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OF THE LATE 4
DOCTOR BENJAMIN FRANKLIN i
CONSISTING OF
HIS LIFE, WRITTEN BY HIMSELF,
-.TOGETHER' WITH
ESSAYS, HUMOROUS, MORAL & LITERARY,
CHIEFLY IN THB MA»NNER QP
THE SPECTATOR.

-r-D U B L I N :—

PRINTED FOR P. WOGAN, P.BYRNE, J.MOORE^
AND W. JONES.
17 93-

CONTENTS.

LlFE of Dr. Franklin f as written by
him/elf - - - - Page I— 94
Continuation pf his Life by Dr.Stuber - 95 — T49
Extracts from his Will - - 149—^158
On Early Marriages - - — 1 59
On the Death of his Brother, Mr.
John Franklin - - - - - 162
To the late Doctor Mather of Bofton - - 164
The- Whiflle, a true Story ; written to his
Nephew ' - - - - 167
A Petition of the Left Hand - - 169
The handfome and deformed Leg - - 1 7 1
Genverfation of a Company of Ephemera ;
with the Soliloquy of one advanced in Age - 174
Morals of Chefs - - 177
The Art of procuring pleafant Dreams - 182
Advice to a young Tradefman - - 188
Neceffary Hints to thofe that would be
rich - 191
The Way to make Money plenty in every
Man's Pocket - - - 193
An (economical Project - - 195
On modern Innovations in the Englijh
Language, and in Printing - - 201
An Account of the highefi Court of Judicature
in Pennfylvania, viz. the Court of the Prep 208
Paper: a Poem - - 213
On the Art of fwimming - - 215
2Veza

CONTENTS.
New Mode of Bathing - - Page 219
Obfervations on the generally prevailing
Doctrines of Life and Death - - 22 1
Precautions to be ufed by thofe who are
about to undertake a Sea Voyage - 224
On Luxury, Idlenefs, and Indujlry - 230
On the Slave Trade - -236
Observations on War - - 240
On the Imprefs of Seamen - - 242
On the Criminal Laws, and the Practice of
Privateering - 246
Remarks concerning Jhe Savages of North
America - - 255
To Mr. Dubourg, concerning the Dijfenti-
- ons between England and America - 264
A Comparifon of the Conduct of the Ancient
Jews, and of the Antifederalifls in the United
States of America - - 266
The Internal State of America : being a true
* Defcription of the Interefl and Policy of
that vajl Continent - - 272
Information to thofe who would remove to
America - 279
Final Speech of Dr. Franklin in the late
Federal Convention - - 290
Sketch of an Englijii School - - 293

- — ..--UE—

LIFE

OF

DOCTOR BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, &&

MY DEAR SON,
1 HAVE amufed myfelf with collecting fome
little anecdotes of my family. You may remem
ber the enquiries I made, when you Were with
me in England, among fuch of my relations as
were then living ; and the journey I undertook
for that purpofe. To be acquainted with the
particulars of my parentage and life, many of
which are unknown to you, I flatter myfelf,
will afford the fame pleafure to you as to me.
I fhall relate them upon paper : it will be an,
agreeable employment of a week's uninterrupted
leifure, which I promife myfelf during my pre-
fent retirement in the country. There are alfo
other motives which induce me to the under
taking. From the bofom of poverty and obfcu-
rity, in which I drew my firft breath and fpent
my earlieft years, I have raifed myfelf to a ftate
of opulence and to fome degree of celebrity in
B the

3 LIFE or
the world. A conftant good fortune has at
tended me through every period of life to my
prefent advanced age ; and my defcendants^ may
be defirous of learning what were the means of
which I made ufe, and which, thanks to the
affifting hand of Providence, have proved fo
eminently fuceefsful. They may alfo, fhould
they ever be placed in a fimilar fituation, derive
fome advantage from my narrative.
When I reflect, as I frequently do, upon the
felicity I have enjoyed, I fometimes fay to my
felf, that, were the offer made me, I would en
gage to run again, from beginning to end, the
fame career of life. All I would afk fhould be
the privilege of an author, to correct, in a fecond
edition, certain errors of the firft. I could wifh,
likewife, if it were in my power, to change fome
trivial incidents and events for others more fa
vourable. Were this however denied me, ftill
would I not decline the offer. But fince a repe
tition of life cannot take place, there is nothing
which, in my opinion, fo nearly refembles it, as
to call to mind all its circumftances, and, to ren
der their remembrance more durable, commit
them to writing. By thus employing myfelf,
I fhall yield to the inclination, fo natural in old
men, to talk of themfelves and their exploits*
and may freely follow my bent, withdut being
tirefome to thpfe who, from refpecr. to my age,
might think themfelves obliged to liften to me ;
as they will be at liberty to read me or not as they
pleafe. In fine — and I may as well avow it, fince
nobody would believe me were I to deny it — I
fhall perhaps, by this employment, gratify my
Vanity. Scarcely indeed have I ever heard or
read the introductory phrafe, " I may fay without
vanity" but fome ftriking and charadteriftic in-
ftance of vanity has immediately followed. The
generality

Dr. FRANKLIN. ,3
generality of men hat^ vanity in others, however
ftrongly they may be tinctured with it them
felves : for myfelf, I pay obeifance.. to it where*
ever I meet with it, perfuaded that it is advanta
geous,, as well to the individual whom it governs,
as to thbfe who are within the fphere of its influ
ence. Of cpnfequence, it would in. many cafes9
not be wholly abfurd, that a man fhould count
his vanity ambng the other fweets of lift, and
give thanks to Providence for the blefling.
And here let me with all humility acknow
ledge, that to Divine Providence I am indebted
for the felicity I have hitherto enjoyed. It is
that Power alone which has furhifhed me withi
the means I have employed, and that has crown
ed them with fuceefs. My faith in this refpect
leads me to hope, though I cannot count upon it,
that the divine goodhefs will ftill be exercifed
towards me, either by prolonging the duration
of my happinefs to the clofe of Efe, or by giv
ing me fortitude to fbpport any melancholy re-
verfe, which may happen to me, as to fo many
others. My future fortune is unknown but to
him in whofe hand is our deftiny, and who cari
make our very afflictions fubfervient to our be
nefit. One of my uncles, defirous, like myfelf, of
fcollecting anecdotes of our family, gave me fome
notes, from which I have derived many particulars
reflecting our anceftors. From thefe I learn,
that they had lived in the fame village (Eaton in
Northamptonfhire), upon a freehold of about
thirty acres, for the fpace at leaft of three hun
dred years. How long they had fefided there
prior to that period, my uncle had been unable
to difcover ; probably ever fince the inftitution
of furnames, when they took the appellation of
B 2 Franklin,

4 LIFE of
Franklin, which had formerly been the name of
a particular order of individuals*
This petty eftate would not have fufficed for
their fubfifience, had they not added the trade of
blackfmith, which was perpetuated in the family
down to my uncle's time, the eldeft fon having
been uniformly brought up to this employment :
a cuftom which both he and my father obferved
with refpect to their eldeft fons.
In the refearches I made at Eaton, I found no
account of their births, marriages, and deaths,
earlier than the year 1555; the parifh regifter
not extending farther back than that period.
-* As a proof that Franklin was anciently the common
riame of an order or rank in England, fee Judge Fortefcue,
Dtlaudibus legum Anglim, written about the year 14.12, in
which: is the following paflage, to fhew that good juries
might eafily be formed in any part of England :
" Regio etiam ilia, ita refperfa refertaque eft poffefforibus
" terrarum et agrorum, quod in ea, villula tarn parva reperiri
" non potent, in qua non eft miles-, armiger, vel pater-familias,
" qualis ibidem franklin vulgarfter nuncupatur, magnis di-
" tatus poffeffionibus, nee non libere tenentes et alii valeSi
"> plurimi, fuis patrimoniis fufficientes, ad faciendum jura-
" turn, in forma prasnotata."
" Moreover the fame country is fo filled and repleniflied
" with landed menne, that therein fo fmall a thorpe cannot
" be found wherein dwelleth not a knight, an efquire, or fuch,
" a houfeholder as is there commonly called a franklin, en-
" riched with great poffefllons ; and alfo other freeholders
" and many yeomen, able for their livelihoodes to make a jury
'« in form aforementioned." Old Translation.
Chaucer too Calls his country gentleman a franklin, and
after defcribing his good houfekeeping, thus charafterifes
him : This worthy franklin bore a purfe of filk,
Fix'd to his girdle, white as morning milk.
Knight of the fhire, firft juftice at th' aflize,
To help the poor, the doubtful to advife.
In all employments, generous, juft he prov'd,
Rcnown'd for courtefy, by all belov'd.
This

Dr. FRANKLIN. 5.
This regifter informed me, that I was the young-
eft fon of the youngeft branch of the family,
counting five generations. My grandfather,
Thomas, who was born in 1598, lived at Eaton
till he was too old to continue his trade, when
he retired to Banburyin Oxfordfhire, where his
fon John who was a dyer, refided, and with.
whom my father was apprenticed. He died, and
was buried there : we faw his monument in 1758.
His eldeft fpn lived in the family houfe at Eaton,
which he bequeathed, with the land belonging to
it, to his only daughter ; who, in concert with
nerhufband, Mr. Fifher of Wellinborough, after
wards fold it to Mr. Efted, the prefent proprietor.
My grandfather had four furviving fons, Tho
mas, John^ Benjamin, and Jofias. I fhall give
you fuch particulars of them as my memory will
furnifh, not having my papers here, in which
you will find a more minute account, if they are
not loft during my abfence. '
Thomas had learned the trade of blackfmith
under his father; but poffeffing a good natural.
underftanding, he improved it by ftudy, at the
felicitation of a gentleman of the name of Palmer,
who was at that time the principal inhabitant of
the village, and who encouraged in like manner
all my uncles to cultivate their minds. Thomas
thus rendered himfelf competent to the functions
of a country attorney ; foon became an effential
perfonage. in the affairs of the village ; and was
one of the chief movers of every public enter-
prize, as well relative to the county as the town
of Northampton. A variety of remarkable inci
dents were told us of him at Eaton. After en
joying the efteem and patronage of lord Halifax,
he died, January 6, 1702, precifely four years
before I was born. The recital that was made us
of his life and character, by fome aged perfons '" of

6 LIFE pp
of the village, ftruck you, I remember, as extra
ordinary, from its analogy to what you knew
of myfelf. " Had he died," faid you, " juft
" four years later, one might have fuppofed a
" tranfmigratipn pf fouls."
John, to the beft of my belief, was brought
up to the trade of a wool-dyer. .
Benjamin ferved his apprenticeship in London
to a filk-dyer. He was an induftrious man : 1
remember him well ; for, while I was a child, he
joined my father at Bofton, and lived for fome
years in the houfe with us. A particular affe&i-
on had always fubfifted between my father and
liim; and I was his godfon. He arrived to a
great age. He left behind him two quarto vo
lumes of poems in manufcript; confifting of lit
tle fugitive pieces addrefied to his friends. He
had invented a fhort-hand, which he taught me,
but having never made ufe of it, I have now
forgotten it. He was a man of piety, and a con-
ftant attendant on the beft preachers, whofe fer-
mons he took a pleafure in writing down accord
ing to the expeditory method he had devifed.
Many volumes were thus collected by him. He
was alfo extremely fond of politics, top much fo
perhaps for his fituation. I lately found in Lon
don a collection which he had made of all the
principal pamphlets relative to public affairs, from
the year 1641 to 1717. Many volumes are
wanting, as appears by the feries of numbers;
but there ftill remain eight in folio, and twenty-
four in quarto and octavo. The collection had
fallen into the hands of a fecond-hand bookfeller,
who, knowing me by having fold me fome books,
brought it to me. My uncle, it feems, had left
it behind him on his departure for America, a-
bout fifty years ago. I found various notes of
his writing in the margins. His grandfon, Sa
muel, is now living at Bofton. Our

Dr. FRANKLIN. 7
Our humble family had early embraced the
Reformation. Theyremained faithfully attached
during the reign of Cnieen Mary, when they were
in danger of being molefted on account of their
aeal againft popery. They had an Englifh Bible,
and, to conceal it the more fecurely, they con
ceived the project pf fattening it, open, with
packthreads acrofs the leaves, on the infide of
the lid of a clofe-ftool. When my great-grand
father wHhed to read to his family, he reverfed
the lid of the clpfe-ftool upon his knees, and paff-
ed the leaves from one fide to the other, whjch
were held down on each by the packthread. One
;of the children was ftationed at the door, to
give notice if he faw the proctor (an officer of
the fpiritual court) make his appearance : in that
cafe, the lid was reftored to its place, with the '
Bible concealed under it as before. I had this
anecdote from my uncle Benjamin-
The whole family preferved its attachment to
the Church of England till towards the clofe of
the reign of Charles II. when certain minifters,
who had been ejected as nonconformifts, having
held conventicles in Ndrthamptonfhire, they were
joined by Benjamin and Jofias, who adhered to
them ever after. The reft of the family conti
nued in the epifcopal church.
My father, jofias, married early in life. He
went, with his wife and three children, to New
England, about the year 1682. Conventicles be
ing at that time prohibited by law, and fre^
quently difturbed, fome confiderable perfons of
his acquaintance determined to go to America,
where they hoped to enjoy the free exercife of
their religion, and my father was prevailed
on to accompany them.
My father had alfo by the fame wife four chil
dren born in America, and ten others by a fe
cond

8. LIFE of
cond wife, making in all feventeen. I remem
ber to have feen thirteen feated together at his
table, who all arrived to years of maturity, and
were married. I was theTaft of the fons, and
the youngeft child, excepting two daughters.
I was born at Bofton in new England. My mo
ther, the fecond wife, was Abiah Folger, daugh
ter of Peter Folger, one of the firft colonifts of
New England, of whom Cotton Mather makes
honourable mention, in his Ecclefiaftical Hiftory
of that province, as " a pious and learned Englijh-
man," if "I rightly recollect his expreffions. I
have been told of his having written a variety of
little pieces ; but there appears to be, only one in
print, which I met with many years ago. It
was publifhed in the year 1675, and is in familiar
verfe, agreeably to the tafte of the times and
the country. The author addreffes himfelf to the
governors for the time being, fpeaks for liberty
of confidence, and in favour of the anabaptifts,
quakers, and other fectaries, who had fuffered
perfecutioh. To thjs persecution he attributes
the wars with the natives, and other calamities
which afflicted the country, regarding them as
the judgments of God in punifhment of fo odi
ous an offence, and he exhorts the government
to the repeal of laws fo contrary to charity. The
poem appeared to be written with a manly free
dom and a pleafing fimplicity. I recollect the fix
concluding lines, though I have forgotten the
order of words of the two firft ; the fenfe of
which was, that his cenfures were dictated by
benevolence, and that, of confequence, he wifh-
ed to be known as the author ; becaufe, faid he,
I hate from my. very foul diffimulatioh :
From Sherburne *, where I dwell,
I therefore put my name,
Your friend, who means you well,
Peter Folger.
* Town in the Ifland of Nantucket.
My

Dr. FRANKLIN. c
My brothers were all put apprentice to different
trades. With refpect to myfelf, I was fent, at^
tjie age of eight years, to a grammar fchool.
My father deftined me for the church, and al
ready "regarded me as the chaplain of the family.
The promptitude with which from my infancy I
had learned tp read, for I do not remember to
have been ever without this acquirement, and
the encouragement of his friends, who affured
him that I fhould one day certainly become a
man of letters, confirmed him in this defign.
My uncle Benjamin approved alfo of the fcheme,
and promifed to give me all his volumes of fer-
mons, written, as I have faid, in the fhort-hand
of his invention, if I would take the pains to
learn it.
:' I remained however fcarcely a year at the
frammar fchool, although, in this fhort interval,
hadrifen from the middle to the head of my
clafs, from thence to the clafs immediately above,
and was to pafs, at the end of the year, to the
one next in order. But my father, burthened
with a numerous family, found- that he was in
capable, without fubjecting himfelf to difficulties,
of providing for the expence of a collegiate edu
cation ; and confidering befides, as I .heard him
fay to his friends* that perfons fo educated were
often poorly provided for, he renounced his firft
intentions, took me from the grammar fchool,
and fent me to a fchool for writing and arith
metic, kept by a Mr. George Brownwel, who
was a fkilful matter, and fucceeded very well in
his profeflion by employing gentle means only,
and fuch as were calculated to encourage his
fcholars. Under him I foon acquired an ex
cellent hand; but I failed in arithmetic, and
jnadq therein no fort of progrefs. , At

jo LIFE of
At ten years of age, I was called home to
afiift my father in his occupation, which was that
of foap-boiler and tallow-chandler ; a bufinefs to
which he had ferved no apprenticefhip, but
which he embraced on his arrival in New Eng
land, becaufe he found his oyen, that of a dyer,
in too little requeft to enable him to maintain his
family. I was accordingly employed in cutting
the wicks, filling the moulds, taking care of the
{hop, carrying meffages, , &c.
This bufinefs difpleafed me, and I felf a ftrong
inclination for a fea life ; but my father fet his
face againft it. The vicinity of the water, how
ever, gave me frequent opportunities of ventur
ing myfelf both upon and within it, and I foon
acquired the art of fwimming, and of managing
a boat. When embarked with other children,
the helm was commonly deputed to me, particu
larly on difficult occafions ; and, in every other
project, I was almoft always the leader of the
troop, whom I fometimes involved in embar-
raffments. I fhall give an inftance of this, which
demonftrates an early difpofition of mind for
public enterprifes, though the one in queftioq
was hot conducted by juftice.
The mill-pond was terminated on one fide by
a marfh, upon the borders of which we were
accuftomed to take our ftand, at high water, to
angle for fmall fifh. By dint of Avalking, we
had converted the place into a perfect quagmire.
My propofal was to erect a wharf that fhould
afford us firm footing ; and I pointed out to my
companions a large heap of ftones, intended for
the building a new houfe near the marfh, and
which were well adapted for our purpofe. Ac
cordingly, when the workmen retired in the
evening, I affembled a number of my playfellows,
and by labouring diligently, like ants, fometimes four

Dr. FRANKLIN. li
four of lis uniting our ftrength to carry a fingle'
ftone, we removed them all, and conftructed our
little quay. The workmen were furprifed the
next morning at not finding their ftones, which
had been conveyed to our wharf. Enquiries were
made refpecting the authors of this conveyance ;
we were difcovered ; complaints were exhibited
againft PS ; many of us underwent correction on
the part of our parents ; and though I ftrenu-
pufly defended the utility of the work, my father
at length convinced me, that nothing which was
not ftriftly honeft could be ufeful.
It will not, perhaps, be uninterefting to you
to know what fort of a man my father was. He
had an excellent conftitution, was of a middle
fize, but well made and ftrong, and extremely
active in whatever he undertook. He defigned
"with a degree of neatnefs, and knew a little of
rnufic. His voice was fonorous and agreeable ;
fo that when he fung a pfalm or hymn, with the
accompaniment of his violin, as was his frequent
practice in an evening, when the labours of the
gay were finifhed, it was truly delightful to hear
Jiim. He was verfed alfo in mechanics, and could,
upon occafion, ufe the tools of a variety of trades.
But his greateft excellence was a found under-
ftanding and folid judgment, in matters of pru
dence, both in public and private life. In the
former indeed he never engaged, becaufe his
numerous family, and the mediocrity of his
fortune, kept him unremittingly employed in
the duties of his profeffion. But I very well
remember, that the leading men of the place
ufed frequently to come and afk his advice ref
pecting affairs of the town, or of the church to
which he belonged, and that they paid much de
ference to his opinion. Individuals were alfo in
the

i* LIFE of
the habit of confulting him in their private affairs,
and he was often chofen arbiter between contend
ing parties.
He was fond of having at his table, as often
as poffible, fome friends or well-informed neigh
bours capable of rational converfation, and he
was always careful to introduce ufeful or inge
nious topics of difcourfe, which might tend to
form the minds of his children. By this means
he early attracted our attention to what was juft,
prudent, and beneficial in the conduct of life.
He never talked of the meats which appeared
upon the table, never difc'uffed whether they
were well or ill dreffed, of a good or bad flavour,
high-feafoned or otherwife, preferable or inferior
to this or that difh of a fimilar kind. Thus ac-
cuftomed, from my infancy, to the utmoft inat
tention as to thefe objefts, I have always been
perfectly regardlefs of what kind of food was be
fore me ; and I pay fo little attention to it even
now, that it would be a hard matter for me to
i ecollecl, a few hours after I had dined, of what
my dinner had confuted. When travelling, I
have particularly experienced the advantage of
this habit ; for it has often happened to me to be
in company with perfons, who, having a more
delicate, becaufe a more exercifed tafte, have
fuffered in many cafes confiderable inconvenience ;
while, as to myfelf, I have had nothing to de-
fire. My mother was likewife poffeffed of an ex
cellent conftitution. She fuckled all her ten
children, and I never heard either her or my fa
ther complain of any other diforder than that of
which they died : my father at the age of eighty -
feven, and my mother at eighty-five. They are
buried together at Bofton, where, a few years
ago, I placed a marble over their grave, with
this infcription : " Here

Dr. FRANKLIN. 13
" Here lie
" Josias Franklin and Abiah his wife : They
" lived together with reciprocal affection for fifty-
" nine years ; and without private fortune, with-
" out lucrative employment, by afliduous labour
" and honeft Induftry, decently fupported a nu-
" merous family, and educated, with fuccefs,
" thirteen children, and feven grand-children.
" Let this example, reader, encourage thee dili-
", gently, to difcharge the duties of thy calling,
" and to rely on the fupport of Divine Provi-
" denice. " He was pious and prudent,
" She difcreet and virtuous.
" Their youngeft fon, from a fentiment of filial
" duty, confecrates this ftone
ie Td" their memory/1
I perceive, by my rambling digreffions, that I
am growing old. But we do not drefs for a
private company as for a formal ball. This de-
ferves perhaps the name of negligence.
To return. I thus continued employed in my
father's trade for the fpace of two years ; that is
to fay, till I arrived at twelve years of age.
About this time my brother John, who had fer,v-
ed his apprenticefhip in London, having quitted
my father, and being married and fettled in bu-
finefs on his own account at Rhode Ifland, I was
deftined, to all appearance, to fupply his place,
and be a candle-maker all my life : but my diflike
of this occupation continuing, my father was
apprehenfive, that, if a more agreeable one were
not offered me, I might play the truant and ef-
cape to fea ; as, to his extreme mortification, my
brother Jofias had done. He therefore took me
fometimes to fee mafons, coopers, braziers^ join
ers, and other mechanics, employed at their
work :

i4 LIFE of
work ; in order to difcover the bent of my in-*
clination, and fix it if he could upon fome occu
pation that might retain me on fhore. I have
fince, in confequence of thefe vifits, derived no
fmall pleafure from feeing fkilful workmen handle
their tools ; and it' has proved of confiderable
benefit, to have acquired thereby fufficient knowr
ledge to be able to make little things for myfelf,
when I have had no mechanic at hand, and to
conftruct fmall machines for my experiments,
while the idea I have conceived has been frefli
and ftrongly impreffed on my imagination.
My father at length decided that I fhould be a
cutler, and I was placed for fome days upon trial
with my coufin Samuel, fon of my uncle Benja
min, who had learned this trade in London, and
had eftablifhed himfelf at Bofton. But the pre
mium he required for my apprenticefhip difplea-
fing my father, I was recalled home.
From my earlieft years I had been paffionately
fond of reading, and I laid out in books all the
little money I could procure. I was particularly
pleafed with accounts of voyages. My firft ac-
quifition was Bunyan's collection in fmall fepa-
rate volumes. Thefe I afterwards fold in order to
buy an hiftorical collection by R. Burton, which
confifted of fmall cheap volumes, amounting in
all to about forty or fifty. My father's litde li
brary was principally made up of books of prac
tical and polemical theology. I read the greateft
part of them. I have fince often regretted, that
at a time when I had fo great a thirft for know
ledge, more eligible books had not fallen into my
hands, as it was then a point decided that I fhould
not be educated for the church. There was alfo
among my father's books Plutarch's Lives, in
which I read continually, and I ftill regard as
advantagcoufly employed the time I devoted to>
them*

Dr. FRANKLIN. 15
them. I found befides a work of De Foe's, en
titled, an Effay on Projects, from which, per
haps, I derived impreffions that have fince influ
enced fome of the principal events of my life.
My inclination for books at laft determined
my father to make me a printer, though he had
already a fon in that profeflion. My brother
Bad returned from England in 17 1 7, with a prefs
and types, in order to eftabrifh a printing-houfe
at ..Bofton. This bufinefs pleafed me much bet
ter than that of my father, though I had ftill a
predilection for the fea. To prevent the effects
which might refult from this inclination, my fa
ther was impatient to fee me engaged with my
brother. I held back for fome time ; at length
however I fuffered myfelf to be perfuaded, and
figned my indentures, being then only twelve
years of age. It was agreed that 1 fhould ferve
as apprentice to the age of twenty-one, and
fhould receive journeyman's wages only during
die laft year.
In a very fhort time I made great proficiency
in this bufinefs, and became very ferviceable to
my brother. I had now an opportunity of pro
curing better books. The acquaintance I neceffa-
rily formed with bookfellers' apprentices, ena
bled me tP borrow a volume now and then,
which I never failed to return punctually and
without injury. How often has it happened to
me to pafs the greater part of the night in read
ing by my bed-fide, when the book had been
lent me in the evening, and was to be returned
the next morning, left it might be miffed or
wanted !
At length, Mr. Matthew Adams, an ingeni
ous tradefman, who had a handforne collection
of books, and who frequented our printing-houfe,
took notice of me. He invited me tp fee his li
brary,

iS LIFE of
brary, and had . the goodnefs to lend me any
books I was defirous of reading. I then took a
ftrange fancy for poetry, and compofed feveral lit
tle pieces. My brother, thinking he might find his
account in it, encouraged me, and engaged me
to write twp ballads. One, called the Light-
houfe Tragedy, contained an account of the fnip-
wreck of captain Worthilake and his two daugh
ters ; the other was a failor's fong on the capture
of the noted pirate called Teach, or Black-beard.
They were wretched* verfes in point of ftyle,
mere blind-men's ditties. When printed, he dif-
patched me about the town to fell them. The
firft had a prodigious run, becaufe the event was
recent, and had made a great noife.
My vanity was flattered by this fuccefs ; but
my father checked my exultation, by ridiculing
my productions, and telling me that verfifiers
were always poor. I thus efcaped the misfortune
of being, probably, a very wretched poet. But
as the -faculty of writing profe has been of great
fervice to me in the courfe of my life, and prin
cipally contributed to my advancement, I fhall
relate by what means, fituated as I was, I acqui
red the fmall fkill I may poffefs in that way.
There was in the town another young man,
a great lover of books, of the name of John Col
lins, with whom I was intimately connected.
We frequently engaged in difpute, and were in
deed fond of argumentation, that nothing was
fo agreeable to us as a war of words. This con
tentious temper, I would obferve by the by, is
in danger of becoming a very bad habit, and fre
quently renders a man's company infupportable,
as being no otherwife capable of indulgence than
by indifcriminate contradiction. Independently
of the acrimony and difcord it introduces into
conversion, it is often productive of diflike, and

Dr. FRANKLIN. *j
And even hatred, between perfons to whom friend-
fhip is indifpenfably neceffary. I acquired it by
reading, while I lived with my father, books of
religious eontroverfy. I have fince remarked*
that men of fenfe feldpm, fall into this error ;
lawyers, fellows of tiniverfities, , and perfons of
every profeflion educated at Edinburgh, excep
ted. ,
Collins and I fell one day into an argument
relative to the education of women ; .namely,
whether it were proper to inftruft them in the
fciences,- and whether they were competent to.
the ftudy. ColKns fupported the negative, and
affirmed that the tafk Was beyond their capacity.
I maintained the oppofite opinion, a little per
haps for the pleafure of difputing. . He was na
turally more eloquent than I ; words flowed co-
pioufly from his lips ; and frequently I thought
myfelf vanquifhed, more by his volubility than
by the force of his arguments. We feparated
without coming to an agreement upon this point;
and as we were not to fee each other again for
fome time, I committed my thoughts to paper,
made a fair copy, and fent it him. He. anfwer-
ed, 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-
entering into the merits of the caufe, he embra
ced the opportunity of fpeaking to me upon my
manner of writing; He obfef ved, that though I
had the advantage of my adverfary in correct-
fpelling and pointing, which I owed to my oc
cupation, I was greatly his inferior in elegance
of expreflion, in arrangement, and perfpicuity.
Of this he convinced me by feveral examples.
I felt the juftice of his remarks, became more
attentive to language, and refolved to make eve
ry effort to improve my . ftyle. Amidft thefe
C refolvea

ifl LIFE o*
refolves an odd volume of the Spe&atPr fell into
my hands. This was a publication I had never
feen. I bought the volume, and read it again;
and again. I was enchanted with it, thought
the ftyle excellent, and wifhed it were in my
power to imitate it. With this view I felected
fome of the papers, made fhort fummaries of
the fenfe of each period, and put them for a few
days afide. I then, without looking at the book,
endeavoured to reftore the eflays to their true
forta, and to exprefs each thought at length, as
it was in the original, employing the moft ap
propriate words that occurred to my mind. I
afterwards compared my Spectator with the ori
ginal ; I perceived fome faults, which I correct
ed : but I found that I wanted a fund of words,.
if I may fo exprefs myfelf, and a facility of recol
lecting and employing them, which I thought I
fhould by that time have acquired, had I conti
nued; to make verfes. The continual need o£
words of the fame meaning, but of different1
lengths for the meafure, or of different founds
for the rhyme, would have obliged me to feek
for a variety of fynonymes, and have rendered
me matter of them. From this belief, I took
fome of the tales of the Spectator and turned
them into verfe ; and after a time, when I had
iufficiently -forgotten them, I again converted
them into profe.
Sometimes alfc I mingled all my fummaries-
together ; and a few weeks after, endeavoured-
to arrange them in the beft order, before I at
tempted to form the periods and complete the.
effays. This I did with a view of acquiring me
thod in the arrangement of my thoughts. On
comparing afterwards my performance with the*
original, many faults were apparent, which I cor
rected ; but I had fometimes the fatisfaction to
think,

Dr. FRANKLIN. 19
think, that, in certain particulars of little impor
tance, I had foeen fortunate enough to improve
the order of thought or the ftyle : and this en
couraged me to hope that I fhould fucceed, in
time, in writing decently in the Englifh language,
which was one of the great objects of my ambi
tion. The time which I devoted to thefe exercifesj
and to reading, was the evening after my day's
labour was finifhed, the morning before it began,
and Sundays when I could efcape attending di
vine fervice. While I lived with my father, he
had infifted on my punctual attendance on pub
lic worfhip, and I ftill indeed confidered it as a
duty ; but a duty which I thought I had no time
to practife.
¦ When about fixteen years of age', a work of
Tryon fell into my hands, in Which he recom
mends vegetable diet. I determined to obferve
it. My brother, being a batchelor, did not keep
houfe, but boarded with his apprentices in a
neighbouring family. My refufing to eat animal
food was found inconvenient, and I was oftea
fcolded for my Angularity. I attended to the
mode in which Tryon prepared fome of his difh-
e-s, particularly how to boil potatoes and rice^
and make hafty puddings. 1 then faid to my
brother, that if he would allow me per week
half what he paid fpr my board, I would tinder-
take to maintain myfelf. The offer was inftant-
ly embraced, and I foon found that of what he!
gave rite I was able to fave half. This was a
new fund for the purchafe of books ; and other
advantages refulted to me from the plan. When:
my brother and his workmen left the printing-
¦houfe to go to dinner, 1 remained behind ; and
difpatching my frugal meal, which frequently
comfifted pf abifcuit only, or aflice of bread and
€ 2 a bunch

so LITE of
a bunch of raifins, or a bun from the paftryeook%
with a glafs of water, I had the reft of the time,
till their return,, for ftudy ; and my progrefe
therein was proportioned to that elearnefs of
ideas, and quicknefs 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 bluflx for my ignorance in the
art of calculation, which I had twice failed to
learn while at fchool, I took Cocker's Treatife of
Arithmetic, and went through it by myfelf with
the utmoft eafe. I alfo read a book of Navigation
by Seller and Sturmy, and made myfelf mafter
of the little geometry it contains, but I never
proceeded fat in this fcience. Nearly at the
fame time I read Locke on the Human Under-
ftanding, and the Art- of Thinking by Meflrs.
du Port Royal.
While labouring to form and improve my ftyle,
I- met with anEnglifh Grammar, which I believe
was Greenwood's,- having at the end of it two
little effays on rhetoric and logic. In the latter
i found a model of difputation after the manner
of Socrates. Shortly after I procured Xenophon's
work, entitled, Memorable Things of Socrates,
in which are various examples of the fame me
thod. Charmed- to a degree of enthufiafm with
this mode of difputing; I adopted it, and renoun
cing blunt contradiction, and direct and pofitive
argument, I affumed the character of a humble
queftioner. The perufal of Shaftfbury and Col
lins had made me a fceptic ; and being previoufly
fo as to many doctrines of Chriftianity, I found
Socrates's method to be both the fafeft for my
felf, as well as the moft embarrafling to thofe a-
gainft whom I employed it. It foon afforded me
fingular pleafure ; I inceffantly practifed it j and
bscame very adroit in obtaining, even from per
fons of fuperior understanding, conceflions of
which

D*. F'RANKLIN- 21
which they did not forefee the confequences.
Thus I involved them in difficulties from which
they were unable to extricate themfelves, and
fometimes obtained victories, which neither my
eaufe nor my arguments merited.
This method I continued to employ for fome
years ; but Iafterwards abandoned it by degrees,
retaining only the habit of expreffmg myfelf
with modeft diffidence, and never making ufe,
when I advanced any propofition which might
be controverted, of the words certainly, undoubt
edly, or any others that might give the appear
ance of being obftinately attached to.my opinion.
I rather faid, I imagine, i fuppofe, or it appears to
me, that fuch a thing is fo or fo, for fuch and fuch
reafons ; or it is.fo, if I am not miftaken. This
habit has, I think, been of confiderable advan
tage tP me, when I have had occafion to imprefs
my opinion on the minds of others, and perfuade
them to the adoption of the meafures I, have fug-
gefted. And fince the chief ends of converfation
are, to inform or to be informed, to pleafe or to
perfuade, I could wifh that intelligent and well-
meaning men would not themfelves diminifh the
power they ppffefs of being ufeftil, by a pofitive
and preTumptudus manner of exprefling them
felves, which fcarcely ever fails to difguft the
hearer, and is only calculated to excite oppofitj-
<on, and defeat ;every purpofe for which the fa
culty of fpeech has been Jbeftosyed upon man.
In fhort, if you wifh to inform, a pafkive and
dogmatical manner of advancing your opinion
may provoke contradiction, and prevent your
being heard with attention. On the other hand, if
with a defire of being informed, and of benefiting
by the knowledge of others, you exprefs yourfelf
as being ftrongly attached to your own opinions, modeft

22 LIFE PF
modeft and fenfible men, who do not lpve diCs
putation, will leave you in tranquil poffeffion of
your errors. By following fuch a method, you
can rarely hope to pleafe your auditors, concili
ate their good- will, or work conviction on thofe
whom you may be defirous of gaining over to
your views. Pope judicioufly obfervesi
Men muft be taught as if you taught them not,
And things unknown propos'd as things fdrgot.
And in the fame poem he afterwards advifes us,
To fpeak, though fure, with feeming diffidence.
He might have added to thefe lines, one that he .
has coupled elfewhere, in my opinion, with lefs
propriety. It is this :
For want of decency is want of fenfe.
If you afk why I fay with lefs propriety, I muft
give you the twp lines together • °
Immodeft words admit of no defence,
For want of decency is want of fenfe.
Now want of fenfe, when a man has the misfor
tune to be fo circumftanced, is it not' a kind of
excufe for want of modefty ? And would not the
verfes have been more accurate, if they had been5
conftructed thus :
Imnaodeft words admit but this defence.
That want of decency is want of fenfe.
But I leave the decifion of this to better judges
than myfelf. "; ¦..'•• . & .
In 1720, or 172 1, my brother began to print
a, new public paper. It was the fecond that made
its appearance in America, and was entitled the
New-England Courant. The only one that exift-
ed before was the Bojion News Letter. Some of
his friends, I remember, would have diffuaded him

Dr. FRANKLIN. 23
him from this undertaking, as a thing that -was
not likely to fucceedj a fingle newfpaper being,
in thejr opinion, fufficlent for all America. At
prefent, however, in 1771, there are no lefs than
twenty-five. But he carried his project into ex
ecution, and I was employed in diftributing the
copies to his cuftomers, after having affifted in
eompofing and working them pff.
Among his friends be had a number of litera
ry characters, who, as an amufement, wrote
fliort effays for the paper, which gave it reputa
tion and increafed its fale. Thefe gentlemen
frequently came to our houfe. I heard the con-"
venation that paffed, and the accounts they gave
of the -favourable receptipn of their writings with
-the piiblic. I was tempted to try my hand a-
inong them ; but, being ftill a child as it were,
I was fearful that my brother might be unwilling
>to print in his paper any performance of which
he fhould know me to be the author. I there
fore contrived to difguife my hand, and having
written an anonymous piece, I placed it at night
under the door pf the printing-houfe, where it
was found the next -morning. My brother com
municated k to his friends, when they came a"s
ufual to fee him, who read it^ commented up
on it within my hearing, and I had the exquifite
pleafure to find that it met with their approba
tion, and that, in the various conjectures they
made reflecting the author, no one was menti
oned who did not enjoy a high reputation in the
.country for talents and genius. I now fuppofed
myfelf fortunate in my judges, and began to fuf-
pedt that they were not fuch excellent writers as
1 had hitherto fuppofed them- Be that as it may,
encouraged by this little adventure, I wrote and .
fent to the prefs, in the fame way, many other
¦pieces, which were equally approved; keeping

^4 LIFE or
the fecret till my fieri der ftock of inforrnatiorj
arid knowledge for fuch performances was pretty-
completely exhaufted, when 1 made myfelf
known. "My brother, upon this difcovery, began to en
tertain a little more reipect for' rrie : but he ftill
regarded himfelf as my matter, and treated me
like an apprentice. He thought himfelf entitled
to the fame fervices from me as froih any other
perfon. On the contrary," I conceived that, in
many 'inftarices, he was too rigorous, and that,
on the part of a brother, I had aright to expeci
indulgence. ' Our difputes were' frequently
brought before my father ; and either my brother
was generally in the wrong, or I was the better
pleader of the two, for judgment was common
ly given in my favour. But my brother was
paffionate, and often had recourfe to blows ; a
circunvftance which I t6ok ih very ill part. This
fevere and tyrannical treatment contributed, I be
lieve, to imprint on xhy inind that averfion to
arbitrary power, which during my whole life I
have ever prefefved. My apprenticefhip became
irifupportable to me, and I continually fighed
for an opportunity of fhortening it, which at
length unexpectedly offered. ' •••'.'"
An article inferted }h our paper, upon fome
political fubject which I have now forgotten,
gave offence tp' the" Affembly. My brother was'
taken into cuttody, cenfured, and ordered into
confinement for a month, becaufe, as I prefume,
he would not difcover the author. I was alfo
taken up, and examined before the council ; but,
though I gave them no fatisfaction, they con-
tented themfelves with reprimanding, and then
difthiffed me; confidering me probably as bound,
in quality of apprentice, to keep my matter's
feerets. ' The

Dr. FRANKLIN. 25
The imprifonment of my brother kindled my
xefentment, notwithstanding our private quar
rels. During its continuance the management pf
the paper was entrufted to me, and I was bold
enough to infert fome pafquinades againft the
governors ; which highly pleafed my brother,
while others began to look upon me in an unfa
vourable point of view, confidering me as a
young wit inclisted to fatire and lampoon.
My brother's" enlargement was accompanied
with an arbitrary order from the houfe of affem-
bly, " That James Franklin fhould no longer
*' print the newfpaper entitled the New-England
*' Courqnt." In this conjuncture, we held a con
sultation of our friends at the printing-houfe, in
order to determine what was proper to be done.
Some propofed to evade the order, by changing
the title of the paper : but my brother forefeeing
inconveniences that would refult from this ftep,
thought it better that it fhould in future be print
ed in the name of Benjamin Franklin ; and to
avoid the cenfure of the affembly, who might
charge him with ftill printing the paper himfelf,
under the name of his apprentice,, it was refolved
that my old indentures mould be given up to me,
with a full and entire clifcharge written on the
back, in order to be produced upon an emer
gency; but that, to fecure to ray brother the
benefit of my fervice, I fhould fign a new con
tract, which fhould be kept fecret during the
remainder of the term. This was a very fhallow
arrangement. It was, however, carried into im
mediate execution, and the paper continued, in
confequence, to make its appearance for fome
months in my name. At length a new differ
ence arifing between my brother and me, I ven
tured to take advantage of my liberty, prefum-
jng that he would not dare to produce the new
contract.

45 LIFE of
contract. It was undoubtedly dishonourable to
avail myfelf, of this circumftance, and I reckon
this action as one. of the firft errors of my life ;
but I wae-little dapable of eftimating it at its true
value, embittered as my mind had been by the
.recollection of the blows I had received. Exclu
sively of his paffionate treatment of me, my
brother was by no means.,a man of an ill temper,
and perhaps my manners had too much of im
pertinence not to afford it a very natural pretext.
When he knew that it was my determination
to quit him, he .wifhed to prevent my finding
employment elfewhere. He went to all the print-
ing-houfes in the town, and prejudiced the mat
ters againftme; who accordingly refufed to em
ploy me. The idea then fuggefted itfelf to me
of going to New- York, the neareft town in
which there was a printing-office. Farther re
flection confirmed me in the .defign of leaving
Bofton, where I had already rendered myfelf an
object of fufpicjon to the governing party, it
was probable, from the arbitrary proceedings of
the Affembly in the affair of my brother, that, by
remaining, I fhould foon have been expofed to
difficulties, which I had the greater reafon to ap
prehend, as, from my ^indifcreet sdifputes upon
the fubject of religion, I began to be regarded,
by pious fouls, with horror, either as an apoftate
or an atheift. I came therefore to a refolution.;
but my father, in this inftance, fiding with my
brother, I prefumed that if I attempted to .depart
openly, meafures would be taken to prevent me.
My. friend Collins undertook to favour my flight.
He agreed for my paffage with the captain of a
New-York Hoop, to whom he reprefented me as
a young man of his acquaintance, who had had
an affair with a girl of bad character, whofe pa
rents wifhed to compel me to marry her, and
that

Dr. FRANKLItf. z7
that pf cpnfequence I could neither make my ap
pearance nor go off publicly. 1 fold part of my
oooks to procure a fmall fum of money, and
went privately on board the floop. By favour
of a good wind, I found myfelf in three days at
New- York, nearly three hundred miles from my
home, at' the age only pf Seventeen years, with
out knowing an individual in the place, and with
very little money in my pocket.' ¦'
' The inclination I had' felt for a fea-faring life
was entirely fubfided, or 1 fhould now have been
able to gratify it ; but Having another trade, and
believing myfelf tp be a tolerable workman, I
hefitated not to offer my Cervices to the old Mr.
William Bradford, who had been the firft printer
in Pennsylvania, but had quitted that province
on account of a quarrel with George Keith, the
governor. He could not give me employment
himfelf, having little to do, and already as many
perfons as he wanted ; but he tpld me that his
fon, printer at Philadelphia, had lately loft iris
principal workman, Aquila Rofe,. who was dead?
and that if I Would go thither, he believed that
he would engage me. Philadelphia, was a hund
red miles, farther. I hefitated not to emhark in a
boat in order to repair, by the fhorteft cut of the
fea, to Amboy, leaving my trunk and effects to
come after me by the ufual and more tedious
conveyance, in croffingthe bay we met with a
fquall, which Shattered to pieces our rotten fails,
prevented us from entering the Kill, and threw
us upon Long Ifland.-
During the fquall a drunken Dutchman, who
like myfelf was a paffenger in the boat, fell into
the fea. At the moment that he was finking, J
feizedhimby the fore-top, faved him, and drew
him on board. This immerfion fobered him a
little, fo that he fell afleep, after having taken from

<j'8 LIFE of
.From his pocket a volume, which he requefted
me to dry. This volume I found to be my old
favourite work, Bunyan's Voyages, in Dutch, a
'beautiful impreffipn on fine paper, with copper
plate engravings ; a drefs in which I had never
feen it in its" original language. I have fince
learned that it has' been translated into almoft all
the languages of Europe, and next to the Bible,
I am perfuaded, it is one of the books which has
had the greateft fpread. Honeft John is the firft,
that I know of, who has mixed narrative and
dialogue together ; a mode of writing very en
gaging to the reader, who, in the moft intereft-
itig' paffages, finds himfelf admitted as it were
into the company, and prefent at the converfa-
tion. De Foe has imitated it with fuccefs in his
Robinfon Crufoe, his Moll Flanders, and other
works ; as alfo has Richardfon in his Pamela, &c.
In approaching the ifland, we found that we
had made a part, of the coaft where it was not
poffible to land, on account of the ftrong breakers
produced by the rocky more. We caft anchor
and veered the cable towards the fhore. Some
-men, who flood upon the brink, hallooed to us,
while we did the fame on our part ; but the wind
was fo high, and the waves' fo noify, that we
could neither of us hear each other. There were
fome canoes upon the bank, and we called out
to them, and made figns to prevail on them to
come and take us up; but either they did not
underftand us, or they deemed our requeft im
practicable, and withdrew. Night came on, and
nothing remained for us but to wait quietly the
fiibfiding of the wind ; till when we determined,
that is, the pilot and I, to fleep if poffible. For
that purpofe we went below the hatches along
with the Dutchman, who was drenched with
water. The fea broke over the boat, and reached us

Dr. FRANKLIN. 2,9
us in our retreat, fo that we were prefently as
completely drenched as he.
We had very little repofe during the whole
night : but the wind abating the next day, we
fucceeded in reaching Amboy before it was dark,
after having paffed thirty hours without provi-
fions, and with no other drink than a bottle of
bad rum, the water upon which we rowed being
fait. In the evening I went to bed with a very
violent fever. I had fomewhere read that cold
water, drank plentifully, was a remedy in fuch
cafes. I followed the prescription, was in apro-
fufe fweat for the greater part of the night, and
the fever left me. The next day I croffed the ri
ver in a ferry-boat, and continued my journey on
foot. I had fifty miles to walk, in order to reach
Burlington, where I was told I fhould find paf-
fage-boats that would convey me to Philadelphia.
It rained hard the whole day, fo that I was wet
to the fkin. Finding myfelf fatigued about noon,
I flopped at a paltry inn, where I paffed the reft of
the day and the whole' night, beginning to re
gret that I had quitted my home. I made befides
fo wretched a figure, that I was fufpected to be.
fome runaway fervant. This I difcovered by the
queftions that were afked me ; and I felt that I
was every moment in danger of being taken up
as fuch. The next day, however, I continued
my journey, and arrived in the evening at an
inn, eight or ten miles from Burlington, that
was kept by one Dr. Brown.
This man entered into converfation with me
while 1 took- fome refrefhment, and perceiving
that I had read a little, he expreffed towards me
confiderable intereft and friendfhip. Our ac
quaintance continued during the remainder of
his life. I believe him to have been what h
called an itinerant doctor ; for there was- no
town-

|o LIFE o?
town in England, or indeed in Europe, of whicl?
he could not give a particular account. He was;
neither deficient in xinderftanding or literature,
but he was a fad infidel ; and, fome years after,
wickedly undertook to travefty the Bible in bur-
lefque verfe, as Cotton has traveftied Virgil. He
exhibited, by this means, many facts in a very
ludicrous point of view, which would have gi
ven umbrage to weak minds, had his Wprk been
publifhed, which it never was.
I fpent the night at his houfe, and reached
Burlington the next morning On my arrival,
1 had the mortification to learn that the ordinary
paflage-boatS'had failed a little befoie. This was
on a Saturday, and there would be no other boat
till the Tuefday following. I returned to the
houfe of an old woman in the town who had fold
me fome ginger-bread to eat on my paffage, and
I afked her advice. She invited me to take up
my abode with her till an opportunity offered for
me to embark. Fatigued with having travelled
fo far on foot, I accepted her invitation. When
fhe underftood that I was a printer, fhe would
have perfuaded me to ftay at Burlington, and
fet up my trade : but fhe was little aware of the
capital that would be neceffary for fuch a pur-
Eofe ! I was treated while at her houfe with true
ofpitality. She gave me, with the utmoft good
will, a dinner of beef-fteaks, and would accept
of nothing in return but a pint of ale.
Here I imagined myfelf to be fixed till the
Tuefday in the enfuing week ; but walking out
in the evening by the river fide, I faw a boat
with a number of perfons 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 per
ceiving the town, fome of the company were of
opinion

Dr. FRANKLIN. $t
opkiion that we muft have paffed it, and were
unwilling to row any farther ; the reft not know
ing where we were, it. was refolved that we
fhould flop. We drew towards the fliore, enter
ed a creek, and landed near fome old palifades,
which ferved us for fire-wood, it being a cold
night in October. Here we flayed till day, when
one of the company found the place in which we
were to be Cooper's Greek, a little above Phila
delphia ; which in realky we perceived the mo
ment we were out of the creek. We arrived on
Sunday about eight or nine o'clock in the morn
ing, and landed on Market-ftreet wharf.
I have entered into the particulars of my voy
age, and fhall in like manner deferibe my firft
entrance into this city, that you may be able to
compare beginnings fo little aufpicious, with the
figure I have fince made.
On my arrival- at Philadelphia I was in my
working drefs, my beft clothes being to come by
fea. I was covered with dirt ; my pockets were
filled with fhirts and flockings ; I was unacquain
ted with a fingle foul in the place, and knew not
where to feek for a lodging. Fatigued with walk
ing, rowing, and having paffed the night without
fleep, I was extremely hungry, and all my money
confifted of a Dutch dollar, and about a fhil-
-Eng's worth of coppers, which I gave to the boat
men for my paffage. As I had affifted them in
rowing, they refufed it at firft ; but I infilled on
their taking it. A man is fometimes more gene
rous when he has little, than when he has much
money; probably becaufe, in the firft cafe, he is
defirous of concealing his poverty.
I walked towards, the top of the ftreet, look
ing eagerly on both fides, till I came to Market -
ftreet, where I met a child with a loaf of bread,
Often had I made my dinner on dry bread. I
enquired

o

$i tlfE of
enquired where he had bought it, and went
ftraight to the bakei% fhop which he pointed put
to me.' I afked for fome bifcuits, expecting to
find fuch as we had at Bofton ; but they made,
it feeiris, none of that fort at Philadelphia. I
then afked for a three penny loaf. They made
n o 1 Oaves of that price. Finding myfelf ignorant
of the prices, as well as of the different kinds of
bread, I defired him to let me have three penny
worth of bread of fome kind or other. He gave
me three large rolls. I was furprized at receiv
ing fo much : I took them, however, and hav
ing no room in. my pockets, I walked On with a
roll undeu each arm, eating the third. In this
manner I went, through Market-ftreet to Fourdi-
ftreet, arid paffed the houfe of Mr. Read, the fa
ther of my future wife. She was Handing at the
door, obferved me, and thought, with reafon,
that I made a very lingular and grorefque appear
ance. I then turned the corner, and went through
Chefhut-ftreet, eating my roll all the way ; and
having made this round, I found myfelf again
on Market-ftreet wharf, near the boat in which
1 had arrived. I ftepped into it to take a draught
of the river water ; and finding myfelf farisfied
with my firft roll, I gave' the other two to a wo
man and her child, who had come down the ri
ver with us in the boat, and was waiting to con
tinue her Journey. Thus refrefhed, I regained
the ftreet, which was now full of well dreffed
people, all going the fame way. I joined them,
and was thus led to a large Quaker's meeting-
houfe near the Market-place. I fat down with
the reft, arid after looking round me for fome
time, hearing nothing faid, and being drowfy
from my laft night's labour and want of reft, I
fell into a found fleep. In this ftate I continued till

Dr. FRANKLIN. 33
till the affembly difperfed, when one of the con
gregation had the goodnefs to wake me. This'
was confequently the firft houfe I entered or in
which I flept at Philadelphia.
I began again to walk along the ftreet by the
river fide ; and looking attentively iri the face of
every one I met, I at length perceived a young-
quaker whofe countenance pleafed me. I accoft-
e'd. him, and begged him to inform me where a
ftrariger might find a lodging. We were then
near the fign of the rlhree Mariners. They re
ceive travellers here, faid he, but it is not a houfe
that bears a good character ; if you will go with
me, I will fhew you a better one. He conduct
ed me to the Crooked Billet, in Water-ftreet.
There I ordered fomething for dinner, and du
ring my meai a number of curious queftions were
put to me ; my youth and appearance exciting
the fufpicion of my being, a runaway. After
dinner my drowfinefs returned, and I threw my
felf upon a bed without taking off my clothes,
and flept till fix o'clock in the evening, when I
was called to fupper. I afterwards went to bed
at a very early hour, and did not awake till the
next morning.
As foon as I got up I put myfelf in as decent
a trim as I could, and went to the houfe of An
drew Bradford the printer. I found his father
in the fhop, whom I had feen at New- York.
Having travelled on horfeback, he had arrived
at Philadelphia before me. He, introduced me to
his fon, who received me with civility, andgaveme
fome breakfaft ; but told me he had no occafion
at prefent for a journeyman, having lately pro
cured one. He added, that there was another
printer newly fettled in the town, of the name
of Keimer, who might perhaps employ me ;• and
that in cafe of refufal, I fhould be welcome to
D lodge

34 LIFE of
lodge at his houfe, and he would give me a lit
tle work now and then, till fomething better
ihould offer.
The old man offered to introduce me to the
new printer. When we were at his houfe :•
" Neighbour," faid he, " I bring you a young
man in the printing bufinefs ; perhaps you may
have need of his fervices."
Keimer afked me fome queftions, put a compo-
fing ftick in my hand to fee how I could work>
and then faid, that at prefent he had nothing for
me to do, but that he fhould foon be able to em
ploy me. At the fame time taking old Bradford
for an inhabitant of the town well-difpofed to
wards him, he communicated his project to him,
and the profpect he had of fuccefs. Bradford
was careful not to difcover that he was the father
of the other printer; and from what Keimer had
faid, that he hoped fliortly to be in poffeffion of
the greater part of the bufinefs of the town, led
him by artful queftions, and by ftarting fome
difficulties, to difclofe all his views, what his
hopes were founded upon, and how he intended
to proceed. I was prefent, and heard it all. I
inftantly faw that one of the two was.a cunning old
fox, and the other a perfect novice. Bradford
left me with Keimer, who was ftrangely furpri-
zed when I informed him who the old man was.
I found Keimer's printing materials to confift
of an old damaged prefs, and' a fmall caft of worn-
cut Englifh letters, with which he was himfelf at
m ork upon an elegy on Aquila Rofe, whom I
have mentioned above, an ingenious young man,
and of an excellent character, highly efteemed in
the town, fecretary to the affembly, and a very
tolerable poet. Keimer alfo made verfes, but
they were indifferent ones. He could not be faid
to write in verfe, for his' method was to fet the
lines

Dr. FRANKLIN. 35
lines as they flowed from his mufe ; and as he
worked without copy, had but one fet of letter-
cafes, and the elegy would probably occupy all his
type, it was impoflible for any one to affift him/
I endeavoured to put his prefs in order, which
he had not yet ufed, and of which indeed he un
derftood nothing : and having promifed to come
and work off his elegy as foon as it fhould be rea
dy, I returned to the houfe of Bradford, who
gave me fome trifle to do for the prefent, for
which 1 had my board and lodging.
In a few days Keimer fent for me to print off
his elegy. He had now procured another fet of
letter-cafes, and had a pamphlet to reprint, upon'
which he fet me to work.
The two Philadelphia printers appeared defti-
tute of every qualification neceffary in their pro
feflion. Bradford had not been brought up to
it, and was very iliterate. Keimer, though he
underftood a little of the bufinefs, was merely a
compofitor, and wholly incapable of working at
the prefs. He had been one of the French pro
phets, and knew how to imitate their fupernatu-
ral agitations. At the tifne of our firft acquain
tance he profeffed no , particular religion, but a
little of all upon occafion. He was totally igno
rant of the world, and a great knave at heart,
as I had afterwards an opportunity of experien
cing. Keimer could not endure that, working with
him, I fhould lodge at Bradford's. He had in
deed a houfe, but it was unfurnifhed ; fo that
he could not take me in. He procured me a
lodging at Mr. Read's, his landlord, whom I
have already mentioned. My trunk and effects'
being now arrived, I thought of making, in the
eyes of Mifs Read, a more refpedtable appearance
D 2 than

36 LIFE- op
than when chance exhibited me to "her view, eat
ing my roll, and wandering in the ftreets.
From this period I began to contract acquain
tance, with fuch young people of the town as.
were fond of reading, and fpent my evenings
with them agreeably, while at the fame time I
gained money by my induftry, and, thanks to
my frugality, lived contented. I thus forgot
Bofton as much as poffible, and wifhed every
one to be ignorant of the place of my refidence,
except my friend Collins, to whom I wrote, and
who kept my fecret.'
An incident however arrived, which fent me
home much fooner than I had propofed. I had
a brother-in-law, of the name of Robert Holmes,
matter of a trading floop from Bofton to Dela
ware. Being at Newcattle, forty miles below
Philadelphia, he heard of me, and wrote to in
form me of the chagrin which my fudden de
parture from Bofton had occafioned my parents,
and of the affection which they ftill entertained
for me, alluring me that, if I would return eve
ry thing fhould be adjufted to my fatisfaction ;
and he was very preffing in his entreaties. I an-
fwered his letter, thanked him for his advice,
and explained the reafons which had induced
me to quit Bofton, with fuch force and clearnefs,
that he was convinced I had been lefs to blame
than he had imagined.
Sir William Keith, governor of the province,
was at Newcattle at the time. Captain Holmes,
beinp; by chance in his company when he receiv
ed my letter, took occafion to fpeak of me, and
fhewed it him. The governor read it, and ap
peared fin prized whenhe learned my age. He
tbnuffht me, he faid, a young man of very pro-
miting talents, and that, of confequence, I ought
to be encouraged ; that there were at Philadel phia

Dr. FRANKLIN. 37
phia none but very ignorant printers, and that
if I were to fet up for myfelf, he had no doubt"
of my fuccefs ; that, for his own part, he would
procure me all. the public bufinefs, and would
render me every other fervice in his power. My
brother-in-law related all this to me afterwards
at Bofton ; but I knew nothing of it at the time ;
when one day Keimer and I being at work to
gether near the window, we faw the governor
and another gentleman, colonel French of New-
caftle, handfomely dreffed, crofs the ftreet, and
make directly for our houfe. We, heard them
at the door, and Keimer, believing it to be a vi-
fit to himfelf, went immediately down : but the
governor enquired for me, came up flairs, and,
with a condefcenfion and politenefs to which I
had not at all been accuftomed, paid me many
compliments, defired to be acquainted with me,
obligingly reproached me for not having made
myfelf known to him on my arrival in the town,
and wifhed me to accompany him to a tavern,
where he and colonel French were going to tafte
fome excellent Madeira wine.
I was, I confcfs, fomcwhat furprifed, and Kei
mer appeared thunderftruck. I went however
with the governor and the colonel to a tavern at
the corner of Third ftreet, where, while we were
drinking the Madeira, he propofed to me to efla-
blifli a printing-houfe. He fet forth the proba
bilities of fuccefs, and himfelf and colonel French
affured me that I fhould have their protection
and influence in obtaining the printing of the
public papers of both governments : and as I ap
peared to doubt whether my father would aflift
me in this enterprize, Sir William faid that he
would give me a letter to him, in which he would
reprefent. tlie advantages of the fchenie, in a
light which he had no doubt would determine him.

