do without me. I nevertheless adhered to my agreement. I put the office in order, which was in the utmost contusion, and brought his people, by degrees, to pay attention to their work, and to execute it in a more masterly manner. IL was singular to see an Oxford scholar in the condition of a purchased servant. He was not more than eighteen years of age ; -md the follow ing are the particulars he gave me of himself. Born at Gloucester, he had been educated at a grammar school, and had distinguished himself among the scholars by his superior style of acting, when h y represented dramatic performances. He was a member of a literary club in the town ; and some pieces of his composition, in prose as wtll as in verse had been inserted in the Gloucester papers. From hence he was sent to Oxford where he remained n bout a year ; but hv was not contented, -and wish ed above all things to see London, and become ,;ji actor. Ac length, having received fifteen guineas to pay his quarter s board, he decamped with the money from CKford, hH his gown in a hedge, a 1 travelled to London. Trx-re, haviug no frieiv. 1 o directhim,he fell into biscl company, soon squandered his fifteen guineas, could find no way to be intro duced to the actors, bccam<- contemptible, pawned his clothes, and was in want of bread. As he wan walking along the streets, almost famished with hun ger, and not knowing what to do, a recruiting bill was put into his hand, which offered an immediate treat and bounty-money, to whoever was disposed to serve in America. He instantly repaired to the house of lendezvouSj inlistcd hi ita self, was put ofl G 74 MEMOIRS OF board a ship and conveyed to America, without ev er writing to inform his parents what was become c}f him. His mental vivacitv , and good natural dis position, made him an excellent companion ; but he was indolent, thoughtless, and to the last degree imprudent. John, the Irishman, soon ran away. I began to live very agreeably with the rest. They respected me, and the more so as they found Keimer incapa ble of instructing them, and as the\ learned some thing from me everyday. We never worked on a Saturday, it beirg Ktimtr s Sabbath; so that I hud two days a wer k tor reading. I eiicrea&ed my acquaintance with persons of knowledge and information in the town. Keimer himself treated me with grea i civility and apparent esu.-c.rn; and I had nothing to give me uneasiness but jiv, debt to Vernon, which I was unable to pay, my savings as yet b ing very little. He had the good- IK ss, however, not to ask me tor the money. Our press was frequently in want of the necessary qnantiut} of letttr ; and there was no such irach as that of 1; tier-founder in America. I had seen the practice of this art at tht house oi James, in London ; bui had at the same time paid it very little attention. I however contrived to fabricate a mould. I in v-rlc use of such letters as we had for punches^ founded new letters of le -d in matrices of clay, and t i;s supplied, in a tolerable manner, the wants $.hut \\{ re most pressing. i .,isr, upnnoct- sion, engraved various ornaments, jn. K e ink, ^ave an evt- to tue shop ; in short, I was in tv t - r< si,rc<. tv ffict&tum. But useful as I murle Hi. :. i pttvcivvd that mv services became every d \ o K s iu-.i Ttance, in proportion as the other iiid* iu-^ioved j and vvh^n Kcim^r paid me my DR. FRANKLIN. 75 second quarter s wages, he gave me to understand that they were too heavy, and that he thought I ought to make an abatement. He became by de grees less civil, and assumed more the tone of mas ter. He frequently found fault, was difficult to please, and seemed always on the poiut of coming to an open quarrel with me. I continued, however, to bear it patientlv, con* ceiving that his ill-humor was partly occasioned by the derangement and embarrassment of his affairs* At last a slight incident broke our connection. Hearing a noise in the neighborhood, I put my head out of the window to see what was the matter. K imer b^ing in the street, observed me, and in a loud and angry tone told me to mind rw work ; adding some reproachful words, which piqued me thejpore as they were uttered in the street ; ai.d the neighbors, whom the noise had attracted to the windows, were witnesses of the manner in wh*. h I was treated, lie immediately came up to the pi inr- ing room, and continued to exclaim against me. Xho quarrel became warm on both skies, and he gave me notice to quit him at he expiration of three months, as had been agreed betvv- us ; re gretting that h was obliged to give me so io i term. I told him that his regret was superfluous, as I was ready to quit him instantly ; and I took my hat and came out of the house, begging Mere- diih to take care of some tilings which I left, and bring them to my lodgings. ?leredith came to me in the evening. W ..- talk ed for some time upon the quarrel that had taken place. He had conceived a great veneration for me, and was sorry I should quit the house while he re mained in it. He dissuaded me from returning to my native country, as I be- gan to think of doing. He reaiinded me that Keiraer owed more than ha *6 MEMOIRS OF possess? d , that his creditors began to be alarm* tcl ; that he kept his shop in a wr. tched state, often selling things at prime tost for the sake of readv money, and continually giving credit with out keeping any accounts ; that of consequence he must very soon fail, whiv h wouldoccasion a vacancy from which I might derive advantage. I objected my \vant of money. Upon which he informed me that his lather had a very high opinion of me, and from a conversation that had passed between them, lie was sure that he would advance whatever might be necessary to establish us, if I was willing to enter into partnership with him. "My time with Kei- Tner," added he, "will be at an end next spring. In the mean time we may send tp London fur our press and types. I know that I am no workman ; but if you agree to the proposal, your skill in, the business will be balanced by the capital i will fur nish, and we will share the profits equally." His proposal was reasonable, and I fell in with it. His father, who was then in the towu, approved of it. He knew that I had some ascendency over his son, as I had been able to prevail on him to abstain a long time from drinking brandy ; and he hoped that when more closely connected with him, I should cure him enlirely of this unfortunate habit* I gave the father a list of what it would be neces sary to import from London, He took it to a mer chant, and the order was given. We agreed to Iteep the secret till the arrival of the materials, and I was in the mean time to procure work, if possi ble, in another pri-ming-house ; but there was no place vacant, and 1 reu.uined idle. After some days, Keimer having the expectation of being em ployed to print some New Jersey money-bills, that would require tvpc-s and engravings which I only could fuiiuih, aud ieuUul Uxut JUr.ad(br,d, by DR. FRANKtllSr. W ing me, might deprive him of the undertaking, sent me a very civil message, telling me that old friends ought not to he disunited on account of a few words, which -were the effect onlv of a momen tary passion, and inviting me to return to him* Meredith persuaded me to comply with the invita tion, partieularly as it would afford him more op portunities of improving himself in the husmess by- means of my instructions. I did so, and we lived upon better terms than before our separation. He obtained the New-Jersey business ; and in order to execute it, I constructed a copper plate printing-press ; the first that had been seen in the countrv. I engraved various ornaments and vig nettes for the bills ; and we repaired to Burlington, together, where I executed the whole to the general 5 satisfaction; and he received a sum of money f < r this work, which enabled him to keep his hea<Jl abo\-e water for a considerable time longer. At Burlington I formed acquaintance with the principal personages of the province ; many of whom were commissioned by the assembly to su perintend the press, and to see that no more bills "were printed than the law had prescribed. Accord ingly they were constantly with us, each in his turn ; #nd h- that came commonly brought with him & Iriend or two to bear him company. Mv mind was more cultivated by re; ding than Kei HUT S ; and it \vas for this reason, probably, that they set more jnore va^ueon my conversation. They took me tcr jtheir houses, introduced me to their friends, and treated me with the greatest civility ; while Kei- mer, though master, saw himself a little -neglected* He was, in fact, a strange animal, ignorant of the common modes of life, apt to oppose with rudeness general received .opinions, an enthusiast in certain G % fS MEMOIRS OF points of religion, disgustingly unclean in his per* son, and a little knavish withal. We remained there nearly three months ; and at th< j expiration of this period I could include ii the list ol my friends. Judge Allen, Samuel Bustil, se cretary of the province, Isaac Pearson, Joseph Coop er, several of the Smiths, all members of the Assem bly, and Isaac Deacon, inspector-general. The last was a shrewd and subtle old man. He told me, that, when a boy, his first emplo\ mrnt had been that of carrying clay to brick-makers ; that he did not learn to write till he was somewhat advanced in life ; that he was afterwards employed as an underling to a surveyor, who taught him his trade, and that by industry he had at last acquired a competent for tune. " I foresee." said he one day to me, " that you will soon supplant this man," speaking of Kei- mer, " and get a fortune in ihe business at Phila delphia." He was totally ignorant at the tinfe of my intention of establishing mvself there, or any where else- These friends were ven serviceable to me in the end, as was I also, upon occasion, to some of them; and the) have continued ever since tht ir estef m for me. Before I r< late the particulars of mv entrance into business, itmav be proper to inform you what was at that time the state of my mind as to moral prin ciples, that vou may see the degree of influence they had upon subsequent t vents of m- life. Mv parents had given me betimes religious im pressions ; and 1 received from my inf;$nc\ a pious education in the prim iples of Calvinism. But scarceU was I arrived at fifteen vears of age, when, aftrr having doubted in turn of dlff r nt tenets, ac cording as I found th< m combated in the diff rent thatl read, I began to doubt of revelation it* DR. FRANKLfN". ffr grlf. Som? volumes against dt ism fell into mv h.incls. I h j \ were said to be the substance of sermons preach :d at Boyle s lectures. It happen ed that the y produced on me an t ff ct precisely the rtvers< of what was intended by the writers; for the arguments of the deists, \vhich w<-re cited in order to be reUited, appeared to me mu h more for cible than die refutation itself. In a word, I soon became a perfect deist. My arguments perverted some other young persons; particularly Collins and Ralph. But in the sequel, when I recollet ted thit they had both used me extremely ill, without the s mallets remorse ; when I considered the beha vior of Keith, ano htr freethinker, and mv own conduct towards Vernon and Miss Read, which at times gave me much uneasiness, I was led to sus- ptct that this doctrine, though it might be true, \vas not very useful. I began to entertain a less favorable opinion of my London pamphlet, to which I had prefixed, as a motto, the following lines of Dry den ; Whatever is, is right; tbo* purblind man Fees but part of the chain, the nearest link) His eyes not carrying to the equal beam 1 hut poises all above. and of which the object was to prove, from the attri butes of God, his goodness, wisdom, and power, that there could be no such thing as evil in the world; thai, vice and virtue did not in reality exist, and VVH re nothing more than vain distinctions. I no linger regarded it as so blameless a work as I had formerly imagined, and I suspected that some error must have imperceptibly glided into my argument, bv which all the inferences I had drawn from iihad been affected, as frequently happens in metaphysical reas .-nings. In a word, I was at last com in< ed that truth, probity and sincerity, in trausuuiona bttweea SO MEMOIRS OF man and man, were of the utmost importance to the happen ss of life ; and I resolved from that moment, and wrote the resolution in my journal, to practice them as long as I lived. Revelation indeed, as such, had no influence on -inv mind ; but I was of opinion that, though certain ,ai (ions could not be bad merely because revelation prohibited them, or good because it enjoined them, yet it was probable that those actions were prohib ited because they were bad for us, or enjoined be cause advantageous in their nature, all things con- side r< d. This persuasion, divine providence, some guardian angel,, and perhaps a concur rence of favorable circumstances co-operating, pre- s< rvi/d me from immorality, or gross and voluntary injustice, to which my want of religion was calcula ted to expose me, in the dangerous period of youth, and in the hazardous situations in which I some times found myself, among strangers, and at a dis tance from the ey-e and admonitions oi my father. I may sav voluntary, because the errors into which I had fallen, had been in a manner the forced result either of my own inexperience or the dishonesty of others. Thus, before I entered on my new career, I had imbibed solid principles, and a character of pn-l.:itv. 1 knew their value ; and I made a solemn engagement with myself never to depart from them. I had not long returned fiom Burlington before OUT printing materials arrived from London. I settled my accounts with Keimer, and quitted him with his own consent, before he had any knowledge of our plan. We found a house to let near the market. We took it ; and to render the rent k-ss bin thensome (it was then twenty -four pounds a yenr, but I have since known it let for sevenU ,) w.e 1 hernias Godfrey, a glaziu-, with h DR. FRANKLIN. fit Hy, who eased us of a considerable part of it; and with him we agreed to board. We had no sooner unpacked our letter, and put our press in order, than a person of my acquaintance, George House, brought us a countryman, whom he met in the street enquiring for a printer. Our money was almost exhausted by the number of things we had been obliged to procure. The five shillings we received from this countryman, the first fruit of our earnings, coming so seasonably,, gave me more pleasure than any sura I have since gained ; and the recollection of the gratitude I felt on this occasion to George House, has rend red .me often more disposed, than perhaps I should otherwise have been, to encourage young beginners in trade. There are in every country morose beings, who are always prognosticating ruin There was one of this stamp in Philadelphia. He was a man of fortune, declined in years, had an air of wisdom, and a very grave manner of speaking. His name \Vcis Samuel Mickle. I knew him not ; but he stop ped one day at my door, and asktd me if I was the young man Vho had lately opened a new printing- house. Upon my answering in the alhrmative, he said that he was very sorry for me, as it was an ex pensive undertaking, and the money that had been laid out upon it would be lost, Philadelphia being a place falling into decay ; its inhabitants having till, or nearly all of them, b--en obliged to call togetht r their creditors. That he knew, from undoubt( d fact, the circumstances which might lead us to sup pose the contrary, such as new buildings, and ihe advanced price of rent, to be deceitful appearances, \vhich in reality contributed to hasten the gon-.tl and he gave nne so long a detail of mi?> r- iicoj actually existing, or which wtrc souu u> mke 82 MEMOIRS OP place, that he left me almost in a state of despair. Had I known this man before I entered into trade, I should doubtless never have ventured. He how ever continued to live in this place of decay, and to declaim in the same style, refusing foi many years to buy a house, because all was going to wreck ; and in the end, 1 had the satisfaction to see him pay five times as much for one as it would cost him had he purchased it when he first began his lamentations. I ought to have related, thai, during thtr autumn of the preceding \ ear, I had united the majority of Well informed persons of my acquaintance into a cliib, which we called the jimto^ and the object of which was to improve our understandings. We met every Friday evening. The regulations I drew up, obliged every member to propose, in his turn, one or more questions upon some point of morality, politics, or philosophy, which were to be discussed by the society ; and to read, once in three months, an essay of his own composition, on what ever subject he pleased. Our debates were under the direction of a president, and were to be dictated only by a sincere desire of truth ; the pleasure of disputing, and the vanity of triumph, having no share in the business ; and in order to prevent un due warmth, every expression which implied obsti nate adherence to an opinion, and all direct contra diction, were prohibited, under small pecuniary pe nalties. The first members of our club were Joseph Breintnal, whose occupation was that of a scrivener, He was a middle-aged man, of a good natural dis position, strongly attached to his friends, a great l>ver of poetry, reading every thing that came in his way, and writing tolerably well, ingenious in jnanv little trifles, and of an agreeable conversation. Thomas Godfrey, a skiiiui, though sclf-taagh,* DR. FRANKLIN. 83 mathematician, and \vho was afterwards the invent or of what now goes by the name of I ladley s dial ; blithe had little knowledge out of his own line, and was insupportable in company, al\va\s requiring, like the majority of mathematicians that have fallen in my way, an unusual precision in every thing ihat is said, continually contradicting, or making trifling distinctions ; a sure way of defeating all the ends of conversation. He very soon left us. Nicholas Scull, a surveyor, and who became af terwards surveyor-general. He was fond of books, and wrote verses. William Parsons, brought up to the trade of a shoe-makvr, but who, having a taste for reading, had acquired a profound knowledge of mathematics. He first studied them with a view to astrology, and was afterwards the first to laugh at his folly. He also became a surveyor-general. William Mawgriclge, a joiner, a verv excellent mechanic ; and in other respects a man of solid un derstanding. Hugh Meredith, Stephen Potts, and George Webb, of whom I have already spoken. Robert Grace,, a } oung man of fortune ; generous, animated, and witty; fond of epigrams, but more fond of his friends. And lastly, William Coleman, at that time a merchant s clerk, and nearly of my own age. He hnd a cooler and clearer head, a better heart, and more scrupulous morals, than almost any other per son I have ever met with. He became a very res pectable merchant, and one of our provincial judges. O<ir friendship subsisted, without interruption, for more than forty years, till the period of his death ; and the club continued to exist almost as long. Tr.is vas the best school of politics and philoso phy that then existed au the province ; for our qucs- *4 MEMOIRS OF tions which were read a wetk previous to their dis cussion, induced us to peruse attentively such b. oks as were written upon the subjects proposed, that we might be able to speak upon them more pertinently* We thus acquired the habit ol conversing more a- gretably; evtry object being dicu&sed conformably to our regulations, and in a manner to prevent mutual disgust. To this circumstance may be attributed the long duration of the club ; which I shall have fre quent occasion to mention as I proceed. k 1 have introduced it here, as being one of the means on which I had to account for success in my business ; every member exerted himself to procure work for us. |Breintnal, among others, obtained for us, on the part of the Quakers, the printing of forty sheets of theiv history ; ot which the rvsiwas to be done by Keimer. Our execution ot ihis work was by no means master! . ; as the price was vM*y low. It was in folio, upon pro patr ra paper, and in the j&/t rt letter, with heavy notes in the smallest type. I composed a sheet a flay, and Meredith put k to the press. It was frequently eleven o cloi k at night, sometimes later, before I had finished my distribution for the next da\ s t,;sk ; for the little things which our friends occasionally sent HS, kept us back in this work : but I was so determined to compose a sheet a day, that one evening, when my \voik was imposed, and my day s work as 1 thought at an end, an accident having broken this form, -and deranged two complete folio pages, I immediately distributed, and composed themantw before I wont to bed. This unwearied industry, which was perceived bv oui neighbors, began to acquire us reputation am! credit. I learned, among oiher things, that our TV r ",v printing-house be fl the subject of conversa tion aiu club oi aicnhajuu, who met every evening, Dfc. FRANKLIN. 8* if was the general opinion that it would fail ; there being already two printing houses in the town, Keimer s and Bradford s. But Dr. Bard, whom you and I had occasion to see many years after, at iiis native town of St. Andrew s in Scotland, was of a different opinion. " The industry of this Franklin (said he) is superior to any thing of the kind I have ever witnessed. I see him still at work when I return from the club at night, and he is at it again in the morning before his neighbors are out of bed." This account struck the rest of the as sembly, arid shortly after one of its members came to our house, and offered to supply us with articles of stationary ; but we wished not as yet to embar rass ourselves wiih keeping a shop. It is not for the sake of applause that I enter so freely into the particulars of my industry, but that such of my de scendants as shall read these mejnoirs may know the use of this virtue, by seeing in the recital of my life the effects it operated in my favor. George Webb, having found a friend who lent him the necessary sum to buy out his time of Keimer, came one day to offer himself to us as a journey* man. We could not employ him immediately; but I foolishly told him, under the rose, that I in tended shortly to publish a new periodical paper, and that we should then have work for him. My hopes of success, which I imparted to him, were founded on the circumstance, that the only paper we had in Philadelphia at that time, and which Bradford printed, was a paltry thing, miserably conducted, in no respect amusing, and which yet was profitable. I consequently supposed that a good work of this kiircl could not fail of success. Webb betrayed my secret to K< imer, who, to pre vent rat 1 , immediately published i\\v prospectus of a . S 6 MEMOIRS OF paper that he intended to institute himself, and in ivhich Webb was to be engaged. I was exasperated at this proceeding, and, with a view to counteract them, not being able at present to institute my own paper, I wrote some humorous pieces in Bradford s, under the title of the Busy Bo dy; * and which was continued for several months by Breintnal. I hereby fixed the attention of the public upoft Bradford s paper ; and the prospectus of Keimer, which we turned into ridicule, was treat ed with contempt, lie began, notwithstanding, his paper ; and after continuing it for nine months, hav ing at most not more than ninety subscribers, he of fered it me for a mere trifle. I had for some time been ready for such an engagement ; I therefore in- stan.lv took it upon myself and in a few years it proved extremely profitable to me. I perceive that I am apt to speak in the first person, though our partnership still continued. It is, per haps, because, in fact, the whole business devolved upon me. Meredith was no compositor, and but an indifferent pressman; and it was rarely that he abstained from hard drinking. My friends were sorry to see me connected with him; but I contriv ed to derive from it the utmost advantage the case admitted. Our first number produced no other effect tli-in any other paper which had appeared in the province, ;\s to t\ pe and printing; but some remarks in my peculiar style of writii-g, upon the dispute which then prevailed between governor Burnet, and the * A manuscript note in the file of the American Mercury, preserved in the Philadelphia Library, savs, that Franklin wrote the first five numberb; und part of the eighth. DR. FRANKLIN". g? Massachusetts assembly, struck some persons as a- bove mediocrity, caused the paper and ks editors to be talked of, and in a few weeks induced them to become our subscribers. Many others followed their example ; and cur subscription continued to increase. This was one of the; first good effects of the pains I had taken to learn to put my ideas on, paper. I derived this farther advantage from it, that the leading men of the. place, seeing in the au thor of this publication a man so well able to use his pen, thought it right to patronise and encourage? me. The votes, laws, and other public pieces, were printed by Bradford. An address of the house of assembly to the governor hid been executed by him in a very coarse and incorrect manner. We re printed it" with accuracy and neatness, and sent a, copy to every member. They perceived the differ ence ; and.it so .strengthened ths influence of our friends in the assembly, that we were nominated its printers for the following year. Among these friends I ought not to forg?t one member in particular, Mr. Hamilton, whom I have mentioned in a former part of my. narrative, and who was now returned from England. He w- .rmly interested himself for me on this occasion, as he likewise did on many others afterwards ; having con. tinned his kindness to me till his death. About this period Mr. Vernon reminded me of the debt I owed him. but without pressing me for payment. I wrote him a handsome letter on the occasion, begging him to wait a little longer, to which he consented ; and as soon as I was able paid him, principal and interest, with many expres sions of gratitude ; so that this error of my life was in a manner atoned for. #9 MEMOIRS OF Bnt another trouble now happened to me, which I had not the smallest reason to expect. Mere dith s father, who according to our, agreement, was to defray the whole expence of our printing mate* rials, had only paid a hundred pounds. Another hundred was still due, and the merchant being tired oi waiting commenced a suit against us. We bail ed the action, but with the melancholy prospect, that, if the money was not forth coming at the time fixed, the affair would come to issue, judgment be put in execution, our delightful hopes annihilated, and ourselves entirely .ruined ; as the type and press must be sold, perhaps at half their value, to pay the debt. In this distress, two real friends, whose generoua conduct I have never forgotten, and never shall for get while I retain the remembrance of any thing, came to me separately, without the knowledge of each other, and without my having applied to them. Each offered me whatever sum might be necessary, to take the business into my own hands, if the thing was practicable, as they did not like I should conti- mie in partnership with Meredith, who, they said, was frequently seen drunk in the streets, and gam bling at ale-houses, which very much injured our credit. These friends were William Coleman and Robert Grace. I U;ld them that while there re mained any probability that the Merediths would ful fil their purt of the compact, I could not propose a separation ; as I conceived myself to be under ob ligations to them for what thu>y had done already, sind were still disposed to do if they had the pow^r : but in the end should they fail in their engagement* ard our partnership be dissolved, I should then t^ -..-k m\ self at liberty to accept the kindness of my il BR. FRANKLIN. C* remained for some time in this state* At last J sa u! one day to my partner, " Your fa ther is perhaps dissatisfied with your having a share only in ihc business, aud is unwilling to do for two, what he would do for you alone. Tell me frankly it that be the case, and I will rt sign the whole o vou,, and do for myself as well as I can." u No (said he) im father has really been disappointed in his hopes ; he is not able to pay, and I wish to put him to no further inconvenience. I see that I am not at all calculated for a printer ; I was educated as a farmer, and it was absurd in me to come here, at thirty yeara of age, and bind myself apprentice to a new trade* JVfanv of my countrymen are going to settle in North Carolina, where the soil is exceedingly favor able. I am tempted to go with them, and to resume my former occupation. You will doubtless find friends who will assist you. If you will take upon, yourself the debts of the partnership, return my fa ther the hundred pounds he has advanced, pay my little personal ck bts, and give me thirty pounds and a new saddle, I will renounce the partnership, and consign over the whole stock to you." I accepted this proposal without hesitation. Ic *vas committed to paper, and signed without delay* J gave him what he demanded, and he departed soon after for Carolina, from whence he sent me^ in the following year, two long letters, containing the best accounts Uat had;yet been given of that country,, as to climate, soil, agriculture, &c. for he was versed in these matters. I published them in my newspa- .per, and they were received with great satisfaction* As soon as he was gooe I applied to mv two friends, and not wishing to give a disobliging pro* f re nee to either, 1 accepted from each half what he iud ofilixU me, and which it was necessary I hou!4 90 ME MO IPS OF have. I paid the partnership debts, anrl continued the business on my own account; taking care to in form the public, b\ advertisement, of the partnership bring dissolved. This was, I think in the year 1729, or thereabout. Nearlv at the same period the people demanded a new emissio n of paper money; the existing and the only one that had taken place in the province, and which amounted to fifteen thousand pounds, being soon to expire. The wealthy inhabitants, prejudic ed against every sort of paper currency, from the fear of its depreciation, of which there had been an instance in the province of New England, to the injury of its holders, stronglv opposed the measure. "We had discussed this affair in our junto, in which J was on the side of the new emission ; convinced that the first small sum, fabricated in 1723, had done inuch good in the province, by favoring commerce, industiy and population, binct all the houses were r.ow inhabited, and many others building ; whereas I remembered to have seen, when firsfc**!. parad* d the streets of Philadelphia eating my roll, the majo rity of those in Walnut-street, Second-street, Fourth* street, as well as a great number in Chespul and o- ther streets, with papers on them signifying that they were to be let; whi.h made me think at the time that the inhabitants of the town were deseiting it one after another. Our debates made me so fully master of the subject^ that I wrote and published an anonvmous pamphlet, entitled An Enquiry into the Nature and Necessity of a Paper Currencv. It was very vveU received by the lower and middling class of people ; but it displeased the opulent, as it increased the clamor in favour of the new emission. Having, however, no writer among them capable of answer- DU. FRANKLIN. 01 ing it, their opposition became K j ss violent ; and there being in the house of assembly a majority for the measure, it passed. The friends I had acquired in the house, persuaded me that I had done the country essential service on this occasion, rewarded me by giving me the printing of the bills. It was a lucrative employment, and proved a very season able help to me ; another advantage which I derived from having habituated myself to write. Time and experience so fully demonstrated the utility of paper currency, that it never after experi enced any considerable opposition ; so that it soon amounted to 55,OOOLand in the year 1739 to8O,OOOl. It has since risen, during the last war, to 350,000, trade, buildings and population, having in the inter val continually increased; but I am now convinced that there are limi .s beyond which paper money would be prejudicial. I soon after obtained, bv the influence of my friend Hamilton, the printing ol the Newcastle paper mr- DPV, another profitable work, as I then thought, Ih- tle things appearing great to persons of moderate fortune ; and they were really great to me, as prov ing great encouragements. He also procured me th<" printing of the laws and votes of that govern ment, which I retained as long as I continued in the business. I now opened a small stationer s shop. I kept bonds and agreements of all kinds, drawn up in a more accurate form than had yet been seen in that part of the world ; a work in which I was assisted bv my friend Breintnal. I had also papor, parch ment, pasteboard, books, &c. One Whitemash, a excellent compositor, whom I bnd known in London^ came to offer himself. I engaged him, and he con tinued constantly and diligentlv to work M i h me, 1 also took an apprentice, the son of Acuaila Koss DEMOTES OF to pay, by degrees, the debt I hatf traded ; and in order to insure my credit and char* aoter as a trad sman, I took care not only to be really industrious and frugal, but also to avoid every appearance of the contrary. I was plainly dressed, nnd never seen in any place of public amusement. J never went a fishing or hunting: A book indeed enticed me sometimes from my work, but it was seldom, by stealth, and occasioned no scandal ; and to show that I did not think myself above my pro fession, I conveyed home sometimes in a wheel* barrow the pnper I purchased at the warehouses. I thus obtained the reputation of being an indus- tr ous young, man, and very punctual in his pay- in nts. The merchants who imported articles (Jtf stationary solicited my custom ; others offered to furnish m<_- with books, and my little trade went on prosperous! . M.-amvhile the credit and business of Keimer di minished every clay, Iv? was at last forced to sell his stock to satisfy his creditor*; and he betook himself to Bavbadoes, where he lived for some time in i\ very impoveri-hrd state. His apprentice, Da- vid Harrv, ivhoan I had instructed while I work? d *vit.h Keinv r, having bought his materials, succeed*. cd him in the business. I was apprehensive, at first, of finding in Harry a pOwefM competitor, as he was allied to an opulent and respectable family ; t th-r<f>re proposed a partnership, which, happily fur mr , he rejected with disdain. He was extrt -mt \.y proud, thought himself a fine gentleman, lived ex*- travagnntl}, and pursued amusements whit h suffer ed him to be scarce!) ever at home; of const quence he became in debt, neglected his business, and busi* j}- ss neglected him. Finding in a short time no thing to do in the country, he followed Xcinvr to , carr^ing his printing muu liuls with hiia . FRANKLIN. S3 the apprentice employed his old master as a journeyman. They were continually quarrelling; and Harry still getting in debt, was obliged at last to sell his press and types, and return to his old oc cupation of husbandry in Pennsylvania. The per- son who purchased them employed Keimer to man age the business, but he died a few years after. I had now at Philadelphia no competitor but Bradford, who, being in easy circumstances, did not engage in the printing of books, except now and then as workmen chanced to offer themselves; and was not anxious to extend his trade. He had, however, one advantage over me, as he had the di rection of the post-office, and was of consequence supposed to have better opportuniries of obtaining news. His paper was also supposed to be more advantageous to advertising customers ; and iff consequence of that supposition, his advertisements were ciuch more numerous than mine: this WPS ?. source of great profit to him, and disadvantageous to me. It was to no purpose that I really procured other papers, and distributed my own, by means of the post ; the public took for granted my inability in this respect; and I was indeed unable to con quer it in any other mode than bv bribing the post boys, who served me only by stealth, Bradford being so illiberal as to forbid them. This treatment of his excited my resentment ; and my disgust was so rooted, that, when I afterwards succeeded him in the post-office, I took care to avoid copying his ex* ample. I had hitherto continued to board with Godfrey, vho, with his wife and children, occupied part of my house, and half of the shop for his business ; at which indeed he worked very little, being always absorbed by mathematics. Mrs. Godfrey formed 04 MEMOIRS OF a wish of marrying me to the (laughter of one ofher relations. She contrived various opportunities of bringing vis together, till she saw that I was captiva ted ; which was not difficult, the lady in question possessing great personal mtrir. The parents en couraged my addresses, by inviting me continually to supper, and leaving us together, till at last it was time to come to an explanation. Mrs. Godfrey un dertook to nt gociate our little treaty. 1 gave her to understand, that I expected to receive with the young lady a sum of money that would enable me at least to discharge the remainder of my debt for my printing materials. It was then, I believe, not rnor- than a hundred pounds. She brought me for answer, that they had no such sum at their dispo sal. I observed that it might easily be obtained, by a mortgage on their house. 1 he reply of this \vas, after a few days interval, that they had con sulted Bradford, and found that the business of a printer was not lucrative ; that my letters woultf soon be \vorn out, and must be supplied by new ones; that Kei^.er and Harry had failed, and that probably I should do so too. Accordingly they forbade me the house, and the young lady was con fined. I know not if they had really changed their minds, or if it was merely an artifice, supposing our affections ro be too far engaged for us to desist, and that we should contrive to marry secretly, which would leave them at liberty to give or not, as they pleased. But, suspecting this motive, I never went again to their house. Some time after, Mrs. Godfrey informed me that they were favorabh disposed towards me, and wish ed me to r- new the acquaintance ; but I declared a firm resolution never to have any thing more to do with. Jie family. The Godfreys expressed DR. FRANKLIN. 9S resentment at this ; and as \ve could no longer agree, they changed their residence, leaving me in posses sion of the whole house. I then resolved to take no more lodgers. This affair having turned my thoughts to marriage, I looked around me, and made overtures of alliance in oiher quarters ; but I soon found that the profession of a printer being generally looked upon as a poor trade, I could ex pect no money with a wife, at least if I wished her to possess any other charm. Meanwhile, that pas sion of youth, so diili ult to govern, hud often drawn ine into intrigues with despicable women who fell in my way ; which were not unaccompanied with expence and inconvenience, besides the perpetual risk of injuring my health, and catching a disease which I dreaded above all things. But I was for tunate enough to escape this danger. Asa neighbor and old acquaintance, I kept up a friendly intimacy with the family of Miss Read, Her parents had retained an affection for me from the time of my lodging in their house. I was often invited thither ; they consulted me about their af fairs, and I had been sometimes serviceable to them. I w r as touched with the unhappy situation of their daughter, who was almost alwavs melancholy, and continually seeking solitude. I regarded my for- getfulness and inconstancy, during mv abode hi London, as the principal cause of her misfortune ; though her mother had the candor to attribute the fault to hersilt, rather than to me, because, after having prevented our marriage previous to my de parture, she had induced her to marry another in jmy absence. Our mutual affection revived; but there existed great obstacles to our union. Her marr nge was considered, indetd, us not being valid, the man hay- 95 MEMOIRS OF ing, it was said, a former wife still living in Engfc land ; but of this it was difficult to obtain a proof at so great a distance; and though a report prevailed of his being dead, yet we had no certainty of it ; aud supposing it to be true, he had left many debts, for the payment of which his successor might be sued. We ventured nevertheless, in spite of all these dif ficulties, and I married heron the first of September 173O. None of the inconveniences we had feared happened to us She proved to me a good and faith- ful companion, and contributed essentially to the success of my shop. We prospered together, and it was our mutual study to render each other happy. Thus I corrected, as well as I could, this great er ror of my youth. Oar club was not at that time established at a ta vern. We held our meetings at the house of Mr. Grace, who appropriated a room to the purpose. Some members observed one day, that as our books were frequently quoted in the course of our discus sions, it would be convenient to have them collect ed in the room in which we assembled, in order to be consulted upon occasion ; and that, by thus form ing a common library of our individual collections, each would have the advantage of using the books of all the other members, which would nearly be the same as if he possessed them all himself. The idea was approved, and we accordingly brought such books as we thought we could spare, which were plactd at the end of the club room. They amount ed not to so many as we expected ; and though we made considerable use of them, yet some inconve niences resulting from the want of care, it was a- greed, after about a vear, to destroy the collection ; and each took away such books as belonged to Mm. It was now that 1 first staled the idea of establish* DT*. FRANKLIN. 9f ing, by subscription, a public library. I drew up the proposals, had them engrossed in form by Brock- dm the attorney, and my project succeeded, as will be seen in the sequel. *^^^^^^^^*^*^^ [The life of Dr. Franklin, as written by himself, so far as it has been communicated to the world, breaks off in this place. We understand that it was continued by him some what further, and we hope that the remain der will, at some future period, be communicated to the public. We have no hesitation in supposing that every reader will find himself greatly interested by the frank simplicity and the philosophical discernment by which these pages are so eminently characterised. We have therefore thought proper, in order as much as possible to relieve his regret, to subjoin the following continua tion, by one of the doctor s intimate friends. It is ex tracted from an American periodical publication, and was written by the late Dr. Stuber* of Philadelphia.] THE promotion of literature bad been little at- tendevi to in Pennsylvania. Mostot the inhabitants \vere too much immersed in business to think of scien tific pursuits ; and those few, whose inclinations led them to study, found it difficult to gratify them, from the want of sufficiently large libraries. In such cir- * Dr. Stuber was born in Philadelphia) of German parents. He was seiit, at an early age, to the university, where his genius, diligence, and amiable temper soon acquired him the particular notice and favor of tho .e under whose immediate direction he was placed. After passing through the common course of study inamuih shorter time than usual, he left the university, at the age of sixteen, with gnat reputation. Not long after, he entered on the study of Physic j and the zeal with I 48 MEMOIRS OF cumstances, the establishment of a public library \vas an important c-vmt. This was set on foot by Franklin about the year 1731. Fifty persons sub scribed forty shillings each, and agreed to pay ten shillings annually. The number increased ; and in 1T42, the conpmv was incorporated by the name of Cl The Library Company of Philadelphia. Several other companies were formed in this city in im itation of it. These were all at length united with the library company of Philadelphia, which thu re ceived a considerable accession of books and pro- pert\. It now contains eight thousand volume-son all subjects, a philosophical apparaius, and a good beginning towards a collection of natural and artifi cial curiosities, besides landed property of consider able value. The company have lately built an ele- p nt house in Fif h-street, on the front of which will b erected a marble satute of their founder Benja min Franklin. This institution was greatly encouraged by the friends of literature in America and in Great Bri tain. The P< nn family distinguished themselves which he pursued it, and the advances he made, gave Ins friends reason to form the most flattering prospects of his future eminence and usefulness in the profession. As Dr. Stuber s circumstances were very moderate, he did not think this pursuit weli calculated to answer t ; vu *Te rher.-fare relinquished it, after he had ob tained a egree in the prof s ion, and qualified himself to )>.actise with credit, and success ; and imaiediately en rtd on the study of Law. In pursuit of the last m .tioned object, he was prematurely arrested, before he had an opportunity of reaping the fruit of those talents iv t >vh^h he was endowed, a^d of a yout i spent in t*u- a.*de;it and buccesbful pursuits of useful and deg<u)t literature. DR. FRANKLIN. 