S8 LIFE of £
him. It was thus concluded that I fhould re
turn to Bofton by the firft veffel, with the letter
of recommendation from the governor to my
father. Meanwhile the project was to be kept
fecret, and I continued to work for Keimer as
before. The governor fent every now and then to in
vite me to dine wi'h him. I confidered this as
a very great honour ; and I was the more fenfi-
ble of it, as he converfed with me in the moft
affable, familiar, and friendly manner imagina
ble. Towards the end of April 1 7 24, a fmall veffel
was ready to fail for Bofton. I took leave of
Keimer, upon the pretext of going to fee my pa
rents. The governor gave me a long letter, in
which he faid many flattering things of me to my
father ; and ftrongly recommended the project
of my fettling at Philadelphia, as a thing which
could not fail to make my fortune.
Going down the bay we ftruck on a flat, and
fprung a leak. The weather was very tempef-
tuous, and we were obliged to pump without
intermiflibn ; I took my turn. We arrived
however fafe and found at Bofton, after about a
fortnight's paffage.
I had been abfent feven complete months, and
my relations, during that interval, had received
no intelligence of me ; for my brother-in-lav/,
Holmes, was not yet returned, and had not writ
ten about me. My unexpected appearance fur-
prized the family ; but they were all delighted
at feeing me again, and, except my brother,
welcomed me home. I went to him at the print
ing-houfe. I was bettter dreffed than 1 had ever
been while in his fervice : I had a complete fuit
of clothes, new and neat, a watch in my pocket,
and my purfe was funiifhed with nearly five
pounds

.Dr. FRANKLIN. 39
pounds fterling in money. He gave me no ve
ry civil reception ; aridhaving eyed me from
head to foot, refumed his work.
The workmen afked me with eagernefs where
I had been, what fort of a country it was, and
how 1 liked it. I fpoke in the higheft terms of
Philadelpliia, the happy life we led there, and
expreffed my intention of going back again. One
of them afking what fort of money -we had, I
difplayed before them a handful of Silver, which
I drew from my pocket. This was a cuiiofity
to which they were not accuftomed, paper being
the current money at Bofton. I failed not after
this to let them fee my watch ; and at laft, my
brother continuing fullen and out of humour, I
gave them a fhilling to drink, and took my leave.
This vifit ftung.my brother to the foul ; for when,
Shortly after, my mother fpOke to him of, a re
conciliation, and a defire to fee -us upon good
-terms, he told her that I had fo infulted him be
fore his men, that he would never forget or for
give it ; in this, however, he -was miftaken.
The governor's letter appeared to excite in my
¦father fome furprife ; but he faid little. After
fome days, captain Holmes being returned, he
fhowed it him, afking him if he knew Keith,
and what fort of a man he was .• adding, that,
in his opinion, it proved very little difcernment
to think of fetting up a boy in bufinefs, who for
three years to come would not be of an age to be
ranked in the clafs of men. Holmes faid every
thing he could in favour of the fcheme ; but my
father firmly maintained its abfurdity, and at laft
gave a pofitive refufal. He wrote, however, a ci
vil letter to Sir William, thanking him for the pro
jection he had fo obligingly offered me, but re-
fufing to aflift me for the prefent, becaufe he
thought- me too young to be entrufted with the
conduct

^0 LIFE of
conduct of fo important an enterprife, and which
would require fo confiderable a fum of money.
My old comrade Collins, who was a clerk in
the poft-office, charmed with the account I gave
of my new refidence, expreffed a defire of going
thither ; and while I waited my father's deter
mination, he fet off before me, by land, for
Rhode Ifland, leaving his books, which formed
a handfome collection in mathematics and natu-
1 ral philofophy, to be conveyed with mine to New-
York, where he purpofed to wait for me.
My father, though he could not approve Sir
William's propofal, was yet pleafed that I had
obtained fo advantageous a recommendation as
,that of a perfon of his rank, and that my induf-
try and ceconoroy had enabled me to equip my
felf fo handfomely in fo fhort a period. Seeing no
appearance of accommodating matters between my
brother and me, he confepted to my return to
Philadelphia, advifed me j.p be civil to every bo
dy, to endeavour to obtain general efteem, and
avoid fatire and farcafm, to which he thought I
was too much inclined ; adding, that, with per-
feverance and prudent ceconomy, I might, by
the time I became of age, fave enough to eftablifh,
myfelf in bufinefs ; and that if a fmall fum fhould
then be wanting, he would undertake to fupply
it. This was all I could obtain from him, except
fome trifling prefents, in token of friendfhip from
him and my mother. I embarked ence more
for New-York, furnifhed at this time with their
approbation and blefling. The floop having
touched at Newport in Rhode Ifland, I paid a
vifit to my brother John j who had for fome years
been fettled there, and was married. He had
always been attached to me, and he received me
with great affection. One of his friends, whofe name

Dr. FRANKLIN. 41
name was Vernon, having a debt of about thirtv-
¦fi-x pounds due. to him in Penfylvan-ia, begged
me to receive it for him, and to keep the money
till I fhould hear from : accordingly he gave me
an order for that purpofe. This affair occafioned
me, in the fequel, much uneafinefs.
At Newport we took on board a number of
paffengers ; among whom were two young wo
men, and a grave and fenfible quaker lady with
her fervants. I had fliown an obliging forward-
nefs in rendering the quaker fome trifling fervi-
ces, which led her, probably, to feel an intereft
in my welfare ; for when fhe faw a familiarity
take place, and every day increafe, between the
two young women and me, fhe took me afide
and faid : " Young man, I am in pain for thee.
Thou haft no parent to watch over thy conduct,
and thou feemeft to be ignorant of the world,
and the fnares to which youth is expofed. Rely
upon what I tell thee : thofe are women of bad
characters ; I perceive it in all their actions. If
thou doft not take care, they will lead thee into
danger. They are ftrangers to thee, and I advife
thee, by the friendly intereft I take in thy pre-
fervation, to form no connection with them."
As I appeared at firft not to think quite fo ill of
them as fhe did, fhe related many things fhe had
feen and heard, which had efcaped my attention,
but which convinced me that fhe was in the right.
I thanked her for her obliging advice, and pro
mifed to follow it.
When we arrived at New-York, they inform
ed me where they lodged, and invited me to
come and fee them. I did not however go, and
it was well I did not ; for the next day, the cap
tain, miffing a filver fpoon and fome other things
which had been taken from the cabin, and know
ing thefe women to be proftitutes, procured a
fearch

42 LIFE of
•fearch warrant, found the ftplen goods upon
-them, and had them punifhed. And thus, af
ter having been faved from one rock concealed
under water, upon which the veffel ftruck du
ring our paffage, I efcaped another of a ftill more
dangerous nature.
At New-York I found my friend Collins, who
had arrived fome time before. \Ve had been in
timate from our infancy, and had read the fame
books together ; hut he had the advantage of be
ing able to devote more time to reading and ftu-
dy, and an aftonifhing difpofition for mathema
tics, in which he left me far behind him. When
at Bofton, I had been accuftomed to pafs with
him almoft all my leifure hours. He was then
a fober and induftrious lad ; his knowledge had
gained him a very general efteem, and he feem-
cd to promife to make an advantageous figure in
fociety. But, during my abfence, he had unfor
tunately addicted himfelf to brandy, and I learn
ed, as well from himfelf as from the report of
others, that every day fince his arrival at New-
York he had been intoxicated, and had acted in
a very extravagant manner. He had alfo played
and loft all his money -} fo that I was obliged to
pay his expences at the inn, and to maintain him
during the reft of his journey ; a burthen that
was very inconvenient to me.
The governor of New- York, whofe name was
Burnet, hearing .the captain fay that a young
man who was a paffenger in his fhip had a great
number of books, begged him to bring me to his
houfe. I accordingly went, and fhould have taken
Collins with me, had he been fober. The gover
nor treated me with great civility, fhewed me his
library, which was a very confiderable one, and
we talked fome time upon books and authors.
This was the fecond governor who had honour ed

Dr. FRANKLIN. 43
ed me with his attention ; and to a poor boy, as
I was then, thefe little adventures did not fail to
be pleafing.
We arrived at Philadelphia. On the way I
received Vernon's money, without which we
fhould have been unable ,to finifh our journey.
Collins wifhed to get employment as a mer
chant's clerk ; but either his breath or his coun
tenance betrayed his bad habit ; for, though he
llad recommendations, he met with no fuccefs,
and continued to lodge and eat with me, and at
my expence. Knowing that I had Vernon's mo
ney, he was continually afking me to lend him
fome of it ; promifing to repay me as foon as he
fhould get employment. At laft he had drawn
fo much of this money, that I was extremely
alarmed at what might become of me, fhould he
fail to make good the deficiency. His habit of
drinking did not at all diminifh, and was a fre
quent fource of difcord between us ; for when
he had drank a little too much, he was very
headftrong- Being one day in a boat together, on the De
laware, with fome other young perfons, he re-
fufed to take his turn in rowing. You fhall
rpw for me, faid he, till we get home. — No, I
replied, we will not row for' you. — You fhall,
faid he, or remain upon the water all night. — As
you pleafe. — Let us row, faid the reft of the
company ; what Signifies whether he aflifts or not?
But, already angry with him for his conduct in
other refpe&s, I perfifted in my refufal. He then
fu ore that he would make me row, or would
throw me out of the boat ; and he made up to
me. As foon as he was within my reach I took
him by the collar, gave him a violent thruft, and
threw him head foremoft into the river. I knew
that he was a good fwimmer, and was therefore under

44 LIFE of
under no apprchenfions for his life. Before he
could turn himfelf, we were able, by a few ftrbkes
of our oars, to place ourfelvcs out of his reach ;
and whenever he touched the boat, we afked him
if he would row, ftriking his hands at the fame
time with the oars to make him let go his hold.
He was nearly fuffocated with rage, but obfli-
natel'y refufed making any promife to row. Per
ceiving at length that his ftrength began to be ex-
hautted, we took him into the boat, and convey
ed him home in the evening completely drench
ed. The utmoft coldnefs fubfifted between us
after this adventure. At laft the captain of a
Weft-India fhip, who was commiffioned to pro
cure 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,
promifing to difcharge the debt he owed 'me with
the firft money he fhould receive ; but I have
heard nothing of him- fince.
The violation of the truft repofed in me by
Vernon, was one of the firft great errors of my
life ; and it proves that my father was not mifta-
kera when he fuppofed me too young to be in
truded with the management of important affair?.
But Sir William, upon reading his letter, thought
Mm too prudent. There was a difference, he
faid, between individuals : years of maturity
were not always accompanied with difcretion,
neither was youth in every inftanee devoid of it.
Since your father, added he, will not fet you up
in bufinefs, I will do it myfelf. Make out a lift
of what will be wanted from England, and I will
fend for the articles. You fhall repay me when
you can. I am determined to have a good prin
ter here, and I am fure you will fucceed. This
was faid with fo much feeming cordiality, that
I fufpectcd not for an inftant the fincerity of the
offer.

Dr. FRANKLIN. 45
&ffer. I had hitherto kept the project, with
which Sir William had infpired me, of fettling
in bufinefs, a fecret at Philadelphia, and I ftiil
continued to do fo. Had my reliance on the
governor been known, fome friend, better ac
quainted with his character than myfelf, would
doubtlefs have advifed me not to truft him ; for
I afterwards learned that, he was univerfally
known to be liberal of promifes, which he had
no intention to perform. But having never fo-
licited him, how could I fuppofe his offers to be
deceitful ? On the contrary, I believed him to be
the beft man in the world.
I gave him an inventory of a fmall printing-
office ; the expence of which I had calculated at
about a hundred pounds flerling. He exprefied
his approbation ; but afked, if my prefence in
England, that I might choofe the characters my
felf, and fee that every article was good in its
kind, would not be an advantage ? You will alfo
be able, faid he, to form fome acquaintance there,
and eftablifh a correfpondence with fiationers and
bookfellers. This I acknowledged was defirabfe.
That being the cafe, added he, hold yourfelf in
readinefs to go with the Annis. This was the
annual veffel, and the only one, at that time,
which made regular voyages between the ports
of London and Philadelphia. But the Annis was
not to fail for fome months. I therefore conti
nued to work with Keimer, unhappy reflecting
the fum which Collins had drawn from me, and
almoft in continual agony at the thoughts of Ver
non, who fortunately made no demand of his
money till feveral years after.
In the account of my firft voyage from Bofton
to Philadelphia, I omitted I believe a trifling cir-
cumftance, which will not perhaps be out of place
here. During a calm which flopped us above
Block-

45 LIFE op
Block-Ifland, the crew employed themfelves in
fifhing for cod, of which they caught a great num
ber. I had hitherto adhered to my refolution of
not eating any thing that had poffeffed life ; and
I confidered on this occafion, agreeably to the
maxims of my matter Tryon, the capture of
every fifh as a fort of murder, committed with
out provocation, fince thefe animals had neither
done, nor were capable of doing, the fmalleft in
jury to any one that fhould juftify the meafure.
This mode of reafoning I conceived to be unan-
fwerable; Meanwhile I had formerly been ex
tremely fond of fifh ; and when one of thefe cod
was taken out of the frying-pan,* I thought its
flavour delicious. I hefitated fome. time between
principle and inclination, till at laft recollecting,
that when the cod had. been opened forne fmall
fifh were found in its belly, I faid to myfelf, If
you eat one another, I fee no reafon why we
may not eat you. I accordingly dined on the
cod with no fmall degree of pleafure, and have
fince continued to eat like the reft of mankind,
returning only occafionally to my vegetable plan.
How convenient does it prove to be a rational ani
mal, that knows how to find or invent a plaufi-
ble pretext for whatever it has an inclination to
do! I continued to live upon good terms with Kei
mer, who had not the fmallefl fufpicion of my
projected eftablifhment. He ftill retained a per
tion of his former enthufiafm ; and being fond
ofi, argument, we frequently difputed together.
I wasfo much in the habit of ufingmy Socratic me
thod, and had fo frequently puzzled him by my
queftions, which appeared at firft very diftant
from the point in debate, yet neverthelefs led to
it by degrees, involving him in difficulties and
contradictions from wliich he was unable to ex
tricate

Dr. FRANKLIN. 47
tricate himfelf, that he became at laft ridiculoufly
cautious, and would fcarcely anfwer the moft
plain and familiar queftion without previoufly
afking me — What would you infer from that ?
Hence he formed fo high an opinion of my ta
lents for refutation, that he ferioufly propofed
to me to become his colleague in the eftablifh-
ment of a new religious feet. He was to propa
gate the doctrine by preaching, and I to refute
every opponent. •
When he explained to me his tenets, I found
many abfurdities which I refufed to admit, un-
lefs he would agree in turn to adopt fome of my
opinions. Keimer wore his beard long, becaufe
Mofes had fomewhere faid, Thoufhalt not mar the
corners of thy beard. He likewife obferved the Sab
bath ; and thefe were with him two very effential
points. 1 difliked them both ; but I confented to
adopt them, provided he would agree to abftain
from animal food. I doubt, faid he, whether my
conftitution will be able to fupport it. I affured
him, on the contrary, that he would find himfelf
the better for it. He was naturally a glutton, and
I wifhed to amufe myfelf by flarving him. He
confented to make trial of this regimen, if I
would bear him company ; and in reality we con
tinued it for three months. A woman in the
neighbourhood prepared and brought us our
victuals, to whom I gave a lift of forty difhes ;
in the compofition of which there entered neither
flefh nor fifh. This fancy was the more agreea
ble to me, as it turned to good account ; for the
whole expence of our living did not exceed for
each eighteen-pence a week.
I have fince that period obferved feveral Lents
with the greateft ftrictnefs, and have fuddeniy
returned again to my ordinary diet, without ex
periencing the fmalleft inconvenience ; which hasled

4S LIFE of
led me to regard as of no importance the' advice
commonly given, of introducing gradually fuch
alterations of regimen.
I continued it cheerfully} but poor Keimer
fuffered terribly. Tired of the project, he figh-
ed for the flefh-pots of Egypt, At length he or
dered a roaft pigj and invited me and two of
our female acquaintance to dine with him ; but
the pig being ready a little too foon, he could
not refift the temptation, and eat it all up before
we arrived.
During the cireumftances I have related, I had
paid fome attentions to Mifs Read. I entertained
for her the utmoft efteem and affection ; and I
had reafon to believe that thefe fentiments were
mutual. But we were both young, fcarcely
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
being carried too far for the prefent, judging
that, if marriage was our object, there would be
more- propriety in it after my return, when, as
at leaft I expected, I fhould be eftablifhed in my
feufinefs. Perhaps alfo fhe thought that my ex
pectations were not fo well founded as I imagi
ned. My moll intimate acquaintance at this time
were Charles Ofborne, Jofeph Watfon, and James
Ralph ; young men who were all fond of read
ing. The two firft were clerks to Mr. Charles
Brockdon, one of the principal attornies in the
town, and the other clerk to a merchant. Wat-
fon was an upright, pious and fenfible young
man : the others were fomewhat more loofe in
their principles of religion, particularly Ralph,
whofe faith, as well as that of Collins, i had
contributed to fhake ; each of whom made me
fuffcr a very adequate punifhment. Ofborne was
fenfible,

Dr. FRANKLIN. 49
fenfible, and Sincere and affedionate in his friend-
fhips, but too much inclined to the. critic in mat
ters of literature. Ralph Was ingenious and
Shrewd, genteel in his addrefs, and extremely
eloquent. I do not remember to have met with.
a more agreeable fpeaker. They Were both en
amoured of the mufes, and had already evinced
their paflipn by fome Small poetical productions.
It was a cuftpm with us tp take a charming
Walk on Sundays, in the woods, that bprder the
Skuylkil. Here we read together, and afterwards
converfed on what we read. Ralph was difpofed
to give himfelf up entirely to poetry. He flatter
ed himfelf that he Should arrive at great eminence
in the art, ^nd even acquire a fortune. The fub-
lirneft pQels, he pretended, when they firft began
to write, committed as many faults as himfelf.
Ofborne endeavoured tp difftiade him, by allu
ring him that he had no genius for poetry, and
advifed him to flick to the trade in which he had
been brought up. In the rpad pf commerce, faid
he, you will be fore, by diligence: and affiduity,
though you have no capital, of fo far fneceeding
as to be employed as a factor, and may thus, in
time, acquire the means of fetting up for your
felf. I concurred in thefe Sentiments, but at the
fame time exprefled my approbation of amufing
ourfelves fometimes with poetry, with a view tp
improve pur ftyle. In confequence pf this it was
propofed, that, at our next meeting, each of us
fhould bring a copy of verfes of his own compofi-
tion. Our object in this competition was to be
nefit each other by pur mutual remarks, criti-
cifms, and corrections ; a^d as ftyle and expreffi-
on were all we had in view, we excluded every
idea of inventipn, by agreeing that our tafk
fhould be a verflon of the eighteenth pfylm, in
which is defcribed the defcent of the deity.
E The

5a . LIFE of
The time of our meeting drew near, when
Ralph called Upon me, and told me that his per
formance was ready. I informed him that I had
been idle, and, not much liking the tafk, had
done nothing. He fhowed me his piece, and
afked what I thought of it. I exprefled myfelf
in* terms of warm approbation ; becaufe it really
appeared to have confiderable merit. He then
faid : Ofborne will never acknowledge the fmall-
efl degree of excellence in any production of mine.
Envy alone dictates to him a thoufand animad-
verfions. Of you he is not fo jealous : I wifh
therefore you would take the verfes, and produce
them as your own. I will pretend not tp have
had leifure to write any thing. We fhall then
fee in what manner he will fpeak of them. I a-
greed to this little artifice, and immediately tran
scribed the verfes to prevent all fufpicion.
We met. Watfon's performance was the firft
that was read. It had fome beauties, but many
faults. We next read Ofborne's, which was
much better. Ralph did it juftice, remarking a
few imperfections, and applauding fuch parts as
were excellent. He had himfelf nothing to Show.
It was now my turn, I made fome difficulty ;
feemed as if I wifhed to be excufed ; pretended
that I had had no time to make corrections, &c.
No excufe, however, was admiffible, and the piece
mufi be produced. It was read and re-read.
Watfon and Ofborne immediately refigned the
palm, and united in applauding it. Ralph alone
made a few remarks, and propofed fome altera
tions ; but I defended fny text. Ofborne agreed
with me, and told Ralph that he was no more
able to criticife than he was able to write.
When Ofborne was alone with me, he expreff-
ed himfelf ftill more ftrongly in favour of what
he confidered as my performance. He pretended that

Dr. FRANKLIN. p
that he had put fome reftraint on himfelf before,
apprehenfive of my eonftnling his commendation
into flattery. But who would have fuppofed,
faid he, Franklin to be capable of fuch a compo-
fition ? What painting, what energy^ what fire !
He has furpaffed the original. Irt his common
converfation he appears not to have a choice of
words ; he hefitates, and is at a lofs : and yet^
good God, how he writes !
At our next meeting Ralph difcovered the trick
we had played Ofborne, who was rallied without
mercy. By this adventure Ralph was fixed in his re-
folution of becoming a poet. I left nothing un-
attempted to divert him from his purpofe ; but
he perfevered, till at laft the reading of Pope *
effected his cure : he became* however, a very
tolerable profe writer. I fhall fpeak more of him
hereafter ; but as I fhall probably have no farther
occafion to mentiPn the other two, I ought to
obferve here, that Watfon died a few years after
in my arms. He was greatly regretted ; for he
was the beft of our fociety. Ofborne went to
the iflands, where he gained confiderable repu
tation as a barrifter, and was getting money;
but he died young. We had ferioufly engaged^
that whoever died firft fhould return, if poffible,
and pay a friendly vifit to the furvivor, to give
him an account of the other world ; but he has
never fulfilled his engagement.
The governor appeared to be fond of my com
pany, and frequently invited me to his houfe.
He always fpoke of his intention of fettling me
in bufinefs, as a point that was decided. I was
* Probably the Dunciad, where we find him thus immor
talized by the author :
Silence, ye wolves, while Ralph to Cynthia howls,
And makes night hideous ; anfwcr him, ye owl? !
E 2 to

52 LIFE W
to take with me letters of recommendation to a
number of his friends ; and particularly a letter
of credit, in order to obtain the neceffary fian>
for the purchafe of my prefs, types, and paper.
He appointed various times for me tp come for
thefe letters, which would certainly be ready j
H#d when I cjtrae, always put me off to another
day. Thefe fucceffive' delays continued till the veffel,
whofe departure had been feveral times deferred,
Was on the point of fetting fail ; when I again
went to Sir William's houfe, toreceive my letters
and take leave of him. I faw his iecretary, Dr.
Bardj who told me that the governor was ex
tremely bufy writing, but that he would be dowa
at Newcaftk before the veffel, and that the let
ters would be delivered to me there.
Ralph, though he was married and had a child s
determined to accompany me in this voyage.
His object was fuppofed to be the eftablifhing a
correfpondence with fome mercantile houfes, in
Ojrdgr to fell goods by commiffion ; but I after*
wards learned, that, having reafbn to be diffa-
tisfied with the parents of his wife, he propofed
to himfelf to leave her on their hands, and never
return to America again.
Having taken leave of my friends, and inter
changed promifes of fidelity with Mifs Read, I
quitted Philadelphia, At Newcattle the veffel
came to anchor. The governor was arrived, and
I went to his lodgings. His fecretary received
roe with great civility, told me on the part of
the governor that he could not fee me then, as
he was engaged in affairs of the utmoft impor
tance, but that he would fend the letters on board,
and that he wifhed me, with all his heart, a good
voyage and fpeedy return. I returned, fome-
what aftonifhed, to the Ship, but ftill without
entertaining the flighteft fufpicion.
Mr.

Dr. FRANKLIN. 53
Mr. Hamiftoffj a celebrated barriffer of Phila
delphia, had taken a paffage to England for him
felf and his fon, arid, ki Conjunction with Mr.
Den-ham a qaaketf , and Meffrs. Oniam and Rnlfefc,
proprietors of a forge in Maryland, had agreed
for the -Whole cabin, fo that Ralph and -i were
obliged to take up our lodging with the crew.
Being unknown to every body in the fhip, we
were looked upon as of the common order of
people : but Mr. Hamilton and his fon (it was
James, who was afterwards governor) left us; at
Newcattle, and returned to Philadelphia, where
he Was -recalled, at a very great expence, to plead
the caufe of a veflel that had been feized1.; and
juft as we were about to fail, colonel Finch came
on board, and Shewed me many civilities. The
paffengers xrporc this paid me more attention,
and I was invited, together with my friend Ralph,
to occupy the place in the cabin which the return
of the Mr. Hamiltons had made vacant ; an offer
which we very readily accepted.
Having learned that the difpatches of the go*-
vernor had been brought on board by colonel
Finch, J afked the captain for -the letters that
Were to be intrufted' to my care, le told -me
that they 'were all put together in the bag, which
he could not open at prefent ; but before we
reached England, he would give me an opportu
nity of taking them out. I was fatisfied with
this anfwer, arid we purfued our voyage.
The company in the cabin were all very focia-
ble, and we were perfectly well off as to provi-
lions, as we had the advantage of the whole of
Mr. Hamilton's, who had laid in a very plenti
ful flock; During the paffage Mr. Denham eon*
tracked a friendship for me, which ended only
with his life : in other refpects the voyage was by

'54 LIFE of
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 fearch in
the bag for the governor's letter§. I could not
find a fingle one with my name writtep on it, as
Committed to my care ; but I Selected fix or feven,
which I judged from the direction to be thofe
that were intended for me ; particularly one to
Mr. Bafket the king's printer, and another to a
ftatipner, who was the firft perfon I called upon.
I delivered him the letter as coming from gover
nor Keith. " I have no acquaintance (faid he )
" with any fuch perfon ;" and opening the letter,
" Oh, it is from Riddlefden!" he exclaimed.
" I have lately difcovered him to be a very ar-
" rant knave, arid I wifh tp have nothing to dp
<5 either W^h him or his letters." He inftantly
put the letter in my hand, turned upon his heel,
and left me to ferve fome cuftomers.
I was aftonifhed at finding thefe letters were
not from the governor. Reflecting, and putting
circumftances together, I then began to doubc
his fincerity. I rejpined my friend Denham, and
related the whole affair to him. He let me at
once into Keith's character, told me there was
npt the leaft probability 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 fupppfing that the governor would
give me a letter of credit, when he had no credit
for himfelf. As I Showed fome uneafinefs ref-
pecting what flep I fhould take, he advifed me
to try tp get employment in the houfe of fome
printer. You may there, faid he, improve your
felf in bufinefs, and you will be able tp fettle
yourfelf the more advantageoufly when you re
turn to America.
We

Dr. FRANKLIN. $S
We knew already, as well as the ftationer, at
torney Riddlefden to be a knave. He had near
ly ruined the father of Mifs Read, by drawing
him in to be his fecurity. We learned from his
letter, that he -was fecretly carrying on an
intrigue, in concert with the governor, to the
prejudice of Mr. Hamilton, who it was fuppofed
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 inftant he arrived in England, which
was very foon after, I waited on him, and, as
much from good-will to him as from refentment
againft the governor, put the letter into his hands.
He thanked me very fincerely, the information
it contained being of confequence to him ; and
from that moment beftowed on me his friend-
fliip, which afterwards proved on many occafions
ferviceable to me.
But what are we to think of a governor who
could play fo Scurvy a trick, and thus grofsly
deceive a poor young lad, wholly deftitute of
experience? It was a practice with him. Wifh-
ing to pkafe every body, and having little to be
llow, he was lavifh of promifes. He was in other
refpects fenfible , and judicious, a very tolerable
writer, and a good governor for the people ;
though not fo for the proprietaries, whofe in-
ftructions he frequently difregarded. Many of
our beft laws were his work, and eftablifhed
during his adminiftration.
Ralph and I were infeparable companions.
We took a lodging together at three and-fixpence
a week, which was as much as we could afford.
He met with fome relations in London, but they
were poor, and not able to affift him. He now,
for the firft time, informed me of his intention
to remain in England, and that he had no
thoughts

56 LIFE of
thoughts of ever returning to Philadelphia. He
was totally without money; the little he had
been able to raife having barely fufficed for his
paffage. I had fifteen piftoles remaining; and to
me he had from time to time recourfe, while he
tried to get employment.
At firft, believing himfelf poffeffed of talents
for the ftage, he thought of turning actor ; but
Wilkes, to whom he applied, frankly advifed
him to renounce the idea, as it was impofliblehe
Should fucceed. He next propofed to Roberts,
a bookfeller in Paternofter-rpw, to write a weekr
ly paper in the manner of the Spectator, upon
terms to which Roberts would notliften. Laftly,
he endeavoured to procure employment as a co-
pyift, and applied to the lawyers and ftationers
about the temple ; but he could find no vacancy.
As to myfelf I immediately got engaged at
Palmer?s, at that time a noted printer in Bartho
lomew Clpfe, with whom I continued nearly a
year. I applied very affiduoufly to my work ;
but I expended with Ralph almoft all that I earn
ed. Plays, and other places of amufement which
we frequented together, having exhaufted my
piftoles, we lived after this from hand to mouth.
He appeared to have entirely forgotten his wife
and child, as I alfo, by degrees, forgot my en
gagements with Mifs Read, to whom I never
wrote more than one letter, and that merely to
inform her that I was not likely to return foon.
This was another grand error of my life, which
I fhould be defirous of correcting were I to begin
my career again.
_ I was employed at Palmer's on the fecond edi
tion of Woolafton's Religion of Nature. Some
pf his arguments appearing to me not to be well
founded, I wrote a fmall metaphyfical treatife,
in which I animadverted on thofe paffages. It
was

Dr. FRANKLIN. 57
was entitled, a Differtation on Liberty and Neceffi-
ty, Pleafure and Pain. I dedicated it to my friend
Ralph, and printed a fmall number of copies.
Palmer upon this treated me with more confide-
ration, and regarded me as a young man of ta
lents ; though he ferioufly took me to tafk for
the principles of, my pamphlet, 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 bookfeiler of the name of Wil
cox, whofe fhop was next door to me. Circula
ting libraries were not then in ufe. He had an
immenfe collection of books of all forts. We a-
greed that, for a reaforiable retribution, of which
I have now forgotten the price, I fhould have
free accefs to his library, and take what books I
pleafed, which I was to return when I had read
them. I confidered this agreement as a. very great
advantage ; and I derived from it as much bene
fit as was in my power.
My pamphlet falling into the hands of a fur-
geonj of the name of Lyons, author of a book
entitled, Infallibility of Human Judgment, was
the occafion of a confiderable intimacy between
us. He exprefled great efteem for me, came
frequently to fee me, in order to converfe upon
metaphyseal fubjects, and introduced me to Dr.
Mandeville, author of the Fable of Bees, who
had inftituted a club at a tavern in Cheapfide, of
which he was the foul : he was a facetious and
very amufing character. He alfo introduced me,
at Batfon's coffee-houfe, to Dr. Pemberton, who
promifed to give me an opportunity of feeing Sir
Ifaac Newton, which I very ardently defired;
but he never kept his word.
I had brought fome curiofities with me from
America ; the principal of which was a purfe
made of the afbenos, which fire only purifies. Sir

g8 LIFE of
Sir Hans Sloane hearing of it, called upon me,
and invited me to his houfe in Bloomfbury-
fquare, where, after fhowing me every thing
that was curious, he prevailed on me to add this
piece to his collection $ for which he paid me
very handfomely.
There lodged in the fame houfe with us a
young woman, a milliner, who had a fhop by
the fide of the Exchange. Lively and fenfible,
and having received an education fomewhat a-
bove her rank, her converfation was very agreea^
ble. Ralph -read plays to her every evening.
They, became intimate. She took another lodg
ing, and he followed her. They lived for fome
time together; but Ralph being without employ
ment, -fhe having a child, and the profits of her
bufinefs not fufficing for the maintenance of three,
he refolved to quit London, and try a country
fehopl. This was a plan in which he thought
himfelf likely to fucceed, as he wrote a fine hand,
and was verfed in arithmetic and accounts But
confidering the office as beneath him, and ex
pecting fome day to make a better figure in the
world, when he fhould be afhamed of its being
known that he had exercifed a profeflion fo little
honourable, he changed his name, and did me
the honour of affuming mine. He wrote to me
foon after his departure, informing me that he
was fettled at a fmall village in Berkfhire, la
his letter he recommended Mrs. T***, the milli
ner, to my care, and requefted an anfwer, di
rected to Mr. Franklin, fchool -matter at N***.
He continued to write to me frequently, fend
ing me large fragments of an epic poem he was
compofing, and which he requefted me to cri-
ticife and correct. I did fo, but not without en
deavouring to prevail on him to renounce this
purfuit. Young had juft publifhed one of his
Satires.

Dr. FRANKLIN. 59
Satires. I copied and fent him a great part of it 5
in which the author dempnftrates the folly of
cultivating the Mufes, from the hope, by their
inftrumentality, of rifing in the world. It was
all to no purpofe ; paper after paper of his poem
continued to arrive every pott.
Meanwhile Mrs. T*#* having loft, on his ac
count, both her friends and her bufinefs, was
frequently in diftrefs. In this dilemma fhe had
recourfe tp me ; and to extricate her from her
difficulties, I lent her all the money I could foare.
I felt a little too much fondnefs for her. Having
at that time no ties of religion, and taking ad
vantage of her neceffitous fituation, I attempted
liberties (another error of my life,) which fhe re
pelled with becoming indignation. She inform
ed Ralph of my conduct ; and the affair occafion
ed a breach between us. When he returned to
London, he gave me to underftand that he con
fidered all the obligations he owed me as anni
hilated by this proceeding ; whence I concluded
that I was never to expect the payment of what
money I had lent him, or advanced on his ac
count. I was the lefs afflicted at this, as he was
wholly unable to pay me ; and as, by lofing his
friendfhip, I was relieved at the fame time from
a very heavy burden.
I now began to think of laying by fome mo
ney. The printing-houfe of Watts, near Lin-
coln's-Inn Fields, being a ftill more confiderable
pne than that in which I worked, it was probable
I might find it more advantageous to be employ
ed there. I offered myfelf, and was accepted ;
and in this houfe I continued during the remain
der of my flay in London.
On my entrance I worked atfirft as a preffman,
conceiving that I had need of bodily exercife, to
which I had been accuftomed in America, where

€o LIFE o*
where the printers Work alternately as compofi-
tors and at the ptefs. I drank nothing but wa
ter. The other workmen, to the number of a-
bout fifty, v/ere great drinkers of beer. I carri
ed occafionally a large form of letter's in each
hand, up and down flairs, while the reft em
ployed both hands to carry one. They were fur-
prized to fee, by this and many other examples,
that the American Aquatic, as they ufed to call
me, was ftronger than thofe who drank porter.
The beer-boy had fufficient employment during
the whole day in ferving that houfe alone. My
fellow-preflman drank every day a pint of beer
before breakfaft, a pint with bread arid cheefe for
breakfaft, one between breakfaft and dinner, one
at dinner, one again about fix o'clock in the af
ternoon, and another after he had finifhed his
day's work. This euftom appeared to me abo
minable ; but he had need, he faid, of all this
beer, in order to acquire ftrength to work.
I endeavoured to convince him that the bodily
ftrength furnifhed by the beer, could only be in
proportion to the folid part of the barley diffol-
ved in the water of which the beer was compo-
fed ; that there was a larger portion of flour in
a penny loaf, and that confequently if he eat this
loaf, and drank a pint of water with it, he
would derive more ftrength from it than from a
pint of beer. This reafoning, however, did not
prevent him from drinking his accuftomed quan
tity of beer, and paying every Saturday night a
feore of four or five Shillings a week for this cur-
fed beverage ; an expence from which I was whol
ly exempt. Thus do thefe poor devils continue
all their lives in a flate of voluntary wretchednefs
and poverty.
At the end of a few weeks, Watts having oc
cafion for me above flairs as a compofitor, I quit ted

Dr. FRANKLIN. 61
ted the prefs. The compofitors demanded of me
garniSh-money afrefh. This I confidered as an
impofition, having already paid below. The
mafter was of the fame opinion, and defired me
not to comply. I thus remained two or three
weeks out of the fraternity. I was confequently
looked upon as excommunicated ; and whenever
I was abfent, no little trick that malice could
fugged was left unpractifed upon me I found
my letters mixed, my pages tranfpofed, my mat
ter broken, &c. &c. all which was attributed to
the fpirit that haunted the chapel *, and torment
ed thofe who were not regularly admitted. I
was at laft obliged to fubmit to pay, notwith-
ftanding the protection of the matter ; convinced
of the folly of not keeping up a good underftand-
ing with thofe among whom we are deftined to
live. After this I lived in the utmoft harmony with
my fellow-labourers, and foon acquired confide-.
rable influence among them. I propofed fome
alterations in the laws of the chapel, which I car
ried without oppofition. My example prevailed
with feveral of them to renounce their abomina
ble practice of bread and cheefe with beer ; and
they procured, like me, from a neighbouring
houfe, a good bafon of warm gruel, in which
was a fmall flice of butter, with toafted bread and
nutmeg. This was a much better breakfaftj
which did not coft more than a pint of beer,
namely, three-halfpence, and at the fame time
preferved the head dearer. Thofe who continued
to gorge themfelves with beer, often loft their
credit with the publican, from neglecting to pay
their fcore. They had then recourfe to me, to
become fecurity for them ; their light, as they
f Printing-homes in general are thus denominated by the
workmen : the fpirit they call by th; n?.nic of Ralph. ufed

62 LIFE of
ufed to call it, being out. I attended at the "pip
table every Saturday evening, to take up the lit
tle fum which I had made myfelf anfwerable for ;
and which amounted to nearly thirty Shillings a
week. This circumftance, added to my reputation of
being a tolerable good gabber, or, in other words,
fkilful in the art of burlefque, kept up my im
portance in the chapel. I had befides recom^
mended myfelf to the efteem of my mafter by
my affiduous application to bufinefs, never ob-
ferving Saint Monday. My extraordinary quick-
nefs in compofirig always procured me fuch work
as was moft urgent, and which is commonly beft
paid ; and thus my time paffed away in a very
pleafant manner.
My lodging in Little Britain being too far from
the printing-houfe, I took another in Duke-ftreet
oppofite the Roman Catholic chapel. It was at
the back of an Italian warehoufe. The houfe
was kept by a widow, who had a daughter, a
fervant, and a fhop-boy ; but the latter flept out
of the houfe. After fending to the people with
whom I lodged in Little Britain, to enquire into
my character, fhe agreed to take me in at the
fame price, three-and-fixpence a week ; content
ing herfelf, flie faid, with fo little, becaufe of
the fecurity fhe fhould derive, as they were all
women, from having a man lodge in the houfe.
She was a woman rather advanced in life, the
daughter of a clergyman. She had been educa
ted a Proteftant ; but her hufband, whofe me
mory fhe highly revered, had converted her to
the Catholic religion. She had lived in habits
of intimacy with perfons of diftinclion ; of whom
flie knew various anecdotes as far back as the
time of Charles II. Being fubject to fits of the
gout, which often confined her. to her room, fhe
was fometimes difpofed to fee company. Hers was

Dr. FRANKLIN. 63
was fo amufing to me, that I was glad to- pafs.
the evening with her as often as fhe defired it.
Ourfupper confifted only of half an anchovy a-
piece, upon a flice of bread and butter, with
half a pint of ale between us. But the enter
tainment was in her converfation.
The early hours I kept, and the little trouble I
occafioned in the family, made her loth to part
with me ; and when I mentioned another lodging
I had found, nearer the printing-houfe, at two
fliillings a week, which fell in with my plan of
faving, fhe perfuaded me to give it up, making
herfelf an abatement of two fliillings : and thus I
continued to lodge with her, during the remain
der of my abode in London, at eighteen-pence a
week. In a garret of the houfe there lived, in the moft
retired manner, a lady feventy years of age, of
whom I received the following account from my
landlady. She was a Roman Catholic. In her
early years fhe had been fent to the continent, and
entered a convent with the defign of becoming a
nun ; but the climate not agreeing with her con-
flitution, fhe was obliged to return to England,
where, as there were no monafteries, fhe made
a vow to lead a monaftic life, in as rigid a man
ner as circumftances would permit. She accord
ingly difpofed of all her property to be applied to
charitable nfes, referving to herfelf only twelve
pounds a year ; and of this fmall pittance flie gave
a part to the poor, living on water-gruel, and ne
ver making ufe of fire but to boil it. She had
lived in this garret a great many years, without
paying rent to the fucceffive Catholic inhabitants
that had kept the houfe ; who indeed confidered
her abode with them as a bleffing. A prieft came
every day to confefs her. I have afked her, faid
my landlady, how, living as flie did, flie could
find fo much employment for a confeffor ? To
which

64 LIFE OF
which She anfwered, that it was impoffible to
avoid vain thoughts.
I was once permitted to vifit her. She was
cheerful and polite, and her converfation agree
able. Her apartment was neat ; but the whole
furniture confifted of a mattrefs, a table, on
which were a crucifix and a book, a chair, which
She gave me to fit on, and over the mantle-
piece a picture of St. Veronica difplaying her
handkerchief, on which was feen the miracu
lous impreffion of the face of Chrift, which fhe
explained to me with great gravity. Her coun
tenance was pale, but fhe had never experienced
ficknefs ; and I may adduce her as another proof
how little is fufficient to maintain life and health.
At the printing-houfe I contracted an intimacy
with a fenfible young man of the name of Wy
gate, who, as his parents were in good circum-
ftances, had received a better education than is
common with printers. He was a tolerable Latin
fcholar, fpoke French fluently, and was fond
of reading. I taught him, as well as a friend
of his, to fwim, by taking them twice only
into the river ; after which they flood in need
of no farther affiftance. We one day made a
party to go by water to Chelfea, in order to fee
the College,' and Don Saltero's curiofities. On
our return, at the requeft of the company,
whofe curiofity Wygate had excited, I undreffed
myfelf, and leaped into the river. 1 fwam from
near Chelfea the whole way to Blackfriars Bridge,
exhibiting, during my courfe, a variety of feats
of activity and addrefs, both upon the furface
of the water as well as under it. This fight oc
cafioned much aftonifhment and pleafure to thofe
to whom it was new. In my youth I took
great delight in this exercife. I knew, and could
execute, all the evolutions and pofitions of
Thevenot ;

Dr. FRANKLIN. 6$
Thevenot; dnd I added to them fome of my
own invention, in which I endeavoured to unite
gracefulnefs and utility. I took a pleafure in
difplaying them all on this occafion, and was
highly flattered with the admiration they ex
cited. Wygate, betides his being defirous of perfect
ing himfelf in this art, was the more attached
to me from there being, in other refpects, a con
formity in our taftes and fludies. He at length
propofed to me to make the tour of Europe with
him, maintaining ourfelves at the fame time by
working at out profeflion. I was on the point
of confenting, when' I mentioned it to my friend
Mr. Denham, with whom I was glad to pafs an
hoUf Whenever I had feifure. He diffuadedme
from the project, and advifed me to think of
returning to Philadelphia, which he was about
to do himfelf. I muft relate in this place a trait
of this worthy man's character.
He had formerly been in bufinefs at Briftoli
but failing, he compounded with his creditors,
and departed for America, where, by affiduous
application as a merchant, he acquired in a few
years a very confiderable fortune. Returning to
England in the fame veffel with myfelf, as I
have related above, he invited all his old cre
ditors to a feaft. When affembled, he thank
ed them for the feadinefs with which they had
received his fmall compofition ; and, while they
expected nothing more than a fimple entertain
ment, each found under his plate, when it came
to be removed, a draft upon a banker for the
refidue of his debt, with intereft.
He told me that it was his intention to car
ry back with him to Philadelphia a great quan
tity of goods, in order to open aftore ; and he
offered to take me with him in the capacity of
F clerk,

66 LIFE of
clerk, to keep his books, in which he would'
inftruct me, copy letters, and fuperintend the
flore. He added that, as foon as I had acquired
a knowledge of mercantile tranfactions he would
improve my fituation, by fending me with a
cargo of corn and flour to the American iflands,
and by procuring me other lucrative commif-
flons ; fo that, with good management and ceco-
nemy, I might in time begin bufinefs with ad
vantage for myfelf.
I relifhed thefe propofals, London began to
tire me ; the agreeable hours I had paffed at Phi
ladelphia prefented themfelves to my mind, and
I wifhed to fee them revive. I confequently en
gaged myfelf to Mr. Denham, at a falary of fifty
pounds a-year. This was indeed lefs than
I earned as acoinpofitor, but then I had a much
fairer profpect'. I took leave therefore, as I be
lieved for ever, of printing, and gave myfelf
up entirely to my new occupation, fpending all
my time either in going from houfe to houfe
with Mr. Denham to purchafe goods, or in
packing them up, or in expediting the work
men, &c. &c When every thing however was on
board, I had at laft a few days leifure.
During this interval, I was one day fent for
by a gentleman, whom I knew only byname.
It was Sir William Wyndham. I went to his
houfe. He had by fome means heard of my
performances between Chelfea and Blackfriars.
and that Iliad taught the art of fwimmingto
Wygate and another young man in the courfe of
a few hours. His two fons were on the point
of fetting out on their travels; he was defi
rous that they Should previoufly learn to fwim,
and offered me a very liberal reward if I would
undertake to inftruct them. They were not yet
arrived in town, and the ftav I Should make my felf

Dr. FRANKLIN. Gy
felf was uncertain ; I could not therefore accept
his prppofal. I Was led however to fuppofe from
this incident* that if I had wifhed to remain in
London, and open a fwimming fchool, I fhould
perhaps have gaine'd a great deal of money.- This
idea ftruck me fo forcibly, that, had the offer
been made fooner, I fhould have difmiffed the
thought of returning as yet to America. Some
years after, you arid I had a more important bu
finefs to fettle wkh one of the fons of Sir William
Wyndham, then Lord Egremont. But let us not
anticipate events.
I thus paffed about eighteen months in London,
working almoft without intermiffion at my trade,
avoiding all expen.ce on my own account, except
going now arid then to the play, and purcha-
fing a few books. But my friend Ralph kept me
poor. He owed me about twenty -feven pounds,
which was fo much money loft ; and when con
fidered as taken from my little favings, was a
very great fum. I had, notwithftanding this, a
regard for him, as he poffeffed many amiable
qualities. But tiro' I had done nothing for my
felf in point of fortune, I had increafed my flock
of knowledge, either by the many excellent books
I had read, or the converfation of learned and
literary perfons with whom I was acquainted.
We failed from Gravefend the 23d of July
1726. For the incidents of my voyage I refer
you to my Journal, where you will find all its
circumftances minutely related. We landed at
Philadelphia ort the itth of the following Octo
ber. Keith had been deprived of his office of gover
nor, and was fucceeded by Major Gordon. I
met him walking in the Streets as a private in
dividual. He appeared a little afhamed at feeing
v.v. but paffed on without faving any thing.
F 2 I fhould

68 LIFE of
I fhould have been equally afhamed myfelf at
meeting Mifs Read, had not her family, juftly
defpairing of my return after reading my letter,
advifed her to give me up, and marry a potter,
of the name of Rogers ; to which fhe confented :
but he never made her happy, and fhe foon fe-
parated from him, refuting to cohabit with
him or even bear his name, on account of
a report which prevailed, of his having another
wife. His fkill in his profeflion had feduced Mifs
Read's parents ; but he was as bad a fubject as
he was excellent as a workman. He involved
himfelf in debt, and fled, in the year 1727 or
1 728, to the Weft Indies, where he died.
During my abfence Keimer had taken a more
confiderable houfe, in which he kept a fhop,
that was well fupplied with paper, and various
other articles. He had procured fome new types,
and a number of workmen ; among whom, how
ever, there was not one who was good for any
thing ; and he appeared not to want bufinefs.
Mr. Denham took a warehoufe in Water-ftreet,
where we exhibited our commodities. I applied
myfelf clofely, ftudied accounts, and became in
a fhort time very expert in trade; We lodged
and eat together. He was fincerely attached to
me, and acted towards me as if he had been my
father. On my fide, I refpected and loved
him. My fituation was happy; but it was a
happinefs of no long duration.
Early in February 1727, when I entered into
my twenty-fecond year, we were both taken
ill. I was attacked with a pleurify, which had
nearly carried me off; I fuffered terribly, and
confidered it as all over with me. I felt indeed
a fort of difappointment when I found myfelf
likely to recover, and regretted that I had ftill
to experience, fooner or later, the fame dif-
agreeable fcene again. I have

Dr. FRANKLIN. 69
1 have forgotten what was Mr. Deriham's
adiforder; but it was a tedious one, and he
at laft funk under it. He left me a, fmall legacy
in his will, as a teftimony of his friendfhip;
and I was once more abandoned to myfelf in
the wide world, the warehoufe being confided
to the care of the teftamentary executor, who
difmiffed me.
My brother-in-law, Holmes, who happened
to be at Philadelphia, advifed me to return
to my former profeflion ; and Keimer offered me
a very confiderable falary if I would undertake
the management of his printing-office, that he
might devote himfelf entirely to the fuperinten-
dence of' his fhop. His wife and relations in
London had given me a bad character of him ;
3nd I was loth, for the prefent, to have any
concern with him. I endeavoured to get employ
ment as a clerk to a merchant ; but not readily
finding a fituation, I was induced to accept Kei-
mer's propofal.
The following were the perfons I found in his
printing-houfe. Hugh Meredith, a Penfylvanian, about thirty
five years of age. He had been brought up to
hufbandry, was honeft, fenfible, had fome expe
rience, and was fond of reading ; but too much
addicted to drinking.
Stephen Potts, a young ruftic, juft broke from
fchool, and of ruftic education, with endow
ments rather above the common order, and a
competent portion of underftanding and gaiety ;
but a little idle. Keimer had engaged thefe two
at very low wages, which he had promifed to
raife every three months a fhilling a week, pro
vided their- improvement in the typographic art
fhould merit it. This future increafe of wages
was the bait he made- ufe of to enfnare them.
Meredith

yo LIFE of
Meredith was to work at the prefs, and Potts to
bind books, which he had engaged to teach
them, though he underftood neither himfelf.
John Savage, an Irifhman, who had been
brought up to no trade, and whofe fervice, for
a period or four years, Keimer had purchafed of
the captain of a Ship. He was alfo to be a preff-
man. George Webb, an Oxford fcholar, whofe time
he had in like manner bought for four years, in
tending him for a compofitor. I fhall fpeak more
pf him prefently.
Laftly, David Harry, a country lad, who was
apprenticed to him.
I foon perceived that Keimer's intention, in
engaging me at g. price fo much above what he
was accuftomed to give, was, that I might form
all thefe raw journeymen and apprentices, who
fcarcely coft him any thing, and who, being in
dentured, would, as foon as they fhould be fuffiT
ciently inftructed, enable him to do without me.
I nevertheless adhered to my agreement., I put
the office in order, which was in the utmoft con
dition, and brought his people, by degrees, to
pay attention to their work, and to execute it in
a more mafterly ftyle.
It was lingular to fee an Oxford fcholar in the
condition of a purchafed fervant. He was not
more than eighteen years of age ; and the follow
ing are the particulars he gave me of himfelf.
Born at Gloucefter, he had been educated at a
grammar fchool, and had diftinguiflied himfelf
among the fcholars by his fuperior ftyle of a&ing,
when they reprefented dramatic performances.
He was member of a literary club in the town ;
and fome pieces of his compofition, in profe as
well as in verfe, had been inferted in the Glou
cefter papers. From hence he was fent to Ox
ford,

Dr. TR AN KLIN. 71
ford, where he remained about a year ; but he
"was not contented, and wifhed above all things
to fee London, and become an actor. At length,
having received fifteen guineas to pay his quar
ter's board, he decamped with the money from
Oxford, hid his gown in a hedge, and travelled
to London. There, having no friend to direct
him, he fell into bad company, foon Squandered
'his -fifteen guineas, could find no way of being
introduced to the actors, became contemptible,
pawned his clothes, and was in want of bread.
As he was walking along the Streets, almoft fa-
mifhed with hunger, 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 difpofed to ferve in America. He
inftantly repaired to the houfe of rendezvous, in-
lifted himfelf, was put on board a Ship and con
veyed to America, without ever writing a line
to inform his parents what was become of him.
His mental vivacity, and good natural difpofiti-
on, made him an excellent companion; but he
was indolent, thoughtlefs, and to the laft degree
imprudent. John, the Irifhman, foon ran away. 'I began
to live very agreeably with the reft. They ref-
pected me, and the more fo as they found Kei
mer incapable of inftructing them, and as they
learned fomething from me every day. We ne
ver worked on a Saturday, it being Keimer's
fabbath ; fo that -I had two days a week for read

ing.

I increafed my acquaintance with perfons of
knowledge and information in the town. Kei
mer himfelf treated me with great civility and
apparent efteem ; and I had nothing to give me
uneafinefs but my debt to Vernon, which I was
unable to pay, my favings as yet being very lit
tle.

72 LIFE of
tie. He had the gpodnefs, however, not to afk:
me for the money.
Our prefs was frequently in want of the ner
ceffary quantity of letter ; and there was no fuch
trade as that of letter-founder in America. I had
feen the practice of this art at the houfe of James,
in London ; but had at the time paid, it very lit
tle attention. I however contrived to fabricate
a mould- I made life of fuch letters as we had
for punches, founded new letters of lead in ma
trices of clay, and thus fupplied, in a tplerable
manner, the wants that were moft preffing.
I alfo, upon occafion, engraved various orna
ments, made ink, gave an eye to the fhop ; in
fhort I was in every refpect the faclotum. But
¦pfeful as I made myfelf? I perceived that my
fervices became eyery day of lets importance, in
proportion as the other men improved ; and
when Keimer paid me my fecond quarter's wages,
he gave me to tinderftand that they were too
heavy, and that he thought I ought to make an
abatement. He became by degrees lefs civil, and
affumed more the tone of matter. He frequently
found fault, was difficult to pleafe, and Teemed
always on the point of coming to an open quarrel
with me.
I continued, however, to bear it patiently,
conceiving that his ill-humour was partly occa
fioned by. the derangement and embarraffment
pf his affairs. At laft a flight incident broke our
connection. Hearing a noife in the neighbour
hood, I put my head out at the window tp fee
what was the matter. Keimer being in the ftreet,
obferved me, and in a loud and angry tone told
me to mind my work ; adding fome reproachful
wprds, which piqued me the more as they were
uttered in the ftreet ; and the neighbours, whom
the fame noife had attracted to the windows,
were witneffes of the manner in which I was
treated.

Dr. FRANKLIN. 73
treated. He immediately came up to the print
ing room, and continued to exclaim againft me.
The quarrel became warm on both fides, and he
gave me notice to quit him at the expiration of
three months, as had been agreed between us ;
regretting that he was obliged to give me fo long
a term. I told him that his regret was fuperflu-
ous, as I was ready to quit him inftantly ; and
I took my hat and came out of the houfe, beg
ging Meredith to take care of fome things which
Heft, and bring them to my lodgings.
Meredith came to me in the evening. We
talked for fome time upon the quarrel that had
taken place. He had conceived a great venera
tion for me, and was forry I fhould quit the
houfe while he remained in it. He diffuaded
me from returning to my native country, as I
began to think of doing. He reminded me that
Keimer owed more than he poffeffed ; that his
creditors began to be alarmed ; that he kept his
Shop in a wretched ftate, often felling things at
prime coft for the fake of ready money, and con
tinually giving credit withopt keeping any
accounts; that of confequence hemuft very foon
fail, which would occafion a vacancy from which
I might derive advantage'. I objected my want
of money. Upon which he informed me that
his father had a very high opinion of me, and,
from a converfation that had paffed between
them, he was fure that he would advance what
ever might be neceffary to eftablifh us, if I was
willing to enter into partnerfhip with him. " My
" time with Keimer," added he, "will be at an end
" next fpring. In the mean time we may fend
" to London for our prefs and types. 1 know
" that I am no workman ; but if you agree to
" the propofal, your fkill in the bufinefs will be
" balanced by the capital I fhall furnifh, and we
" will

74 LIFE of
»" will Share the profits equally." His propofal
was reafonable, and I fell in with it. His father,
<who was, then in the town, approved of it. He
knew that I had fome afcendancy over his fon,
as I had been able to prevail on him to abftain a
long time from drinking brandy ; and he hpped
that, when more clofely connected with him, I
ftiould cure him entirely of this unfortunate ha-
.bit. I gave the father a lift of what it would be
neceffary to import from London. He took it
to a merchant, and the order was given. We
agreed to keep the fecret till the arrival of the
materials, and I was in the mean time to procure
work, if poffible, in another printing-houfe ; but
there was no place vacant, and I remained idle.
After fome days, Keimer having the expectation
of being employed to print fome New-Jerfey
money-bills, that would require types and en
gravings which I only could furnifh, and fearful
that Bradford, by engaging me, might deprive
him of this undertaking, fent me a very civil
meffage, telling me that old friends ought not to
be difunited on account of a few words, which
were the effect only of a momentary paffion, and
inviting me to return to him. Meredith perfua-
ded me to comply with the invitation, particu
larly as it would afford him more opportunities
of improving himfelf in the bufinefs by means of
my inftructions. I did fo ; and we lived upon
better terms than before our feparation.
He obtained the New-Jerfey bufinefs ; and, in
order to execute it, I conftructed a copper-plate
printing-prefs ; the firft that had been feen in the
country. I engraved various ornaments and vig
nettes for the bills ; and we repaired to Burling
ton together, where I executed the whole to the
general fatisfaction ; and he received a fum of
money

Dr. FRANKLIN. 75
money for this work, which enabled him to keep
his head above water for a confiderable time Ion?
ger. At Burlington I formed acquaintance with the
principal perfonages of the province ; many of
whom were commiffioned by the affembly to fu-
perintend the prefs, and to fee that no more bills
were printed than the law had prefcribed. AcT
cordingly they were conftantlywithus,each in his
turn ; and he that came commonly brought with
him a friend or two to bear him company. My
mind was more cultivated by reading than Kei-
mer's ; and it was for this reafon, probably, that
they fet more value on my converfation. They
took me to their houfes, introduced me to their
friends, and treated me with the greateft civili
ty; while Keimer, though matter, faw himfelf a -
little neglected. He was, in fact, a ftrange ani
mal, ignorant of the common modes of life, apt
to oppofe with rudenefs generally received opini
ons, an enthufiaft in certain points of religion,
difguftingly unclean in his perfon, and a little
knavifh withall.
We remained there nearly three months ; and
at the expiration of this period I could include in
the lift of my friends, Judge Allen, Samuel Buf-
til, fecretary of the province, Ifaac Pearfon, Jo-
feph Cooper, feveral of the Smiths, all members
of the affembly, and Ifaac Deacon, infpector-ge-
neral. The laft was a Shrewd and fubtle old man.
He told me, that, when a boy, his firft employ
ment had been that of carrying clay to brick-ma
kers ; that he did not learn to write till he was
fomewhat advanced in life ; that he was after
wards employed as an underling to a furveyor,
who taught him his trade, and that by induftry
he had at laft acquired a competent fortune. " I
" forefee," faid he one day to me, " that you will
" foon

76 LIFE of
" foon fupplant this man," fpeaking of Keimer,
" and get a fortune in the bufinefs at Philadel-
" phia." He was wholly ignorant at the time of
my intention of eftablifhing myfelf there, or any
where elfe. Thefe friends were very ferviceable
to me in the end, as was I alfo, upon occafion, to
fome of them ; and they have continued ever
fince their efteem for me.
Before I relate the particulars of my entrance
into bufinefs, it may be proper to inform you
what was at that time the ftate of my mind as to
moral principles, that you may fee the degree of
influence they had upon the fubfequent events of
my life.
My parents had given me betimes religious
impreffions ; and I received from my infancy a
pious education in the principles of Galvinifm.
But fcarcely was 1 arrived at fifteen years of age,
when, after having doubted in turn of different
tenets, according as I found them combated in
the different books that I read, I began to doubt
of revelation itfelf. Some volumes againft deifm
fell into my hands. They were faid to be the
fubftance of fermons preached at Boyle's lecture.
It happened that they produced on me an effect
precifely the reverfe of what was intended by the
writers ; for the arguments of the deifts, which
were cited in order to be refuted, appeared to
me much more forcible than the refutation itfelf.
In a word, I foon became a perfect deift. My
arguments perverted fome other young perfons ;
particularly Collins and Ralph. But in thefequel,
when I recollected that they had both ufed me
extremely ill, without the fmalleft remorfe ; when
I confidered the behaviour of Keith, another free
thinker, and my own conduct towards Vernon
and Mifs Read, which at times gave me much
uneafinefs, 1 was led to fufpect that this doctrine, though

Dr. FRANKLIN. 77
though it might be true, was not very ufeful.
I began to entertain a lefs favourable opinion of
my London pamphlet, to which I had prefixed,
as a motto, the following lines of Dryden ;
Whatever is, is right ; though purblind man
Sees but part of the chain, the neareft link,
His eyes not carrying to the equal beam
That poifes all above.
and of which the object was to prove, from the
attributes of God, his goodnefs, wifdom, and
power, that there could be no fuch thing as evil
in the world ; that vice and virtue did not in
reality exift, and were nothing more than vain
diftinctions. I no longer regarded it as fo blame-
lefs a work as I had formerly imagined ; and I
fufpected that fome error muft have impercepti
bly glided into my argument, by which all the
inferences I had drawn from it had been affected,
as frequently happens in metaphyfical reafonings.
In a word, I was at laft convinced that truth,
probity, and fincerity, in tranfactions between
man and man, were of the utmoft importance to
the happinefs of life ; and I refolved from that
moment, and wrote the refolution in my journal,
to practife them as long as I lived.
Revelation indeed, as fuch, had no influence
on my mind ; but I was of opinion that, though
certain actions could not be bad merely becaufe
revelation prohibited, or good becaufe it enjoin
ed them, yet it was probable that thofe actions
were prohibited becaufe they were bad for us,
or enjoined becaufe advantageous in their nature,
all things confidered. This perfuafion, Divine
Providence, or fome guardian angel, and perhaps
a concurrence of favourable circumftances co
operating, preferved me from all immorality, or
grofs and voluntary injuftice, to which my want
of religion was calculated to expcfe me, in the
dangerous

j& LIFE of
dangerous period of youth, and in the hazard-*
ous fituations in which I fometimes found myfelf,
among ftrangers, and at a diftance from the eye
and admonitions of my father. I may fay -volun
tary, becaufe the errors into which I had fallen,
had been in a manner the forced refult either of
my own inexperience, or the difhonefty of others.
Thus, before I entered on my new career, I had
imbibed folid principles, arid a character of pro
bity. I knew their value ; and I made a folemn
engagement with myfelf never to depart from
them. I had not long returned from Burlington be
fore our printing materials arrived from London.
I fettled my accounts with Keimer, and quitted
him, with his own content, before he had any
knowledge of our plan. We found a houfe to
let near the market. We took it ; and to ren
der the rent lefs burthenfome (it Was then twen
ty-four pounds a-year, but I have fince known"
it to let for feventy,), we admitted Thomas God
frey, a glazier, with his family, who eafed us of
a confiderable part of it ; and with him we agreed
to board.
We had no fooner unpacked our letters,
and put our prefs in order, than a perfon of
my acquaintance, George Houfe, brought us
a countryman, whom he had met in the ftreets
enquiring for a printer. Our money was almoft
exhaufted by the number of things we had
been obliged to procure. The five fliillings we
received from this countryman, the firft fruit
of our earnings, coming fo feafonably, gave me
more pleafure than any fum I have fince gained;
and the recollection of the gratitude 1 felt on
this ocafion to George Houfe, has rendered
me often more difpofed, than perhaps I fhould
otherwife have been, to encourage young begin
ners in trade. There

Dr. FRANKLIN. 79
There are in every country morofe beings3
who are always prognofticating ruin. There was
one of this ftamp at Philadelphia. He was a man
of fortune, declined in years, had an air of wif-
dom, and a very grave manner of fpeaking.
His name was Samuel Mickle. I knew him not;
but he flopped one day at my door, and afked me
if I was the young man who had lately opened a
new printing-houfe. Upon my anfwering in the
affirmative, he faid that he was very forry for me,
as it was an extenfive undertaking, and the mo
ney that had been laid out upon it would be loft,
Philadelphia being a place falling into decay ; its
inhabitants having all, ot nearly all of them, been
obliged to call together their creditors. That he
knew, from undoubted fact, the circumftances
which might lead us to fuppofe the contrary, fuch
as new buildings, and the advanced price of rent,
to be deceitful appearances, which in reality con
tributed to haften the general ruin ; and he gave
me fo long a detail of misfortunes, actually ex-
ifting, or which were foon to take place, that he
left me almoft in a flate of defpair. Had I known
this man before I entered into trade, I fhould
doubtlefs never have ventured. He continued
however to live in this place of decay, and to de
claim in the fame ftyle, refuting for many years
to buy a houfe, becaufe all was going to wreck j
and in the end I had the fatisfact-ion to fee him
pay five times as much for one as it would have
coft him had he purchafed it when he firft began
his lamentations.
I ought to have related, that, during the au
tumn of the preceding year, I had united the ma
jority of well-informed perfons of my acquaint
ance into a club, which we called by the name of
the Junto, and the object of which was to^ improve
our underftanding. We met every Friday even

ing.

80 LIFE pf
ing. The regulations I drew up, obliged every
member to propofe, in his turn, one or more
queftions upon fome point of morality, politics or
philofophy, which were to be difcuffed by the
fociety; and to read, once in three months, an
effay of his own compofition, on whatever fubject
he pleafed. Our debates were under the direction
of a prefident, and were to be dictated only by a
fincere defire of truth; the pleafure of difputing,
and the vanity of triumph having no fhare in the
bufinefs; and in order to prevent undue warmth,
every expreffion which implied obftinate adhe
rence to an opinion, and all direct contradiction,
were prohibited, under fmall pecuniary penalties.
The firft members of our club were Jofeph
Breintal, whofe occupation was that of a ferive-
ner. He was a middle-aged man, of a good na
tural difpofition, ftrongly attached to his friends*-
a great lover of poetry, reading every thing that
came in his way, and writing tolerably well, in
genious in many little trifles, and of an agreeable
converfation. Thomas Godfrey, a fkilful, though felf-taught
mathematician, and who was afterwards the In
ventor of what now goes by the name of Had-
ley's dial ; but he had little knowledge out of
his own line, and was infupportable in company,
always requiring, like the majority of mathema
ticians that have fallen in my way, an unufual
precifion in every thing that is faid, continually
contradicting, or making trifling diftinctions ; a
fure way of defeating all the ends of converfati
on. He very foon left us.
Nicholas Scull, a furveyor, and who became
afterwards furveyor-general. He was fond of
books, and wrote verfes.
William Parfons, brought up to the trade of
a fhoe-maker, but who, having a tafte for read ing,

Dr. FRANKLIN. 8i
irig, had acquired a profound knowledge of ma
thematics. He firft ftudied them with a view to
aftrblogy, and was afterwards the firft to laugh
at his folly. .He alfo became furveyor-general.
William Mawgridge, a joiner, and very ex
cellent mechanic ; and in other refpects a man of
folid understanding.
Hugh Meredith, Stephen Potts, and George
Webbj of whom I have already fpoken.
Robert Grace, a young man of fortune ; gene
rous, animated* and witty; fond of epigrams,
but more fond of his friends;
And laftly, William Coleman, at that time a
merchant's clerk, and nearly of my own age.
He had a cooler and clearer head, a better hearty
and more frrupulous morals, than almoft any
other perfon I have ever met with. He became
a very refpedtable merchant, and one pf our pro
vincial judges. Our friendfhip fubfifted, with
out interruption, for more than forty years, till
the period of his death ; and the club continued
to exift almoft as long. ;
This was the beft fchool of politics and philo-
fophy that then exifted in the province; for our
queftions, which were read a week previous to
their difcuffion, induced us tp perufe attentively
fuch books as were written upon the fubjects
propofed, that we might be able to fpeak upon
them more pertinently. We thus acquired the
habit of converting more agreeably ; every object
being . difcuffed conformably to our regulations,
and in a manner to prevent mutual difguft. . To
this circumftance may be attributed the long du
ration of the club ; which I fhall have frequent
occafion to mention as I proceed.
I have introduced it here, as being one of the
means on which I had to count for fuccefs in my
bufinefs ; every member exerting himfelf to pro-
G cure

82 LIFE PF
cure work for us. Breintnal, among others', ob
tained for us, on the part of the Quakers, the
printing of forty Sheets of their hiftory ; of which
the reft was to be done by Keimei*. Our execu
tion of this work was by no means mafterly ; as
the price was very low. It was in folio, rapon
pro patria paper, and in the pica letter, with hea-*
vy notes in the Imalleft type. I compofed a Sheet
a day, and Meredith put it to the prefs. It was
frequently eleven o'clock at night, fometimes la
ter, before I had finifhed my diftribation for the
next day's tafk ; for the little things which our
friends occafionally fent us, kept us back, in this.
work: but I was fo determined to comppfe 2
fhege a day, that one evening, when my forrrt
was impofed, and my day's work, as I thought,.
at an grid, an accident having broken this form,
and deranged two complete folio pages, I imme
diately diftributed, and compofed them anew
before IiWe'nt to bed.
This unwearied induftry, which was pereeived;
by our neighbours, began to acquire us reputa
tion arid credit. I learned, among' other things,
that Pttr new printing-houfe being the fubject ofr
converfation at a club of merchants, who irte£
every evening, it was the general opinion that it
would fail; there being already two printing-
houfes in the town, Keimer's and Bradford's*
BtrtDr. Bard, whom you and I had occafion to fee,
many years after, at his native town of St. An
drew's in Scotland, was of a different opinion.
" The induftry of this Franklin (faid he) is fu-
" perior to any thing of the kind I have ever wit-
" netted. I fee him ftill at Work when I return
" from the club at night, and he is at it again in
" the morning before his neighbours are out of
*' bed." This account fti'uck the reft of the affem
bly, arid Shortly after one of its members came to
our

Dr. FRANKLIN, 83
our houfe, and offered to Supply us with articles
of Stationary j but we wifhed not tas yet to em-
barrafs purfe'lves wjtl^ keeping- a Shop. , It is not
for the fake, of apglaufe that,! enter fo freely into
the particulars, of my incluftry, but fuch of my
defcerirlantsas fhall read thefe memoirs may know.
the ufe of this virtue, by feeing in the recital of
my life the effects it operated in my favour.
_ George. Wejjb, having found a friend who lent
him the neceffary Sum to ljuy out his time of
Keimer, came one day to offer himfelf to us as a
journeyman. v jVe could not employ him imme
diately ; but I fqplifhly told him, under the rofe,
that I intended, Shortly to publifh a new periodi
cal paper, ^nd that we,, fhould then have work
for him. My hopes of fuccefs, which I imparted
to him, were founded on the circumftance, that
the only paper we had in Philadelphia at that
time, and^which Bradford printed, was a paltry
thing, miferably conducted, in no refpect amu-
fing, and which yet was profitable. I cpnfequent-
ly fuppofed that a gppd work of this kind could
not fail of fucceft. Webb betrayed my fecret to
Keimer, who, to prevent me, immediately pub^
lifhed the profpettus of a paper that he intended
to inftitute himfelf, and in which Webb was to
be engaged.
I was exafperated at this proceeding, and, with
a view to counteract them, not being able at pre
fent to inftitute my own. paper, I wrote fome fni*
morous pieces in Bradford's, under the title of
the Bufy Body*; and which was continued for
feveral months by Breintnal. I hereby fixed the
attention of the public upon Bradford's paper;
and the profpeclus of Keimer, which we turned
* A manufcript note in the file of the American Mercury;
preferved in the Philadelphia library, fays, that Franklin:
wrote the firft five numbers, and part of the eight.
G a into

84 LIFE of
into ridicule, was treated with contempt. He
began, riotwithftanding, his paper ; and after
continuing it for nine months having at moft not
more than ninety fubferibers, he offered it me
for a mere trifle; I had for fome time been ready
for fuch an engagement ; I therefore inftantly
took it upon myfelf, and in a few years it pro
ved extreimely profitable to me.
I perceive that I am apt to fpeak in the firft
perfon, though our partnerfhip ftill continued.
It is, perhaps, becaufe, in fact, the whole bufi
nefs devolved upon me. Meredith was no com
pofitor, and but an indifferent preffman ; and it
was rarely that he abftained from hard drinking.
My friends were forry to fee me connected with
him ; but I contrived to derive from it the ut-
moft advantage the cafe admitted.
Our firft number produced no other effect than'
any other paper which had appeared in the pro
vince, as to type and printing ; but fome remarks,
in my peculiar ftyle of writing, upon the difpute
which then prevailed between governor Burnet
and the Maflachufett affembly, Struck fome per
fons as above mediocrity, caufed the paper and
its editors to be talked of, and in a few weeks
induced them' to become our fubferibers. Many
others followed their example ; and our fubferip-
tion continued to increafe. This was one of the
firft 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, feeing in the author of this publication a
man fo well able to ufe his pen, thought it right
to patronife and encourage me.
The votes, laws, and other public pieces, were
printed by Bradford. An addrefs of the houfe
of affembly to the governor had been executed
by him in a very coarfe and incorrect manner.
We

Dr. FRANKLIN. S$
We reprinted it with accuracy and neatnefs, and
fent a copy to every member. They perceived
the difference ; and it fo Strengthened the influ
ence of our friends in the affembly, that we were
nominated its printer for the following year.
Among thefe friends I ought nPt to forget 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
warmly interefted himfelf for me on this occafi
on, as he did likewife on many others afterwards ;
having continued his kindnefs to me till his death.
About this period Mr. Vernon reminded me of
the debt I owed him, but without preffing me
for payment. I wrote a handfome letter on the
occafion, begging him to wait a little longer, to.
which he confented ; and as foon as I was able J
paid him, principal and intereft, with many ex-
preflions of gratitude ; fo that this error of my
life was in a mariner atoned for.
But another trouble now happened to me,
which I had not the fmalleft reafon to expect.
Meredith's father, who, according to our agree
ment, was to defray the whole expence of our
printing materials, had only paid a hundred
pounds. Another hundred was ftill due, and
the merchant being tired of waiting, commen
ced a fuit againft us. We bailed the action, but
with the melancholy profpect, that, if the mo
ney was not forth-comirig at the time fixed, the
affair would come to iffue, judgment be put in
execution, our delightful hopes be annihilated,
and ourfelves entirely ruined ; as the type and
prefs mutt be fold, perhaps at half their value,
to pay the debt.
In this diftrefs, two real friends, whofe gene
rous conduct I have never forgotten, and never
fhall forget while I retain the remembrance of
any

8dv LIFE PP.
any thing, came to me feparately, without the
kriowledge of each other, and without my hav
ing applied to either of them. Each offered me
whatever money might be neceffary, to take the
bufinefs into my own hands, if the thing was
practicable,' as they did not like I fhould conti
nue in partnerfhip with Meredith, who, they
faicl, was frequently feen drunk in the ftreets,
anfl gambling at afe-houfes, which very much
injured pur credit. Thefe friends were William
Coleman and Robert Grace. I told them, that
while there remained any probability that the
Merediths would fulfil their part of the compact,
I could not proppfe a Separation ; as t conceived
myfelf to be under obligations to them for what
they had dprie already, and were ftill difpofed to
do if they pad the power : but in the end fhould
they fail in their erigagement, and our partner
ship be diflblved, I Shoqld then think myfelf at
liberty to accept the ^indnefs of my friends.
Things r?maiP6d for fome time in this ftate.
At laft I faid one day to my partner, " your fa
ther is perhaps diffatisfied with your having a
Share only in the bufinefs, and js unwilling* tp
do for two, what he would do fpr you alone.
Tell me frankly if that be the cafe, and I will
refign the whole to you, and do for myfelf as well
as T can.-'-—" No (faid he) my father has reafly
been difappointed in his hopes ; he is not able tp
.pay, and I wifh to put him to no farther incon
venience. I fee that I am not at all calculated
for a printer ; I was educated as a farmer, and
it was abfurd in me to come here, at thirty years
of age, and bind myfelf apprentice to a new
trade. Many of my countrymen are going tp
fettle in North Carolina, where the foil is' ex
ceedingly favourable. I am tempted to go with
them, anil t0 refume my former occupation. You

Dr. FRANKLIN. ' £7
You will doubtlefs find friends who will affift
yot?. If you will take upon yourfelf the debts
of the partnership, return my father the hundred
pounds he has advanced, pay my little perfonal
debts, and give me thirty pounds and a new fad-
die, I will renounce the partnerfiiip, and confign
over the whole ftock to you."
I accepted this propofal without hefjtation. 'ft
-was committed to paper, and figned and feafed
without delay. I gave him what he demanded,
and he departed foon after for Carolina, from
Whence he fent me, in the following year, two
letters, containing the beft accounts that had yet
been given of that country, as to climate, foil,
agriculture, &e. ; for he was well verfed in thefe
matters. I publifhed them in my newfpaper,
and they were received with great fatisfaction.
As foon as he was gone I applied to my two
friends, and not wifhing to give a difobliging
preference to either of them, I accepted from
each half of what he offered me, and which it
was neceffary I fhould have. I paid the partner
ship debts, and continued the bufinefs on my
own account ; taking care to inform the public,
by advertifement, of the partnerfhip being diffol-
ved. This was, I think, in Ihe year 1729, or
thereabput. Nearly at the fame period the people demanded
a new emiffion of paper money ; the exifting
gnd only one that had taken place in the pro
vince, and which amounted to fifteen thoufand
pounds, being foon to expire. The wealthy in
habitants, prejudiced againft every fort of paper
currency, from the fear of its depreciation, of
which there had been an inftance in the province
of New-England, to the injury of its holders,
Strongly oppofed the meafure. We had difeuffed
this affair in our junto, in which I was on the
fide

68 LIFE of
fide of the new emiffion ; convinced that the firft
fmall fum, fabricated in 1 72,3 , had done much good
in the province, by favouring commerce, induf
try and population, fince all the houfes were now
inhabited, and many others building ; whereas
I remembered to have feen, when I firft paraded
the ftreets of Philadelphia eating my roll, the
majority of thofe in Walnut-ftreet, Second-ftreet,
Fourth-ftreet, as well as a great number in Chef-
nut and other ftreets, with papers on them fig-
nifying that they were to be let ; which made
me think at the time that the inhabitants of the
tpwn Were deferring it one after another.
Our debates made me fo fully matter of the
fubject, that I wrote and publifhed an anony
mous pamphlet, entitled An Enquiry into the
Nature and Neceffity of a Paper Currency. It
^Was very well received by the lower and mid-
ling clafs of people ; but it difpleafed the opulent,
as it increafed the clamour in favour of the new
emiffion. Having, , however, no writer among
them capable of anfwering it, their oppofition be
came lefs violent ; and there being in the houfe
of affembly a majority for the meafure, it paffed.
The friends I had acquired in ^he houfe, perfua-
decj that I had, done the country effential fervice
on this occafion, rewarded me by giving me the
printing of the bills. It was a lucrative employ
ment, and proved a very feafonable help to me ;
another advantage which I derived from having
habituated myfelf to write
Time and experience fo fully demonftrated the
utility of paper currency, that it never after ex
perienced any confiderable oppofition ; fo that
it foon amounted to 55,0001. and in the year j 739
to 8o,oool. It has fince rifen, during the laft
war, to 350,000!. trade, buildings and popula
tion having in the interval continually iqcrqafed :
but

Dr. FRANKLIN. 89
but I am now convinced that there are limits be
yond which paper money would be prejudicial.
I foon after obtained, by the influence of my
friend Hamilton, the printing of the Newcattle
paper money, another profitable work, as I then
thought it, little things appearing great to per
fons of moderate fortune ; and they were really
great to me, as proving great encouragements.
He alfo procured me the printing of the laws and
votes of that government, which I retained- as
I continued in the bufinefs.
I now opened a fmall ftationer's fliop. I kept
bonds and agreements of all kinds, drawn up iri
a more accurate form than had yet been feen in
that part of the world; a work in which I was
affifted by my friend Breintnal. I had alfo paper,
parchment, pafteboard, books, &c. One White-
math, an excellent compofitor, whom I had
known in London, came to offer himfelf. I en
gaged him ; and he continued conftantly and
diligently to work with me. I alfo took an apr
prentice, the*fon of Aquila Rofe.
I began to pay, by degrees, the debt I had
contracted; and in-order to infure my credit,
and character as a tradefrnan, I took care not on
ly to be really induftrious and frugal, but alfo
to avoid every appearance of the contrary. I was
plainly dreffed, and never feen in any place of
public amufement. 1 never went a fifhing or
hunting. A book indeed enticed me fometimes
from my work, but it was feldom, by Health,
and occafioned no feandal ; and to Show that I
did not think myfelf above my profeflion, I con
veyed home fometimes in a wheelbarrow the pa
per I purchafed at the warehoufes.
I thus obtained the reputation of being an in
duftrious young man, and very punctual in his
payments. The merchants who imported arti cles

oo LIFE of
cles of ftationav/y folieited my cuftom; others
offered to furnifh me with books, and my little
•trade went on profperoufly.
Meanwhile the credit and bufinefs of Keimer
-diminifliing every day, he was at laft forced tp
fell his flock to fatisfy his creditors ; and he be
took himfelf to Barbadoes, where he lived for
fome time in a very impoverithed ftate. His ap
prentice, David Harry, whom I had inftructed
while I worked with Keimer, having bought his
materials, fucceeded him in the bufinefs. I was
apprehenfive, at firft, of finding in Harry a pow
erful competitor, as he was allied to an opulent
and ' refpectable family; I therefore propofed a
partnerfhip, which, happily for me, he rejected
with difdain He was extremely prpud, thought
himfelf a fine gentleman, lived extravagantly,
and purfued amufements. which fuffer-ed him to
be fcareely ever at home ¦¦; -of confequence he be
came in debt, neglected his bufinefs, and bufinefs
neglected him. Finding in a fhort time nothing
to do in the country, he followed Keimer to Bar
badoes, carrying his printing materials with him.
There the apprentice employed his old mailer as
a journeyman. They were continually quarrel
ling; and Harry ftill getting in debt, was obliged
at laft tp fell his prefs and types, and return to
his old occupation of hufbandry in Pennfylvania.
The perfon who purchafed them employed Kei
mer to manage the bufinefs ; but he died a few
years after.
I had now at Philadelphia no competitor but
Bradford, who, being in eafy circumftances, did
npt engage in the printing of books, except now
and then as workmen chanced to otter themfelves;
and was not anxious to extend his trade. He
had, however, ope advantage over me, as he had
the direction of the port office, and was of con
fequence

Dr. FRANKLIN. qt
fequence fuppofed to have bejtter oppprfunitjes of
obtaining news. His paper was alfo fuppqfed tp
be more advantageous to adyertjfing cuflpmers ;
and in confequence of that fuppofitipn, his adver-
tifements were much more purnerous thap mine*
this was a fource of great profit to him, and dif-
advantagepus tp me. It w^s to np purpofe that
I really procured other papers, apd distributed
my own, by means pf fhe ppft ; the public took
for granted my inability jn this, refpeet ; and I
Was indeed upable to eqnquer it iq any other
mode than by bribing the poll-boys, who ferved
me only by ftealth, Bradford being fo illiberal as
to fprbi4 them- This treatment of his excited
my refentment ; and my dilguft was fo rpotedj
that, when I afterward^ Succeeded Wm m t|ie
ppff -office, I took care tq avoid copying hi? e#*
ample. 1' had hitherto continued to board with Godr
frey, who, with his wife, "and children, occupied
part pf my houfe, and half pf tii£ flipp for lyjs,
bufinefs ; at which iqcjeed he worjted very little,
being always abfprbed. hy mathematics. Mil*
Godfrey formed a with of iparryipg me to {he
daughter pf qne pf her relations. She contrived
variot}s opportunities pf bringing us. together, tifl
fhe faw that I was, captivated ; which was not
difficult, the lady in queftion poffeffing gieat per-
fonal merit. The pi^rppts encouraged my ^4-
dreffes, by inviting rqe continually to fupper?
and leaving us together, tiil at laft it w^s time
to come tp an explanation. Mrs. Godfrey un
dertook tp negotiate our little treaty. I gave her
tp underftand, that I expected tp receive; with,
the youpg }ady a furri pf money th^t would enable
me at leaft tp difefiajge the remainder of niy debt
for my printing materials. It was, then, I be.
Sieve, not mpre than. a hundrec} pounds, She

brought

92 LIFE of
brought me for anfwer, that they had no fuch
fum at their difpofal. I obferved that it might
eafily be obtained, by a mortgage on their houfe.
The reply to this was, after a few days interval,
that they did not approve of the match ; that
they had confulted Bradford; and found that
the bufinefs of a printer was not lucrative ; that
my letters would' foon be worn out, and mutt he
fupplied by new ones ; that Keimer and Harry
had failed, and that, probably, I fhould do fo too.'
Accordingly they forbade me the houfe, and the
young lady was confined. 1 know not if they
had really changed their minds, or if it was mere
ly an artifice, fuppofing our affections to be too
far engaged for us to defift, and that we fhould
contrive to marry fecretly, which would leave
them at liberty to give or not as they pleafed.
But, fufpecting this motive, I never went again
to their houfe;
Some time after Mrs. Godfrey informed me
that they were very favourably difpofed towards
me, and wifhed me to renew the acquaintance ;
but I declared a firm refolution never to have
any thing more to do with the family- The
Godfreys' exprefled fome refentment at this ; and
as we could no longer agree, they changed their
refidence, leaving me in poffeffion of the whole
houfe. I then refolved to take no more lodgers.
This affair having turned my thoughts to
marriage, I looked around me, and made over
tures of alliance in other quarters ^ but I foon
found that the profeflion of a printer being gene
rally looked upon as a poor trade, I could expect
no money with a wife, at leaft if I wifhed her to
poffefs any other charm. Meanwhile that paffiOn
of youth, fo difficult to govern, had often drawn
me into intrigues with defpicable women who fell
in my way;, which were not unaccompanied with

Dr. FRANKLIN. 93
with expence and inconvenience, betides the per
petual rifk of injuring my health, and catching
a difeafe which I dreaded above all things. But
I was fortunate enough to efcape this danger.
As a neighbour and old acquaintance, I had
kept up a friendly intimacy with the family of
Mifs Read. Her parents had retained an. affecti
on for me from the time of my lodging in their
houfe. I was often invited thither'; they con-
ful'ted me about their affairs, and I had been fome
times ferviceable to therri. I was touched with
the unhappy fituation of their daughter, who
was almoft always melancholy, and continually
feeking folitude. I regarded my forgetfulnefs
and inconftancy, during my abode in London,
as the principal caufe of her misfortune; though
her mother had the candour to attribute the
fault to herfelf, rather than to me, becaufe, after
having prevented our marriage previoufly to my
departure, fhe had induced- her to marry another
in my abfence.
Our mutual affection revived ; but there ex \
ifted great obftacles to our union. Her marriage
was confidered, indeed, as not being valid, the
man having, it was faid, a former wife ftill liv
ing in England ; but of this it was difficult to ob
tain a proof at fo great a diftance ; and though
a report prevailed of his being dead, yet we had
no certainty of it; and fuppofing it to be true,
he had left many debts, for the payment of which
his fucceffor might be fued. We ventured ne
vertheless, in fpite of all thefe difficulties ; and I
married her on the firft of September 1730.
None of the inconveniences we had feared hap
pened to us. She proved to me a good and faith
ful companion, and contributed effentially to the
fuccefs of my fhop. We profpered together, and
it was our mutual ftudy to render each other
happy.

$4 LIFE o*
happy. Thus I corrected, as well as I cotild, this
great error of riiy youth.
Our" club was riot at that tifhe effablifned at a
tavern. We held our riieetirig at the houfe of
Mr. Grace, who appropriated a fborii to the
purpofe'. Sorhe member obferved one day* that
as our books were frequently quoted iri the courfe
of our difcuffions, if would be convenient to have
them collected in the room in which we affem-
bled, iri order to be corifuffed upon dceafiori ;,
arid that," by thus forrriirig a coihrhori library of
our individual collections, each would have the
advantage of ufing the books of all the other
members, which would nearly be fhe" farire as if
he pofteued them all hinifelf. The idea was ap
proved, arid we accordirigly brought Such book's;
as we thought we could fpafe, which were placed
at the end of the club-room. ( They arhourifed
not to fo rriany as ^e expected ; arid though we
made confiderable ufe of them, yet forhe incon
veniences refulting, frorn want of cafe, it was
agreed, after about a year, to deftroy the collecti
on ; and each took away fuch books as belPliged
to hirri.
It was rioV that I firft Started the idea dfefta-
blifhing, by"fubferiptiori? a public library. I drdfw
up' the propofals, had tliefri irigroffed in forth by
Brock'deri ther attorney, arid rhy project fucceed-
ed, as will be feen in the fequel *' * * ' * *

*

[The life of D'r" Franklin, as written by him
felf, fo far as it has yet been communicated to
the world, breaks off iri this place. We under-
ftarid that it was contiriued by him fomewhat
farther, arid we hope that the remainder will, at
fome future period, be communicated to the
pulic. We' have no hefitation in fuppofing that
every

Dr. FRANKLIN. $$
every reader will find himfelf greatly int'efe'ttedf
by the ffarik fimplieity arid the philofophical dif-
eerriffie'M by Which thefe paSges are fo eminently
chaia^grife-'di We have therefore thought pro
per, in order as much as poffible to relieve his:
regret, to fubjoin the following continuation, by
one of fife Do&or's intimate friends. It is ex^
tracted from an Arneriean periodical pt^blicatiori^
and was Written by tfi6 late Dr. Stub©" * of Phi*
ladelphia.]

X HE promotion of liEefatiife had been little at
tended to in Penfylvariia* Moft of the inhabi
tants were too much imnieffed iri bufinefs to
think of feientific pucfuits ;- and thofe few, whofe
inclinations led them to ftudy, found it difficult
to gratify therri, from the want of fufficieritly
large libraries. In fuch circumftances,, the efta-
* Dr. Stuber was bbrn in Philadelphia* of German- pa
rents. He was fent, at an early age,, to the uriiverfity, where
his genius, diligence* and-aTfiiable temper fbori acquire'd'hinfi
the pWtictffar notice and favour of thofe under whofe imme
diate direction he was placed. After faffing through th6
comrnqn courfe of ftudy, in a much fborter time than ufual,-
he left the univerfity, at the age of fixteen, with great repu
tation. Not long after, he entered oil the ftudy of Phytic i
arid' the zeal with which he ptfrfued it, and the adva'nees he
matte!, gave his friends r'eafon to form the moft flattering prof-
pefts of his future' eminence and ufefulnefs in the profeflion.
As Dr. Stuber's circu-m-ftances were very moderate, he did not
think this purfuit- well calculated- to anfwer them. He there
fore felifiquifhed it, after he had obtained a degree in the pro-
fetfrori, and qualified himfelf to prafttfe with credit arid fuccefs ;
and immediately entered on the' ftudy of Law. In purfuit of
thelwft mentioned** object he was prematurely arretted, before
he had an opportunity of reaping the fruit of thofe talents
with which he was endowed; and of a youth fpeht'in the ar
dent and fuccefsful purfuit of ufeful and elegant literature. blifhment

96 LIFE orf
blifhment of a public library was an important
event.- This was firft fet on foot by Franklin,
about the year 1731. Fifty perfons fubfcribed
forty fliillings each, and agreed to pay ten Shil
lings annually. The number encreafed ; and in
1742, the company was incorporated by the.
name of" The Library Company of Philadelphia."
Several other companies were formed in this city
in imitation of it. Thefe were at length united
with the library company of Philadelphia, which
thus received a confiderable acceffion of books
and property. It now contains about eight thou-
fand volumes on all fubjects, a philofophical ap
paratus, and a good beginning towards a collecti-
tion of natural and artificial curiofities, befides
landed property of confiderable value. The com
pany have lately built an elegant houfe in Fifth-
ttreet, in the front of which will be erected a
marble ftatue of their founder, Benjamin Franklin.
This inftitution was greatly encouraged by the
friends of literature in America and in Great Bri
tain. The Penn family diftinguiflied themfelves
by their donations. Amongft the earlieff friends
of this inftitution muft be mentioned the late
Peter Collinfon, the friend and correfpondent of
Dr. Franklin. He not only made confiderable
prefents himfelf, and obtained others from his
friends, but voluntarily undertook to manage the
bufinefs of the company in London, recommend
ing books, purchafing and fliipping them. His
extenfive knowledge, and zeal for the promotion
of fcience, enabled him to execute this important
truft with the greateft advantage. He continued
to perform thefe fervices for more than thirty
years, and uniformly refufed to accept of any
compenflition. During this time, he communi
cated to the directors every information relative to

Dr. FRANKLIN. 97
to improvements and difcoveries in the arts, agri
culture, and philofophy.
The beneficial influence of this inftitution was
foon evident. The cheapnefs of terms rendered
it acceffible to every one. Its advantages were
not confined to the opulent. The citizens in the
middle and lower walks of life were equally par
takers of them. Hence a degree of inforriiation
was extended amongft all clafies of people, which
is very unufual in other places. The example
was foon followed. Libraries were eftablifhed in
various places, and they are now become very
numerous in the United States, and particularly
in Pennfylvania. It is to be hoped that they will
be ftill more widely extended*' and that informa
tion will be every where increafed. This will be
the beft fecurity 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, cannot be enflaved. It is in the
regions of ignorance that tyranny reigns. It flies
before the light of fcience. Let the citizens of
America, then, encourage inftitutions calculated
to diffufe knowledge amongft the people ; and
amongft thefe, public libraries are not the leaft
important. In 1732, Franklin begain to publifh Poor Rich
ard's Almanack. This was remarkable for the
numerous and valuable concife maxims which it
contained, all tending to exhort to induftry and
frugality. It was continued for many years. In
the almanack for the laft year, all the maxims
were collected in an addrefs to the reader, enti
tled, The Way to Wealth. This has been tran-
flated into various languages, and inferted in dif
ferent publications. It has alfo been printed on
a large fheet, and may be feen framed in many
houfes in this city. This addrefs contains, per-
li haps,

98. LIFE of
haps, the beft practical fyftern of eeconomy that
ever has appeared. It is written in a manner
intelligible to every one, and which cannot fail
of convincing every reader of the juftice and pro
priety of the remarks and advice which it con
tains. The demand for this almahack was fo
great, that ten thoufand have been fold in one
year ; which rtiuft be confidered as a very large
number, efpecially when We reflect,, that this
country was, at that time, but thinly peopled.
It cannot be doubted that the falutary maxims
contained in thefe almanacks muft have made a
favourable impteffion upon many of the readers
of therii..
It was not long before Franklin entered upon
his political career. In the year 1736, he was
appointed1 clerk to the general affembly of Penn-
fylvania ;- and was re-elected by fucceeding affem-
blies for feveral years, until he was chofen a re-
prefentative for the city of Philadelphia.
Bradford was poffeffed of fome advantages over
Franklin, by being poft-mafter, thereby having
an opportunity of circulating his paper more ex-
tenfively, and thus rendering it a better vehicle
for advertifements, &c. Franklin, in his turn,
enjoyed thefe advantages, by being appointed
pott-matter of Philadelphia in 1737". Bradford,
while in office, had acted ungerieroufly towards
Franklin, preventing as iftuch as poffible the cir
culation of his paper. He had now an opportu
nity of retaliating; but his noblenefs of foul pre
vented him from making ufe of it.
The police of Philadelphia had early appointed
watchmen, whofe duty it was to guard the citi
zens againft the midnight robber, and to give
an immediate alarm in cafe of fire. This duty
is, perhaps, one of the moft important that can
be committed to any fet of men. The regulati ons.