99 by their donations. Amongst the earliest friends oi this institution must be mentioned the late Peter Collinson, the friend and c rrespondentof Franklin, lie not only made considerable presents himself, and obtained others from his friends, but voluntarily . n- dertook to manage the business of the company in London, recommending books, purchasing and ship ping them. His extensive knowledge, and zeal tor the promotion of science, enabled him to execute this important trust with the greatest advantage, lie continued to perform these services for more than thirty years, and uniformly refused to accept of any compensation. During this time, he com municated to the directors every information rela tive to improvements and discoveries in the arts, agriculture, and philosophy. The beneficial influence of this institution was soon evident. The cheapness of terms rendt.e 1 it accessible to every one. Its advantages were not confined to the opulent. The citizens in the mid dle and lower walks of life were equally partakers of them. Hence a degree of information was ex tended among all classes of people, which is very unusual in other places. The example was soon followed. Libraries were established in various places, and they are now become very numerous in the United Stares, and particularly in Penns^ ha- nia. It is to be hoped that they will be still more \videly extended, and th.it information will be tv- t ry where increased. This will be the best secu rity for maintaining our liberties. A nation of well informed men, who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them, cam t be enslaved. It is in the rt gions of ignorance \* t tvramr -reigns. I? flies br-foVe ihe light of si Let the cuizens cf Auit icr f acn, encouragv *.b.i- 100 MEMOIRS OF lotions calculated to diffuse knowledge among the people ; and amongst these public libraries are not the least important. In 1732, Franklin began to publish Poor Rich ard s Almanack. This was remarkable for the nu merous and valuable concise maxims which it con tained, all tending to exhort to industry and frugali ty. It was continued for many years. In the Al manack tor the last year, all the maxims were col lected in an address to the reader, entitled, The Way to Wtalth. This has been translated in various languages, and inserted in different publications. It has also been printed on a large sheet, and may be seen framed in many houses in this city. This address contains, perhaps, the best practical 55 stem of ceconomy that evtr has appeared. It is written in a manner intelligible to every one, and which cannot fail of convincing every reader of the justice and propriety of the remarks and advice which it contains. The demand for this almanack was so great, that ten thousand have been sold in one year ; which must be considered as a very large number, especially when we reflect, that this country was, at that time, but thinly peopled. It cannot be doubt ed that the salutary maxims contained in these al manacks must have made a favorable impression upon many of the readers of them. It was not long before Franklin entered upon his political career. In the year 1736 he was appoint ed clerk to the general assembly of Pennsylvania; and was re-elected by succeeding assemblies for several years, until he was chosen a representative for the city of Philadelphia. Bradford was possessed of some advantages over Franklin, by being post master, thereby having an opportunity of circulating hispaptr more extensive- ly, and thus rendered it a better vehicle for adver tisements, &r. Franklin, in his turn, enjoyed these advantages, by bting appointed post-master of Phi ladelphia in 1737. Bradford, while in office, had acted ungenerously towards Franklin, preventing as much as possible the circulation of his paper. Ht had now an opportunity of retaliating ; but his noblenebS of soul prevented him from making use of it. The police of Philadelphia had early appointed watchmen, whose duty it was to guard thx citizens against the midnight robber, and to give an imme diate alarm in case of fire. This duty is, perhaps, one of the most important that can be committed to any set of men. The regulations, however, were not sufficiently strict. Franklin saw the dangers arising from this cause, and suggested an alteration, so as to oblige the guardians of the night to be more watchful over the lives and property of the citizens. The propriety of this was immediately perceived,, and a reform was effected. There is nothing more dangerous to growing cities than fires. Other causes operate slouly, and almost impi rceptibl\ ; but these in a moment ren der abortive the labors of ages. On this account there should be, in all cities, ample provisions to> prevent fires from spreading. Franklin early saw the necessity of these ; ana about the year 1738, formed the first fire company in this city. This example was soon followed by others; and there are now numerous fire companies in the city and liberties. To these may be attributed in a great degree the activity in extinguishing fires, for whiih the citizens of Philadelphia are distinguished, and the inconsiderable damage which this city has sus- from ihis cause. Soi jUmc afur, I a 102 MEMOIRS OF suggested the plan of an association for insuring ho&ses from losses by fire, which was adoptee!; and thr association continues to this day. The advan tages experienced from it have been great. From the. first establishment of Pennsylvania, a spirit of dispute appears to have prevailed amongst its inhabitants. Daring the life-time of William. Penn, the constitution had been three times altered. After this period the history of Pennsylvania rs little else than a recital of the quarrels between the proprietaries, or their governors, and the assembly. The proprietaries contended for the right of ex empting their land from taxes ; to which the assem- blv would by no means consent. This subject of dispute interfered in almost every question, and prevented the most salutary laws from being enact ed. This at times subjected the people to gtvat in convenience. In the year 1744, during a war be- tween France and Great Britain, some French and Indians h;td made inroads upon the frontier inhab itants of the province, who were unprovided for such an attack. It became n^c ssarv that the citi zens should arm for th< ir defence. Governor Thomas recommended to the assemblv, who were then sitting, to pass a militia law. To this th< y would agree only on conditi"n that he should give his assent to certain laws, which appeared to them calculat d to promote the interest of the people. As he thought these laws would be injurious to the pioprietari-.-s, he refused his assent to them ; and the assembly broke up without passing a militia la\r. The situation of the province was at this time truly alarming: exposed to the continual inroads of an encmv, and destitute nf even m^ans of defence. . At this crisis Franklin stepped forth, and proposed *o a meeting of the citizens of Philadelphia, a plan DR. FRANKLIN. 103 ftf n volimtnry association tor ih .- defence of the pro vince. This was approved oi, and signed b\ twelve hundred persons immediately. Copies of it were circulated throughout the province ; and in a short time the number of sign-.-rs amounted to ttn thou sand. Franklin was chosen colonel of the Phila delphia regiment; but he did not think proper 10 accept of the honor. Pursuits of a d iff- rent nature now occupied the greatest part of his attention for some years. He engaged in a course of electrical experiments, with all the ardor and thirst for discovery which charac terized the philosophers of that day. Of all ihe branches of experimental philosophy, e ec icity has been the least explored. i iie elective power of amber is mentioned by Theophrastus and Pliny, and, from them, by lau-r naturalists. In the year 160O. Gilbert, an English physician, enlarged considerably the catalogue of substances which have the property of attracting lisjht bodies. Boyle, Otto Gueri< ke, a burgomaster of Magdeburg, celebrated as the inventor of the air pump, Dr. Wall, and Sir Isaac Newton, added some farts. Guericke first observed the repulsive power of electricity, and the light and noise pro duced bv it. In 1709, liawkesbec communicated S ime important observations and experiments to the world. For several years electric itv was < mm tirelv neglect-rd, until Mr. Gray applied himself to it, in 17^8, with great assiduity. He, and his friend Mr. Wheelrr, made a great variety of experiments ; in which they demonstrated that electricity mav be communicated from one body to another, even without being in contact, and in this way mav be conducted to a great distance. Mr. Grav after* wards found, that by suspending rodb of iron bjr J<H MEMOIRS OP silk or hair lines, and bringing an excite d tube un der them, sparks might be drawn, and a light per ceived at the extremities in the dark. JVI. Du Faye, intendam of the French king s gardens, made i number of experiments, wliKh added not a little to the science. He made thv discovery of two kinds of electricity, which he called vitrouv and resinous; the former produced by rubbing glass, the latter from excited sulphur, sealing-wax, &c. But this idea he afterwards gave up as erroneous. Between the years 1739 and 1742, Desaguiiers made a num ber of experiments, but added little of importance. He first used the iermsco?tductors and electrics, per se. In 1742, several ingenious Germans engaged in this subject. Oi the^e the principal were, pro- fv ssor Boze of Whittemberg, professor Winkler of L,eipsic, Gordon, a Scotch Benedictine monk, pro fessor of philosophy at Erfurt, and Dr. Ludolf of Berlin. The result of their researches astonished the philosophers of Europe. Their apparatus was large, and by means of it they were enabled to col lect large quantities of electricity, and thus to pro-* dace phenomena which had been hitherto unob served. They killed small birds, and set spirits on fire. Their experiments excited rhe curiosity of other philosophers. Collinson, about the year 1 745, sent to the library company of Philadelphia an ac- (count of these experiments, together with a tube, and directions how to use it. Franklin, with some of his friends, immediately engaged in a course of experiments; the result of which is well known. He WciS enabled to make a number of important .fl scoveries, and to propose theories to account fo,r various phenomena; which have been universally adopted, and which bid J air to endure for agis. His obsei vution.s he, tomuiuuicutcU, in a scries e DR. FRANKLIN. letters, to his friend Collinson ; the first of which is dated March 28, 1747. In these he makes known the power of points in drawing and throwing off electrical matter, which had hitherto escaped the notice of electricians. He also made the grand discovery of a plus and minus, or of a positive and negative state of electricity. We give him the honor of this, without hesitation ; although the En glish have claimed it for their countryman L)r. Wat son. Watson s paper is dated January 21, 1748; Franklin s July 11, 1747; several months prior. Shortly after, Franklin, from his principles of plus and minus state, explained, in a satisfactory manner, the phenomena of the Leyden phial, first observed by Mr. Cuneus, or by professor Muschenbroeck of Leyden, which had much perplexed philosophers. He shewed clearly that the bottle, when charged, contained no more electricity than before, but that as much was taken from the one side as was thrown, on the other; and that to discharge it, nothing was necessary but to make a communication between the two sides, by which the equilibrium might be re stored, and that then no signs of electricity would remain. He afterwards demonstrated, by experi ments, that the electricity did not reside in the coating, as had been supposed, but in the pores of the glass itself. After a phial was charged, he re moved the coating, and found that upon applying % new coating the shock might still be received. In the year 1749, he first suggested his idea of ex plaining the phenomt na of thunder gusts, and of the aurora borealis, upon electrical principles. He points out many particulars in which lightning and electricity agree; and he adduces many facts, and Seasoning from facts, in suppor: of his positions, la the same year he conceived ifye asioniblungly bold 106 MEMOIRS OF and grand idea of ascertaining the trath of his doc trine, by actually drawing down the forked lightning, by means of sharp-pointed iron rods raised into the region of the clouds. Even in this uncertain state, his passion to be useful to mankind displays itself in a powerful manner. Admitting the identity of electricity and lightning, and knowing the power of points in repelling bodies charged with electricity, and in conducting their fire silently and impercepti bly, he suggests the idea of securing houses, ships, &c. from being damaged by lightning, by erecting pointed iron rods, which should rise some feet above the most elevated part, and descend some feet into the ground or the water. The effect of these, he concluded, would be either to prevent a stroke by rebelling the cloud beyond the striking distance, or by drawing off the electrical fire which it contained j or, if they could not effect this, they would at least conduct the stroke to the earth, without any injury to the building. It was not.until the summer of 1752, that he was enabledto complete tyis grand and unparalleled disco very by experiment. The plan which he had origi nally proposed, \vas, to erect on some high tower, or other elevated place, a centry-hox, from whi> h should rise a pointed iron rod, insulated by being fixed in a cake of rosin. Electrified clouds pass ing over this, would, he conceived, impart to it a por tion of their electricity, which would be rendered evident to the senses by sparks being emitted, \vhen a key, a knuckle, or other conductor, was presented to it. Philadelphia at this time afford t d no opportunity of tr)ing an experiment of this kin-\ Yvnilst Franklin was waiting for the erection of a spire, it occurn d to him, hat he might have mere ready access to the region oi clouds by means oi a DR. FRANKLIN. 107 common kite. He prepared one by attaching two cross sticks to a silk handkerchief, which would not suffer so much from the rain as paper. To his up right stick was affixed an iron point. The string was, as usual, of hemp, except the lower end, which was silk. Where the hempen string was terminated, a key was fastened. With this apparatus, on the appearance of a thunder-gust approaching, he went out into the commons, accompanied by his son, to whom alone he communicated his intentions, well knowing the ridicule which, too generally for the interest of science, awaits unsuccessful experiments in philosophy. He placed himself under a shed to avoid the rain. His kite was raised. A thunder cloud passed over it. No sign of electricity appear ed. He almost despaired of success; when sud denly he observed the loose fibres oi his string to move towards an erect position. He now present ed his knuckle to the key, and received a strong spark. How exquisite must his sensations have been at this moment! On this experiment depended the faie of his theory. If he succeeded, his name would rank high amongst those who have improved science ; if he failed, he must inevitably be subjected to the derision of mankind, or, what is worse, their pity, as a well meaning man, but a weak, silly pro jector. The anxiety with which he looked for the result of his experiment, mav easily be conceived. Doubts and despair had begun to prevail, when the fact was ascertained in so clear a manner, thnt even the most incredulous could no longer withhold their assent. Repeated sparks were drawn from the key, a vial was charged, a shock given, and all the ex- peri mmts made, which are usually performed with electricity. About a month before this period, some ingeni ous Frenchmen had completed the discovery, in 168 MEMOIRS OF the original manner proposed by Doctor Prank- H.). The letters which he sent to Mr. Collin- son, it is said, were refused a place amongst the papers of the Ro\ al Society of London. How ever this may be, Collinson published th m in a se parate volume, under the title of New Experiments and Observations on Electricity, made at Philadel phia in America. They were read with avidity, and soon translated into different languages. A very incorrect French translation fell into the hands of the celebrated Buffon, who, notwithstanding the disadvantages under which the work labored, was much pleased with it, and repeated theexperimcnCgj \vit:h success. He prevailed upon his friend, M. D Alibard, to give his countrymen a more correct translation of the American electrician. This con tributed much towards spreading a knowledge of Franklin s principles in France. The- King, Louis XV. hearing of these experiments, expressed a wish to be a sp. ctator of them. A course of experiments was given at the seat of the Due D Ayen, at St. Germain, by M. Dr Lor. The applauses which the King bestowed upon Franklin, excited in .Buf fon, D Alibard, and De Lor, an earnest desire of ascertaining the truth of his theory of thunder gusts. Buffon trerted his apparatus on the tower of Mont- bar, M. D Alibard at M.iry-la-villt,and De Lor at his house in the JZstrapadc at Paris, some of the highest ground in that capital. D Alibard s ma chine first shewed signs of electricity. On the ICHh of Ma\ , 1752, a thunder-cloud passed over it, in the absence of M. D A-libard; and a number of shirks were drawn from it by Coissier, a joint r, with whom D Alibard ha.i left directions how to proceed, and bv Mr. Raulet, the prior of Marv-la- villr. An account of this experiment \vas given to the Royal Academy of Sciences, in a memoir by DR. FRANKLIN. IG* M. DVUibapd, dated May 13ih, 1752. On the 18th of Ma}-, M. DC Lor proved equally successful wijh the apparatus erected at his own house. These discoveries soon excited the philosophers of other parts of Euiope to repeat the experiment. Amongst these, none signalized themselves morethaa Father Beccaria of Turin, to whose observations science is much indehted. Even the cold regions of Russia, were penetrated by the ardor for discovery. Pro fessor Richman bade fair to add much to the stock of knowledge on this subject, when an unfortunate flash from his rod put a period to his existence. The friends of science will long remember with re gret the amiable martyr to electricity. By these experiments Franklin s theory was esta blished in the most firm manner. When the truth of it could no longer be doubted, the vanity of men endeavored to detract from itsmtrit. That an A- merican, an inhabitant of the obscure city of Phila delphia, the name of which was hardly known, should be able to make discoveries, and frame the ories, which had escaped the notice of the enlight ened philosophers of Europe was too, mortifying to br admitted. He must certainly have taken the id=-a from somebody else. An American, a being of an inferior order, make discoveries! Impossi ble. It was said, that the Abbe Nollet, in 1748, hid suggested the idea of the similarity of lightning and electricity, in his Lecontt de Physique* It is true, that the Abbe mentions the idea, but he throws it out as a bare conjecture, and proposes no mode of ascertaining the truth of it. He himself acknow ledges, that Franklin first entertained the bold thought of bringing lightning from the heavens, by- means of pointed rods fixed in the air. The simi larity of electricity and lightning- is so strong, that K 110 MEMOIRS OF ive need not be surprised at notice being taken of it; as soon as electrical phenomena became familiar. We find it mentioned by Dr. Wall and Mr. Grey, while the science was in its infancy* But the ho nor of forming a regular theory of thunder-gusts, of suggesting a mode of determining the truth of it by experiments, and of putting these experiments in practice, and thus establishing his theory upon a firm and solid basis, is incontestibly due to Frank lin. D Alibard, who made the experiments in France, says, that he only followed the track which Franklin had pointed out. 1 has been of late asserted, that the honor of completing the experiment with an electrical kite, does not belong to Franklin. Some late English paragraphs have attributed it to some Frenchman, \vnuse arne ihey did not mention; and the Abbe lienholon gives it to Mr. De Romas, assessor to the president of Nerac ; ihe English paragraphs probably refer to the same person. But a very slight attention will convince us of th| injustice of this procedure: Dr. Franklin s experiment was made in June 1752 ; and his letter, giving an ac count of it, is dated October 19, 1752; M. De. Ko- mas made his first attempt on the 14th of May 1753, but was not successful until the 7th of June ; a year after Franklin had completed the discoverv, and wh-n it was known to all the philosophers in LI rope. Besides these great principles, Franklin s letters on eletiricit} contain a number of facts and hints, ivhi ; .-h h-ivf contributed greatly towards reducing this brt.nch of know ledge to a science. His friend, Mr. ICinnersly, communicated to him a discoverv of th*. I itf i r.; kinds of electricity excited by rubbing glass and sulphur. This, we have said, was first DR. FRANKLIN. Ill observed by M. Du Faye ; but it was for many years neglected. The philosophers were disposed to account To* the phenomena, rather from a difference in the quantity of electricity collected ; and even Du, Faye himself seems at last to have adopted this doctrine. Franklin at first entertained the same idea ; but upon repeating the experiments, he per ceived that Mr. Kinnerdy was right ; and that the vitreous and resinous electricity of Du Faye were nothing more than the positive and negative states which he had before observed ; that the glass globe charged positively, or increased the quantity of elec tricity on the prime conductor, whilst the globe of sulphur diminished its natural quantify, or charged negatively. These experiments and observations opened a new field for investigation, upon whu h electricians entered with avidity ; and their labors have added much to the stock of our knowledge. In September, 1752, Franklin entered upon a course of experiments, to determine the state of electricity in the clouds. From a number of expe riments he formed this conclusion ; u that the clouds of a thunder-gust are most commonly in a nega tive state of electricity, but sometimes in a posi tive state :" and from this it follows, as a necessary consequence, that, for the most part, in thunder strokes, it is the earth that strikes into the clouds, and not the clouds that strike into the earth." The letter containing these observations is dated in Sep. tember, 1753; and yet the discovery of ascending thunder has been said to be of a modern date, and has been attributed to the Abbe Beriholon, who published his memoir on the subject in 1776. Franklin s letters have been translated into most pf the European languages, and into Latin. .JLn MEMOIRS OF proportion aV they have become known, his princi> pies have been adopted. Some opposition was made to his theory, particularly by the Abbe Nollet, who was, however, but feebly supported, whilst the first philosophers of Europe stepped forth in defence of Franklin s principles; amongst whom D Alibard and Beccaria were the most distinguished. The opposition has gradually ceased, and the Franklini- an system is now universally adopted, where science flourishes. The important practical use which Franklin made of his discoveries, the securing of houses from in jury by lightning, has been already mentioned. Pointed conductors are common in America; but prejudice has hitherto prevented their general in troduction into Europe, notwithstanding the most undoubted proofs of their utility have been given. But mankind can with difficulty be brought to lay aside established practices, or to adopt new ones. And perhaps we have more reason to be surprised that a practice, however rational, which was propos ed about forty years ago, should in that tune have been adopted in so many places, than that it has not universally prevailed. It is only by degrees that the great body of mankind can be led into n.-vv practices, however salutary their tendency. It is now nearly eighty years since inocculation was in troduced into Europe and America; and it is so far from being general at present, that it will per haps require one or two centuries to render it so. In the year 1745, Franklin published an account of his new invented Pennsylvania fire-places, in which he minutely and accurately states the advan tages and disadvantages of different kinds of fire places; and endeavors to shew that the one whick he describes h to be prefeied to any other. This DR. FRANKLIN. 113 Contrivance has given rise to the open stoves now in general use, which however differ from it in con struction, particularly in not havingan air-box at the back, through which a constant supply of air warm ed in its passage, is thrown imo the room. The ad vantages of this are, that as a stream of warm air is continually flowing into the room, less fuel is neces sary to preserve a proper temperature, and the room may be so tightened as that no air may enter thio* cracks ; the consequences of which are colds, tooth* aches, &c. Although philosophy was a principal object of Franklin s pursuit for several years, he confined himself not to this. In the year 1747, he became a member of the general assembly in Pennsylvania, as a burgess for the city of Philadelphia. Warm disputes at this time subsisted between the assembly and the proprietaries ; each contending for what they conceived to be their just rights. Franklin, a friend to the rights of man from his infancy, soon distinguished himself as a steady opponent of the unjust schemes of the propiietaries. He was soon looked up to as the head of the opposition j and to him have been attributed many of the spi rited replies of the assembly, to the messages of the governors. His influence in the body was very great. This arose not from any superior powers of eloquence; bespoke but seldom, and he never \vas known to make any thing like an elaborate ha rangue. His speeches often consisted of a single sentence, or of a well-told story, the moral of which was always obviously to the point. He never at tempted the flowery fields of oratory. His manner was plain and mild. His style in speaking was % like that of his writings, remarkably concise. With this plain manne^ and his penetrating and solid K 2 114 iVTEMOms 0? judgment, he was able to confound the rhost elo* quent and subtle of his adversaries, to confirm the opinions of his friends, and to make converts of the unprejudiced who had opposed him. With a sin gle observation, he has rendered of no avail an ele gant and lengthy discourse, and determined the late of a question of importance. But he was not contented with thus supporting the rights of the people. He wished to render them permanently secure, which can only be done by making their value properly known ; and this must depend upon increasing and extending information to everv class of men. We have already seen that he was the founder of the public library, which con tributed greatly towards improving fhe minds of the citizens. But this was not sufficient. The schools then subsisting were in general of little uti~ lity. The teachers were men ill qualified for the important duty which they had undertaken; and, after all, nothing more could be obtained than the rudiments of a common English education. Frank lin drew up a plan of an academy, to be erected in the city of Phihdelphia, suited to " the state of an infant country ;" but in this, as in all his plans, he confined not his view to the present time only. He looked forward to the period when an institution on an enlarged plan would be< ome necessary. Vv ith this view he considered his academy as a * foundation for posterity to erect a seminary of learning, more extensive, and suitable to future cir cumstances." In pursuance of this plan, the con stitutions were drawn up and signed on the 13th of [November 1749. In ihese, twenty. four of the tm<~st respectable citizens of Philadelphia were nam ed as trustees. In the choice of these, and in the formation of his plan, Franklin is said to ; rnVisulted chiefly with Thomas Hopkinsoti, Esq. Kv v. Richard Peters, then secretary oi the province, Tench Francis, : Es<j. attorney- general, and Dr. Phi- iieas Bond. Fhe following article shews a spirit of benevo lence worihv of imitation ; and for the honor of our city, we hope that it continues to be in force. 4s la case of the inability of the rector, or any ^master, (established on the foundation by receiving a certain salary) through sickness, or any other na tural infirmity, whereby he may be reduced to po verty, the trustees shall have power to contribute to his support, in proportion to his distress and merit, and the stock in their hands," The last clause of their fundamental rules is ex pressed in language so tender and benevolent, so truly paternal, that it will do everlasting honor to the hearts and heads of the founders. * k It is hoped and expected that the trustees Vill make it their pleasure, and in some degree th* j ir business, to visit the academy often : to en* courage and countenance the youth, countenance and assist the masters, and by all means in their power advance the usefulness and reputation of the design ; that they will look on the students as, in some measure, their own children ; treat them with familiarity and affection; and when they have be haved well, gone through their studies, and are to Center the world, they shall zealously unite, and make all the in -erest th:it can be made, to promote and es tablish them, whether in business, offices, marriages, or any other thing for their advantage, preferable to all other persons whatsoever, even of equal merit." The constitutions being signed and made public^ "With the names of the gentlemen proposing them- *fee lv.es as trustees, and founders, the design wire so MEMOIRS OP \vell approved of by the public-spirited citizens of Philadelphia, that the sum oi eight hundred pounds per anmim, for five years, was in the course oi a few weeks subscribed for earn ing the plan into ex ec ution j and in the beginning of January following [viz. 1750] three of the schools were opened, name ly, the Latin and Greek school, the Mathematical and the English schools. In pursuance of an arti cle in the original plan, a school for educating sixty boys and thirty girls (in the charter since called the Charitable School) was opened, and amidst all the difficulties with which the trustees have struggled \vith respect to their funds, has still been continued full for the space of forty years; so that allowing three years education for each boy and girl admit ted into it, which is the general rule, at least twelve hundred children have received in it the chief part of their education, who might otherwise, in a great measuie, have been left without th^ means of in struction. And many of those who have been thiis educated, are now to be found among the most use ful and resputable citiz -ns of this state. * The institution, thus successfully begun, contin ued daily to flourish, to the great satisfaction of Dr. Franklin ; who, notwithstanding ihc multiplicity of his other engagements and pursuits, at that busy stage of his life, was a constant attendant at the monthly visitations and examinations of the schools, and made it his particular study, by means of his extensive correspondence abroad, to advance the reputation of the seminary, and to draw students and scholars to it from different parts of America and the West Indies. Through the interposition of his benevolent and learned friend, Peter Collin- Son, of London, upon the application of the trus tees, a charter oi incorporation dated July 13, DR. FRANKLIN. was obtained from the honorable proprietors of Pennsylvania, Thomas Penn and Richard Penn, Esqs. accompanied with a liberal benefaction of five hundred pounds sterling ; and Dr. Franklin now began in good earnest to please himself with the hopes of a speedy accomplishment of his origi nal design, viz. the establishment of a perfect in. stitution, upon the plan of the European colleges and universities ; for which his academy was in tended as a nursery or foundation. To elucidate this fact, is a matter of considerable importance in respect to the memory and character ot Dr. Frank- lin, as a philosopher, and as the friend and patron of learning and science ; for, notwithstanding what is expressly declared by him in the preamble to the constitutions, viz. that the academy was begun for 41 teaching the Latin and Greek languages, with all the useful branches of the arts and sciences, suitable to the state of our infant countr> , and laying a foun dation for posterity to erect a seminary of learning more extensive and suitable to their future circum stances ;" yet it has been suggested of late, as upon Dr. Franklin s authority, that the Latin and Greek, or the dead languages, are an incumbrance upon a scheme of liberal education, and that the engraft ing or founding a college, or more extensive semi nary, upon his academy, was without his approba tion or agency, and gave him discontent. If the reverse of this does not already appear, from what has been quoted above, the following letters will put the matter beyond dispute. They were written, by hi<n to a gentleman, who had at that time pub lished the id; a of a college, suited to the circum stances of a \ounjr country, (meaning New. York,) a copy of which having been s?nt to Dr. F. anklin, for his opinion,. <ive use to that couxapundeu.ce fc 118 MEMOIRS OF Avhich terminated about a year afterwards, in erect-* ing the college upon the foundation of the academy, and establishing that gentleman at the head of both, where he still continues, after a period of thirty-six years, to preside with distinguished reputation. From these letters also, the state of the acadenvy, at that time, will be seen. PHILADELPHIA, April 19, 1753. SIR, I received your favor of the llth instant, with your new* piece on Education, which 1 shall care fully peruse, and give you my sentiments of it, as you desire, by the next post. I believe the young gentlemen, your pupils, may be entertained and instructed here, in mathematics and philosophy, to satisfaction. Mr. Alison j" (who was educated at Glasgow) has been long accustomed to teach the latter, and Mr. Grew J the former ; and J think their pupils make great progress. Mr. Ali son has the care of the Latin and Greek school, but as he has now three good assistants,} he can very Well afford some hours every day for the instruction of those who are engaged in higher studies. The mathematical school is pretty well furnished with instruments. The English library is a good one ^ * A general idea of the college of Marania. t The Rev. and learned Mr. Francis Alison, after* wards D. D. and vice-provost of the college. \ Mr. Theophilus Grew, afitrwards professor of mathematics in the college. Those assistants were at that time Mr. Charles Thoimpii, late seen tary of congress, Mr. Paul Jack^oty and Mr. Jacob Due he. DR. FRANKLIN. 119 and we have belonging to it a middling apparatus for experimental philosophy, and purpose speedily to complete it. The Loganian library, one of the best collections in America, will shortly be opened ; so that neither books nor instruments shall be want ing ; and as we are determined always to give good salaries, we have .reason to believe we may have al ways an opportunity of choosing good masters ; upon which, indeed, the success of the whole de pends. We are obliged to you for your kind offers in this respect, and when you are settled in Eng land, we may occasionally make use of your friend ship and judgment. If it suits your conveniency to visit Philadelphia before you return to Europe, I shall be extremely glad to, see and converse with you here, as well as to correspond with you after your settlement in England ; for an acquaintance and communication with men of learning, virtue, and public spirit, is one of my greatest enjoyments. I do not know whether you ever happened to see the first proposals I made for erecting this academy. I send them inclosed. They had (however imper fect) the desired success, being followed by a sub scription of four thousand pounds, towards earn ing them into execution. And as we are fond of re ceiving advice, and are daily improving bv experi ence, I am in hopes we shall, in a few years, see a perfect institution. I am very respectfully, Sec. B. FRANKLIN. Mr. W. Smith, Long-Island. PHILADELPHIA, May 3d, 1753. SIR, Mr. Peters has just now been with me, and we have compared notes on your new piece. We find 120 MEMOIRS OF nothing in the scheme of education, however excel* lent, but u hat is, in our opinion, very practicable. The great difficulty will be to find the Aratus*, and other suitable persons, to carry it into ext- cution ; but such may be had if proper encouragement be given. We have both received great pleasure in the perusal of it. For my part, 1 know not when 1 have read a piece that has more affected me so no ble and just are the sentiments, so warm and ani mated the language; yet as censure from your friends may be of more use., as well as more agrte- able to you ihan praise, 1 ought to mt;iiuxjn, that I wish you hau 1 omitted not only the quotation from the Review, f which you arc now justly dissatisfied \\ r ilh, oui those expressions of resentment aganrst your adversaries, in pages 65 and 79. In such casfs, the noblest victory is obtained by nt gleet, and by shining on. Mr. Alien has been out of town these ten davs* but before he went he directed mt to procure him. six copies of your piece. Mr. Peters has taken ten. He purposed to have written to you ; but omits it, us he expects so soon to have the pleasure of seeing you here. He desires me to present his affection ate compliments 10 you, and t > assure you that you will be very welcome to him. I shall only say, that * The name given to the principal or head of the ideal college, the system of education in which hath never theless been nearly realized, or followed as a model, in the college a; d academy of Philadelphia, and some other American seminaries, fib* many years pasU t The quotation alluded to (from the London Month ly Review for 1749,) was judged to reflect too severely on the discipline and government of the English univer sities of Oxford anci Cambridge, anil wusexpung-ca from UK. foUowiug editions ot this work* DR. FRANKLIN. 121 you may depend on ray doing all in my power to make your visit to Philadelphia agreeable to you. I am, &c. B. FRANKLIN. Mr. Smith. PHILADELPHIA, November 27th, 1753. I>EAR SIR, Having written you fully via Bristol, \ have now little to add. Matters relating to the aca demy remain in statu quo. The trustees would be glad to see a rector established there, but they dread entering into new engagements till they are got out of debt; and I have not yet got them wholly over to my opinion, that a good professor, or teacher of the higher branches of learning, would draw so ma ny scholars as to pay great part, if not the whole of his salary. Thus, unless the proprietors (of the province) shall think fit to put the finishing hand to our institution, it must, I fear, wait some few years longer before it can arrive at that state of perfection, which tome it seems now capable of; and all the pleasure I promised myself in seeing you settled among us, vanishes into smoke. But good Mr, Collinson writes me word, that no endeavors of his shall be wanting ; andjhe hopes, with the archbishop s assistance, to be able to pre vail with our proprietors,* I pray God grant them Success. *Upon the application of archbishop Herring and P. Collinson, Esq. at Dr. Franklin s request (aided by the letters of Mr. Allen and Mr. Peters) the Hon. Thomas Fenn, Esq. subscribed ?n annual sum, and afterwards gave at least 5000/. to the founding or engrafting the college upon the academy. L 122 MEMOIRS OF My son presents his affectionate regards, with, dear sir, Yours, &c. B. FRANKLIN. P. S. I have not been favored with a line from you since your arrival in England. PHILADELPHIA, April 18th, 1754. DEAR SIR, I have had but one letter from you since your arrival in England, which was a short one, via Boston, dated October 18th, acquainting me that you had written largely by capt. Davis. Davis was lost, and with him your letters, to my great disap pointment. Mesnard and Gibbon have since ^ar rived here, and I hear nothing from you. My com fort is, an imagination that you only omit writing because you are coming, and purpose to tell me every thing viva voce. So not knowing whether this letter will reach you, afid hoping either to see cw hear from you by the Myrtilla, Capt. Bud- don s ship, which is daily expected, I only add, that 1 am, with great esteem and affection, Yuurs, &c* B. FRANKLIN. Mr. Smith. About a month after thr date of this last letter, tl . nJeman to whom it \vas addressed arrived in Philadelphia, and was immediately p ; aced at the he-it 1 of the seminar) ; whereby Franklin, and other trustees, w^re tnab ed o prosecute th^ir plan Cor prrffcnr.tf thi institution, and opening fhc college upon iheluige and liberal foundatioh on which it DR. FRANKLIN. 123 now stands ; for which purpose they obtained their additional charter, dated May 27th, 1755. Thus far we thought it proper to exhibit in one view Dr. Franklin s services in the foundation and establishment of this seminary. He soon afterwards embarked for England, in the service of his coun try ; and having been generally employed abroad, in the like service, for the greater part of the remain der of his life (as will appear in our subsequent ac count of the same) he had but few opportunities of taking any further active part in the affairs of the seminary, until his final return in the year 1785^ v/hen he found its charter violated, and his ancient colleagues, the original founders deprived of their trust, by an act of the legislature ; and although his own name had been inserted among the new trus- tees, yet he declined to take his seat among them, or any concern in the management of their affairs, till the institution was restored by law to its original owners. He ihen assembled his old colleagues at his own house, and being chosen their presi dent, all their future meetings were, at his request, held there, till within a few months of his death> when with reluctance, and at their desire, lest he might be too much injured by his attention to their business, he suffered them to meet at the college. Franklin not only gave birth to many useful in stitutions himself, but he was also instrumental m promoting those which had originated with other onen. About the year 1752, an eminent physician cf this citv, Dr. Bond, considering the deplora. ble state of the poor, when visited with disease, conceived the idea of establishing an hospital. Notwithstanding very great extrtions on his part, he was able to interest few people so far in his be- aevoknt plan, as to obtain subscriptions from them* MEMOIRS OF Unwilling that his scheme should prove abortive, he sought the aid of Franklin, who readily engag ed in the business, both by using his influence with his friends, and by stating the advantageous influ ence of the proposed institution in his paper. These efforts were attended with success. Considerable sums were subscribed ; but they were still short of what was necessary. Franklin now made an other exertion. He applied to the assembly and after some opposition, obtained leave to bring in a bill, specifying, that as soon as two thou sand pounds were subscribed, the same sum should be drawn from the treasury by the speaker s warrant, to be applied to the purposes of the insti tution. The opposition, as the sum was granted on contingency which they supposed would never take place, were silent, and the bill passed. The friends of the plan now redoubled their efforts, to obtain* subscriptions to the amount stated in the bill, and were soon successful. This was the foundation of the Pennsylvania Hospital, which, with the Bettering- house and Dispensary, bears ample testimony of the humanity of the citizens of Philadelphia. Dr. Franklin had conducted himself so well in the office of post-master, and had shown himself to be so well acquainted with the business of that de partment, that it was thought expedient to raise him to a more dignified station. In 1T53 he was ap^ pointed deputy post-master-general for the British colonies. The profits arising from the postage of the revenue, which the crown of Great Britain de rived from the colonies. In the hands of Franklin, it is said, that the post-office in America yielded an- nually thrice as much as that of Ireland. The American colonies were much exposed to depredations on their frontiers, by the Indians ; and DR. FRANKLIN. more particularly whenever a war took place be tween France and England. The colonies, indi vidually, were either too weak to take efficient measures for their own defence, or they were unwil ling to take upon themselves the whole burden of erecting forts and maintaining garrisons, whilst their neighbours, who partook equally with themselves of the advantages, contributed nothing to the ex- pence. Sometimes also the disputes, which subsist ed between the governors and assemblies, prevented the adoption of means of defence; as we have seen \vas the case in Pennsylvania in 1745. To devise a plan of union between the colonies, to regulate this and other matters, appeared a desirable object. To accomplish this, in the year 1754, commissioners from Newhampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, met at Albany. Dr. Franklin attended here as a commis sioner from Pennsylvania, and produced a plan, which, from the place of meeting, has been usually termed u The Albany Plan of Union." This proposed, that application should be madte for a.n act of parliament) to establish in the colonies a general government, to be administered by a pre sident-general, appointed by the crown, and by a grand council, consisting of members chosen by the representatives of the diiferent colonies ; their num ber to be in direct proportion to the sums paid by each colony into the general treasury, with this re striction, that no colony should have more than se* Ten, nor less than two representatives. The whole executive authority was committed to the president general. The- power of legislation was lodged in the grand council and president-general jointly j his consent being made necessary to passing a bill into- a law. The power vested in the president am! L 2 126 MEMOIRS OF council were, to declare war and peace, and to con clude treaties with the Indian nations; to regulate trade with, and to make purchases of vacant lands from them, either in the name of the crown, or of the union; to settle new colonies, to make laws for the governing these until they should be erected into separate governments, and to raise troops, build forts, fit out armed vessels and use other means for the general defence : and, to effect these things, a power was given to make laws, laying such duties, imposts, or taxes, as they should find necessary, and as would be least burdensome to the people. All laws weie to be sent to England for the king s approbation ; and unless disapproved of within three years, were to remain in force. All officers in the land or sea service wtre to be nominated by the president-general, and approved of by the general council ; civil officers were to be nominated by the council, and approved by the president. Such are the outlines of the plan proposed for the considera tion of the congress, by Dr. Franklir. After sev eral day s discussion, it was unanimously agreed to Ly the commissioners, a copy transmitted to each assembly, and one to the king s council. The fate of it was singular. It was disapproved of by the ministry of Great Britain, because it gave too much power to the representatives of the people ; and it was rejected by every assembly, as giving to the president-general, the representative of the crown, sm influence greater than appeared to them proper, in a plan of government intended for free men. Perhaps their rejection, on both sides, is the strong est proof that could be adduced of the excellence of at, as suited to the situation of America and Great "Britain at that time. It appears to have steered ex actly in the middle, between the opposite interests of both. DR. FRANKLIN . 