Dr. FRANKLIN. 09
ons, however, were not fufficiently ftrict. Frank
lin Saw the dangers arifing from this caufe, and
fuggefted. an alteration, So as to oblige the guar
dians of the night to be more watchful over the
lives and preperty of the citizens. The propri
ety of this was immediately perceived, and a: re
form was effected.
There is nothing more dangerous to growing
cities than fires!. Other caufes operate flowly,
and almoft imperceptibly ; but thefe in a mo-
riient render abortive the labours of ages. On
this account there fhould be, in all cities, ample
provifions to prevent fires from fpreading. Frank
lin early faw the neceffity of thefe ; arid, about:
the year 1738, forrned the firft fire-company in
this city. This example was foon followed by
Others ; and there are now numerous fire-compa
nies in the city and liberties. To thefe may be
attributed in a great degree the activity in extin-
guifhing fires, for which the citizens of Philadel
phia are diftiriguifhedi and the inconfiderable da
mage which this city has fuftained from this
caufe. Some time after, Franklin fuggefted the
plan of an affociation for inferring houfes from
loffes by fire, which was adopted ; and the affo
ciation continues to this day. .The advantages;
experienced from it have been great.
From the firft eftablifhment of Pennfylvania, z
fpirit of difpute appears to have prevailed amongft
its inhabitants. During the life-time of William
Penn, the conftitution had been three times al
tered. After this period, the hiftory of Pennfyl
vania is little elfe than a recital of the quarrels
between the proprietaries, or their governors,
and the affembly. The proprietaries contended
for the right of exempting their lands from tax-
es ; to which the affembly would by no means
content. This fubject of difpute interfered in al-
H 2 moft

ioo LIFE op
moft every queftipn, and prevented the moft fa-
lutary laws from being enacted. This at times
fubjected the people to great inconveniences. In
the year i 74/], during a war between France and
Great Britain, fome French and Indians had
made inroads upon the frontier inhabitants of the
province, who were unprovided for fuch an at
tack. It becarne neceffary that the citizens
fhould arm for their defence. Governor Thomas
recommended to the affembly, who were then
fitting, to pafs a militia law. To this they
would agree only upon condition that he fhould
give his affent to certain laws, which appeared
to tliem calculated to promote the interefts of the
people. As he thought thefe laws would be in
jurious to the proprietaries, he refufed his affent
to them ; and* the affembly broke up without paf-
fing a militia law. The fituation of the province
was at this time truly alarming : expofed to the
continual inroads of an enemy, and deftitute of
every means of defence. At this crifis Franklin
ftepped forth, and propofed to a meeting of the
citizens of Philadelphia,, a plan of a voluntary
affociation for the defence of the province. This
was approved of, and figned by twelve hundred
perfons immediately. Copies of it were circula
ted throughout the province; and in a fhort
time the number of figners amounted to ten
thoufand. Franklin was chofen colonel of the
Philadelphia regiment ; but he did not think pro
per to accept of the honour.
Purfuits of a different nature now occupied the
greatelt part of his attention for fome years. He
engaged in a courfe of electrical experiments,
with all the ardor and thirft for difcovery which
characterized the philofophers of that day. Of
all the branches of experimental philofophy elect
ricity had been leaft explored. The attractive
power of amber is mentipned by Theophraftus and

Dr. FRANKLIN. ioi
and Pliny, and, from them, by later naturalifts.
In the year 1 600, Gilbert, an Englifh phyfician,
enlarged confiderably the catalogue of fubftancei
which have the property of attracting light bodies.
Boyle, Otto Guericke, a burgomafler of Magde
burg, celebrated as the inventor of the air pump,
Dr. Wall, and Sir Ifaac Newton added fome facts.
Guericke firft obferved the repulfive power of
-electricity, and the light and noife produced by
it. In 1709, Hawkefbee communicated fome
important observations and experiments to the
world. For feveral years electricity was entirely
neglected, until Mr. Grey applied himfelf to it,
in 1728, with great affiduity. He, and his friend
Mr. Wheeler, made a great variety of experi
ments ; in which they demonftrated, that electri
city may be communicated from one body to
another, even without being in contact, and in
this way may be conducted to a great diftance.
Mr. Grey afterwards found, that, by fufpending
irods of iron by filk or hair lines, and bringing an
excited tube under them, fparks might be drawn,
and a light preceived at the extremities in the
dark. M. Du Faye, intendant of the French
king's gardens, made a number of experiments,
which added not a little to the fcience. He made
the difcovery of two kinds of electricity, which
he called vitreous and rejinous; the former pro
duced by rubbing glafs, the latter from excited
fulphur, fealing-wax, &c. But this idea he after
wards gave up as erroneous. Between the years
1739 and 1742, Defaguliers made a number of
experiments, but added little of importance. He
firft ufed the terms conduclors and eleclrics, per fe.
In 1742, feveral ingenious Germans engaged in
this fubject. Of thefe the principal were, pro
feffor Boze of Wittemberg, profeffor Winkler of
Leipfic, Gordon, a Scotch Benedictine monk,
profeffor

102 LIFE o?
profeffor of philofophy at Erfurt, and Dr.' Ludolf
of Berlin. The refult of their refearches afto-
nifhed the philofophers of Europe. Their appar
ratus was large, and by means of it they were en
abled to collect large quantities of electricity, and
-thus to produce phenomena which had been
¦hitherto unobferved. They killed fmall birds,
and fet fpirits on fire. Their experiments ex
cited the curiofity of other philofophers. Collin
fon, about the year 1745, fent to the library com
pany pf Philadelphia an account of thefe experi
ments, together with a tube, and directions how
to ufe it. Franklin, with fome of his friends,
immediately engaged in a courfe of experiments ;
the refult of which is well known. He was en
abled to make a number of important difcoveries,
and to propofe theories to account for various
phenomena ; which haVe been uniyprfally adop
ted, and which bid fair to endure for ages. His
bbfervations he communicated/ in a feries of
letters, tp his friend Collinfon ; the firft of which
js dated March 28, 1747. In thefe he makes
known the power of points' in' drawing and
throwing off the electrical matter, which had hi
therto efeaped the notice of electricians. ' He
alfo made the grand difcovery of a plus and minus,
or of a pofiti-ve and negative ftate of electricity.
We give him the honour of this, without hefii
tation ; although the Englifh have claimed it for
their countryman Dr. Watfon. Watfon's paper
is dated January 21, 1748; Franklin's July 11,
1747; feveral months prior. Shortly after,
Franklin, from his principles of plus and minus
ftate, explained, in a fatisfaclory manner, the
phenomena of the Leyden phial, firft obferved by
Mr. Cuueus, or by profeffor Mufchenbroeck of
Leyden, which had much perplexed philofophersi
He fhewed clearly that the bottle, when charged,
v/' ' containecj

Dr. FRANKLIN. • 103
contained no more electricity than before, but
that as much -was taken from one fide as was
thrown on the other; and that, to difcharge it,
nothing was neceffary but to make a communica
tion between the two fides, by which the equili
brium might be reftored, and that then no figns
of electricity would remain. He afterwards de-
monftrated, by experiments, that the electricity
did not refide in the coating, as had been fuppof
ed, but in the pores of the glafs itfelf. After a
phial was charged, he removed the coating, and
found that upon applying a new coating the fhock
might ftill be received. In the year 1749, he firft
fuggefted his idea of explaining the phenomena
o£ thunder-gufts, and of the aurora borealas,
upon electrical principles. He points out many
particulars in which lightning arid electricity
agree; and he adduces many facts, and reafoning
from facts, in Support of his pofitiops. In the
fame year -he conceived the aftonifliingly bold
and grand idea of afcertaining the truth of his
doctrine, by aftually drawing down the forked
lightning, by means of Sharp-pointed iron rods
raifed into the region of the clouds. "Even in
this uncertain ftate, his paffion to be ufeful to
mankind difplays itfelf in a powerful manner.
Admitting the identity of electricity and light
ning, and knowing the power of points in repel
ling bodies charged with electricity, and in con
ducting their fire filently and imperceptibly, he
fuggefts the idea of fecuring houfes, fhips, &c.
from being damaged by lightning, by erecting
pointed iron rods, which mould rife fome feet
above the moft elevated part, and defcend fome
feet into the ground or the water. The effect of
thefe, he concluded, would be either to prevent
a ftroke by repelling the cloud beyond the ftrik-
ing diftance, or by drawing off the electrical fire
which

104 LIFE of
which it contained; or, if they could not effect
this, they would at leaft conduct the ftroke to
the earth, without any injury to the building.
It was not until the fummer of 1752, that he
was enabled to complete his grand and unparal
leled difcovery by experiment. The plan which
he had originally propofed, was, to erect on fome
high tower, or other elevated place, a centry-box,
from which fhould rife a pointed iron rod, in-
fulated by being fixed in a cake of refin. Electri
fied clouds patting over this, would, he conceiv
ed, impart to it a portion of their electricity,
which would be rendered evident to the fenfes
by fparks being emitted, when a key, a knuckle,
or other conductor, was prefented to it. Phila
delphia at this time afforded no opportunity of
trying an experiment of this kind. Whilft Frank
lin was waiting for the erection of a foire, it oc
curred to him, that he might have more ready
accefs to the region of clouds by means of a com
mon kite. He prepared one by attaching two
crofs fticks to a filk handkerchief, which would
not fuffer fo much from the rain as paper. To
his upright flick was affixed an iron point. - The
firing was, as ufual, of hemp, except the lower
end, which was filk. Where the hempen firing
terminated, a key was fattened. With this ap
paratus, on the appearance of a thunder-guft ap- +
proaching, he went out into the commons, ac
companied by his fon, to whom alone he com
municated his intentions, well knowing the ridi
cule which, too generally for the intereft of
fcience, awaits unfuccefsful experiments in phi
lofophy. He placed himfelf under a Shed to avoid
the rain. His kite was raifed. A thunder cloud
paffed over it. No fign of electricity appeared.
He almoft defpaired of fuccefs; when fuddenly
he obferved the loofe fibres pf his String to move
towards

Dr. FRANKLIN. to*
towards an erect pofition. He nowprefented his
knuckle to the key, and received a ftrong fpark.
How exquifite mutt his fenfations have been at
this moment! On this experiment depended the
fate of his theory. If he fucceeded, his name
would rank high amongft thofe who have im
proved fcience ; if he failed, he mull inevitably
be fubjected to the derifion of mankind, or, what
is worfe, their pity, as a well-meaning man, but
a weak, filly projector. The anxiety with which
he looked for the refult of his experiment, may
eafily be conceived. Doubts and defpair had be
gun to prevail, when the fact was after tained in
fo clear a manner, that even the moft incredulous
could no longer withhold their affent. Repeated
fparks were drawn from the key, a phial was
charged, a fhock given, and all the experiments
made, which' are ufually performed with electri
city. About a month before this period, fome inge
nious Frenchmen had completed the difcovery,
in the manner Priginally propofed by Dr. Frank
lin. The letters which he fent to Mr. Collinfon,
it is faid, were refuted a place amongft the papers
of the Royal Society of London. However this
may be, Collinfon publifhed them in a feparate
volume, under the title of New Experiments and
Obfervations on Eleclricity, made at Philadelphia, in
America. They were read with avidity, and foon
tranflated into different languages. A very in
correct French tranflatiop fell into the hands of
the celebrated Button, who, notwithstanding the
difadvantages under which the work laboured,'
was much pleated with it, and repeated the ex
periments with fuccefs. He prevailed upon his
friend,' M. D'Aljbard, to give to his country
men a more correct tranflation of the work of
jhe American electrician. This contributed much
towards

5o6 " ' LIFE op
towards Spreading a knowledge of Franklin's
principles in France. The King, Louis XV. hear
ing of thefe experiments, exprefled a wifh to be
a Spectator of them. A courfe of experiments
was given at the feat of the Due D'Ayen, at St.
Germain, by M. De Lor. The applaufes which
the King bellowed upon Franklin, excited in
Buffon, D'Alibard, and, De Lor, an earneft de
fire of afcertaining the truth of his theory of
thunder-gufts. Buffon erected his apparatus on
the tower of Montbar, M D'Alibard at Mary-la-
ville, and De Lor at his houfe in the Efirapade at
Paris, fome of the higheft ground in that capital.
D'Alibard's machine firft Shewed figns of electri
city. On the ioth of May, 1752, a thunder
cloud paffed over it, in the abfence of M. D'Ali
bard; and a number of fparks were drawn from
it by Coiffier, a joiner, with whom D'Alibard
had left directions how to proceed, and by M.
Raulet, the prior of Mary4arville. An account
of this experiment was given to the Royal Aca
demy of Sciences, in a memoir by M. D'Alibard,
dated May 13th, 1752. On the 18th of May,
M. De Lor proved equally fuccefsful with the
apparatus erected at his own houfe. Thefe difco-
veries foon excited the philofophers of other parts
of Europe to repeat the experiment. Amongft
thefe, ' none fignalized themfelves more than Fa
ther Beccaria cf Turin, to whofe obfervations
fcience is much indebted. Even the cold regions
of Ruffia were penetrated by the ardor for dif-
covery. Profeffor Richman bade fair to add
much to the flock of knowledge on this Subject,
when an unfortunate flafh from his rod put a
period to his exittence. The friends of fcience
will long remember with regret the amiable
martyr to electricity. By

Dr. FRANKLIN. 107
By thefe experiments Franklin's theory was
eftabliShed in the moft firm manner. When the
truth of it could no longer be doubted, the va
nity of men endeavoured to detract from its
merit. That an American, an inhabitant of the
obfcure city of Philadelphia, the name of which
was hardly known, fhould be able to make dif-
coveries, and to frame theories, which had ef-
caped the notice of the enlightened philofophers
. of Europe, was too mortifying to be admitted.
He .putt certainly have taken the idea from fome
one elfe. An American, a being of an inferior
order, make difcoveries I Impoffible. It was faid,
that the AbbeNollet, in 1748, had fuggefted the
idea of the Similarity of lightning and electricity,
in his Eecons de Phyfique. It is true, that the
Abh£ mentions' the idea, but he throws it out
as a bare conjecture, and propofes no mode of
afcertaining the truth of it. He himfelf acknow
ledges,' that' Franklin firft entertained the bold
Ithought of bringing lightning from the heavens,
by means of pointed rods fixed in the air. The
Similarity of electricity and lightning is fo Strong,
that we need not be furprifed at notice being
taken of it, as foon as electrical phenomena beT
came familiar. ' We find it mentioned by Dr.
Wall and Mr. Greyj while the fcience was in its
infancy. But the honour of forming a regular
theory of thunder-gufts, of fuggefting a mode of
determining the truth of it by experiments, and
of putting thefe experiments in practice, and
thus eftablifhing his theory upon a firm and folid
bafis, is inconteftibly due to Franklin. D'Alibard,
"who made the firft experiments in France, fays,
that he only followed the track which Franklin
had pointed out.
; It has been of late afferted, that the honour of
completing the experiment with the electrical
<-' ¦ ; : ' kite,

jo8 LIFE pp
kite, does not belong to Franklin. Some late
Englifh paragraphs have attributed it to fome
Frenchman, whofe name they do not mention ;
and the Abbe Bertholon gives it to M. De Romas,
-affeffor to the prefideaf of Nerac; the Englifh
paragraphs probably refer to the fame perfon.
But a very flight attention will convince us of
.the injustice of this procedure : Dr. Franklin's
experiment was made in June 1752; and his let
ter, giving, an account of it, is dated October 19,
1752. M. De Romas made his firft attempt on
the 14th of May 1753, but was not fuccefsful
Until the 7th of June ; a year after Franklin had
completed the ;difcovery, and when it was known
to all the philofophers in Europe.
Befides thefe great principles, Franklin's letters
on electricity contain a number of facts and
hints, which have contributed greatly towards
reducing this branch of knowledge to a fcience.
His friend, Mr Kinnerfley, communicated to him
a difeovery of the different kinds of electricity
-excited by rubbing glafs and fulphur. This, we
have faid, was firft obferved by M. Du Faye ; but
it was for many years neglected. The philofo
phers were difpofed to account for the pheno
mena, rather from a difference in the quantity
of electricity collected ; and even Du Faye him
felf feems at laft to have adopted this doctrine.
Franklin at firft entertained the fame idea ; but
upon repeating the experiments, he perceived
that Mr. Kinnerfley was right ; and that the vi
treous and refinous electricity of Du Faye were
nothing more than the pofttive and negative ftates
which he had before obferved; that the glafs
globe charged pofitively, or increafed the quantity
of electricity on the prime conductor, whilft the
globe of fulphur diminifhed its natural quantity,
or charged negatively. Thefe experiments and ob-
fervations

Dr. FRANKLIN. 109
fervations opened a new field for 'investigation',
upon which electricians entered with avidity ;
and their labours have added much to the Stock
of pur knowledge.
In September 1752, Franklin entered upon a
courfe of experiments, to determine the ftate of
electricity in the clouds. From a number of ex
periments he formed this conclufion : " that the
clouds of a thunder-gull are moft commonly in
a negative ftate of electricity, but fometimes irt
a pofitive ftate ;" and from this it follows, as a
neceffary confequence, " that, for the moft 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 thefe obfervations
is dated in September 1753 » anc* yet fche difeo-
very of afcending thunder has been faid to be of
a modern date, and has been attributed to the
Abb6 Bertholon, who published his memoir, on
the Subject in 1776.
Franklin's letters have been tranflated into
moft of the European languages, and into Latin.
In proportion as they have become known, his
principles have been adopted. Some oppofition
was made to his theories, particularly by the
Abbe" Nollet, who was, however, but feebly fup-
ported, whilft the firft philofophers of Europe
ftepped forth in defence of Franklin's princi
ples ; amongft whom D'Alibard and Beccaria
were the moft diftinguiflied. The oppofition has
gradually ceafed, and the Franklinian fyftem is
now univerfally adopted, where fcience flou
rishes. The important practical ufe which Franklin
made of his difcoveries, the fecuring of houfes
from injury by lightning, has been already men
tioned. Pointed conductors are now very com
mon in America ; but prejudice has hitherto' pre-
/ / , // vented

iio LIFE of
vented their general introduction into Europe,
no'twithftanding the moft undoubted proofs of
their utility have been given. But mankind can
with difficulty be brought to lay afide eftablifhed
practices, or to adopt new ones. And perhaps
We have more reafon to be furprifed that a prac
tice, however rational, which was propofed about
forty years ago, fhould in that time have been
adopted in fo many places, than that it has not
univerfally prevailed. It is only by degrees that
the great body of mankind can be led into new
practices, however falutary their tendency. It is
now nearly eighty years fince inoculation was in
troduced into Europe and America ; and it is fo
far from being general at prefent, that it will,
perhaps, require one or two centuries to render
itfo. In the year 1745, Franklin pubUfhed an ac-
copnt of his new-invented Pennfylvania fire
places, in which he minutely and accurately Hates'
the advantages and difadvantages of different
kinds of fire-places ; and endeavours to fhew
that the one which he defcribes is to be preferred
to any other. This contrivance has given rife to
open ftoves now in general ufe, which however
differ from it in conftructipn, particularly in not
having an air-box at the back, through which a
conftant fupply of air, warmed in its paffage, is
thrown into the room. The advantages of this
are, that as a ftream of warm air is continually
flowing into the room, lefs fuel is neceffary to
preferve a proper temperature, and the room
may be fo tightened as that no air may enter
through cracks ; the confequencer> o£ which are
colds, tooth-aches, &c.
Although philofophy was a principal object of
Franklin's purfuit for feveral years, he confined
himfelf not to this. In the year 1747, he became
a member

Dr. FRANKLIN. ~ in
a mernbef of the general affembly of Pennfylva-
nia, as a burgefs for. the city of Philadelphia.
Warm difputes at this time fubfifted between the
affembly and the proprietaries ; each contending
for what they conceived to be their juft rights.
Franklin, a friend to the rights of man from his
infancy, foon distinguished himfelf as a Steady
opponent of the unjuft fchemes of the proprieta
ries. He was foon looked up to as the head pf
the oppofition ; and to him have been attributed
many of the Spirited replies of the affembly, to
fhe meffages of the governors. His influence in
the body was very great. This arofe not from
any fuperior powers of eloquence; he fpoke but
feldom, and he never was known to make any
thing like an elaborate harangue. His fpeeches
often confifted of a fingle fentence, or of a well-
told Story j the moral of which was always ob-
Vioufly to the point. He never attempted the
flowery fields of oratory. His manner was plain
and mild. His ftyle in fpeaking was, like that
pf his writings, fimple, unadorned, and remark
ably concife. With this plain manner, and his
penetrating and folid judgment, he was able to
confound the moft eloquent and fubtle of his
adverfaries, to confirm the opinions of his
friends, and to make converts of the unpreju
diced who had oppofed him. With a fingle ob-
fervation, he has rendered of no avail an elegant
and lengthy difcourfe, and determined the fate
of a queftion of importance.
But he was not contented with thus fupporting
the rights of the people. He wifhed to render
them permanently fecure, which can only be
done by making their value properly known ;
and this mutt depend upon increafing and ex
tending information to every clafs of men. We
have already feen that he was the founder of the
public

ii2 LIFE of
public library, which contributed greatly to
wards improving the minds of the citizens. But
this was not fufficient. The fchools then fubfift-
ing were in general of little utility. The teachers
were men ill qualified for the important duty
which they had undertaken j and, after all, no
thing more could be obtained than the rudiments
of a common Englifh education. Franklin drew
up apian of an academy, to beerected in the city
of Philadelphia, fuited to " the Slate of an infant
country ;" but in this, as in all his plans, he
confined not his views to the prefent time only.
He looked forward to the period when an infti
tution on an enlarged plan would become necef
fary. With this view he confidered his academy
as " a foundation for pofterity to erect a feminary
of learning, more extenfive, and fuitable to future
circumftances." In purfuance of this plan, the-
constitutions were drawn up and Signed on the
13th of November 1749. In thefe, twenty-four
of the moft refpectable citizens of Philadelphia
were named as truftees. In the choice of thefe,
and in the formation of his plan, Franklin is faid
to have confulted chiefly with Thomas Hopkin-
fon, Efq ; Rev. Richard Peters, then Secretary
pf the province, Tench Francis, Efq ; attorney*
general, and Dr. Phineas Bond.
The following article Shews a fpirit of benevo^
lence worthy of imitation ; and", for the honour
of our city, we hope that it continues to be in
force. " In cafe of the difability of the reclor, or any
matter (eftabliShed on the foundation by receiv
ing a certain falary), through ficknefs, or any
other natural infirmity, whereby he may be re
duced to poverty, the truftees Shall have power
to contribute to his Support, in proportion to
his

Dr. FRANKLIN. 113
' his diftrefs and merit, and the flock in their
hands." .
The laft claufe of the fundamental rules is ex
prefled in language fo tender and benevolent, fo
truly parental, that it would do everlafting ho
nour to the hearts and heads of the founders.
" It is hoped' and expected that the truftees
will make' it their pleafure, and in fome degree
their bufinefs, to vifit the academy often ; to en
courage and countenance the youth, countenance
and affift the mafterg, and, by all means in their
power, advance the ufefulnefs and reputation of
the defign ; that they will look on the ftudents
as, in fome meafure, their own children, treat
them with familiarity and affection ; and when
they have behaved well, gone through their flu-
dies, and are to enter the world, they fhall zea-
loufly unite, and make all the intereft that can
be made, to promote and eftablifh them, whe
ther in bufinefs, offices, marriages, or any other
thing for their advantage, preferable to all other
perfons whatfoever, even of equal merit."
The conftitutions being figned and made pub
lic, with the names of the gentlemen propofing
themfelves as truftees • and founders, the defign
was fo well approved of by the public-fpirited ci
tizens of Philadelphia, that the fum of eight hun
dred pounds per annum, for five years, was in
the courfe of a few weeks fubferibed for carrying
it into execution ; and in the beginning of Janu
ary following (viz. 1750) three of the fchools
were opened, namely, the Latin and Greek
fchools, the Mathematical, and the Englifh
fchools. In purfuance of an article in the ori
ginal plan, a fchool for educating fixty boys and
thirty girls (in the charter fince called the Chari
table School) was opened, and amidft all the
difficulties with which the truftees have Struggled
I in

,ii4 LIFE of
in refpedtto their funds, has ftill been continued
full for the fpace of forty years ; fo that allowing
three years education for each boy and girl ad
mitted into it, which is the general rule, at leaft
twelve hundred children have received in it the
chief part of their education, who might other
wise, in a great meafure, have been left without
the means of instruction. And many of thofe'
who have been thus educated, are now to be
found among the moft ufeful and reputable citi
zens of this ftate.
The' inftitution, thus fuccefsfully begun, con
tinued daily to flourish, to the great Satisfaction
of Dr. Franklin ; who, notwithftandingthe mul
tiplicity of his other engagements and purfuits,
at that bufy ftage of his life, was a conltant at
tendant at the monthly visitations and examina
tions of the fchools, and made it his particular
Study, by means of his extenfive correfpondence
abroad, to advance the reputation of the femina-
ry, and to draw ftudents and fcholars to it from
different parts of America and the Weft Indies.
Through the interpofition of his benevolent and
learned friend, Peter Collinfon, of London, upon
the application of the truftees, a charter of in
corporation, dated July 13th, 1753, was obtain
ed from the honourable proprietors of Pennsylva
nia, Thomas Penn and Richard Penn, Efqrs. ac
companied with a liberal benefaction of five hun
dred pounds Sterling ; and Dr. Franklin now be
gan in good earneSt to pleafe himfelf with the
hopes of a fpeedy accomplishment of his original
defign, viz. the eftabliShment of a perfect institu
tion, upon the plan of the European colleges and
univerfities ; for which his academy was intend
ed as a nurfery or foundation. To elucidate this
fact, is a matter of confiderable importance in
yefpect to the memory and character of Dr. Frank lin,

9

Dr.. FRANKLIN. 115
lih, as a philofopher; and as the friend and pa
tron of learning and fcience ; for, notwithftand-
ing what is exprefsly declared by hirii in the pre
amble to the CPnftitutiOns, viz. that the academy
Was begun for " teaching the Latin and Greek
languages, with all ufeful branches of the arts and
feiences, Suitable to the ftate of an irifant country,
and laying a foundation for pofterity to erect a
feffiinary of learning more extepfive, and fuitable
to their future drcumftances ;" yet it has been
fuggefted of Sate, as upon, Dr. Franklin's autho
rity, that the Latin and Greek, or the dead lan
guages, are an incumbrance upon a fcheme of
liberal education, and that the engrafting or
founding a college, or more extenfive Seminary,
upon his academy, was without his approbation
or agency, and gave him difcontent. If the re-
verfe of this does not already appear, from what
has been quoted above, the following letters will
put the matter beyond difpute. They Were writ
ten by hirn to a gentleman, who had at that time
publifhed the idea of a college, Suited to the
circumstances of a young country (rrieaning New-
York), a copy of which having been fent to Dr.
Franklin for his opinion, gave rife to that cor-
refpondence which terminated about a year after
wards, in erecting the college upon the founda
tion of the academy, and establishing that gen
tleman as the head of both, where he ftill conti
nues, after a period of thirty-fix years, to prefide
with diftinguifhed reputation.
From thefe letters alfo, the ftate of the acade
my, at that time, will be feen.

1 2 Philad.

u6 LIFE ob
Philad.< April igth, 1753.
s 1 R,
I received your favour of the 1 ith inftant, with
your new * piece on Education, which I fhall care1-
full-y perufe, and give you my fentiments of it,
as you defire, by next pott.
I believe the young gentlemen, your pupils;
may be entertained and instructed here, in ma
thematics and philofophy, to fatisfaction. Mr.
Aiifon f (who was educated at Glafgow) has been
long accuftomed to teach the latter, and Mr.
Grew I the former ; and I think their pupils
make great progrefs. Mr. Aiifon has the care
of the Latin and Greek fchool, but as he has now
three good affiftants §, he can very well afford
fome hours every day for the inftruclion of thofe
who are engaged in higher fludies. The mathe
matical fchool is pretty well furnifhed with in-
ftruments. The Englifh library is a good one ;
and we have belonging. to it a middling appara
tus for experimental philofophy,- and purpofe
fpeedily to complete it. The Loganian library,
one of the belt collections in America, will Short
ly be opened ; fo that neither books nor instru
ments will be wanting ; and as we are determi
ned always to give good falaries, we have reafon
to believe we may have always an opportunity
of choofing good matters ; upon which, indeed*
the fuccefs of the whole depends. We are ob
liged tp you for your kind offers in this refpect,
* A general idea of the college of Mirania.
f The Rev. and learned Mr. Francis Allifon, afterwards-
D. D. and vice-provoft of the college.
J Mr. Theophilus Grew, afterwards profeffor of mathe
matics in the college.
§ Thofe affiftants were at that time Mr. Charles Thomfon»
lite fecretary of congrefs, Mr. Paul Jackfon, and Mr. Jacob
Duche. and

Dr. FRANKLIN. 117
and when you are fettled in England, we may
occafionally make ufe of your friendffifo,^nd
judgment. —
If it fuits your conveniency to vifit Philadel
phia before your return to Europe, I Shall be ex
tremely glad to fee and converfe with you here,
as well as to correspond With you after your fet-
tlement in England; for an acquaintance and'
communication with men of learning, virtue,
and public fpirit, is one of my greateft enjoy
ments. I do not know whether you ever happened to
fee the firft propofals I made for erecting this
academy. I fend them inclofed. They had
(however imperfect) the defired fuccefs, being-
followed by a fubfeription of four thoufand pounds,
towards carrying them into execution. And as
we are fond of receiving advice, and are daily
improving by experience, I am in hopes we Shall,
in a few years, fee a perfecl injiitution.
1 am very refpectfully, &c.
B. FRANKLIN.
Mr. W. Smith, Long-Ifland.
Philad. May $d, 1753.
SIR,
Mr. Peters has juft now been with me, and we
have compared notes on your new piece. We
find nothing in the fcheme of education, how
ever excellent, but what is, in our opinion, very
practicable. The great difficulty will be to find the
Aratus *, and other fuitable perfons, to carry it
* The name given to the principal or head of the ideal
college, the fyftem of education in which hath neverthelefs
been nearly realized, or followed as a model, in the college
and academy of Philadelphia, and fome other American fe-
minaries, for many years paft. into.

n8 LIFE of
into execution ; but fuch may be had if proper
encouragement be' given. We Ijaye both receiv
ed great pleafure in the perufal of" it. For my
part, I know not when I have read a piece that
has mpre affected me — fo noble and juft are the
fentiments, fo warm and animated the language ;
yet as cenfure from your friends may be of mpre
ufe, as well as more agreeable tp you than praife,
I ought to mention, that I wifh you had omitted
not only the quotation from the Review Vwhich
you are now juftly diffatisfied with, but thofe ex-
preffions of refentment againft your adyerfaries,
in pages 6$ and 79. In fuch cafes, the nobleft
victory is obtained by neglect, a.nd by Shining on.
Mr. Allen has been out of town thefe ten days ;
but before he went he directed me to procure
him fix copies of your piece. Mr. Peters has ta
ken ten. He purpofed to have written to you ;
but omits it, a,s' he experts fo foon. to have the
pleafure of feeing you here. He defires me to
prefent his affectionate compliments to you, and
to affure you that you will be very welcome tp
him. I Shall only fay, that you may depend on
my doing all in my power to make your vifit to
Philadelphia agreeable to you.
I am, &c.

B. FRANKLIN

Mr. Smith.

Phi/ad, N^ov. zpL, 1753.
DEAR SIR,
Having written you fully, via Briftol, I have
now little to add. Matters relating to the acade
my
* The quotation alluded to (from the London Monthly
Review for 1749), was judged to reflect too feverely on the
difcipline

Dr. FRANKLIN. 119
my remain in fiatu quo. The truftees would be
glad to fee a rector eftablifhed 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 profefibr,
or teacher of the higher branches of learning,
would drawfo many fcholars as to pay great part,
if not the whole of his falary. Thus, unlets the
proprietors (of the province) Shall think fit to put
the finishing hand to our inftitution, it mull, I
fear, wait fome few years longer before it can
arrive at that State of perfection, which to me it
feems now capable of ; and all the pleafure I pro
mifed myfelf in feeing you fettled among us, va
nishes into fmoke.
But good Mr. Collinfon writes me word, that
no endeavours of his fhall be wanting ; and he
hopes, with the archbifhop's affiftance, to be able
, to prevail with our proprietors *. I pray God
grant them fuccefs.
My fon prefents his affectionate regards, with,
deaf Sir, Yours, &c. B. FRANKLIN.
P. S. I have not been favoured With a line
from you fince your arrival in England.
JPhilad. April \%th, 1754.
DEAR SIR,
I have had but one letter from you fince your
arrival in England, which was a fhort one, via
difcipline and government of the Englifh universities of Ox
ford and Cambridge, and was expunged from .the following
editions of this work.
* Upon the application of archbifliop Herring and P. Col-.
linfon, Efq ; at Dr. Franklin's requeft, (aided by the letters
of Mr Allen and Mr. Peters) the hon. Thomas Penn, Efq;
fubfcribed an annual fum, and afterwards gave at leaft 5000I.
to the founding or engrafting the college upon the academy. Bofton,

i20 LIFE oj?
Bofton, dated October 1 8th, acquainting me that
you had written largely by Capt. Davis.^-Davis
was loft, and with him your letters, to my great
disappointment. — Mefnard and Gibbon have
fince arrived here, and I hear nothing from you.
¦ — My comfort is, an imagination that you only
omit writing becaufe you are coming, and pur
pofe to tell me every thing viva voce. So not
knowing whether this letter will reach you, and
hoping either to fee or hear from you by the
Myrtilla, Capt. Budden's fhip, which is daily ex
pected, I only add, that I am, with great efteem
and affection, Yours, &c» B. FRANKLIN."
Mr. Smith,

About a month after the date of this laft letter, '
the gentleman to whom it was addreffed arrived
in Philadelphia, and was immediately placed at
the head of the. feminary ; whereby Dr. Franklin
and the other truftees were enabled to profecute
their plan, for perfecting the inftitution, and
opening the college upon the large and liberal
foundation on which it now ftands ; for which
purpofe they obtained their additional charter,
dated May 27th, 1755.
Thus far we thought it proper to exhibit in
one view Dr. Franklin's fervices in the founda
tion and eftablifhment of this feminary. He foon
afterward embarked for England, in the public
fervice of his country ; and having been gene
rally employed abroad, in the like fervice, for
the greateft part of the remainder of his life (as
will appear in our fubfequent account of the fame),
he had but few opportunities of taking any fur
ther

Dr. FRANKLIN. 12s
ther active part in the affairs of the feminary,
until his final return in the year 1785, when he
found its charters violated, and his ancient col
leagues, the original founders, deprived of their
truft, .by an act of the legislature ; and although
his own name had been inferted among the new
truftees, yet he declined to take his feat among
them, or have any concern in the management of
their affairs, till the inftitution was reftored by
lav? to its original owners. He then affembled his
old colleagues at his own houfe, and being chofen
their prefident, all their future meetings were, at
his requeft, held there, till within a few months
of his death, when with reluctance, and at their
defire, left he might be too much injured by his
attention to their bufinefs, he fuffered them to
meet at the college.
Franklin pot only gave birth to many ufeful
inttitutions himfelf, but he was alfo inftrumental
in promoting thofe which had originated with
other men. About the year 1752, an eminent
phyfician of this city, Dr. Bond, confidering the
deplorable ftate of the poor, when vitited with
difeafe, conceived the idea of eftablifhing an hot
pital. Notwithstanding very great exertions on
his part, he was able to intereft few people fo far
in his berievolent plan, as to obtain fubferiptions
from them. Unwilling that his fchem& fhould
prove abortive, he fought the aid of Franklin,
who readily engaged in the bufipefs, both by
ufing his influence with his friends, and by Slating
the advantageous influence of the propofed insti
tution in his paper. Thefe efforts' were attended
with fuccefs. Confiderable fums were fubferibed ;
but they were ftill fhprt of what was neceffary.
Franklin now made another exertion. He ap
plied to the affembly ; and, after fome oppofition,
obtained leave to bring in a bfll, fpecifying, that as

S22 LIFE OF
as foon as two thoufand pounds were fubfcribed,
the fame fum fhould be drawn from the treafury
by the fpeaker's warrant, to be applied to the
purpofes of the inftitution. The oppofition, as
the fum was granted upon a contingency which
they fuppofed would never take place, were
Silent, and the bill paffed. The friends of the
plan now redoubled their efforts, to obtain fub
feriptions to the amount ftated in the bill, and
were foon fuccefsful. This was the foundatiPn
of the Pennfylvania Hofpital, which, with the
Bettering-houfe and Difpenfary, bears ample tef-
timony of the humanity of the citizens of Phi
ladelphia. Dr. Franklin had conducted himfelf fo well in
the office of poft-mafter, and had Shown himfelf
to be fo well acquainted with the bufinefs of that
department, that it was thought expedient to
raife him to a more dignified ftation. In 1 753
he was appointed deputy poft-mafter-general for
the Britith colonies. The profits arifing from
the pottage of letters formed no inconfiderable
part of the revenue, which the crown of Great-
Britain derived from thefe colonies. In the
hands of Franklin, it is faid, that the poft-office
in America yielded annually thrice as much as
that of Ireland.
The ifmerican colonies were much expofed to
depredations on their frontiers, by the Indians ;
and more particularly whenever a war took place
between France and England. The colonies, in
dividually, were either too weak to take efficient
meafores for their own defence, or they were
unwilling to take upon themfelves the whole
burden of erecting forts and maintaining garri-
fons, whilft their neighbours, who partook
equally with themfelves of the advantages, con
tributed nothing to the expence. Sometimes alfo

Dr. FRANKLIN. xa5
alfo the difputes, whfch fubfifted between the
governors ^nd affemblies, prevented the adop
tion pf means of defence ; as we haye feen was
the cafe in* Pennfylvania in 1 745, To devife a
plan pf union between the cplonies, to regulate
this and pther matters, appeared a defirable ob
ject. To accomplish this, in the year 1754, com
missioners from New-HampShire, Maflachufetts,
Rhpde-Ifland, New-Jerfey, Penpfylv^nia, and
Maryland, met at Albapy. Dr. Franklin attend
ed here, as a comipiffioner from Pennfylvania,
apd prpduced a plan, which, from the place of
meeting, has been ufually termed " The Albany
Plan of Union " This propofed, that applica
tion Should he made for an act of parliament, to
eftabliSh in the colonies a general government, to
be adminiftered by a prefident-general, appointed
by the crown? and by a grand council, consist
ing of members chpfen by the reprefentatives of
the different Colonies ; their number to be in
direct proportion to the turns paid by each colony-
intp tfie general treafury, with this reftridtion,
that np colony Should have mere than feven, nor
lets tha,p two reprefentatives. The whole execu
tive authority was committed to the prefident-
general. The power of legislation was lodged
in the grand council and prefidept-general joint
ly ; Ips content being made neceffary tp p&ffing a
bill into a law. The power vetted in the prefi-
dent and council were, to declare war and peace,
and to conclude treaties with the Indian nations ;
to regulate trade with, and to make purchafes of
vacant lands from them, either in the name of
the crown, or of the union ; to fettle new co
lonies, to make laws for governing thefe until
they Should be erected into Separate governments,
and to raife troops, build forts, fit out armed
yeffels, and life other means for the general de
fence :

124 LIFE of
fence : and, to effect thefe things, a power was
given to make laws, laying fuch duties, impofts,
or taxes, as they fhould find neceflary, and as
would be leaft burthenfome to the people. All
laws were to be fent to England for the king's
approbation ; and unlefs difapproved of within
three years, were to remain in force. -All offi
cers in the land or fea fervice were to be nomi
nated by the prefident-general, and approved of
by the general council ; civil officers were to be
nominated by the council, and approved by the
prefident. Such are the outlines of the plan pro
pofed, for the confideration of the congrefs, by
Dr. Franklin. After feveral days drfcuffion, it
was unanimoufly agreed to by the commiffioners,
a copy tranfmitted to each affembly, and one to
the king's council. The fate of it was Angular.
It was difapproved of by the miniftry of Great
Britain, becaufe it gave too much power to the
reprefentatives of the people ; and it was re
jected by every affembly, as giving to the prefi
dent-general, the reprefentative of the crown,
an influence greater than appeared to them pro
per, in a plan of government intended for free
men. Perhaps this rejection, on both fides, is
the ftrongeft proof that could be adduced of the
excellence of it, as fuited to the fituation of
America and Great-Britain at that time. It ap
pears to have fleered exactly in the middle, be
tween the oppofite interests of both.
Whether the adoption of this plan would have
prevented the feparation of America from Great
Britain, is a queftion which might afford much
room for fpeculation. It may be faid, that, by
enabling the colonies to defend themfelves, it
would have removed the pretext upon which the
ftamp-act, tea-act, and other acts of the Britifh
parliament, were paffed ; which excited a Spirit of

Dr. FRANKLIN. 125
of oppofition, and laid the foundation for the
feparation of the two countries. But, on the
other hand, it mutt be admitted, that the restric
tion laid by Great-Britain upon our commerce,
obliging us to fell our produce to her citizens
only, and to take from them various articles, of
which, as our manufactures were difcouraged,
we Hood in need, at a price greater than that
for which they could have been obtained from
other nations, mutt inevitably produce diffatif-
faction, even though no duties were impofed by
the parliament ; a circumftance which might Still
have taken place. Befides, as the prefident-ge
neral was to be appointed by the crown, he mutt,
of neceffity, be devoted to its views, and would,
therefore, refufe his affent to any laws, however
falutaryto the community, which had the moft
remote tendency to injure the interefts of his
fovereign. Even Should they receive his affent,
the approbation of the king was to be neceffary ;
who would indubitably, in every inftance, pre
fer the advantage of his home dominions to that
of his colonies. Hence would enfue perpetual
difagreements between the council and the prefi
dent-general, and thus, between the people of
America and the crown of Great-Britain : 
"While the colonies continued weak, they would
be obliged to fubmit, and as foon as they acquired
ftrength they would become more urgent in their
demands, until, at length, they would Shake off
the yoke, and declare themfelves independent.
Whilft the French v were in poffeffion of Ca
nada, their trade with the natives extended very
far ; even to the back of the Britifh fettlements.
They were difpofed, from time to time, to efta-
blifli polls within the territory, which the Englifh
claimed as their own. Independent of the in
jury to the fur-trade, which was confiderable, the

126 LIFE of
the colonies fuftered this further inconvenience,
that the Indians were frequeritly mitigated to
commit depredatioris On then4 frontiers. In the
year 1753, encroachments were riradfc trpoti.fhe
boundaries of Virginia. Refridnftrafices had no
effect. In the enfuing year, a body of men Was
fent out under the command of Mr. Wafhrri^tori,
who, though a very ydurig frian, had,- by his
conduct in the preceding year, Shewn himfelf
worthy of fuch an irriportant truft. Whilft
marching to take poSfefKori of the poft at the
junction of the Allegany and Monorigahela, he
was informed that the French had already erect
ed a fort there. A detachment of their men
marched againft him. He fortified himfelf as
Strongly as time and circurriftances would admit*
A fuperiority of numbers foon obliged him to
furrender Fort Neceffity. He obtained honourable
terms for himfelf ana men, and returned to Vir
ginia. The government' of Great-Britain now
thought it neceffary to interfere. In the year
1755, Gerieral Braddock, with fome regiments
of regular troPps, and provincial levies, was fent
to difpoffefs the French of the ppfts upon which
they had feized. After the men were all ready,
a difficulty occurred, Which had nearly prevent
ed the expedition. This was the want of Wag
gons. Franklin now ftepped forward, arid With1
the affiftance of his fon, in a little time procured
a hundred and fifty. Braddock unfortunately
fell into an ambufcade, and perifhed, with a
number of his men. Wafliington, Who had ac
companied 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
junction with the rear, under colofiel Dunbar,
upon whom the chief command now devolved. With

Dr. FRANKLIN. 127
With fome difficulty they brought their little
body to a place of Safety ; but they found it ne
ceffary to deftroy their waggons and baggage, to
prevent them from falling into the hands of the
enemy. For the waggons which he had fur
nifhed, Franklin had given bonds to a large
amount. The owners declared their intentions
of obliging him to make a reftitutibn of their
property. Had they put their threats in execu
tion, ruin muft inevitably have been the confe-
quence. Governor Shirley, finding that he had
incurred thefe debts for the fervice of govern
ment, made arrangements to have them dif-
charged, and releafed Franklin from his difagree-
able fituation.
The alarm Spread through the colonies, after
the defeat of Braddock, was very great. Pre
parations to arm were every where made. In
Pennfylvania, the prevalence ©f the quaker inte
reft prevented the adoption of any fyftem of de
fence, which would compel the citizens to bear
arms. Franklin introduced into the affembly a
bill for organizing a militia, 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 pafs ; for although
their principles would not fuffer them to fight,
they had no objections to their neighbours fight
ing for theim In confequence of this act a very
refpectable militia was formed. The fenfe of
impending danger infufed a military fpirit in all,
whofe religious tenets were not oppofed to war.
Franklin was appointed colonel of a regiment in
Philadelphia, which confifted of 1 200 men.
The north-weftern frontier being invaded by
the enemy, it became, neceffary to adopt mea-
fures for its defence. Franklin was directed by
the governor tp take charge of this bufinefs. A
power

1 2S, LIFE or
power of railing men, and of appointing officers
to command them, was vetted in him. He foon
levied a body of troops, with which he repaired
to the place at which their prefence was neceffa
ry. Here he built a fort, and placed the garrifon
in fuch a pofture of defence, as would enable
them to withstand the inroads, to which the in
habitants had previously been expofed. He re
mained here for fome time, in order the more
completely to difcharge the truft committed to
him. Some bufinefs of importance at length
rendered his prefence neceffary in the affembly,
and he returned to Philadelphia.
The defence of her colonies was a great ex-
pence to Great Britain. The moft effectual mode
of leffening this was, to put arms into the hands
of the inhabitants, and to teach them their ufe.
But England wifhed not that the 'Americans
fhould become acquainted with their own
ftrength. She was apprehenfive, that, as foon
as this period arrived, they would no longer fub-
mit to that monopoly of their trade, which to
them was highly injurious, but extremely ad
vantageous to the mother country. In compa
rifon with the profits of this, the expence. of
maintaining armies and fleets to defend them-
was trifling. She fought to keep them depend
ent upon her for her protection, the beft plan
which could be devifed for retaining them in
peaceable fubjection. The leaft appearance of_a
military fpirit was therefore to be guarded againft,
and, although a war then raged, the act organi
sing a militia was difapproved of by the ministry.
The regiments which had been formed under it
were difbanded, and the defence of the province
entrufted to regular troops.
The difputes between the proprietaries and the
people continued in full force, although a war was

Dr. FRANKLIN. 129
was raging on the frontiers. Not even the fenfe
of danger was fufficient to reconcile, for ever fo
fhort a time, their jarring interests^ The affem
bly ftill infilled upon the juftice of taxing the
proprietary eftates, but the governors conftantly
refufed to give their affent to this meafure, with
out which no bill could pafs into a law. Enraged
at the obftinacy, and what they conceived to be
unjuft proceedings of their opponents, the affem
bly at length determined to apply to the mother
country for relief. A petition was addreffed to
the king, in council, flating the inconveniencies
under which the inhabitants laboured, from the
attention of the proprietaries to their private in-
terefts, to the neglect of the general welfare of
the community, and praying for redrefs. Frank
lin was appointed to prefent this addrefs, as agent
for the province of Pennfylvania, and departed
from America in June 1757. In conformity to
the instructions which he had received from the
legiflature, he held a conference with the propri
etaries, who then refided in England, and endea
voured to prevail upon them to give up the long-
contefted point. Finding that they would hear
ken to no terms of accommodation, he laid his
petition before the council. During this time
governor Denny affented to a law impofing a tax,
in which no difcrimination was made in favour
of the eftates of the Penn family. They, alarmed
at this intelligence, and Franklin's exertions, ufed
their utmoft endeavours to prevent the royal
fanction being given to this law, which they re-
prefented as highly iniquitous, defigned to throw
the burthen of Supporting government upon them,
and calculated to produce the moft ruinous con-
fequences to them and their posterity. The caufe
was amply difeuffed before the privy council.
The Penns found here fome Strenuous advocates;
K nor

130 LIFE of
nor were there wanting fome who warmly ef-
poufed the fide of the people. After fome time
fpent in debate, a propofal was made, that Frank
lin Should folertinly engage, that the affeffment
of the tax Should be fo made, as that the proprie
tary eftates Should pay no more than a due pro-
pprtion. This he agreed to perform, the Penn
family withdrew their oppofition, and tranquility
was thus once more reftored to the province.
The mode irt which this difpute was termina
ted is a Striking proof of the high opinion enter
tained of Franklin's integrity and; honour, even
by thofe who confidered him as inimical to their
views. Nor was their confidence ill founded.
The affeffment was made upon the ftridteft prin
ciples of equity ; and the proprietary eftates bore
Prily a proportionable Share of the eXpences of
fupporting government.
After the completion of this important bufi
nefs, Franklin remained at the court of Great
•Britain, as agent for the province of Pennfylva
nia. The exterifive knowledge which he poffeff-
ed of the Situation of the colonies,- andthe regard
which he always manifefted for their interefts,
occafioned his appointment to the fame office by
the colonies of Maffachuffetts, Maryland, and
Georgia. His conduct, in this fituation, was
fuch as rendered him ftill more dear to his coun
trymen. He'had now an opportunity of indulging in
the fociety of thofe friends, Whom his merits had
procured him while at a diftance. The regard
which they had entertained for him was rather
inereafed by a perfonal acquaintance. The oppo-
fitipn which had been made to his difcoveries in
philofophy gradually ceafed, and the rewards of
literary merit were abundantly conferred upon
him. The royal fociety of London, which had at

Dr. FRANKLIN. 131
at firft refufed his performances admiffion into
its transactions, nPw thought it an hppour to
rank him amongft its fellows. Other focieties
of Europe were equally ambitions of calling him
a member, The univerfity of Stf Andrews, in
Scotland, conferred uppp him the degree of Doc
tor of Laws. Its example was followed by the
Univerfities of Edinburgh and of Oxford. His
correfpondence was fought for by the moft emi
nent philofophers of Europe. His letters to thefe
abound with true fcience, delivered in the moft
Simple< Unadorned manner.
The province of Canada was at this time in
the poSfeffion of the French, who had originally
fettled it. The trade with the Indians, for which
its fituation was very corivenfent, was exceed
ingly lucrative- The French traders here found
a market for their commodities, arid received in
return large quantities of rich furs, which they
difpofed of at a high price in Europe. Whihx
the poffeffion of this cPuntry was highly advan
tageous to France, it .was a grievous inconveni
ence to the inhabitants of the Britifh colonies.
The Indians were almoft gerierally defirous to cul
tivate the friendship of the French, by whom
they were abundantly fupplied -With arms and
ammunition. Whenever a war happened, the
Indians were ready to fall upon the frontiers :
and this they frequently did, even when Great
Britain and France were at peace. From thefe
considerations, it appeared to be the intereft pf
Great Britain tP gain the poffeffion of Canada.
But the impprtance pf fuch an acquifition was not
well underftood in England. Franklin about
this time publifhed his Canada pamphlet, in which
he, in a very forcible manner, pointed out the
advantages which would refult from the conqueft
of this province. K 2 An

T32 LIFE of
An expedition againft it was planned, and the
command given to General Wolfe. His fuccefs
is well known. At the treaty in 1762, France
ceded Canada to' Great Britain, and by her ceffi-
ort of Louisiana, at the fame time, relinquished
all her poffeffions on the continent of America.
Although Dr. Franklin was now principally
occupied with political purfuits, he found time
for philofophical Studies. He extended his elec
trical refearches, and made a variety of experi
ments, particularly on the tourmalin. The fin
gular properties which this Stone poffeffes of be
ing electrified on one fide positively and on the
other negatively, by heat alone, without friction,
had been but lately obferved.
Some experiments on the cold produced by
evaporation, made by Dr. Cullen, had been com
municated to Dr. Franklin, by Profeffor Simpfon
of Glafgow. Thefe he repeated, and found, that,
by the evaporation of ether in the exhausted re
ceiver of ail air-pump, fo great a degree of cold
was produced in a fummer's day, that water was
converted into ice- This difeovery he applied
to the folutiori of a number of phenomena, par
ticularly a fingular fact, which philofophers had
endeavoured in vain to account for, viz. that the
temperature of the human body, when in health,
never exceeds 96 degrees of Fahrenheit's thermo
meter, although the atmofphere which furrounds
it may be heated to a much greater degree. This
he attributed to the increafed perfpiration, and
confequent evaporation, produced by the heat.
In a letter to Mr. Small of London, dated in
May 1760, Dr. Franklin makes a* number of ob
servations, tending to Shew that, in North Ame
rica, horth-eaft Storms begin in the fouth-weft
parts. It appears, from actual obfervation, that
a north-eaft Storm, which extended a considera ble

Dr. FRANKLIN. 133
ble distance, commenced at Philadelphia nearly
four hours before it was felt at Bofton. He en
deavoured to account for this, by fuppofing that,
from heat, fome rarefaction takes place about
the gulph of Mexico, that the air further north
being cooler rufhes in, and is fucceeded by the
cooler and denfer air ftill further north, and that
thus a continued current is at length produced.
The tone produced by rubbing the brim of a
drinking glafs with a wet finger had been gene
rally known. A Mr. Pockrich, an Irifhman,
by placing on a table a number of glaffes of differ
ent fizes, and tuning them by partly filling them
with water, endeavoured to form an inttrument
capable of playing tunes. He was prevented by
an untimely end, from bringing his invention to
any degree of perfection. After his death fome
improvements were made upon his plan. The
fweetnefs of the tones induced Dr. Franklin to
make a variety of experiments ; and he at length
formed that elegant inttrument, which he has
called the Armonica.
In the fummer of 1762 he returned to Ameri
ca. On his paffage he obferved the fingular ef
fect produced by the agitation of a veffel, contain
ing oil floating on water. The furface of the oil
remains fmooth and undisturbed, whilft the wa
ter is agitated with the utmoft commotion. No
fatisfactory explanation of this appearance has,
we believe, ever been given.
Dr. Franklin received the thanks of the affem
bly of Pennfylvania, " as well for the faithful dif
charge of his duty to that province in particular,
as for the many and important fervices done to
America in general, during his refidence in Great
Britain." A compenfation of joool. Pennfylva
nia currency was alfo decreed him for his fervices
during fix years. During

j 34 LIFE op
During his abfence he had been annually elect*
ed mernber Pf the affembly. On his return tp
Pennfylvania he agairi took his feat in this body,
and continued a Steady defender of the liberties
of the people.
In December 1 762*, a circumftance which cauf-
ed great alarm in the province took place. A
number of Indians had refided in the county of
Lancaster, and conducted themfelves uniformly
as friends to the white inhabitants. Repeated de
predations on the frontiers had exafperated the .
inhabitants to fuch a degree, that they determi
ned on revenge upon every Indian. A number
of perfons, to the amount of about 120, princi
pally inhabitants of Donnegal and Peckftang or
Paxton towhfhips, in the county of York,, affem-
bled ; and, mPunted on horfeback, proceeded to
the fettlement of thefe harmlefs and defencelefs
Indians;, whofe number had now been reduced to
about twenty. The Indians received intelligence
of the attack which was intended againfl them,
but difbelieved it. Confidering the white people
as their friends, they apprehended no danger from
them. When the party arrived at the Indian fet
tlement, they found ohly fome women and chil
dren, and a few old men, the reft being abfent
at work. They murdered all whom they found,
arid amongft others the chief Shahaes, who had
- been always diftinguiflied for his friendihip to the
whites. This bloody deed excited much indig
nation in the Well-difpofed part of the com muni-
The remainder pf .thefe unfortunate Indians,
who, by abfenceV had efcaped the maffacre, were
conducted to Laflta£er, and lodged in the gaol
as a place of fecurity. The governor iffued a pro
clamation exprefling the ftrongefl difapprobation
of the action, offering a reward for the difeovery
• of

Dr. FRANKLIN. 135
of the perpetrators of the deed, and prohibiting
all injuries to the peaceable Indians in future.
But, notwithstanding this, a party of the fame
men fliortly after marched to Lancafter, broke
open the gaol, and inhumanly butchered the in
nocent Indians who had been placed there for fe»
curity. Another proclamation was iffued, but
it had 210 effect. A detachrnent marched down
to Philadelphia, for the ,exprefs purpofe of mur
dering fome friendly Indians, who had' been re
moved to the city for fafety. A number of the
citizens armed in their defence. The Quakers,
whofe principles are oppofed to fighting, even in
their own defence, were moft active upon this
occafion. The rioters came to Germantowri. The
governor fled for fafety to the houfe of Dr. Frank
lin, who^ with fome others, advanced to meet
the Paxton boys, as they were called, and had
influence enough to prevail upon them to relin
quish their undertaking, and return to their
homes. The difputes between the proprietaries and the
affembly, which, for a time, had fubfided, were
again revived. The proprietaries were diffatisfi-
ed with the conceffians made in favour of the
people, anpl made great Struggles to recover the
privilege of exempting their eftates from taxati
on, which they had been induced to give up.
In 1763 the affembly paffed a militia bill, to
which the governor refufed to give his affent, un
lets the affembly would agree to certain amend
ments which he propofed. Thefe confifted in in-
creating the fines, and, in fome cafes, fubftitu-
ting death for fines. He wifhed too that the offi
cers Should be appointed altogether by himfelf,
and not be nominated by the people, as the bill
had propofed. Thefe amendments the affembly
confidered as ipconfiftent with the Spirit pf liberty. They

i36 LIFE of
They would not adopt them ; the governor was
obftinate, and the bill was loft.
Thefe, and various other circumftances, en-
creafed the uneafinefs which fubfifted between the
proprietaries and the affembly, to fuch a degree,
that, in 1 764, a petition to the king was agreed
to by the houfe, praying an alteration from a
proprietary to a regal government. Great oppo
fition was made to- this meafure, not only in the
houfe, but in the public prints. A fpeech of Mr.
Dickenfon, on the fubject, was publifhed, with
a preface by Dr. Smith, in which great pains
were taken to fhew the impropriety and impoli
cy of this proceeding. A fpeech of Mr. Gallo
way, in reply to Mr. Dickenfon, was publifhed,
accompanied with a preface by Dr. Franklin ; in
which he ably oppofed the principles laid down
in the preface to Mr Dickenfon's fpeech. This
application to the throrie produced no effect. The
proprietary government was ftill continued.
At the election for a new affembly, in the fall
of 1764, the friends of the proprietaries made
great exertions to exclude thofe of the adverfe
party ; and they obtained a fmall majority in the
city of Philadelphia. Franklin now loft his feat
in the houfe, which he had held for fourteen
years. On the meeting of the affembly, it ap
peared that there was ftill a decided majority of
Franklin's friends. He was immediately ap
pointed provincial agent, to the great chagrin of
his enemies, who made a folemn proteft againft
his appointment ; which was refufed admiffion
upon the minutes, as being unprecedented. It
was, however, publifhed in the papers, and
produced a fpirited reply from him, juft before
his departure for England.
The difturbances produced in America by Mr,
Grcnville's ftamp-act, and the oppofition made to
it,

Dr. FRANKLIN. 137
k, are well known. Under the marquis of
Rockingham's adminiftration, it appeared ex
pedient to endeavour to calm the minds of the
colonifts ; and the repeal of the odious tax was
contemplated. Amongft other means of collecting
information on the difpofition of the people to
fubmit to it, Dr. Franklin was called to the bar of
the houfe of commons. The examination which
he here underwent was publifhed, and contains a
Striking proof of the extent and accuracy of his
information, and the facility with which he com
municated his fentiments. He reprefented facts
in fo ftrong a point of view, that the inexpediency
of the act mutt have appeared clear to every
unprejudiced mind. The act, after fome oppo
fition, was repealed, about a year after it was
enacted, and before it had ever been carried into
execution. In the year 1766, he made a vifit to Holland
and Gerrhany, and received the greateft marks
of attention from men of fcience. In his
paffage through Holland, he learned from the
watermen the effect which a diminution of the
quantity of water in canals has, in impeding
the progrefs of boats. Upon his return to En
gland, he was led to make a number of experi
ments ; all of which tended to confirm the obfer-
vation. Thefe, with an explanation of the phe
nomenon, he communicated in a letter to his
friend, Sir John Pringle, which is contained in
the volume of his philofophical pieces.
In the following year he travelled into France,
where he met with a no lefs favourable reception
than he had experienced in Germany. He was
introduced to a number of literary characters,
and to the Icing, Louis XV.
Several letters written by Hutchinfon, Oliver,
and others, to perfons in eminent ftations in
Great-Britain, came into the hands of Dr. Frank lin.

138 -LIFE of
lin. Thefe contained the moft violent invectives
againft the leading characters of the ftate of
Maffachufetts, and ftrenuoufly advifed the prpfe~
cution of vigorous meafures, to compel the peo
ple tp obedience to the meafures of the ministry.
Thefe he transmitted .to the legiflafcure, by whom
they Were publifhed. Attefted copies of them
Were fent to Great-Britain, with an addrefs,
praying the king to difcharge from office perfons
who had rendered themfelves fo obnoxious to the
people, and who had Shewn themfelves fo un
friendly tp their interetts. The publication of
thefe letters produced a duel between Mr. Whate-
ly and Mr. Temple ; each of whom was fufpected
for having been inftrumental in procuring' them;
To prevent any further difputes on this fubjectDr.
Franklin, in one of the papers, declared that he
had fent them tp America, but would give no
information concerning the manner in which he
N had obtained them ; nor was this ever difeovered.
Shortly after, the petition of the Maffachufett's
affembly was taken up for examination, before
the privy council. Dr. Franklin attended as
agent for the affembly ; and here a torrent of the
moft violent and unwarranted abufe was poured
upon him by the folicitor general Wedderburne,
who was engaged as council for Oliver and Hutch-
infon. The petition was declared to be feanda-
lous and vexatious, arid the prayer of it refuted.
Although" the parliament of Great-Britain had
repealed the ftartrp-act, it was only upon the
principle of expediency. They ftill infilled upon
their right to tax the colonies ; and, at the fame
time that the ftamp-adt was repealed, an act was
paffed, declaririg the right of parliament to
bind the colonies in all cafes whatfoever. This
language was ufed even by the moft Strenuous
oppofers of the Stamp-act ; and, amongft others, by

Dr. FRANKLIN. t3g
by Mr. Pitt. This right Was never recognized
by the colonifts ; but, as they flattered them
felves that it would nPt be exercifedj they were
not very active iri remonstrating agairift it. Had
this pretended right been fuffered tP remain dor
mant, the colonifts would cheerfully have fur
nifhed their quota of fupplies, in the mode to
which they had been accuftomed ; that is, by
. acts of their own affemblies, in confequence of
requisitions from the fecretaty of ftate. If this
practice had been purfued, fuch was the disposi
tion of the colonies towards the mother country,
that j notwithstanding the difadvantages under
which they laboured, from teftraints upon their
trade,-, calculated folely for the benefit of the
commercial and manufacturing interefts of Great-
Britain, a feparation of the two countries might
have been a far diftaot event. The Americans,
from their earlieft infancy, were taught to vene
rate a people from whom they were defcended 5
whofe language, laws, and manners, were the
fame as their own. They looked up to them as
models of perfection ; and, iri their prejudiced
minds, the moft enlightened nations of Europe
were confidered as almoft barbarians, in compa
rifon with Englifhmen. The name of an En
glishman conveyed to an American the idea of
every thing good arid great. Such fentiments
inftilled into them in early life, what but a repe
tition of unjuft treatment could have induced
them to entertain the moft diftant thought of
feparation ! The duties on glafs, paper, leather,
painters' colours, tea, &c. ; the disfranchisement
of fome of the colonies ; the obstruction to the
meafures of the legislature in others, by the
king's governors ; the contemptuous treatment
pf their humble remohftrances, Slating their
grievances apd praying a redrefs of them, and
Other

140 LIFE of
other violent and oppreffive meafures, at length
excited an ardent fpirit of oppofition. Inftead
of endeavouring to allay this by a more lenient
conduct, the miniftry feemed refolutely bent
upon reducing the colonies to the moft flavifh
obedience to their decrees. But this tended
only to aggravate. Vain were all the efforts
made ufc of to prevail upon them to lay afide
their defigns, to convince them of the impoffi-
bility of carrying them into effect, and of the
mifchievops confequences which mult enfue from
a continuance of the attempt. They perfevered,
with a degree of inflexibility fearcely paralleled.
The advantages which Great-Britain derived
from her colonies were fo great, that nothing
but a degree of infatuation, little Short of mad-
nefs, could have produced a continuance of mea
sures calculated to keep up a fpirit .of uneafinefs,
which might occafion the flighteft wifh for a
feparation. When we confider the great im
provements in the fcience of government, the
general diffufion of the principles of liberty
amongft the people of Europe, the effects which
thefe have already produced in France, and the
probable confequences which will refult from
them elfewhere, all of which are the offspring of
the American revolution, it cannot but appear
firange, that events of fo great moment to the
happinefs of mankind, fhould. have been ulti-
matelv occafioned by the wickednefs or ignorance
of a Britiih miniftry.
Dr. Franklin left nothing untried to prevail
upon the miniftry to content to a change of mea
fures. In private conyerfations, and in letters to
perfons in government, he continually expatiated
upon the impolicy and injuftice of their conduct
towards America ; and ftated, that, notwith
standing the attachment of the colpnifts to the
mother

Dr. FRANKLIN. , i4i
mother country, a repetition of ill treatment
mutt ultimately alienate their affections. They
liftened not to his advice. They blindly perfe*
vered in their own fcheme's, and left to the co
lonifts no alternative, but oppofition Or uncon^
ditional fubmiffion. The latter accorded not
with the principles of freedom, which they had
been taught to revere. To the former they were
cofnpelled, though reluctantly, to have recourfe.
Dr. Franklin, finding all efforts to reftore har
mony between Great-Britain and her colonies
ufelefs, returned to America in the year 1775 ;
juft after fhe commencement of hostilities. The
day after his return he was elected by the legif-
lature of Pennfylvania a delegate to congrefs.
Not long after his election a committee was ap
pointed, confifting of Mr. Lynch, Mr. Harrifon,
and himfelf, to vifit the camp at Cambridge,
and, in conjunction with the commander in
chief, to endeavour to convince the troops,
whofe term of enliftment was about to expire,
of the neceffity of their continuing in the field,
and perfevering in the caufe of their country.
In the fall of the fame. year he vifited Canada,
to endeavour to unite them in the common caufe
of liberty ; but they could not be prevailed up
on to oppofe the meafures of the BritiSh govern
ment. M. Le Roy, in a letter annexed to Abbe
Fauchet's eulogium of Dr. Franklin, States that
the ill fuccefs of this negociation was occafioned,
in a great degree, by religious animofities, which
fubfifted between the Canadians and their neigh
bours, fome of -whom had at different times
burnt their chapels.
When Lord Howe came to America, in 1776",
vetted with power to treat with the colonifts, a
correfpondence took place between him and Dr.
Franklin, on the Subject of a reconciliation.
Dr.

f42 LIFE of
Dr. Franklin was afterwards appointed, together
with John Adams and Edward Rutfedge, tP
wait upon the comniiffioners, in order to learn
the extent of their power, Thefe were Sound to
be only to grant pardons upon fubmiffion. Thefe
Were terms which would not be accepted ; and
the object of the commiffioners could not be
Pbtaiped. The momentous queftiori of independence Was
Shortly after brought into view, at a time when
the fleets and armies, Which were fent tp enforce
obedience, were truly formidable. With an ar
my, numerous indeed, but ignorant pf difeip=*
line, and entirely uptkilled in the art of war,
without money, Without a fleet, without allies,-
and with nothing but the love pf liberty to fup-
port them, the colonifts determined to feparate
from a country, from which they had experi
enced a repetition of injury and infult. In this
queftion, Dr. Franklin was decidedly in favour
of the meafure propofed, and had great influ
ence in bringing over others to his fentiments.
The public mind had been pretty fully pre
pared for this event, by Mr. Paine's celebrated
pamphlet, Common Senfe. There is good reafpn
to believe that Dr. Franklin had no inconsidera
ble Share, at leaft, in furnifhing materials for
this work.
In the convention which aflerpbled at Phila
delphia in 1 776-, for the purpofe pf eftablifhing
a new form of government for the ftate of Penn
fylvania, Dr. Franklin was cbofep prefident.
The late conftitution of this ftate, which was. the
refult of their deliberations, piay be cppfidered
as a digelt of his principles of government. The
fingle legislature, and the plural executive, feem
*;o have been his favourite tenets.

In

Dr. FRANKLIN. 143
In the latter end of 1776, Dr. Franklin was
appointed to affift -in the negociatioris which had
been fet Pn foot by Silas Deane at the court of
France. A conviction of the advantages of a
commercial intercourfe With America, and a de
fire of weakening the Britifh empire by difmem-
bering it, firft induced the French court to liften
to propofals of an alliance. But they Shewed ra
ther a reluctance to the meafure, which, by Dr.
Franklin's addrefs, and particularly by the fuc
cefs of the American arms againft general Bur-
goyne, Was at length overcome ; arid in Februa
ry 1778, a treaty of alliance, offensive and de
fensive, was concluded ; in confequence of which
France became involved in the war With Great-
Britain. Perhaps no perfon could have been found, more
capable of rendering effential fervices to the Uni- .
ted States at the court of France, than Dr. Frank
lin. He Was well known as a philofopher, and
his character was held in the higheft estimation.
He was received with the greateft marks of ref-
pect by all the literary characters ; arid this ref-
pect was extended" amongft all claffes of men.
His perfonal influence was hence very considera
ble. To the effects of this were added thofe of
various performances which he publifhed, tend
ing to eftablifh the credit and character of the
United States. To his exertions in this way, may,
in no fmall degree, be afcribed the fuccefs of the
loans negotiated in Holland and France, which
greatly contributed to bringing the war to a hap
py conclusion.
The repeated ill fuccefs of their arms, arid more
particularly the capture of CornWallis and his ar
my, at length convinced the Britifh nation of the
impoffibility Pf reducing the Americans to fub-
jection. The trading intereft particularly became
clamorous

:-i44 LIFE X)P
clamorous for peace. The miniftry were unable
longer to oppofe their withes. Provifional arti
cles of peace were agreed to, and Signed at Paris
on-the 30th of November, 1782, by Dr. Frank
lin, Mr. Adams, Mr. Jay, and Mr. Laurens, on
the part of the United States ; and by Mr. Of-
waldon the part of Great-Britain. Thefe form
ed- the bafis of the definitive treaty, which was
concluded the 3d of September 1783, andfigned
by Dr. Franklin, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Jay, on
the one part, and by Mr. David Hartley on the
other.' On the 3d of April 1783, a treaty of amity
and commerce, between the United States and
Sweden, was concluded at Paris, by Dr. Frank
lin and the Count Von Krutz.
A fimilar treaty with Pruffia was concluded in
1785, not long before Dr. Franklin's departure
from Europe.
Dr. Franklin did not fuffer his political purfuits
tp engrofs his whole attention. Some of his per
formances made their appearance in Paris-. The
object of thefe was generally the promotion of
induftry and ceconomy.
In the year 1784, when animal magnetifm made
great noife in the world, particularly at Paris,
it was thought a matter of fuch importance,
that the king appointed commiflioners to exa
mine into the foundation of this pretended fci
ence. Dr. Franklin was one of the number. Af
ter a fair and diligent examination, in the courfe
of which Mefmer repeated a number of experi
ments, fome of which were tried upon themfelves,
they determined that it was a mere trick, inten
ded to impofe upon the ignorant and credulous
— Mefmer was thus interrupted in his career to
wealth and fame, and a moft infolent attempt to
impofe upon the human underftanding baffled. The

Dr. FRANKLIN. 145
The important ends of Dr. Franklin's miffion
being completed by the eftablifhment of Ameri
can independence, and the infirmities of age and
difeafe coming upon him, he became defirous or"
returning to his native couritry. Upon applica
tion to congrefs to be recalled, Mr. Jefferfon was
appointed to fucceed him, in 1785. Sometime
in September of the fame year, Dr. Franklin ar
rived in Philadelphia. He was Shortly after cho-
'fen member of the fupreme executive council for
the city ; and foon after was elected president of
the fame.
When a convention was called to meet in Phi
ladelphia,- in 1787, for the purpofe of giving
more energy to the government of the upion, by
reviling and amending the articles of confedera
tion, Dr. Franklin was appointed a delegate from
the State of Pennfylvania. He figned the confti-
tution which they propofed for the union, and
gave it the moft unequivocal marks of his. ap
probation. A fociety for political enquiries, of which Dr.
Franklin was prefident, was eftabliflied about this
period. The meetings were held at his houfe.
Two or three effays read in this fociety were pub
lifhed. It did not long continue.
In the year 1787, two focieties were established
in Philadelphia, founded in the principles of the
moft liberal and refined humanity ^-The Philadel
phia Society for alleviating the miferies of public pri*
fbns ; and the Pennfylvania Society for promoeing the
abolition of flavery, the relief of free negroes unlaw
fully held in bondage, and the improvement of the
condition of the African race. Of each of thefe Dr.
Franklin was prefident. The labours of thefe bo
dies have been crowned with great fuccefs ; and
they continue to profecute, with unwearied di
ligence, the laudable defigns for which they were
cftablilhed.
L Dr.

148 LIFE of
Dr. Franklin's iricreafing infirmities prevented
his regular attendance at the cOUMcil-ehamfceT;
and, iri 1788, he retired Wholly from public life.
His constitution had been a remarkably good
one. He had been little fubject to difeafe, except
an attack of the gout occafionally, until about
the year 1781, when he was firft attacked with
fymptoms Pf the calculous complaint, Which con
tinued during his life. During the intervals of
pairi from this grievous difeafe, he Spent many
chearful hPurs, converting in the moft agreeable
and inftructive manner. His faculties Were en
tirely unimpaired, even to the hour of his death.
His natne, as prefident of the Abolition Socie
ty, was -Signed to the memorial pfefented to the
Houfe of Reprefentatives of the United States,
on the 1 2th of February I7"8q, praying them to
exert the full extent of power vetted in them by
the cdriftitutiori, in difcouraging the traffic of the
human fpecies. This was his laft public act. In
the debates to whici* this memorial gave rife, fe
veral attempts were made to jttftify the trade.
In the Federal Gazette of March 25 th there ap
peared ari effay, figned Hiftoricus, written by Dr.
"Franklin, in Which hb communicated a Speech,
faid tp have been delivered in the Divan Pf Al
giers m 1687, m oppofition to the prayer of the
petition of a feet, called Erika, er purifts, for the
abolition of piracy arid flavery. This pretended
African fpeech was an excellent parody of one
delivered by Mr. Jackfon of Georgia. All the
arguments Urged in favour of negro flavery, are
applied With equal force to juftify the plundering
and enflavirig of Europeans. It affords, at the
Same time, a demonstration of the futility of the
arguments in defence of the fla've trade, arid of
the Strength of mind and ingenuity Pf the author,
at his advanced period of life. It frirniShed too
a no

Dr. FRANKLIN. *x$7
a no lefs convincing proof of his power of irni-
tiating the 'Style of other times and nations, than
his celebrated parable againft perfecution. And
as the latter led many perfons to fearch the fcrip-
tures with a view to find it, fo the former caU-
fed many perfons to fearch the ibook-ifiores and
libraries," for the work from which it was faid to
be extracted *i
In the beginning of April following, "he Was
attacked with a fever and complaint of his breaft,
which terminated his existence. The following
account of his laft illnefs was written by his friend
and Phyfician, Dr. Jones.
" The Stone, with which he had been afflicted
for feveral years, had for the laft, twelve months
confined him chiefly to his bed ; and during the
extreme painful parpxyfms, he was obliged to
:take large dofes of kvudanum to mitigate his tor
tures — ftill, in the intervals of pain, he not only
amufed himfelf with reading and conversing cheer-i
fully with his family, and a few friends who yi-
fited him, but was often employed in doing bu-
Sinefs of a public as well as private nature, with
various perfons Who Waited on him for that pur
pofe ; and in every inftance difplayed, not only
that readinefs and difpofition of doing goodj
which was the distinguishing characteristic of his
life, hut the fulleft and cfeafeft poffeffion of his
Uncommon mental abilities ; arid not unfrequent-
ly indulged himfelf in thofe jeux d'ejprit and en
tertaining anecdotes, which were the delight of
all who heard him.
" About Sixteen days before his death, he was
feized with a feverifh indifpofition, without a,ny
particular Symptoms attending it, till the third or
fourth day, when he complained of a pain in the
left breaft, which increafed till it became extreme-
* This fpeech will be found among the EITays.
L 2 ly

148 c" LIFE of -?.
ly acute, attended with a cough and laborious
breathing. During this State, when the fevdrifty
of his pains fometimes drew forth a groan of com
plaint, he would obferve-Mhat he was afraid he
did not bear them as he ought — acknowledged
his grateful fenfe of the many bleffings he had re
ceived. from that Supreme Being, who had raifed
him from fmall and low beginnings to fuch high
rank and confiddration among men — and made
no doubt but his prefent afflictions were kindly
intended to wean him from- a world, in which he
was no longer fit to act the part affigned him.
In this frame of body and mind he- continued till
five days before his death, when hispain and
difficulty of breathing entirely left him, and his
family were flattering, themfelves with the hopes
. of his recovery, When an impofthumation, which
.had formed itfelf in his lungs, fuddenly burft, and
difcharged a great quantity of matter, which he
.continued to throw up while he had faflicient
.Strength to do it-, but, asthat failed, the organs
of refpiratipn became gradually oppreffed — -a. calrft
lethargic Slate fueceeded — '-and, on the 17th of
April 1790, about eleven o'clock at night, he
quietly expired, clofing a long and ufeful life of
eighty-four years and three months.
"' It may not be amifs to add to the above aC-
.cpUnt, that Dr. Franklin, in the year 1735, had
a fevere pleurify, which terminated in an abfeefs
of the left lobe of his lungs, and he was then aK
• moft fuffocated with the quantity and fuddennefs
of the difcharge. A fecond attack of a fimilaf
nature happened fome years after this, from
which he foon recovered, and did not appear to
fuffer any inconvenience in his refpiration from
thefe difeafes."

Th£

Dr. FRANKLIN. 149
The following epitaph on himSelf, was writ
ten by him many years previous to his death ;
THE BODY
of
Benjamin Franklin, Printer,
' (Like the cover of an old book,
Its contents torn out,
* , And ftript of its lettering and gilding)
JLies here, food for worms ;
Yet the .work .itfelf fhall pot be loft,
For it will (as he believed) appear once more,
tn a new
And more beautiful edition,
.Qgrjcefted and amended
by
The A,uthor.

Extracts from the laft Will and Teftament of
Dr. Franklin.
WITH regard to my books, thofe I had in
France, and thofe I left in Philadelphia, being
now affembled together here, and a catalogue
made of them, it is my intention to difpofe of
the fame as follows :
My hiftory of the Academy of Sciences, in Six
ty or feventy volumes quarto, I give to the phi-
lofophical fociety of Philadelphia, pf which I have
the honour to he prefident.. My colleftion in fo
lio of Les Arts & les Metier^ I give to the Ame
rican philofophical fociety, ettabliShed in New
England, of which I am a member. My quarto
edition of the fame Arts & Metiers, I give Jo the
library company of Philadelphia: Such and fo
many of my books as I Shall mark, in the faid
catalogue, with the name of my grandfon Ben
jamin Franklin Bache, I do hereby give to hfrn :
and fuch and fo many of my books, as I Shall
mark

i5« LIFE of
mark in the- faid catalogue with the. name of my
grandfpn William Bache, I do hereby give to
him : and fuch as fhall be marked with the name
of Jonathan Williams, I hereby give to my cou-
Sin of th^t name. The refidue and remainder of
all my books, manufcripts and papers, I do give
to my grandfon William Temple Franklin. My
Share in the library company of Philadelphia I
give to my grandfon Benjamin Franklin Bache,
confiding that he will permit his brothers and
fitters to Share in fheufe of it.
I was born in Bofton, New England, and owe
my firft instructions in literature to the free gram-
mar-fehools eftablifhed there. I therefore give
one hundred pounds fterling to my executors, to
be by them, the furvivors or furvivor of them,
paid over to the managers of the free fchools in
my native town of Bofton, to be by them, or the
perfon or perfons who Shall have the fuperinten-
dence and management of the faid fchools, put
out to intereft, and fo continued at intereft for
ever ; which intereft annually Shall belaid out in
Silver medals, and given as honorary rewards an
nually by the directors of the faid free fchools, for
the encouragement of fcholarShip in the faid
fchpols, belonging to the faid town, in fuch man
ner as to the difcretion of the felect men of the
faid town Shall feem meet.
Out of the falary that may remain due to me,
as prefident of the ftate, I give the fum of two
thoufand pounds to my executors, to be by them,
the furvivors or furyivor of them, "paid over to
fuch perfon or perfons as the legislature of this
ftate, by an act of affembly, Shall appoint to re
ceive the fame, in tniftj to be employed for ma
king the Schuylkil navigable-
During the number of years I was in bufinefs
as a Stationer, printer, and poft-mafter, a great
many

Dr. FRANKLIN. J51
many fmall fums became due to me, for books,
advertifements, pottage of letters, arid other mat
ters, which were not collected, when, in 1757,
1 was fent by the afiembly to England as their
agent— rand, by fubfequent appointments, conti
nued there till 1775— when, on my return, I was
immediately engaged in the affairs of congrefs,
and fent to France in 1776, where I remained
nine years, not returning till 1785 ; #nd the faid
debts not being demanded in fuch a length of
time, are become in a manner obfolete,. yet are
neverthelefs juftly due.-r— Thefe, as they are ftated
in my great folio leger, E, I bequeath to the con
tributors of the Pennfylvania hofpital; hoping
that thofe debtors, and the defcendants of fuch
as are deceafed, who now, as I find, make fome
difficulty of fatisfying fuch antiquated demands
as juft debts,, may however be induced to pay or
give them as charity to that excellent inftitutipn.
1 am fenfible that much mult inevitably be loft j
but I hope fomething confiderable may be reco
vered. It is poffible too that fome of the parties
charged may have exifting old unfettled accounts
againft me : in which cafe the managers of the
faid hofpital will allow arid deduct the amount,
or pay the halarice, if they find it againft me.
, 1 requeft my friends Henry Hill, Efq. John Jay,
Efq. Francis Hopkinfop, Efq." and Mr! Edward
Duffield, of Bonfield, in Philadelphia county, to
be the executors of this my laft will and tefta-
ment, and I hereby nominate and appoint them
for that purpofe.
I would have my body buried with as little ex-
pence or ceremony as may be.
Philadelphia, July 17, 1788. '
Codicix.

'f$i LIFE or
Codicil.
. I Benjamin Franklin, in the foregoing or an
nexed laft will and teftament, having further con
sidered the fame, do think prdper to make and
publith the following codicil, or addition thereto:
It having long beferi'a fixed political opinion of
mine, that in a democratieal State there ought to
be no offices of profit, for the reafons I had given
in an article pf my l drawing in our constitution,
it was my intention, when I accepted the office
of prefident, to devote the appointed falary to
fome public ufe : Accordingly I had already, be
fore I made my laft will, in July laft, given large
fums of it to colleges, fchools, building of churches,
&c. ; and ip that will I bequeathed two thou*
fand pounds more to the ftate, for the purpofe of
making the Skuylkil navigable ; but underftand-
ing Since, that Such a fiim 'will do but little to
wards accomplishing fuch a work, and that the
project is ' not likely to be undertaken for many
years to come— and having entertained another
idea, which I hope may be more extenfively ufe
ful, I do hereby revoke and annul the bequeft,
and direct that the certificates I have for what re
mains due to me of that falary;- be fold towards,
raifing the fum of two thoufand pounds fterling,
to be difpofed of as I am now about to order.
It has been an opinion, that he ; who receives
an eftate from his anceftors, is under fome obli
gation to tranfmit the fame to pofterity. This
obligation lies not on me, who never inherited
a Shilling from any anceftor or relation. I Shall,
however, if it is not -diminished by- fome accident
before my death, leave a cpnfiderable eftate ariiang
my defcendants and relations. The above ob-
lervation is made merely as fome apology to my
family;, for my making bequefts that do not ap
pear

Dr. FRANKLIN. 153
pear to have any immediate relation to their ad*
vantage. I was born in Bofton, New-England, and ow©
my firft inftru/Etions in literature to the free gram-
mar-fehools established tiiere. I have therefore
confidered thofe fchools in my will-
But I am alfo under obligations to the ftate of
Maffachufetts, for having, upaSked, appointed
me formerly their agent, with a hapdfome falary,
which continued fome years : apd although I ac
cidentally loft in their fervice, by trantrnittirig
governor Hutchinfon's letters, much more than
the amount of what they gave me, I do pot think
that ought in the leaft to diminish my gratitude.
I have confidered that, among artifans, good ap
prentices are mpft likely to make good citizens ;
and having myfelf been bred to a manual art,
printirig, in my native town, and afterwards affift-
ed to fet up my bufinefs in Philadelphia by kind
loans of mop.ey from two friends there, which
was the foundation of my fortune, and of all the
utility in life that may be afcribed to me — I wifh,
to be ufeful even after my death, if poffible, in
forming and advancing other young men, that
may be ferviceabje to their country ip both thefe
towns. To this end I devote two thoufand pounds Ster
ling, which I give, one thoufand thereof to the
inhabitants of the town of Bofton, in Maffachu
fetts, and the pther thoufand to the inhabitants
of the city of Philadelphia, in truft, to and for
the ufes, intents, and purpofes, herein after men
tioned and declared.
The faid fum of pne thpufapd pounds Sterling,
jf accepted by the inhabitants of the town of
Bofton, Shall be managed under the direction of
tiie felect men, united with the minifters of the
bldeft epifeopalian, cpngregatipnal, and prefby-
»" -v ,- , te'rian

154 LIFE of
terian churches in that town, who are to let out
the fame upon intereft at five per cent, per annum,
to fuch young married artificers, under the age
of twenty-five years, as have ferved an appren
ticeship in the faid town, and faithfully fulfilled
the duties required in their indentures, fo as to
obtain a good moral character from at leaft two
refpectable citizens, who are willing to become
fureties in a bond, with the applicants, for the
repayment of the money fo lent, with intereft,
according to the terms herein after prefcribed ;
all which bonds are to be taken for Spanifh milled
dollars, or the value thereof in current gold coin:
and the manager Shall keep a bound book, or
books, wherein Shall be entered the names of thofe
Who fliall apply for, and receive the benefit of
this inftitution, and of their fureties, together
with the fums lent, the dates, and other necefla-
ry and proper records, reflecting the bufinefs and
concerns of this inftitution: and as thefe loans
are intended to affift young married artificers in
fetting up their bufinefs, they are to be proporti
oned by the difcretion of the managers, fo as not
to exceed Sixty pounds Sterling to one perfon,
nor to be ]efs than fifteen pounds.
And if the number of appliers fo entitled fhould
be fo large as that the fum will not fuffice to
afford to each as much as might otherwife not be
improper, the proportion to each fhall be dimi-
nifhed, fo as to afford to every one fome affift-
ance. Thefe aids may therefore be fmall at firft,
but as the capital increafes by the accumulated
intereft, they will be more ample. And in order
to ferve as many as poffible in their turn, as well
as to make the repayment of the principal bor
rowed more eafy, each borrower Shall be obliged
to pay with the yearly intereft one tenth part of
the principal ; which fums of principal and inte-
¦ - •• reft

Dr. FR,ANKLIN. 155
yeft fo paid in, fhall be agaiin let out tofrefh bor
rowers. And it is pfefumed, that there will be
always found in Bofton virtuous and benevolent
citizens, willing to bellow a part of their time in
doing good to the ri|ipg generation, by fuperiri-
tending and managing this inftitution gratis ; it
is hoped that no part of the money will at any
time Ue dead, or be diverted to other purpofes;
but be continually augmenting by the intereft,
in which there may in time be more than the oc
cafion in Bofton Shall require : and then fome
may be fpared to the neighbouring or other towns
in the faid fete of Maflachufetts, which may de
fire to *haye it, fuch towns engaging to pay
punctually the intereft, and the proportions of
the principal annually to the inhabitants of the
town of Bofton. ; jfthis plan is executed, and
fueceeds, as projected, without interruption for
one hundred years* the-fum will be then one hun
dred and thirty-one thoufand pounds; of which
1 would have the managers of the donation to the
town of Bofton then lay out, at their difcretion,
one hundred thoufand pounds in public works,
which may be judged of moft general utility to
the iphabitants J fuch as fortifications, bridges,
aqueducts* public buildings, baths, pavements,
or whatever may make living in the town more
convenient to its people, and render it more
agreeable tp Strangers retorting thither for health,
or a temporary refidence. The remaining thirty-
one thoufand pounds I would have continued to
be let out to intereft, in the manner above direct
ed, for one hundred years ; as I hope it will have
been found that the inftitution has had a good
effect on the conduct of youth, and been of fer,
vice to many worthy characters and ufeful citi
zens. At the end of this fecond term, if no un
fortunate accident has prevented the operation,
; "- the

156 LIFE o*
the fum will be four millions and Sixty- one
thoufand pounds Sterling ; of which 1 leave one
million and Sixty-one thoufand pounds to the
diSpofition and management of the inhabitants
of the town of Bofton, and the three millions
to the difpofition of the government of the ftate »
not prefuming to carry my views farther.
All the directions herein given refpecting the
diSpofition and management of the donation to
the inhabitants of Bofton, I would have obferved
refpecting that to the inhabitants of Philadelphia ;
only, as Philadelphia is incorporated, I requeft
the corporation of that city to undertake the
management, agreeable to the faid directions :
and I do hereby veil them with full and ample
powers for that purpofe. And having confidered
that the covering its ground-plat with buildings
and pavements, which carry off moft rain, and
prevent its foaking into the earth and renewing
and purifying the Springs whence the water of
the wells muft gradually grow worfe, and in time
be unfit for ufe, as I find has happened in all old
cities ; I recommend, that, at the end of the firft
hundred years, if not done before, the corporation
of the city employ a part of the hundred thoufand
pounds in bringing by pipes the water of Wiffa-
hickoncreek into the town, fo as to Supply the
inhabitants, which I apprehend may be done
without great difficulty, the level of that creek
being much above that of the city, and may be
made higher by a dam. I alfo recommend
making the Skuylkil completely navigable. At"
the end of the fecond hundred years, I would
have the difpofition of the four millions and
fixty-one thoufand pounds divided between the
inhabitants of the city of Philadelphia and the
government of Pennfylvania, in the fame manner.
¦rs herein directed with refpect to that of the
inhabitants

Dr. FRANKLIN. 157
inhabitants of Bofton and the' government ©f
Maffachufetts. It is my defire that this inftitution
Should take place, and begin to operate within one
year after my. deceafe? for which purpofe due
notice Should be publicly given previous to the
expiration of that#year, that thofe for whofe
benefit this eftablifhmerit is intended may make
their refpective applications : and I hereby direct
my executors, the furvivors and furvivor of
them, within fix months after my deceafe to pay
over the faid fum of two thoufand pounds Ster
ling to fuch perfons as Shall be duly appointed
by the felect men of Bofton and the corporation
of Philadelphra, to receive and take charge of
their respective furris of one thoufand pounds
each for the purpofes aforefaid. Confidering the
accidents to which all human affairs and projects
are Subject in fuch a, length of time, I have
perhaps too much flattered myfelf with a vain
fancy, that thefe difpofitions, if carried into exe
cution, will be continued without interruption,
and have the effects propofed : I hope however,
that, if the inhabitants of the two cities Should
not think fit to undertake the execution, they
will at leaft accept the offer of thefe donations, as
a mark of my good will, token of my gratitude,
and teftimony of my defire to be ufeful to them
even after my departure. I wifh, indeed, that
they may both Undertake to endeavour the
execution of my project, becaufe I think, that,
though unforefeen difficulties may arife, ex
pedients will be found to remove them, and the
fcheme be found practicable. If one of them
accepts the money wkh the conditions, and the
other refutes, my will then is, that both fums be
given to the inhabitants of the city accepting ;
the whole to be applied to the fame purpofes, and
under the fame regulatipns directed for the fepa rate

158 LIFE of, Jjc
rate parts; and if both -refute, the money re
main of courfe in fhe m&fs of my eftate, and
it is to be difpofed of therewith, according to
my will made the fevsateemih day of July
1788. My fine crab-tree walkkig-ftick, with a gold
head curioUfly Wrought' in the form of the cap
of Liberty, I gave to my friend and the friend
of mankind, General Wafhington. If it were
a feeptte, he has merited it, and wotfki become
it.

ESSAYS

E S 5. A Y S
HUMOROUS, MORAL, and LITERARY, &c.

©N EARL? MARRIAGES.

TO JOHN AL'LEYNE, ESQ.

D E A R J AC K,
± <!) U defire, you fay, my impartial thoughts
on the fubject of an early marriage, by way of
anfwer to the numberlefs objections that have
been made fey numerous perfons to your own.
You may remember, when you confulted me
on the occaSion, that I thought youth on both
fides to be no objection. Indeed, from the
•marriages that have fallen under my observa
tion, I am rather inclined to think, that early
ones Stand the beft chance of happinefs. The
temper and habits of the young aFe not yet
'become fo Stiff and uncomplying, as when more
advanced in life; they form more eafily to each
other, and hence many occafions of difguft are
removed. And if youth has lefs of that pru
dence which is neceffary to manage a family, yet
the parents and elder friends of young married
perfons are generally at hand to afford their ad
vice, which amply Supplies that defect ; and by
early marriage, youth is fooner formed to regu lar

s 6b ESSAYS'.
lar and ufeful life ; and poffibly fome of thofg
accidents or connections, that might have in
jured the conftitutiPn, or reputation, or both,
are thereby happily prevented. Particular cir
cumstances of .particular perfons, may poffibly
fometimes make it prudent to delay entering
into that ftate ; h»t in general, when nature has
rendered our bodies fit for it, the prefumption is
in nature's favour, that fhe has riot judged amifs
in making us defire it. Late marriages are often
attended, too, with this further inconvenience,
that there is not the fame chance that the parents
fhall live to fee their offspring educated. " Late
children," fays the SpaniSh proverb, " are early
" orphans." A melancholy reflection to thofe'
whofe cafe it may be ! With us in Ariierica, mar
riages are generally in the morning of life ; our
children are therefore educated and fettled in the
world by noon ; and thus, our bufinefs being
done, we have an afternoon and evening of
cheerful leffure to ourfelves, fuch as our friendt
at prefent enjoys. By thefe early marriages we
are bleffed wifh more children ; and from the
mode among us, founded by nature, of every
rhPther Suckling and nrirfirig her own child, more
of them are faifed. Thence the Swift progrefs
of population among us, unparalleled in Europe.
In fine, I am glad you are married, and congra
tulate you mpft cordially upon it. You are now
in the way of becoming a ufeful citizen ; and
you have efcaped the unpatural ftate of celibacy
for life — the fate of mapy here, who never in
tended it, but who having too long postponed
the change of their condition, find, at length,
that it is too late to think of it, and fo live all
their lives in a fituation that greatly leffens a
man's value. An odd volume of a fet of bpoks,
bears not the value pf its proportion to the fet :
what

, ESSAYS. 175
the other a mufcheto ; in which difpute1 they fpent
their time, Seemingly as regardlefs of the fhort-
nefs of life as if they had been fure pf living a
month. Happy people! thought I, yoU live cer
tainly under a wife, juft, and mild government,
Since you have no public grievances to complain
of, nor any fubject" of contention, but the per
fections or imperfections' of foreign mufie. I
turned my head from them to an old grey-headed
one, who was fingle on another leaf, and talking
to himfelf. Being amUfed with his foliloquy, I
put it down in writing, in hopes it will likewife
amufe her to whom I am fo much indebted for
the moft pleating of all amufements, her delici
ous company, and heavenly harmony.
'? It was," fays he, " the opinion of learned
** philofophers of our race,- who lived and flou-
" rifhed long before my time, that this vaft
" world the Moulin Joly could not itfelf fubfift
" more than eighteen hours : and I think there
" was fome foundation for that opinion ; fince,
" by the apparent motion of the great luminary,
" that gives life to all nature, and which in my
rt time has evidently declined towards the ocean
** at the end of our earth, it muft then finifh its
** coUrfe, be extinguifhed in the waters that fui*-
" round us, and leave the world in cold and
" darknefs, neceffarily producing univerfal death
" and destruction. I have lived feven of thofe
" hours ; a great age, being no lefs than 420 mi-
" nutes of time. How very few of us continue
" fo long ? I have feen generations born, flourifh,
" and expire. My prefent friends are the chil-
" dren and grand-children of the friends of my
" youth, who are now, alas, no more ! And I
" muft foon follow them ; for, by the courfe, of
" nature, though ftill in health, I cannot expect
" to live above feven pr eight minutes longer.
" What

176 ESSAYS.
" What now avails all my toil and labour, in
" amaffing honey-dew on this leaf, which I can-
" not live to enjoy ! What the political Struggles
" I have been engaged in, for the good of my
" cornpatriot inhabitants of this buSh, or my phU
** lofophical ftudies, for the benefit of our race
" in general ! for in politics (what can laws dp
*' without morals ?) our prefent race of ephemerae
" will in a courfe of minutes become corrupt,
" like thofe of other and older bulhes, and con-
" feqUently as wretched : And in philofophy how
" fmall our progrefs I Alas? art is long, and life
" is Short ! My friend would comfort me with
" the idea of a name, they fay, I Shall leave be-
" hind me ; and they tell me I have lived long
" enough to nature and to glory. But what
" will fame be to an ephemera who no longer
*e exifts ? and what will become of all hiftory in
" the eighteenth hour, when the world itfelf,,
" even the whole Moulin Joly, Shall come to its
" end, and be buried in univerfal ruin ?" 
To me, after all my eager purfuits, no folid
plea-fures now remain, but the reflection of a long
life fperit in meaning well, the fenfible converfa
tion of a few good lady ephemerae, and now ?ind
then a kind fmile and a tune from the ever ami
able Brilliant. B. FRANKLIN.

ESSAYS. 177

MORALS of CHESS.
PLAYING at chefs is the moft ancient and
moft univerfal game known among men ; for
its original is beyond the memory of hiflory,
and it has, for numberlefs ages, been the amufe
ment of all the civilized nations of Alia, the
Perfians, the Indians, and the Chinefe. Europe
has had it above a thoufand years ; the Spaniards
have fpread it over their part of America, and it
begins lately to make its appearance in thefe
States. It is fo interefting in itfelf, as not to need
the view of gain to induce engaging in it ; and
thence it is never played for money. Thofe
therefore, who have leifure for fuch diversions,
cannot find one that is more innocent ; and the
following piece, written with a view to correct
(among a few young friends) fome little impro
prieties in the practice of it, thews, at the fame
time, that it may, in its effects on the mind, be
not merely innocent, but advantageous, to the
vanquished as well as the victor.
THE game of chefs is not merely an idle amufe
ment. Several very valuable qualities of the
mind, ufeful in the courfe of human life, are
to be acquired or Strengthened by it, fo as to
become habits, ready on all occasions. For life is
a kind of chefs, in which we have often points to
gain, and competitors or adverfaries to contend
with, and in which there is a vaft variety of good
and ill events, that are, in fome degree, the
effects of prudence or the want of it. By playing
at chefs, then, we may learn,
I. Forefight, which looks a little into futurity,
and considers the confequences that may attend
N an

178 ESSAYS.
an action : for it is continually occurring to the
player, " If I move this piece, what will be the
" advantage of my new Situation? what ufe
" can my adverfary make of it to annoy me ?
" What other moves can I make to fupport it,
" and to defend myfelf from his attacks ?" '
II. Circumfpeclion, which furveys the whole
chefs-board, or fcerie of action, the relations of
the feveral pieces and Situations, the dangers they
are refpeclively expofed to, the feveral possibili
ties of their aiding each other, the probabilities
that the adverfary may take this or that move,
and attack this or the other piece, and what dif
ferent means can be ufed to avoid his ftroke, or
turn its confequences againft him.
III. Caution, not to make our moves too haftily.
This habit is beft acquired by obferving Strictly
the laws of the game, fuch as, " If you touch
" a piece, you muft move it fomewhere, if yoU
" fet it down, you muft let it Hand :" and it is
therefore beft that thefe rules fhould be obferved,
as the game thereby becomes more the imag«
of human life, and particularly of war ; in
which, if you have incautioufly put yourfelf
into a bad and dangerous pofition, you cannot
obtain your enerhy's leave to withdraw your
troops, and place them more fecurely, but you
muft abide all the confequences of your rafhnefs.
And, laftly, we learn by chefs the habit of
not being difcottraged by prefent bad appearances in
the Jlate of our affairs, the habit of hoping for a
, favourable change, and that of perfevering in the
fearch of refources. The game is fo full of events
there is fuch a variety of turns in it, the fortune
of it is fo Subject to fudden viciffitudes, and one
fo frequently, after long contemplation, difcovers
the means of extricating onefelf from a fuppofed
infurmountable difficulty, that one is encouraged to

ESSAYS. 179
to continue the cpnteft to the laft, in hopes of
victory by our own Skill, or at leaft of giving a
Stale mate, by the negligence of our adverfary.
And whoever confiders, what in chefs he often
fees instances of, that particular pieces of fuccefs
are apt to produce prefumption, and its confe-
quent inattention, by which the lofs may be
recovered, will learn not to be too much difcou-
raged by the prefent fuccefs of his adverfary, nor,
to defpair of final good fortune, upon every
check he receives in the purfuit of it.
That we may, therefore, be induced more
frequently to choofe this beneficial amufement,
in preference to others, which are not attended
with the fame advantages, every circumftance
which may increafe the pleafure of it fhould be
regarded ; and every action or word that is
unfair j difrefpectful, or that in any way may give
uneafiriefsj Should be avoided, as contrary to the
immediate intention of both the players, which
is to pafs the time agreeably.
Therefore, firft, if it is agreed to play according
to the ftrict rules ; then thofe rules are to be
exactly obferved by both parties, and Should
not be infilled on for one fide, while deviated
from by the other-r-for this is not equitable.
Secondly, If it is agreed not to obferve the
rules exactly, but one party demands indigen
cies, he Should then be as willing to allow them
to the other.
Thirdly, No falfe move fhould ever be made
to extricate yourfelf out of a difficulty, or to gain
an advantage. There can be no pleafure in play
ing with a perfon once detected in fuch unfair
practice. Fourthly, If your adverfary is long in playing,
you ought not to hurry him, or exprefs any un-
eafinefs at his delay. You Should not fing, nor
N 2 whiftle,

180 ESSAYS.
whittle, nor look at your watch, nor take up a
book to read, nor make a tapping with your feet
on the floor, or with your fingers on the table,
nor do any thing that may difturb his attention.
For all thefe things difpleafe ; and they do not
fhew your fkill in playing, but your craftinefs or
your rudenefs.
Fifthly, You ought not to endeavour to amufe
¦and deceive your adverfary, by pretending to
have made bad moves, and faying that you have
now loft the game, in order to make him fecure
and earelefs, and inattentive to your fchemes t
for this is fraud and deceit, not Skill in the game.
Sixthly, You muft not, when you have gained-
a victory, ufe any triumphing or intuiting ex-
preffion, nor Show too much pleafure ; but en
deavour to confole your adverfary, and make
him lefs diffatisfied with himfelf, by every kind
of civil expreffion that may be ufed with truth,
fuch as, " You underftand the game better than
" I, but you are a little inattentive ;" or, " you
" play too faft ;" or, " you had the heft of the
" game, but fomething happened to divert your
" thoughts, and that turned it in my favour."
Seventhly, If you are a fpectator while others
play, obferye the moft perfect filence.. For if
you give advice, you offend both parties ; hira
againft whom you give it, becaufe it may caufe
the lots of his game ; him in whofe favour you
give it, becaufe, though it be good, and he fol
lows it, he lofes the pleafure he might have had,
if you had permitted him to think until it had
occurred to himfelf. Even after a move, or
moves, you muft not, by replacing the pieces,
Show how it might have been placed better : for
that difpleafes, and may occafion difputes and
doubts about their true fituation. All talking to
the players leffens or diverts their attention, and is

ESSAYS. 181
Is therefore unpleafing. Nor fhould you give
the leaft hint to either party, by any kind of
noife or motion. If you do, you are unworthy
to be a fpectator. If you have a mind to exercife
or Shew your judgment, do it in playing your
own game, when you. have an opportunity, not
in criticising, or meddling with, or counfelling
the play of others.
Laftly, If the game is not to be played rigor-
oufly, according to the rules above mentioned,
then moderate your defire of victory over your
adverfary, and be pi eafed with one over your
felf. Snatch not eagerly at every advantage of
fered by his unfkilfulnefs or inattention ; but
point out to him kindly, that by fuch a move
he places or leaves a piece in danger and unsup
ported ; that by another he will put his king in
a perilous fituation, &c. By this generous civi
lity (fo oppofite to the unfairnefs above forbid
den) you may, indeed, happen to lofe the game
to your opponent, but you will win what is bet
ter, his efteem, his refpect, and his affection ;
together with the filent approbation and good
will of impartial fpectators.

182 ESSAYS-.

T h r

ART OF PROCURING PLEASANT DREAMS.

INSCRIBED TO MISS * • *,

BEING WRITTEN AT HER REQJJE5T.
x\.S a great part of pur life is fpent in fleep, du
ring which we have fometimes pleafing, and
ometimes painful dreams, it becomes of fome
confequence to obtain the one kind, and avoid
the other ; for, v/hether real or imaginary, pain
is pain, and pleafure is pleafure. If we can Sleep
without dreaming, it is well that painful dreams
are avoided. If, while we Sleep, we can have
any pleafing dreams, it is, as the French fay, tant
gagne, fo much added to the pleafure of life.
fo this end it is, in the firft place, neceffary
to be careful in preferving health, by due exer
cife, and great temperance ; for, in ficknefs, the
imagination is disturbed ; and difagreeable, fome
times terrible, ideas are apt to prefent themfelves.
Exercife Should precede meals, not immediately
follow them : the firft promotes, the latter, un-
lefs moderate, obstructs digeftion. If, after ex
ercife, we feed fparingly, the digeftion will be
eafy and good, the body lightfome, the temper
cheerful, and all the animal functions performed
agreeably. Sleep, when it follows, will be na
tural and undifturbed. While indolence, with
full feeding, occafion night-mares and horrors in-
expreffible : we fall from precipices, are affaulted
by wild beafts, murderers, and demons, and expe
rience

ESSAYS. 183
rience every varietyof diftrefs. Obfeive, hoWever,
that the quantities of food and exercife arerelative
things : thofe who move much may, and indeed
ought, to eat more ; thofe who ufe little exercife,
-Should eat little. In general, mankind, fince the
improvement of cookeiy, eat. about twice as
much as nature requires. Suppers are not bad,
if we have not dined ; but reftlefs nights natural
ly follow hearty fuppers, after full dinners. In
deed, as there is a difference in constitutions,
fome reft well after thefe meals ; it cofts them on
ly a frightful dream, and an apoplexy, after
which they fleep till doomfday. Nothing is more
common in the newfpapers, , than inftances of
people, who, after eating a hearty flipper, are
found dead a-bed in the morning.
Another means of preferving health, to be at
tended to, is the having a constant fupply of frefh
air in your bed-chamber. It has been a great
miftake, the Sleeping, in rooms exactly clofed, and
in beds Surrounded by curtains. No outward
air, that may come in to you, is fo unwholfome
as the unchanged air, often breathed,, of a clofe
chamber. As boiling water does pot grow hotter
by longer ' boiling, if the particles that receive
greater heat can efcape ; fo living bodies do not
putrify, if the particles, as faft as they become
putrid, can be thrown off. Nature expels them
by the pores of the fkin and lungs, and in a free
open air, they are carried off; but, in a clofe
room, we receive them again, though they be
come more and more corrupt. A number of
perfons crowded into a fmall room, thus fpoil
the air in a few minutes, and even render it nior-
tal, as in the Black Hole at Calcutta. A fingle
perfon is faid to fpoil only a gallon of air per mi-
pute, and therefore requires a lpnger time to fpoil
a chamberful! ; but it is don?, however, in pro
portion,

¦i84 ESSAYS.
portion, and many putrid diforders hence have
their origin. It is recorded of Methufalerri, who,
being the longeft liver, may be fuppofed to have
beft preferved his health, that he flept always in
the open air ; for, when he had lived five hun
dred years, an angel faid to him : " Arife, Me-
" thufalem ; and build thee an houfe, for thou
" Shalt live yet five hundred years longer." But
Methufalem anfwered and faid : " If I am to five
" but five hundred years longer, it is not worth
" while to build me an houfe — I Will fleep in the
" air as I have been ufed to do." Phyficians, af
ter having for ages contended that the Sick Should
not be indulged with freSh air, have at length
difcovered that it may do them good. It is there
fore to be hoped that they may in time difcover
likewife, that it is not hurtful to thofe who are
in health ; and that we may be then cured of the
aerophobia that at prefent diftreffes weak minds,
and make them choofe to be Stifled and poifoned;
rather than leave open the window of a bed-chami
ber, or put down the glafs of a coach.
Confined air, when faturated with perfpirable
matter *, will not receive more : and that matter
muft remain in our Bodies,' 'and occafion difeafes :
but it gives fome previous notice of its being
about to be hurtful, by producing certain uneafii
neffes, flight indeed at firft, fuch as, with regard
to the lungs, is a trifling ferifatiori, and to the
pores of the Skin a kind of reftleffnefs which is
difficult to defcribe, and few that feel it know
the caufe of it. ' But we may recollect, that fome
times, on waking in the night, we have, if warmly
covered, fouridit difficult to get afleep again.' We
* What phyficians call the perfpirable matter is, that va
pour which partes off from our bodies, from the lungs, and
through the pores of the ikin. The quantity of this is laid
to be five-eights cf what we eat. turn

ESSAYS. 185
turn often without finding reppfe in any pofition.
This fidgettinefs, to ufe a vulgar expreffion for
want of a better, is occafioned wholly by an un-<
eafinefs in the Skin, owing to the retenfion of the
perfpirable matter — the bed-clothes having receiv
ed their quantity^ and, being faturated, refuting
to take any more. ' To become fenfible of this by
an experiment, let a perfon keep his pofition in
the bed, but throw off the bed-clothes, and fuffer
frefh air to approach the part uncovered of his
body ; he will thpn feel that part Suddenly refresh
ed ; for the air will immediately relieve the Skin,
by receiving, licking up, and carrying off, the
load of perfpirable matter that inconimoded if.
For every portion pf cool air that approaches the
warm flcrri, in receiving its part of that vapour,
receives therewith a degree of heat, that rarifies
and renders it higher, when it will be puShed
away, with its burthen, by cooler, and therefore
heavier frelh air ; which, for a moment, fupplies
its place, arid then, being likewife changed, and
warmed, gives way to a Succeeding quantity.
This is the order of nature, to prevent animals
being infected by their own perfpiration. He
will now be fenfible of the difference between the
part expofed to the air, and that which, remain
ing funk in the bed, denies the air accefs : for
this part now manifefts its uneafinefs more dif-
tinctly by the comparifon, and the feat of the un
eafinefs is more plainly perceived, than when the
whole Surface of the body was affected by it.
Here,' then, is one great and general caufe of
unpleafing dreams. For when the body is unea-
fy, the mind will be difturbed by it, and difagree-
able ideas of various kinds will, in fleep, be the
natural confequences. The remedies, preventa
tive, and curative, follow :
1:.. -.;:-. •- J( By

186 ESSAYS.
i . By eating moderately (as before advifed
for health's* fake) lefs perfpirable matter is pro-
. duced in a given time ; hence the bed-clothes re
ceive it longer before they are faturated ; and we
may, therefore, fleep longer, before we are made
uneafy by their refufing to receive any more.
2. By ufing thinner and more porous bed
clothes, which will fuffer the perfpirable matter
more eafily to pafs through them, we are lefs in
commoded, fuch being longer tolerable.
3. When you are awakened by this uneafinefs,
and find you cannot eafily fleep again, get out of
bed, beat up and turn your pillow, fhake the bed
clothes well, with at leaft twenty Shakes, then
throw the bed open, and leave it to cool ; in the
meanwhile, continuing undreft, walk about your
chamber, till your Skin has had time to difcharge
its load, which it will do fooner as the air may
be drier and colder. When you begin to feel the
cold air unpleafant, then return to your bed ;
and you will foon fall afleep, and your fleep will
be fweet and pleafant. All the feenes prefepted
to your fancy, will be of the pleafing kind. I
am often as agreeably entertained with them, as
by the feenery of an opera. If you happen to be
too indolent to get out of bed, you may, inftead
of it, lift up your bed-clothes with one arm and
leg, fo as to draw in a good deal of frefh air, and,
by letting them fall, force it out again. This, re
peated twenty times, will fo clear them of the
perfpirable matter they have imbibed, as to per
mit your fleeping well for fome time afterwards.
But this latter method is not equal to the former.
Thofe who do not love trouble, and can afford
to have two beds, will find great luxury in rifing,
when they wake in a hot bed, and going into
the cool one. Such fhifting of beds would alfo
be of great fervice to perfons ill of a fever, as it
refrefh.es

ESSAYS. 187
refrefhes and frequently procures fleep. A very
large bed, that will admit a removal fo diftant
from the firft fituation as to be cool and fweet,
may in a degree anfwer the fame end.
One or two obfervations more will conclude
this little piece. Care muft be taken, when you
lie down, to difpofe your pillow fo as to fuit
your manner of placing your head, and to be
perfectly eafy ; then place your limbs fo as not
to bear inconveniently hard upon one another,
as, for inftance. the joints of your ancles : for
though a bad pofition may at firft give but little
pain, and be hardly noticed, yet a continuance
will render it lefs tolerable, and the uneafinefs
may come on while you are afleep, and difturb
your imagination.
Thefe are the rules of the art. But though
they will generally prove effectual in producing
the end intended, there is a cafe in which the
moft punctual obfervance of them will be totally
fruitlefs. I need not mention the cafe to you,
my dear friend : but my account of the art would
be imperfect without it. The cafe is, when the
perfon who defires to have pleafant dreams has
not taken care to preferve, what is neceffary above

all things,

A GOOD CONSCIENCE,

ADVICE

iSS ESSAYS.
ADVICE TO A YOUNG TRADESMAN.
WRITTEN ANNO 1748.
TO MY FRIEND A. B.