127 Whether the adoption of this plan Would have prevented the separation of America from Great Britain, is a question which might afford much room for speculation. It may be said, that, by enabling the colonies to defend themselves, it would hare re moved the pretext upon which the stampt act, tea- act, and other acts of the British parliament, were passed ; which excited a spirit of opposition, and laid the foundation for the separation of the two countries. But on the other hand, it must be ad mitted,, that the restriction laid by Great Britain upon our commerce, obliging us to sell our produce to her citizens only, and to take from them various articles, of which, as our manufactures were dis couraged, we stood in need, at a price greater than that for which they could have been obtained from other nations, must inevitably produce dissa tisfaction, even though no duties were imposed by the parliament ; a circumstance which might still have taken place. Besides, as the president-gene ral was to be appointed by the crown, he must, of necessity, be devoted to its views, and would, there fore, refuse his assent to anv laws, however saluta- .ry to the community, which had the most remote tendency to injure the interests of his sovereign. Even should they receive his assent, the approba tion of the king was to be necessary; who would indubitably, in every instance, prefer the advantage of his home dominions to that of his colonies. Hence would ensue perpetual disagreements be tween the council and the president-general, and thus, between the people of America and the crown, of Great Britain: While the colonies continued Wrak, they would be obliged to submit, and as soon as they acquired strength they would become more urgent in their demands, until ulcngt& they would MEMOIRS OF thake off the yoke, and declare themselves inde pendent. Whilst the French were in possession of Canada, their trade with the natives extended very far- even to the back of the British settlements. They were disposed, from time to time, to establish posts within the territory, which the British claimed as their own. Independent of the injury to the trade, \vhich was considerable, the colonies suffered this further inconvenience, that the Indians were fre quently instigated to commit depredations on their frontiers. In the year 1753, encroachments were made upon the boundaries of Virginia. Remon strances had no effect. In the ensuing year, a bo. dy of men was sent out under the command of Mr. Washington, who, though a very young man, had, by his conduct in the preceding year, shewn him self worthy of such an important trust. Whilst marchingto take possession of the post at the junc tion of the Alleghany and Monongahela, he was informed that the French had already erected a fort there. A detachment of their men marched against him. He fortified himself as strongly as time and circumstances would admit. A superiority of num bers soon obliged him to surrender Fort Necessity* He obtained honorable terms for himself and men, and returned to Virginia. The government of G Briiain now thought it necessary to interfere. In the year 1755, General Braddock, with some regi ments of regular troops, and provincial levies, was St nt to dispossess the French of the posts upon which they had seized. After the men were all ready, a difficulty occurred, which had nearly prevented the expedition. This was the want of waggons. Frank- lin now stepped forward, and with the assistance of his son, in a little time procured a hundred and fifty* DR. FRANKLIN. 129 Braddock unfortunately fell into an ambuscade, and perished, with a number of his men. Washington, who had accompanied him as an aid-de-camp, and had warned him, in vain, of his danger, now dis played great military talents in effecting a retreat of the remains of the army, and in forming a junc tion with the rear, under colonel Dunbar, upon whom the chief command now devolved. With some difficulty they brought their little body to a place of safe ty; but they found it necessary to destroy their waggons and baggage, to prevent their falling into the hands of the enemy. For the waggons which- he had furnished, Franklin had givenbonds to a large amount. The owners declared their intentions o obliging him to make a restitution of their pro- perty. Had they put their threats in execution, ruin must inevitably have been the Consequence. Gov ernor Shirley, finding that he had incurred these debts for the service of government, made arrange-, ments to have them discharged, and released Frank lin from his disagreeable situation. The alarm spread through the colonies, after the defeat of Braddock, was very great. Preparations to arm were every where made. In Pennsylvania, the prevalence of the quaker interest prevented the adoption of any system of defence, which would compel the citizens to bear arms. Franklin intro duced into the assembly a bill for organizing a mi litia, by which every man was allowed to take arms or not, as to him should appear fit. The quakers^ being thus left at liberty, suffered the bill to passj for although their principles would not suffer them tn fight, they had no objection to their neighbors fighting for them. In consequence of this act a ve- i" respectable militia was formed. The sense of impending danger infused a military spirit iu all^ 130 MEMOIRS OF whose religious tenets were not opposed to war. Franklin was appointed colonel of a regiment in Philadelphia, which consisted of 1200 men. The north-western frontier being invaded by the enemy, it became necessary to adopt measures for its defence. Franklin was directed by the gov ernor to take charge of this business. A power of raising men, and of appointing officers to command them, was vested in him. He soon levied a body of troops, with which he repaired to the place at \vhich their presence was necessary. Here he built a fort, and placed the garrison in such a posture of defence as would enable them to withstand the in- roads to which the inhabitants had previously been- exposed. He remained here for some time, in or der the more completely to discharge the trust committed to him. Some business of importance rendered his presence necessary in thef assembly, and he returned to Philadelphia. The defence of her colonies was a great expence to Great Britain. The most effectual mode of les sening this was, to put arms in the hands of the in habitants, and to teach them their use. But Eng land wished not that the Americans should become acquainted with their own strength. She was appre hensive, that, as soon as this period arrived, they would no longer submit to that monopoly of their trade, which to them was highly injurious, but ex tremely advantageous to the mother country. In comparison witn the profits of this, the expence of maintaining armies and fleets to defend them was trifling. She fought to keep them dependent on her for protection, the best plan which could be de vised for retaining them in peaceable subjection. The least appearance of a military spirit was there fore to be guarded against, and, although a war I>R. FRANKLIN* 131 then raged, the act organizing a militia was disap proved ot by the ministry. The regiments which had been formed under it were disbanded, and the defence of the province entrusted to regular troops. The disputes between the proprietaries and the people continued in full force, although a war was raging on the frontiers. JN ot even the sense of danger was sufficient to reconcile, for ever so short a time, their jarring interests. The assembly still insisted upon the justice of taxing the proprietary estates, but the governors constantly refused to give their assent to this measure, without which no bill could pass into a law. Enraged at this obstinacy, and what they conceived to be unjust proceedings of their opponents, the assembly at length deter mined to apply to the mother country for relief. A petition was addressed to the king, in council, stating the inconveniences under which the inhabi tants labored, from the attention of the proprietaries to their private interests, to the neglect of the gene ral welfare of the community, and pra) ing for re dress. Franklin was appointed to present this ad dress, as agent for the province of Pennsylvania, and departed from America in Jtrn^, 1757. In conformity to the instructions which he had re ceived from the legislature, he held a conference with the proprietaries, who then resided hi Eng land, anc) endeavored to prevail upon them to give up the long contested point. Finding ihat they would hearken to no terms of accommodation, he laid his petition before the council. During th s time go\ernor Denny assented ro the Lav imposing a tax, in which no discrimination was mad< in ia- vc.n f the estates of the Prim family. They, a- ! m-.J at this intelligence, and Franklin s exertions, used their utmost excrtioiis to prevent the ioy*l 132 MEMOIRS OF sanction being given to this law, which they repre sented as highly iniquitous, designed to throw the burden of supporting government on them, and calculated to produce the most ruinous consequen ces to them and their posterity. The cause was amply discussed before the privy council. The Penns found here some strenuous advocates ; nor were there wanting some who warmly espoused the side of the people. After some time spent in debate, a proposal was made, that Franklin should solemnly engage, that the assessment of the tax should be so made, as that the proprietary estates should pay no more than a due proportion. This he agreed to perforrn, the Penn family withdrew their opposition, and tranquility was thus once more restored to the province. The mode in which this dispute was terminated is a striking proof of the high opinion entertained of Franklin s integrity and honor, even by those who considered him as inimical to their views. Nor was their confidence ill-founded. The assess ment was made upon the strictest principles of equity ; and the proprietary estates bore only a pro portionable share of the expences of supporting go vernment. After the completion of this important business, Franklin remained at the court of Great Britain, as agent for the province of Pennsylvania. The ex tensive knowledge which he possessed of the situa tion of the colonies, and the regard which he al ways manifested for their interests, occasioned his appointment to the same office by the colonies of Massachusetts, Man land, and Georgia. His con duct, in this situation, was such as rendered him still more d- ar to his countrvmen. IJe had now an opportunity of indulging in the DR. FRANKLIN. society of those friends, whom his merits had pro- Cured him while at a distance. The regard which they had entertained for him was rather increased by a personal acquaintance. The opposition which had been made to his discoveries in philosophy gra dually ceased, and the rewards of literary merit were abundantly conferred upon him. The royal society of London, which had at first refused his performances admission into its transactions, now thought it an honor to rank him among its fellows. Other societies in Europe were equally ambitious of calling him a member. The university of St. Andrew s, in Scotland, conferred upon him the de gree of Doctor of Laws. Its example was follow ed by the universities of Edinburgh and of Oxford. His correspondence was sought for by th * most emi nent philosophers of Europe. Plis letters to rhese abound with true science, delivered in the most sim ple unadorned manner. The province of Canada was at this time in the possession of the French, who had originally set tled it. The trade with the Indians, for which its situation was very convenient, was exceedingly lu crative. The French traders here found a market for their commodities, and received in return large quantities of rich furs, which they disposed of at a high price in Europe. Whilst the possession of this country was highly advantageous U> France, it was a grievous inconvenience to the inhabitants of of the British colonies. The Indians were almost generally desirous to cukiviate the friendship of the F< ench, by whom they were abundantly supplit d with arms and ammunition. Whenever a war hap pened the Indians _v ere ready to fall upon the froo- ti<-rs ; and this they frequently did, even when G. Britain and France were at peace. From these M 134 MEMOIRS OF considerations, it appeared to be the Interest dT Great Britain to gain the possession of Canada. But the importance of such an acquisition was not Vfd\ undersotood in England. Franklin about this time published his Canada pamphlet, in which he, in a forcible manner, pointed out the advantages waich would result from the conquest of this pro vince. An expedition against it was planned, and the command given to General Wolfe. His success ia weii known. At iho creaty of 1762, France ceded Canada to Great Britain, and by her cession of Louisiana, at ihe same time, relinquished all her possessions on the continent of America. Although Dr. Franklin was now principally occu pied with political pursuits, he found time for phi losophical studies. H* extended his electrical re. Starches and made, a variety of experiments, pani- culavly on the tourmalin. The singular properties vliich this -stone possesses of being electrified on one side positiveh and on the other negatively, by lu at alone, without friction, had been but lately ob served. Some experiments on the cold produced by eva poration, made bv Dr. Cullen, had btc-n commu- nitated to Dr. Franklin by Professor Simpson of Glasgow- These he repeated, and found, that, by the evaporation of aei.her in th? exhausted receiver of an air-pomp, sc great a degree of cold was pro duced in a sumjiaer s dav, that water was convert ed into ice. This discovery he applied to the solu tion of a number of phenomena, particularly a singu lar fact, v.hivh philosophers had endeavored in vain to account fsr, viz. that the temperature of the hu- xi! an br dv, v/kf n in health,, m-ver exceeds 96 de grees of Fiu-euhcH s thtimomtterj although ,he a> . FRANKLIN. fnosphere which surrounds it may be heated to a much greater degree. This he attributed to the iv.creased perspiration, and consequent evaporation, produced by the heat. In a letter to Mr. Small of London, dated irt May 176O, Dr. Franklin makes a number of ob servations, tending to shew that, in North Ameri ca, north-east storms begin in the south-west parts. It appears, from actual observation, that a north east storm, which extended a considerable distance, commenced at Philadelphia nearly four hours be fore it was felt at Boston. He endeavored to ac count for this, by supposing that, from heat, some rarefaction takes place about the gulph of Mexico, that the air further north being cooler rushes in, and is succeeded by the cooler and denser air still further north, and thai thus a continued current i$ at length produced. The tone produced by rubbing the brim of a drink ing glass with a wet finger had been generally known. A Mr. Puckeridge, an Irishman, by placing on a table a number of glasses of different sizes, and tuning them by partly filling th^m with watt r, en deavored to form an instrument capable of playinjj tunes. He was prevented by an untimely end, fnvn bringing his invention to any degree of perfection. After his death some improvements were made upon his plan. The sweetness of the tones indur-r. { Dr. Franklin to make a variety of experiments ; and he at length formed that elegant instrument, which he has called the Armonjca. In the summer of 1762 he returned to America. On his passage he observed the singular effect pro duced by the agitation of a vessel, containing oit floating on the water. The surface of the oil re- mains smooth and undisturbed, whilst the watt r i aguated with the utmoot commotion.. No saiisfco 136 , MEMOIRS OF tor\ explanation of this appearance has, we believe^ ever been given. Di. Franklin received the thanks of the assembly of Pc;nns) ivanui, u as well for the faithful discharge of his ducv to that province in particular, as tor the many ana impoi tant servit.cs done to America in ge nera , during his residence in (reat l>ritain." A compensation of 50001. Pennsylvania cuirency, was also decreed him for his services during six yea -". During his absence he had been annually elecu d naemb- T of the assembly. On bis return to Peim- svhaniahe again took his s~at in this body, and continued a steady defender oi the liberties of the people. In December 1762, a circumstance which caused great alarm in the province to< k place. A number ol Indians had resided in the county of Lancaster, and conducted themselves uniformly as friends to the white inhabitants. Repeated depredations on the frontiers had exasperated the inhabitants to su^h a degree, that they determined on revenge upon every Inciian. A number of persons, to the amount of 120, principally in habitants of Donnegal and Peckstonn- or r ix.oa lownhhips, in : ; i-.(?unty pf YOJ&, assembled j and, mcuntcd on .-.rseback, proceeded to the settlement oi the less and dcftncekss Indians, \vhose r , r hud now re duced to about twenty. T r e --i Lvis received in telligence of Jie attack vvhj< \ \vab intended yg;iinst th.-U M but disbcliev -\ ? f . ConbicKring the M nLe people as their frej ..i, tht-y apprehended no dan ger from them. When the party arrived at the In dian settlement, they found only some women and children, and a few old men, the rest being absent at work. They murdered all whom they fou^d, and amongst others the Shahaes, who had been al ways distinguished for his friendship to the whiles. DR. FRANKLIN 1 . This bloody deed excited much indignation to the Well-disposed part of the community. The remainder of these unfortunate Indians, who, by absence^ had esraped the massacre, were con ducted to Lancaster, and lodged in the gaol, as a place of security. The governor issued a procla mation expressing the strongest disapprobation of the action, offering a reward for the discovery of the perpetrators of the dted, and prohibiting all in juries to the peaceable Indians in future. But, not withstanding this, a party of the same men shortly after marched to Lancaster, broke open the ga< 1, and inhumanely butihered the innocent Indians who had been placed there for security. Another proclamation was issued but had no effect. A de- tachmt nt marched down to Philadelphia, for the express purpose of murdering some friendly Indi ans, who had been removed to this city for safety. A number of the citizens armed in their defence* The Quakers, whose principles were opposed to fighting, even in their own defence, were most ac live upon this occasion. The rioters came to Ger* mantown. The governor fled for safety to the house of Dr. Franklin, who, with some others, ad vanced to meet the Paxton boys, as they were call ed, and had influence enough to prevail upon them to relinquish their undertaking, and return to their homes. The disputes between the proprietaries and the assembly, which, fora time, had subsided, were again revived. The proprietaries were dissatisfied tvith the concessions made in favor of the people, and made great struggles to recover the privilege of exempting their estates from taxation, whiclj they hud beta induced to give up. M 3 138 MEMOIRS OF In 1763, the assembly passed a militia bill, to which the governor refused to give his assent, un less the assembly would agree to certain amend ments which he proposed. These consisted in in creasing the fines, and, in some casts, substitut ing d ath ior fines. He wished too that the officers should be appointed altogether by himself, and not be nominated bv the people, as the bill had propos ed. These amendments the assembl y consid; ej as inconsistent with the spirit of liberty. Th j y \vold not adopt them; the governor was obstinate, and the bill was lost. These, and various other circumstances, increas ed the uneasiness wh uh subsisted between the pro pvietarit s and the assembly, to such a degree, that in 1T64, a petition to the king was agreed to by the house, praying an alteration from a proprietary to a r(-->al government. Great opposition was made to this measure, not only in the house but in the pub- lu prints. A speech of Mr, Dickinson, on the sub- j ci, wdh published with a preface by Dr. Smith, in vh uh great pains wire taken to shew the impropri ety and impolicy of ibis proceeding. A speech of IV 2 r. Gallov ay, hi reply to Mr. Dickenson, was pub lished, accompanied with a preface b\ Dr. Frank lin ; in whi h he ably, opposed the principles laid ci ;\vn in the preface to Mr. Dickenson s speech* This application to the throne produced no $c U 1 he proprietary government was still continued. At the election for a new assembly, in the fail of 1764, the friends of the proprietaries made great exenionsto exclude those of the adverse party and obtained a small majorin in the city of Philadelphia. Franklin now lost his seat in the house, which he had held for fourteen \ears. On the meeting of the assembly, it appeared that thue was siiil a Uc DR. FRANKLIN. 13S tided majority of Franklin s friends. He was im mediately appointed provincial agent, to the great chagrin of his enemies, who made a solemn pro. test against his appointment ; which was refused admission upon the minutes, as being unprecedent ed. It was, however, published in the papers, and produced a spirited reply from him, just before his departure for England. The disturbances produced in America by Mr. Grenville s stamp-act, and the opposition made to it, a rs.- well known. Under the marquis of Hocking, turn s administration, it appeared expedient to en deavor to calm the minds of the colonists ; and the repeal of the odious tax was contemplated. A- rnongst other means of collecting information on the disposition of the people to submit to it, Dr. Franklin was called to the bar of the house of com mons. The examination which he here underwent was published, and contains a striking proof of the extent and accuracy of his informaiion, and the fa cility with which he communicated his sentirtltntsj He- represented facts in so strong a point of vie \v, that the inexpediency of the act must h-ive appear ed clear to evi rv unprejudiced mind. M he- act, af ter some opposition, was repealed, about a ytar af- ttr it was enacted, and before it had ever been car ried into execution. Indie year 1766, h- made a visit to Holland and Germany, and received the greatest marks of atn n- tention from m n of science. In his passage through: Holland, he learned from the watermen the < -ft"*, ct whnMi a diminution of the quantity of water in a- nals has, in impeding t ne progress of boats. Upon bis return to England, he was led to make a num ber of experiments ; all of which tended to con- fcnu .hc ubseivaiion. These, with an explanation! 149 MEMOIRS OF of the phenomena, he communicated in a letter fb his friend, Sir John Pringle, which is contained in the \oiume of his philosophical pieces. In the following year he. travelled into France, \vh. re he m<rt with a no less favorable reception than he had experienced in Germany* He was in troduced to a number of literary characters, and to thi king, Louis XV. Several letters written by Hutchinson. Oliver, and others, to persons in eminent stations in Great Britain, came into the hands ot Dr. Franklin. These contained the most violent invectives a- gainst the leading Characters of the 1 state of Massa chusetts, and strenuously advised ihe prosecution of vigorous measures, to compel the people to obedi- tnce to the measures of the ministry. These he transmitted to the legislature, by whom they were published. Attested copies were sent to G. Britain, wiih an address, praying the king to discharge from office persons who had rendered themselves so obnoxious to the people, and who had shewn ihem- st Ives so unfriendly to th ir interests. The publi cation of these letters produced a duel between Mr. Whately and Mr. Temple ; each f whom was sus pected of having been instrumental in procuring them. To prevent any further disputes on this sub ject, Dr. Franklin, in one of the public papers, de* clared that hf had sent them to America, but would give no information concerning the manner in which he had obtained them, nor was this ever dis covered. S.iortly after, the petition of the Massachusetts assembly was tak<-n up for examination, before the privy council. Dr. Franklin attended as agent for the assembh ; and here a tomnt of the most vio lent and unwarranted abuse was poured upon DR. FRANKLIN. 14t by the solicilor-gener.il, Wed Jerburne, who was engaged as council lor Oaver and Hutchinson. The petition was declared to be stanCuious and vex atious, and the prayer of it refused. Although the parliament of Great Bri-ain had repealed ihe suimp act, it was only upon the prin ciple of expediency. I hey stiii insisted upon ih ir right to tax. the colonies ; and, at the sain- lime that the stamp-act was reptal"d, an act w:t^ passed, de claring ihe right oi p irliament to bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever. 1 his urig i ;ge was used even by the m:>s> strenuous oppose rs of the stamp- act; and, amongst o h<;rs, by Mr. Pitt. This right was never recog ilz^d by the colonists ; but, as they flattered themselves it would not be exercised, they were not very aciive in remonstrating against it. Had this pretended righ. been suffered to remain dormant, the colonists would c ^ee fullv have fur nished their quoiaof supplies, in the mode to which they had been accustomed ; that is, bs acts of their own assemblies, in consequence of requisitions from the secretary of state. II ihis practice ha<l been pursued, such WMS ill d -,;> -,ition of the colonies towards the mother country, that, notwithstanding the disadvantages uncVr which ihey labored, from restraints upon their trade, calculated solely for the benefit of the commercial nd manufacturi ig interests of Great Britain, a separation of the two countries might have betn a far distant event. The Americans, from their earliest infancy, were taught *o venerate the people from whom they were descended ; whose language, laws, and manners, were the same as their own. They looked up to them as models of perfection ; and, in their preju- <ih-r(i minds, the most enlightened nations of Ku- rot-e were considered as almost barbarians, in com- with Englishmen. The name of an Eng- MEMOIRS OF lishman conveyed to an American the idea of ever thing good and great. Such sentiments instilled! into them in early life, what but a repetition of un just treatment could have induced them to enter* tain the most distant thought of separation ? The duties on glass, paper, leather, painter s colors, tea, &c. the disfranchisement of some of the colonies j the obstruction to the measures of the legislature in others, by the king s governors; the contemptu ous treatment of their humble remonstrances, stat ing their grievances and praying a redress of them;, and other violent and oppressive measures, at length excited an ardent spirit of opposition. Instead of endeavoring to allay this by a more lenier.t conduct, the ministry seemed resolutely bent upon reducing the colonies to ihe most slavish obedience to their decrees. But this tended only to aggravate. Vain were all the efforts made use of to prevail upon them to lay aside their designs, to convince them of the impossibility of carrying them into effect, and of the mischievous consequences which must ensue from a continuance of the attempt. They persevered with a degree of inflexibility scarcely paralleled. The advantages which Great Britain derived from her colonies were so great, that nothing but a degree of infatuation, little short of madness, could have produced a continuance of measures calculated to keep up a spirit of uneasines, wh x.h rpiuht occasion the slightest wish for a separation. When we consider the great improvements in the science of government, the general diffusion of ihe principles of liberty amongst the people of Europe, the effects which these have already produced in Fiance, and the probable consequences which will result from them elsewhere, all bf which are the off spring of the American revolution, it uuuiot -a DR. FRANKLIN". Grange, that events of so great moment to the hap piness of mankind, should have been ultimately oc casioned by the wickedness or ignorance of a Brit* ish ministry. Dr. Franklin left nothing untried to prevail upon the ministry to consent to a change of measures. In private conversations, and in letters to persons in government, he continually expatiated upon the im policy and injustice, of their conduct towards Ame rica ; and stated, that, notwithstanding the attach* Hunt of the colonists to the mother country, a re petition of ill treatment must ultimately alienate their affections. They listened not to his advice^ They blindly persevered in their own schemes, and left to the colonists no alternative, but opposition or unconditional submission. The latter accorded not with the principles of freedom, which they had been taught to revere. To the former, they were compelled, though reluctantly, to have recourse. Dr. Franklin, finding all efforts to restore harmo ny between Great Britain and her colonies useless, returned to America in the year 1775; just after the commencement of hostilities. The da after his return, he was elected by the legislature of Penn ey Ivan ia a member of congress. Not long aiier his election a committee was appointed, coHsisting of Mr. Lynch, Mr. Harrison, and hi mat If, to visit the camp at Cambridge., and, in conjunction with the comniandt r in chief, to ndeavor to convince the troops, whose term of enlistment was about to expire, of the necessity of their continuing in the field, and persevering in the cause of their coun try. In the fall of the same year he visited Canada, to endeavor to unite them in the common cause of liberty ; K-ut they could not be prevailed upon to o-ppobe the measures of ihe 15ruit)li 144 , MEMOIRS OF M. Le Roy, in a letter annexed to Abbe Fauchet s eiiiogium oi Dr. Franklin, states that the ill success of this negotiation was occasioned, in a g>*eat de gree, by religious animosities, which subsisted be tween the Canadians ; nd their neighbors, some of \vh Mn had at ( iff>,rci; v times burnt their chapels. When Lord Howe come to America, in 1776, vested with power to treat with the colonists, a cor respondence took place between him and Franklin^ on the subject of a reconciliation, Dr. Frank! hi was afterwards a P! ointed, together with John Ad ams and Edward Kutledge, to wait upon the com missioners, in order to learn the extent of ih ir powi rs. Th^se were found to be only to grant pardons upo-i submission. These were terms which v/ould not be accepted ; and the object of the com missioners could not be obtained. Tht momentous question of independence was shortly after brought into view, at a time when the fUcts and armies, which were sent to enforce obe- dunce, were truly formidable. With an army, nu merous indeed, but ignorant of discipline, and en tirely unskilled in the art of war, without money, without a fl ^et, without allies, and with nothing but the love of liberty to support them, the colonists determined to separate from a country, from which they had experienced a repetition of injury and in sult. In this question, Dr. Franklin was decidedly in favor of thr measure proposed, and had great influence in bringing over others to his senti-* The public mind h:id been pretty fully prepared for this event, by Mr. Paine s celebrated pamphlet, Common Seme. There is good reason to believe that Dr. Frar klin hzd no inconsiderable share, at le;st, in furnishing materials for this work. In the convention which assembled at Philadek D&. FRANKLIN. 145 phia in 1776, for the purpose of establishing a new form of government for the state of Pennsylvania, Dr. Franklin was chosen president. The late con stitution of this state,, which was the result of their deliberations, may be considered as a digest of his principles of government. The single legislature, and the plural executive, seem to have been his fa vorite tenets. In the latter end of 1776, Dr. Franklin was ap- poinied to assist in tie negotiations whi"hhad been set on foot by Siias Deune at the court of France* A conviction of the advantages of a commercial in tercourse with America, and a desire of weaken ing the Brkish empire by disrttembering it, first in- d-iced the- French court to listen to proposals of ari alliance. But they shewed rather a reluctance to the measure, which, bv Dr. Franklin s address, and particularly by the success of the American arms against general Burgoyne, was at length ovrr- C Mue ; and in February 1778, a treaty of alliance, off --nsive and defensive, was concluded; in conse quence of which France became involved in the war with Great Britain. Pi rh.^ps no person could have been found, more canable of rendering essential services to the Unit ed S^at< j s at the court of France, than Dr Franklin. He was w<-ll known as a philosopher, and. his cha racter was heir) in the highest estimation. He was received with thr greatest marks of respect by all the literary characters ; and this respect was ex tended among 3.11 Classes of men. His personal in fluence was hence v rv considerable. To the ef fects of this were added those of various perform ances which he published, tending to establish the credit and character of the U lited Slates. To his exertions in this vyjiy, may, m no small degree, be 4 N 146 MEMOIRS OF ascribed the success of the loans negociated in Holland and France, which greatly contributed to bringing the war to a happy conclusion. The repeated ill success of their arms, and more particularly the capture of Cornvvallis and his army, ai length convinced the British nations of the im possibility of reducing the Americans to subjection. Tho trading interest particularly became very cla morons for peate. The ministry were unable longer to oppose their wishes. Provincial articles of peace were agreed to, and signed at Paris on thr 30th of Novemoer, 1782, by Dr. Franklin, Mr. Ad ims, Mr, Jay and Mr. Laurens, on ihe part of the U. S. and Mr. Oswald on the part of G. B. 1 h< se formed the basis of the definitive treaty, which was concluded the 30ih of September 1783, and signed Dr. Franklin, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Jay, on the one part, and by Mr. David Hartley on the other. Ou -he 3-1 of April 1783, a treaty of amity and commerce, between the United States and Sweden, was concluded a- Paris, by Dr. Franklin and the Count Von Krutx. A similar ueaty with Prussia was concluded in 1785, not long before Dr. Franklin s departure fro.n Europe. Dr. Fra<klin did not sufJVr his political pursuits to t.v^ross his whole atu niton. Some ot his per- fo< rnanec-) m K!^ their, appearance in Paris. Ihe obj; ci. oi luse was generally the promotion of in- dustrv ar i ce ( -uomv. Ji the -/ear 1784, when animal magnetism mncte great noise in the world, particularly ac Paris, it --vaa thought a matter of such importance, that the kipg anpointr J commissioners *.o examine into Jie f -im- cl utioi. <f this pr- tender! si-ienor. Dr. Franklin was o nc of the number. Ai k er a fair iuid dili^eat ex* DR. FRANKLIN. 147 animation, in the course of which Mesmer repeat ed a number of experiments, in the presence of the commissioners, some of which were tried upon themselves, they determined that it was a mere trick, intended to impose upon the ignorant and credu lous. Mesmer was thus interrupted in his career .o wealth and tame, and a most insolent attempt to impose upon the human understanding baffled. The important ends ol Dr, Franklin s mission being completed by the establishment of American independence, and the infirmities of age and disease coming upon him, he became desirous of return-- ing to his native countn . Upon application to* congress to be recalled, Mr. Jefferson was appoint ed to succeed him, in 1785. Sometime in Septem ber ot the same year, Dr. Franklin arrived in Phila- cLl; hia. He was shortly after chosen member of the supreme executive council for the city; and SG<,I* aiter was elected president of the same. When a convention was called to meet in Phila delphia, in 1787, for the purpose of giving more energy to the government of ihe union, by revising and amending the articles of confederation, Dr Franklin was appointed a delegate from the state of Pennsylvania. He signed the constitution which the) proposed for the union, and gave it the most unequivocal marks of his approbation, A society for political enquiries, of which Dr. . Franklin was president, was established about this period. The meetings were held at his house. Two or three essays read in the society were pub* lished. It did not long continue, In the year 1787, two societies were established in Philadelphia, founded on principles of the most iir>eral and refined humanity The Philadelphia So ciety for alleviating the miseries of public prisons; 148 MEMOIRS OF and the Pennsylvania Society for promoting the abo~ lition of slavery, the relief oj free negroes unlawful ly held in bondage, and the improvement of the con- dition of the African race. Of each of these Dr. I Yankliu was president. The labors of these bo dies have been crowned with great success ; and they continue to prosecute, with unwearied dili- gmce, the laudable designs for which they were established. Dr. Franklin s increasing infirmities prevented his regular attendance at the council chamber j aad in 1778, he retired wholly from public life. His constitution had been a remarkable good one. He had been little subject to disease, except an at tack of the gout occasionally, until the year 1781, %vhen he was first attacked with symptoms of the calculous complaint, which continued during his life. During the intervals of pain from this griev ous disease, he spent many cheerful hours, convers ing in the most agreeable and instructive manner. His facuUies were entirely unimpaired, even to the Jhour of his death. His name, as president of the Abolition Society, Vas signed to the memorial presented to the House of Representatives of the United States, of the 12ih oi February 1789, praying them to exert the full extent of power vested in them by the constitution, in discouraging the traffic of the human species.- 1 his was his labt public act. In the debat s to vhich this memorial gave rise, several attempts were made to justify the trade. In the Federal Gazette of March 25th, there appeared an essay, signed Historicus, written by Dr. Franklin, in ^vhich he communicated a speech, said to have been delivered in the Divan of Algiers in 1687; in op position to the nr\ era of the petition of a sect call- DR. FRANKLIN. 14& cl *fRr, or purists, for the abolition of piracy and slavery. This preu nded African speech was an excellent parody of one delivered by Mr. JaikaoH of Georgia. All the arguments urged in favor, of m gro slavery, are applied with equal force to justi fy the plundering and enslaving the Europeans, ft affords, at the same time, a demonstration of the it- tiiity ot the arguments in defence of the slave tra-i , and of the strength of mind and ingenuity of re author, at his advanced period of lilt. It furnished too a no less convincing proof of his power of imU tating the st> le of other times and nations, than his celebrated parable against persecution. And as the latter led many to search the scriptures with 4. view to find it, so the former caused many persons to search the book stores and libraries fur the work from which it was said to be extracted.* In the beginning of April following, he was at tacked with a fever and a complaint of his breast, \vhich terminated his existence. The following ac count of his last illness was written by his friend and physician, Dr. Jones. u The stone, with which he had been afflict* d for several years, had for the last twelve months confined him chiefly to his bed ; and during ihe Extreme painful paroxysms, he was obliged to ta ; c large doses of laudanum to mitigate his tortures * siiH in the intervals of pain, he not onl\ amused himself with reading and conversing with his fami- 1\ , and a few ot his friends who visited him, h.it \vas often employed in doing business of a pub ic as well as private- naUre, with various persons W;i(> trailed on him for that purpose ; and in everv in stanre displayed, not mK that readiness and di * i . : -. J This speech will be foiiaa among tau N ^ 150 MEMOIRS OF sit ion of doing good, which was the distinguishing characteristic of his life but the fullest ami clear est possession of his uncommon mental abilities ; and not unirequently indulged himself in th-- se jeux d^exprit and entertaining anecdotes, which were the delight of all who heard him. 41 About sixteen daxs before his death, he wa& seized with a feverish indisposition, without any particular symptoms attending it, till the third or fourth day, when he complained of a pain in hislrft breast, which increased till it became extremely acute, attended with a cough and laborious breath ing. During this state, when the severity of his pains sometimes drew forth a groan of complaint, he would observe that he was afraid he did not bear them as he ought acknowledged his grate ful sense of the many blessings he had received from the Supreme Being, who had raised him from email and low beginnings to such high rank and consideration among nun and made no doubt but his present afflictions were kindly intended to wean him from a world, in which he w.is no linger fit 10 act the part assigned him. In this frame of body and mind he continued till five days before his death, when his pain and difficulty of breathing en tirely left him, and his family were flattering them- celvts with the hopes of Tiis recovery, whin an im- posthumation, which had formed itself in his lungs, suddenly burst, and discharged a great quantity of matter, which he continued to throw up while he had sufficient strength to doit; but, as that fail ed, the organs of respiration became gradually op pressed a calm lethargic state succeeded and, on the 7th of April, 1790, about eleven o clock at night^ h<- quitilv expired, rinsing a long and useful life of eight) -four yearo and three DR. FRANKLW. l<rl * Tt mar not be amiss to add to the ahox-e ac- emt!>t,khat Dr. Franklin, in the year 1735, had a severe pleuris\, uhich terminated in an abscess of the It- ft lobe of hishn.gs, tuid was then almost suffo cated with the quantity of the discharge, A second attack of a similar nature happened some years af ter this, from which he soon recovered, and did not appear to suffer any inconvenience in his respiration fiom these diseases." The following epitaph on himself, was writtett by him many years previous to his death; THE BODY OF BRWJAMIN FRANK LL\ f , PRINTER, (. 1(LE THK COVER OF AN OLD BOOK, IfS CONTENTS TOR If 0175*, AND STRIPT OF ITS LETTERING AND GILDING;^ LIES HESEj. FOOD FOR WORMS } TET THE WORK ITSELF SHALL NOT BE LOST, tyR if WILL (AS HE BELIEVED) APPEAR ONCE MOB 9$ IN A NEW MOKE BEAUTIFUL OKUECTKD AND AMENDl.D> BY MEMOIRS OF Extracts from the last Will and Testament of Dr. Franklin. With regard to my books, those I had in France, fcnd those I left in Philadelphia, being now assem bled tognhtr here, and a catalogue made of them, k is m\ intention to dispose oi the same as fol lows : IVIy history of the Academy of Sciences, in sixty Or seventy vommes quarto, 1 give to the philoso* phical society of Philadelphia, of which I have the h >nor to be president. My collection in folio of jLr.v Arty & Leu Metiers, I give to the philosophi* eaf society, established in New England, of which I ;<m a member. My quarto edition of the same Arts and Metiers, I give to the library company of Philadelphia. Such and so many of my books as I snark in the said catalogue, with the name of my grandson, Benjamin Franklin Bache, I do hereby give to him, and such and so many of my books, as I shall mar 1 : in the said c talogue with tie name of im grandson William Ba* he, I do hereby give to him : and such as shall be marked with the name of Jonathan Williams, I hereby giveto my cousin of .that nsme. The residue and remainder of all my books, manuscripts ahd papers, I do give to my grindson Wdliam Temple Franklin. My share in- the library company of Philadelphia I give to my grandson Benjamin Franklin Bache, confiding that he will permit his brothers and sisters to share it* the use of it. I was born in Boston, New England, and owe my first instructions in literature to the free gram* mar schools established ch- re. I therefore give hundred pound sterling to my executors, to be DR. FRANKLIN. 153 by them, the suruivors or survior of them, paid o- verto the managers or directors of the free schools in my native town of Boston, to be by them, or the person or persons who shall have the superinten- dan. e and management of the said shools, put oat to interest, and so continued at interest for ever ; \vhich interest annually hall be laid out in silver medals, and given as honorary rewards annually by the directors of the said free schools, for the encou ragement of scholarship in ihe said schools, belong ing to the said town, in such manner as the discre tion of the select men of the said town shall seen\ meet. Out of the salary that may remain due to me, aa prc-sitfentof the state, I give the sum of two thou sand pounds to my executors, to be by them, the survivors or survivor of them, paid over to each person or persons as the legislature of this state, by an act of assembly, shall appoint to receive thesame, in trust, to be employed for making the Schuylkill navigable. Daring the number of years I was in business as a stationer, printer, and postmaster, a great many small sums became due to me, for books, advertise ments, postage of letters, and other matters, which vvtre not collected, when, in 1757, I was sent by th- assemby to England as thtrir agent and, by subsequent appointments continued there till 1775, vhcn, on my return, I was immediately engaged in the affairs of congress, and sent to France in 1776, where I remained nine years, not returning till 1,85 ; and the said debts not being demanded in such a length of time, are become in a manner ob- srl-. te, \ et are nevertheless justly due. Thes e, as they are stated in mv great folio ledger, E. I be- qucuthtothe contributors of the Pennsylvania hos- MEMOIRS OF pital ; hoping that these debtors, and the cTescen- dants of such as are deceased, who now, as I find, make some difficulty of satisfying such antiquated demands as just debts, may however be induced to pay or give them as charity to that excellent insti tution. I am sensible that much must inevitably be lost ; but I hope something considerable may be recovered. It is possible too that some of the par* ties charged may have existing old unsettled ac counts against me ; in whidi case the managers of the said hospital will allow and deduct the amount, and pay the balance, if they find it against me. I request my frknds Henry Hill, Esq. John Jay, Esq. Francis Hopkinson, Esq. and Mr. Edward Duffieid, of Bonfield, in Philadelphia county, to be the executors of this my last will and testament,, and I hereby nominate and appoint them for that purpose. I would have my body buried with as little ex* |>ence or ceremony as may be. Philadelphia, July 17, 1788* CODICIL. I, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, in the foregomg or an* flexed last will and testamejit, having further con sidered the same, do think proper to make and pub lish the following codicil, or addition thereto: It having long *>een a fixed political opinion of mine, ihat in a democratical state there ought to be no offices of profit, for the reasons I had given in an article of my drawing in our constitution, it was my intention, when I accepted the office of presi dent, to devote the appointed salary to some public me : Accordingly I had alreadv, before I made my last will, iu July last, given large sums of it DR. FRANKLIN. 155 leges, schools, building of churches, &c. and in that \vili i bequeathed two thousand pounds more to the state, for the purpose of making the Schuylkiil navigable; but understanding since, that such a sum will do but little towards accomplishing such a work, and that project is not likely to be under taken for many years to come and having enter tained another idea, which I hope may be found mofe extensively useful, I do hereby revoke and annul the bequest and direct that the certificates I have of what remains due to me of that salary, be sold towards raising the sum of two thousand pounds sterling, to be disposed of as I am now about to order. It has been an opinion, that he who receives an estate from his ancestors, is under some obligation to transmit the same to posterity. This obligation lies not on me, who never inherited a shilling from an ancestor or relation. I shall, however, if it is not diminished by some accident before my death, leave a considerable estate among my descendants and relations. The above observation is made merely ns some apology to my family, for my mak ing bequests that do not appear to have any imme diate relations to their advantage. I was born in Boston, New-England, and owe my first instructions in literature to the free gram mar schools established there. I have therefore considered those schools in my will. But I am under obligations to the state of Mas sachusetts, for having, unasked, appointed me for merly their agent, with a handsome salary, \vhi :Si continued some years; and although I accidentally lost in the ir service, by transmitting governor Hutrhinson s letters, much more, than the amoir.it 1" what they gave me, I Uu not think that ought in 156 MEMOIRS OF the least to diminish my gratitude. I have cons fd* ered that among artisnns, good apprentices are most apt to make good citizens ; and having mystlf been bred to a manual art, printing, in my native town, and afterwards assisted to set up my business in Philadelphia by kind loa,n,s of money from two fri< nds there, which was the foundation of my for- tune, and of all the utility \n life, that- may be a- scribed to me I wish to be useful even after my death, if possible, in forming and advancing other young men, that may be serviceable to their country in both these towns. To this end I devote two thousand pounds ster ling, which I. give one thousand thereof to the in habitants of ihe town of Boston, in Massachusetts, and the oth^r thousand to the inhabitants of the ci ty of Philadelphia^ in trust, to and fqr the uses, in tents, and purposes, herein after .mentioned and de clared. .., ,,.,, . .. j,~\ The said su<n of one thousand pounds sterling, if accepted by the inhabitants of the town of Boston, shrill i>e managed under the direction of select men, united with the minist . rs of th:- oldest episcopalian, congregational, and presbyterian churches in th-.it to-vn, who are, to let oat the sam?.upnn interest at five p?r cent. per. annum, to su<-;h young married artificers, under the age of twenty-five years, as hi .ve served an apprenticeship in the said town, and faithfully fulfilled, the duties required in tb .ir in- d ntures, so as to obtain a good mornl character, f.o:n at least two respectable citizens, who are will ing to become sureties in a bond \vuh the ap^li- c -.irs, for rht repayment off he noonev. so lent, w uh I liernst, according to .the terms herein afar pre- * i i j rl ; all which bonds are to be taken for Span- ioh milled dollars, or the value thereof .in current DR. FRANKLIN, gold coin: and the manager shall keep a bound book, or books, wherein shall be entered the names of those \vhoshali apply for, and receive the bene fit of this institution, and of their sureties, together \vith the sums lent, the dates, and other necessury and proper records respecting the business and con cerns ol this institution, and as these loans are in tended to assist young married artificers in setting up their business, they are to be proportioned by- discretion ol the managers, so as not to exceed six ty pounds sterling to one person, nor less than fif teen pounds. And if the number of appliers so entitled should be so large as that the sum will not suffer to afford to each as much as mig t otherwise not be improp er, the proportion 10 oath shall be diminished, so -as to afford to < veiy one some assistance. These aids may therefore be small at first, but as the capi tal int reast s by accumulated interest, they will be- in ore ample. And in order to serve as main as possible in their turn, as well as to make the re pay - rmnt of the principal borrowed more easy, each l.C irower shall be obliged to pay with the yearly in terest one tenth part ol the principal; which sums cl principal and interest so paid shall be again lent cut to fresh boi rowers. And it is presumed, that there will be always found in Boston virtuous and benevolent citizens, willing to bestow a part of their time in doing good to the rising generation, by su perintending and managing this institution gratis; it is hoped that no pain of the money will at any time lie dead, or be diverted to other purposes, but be continually augmenting by the interest, in which case there may in time be more than the occasion in Boston shall require: and then some may be to the neighboring or other towus in the 158 MEMOIRS OF said state of Massachusetts, which may desire t have it, such towns engaging to pay punctually the interest, and such proportions of the principal annu ally to the inhabitants of the town of Boston. If this plan is executed, and succeeds, as projected, \vithout interruption, for one hundred years, the sum will be then one hundred and thirtv-one thou sand pounds ; of which I would have the managers of the donation to the town of Boston then lay out, at their discretion, one hundred thousand pounds in public works, which may be judged of most general utility to the inhabitants; such as fortfkations, bidgc.s, aqueducts, public buildings, baths, pa\e- jnruts, or whatever may make living in the to .vn more convenient to its people, and render it more agreeable to strangers resortin * thither for health, or a temporary residence. The remaining thirty- one thousand pounds I would have continued to be let out to interest, in the manner above directed, for one hundred years ; as I hope it will have been found that the institution has had a good effect on the conduct of youth, and been of service to many vorihy characters and useful citizens. At the end of this second term, if no unfortunate accident has prevented the operation, the sum will be four ni il- li >ns and sixty-one thousand pounds sterling ; of which I leave one million and sixtv-one thousand po-mds to th - disposition and management of the inhabitants nf the town of Boston, and the three millions to the disposition of the government of the stiii ; not presuming to carry my views any far ther. Ai! th** directions hrt in given respecting the disposition and management of the donation to the inhabitants of Boston, I would have observed res pecting that to thv liiiubiuuits ui Philadelphia \ only, DR. FRANKLIN. 15* %s Philadelphia is incorporate cl, I request the corpo ration of that city to undertake the man^gem^nt, agreeable to the said directions : and I do hereby vest them with full and ample powers for that pur pose. And having considered that the covering the ground-plat with buildings and pavements, which carry off most rain, and prevent us soaking into the earth, and renewing and purifying the springs, whence the water of the wells must gradu ally grow worse, and in time be unfit for use, as I find has happened in all old cities ; I recommend, that, at the end of the first hundred years, if not done before, the corporation of the city < mploy a part of the hundred thousand pounds in bringing by pipes the water of Wissahickon-creek into the ur. i, s1> as to supply the inhabitants, \\hich I apprehend mav be done without great difficulty, the level of that creek being much above that of the city, and nmy be made- higher by a dam. I also recommend m tking the Schuytkill completely navigable. At the end of the second hundred years, I would have the disposition of the four millions and sixty-one thousand pounds divided between the inhabitants of the city of Philadelphia and ttve government of Pennsylvania, in the same manner herein directed with respect to that of the inhabitants of Boston and the government of Massachusetts. It is my desire that this institution should take place, and be gin to operate, within one year after my decease ; for which purpose due notice should be publicly given, previously tn the expiration of that year, that those for whose benefit this establishment is intend ed may make their respective applications: and I hereby direct my executors, the survivors and sur vivor of them, within six months after my decease,, to pay over the said sum of two thousand 160 MEMOIRS OF sterling to such persons as shall be duly appointed l)\ ;he select-men of Boston, and the corporation of Philadelphia, to receive and take charge ot their respective sums of one thousand pounds each, tor the purposes aforesaid. Considering the accidents to whhh all human affairs and projects are subject in such a length of time, I have perhaps too much flattered myself with a vain fancy, that these dispo- sirions, if carried into execution, \viil be continued v i.hout interruption, and have the effects proposed ; I hope, however, that if the inhabitants of the two cities should not think fit to undertake the execution, they will at least accept the offer oi these donations,, as a mark of my good will, token of my gratitude,- tmd testimony of my desire to be useful to them even after my departure. I wish, indeed, that they may both undertake to endeavor the execution f my project, because I thiuk, that, though unfore seen difficulties may arise, expedients will be found to remove them, and the scheme be found practica ble. If one of them acct pts the money with the conditions, and the other refuses, my will then is> tn.it both sums be given to the inhabitants of the city accepting ; the whole to be applied to the same purposes, and under the same regulations directed for the separate parts ; and if both refuse, the money remains of course in the mass of my estate, and it 5s to be disposed of therewith, according to my wilt inadc- the seventeenth day of July. 1788. My fine crab-tree walking-stick, wi:h a gold head curiously wrought in the form of the can of Liberty, I give to my friend, and the friend of mankind, General Washington. If it w<-re a sceptre, he merited it, and would become k. DR. FRANKLIN. I6f AOTE. Dr. Franklin s legacy of ^1000 sterling, of $4444 44 cts. to the corporation of Philadelphia, for the purpose of being loaned out in small sums to industrious tradesmen, at five per cent, interest, which interest was to be placed out continually on the same conditions, on the 3 1st of December, 1806, had increased three thousand four hundred and sixty-seven dollars and fifty -one cents. END OF VOL. Ir E *? 1 HUMOUROUS, MORAL tf LITERARY ON EARLY MARRIAGES, To John Alley ne^ Esq. DEAR JACK, You desire, you say, mv impartial thoughts on the Subject of an early marriage, by way of answer t the numberless objections that have been made by numerous pers ons to your o\vn. You may n mem ber, when vou consulted me on the occasion, that I thought youth on both sides no objection. Indeed, from the marriages that have fallen under my ob at Tvation, I am rather inclined to think, that early ones stand the best chance of happiness. The temper and habits of the young are not \et become so stiff ami uncomplying, as when more advanced in life ; ihvy form more easily to each other, and h uce many occasions of disgust are -removed.- And if youth has It ss oF that prudence which is ne cessary to manage a family, yet the parents and el der friends of young married persons are generally ai hand to afford their advice, which amply supplies* that defect ; and by early marriage, youth is soon er formed to regular and useful life; and possibly some of those accidents or connections, that might; have injured the constitution, or reputation, or both, are thereby happily prevented. Particular circumstances of particular persons, mav possibly sometimes make it prudent to delav entering into that state; but in general, when nature has render ed our bodk* i iur it^ the presumption is ia 164 ESSAYS. ture s favor, that she has not judged amiss in mate- ing us desire it* L te marriages are ot tcn attend* ed, too, with this further inconvenience, that there is not the same chance that the parents shall live to see their offspring educated. * Late children,/* says the Spanish proverb, u are early orphans." A melancholy reflection to those whose case it may be ! With us in America, marriages are generally in the morning of life ; our children are therefore educated and settled in the world by noon ; and thus our business being done, we have an afternoon and evening of cheerful leisure to ourselves, such as our friend at present enjo\ s. By these early marriages we are blessed with more children ; and from the mode among us founded by nature, of e- very mother suckling and nursing her own child, more of them are raised. Thence the swift pro gress of population among us, unparalleled in Eu rope. In fine, I am glad you are married, and congratulate you most cordially upon it. You are now in the way of becoming a useful citizen ; and you have escaped the unnatural state of celibacy for life the fate of many here, who never intend ed it, but who having too long postponed the chance of their condition, find, at length, that it is too late to think of it, and so live all their lives in a situation that greatly lessens a man s value. An old volume of a set of books bears not the value of its propor* tion to the set: what think you of the old half of a pair of scissors ? it can t well cut any thing ; it may possibly serve to scrape a trencher. Pray make my compliments and best wishes ac ceptable to your bride. I am old and heavy, or I should ere this have presented them in person. I shall make but small use of the old man s privilege, that oi giving advice to younger frieads. Treat ESSAYS. your wife always with respect; it will procure res- p- -ct to \ou, not only from her, hut iVom all that observe it. Never use a slighting expression to her, even in jest : for slights in jest, afur frequent bandvings, are apt to end in angry earnest. Be stu dious in your profession, and NOLI will be learned. Be industrious and frugal, and you will be rich. Be sober arid temperate, and you will be healthy. Be in general virtuous, and vou will be happy. At least, you will, by such conduct, stand the best chance for such consequences. I pray God to bless you both! being ever your affection-ate friend, B. IUANKLIN. Oil the death of his brother, Mr. John Frank ft ft* TO MISS IIUBBARD. I condole with you. We have lost a most clear and valuable relation. But it is the u ill of G >d and nature, that these mortal bodies be laid aside, \vhen the soul is to enter into real life. This is ra- ther an embryo state, a preparation for living. A man is not completely born umhhe be dead. Why- then should we grieve that a new child is born among the immortals, a new member added to their so ie- \y ? We are spirits. That bodies should be lent us, while they can afford us pleasure, assist us ia acquiring knowledge, or doing good to our fellow, creatures, is a kind and benevolent act of God. When they become unfit for these purposes, and afford us pain instead of pleasure, instead of an aid become an incumbrance, and answer none of the intentions for which they were given, it is equ >ily ana bfacvoleut ihat a \\ay is provided bjr fGS ESSAYS. which we may get rid of them. Death is that way* We ourselves, in some cases, prudently choose a partial death. A. mangled painful limb, which can not be restored, we willingly cut off. He who plucks out a tooth, parts with it freely, since the pain goes with it : and he who quits the whole body, parts at once with all pains, and possibilities of pains and diseases, it \vas liable to, or capable of making him suffer. Our friend and we were invited abroad on a party of pleasure, which is to last forever. His chair was ready first ; and he is gone before us. We could not all conveniendy start togt ther : and why should you and I be grieved at this, since we are soon to follow, and know where to find him I Adieu. B. FRANKLINS To the late I o>ctor Mather, of Boston* &EV. SIR, I received your kind letter, with your" excellent advice to the United States, which I read with great pleasure, and hope it will be duly re garded. Such writings, though they may be light ly passed over by many readers, yet, if they make a deep impression on one active mind in a hundred^ the effects may be considerable. Permit nu* to m ntion one little instance, which, though it relates. to mvself, will not be quite unin teresting to you. When I was a boy, I met with a book entitled 4 u Essavs to do good, which I think was written by your father. It had been so little regarded by a ft rmrr possessor, that several leaves of it wtuuorn out;, buc tho remainder gave ESSAYS. 163 aae sxuh a turn for thinking, as to have an influence on my conduct through life : for I have always set a g cater value on the character of a daerof good, than any other kind of reputation; and if 1 have beer:, as you seem to think, a useful citizen, the pub lic owes the advantage of it to that book. You mention vour being in your seventy-eighth year, i am in my seventy-ninth. We are grown olii together. "It is now more than sixty years since I left Boston ; but I remember well both your fath er and grandfather, having heard them both in the pulpit, and seen them in their houses. The last time 1 saw your father was in the- beginning of 1724, when I visited him after my first trip to Pennsyl vania; he received me in his library; and on my taking leave, shewed me a shortt-r way out of the house, through a narrow passage, which was cross ed by a beam over head. We were still talking as I withdrew, he accompanying me behind, and 1 turning partly towards him, when he said hastily, 41 Stoop, Stoop!" I did not understand him till I felt my head hit against the beam. He was a man \vho never missed any occasion of giving instruc tion : and upon this he said to me : u 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 inform h^ art. has frequently 4>ecn of use to me ; and I often think of it, when I see pride mortified, and misfortune brought upon people bv t ! eir arrying their heads too high. I long much to see again mv native place ; and once h^ped to lay my bores there. I left it in 1723. I visited it in 1733, 1743, 1753, nnd 1763 ; and in 1773 I was in England. I 1775 I had a sight of it, but could not enter, ir hein^ in possession of the enemy. I did hope to have been there hi 1783, 168 ESSAYS. but could not obtain my dismission from this em ployment here; and now 1 fear I shall never have that happiness. My best wishes howtver attend my dear country, " etsto perpetual It is now bless ed wuh an excellent constitution : may it last for evtr ! This powerful monarchy continues its friendship for the United States. It is a friendship of the- ut most importance to our security, and should be carefully cultivated. Britain has not yet digested the loss of its dominion over us ; and has still at times some flattering hopes of recovering it. Ac cidents may increase those hopes, and encourage dangerous attempts. A breach between us and Fr.rnoe would infallibly bring the English again up on our bucks : and yet we have some wild beasts among our countrymen, who are endeavoring to waken that connection. Let us preserve our reputation, by performing our engage aunts; our credit, bv fulfilling our con tracts ; and our friends, by gratitude and kindness: for we know not how soon we may again have oc casion for all oi them. With gn at and sincere esteem, J have the honor to be, Reverend sir, Your most obedient and most humble servant, B. FRANKLIN. Passy, May 12, 1784. WHISTLE. A TRUE STORY. WE If? EN ro HIS NEPJIEfT, I was a child, about 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 iiivhhtle, that I met by the way in tht hands of another boy, 1 voluntarily offered him all my mo ney for one. I then came home, and went whist ling all over the house, much pleased with my whis~ tie, but disturbing all the family. My brothers, and sisters, and cousins, understanding the bargain, I had made, told me I had given four times as much for it as it was wor.h. 1 his put me in mind %vhat good things I might have bought with the rest of mv m<mev ; and they laughed at me so much for my folly, that I cried with vexation ; and the rt> fle.tion gave me more chagrin than the zvhist/e gave me pleasure. This however was afterwards of use to me, the impression continuing on my mind: so that often when f was tempted to buy someunn cessarv thing I said t<> myself, don t give too much for the whistle ; and so I saved my money. As I grew up, came inio the world, and observe ed the actions of men, I thought I met with many, Verv mam , who gave too much for the tvhistle. When I saw any one too ambitious of court fa vors, sacrificing his time in attendance on levees, his repose, his liberty, his virtue, and perhaps his friends, to attain it, 1 have said to myself, this man give* too much for hi* whittle. When I saw another fond of popularity, constant ly employing himself in political bustles, neglecting P 170 ESSAYS. his own affairs, and ruining i-jieir, by that neglect: lie pays indeed, says I, too much for hi* whistle. If I knew a miser, who gave up even kind of coinlori-ible living, all the pleasure of doing good to others, all the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and the joys of benevolent i riendt-hip, for the sake of ac cumulating wealth : poor man,, says I, ijou do indevd pay too much for your wfiistle. When I meet a man of pleasure, sacrificing eve ry laudable improvement of the mind, or of his for tune, to mere corporeal sensations: Mi&taktn man, savs I, you are providing pain for yourself, instead of pleasure ; you give too much for your -whistle. Iflse e one fond ot fine clothes, fine furniture, fine equipages, all above his fortune, for which he contracts debts, and ends his career in prison: Alas^ says I, he hat paid dear, very dear, for his -whistle, When I st e a beautiful sweet-tempered girl, mar ried to an ill natured brute of a husband: What a pit if it is, says I, that she has paid so much for a- In short, I conceived that great part of the mi?e- ru s of mankind were brought upon them bv the fa .se estimates the\ had made of the value of things, and by their giving too much for their ivlwxtle* A PETITION To those U ho Iiave the suptrintendency of Education. r I ADDRESS myself to all the friends of youth, and con jure them to direct their compassionate regards to my tmhuppy fit ., in order to remove the prejudices -of which I aw the victim. There are twin sisters of us : and the two eyts of man do not more resemble, vo? are capable of being upon better terms with each other 3 ESSAYS. m than my sister and myself, were it not for the partiality of our parents, who make the most injurious distinctions between us. From my infancy I havr been led to con sider my sister as a being of more elevated rank. I was suffered to grow up without the least instruction, while nothing was spared in her education. She had masters to teach her wviung, drawing* music, and oth er accomplishments ; but if by chance 1 touched a pen cil, a pen or a needle, I was bitterly rebuked : and more than once I have been beau-n for being auk^arcl, and \vantin r a graceful manner. It is true, my sister as- o- ciated me with her iroon some occasions ; but sh.; al ways made a point of taking the lead, calling upon me Ouly tvorn necessity, or to figure by her side. But conceive not, sirs, that my compliints are insti gated merely by vanity No; my uneasiness is occa sioned by an object much more serious. It is me practice in our family, that the whole business of pro viding for its subsistence falls upon my sister and my- If. If any indisposition should attack my sister und I mention it in confidence, upon tr.is occasion, that she is subject to the gout, the rheumatism and cramp, \\ lib- cm making mention of other accident*- what would be the tale of our poor family ? Must not the^regre* of our parents be excessive at having placed so great a distance between sisters who are so perfectly equal? Alas! we must perish from distress : for it would not be in my power even to scrawl a suppliant petition for relief, having been obliged to employ the hand of ano ther in transcribing the request which I have now the honor to prefer to you. Condescend, sirs, to make my parents sensible of the injustice of an exclusive tenderness, and of the rieces- suy of distributing their care and affection among all their children equally. I am, with profound respect, SIRS, Your obedient servant, TiiE Lait T HAND. 172 ESSAYS. The handsome and deformed Leg. THERE aie two so;t>> of people in the world, who, witfi equal degrees of health and wealth and the other com forts of life, becomes the one happy, and the other miserable. 1 his arises very much from the different views in which they consider things, persons and events ; ^nd the effect of those different views upon their own minds. In whatever situation men can be placed, they may find conveniences and inconveniences : in whatever company, they may find persons and conversation more or less pleasing : at whatever table> they may meet with meats and drinks of better and worse taste, dishes better and worse dressed : in whatever climate, they "will find good and bad weather: under whatever gov ernment, they may fi^d good and bad laws, and a good ttnd bad administration cf those laws: in whatever po em, or work, of genius, they may see faults and beauties ; in almost every face, and every person, they may disco ver fine features and defects, good and bad qualities. Under these circumstances, the two sons of people &bove mentioned, fix their attention those who are disposed to be happy, on the conveniences of things, the pleasant parts of conversation, the well dressed dishes, the goodness of the wines, the. tine weather, &c. and enjoy all with cheerfulness. Those who are to be Unhappy, think and speak only of the contraries. Hence they are continually discontented themselves, and, by their remarks, sour the pleasures of society ; offend personally many people, and make themselves every where, disagreeable. If this turn of mi, id was founded in nature, such unhappy persons would the more to be pitied. But as the disposition to criticise, and to be disgusted, is, perhap->, taken up originally by imitation, and is unawares grown into a habit, which, though at present strong, may nevertheless be cured, when those \vho have it are convinced of its bad effects on their fe licity j 1 hope this liltle admonition may be of service y sss.\ts. fo tTiem, antf puf them on changing a hah t, which, u-o in the exercise it is chiefly an act of imagination, yet has serious consequences m life, as it brings on real griefs and misfot tunes. For as many are offended by> and nobody loves, this sort of people; no one si ewa them more than the most common civility and respect, and scarcely that ; and this frequently puts them out of humor, and draws them into disputes and conten tions* If they aim at obtaining some advantage in rank or fortune, nobody wishes thefn success, or will stir a step, or speak a word to- favor their pretensions. If they incur pnblic censure or displace, no one v ill defend or excuse, and .many join to -aggravate their misconduct, and render them completely odious, if these people will not change this bad habit, condescend to be pleased with what is pleasing, without fretting. themselves and others about the contraries, it i.; gooa for others to avoid an acquaintance with them ; wnich. is always disagreeable, and sometimes very i.jionvcm- ei.t, especially when one finds one s self entangled in their quarrels. An old philosophical friend of mine was grown, from experience, very cautious in this particular, and care fully avoided any in imacy whh such people. lh- had, like other philosophers, a therniomder, to shew him the heat ot the weather; and a barometer, to nutilc when it was lively to prove good 01 bad; but there bj ing no instrument invented to discover, at first si^ht, this unpl asin^ disposition in a person, he, for that pnr* pose, made use of his legs ; one of which was remai k- ab!y handsome, the other, by somv: accident, crooked and deformed. If a stranger, at the first interview, re garded his ugly leg more than the handsome .one, he doubted him. If he spoke of it, and locA no noiice i-f the iidndsome leg, that w a s sulh-ienl to determine my philosopher to have no further acquaintance with him* I> ry body has not this t w< ;- ;.>, ;-i d lustrum. nt ; but e VMy one with a liitle attention, may observe signs of thai carping, iuuii-niHnng P 2 174 ESSAYS. resolution of avoiding; the acquaintance of t 1 ose ! - cd with it. I therefore advise those critical, qnvru1o"s, discontented, unhappy people, that if they wish to be respected and beloved by o l er^, arc! happy in they should leave off liking at ihc ugly t*. Conversation of a Company of Ephemera $ with the Soliloquy of one advanced in age,. TQ MADAME BRILLIANT. You may remember, my dear friend, that when we lately spent that happy day, in the delightful garden r.rd f aweet society of the Moulin Joly, I si opt a little in o c of mir walks, and staid some time behind the compai y. "We had been shewn numberless skeletons of a kind of little fly, called an Kphemersc, who^e successive g*. ne gations, we were told, were bred and expired within the day. I happened to see a li\ing company of them n a leaf, who appeared to be engaged in conversation. You know I understand ail the inferior animal tongues; my too great application to the study cf them, is the best excuse I can give for the little progress I have TOdde in your charming language. I listened through euriosity to the discourse of these litile creatures; but as they, in their natural vivacity, spoke three or four together, I could make but little of their conversation, 1 found, however, by some broken expressions thai I Jieard now and tin n, they were disputing warmly on the merit of two foreign musicians, the one a cousin^ the ther a muscheto ; in which dispute they spent their time, seemingly as regardless of the shortness of life as if they had oeen sure of livi g a month. Happy- people, thought 1, you live certainly under a wise, ju-ty iid mild government, since you have no public g;u. v- -ances to complain of, nor any subject, of contention but the perfections or imperfections oi foreign music, f iny i;cuti from ihem lo an old grey-headed X$SAf& its Wo was single on another leaf, and talking to himself. Being a-nustrd with his soliloquy, I put it ({own in wil ting, in hopes it will likewise amuse her to whom I am so much indtb ed for the most pleasing of all amu-.j- nit nts, her delicious company, and heavenly harmo..-y. " It was,* says he, * the opinion of learned philoso phers of our race, who lived aucl flourished long before n>y time, that this vast world the Moulin Joly could not itself consist more than eighteen hours: and I think there was some foundation for that opinion ; since, by the ap parent motion of the great luminary, that gives life to all future* and which in my time has evidently declined considerably towards the ocean at the end of our ea> th, it must then finish its course, be extinguished in the v.aters that surround us, and leave the world in cold a:-d darkness, necessarily producing universal deash and destruction. I have lived seven of those hours; a great aq;e, being no less than 420 minutes of time. - IIo\v very few of us continue so long! I have seen g -.- iterations born, flourish, and expire. My present fricftds are the children and grand-children of the f _-nds of my youth, who are now, alas, no more ! And I must soon follow them ; for, by the course of nature, though still in health, I cannot expect to live above cven or eight minute* longer. What now avails all my toil and labor, in amassing honey-dew on this leaf, iv hu h I cannot live to enjoy ! What the political strug gles 1 have been engaged h., for the good of my com patriot inhabitants of this bush, or my philosophical studies for the benefit of our race in general 1 for in politics (what can laws do without morals ?) our pre sent race of ephemerae will in a course of minutes be come corrupt, like those of other and older bushes, and consequently as wretched: And in philosophy how small our progress ! Alas 1 art is long and life is short I ftly friends would comfort me with the idea of a name, th y bay, I shall leave behind me ; and they tell me I Jiuve li^-ecl lon^enough to nature and to glory. Bui vuii uiie be to an ephemera who nv louder t* 176 ESSAYS. j^s? an. ! what will b-comc of all history in t le eieli- U .ith hour, when Ur-t world itself, even the whole Moulin ./ ,//., sh;-iil come to its end, and be buriod in uni versal ruin ?- To me, after all mv cage; pursuits, no solid pk-ssures now remain, but the reflection of a long life vp-nt in meaning, well, the sensible conversation of a f- \v good lady ephemera, and now and then a kind smile and a tune from the ever amiable Brilliant. J3. FRANKLIN. MORALS OF CHESS. PLAYING at chess is the most ancient i;n r l most uni versal game known among men ; for its original is. be yond the memory of history, and it has, for numberless aV;,es, been the amusement of ail the civilized maion* of Asia, the .Persians, the Indians, and ihe Chinese. Lu- rope has had it above a thousand years, the- Spaniaids have spread it over their part of America, and it begins lately to make its appearance in tiiese states. It is so iiitcrcBting in itself, as not to need the view of gain to induce engaging in it ; and thence it is nt-nr pia\ed for money. Ibo^ 1 , tlK-ivfore, who have leisure for such diver-ions, cun <ol find one thut is more innocent ; and the fo louing piece, written with a view to correct (among a f-vv young f itnds) some little impropiieties i>; ilit- pi actice of i , shew sat the same time, that H nuiy, in its effects on the mind be noi merely innocent, but advantageous, to the vuiicjdi^hed as well as the victor. The gam-- of chuss is not m r- ly an idle amusement. Several valuable qualities of the mi>id, useful in ti^e CQUrse of h Jinan hi\, a>e to be aconired or stiengt!..n- ed by it, ^o as to be,< ome habits, ready on all occasions. For life is a kiid of ch.ss, m which we have ci. a poin s to gain, and competitors or adversaries to rou- , tend \viia, audiu winch there i* u vu&t viuiciy of ESSAYS. -and ill events, that are, in some degree, the effects of prudence or the want of it. By playing at chess, then, we may learn I. Foresight, which looks a little into futurity, and Considers the consequences that attend an action; for it is continually occurring to the player, "If I move this piece, what will be the advantage of my new situ ation I What use can ray adversary make of it to an noy me .? What other moves can I make to support it, and to defend myself from his attacks ?" II. Circumsjirction, which surveys the whole chess board, or scene of action, the relations of the several pieces and situations, the dangers they are respectively exposed to, the several possibiiites of their aiding each other, the probabilities that the adversary may take this or that move, and attack this or the other piece, and \vhat different means can be ust-cl to avoid his stroke f or turn its consequences against him. III. Cautinn, not to make our moves too hastily.-^ Tins habit is best acquired by observing strictly the laws of the game, such as, < If you touch a piece, you must move it somewhere ; if you stt it clou n, you must let it stand ," and it is therefore btst that thtse rules snould be observed, us the game thereby becomes more the image of human life, and particular ly of war ; in which, if you have incautiously put }our- stlf into a bad and dangerous position, you cannot ob tain your enemy s leave to withdraw your troops, and place them more securely, but you must abide all the consequences of your rashness. Aiici, lastly, we learn by chess the habit of not being 1 diseourtlgt d by present dad apfiearunccs in itit state of our aj/iii Sy the habit of fioftingfor a j avorabte c/mt.-g-.: and that ofjitrseyering in the search ofrcuourcetf* TIK- game is so full of events, there ia such a variety of turns in it, the fortune of it is ho subject to suddttt vicissitudes, aiid one so frequently after long contemplating, di^ovti 3 the means uf extrica UK oue vJf iVom a suppos- d insur- able cliiuouiL^ , ihut ouc is encoura^cu 10 couw- m ESSAYS. nue the contest to the last, in hopes of victory by rmr S KJ Loral least of giving a stale mate, by negligence of our adversary. And whoever considers what in chess be often sees instances of, that particular pieces of suc cess are apt to produce presumption, and its consequent inattention, by which the loss may be recovered, will Icai n not to be too much discouraged by the present success of his adversary, nor to despair of final good iostune, upon every little check he receives in pursuit of it. That we may, therefore, be induced more frequently to chouse this beneficial amusement, in preference to others, which are not attended with the same advanta ges, every circumsAt.nce which may increase the plea sures of it should be regarded; and every action or word that is uniVir, disrespectful, or that in any way may give uneasiness, should be avoided, as contrary to the immediate intention ofbuih the players, which is to pass the time agreeably. Therefore, first, if it is agreed to play according to the strict rules ; then those rules are to be exactly ob served by boiii parties, and should no: be insisted on for one side, while deviated from by the other for this is not equitable. Secondly, -ii it is agreed not to observe the rules ex* actly, but oi, e party demands indigence, he should then be as willing io allow them to the other. Thirdly, no false n.ove should ever be made to ex tricate yourself out of a difficulty, or to gain an advan tage. There can be no pleasure in playing \\i;h a person once detected in such unfair practice. Fourthly, if your adversary is long in playing, you ought not to hurry him, or express any uneasiness at Ins delay. You should i,<tf sing, nor whistle, nor look at your watch, nor take up a book to read, nor make a tapping with your feet on the Boor, or with your lingers on the labl. , nor do any thing that may disturb his atten tion, tor all these things cii-:;l -ase, and they do not show vour skill in playing, but your crafliness or your ESSAYS. iro Fifthly, You ought not to endeavour to amuse and deceive your aclvi rsary, by pretending to have made bad moves, and saying that you have now lost the game, in order to make him secure and careless, and inatten tive to your schemes; for this is fraud and deceit, not skill in the game. Sixthly, You must not, when yon have gained a victo ry, use any triumphing or insulting expression, nor show too much pleasure; but endeavor to console your adversary, and make him less dissatisfied with himself, by every kind of civil expression that may be used with truth, such as, You understand the gaive better than I, but you are little inattentive ;" or, "you play too fast;" or, u you had the best of the game, but some thing happened to divert your thoughts, and that turn ed it in iny favovr." Seventhly, If you tire a spectator while others play, observe the most perfect siK nee. For if you give ad vice, you offend both parties; him aeaiust .vhom vou give it, because it may cause the loss of his game ; h m in whose favor you give it, because, though it be good and he follows it, he loses the pleasure he might have had, if you had permitted him to think until it had oc curred to hirnsrliV Even after a move, or moves, you must not, by placing the pieces, show how it might have been placed better: for that displeases, and luay occasion disputes and doubts about their title situation. All Calking t6 the players lessens or diverts their ut- tei. .U i , and is therefore unpleasiuy. Nor should you give. tiic least hint to either party, by any kind of noise or motion. If vou cio, you are unworthy to be a specta tor. If you Lave a mind to exercise or shew your judgment, do it in playing your own game, when you have an oppiu uiniry, i.o\ h. criticising, or middling \\iti , or counselling; the play of others. Lastly, If the game is not to be played rigorously, ac- coi tiing to li,e inies above mentioned, then moderate your desire of vie o(y ovei y< in adversary, a; dbe pleased With one over yom-acli . bnatcn iioieugeily ut every ad- 180 ESSAYS. vantage offered by his unskilfulness orinattention ; but Jioiiit out to him kindly, that by such a nt/ve hr place* or leaves a piece in danger or unsupported ; that by an other he will put his kinjy in a perilous situation, Sec. By this generous civility so opposite to the unfairness above forbiddei-) you niay> indeed., happen to lose the game to your opponent, bin you will win \v;\at is b t- ter, his esteem, his respect, and his affection ; together with the silent approbation and good- v ill of impartial spectators. The Art of procuring pleasant Dreams* INSCRIBED TO MISS ***, Being written (it her request. As a great p lt ,- T of our life is spent in sleep, during T hicr. iv e have sometimes pleasing, and sometimes painful d earns, it b/comes of some r.o.;sequence to ob tain the one kind, and avoid the olner; fo whether rt-iil 01 imaginary, pain is pain, and pleasure is pleasure. I! we can sleep without d teaming, it is well that pain ful dreams ace avoided. If, while we .sleep, we cati lutve ai.y pk a ii-.