As you have defired it of me, I "write the following hints, inhick
have been of fervice to me, and may, if obferved, be fo to you.
REMEMBER that time is money. He that
can earn ten fliillings a day by his labour, and
goes abroad, or fits idle one half of that day,
though he fpends but fixpence during his diver-
fion or idlenefs, ought not to reckon that the
only expence; he has really fpent, or rather
thrown away, five Shillings befides.
Remember that credit is money. If a man
lets his money lie in my hands after it is due,
he gives me the intereft, or fo much as I can
make of it during that time. This amounts to
a confiderable fum where a man has good and
large credit, and makes good ufe of it.
Remember that money is of a prolific gener
ating nature. Money can beget money, and its
offspring can beget more, and fo on. Five fliil
lings turned is fix ; turned again, it is feven and
three-pence ; and fo on till it becomes an hun
dred pounds. The more there is of it, the more
it produces every turning, fo that the profits rife
quicker and quicker. He that kills a breeding
fow, deftrpys all her offspring to the thoufandth
generation. He that murders a crown, deftroys
all that it might have produced, even feores of
pounds. Remember

ESSAYS. iBg
Remember that fix pounds a year is but a
groat a day. For this little fum (which may be
daily wafted either in time or expence, unper-
ceived), a man of credit may, on his own fecu-
rity, have the conftant poffeffion and ufe of an
hundred pounds. So much in SlPck, briSkly
turned by an induftrious man, produces great
advantage. Remember this faying, w The good paymaster
is lord of another man's purfe." He that is
known to pay punctually and exactly to the
time he promifes, may at any time, and on any
occafion, raife all the money his friends can
fpare. This is fometimes of great ufe. After
induftry and frugality, nothing contributes more
to the railing of a young man in the world,
than punctuality and juftice in all his dealings :
therefore never keep borrowed money an hour
beyond the time you promifed, left a disappoint
ment Shut up your friend's purfe for ever.
The moft trifling actions that affect a man's
credit are to be regarded. The found of your
hammer at five in the morning, or nine at night,
heard by a creditor, makes him eafy fix months
longer : but if he fees you at a billiard table, or
hears your voice at a tavern, when you Should
be at work, he fends for his money the next
day ; demands it before he can receive it in a
lump. It Shews, befides, that you are mindful of
what you owe ; it makes you appear a careful,
as well as an honeft man, and that ftill increafes
your credit.
Beware of thinking all your own that you
poffefs, and of living accordingly. It is a mif-
take that many people who have credit fall into.
To prevent this, keep an exact account, for
fome time, both of your expences and your in
come.

i go ESSAYS.
come. If you take the pains at firft to mention;
particulars, it will have this good effect ; you
will difeover how wonderfully fmall trifling ex
pences mount up to large fums, and will difcern
what might have been, and may for the future
be faved, without occafioning any great incon
venience. In Short, the way to wealth, if you defire it,
is as plain as the way to market. It depends
chiefly on two words, induflry and frugality ; that
is, watte neither time nor money, but make the
beft ufe of both. Without induftry and fruga
lity nothing will do, and with them every thing.
He that gets all he can honeftiy, and faves all he
gets (neceffary expences excepted), will certainly
become rich — if that Being who governs the
world, to whom all Should look for a bleffing on
their honeft endeavours, doth not, in his wife
providence, otherwife determine. An OLD TRADESMAN.

NECES-

ESSAYS. 191

NECESSARY HINTS TO THOSE THAT WOULD
BE RICH.

WRITTEN ANNO 1 736.

1 HE ufe of money is all the advantage there
is in having moriey.
For fix pounds a year you may have the ufe
pf one hundred pounds, provided you are a man
of known prudence and honeSty. •
He that Spends a groat a day idly, fpends idly
above fix pounds a year, which is the price for
the Ufe of one hundred pounds.
He that waftes idly a groat's worth of his
time per day, one day with another, waftes the
privilege of ufing one hundred pounds each
day. He that idly lofes five Shillings worth of time,
lofes five Shillings, and might as prudently throw
five fliillings into the fea.
He that lofes five fliillings, not only lofes that
fum, but all the advantage that might be made
by turning it in dealing, which, by the time that
a young man becomes old, will amount to a
confiderable fum of money.
Again : he that fells upon credit, afks a price
for what he fells equivalent to the principal and
intereft of his money for the time he is to be
kept out of it ; therefore, he that buys upon
credit, pays intereft for what he buys ; and he
that pays ready money, might let that money
out to ufe : fo that he that pofleffes any thing he
has bought, pavs intereft for the ufe of it. Yet,

192 ESSAYS.
Yet, in buying goods, it is beft to pay ready
money, becaufe, he that fells upon credit, ex
pects to lofe five per cent, by bad debts ; there
fore he charges, on all he fells upon credit, an
advance that Shall make up that deficiency.
Thofe who pay for what they buy upon credit,
pay their Share of this advance.
He that pays ready moneys efcapes, or may
efcape, that charge.
A penny fav'd is two-pence clear ;
A pin a day 's a groat a year.

ESSAYS. "193

THE WAY TO MAKE MONEY PLENTY IN
EVERY MAN'S POCKET.
-A.T this time, when the general complaint is
that — " money is fcarce," it will be an act of
kindnefs to inform the moneylefs how they inay
reinforce their pockets. I will acquaint them
with the true fecret of money-catching^the cer
tain way to fill empty purfes — and how to keep
them always full. Two Simple rules, well obfer
ved, will do the bufinefs.
Firft, let honefty and induftry be thy conftant
companions ; and,
Secondly, fpend one penny lefs than thy clear
gains. Then Shall thy hide-bound pocket foon begin
to thrive, and will never again cry with the emp
ty belly-ach : neither will creditors intuit thee,
nor want opprefs, nor hunger bite, nor naked-
nefs freeze thee. The whole hemisphere will
Shine brighter, and pleafure fpring up in every
corner of thy heart. Now, therefore, embrace
thefe rules and be happy. BaniSh the bleak winds
of forrow from thy mind, and live independent.
Then Shalt thou be a man, and not hide thy face
at the approach of the rich, nor fuffer the pain of
feeling little when the fons of fortune walk at
thy right hand : for independency, whether with
little or much, is good fortune, and placeth thee
on even ground with the proudeft of the golden
fleece. Oh, then, be wife, and let induftry
walk with thee in the morning, and attend thee
until thou reacheft the evening hour for reft.
Let honefty be as the breath of thy foul, and ne«
O vcr

194 ESSAYS.
ver forget to have a penny, when all thy expen
ces, are enumerated and paid? then Shalt thou
reach the point, of happiheSs, and independence
Shall be thy Shield and buckler, thy helmet and
crown; then Shall thy foul walk upright, nor
Sloop to the fijken wretch becaufe he hath riches,
nor pocket an abufe becaufe the hand which Pffers
it wears a ring fet with diamonds*

AN

.ESSAYS. --I95
AN (ECONOMICAL PROJECT.
[A Tranflation of this letter appeared in one <ff 'tie Daily Paper t
of Paris abdut the Tear 1 784. The following is the Orianal
Piece, with fomt Addttions and Corrections made in it by the
Author.]
TO THE AUTHORS OF THE JOURNAL.
MESSIEURS,
lOU pften entertain us with .accounts of new
difepveries. Permit me to communicate to the
public, through your paper, one that has lately-
been made by myfelf, and which I cpnceive may
be of great utility.
I was the other evening in a grand company,
where the new lamp of Meffrs. Quinquct and
Lange was introduced, and much admired for its
Splendor ; but a general enquiry was made, whe
ther the oil it confumed was not in prpportion to
the light it afforded, in which cafe there would
fee no faving in the ufe of it. No one prefent
could fatisfy us in that point, which all agreed
ought to be known, itbeingaverydefirable thing
to leffen, if poffible, the expence of lighting our
apartments, when every other article of family
expence was fo much augmented.
I Was pleafed to fee this general concern for
.eeconomy ; for I love ceconomy exceedingly.
I went hpme, and to bed, three or four hours
after midnight, with my head full of the fubject.
An accidental fuddep noife waked me about fix
in the morning, when I was furprized to find my
O % room

\96 -ESSAYS.
room filled with light ; and I imagined at firft,
that a number of thofe lamps had been brought
into it: "but, rubbing rriy eyes, I perceived the
light came in at the windows. I got up and look
ed out to fee what might be the occafion of it*
when I faw the fun juft riling above the horizon,
from whence he poured his rays plentifully into
my chamber, my domeftic having negligently
omitted the preceding evening to clofe the Shut
ters. I looked at my watch, which goes very Well,
and found that it was but fix o'clock ; and ftill
thinking it fomething extraordinary that the fun
Should rife fo early, I locked into the almanack,
where I found it to be the hour given for his ri
sing on that day. I looked forward too, and
found he was to rife ftill earlier every day till to
wards the end of June'; and that at no time in
the year he retarded his riling folong as till eight
o'clock. Your readers, who with me have never
feen any Signs of funfhine before noon, and fel-
dom regard the aftronomical part pf the almanack",
will be as much aftonifhed as I was, when they
hear of his riling fo early ; and efpecially when
I affufe them, that he gives light as foon as he rifes.
I am convinced of this. I am certain of my fact.
One cannot be more certain of any fact. I faw
it with rriy own eyes. And having repeated this
obfervation the three following mornings, I found
always precifely the farne refult.
Yet fo' it happens, that when I fpeak of this
difeovery to others, I can eafily perceive by their
countenances, though they forbear expreSfing it
in words, that they do not quite believe me. One,
indeed, who is a learned natural philofopher, has
affured me, that I muft certainly be mistaken as
to the circumftance of the light coming into my
room; for it being well known, as he fays, that
there

ESSAYS. '197
there could be no light abroad at that hour, it
follows that none could enter from without; and
that of confequerice, my windows being acciden
tally left open, inftead of let-ting in the light, had
only ferved tp let out the darknefs : and he ufed
many ingenious arguments to Shew me how I
might, by that means, have been deceived. I
own that he puzzled me a little, but he did not
fatisfy me ; and the fubfequent obfervations I
made, as above mentioned, confirmed me in my
firft opinion.
This event has given rife, in my mind, to fe
veral ferious and important reflections. I confi
dered that, if I had not been awakened fo early
in the morning, I Should have flept fix hours lon
ger by the light of the fun, and in exchange have
lived fix hours the following night by candle
light; and the latter being a much more expen
sive light than -the former, my love of ceconomy
induced me to mufter up what little arithmetic I
was mailer of, and to make fome calculations,
which I Shall give you, after obferving, that uti
lity is, in my opinion, the teft of value in mat
ters of invention, and that a difeovery which can
be applied to no ufe, or is not good for fome
thing, is good for nothing.
i tpok for the bafis of my calculation the fup-
pofition that there are 100,000 families in Paris,
and that thefe families confume in the night half
a pound of bougies, or candles, per hour. I
think this is a moderate allowance, taking one
family with another ; for though 1 believe fome
confume lefs, I know that many confume a great
deal more. Then estimating feven hours per day,
as the medium quantity between the time of the
fun's rifing and ours, he rifing during the fix fol
lowing months from fix to eight hours before
soon, and there being feven hours of courfe per
night

io8 ESSAYS.
night in which we burn candles, the account wflj
Stand thus-tr-
In the fix months between the twentieth of
March and the twentieth of September, there
are
Nights - ... 183
Hours of each night in which we
burn candles r 7

Multiplication gives for the total
number pf hours - - - i328i
Thefe 1,281 hours multiplied by
100,000, the number of inhabi
tants, give - - - - i28,i0PjQ0Q
One hundred twenty-eight milli
ons and one hundred thoufand
hours, fpent at Paris by candle
light, which, at half a pound of
wax and tallow per hour, gives
the weight of - - r 64,050,000
Sixty -four millions and fifty thou
fand of pounds, which, estima
ting the whole at the medium
price of thirty fols the. pound,
makes the fum of ninety-fix mil
lions and fevepty-five thoufand
livres tournois - 96,^75,000
An immenfe fum ! that the city of Paris might
fave every year, by the ceconomy of ufing fun-
fliine inftead of candles.
If it fhould be faid, that people are apt to be
obftinately attached to old cuftoms., and that it
will be difficult to induce them to rife before*
noon, confequently my difeovery can be of little
ufe ; I anfwer, Nil defperandum. I believe all
who have common fenfe, as foon as they have
learnt from this paper that it is day-light when
the fun rifes, will contrive to rife with him ; and,. to

ESSAYS. 190
to compel- the reft4 I would propofe the. followr
ing regulations .
Firft. Let a tax be laid of a louis per window,
on every window that is provided with Shutters
to keep out the light pf the fun.
Second, Let the fame falutary operation of ppi
lice be made ufe of tp prevent our burning can-
dles^ that inclined us laft winter to be more ceco-
nomical in burping wppd_; that is, let guards be
placed in the Shops of the wax and tallow-chand
lers, and no family be permitted to be fupplied
with more than one pound of candles per week.
Third. Let guards alfo be potted to flop all thfi
¦coaches, &c. that would pafs the Streets after fun-
fet, except thpfe of phyficians, Surgeons, and
mid wives.
Foprth. Every morning, as foon as the fun ri-
fes, let all the befls in every church be fet ring
ing: and if that is not fufficlent, let cannon be
fired in eyery ftreet, to wake the Sluggards effec
tually, and roajfe them open their eyes to fee their
true intereft.
All the difficulty will be in the firft two pr
three days ; after which the reformation will be
as natural and eafy pis fhe prefent irregularity rfor,
ce n'efi que le premier pas qui coute. Oblige a man
tp rife at four ip the morning, and it is more than
probable he fliall go willingly to bed at eight in
the evening ; and, having had eight hours fleep,
he will rife more willingly at four the mornirig
following. But this Sum of ninety-fix millions
and feventy -five thoufand livres is not the Whole
of what may be faved by my ceconpmical project.
You may obferve, that 1 have calculated upon
only one half of the year, and much may be fa-
ved in the other, though the days are Shorter.
Betides, the immenfe Stock of wax and tallow
left unconfirmed during the fummer, will proba bly

200 ESSAYS.
bly make candles much cheaper for the enfuing
winter, and continue cheaper as long as the pro
pofed reformation Shall be Supported.
For the great benefit of this difeovery, thus
freely communicated and bellowed by me on the
public, I demand neither place, penfion, exclu
sive privilege, or any other reward whatever. I
expect only to have the honour of it. And yet
I know there are little envious minds who will,
as ufual, deny pie this, and fay that my inven
tion was known to the ancients, and perhaps they
may bring paffages out of the old books in proof
of it. I will not difpute with thefe people that
the ancients knew not the fun would rife at cer
tain hours ; they poffibly had, as We have, alma
nacks that predicted it : but it does not follow
from thence that they knew he gave light as foon
as he rofe. This is what I claim as my difeovery.
If the ancient knew it, it muft have been long
fince forgotten, for it certainly was unknown to
the moderns, at leaft to the Parifians ; which to
prove, I need ufe but one plaip fimple argument.
They are as well instructed, judicious, and pru
dent a people as exjft any where in the world,
all profeffing, like myfelf, to be lovers of cecono
my; and, from the many heavy taxes required
from them by the neceffities of the ftate, have
furely reafon to be ceconomical. I fay it is im
poffible that fo fenfible a people, under fuch cir
cumstances, Should have lived fo long by the fmo-
ky, unwholfome, and enormoufly expenfive light
of candles, if they had really known that they
might have had as much pure light of the fun for
nptjiing. v ¦'
I am, &c. As A30NNE.

ESSAYS. Sol

ON MODERN INNOVATIONS IN THE ENGLISH
LANGUAGE AND IN PRINTING.
To NpAH Webster, jun. esq,, at Hartford.
Philadelphia, Dec. 26, 1789.
DEAR SIS, f
I RECEIVED, fome time fince, your Difertati-
ens on the Englifh Language. It is an excellent
work, and will be greatly ufeful in turning the
thoughts of our countrymen to correct writing.
Pleafe to accept my thanks for it, as well as for
the great honour you have done me in its dedi
cation. I ought to have made this acknowledge
ment fooner, but much indifpofition prevented
me. I cannot but applaud your zeal for preferving
thepurity of our language both in its ex^reffion
and pronunciation, and in correcting the popular
errors feveral of our ftates are continually falling
into with refpedt to both. Give me leave to
mention fome of them, though poffibly they may
already have occurred to you. I wiSh, however,
that in fome future publication of yours, you
would fet a difcountenancing mark upon them.
The firft I remember, is the word improved. When
I left New-England in the year 1723, this word
had never been ufed among us, as far as I know,
but in the fenfe of ameliorated, or made-better, ex
cept once in a very old book of Dr. Mather's, en
titled Remarkable Providences. As that man wrote
a very obfeure hand, I remember that when I
read that word in his book, ufed inftead of the
fcvord employed, I conjectured that it was an error of

2G2 ESSAYS.
of the printer, whp had mistaken a Short / in the
writing for an r, and a y with too Short a tail for
a v, whereby employed was converted into improv-
ed: but when I returned to Bofton in 1733, I
found this change had obtained favour, and was
then" become common ; for 1 met with it often in
perufing the newfpapers, where it frequently
made an appearance rather ridiculous. Such, for
inftance, as the advertifement of a country houfe
to be fold, which had been many years improved
as a tavern ; and in the character of a deceafed
country gentleman, that he had been, for more
than thirty years, improved as ajuftice of the peace.
This ufe of the word improve is peculiar to New-
England, and not to be met with among any
other fpeakera of EmgliSh, either on this or the
other fide of the water.
During my late abfence in France, I find "that
feveral other new words have been introduced
into our parliamentary language. For example,
I find a verb formed from the fubftantive notice.
I fhould not have noticed this, were it not that the
gentleman, he. Alfo another verb, from the fub
ftantive advocate ; The gentleman who advocates,
or who has advocated that motion, &c. Another
from the fubftantive progrefs, the moft aukward
and abominable of the three : fhe committee hav
ing progreffed, refolved to adjourn. The word op
pofed, though not a new word, I find ufed in a
new manner, as, The gentlemen who are oppofed
to this meafure, to which I have alfo myfelf always
been oppofed. If you Should happen to be of my
opinion with refpect to thefe innovations, you
will ufe your authority in reprobating them.
The Latin language, long the vehicle ufed in
distributing knowledge among the different na
tions of Europe, is daily more and more neglect
ed ; and one of the modern tongues^ viz. French, teems,

ESSAYS. Zo$
feemsj in point of- univerfality, to have fupplied
its place. It is Spoken in all the courts of Eu
rope ; and moft pf the literati, thofe even who
do n»t fpeak it, have acquired knowledge of it,
to enable them eafily to read the books that are
written ip it, This gives a confiderable advan
tage to that nation. It enables its authors to incul
cate and fpread through other nations, fuch fen-
timents and opinions, on important points, as
are moft conducive to its interetts, or which may
contribute to its reputation, by promoting the
common interests of mankind. It is, perhaps,
owing to its being written in French, that Vol
taire's Treatife on Toleration has had fo fudden
and fo great an effect on the bigotry of Europe,
as almoft entirely to difarm it. The general ufe
of the French language has likewife a very ad
vantageous effect on the profits of the hookfelling
branch of commerce, it being well known, that
the more cppies can be fold that are Struck off
from one composition pf types, the profits in-
creafe in a mpch greater proportion than they do
in making a greater number of pieces in any other
kind of manufacture. And at prefent there is no
capital town in Europe without a French book-
feller's Shop corresponding with Paris. Our En
glish bids fair to obtain the fecond place. The
great body of excellent printed -fermons in our
language, and the freedom of our writings on-
political fubjects, have induced a great number
of divines of different fects and nations, as well
as gentlemen concerned in public affairs, to ftudy
it, fo far at Jeaft as to read it. And if we were
to endeavour the facilitating its progrefs, the
ftudy of our tongue might become much more
general. Thofe who have employed fome part
pf their time in learning a new language, muft
have frequently obferved, that while their ac
quaintance

204 essays.
quaintance with it was imperfeclt, difficulties,
fmall in themfelves, operated as great ones in ob
structing their progrefs. A book, for example,
ill printed, or a pronunciation in fpeaking not
well articulated, would render a fentence unin
telligible, which from a clear print, or a diftinct
fpeaker, would have been immediately compre
hended. If, therefore, we would have the be
nefit of feeing our language more generally known
among mankind, we fhould endeavour to remove
all the difficulties, however fmall, that difcou-
rage the learning of it. But I am forry to ob-
ferve that, of late years, thofe difficulties, inftead
of being diriainiShed, fiave been augmented.
In examining the Englifh books that were print
ed between the reftoration and the acceffion of
George the Second, we may obferve, that all fub-
ftantives were begun with a capital, in which we
imitated our mother tongue, the German. This
was jnore particularly ufeful to thofe who were
not well acquainted with the Englifh, there be
ing fuch a prodigious number of our words that
are both verbs and fubftantives, and fpelt in the
fame manner, though often accented differently
in pronunciation. This method has, by the fan
cy of printers, of late years been entirely laid
afide ; from an idea, that fuppreffing the capi
tals thews the character to greater advantage ;
thofe letters, prominent above the line, disturb
ing its even, regular appearance. The effect of
this change is fo confiderable, that a learned man
of France, who ufed to read our books, though
pot perfectly acquainted with our language, in
converfation with me on the fubject of our au
thors, attributed the greater obfeurity he found
in our modern books, compared with thofe
<f the period above mentioned, to a change of
ftyle for the worfe in our writers ; of which
miftake

ESSAYS. 205
miftake I convinced him, by marking for him
each fubftantive with a capital, in a paragraph,
which he then eafily underftood, though before
he could not comprehend it. This thews the in
convenience of that pretended improvement.
From the fame fondnefs for an uniform and
even appearance of characters in the line, the prin
ters have of late banifhed alfo the Italic types, in
which words of importance to be attended to in
the fenfe of the fentence, and words on which an
emphafis Should be put in reading, ufed to be
printed. And lately another fancy has induced
other printers to ufe the round s inftead of the
long one, which forrrierly ferved well to diftin-
guifh a word readily by its varied appearance.
Certainly the omitting this prominent letter
makes a line appear more even, but renders it
lefs immediately legible ; as the paring of all men's
nofes might fmooth and level their faces, would
render their phyfiognomies lefs diftinguifhable.
Add to all thefe improvements backwards, ario-
ther modern fancy, that grey printing is more
beautiful than black. Hence the Englifh new
books are printed in fo dim a character as to be
read with difficulty by old eyes, unlets in a very
ftrong light and with good glaffes. Whoever
compares a volume of the Gentleman's Magazine,
printed between the years 1731 and 1740, with
one of thofe printed in the laft ten years, will be
convinced of the much greater degree of perfpi-
cuity given by black than by the grey. Lord
Chefterfield pleafantly remarked this difference to
Faulkner, the printer of the Dublin Journal, who
was vainly making encomiums on his own paper,
as the moft complete of any in the world. " But
" Mr. Faulkner," fays my lord, " don't you think
" it might be ftill farther improved, by ufing paper
" and ink not quite fo near of a colour ?" — For all
thefe

2o6 ESSAYS.
thefe reafons I cannot but with that our American
printers would, in their editions, avoid thefe fan
cied improvements, and thereby render their
works more agreeable to foreigners in Europe, tb
the great advantage of our bookfelling commerce.
Farther', to be more fenfible of the advantage
of clear and diftinct printing, let us confider the
affiftarice it affords in reading well aloud to an
auditory. In fo doing the eye generally Slides
forward three or four words before the voice. If
the fight clearly distinguishes what the coming
words are, it gives time to order the modulation
of the voice to exprefs them properly. But if
they are obfcurely printed, or ditguifed-by omit
ting the capitals and long f's, or otsberwife, the
rea'deris apt to modulate wrong'; and finding he
has done So, he is obliged to go back and begin
the fentence again ; which lefiens the pleafure of
the hearers. This leads me to mention an old
error in our mode of printing. We are fenfible
that when a queftion is met with in the reading,
there is a proper variation tp be ufed in the ma
nagement of tile voice. We have, therefore, a
point, called an interrogation, affixed to the
queftion, in order to diftinguifh it. But this is
abfurdly placed. at its end, fo that the reader does
not difcover it till he finds that he has wrongly
modulated his voice, and is therefore obliged to
begin again the fentence. To prevent tins, the
Spanifh printers, more fenfibly, place an interro -
gation at the beginning as well as at the end of
the queftion. We have another error of the fame
kind in printing plays, where fomething., often
occurs that is marked as fpoken -qfisde. But the
word afide is placed at the end of the fpeech, when
it ought to precede it, as a direction to the reader,
that he may govern his voice accordingly. The
practice of our ladies in meeting five or fix toge ther,

ESSAYS-. 207
ther, to form little bufy parties, where each is
employed in fome ufeful work, while one reads
to them, is fo commendable in itfelf, that it de-
ferves the attention of authors and printers to
make it as pleafing as poffible, both to the reader
and hearers.
My beft wiShes attend you, being with Sincere
efteem, Sir,
Your moft obedient and
very humble fervant, , &. FRANKLIN.

AN

aoS ESSAYS.

AN ACCOUNT OF THE HICHEST COURT OF JUD**
CATURE IN PENNSYLVANIA, VIZ.

THE COURT OF THE PRESS.

POWER OF THIS COURT.
IT may receive and promulgate accusations of
all kinds, againft all perfons and characters among
,the citizens of the ftate, and even againft all
inferior courts ; and may judge, fentence, and
condemn to infamy, not only private individuals,
but public bodies/ &c. with or without enquiry
or hearing, at the court's difcretion.
In whofe favour, or for whofe emolument this court
is eflablijhed.
In favour of about one citizen in five hundred
who by education, or practice in feribbling,
has acquired a tolerable ftyle as to grammar and
construction, fo as to bear printing ; or who is
poffeffed of a prefs and a few types. This five
hundredth part of the citizens have the privilege
of accufing and abufing the other four hundred
and ninety-nine parts, at their pleafure ; or they
may hire out their pen and prefs to others, for
that purpofe. Praclice of this court.
It is not governed by any of the rules of the
common courts of law. The accufed is allowed
no grand jury to judge of the truth of the accu-
fation before it is publicly made ; nor is the name
of the accufer made known to him ; nor has he
an

ESSAYS. 209
an opportunity pf confronting the witneffes
againft him, for they are kept In the dark, as in
the SpaniSh court of inquifition. Nor is there
any petty jury of his peers fworn to try the
truth of the charges. The proceedings are alfo
fometimes fo rapid, that an honeft good citizen
may find himfelf fuddenly and unexpectedly
accufed, and in the fame morning judged and
condemned, and fentence pronounced againft
him that he is a rogue and a villain. Yet if an
officer of this court receives the flighteft check
for mifconduct in this his office, he claims imme
diately the rights of a free citizen by the constitu
tion, and demands to know his accufer, to con
front the witneffes, and to have a fair trial by a
jury of his peers.The foundation of its authority*
It is faid to be founded on an article in
the ftate conftitution, which established the li
berty of the prefs  a liberty which every
Pennfylvanian would fight and die for, though
few of us, I believe, have distinct ideas of its
nature and extent. It teems, indeed, fomewhat
like the liberty of the prefs, that felons have,
by the common law of England before conviction;
that is, to be either preffed to death or hanged.
If, by the liberty of the prefs, were underftood
merely the liberty of difeuffing the propriety
of public meafures and political opinions, let
us have as much of it as you pleafe ; but if it
means the liberty of affronting, calumniating,
and defaming ' one another, I, for my part,
own myfelf willing to part with my fhare of it,
whenever pur legiflators fliall pleafe fo to alter
the law; and fhall cheerfully content to ex
change my liberty of abufmg others, for the pri
vilege of not being abufed myfelf.
P By

21© ESSAYS.
By whom thii court is cgmmiffioned ot conflituied.
It is not by any Commiffion from the fuprefne'
executive coUncil, who; might previoufly judge1
pf the abilities, integrity, knowledge, &c. of
the perfori tP be appoirited to this great truft,
of decidirig upPn the characters and good fame'
of the citizens : for this cobrt is above that
couricil, and may accufe, judge, and condemn
it at pleafure. Nor is it hereditary, as is the
court of dernier refort in the peerage of England.
But any man who can prPeute pen, ink, and
paper, with a prefs, a few types, and a huge
pair of blacking balls, may commiffioriate himfelf,
and his court is immediately eftablifhed in the
plenary poffeffion. and exercife of its rights. For
if you make the leaft complaint of the judge's
. conduct, he ' daubs his blacking balls in yoUr
face wherever he meets you : arid befides tearing
your private character to fplinters, marks you
out for. the odium of the public; as an enemy
to the liberty of the prefs.
, Of the natural fuppori of this court.
Its fupport is founded in the depravity of fuch
minds as have riot been mended by religipn, nor
improved by good education.
There is a luft in man no charm can tame,
Of loudly publifhing his neighbour's fhame.
Hence1, On eagles' wings, immortal fcandals fly,
While virtuous aftioirs are but born ana die. D"ryd£n.
\ -
Whoeverfeels pain in hearings good character
Pf his neighbour, will feel a pleafure in the
reverfe. And of thofe who, defpairing tp rife
1 to

ESSAYS. 27f
to diftindion by their virtues, are happy if others
can be depreffed to a level with themfelves, there
are a number fufficientin every great town to main
tain one of thefe courts by their fubfeription. A
fhrewd obferver once faid,.. that in walking the
ftreets of a Slippery morning, one might fee
where the good-natured people lived, by. the
afhes thrown on the ice before the doors : probably
he would have formed a different conjecture of
the temper of thofe whom he might find engaged
in fuch fubferiptions^
Of the checks proper to be eftablijhed againji the abufes
of power in thofe courts.
Hitherto there are none. But fince fo much
has been written and published on the federal con
stitution ; and the neceffity of checks, in all
other parts of good government, has been fo
clearly and learnedly explained, I find myfelf
fo far enlightened as to fufpect fome check may
be proper in this part alfo : but I have been at
a lofs to imagine any that may not be conftrued
an infringement of the facred liberty of the .
prefs. At lerigth, however, I think I have
found one, that, inftead of diminishing general
liberty, Shall augment it ; Which is, byreftoring
to the people afpecies of liberty of which they
have been deprived by our laws, I mean the
liberty of the cudgel ! In the rude ftate of fociety
prior to the exittence of laws, if one man gave
another ill-language, the affronted perfon might
return it by a box on the ear ; and if repeated, by
a good drubbing ; and this without offending
againft any law : but now the right of making
fuch returns is denied, and they are punifhed as
breaches of the peace, while the right of abu-
fing feems to remain in full force ; the laws
made againft it being rendered ineffectual by the
liberty of the prefs.
P s .My

2u ESSAYS.
My propofal then is, to leave the liberty of
the prefs untouched, to be exercifed in its
full extent, force, and vigour, but to permit
the liberty of the cudgel to go with it, pari pajfu.
Thus, my fellow citizens, if an impudent writer
attacks your reputation — dearer perhaps to you
than your life, and puts his name to the charge
you may go to him as openly, and break hi&
head. If he conceals himfelf behind the printer,
and you can neverthelefs difcover who he is,
you may, in like manner way-lay him in the
night, attack him behind, and give him a
good drubbing. If your adverfary hires better
writers than himfelf, to abufe yoU more effec
tually, you may hire brawney porters, Stronger
than yourfelf, to affift you in giving him a
more effectual drubbing.- Thus far goes my
project, as to private refentihent and retribution.
But if the public fhould ever happen to be
affronted;, as it ought to be, with the conduct
of fuch writers, I would not advife proceeding
immediately to thefe extremities, but that we
Should in moderation content" ourfelves with
tarring and feathering, and totting them in a
blanket. If, however, it fhould be thought that this
propofal of mine may difturb the public peace,
I Should then humbly recommend to our
legiflators to take up the confederation of both
liberties, that of the prefs, and that of the
cudgel ; and by an explicit law mark their
extent and limits : and at the fame time that
they fecure the perfon of a citizen from affaults,
they would likewife provide for the fecurity of
his reputatipn.

PAPER;

ESSAYS. 2i3

PAPER: A POEM.

OO M E wit of old— fuch wits of old there were—?
Whofe hints Ihow'd meaning, whofe allufions care,
By one brave ftroke to mark all human-kind,
Call'd clear blank paper ev'ry infant mind ;
When ftill, as qpe.ning fenfe her dictates wrote,
Fair virtue put a fea], or vice a blot.
The thought was happy, pertinent, and true ;
Methinks a genius might the plan purfue.
1 (can you pardon my prefumption), I —
No wit, no genius, yet for once will try.
Various the papers various wants produce,
The wants of fafhion, elegance, and ufe,
Men are as vaiious : and, if right I fcan,
Each fort of paper reprefents feme man.
Pray note the fop — half powder and half lace— f-
Nice, as a bandbox were his dwelling-place :
He's the gilt -paper, which apart you ftore,
And lock from vulgar hands in the 'fcrutoire.
Mechanics, fervants, farmers, and fo forth,
Are copy-paper, of inferior worth ;
Lefs priz'd, more ufeful, for your defk decreed,
Free to all pens, and prompt at ev'ry need.
The wretch whom ay'rice bids to pinch and fpare?
Starve, cheat, and pilfer, to enrich an heir,
Is coarfe brown paper ; fuch as pedlars choofe
To wrap up wares, which better men will ufe.
Take next the mifer's contrail, who deftroys
Health, fame, and fortune, in a round of joys.
Will any paper match him ? Yes, throughout.
He's a true fmking-paper, paft all doubt.

The

fli4 ESSAYS.
The retail politician's anxious thought
Deems this fide always right, and that ftark nought ?
He foams with cenfure ; with applaufe he raves—.
A dupe to rumours, and a tool of knaves ;
He'll want no type his weaknefs to proclaim,
While fuch a thing as fools-cap has a name.
The hafty gentleman, whofe blood runs high,
Who picks a quarrel, if you ftep awry,
Who can't a jeft, or hint, or look endure :
What's he ? What ? Touch-paper to be fure.
What are our poets, take them as they fall,
Good, bad, rich, poor, much read, not read at all ?
Them and their works in the fame clafs you'll find ;
They are the mere wajle- paper of mankind.
Obferve the maiden, innocently fweet,
She's fair white-paper, an unfullied fheet ;
On which the happy man whom fate ordains,
May write his name, and take her for his pains.
One inftance more, and only one I'll bring ;
Tis the greqf man who fcorns a tittle thing,
Whofe thoughts, whofe deeds, whofe maxims are his own»
Form'd on the feelings of his heart alone :
True genuine royal-paper is his breaft ;
Of all the kinds moft precious, pureft, beft.

ON

ESSAYS. 215
, ON THE ART OF SWIMMING. '

IN ANSWER TO SOME ENQUIRIES OF M.
DUBOURG?' ON THE, SUBJECT.
X AM apprehenfive that I Shall not be able tp
find leifure for making all the difquifitions and
experiments which would be deferable on this
fiibject. I muft, therefore, content myfelf with
a few remarks.
The fpeciSic gravity of fome human bodies, in
comparifon to that of water, has been examined
by M. Robinfon, in pur philofophical Tranfacti-
ons, volume 50, page 30, for the year 1757.
He afferts, that fat perfons with fmall bones float
jnoft eafily upon water.
The diving bell is accurately deferibe.d in pur
Tranfgelions. When I w^s a bpy, I made two oval pallets,
each about ten inches long, and fix broad, with
a hole fpr the thumb, in prder to retain it faft in
the palm of my hand. They much refemble a
painter's pallets. In fwimming I puShed the
edges of thefe forward, and I Struck the water
with their flat furfaces as I drew them back. I
remember I fwam fatter by means of thefe pallets?
but they fatigued my wrifts. — I alfo fitted to the
foles of my fret 3. kind pf Sandals ; but I was not
fatisfied with them, becaufe I obferved that the
Stroke is partly given by the infide of the feet and
the ancles, and not entirely with the Spies of the
feet. We have here waiftcoats for fwimming, which
are made of double fail-cloth, with fmall pieces
of cork quilted in between them.
• Tranflator of Dr. Franklin's works into French.
I know

216 ESSAYS.
I know nothing of the fcaphandre of M. de la
Chapelle. I know by experience that it is a great comfort
to a fwimmer, who has a confiderable distance to
go, to turn himfelf fometimes on his back, and
to vary in other refpects the means of procuring
a progfeffive motion.
When he is feized with the cramp in the leg,
the method of driving it away is to give to the
parts affected a fudden, vigorous, and violent
fhock ; which he may do in the air as he fwims
on his back.
During the great heats of fummer there is no
danger in bathing, however warm we may be,
in rivers which have been thoroughly warmed
by the fun. But to throw onefelf into cold fpring
water, when the body has been heated in the fun,
is an imprudence which may prove fatal. I once
knew an inftance of four young men, who having
worked at harveft in the heat of the day, with
a view of refrefhing themfelves plunged into a
fpring of cold water : two died upon the fpot, a
third the next morning, and the fourth recover
ed with great difficulty. A copious draught of
cold water, in Similar circumstances, is frequent-
ly attended with the fame effect ;n North Ame
rica. The exercife of fwimming is one of the moft
healthy and agreeable in the world. After hav
ing fwam for an hour or two in the evening, one
Sleeps coolly the whole night, even during the
moft ardent heat of fummer. Perhaps the pores
being cleanfed, the infenfible perfpiration increa-
fes and occafions this coolnefs. — It is certain that
much fwimming is the means of Stopping a diar
rhoea, and even of producing a constipation.
With refpect to thofe who do not know how to
fwim,

ESSAYS. 217
fwim, or who are affected with a diarrhoea at a
feafon which does not permit them to ufe that
exercife, a warm bath, by cleanfing and purify
ing the Skin, is found very falutary, and often
effects a radical cure. I fpeak from my own ex
perience, frequently repeated, and that of others
to whom I have recommended this
You will not be difpleafed if I conclude thefe
hafty remarks by informing you, that as
the ordinary method of fwimming is reduced to
the act of rowing with the arms and legs, and is
confequently a laborious and fatiguing operation
when the fpace of water to be croffed is confide
rable ; there is a method in which a fwimmer may
pafs to great distances with much facility, by
means of a fail. This difeovery I fortunately made
by accident, and in the following manner.
When I was a boy I amufed myfelf one day
with flying a paper kite ; and approaching the
bank of a pond, which was near a mile broad, I
tied the String to a Stake, and the kite afcended
to a very confiderable height above the pond,
while I was fwimming. In a little time, being
defirous of amufing myfelf with my kite, and
enjoying at the fame time the pleafure of fwim
ming, I returned; and looting from the flake
the String with the little flick which was fattened
to it, went again into the water, where I found,
that, lying on my back and holding the flick in
my hands, I was drawn along the Surface of the
water in a very agreeable manner. Having then
engaged another boy to carry my clotftes round
the pond, to a place which 1 pointed out to him
on the other fide, I began to crofs the pond with
my kite, which carried me quite over without
the leaft fatigue, and with the greatefl pleafure
imaginable. I was only obliged occafionally to
halt a little in my courfe, and refill its progrefs, when

218 ESSAYS.
when it appeared that, by following too quick,
I lowered the kite too much ; by doing which
occafionally I made it rife again. — I have never
fince that time practifed this fingular mode of fwim
ming, though I think it not impoffible to crofs
in this manner from Dover to Calais. The pac
ket-boat, however, is ftill preferable,

NEW

ESSAYS. feijj

NEW MODE OF BATHING.

EXTRACTS OF LETTERS TO ty. DUBOURG.

Xondon, July 28, 17680
J. GREATLY approve the epithet which you
give, in your letter of the 8th of June, to the
new method of treating the fmall -pox, which
you call the tonic or bracing method : I will take
occafion, from it, to mention a practice to which
I have accuftomed myfelf. You know the cold
bath has long been in vogue here as a tonic ; but
the Shock Pf the cold water has always appeared
to me, generally fpeaking, as too violent, and I
have found it much more agreeable to my con
stitution to bathe in another element, I mean
cold air. With this view I rife early almoft
every morning, and fit in my chamber without
any clothes whatever, half an hour or an hour,
according to the feafon, either reading or wri
ting. This practice is not in the leaft painful,
'but, on the contrary, agreeable ; and if I return
": -^edLafter wards, before I drefs myfelf, as fome-
^^f mfe or'two'^^SJUBplemept to my night's
r5fto\°ne..°\^;™crined. ITm« V„ie"W

n a„» ran be imascinea. i *ultl -"* niealina;
fleep that can dc h"«& . ^ tnax5~
ionic bath. ¦ ¦ ' March

¦J.2Q

ESSAYS.

March 10, 1773.
I Shall not attempt to explain why damp
clothes occafion colds, rather than wet ones, be
caufe I doubt the fact ; I imagine that neither
the one nor the other contribute to this effect,
and that the caufes of colds are totally indepen
dent of wet and even of cold. I propofe writ
ing a fhort paper on this Subject, the firft mo
ment of leifure I have at my difpofal. — In the
mean time I can only fay, that having fome fuf-
picions that the common notion, which attributes
to cold the property of Slopping the pores and
obstructing perfpiration, was ill founded, I en
gaged a young phyfician, who is making fome
experiments with Sanctorius's balance, to efti-
niate the different proportions of his perfpiration,
when remaining one hour quite naked, and ano
ther warmly clothed. He purfued the experi
ment in this alternate manner for eight hours
iiicceffively, and found his perfpiration almoft
double during thofe hours in which he was
naked.

OBSER.

ESSAYS. 221

OBSERVATIONS ON THE GENERALLY
PREVAILING DOCTRINES OF LIFE
AND DEATH.

TO THE SAME.
JLOUR obfervations on the caufes of death,
and the experiments which you propofe for re
calling to life thofe who appear to.be killed by
lightning, demonftrate equally your fagacity and
humanity. It appears that the doctrines of life
and death, in general, are yet but little under
ftood. A toad buried in fand will live, it is faid, un
til the fand becomes petrified ; and then, being
inclofed in the ftorie, it may ftill live for we
know not how many ages. The facts which are
cited in fupport of this opinion, are too numer
ous and too circumftantial not to deferve a cer
tain degree of credit. As we are accutiomed to
fee all the animals with which we are acquainted
eat and drink, it appears to us difficult to con
ceive how a toad can be fupported in fuch a
dungeon. But if we reflect, that the neceffity
of nourishment, which animals experience in
their ordinary Slate, proceeds from the continual
wafte of their fubftance by perfpiration ; it will
appear lefs incredible, that fome animals in a
torpid ftate, perfpiring lefs becaufe they. ufe no
exercife, Should have lefs need of aliment ; and
that others, which are covered with feales or
Shells, which Stop perfpiration, fuch as land and
fea turtles, ferpents, and fome fpecies of SiSh,
lhould be able to fubfift a confiderable time with out

saz ESSAYS.
out any nourishment whatever. — A plant, with
its flowers, fades and dies immediately, if ex-
pofed to the air without having its roots im-
merfed in a humid foil, from which it may draw
a fufficlent quantity of moifture, to fupply that
which exhales from its fubftance, and is carried
off continually by the air. Perhaps, however^
if it were buried in quickfilver, it might preferve,
for a confiderable fpace of time, its vegetable
life, its fmell and colour. If this be the cafe, it
might prove a commodious method of transport
ing from diftant countries thofe delicate plants
which are unable to fuftain the inclemency of
the weather at fea, and which require particular
care and attention.
I have feen an inftance of common flies pre
ferved in a manner fomewhat Similar. They
had been drowned in Madeira wine, apparently
about the time when it was bottled in Virginia,
to be fent to London. At the opening of one
of the bottles, at the houfe of a friend where I
was, three drowned flies fell into the firft glafs
which was filled. Having heard it remarked
that drowned flies were capable of being revived
by the rays of the fun, I propofed making the
experiment upon thefe.' They were therefore
expofed to the fun, upon a Sieve which had been
employed to Strain them out of the wine. In
lefs than three hours two of them began by de
grees to recover life. They commenced by fome
convulsive motions in the thighs, and at length
they 'raifed themfelves upon their legs, wiped
their eyes with their fore feet, beat and bruShed
their wings with their hind feet, and foon after
began to Sly, finding themfelves in Old England,
without knowing how they came thither. The
third continued lifelefs until fun-fet, when, fo
iling all hopes of him, he was thrown away. I wifh

ESSAYS. 223
I wish it were poffible, from this inftance, to
invent a method of embalming drowned perfons,
in fuch a manner that they might be recalled to
life at any period, however diftant ; for having
a very ardent defire to fee and obferve the ftate
of America an hundred years hence, I fhould
prefer, to an ordinary death, the being immerfed
in a calk of Madeira wine, with a few friends,
until that time, then to be recalled to life by the
folar warmth of my dear country ! But fince, in
all probability, we live in an age too early, and
too near the infancy of fcience, to fee fuch an
art brought in our time to its perfection, I muft,
for the prefent, content myfelf with the treat,
which you are fokind as to promife me, of the
refurreclion of a fowl or a turkey-cock.

PRE-

"M£ ESSAYS-

PRECAUTIONS TO BE USED BY THOSE
WHO ARE ABOUT TO UNDERTAKE
A SEA VOYAGE.
WHEN you intend to take a long voyage,
nothing is better than to keep it a fecret till the*
moment of your departure. Without this, yoia
will be continually interrupted and tormented by
vifits from friends and acquaintances, who not
only makoi you lofe your valuable time, but
make you forget a thoufand things which you
wifh to remember ; fo that when you are em
barked, and fairly at fea, you recollect,, with
much uneafinefs, affairs which you have not ter
minated, accounts that you have not fettled, and
a number of things which you propofed to carry
with you, and which you find the want of every
moment. Would it not be attended with the
beft confequences to reform fuch a cuftom, and
to fuffer a traveller, without deranging him, to
make his .'preparations in quietnefs, to fet apart
a few days, when thefe are finifhed, to take
leave of his friends, and to receive their good
withes for his happy return ?
It is not always in one's power to choofe a
captain ; though great part of the pleafure and
happinefs of the paffage depends upon this choice,
and though one muft for a time be confined to
his company, and be in fome meafure under his
command. If he is a focial fenfible man, oblig
ing, and of a good difpofition, you will be fo
much the happier. One fometimes meets with
people of this defcription, but they are not com
mon ; however, if yours be not of this number,
if he be a good feaman, attentive, careful, and
active

ESSAYS. 225
active m the management Pf his veffel, yau muft
difpenfe with the reft, for thefe ire the moft ef-
fential qualities.
Whatever" right Jrpu may have, by ypur agree
ment with him, to the provisions he has taken
on board for the ufe of the paffengets, it is always
proper to have fome private Store, which you
may make ufe of occafionally. You ought j there
fore, to provide good water, that of the Ship
being often bad ; but you muft put it into bottles,
without which you cannot expect to preferve it
fweet. You ought alfo to carry with you good
tea, ground coffee, chocplate, wine .of that fort
which you like beft, cyder, dried raifins, almonds,
fugar, capillaire, citrons, rum, eggs dipped in
oil, portable foup, bread twice baked. With re
gard to poultry, it is almoft ufeleSs to carry any
with you, unlefs you refolve to undertake the
office of feeding and fattening them yourfelf.
With the little care which is taken of them on
board, fhip, they are almoft all Sickly, and their
flefh is as tough as leather.
All failors entertain an opinion* which has un.'
doubtedly originated formerly from a want of
water, and when it has been found neceffary to
be fparing of it, that poultry never know when
they have drank enough • and that whetf* water
is given them at difcretion, they generally kill
themfelves by drinking beyondmeafure. In con
fequence of this opinion, they give them water
only once in two days, and even then in fmall
quantities : but as they pour this water into
troughs inclining on one Side, which occafions
it to run to the lower part, it thence it happens
th^t they are obliged to mount one upon the back
of another in order to reach it ; and there are
fome which cannot even dip their beaks in it.
Thus continually tantalized an.d tormented by
q.' thirft,

iz6 ESSAYS.
thirft, they are unable to digeft their food, which
is very dry, and they foon fall Sick and die. Some
of them are found thus every morning, and are
thrown into the fea ; whilft thofe which are kill
ed for the table are fcarcely fit to be eaten. To
remedy this inconvenience^ it will be neceffary
to divide their troughs into fmall compartments,
in fuch a manner that each of them may be capa
ble of containing water; but this is Seldom or
never done. On this account, Sheep and hogs
are fo be confidered as the beft frefh provision
that one can have at fea ; mutton there being iri
general' very good, and pork excellent.
It may happen that fome of the provifions and
Stores which I have recommended may become
almoft ufelefs, by the care which the captain has
taken to lay in a proper Slock; but in fuch a cafe
you may difpofe of it to relieve the poor- pafferi-
gers, who, paying lefs for their paffage, are Slow
ed among the common failors, arid have no right
to the captain's provifions, except fuch part Pf
them as is ufed for feeding the crew. Thefe paf-^
fengefs are fometimes tick, melancholy, and de
jected ; and there are often women and children
among them, neither pf whom have any oppor
tunity of procuring thofe things which I have-
rhentioned, and of which, perhaps, they have
the greateft need. By distributing amongft them
a part ofyour Superfluity, you may be of the
greateft affiftance to them. You may reftore their
health', fave their lives, and in Short render them
happy" ; which always affords the livelieft fenfa-
tion to a feeling mind.
The moft difagreeable thing at fea is the cook
ery ; for there is not, properly fpeaking, any
profeffed cook on board. The worfl failor is ge
nerally chofen for that purpofe, who for the moft
part is equally dirty. Hence comes the proverb ufed

ESSAYS. 227
ufed among the Englifh failors, that God fends
meat, and the Devil fends cooks. Thofe, however,
who have a better ppinion of Providence, will
think otherwife. ' Knowing that lea air, and the
exercife or motion which they receive from the
rolling of the Ship, have" a Wonderful effect in
whetting the appetite, thdy Will fay, that Provi
dence has given failors 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 hun
ger. However, if you have no confidence in
thefe fuccours of Providence, yoll may yourfelf*
with a lamp and a boiler, by the help Pf a little
fpirits of wine, prepare fome food, fuch as foup,
hafli, &c. A fmall oven made of tin-plate is not
a bad piece of furniture ; your Servant may roaft
in it a piece of mutton or pork. If you are ever
tempted to eat fait beef, which is Pften very good,
you will find that cyder is the beft liquor to quench
the thirft generally caufed by Salt meat or
fait fifh. Sea-bifcuit, which is too hard for the
teeth of fome people, may be foftened by fteeping
it ; but bread double baked is the beft ; for being
made of good loaf-bred cut into flices, and baked
a fecond time, it readily imbibes water, becomes
foft, and is eafily digested : it confequently forms
excellent nourishment, much fuperior to that of
bifcuit, which has not been fermented.
I muft here obferve, that this double-baked
bread was originally the real bifcuit prepared to
keep at fea ; for the word bifcuit, in French, Sig
nifies twice baked *. Peafe often boil badly, and
do not become foft; in fuch a cafe, by putting
a two-pound fliot into the kettle, the rolling of
the veffel, by means of this bullet, will convert
the peafe into a kind of porridge, like muftard.
* It is derived from lis again, and cuit baked.
O 2 Having

• ,2i« , ESSAYS.
Having often feen foupi when: put upon: the"
table at fea in broad flat diShes, thrown out on
every fide by the rolling of the veffel, I have
Wished that our tin-men would make our foup-
bafons with divifions or compartments ; forming
fmall plates, proper, for containing foup for one
perfon Pnly. By this difpofition, the foup, iri
an extraordinary roll, would not be thrown out
©f the plate, and would not fall into the breafts
pf thofe who are at table, and fcatd them. -^-Having
entertained yo& with thefe things of little impor
tance, permit me now to conclude with fome
general reflections upon navigation.
' , When navigation is employed only for trans
porting neeeflary provifions from one country,
where they abound, to another where they are
Wanting J when by this it prevents famines which
were fo freqnent and fo fatal before it was inven
ted and became fo common ; we cannot help con
sidering it as one of thofe arts which contribute
moft to the happiriefs of mankind. — But when it
is employed to tranfport thirigs of no utility, or
articles merely of luxury, it is uncertain whether
the advantages- refulting from it are Sufficient to
counterbalance the misfortunes it occafions, by
expofing the lives of fo many individuals upon
the vaft ocean. And when it is ufed to plunder
veffels and tranfport Slaves* it is evidently only
the dreadful means of mcreaStng thofe calamities
which afflict human nature.
One is aftoniShed to think on the number of
veffels and men who are daily expofed in going
to bring tea from China, coffee from Arabia, and
Sugar and tobacco from America ; all commodi
ties which our ancestors lived very well without.
The Sugar trade employs nearly a thoufand vef
fels ; and that of tobacco almoft the fame num ber.