^ dreams, it is, as the Fre.xh say, tant ^.-.cf/ r, so much s^ided to the pleasure of life. To this tud it i-., iii the first place, tire s^ary to be CJiivfu! in ;>re vi-vin^ health, by due esftrcise, and great temperatu ;. ; fo;, io si kness. the imagination is dis- tutbcd ; and disagreel]>le<) sometimes terrible ideas are apt to pn-seiii theniselves. Exercise should j feet de mt-als. not inimcdiaifcly follow them : tlie first promotes t!-u iu tfi, unless AM dt-rutr. obstructs digestion. lf,..if- ter ex-rci---, \vt. iced sparingly, the digestion will be ea- s , ts :d good, the body iiy[htsoiiie, the temper cheerful, a"(i all the aniiii-.l i u;iv tions performed agreeably. Sleep, when ii follows, will be natural and undisturbed* \Vhilvi indol. ice, ^vith full feeding, occasion night- maicb and horrors inexpressible : we fall from precipi- ESSAYS. lit are assauftcd by wild beasts, murderers, and de mons, and experience every variety of distress. Ob serve, however, that the quantities of food and.exercise are relative things: those who move much may, and indeed ought to eat more ; those who use little exer cise should eat little. In general, mankind, since the improvement of cookery, eat about twice as much as nature requires. Suppers are not bad, if we have not dined ; but restless nights naturally follow hearty sup pers, after full dinners. Indeed, as there is a difference in constitutions, some rest well after these meals ; it costs them only a frightful dream, and an apoplexy, af ter which they sleep till doomsday. Nothing is more common in the newspapers, than instances of people^ \vho, after eating a hearty supper, are found dead a- Led in the morning. Another means of preserving health, to be attended to, is the having a constant supply of fresh air in your bed-chamber. It has b^en a great mistake, the slrep- ingin rooms exactly closed, and in beds surrounded by curtains. No outward air, that may come into you. is jso unwholesome as the unchanged air, often breaiheci, of a close chamber. As boiling water does not grovr hotter by longer boiling, if the particles that receive greater heat can escape ; so livii g bodies do r, o pu- tvify, if tile particles, as fast as they become putrid, can be thrown off. Nature expels them by the pores of ihe skin and lungs, and in a free open air. they are carried oil ; but, in a close room, we recei\je them again UMC! again, though they become more and more coir ip:. A number of persons crowded into a small room, UiU.i spoil the air in a fe\v minutes, and even render it mor tal, as in the Black Hole at .Calcutta. A single peru >n is said to spoil only a gallon cf air per minut-j, a; el therefore requires a longer time to spoil a chamber full ; but it is done, however, in proportion, and many putrid disorders hence have their or-gin. It is record ed of Me.tliusalem, who* being the longest liver, may be to have best preserved lib health, that he slept 182 ESSAYS. always in the open air; for, when he had lired Svehnn* dred years, an angel said to him: Ansc, Metlmsa- lem ; ynd build thee an house, for thou shalt live yet five hundred years longer." But Methusalem answer- eel and said: k< If I am lo live bu five hundred years longer, it is not worth while 10 buud m- an h<" iise I \vill sleep ia the air as I have been used to do.* Phy- siiMans, after having for ages contjn led that the sick should not be indulged wiih fresh air, have at length cliscovcrd ilidt it may do them good. It is therefore to be hoped thai it 13 not hurtful to t io.se who are in Health and that we may be th u cured of th. atr^ih tbia that at present distresses A eak minds, mid makes them choose to be stilled and poisoned, rather tsiun K-uve open fie windows of a b. c -chamber, or put down tue glass of a c oa*. . . Confined air, when saturaled xvith perspirable mat- t i-.* wiij not rt.cv.ive mou- ; and that matter must re main i-i (j, r bodies, and occasion diseases: but it gives soiuc- pvt\irus i:f.iicc cfi .s being about to be hurtiul, bv p;o - tn-ii!^ ccfciin i.nu asiui- sses slight indeed at first, sus-.h ..s. wuii i\.gd:cl to ihe luugs^ is a tJifiiug sensation, and tu t e pores of tiiesuiu a kind of restlessness which is flii-Iici.li to Jescrihe, and fc;w that feel it know the cj>i^ ol n. liULAc r.ay ivcollect, that sometimes, on \vuki. r ii,-the iii.^JU, we aave, if warmly covered, found i ciidiciiit to get asleep a ai;i. We turn ofien without fi:;..ing i p)-t- in any :o-ii.ioil. This fidgetiness, to u. a v jiga x >! js-iou for want of a belter, is occa- sio . a -viu,.; bv an ui.easiness iti the skin, owing to the ixt iiiio: N /I iK perspirable matter the bed clothes h..i<.-g i <:ceivcd i i^h i a iuty, a ; )d, being saturated, re- ius.ug ii takv. ai.v more. become s-nsiblc :i his by an experiment, l.-t a .-cp his po itio.i in the bee!, and throw oil the * VVTVat physicians call the perspirable matter, isfl-.at vapour vh ch passes off fi-omour bodies, from the III HVS a c) tl rrrgh t e joie -of th skm. Th? quaiiuty of Uus is Scvid to be five eighths of what we cut. ESSAYS. bed-clothes, and suffer fresh air to approach the part uncovered of his body ; he will then feel that part sud denly refreshed ; for the air will immediately relu\e the skin, by receiving, licking up, and carrying off, the lor.d of perspirable matter that incommoded it. i or. every portion of cool air that approacl-.es the wai in skin, in receiving iis part of that vapour, receives therewith a degree of heat, that rarities and renders it lighter, when it will be pushed away, v.ith its burthen by cooler, and therefore heavier fresh air; which fur a. moment, supplies its place, and then, being likewise changed, and warmed, gives way to a succeeding quan tity. This is the order of nature, to prevent animals being infected by their own perspiration. Me will DOW be sensible of the difference between the pail ex posed to the air, and that which, remaining sunk in th<* bed, denies the air access : f >r this part no : v manifest* its uneasiness more distinctly by the comparison, and the seat of the uneasiness is more plainly perceived, than when the whole surface <; the body was affected by it. Mere, then, is one great and general cause of implea- sing dreams, lor when the body is uneasy, the mind will be disturbed by"it, and disagreeable ideas of vari-- eu>> kinds, will, in sleep, be the natural consequences* The remedies, pt e\entative and curative, follow : 1. By eating moderately (as before advised for health * sake) less perspirable matter is produced in a given tnne ; hence the bed-clothes receive it longer before they are saturated; and we may, therefore, sleep long- el s before we are made uneasy by their refusing to re < Ctive any mote. 2. By using thinner and more porous bed-clothes, which will suffer the perspirable matter more easily to pass through them, we are less incommoded, such be ing longer tolerable. T. When you are awakened by this uneasiness, and. find you caiii o easily sleep again, get out of bed, beat Wi> and turn j our pillow, shake the bed clothes welV 184 ESSAYS. with atkast twenty shakes, then throw the bed ope*, and leave it to cool; in the meanwhile, continuing u-> drest, walk about your chamber, till your skin has had time to discharge its load, which it will do sooner as the air may be drier and colder. When you begin to fed the cold air unpleasant, then return to your bed ; and you will soon full asleep, and your sleep will be fcv.eet and pleasant. All the scenes presented by your fancy, will be of the pleasing kind. 1 am often as agreeably entertained with them, as by the scenery of an opera. If you happen to be too indolent to get out of bed, you may instead of it, lift up your bed-clothes v;ith one arm and leg, so as to draw in a good deal of fi-esh air, and, by letting them fill, force it out again. This, repeated twenty times, will so clear them oi the perspirable matter they have imbibed, as to permit your sleeping well for borne time afterwards. But this Sui cr method is not equal to the former. Those who do not love trouble, and can afford to have two beds, will find great luxury in rising, when they \vakc in a hotbed, and going into the cool one. Such shilling of beds, would also be of great service to persons ill in a fever; as it refreshes and frequently procures sleep. A very large bed, that will admit a removal so distant from the first situation as to be cool and sweet, may in a degree answer the same end. One or two observations more will conclude tins lit tle piece. Care must be taken, when you lie down, to dispose your pillow so as to suit your manner of placing your head, it>.:d to be perfedly -asy ; then place your limbs so as not to bear inconveniently hard upon one another, as for instance, U;e joints of your ancles: for though a bad position nuy at first give but iiltle pain, and b haviiiy notice;;. >v I u continuance will ren der it less tolerable, and the uneasiness may come on while you art, asleep, and riLturb you-. 1 imagination. Ihese art- UK : v;; - r.i .he a::. But though they wili gc eiaily piw- efkoiuai in producing the end in tended? there is a. cuic in which tl,e moat punctual oU- ESSAYS. 185 serronce of them will be totally fruitless. 1 need not rneation the case to you, my dear friend : but my ac count of the art would be imperfect without it. The case is, when the person who de^res to have pleasant dreams has not taken care to preserve, what is neces sary above all things, A GGoD CONSCIENCE. ADVICE TO A YOUNG TRADESMAN. WRITTFN ANNO 1748, TO MY FRIKKD A. B. 4s yo?t Inve desired if of me, I write the following hints* which havff been of service Co me y and may, if observed be so to yoiu RF.MKMBF.R that time is money. He that can earn ten sniffings a day by his labour, and goes abroad, or. sits idle one half of that day. though he spends but sixpence during his diversion or idleness, ought not to reckon that the only expence ; he has really spent, or rather thrown away five shillings besides. Remember that credit is money. If a man lets hi> money lie in my hands after it is due, he gives me the interest, or so much as I can make of it during that lime. This amounts to a considerable sum where a, man has good and large credit, and makes good use. of it. Remember that money is of a prolific generating na-, lure. Money can beget monev, and its offspring can beget more, and so on. Five shillings turned is six ; turned again, it is seven and three pence; and yo on- till it becomes an hundred pounds. The more there is of it, the more it produces, every turning, so that the profits rise quicker and quicker. lie that kills a breed-- in:,; sow, destroys all her offspring to the thousandth ge neration. He that murders a crown, destroys all that it might have produced, even scores of pounds. , Remember that six poub is a y -.ar is> but a groat a day, For tiusliule sum, v.hich may be daily wasted Q2 185 ESSAYS. in time or expenre, unpercemd, a man of credit on his own security have the constant possession and v.se of an hundred pounds. So much in stock, briskly turned by an industrious man, produces gieal advan tages. Remember this saying, " The good paymaster is Jo -d of another man s purse." He that is known to puy punctually and tfxar.tly to the time he promises, may at any time, and on any occasion, raise all the mo ney his f; lends can spare. Ti is is sometimes of great use. After industry and frugality, nothing contributes more to the raising of a young man in the world, than punctuality and justice in all his dealings: therefore never k.ep borrowed money an hour beyond the time you promised, lest a disappointment shut up your friend s purse for ever. The most trifling actions that affect a man s credit Are to be regarded. The sound of your hammer at five in the morning, or nine at night, heard by a credit or, makes him easy six months longer ; but if he sees yon at a billiard table, or hears your voice at a tavtrn, v.hen you should be at work, he sends for his money the next day ; demands it before he can receive it in a lump. It shews, besides, that you are mindful of what you t ewe ; it make you appear a careful, as well as an honest man, and that still increases your credit. Beware oi thinking ail your own that you possess, of living accordingly It is a mistake that many people who have credit fall into. To prevent this keep an exact account, for some time, both of your expenses and your income. If you tak ; the pains at first to mention particulars, it will have this good effect; you will discover how wonderfully srnull trifling expences mount up to large sums, and ivill discern what mi ;ht ha\\ been, and may fur the fu- turt be sav^d, without occasioning any great inconve- Jaieuce. lm bhoitf ihe way to wealth, if you desire it, is ^ ESSAYS. $?ain as the way to market, h depends chiefly on two Words. Industry a id F^ifulity \ that is, waste neithef fz.wr nor m< jn--y, but make the best use of both. With out ind i; try and frugality nothing will io, and \viih them eyeiy thing. He that sets all he can honestly? au,d saves all he gets, (necessary expences txccpud) will certainly become rich if that Being who governs the world, to whom all should look for a birring oiv their fionest endeavours, doth uotjin his wise providence, determine. AN OLD TRADESMAN. /wits to those that would be rich, WRITTEN ANNO 1756. THE use of money is all the advantage there w ib having money. For six pounds a year yon may have the use of one hundred pounds, provided you are a man of known pru dence and honesty. He that spends his groat a day idly, spends idly above six poui.ds a year, which is the price for the use of one hundrtd pounds. He that wastes idly a groat s worth of his time per day, one day with another, wastes the privilege of u>in^ ons hundred pounds each day. He that idly loses five shillings \yorth of time, lose^ five shillings, and might as prudently throw five shil lings into the sea. He that loses five shillings, not only loses that sum, but all the advantages that might be made by timing it in dealing, which, by the time that a yountc ni.m be comes old, will amount to a considerable sum of mo ney. Again: he that sells upon credit, asks a price fop what he sells equivalent to the principal and interest of hts money for the time he is to be kept out of it ; there- %e, he thiU buys upon credit, pays kittre-A &r vrUai ESSAYS. he buys; ami he that pays rtacly money, might let that money out to use : so -hat he that possesses any thi.ig he has bought, pays interest for the use oi it. Vet, iri buying goods, it is best to pay ready moneys Lecture, he thut sells upon credit, expects to lose five percent, by bad debts; therefore he charges, on ail he j!s i? pou credit, an advance that shall make up that c^LHrk n!;} . Those vvlr.> pay for what they buy upon credit, pay t!ieir share of this advance. He that, pays ready money? escapes, or may escape that charge. A fanny sav d is too pence clear A }dn a day s a groat a year. The way to make money plenty in every mans pocket. f^AT this time, when the genera!|complaint is that " money is scarce," it v/ill bs an acl of kindness to in form the motu-yUss ho\v they may r::i.:ifo!ce their jx;ck- tts. I will acquaint them \vhli the true secret <>f mo- rey-catch n:g the certain \vay to fill empty purses and how to keep them al \vayii full. i \vo stm^le rules, well obsesvedj v- : ill do ihe business. First, let hr-iu-ily and industry be thy constant com- paisior-s : ar;:;, Secondly, spend or/e penny less tho.n thy clear jyains, 1 hen sliall thy hide- -bouivl pocket soon bu gin to thrive, and viii ffever c-gjia cry wi*h liie eiripty b-JIy- ach ; neither will credilbrs insult thee nor-\vani O,KJ:\-SS, nor luiDire ? bitCi nor nakedness freeze , th.e* he vhoie hemisjxiit.re vTill shine .brighter, -. -. :! lire spring up in every corner of thy heaiU Now, th< j-embrae these rules and bt hajj. .-y. Dtiuibh t-f \//<\\--i .vh ds of Eoi*ro\V fcom thy rnind, and iive i ndeiibudsut- Then shjlt thou be a jj.au. and liot hide thy fnce at the a^ pro.ich of the ilc i. lior &u*.FvT the puin of fcel-ng little ESSAYS. !S9 when the sons of fortune walk at thy right hand : for independency, whether with little or much, is good for* tutic, and placeth thee on even ground with the proud est of the golden fkece. Oh then, be wise, and let in dustry walk with thec in the morning arid attend thee until thou readiest the evening hour for rest. Let ho nesty be as the breath of thy soul, and never forget to have a penny, when all thy expences are enumerated and paid: then shall thou reach the point of happiness, and independence shall be thy shield and buckler, thy helmet and crown; ther shall thy soul walk upright, nor sloop to the silken wretch because he hath riches, nor pocket an abu.se because the hand which offers it a ring set with diamonds. An Economical Project. A translation of this Letter appeared in one of the Daily papers of Paris abut the year 1784. Tha fol lowing is the original piece, with some Additions and corrections made in it by the Author. 3 To the Authors of the Journal. MESSRS. You often entertain us with accounts of new discove ries. Permit me to communicate to the public, through your paper, one that lias lately been made by myself* and which 1 conceive may be of great utility. I was the other evening in a grand company, where the new lamp of Messrs. Quinquet and Lanr:e was in troduce d, and iiiuch admired for its splendor ; butu ge neral enquiry wa.s made, whether the oil is consu&ied) Mas not in proportion to the light it afforded, in which case there would be i;o saving in the use of it. No one present could satisfy us in that point, which all agreed ought to be known, it being a very desirable thing to ksseu, if possible, the expsuce of lighting our apavu 190 ESSAYS. mirnts, when every other article of family e>:pence so much augmented* I was pleased ro see this general concern for cecono* my ; for 1 love cecoiiomy exceedingly. 1 went home, and to bed, three or four hours after midnight, with my head full of the subject. \n acci- clrmul sudden noise waked me about six in the morning, vhen 1 was surprised to nnd my room filled wilh light; ami I imagined at first, that a number of these lamps had bet n brought into it : but rubbing- my eyes, I perceiv-, ed the light came in at my windows. I got up and looked out to see what might be the occasion of it, when I saw the sun just rising above the horizon, from vhence he poured his rays plentifully into my chamber, iny domestic having negligently omitted the preceding evening to close the shuttters. I looked at my watch, which goes very well, and found that it was but six o clock: and stiU thinking it- something extraordinary that the sun should rise so ear* Jy, I looked into the almanack ; where I found it to be the I our given for his rising on that clay. I looked forward too, ami found he was to rise siiil earlier every day till towards the end of June; and that at no time in the year he retarded his rising so long as till eight o clock- Your readers, \\howith me have never seen any si ;ns of sun shine befoic noon, and seldoru regard the astionomlcal part of tht, almanack, will be as much astonished as I was, when they hear of his rising so ear ly ; and especially when I assuie them the, t tie girca light as soon us he rises. I am convinced of thi; I am certain of ihe fact. One cannot be more cert, n o any fact. I saw it vvilh my o\vn eyes. And having t epeat- ed this observation the thu e following mornings, t found always precisely ihe sair.e rtsi.l Yet so it haj p : ^ that n n 3 S] eak of (Ms discove- rv unv.hcrs, J i ui.. re iv !> thcii cuunteoanceHi thou^li they to, be;:: expi essi)^ i ;u words, ( .o not iijtc !>i.- iv.. MI . Ones iiitl ed . A ESSAYS. 19f !y be mistaken as to the circumstance of the light com ing in my room; for it being ucll known, as he savs, that there could be no light abroad at that hour, it follows that nonecould erne* from without; and that of conse- querce, my windows bein^r accident!) Lft open- instead of letting in the light, had only served to let out the darkness ; and he used many ingenious arguments to ,shew ms how 1 might, by that im an->, have been de ceived. I own that he puzzled me a little, but he did Hot satisfy me ; and the subsequent observations C made as above mentioned, confirmed me in my risst opinion. This event 1 as given rise, in my mind, to several se rious and important reflections. 1 considered that, if I had iiot been awakeiud so early in the morning, I should have slept six hours longer by the lignt ot he gun, and in exchange have lived six hou.s the following night by candk-lighi ; and ti\e lulKr b> \.\-.r a much more expensive light than the iV. mri 1 , mv low of ae o- liomy induced me to mnsler up what littl-- ariihm tic I was master of, and to make some calculations, which 1 shall give you, after observing, t! a> m;iity is. n\ my opinion, the test of value in matters <f invention, and that a discovery w ich can be applied to 10 use, or ia not good for something, is good for nothing. I took for the basis of my calculation the supposition! that there are lOaoOO fairuh s ir, Paris and t-.at ihcse l.imilies consunu in the nighi half a pound i.-f iiou :> i --> or candies, p^ r iiour. I lhinkt ; ,is is a modern, .iilu 1 . 1 * - ance, taking one f. t m : ly wita another; f" iivm^ . I b-.h.\e some consuau- less, i iv!io\\ t .at mar-v co a great deal more. 1 hen ibtimia mg sev. n ru-i day, as the medium quantity i) i\v. v n the inii. of lie sun s rising and ours, 1, ;i nig du.ing tiv. si>; {o;.o-v- ing months from six to ei^nr noui s b to e Ti6V>n, a:.cl there beiiig s; ven hour* oi couvv,e p\. r mc,ht in \v..ich Ve bui n candles, the account \"iii stand tiiu? lu the six months between the twentieth cf Ji ESSAYS. and the twentieth cf Sept. there are Nights - - - Hours of each night in which we burn candles Multiplication gives for t-he total number of hours -----.....--- 1,231 These 1^281 hours multiplied by 100,000, the number of inhabitants-, gives ^^ 12&, 100,00? One hundred twenty- eight millions and one hundred thousand hours, spmt at Paris by candle-light, which, at half a pound of wax aixl t.-.How per hour,givcs the weight of 64,050,0.00 Sixty -four million sand fifty thousand of pounds, which, estimating ths whole at the medium piice of thir ty sols the pound, makes the sum of ninety-six millions and seventy- five tl^ouvar.d livres tournois 96,075,000 An immense sum ! that the city of Paris might save every year, by the (economy of using sunshine instead of candies. It should be said, that the people are apt to be ob stinately attached to old customs, and that it will be ditlicult to induct; them to rise before noon, consequent* fy my discovery can be of liltle use ; 1 answer, JVY/fe$ pcrandum. I oeli-ve all who have common sense, as ?oon as they have learnt from this paper that it is. day light when the sun ns<: $, will contrive to rise with him, and to compel lire re bl, I would pioposethe following regulations: I irsto i et a tax be laid of a Inuis per window, on eve ry window that is prmidui \viih bnutters to keep out the light of ihe sv. . Second. Let the s.*mt- solniaiy operation of police be TYUtde use of 10 pix-v. jii our bU -ninyjj candles, that in* eliiied us Ut-.t winter tp be Ufipr,e ac.ono vucal in burning r;oocl ; liiat. i>, lei i-!>iu!s be s :ku z$ 1.1 ilu- shops of ih wax and tallow ql a:-- !-;>, in: t hn iui-riiv bt. p to be supplied with mure Uijiii one pouad. of per week. I ESSAYS. Third. Let guards be posted to stop all the coaches, S c. that would pass the streets after sun-set, except those of physicians, surgeons and midwives. Fourth. Every morning-, as soon as the sun rises, let all the bells in every churcTi be set ringing ; and if that is not sufficient, let cannon be fired in every street, and wake the sluggards effectually, and make them opeu their eyes to see their true interest. All the difficulty will be in the first two or three d.tys j after which the reformation will be as natural and easy -as the present irregularity : for ce u est que le premier juts quicoute. Oblige a man to rise at four in the morn ing, and it is more than probable he shall go willingly to bed at eight in the evening; and having had eight hours sleep, he. will rise more willingly at four in the morning following. But this sum of ninety six millions and seventy-feve thousand livres is not the whole of what may be saved by my ceconomical project. You may observe, that I have calculated upon only one half of the year, and much may be saved, in the other, though the days are shorter. Besides, the immense stock of wax and tallow left unconsumed during the summer, will probably make candles much cheaper for the ensuing winter, and continue cheaper as long as the proposed reformation shall be supported. For the great benefit of this discovery, thus freely communicated and bestowed by me on the public, I demand neither place, pension, exclusive privilege, nor any other reward whatever. I expect only to hxve the honor of it. And yet I know there are little envious minds who will, as usual, deny me this, and f say that my intention was known to the ancients, and perhaps Ihey may bring passages out of the old book m proof of it. I will not dispute with these people that the an cients knew not the sun would rise at certstin hours ; ihey possibly had, as we have, almanacks that perdict- cd it ; but it does not follow from thence that they knew that he gave light as soon as he rose. This is what I claim as my discovery. If the ancients knew it, it K ESSAYS. Hiust long since have been forgotten, for it certainly V as unknown to the moderns, at least to the Parisians ; which to prove, I need use but one plain simple argu ment. They are a* well instructed, judicious, and prudent a people as exist any where in the world, all professing, like myself, to be lovers of ceconomy ; and from the many heavy taxes required from them by the necessities of ihe state, have surely reason to be ceco- nomical. I say it is impossible that so sensible a peo ple, under such circumstances, should have lived so long by the smoky, unwholesome, and enormously ex pensive light of candles, if they had really known that they might have as much pure light of the sun for r.o- thing. I am, Sec. ; AN ABONNE. Of modern innovations in the English language, and in the art of Printing. TO NOAH WEBSTER, JUN. ESQ^ AT HAIITFORD. rhiladdjihia, Dec. 26, 1789. DEAR SIK, I received, some time since, your Dissertations on-the English Language. I; is an excellent work, and will be jpreatly useful in turning the thoughts of our country men to correct writing. Please to accept my thanks for it, as well as for the great honor you have done me in its dedic ation. I ought to have made this acknow ledgement sooner, but much indisposition prevented me. I cannot but applaud your zeal for preserving the purky pf our hm^uase both in its expression and pro nunciation, and in correcting the popular errors several of our states are continually falling in with respect to both. Give me leave to mention some in them, though possibly they may already have occurred to you. I \vish, however, that in some future publication of yours you would set a discountenancing mark upon ESSAYS. 19 The first I remember is the word improved. When I left New : England in the year 17,23^ this word had nev er been used among us, as far as 1 know, but in the sense of amrtioratcdj or made better, except once in a very old book of Dr. Mather s, entitled " Remarkable Providences." As that man wrote a very obscure hand, 1 remember that when I read that word in his hook) used instead of the word employed, I conjectured that it was an error cf the printer, who bud mistaken a short / i;i the writing for an r, and a y with too short a tail for a v, whereby employed was converted into improved i but when I returned to Boston in 1733, I found that this change had obtained favour, and was then become common ; .for I met with it often in perusing the news papers, where it frequently made an appearance rather ridiculous. Such, for instance, as the advertisement of a country house to be sold, which had been many yt ins improved as a tavern; and in the character of a deceased country gentleman, that he had been, for more t! an thirty years, improved as a justice of the peace* This use of the word improve is peculiar to New-Eng land, and not to be met with among any other speaker* of English, either on this or the other side of the water. During my late absence in France, 1 find that several other new words have been introduced into our parlia mentary languuge. For example, I find a verb formed from the substantive not let, I should not have noticed this, li^re it net that the gentleman^ fc/c. Also another verb, from the substantive advocate : The gentleman <wh* advocates, or who has advocated that motion, Uc. An other from the substantive progress, the most awkward and abominable of the three : The committee having progressed, resolved to adjvitrn. The \vord ofifiL&cd t Uiough not a new word, i find used in a new manner, as, 1 he gentlemen 11 ho are cppostd to this measure, (9 ivhich 1 have ufao myself always been opposed. If you should happen to be of my opinion with respect ta these innovations) you will vise your authority in buling them. 19fl ESSAYS. The Latin language, long the vehicle used in distn- buling knowledge among the different nations of Europe $ is daily more and more neglected ; and one of the mod ern tongues, viz. French, seems, in point of universality, to have supplied its place. It is spoken in all the courts of Europe ; and most of the literati, even those who do not speak it, have acquired knowledge of it, to enable them easily to read the books, that are written in it. This gives a considerable advantage to that nation. It enables its authors to inculcate and spread through other nations, such sentiments and opinions, on impor tant points, as are most conducive to its interests, or which may contribute to its reputation, by promoting the common interests of mankind. It is, perhaps, ow ing to its being written in French, that Voltaire a Treatise on Toleration has had so sudden and so great an effect on the bigotry of Europe, as almost entirely to disarm it. The general use of the French language >u:s likewise a very advantageous effect on the profits of the bookselling branch of commerce, it being well Jknowiij that the more copies can be sold that are struck ofi* from one composition of types, the profits increase in a much greater proportion than they do in making a greater number of pieces in any other kind of maim- fucture. And at present there is no capital town in Europe without a French book-seller s shop corres ponding with Paris. Our English bids fair to obtain the second place. The great body of excellent printed sermons in our language, and the freedom of our wri tings on political subjects, have induced a great number of divines of different sects and nations, as well as gen tlemen concerned in public affairs, to study it, so far at least as to read it. And if we were to endeavor the facilitating its progress, lh<: study of our tongue might become much more general. Those \vho have em ployed some part of their time in learning a new, lan guage, must have f* qucfiy observed, that while their acquaintance wrth it was imperfect, difficulties) small in themselves, operated as .great ones in obstructing ESSAYS. their progress. A book, for example, ill printed, or x pronunciation in speaking not well articulated, would render a sentence unintelligible, which from a clear print, or a distinct speaker, would have been im mediately comprehended. 1ft therefore, we would have the benefit of seeing ov-v language more generally known among mankind, we should endeavor to remove all the difficulties, however small, that discourage the learning of.it. But 1 am sorry to observe, that of late years, those difficulties, instead of being diminished^ have been augmented. In examining the English books that were printed between the restoration and the accession of George the Second, we may observe, that all substantives were begun with a capital, in which we imitated our mother tongue, the German. This was more particularly useful to those who were not well acquainted with the English,, there being such a prodigious number of our words that are both verbs and substantives, and spelt in the same manner, though often accented differently in pronunciation. This method has, by the fancy of printers, of late years, been entirely laid aside i from an idea, that suppressing the capitals shews the charac ter to greater advantage ; those letters, prominent u- bove the line, disturbing its even, regular appearance. The effect of this change is so considerable, that * learned man in France, who used to read our books 5 though not perfectly acquainted with our language, i:\. conversation with me on the subject of our authors, at tributed the greater obscurity he found in our modern, books, compared with those written in the period above mentioned, to change of style for t-ie worse in our wri ters ; of which mistake I convinced him, by m-arking for him each substantive with a capital, in u paragraph, vhich he then easily understood, though before nt could not comprehend it. This shews the inconven ience of that pretended improvement. From the same fondness for an uniform and even, appearance of characters in the luie, the winters, n 2 ESS AYS* eflafe banished also the Italic types, in wTtich words of importance to be attended to in the sent* of ihe sen tence* and words on which an emphasis should b~ put in reading* used to be printed. And lately another fancy has induced other printers to use the round s in stead of the long one, which formerly served well la distinguish a word readily f>y its varied appearance* Certainly the omitting thi-> prominent letter makes a line appear more even, but renders it less immediately legible ; as the paring- of all men s noses mi^ht smooth and level their faces, but would render their physiogno mies less distinguishable. Add to all these improve ments backwards, another modern fancy, that grey printing is more beautiful than black. Hence the hng- lish new books are printed in so dim a character, as to be read with difficulty by old eyes, unless in a very- strong light and with good glasses. Whoever com pares a volume of the Gentleman s Magazine, printed between the years 1731 and 1740, with one of those printed in the last ten years, will be convinced of the much greater degree of perspicuity given by the black than by the grey. Lord Chesterfield pleasantly re marked this difference to Faulkener, the printer of the Dublin Journal, who was vainly making encomiums on, his own pape v , as the n^ost complete of any in the world. "But Mr. raulkener,* says my lord, "don t you think it might be still farther improved, by using paper and ink not quite so near of a colour." For all these reasons, I cannot but wish that our American printers would, in their editions, avoid these fancied improvements, and thereby render their works more agreeable to foreigners in Europe, to the great advan tage of our bookselling commerce. Farther, to be more sensible of the advantage of cleai and Distinct printing, let us consider the assistance it affords in reading well aloud to an auditory. In so do ing the eye generally slides forward three or- four words before the voice. If the sight clearly distinguishes turning woids are, it gives tuue to order vbc ESSAYS. 190 riiojl ulation of the voice, to express them properly. But if they are obscurely printed, or disguised by o- Triiuing the capitals and long / s, or otherwise, xhe reader is apt to modulate wron^, and finding he has done so, he is obliged to go buck and begin the sen tence again ; which lessens the pleasure of the hearers. This leads me to mention an old error in our mode of printing. We are sensible that when a qnes-ion is met with in the reading", there is a proper- variation to bu. used in the management of the voice. We have, therefore, a point, called an interrogation, affixed to the question, in order to distinguish it. But this is ab surdly placed at its end, so that the reader does nofc discover it till he finds that he has wrongly mo lulattci his voice, and is therefore obliged to begin again the sentence. To prevent this, the Spanish printers, more sensibly, place an inter rogation at the beginning as \vell as at the end of the question. We have another error of the same kind in printing plays, where something- ofled occurs that is marked as spoken aside. But the word abide is placed at the end of the speech, when it ought to precede it, as a dirt ctioi; to the reader, that he may govern his voice accordingly. The practice of our ladies in meeting five or six together to form little busy parties, where each is employed in some useful. work, while one reads to them, is so commendable in. itself, that it deserves the attention of authors and printers to make it as pleasing as possible, both to the readers and hearers. My best wishes attend you, being, with sincere es teem, Sir, your most obedient and very humble servant, B./RANKUN. 200 ESS\YS. An account of the highest court of Judicature ill Pennsylvania, viz. THE COUI?T Oi THii 1-RESS. Po iv er of ih in Co urt. IT may receive and promulgate accusation s of all kinds, against all persons and characters among the citizens of the. state, and even against all inferior courts ; and may judge, sentence, and condemn to i. famy, not only private Individuals} but public bodies, Sec. with or without enquiry or healing, nt the court s discretion. II bos? favor, or for whoss emzlitmtnt this Court is estab lished, Jn favor of about one citizen in five hundred, who, by education, or practice in scribbling, has acquired a tolerable style as Ur grammar and construction, so as to bear printing; or who is possessed of a press and a few types. This five hundredth part cf the citizens have the privilege of accusing and abusing the other four hundred and ninety-nine parts at their pleasure; or they may hire out their pens and press to others, for lhat purpose. - Practice of Cthisourt. It is not governed by any of the rules of the cotn- inon courts of law. The accused is allowed no grand jury to judge of ihc truth of the accusation before it is publicly made ; nor is the name of the accuser made known to him ; nor has he an opportunity of confront ing the witnesses against him, for they are kept in the dark, as in the Spanish court of inquisition. Nor is there any petty jury of his peers sworn to try the truth of the charge*. The proceedings are also sometimes so rapid, that an hoiustgood citizen may find himself suddenly and unexpectedly accused, ami in the same miorning judged and condemned, and sentence pro- <s is n rogue and a viila*Ui* ESSAYS. 201 Yet if an officer of this court receives the slightest check for misconduct in this his office, he claims immediate ly the rights of a free citizen by the constitution, and demands to know his accuser, to confront the witnesses and to have a fair trial by a jury of his peers. The foundation of its authority, It is said to be founded on an article in the slate con stitution, which establishes the liberty of the press-^-a liberty which every Pennsylvania!) would fight and die for, though few of us, I believe, have distinct ideas of its nature and extent. It seems, indeed, somewhat like the liberty of the press, that felons have by the com mon law of KngUind before conviction ; that is, to be ei .her pressed to death or hanged. If, by the liberty of the press, were understood merely the liberty of dis cussing the propriety of public measures and political opinions, let us have as much of it as you please ; but if it means the liberty of affronting, calumniating, and defaming one another, 1, tor my part, own myself wil ling to part with my share of it, whenever our legisla tors shall please so to alter the law : and shall cheerful ly consent to exchange my liberty of abusing others^ for the privilege of riot being abused mysdi. J3y whom this Court is commissioned or constituted. It is not any commission from the supreme executive council, who might previously judge of the abilities, integrity, knowledge, &c. of the persons to bt appoint ed to this great trust of deciding upon the characters and good fame of the chizcns; for this court is above that council, and may accuse, judge, and rondernmt at pleasure. Nor is it hereditary, ao b the court of der nier resort in the peerage of ; n ;Uu<!. lint any man who can procure pen, ink, and paper, \sith a press, a. few types, snd a huge pair of blacking balls, may com- missionate himself, and \\\-> court is htVTnediately estab lished iu the plenary possession and exercise <-f iis rights. For if you muke the least cpaij-Kiiiit of the 202 ESSAYS. judge s conduct, he daubs bis blacking balls in you* face wherever, he meets you, and besides tearing your private character to splinters, marks you out for the odium of the public, at> an enemy to the liberty of the press. Of the natural svppot of this Court. Its support is founded in the depravity of Mich minds as have not been mended by religion, nor improved by good education. There is a lust in man no charm can tame,. Qflpudly publishing his lY-eighboi s shame* Hence, On eagles wings, immortal, scandals fly,. While virtuous actions are but born and die. DrtYDEtf. Whoever feels pain in hearing a good character of his neighbor, will feel pleasure in the reverse. And of those who, despairing to rise to distinction by their virtues, are happy if others can be depressed to a level \viih themselves, there are a number sumcientin every great town to maintain one of these courts by their subscription. A shrewd observer once saic , ;ha. in walk ing the streets in a slippery morning, one might see where the good naturcd people lived, oy the ashes thrown on the ice before the doors ; probably he would have formed a different conj. cture <f UK- temper of tho.se \vhom he might find engaged in such subscrip tions. Of the checks jiroficr to be established against the abuses of /lower in those Cjiirttt. Hitherto there are none. But since so much has been written and published on the federal constitution; and the necessity of checks, in all other parts of good government, hasbeensoelcuily au-.i learnedly explained, 1 find mystif su far tniighlenecl as to suspect some check ni-iy be proper in tn;s part also ; but 1 have been, at a loss 10 imagine any that muy iv>t b^| construed an iiilringesnent of the sacred liberty of the press. At ESSAYS. 203 length, however t I think I have found one, that, instead of diminishing general liberty, shall augment it ; which is, by restoring to lire people a species of liberty of which they have been deprived by our la\vs, I n.ean the liberty of the cudgel! In the rude state of society, prior to the existence of laws, if one man give another ill language, the affronted person might return it by a box on the ear ; and if repeated, by a good drubbing ; and this without offending against any law : but now the right of making such returns is denied, and they are punished as-breachesot the peace, while the right of abusing seems to remain in full force; the laws made a- gainst it being rendered ineffectual by the liberty of the press. My proposal then is, to leave the liberty of the press untouched, to be exercised in its full extent, force, and vigour, but to permit the liberty of the cudgel to go with it,fiari Jiassu* Thus, my fellow citizens, if au impu dent writer attacks your reputation clearer perhaps to you than your life, and pu .s his name to the charge, you may go to him as openly and break his head. If he conceals himserf behind the printer, and you can never theless discover who he is, you may, in like manner, waylay him in the night, attack him behind, and give him a good drubbing. If your adversary hi* es better waiters than himself, to abuse you more effectually, you may hire brawny porters, stronger than yourself, to as sist you in giving him a mote effectual drubbing. Thus far goes my project. as\.o/irivate resentment and retri bution. .But if the public should ever happen to be af fronted,^ it ought to be, with the conduct of such wri* ters, 1 would not advise proceeding immediately to these extremities, but that we should in moderation content oursolves with tarring ar.d feathering, and tossing them in a blanket. If, however, it should be thought that this proposal of mine may disturb the public peace, 1 would then humbly recommend to our legislators to take up the consideration of boll* liberties; that of the press, and 204, ESSAYS. that of the cudgel ; and by an explicit law mark their extent and limits : and at the same time that they se cure the person oi a citizen from assaults, they would likewise provide for the security of his reputation. PAPER: A Poem. SOME wit of old such wits of old there were-. "Whose hints show d meaning? whose allusions care^ By one brave stroke to mark all human kind, Cyll d clear blank paper e^ry infant mind; When still, as op ning sense her dictates wrote, Fair virtue put a seal, or vice a blot. The thought was happy* pertinent, and true ; IVlethinks a genius might the plan pursue. I, (can you pardon my presumption ? 1 ) No wit, no genius, yet for once will try. Various the papers various wants produce, The wants of fashion, tl ^tince, and use. Men arc as various: and, if right i scan, Ii,ach sort of paper represents some man. Pray note the fop half powder and half lace Nice, as a band box were his dwelling place ; He s the gilt /i/?tr, \\hich apart you store, Ai<d lock from vulgar hands in the scrutoire. Mechanics, servants, farmers, and so forth, Arc copy jiuper, of inferior worth ; Less priz d, more useful, for your desk decreed. Free 10 all pens, and prompt at e\ ry need. The wretch whom av rice bids to pinch and spare) Starve, cheat, and pi I ft r, to enrich an heir, Ih coarse broivn paper ; such as pedlars choose To \viapup wares, which better men will use. i ake next the miser s contrast, who destroys Health, famt, and fortune, in a round of joys* \V ill any paprr match him? Yes, thro out, He s a true sinking paper, past all doubt* ESSAYS. The retail politician s anxious thought Deem this side always right, and that stark nought; tie foams with censure ; with applause he raves A dupe to rumours, and a tool of knaves ; He il want no type his weakness to proclaimi While such a thing &sfools-cafi has a name. 1 he hasty gentleman, whose blood runs higfy Who picks a quarrel, if you step awry, Who can t a jtst, or hint, or look endure : What s -he? What ? Tvuch-fiafier to be sure. Whai are our poets, take them as they fall, ^Good, bud, rich, poor, much read, not read *&t all? Them and their works in the same class you ll iimlj They are the mere waste .fiafitr of mankind. Observe the maiden, innocently sweet, She s fair white {ictfier^ an unsullied sheet; Oii which the happy man whom fate ordains* ftlay write his name*M\ take her for his pains. One instai.ce more and only one I ll bring ; *Tis the great mqn who M-OS ns a littk tiling, Whose tho ts, whose deeds, whose maxims are 1 oim d on the feelings of his heart alone : True genuine royal / alter is his breast; OJ all the kmdb most pi-ecious, purest, best* ON THE ART OF SWIMMING. In answer to some enquiries of M. Dubourg* en the subject. I AM apprehensive that I shall not be able to find lei<- sure for making all disquisitions and experiments which would be dtsirable on ihis subject. I must, therefore^ content myself with a few remarks. The specific gravity of some human bodies, in com parison to that of water, has been examined by M. Ro* * Translator of Dr. Franklin s ivorfainte s 206 ESSAYS. binson, in our Philosophical Transaction?!, volume 50, page 30, for the year .1737. He asserts, that fat per sons with small hoires float most easily upon wate-. The diving bull is accurately described in our Trans actions. When I was a boy, I made two oval pallets, each about ten inches long, and six broad,. with a hole for the thumb, in ord r to retain it fast in the palm of my hand. They much resemble a painter s pallets. In swimming I pushed the edgL-s of these forward, and I struck the water with their flat su; hues as I drew them back. I remember I swam faater by means of tlu:se pallets, but they faiigued my wrists- 1 also fitted to the s*les of my feel a kinds of sandals; bin I was not satisfied with them, because I observed that the stroke is partly given with thvr inside of the feet and the an cles, and not entirely with the soles of the feet. We have here waistcoats for swimming, which are made of double sail cloth, with small pieces of cork quilted in between them I know nothing of the scu/i/iandre of M. de la Chapelle. I know by experience that it is a great comfort lo a swimmer, who has a considerable distance 10 go, to turn linns: if sometinu S on his back, and to vary in other respects the means of procuring a progressive motion. When he is seized with the tramp in the leg, the method of driving it away is to give the parts affected a a-ulclf!), vigorous, and violent: shock; which he may do iii t ; <e air as he swims on bU bac;i. Duting the great hrat of sum met 1 there is no danger in bathiug, however .varru we may be, in rivers which lit,. - bceii thoroughly warmed by the sun. But to tiuO V oiit btrlf into cold wa e- when the body has b.en Iiearori by e \ercv-e intue sun, is an imprudence wh-.ch rn.tv pi-ove fatal. I oiice knew an HHtan:e of four young im-.-i, vvlu, Uaving. worked at harvest in the heat of the day, >v itlj a view uf refreshing themselves plunged in- to a sp ia .; of c >! i .vaur : t\vo died upon tiie spat, a third LUC luiju iu-jiuiii, <vud tac fourth recovered wilb ESSAYS. feat difficulty. A copious draught of cold water, ia similar circumstances, is frequently attended with th same effect in North America. The exercise of swimming is one of the most heal thy and agreeable in ts-e world. After having- swam an hour or two iv the evening:, one sleeps coolly th \vhoie night, even during the most arnenl heat oi bum mer. Perhaps the pores being cleansed, the insensi ble perspiration increase* ana occasions this cooluess. It is-certain that much sv. itrnTtir.g is the means of stop ping a diarrhoea, and even of producing a constipation* \Viili respect to those who do not know how tosvva or who are affected with a diarrhoea at the season \vhi.h. does not permit them to use that exercise, a warm bath, by cleansing asttl purifying the skin, is found very salu tary, and often effects a radical cure. I speak from my own experience, frequently repeated, and that of ethers to v. hum I have recommended this. You will not be displeased if I conclude these hasty remarks by informing you, that as the ordinary method of swimming is reduced to the act <.f rowing with ih* arms and legs, and is consequently a laborious and fa tiguing operation when the space of water .to be crossed inconsiderable; there is a rm tliod in which a swimmer rnay pass a great distance with much facility, by means fa sail. This discovery I fortunately made by acci dent, and in the following manner. When I was a boy I amused myself one day with flying a paper kite ; and approaching the bank of a pond, which was near a mile broad, 1 tied the string to a stake, and the kue ascended to a very considerable height above the pond, while I was swimming. In a little time, being desirous of amusing myself with my kite, and enjoying at the same time the pleasure of swimming, I returned ; and loosing from the stake the string with the little stick which was fastened to it, went again ino the water, where I found, that, lying on my back and holding the stick in my hands, I was drawn ) the swiiu.ce e the water in a very agreeable* ESSAYS. nnanner. Having then engaged another boy io 311 y clothes round the ponciy to a place which 1 pointed out to him on the other side, I began to cross the pond tviiii m<y kite, which .carried me quite oveu without the least fatigue, and with the greatest pleasure imugina* kie. I was only obliged occasionally to halt a little ia Tny course, and resist its progress, when it appeared 1hctt. by following too quick, I lowered the kite too much ; fey doing which occasionally 1 made it rise again, t Jsave never since that time practised this singular mode of swimming, though 1 think it not impossible to cio^o. in this manner from Dover to Calais. The howcverj is btill preferable. NEW MODE OF BATHING. ZXTRACT& OF LETTERS TO M. DUBOURGP* LONDON, July 28, 1768. I GREATLY approve the epithet you give, in your letter of the 8ih of June, to the new method of treating; the small-pox, which you call the tonic or bracing me thod ; I will take occasion, from it, to mention a prac tice to. which I have accustomed myself. You know the cold bath has long been in vogue here as a tonic j but the shock of the cold water has always appeared to me, generally speaking, as too violent, aud 1 have found it much more agreeable to my constitution to bathe ii another element, I mean cold air. With- tins view f rise early almost every morning, and sit in my cham ber without any clothes whatever hdif an hour or aa liour, according to the season, either reading or wriu ing. This practice is not in the least painful, but, on the contrary, agreeable ; and if I return to bed afterwards,. before I dress myself, as sometimes happens, I make a Supplement to ir.y nighl s rest of one or two hours of the most pleasing sleep that can be Imagined. I find to iliconseoueuces wb&tevei; resulting from it, and that ESSAYS. at least it docs not injure my health, if it does not ia fact contribute much to its perservation. I shall there" fore call it for the future a bracing or tvuic bath. March 10, 1773. I shall not attempt to explain why clamp clothes oc casion colds, rather than \vet ones, because I doubt the fact. I imagine that neither the one nor the other contribute to this effect, and that the causes of colds are totally independent of wet and even cold. I pro pose writing a short paper on this subject, the first leisure moment -I have at my disposal In the mean time I can only say, that having suspicions that the common notion, which attributes to cold the property of stopping the pores and obstructing perspiration, was ill founded, I engaged a young physician, who is mak ing some experiments with Saat onus s balance, to esti mate the different proportions of his perspiration, when remaining one hour quite naked, and another warm ly clothed. He pursued the experiment in this alter nate manner for eight hours successively, and found nis- perspi ration almost double during those hours in whicii he was naked* Observations on the generally prevailing trifies of Life and Deatii. TO THE SAME.. YOUR observations on the causes of deaths and the experiments which you propose for recalling to life those who appear to be killed by lightning, demonstrate equally your sagacity and humanity. It appears thai the doctrines of life and death, in general, are but little understood.- A toad, buried in sand, will live, it is said, until sand becomes petrified ; and then, being inclosed the stone, it may still live for we Know not bevy snazzy S- 2 210 ESSAYS. ages. The facts \vhich are cited in support of th T s opinion arc too numerous and too circumstantial not to deserve a certain degree of credit. As we are accus tomed to see all the animals with 1 which- we are ac quainted eat and drink, it appears to us difficult to con ceive how a toad can be supported in such a dungeon. But if we reflect, that the necessity of .nourishment? which animals experience in their ordinary state, pro ceeds from the continual waste of their substance by perspiration ; it will appear less incredible that some animals in a torpid state, perspiring less because they use no exercise, should have less need of aliment; and that others, which are covered with scales or shells* "which stop perspiration, such as land and sea turtles, serpents, and some species of fish, should be able to- subsist a considerable time without any nourishment whatever. A plant, with its flowers, fades and diet* immediately, if exposed to the air without having its loots immersed in a humid soil, from which h may draw a sufficient quantity of moisture, to supply that which exhales from its substance, and is carried of? continually by the air. Perhaps, however, if it were buried in quicksilver, it might preserve, for a consider able space of time, its vegetable life, its smell and color- 2f this be the case, it might prove a commodious me- tho-1 of transporting from, distant countries those delicate- plants which are unable to sustain the inclemency of the weather, at sea, and which require particular care an(f attention. 1 have seen an instance of common files preserved in 9. manner somewhat similar. They had been drowned in Madeira wine, apparently about the time vvhen it was bottled in Virginia, to be sent to London. At the o- pening of one of the bottles, at the house of a friend where I was, three drowned fiies fell into the first glass which was filled. Having heard it remarked that drowned flies were capable of being revived by the rays of the sun, I proposed making the experiment upon these. They were therefore exposed to the SUB, upon ESSAYS. 2ti ; a sieve which had been employed to strain them out of the wine. In less than three hours two of them ru t>;an by degrees to recover life. They commenced by- some convulsive motions in the thighs, and at length they raised themselves upon their legs, wiped their eyes with their fore-feet, heat and brushed their v - with their hind-feet, and soon after began to fly, fi;; themselves in Old LMigland, without kno - ing how they came thither. The third continued lifeless until sunset, when, losing all hopes of him,- he was thrown a I wish it were possible, from this instance, to invent a method of embalming- drowned persons, in such a manner that they might be recalled to life at any period, however distant; for, having a very ardent desire to see and observe the state of America an hundred years hence, I should prefer to an ordinary death, the being immersed in a cask of Madeira wine, -with a few ftL until that time, then to be recalled to life by the sol* warmth of my dear country 1 But since, in all proba bility, we live in an age too early, and too near the in-- funcyof science, to see such an art brought in our time to its perfection, I must, for the present, content my self with the treat, which you are so kind as to promise me, of the resurrection of a fowl or a turkey-cock, * precautions to be used bij those who are about- to undertake a Sea Voyag-e. WHEN you intend to undertake a long voyage, no thing is better than to keep it ^secret till the moment of your departure. Without TOis, you will be comi-Mi- sily interrupted and tormented by visits from frU-nds and acquaintances, who not only make you lose your valuable time,- but make you forget- a thousand things which you wish to remember; so that when you are embarked, and fairly at sea, you recollect, \vu:i much affairs which you have not- termiruvtx i> <,o ESS ATS. counts that you hare not seu! d, and a numbe \V ;ich you proposed to carry with you, and which you find the want of every mo scut. Would it not be at tended with the best consequences to reform such a custom, and to sutfer a traveller, without deranging him, to make his preparations in quietness, to set apart a few clays, whentlv-se are finished, to take leave of his friends sun! to receive their good wishes for his happy return? Ir is not al-.vays in one s power to choose a captain; though gr-at pdi-t of the pleasure and happiness of the passage tU i*-nds apon this choke, and thoagh one must for a tinse be confined to his company, and be in sorae measure under his command* If he is a social sensible nun, obliging, and of a good disposition, you will be much the happier. One sometimes meets with people *f this description, but they are not common ; however,, if youis be not of tin s number, if he be a good seaman, attentive, careful, and active in the management of his ve?.sel ; you may dispense with the rest, for these are the most essential qualities. Whatever right you may have by your agreement wilh him, to the provisions he has taken on board for the use of the passengers, it is always proper to have some private store, which you may make use <;f occa sionally. You ought, therefore, .to provide good water, that of the ship being often bad ; but you must put it iiito bottles, without which you cannot expect to preserve it sweet* You ought also to carry with you goodteaf ground coffee, chocolate, wine of the sort you like best, cyder, dried raisins, almonds, sugar, capiliane, citrons, riivn, eggs dipped in oil,, portable soup, bread twice baked. With regard to poultry, it is almost useless to carry any with you, unlessyou resolve to undertake the t-fri .-- of feeding and fattening them yourself. Wilh the litiie care which is taken of them on board ship, they are almost all sickly, and their flesh is as tough as leather. All sailors entertain an opinion, which has undoubt edly originates formerly fioui u waul of water, UJK! ; ESSAYS. -Ifrhen it has been found necessary te be sparing of it, that poultry never know when they have drank enough ; and that \vhen water is given them at discretion, they generally kill themselves by drinking beyond measure. In consequence of this opinion, they give them water cnly once in two days, and even then in small quanli- ties : but as they pour this water into troughs inclining on one side which occasions it to run to the lower part, it thence happens that they are obliged to mount one upon the back of another in order to reach it ; and there are some which cannot even dip their beakb in it. Thus continually tantalized and tormented by thiist, they are unable to digest their food, which is very dry, and they soon fall sick and die. Some of them are found thus every morning, and are thrown into the sea ; whilst those which are killed for the table are scarcely fit to be eaten. To remedy this inconvenience, it will be necessary to, divide their troughs into small com partments, in such a manner that each of them may? be capable of containing water ; but this, is seldom or never done. On this account, sheep and hogs are to he considered as the best fresh previsions that one can have at sea ; mutton being there in general very: good, and pork excellent. It may happen that some of the provisions and stores which I have recommended may become almost use less, by the care which the captain has taken to lay in a proper stocky but in such a case you may dispose of it tr> relieve the poor passengers, who, paying lens for their passages, are stowed among the common sailors,, and have n right to the captain s provisions, txcf pt such part of them as is used for feeding the ere cr. These passengers are sometimes sick, melancholy* and dejected; and there are often \vo-rnm and children a- rnong them, neither of whom have a-.y opportunity of procuring those things which I have mentioned, a id of which, perhaps, they have the greatest nc< d. ily* distributing amongst them a part of yuiir snperih;ity 9 y,ou may be of the greyest asusiauco to them, loa 214 ESSAYS. may restore their health, save their lives, and in shotf render them happy ; which always affords the liveliest sensation to a feeling mind. The most disagreeable thing at sea is the cookery; for there is not, properly speaking, any professed cook on board. The \vorst sailor is generally chosen for that purpose, who for the most part is equally iliny. Hence conies the proverb used among the English sailors, that God sends meat and the Devil sends cooks* Those, however, who !>ave a better opinion of Provi- lence, will think otherwise. Knowing that sea-air, and the exercise or motion which they receive from the roiling of the ship, have a wonderful effect in whet ting 1 the appetite, they will say that Providence has given sailors bad cooks to prevent them from eating too much ; or that knowing they would have bad cooks he has given them a good appetite to prevent them from dying with hunger. However, if you have no confidence in these succours of Providence, you may yourself, with a lamp and a boiler, by the help of a lit tle spirits of wine, prepare some food, such as soup, hash, &c. A small oven made of tin plate is not a bad pi ~ce of furniture : your servant may roast in it a piece of mutton or pork. if you are ever tempted to ea-t salt beef, which is often very good, you will find that cyder is the best liquor to quench the thirst generally occasioned by salt meat or salt fish. Sea biscuit, which is too hard for tne teeth of some people, may be sofiened by steeping it ; but bread double-baked is the best, tor being made of good loaf bread cut into slices, and baked a second time, it readily imbibes water, be comes soft, and is easily digested ; it consequently {onus excellent nourishment, much superior to that of biscuit, which has not been fermented. I must here observe, tii-it this double-baked bread was originally the real biscuit prepared to keep at sea ; for the word biscuit, in French, signifies twice baked.*" " ~~ - * * If is derived from bis, cgainand cuitj baked*. ESSAYS. Pease often boil ba dly, and do not become soft ; in such a ca .-.- , by putting a two pound shot into the kettle, the rolling of the vessel, by means of this bullet, will con vert the pease into a kind of porridge, like mustard. Having often seen soup, when put on the table at sea in broad flat dishes, thrown out on every side by the rolling of th.- ve--.se!. I have wished that our tinmen would make our soup-basons with divisions or compart ments forming small plates, proper for containing soup for one person only. By this disposition, the soup, in an extraordinary roll, would not be thrown out of the plate, a- d would not fall into the breasts of those who are at table and scald them. Having entertained you with these things of little importance, permit me now to conclude with some general reflections upon navi gation \Vhen navigation is employed only for transporting necessdiy provisions from one coun ry, where they a- bou:>d, tc another where they are wanting; when by t: i i>> it prevents famines, which were so frequent and so fa al before it was invented and became so common, we cannot help considering it as one of those arts which contribute most to the happiness of mankind. But when it is employed to transport things of ro utility, or articles merely of luxury, it is then uncertain whether the advantages resulting from it are sufficient to counterbalance the misfortunes it occasions, Dy ex posing the lives of so many individuals upon thr vast ocean. And when it is evidently only the dreatlfi:! means of increasing those caiaaiities which aiil c ;\,i- man nature. One is astonished to think on the number of vessels and men who are daily exposed in L .oiriu; to bring v.a from China, cotfoe from Arabia, and su.rar and tob ic from America ; all cbaiu)<xlities whicii our ancestors lived very weil without. The sugar trade employs Dearly a thousand vessels : and that of tobacco almost tiie same number. With regard to the utility of loba* 1 - fbj little con be said j and wiih r^vU dt to ESSAYS. much more meritorious would it be to sacrifice fHe mo mentary pleasure which we receive from drinking it once or twfcc a day in our tea, than to encourage the numberless cruelties that are continually exercised ia order to procure it us? A celebrated French moralist said, thrvt when he con sidered the wars which we fomc-n in ifrica to y;ct ne groes, the great number who (if course peri.-h in these wars; the multitude itf those wivtclies who die in tneir passage, by disease, l>acl air, and bad p.ovisions ; a-.id lastly, how many peiisii by the cruj treatment they meet with in a artaie of slavery ; when he saw a bit of sugars lv." could not help imagining it to be covered with spots of tiU iicin blood. But, had he added to these conssidera-ions the wars which we carry on auainst one another, to take and retake the islands tnat pt Ovluce (his Commodity) he would not liave seen the su^ar simply sfiuttrd ith blood, he would have beheld it entirely tinned ivuii it. i hese wars make the maritime powers of Europe and the inhabitants of Pans and London, pay much dear er for tacir sugar t;,an tuose of Vienna, llioir.^h tiiey are almost three hundred leagues distant from the sea. A pound of su^ar, indeed, coats the former not only tne price which they give for it, but also what they pay in taxes, necessary to support those Heels a;id armies which serve to defend and proud ihe countries U* ESSAYS*. t)n Luxury i Idleness and Industry. ROM A LETTER TO B. VAUGHAN, IN 1784. IT is wonderful how preposterously th^ affairs ofthia vrorld are managed. Naturally one would imagine that the interest of a few individuals should give way l general interest ; but individuals manage their affairs \villi bo much more application, industry, and address, than the public do theirs, that general interest most commonly gives way to particular. \Ve assemble par liaments and councils;, to* -have the benefit of their col lected wisdom ; but we necessarily have, at the same time, the inconvenience of their collected passions, pre judices, and private interests. By the h tip of these, actful men overpower their wisdom, and dupe its pos sessors: and if we may judge by the acts, airets, and edicts, ail the world over, for regulating commerce, an assembly of great men is the greatest fooi upon earth. I have not yet, indeed, thought of a remedy for lux ury. I am not sure that in a great state it is capable of a remedy ; nor that the evil isin itself always so great as it is represented. Suppose we include in the defini tion of luxury all unnecessary expeiice, and then let us consider whether taws to prevent suchexpet;ce are pos sible to be executed in a great country, and whether, if they could be executed, our people generally would be happier, or even richer. Is not the hope of being one clay able to purchase and enjoy luxuries, a great spur to labour and industry ? May not luxury therefore produce more than it consumes, if* without such a spur, people would be, as they are naturally enough inclined to be, lazy and indolent ? I o this purpose i remember a circumstance. The skipper of a shallop, employed between Cape May and Philadelphia, had done us some * Present member of fiarliamenf for the borough of in Wiltshire, between whom and our author there d a very close friendship. T 218 ESSAYS. small services, for which he refused to be paid. M\> \vife understanding that he had a daughter, sent her a present of a new-fashioned cap. Three years after, t is skipper being at my house with an old farmer of Cape IVlay, his passenger, he mentioned the cap, and IIOAV much his daughter had been pleased with it. * . But (said he^ it proved a dear cap to our congrega tion." How so?" " When my daughter appeared with it at meeting, it was so much admired, that all the fyirls resolved to get such caps from Philadelphia ; and my wife and I computed that the whole could not have cost less than an hundred pounds." "True, (said the farmer) but you do not tell all the story. I think the cap was nevertheless an advantage to us; for it was tbe first thing that put our girls upon knitting worsted mittens for sale at Philadelphia, that they might have wherewithal to buy caps and ribbons there; and you know that industry has continued, and is likely to con tinue and increase to a much greater value, and an swer much better purposes." Upon the whole, I was jr-ore reconciled t(. this little piece of luxury, since not cnly the girls were made happier by having fine caps, bui the l- hilad -.Iphians by the supply of warm mittens. In our commercial towns upon the sea coast, for tunes vvili occusK ially be u tick, home of those who grow rich AM!! he pi < c!ei<t, live within bounds, and pre- serve wbcit ihey have gained for their posteiity : others, foiui of slit u ing their wealth, will be extravagant, and ruin themselves. Laws cannot prevent this: and per- hap* it is r.ot ahvays an evil to the public. A shilling spent idly by a iool, may be picked up by a wiser per son, who ki.ows bcttervhat to do with it. It is there- fort- not lost. A. A din. silly felloAv builds a fine house, furnisbvs it richly, lives in it expensively, arid in a feAV years ruins himvt if : Lu - lie n.asons, carpenters, smiths, at.d ol her honest tiatebir.cn, have been by his employ assisted in maintaining ard raising their families ; the farmei has lit en paid for his labour, and encouraged, cutate is now in better hands. In some ESSAYS. indeed, certain modes of luxury may be * public evil, in like manner as it is a private one. If there be a na tion, for instance, that exports its beef and linen, to pay for the importation of claret and porter, while a great part of its people live npon potatoes, and war no shirts ; wherein does it differ from the sot who lets bis family- starve- and sells his clothes to buy drink ? Our Ameri can commerce is. I corf^s, a little in this way. We sell our victuals to the islands for rum and sugar; the sub stantial necessaries of life for superfluities* But we have plenty, and live well nevertheless, though by be ing soberer, w? mirrht be richer. The vast quantity of forest land we have yet to clear, and put in order for cultivation, will for a long time keep the body of our nation laborious and frugal. For ming an opinion of our people and their manners, by what is seen among the inhabitants of the sea-ports, is judging from an improper sample. The people of ihe trading towns may be rich and luxurious, while the country possesses all the virtues that tend to promote happiness and public prosperity. Those towns are not much regarded by the country ; they are hardly con sidered as an essential part of the states ; and the ex perience of the last war has shewn, that their being ia the possession of the enemy did not necessarily draw on the subjection of the country; which bravely conti nued to maintain its freedom and independence not withstanding. It has been computed by some political arithmeti cian, that if every man and woman would work for four hours each day on something useful, that labour would produce sufficient to procure all the necessaries and comforts of life ; want and misery would be banished out of the world, and the rest of the twenty-four hours might be leisure and pleasure. What occasions then so much wani and misery ? It is the employment of men and women in \vcrks that produce neither the necessaries or conveniences of life, who with those who do nothing, consume necessaries raised by tiie laborious, T? espkin this : ESSAYS. The first elements of wealth are obtained by from the earth and waters. 1 have land, and raise corn. \Vith this, if I feed a family that does nothing, my corn will be consumed, and at the end of the year J shall be no richer than I was at the beginning. But if, while I fetd them, I employ them, some in spinning, others in making brick, &c. for building, the value of my corn will be arrested and remain with me, and at the end of the year we may be better clothed and bet ter lodged. And if, instead of employing a man I feed in making bricks, I employ him in fiddling for me, the corn he eats is gone, and no part of his manufacture remains to augment the wealth and convenience of the family; I shall therefore be the poorer for this fiddling man, unless the rest of my family work more or eat less, to make up the deficiency he occasions. Look round the world, and see the millions employ- d in doing nothing, or in something that amounts to nothingj when the necessaries and conveniences of life are in question. What is the bulk of commerce, for which we fight and destroy each other, but the toil of millions for superfluities, to the great hazard and loss of many lives, by the constant dangers of the seat How much labour is spent in building and fitting great ships, to go to China and Arabia for tea and coffee, to the West-Indie s for sugar, to America for tobacco ? These things cannot be called the necessaries of life, for our ancestors lived very comfortable without them. A question may be asked : Could all these people r>ow employed in raising, making, or carrying super fluities, be subsisted by raising necessaries I I think they might. The world is large, and a great part of it still uncultivated. Many hundred millions of acres m Asia, Africa, and America, are still in a forest; and a great deal even in Europe. On a hundred acres of this forest, a man might become a substantial farmery and a hundred thousand men employed in clearing each his hundred acres, would hardly brighten a spot big enough to be visible from the moon, unless with Her- schei s telescope ; so vast are the regions still in ESSAYS, It is however some comfort to reflect, that, upon the , the quantity of industry and prudence among mankind exceeds the quantity of idleness and folly. H^ncethe increase of good buildings, farms cultivated) and populous cuies filled with wealth, all over Europe, which a few ytars since were only to be found on the coasls of the Mediterranean; and this notwithstanding the mad wars continually raging;, by which are often destroyed in ono year the works of many years peace. So that we may hope, the luxury of a few merchants on the coast will not be the ruin of America. One reflection more, and I will end this long ram bling letter. Almost all the parts of our bodies require some expcnce. The feet demand shoes; the legs stockings ; the rest of the body clothing ; and the bully a good deal of victuals. Our eyes, tho exceedingly use ful, ask, when reasonable, only the cheap assistance of spectacles, which could not much impair our finances. But the eyes of other people are the eyes that ruin us. If all but myself were blind, I should want lieiihev finer clothes, fine houses, nor fine furniture. ON THE SLAVE TRADE. "READING in the newspapers the speech of Mr. Jackson in congress, against meddling with the affair of slavery, or attempting to mend the condition of slaves, it put rue in mind of a similar speech, made about an hundred years since, by Sidi Mehemet Ibrahim, a member of the divan of Algiers, which may be seen in Martin s account of his consulship, 1687. It was a- gainst granting the petition of the sect called Erika or Purists, who prayed for the abolition of piracy and sla very, as being unjust. Mr. Jackson does not quote it ; perhaps he has not seen it. If therefore, some of its reasoning are to be found in his eloquent speech, it may only shew that men s interests operate and ar T 2 222 ESSAYS. operated on, \vhith surprising similarity, in all and climates, whenever they are ir,;der similar circum stances. The African speech, as translated, is as fol lows: < Alia Bismiilah, Sec. God is great, and Mahomet is his prophet. u Have these Erika considered the consequences of granting their petition ? If we cease our cruises against the Christians, how bhall we be furnished with the commodities their countries produce, and which are so necessary for us? If we forbear to make slaves of their people, who. in this hot climate, are to cultivate our lands? Who are to perform the common labours of one city, and of our families ? Must we not then be our own slaves? And is there not more compassion arid more favour due to us Mussulmen, than to those Chris tian dogs ? We have now about fifty t.housand slaves in and near Algiers. This number, if not kept up by fresh supplies, will soon diminish, and be gradually an* nihilated. If, then, we cease taking and plundering the inSdel ships, and making slaves of the seamen and pas sengers, our lands will become of no value, for want of cultivation ; the rents of houses will sink one half; and the revenues of government, arising from the share of prizes, must be totally destroyed. And for what? To gratify the whim of a whimsical sect, who would have us not only forbear making more slaves, but even manumit those we have. But who is to indemnify thtir master* for the loss ? Will the state do it ? Is our treasury suf ficient ? Will the Erika do it ? Can they do it? Or would they, to do what they think justice to the slaves, do a greater injustice to the owners ? And if we set our slaves free, what is to be done with them? Few of them will return to their native countries ; they know too well the great hardships they must thi-re be subject to. They will not embrace our holy religion : they will not adopt our manners : our people will not pollute Ihemselvcs by intermarrying with them. Must we maintain Uiwiu as beggars ui eur ktreets j ov suiir u ESSAYS. properties to DC the prey of their pillage ? For men ac customed to slavery? will not work for a livelihood, when not compelled. And what is there so pitiable m their present condition? Were they not slave* in their own countries ? Are not Spain, Portugal 1 , France, and the Italian states, governed by despair, who hold all their subjects in slavery, without exception. Even England treats her sailors as slaves, for the) are,, whenever the government pleases, seized, and confined in ships of war, condemned, not o"ly to work, but to fight for small wages, or a mere subsistence, no. bet ter than our slaves are allowed by us. Is their condi tion then made worse by their falling into our hands? No, they have only exchanged one slavery for another; and J may say a better, for hence they are brought in to a lar-.d where the sun of Islarnism gives forth its light, and shines in full splendor, and they have an op portunity of making themselves acquainted with the true doctrine, and thereby saving their immortal souls. Those who remain at home, have nor that happiness.- Sending the slaves home, then, would be sending them out of light into darkness. I repeat the question, what is to be done with them ? I have heard it suggested, that they may be planted in the wilderness, where there is plenty of land for thrm to subsist on, and where they may flourish as a free state. But they are, I doubt, too little disposed to la bour without compulsion, as well as too ignorant to establish good government: and the wild Arabs would eoon molest and destroy, or again enslave them. While serving us, we take care to provide them with every thing ; and they are treated with humanity* The la bourers in their own countries, are, as I am informed , worse fed, lodged and clothed. The condition of most of them is therefore already mended, and requires no farther improvement. Here their lives are in safe ty. They are not liable to be impressed for soldiers, and forced to cut one another s Christian throats, as in ars of their own countriest If some of the rcligi- 224 ESSAYS. us mad bigots who now tease us with their silly petff 5- ons, have, in a fit of blind zeal, freed their slaves, it was uot generosity, it was not humanity, that moved them to the action ; it was from the conscious burthen of a load of sins, and hope, from the supposed merits of so good a work, to be exempted from damnation.. How grossly are they mistaken, in imagining slavery to be disavowed by the Alcoran ! Are not the two precepts, to puote no more, <k Masters, treat your slaves with kindness Slaves serve your masters with cheerfulness and fidelity," clear proofs to the contrary ? Nor can the plundering of infidels be in that sacred book forbid den ; since it is well known from it, that God has giv en the world, and all that it contains, to his faithful Mus- sulmen, who are to enjoy it, of right as fast as they can conquer it. Let us then hear no more of this detesta ble proposition, the manumission of Christian slaves, the adoption of which would, by depreciating our lands and houses, and thereby depriving so many good citi zens of their properties, create universal discontent, and provoke insurrections, to the endangering of govern ment, and producing general confusion* I have, there fore, no doubt that this wi*e council will prefer the comfort and happiness of a whole nation ot true believ ers, to the whim of * few Erika, and dismiss their pe tition." The result was, as Martin tells us, that the Divan came to this resolution : k That the doctrine, that the plundering and enslaving the Christians is unjust, is at best problematical i but that u is the interest of this state to continue the practice, is clear; therefore, let the petition be rejected. " And it was rejected accord ingly. A : -d since like motires are apt to produce, in the minds of men, like opinions and resolutions, may we not venture to pretlici, from this account, that the pe titions to the parliament of England for abolishing the sl.-.ve trade, to say nothing of other legislatures, and the tts upon them, will have a similar conclusion. March 23, 17U. H1STOKICU& ESSAYS. 225 OBSERVATIONS ON WAT?. BV the original law of nations, war and extirpation were the punishment of injury. Humanizing by de~ grees, it admitted slavery instead of death: a farther step was the exchange of prisoners instead of slavery : another, to respect more the property of private per sons under conquest, and be content with acquired do minion. Why should not this law of nations go on improving? Ages have intervened between its several steps; but as knowledge of late increases rapidly, why should not those steps be quickened ? Why should it not be agreed to, as the future law of nations, that in any war hereafter the following description of men should be undisturbed, have the protection of both sides, and be permitted to follow their employments in security ? viz. 1. Cultivators of the earth, because they labour fof the subsistence of mankind. 2. Fishermen, for the same reason. 3. Merchants and traders in unarmed ships, who accommodate different nations by communicating and exchanging the necessaries and conveniences of life. 4. Artists and mechanics, inhabiting and working in open towns. It is hardly necessary to add, that the hospitals of enemies should be unmolested they ought to be assist* ed. It is for the interest of humanity in general, thut the occasions of war, and the inducements to it, should be diminished. If rapine b;; abolished, one of the en couragements to war is taken away ; and peace there fore more likely to continue and be lasting. The practice of robbing merchants on the high seas a remnant of ancient piracy though it may be acci dentally beneficial to particular persons, i* far from be* ing profitable to all engaged in it, or to the nation that authorises it. In the beginning of a war, some rich, ships are surprised and taken. This encourages the first adventurers to fit out more armed vessels ; and many others to do the same. But the enemy at tne tame tune become more careful j arm their nicrcli^iifc 226 ESSAYS ships better, and render them not so easy to be taken ; they go also more under the protection of convoys. Thus, while the privateers to take them are multiplied, the vessels subject to be taken, and the chances of profit, are diminished so that many cruises are made, where in the expences overgo the gains ; and, as is the case in other lotteries, though particulars have got prizes* the mass of adventurers are losers, the whole expense of fitting out all the privateers during a war being much greater than the whole amount cf goods taken. Then there is the national loss of ail the labour of so many men during the time they have been employed in robbing; who besides spend what they get in riot, drunkenness, and debauchery ; lose their habits of in dustry ; are rarely fit for any sober business after a peace, and serve only to increase the number of high waymen and housebreakers. Lven the undertaker! who have been fortunate, are, by sudden wealth, led in to expensive living, the habit of which continues when the means of supporting it cease, and finally ruins them : & just punishment for having wantonly and unfeelingly ruined many honest, innocent traders and their families, \vhose substance was employed in serving the common interest ol ON THE IMPRESS OF SEAMEN. Notes copied from Dr. Franklins -writing in pencil on the margin of Judge Foster s cele brated Argument in favor of the Impressing of Seamen.... published in the folio edition of his works. JUDGE FOSTER, p. 158. " Every Man." -The con clusion here from the whole to a Jiarf, does not seem to be good logic. If the alphabet should say, Let us all fight for the defence of the whole ; that is equal, and therefore be jusi. But if they should sy.y, Let An ESSAYS. fi, C and D go out and fight for us, while we stay at home and sleep in whole skins ; that is not equal, and therefore cannot be just. Ib. A < Employ." If you please. The word signifies engaging a man to work for me, by offering him such wages as are sufficient to induce him to prefer my ser vice. This is very different from compelling him t* work on such terms as I think proper. Ib. " This service and employment, &c." These re false facts. His employments and services are not the same Under the merchant lie goes in an unarmed vessel, not obliged to fight, but to transport merchan dize. In the king s service he is obliged to fight, and to hazard all the dangers of buttle. Sickness on board of king s ships is also more common and more mortal. The merchant s service, too, he can quit at the end of the voyage ; not the king s. Also, the merchant s wages arc much higher. Ib. " I am very sensible, &c." Here are two things put in comparison that are not comparable : viz. injury to seamen, and inconvenience to trade. Inconvenience to the whole trade of a nation will not justify injustice to a single seaman. If the trade would suffer without his service, it is able and ousfht lo be willing to offer him sueh wages as may induce him to aiioix! his ser vice voluntarily. Page 159. " Private mischief must be borne with patience, for preventing a national calamity ." Where is this maxim in law and tyood policy to be- found ? And now can that be a maxim which is not consistent with common sense? If the maxim had been, that private mischiefs, which prevent u national calamity, ought to be generously compensated by the naliu;>, one might understand it : but that such private mischiefs are only to be borne with pa ience, is absurd ! Ib. u The c xpedient, &c. And, Scr." [Paragraphs 2 and 3) Twenty ineffectual or inconvenient schemes \vill not justify one that is unjust. Ib. fc Upon the loot oi, &c." Your reubohiiig ia- 228 ESSAYS. dted, like a He, stands but upon one jfioi r ; truth upSfc two. Page 160. " Full wages." Probably the same they Lad in the merchants service. Page 174. * I hardly admit, &c." [Paragraph 5.] When this author speaks of impressing, page 158, he diminishes t te horror of the practice as mur.h as possible, by presenting to the mind one sailor o.uy suf fering liai-axhifi (as he tenderly calls it) in some /articu lar case* only ; and he places ag-ainst this private mis chief the inconvenience to the trade of the kingdom. But if, as he supposes is often the case, the sailor who is pressed, and obliged to serve for the defence of trade, at the rate oi tv.enty five eVHings a month, could get thiee pounds fifteen shillings in the merchant s service, you. take from him fifty shillings a month; and if you have 100,000 in your sen ice, you rob this honest in dustrious part of society, ar.