.ESSAYS. 429
&er . With regard to the utility of .tobacco, little
,can be faid; and, with regard to fugar, how
much more meritorious would it be to Sacrifice
the momentary pleafure which we receive from
drinking it once or twice a-day in our tea, than
to encourage the numberlefs cruelties that are
continually exercifed in order to procure it us ?
A celebrated French mpraUft faid, that, when
he confidered the Wars which .we foment in Afri
ca to get negroes, the great number who of courfe
perilh in tiieije wars; the multitude pf thofe
wretches who die in their paffage, by difeafe, bad
air, and bad provifions ; and laftly^ how many
periSh by the cruel treatment they meet with in
a ftate of flavery ; when he faw a bit of fugar, he
could not help imagining it tp he covered with
fpots of human blopd. But, had he added to
thefe considerations the wars which we carry on
againft one another, to take and retake theiflands
that produce this commodity, he would not have
feen the Sugar fimply^o«#^wijth blood, he would
have beheld it entirely tinged with it.
Thefe wars make the maritime powers of Eu
rope, and the inhabitants pf Paris and London,
pay much dearer for their fugar than thofe of
"Vienna, though they are almoft three hun
dred leagues diftant from the fea., A pound of
fugar, indeed, colls the former not only the price
which they give for it, but alfo what they pay
jn taxes, neceffary to fupport thofe fleets and ar
mies which ferve to defend ^nd protect the coun
tries that produce it„

©N

J2J0 ESSAYS.

ON LUXURY, IDLENESS, AND INDUSTRY •':

From a Letter to Benjamin Vaughan, Efq. *
written in 1784.
IT is wonderful how prepofteroufly the affair*
of this world are managed. Naturally one would
imagine, that the intereft of a. few individuals
Should give way to general intereft ; but indi
viduals manage their affairs with fo much more
application, induftry, and addrefs, than the pub
lic do theirs, that general intereft moft commonly
gives way to particular. We aflemble parlia
ments and councils, to have the benefit of their
collected wifdom ; but we neceffarily have, at
the fame time, the inconvenience of their col
lected paffions, prejudices, and private interests.
By the help of thefe, artful men overpower
their wifdom, and dupe its poffeffors: and if
we may judge by the a&s, arrets, and edicts,
all the world over, for regulating commerce, an
affembly of great men is the greateft fool upon
earth. I have not yet, indeed, thpught of a remedy
for luxury. I am not Sure that in a great ftate
it is capable of a remedy ; nor that the evil is in
itfelf always fo great as it is reprefented. Sup-
pofe we include in the definition of luxury all
unneceffary expence, and then let us confider
whether laws to prevent fuch expence are poffible
to be executed in a great country, and whether,
* Prefent member of parliament for the borough of
Calne, in Wiltlhire, between whom and our author there
fubfifted a very clofe friendfiiip. jf

ESSAYS. 2.31
if they could be executed, our people generally
would be happier, or even richer. Is not the
hope of being one day able to purchafe and en
joy luxuries, a great fpur to labour and induftry ?
May not luxury therefore produce more than it
confumes, if, without fuch a fpur, people would
be, as .they are naturally enough inclined to be,
lazy and indolent ? To this purpofe I remember
a circumftance. The Skipper of a Shallop, em
ployed between Cape-May and Philadelphia, had
done us fome fmall fervice, for which he refuted
to be paid. My wife underftanding that he had
a daughter,, fent her a prefent of a new-faShioned
cap. Three years after, this Skipper being at my
houfe with an old farmer of Gape-May, his paf
fenger, he mentioned the cap, and how much
his daughter had been pleafed .with it. "But
" (faid he) it proved a dear cap to our congre-
" gation."— How fo ? — " When my daughter
" appeared with it at meeting, it was fo much
" admired, that all the girls refolved to get fuch
" caps from Philadelphia ; and my wife and I
" computed that the whole could npt have cpft
" lefs than a hundred pounds." — " True (faid
*.' the farmer), but you do not teU.aU the Story.
" I think the cap was neverthelefs an advantage
" to us ; for it was the firft thing that put our
w girls upon knitting worfted mittens for fale at
'f Philadelphia, that they might have where-
" withal to buy caps and ribbons there ; and
" you know that that induftry has continued,
" and is likely to continue and increafe to a
" much greater value, and anfwer better pur-
" pofes."— rppon the whole, I was more recon
ciled to this little piece of luxury, Since not only
the girls were made happier by having fine caps,
but the Philadelphians by the fupply pf warm
mittens. In

33a ESSAYS.
In our commercial towns upon the fea-cbaft,
fortunes Will occafionally be made. Some of
thofe who grow rich will be prudent, live within
bounds,, and preferve what they have gained for
their posterity; others, fond of Shewing their
wealth, will be extravagant, and ruin themfelves.
LaWs cannot prevent this : and perhaps it is not
always an evil tp the public. A Shilling fpent
idly by a fool, may be picked up by a wifer per
fon, who knows better what to do with it. It is
therefore not loft. A vain, filly fellow builds a
fine houfe, furnifhes it richly, lives in it expen
sively, and in a few years ruins himfelf : bui the
mafons, carpenters, fmiths, and other honeft
tradefmen, have been by his employ affifted in
maintaining and raifing their families ; the far
mer has been paid for his labour, and encouraged,
and the eftate is now in better hands. — -In fome
cafes, indeed, certain modes of luxury may be
a public evil, in the fame manner as it is a private
one. If there be a nation, for inftance, that ex
ports its beef and linen, to pay for the importa
tion of claret and porter, while a great part of
its people live upon potatoes, and wear no Shirts;
wherein does it differ from the fot who lets his
family ftarve, and fells his clothes to buy drink ?"
Our American commerce is, I confefs, a little in
this way. We fell our victuals to the iflands for
rum and fugar ; the fubftantial neceffaries of life
for Superfluities. But We have plenty, and live
well neverthelefs ; though, by being Soberer, we
might be richer. '
The vaft quantity of foreft land we have yet
to clear, and put in order for cultivation, will
for a long time keep the body of our nation labo
rious and frugal. Forming an opinion of our
people and their manners, by what is feen among
the inhabitants of the fea-ports, is judging from an

ESSAYS. 233
an improper fample. The people of the trading
towns may be rich and luxurious, while the
country poffeffes all the virtues that tend to pro
mote happinefs and public prosperity. Thofe
towns are not mueh regarded by the country ;
they are hardly confidered as an effential part of
the States ; and the experience of the laft war
has Shewn, that their being in the poffeffion of
the enemy did not neceffarily draw on the fub-
jection of the country ; which bravely continued
to maintain its freedom and independence not
withstanding. It has been computed by fome political arith
metician, that if every man and woman would
work for four hours each day on fomething ufe
ful, that labour would produce fufficient to pro
cure all the neceffaries and comforts of life ; want
and mifery would be banifhed out of the world,
and the reft of the twenty -Sour hours might be
leifure and pleafure.
What occafions then fo much want and mifery ?
It is the employment of men and women in
Works that produce neither the neceffaries nor
conveniences of life, who, with thofe who do
nothing, confume neceffaries raifed by the labo
rious. To explain this :
The firft elements of wealth are obtained by
labour, from the earth and waters. I have land,
and raife corn. With this, if I feed a family
that does nothing, rriy corn will be confumed,
and at the end of the year I fhall be no richer
than I was at the beginning. But if, while I
feed them, I employ them, fome in Spinning,
others in making bricks, &c. for building, the
value of my corn will be arretted and remain
with me, and at the end of the year we may all
be better clothed and better lodged. And if, in
stead of employing a man I feed in making
J. bricks,

234 ESSAYS.
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 fhall therefore be the poorer for
this fiddling man, unlefs the reft of my family
work more, or eat lefs, to make up the defici
ency he occafions.
Look round the world, and fee the millions
employed iri doing nothing, or in fomething
that amounts to nothing, when the neceffaries
and conveniences of life are in queftion. What
is the bulk of commerce, for which we fight
and deftroy each other, but the toil of millions
for tuperfluities, to the great hazard and lofs of
many lives, by the conftant dangers of the fea ?
How much labour is fpent in building and fitting
great Ships, to go to China and Arabia for tea
and coffee, to the Weft Indies for fugar, to
America for tobacco ? Thefe things cannot be
called the neceffaries of life, for our ancestors
lived very comfortably without them.
A queftion may be aSked: Could all thefe
people now employed in railing, making, or
carrying fuperfluities, be fubfifted by railing
neceffaries ? I think they might. The world is
large, and a great part of it ftill uncultivated.
Many hundred millions of acres in Afia, Africa
and America, are ftill in a foreft ; and a great
deal even in Europe. On a hundred acres of this
foreft a man might become a fubftantial farmer ;
and a hundred thoufand men employed in clear
ing each his hundred acres, would hardly
brighten a fpot big enough to be vifible from the
moon, unlels with Herfchel's telefcope ; fo vaft
are the regions ftill in wood.
It is however fome comfort to reflect, that,
upon the whole, the quantity of induftry and
prudence among mankind exceeds the quantity of

ESSAYS. 235
of idlenefs and folly. Hence the increafe of good
buildings, farms cultivated, and populous cities
filled with wealth, all over Europe, which a few
ages Since were only to be found on the coaits of
the Mediterranean ; and this notwithstanding the
mad wars continually raging, by which are often
destroyed in one year the works of many years
peace. So that we may hope, the luxury of a
few merchants on the coaft will not be the ruin
of America.
One reflection more, and I will end this long
rambling letter. Almoft all the parts of our
bodies require fome expence. The feet demand
Shoes ; the legs Stockings ; the reft of the body
clothing ; and the belly a good deal pf victuals.
Our eyes, though exceedingly ufeful, afk when
reafonablej only the cheap affiftance of fpectacles,
which could not much impair our finances. But
the eyes of other people are the eyes that ruin
us. If all but myfelf were blind, I Should want
neither fine clothes, fine houfes, nor fine fur*
niture.

ON

236 ESSAYS.
ON THE SLAVE TRADE.
R.EADING in the newfpapers the fpeech of
Mr. Jackfon in congrefs, againft meddling with
the affair of flavery, or attempting to mend the
condition of Haves', it put me in mind of a fimi-
lar fpeech, made about one hundred years fince,
by Sidi Mehemet Ibrahim, a member of the Divan
of Algiers, which may be feen in Martin's ac
count of his confulShip, 168!;. It was againft
granting the petition of the fed called, Erika, or
Furi/is,' who prayed for the abolition of piracy
and flavery as being unjtufl. — Mr. Jackfon does
not quote it; perhaps he has not feen it. If,
therefore, fome of its reafonings are to be found
in his eloquent fpeech, it may only Shew that
men's interests operate, and are operated on,
with furprifing Similarity, in all countries and
climates, whenever they are under Similar circum-
flances. The African Speech, as translated, is as
follows :
" Alia Bifmillah, &c. God is great, and Ma
homet is his prophet.
" Have thefe Erika confidered the confequen
ces of granting their petition ? If we ceafe our
cruifes againft the Christians, how fhall we be
furnifhed with the commodities their countries
produce, and which are £0 neceffary 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 our
city, and of our families ? Muft we not then be
our own Slaves ? And is there not more compaffi-
on and more favour due to us Muffulmen, than
to thofe Chriftian dogs ? — We have now above
fifty thoufand Haves in and near Algiers. This
number.

ESSAYS. • 237
tiumber, if npt kept up by frefh fupplies, will
foon diminish, and be gradually annihilated * If*
then, We ceafe taking and plundering the irifidel
Ships, and making flaves of the fearrien and paffen-i
gers, our lands will become of no value, for want
of cultivation ; the rents of houfes in the city
will fink one half; and the revenues of govern
ment, arifing from the Share of prizes* muft be
totally deftroyed. — And for what ? To gratify
the Whim of a whimfical feet, who would have
us not only forbear making more flaves, but even
manumit thofe we have. But who is to indemni-
fy their mailers for the lofs ? Will the State do it ;
Is our treafury fufficient ? Will the Erika do it ?
Can they do it ? Or would they* to do what they
think juftice to the flaves, do a greater injustice
to the owners ? And if we fet our flaves free,
What is to be done With them ? FeW of them
will return to their native countries ; they know
too well the greater hardships they .muft there
be fubject to. They will not embrace our holy
religion : they will not adopt our manners : our
people will not pollute themfelves by intermarry
ing with them. Muft we maintain them as beg
gars in our ftreets ? or fuffer our properties to be
the prey of their pillage ? for men accuftomed to
flavery will not work for a livelihood, when not
compelled.-— And what is there fo pitiable in their
prefent condition ? Were they not flaves in their
own CPuntries ? Are not Spain, Portugal, France,
and the Italian ftates, governed by deSpots, who
hold all their Subjects in flavery, without excep
tion? Eveh Eriglarid treats her failors as flaves,
for they are, whenever the government pleafes,
feized and confined in fhips of war, condemned
not only to work, but to fight for fmall wages,
or a mere fubfiftehee, not better than our flaves
are allowed by us. Is their condition then made
worfe

238 ESSAYS.
worfe by their falling into our hands ? No ; they*
have only exchanged one flavery for another j
and I may fay a better ; for here they are brought
into a land where the fun of Iflamifm gives forth
its light, and Shines in full fplendour, and they
have an opportunity of making themfelves ac
quainted with the true doctrine, and thereby
faving their immortal fouls; Thofe who remain
at home, have not that happinefs. Sending the
flaves home, then, would be fending them out
of light into darknefsl
"I repeat the queftion, what is to be done
with them ? I have heard it fuggefted, that they
may be planted in the wildernefs, where there
is plenty of land for them to fubfift on, and
where they may flourish as a free ftate. — But
they are, I doubt, too little difpofed to labour
without compulsion, as "well as too ignorant to
eftabliSh good government : and the wild Arabs
would foon moleft and deftroy, or again enflave
them. While ferving us, we take care to pro
vide them with every thing; and they are treated
With humanity. The labourers in their own
countries are, as I , am inforrried, Worfe fed,
lodged, and clothed. The condition of moft of
them is therefore already mended, and requires
no farther improvement. Here their lives are in
fafety. They are not liable to be impreffed for
foldiers, and forced to cut one another's Christian
throats, as in the wars of their own countries.
If fome of the religious mad bigots, who now
teafe us with their filly petitions, have^ in a fit
of blind zeal, freed their flaves, it was not gene
rality, it was not humanity that moved them to
the action ; it was from the confcious burthen
of a load of fins, and hope, from the fuppofed
merits of fo good a work, to be excufed from
damnation — How grofsly are they miftaken, in
imagining

ESSAYS. "239
imagining Slavery to be difa vowed by the Alco
ran 7 Are not the two precepts, to quote no
more, " Matters, treat your Slaves with kind-
nefs — Slaves, ferve your mailers with cheerfulnefs
and fidelity," clear proofs to the contrary ? Nor
can the plundering of infidels be i« that facred
book forbidden ? fince it is well known from it
that God has given the world, and all that it
contains, to his faithful Muffulmen, who are to
enjoy it, of right, as faft as they can conquer
it. Let us then hear no more of this deteftable
propofition, the manumiffion of Chriftian flaves,
the adoption of which would, by depreciating our
lands and houfes, and thereby depriving fo many
good citizens of their properties, create univerfal
difcontent, and provoke infurrections, to the
endangering of government, and producing ge^«
neral eonfufiori. I have, therefore, no doubt that
this wife council will prefer the comfort and hap
pinefs of a whole nation of true believers, to the
whim of a few Erika, and difmifs their petition."
The refqlt was, as Martin tells us, that the Di
van came to this refolution : " That the doctrine,
" that the plundering and enflaving the Chriflians
" is unjuft, is at beft problematical; but that it
" is the intereft of this ftate to continue the prac-
" tice, is clear;, therefore, let the petition be re-
" jected."  ?And it was rejected accordingly.
And fince like motives are apt to produce, in
the minds of men, like opinions and refolutions,
may we not venture to predict, from this account,
that the petitions to the parliament of England
for abolishing the flave trade, to fay nothing of
other legislatures, and the debates upon them,
will have a Similar conclufipn.
HISTORICUS,
March 41, 1790.
OBSER-

24o ESSAYS*

OBSERVATIONS ON WAR.
15 Y the original law of nations, war arid extif-\
pation werf^ the punifhment of injury. Huma
nizing by degrees, it admitted flavery inftead of
death: a farther Step was, the exchange of pri-
foners inftead of flavery : another, to refpect more
the property of private perfons Under conqueft,
and be content with acquired dominion. Why
Should not this law of nations go on improving?
Ages have intervened between its feveral fteps .
but as knowledge of late increafes rapidly, why
Should not thofe fteps be quickened ? Why Should
it not be agreed to, as the future law of nations,
that in any war hereafter the following defcription
of men Should be undisturbed, have the protecti
on of both fides, and be permitted to follow
their employments in fectirity ? viz.
i. Cultivators of the earth, becaufe they labour
for the fubfiftence of mankind.
2. Fifhermeri, for the fame reafori.
3. Merchants and traders in unarmed Ships,
who accommodate different nations by commu
nicating arid exchanging the neceffaries and con->
veniencies of life.
4. Artifts and mechanics, inhabiting arid
Working iri operi toWns.
It is hardly neceffary to add, that the hofpitals
of enemies fhould be unmolefted^-they ought to
be affifted. It is for the intereft of humanity in
general, that the occafiohs of war, and the in
ducements to it, Should be diminished. If rapine
be abolished, one of the encouragements to War
is taken away, and peace therefore more likely to
continue and be lafting. The

ESSAYS. 24r
The practice of robbing merchants ori the high
feas — a remnant of the antient piracy —though it
may be accidentally beneficial to particular perfons,
is far from being profitable to all engaged in it,
or to the nation that authorifes it. In the begin
ning of a war fome rich Ships are Surprized and
taken. This encourages the firft adventurers to
fit out more armed veffels; and many Pthers to
do the fame. But the enemy at the fame time
become iri ore careful; arm their merchant Ships
better, and render them not fo eafy to be taken:
they go alfo more under the protection of con
voys. Thus, while the privateers to take them
are multiplied, the veffels fubject to be taken,
and the chances pf profit, are diminished; fo that
many criiifes are made wherein the expences
overgo the gains ; and, as is the cafe in other lot
teries, though particulars have got prizes, the
mats of adventurers are lofers, the whole experice
of fitting out all the privateers during a war be
ing much greater than the whole amount of goods
taken. - .<
Then there is the' national lofs of all the labour
of fo many men during the time they have been
employed in robbing; who betides Spend what
they get in riot, drunkennefs, arid debauchery ;
lofe their habits5 of induftry; are rarely fit for any
fober bufinefs after a peace, and ferve only to in-
creafethe number pf highwaymen and houfebreak-
ers.' JSven the undertakers who have been for
tunate, are, by fudden wealth, led into expenfive
living, the habit pf" which continues when the
means pf fuppprting it ceafe, and finally ruins
thern: a jnft puhifhtoent for their having wan
tonly and Unfeelingly ruifted many honeft, inno
cent traders and their families, whofe fubftance
was employed in ferving the common intereft pf
mankind. R on

i4a ESSAYS,

ON THE
IMPRESS OF. SEAMEN.

Notes' copied from Dr. Franklin's writing in pencil in tbe margin^
of Judge Fofler's celebrated argument in favour of tbe Impres
sing of Seamen [publ'fhed in the folio edition ef his works.)

JUDGE Fofler, p. 158. "Every Man."—
The conclusion here from the whole to a part, does
not feerii to be good logic. If the alphabet Should
fay, Let us all fight for the defence of the whole;
that is equal, and may. therefore, be juft. But
if they Should fay, Let ABC and D go out and
fight for us, while we Slay at home and Sleep in
whole Skins ; that is* not equal, and therefore can
not be juft.
lb. " Eriiploy." — If you pleafe. The word
Signifies engaging a man to work for me, by of
fering him fuch Wages as are fufficient to induce
him tP prefer my fervice. This is very different-
from compelling him to work on fuch terms as
I think proper. -: ;
lb. " This fervice and employment, &c." —
Thefe are falfe facts. His employments and^fer-.
vice are not the fame.— Under the merchant he
goesiri an unarmed veffel, not obligedto fight, but
to tranfport . merchandize. In the king's fervice
he is obliged to fight, and to hazard all the dan
gers of battle. Sicknefs Pn board of king's Ships
is alfo more common and more mortal. The
merchant's fervice too he can quit at the end of
the voyage ; not the king's. Alfo, the merchant's
Wages are much higher.

ESSAYS. 243
lb: " I am very fenfible, &c"T^Here are two
things put in comparifon that are not compara
ble : viz. injury to feamen, and inconvenience
to trade. Inconvenience to the whole trade of
a nation will not juftify injuftice to a fingle fea-i
man. If the trade would fuffer without his fer
vice, it is able and ought to be willing to offer
him fuch wages as may induce him to afford his
fervice, voluntarily.
Page 1 59; " Private mifchief muft be borne
" With patience, for preventing a national cala-s
" mity." — Where is this maxim in law and good
policy to be found ? And how can that be a max^
im which is not confiftent with common fenfe \
If the maxim had been, that private mifchiefs,
which prevent a national calamity, ought to be
generoufly compenfated bythe nation, one might
,underftand it: but that fuch private mifchiefs
are only to be borne with patiencei is abfurd!
lb. " The expedient, &c. And, &c." (Para-
graphs 2 and 3). — Twenty ineffectual or inconve
nient fchemes will not juftify one that is unjuft.
lb. " Upon the foot of, &c."-^Your reafoning*
indeed, like a lie, ftands but upon one foot ; truth
upon two.
Page 160. "' Full wages."— Probably the fame
they had in the merchant's fervice. ' '
Page 1 74. " I hardly admit, &c." (Paragraph
5).  When this author fpeaks of impreffing,
page 158, he diminifhes the horror of the practice
as much as poffible', by preferiting to: the mind
one failor only fuffering a\ " hardfhip™: (as he ten
derly calls it) in fome " particular cafei" Pnly j
and he places againft this private mifchief the in
convenience to the trade of the kingdom.— But
if, as he fuppofesfs often the cafe, the failor who
is preffed, and obliged to ferve for the defence of
trade, at the rate of twenty -five fliillings a- month;
R 2 could

244 ESSAYS.
could get thr.ec pounds fifteen Shillings in the mer
chant's fervice, you take from him fifty Shillings
a month; and if you have a 100,000 in your fer
vice, you rob this honeft induftrious part of foci
ety arid their poor families of 250400.0!. per
month, or three millions a year, and at the Sams'
time oblige them to hazard their lives in fighting
for the defence of your trade ; to the defence of
which all ought indeed to contribute (and failors
among , the reft) in proportion to their profits by
it .; oik this three millions is more than their
Share, if they did not pay with their perfons ; but
when you force that, methinks you fhould ex-
cufe the other.
But it may be faid, to give the king's feamen
merchant's wages would coft the nation too
much, and call for more taxes. The queftion
then will amount to this: whether it be juft in a
community, that the richer part Should compel-
.the poorer to fight in defence of them and their
properties, fox Such wages as they think fit to al
low, andpuniSh them if they refufe f Our author
tells us that it is-" legal" 1 have not law enough
to difpute his authorities, but I cannot perfuade
myfelf that it is equitable. I will, however,
own for the prefent, that it may be lawful When
neceffary ; but then I contend that it may be ufed'
fo as to produce the fame good effects — the public
fecurity, Without doing fo much intolerable in
justice as attends the impreffing common feamen.
— In order to be better underftood I would pre-
mife two things ; Firft, that voluntary feamen
may be had for the fervice-, if they were fuffici-
ently paid. The proof is, that to ferve in the
fame fhip, and incur the fame dangers, you have
no occafion to imprefs captains, lieutenants, fe
cond lieutenants, midfliipmen, purfers, nor ma- ,
ny other officers. Why, but that the profits of
their

ESSAYS,. US
their places, or the emoluments expected, are
fufficient inducements ? The bufinefs then is, to
•find money, by impreffing, fufficient to make
the failors all volunteers, as well as their officers ;
and this without any freSh hurthen upon trade.
— The fecond of my premifes is, that twenty -five
fliillings a month, with his lhare of the fait beef,
pork, and peas-pudding, being found fuffici
ent for the fubfiftence of a hard-working fea-
man, it will certainly be fo for a Sedentary fcholar
or gentleman. I would then proppfe tp form a
-trerfury, out of which encouragemehts to feamen
ihouid be paid. To fill this treasury, I would im-
prefs a number of civil officers who at prefent
have great falaries, oblige them to Serve iri their
jrefpective offices for twenty -five Shillings a month
with their Shares of mets provifions, and throw
the reft of their falaries into the feamen's1
treafury. If fuch a pfefs-warrant were given
me to execute, the firft I would prefs Should be
a Recorder of .Briffol, or a Mr. Juftice Fofter,
becaufe I might have need of his edifying exam
ple, to Hiow how much impreffing ought to be
borfte with; fea- he would certaily find, that
though to be reduced to twenty-five Shillings a
mofith might be a " private mifchief," yet that,
agreeably to his maxim of law and good policy,
it" ought to Be borne with patience," for prevent
ing a national calamity. Then-I would prefs the
reft of the Judges ; and, opening the red book,
I would prefs every civil officer of government
from 50I. a year falaiy, up to 50,0001. which
wojuld thrpw an immenfe fum into our treafury:
and thefe gentlemen could not complain, fince
jthey would receive twenty -five Shillings a month,
and their rations : and this without being obliged
to fight. Laftly, I think I would imprefs ***
'' ,'" ON

24<5 ESSAYS.

ON THE CRIMINAL LAWS, AND THE PRACTICE
OF PRIVATEERING.

LETTER TO BENJAMIN VAUGHA.N, ESQ,.
March 14th, 1785.
MT DEAR FRIESD,
AMONG the pamphlets you lately fent me,
was one, entitled, Thoughts on Executive fuftice.
In return for that, I fend you a French one on the
fame fubject, Obfervations concernant I [Execution de
V Article II, de la Declaration fur le Vol. They are,
both addreffed to the judges, but written, as you
will fee, in a very .different fpirit. The EngliSh
author is for hanging all thieves. The French
man is for proportioning puniShments to offences.
If we really believe, as we profefs to believe,
that the law of Motes was the law of God, the
dictate of divine wifdom, infinitely fuperior to
human; on what principles do we ordain death
as the punifhment of an offence, which, accord
ing to that law, was only to be puniShed by a
restitution of fourfold ? To put a man to death
for an offence which does not deferve death, is it
not a murder ? And, as the French writer fays,
Doit-on punir un delit contre la fociete par yn critne,
contre la nature?
Superfluous property is the creature of fociety,'
Simple and mild laws were fufficient to guard the
property that was merely neceffary. The favage's
bow, his hatchet, and his coat of Skins, were
fufficiently fecured, without law, by the fear of
perfonal refentment and retaliation. When, by
virtue of the firft laws, part of the fociety accu
mulated

ESSAYS. a47
mulated wealth and. grew powerful, they enacted
others more fevere, and would protect: their, pro
perty at the expence of humanity. This was
abufing their power, and commencing a tyranny.
If a favage, before he entered into fociety, had
been told-—" Your neighbour, by this means,
" may become owner of an hundred deer ; but if
" your Jbro ther, pr your fon, or yourfelf, having
" no deer pf your own, and being hungry,
" Ihoukfkill one, an infamous death muft be the
" confequence,:'-' he would probably have pre
ferred his liberty, and his, common right of kill
ing any deer, to all the advantages of fociety that
might be propofed to him. . ,
That it is better a hundred guilty perfons Should
efcape, than that one innocent perfon. fhould fuffer,
is a maxim that has been long and generally ap
proved; never, that I. know of, controverted.
Even the fanguinary author of the Thoughts agrees
to it, adding well, " that the very thought of
" injured innocence, and much more that oifuffer-
" ing innocence, muft awaken all our tendereft^
*.* and moft compaffipnate feelings, and at the
" fame time xaife pur higheft indignatipn againft
*' the instruments of it. But," he adds, " there
" is no danger of either, from a ftrict adherence
" to the laws." — Really! — Is it then impoffible
to make an unjuft law ? and if the law itfelf be
unjuft, may it not be the very " inttrument"
which ought " to raife the author's, and every
" body's higheft indignatipn?" I fee, in the laft
newfpapers from London, that a woman is capi
tally convicted at the Old Bailey, for privately
Stealing out Pf a fhop fome gauze, value fourteen
Shillings and three-pence : Is there any propor
tion between the injury' done by a theft, value
fourteen Shillings and three-pence, and the punifh-
ment of a human creajture, by death, on a gibbet ?
Might

fi48 ESSAYS.
Might not that woman, by her labour, have made
the reparation ordained by God, in paying four
fold ? Is not all punifhment inflicted beyond the
merit of the offence, fo much punifhment of in
nocence ? In this light, how vaft is the annual
quantity, of not only injured but fuffering inno
cence, in almoft. all the civilized Slates of Europe !
But it feems to have been thought, that this
kind of innocence may be punifhed by way of
preventing crimes. I have read, indeed', of a cruel
Turk in Barbary, who, Whenever he bought a
new Chriftian Slave, ordered him immediately to
be hung up by the legs, and to receive a hundred
blows of a ' cudgel on the foles of his feet, that
the fevere fenfe of the punifhment, and fear of
incurring it thereafter, might prevent the faults
that Should merit it. , Our author, hihifelf would
hardly approve entirely of this Turk's condiicTin
the government of flaves ; and yet he appears to
recommend fomething like it for the government
of ^Englifh fubjects, when he applauds the reply
of Judge Burnet to the convict horfe-ftCaler j who
being afked what he had to fay why judgment of
death fhould not pafs againft him, and anfwering,
that it was hard to hang a man for only Healing
a horfe, was told by the judge, " Man, thou art
" not to be hanged only for Stealing. a horfe, but
" that hprfes may not be Stolen." The man's
anfwer; if candidly examined, will, I imagine*
appear reafonable, as being founded on thereternal
principle of juftice and equity, that punishments
Should be proportioned to offences ; and the
judge's reply brutal and unreaforiable, though the
Writer " withes all judges to carry it with them
" whenever they go the circuit, and to bear it in
" their minds, as containing a wife reafon for all
" the penal Statutes which they are called upon tp
e{ put in execution. It zt once.illuftrates," fays
; he,

ess' ays; *&
he, " the true grounds arid' reafons of all capital
" punifhments whatfoever, namely, that every
'* man's property, as well as his life, may be held
" facred and inviolate/' h there then no differ
ence in value between property and life? If I
think it right that the crime of murder fhould be
puniShed with death, not only as an equal punifh
ment of the crime, but to prevent other murders,
does it follow that I muft approve of inflicting
the fame punifhment for a little invafion on my
property by theft? If I am not myfelf fo barba
rous, ,fo bloody-minded, and revengeful, as to
kill a felloW-creature for Stealing from me fourteen
Shillings and three-pence, how can I approve of a
law that does it ? :Montefquieu, who was himfelf
a judge, endeavours "• to imprefs other maxims.
He muft have known whathumarie judges feel on
fuch occafions, and what the effects of thofe
feelings; and, fo iair frorri thinking that fevere
arid exceflive punishments • prevent crimes, he
.afferts, as quoted by our French writer, that
" Uat'rocite dies loixen empechc l' execution.
" Lorfque Id peine eft fans mefure, on-eji fouvent
" oblige" de lui preferer I'fmpunite. >
" La caufe de torn les reldchemens vient de I'impu-
" nit'e des crimes,- ei non de la moderation des peines."
It is faid by thofe who know Europe generally,
that there are more thefts committed and punish
ed annually in- England, than in all the other
nations put together.'- If this be fo, there muft
be a caufe"or caufes for fuch depravity in our
common people. May not one be the deficiency of
iuftice arid morality in our national government,
manifefted in our oppreffive conduct to fubjects,
and unjuft wars on our neighbours ? View the
long-perfifted in, unjuft, monopolizing treatment
of Ireland, at length acknowledged ! View the
. - . ' plundering

2 so . ESSAYS.
plundering government exercifed by our mer
chants in the Indies; the confifcating war made
upon the American colonies; and, to fay nothing
of thofe upon France and Spain, view the late
war upon Holland, which was feen by impartial
Europe in no other light than that of a war of
rapine and pillage ; the hopes of an immenfe and
eafy prey being its only apparent, and probably
its true and real motive and encouragement.
Juftice is as Strictly due between neighbour nations
as between neighbour citizens. A highway-man
is as much a robber when he plunders in a gang,
as when fingle ; and a nation that makes an unjuft
war is only a great gang. After employing your
people in robbing the Dutch, is it Strange that,
being put out of that employ by peace, they ftill
continue robbing, and rob one another ? Pira-
terie, as the French call it, or privateering, is the
univerfal bent of the^ Englifh nation, at home and
abroad, wherever fettled. No lefs than feven
hundred privateers were, it is faid, commiffioned
in the laft war ! Thefe were fitted out by mer
chants, to prey upon other merchants, who had
never done them any injury. Is there probably
any one'of thofe privateering merchants of Lon
don, who were fo ready to rob the merchants of
Amfterdam, that would not as readily plunder
another London merchant of the next ftreet, if
he could do it with the fame impunity! The
avidity, the alieni appetens is the fame ; it is the
fear alone of the gallows that makes the differ
ence. How then can a- nation, which, among '
the honelteft of its people, has fo many thieves
by inclination, and whofe government encouraged
and commiffioned no lets than feven hundred
gangs of robbers ; how can fuch 'a nation have
the face to condemn the crime in individuals, and
hang up twenty of them in a morning ! It natu rally

ESSAYS. 251
rally puts one in mind of a Newgate anecdote.
One of the prifoners complained, that in the
night fomebody had taken his buckles out of his
fhoes. " What the devil !" fays another, " have
" we then thieves amongft us? It muft not be
" fuffered. Let us fearch out the rogue, and
f pump him to death."
• There is, however, one late inftance pf an
EngliSh merchant who will not profit by fuch ill-
gotten gain. He was, it feems, 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 booty being Shar
ed, he has now an agent here enquiring, by an
advertifement in the Gazette, for thofe who fuf
fered the lofs, in order to make them, as far as
in him lies, reftitution. This confeientious man
is a quaker. The Scotch prefbyterians were for
merly as tender ; for there is ftill extant an ordi
nance of the town-council of Edinburgh, made
foon after, the Reformation, " forbidding the
" purchafe of prize goods, under pain of lofing
" the freedom of the burgh for ever, with other
«' puniShment at the will of the magistrate ; the
" practice of making prizes being contrary to
" good confidence, and the rule of treating Chrif-
" tian brethren as we would wifli to be treated ;
" and fuch goods are not to be fold by any godly men
?' within this burgh." The race of thefe godly
men in Scotland is, probably extinct, or their prin
ciples are abandoned Since, as far as that nation
had a hand in promoting the war againft the colo
nies, prizes and confiscations are believed to have
been a confiderable motive.
It has been for fome time a generally-received
opinion, that a military man is not to enquire
whether a war be juft or unjuft ; he is to execute
Jus orders. All princes who are difpofed to be
come

2 52 ESSAYS.
come tyrants, muft probab|y approve of this ppi-
niori, and be willing to eftablifh it ; but is it not
a dangerous one ? fince, on that principle, if the
tyrant comrnands his army to attack and deftroy,
riot only aft unoffending neighbour nation, but
even his own fubjeets, the army is bound tP obey.
A negro Slave, in our colonies, being commanded'
by his rnafter to rob or murder a neighbour, or
do any other immoral act, may refufe ; and the
magistrate will protect him in his refufal. The
flavery then of a foldier is Worfe than that of a
negro ! A confeientious officer, if not restrained
by the apprehenfion of its being imputed to ano
ther caule, may. indeed refign, rather than be em
ployed in an unjuft war ; but the private men are
flaves for life; and they are perhaps incapable of
judging for themfelves. We can only lament
their fate, arid ftill more that of a failor, Who is
often dragged by force from his hpneft occupation,
and compelled to imbrue his hands in perhaps
innocent blood. But methinks it well behoves
merchants (men more enlightened by their educa
tion, and perfectly free from any fuch force or1
obligation) to Confider well of the jiiftice of a"
war, before they voluntarily engage a gang of
ruffians to attack their fellow-merchants of a
neighbouring nation, to plunder them of their
property, and pferhaps ruin them and their fami
lies, if they yield it ; or to wound, maim, and
murder them, if they endeavour to defend it.
Yet thefe things are dorie by Christian merchants,
whether a war be juft or unjuft ; and it can hardly
be juft on both fides. They are done by English
and American merchants, who, neverthelefs,
complain of private theft, and hang by dozens
the thieves they have taught by their own ex
ample. It

ESSAYS. ¦ 253
It is high time, for the Sake of humanity, that a
ftop were put to this enormity. The United States
of America, though better Situated than any Eu
ropean nation to make profit by privateering
(moft of the trade of Europe, with the Weft
Indies, paifing before their doors), are, as far as
in them lies, endeavouring to abolifh the practice,
by offering, in all their treaties with other powers,
an article, engaging folemnly, th^t, in cafe of
future war, np privateer Shall be commiffioned
on either fide ; arid that unarmed merchant-Ships,
on both fides, fliall purfue their voyages unmo
lested*. This will be a happy improvement of the
law
* This offer having been accepted By the late king of
Pruffia, a treaty of amity and commerce was concluded be
tween that monarch and the United States, containing the'
following humane, philanthropic article ; in the formation of
which Dr. Franklin, as one of the American plenipotentiaries,.
was principally concerned, viz.
art: XXIIL
If war fhould arife between the two contra&ing parties, the'
merchants of either country,, then refiding in the other, fhalt
be allowed to remain nine months to collect their debts and'
fettle their' affairs,, and may depart freely, carrying off all
their effects without molcftaiion or hindrance : and all women-
and children, -fefeolars of every faculty, cultivators of the'
earth, artifans, manufacturers, and' fHhermen, unarmed and
inhabiting unfortified towns, villages, or places, and in gene
ral all others whofe occupations are for the common fubfiftence
and benefit' of mankind, fliall be allowed to continue their
refpedHve employments,- and fhall not be molefted in their
perfons, nor fhall their houfes or goods be burnt, or other-
wife deftroyed, nor their fields wafted, by the armed force of
the enemy into whofe power, by the events of war, they
may happen to fall ; but if any thing is neceflary to be taken
from them for the ufe of fuch armed force, the fame (hall be
paid for at a reafonable price. And all merchant and trading
veffels employed in exchanging the products of different places,
.and-' thereby rendering tbe neceffaries, conveniences, and com
forts

254- ESSAYS.
law Pf nations. The humane and the juft carinot
but wifh general fuccefs to the proposition.
With unchangeable. efteem and affection,
I am, my dear friend*
Ever yours.
forts of human life more eafy to be obtained, arid more gene
ral, fhall be allowed to pafs free and unmolefted ; and" neither
of the contracting powers fhall grant or iffue any eommiffion
to any private armed veffels, empowering them to take or
deftroy fuch trading veffels, or interrupt fuch commerce.

I, .

REMARKS

ESSAYS. 255

REMARKS CONCERNING THE SAVAGES OF
NORTH-AMERICA.
uAVAGES we call them, becaufe their
manners differ from ours, which We think the
perfection ' of civility ; they think the fame of
theirs. Perhaps, if we could examine the manners of
different nations with impartiality, we Should find
no people fo rude as to be ^without any rules of
politenefs ; nor any fo polite as not to have fome
remains of rudenefs.
The Indian men, when young, are hunters and
warriors; when old, counfellors; for all their
government is by the counfel or advice of the
fages ; there is no force, there are no prifons, no
officers to compel obedience, or inflict punifhment.
Hence they generally ftudy oratory ; the beft
fpeaker having the moft influence. The Indian
women till the ground, drefs the food, nurfe and
bring up the children, and preferve and hand
down to pofterity the memory of public tranf-
actions. Thefe employments of men and women
are accounted natural and honourable. Having
few artificial wants, they have abundance of lei-
fure for improvement by converfation. Our
laborious manner of life, compared with theirs,
they efteem flavifh and bafe ; and the learning on
which we value ourfelves, they regard as frivo
lous and ufelefs. An inftance of this occurred at
the treaty of Lancafter, in Pennfylvania, anno
1 744, between the government of Virginia and
the Six Nations. After the principal bufinefs was
fettled, the commiffipners from Virginia acquaint
ed the Indians by a Speech* that there was at Wil-
liamSburg

256 ESSAYS*,
liamfburg a college, with a fund, for educating:
• Indian youth ; and that if the chiefs of the Six
Nations would fend down half a dozen of their
fons to that college, the government would take
care that they Should be well provided for, and
instructed in all the learning of the white people.
It is one of the Indian rifles of politenefs not to
anfwera public propofitioh the fame day that it is
made ; they think it would be treating it as^ a light
matter; and that they Shew it refpect by taking.
time to confider it, as of a matter important.
They therefore deferred their anfwer till the day
following; when thek fpeaker began,' by expreff-
irig their deep fenfe of the kindnefs of the Vir
ginia government, in making them that offer;
" for we know," fays he, " that you highly
" efieem the kind of learning taught in thofe
" colleges, and that the maintenance of our
" young men, while with you, would be very
'" expenfive to' you. We are convinced, there-
" fore, that you mean to do us good by your
*' propofal; and we thank you heartily. But
" you who are wife muft know, that different
•" nations have different conceptions of things ;
¦*' and you will therefore not take it amifs, if our
¦*' ideas of this kind of education happen not to-
" be the fame with yours. We have had fome
<" experience of it : feveral of our young people
*c were formerly brought up at the colleges' of
** the northern provinces ; they were instructed
" in all your feiences ; but when they came back
** to us, they were bad runners ; ignorant of every
** means of living in the woods ; unable to bear
*' either cold or "hunger ; knew neither how to
*' build a cabin, take a deer, or kill an enemy;
*' fpoke our language imperfectly; Were there-
** fore neither flt for hunters, warriors, or coun-
** fellors ; they were totally good 'for nothing.
" We

ESSAYS, 25?'
*' We are however, not the lefs obliged by your
"kind, offer, though we decline accepting it ;
" and to Show our grateful fenfe of it, if the
" gentlemen of Virginia will fend us a dozen of
" their fons, we will'take great care of their edu-
" cation, inftruct them in all we knqw5 and make
" men of them."
Having frequent occafioris to hold public coun
cils, they have acquired great order and decency
in conducting them. The old men Sit in the fore-
moft ranks, the warriors in the next, and the
women and children in the hindriioft. The bu
finefs of the women is to take exact notice of whafi
pafies, imprint it in their memories, for they
have no Writing, and communicate it to their
children. They are the records of the Council,
and they preferve tradition of the Stipulations iri
treaties a hundred years back; which, when We
compare With our writings, We always find exact.
He that Would fpeak, rifes. The reft obferve a
profound filence. When he has finifhed, and fits
down, they leave him five or fix minutes to recol
lect, that, if he has omitted, any thing he intended
to fay, of has any thing to add, he rhay rife again
and deliver it. To interrupt another, even in
common converfation, is reckoned highly inde
cent. How different this is from the conduct of
a polite British Houfe of Cpmriions, where fearce
a day paffes without fome confufion, that makes
the fpeaker hoarfe in calling to order ; and how
different from the mode of converfation in many
polite companies of Europe, where, if you do
not deliver your fentence with great rapidity,
you are cut off in the middle of it by the impa
tient loquacity of thofe you con verfe with, and
never fuffered to finifh it !
The politenefs of thefe favages in converfation,
is, indeed, carried to excefs ; fince it does not
S permit

458* ESSAYS.
permit them to contradict or deny the truth of
what is aflerted in their prefence. By this means
they indeed avoid difputes ; but then it becomes
difficult to know their minds, or what impreffion
you make upon them. The miffionaries Who have
atteriipted to convert them to, Christianity, all
complain of this, as one of the great difficulties
of their million. The Indians hear with patience
the truths of the gofpel explained to them, and
give their ufual tokens of affent and approbation:
you would think they were convinced. No fuch
matter. It is mere civility.
A Swedifli minister having affembled the chiefs
of the Safquehannah Indians, made a fermon to
them, acquainting them with the principal histo
rical facts on which our religion is founded ; fuch
as the fall of our firft parents by eating an apple j
the coming of Chrift to repair the mifchief; his
miracles and Suffering, &c.  When he had
finilhed, an Indian orator Stood up to thank him.
" What you have told us," fays he, " is all very
'*' good. It is indeed bad to eat apples. It is
" better fo make them all into cyder. We are
" much obliged by your kindnefs in coming fo
" far, to tell us thofe . things which you have
" heard from your mothers. In return, I will
" tell you fome of thofe we have heard from
" ours.
" In the beginning, out fathers had only the
u flefh of animals to fubfift on; and if their
" hunting was unfuccefsful, they were Starving.
u Two of our young hunters having killed a deer,
" made a fire in the woods to broil fome parts of
" it. When they were about to Satisfy their hun-
" ger, they beheld a beautiful young woman de-
" feendfrom the clouds, and feat herfelf on that
" hill which you fee yonder among the Blue
" Mountains. They faid to each other, it is a
" fpirit

. \ wc U

/V^A,

ESSAYS, 259
"*' fpirit that perhaps has fmelt our broiling veni-
" fon, and wiShes to eat of it : let us offer fome
" to her. They prefented her with the tongue :
" She was pleafed with the tafte of it, and faid,
*' Your kindnefs Shall be rewarded; Come to
" this place after thirteen moons, and you fhall
*: find fomething that will be of great benefit in
" nourishing you and your children to the la tell
" generations. They did fo, and to their fur-
" prife, found plants they had never feen before ;
" but which, from that ancient time, have been
" constantly cultivated among us, to out 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 backfide had fat on it, they
" found tobacco." The good miffionary, dif.
gutted with this idle tale, faid, " What I deliver-
" ed to you were facred truths ; but what you
" tell me is mere fable, fiction, and falfehood."
The Indian, offended, replied, " My brother, it
" feems your friends have not done you juttice
" in your education ; they have not well inftruct-
" ed you in the rules of common civility. You
" faw that we, who understand and practife thofe
¦" rules, believed all your Stories, why do you
" refufe to believe ours?"
When any of them come into our towns, our
people are apt to crowd round them, gaze upon
them, and incommode them where they defire to
be private ; this they efteem great rudenefs, and
the effect of the want of instruction in the rules
of civility and good manners. " We have," fay
they, " as much curiofity as you, and when you
" come into our towns, we with for opportunities
" of looking at you; but for this purpofe we
" hide ourfelves behind buflies where you are to
S 0, "pafs,

*6o ESSAYSv
" pafs, and never intrude ourfelves into youf
" company."
Their manner of entering one another's villages
has likewife its rules. It is reckoned uncivil in
travelling Strangers to enter a village abruptly,
without giving notice of their apprpach. There
fore, as foon as they arrive within hearing, they
Stop' and hollow, remaining there till invited to
enter. Two old men ufually come out to them,
and lead them in. There is in every village a
vacant dwelling;, called the ftranger's houfe. Here
they are placed, while the old men go round
from hut to hut, acquainting the inhabitants that
ftrangers are arrived, who are probably hungry
and weary ; and every one fends them what he
can fpare of victuals, and Skins to repofe on.
When the Strangers are refreshed, pipes and to
bacco are brought ; and then, but not before,
converfation begins, with enquiries who they are,
whither bound-, what news, &c. and it ufually
ends with offers of fervice ; if the ftrangers have
occafion of guides, or any neceffaries for conti
nuing their journey; and nothing is exacted for
the entertainment.
The' fame hofpitality, efteemed among them as
a principal virtue, is practifed by private perfons ;
of which Conrad Weifer, our interpreter, gave me
the following inftance. He had been naturalized
among the Six Nations, and fpoke well the Mo-
huck language. In going through the Indian
country, to carry a meffage from our govenor to
the council at Onondaga, he called at the habita
tion of Canaffetego, an old acquaintance, who em
braced him, fpread furs for him to fit on, placed
before him fome boiled beans and venifon, and
mixed fome rum and water for his drink. When
he was well refrefhed, and had lit his pipe,
Canaffetego began to converfe with him : afked
how

ESSAYS. 261
hpw he had fared the ma;rry ye^rs fince they had
Seen, each other, whence he then came, what oc
cafioned the journey, .&c. Conrad anfwered all
his queftions ; and when the difcourfe begari to
flag, the Indian, to continue it, faid, " Conrad,
*' you have lived long among the white people,
" and know fomething of their cuftoms ; I have
" been fometimes at Albany, and have obferyed,
" that once in feven days they Shut ,up ,their
" Shops, and affemble all in the great houfe!; tell
" me what it is for ? What do they do there ?"
" They meet there," fays Conrad, " to hear and
" learn good things" " I do not doubt/* fays the
Indian, " that they tell you fo ; they have told
" me the fame; but I doubt the truth of what
" they lay, 'arid I' will tell' you my reafons. I
" went lately to Albany to fell my Skins and buy
" blankets, knives, powder, rum, &c. You
" know I ufed generally to deal with Hans Han-
*' fon ; but I was a little inclined this time to try
" fome pther merchants. However, I called firft
'' upon Hans, and aiked him what fie would
" give fpr beaver. He faid he could not give
" rnpre than four Shillings a pound : but, fays he,
*' Icannot talk on bufinefs now; this is the day
" when we meet together to learn good things, and
*' I am going to the meeting. So I thought to
" myfelf, Since 1 cannot do any bufinefs to-day,
" I may as well go to the meeting too, and I went
S* with him. There flood up a man in black,
V and began to talk to the people very angrily.
** I did not underftand what he faid ; but per-
" ceiving that he looked much at me, and at
" Hanfon, I imagined he was angry at feeing me
" there ; fo I went out, fat down near the houfe,
" Struck fire, and lit my pipe, waiting till the
" meeting Should break up. I thought too that
" the man had mentioned fomething of beaver, "and

263 &OQ J\ I iJ,
" and I fufpected it might be the fubject of their
" meeting. So when they came out I accofted
" my merchant. Well, Hans, fays I, I hope
" you have agreed to give more than four fhil-
" lings a pound." " No," fays he, " I cannot
" give fo much, I cannot give more than three
" Shillings and Sixpehce." I then Spoke to feve:
*' ral other dealers, but they all Sung the fame
" fong, three and Sixpence, three and Sixpence.
" This made it clear to me that my fufpicion
" was right ; and that whatever they pretended
" of meeting to learn good things, the real pur-
" pofe was to confult how to cheat Indians in the
" price pf beaver. Confider but a little, Conrad,
" and you muft be of my opinion. If they meet
" fo often to learn good things, they would cer-
" tainly have learned fome before this time.
" But they are Still ignorant. You know our
" practice. If a white man, in travelling through
" our country, enters one of our cabins, we all
" treat him as I do you ; we dry him if he is
" wet, we warm him if he is cold, and give him
" meat and drink, that he may allay his thirft
" and hunger ; and we fpread foft furs for him,
" to reft and fleep on : we demand nothing in
" return*. But if I go into a white man's houfe
" at Albany, and aik for victuals and drink,
" they fay, Where is your money; and if I have
* It is remarkable, that in all ages and countries, hofpl-
tality has been allowed as the virtue of thofe, -whom the civi
lized were pleafed to call Barbarians; the Greeks celebrated
the Scythians for it. The Saracens poffeffed it eminently ;
and it is to this day the reigning virtue of the wild Arabs,
St. Paul too, in the relation of his voyage and fhipwreck, on
the ifland of Melita, fays, «' The barbarous people fhewed
" us no little kindnefs ; for they kindled a fire, and received
" us every one, becaufe of the prefent rain, and becaufe of
*« the cold." This note is taken from a fmall collection of
Fianklin's papers, printed for TJilly. " none,

ESSAYS. ^£3
u -none, they fay, Get out, you Indian dog.
" You fee they have not yet learned thofe little
" good things that we need no meetings to be in-
" ftructed in, becaufe our mothers taught them
<c to us when we were children ; and therefore it
" is impoffible their meetings Should be, as they
" fay, for any fuch purpofe, or have any fuch
" effect ; they are only to contrive the cheating of
i( Indians in the price of beaver"

TO

&CV ESSAYS.