-d their poor families, of 2sO,000/. per month, or three millions a year, and at the same ime oblige them to hazard their lives in fighting for the defence of your trade ; to the defence cf which all ought indeed to contribute (and sailors a- niong the rest) in proportion to their profits by it; but this three millions is in ore than their share, if they did iiot pay with their persons; but when you force that, nuihinks you should excuse the other. But it may be said, to give the king s seamen mer chant s wages would < "st the nation too much, and call for more taxes. The question then will amount to this : whether it be just in a community, that the rich er part should compel the poorer to fight in defence of them and their properties, for such wages as they think fit to allow, and punish them if they refuse ? Cur author tells us that it is "legal." \ have not law enough to dispute his authorities, but 1 cannot persuade myself that it is equitable. I will, however, own for the pre sent, that it may be lawful when necessary ; but then I contend it may be used so as lo produce the same good cfrects *tiie public tccM-ity, without doing so much it* ESSAYS, tolerable injustice as attends the impressing cmm seamen. In order to be better understood, I would premise two things; First, that voluntary seamen mar be had for the service, if they were sufficiently paid. The proof is, that to serve in the same ship, and incur the same dangers, you have no occasion to impress captains, lieutenants, second lieutenants, midshipmen^ pursers, nor many other officers. Why, but that il e profits of their places, or the emoluments expected, are sufficient inducements! The business then is, to find monev, by impressing, sufficient to make the sailors all volunteers, as well as their officers ; and this without any fresh burthen ir^on trade. The second of my pre- misrs is, that twenty-five shillings a month, with hi* share of salt beef, pork, and pease-pudding, being found sufficient for the subsistence of a hard-working sf aman, it will certainly be so for a sedentary scholar or gentleman. I would then propose to form a treasu ry, out of vvbich encouragements to seamen should be paid. To fill this treasury, i would impress a number of civil officers, who at present have great salaues, o- bli^e them to serve in their respective offices for twenty five shillings a month vvith their shares of mess provi sions, and throw the rest of their salaries into the sea men s treasury. If such a press-warrant were given me to execute, the first I would press should be a P - corcter of Bristol, or a Mr. Justice Foster, because I might have need of his edifying example, to sho\v h w much impressing ought to be borne with ; for he would certainly find, that though to be reduced to twenty-five shillings a month might be a firivate mischief, yet that, agreeably to his maxim of law and good policy, it ought to be borne with patittice, for preventing a national ca lamity. Then I would press the rest of the Judges: and, opining the red book, 1 would press every civil officer of government from 501. a year salary up to $O,0001. which would throw an immense sum into our treasury : and these gentlemen could not complain, since they would rcctiv - twenty -five shales a aionli>, ESSAYS. and their rations; and this without being obliged to fight. Lastly, I think I would uupiess ***. On the Criminal Laws, and the practice q) Privateering. Letter to Benjamin Vaughan, Esq. MARCH 14th, 1785. JMY DEAR FRIEND, AMONG the pamphlets you lately sent me, was one, entitled Thoughit) on Executive Justice. In return for that, I send you one on the same subject, Observa tions concefnant / Execution de I* Article 11. dt la Dec/a- ration sur de Vol. They are both addressed to the Judges, and written, as you will see, in a very diB ercjit spirit. The Kngli.sh author is for hanging ail thieves. The Frenchman is for proportioning punishments to offences. If we really believe, as we profess to believe^ that the law of Moses was the lav. of God. the dictate of divine ivUdonv infinitely superior to human ; on what ptinci- ]V;es do we orda fh death as the punishment of an c.f- fence, which, according to that law, was only to be punished by a restitution of font fold ? To put a :uau 1.0 death for an offence which does not deserve death, is it not a murder l And, as the French wriitr sa\s, t^uiton j ::/)- tin dtlit centre la societe Jiar un crime contra la Superfluous property is the creature of society. Sim ple and mild laws \vere sufficient to guard thepiopeity that was merely necessary. The savage s boo, his hatchet) and his coat of skins, were sufficiently sceur d> v.khout law, by the fear of personal resentment and re taliation. ~\V htn, by virtue of the first laws, pait of the society accumulated wealth and grew pov, erful, tv-t y piacted others more sevej^, uiid vvouiu ESSAYS. 231 property at the exppnes of hnonni y. This ^vas abu-3- *ng itteir po\v .?!, .aid cwn^neirciii^ a tyranny. If ti SH- Vut^, b -fore lie enu-re.i inf) bovi ty,.had b.-eu toiJ * vour n<.-ij;hbu: , b, c i-> uaeau3 may D -come o^.ner of " an hund. .-cld. Lr ; bin \: four b-.-oUu-T, ;r yogi so.), or * youi scif. tiavin- rio^ideeE I jr qwri, aucl b TV; ..u;i- <k ^r, should uiij ti>t; liberty, unci hise<wuuo;i ngit of kUlin^ an; u.c , io .ill t / advaiua^cb ol buciciy iliul iui I be ^>r<j;juscti 10 him. i hat it is better a hunt! vcl guilty pe 1 tapt-, tiiiin that oue ifiuioccnt piisson . . , is a maxim hdi h | ; ne- ^v-c, thai I - auchor of t t4 iht- ve,-> * ; - . <; more that ui * 4 our lendcrcbt uiici in;t cor t% tlie s.tmo tiisie raise our h w the iustrunienis oi it. iiul (lie aiiiis ; thert i.-i no tfan- " ger of cither ) fro.n a btrict adh^wncv to t!u: law:,." Rciilly ! ls> it then \ to make unj ist hi-,vb ? and if the law iiseii be urjasl, nviy it net ;;j tfte vji-y tk instrument" which ouy;hi ; to raise th^ aathor s, and "every body s highest ii^iignatioa r" I see, in ths last newBpapers fiorn Loiuloi), . that-a warnaniscapiially convicted at the Old B vii^y, for privately stealing- out of a shop some gauze, value fourteen shiili three-pence : fs t-iere any proportion bt 4 twcen t]:y in jury done by a theft, value fourteen shillings and three pence, and the punishment of a IraiDiin creature, bv- death, on a gibbet? Might not that woman, by her labour, have made a reparation ordained by God, in paying four-fold ? Is not all punishment iiiflicled be yond the merit of the offence, so much punishment of innocence ?" In this light, how vast is the annual quan tity, of not only injured but suffering innocence, iu a!? t all the civilised statoi of burope 1 ESSAYS. But it seems to have been thought that this kind of innocence may be punished by way of fire-venting crimes. I have read, indeed, of a cruel Turk in Barbary, who, whenever he bought a new Christian slave, ordered him immediately to be hung up by the legs, and to re- eive a ^hundred blows of a cudgel oil the soles of hi* fcct, that the severe sense of the punishment, and fear t incurring it thereafter, might prevent the faults that should merit it. Our author himself would hardly ap prove entirely of this Turk s conduct in the government f slaves ; and yet he appears to recommend something like it in the government of English subjects, when he applauds the reply of Judge Burnet to the convict horse- stealer ; who being asked what he hr.d to say why j udg- tnent of death should not pass against him, and answer ing, that it was hard to hang a man for only stealing a horse, was told by the Judge, " Man, thou art not to1>e hanged only for stealing a horse, but that horses may not be stolen*" The man s answer, if candidly exam ined, will, I imagine, appear reasonable, as being found ed on the eternal principle of justice and equity, that punishments should be proportioned to offences, ami the judge s reply brutal and unreasonable, though the writer u wishes all judges to carry it with them when ever they go to the circuit, and to bear it in their minds, as containing a wise reason for all the penal statutes which they are called upon to put in execution. It at once illustrates (says he) the true grounds and reasons cf all capital punishments whatsoever, namely, that every man s property, as well as his life, may be held sacred and inviolate." Is there then no difference in, value between property and lift t If I ihlnk it right that the crime of murder should be punished with death, not only as an equal punishment of the crime, but to prevent other murders, does it follow that I must ap prove of the same punishment for a little invasion an my property by theft ? If I am not so barbarous, so bloody-minded and revengeful, as to kill a fellow crea ture for stealing from me fourteen shillings and three* ESSAYS. 233 pence, ho\v can I approve of the law that does it ? Montesquieu, who was himself a judge, endeavours to impress other maxims. He must have known what humane judges feel on such occasions, and what the effects of (.hose feelings ; and, so far from thinking that severe and excessive punishments prevent crimes, he asserts, as quoted by our trench writer, that u JL atrocite dcs Loix en emjicche Vtxecution* " Lorsque la peinc est sans mcsure^ on est souvent oblige 4< de lui fireferer I irHpumte* u La cause dcs tout ics relachsments inent de fimfiunitc <( dcs crimes^ et non de la moderation dcs fieines." It is said by those who know Europe generally, that there are more thefts committed and punished annually in England than in ail oihor nations put together, if this be so, there must be a cause or causes for such depravity in our common people. May not one be the deficiency of justice and morality in our rational gov ernment, manifested in our oppressive conduct to sub jects, and unjust wars on our neighbors ? View the long-persisted in, i: j ist, monopolizing treatment of Ireland, at length acknowledged ; View the plunder ing government ex-, reined bv our merchants in t!~e East-Indies; the co-msiuimig ,var made upon the A- merlcan colonies- ,.>.;, :o say nof.iinj: of tnose upcn France and Spain, M----V t!v- }^^ war upon Holland, \vh;ch was seen bv i;i)p v \i -;.ial Enrop-e in no other light than as a r >vii of rapine an<l.j)illuge ; toe hopes of an im:-nenbe u;-d easy ivty ben JT.S only apparent, and probably its i-eai uiQtiVc-aud enco iragf inent. Justice is as sii icily uiic between neigiibor luiiions as between nt- igiiboi- c.iiizo:s> A iii^.iv. aytD.i-.i \, as much a robber- \Viica ii plu.kcL-rs in a. gung, as when single ; a; a! a nation t.iat makes an unjust war is < - . -. Ai ; cr eiti:3joyi:ig your pcoijie in rolling ta: U I . s iL ilruiigc- ihal, bci ; ig out of that employ by p^v.. -, t .;./ f.tiii continue robbing, uncl.ro o 01:- .;ino f v.her? J*iraterie 9 asthe F^e.ncU call it, or privateering, is tnj . . .\ ?n, at ho.no cUi\l ajrov- U 2 234 ESSAYS ever settled. No less than seven hundred privateem were, it is said, commissioned in tin: last war! These were fitted out by merchants, to prey upon or.her mer chants, who had never done them any injury. Is there probably any one of those privateering- merchants of London, \vho were so ready to rob the merchants of Amsterdam, that would not as readily plunder another London merchant of the next street,, if he could do it with the same impunity ? The avidity, the alieni afi/ie- tens is the same ; it is the fear alone of the gallows that jnakes the difference. How then can a nation, which, among the honestest of its people, has so many thieves by inclination, and whose government enceuraged and commissioned no less than seven hundred gangs of robbers ; how can such a nation have the face to con demn the crime in individuals, and to hang up twenty of them in a morning I It naturally puts one in mind of a Newgate anecdote. One of the prisoners com plained that in the night somebody had taken his buckles out of his shoes. " What the devil 1"- says another,. u have we then thieves amongst us ? It must not be suffered. Let us search out the rogue, and pump him lo death. 5 There is, however, one late instance of an English merchant who will not profit by such ill gotten gain. He was, it seems, part owner of a ship, which the other owners thought fit to employ as a letter of marque, and which took a number of French prizes. The boo ty being shared, he has now an agent here enquiring, by an advertisement in the Gazette, for thase who suf fered the loss, in order to make them, as far as in him lies, restitution. This conscientious man is a Quaker. The Scotch presbyterians were formerly as tender; for there is still extant an ordinance of the town-council f Edinburgh, made soon after the Reformation, "for- kidding the purchase of prize goods, under pain o Josing the freedom of the burgh for ever, with other punishment, at the will of the magistrate ; the practice ices |>ing contrary tp ESSAYS. 2MT and the rule of treating Christian brethern,as we would wish to be treated ; and such goods arc not to be ssldbif any godly men willdn this burgh." The race of these- godly men in Scotland is probably extinct, or their prin ciples abandoned, since, as far as that nation had a hand in promoting the war against the colonies, prizes and confiscations are believed to have been a considerable- motive. It has been for some time a generally-received opini on, that a military man is not to enquire, whether a war be just or unjust; he is to execute his orders. All princes who are disposed to become tyrants, must pro bably approve of this opinion, and be willing to estab lish it ; but is it not a dangerous one ? since on that prin ciple, if the tyrant commands his army to attack and destroy, not only an unoffending neighbor nation, but even his own subjects, the army is bound to obey. A negro slave, in our colonies, being commanded by his master to rob or murder a neighbor, or do any other immoral act, may refuse;, and the magistrate will pro tect him in his refusal. The slavery then of a soldier is worse than that of a negro! A conscientious officer,, if ifot restrained by the apprehension of its being im puted to another cause, may indeed resign, rather than be employed in an unjust war, but the private men are slaves for life ; and they are perhaps incapable f judg ing for themselves. We can only lament their fate, and still more that of a sailor, who is often dragged by force from his honest occupation, and compelled to im brue his hands in perhaps innocent blood. But me- thinks it well behoves merchants (men more enlighten ed by their education, and perfectly free from any such force or obligation) to consider well of the justice of a war, before they voluntarily engage a gang of ruffians to attack their fellow-merchants of a neighboring na tion,, to plunder them of their property, and perhaps ruin- them and their families, if they yield it ; or to wound j maim, and murder them, if they attempt to defend it.. \et these things are done by Christiian 236 ESSAYS, whether a war be just or unjust ; and it can hardly be just on both sides. They art; clone by English and A~ merican merchants, who,- nevertheless, complain o private thefi, and hang by dozens, the thieves they have taught by their own example. It is high time, for the sake of humanity, that a stop were put to this enormity. The United States of A- mcrica, though better situated than any European na tion to make profit by pra \atemng, (most of tiie trade of (Europe with the West-Indies, passing before their coo; s) are. as Li as in them lies, endeavoring to abolish the practice by oiieii. .g, in ail their treaties with other po \v\is, au in tide, en. facing solemnly, that in case of f uiure war, no p* ivat jer suul; be commissioned on either side, aiui Aral . nartn d merchant-ships, on both sides, si ail jUiibiie liicii voyages unmolested.* This vviil be a hu;;py imp ovcmcnt of the law of nations. The hu- ir.uiit ai.ci ti; jj it cannot but wish general suscess to the pioposi KM). \Vitii unchangeable esteem and effection, I am, my ck-ai- fiiend, ever yours. * This ojfcr hui i/ig brrn accrfited ki; the late king of Pru-dia- a irtatij <j unniy nd cuinnii-rcc ivus concluded bet-wet n -.hut ,n yja, ch u.id ii- U.Jt<.d - aies, cvniaiuing &cf<M .rtviiigfiitfaanr\jJiilMith ofiic ai-ilcL ; in the forma tion uj Jd(.h ~Jr. J* ni;;Kd.i, us one of, i he . hntricun fiicni* p:jiin,iu, IL\\I ivtM firirtcijiuliy cuucernrd^ -viz. A.K I. XX ill. If -var should aiis between Uic two Contracting par-- ti-> -. the mciciuinl, oC.ckhvf count! y, -liieii rehidiorj in , slv-ii uc .LiiOvV.d to i\.ruum nine mouths to col- k:ct thc-ir <i -bi.i uri i s*. ti c. liicir u^ajr^, aucl n^y depart fre,ly cari yip.:::-f : /-. i :iieir enccCs \\iihouc nioh::-.tuil:>n orliii. iian .,e : and all n-oniuTi and chiklrtn, scnobrs , (>f e".\ - fae.uity* cultivators of the ei-u tl-., :u\isiunsj inaou- . and iisiTenr.ci), unaiMicd -uiii! inhubilins* ui^for- iliugssjOi places, aud in ^fcierul all others.- ESSAYS. 237 occupations are for the common subsistence and feenefit of mankind, shall be aliowed lo continue their respective employments, and shall not be molested ift their persons, nor shall their houses or goods be burnt, or otherwise destroyed, nor their fields wasted, by the armed force of the enemy into whose power, by the events of war, they may happen to foil ; but if any tiling is necessary to be taken from them for the use of such armed force, the same shall be paid for at a reasonable price. And all merchant and trading vessels employed in exchanging the products of different places, and thereby rendering the necessaries, conveniences, ai/d comforts of human life more easy to be obtained, and more general, shall be allowed to pass free and unmo lested ; and neither of the contracting powers shall grant or issue any commission to any private armed vessels empowering them to take or destroy such trad ing vessels, or interrupt such commerce. Remarks concerning the Savages of h or t fa America. SAVAGES we call them, because their manners dif. Fer from ours, which we think the perfection of civility; they think the same of theirs. Perhaps, if we could examine the manners of differ ent nations with impartiality, we should find no pao- ple so rude as to bs without any rules of politeness^ nor any so polite as not to have some remains of rude ness. The Indian men, when young, are hunters and war riors : when old, counsellors ; for all their government is oy the counsel of advice or sages; there is no force, there are no prisons, no officers to compel obedience, or inflict punishment. Hence they generally study- oratory ; the best speaker having the most influence. The Indian women till the ground, dress the food, nurse ESSAYS. a>,d l)--in-T up the chiMs-cn, a. : d ure^Mve anl han to . . cnty Uv nu iM.)! ) nf |;:i!.;;c Ual^aolio,.-.. Tlu-se e : - >yiTY<L*4it of i!i u a. ;i AOU.CIJ ifc t; accounted natural an-; oti )"di>! . !S wing fc v attiiicuil wauls, they have abu iriani t of k is iiv f->r :Mi .)- ovemeni bv conversation* Our hibou 1 io .is manner of Lie, compa c.i \vilh theirs, tin. y t-Mci > 1 .vis;j .in 1 i>a>)v;- ; and the le.r.Tii;;-^ on whiclv T\ ^ v.,liu o ; s lv.-s uiuy ivs^ard as f, ivoii -us aiid useless. An !;-; . .r.c. 01" iliU tnTurrccI at the trcaiy of Luncas- tv. ! , i i I\ nnsyhuM a an.P.o !">[, b;.:t>veeii the s>-oveni- H) --lit of iri>-r;M oivl ihe- i.; Nation-. Ai cr the.pnn- c;,!ul bu.sHK :ss \\ as M ti wd, tut commissioners from \ ir- gi ii i acf^M inii (t (h< Indians by a spicc.h, tiuit there i\a-> ..t \\ ; liaiii$burg a ;c!!^^<., \\ith aiH:;d. for eaucut- in - ! dian you h ; andthut ii t.je chief > of the ^is: Nd- tio.is \ i .o; ! id ^euc! co vu haif a dozen oi : tneii 1 bous to tuat cn! v :-.re. lh^ t;ov^i iiMieiit would ictkc care tiiat tiiey sho.iid be \vell provided fjr, aiid riibtructed in all the learning qf l he while people. it ib one of the liKlian rules (;f politeness not to answer a public proposition the same day ihal it is made ; they think it would be trea jng it as a light matter ; and they shew it respect by taking time to consider it, as of a matter important. They therefore deferred their answer till tne day fol lowing ; when their speaker began, by expressing their deep sense of the kindness of the Virginia government, in making that offer: (> for we know (says he) that you highly esteem tiie kind of learning taught in tliose col leges, aiid that the maintenance of our young men, .while with you, would be very expensive to you. We are convinced, therefore, that you mean to do us good by your proposal, and we thank you heartily. Bui you >vho are wise, must know, that different nations have different conceptions of things; and you v. ili therefore not take it a miss, if our ideas of this kind of education happen not to be the same with yours. We have had some experience of it : several of cur young peou e were formerly brought up at the college s of tint north ern provinces f they were instructed in y)l your sciences JT ESSAYS. feiit when they came back to us, they vrve bad run ners; igt-orant oft-very means of living in the \voods ; unable to bear cither cold CK hunger ; knew neither how to build a cabin, take a deer, ov k ll an enemy ; speak our language imperfectly ; uerc therefore neither fit for hunters, wan iors or counsellors ; they ^ ere totally good for nothing. V\ e are hou ever r,ot. the less oblig ed by your kind offer, though we decline Accepting it : and to show our riaU ful sense of it, if t < g- ntlemen of Virginia will s"id us a clczen 01 iheii - ; <." s, we will lake great i are or their education, !H vtuci them in all we know, and make MKN of ihem Having fi esjiiuit occasions to v hold public councils, they have acq .ired great order and d rrncv i.. coh-;!-c f - in:r the ii. "i he <<l<lcst num sit in ti.e i oj.-mosr r .yks, the wan iors in the next, and tSie women and children in the limdmos*. ! he business of the \vumen is 10 take exact hoiici of x\ hat passes^ impiii/i it in f .heir me- ni"i ie->, ib: tliey have no writing- aiul conimunicate it to thviir chilclvvn. s hey are the records of the coun cil and t ey pr s^ive tradition of the stipulations in ti-cdiics a hunui eu yt ars back ; which when we com- PLI e with our writings we always fi id exact. Fie tha. \\oulci speak rises- The- rest observe a profou d silence. When he has finished, and sits d^w ; i, they 1 avc him five or six minutes to recollect, that, if he has omiied any thing he intended to say, or has any. thi.ig to add- may rise again and deliver it. To intempt another, even in common conversation, is reckon--. J highly indecent. How different thss is from the con duct, of a polite- British House of Commons, where scarce a day passes without some confusion, that makes the speaker hoarse in calling to order ; and how different from the modes of conversation in many polite companies of Europe, where, if you do not deliver your sentence \\ith great rapidity, you are cut off in the mid dle of it by the impatient loquacity of those you con verse with, arid never suffered to fimsh it I The politeness of these savages in conversation, is , earned to excess j since it does run permit 4* ESSAYS. them to contradict or deny the truth of wTtat is ed in their presence. By this means they indeed avoid disputes ; but then it becomes difficult to know their minds, or what impression you make upon them. The missionaries who have attempted to convert them to Christianity, all complain of this as one of the great ^difficulties of thtir. mission. The Indians hear with patience the truths of the gospel explained to them, arid give thtir usual tokens of assent and appiohation; you would think they were convinced. No such mat ter. It is ifu re civility. A Swedish minister having assembled the chiefs of the ISusquehannah Ii.dians, made a sermon *o them, ac quainting- them with the pitac ipa! historical facts on which our religion is founded ; such as the fail of our fust paients by eating an apple ; the coming- of Christ to repair the mischi<f; his miracJes,_and suffering, &c. When he had finished, an Indian orator stood up to thank him. " \Vliat you have told us/ says he, u is all very good. It is indeed bad to eat apples* It is better to make them all into cyder. We are much obliged by your kindness in coming so far to tell us those things which you have heard from your mothers, la return, I will icll you some of those we have hcavd fcom ours. * In the beginning, our fathers had only the flesh of animals to subsist on; and if tlvir hunting was unsuc cessful, they were starving. 1 wo of our young hun ters having killed a deer, made a fire in the woods to b oi! seme parts of it. When they were about to sa- tisiy their hunger, they beheld a beautiful young wo- jnan descend from the clouds, and seat ;.erself on that hill which you see yonder among the Blue Mountains. They said to each other, it is a spirit that perhaps nas smell our b. oiling venison, and wishes to cat of it : let Us offer some to her. They presented her with the tongue : she was pleased with the taste of it, and said, your kindness shall be rewarded. Come to this place afier thirteen moons, and you shall find something that be of great benefit in noumhing you -and your ESSAYS. 241 children to the latest generations. They did so, 8tto their surprise, found plants they had never seen before ; but vhich, from that ancient time, have been constantly cultiv ated amo"ng us, to our great advantage. Where her right hand had touched the ground, they found maize ; where her left hand had touched it they found kidney-beans, and where her back side had sat on it tobacco. The good missionary, disgusted with this idle tale, suid-, 44 What I delivered to you were sacred truths; but wiiat you tell me is UK; re faele, fiction, and falsehood. * Tiie Indian, offended, replied, u My Brother, it seeru.> your fnends have not clone you justice in your education; they have not w 11 instructed you in the rules of com mon civility. Vou saw that we, who understand and practise those rules, btlitved all your stories; why dt> you refuse to believe out s f " \\ hen any of t .iem come into our towns our people are apt to nowd round them, gaze upon them, and in commode liitni where they desire to be private ; this they esteem great rudeness, and the effect of the want of instruction in the rules of civility and good manners. " V> e have, ; ay they, 4 as much curiosity as you, and \vnen you come into our towns, we wish for opportuni ties of looking at you ; but for this purpose we hide ourselves behind brushes where you are to pass, and ne ver intrude ourselves into your company." Thtir manner of entering one another s villages has likewise its rules. It is reckoned uncivil in travelling strangers to unter a village abruptly, without giving no tice ot their approach. Therefore, as soon as they ar rive within hearing, they stop and hollow, n mainmg there till invited to enter. Two old men usually come out to them, and lead them in. There ib in every vil lage a vacant dwelling, called the stranger s house. Here they are placed, while the old men go round from hut to hut, acquainting the inhabitants that strangers are arrived, who are probably hungry and weary; and every one sends them what he can spare of victuals and skins to repose en. \V hen the strange 242 ESSAYS. pipes and tobacco are brought ; and tber, but r.o* be fore, conversation begins, wiih enquiries v,l o U ey ;ire, thither .bound, what news, S:c. and it usually cmis with offers of service ; if the strangers have occfcsic n cf guides, or any necessaries for continuing their journey ; and nothing exacted for the entertainment. The same hospitality, esteemed among thtm as a principal virtue, is practised by private persons; of which Conrad Weiser, our interpreter, gave me the fol lowing instance. He h&d been naturalized among the Six Nations, and spoke well the Mohock language. In going through the Indian country, to carry a mes sage from our governor to the council at Qn(mdag<i> he called at the habitation of Canassetego, an old acquaint ance, who embraced him, spread furs for him to sit on, placecj before him gome boiled beans and venison, and mixed some rum and water for his drink. When lie vas well refreshed, and had his pipe, Canassttcgo feegan to converse with him: asked how he had fcued thtmany years since they had seen each other, whence he then came, what occasioned the journey, &c. Con rad answered all his questions ; and when the discourse b, ^an to flag, the Indian, to continue it, said, iv Con rad, you have lived long among the white people, ai:d know something of their customs ; I have been some times at Albany, and have observed, that once in seven days they shut up their shops, and assemble all in the great house ; tell roe what it is for ? What do they do there 2" " Tin y meet there." says Conrad, " to hear and learn good thwg*." " I do not doubt,* says the Indian, that they tell you so ; they have told me the same : but 1 doubt the truth of what they say, and 1 iv ill tell you my reabons. I went lately to Albany, to s F rt V skins, ant. buy blankets, knives, powder, rum, fcc. Yeuknowl used generally to deal with Hans JHanson i>ui i was a liule inclined this time to try soii.t other merchants. However, I called first upon Hans, and asktd Imii what he wculd give for beaver. lie said he could not give moie than four shillings a ESSAYS. 543 pound : but says he, I cannot talk on business now ; tiiis is the day whew we meet together to learn good t/ii ig.i, a>id 1 am going to the meeting. So I thought to myself, Vmce I cannot do my business to day, I may as well go to t n e meeting loo, and I went with him. There stood up a man in black, and began to talk to the people very angriU, I did not unckrbtand what he said ; Uut perceiving that he looked much at me, and at Hanson, i imagined he was an..:ry at seeing* me there ; so I \\ent uu , s-vt down ne,ar the house, struck fir;, a!id lit my pipe, waiting till the meeting should b;t.ik u;;. I thought too that the iran had laeruioncd someuiing of beuver, and I sutsp .cteci it might be the subji ci of Uieir tneeiHig. So when th-..y {-.-.sue oul I accosted my merchant. Wi-il Hans, 1 :.:.. ; . I hope you have agreed 10 give rs.ore th*n four shillings a pounci. No, * says he/ I cunnul give more than tl;ive smiling and six pence. I then spuke to several other dealers, but they all sung tue same song, three and six pence, three a.id six pence. This made it dear to me that my suspicion was light; and that whatever they pretended of meeting to learn good tliiiigS) t ;e ])urposc was to consult how to cheat Indians in the pnce of beaver. Consider but a little, Conrad, and you must be of my opinion. If they m--t so often to learn gu-jd things^ they would certainly have learned some before this time. But tivy are sti.i ignorant. You know our practice. If a while mail, in travelling ilircugh our country, enters one of our cabins, we all treat him us I do you; we dry him if he is wet, \ve warm him if he is cold, and give him meat and drink, that he may al lay bis thirst and hunger; and we spread soft furj for him to rest on ; we demand nothing in return.* But * It is remarkable, that in ail ages and countries hos pitality has been allowed as the virtue of tho>e, whom the civil-ized were pkased to call Barbarians ; the Greeks ^celebrated the Scythians for it. The Saracens possessed it eminently ; and it is to this day the reigning virtue cf the wild Arabs. St. Paul too, in the relation of his- 244 ESSAYS. if I go into a white man s house at Albany, and asfc for victuals and drink, they say, where is your money, and if 1 have none, they say, get out, you Indian dog. You see they have not yet learned those little good thing s that we need no meetings to be instructed in, because our mothers taught them to us when we were children ; and therefore it is impossible their meetings should be, as they say, for any such purpose, or have any such effect ; they are only to contrive the cheating of Indians in the fir ice of beaver." To Mr. Dubourg, Concerning the Dissensions between England and America. LONDON, OCTOBER 2, 1779. I SEE with pleasure that we think pretty much alike n the subject of English America. We of the colo nies have never insisted that we ought to be exempt from contributing to the common expences necessary to support the prosperity of the empire. We only as sert, that having parliaments of our own, and not hav ing representatives in that of Great Britain, our parlia ments are the only judges of what we can and what we ought to contribute in this case ; and that the English parliament has norir;ht to take our money without our consent. In fact, the British empire is not a single btate ; it comprehends many ; and though the parfia- TOsnt of Great Britain has arrogated to itself the pow er of taxing the colonies, it has no more right to do so, than it has to tax Hanover. We have the same king, but not the same legis ulures. voyage and shipwreck on the island of Melita, says,- the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness : Tor they kindled a fire, and received us every one, be cause of the present rain, and because of the cold." This note is taken from a small collection of Franklin s papers, printed for Dhly. 245 The dispute between the two countries Las already cost England many millions sterling, which it has lost in its commerce, and America has in this respect been a proportionable gainer. This commerce consisted principally of superfluities; objects of luxury arid fash- ion, which we can well do without ; and tiie resolution \ve haw Formed of importing no more till our griev ances are redressed, has enabled many of our infant manufactures to take root ; and it will not be eai.y to make our people abandon them in future, even should a connection more cordial than ever succeed the pre~ sent troubles. I have., indeed, no doubt that the parlia ment of England will finally abandon its present pre tensions, and leave us to the peaceable enjoyment of cur rights and privileges. B. FRANKLIN. A comparison of the conduct of the ancient Jews ; and of the Antifederalists in the United States of America. A ZEALOUS advocate for the proposed Federal Con stitution in a certain public assembly, said, that * the repugnance of a great part of mankind, to good govern ment was such that he believed, that if an an^el from hea- Ven was to bring down a constitution funned there for our use, it would nevertheless meet with violent opposi tion." He was reproved for the supposed extravagance of the sentiment ; and he did not justify it. Probably it might not have immediately occurred to him that the experiment had been tried, and that the event wa,s recorded in the most fdithiul of all histories, the Hoty Bible ; otherwise he might, as it seems to me, have supported his opinion by that unexceptionable authority,, The Supreme Being had been pleased to nourish up a single family, by continued acts of his attentive Pro- yidefi.ee, till it became a great people : and having ro v a 246 ESSAYS scued them from bondage by many miracles perform ed by bib servant Moses, he personally delivered to that chosen servant, in presence of the whole nation, a constitution and code of laws for their observance: accompanied and sanctioned with promises of great re wards, and threats of severe punishments, as ihe con sequence of their obedience or disobedience. . This constitution, though the Deity himself was to bt at its head (and it is therefore called by political writers a theocracy) could not be carried into execu tion but by means of his ministers ; ^.aron and his sons were therefore commissioned lo be, with Moses, the first established ministry of the new government. One would have thought, that the appointment of amen who had distinguished themselves in procuring the liberty of their nation, and had hazarded their lives in openly opposing the will of a powerful monarch who \vould have retained that nation in slavery, might have been au appointment acceptable to a grateful people ; and that a constitution, framed for them by the Deity himself, might on that account have been secure of an universal welcome reception. Yet there were, in eve ry one of the thirteen tribes, some discontented, restless Spirits, who were continually exciting them to reject the proposed new government, and this from various motives. Many still retained an affection for Egypt, the land of their nativity, and these, whenever ti. ey felt any in convenience or hardship, though the natural and una voidable elitct c.i their change of situation, exclaimed fc^diubt their leaders as the authors of their trouble; ai>d were not only for returning intoEgypt, but for ston ing their deliverers.* 1 hose inclined to idolatry were- displcas-.-d that their golden calf was destroyed. Ma ny of the chiefs tlv.iught the new constitution might bo- injurious to their particular interests, that the profita ble places would be engrossed by the families and friend* * Number $) c/ia/i xiv ESSAYS. 247 */" Moses and Aaron, and others equally well born ex cluded.* -In Josephus, and .the Talmud, we learn some particulars, not so fully narrated in the scripture. We are there told, u that Corah was ambitious of the priest hood; and offended that it was conferred on Aaron ; arid this, as he said, by the authority of Moses only, without the convent of the people. He accused Moses of having, by various artifices, fraudulently obtained the government, and deprived the people of their liber ties ; and of conspiring with Aaron to perpetuate the tyranny of their family. Thus, though Corah s real motive was the supplanting of Aaron, he persuaded the people that he meant only the public good ; and they, moved by his insinuations, oegan to cry out- " Let us maintain the common liberty of our respective tribes ; we have freed ourselves from the slavery im posed upon us by the Egyptians, and shall we suffer ourselves to be made slaves by Moses I If \ve must have a master, it were better to return to Pharuohj who at least fed us with bread and onions, than to serve this new tyrant, who by his operations has brought us into danger of famine." Then they called in question the reality of his conference with God: and objected to the privacy of the meetings, and the preventing any of the people from being present at the colloquies, or even approaching the place, as grounds of great suspicion. They accused Moses also of peculation ; as embezzling part of the golden spoons, and the silver chargers, that the princes had offered at the dedication of the altar,f and the offerings of the gold of the common people,]: as well as most of the poll tax*;|| and Aaron they ac- * Numbers^ chap, xvi.urr. 3. "And they gathered themselves together against JMoses and Aaron, and said unto them yn take too much upon you. seeing all the con~ gregations are. holy, every one oj them wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregations ? * t J\umherS) chap. vii. \ Exodus, cha/>. xxxv. ver. 22* chafi iii, and xo(iu) chup> xxx. ESSAYS. eused of pocketing much of the gold of which he pre tended to have made a molten calf. Besides peculation, they charged Moses with ambition ; to gratify which passion, he had, they said, deceived the people, by pro mising to bring them to aland flowing with milk and honey; instead of doing which, he had brought them from such a land ; and that he thought light of this mischief, provided he couid make himself an absolute flrinc?,* That, to support the new dignity with splen dor in his familj , the partial poll tax already levied and given to Aaronf was to be followed by a general one,t which would probably be augmented from time to time, if he were suffered to go on promulgating new laws on pretence of new occasional revelations of the divine will, till their whole fortunes were devoured by that aristocracy. Moses denied the charge cf peculation ; and his ac cusers were destitute of proofs to support it; though filets^ if real, are in their nature capable of proof. " I have not," said he, (with holy confidence in the pre sence of God) * I have not taken from this people the value of an ass, nor done them any other injury." But liis enemies had made the charge, and with some suc cess among the populace ; for no kind of accusation is so readily made, or easily believed, by knaves, as the. accusation of knavery. In tine, no less than two hundred and fifty of the principal men, famous in the congregation, men of renown, " heading and exciting the mob, worked them up to such a pitch of phrensy, that they called out, stone em, stone em and thereby secure our liberties; and let us choose other captains that may lead us back * J\!umbers*ckaji. xvi. ver. 13. "Is it a small thin* that thou hast brought us ufi out of a land flowing ivitk- Tnilk and honey, to kill us in this wilderness, except thoit make thyself altogether a prince over us ?" t Numbers, chap. iii. ^ &odu$) chap* xxx* $ Number $) chaji* xyj ESSAYS. 249 into Egypt, in case we do not succeed in reducing the Canaanites. On the whole, it appears that the Israelites were a people jealous of their newly acquired liberty, which jealousy was in itself no fault; but when they suffered it to be worked upon by artful men, pretending public good, with nothing really in view but private interest, they were led to oppose the establishment of the new constitution, whereby they brought upon themselves much inconvenience and misfortune. It farther ap pears from the jyime inestimable history, that when, after fnany ages, the constitution had become old and much abused, and an amendment of it was proposed, the populace, as they had accused Moses of the ambi tion of making himself a prince, and cried out, stone him, stone him ; so, excited by their high-priests and -scribes, they exclaimed against the Messiah, that he aimed at becoming king of the Jews, and cried, crucify him, crucify him. From all which we may gather,, that popular opposition to a public measure is no proof of its impropriety, even though the opposition be exci ted and headed by men of distinction. To conclude, I beg I may not be understood to infer, that our general convention was divinely inspired when it formed the new federal constitution, merely because that constitution has been unreasonably and vehement ly opposed : yet, I must own, I have so much faith in the general government of the would by Previdenre, that I can hardly conceive a transaction of such mo mentous importance to the welfare of millions now ex isting, and to exist in the posterity of a great nation, Would be suffered to pass without being in some degree influenced, guided, and governed by that omnipotent, omnipresent and beneficent Ruler, in whom all inferior spirits live, and move, and have their being. 250 ESSAYS. THE INTERNAL STATE OF AMERICA. Being a trite Description of the. Interest and Policy oj dint va.~>t Continent. THKRE is a tradition, that, in the planting of New- F.ngh-.i ti, the iirst settlers nit-.t witiv many difficulties and hardships ; as is generally the case when a civiliz ed pi opk u lnoj l t-stabhshipg ihemstlves in a w-iider- IRSH, oounuy. i3: mg piously disposed, they sought relief f.cm eaven, by laying their wants and distresses befr i. tPc Loio, in iVequtul bet days of fasting and pra; c . v. ohstaiit meditation and discourse on these subj cts kept their nnnds gloomy and discontented ; anc, i;k . the children of Wad, there were many dis posed to ix turn so that fc,gypt which persecution S"ad iiiducrd them to abandon. At length, wiicn jt was p: HI used ii v - tne Asseiubly to pioclaun another fast, a fti mer oi j-Liin sense rose, and remarked, that the in- cotivt-nienccs they tmifered, and concerning which llrcy had so often weaned heaven with their complaints, were Dot so great, as. tlu-y- might have expected, and were di minishing every day as the colony strengthened ; that the earth be^an to reward their labour, and to furnish liberally ibr their subsistence; that the seas and rivers were found full of fish, the air sweet, and the climate healthy ; and, above all, that they were there in full en joyment of liberty, civil and religious : he therefore thought, that reflecting and conversing on these subjects would be more comfortable, as tending more to make them contented with their situation ; and that it would be more becoming the gratitude they owed to the Di- \ine Being, if instead of a fast, they should proclaim a thanksgiving* His advice was taken, and from that day to this they have, in every year, observed circum stances of public felicity sufficient to furnish employ ment for a thanksgiving day, which is therefore con stantly ordered and religiously observed. I see in the public newspapers of different states fre quent complaints of hard times, deadnc&s of trade, scar city of money, c^c. $V. It is i.ot my intention to assert ESSAYS. 