TO MR. DUBOURG,
CONCERNING 'THE DISSENSIONS BETWEEN
ENGLAND AND AMERICA.
London, October 1, 1770.
1 SEE with pleafure that we think pretty much
alike pn the fubjeds of EngliSh America. ,We of
the colonies have never infilled that we ought to
be exempt from contributing to the common ex
pences neceffary to fupport the profperity of the .
empire. We only affert, that having parliaments
of our own, and not having reprefentatives in
that of Great Britain, our parliaments are the on
ly judges of what we can and what we ought to
contribute in this cafe ; and that the Englifh par
liament has no right to take our money without
our confent. In fact the Britifh empire is not a
fingle ftate ; it comprehends many ; and though
the parliament of Great-Britain has arrogated to
itfelf the power of taxing the colonies, it has no
more right to do fo, than it has to tax Hanover.
We have the fame king, but not the fame legi
slatures. The difpute between the two countries has al
ready loft Englarid many millions flerling, which
it has loft in its commerce, and America has in
this refpect been a proportionable gainer. This
commerce confifted principally of fuperfluities ;
objects of luxury and fafhion, which we can well
do without ; and the refolution we have formed
of importing no more till our grievances are re^-
dreffed, has enabled many of our infant manu
factures to take root ; and it will nPt be eafy to
' make

ESSAYS. 265
make our people abandon theih in future, even
Should a connection more cordial then ever fuc-
ceed the prefent troubles. — I have, indeed, no
doubt that the parliament of England will finally
abandon its prefent pretenfions, and leave us to
the peaceable enjoyment of our rights and pri„
yileges, B, FRANKLIN.

Jl Com~

z66 ESSAYS.

A Comparifon of the ConduB of the Ancient Jews, and of the
Antifederalists in tbe United States o/"america.

jt\ Zealous advocate for the propofed Federal
Conftitution in a certain public affembly, faid,
that " the repugnance of a great part of mankind
" to good government was fuch, that he believ-
" ed, that if an angel from heaven was to bring
" down a conftitution formed there for our ufe, it
" would neverthelefs meet with violent oppofiti-
" on." — He was reproved for the fuppofed extra
vagance of the fentiment ; and he did not juftify it.
— Probably it might not have immediately occur
red to him that the experiment had been tried, and
that the event was recorded in the moft faithful
of all hiitories, the Holy Bible ; otherwife he
might, as it feems to me, have fupported his opi
nion by that unexceptionable authority.
The Supreme Being had been pleafed to nou-
rifh up a Single family, by continued acts of his
attentive Providence, 'till it became a great peo
ple : and having refeued them from bondage by
many miracles performed by his fervant Mofes,
he perfonally delivered to that chofen fervant, in
prefence of the whole nation, a conftitution and
code of laws for their obfervance ; accompanied
and functioned with promifes of great rewards,
and threats of fevere punifhments, as the confe
quence of their obedience or difobedience.
This conftitution, though the Deity himfelf
was to be at its head (and it is therefore called
by political writers a Theocracy) could not be
carried into execution but by the means of his
ministers ; Aaron and his fons 'were therefore
commiffioned

ESSAYS. 267 .
commiffioned to be, with Motes, the firft esta
blished miniftry of the new government.
One would have thought, that the appoint
ment of men who had diftinguiflied themfelves
in procuring the liberty of their nation, and had
hazarded their lives in openly oppofing the will
of a powerful monarch who would have retained
that nation in flavery, might have been an ap
pointment acceptable to a grateful people ; and
that a conftitution, framed for them by the Deity
himfelf, might on that account have been fecure
of an univerfal welcome reception. Yet there
were, in every one of the thirteen tribes, fome
difepntented, reftlefs fpirits, who were continu
ally exciting them to reject the propofed new go
vernment, and this from various motives.
Many ftill retained an affection for Egypt, the
land of their nativity, and thefe, whenever they
felt any inconvenience or hardfhip, though the
natural and unavoidable effect of their change of
Situation, exclaimed againft their leaders as the
authors of their trouble ; and were not only for
returning in£o Egypt, but for Stoning their deli
verers *. Thofe inclined to idolatry were dif-
pleafed that their golden calf was deftroyed. Ma
ny of the chiefs thought the new conftitution
might be injurious to their particular in terefts,
that the profitable places would be engroffed by the
families and friends of Mofes and Aaron, and others
equally well-born excluded +. — In Jofephus, and
the Talmud, we learn fome particulars, not
fo fully- narrated in the fcripture. We are there
* Numbers, chap. xiv.
\ Numbers, chap, xvi, ver. 3. " And they gathered
*' themfelves together againft Mofes and againft Aaron, and
*' faid unto them, ye take too much upon you, feeing all the
" congregations are holy, every one of them,— ^-wherefore
" then lift ye up yourfelves above the congregation." told,

a-68 ESSAYS-
told, " that, Corah was ambitious of the prieft-
" hood; and offended that it was conferred on
*' Aaron ; and this, as he faid, by the authority of
" Mofes only, without the confent of the people. He
*' accufed Mofes of having, by various artifices,
" fraudulently obtained the government, arid de-
" pnved the people of their liberties ; and bfcon-
" fpiring with Aaron to perpetuate the tyranny
" in their family. Thus, though Corah's real
" motive was the fupplanting of Aaron, he per-
" fuaded the people that he meant only the pub-
'* lie good ; and they, moved by his infinuations,
ci began to cry out,1 — ' Let us maintain the com-
*.' mon liberty of our refpeclive tribes ; we have
*-' freed ourfelves from the flavery impofed upon
" us by the Egyptians, and fhall we fuffer our-
" felves to be made flaves by Mofes ? If we muft
'f have a matter, it were better to return to
" Pharaoh, who at leaft fed us with bread and oni-
" ons, than to ferve this new tyrant, who has
" brought us into danger of famine.' Then they
" called in queftion the reality of his conference
*' with God ; and objected to the privacy of the
^ fneetings, and the preventing any of the peo-
" pie from being prefent at the colloquies, or even
'' approaching the place, as grounds of great
" fufpicion. They accufed Mofes alfo of pecula-
" tion ; as embezzling part of the golden fpoons
'• and the filver chargers, that the princes had
" offered at the dedication of the altar *, and the
'r offerings of gold by the common people f, as
" well as moft of the poll tax | ; and Aaron they
" accufed of pocketing much of the gold of which
" he pretended to have made a molten calf. Be-
" fides peculation, they charged Mofes with am-
* Numbers, chap. vii.
f Exodus, chapter xx.w. ver. 22.
\ Num'bcri, ciiap. iii. u„Ji Exodus, chap, xxx.- " biiiMi

ESSAYS. 269
" bitlon; to gratify which pafliofl, he had, they
" faid, derived the people, by promifing to bring
" them to a land flowing with milk and honey ;
" inftead of doingwhich, he had brought them
" from fuch a land ; and that he thought light of
" all this mifchief, provided he could make him-
" {elf an abfolute prince * . That, to fupport the
" new dignity with fplendour in his family, the
" partial poll tax already levied and given to
" Aaron f was to be followed by a general one j ,
" which would probably be augmented from
" time to time* if he were fuffered to go on pro-
" mulgating new laws* on pretence of new occa-
" fional revelations pf the Divine Will, till their
" whole fortunes were devoured by that arifto-
'* cracy."
Mofes denied the charge of peculation ; and
his accufers were deftitute of proofs to fupport it i
though facls, if real, are in their nature capable
of proof. " I have not," faid he (with holy con
fidence in the prefence of God), " I havenot ta-
" ken frpm this people the value of an afs, fior
" done them any other injury." But his ene
mies had made the charge, and with fome fuccefs
among the populace ; for no kind of accufation
is fo readily made, or eafily believed, by knaves,
as the accufation of knavery.
In fine, no lefs 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 fuch a pitch of phrenfy, that
* Numbers, chap. xvi. ver. 13. " Is it a fmall thing that
" thou haft brought us up out of a land flowing with milk
" and honey, to kifl us in this wildernefs, except thou make
" thyfelf altogether a prince over us ?"
f Numbers, chap. iii.
t Exodus, chap. xxx.
§ Numbers, chap. xvi. they

,2p ESSAYS.
they called out, Stone 'em, Stone 'em, and there-'
by fecure our liberties ; arid let us choofe other
captains that may lead us back into Egypt, in cafe
we do not fucceed in reducing the Canaanites.
On the whole, it appears that the" Ifraelites
were a people jealous of their riewly acquired
liberty, which jealoufy was in itfelf no fault ;
but that, when they fuffered it to be worked
upon by artful men, pretending public good,
with nothing really in view but private intereft,
they were led to oppofe the eftabliShmerit of the
new conftitution, whereby they brought upon
themfelves much inconvenience and misfortune.
It farther appears from the fame ineftimable hifto-
ry, that when, after many ages, the conftitution
had become old and much abufed, and an amend
ment of it was. propofed, the populace as they had
accufed Mofes of the ambition of making himfelf
a prince, and cried out, ftone him, ftone him ;
fo, excited by their high-priefts and feribes, they
exclaimed againft the Mefliah, that he aimed at
becoming king of the Jews, and cried, crucify
him, crucify him. From all which we may ga
ther, that popular oppofition to a public meafure
is no proof of its impropriety, even though the
oppofition be excited and headed by men of dif*
tindtion. To conclude, I beg I may not be underftood to
infer, that our general convention was divinely
inspired when it formed the new federal conftitu
tion, merely becaufe that conftitution has been
unreasonably and vehemently oppofed : yet, I
muft own, I have fo much faith in the general
government of the world by Providence, that I
can hardly conceive a tranfaction of fuch mo
mentous importance to the welfare of millions
now exifting, and to exifl in the posterity of a
great

"ESSAYS. 271
great nation, fhould be fuffered to pafs with
out being in fome degree influenced, guided ,
and governed by that omnipotent, omnipre-
fent and beneficent Ruler, in whom all inferi
or fpirits live, and move, and have their be
ing.

THE

27^ £55 AYS.

THE INTERNAL STATE OF AMERICA:

BEING A TRUE DESCRIPTION OF THE INTEREST1
AND POLICY OF THAT VAST CONTINENT.
1 HERE is a tradition, that, in the planting of
New-England, the firft fettlers met with many
difficulties and hardfhips ; as is generally the cafe
when a civilized people attempt eftablifhing them
felves in a wildernefs country. Being pioufly
difpofed, they fought relief from Heaven, by
laying their wants and diflreffes before the Lord,
in frequent fet days of faffing and prayer. Con-
Slant meditation and difcourfe on thefe Subjects
kept their minds gloomy and difcontented ; and,
like the children of ISrael, there were many dif
pofed to return to that Egypt which perfecution
had induced them to abandon. At length, when
it was propofed in the affembly to proclaim ano
ther fall, a farmer of plain fenfe rofe, and re
marked, that the inconveniencies they fuffered,
and concerning which they had fo often wearied
Heaven with their complaints, were not fo great
as they might have expected, and were diminifli
ing every day as the colony Strengthened ; that
the earth began to reward their labour, and to
furniSh liberally for their fubfiftence; that the
feas and rivers were found full of fifh, the air
Sweet, the climate healthy ; and, above all, that
they were there in the full enjoyment of liberty,
civil and religious : he therefore thought, that
reflecting and conversing on thefe fubjects would
be more comfortable, as tending more to make
them contented with their fituation ; and that it
would

ESSAYS. 273
would be more becoming the gratitude they owed
to the Divine Being, if, inftead of a faft, they
Should proclaim a thankfgiving. His advice was
taken j and-from that day" to this they have, in
every year, obferved circumftartces of public
felicity fufficient to furniSh employment for a
thankfgiving day ; which is therefor e conftantly
ordered arid religioufly obferved.
I fee in the public newfpapers Pf different ftates
frequent complaints of hard timet, deddhefs of
trade 'i fear city of money, &c. It is not my inten-
tiori to- aflert of maintain that thefe Complaints;
are entirely without foundation. There can be
no country or nation exiftirig^ in which there
will not be fame people fo circumftanced as to find
it hard to gain a livelihood ; pepple who are not
in the Way- of any profitable trade, and with
Whom money is fcarce, becaufe they have nothing
to give in exchange for it; and- it is always in the
power of a fmall number to make a great clamour.
But let us take a cool view of the general ftate
of our affairs, and- perhaps the profpect will ap
pear lefs- gloomy than has been imagined.
The great bufinefs of the continent is agricul
ture. For one artiSan* or merchant, I fuppofe,
we have at leaft one hundred farmers, by far the
greateftf part cultivators of their own fertile lands,
from whence' many of them draw not only food
neceffary for their fubfiftence, but the materials
of their clothing, fo as to need very few foreign
fupplies ; while they have a furplus . of produc
tions to difpofe of, whereby wealth is gradually
accumulated. Such has been the goodnefs of
DivineProvidence tothefe regions, andfo favour- ,
able the climate, that, fince the three or four
years of hardship in the firft fettlernent of our
fathers here, a famine or fearcity has never been
heard of among us ; on the contrary, though
T fome

474 • ESSAYS.
fome years may have been more, and others leSs
plentiful, there has always been provifion enough
for ourfelves, and a quantity to fpare for expor
tation. And" although the crops of laft year
were generally good, never was the farmer better
paid for the part he can fpare commerce, as the
publifhed price currents abundantly teftify. The
lands he poffeffes are alfo continually rifing in
value with the increafe of population ; and, on
the whole, he is enabled to give fuch good wages
to thofe who work for him, that all who are
acquainted with the old world muft agree, that
in no part of it are the labouring poor fo gene
rally well fed, well clothed, well lodged, and
well paid, as in the United States of America.
If we enter the cities, we find that, fince the
revolution, the owners of houfes and lots of
ground have had their intereft vaftly augmented
in value ; rents have rifen to an aftonifhing height,
and thence encouragement to increafe building,
which gives employment to an abundance of
workmen, as does alfo the increafed luxury and
Splendour1 of living of the inhabitants thus made
richer. Thefe workmen all demand and obtain
much higher wages than any other part of the
world would 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 confiderable part of the city
inhabitants. At the diftance I live from our American fish
eries, I cannot fpeak of them with any degree of
certainty; but r have not heard that the labour
of the valuable race of men employed in them is
worfe paid, or that they meet with lefs fuccefs,
than before the revolution. The whale-men in
deed have been deprived of one market for their
oil; but another, I hear, is opening for them,
which

ESSAYS'. 275
¦which it is hoped may be equally advantageous ;
and the demand is conftantly iricreafing for their
fpetmaceti candles, which therefore bear a much
higher price than formerly.
There remain the merchants and fhppkeepers.
Of thefe, though they make but a fmall part of
the whole nation, the number is confiderable,
too great indeed for the bufinefs they are employed
in ; for the corifurriptioii of goods in every
country has its limits ; the faculties of the people,
that is, their ability to buy and pay, is equal only
to a certain quantity pf merchandize. If mer
chants calculate amifs on this proportion, and im
port too much, they will of cPurfe find the fale
dull for the overplus, and fome of them will fay
that trade languifhes. They fhpuld, and doubt
lefs will, grow wifer by experience, and import
lefs. If too many artificers in town, and farmers
frorri the country, flattering themfelves with the
idea of leading eafier lives, turn Shopkeepers,
the whole natural quantity of that bufinefs divided
among them all may afford too fittall a fhare for
each, and occafion Complaints that trading is dead ;
thefe may alfo fuppofe that it is owing to fearcity
of money, while, in fact, it is flot fo'much from
the fewnefs of buyers, as from the exceflive
number of fellers, that the mifchief arifes ; and,
if every fliPpkeeping farmer and mechanic would
return to the ufe of. his plough and working
tools, there would remain of widows, and other
women, fhopkeepers fufficient for the bufinefs,
which might then afford them a comfortable
maintenance. Whoever has travelled through the various parts
of Europe, and obferved how fmall is the pro
portion of the people in affluence or eafy circum-
ftances there, compared with thofe in poverty and
mifery ; the few rich and haughty landlords, the
T 2 multitude

g;;6 ' ESSAYS.
multitude of poor, abject, rack-rented, tyfhe-
payipg tenants, ant!; half-paid apd half-Starved
ragged labourers ; and views here the happy me
diocrity that fo generally prevails throughout ~
thefe ftates, where^the cultivator works for him
felf, and fupports his family in decent plenty ;
will, methinks, fee abundant re.afon to blels Di
vine Providence for the evident and great differ
ence in our favour, apd be convinced that no
natipn knpwn to us enjoys a greater Share of hu
man felicity.
It is true, that in fome of the. ftates there are
parties and difeords ; but let us look hack, and
afl£ if we were ever without them ? Such will
e'xift wherever there is liberty ; and perhaps they
hejp tp preServe.. it? By the collision of different
fentiments, fparks, of truth are Struck out, and
political light is obtained. The different factions,
which at prefent divide us, aim all at the public
gopd ; the, differences are only about the various
modes pf promoting it. Things, anions, mea
fures, and objects ofj all kinds, prefent themfelves
to the minds of men in fuch a variety of fights,
that, it is notppSfibfe.we fhould all think alike afc
the Same time on- every fubject, when hardly, the
fame man retains at all times the fame ideas of it.
Parties are therefore the common lot of huma
nity ; and ours are by no means more mifchievous
or lefs beneficial than thofe of ; other countries,
nations, and ages, enjoying in the fame degree
the great bleffing of political liberty.
Some indeed among us are nptfo much grieved
for the prefent ftate of our affairs, as apprehen-
five for the future. The growth of luxury alarms
them, and they think we are from that alone in
the high road to ruin. They obferve, that no
revenue is fufficient without ceconomy, and that
the moft plentiful income of a whole pepple from the

ESSAYS. 277
the natuiral productions of their country may be
diffipated in vain andheedlefs expences, and po
verty be introduced in the place of affluence.—
This may be poffible. It however rarely happens :
for there feems to be in every nation a greater
prpportibribf induftry and frugality, which tend
to enrich, thari of idlenefs and prodigality, which
occafion poverty ; fo that upon the whole there
is a continual accumulation. Reflect what Spain;
Gaul, Gejtoahy, and Britain were in the time of
the Romans, inhabited by people little richer than
our Savages, and cpnSider the wealth they at pre
fent poffefs, in hnhieroris well-built cities, im
proved farms, rich moveables, magazines Stocked
with valuable manufactures, to fay nothing of
plate, jewels, and coined money; and all this,
notwkhltanding tftelr bad, wafteful, plundering
govefnriients, and their mad, deftructive wars ;
and yet luxury and extravagant living has never
fuffered much reftrpint in thofe countries. Then
confider the great proportion of induftrious fru
gal farmers inhabiting the interior parts of thefe
American ftates, and of whom the body of our
nation confifts, and judge whether it is poffible
that the luxury of our fea-ports c,an be fufficient
to ruin fuch a country ..-r-If the importation of
foreign luxuries could ruin a people, we Should
probably have been ruined long ago; for the
Britilh nation claimed a right, and practifed it,
of importing among us not only the Superfluities
of their own production, but thofe of eyery
nation under heaven ; we bought and confumed
them, and yet we flourished and grew rich. At
prefent our independent governments may do
what we could not then do, difcourage by heavy
duties, or preyent by heavy prohibitions, fuch
importatiops,*ind thereby grow richer ;— if, in
deed, which may admit of difpute, the defire of
adorning

278 nooti. 1 o.
adorning ourfelves with fine clothes, poffefling
fine furniture, with elegant houfes, He. is not,
by ftrongly inciting to labour and induftry, the
occafion of producing a greater value than is con
fumed in the gratification of that defire.
The agriculture and fifheries of the United
States are the great fources of our increafing
wealth. He that puts a feed into the earth is re*
compenced, perhaps, by receiving forty out of
it ; and he who draws a fifh out pf our water,
draws up a piece of filver.
Let us (and there is no doubt but we fhall) be
attentive to thefe, and then the power of rivals,
with all their restraining and prohibiting acts,
cannot much hurt us. We axe fons of the earth
and feas, and, like Antaeus in the fable, if in
wreftling with a Hercules we now .and then receive
a fall, the touch of our parents will communicate
to us frefh ftrength and vigour to renew the
conteft.

1NFOR-

ESSAYS. 279

INFORMATION TO THOSE WHO WOULD
REMOVE TO AMERICA.

JVlANY perfons in Europe having, directly
©r by letters, exprefled to the writer of this, who
is well acquainted with North-America, their de
fire of tranfporting and eftablifhing themfelves in
that country ; but who appear to him to have
formed, through ignorance, miftaken ideas and
expectations of what is to be obtained there ; he
thinks it maybe ufeful, and prevent inconvenient,
expenfive, and fruitlefs removals and voyages of
improper perfons, if he gives fome clearer and
truer notions of that part of the world than ap
pear to have hitherto prevailed.
He finds it is imagined by numbers, that the
inhabitants of North-America are rich, capable
of rewarding, and difpofed to reward, all forts
of ingenuity ; that they are at the fame time
ignorant of all the feiences, and confequently
that ftrangers, poffefling talents in the belles-
lettres, fine arts, &c. muft be highly efteemed,
and fo well paid as to become eafily rich them
felves ; that there are alfo abundance of profita
ble offices to be difpofed of, which the natives
are not qualified to fill ; and that having few per
fons of family among them, ftrangers of birth
muft be greatly refpected, and of courfe eafily
obtain the beft of thofe offices, which will
make all their fortunes : that the governments
too, to encourage emigrations from Europe, not
only pay the expence of perfonal tranfportation,
but give lands gratis to ftrangers, with negroes
to work for them, utenfils of hufbandry, and
flocks of cattle. Thefe are all wild imaginations;
and thofe who go to America with expectations founded

s«o ESSAYS.
founded upon them, will furely find themfelves
difappointed. The truth is, that though there are in that
country few people fo miferable as the poor of
Europe, there are alfo very few that in Europe
would be called rich : it is rather a general happy
mediocrity* that prevails. There are few great
proprietors of the foil, ^nd few tenants ; moft •
people cultivate their own lands, or follow fome
handicraft, or merchandife; very few rich enough
to live idly upon their rents or incomes, or tp
pay the high prices given in Europe for painting,
Statues, architecture, and the other works of art
that are more curious than ufeful. Hence the
natural geniufes that have arifen in America, with
fuch talents, have uniformly quitted that coun
try for Europe, where they can be more fuitably
rewarded. It is true that letters and mathema
tical knowledge are in efteem there, but they are
at the fame time more common than is appre
hended; there being already exifting nine col
leges, or univerfities, .viz. four in NewJEngland*
and one in each of the provinces pf New- York,
New-Jerfey, Pennfylvania, Maryland, and Vir
ginia, all furniShed with learned profeffors ; be
sides a number of fmaller academies : thefe edu
cate many of their youth in the languages, and
thofe feiences that qualify men for the prpfeffioBS
of divinity, law, or phytic. . Strangers indeed
are by no means excluded from exercifing thofe
profetfions; and the quick increafe 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 fuperfluous. ones as in Europe; and it is a rule
eftablifhed in fome of the ftates, that np office
Should be fo profitable as to make it defirable.
"The 36th article of the conftitution of Pennfyl vania

ESSAYS. *8i
vafiia runs exprefsly in thefe words : " As every
". freeman, to preferve his independence (if he
" has not a fufficient eftate), ought to have fome
" profeflion, calling, trade, pr farm, whereby
" he may honeftly fubfift, there can be no necef-
" fity for, nor ufe in, establishing offices of pro-
w fit ; the ufual effects of which are dependence
w ?nd fervility, unbecoming freemen, in the
" poffeffors and expectants ; faction, contention,
** corruption and diforder among the people.
" Wherefore, whenever an office, through in-
" create of fees or otherwife, becomes fo profita-
" ble as to occafion many to apply for it, the
" profits ought to be leffened by the legislature."
Thefe ideas prevailing more or lefs in all the
United States, it cannpt be worth any man's
while,, who has a means of living at home, to
expatriate himfelf in hopes of obtaining a profit
able civil office in America ; and as to military
offices, they are at an end with the war, the ar
mies being difbanded. Much lefs is it advifeable
for a perfon to go thither, who has no other
quality to recommend him but his birth. In '
Europe it has indeed its value ; but it is a com
modity that cannot be carried to a worfe market
than to that of America, where people do not
enquire concerning a Stranger, What is he ? but
What can he da? If he has any ufeful art he is
welcome ; and if he exercifes it, and behaves
well, he will be refpecred by all that know him ;
but a mere man of quality, who on that account
wants to live upon the public by fome office or
falary, will be defpifed and difregarded. The
hufbandman is in honour there, and even the
mechanic, becaufe their employments are ufeful.
The people have a faying, that God Almighty isls
himfelf a mechanic the greateft in the univerfe ;
and he is retpected and admired more for the
variety,

282 ESSAYS.
variety, ingenuity, and Utility of his handiworks,
than for the antiquity of his family. They are
pleafed with the obfervation of a negro, and fre
quently mention it, that Boccarorra (meaning
the white man) make de black man workee,
make de horfe 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 fleep when he pleafe, he libb
like a gentleman. According to thefe opinions
of the Americans, one of them would think
himfelf more obliged to a genealogift, who could
prove for him that his anceftors and relations for
ten generations had been ploughmen, fmiths,
carpenters, turners, weavers, tanners, or even
Shoemakers, and confequently that they were
wfeful members of fociety; than if he could
only prove that they were gentlemen, • doing
nothing of value, but living idly on the labour
of others, mere fruges confumere nati *, and other-
wife good for nothing, till by their death their ef
tates, like the carcafe of the negro's gentleman-
hog, come to be cut up.
With regard to encouragements for ftrangers
from government, they are really only what are
derived from good laws and liberty. Strangers
are welcome, becaufe there is room enough for
them all, and therefore the old inhabitants are
not jealous of them ; the laws protect them fuf-
ficiently, fo that they have no need of the patro
nage of great men ; and every one will enjoy
fecurely the profits of his induftry. But if he
does not bring a fortune with him, he muft work
and be induftrious to live. One or two years
refidence give him all the rights of a citizen ;

*  '. born
Merely to eat up the corn. Watts.

but

ESSAYS. 283
but the government does not at prefent, what
ever it may have done in former times, hire
people to become fettlers, by paying their paffa-
ges, giving land, negroes, utenfils, Slock, or
any other kind of emolument whatfoever. In
Short, America is the land of labour, and by no1
means what the Englifh. call Lubberland, and the
French Pays de Cocagne,' where the ftreets are
Said to be paved with half-peck loaves, the houfes
tiled with pancakes, and where the fowls fly
about ready roafted, crying, Come eat me .'
Who then are the kind of perfons to whom
an emigration to America may be advantageous ?
And what are the advantages they may reafona-
bly expect, ?
Land being cheap in that country, from the
yaft forefts ftill void of inhabitants, and not likely
to be occupied in an age to come, infomuch that
the propriety of an hundred acres of fertile foil
full of wood may be obtained near the frontiers,
in many places, for eight or ten guineas, hearty
young labouring men, who underftand the hus
bandry of corn and cattle, which is nearly the
fame in that country as in Europe, may eafily
eftablifh themfelves there. A little money faved
of the good wages they receive there while they
work for others, enables them to buy the land
and begin their plantation, in which they are
afliiied by the good-will of their neighbours, and
fome credit. Multitudes of poor people from
England, Ireland, Scotland, and Germany, have
by this means in a few years become wealthy
farmers, wfio in their own countries, where all
the lands are fully occupied, and the wages of
labour low, could never have emerged from the
mean condition wherein they were born.
From the .Salubrity of the air, the healthinefs
of the climate, the plenty of good provifions, and

2a4 ESSAYS.
and the encouragement to early marriages, by
the certainty of fubfiftence in cultivating the
earth, the increafe of ^habitants by natural ge
neration is very rapid in America, and becomes
ftill more fo by the acceffion of ftrangers ; hence:
-there is a continual demand for more artifans of
all the neceffary and ufeful kinds, to fupply thofe
cultivators of the earth with houfes, and with
furniture, and utenfils of the groffer forts, which
cannot fo well be brought from Europe. Toler
ably good workmen in any of thofe mechanic
arts, are fore to find employ* and to be well paid
for their work, there being no reftraints prevent
ing ftrangers from exercifing any art they under
stand, nor any permiflion neceffary. If they are
poor, they begin firft as fervants or journeymen ;
and if they are fober, induftrious, and frugal^
they foon become matters, eftablifh themfelves in
bufinefs, marry, raife families, and become re
spectable citizens.
Alfo, perfons of moderate fortunes and capi^
tals, who having a number of children to pro
vide for, are defirous of bringing them up to
induftry, and to fecure eftates for their posterity,
have opportunities of doing it in America, which
Europe does not afford. There they may be
taught and practife profitable mechanic arts,
without incurring difgrace on that account ; but
on the contrary acquiring refpect by fuch abilities.
There fmall capitals laid out in lands, which
daily become more valuable by the increafe of
people, afford a folid profpect of" ample fortunes
thereafter for thofe children. The' writer of
this has known feveral instances of large tracts
of land, bought on what was then the frontier
of Pennfylvania, for ten pounds per hundred
acres, which, after twenty years, when the
fettlements had been extended far beyond them, fold

ESSAYS. a&$.
fold readily, without any improvement made
upon them for three pounds per acre. The. acre
in, America is the Same with the EngliSh, acre,- pr
the acre qf Normandy.
Thofe who defire tq Underftarid the ftate of
government in America, would do well to read
the constitutions- of the Several- ftates, and the
articles of confederation that bind- the! whole
together for general purpofes,, under: the direc
tion of one affembly;. called the Congrefs,.
Thefe constitutions have been printed, by order
of Congrefs, in America ; two editions, of them
have alfo been, printed in London ; and, a good
tranflation of them into Fuench, has lately been
published at Paris.
Several of the; princes of Europe having of
late, froiii an opinion of advantage to arife, by
producing all commodities and manufactures
within their own dominions, fo, as tp diminish
pr render ufelefs thejr; importations^ have en
deavoured to entice, wqrkmen from, other counr
tries, by high falaries, privileges, &c. Many
perfons: pretending to be Skilled in various, great
manufactures, imagining, that America, mutt be
in want of them, and that the, Congrefs would
probably be difpofed to imitate the princes above
mentioned;,, have, prppofed to go over, on con*
dition of, having their pafiag.es paid, lands given,
Salaries appointed, exclufive privileges for terms
of years, &c, Such perfons, on reading the
articles of confederation, will find that the Con^
grefs have no ppwer committed to them, or
money- pu£ into, their hands, for fuch purpofes;
and that if any foeh encouragement is given, it
muft be by the government of fome feparate
State. This, however, has rarely been done in
America ; and when it has been done, it has
rarely fueceeded, fo as to eftabliSh a manu
facture,

m "ESSAYS.
fa&ure, which the country was not yet fo tip3
for as to encourage private perfpns to fet it up j
labour being generally too dear there, and hands
difficult to be kept together, every one defir-
ing to be a mailer, and the cheapnefs of land
inclining many to leave trades for agriculture.
Some indeed have met with fuccefs, and are
carried on to advantage ; but they are generally
fuch as require only a few hands, or wherein
great part of the work is performed by ma
chines. Goods that are bulky, and of fo fmall
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
fuch goods will be profitable wherever there
is a fufficient demand. The farmers in Ame
rica 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 domeftic manufacture, for
the ufe of the family. The buying up quantities
of wool and flax, with the defign to employ
fpinners, weavers, &c. and form great establish
ments, producing quantities of linen and wool
len goods for fale, has been feveral times at
tempted in different provinces ; but thofe pro
jects have generally failed, goods of equal value
being imported cheaper. And when the govern
ments have been folicited to fupport fuch fchemes
by encouragements, in money, or by impofing
duties on importation of fuch goods, it has been
generally refuted, on this principle, that if the
country is ripe for the manufacture, it may be
carried on by private perfons to advantage ; and
if not, it is a folly to think of forcing nature.
Great eftablifhments of manufacture, require
great numbers of poor to do the work for fmall
wages ; thofe poor are to be found in Eu
rope, but will not be found in America, till the
lands are all taken up and cultivated, and the
excefs

ESSAYS. 2S7
CXcefs of people whp cannot get land want em
ployment. The manufacture of filk, they fay,
is natural in France, as that of cloth in England,,
becaufe each country produces in plenty the firft
material : but if England will have a manufacture
of filk as well as that of cloth, and France of cloth
as well as that of filk, thefe unnatural operations
muft be Supported by mutual prohibitions, or high
dutids on the importation of each other's goods ;
by which means the workmen' are enabled to tax
the home confumer by greater prices, while the
higher wages they receive make them neither
happier nor richer, fince they only drink more
and work lefs. Therefore the governrrients in
America do nothing to encourage fuch projects.
The people, by this means, are not impofed on
either by the merchant or mechanic : if the mer
chant demands too much profit on imported fhoes,
they buy of the fhoemaker ; and if he afks too
high a price, they take them of the merchant :
thus the two profeffions are checks on each other.
The fhoemaker, however, has, on the whole, a
confiderable profit upon his labour in America,
beyond what he had in Europe, as he can add to
his price a fum nearly equal to all the expences of
freight and commiflion, rifque or infurance, &c.
neceffarily charged by the merchant. And the
cafe is the fame with the workmen in every other
mechanic art. Hence it is, that artifans generally
live better and more eafily in America than in
Europe ; and fuch as are good ceconomifls make
a comfortable provifipn for age, and for their
children. Such may, therefore, remove with
advantage to America.
In the old long-fettled countries of Europe, all
arts, trades, profeffions, farms, &c. are fo full,
that it is difficult for a poor man who has children
to place them where they may gain, or learn to
gain,

288 ESSAYS.
gain, a decent livelihood. The aftifans, who fear
creating future rivals in bufinefs* refufe to take
apprentices, but upon conditionsof money, main
tenance, or the like, which the parents are un*
able to comply with. Hence the youth are drag
ged up in ignorance of every gainful art, and
obliged to become foldiers, or fervants, or thieves,
for a fubfiftence. In America, the rapid increafe
of inhabitants takes away that fear of rivalftiip,
and artifans willingly receive apprentices front
the hope of profit by their labour, during ih&
remainder of the time Stipulated, after they fliall
be instructed. Hence it is eafy for poor families-
to get their 'children inftfucted ; for the artifans
are fo defirous of apprentices* that many of them
will even give money to the parents, to have
boys from ten to fifteen years of age, bound ap
prentices to them, till the age of twenty-one ; and
many poor parents have, by that means, on their
arrival in the country, raifed money enough to
buy land fufficient to eftablifh themfelves, and to
fubfift ther reft of their; family by agriculture.
Thefe contracts for apprentices are made before-
a magistrate, who regulates the agreement accord
ing to reafon andjuftiee; and having in view
the formation of a future ufeful citizen, obliges
the mafter to engage by a written indenture, not
only that, during the- time of fervice Stipulated,
the apprentice Shall be duly provided with meat,
drink, apparel, waShing, and lodging, and at its
expiration with a complete new fuit of clothes,
but alfo that he Shall be taught to read, write,
and call accounts ; and that he Shall be well in
structed in the art or profeffion, of his mafter, or
fome other, by which he may afterwards gain a
livelihood, and be able in his turn to raifea fa
mily. A copy of this indenture is given to the
apprentice or his friends, and the magistrate keeps
a record

ESSAYS. 289
a record of it, to which recourfe may be had, in
cafe of failure bythe mafter in any point of per
formance. This defire among the mailers to have
more hands employed in working for them, in
duces them to pay the paffages of young perfons*
of both fexes, who, on their arrival, agree to
ferve them one, two, three, or four years ; thofe
who have already learned a trade, agreeing for a
Shorter term, in proportion to their Skill, and the
confequent immediate value of their fervice j and
thofe who have none, agreeing for a longer term,
in confideration of being taught an art' their po
verty would not permit them to acquire in their
own country.
The almoft general mediocrity of fortune that
prevails in America, obliging its people to follow
fome bufinefs for fubfiftence, thofe vices that arife
ufually from idlenefs, are in a great meafure pre
vented. Induftry and eonftant employment are
great prefervatives of the morals and virtue of a
nation. Hence bad examples to youth are more
rare in America, which muft be a comfortable
confideration to parents. To this may be truly
added, that ferious religion, under its various
denominations, is not only tolerated, but refpect-
ed and , practifed. Atheifm is •• unknown there ;
infidelity rare and fecret ; fo that perfons may
live to a great age in that country without having
their piety Shocked by meeting with either an
atheift or an infidel. And the Divine Being feems
to have manifefted his approbation of the mutu
al forbearance and kindnefs with which the differ
ent fects treat each other, by the remarkable prof-
perity with which he has been pleafed to favour
the whole country. U FINAL

290

ESSAYS.

FINAL SPEECH OF DR. FRANKLIN IN THE
LATE FEDERAL CONVENTION*.
MR. PRESIDENT,
I CONFESS that I do not entirely approve of
this conftitution at prefent : but, Sir, I am not fure
I fliall never approve it ; for having lived fo long,
I have experienced many inftances of being obli
ged by better information, or fuller confiderati
on, to change opinions even on important fub-
jects, which I once thought right, but found to
be otherwife. It is, therefore, that the older I
grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own
judgment, and to pay more refpect to the judg
ment of others. Moft men, indeed, as well as
moft feels in religion, think themfelves in poffef
fion of all truth, and that whenever others differ
from them, it is fo far error. Steele, a proteftant,
in a dedication, tells the pope, that" the only
" difference between our two churches, in their
" opinions of the certainty of their doctrines, is,
" the Romifli church is infallible, and the church
" of England never in the wrong." But, though
many private perfons think almoft as highly of
their own infallibility as of that of their feet, few
exprefs it fo naturally as a certain French lady,
who, in a little difpute with her fitter, faid, I
don't know how it happens, filler, but I meet
with nobody but myfelf that is always in the right.
II n'y a que moi qui a toujours raifotn In thefe ien-
timents, Sir, I agree to this constitution-, with all
* Our^eafons for afcribing this fpeech to Dr. Franklin,
are its infernal evidence, and its having appeared with his
name, during his life-time, uncontradicted,, in an American
periodica! publication. its

ESSAYS. 2Qi
its faults, if they are fuch ; becaufe I think a ge
neral government neceffary for us, and there is
no form of government but what may be a blef
fing, if well adminiftered ; and I believe farther,
that this is likeff to be well adminiftered for a
courfe of years^ and can only end in defoptifm, as
other forms have done before it, when the people
Shall become fo corrupted as to need defpotic go
vernment, being incapable of any other. I dpubt,
top, whether any other convention we can ob
tain, may be able to make a better conftitution.
For when you affemble a number of men, to have-
the advantage of their joint wiSdom, you inevita
bly affemble with thofe men, all their prejudices,
their paffions, their errors of opinion, their local
interests, and their felfiSh views. From fuch an
affembly can a perfect production be expected ? It
therefore aftpniflies me, Sir, to find this fyftem
approaching fo near to perfection as it does ; and
I think it' will aftoniSh our enemies^ who are wait
ing with confidence, to hear that our councils are
confounded, like thofe of the builders of Babylon,
and that our ftates are on the point of feparation,
only to meet hereafter for the purppfe of cutting
each other's throats.
Thus I confent, Sir, -to this conftitution, be- "
caufe I expect no better, and becaufe I am not
fure that this is not the beft. The opinions I have
had of its errors, I facrifice to the public good.
I have never whifpered a fyllable pf them abroad.
Within thefe walls they were born ; and here they
Shall die. If every one of us, in returning to our
conftituents, were to report the objections he has
had to it, and endeavour to gain partifans in fup
port of them, we might prevent its being gene
rally received, and thereby lofe all the Salutary
effects and great advantages refulting naturally in
our favour among foreign nations, as well as
U 2 • among

io* ESSAYS.
among ourfelves, from our real or apparent una
nimity. Much of the ftrength and efficiency of
any government, in procuring and feCuring hap
pinefs to the people, depends qn opinion ; on the
general opinion of the goodnefs of that govern
ment, as well as of the wiSdPm and integrity "of
its governors.
I hope, therefore, that for our own fakes as a
part of the people, and for the fake of our pofte-
rity, we Shall act heartily and unanimously in re
commending this conftitution, wherever our in
fluence may extend, and turn our future thoughts
and endeavours to the means of having it well ad
ministered. On the whole, Sir, I cannot help expreffing a
"ivrSh, that every member of the convention, who
may Still have objections, would with me, on
this occafion, doubt a little of his own infallibility,
and, to make manifeft Our unanimity, put his
nariie to this inftrument.
[The motion was then made for adding the laft
forfnula, viz.
Done in Gonvention, by the unanimous con
tent, &c. : which was agreed to, and added ac
cordingly.]:

SKETCH

ESSAYS. 295

SKETCH OF AN ENGLISH SCHOOL :¦

FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE TRUSTEES OF
THE PHILADELPHIA ACADEMY*.
IT is expected that every fcholar to be admitted
into this fchool, be at leajff able to pronounce and
divide the Syllables in reading, and to write a le
gible hand. None to be received that are under
years of age.
FIRST, OR LOWEST CLASS,
Let the firft clafs learn the Englifh Grammar
rules, and at the fame time let particular care be
taken to improve them in orthography. , Perhaps
the latter is beft done by pairing the fcholars ; twP
of thofe neareft equal in their fpelling to be put
together. Let theSe Strive for victory ; each pro
pounding ten words every day to the other to be
Spelled. He that fpells truly moft of the other's
words, is victor for that day ; he that is victor
moft days in a month, to obtain a prize, a pretty
neat book of fome kind, ufeful in their future
Studies. This method fixes the attention of chil
dren extremely to the orthography of words, and
makes them good fpellers very early. It is a
Shame for a man to be fo ignorant of this little
art, in his own language, as to be perpetually
confounding words of like found and different
fignifications ; the confcioufnefs of which defect
* This piece did not come to hand till the volume had been
fome time at the prefs. This was the cafe alfo with feveral
other papers, and muft be our apol.ogy for any defefl that
may appear in the arrangement. makes

294 ESSAYS.
makes fome men, otherwife of good learning and
understanding, averfe to writing even a common
letter. Let the pieces read by the fcholars in this clafs
be Short ; Such as Croxal's fables and little Stories.
In giving the leffon, let it be read to them ; let
the meaning of the difficult words in it be explain
ed to them ; and let them con over by themfelves
before they are called to read tp the mafter or
ufher ; who is to take particular care that they do
not read too fall, and that they duly obferve the
flops and paufes. A vocabulary of the moft ufu-
al difficult words might be formed for their ufe,
with explanations ; and they might daily get a
few of thofe words and explanations by heart,
which would a little exercife their memories ; or
at leaft they might write a number of them in a
fmall book for the purpofe, which would help to
fix the meaning of thofe words in their minds,
and at the fame time furnifh every one with a
little dictionary for his future ufe.

THE

ESSAYS. 295

THE SECOND CLASS
TO be taught reading with attention, and with
proper modulation? of the voice; according to
the fenfament and the fubject.
Some Short pieces, not exceeding the length of
a Spectator, to be given this clafs for leffons (and
fome of the eafier Spectators would be very Suit
able for the purpofe). Thefe leffons might be
given every night as taSks ; the fcholars to ftudy
them againft the morning. Let it then be re
quired of them to give an accounts firft of the
parts of fpeech, and conftruction of one or two
Sentences. This will oblige them to recur fre
quently to their grammar, and fix its principal
rules in their memory. Next, of the intention
of the writer, or the fcope of the piece, the
meaning of each fentence, and of every uncom
mon word. This would early acquaint them with
the meaning and force of words, and give them
that moft neceffary habit, of reading with atten
tion. The mafter then to read the piece with the proper
modulations of voice, due emphafis, and fuitable
action, where action is required; and put the
youth on imitating his manner.
Where the author has ufed an expreffion not
the beft, let it be pointed out ; and let his beauties
be particularly remarked to the youth.
Let the leffons for reading be varied, that the
youth may be made acquainted with good Styles
of all kinds in profe and verfe, and the proper
manner of reading each kind — fometimes a well-
told ftory, a piece of a fermon, a general's fpeech
to his foldiers, a fpeech in a tragedy, fome part of

296 ESSAYS.
of a comedy, an ode, a fatire, a letter, blank
verfe, Hudibraftic, heroic, &c. But let fuch
leffons be chofen for reading, as contain fome
ufeful instruction, whereby the underflanding or
morals of the youth may at the fame time be
improved. It is required that they Should firft ftudy and
understand the leffons, before they are put upon
reading them properly to which end each boy
Should have an Englifh dictionary, to help him
over difficulties. When our boys read EngliSh
to us, we are apt to imagine they underftand
what they read, becaufe we do, and becaufe it is
their mother tongue. But they often read, as
parrots fpeak, knowing little or nothing of the
meaning. And it is impoffible a reader Should
give the due modulation to his voice, and pro
nounce properly, unlefs his understanding goes
before his tongue, and makes him mafter of the
fentiment. Accuftoming boys to read aloud what
they do not firft underftand, is the caufe of thofe
even fet tones fo common among readers, which,
when they have once got a habit of ufing, they
find fq difficult to correct; by which means,
among fifty readers we fearcely find a good one.
For want of good reading, pieces published with
a view to influence the minds of men, for their
own or the public benefit, lofe half their force.
Were there but one good reader in a neighbour
hood, a public orator might be heard throughout
a nation with the fame advantages, and have the
fame effect upon his audience, as if they flood
within the reach of his voice.

THE

ESSAYS. i§f

THE THIRD CLASS

TO be taught fpeaking properly and grace
fully ; which is near a-kin to good reading, and
naturaByfoflows it in the Studies of yputh. Let
the feholars of this clafs begin with learning the
elements of rhetoric frprn fome Short fyftem, fo
as to be able to give an account of the moft ufe
ful tropes and figures. Let all their bad habits of
Speaking, all offences againft good grammar, all
corrupt or foreign accents, and all improper
phrafes, be pointed out to them. Short Speeches
from the Roman or other hiftory, or from the
parliamentary debates, might be got by heart, and
delivered with the proper action, &c. Speeches
and feenes in our beft tragedies and comedies
(avoiding every thing that could injure the morals
of youth) might likewife be got by rote, and the
boys exercfed in delivering or acting them ;
great care being taken to form their manner after
the trueft mpdels.
For their farther improvement, and a little to
vary their Studies, let them now begin to read
hiftory, after having got by heart a Short table of
the principal epochas in chronology. They may
begin with Rollin's ancient and Roman histories,
and proceed at proper hours, as they go through
the fubfequent claSles, with the beft hiftories of
our own nation and colonies. Let emulation be
excited among the boys, by giving, weekly, little
prizes, or other fmall encouragements to thofe
who are able to give the beft account of what they
have read, as to times, places, names of perfons,
&c. This will make them read with attention,
and imprint the hiftory well in their memories. In

298 ESSAY3-
In remarking on the hiftory, the mafter will have
fine opportunities of inftilling instructions of
various kinds, and improving the mprals, as well
as the understandings, of youth.
The natural and mechanic hiftory, contained
in the Speclacle de la Nature, might alto be begun
in this clafs, and continued through the fubfe-
quent claffes, by other books of the fame kind ;
for, next to the knowledge of duty, this kind of
knowledge is certainly the moft ufeful, as well as
the moft entertaining. The merchant may there
by be enabled better to underftand many commo
dities in trade ; the handicraftfman to improve
his bufinefs by new inftruments, mixtures and
materials ; and frequently hints are given for new
manufactures, or new methods of improving
land, that may be fet on fopt greatly to the ad
vantage of a country.

THE

ESSAYS.' • 299

THE FOURTH CLASS
TO be taught i^osnpofition. Writing one's own
language well, is the next neceffary accomplish
ment after gpod fpeaking. It is the writing-
mafter's bufinefs to take care that the boys make
fair characters, and place them ftraight and even
in the lines : but to form their ftyle, and even to
take care that the Stops and capitals are properly
difpofed, is the part of the Englifh mafter. The
boys fhould be put on writing letters to each
other on any common occurrences, and on vari
ous fubjects, imaginary bufinefs, &c. containing
little ftories, accounts of their late reading, what
parts of authors pleafe them, and why ; letters of
congratulation, of compliment, of requeft, of
thanks, of recommendation, of admonition, of
confolation, of expoftulation, excufe, &c. In
thefe they fhould be taught to exprefs themfelves
clearly, concifely and naturally, without affected
words or high-flown phrafes. All their letters to"
pafs through the mailer's hand, who is to point
out the faults, advife the corrections, and com
mend what he finds right. Some of the beft
letters publifhed in our own language, as Sir
William Temple's, thofe of Pope and his friends,
and fome others, might be fet before the youth
as models, their beauties pointed out and ex
plained by the mafter, the letters themfelves
tranferibed by the fcholar.
Dr. Johnfon's Ethices Elementa, or Firft Prin
ciples of Morality, may now be read by the fcho-
lars, and explained by the mafter, to lay a folid
foundation of virtue and piety in their minds. And

3oo ESSAYS.
And as this clafs continues the reading of hiftory,
let them now, at proper hours, receive fome far
ther inftruction in chronology, and in that part
of geography (from the mathematical mafter)
which is neceffary to underftand the maps and
globes. They Should alfo be acquainted with the
modern names of the places they find mentioned
in ancient writers. The exercifes of good read
ing, and proper fpeaking, ftill continued at fui ta
ble times.

THE

ESSAYS. $01

THE FIFTH CLASS.

TO improve the youth in competition, they
may now, befides continuing to write letters, be
gin to wrfte little effays in profe, and fometimes
in verfe ; not to make them poets, but for this
reafon, that nothing acquaints a lad fo fpeedily
with variety of expreffion, as the neceffity of
finding fuch words and phrafes as will fuit the
meafure, found and rhime of verfe, and at the
fame time Well exprefs the fentiment. Thefe effays
Should all pafs under the mailer's eye, who will
point out their faults, and put the writer on cor
recting them. Where the judgment is not ripe
enough for forming new effays, let the fentiments
of a Spectator be given, and required to be clothed
in the fcholar's own words ; or the circumstances
of fome good ftory ; the fcholar tp find expreffion.
Let them be put Sometimes on abridging a para
graph of a diffufe author : fometimes on dilating
or amplifying what is wrote more clofely. And
now let Dr. Johnfon's Noetica, or Firft Principles
of Human Knowledge, containing a logic, or art
of reafoning, &c. be read by the youth, and the
difficulties that may occur to them be explained
by the matter. The reading of hiftory, and the
exercifes of good reading and juft fpeaking, ftill
continued.

THE

3o» ESSAYS.

THE SIXTH CLASS/

IN this clafs, befides continuing the Studies of
the preceding in hiftory, -rhetoric, logic,- moral
and natural philofophy, the beft Englifh authors
may be read and explained ; as Tillotfon, Milton,'
Locke, Addifon, Pope, Swift, the higher papers
in the Spectator and Guardian, the beft tranf-
lations of Homer, Virgil and Horace, of Telema-
chus, Travels of Cyrus, &c.
Once a year let there be public exercifes in the
hall ; the truftees and citizens prefent. Then let
fine gilt books be given as prizes to fuch boys as
diftinguifh themfelves, and excel the others in any
branch of learning, making three degrees of com
parifon : giving the beft prize to him that performs
beft ; a lefs valuable one to him that comes up
next to the beft : and another to the third.
Commendations, encouragement, and advice to
the reft ; keeping up their hopes, that, by in
duftry, they may excel another time. The names
of thofe that obtain the prize, to be yearly
printed in a lift.
The hours of each day are to be divided and
difpofed in fuch a manner as that fome claffes may
be with the writing-matter, improving their
hands; others with the mathematical mafter,
learning arithmetic, accounts, geography, ufe of
the globes, drawing, mechanics, &c. ; while the
reft are in the Englifh fchool, under the Englifh
matter's care.
Thus inftructed, youth will come out of this
fchool fitted for learning any bufinefs, calling,
or profeffion, except fuch wherein languages are
required; and though unacquainted with any
ancient

• ESSAYS. 303
ancient or foreign tongue, they will be matters
of their own, which is of more immediate and
general ufe ; and withal will have attained many
other valuable accomplishments : the time ufually
fpent in acquiring thofe languages, often without
fuccefs, being here employed in laying fuch a
foundation of knowledge and ability, as, pro
perly improved, may qualify them to.pafs through
and execute the feveral offices of civil life, with
advantage and reputatipn to themfelves and
country.

FINIS.