251 or maintain that these complaints are without founda tion. There can be no country or nation existing, in which there will not be some people so circumstanced as to find it hard io gain a livelihood ; people who are not in the way of any profitable trade, and with whom money is scarce, because they have nothing to give in exchange for it ; and it is always in the power of a small number to make a great clamor. But let us take a cool view of the general state of our affairs, and perhaps the prospect will appear less gloomy than has btt-n imagined. The great business of the continent is agriculture. For one artisan, or merchant, I suppose, we have at least one hundred farmers, and by tar the greatest part cultivators of their own fertile lands, from whence many of them draw not only food n- cessary for their subsist ence, but the materials fur their clothing, so as to need Very few foreign supplies; while they have a surplus of productions to dispose of, whereby wealth is gradually accumulated* Such has b^en the goodness of Divine Providence to these regions- and MJ favourable the cli mate, that, since the three or four years of hardship in tht first se.tknieut of our fathers here, a famine or scarcity has never been heard of among us; on the contrary, though sonic years have been more, and oth ers less plentiful, there has alw ays been provision enough for ourselves, and a quantity to spare for exportation. And although the C Ops of Lst year were generally got* 1 ) never was the farmer better jiaid for the part he can spate commerce, as the published price-cunvnls abundantly testify. The lands he possesses are also continually rising in value with the increase of popula tion ; and, on the whole, he is enabled to give such good wages to those who work foi him, that all who are ac quainted with the old world must agree, that in no part of it are the labouring poor so Centrally well fed, well clothed, well lodged, and well paid, as in the Lniled States of America. If we enter the ciiies, we find that, since the rcvo- 252 ESSAYS. lution, the owners of those houses and lots of ground have had their interest vastly augmented in value ; rents have arisen to an astonishing height, and thence en couragement to increase building which gives employ ment to an abui-dance of workmen, as does also the increased luxury and splendor of living of the inhabi tants thus made richer. These workmen all demand and obtain much higher wages lhaci any other part of the world could afford them, and are paid in ready money. This rank of people therefore do not, or ought not. to complain of hard times ; and they make a very considerable part of the city inhabitants. At the distance I live from out American fisheries, I cannot speak of them with any degree of certainty ; but I have rol heard that the labour of ihe valuable face of men employed in them is worse paid, or that they meet with less success, iha. before the revolution. The whale-men incietd huvx been deprived of one mar ket for their oil : bnt another, I hear, is opening for them, which it is hoped may be equally advantageous ; and the- demand is constantly iucreaing for their sper maceti candles, which there btar a much higher price than formerly. There remain the merchants and si, op keepers. l;f these, though they make but a small part of the whole nafiou, the number is considerable, too gn at indeed for the business tiuy aie employed in ; for the con sumption of goods in every country has iis limits ; the fatuities of the people, that is. their ability to buy and pay, is equc-.l only to a certain quantify of merchandise, li merchants calculate amiss on proportion, and import too much, they will of course Bnd the sale dull for the overplus, and some of them wilisay that trade languish es. They should, and doubtless will, g ow wiser by experience, ami import less. If too many artificers in town, and farmers from the country, flattering them selves with the idea ot leading easier lives, turn shop keepers, the whole natural quantity of that business cli- uoiig i htm all may aiiorcl too biimll a, share ESSAYS. i, find occasion complaints that trading i& dead ; these may also suppose that it is owing to scarcity of money, while infant, it is not so much from the few ness of buyers, as from the excessive number of sellers, that the mischief arises ; and, if every shopkeeping farmer and mechanic would return to the use of his plough and working tools, there would remain of wi dows, and other women, shopkeepers sufficient for the business, which might then afford them a comfortable maintenance. Whoever has travelled through the various parts of Europe, and observed how small is the proportion of people in affluence or easy circumstances there, com pared with those in poverty and misery ; the few rich and haughty landlords, the multitude of poor, abject, rack-rented, tythe paying tenants, and half-paid ani half-starved ragged labourers ; and view here the hap py mediocrity that so generally prevails throughout these states, where the cultivator works for himself, and supports his family in decent plenty ; will, methinks, see abundant reason to bless Divine Providence; for the evident and great difference in our favour, and be con vinced that no nation known to us enjoys a greater share of human felicity* It is true, that in some of the states there are parties and discords ; but let us look back, and ask if we were ever without them ? Such will exist wherever there is liberty ; and perhaps they help to preserve it. by the collision of different sentiments, sparks of truth are struck out^ and political light is obtained. The differ ent factions, which at present divide us, aim all at the public good ; the differences are only about the various modes of promoting it. Things, actions, measures, -and objects of all kinds, present themselves to the minds x)f men in such a variety of lights, that it is not possible we should all think alike at the same time on every subject, when hardly the same man retains at all timeia the same ideas of it. Parties are therefore the common iot. of humanity - t and ours Ere by no means mor W ESSAYS. chievous or less beneficial than those of other countries, nations, and ages, enjoying in the same degree the great .blessings of political liberty. Some indeed among us are not so much grieved for the present state of our affairs, a s apprehensive for the future. r lhs growth of luxury alarms them, and they think we are from that alone in the high road to ruin. They observe, that no revenue is sufficient withoutce- conomy, and thut the most pic miful income of a whole ^people from the natural productions of their country .may be. dissipated in vain and needless expencts, and poverty be introduced in the^ilacc of affluence. This may be possible. It however rarely happens : for there seems to be in every nation a greater proportion of in dustry and frugality, which ttnd to enrich, than of idle ness and prodigality* which occasion poverty ; so that upon the whole there is a continual accumulation. Reflect what Spain Utuil, Germany, and Britain were . in the time oi the Romans, inhabited by people little richer that our savages, and consider the wealth they at present pr/^tss, in numerous well built cities, im proved iaiiiis, rich movables, magazines stocked with Valuable manufactures, to say of nothing of plate, jew els, and coined n,oney ; a.ai ail this, hotwitnstumiing their bad, wasteful, plundeniK. governments, and their ^wd destructive wars; and yet luxury arid extravagant liv ir.g has never suffered it!r.h restraint in those coun tries. Then consider tl e great proportion of industri ous fiugal farmers irl ; buin:> the ii.teror parts oi these A "eri<_an states, and oi whom the body of our nation consists, and judge whetliti- it ib possible that the luxu ry ci our sea ports cat) br -uiiicicnt to ruin such a coun try. If the importation of ^foreign luxuries could ruin a -people, we should i;rcbabl> have been ruiftid long ago; ior i he British nation claimed a right, a; -d prac tised it, ot iipppftinjg; anmfi^ Ub not only the superflui ties of their own prcducticn, but those of every nation mxter heaven ; v.-e boij^;.*. ^-d ccrsuna-d them,* and yet we flourished aiitl grew rich. At preseiit our iiide- ESSAYS, governments may do what we could not run do, disco .irage by heavy d .uits, or prevj it by rxuvy prohibitions, such importations, and thereby gro-.v /icirjr if, indeed, which may admit of dispute, the cl.vsh-e of adorning ourselves with fine clothes, possessing fine furniture, with elegant houses, &c* is not, bv strongly inciting to labour and industry, the occasion of produc ing a greater value than id consumed in the graliiicaj tion of that desire. The agriculture and fisheries of the Urn : are the great sources of our increasing wealth, H,. .naC puts a seed into the earlh, i^ recomoe.ice.cL p-rhaps by receiving forty out of -it ; and he who draws a fish out of the waters, draws up a piece of silver. Let us (and there is uo doubt but r fe shall) be a ten- tive to these, and then inc p^ -, ^ ivals with all tneic restraining and prohibiting acts, canuol in .. hurt s. We are sons of the earth and the seas, and in, facus in the fable, if in wrestling with a Hercules we now and then receive a fall, the touch of our parents v ill communicate to us fresh strength and vi^or 10 icnew the contest. Information to those who iVQiddwish to remove to America. MANY persons in Europe having directly, or by let ters, expressed to the writer of this, who is well ac quainted with North America, their desire of- trans porting and establishing themselves in that country ; but who appear to him to have formed, through igno rance, mistaken ideas and expectations of what is to be obtained there ; he thinks it maybe useful, and prevent inconvenient, expensive, and fruitless removals and voyages of improper persons, if he gives some clearer and truer notions of that part of the world, than 256 ESSAYS. He finds it imagined by numbers, that tne /inhabi tants of North America are rich, capable of rewarding, and disposed to reward, ail sorts of ingenuity ; that they are at the same time ignorant of all the sciences,, and consequently that strangers, possessing talents in the belles-lettres, fine arts, Sec. must be highly esteem ed, and so well paid as to become easily rich them- stives; that there are also abundance of profitable emces to be disposed of, which the natives are not qualified to fill ; and that, having few persons of family among them, strangers of birth must be greatly res pected, and of course easily obtain the best of those feffices, which will make all their fortunes ; govern ments too, to encourage emigrations from Europe, not only pay the expence of their personal transportation, fcut give lands gratis to strangers, with negroes to work for them, utensils of husbandry, and stocks of cattle. These are all wild imaginations; and those who go to America with expectations founded upon them, will purely find themselves disappointed. The truth is, that though there are in that country, few people so miserable as the poor of Europe, there are also few that in Europe would be called rich : it is rather a general happy mediocrity that prevails. There are few great proprietors of the soil, and few tenants ; most people cullivale their own laiids, or follow some handicraft or merchandize; very few rich enough to- Jive idly upon their rents or incomes, or to pay the high prices given in Europe for painting, statues, archi tecture, and the other works of art that are more curi ous than useful. Hence the natural geniuses that have arisen in America, with such talents, have uniformly quitted that country for Europe, where they can be more suitably rewarded. It is true that letters and mathematical knowledge are in esteem there, but they are at the same time more common than is apprehend ed ; there being already existing nine colleges, or uni versities, viz. four in New-England, and one in each of the provinces of New- York) New-Jersey, Penubylva- ESSAYS. 25* l)fa, Maryland, and Virginia, all furnished with learned professors; besides a number of smaller academies; these educate many of their youth in the languages, and those sciences that qualify men for the professions of divinityj la v, or physic. Strangers indeed are by n means excluded from exercising those professions; and the quick increase of inhabitants every where gives them a chance of employ, which they have in common with the natives. Of civil offices, or employments, there are few ; no superfluous ones as in Europe ; and it is a rule established in some of the states, th -tt no office should be so profitable as to make it desirable. The 36th article of the constitution of Pennsylvania runs expressly in these words: * As every fteeman, to preserve his independence, (if he has not a sufficient estate,) ought to have some profession, calling, trade, or farm, whereby he may honestly subsist, there can be no necessity for, nor use in, establishing offices of profit ; the usual effects of which are dependence and servility, unbecoming freemen, in the possessors and expectants ; faction, contention, corruption, and disor der among the people. Wherefore, whenever an oflice, through increase of fees or otherwise, becomes so pro fitable as to occas on many to apply for it, the profits ought to be lessened by the legislature." These ideas prevailing more or less in all the Unit ed States, it cannot be worth any man s while, who has a- means of living at home, to expatriate himself in, hopes of obtaining a profitable civil office in America; and as to military offices, they are at an end with the war, the armies being disbanded. Much less is it acl viseable for a person to go thither, who has no oilier quality to recommend him but his birth. In Enrope, . it has indeed its value ; but it is a commodity that can not be carried to a worse market than in America, where peODle do not enquire concerning a stranger, What is he) but What am he do? If he has any useful. art, he is welcome ; and if he exercises it, a id behaves well, he \vill be respected by all thai know hiaij bin & W 2 ESSAYS mere man of quality, who on that account wants to I ve upon the public by some office or salary, will be despis ed and disregarded. The husbandman is in honour there, and even the mechanic, bt-cause their employ ments are useful. The people have a saying, that God Almighty is himself a mechanic, the greatest in the universe ; and he is respected and admired more for the variety, ingenuity, and utility of his handiworks, than for the antiquity of his family. They are pleased with an observation of a negro, and frequently mention it, " that Boccarorra (meaning the white man) make de black man workee, make de horse workee, make de ox workee, make ebery ting workee ; only de hog. He, de hog, no workee ; he eat, he drink, he walk about, he go to sleep when he please, he libb like a gentleman." According to these opinions of the Americans, one of them would think himself more obliged to a genealogist who could prove for him that his ancestors and rela tions for ten generations had been ploughmen, smiths, carpenters, turners, weavers, tanners, or even shoema kers, and consequently that they were useful mernbera ef society ; than if he could prove that they were gen tlemen, doing nothing of value,, but living idly on the labor of others,.mereyrttT* consumer? natty* and other- * vise good for nothing, till by their death their estates,. )ike the carcase of tht negro s gentleman-hog, come to be cut ufi. With regard to encouragement for strangers from government, they are really only what are derived from good laws and liberty. Strangers are welcome because there is room enough for them all, and therefore the old inhabitants are not jealous of them ; the laws pro tect them sufficiently, . so they have no need of the pat ronage of great men ; and every one will enjoy securely the profits of 3m industry. But if he does not bring a. fortune with him, he must work and be industrious to * btrn Merely * wt up ih* rt , W*tt&+ ESSAYS. 25* five. One or two years residence give him all the rights of a citizen; but the government does not at present, whatever it may have done in former times,, hire people to become settlers, by paying their pas sages, giving land, negroes, utensils, stock, or any other kind of emolument whatsoever. In short, America is the laud of labour, and by no means what the English call Lubbcrland, and the French Pays de Cocagne, where the streets ai x e said to be paved with half-peck loaves, the houses tiled with pancakes, and where the fowls fly a- boul ready roasted, crying, Come eat me I Who- then are the kind of persons to whom an emi gration to America would be advantageous? And what are the advantages they may reasonably expect ? Land being cheap in that country, from the vast for ests still void of inhabitants, and not likely to.be occu pied in an age to tome* insomuch that the property of on hundred acres of fertile soil full of wood may be ob tained near the frontiers, in many places, for eight or ten guineas; hearty young labouring men, who under stand the husbandry of corn and cattle, which is nearly the same in that country as in Europe, may easily esta blish themselves there. A little money saved of the good wages they receive there while they wark for oth ers, enables them to buy the land and begin their plan tation, in which they, are assisted by the good will of their neighbors, and some credit. Multitudes of poor people from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Germany, have by this means in a few years become wealthy jfcrmers, who in their own countries, where all the lands are fully occupied and the \ntges of labour low, could never have emerged from the mean condition wherein , they were born. 1-rom the salubrity of the air, the healthiness of the elimate, the plenty of good provisions, and the encour agement of early marriages, by the certainty of sub sistence in cultivating the earth, the increase of inhab itants by natural generation is very rapid in America f suid becomes stili more so by the acc&si9tt of blrangers ;_ ESSAYS. hrence there is a continual demand for mr>re artisans of all the necessary and useful kinds, to supply those cul tivators of the earth with houses, and with furniture and utensils of the grosser sorts, which cannot so well be brought from F/u rope. 1 olerably good workmen in any of those mechanic arts,, are sure to find employ, and to he well paid for their work,, there being no re straint^ preventing strangers from exercising any art they understand, nor any permission necessary. If they are poor, .they begin first as servants or jour neymen ; and if they are sober,.. industrious and frugal,, tbej^soon become masters, establish themselves in b*wgfi"ess. marry, raise families, and become respecta ble. citizens. AUe persons of moderate fortues and capitals, who having a number of children to provide for, are desirous* of bringing them up to industry, and to secure estates for their posterity, have opportunities of doing it in America, which Europe does not afford. There they, may be taught and practise profitable mechanic arts,. without incurring disgrace on that account ; but on the: contrary, acquiring respect by such abilities* There small capitals laid out in lands, which daily become; more valuable by the increase of people, afford a solid prospect of ample fortunes thereafter for those children.. The writer of this has known several instances of large tracts of land, bought on. what was then the frontier ofj Pennsylvania, for ten pounds per hundred acres, which after twenty years, when the settlements had been ex tended far beyond them, sold readily, without any im provement made upon them, for three pounds per acre. . The acre in America is the same with the English acre, or the acre of Normandy. Those who desire to understand the state of govern ment in America, would do well to read the constitu tions f the several states, and the articles of confede-- ration that bind the whole together for general purpo- ses under the direction of one assembly) called the Con iess< These .iOiteliiuV.oiis Lave bten punleuj by Qi:d*:f. ESSAYS. 261 f Congress, in America ; two editions of them have also been printed in London ; and a good translation of them into French, has lately been published at Paris. Several of the princes of Europe having of late, from an opinion of advantage to arise by producing all com modities and manufactures within their own dominions- so as to diminish or render useless their importations, have endeavoured to entice workmen from other coun tries, by high salaries, privileges, Sec. Many persons pretending to be skilled in various great manufactures, imagining that America must be in want of them, and that the congress would probably be disposed to imi tate the princes above mentioned, have proposed to go over, on condition of having iheir passages paid, lands given, salaries appointed, exclusive privileges for terms of years, Sec. Such persons, on reading the articles of confederation, will find that the Congress have no pow er committed to them, or money put into their hands for such purposes; and that if any> encouragement i given, it must be by the government of some particu lar state. This, however, has rarely been done in A- merica; and when it has been done, it has rarely suc ceeded, so as to establish a manufacture which the coim* try was not yet so ripe for as to encourage private per sons to set it up ; labour being generally too dear tliere f and hands difficult to be kept together, every one desir ing to be a master, and the cheapness of land inclining many to leave trades for agriculture. Some indeed,. have met with success, and are carried on to advan* tage ; but they are generally such as require only a few hands, or wherein great part of the work is performed by machines. Goods that are bulky, and of so small value as not well to bear the expence of freight, may often be made cheaper in the country, than they can be imported, and the manufacture of such goods will b profitable wherever there is sufficient demand. The farmers in America produce indeed a good deal of wool and flax ; and none is exported, it is all worked up ; but it is in the way of domestic manufacture, for the 25$ ESSAYS. use of 1*1 e family. The buying up quantities of wool and flax, with the design to employ spinners, weavers, &c. and form great establishments, producing quanti ties of liuen and woollen goods for sale, has "been seve ral times attempted in different provinces; but those projects have generally failed, goods of equal value be ing imported cheaper. And when the governments have been solicited to support such schemes by encou ragements in money, or by imposing duties on impor tation of such goods, it has been generally refused on this principle, that if the country is ripe for the manu facture, ifmay be carried on by private persons to ad vantage ; and nf not, it is a folly to think of forcing na ture. Great establishments of manufacture, require iLTeat numbers of poor to do the work for small wages; those poor are to be found in Europe, but will not be found in America, till the lands are all taken up and cultivated, and the excess of people who cannot get land tvant employment. The manufacture of silk, they say, is natural in France, as that of cloth in England, be cause each country produces in plenty the first materi al : but if England will have a manufacture of silk as well as that of cloth, and France of cloth as well as that cf silk, these unnatural operations must be supported by mutual prohibitions, or high duties on the importation of each other s goods; by which means the workmen. are enabled to tax the home consumer by greater prices, fvliile the higher wages they receive makes them neith er happier nor richer, since they only drink more and work k ss. Therefore the governments of America do nothing to encourage such projects. The people, by this means, are not imposed on, either by the mer chant o-r mechanic : if the merchant demands too much profit on imported shoes, they buy of the shoe-maktr : and if hea^ks tot) high a price, they take them of the merchant ; thus the two professions are checks on each ether. The shoe- make r, however, has, on the whol;, a considerable ^firofit upon his labour in America, be yond what he4&*in Europe, aa he can add lo his price- ESSAYS,, *65 a sum nearly equal to all the expences of freight and commission, risque or insurance, &c. necessarily charged by the merchant. And it is the same with e- very other mechanic art. Hence it is, that artisans generally live belter and more easily in America than in Europe ; and such as are good economists make a comfortable provision forage, and for their children. Such may, therefore, remove with advantage to Ame rica In the old long settled country of Europe, ail arts, trades, professions! farms, Sec. are so full, that it i=> dif ficult for a poor man who has children to place them where thev may gain, or learn to gain, a decent liveli hood. The artisans, who frar creating: future rivals in business refuse to thke apprentices, but upon condi tions of money, maintenance, or the like, which the parents are unable to comply with. Hence the youth are dragged up in ignorance of every gainful art, arid obliged to become soldiers, or servants or thieves, fora subsistence. In America the rapid increase of inha bitants takes a\v ay thut fear of rivalship, and artisans willingly receive apprentices from tli-j hope o profit by thtir labour, during the remainder of be lime stipula ted, afier they shall be. instructed. Hence it is easy for families to gel their children instructed ; for t ! ,e ar tisans are so desirious of apprentices that many cf them will even give money to the parents, to have boys from ten to fifteen years ok- atre bound app. eiuice to them, till the age of twenty one; aid many poor parents have by that means, en their arrival in the country, raised money enough to buy land tufficknt to establish themselves, and to subsist the rest of t^eir family by agriculture. These contracts for apprentices are made before a magistrate, who regulates the agreement ac cording to reason andjijstice ; and having in view the formation of a future useful citizen, obliges the master to engage by a written indenture, not only that, dining the time of service stipulated, the apprentice shall be duly provided with jheutj chink, appuid, washing, and 64, ESSAYS. lodging, and at the expiration with a complete new suit of clothes, but also that he shall be taught to read, write and cast accounts; and that he shall be well instructed in the art or professsi; n of his master, or some other, by which he may afterwards gain a livelihood, and be able in his turn to raise a family. A copy of this inden ture is given to the apprentice or to his friends, and the magistrate keeps a record of it, to which recourse m iy be had, in case of failure by the master in any point of performance. This desire among the masters to have mre hands employed in working for them, induces them to pay the passages of young persons, of both sexes, who, on their arrival, agree to serve them one, two, three or four years : those who have already learned a trade, agreeing for a shorter term, in proportion to tlieir skill, and the consequent immediate value of their service; and those who have none, agreeing for a longer term, in consideration of being taught an art their poverty would not permit them to acquire in their own coun try. The almost general mediocrity of fortune that pre vails in America, obliging its people to follow some bu siness for subsistence, those vices that arise usually iYoru idleness, are in a great measure prevented. In dustry and constant employment are great preservatives cf the morals and virtue of a nation. Hence bad ex- ainpS-s to youth are more rare in America, which must be a comfortable consideration to parents, i o this may be truly added, that serious religion, under its va rious denominations, js not only tolerated, but respect ed and practised. Atheism is unknown there?; infideli ty rare axd secret ; so that persons may live to a great age in that country without having their piety shocked by n.eeling with either an atheist or an infidel. And the Divine Being seems to have manifested bis appro bation cf the mutual forbearanne and kindness with uhich the different sects treat tach other, by the re- jnarkable prosperity with which he has bcsn plea^wd-lo favour the whole country. ESSAYS. 26S Final Speech of Dr. Franklin in the Federal Convention.* SIR. FRESIDENT, I confess that I do not entirely ap prove of this constitution at present : but, sir, I am not sure I shall never approve it ; for having lived long, I Lave experienced ma ivy instances of being obliged, by better information, or further consideration, to change opinions, even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise. It is, there fore, that the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgmtnt, and to pay more respect to the judg ment of ethers. Most men, indeed, as well as most sects of religion, think themselves in possession of all truth, and that whenever others differ from them, it is so far error. Steel, a protestant, in a dedication, tells the pope, that (i the only difierence between our two chmchts, in their opinion of ihe certainty of their doc trines, is, the "Romish cl-urch is infallible, and tliechurch of England never in the wrong." But, tho mnny pri vate persons think almost as highly of their own infal libility as of that of their stct, few expressit so natural. ly as a certain Fiench lad}, who, in a little dispute with her sister, suid, I cloi. t know how it happens, sister, but I meet wiih nobody but myself that is always in the right. Iliiy a que Tiwlqid a toujtiurs raison. In these fentimerts, sir, 1 agree to this constitution, with all its faults, if they were such ; because! think a general go vernment necessary tor us, and there is no form of go vernment, but what may be a blessing, if \\ell adminis tered ; and I believe farther, that this is likely to be well achinnistesed for a course of } ears, and can only- end iii despotism, as other forms have done before it. * Cur rcascnjor astrdbmg this^iecchto Lr. Franklin^ air, z/.v internal evidence^ and its Living a^p.tared with his jicn. , during his life-time^ iihcontruc.icted) hi on iou. X 266 ESSAYS. when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government being incapable of any other. I doubt too, whether any other com ens ion we can obtain, may be able to make a better constitution. For when you assemble a number of men, to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you assemble with those mm, all their prejudices, their passions, thtir errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an assembly, can a perfect pi eduction be expt-ct- td ? It therefore astonishes me, sir, to find t ! -is sysif in approaching so near to perfection as it does ; and I think it will establish our enemies, vho are waiting \vith confidence, to hear that our councils are confound ed, like those of the builders of Babylon ; and that our states are on the point of separation, only to meet hee- after for the purpose of cutting each other s throats. Thus I consent, sir, to this constitution, because I expect no better, and because I am not sure that this is not the best. The opinions I have had of its errors, I sacrifice to the public good. I have never whispered a syllable of them abroad. Within these walls they were born ; and here they shall die. If every one t.f us, in returning to cu constituents, were to it-port the objections he has had to it, and endeavor to gain parti sans in support of them, we might prevent its being generally received, and thereby lose all the salutary ef fects and great advantages resulting naturally in our fa vor among foreign nations, as well as among ourselves, from our real or apparent unanimity. Much of the strength or efficiency cf any government, in procuring and securing happiness to the people, depends on opi nion ; on the general opinion of the goodness of that government as well as of the wisdom and integrity of jts governors. I hope, therefore, that for our own sakes as a part (f the people, and for the sake of our posterity, we shall act heartily and unanimously in recommending this constitution) wherever our iiitluuice nuiy extend, and ESSAYS. 267 turn onr future thoughts and endeavors to the means of having H v/-,.li admitiisteiv d. (Mi t :e whole, sir, I c.m:.oi h<Jp expressing a wish, that ev< ry member of iho convention, who may stiil h-.ive 01 >j -ctions, wo tki ui .hir. .. on t i.i-, occasion, doubt aliith of iiis o\vn inf.ilhhiiity. and making manifest our unu^nnkv, pat Ids iictin. ?o tiii.s Kistruin^at. [ i he motion was the n made for adding the last for mula, viz. Don--* hi -Convention) by tne unanimous cotiientj Sec. which waa a^iccci to, aud added accotdin^ly.] Sketch of an English School. For the consider <iti ? of the Tr:i*teesof the Philadeljjliia Academy. IT is exp .\-U-cl thai cv.-ry scholar to be admitted into this school, b/ at least ahla to pronounce and di vide the sy!lab:t:.s in reading, and 10 \riie a Ivgible ha.d. None lo be rtccivcu tliat ure under years ef a^e. OR LOV/ER CLASS. Let the fi-.M cl.tss learn the i-l:) , : :l : sh Grammar rules, a r d a 1 ili- biinif : ... , i. t purticular care be I a u-n to im- p-.vA e thrm in ortbotji i] . i\. iiao* the laUer is best donu by pairing the bthoLi s; t\vo /.-f tho^^e m-ures? e- r :;,i iii their s^-iii.-g lobe put to^ctlii r. Let tlie- e sii ive for Victory; eacii pro;oii!K !i;i;. ten words tvei 1 / day to the other to be sp-.rlLd. He that spells truly most of the other s worch, is victor for that dav ; he that ii victor most days in a mouth, to ob ain a prize, a pretty neat book of *>ome kind, us; ful in thci;- future studies. This method fixes the attention of Children extrciiK-Iy to the orthography of words, and makes them 0od spdkrs very euily. It is a- shame fbr a 268 ESSAYS. man to be so ignorant of this little art, in his own Ian - guage, as to be perpetually confounding words of like sound and different significations ; the consciousness of which defect make some men, otherwise of good learning and understanding, averse to writing even a common letter. Let the pieces read by the scholars in this class be short; sueh as Croxal s fables and, little stones. In giv ing the lesson, let it be read to them; let the meaning f the difficult words in ij. be be explained to them ; and lei" them con over by themselves before they are called to read to the master or Ubher ; who is to take parti cular care that they do not read too fas f , and that they duly observe the stops and pauses. A vocabulary of the most usual difficult words might be formed for their use, with explanations ; and they might daily get a few of those words and explanations by heart, which would a little exercise their memories ; or at least they might write a number of them in a small book for the purpose, -which would help to fix the meaning of those words in their rninds, and at the same time furnish every qne with a little dictionary for his future use. THE SECONI> CLASS. To be taught reading with^attention, and with pro per modulations of the voice : according to the senti ment and subject. Some short pieces, not exceeding the length of a Spectator, to be given this class for lessons (and some of the easier Spectators \vould be very suitable for the purpose.) These lessons might be given on every right as tasks ; the scholars to study them against the morning. Let it then ba required of them to give an account, first of the parts of speech, and construction of one or two sentences. This will oblige them to recur frequently to their grammar, and fix its principal rules in their memory. Next, of the intention of the writer, or the scope of the piece, the meaning of each sentence, aad of every uncommon .word. This would, early- ac- ""V-VS. !ai >( thettrwith tl ing u -1 f.>rrr of words, anil gt\ . i. a Lhat;ii)jl necessary hubit of reading \v.l!i ^l- fention The m ister then to read this piece with the proper mod iUtio Vi of voice?) due emphasis and suitdbk- u -.f.ion,, where aoiioa is retjuiretlrj an.i j .iz tlie youiii on iiiin.at- ing his manner. Wiie re the author has used an expression not the b s , lot it be pointed out : ami let his beauties be p-U 1 - tioulii ly remarked to the youth. Let the lessons for reading be varied, that the youth may be made acquainted with good styles of all kinds, Uprose and verse, and the proper manner of reading each kind sometimes a well-told story, a piece of a ser mon, a general s speech to his soldiers, a speech in a tragedy, some part of a comedy, an ode, a satire, a let ter, blank verse, Hudibraslic, heroic, See. But let such lessons be chosen for reading, as contain so.ne useful instruction, whereby the understanding or morals of the youth may at the same time be improved. It is required that they should first study and under stand the lessons, before they are put upon reading them properly; to which end each boy should have a:i English dictionary, to help him over diScuUies. When our boys read English to us, we are apt to imagine they understand what they read, because we do, and because it is their mother tongue. But they often read, as parrots speak, knowing little or nothing of the mean- in i; j. And it is impossible a reader should give the due modulation to his voice, and pronounce properly, unless his understanding goes before his tongue, and makes him m :ister of the sentiment. Accustoming boys to read aloud what they do not first understand, is Uie cause of those even set tones so common among read ers, which, when they have once got a habit of using, they find so difficult to correct ; by which means, a- mong fifty readers we scarcely find a good one. For want of good reading, pieces published with a view to the minds of men, for their own or the X-a 2fO ESSAYS. benefit, lose half their force. Were there hut one good reader in a neighborhood, a public orator might be heard throughout a nation with the sane advan tages, and have the same el-Fcct upon his audience, as- ji they stood within the reach of his voice. THE THIHD CLASS. To be taught speaking properly and gracefully ; which is near a-kin 10 rood reading, and n.-.luruliy follows it in the studies of youth. Let the scholars of this class bfg n with K uruing the 1 elements of rheloric from some short system, so as to be able to give an account of the most useful tropes and figures. L,ei ail their bad habits l speaking, all offences against good gramma? . all cor rupt or foreign accents, and all improper phrases, be pointed out to them. Short speeches from the Koinan or other hi-,torv, or from the parliamentary debates, might be got by heart, and delivered with the proper action, Sec. hpvechfs and scenes from our best trage dies ana comedies (avoiding things that could injure the morals of youth) might likewise be got by iote. and ihe boys exercised in delivering or acting them; groat care being taken to form their manner after the truest models. For their farther improvement, and a little to vary their studies, let them now begin to read history. aficP having got by heart a short taai>: of ilie principal epp- chas in chronology. They may b-..gm with Holiiu s ancitn- ar.d ROUK.II hisioi ie->, and proceed at proper hours, as they go through the subsequent classv. , Mill th best histories of our own nation and colonies. Let e-. -. iation be excited among the boys by giving, week ly, litili prizes, or other snmll encouragements, to t ^ose "Wij-o a>e abi;: to g ve the best account of what t:-ey have iv ad, as to- limits, plm.es names of persons, &.c Tiiis will muKe tlK-;ii rtui .vith altcniion, and imprint the history wul in IRK meriiorie-i. In rc-rwa- kn.g oil tht iiio lory, Lhc iaa,alcr vuii L*ivt tine op|0tiuijics of u\t ESSAYS. 271 instruction of various kinds, and improving the morals, as well as the understandings, of youth. The natural and mechanic history, contained in the S/iectacle de la Nature^ might also be begun in this class, and continued through the subsequent, classes by other books of the same kind ; for, next to the knowledge of duty, this kind of knowledge is certainly the most use ful, as well as the most entertaining. The merchant limy thereby be enabled belter to understand many commodities in trade ; the handicraftsman to improve his business by new instruments, mixtures and mat ri als ; and frequently hints are given for new manufac tures, or new methods of improving land, and may ba set on foot greatly to the advantage of the country. THE FOURTa CLASS. To be taught composition. Writing one s own lan guage well, is the next necessary accomplishment after good speaking. It is the writing master s business to take care that the boys make fair characters, and place them straight and even in the lines: but to form their style, a id even to take care that the stops and capitals are properly disposed, is the part of the English master. The boys s:;ould b,- pu on writing letters to each otluT on any common occurrences, and on various subjects! imaginary bu^i ^ess, &c. containing liitte stories, ac counts of their lute reading, what parts of authors please them, a:id why ; letters of congratulatioi , cf compliment, oi request, of thanks, of recommendation, of admonition, of consolation, of expostulation, excuse, c,. In liie^e they should be taught to express them selves clearly, concisely and natimiijy, without aii . c d \vorcisor higii il ;wn phrases. Aii heir letters to pass t: ro igh the mastei s hand, who is to point out the fii..t>, advise UK CX.MT .-ctions, and commend v;;at i>e finds right. SOUK; of the best letters pubiislu-d in our own ian/Uttge. a i .1 - iiuam Temple s, ihoscof i ope aatl iiia iViciida, aiiU ou4itc oiuei-a, uu^ht be set ucibre. A r ESSAYS. tiie you h as models, thrir b^ u.ies pointed out and ex-- plained by the master, UK ielteis themselves tran scribed by the schoUr. Dr. Johnson ^ Eiiiices Elementa, or First Principles of . A . i y riow be ieacl by the scholars, and ex plain le master, to Uy a solid foundation of vir tue and piety in their minds. A. id as this cla^s conti nue the reading of. history, let them now, at proper hours, receive some farther instruction in chronology, and in that part of geography (from the mathematical master) which is necessary to understand the maps and globes. They should also be acquainted with the mo dern names of the places they find mentioned in writers. The exercises of good reading, arid proper speaking still j^minucd at suitable times. FIFTH CLASS* To improve the youth in their composition, they Tnay now, besides continuing to write letters, begin to write little essays in prose,, and sometimes inverse; Hut to make them poets, but for this reason, that no thing acquaints a lad so speedily with variety of expres sion, as the necessity of finding such words and phrases as will suit the measure, sound and rhyme of verse, and at the same time well express the sentiment. These essays should all pass und . r the master s eye, \vho will point out their faults, and put the writer upon eorrtcti; g them. Where the judgment is not ripe enough for forming new essays, let the sentiments of a Spectator be given, and required to be. clothed in the scholar s own words; or the circumstances of some good story the scholar to find expression. Let them be put sometimes on abridging a paragraph of a diffuse author: sometimes on dilating pc amplifying what is wrote more closely. And now let Dr. Johnson s JVbetica 9 or First Principles of Human Knowledge, containing a logic, or art of reasonings Sec. be read by the you in? the tiiCicuUi wS that may occur to them bu explain- ESSAYS. e4 by the master. The rea-ling of history, and the ex ercises of good reading and just speaking) still con tinued. SIXTH GLASS. In this class, besides continuing the studies of the preceding in history, rhetoric, logic, moril and natural philosophy, the best English authors may be read and explained; as Tillotson, Milton, Locke, Addison, Pope,. Swift, the higher papers in the Spectator and Guardian, the best translations of Homer, Virgil and Horace, Te- lemachus, Travels of Cyrus, &cw Once a year let there be public exercises in the hall 5 the trustees and citizens present. Then let fine gilt books be given as prizes to such boys as distin guish themselves, and excel the others in any branch of learning, making three degrees of comparison : giv ing the best prize to him that performs best ; a less va luable one to him that comes up next to the best ; and another to the third. Commendations, encourage ment, and advice to the rest ; keeping up their hopes, that, by industry, they may excel another time. The names of those that obtain the prize, to be- yearly print ed in a list. The hours of each day are to be divided and dispos ed in such a manner as that some classes may be with the writing-master, improving their hfemlaJP and others with the mathematical master, learning arithmetic, ac counts, geography, use of the globes, drawing, mecha nics, Sec. while the rest are in the English schools, un der the English master s care. Thus instructed, youth will coma out of this school" fitted for learning any business, calling, or profession, except such wherein languages are required ; and though unacquainted with any ancient or foreign tongue, they \\i!l be masters of their own, which is of more immediate and general use ; and v.-ithal will h attained many oilier valuable accomplishments: r4 ESSAYS. me usiuillr spent in acquiring those languages, often I .riout s .i, cos-., b.!!,-^ here employed in laying such a KihduiK * of kiio vK-clge and ability, as, properly im- ixjvtd, may qualify ihvm to pass through and extcute ic s-.. \ cial Lt.ilecs of civil life, with advantage and re- uiaiiL-i) to ihwiiisclvcb aud country. F I N I 14 DAY USE RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED LOAN DEPT. This book is due on the last date stamped below, or on the date to which renewed. Renewals only: Tel. No. 642-3405 Renewals may be made 4 days prior to date due. Renewed books are subject to immediate recall. Due .-;;,. - .. subject i re 7O -. LOAN DEPT ;< 2003 BECEIVEP LD 21A-60m-4, 64 (E4555slO)476B General Library University of California Berkeley III Illlili U. C. BERKELEY LIBRARIES